1
|
Culkins C, Adomanis R, Phan N, Robinson B, Slaton E, Lothrop E, Chen Y, Kimmel BR. Unlocking the Gates: Therapeutic Agents for Noninvasive Drug Delivery Across the Blood-Brain Barrier. Mol Pharm 2024. [PMID: 39324552 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective network of various cell types that acts as a filter between the blood and the brain parenchyma. Because of this, the BBB remains a major obstacle for drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). In recent years, there has been a focus on developing various modifiable platforms, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), nanobodies (Nbs), peptides, and nanoparticles, as both therapeutic agents and carriers for targeted drug delivery to treat brain cancers and diseases. Methods for bypassing the BBB can be invasive or noninvasive. Invasive techniques, such as transient disruption of the BBB using low pulse electrical fields and intracerebroventricular infusion, lack specificity and have numerous safety concerns. In this review, we will focus on noninvasive transport mechanisms that offer high levels of biocompatibility, personalization, specificity and are regarded as generally safer than their invasive counterparts. Modifiable platforms can be designed to noninvasively traverse the BBB through one or more of the following pathways: passive diffusion through a physio-pathologically disrupted BBB, adsorptive-mediated transcytosis, receptor-mediated transcytosis, shuttle-mediated transcytosis, and somatic gene transfer. Through understanding the noninvasive pathways, new applications, including Chimeric Antigen Receptors T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and approaches for drug delivery across the BBB are emerging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Culkins
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Roman Adomanis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Nathan Phan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Blaise Robinson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Ethan Slaton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Elijah Lothrop
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Yinuo Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Blaise R Kimmel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Center for Cancer Engineering, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang Y, Yu W, Zhang L, Li P. Application of engineered antibodies (scFvs and nanobodies) targeting pathological protein aggregates in Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024:1-16. [PMID: 39177331 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2396911] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The misfolding and aggregation of proteins are associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The small-molecule engineered antibodies, such as single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies and nanobodies (Nbs), have gained attention in recent years due to their strong conformational specificity, ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), low immunogenicity, and enhanced proximity to active sites within aggregates. AREAS COVERED We have reviewed recent advances in therapies involving scFvs and Nbs that efficiently and specifically target pathological protein aggregates. Relevant publications were searched for in MEDLINE, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, Elsevier ScienceDirect and Wiley Online Library. EXPERT OPINION We reviewed the recent and specific targeting of pathological protein aggregates by scFvs and Nbs. These engineered antibodies can inhibit the aggregation or promote the disassembly of misfolded proteins by recognizing antigenic epitopes or through conformational specificity. Additionally, we discuss strategies for improving the effective application of engineered antibodies in treating AD. These technological strategies will lay the foundation for the clinical application of small-molecule antibody drugs in developing effective treatments for neurological diseases. Through rational application strategies, small-molecule engineered antibodies are expected to have significant potential in targeted therapy for neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wanpeng Yu
- Medical Collage, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Peifeng Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Manoutcharian K, Gevorkian G. Recombinant Antibody Fragments for Neurological Disorders: An Update. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:2157-2167. [PMID: 37646225 PMCID: PMC11337690 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230830142554] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant antibody fragments are promising alternatives to full-length immunoglobulins, creating big opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry. Nowadays, antibody fragments such as antigen-binding fragments (Fab), single-chain fragment variable (scFv), single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), and bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) are being evaluated as diagnostics or therapeutics in preclinical models and in clinical trials. Immunotherapy approaches, including passive transfer of protective antibodies, have shown therapeutic efficacy in several animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Huntington's disease (HD), transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and multiple sclerosis (MS). There are various antibodies approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating multiple sclerosis and two amyloid beta-specific humanized antibodies, Aducanumab and Lecanemab, for AD. Our previous review summarized data on recombinant antibodies evaluated in pre-clinical models for immunotherapy of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we explore recent studies in this fascinating research field, give an update on new preventive and therapeutic applications of recombinant antibody fragments for neurological disorders and discuss the potential of antibody fragments for developing novel approaches for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and targeting cells and molecules of interest in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Manoutcharian
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico
| | - Goar Gevorkian
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fereydouni-Forouzandeh P, Canet G, Diego-Diàz S, Rocaboy E, Petry S, Whittington RA, Planel E. Western Blot of Tau Protein from Mouse Brains Extracts: How to Avoid Signal Artifacts. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:309-321. [PMID: 38512673 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein enriched in the axonal compartment. Its most well-known function is to bind and stabilize microtubules. In Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies, tau undergoes several abnormal post-translational modifications including hyperphosphorylation, conformational changes, oligomerization, and aggregation. Numerous mouse models of tauopathies have been developed, and Western blotting remains an invaluable tool in studying tau protein physiological and pathological changes in these models. However, many of the antibodies that have been developed to analyze tau post-translational modifications are mouse monoclonal, which are at risk of producing artifactual signals in Western blotting procedures. This risk does not arise due to their lack of specificity, but rather because the secondary antibodies used to detect them will also react with the heavy chain of endogenous mouse immunoglobulins (Igs), leading to a non-specific signal at the same molecular weight as tau protein (around 50 kDa). Here, we present the use of anti-light-chain secondary antibodies as a simple and efficient technique to prevent non-specific Ig signals around 50 kDa. We demonstrate the efficacy of this method by either eliminating or identifying artifactual signals when using monoclonal antibodies directed at non-phosphorylated epitopes (T49, Tau3R, Tau4R), phosphorylated epitopes (MC6, AT180, CP13), or an abnormal tau conformation (MC1), in wild-type (WT) mice with tau hyperphosphorylation (hypothermic), transgenic mice overexpressing human tau (hTau mice), and tau knockout (TKO) mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Geoffrey Canet
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Sofia Diego-Diàz
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Emma Rocaboy
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Serena Petry
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Robert A Whittington
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Congdon EE, Ji C, Tetlow AM, Jiang Y, Sigurdsson EM. Tau-targeting therapies for Alzheimer disease: current status and future directions. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:715-736. [PMID: 37875627 PMCID: PMC10965012 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00883-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in older individuals. AD is characterized pathologically by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, with associated loss of synapses and neurons, which eventually results in dementia. Many of the early attempts to develop treatments for AD focused on Aβ, but a lack of efficacy of these treatments in terms of slowing disease progression led to a change of strategy towards targeting of tau pathology. Given that tau shows a stronger correlation with symptom severity than does Aβ, targeting of tau is more likely to be efficacious once cognitive decline begins. Anti-tau therapies initially focused on post-translational modifications, inhibition of tau aggregation and stabilization of microtubules. However, trials of many potential drugs were discontinued because of toxicity and/or lack of efficacy. Currently, the majority of tau-targeting agents in clinical trials are immunotherapies. In this Review, we provide an update on the results from the initial immunotherapy trials and an overview of new therapeutic candidates that are in clinical development, as well as considering future directions for tau-targeting therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amber M Tetlow
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zupancic JM, Smith MD, Trzeciakiewicz H, Skinner ME, Ferris SP, Makowski EK, Lucas MJ, McArthur N, Kane RS, Paulson HL, Tessier PM. Quantitative flow cytometric selection of tau conformational nanobodies specific for pathological aggregates. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1164080. [PMID: 37622125 PMCID: PMC10445546 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1164080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-domain antibodies, also known as nanobodies, are broadly important for studying the structure and conformational states of several classes of proteins, including membrane proteins, enzymes, and amyloidogenic proteins. Conformational nanobodies specific for aggregated conformations of amyloidogenic proteins are particularly needed to better target and study aggregates associated with a growing class of associated diseases, especially neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. However, there are few reported nanobodies with both conformational and sequence specificity for amyloid aggregates, especially for large and complex proteins such as the tau protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, due to difficulties in selecting nanobodies that bind to complex aggregated proteins. Here, we report the selection of conformational nanobodies that selectively recognize aggregated (fibrillar) tau relative to soluble (monomeric) tau. Notably, we demonstrate that these nanobodies can be directly isolated from immune libraries using quantitative flow cytometric sorting of yeast-displayed libraries against tau aggregates conjugated to quantum dots, and this process eliminates the need for secondary nanobody screening. The isolated nanobodies demonstrate conformational specificity for tau aggregates in brain samples from both a transgenic mouse model and human tauopathies. We expect that our facile approach will be broadly useful for isolating conformational nanobodies against diverse amyloid aggregates and other complex antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Zupancic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Matthew D. Smith
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Hanna Trzeciakiewicz
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Mary E. Skinner
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sean P. Ferris
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Emily K. Makowski
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Michael J. Lucas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nikki McArthur
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ravi S. Kane
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Henry L. Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Protein Folding Disease Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Peter M. Tessier
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Protein Folding Disease Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ardanaz CG, Ezkurdia A, Bejarano A, Echarte B, Smerdou C, Martisova E, Martínez-Valbuena I, Luquin MR, Ramírez MJ, Solas M. JNK3 Overexpression in the Entorhinal Cortex Impacts on the Hippocampus and Induces Cognitive Deficiencies and Tau Misfolding. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37236204 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are a family of protein kinases activated by a myriad of stimuli consequently modulating a vast range of biological processes. In human postmortem brain samples affected with Alzheimer's disease (AD), JNK overactivation has been described; however, its role in AD onset and progression is still under debate. One of the earliest affected areas in the pathology is the entorhinal cortex (EC). Noteworthy, the deterioration of the projection from EC to hippocampus (Hp) point toward the idea that the connection between EC and Hp is lost in AD. Thus, the main objective of the present work is to address if JNK3 overexpression in the EC could impact on the hippocampus, inducing cognitive deficits. Data obtained in the present work suggest that JNK3 overexpression in the EC influences the Hp leading to cognitive impairment. Moreover, proinflammatory cytokine expression and Tau immunoreactivity were increased both in the EC and in the Hp. Therefore, activation of inflammatory signaling and induction of Tau aberrant misfolding caused by JNK3 could be responsible for the observed cognitive impairment. Altogether, JNK3 overexpression in the EC may impact on the Hp inducing cognitive dysfunction and underlie the alterations observed in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos G Ardanaz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Amaia Ezkurdia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Arantza Bejarano
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Echarte
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cristian Smerdou
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Eva Martisova
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Iván Martínez-Valbuena
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Neurosciences Division, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, M5S 1A8 Toronto, Canada
| | - María-Rosario Luquin
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Neurosciences Division, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Neurology Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María J Ramírez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite Solas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dang H, Joung Y, Jeong C, Jeon CS, Pyun SH, Park S, Choo J. Nanoplasmonic assay platforms for reproducible
SERS
detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarker. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hajun Dang
- Department of Chemistry Chung‐Ang University Seoul South Korea
| | - Younju Joung
- Department of Chemistry Chung‐Ang University Seoul South Korea
| | - Chaehyeon Jeong
- Department of Chemistry Chung‐Ang University Seoul South Korea
| | | | | | - Sung‐Gyu Park
- Nano‐Bio Convergence Department Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) Changwon South Korea
| | - Jaebum Choo
- Department of Chemistry Chung‐Ang University Seoul South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Proteinopathies: Deciphering Physiology and Mechanisms to Develop Effective Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:7513-7540. [PMID: 36205914 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03042-8] [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: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a cluster of diseases marked by progressive neuronal loss, axonal transport blockage, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and aggregation of misfolded proteins. NDs are more prevalent beyond the age of 50, and their symptoms often include motor and cognitive impairment. Even though various proteins are involved in different NDs, the mechanisms of protein misfolding and aggregation are very similar. Recently, several studies have discovered that, like prions, these misfolded proteins have the inherent capability of translocation from one neuron to another, thus having far-reaching implications for understanding the processes involved in the onset and progression of NDs, as well as the development of innovative therapy and diagnostic options. These misfolded proteins can also influence the transcription of other proteins and form aggregates, tangles, plaques, and inclusion bodies, which then accumulate in the CNS, leading to neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. This review demonstrates protein misfolding and aggregation in NDs, and similarities and differences between different protein aggregates have been discussed. Furthermore, we have also reviewed the disposal of protein aggregates, the various molecular machinery involved in the process, their regulation, and how these molecular mechanisms are targeted to build innovative therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. In addition, the landscape of various therapeutic interventions for targeting protein aggregation for the effective prevention or treatment of NDs has also been discussed.
Collapse
|
10
|
Congdon EE, Jiang Y, Sigurdsson EM. Targeting tau only extracellularly is likely to be less efficacious than targeting it both intra- and extracellularly. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 126:125-137. [PMID: 34896021 PMCID: PMC9680670 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of the tau protein is thought to be responsible for the neurodegeneration and subsequent functional impairments in diseases that are collectively named tauopathies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common tauopathy, but the group consists of over 20 different diseases, many of which have tau pathology as their primary feature. The development of tau therapies has mainly focused on preventing the formation of and/or clearing these aggregates. Of these, immunotherapies that aim to either elicit endogenous tau antibodies or deliver exogenous ones are the most common approach in clinical trials. While their mechanism of action can involve several pathways, both extra- and intracellular, pharmaceutical companies have primarily focused on antibody-mediated clearance of extracellular tau. As we have pointed out over the years, this is rather surprising because it is well known that most of pathological tau protein is found intracellularly. It has been repeatedly shown by several groups over the past decades that antibodies can enter neurons and that their cellular uptake can be enhanced by various means, particularly by altering their charge. Here, we will briefly describe the potential extra- and intracellular mechanisms involved in antibody-mediated clearance of tau pathology, discuss these in the context of recent failures of some of the tau antibody trials, and finally provide a brief overview of how the intracellular efficacy of tau antibodies can potentially be further improved by certain modifications that aim to enhance tau clearance via specific intracellular degradation pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Marino M, Holt MG. AAV Vector-Mediated Antibody Delivery (A-MAD) in the Central Nervous System. Front Neurol 2022; 13:870799. [PMID: 35493843 PMCID: PMC9039256 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.870799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last four decades, monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives have emerged as a powerful class of therapeutics, largely due to their exquisite targeting specificity. Several clinical areas, most notably oncology and autoimmune disorders, have seen the successful introduction of monoclonal-based therapeutics. However, their adoption for treatment of Central Nervous System diseases has been comparatively slow, largely due to issues of efficient delivery resulting from limited permeability of the Blood Brain Barrier. Nevertheless, CNS diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent as societies age, accounting for ~6.5 million fatalities worldwide per year. Therefore, harnessing the full therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies (and their derivatives) in this clinical area has become a priority. Adeno-associated virus-based vectors (AAVs) are a potential solution to this problem. Preclinical studies have shown that AAV vector-mediated antibody delivery provides protection against a broad range of peripheral diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza and malaria. The parallel identification and optimization of AAV vector platforms which cross the Blood Brain Barrier with high efficiency, widely transducing the Central Nervous System and allowing high levels of local transgene production, has now opened a number of interesting scenarios for the development of AAV vector-mediated antibody delivery strategies to target Central Nervous System proteinopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marika Marino
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G. Holt
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
- Synapse Biology Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Matthew G. Holt
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Danis C, Dupré E, Zejneli O, Caillierez R, Arrial A, Bégard S, Mortelecque J, Eddarkaoui S, Loyens A, Cantrelle FX, Hanoulle X, Rain JC, Colin M, Buée L, Landrieu I. Inhibition of Tau seeding by targeting Tau nucleation core within neurons with a single domain antibody fragment. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1484-1499. [PMID: 35007758 PMCID: PMC9077319 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau proteins aggregate into filaments in brain cells in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders referred to as tauopathies. Here, we used fragments of camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies (VHHs or single domain antibody fragments) targeting Tau as immuno-modulators of its pathologic seeding. A VHH issued from the screen against Tau of a synthetic phage-display library of humanized VHHs was selected for its capacity to bind Tau microtubule-binding domain, composing the core of Tau fibrils. This parent VHH was optimized to improve its biochemical properties and to act in the intra-cellular compartment, resulting in VHH Z70. VHH Z70 precisely binds the PHF6 sequence, known for its nucleation capacity, as shown by the crystal structure of the complex. VHH Z70 was more efficient than the parent VHH to inhibit in vitro Tau aggregation in heparin-induced assays. Expression of VHH Z70 in a cellular model of Tau seeding also decreased the aggregation-reporting fluorescence signal. Finally, intra-cellular expression of VHH Z70 in the brain of an established tauopathy mouse seeding model demonstrated its capacity to mitigate accumulation of pathological Tau. VHH Z70, by targeting Tau inside brain neurons, where most of the pathological Tau resides, provides an immunological tool to target the intra-cellular compartment in tauopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clément Danis
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Elian Dupré
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Orgeta Zejneli
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Raphaëlle Caillierez
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Alexis Arrial
- Hybrigenic Services, Evry-Courcouronnes 91000, France
| | - Séverine Bégard
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Justine Mortelecque
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Sabiha Eddarkaoui
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Anne Loyens
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - François-Xavier Cantrelle
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Xavier Hanoulle
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, 59000 Lille, France
| | | | - Morvane Colin
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, 59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, 59000 Lille, France.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Filippone A, Smith T, Pratico D. Dysregulation of the Retromer Complex in Brain Endothelial Cells Results in Accumulation of Phosphorylated Tau. J Inflamm Res 2022; 14:7455-7465. [PMID: 35002279 PMCID: PMC8721160 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s342096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Transport through endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) involves a complex group of structures of the endo-lysosome system such as early and late endosomes, and the retromer complex system. Studies show that neuronal dysregulation of the vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35), the main component of the retromer complex recognition core, results in altered protein trafficking and degradation and is involved in neurodegeneration. Since the functional role of VPS35 in endothelial cells has not been fully investigated, in the present study we aimed at characterizing the effect of its downregulation on these pathways. Methods Genetic silencing of VPS35 in human brain endothelial cells; measurement of retromer complex system proteins, autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome systems. Results VPS35-downregulated endothelial cells had increased expression of LC3B2/1 and more ubiquitinated products, markers of autophagy flux and impaired proteasome activity, respectively. Additionally, compared with controls VPS35 downregulation resulted in significant accumulation of tau protein and its phosphorylated isoforms. Discussion Our findings demonstrate that in brain endothelial cells retromer complex dysfunction by influencing endosome-lysosome degradation pathways results in altered proteostasis. Restoration of the retromer complex system function should be considered a novel therapeutic approach to rescue endothelial protein transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Filippone
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Tiffany Smith
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Domenico Pratico
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Spencer B, Rissman RA, Overk C, Masliah E. Novel Brain-Penetrating Single Chain Antibodies Directed Against 3RTau for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2383:447-457. [PMID: 34766306 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1752-6_28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), Pick's disease, fronto-temporal lobar degeneration, cortico-basal degeneration, and primary age related tauopathy are examples of neurodegenerative disorders with tau accumulation and jointly referred as "tauopathies." The mechanisms through which tau leads to neurodegeneration are not fully understood but include conversion into toxic oligomers and protofibrils, cell-to-cell propagation, post-transcriptional modifications and as a mediator of cell death signals among others. Potential therapeutics includes reducing tau synthesis (e.g., anti-sense); targeting selective tau species and aggregates or blocking cell-to-cell transmission (e.g., antibodies) or by promoting clearance of tau (e.g., autophagy activators). Among them, immunotherapy is currently one of the approaches most actively explored including active, passive, and cellular. A potential problem with immunotherapy has been the trafficking of the antibodies into the CNS. In this chapter, we describe a method for the production and testing of viral vector driven, brain-penetrating, single chain antibodies that specifically recognize 3RTau. These single chain antibodies are modified by the addition of a fragment of the apoB protein to facilitate trafficking into the brain, once in the CNS these antibody fragments recognize tau with potential value for the treatment of AD and related dementias.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Spencer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Cassia Overk
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abyadeh M, Gupta V, Gupta V, Chitranshi N, Wu Y, Amirkhani A, Meyfour A, Sheriff S, Shen T, Dhiman K, Ghasem HS, Paul AH, Stuart LG, Mirzaei M. Comparative Analysis of Aducanumab, Zagotenemab and Pioglitazone as Targeted Treatment Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease. Aging Dis 2021; 12:1964-1976. [PMID: 34881080 PMCID: PMC8612603 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia that has remained a major medical, sociocultural and economical challenge globally. Previously developed treatments like anticholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists only provide short-term symptomatic improvement and do not prevent progression. Repeated setbacks and failures over the past 25 years in AD clinical trials have hindered efforts to develop effective AD treatments. Fortunately, Aducanumab, a specific anti-amyloid β antibody, has shown promising clinical results and was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through an accelerated approval pathway. This has raised hopes for AD patients; however post-approval trials are necessary to estimate the true scope of its clinical benefits. We have reviewed several AD clinical studies and summarized the experience to date with Aducanumab and two other potential AD drugs including Zagotenemab (an anti-tau antibody) and Pioglitazone (nuclear Peroxisome-Proliferator Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist). These have shown mixed results so far and the next few years will be critical to elucidate and interpret their broad long-term protective effects. A concerted effort is required to understand and strengthen the translation of pre-clinical findings from these drugs to routine clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Abyadeh
- 1Cell Science Research Center, Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vivek Gupta
- 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Veer Gupta
- 3School of Medicine, Deakin University, VIC, Australia
| | - Nitin Chitranshi
- 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Yunqi Wu
- 4Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Ardeshir Amirkhani
- 4Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Anna Meyfour
- 5Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samran Sheriff
- 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Ting Shen
- 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Kunal Dhiman
- 3School of Medicine, Deakin University, VIC, Australia
| | - H Salekdeh Ghasem
- 6Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - A Haynes Paul
- 6Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - L Graham Stuart
- 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yang Y, Nian S, Li L, Wen X, Liu Q, Zhang B, Lan Y, Yuan Q, Ye Y. Fully human recombinant antibodies against EphA2 from a multi-tumor patient immune library suitable for tumor-targeted therapy. Bioengineered 2021; 12:10379-10400. [PMID: 34709992 PMCID: PMC8810047 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1996807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhanced EphA2 expression is observed in a variety of epithelial-derived malignancies and is an important target for anti-tumor therapy. Currently, Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoints have shown good efficacy for tumor treatment. In this study, we constructed an immune single-chain fragment variable (scFv) library using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 200 patients with a variety of malignant tumors. High affinity scFvs against EphA2 can be easily screened from the immune library using phage display technology. Anti-EphA2 scFvs can be modified into any form of recombinant antibody, including scFv-Fc and full-length IgG1 antibodies, and the recombinant antibody affinity was improved following modification. Among the modified anti-EphA2 antibodies the affinity of 77-IgG1 was significantly increased, reaching a pmol affinity level (10−12). We further demonstrated the binding activity of recombinant antibodies to the EphA2 protein, tumor cells, and tumor tissues using macromolecular interaction techniques, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Most importantly, both the constructed scFvs-Fc, as well as the IgG1 antibodies against EphA2 were able to inhibit the growth of tumor cells to some extent. These results suggest that the immune libraries from patients with malignant tumors are more likely to screen for antibodies with high affinity and therapeutic effect. The constructed fully human scFv immune library has broad application prospects for specific antibody screening. The screened scFv-Fc and IgG1 antibodies against EphA2 can be used for the further study of tumor immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Yang
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| | - Siji Nian
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| | - Lin Li
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| | - Xue Wen
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Qin Liu
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| | - Yu Lan
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| | - Qing Yuan
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| | - Yingchun Ye
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, The school of Basic medical science, Southwest medical university, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Siano G, Falcicchia C, Origlia N, Cattaneo A, Di Primio C. Non-Canonical Roles of Tau and Their Contribution to Synaptic Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810145. [PMID: 34576308 PMCID: PMC8466023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau plays a central role in a group of neurodegenerative disorders collectively named tauopathies. Despite the wide range of diverse symptoms at the onset and during the progression of the pathology, all tauopathies share two common hallmarks, namely the misfolding and aggregation of Tau protein and progressive synaptic dysfunctions. Tau aggregation correlates with cognitive decline and behavioural impairment. The mechanistic link between Tau misfolding and the synaptic dysfunction is still unknown, but this correlation is well established in the human brain and also in tauopathy mouse models. At the onset of the pathology, Tau undergoes post-translational modifications (PTMs) inducing the detachment from the cytoskeleton and its release in the cytoplasm as a soluble monomer. In this condition, the physiological enrichment in the axon is definitely disrupted, resulting in Tau relocalization in the cell soma and in dendrites. Subsequently, Tau aggregates into toxic oligomers and amyloidogenic forms that disrupt synaptic homeostasis and function, resulting in neuronal degeneration. The involvement of Tau in synaptic transmission alteration in tauopathies has been extensively reviewed. Here, we will focus on non-canonical Tau functions mediating synapse dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Siano
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Chiara Falcicchia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
| | - Nicola Origlia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (C.D.P.)
| | - Cristina Di Primio
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (C.D.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Sharma A, Anand JS, Kumar Y. Immunotherapeutics for AD: A Work in Progress. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2021; 21:752-765. [PMID: 34477533 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666210903101522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), often called the 'Plague of the 21st Century,' is a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the degeneration and death of neurons. Multiple factors, such as genetic defects, epigenetic regulations, environmental factors, or cerebrovascular damage, are a manifestation of the neurodegenerative process that begins to occur decades before the onset of disease. To date, no treatment or therapeutic strategy has proven to be potent in inhibiting its progress or reversing the effects of the disease. The ever-increasing numbers and lack of sufficient therapies that can control or reverse the effects of the disease have propelled research in the direction of devising efficient therapeutic strategies for AD. This review comprehensively discusses the active and passive immunotherapies against Amyloid-β and Tau protein, which remain the popular choice of targets for AD therapeutics. Some of the prospective immunotherapies against Aβ plaques have failed due to various reasons. Much of the research is focused on targeting Tau, specifically, targeting the mid-region of extracellular Tau due to their potential to prevent seeding and hence the spread of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Thus, there is a need to thoroughly understand the disease onset mechanisms and discover effective therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anuja Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering (BSE), Netaji Subhas University of Technology, New Delhi, 110078, India
| | - Jaspreet Singh Anand
- University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110095, India
| | - Yatender Kumar
- Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering (BSE), Netaji Subhas University of Technology, New Delhi, 110078, India
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ji C, Sigurdsson EM. Current Status of Clinical Trials on Tau Immunotherapies. Drugs 2021; 81:1135-1152. [PMID: 34101156 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-021-01546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tau immunotherapies have advanced from proof-of-concept studies to over a dozen clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Mechanistic studies in animal and culture models have provided valuable insight into how these therapies may work but multiple pathways are likely involved. Different groups have emphasized the importance of intracellular vs extracellular antibody-mediated clearance of the tau protein and there is no consensus on which pool of tau should ideally be targeted. Likewise, various normal and disease-selective epitopes are being targeted, and the antibody isotypes either favor phagocytosis of the tau-antibody complex or are neutral in that aspect. Most of the clinical trials are in early stages, thus their efficacy is not yet known, but all have been without any major adverse effects and some have reported target engagement. A few have been discontinued. One in phase I, presumably because of a poor pharmacokinetic profile, and three in phase II for a lack of efficacy although this trial stage is not well powered for efficacy measures. In these phase II studies, trials with two antibodies in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy or other primary tauopathies were halted but are continuing in patients with AD, and one antibody trial was stopped in early-stage AD but is continuing in moderate AD. These three antibodies have been reported to only work extracellularly and tau is not increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of primary tauopathies, which may explain the failures of two of them. In the discontinued AD trial, there are some concerns about how much of extracellular tau contains the N-terminal epitope that is being targeted. In addition, extracellular tau is only a small part of total tau, compared to intracellular tau. Targeting only the former may not be sufficient for functional benefits. Given these outcomes, decision makers within the pharmaceutical companies who green light these trials should attempt to target tau not only extracellularly but also intracellularly to increase their chances of success. Hopefully, some of the ongoing trials will provide some functional benefits to the large number of patients with tauopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Eshraghi M, Adlimoghaddam A, Mahmoodzadeh A, Sharifzad F, Yasavoli-Sharahi H, Lorzadeh S, Albensi BC, Ghavami S. Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis: Role of Autophagy and Mitophagy Focusing in Microglia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3330. [PMID: 33805142 PMCID: PMC8036323 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurological disorder, and currently, there is no cure for it. Several pathologic alterations have been described in the brain of AD patients, but the ultimate causative mechanisms of AD are still elusive. The classic hallmarks of AD, including amyloid plaques (Aβ) and tau tangles (tau), are the most studied features of AD. Unfortunately, all the efforts targeting these pathologies have failed to show the desired efficacy in AD patients so far. Neuroinflammation and impaired autophagy are two other main known pathologies in AD. It has been reported that these pathologies exist in AD brain long before the emergence of any clinical manifestation of AD. Microglia are the main inflammatory cells in the brain and are considered by many researchers as the next hope for finding a viable therapeutic target in AD. Interestingly, it appears that the autophagy and mitophagy are also changed in these cells in AD. Inside the cells, autophagy and inflammation interact in a bidirectional manner. In the current review, we briefly discussed an overview on autophagy and mitophagy in AD and then provided a comprehensive discussion on the role of these pathways in microglia and their involvement in AD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Eshraghi
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Aida Adlimoghaddam
- St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Winnipeg, MB R2H2A6, Canada; (A.A.); (B.C.A.)
| | - Amir Mahmoodzadeh
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6734667149, Iran;
| | - Farzaneh Sharifzad
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada; (F.S.); (H.Y.-S.)
| | - Hamed Yasavoli-Sharahi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada; (F.S.); (H.Y.-S.)
| | - Shahrokh Lorzadeh
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada;
| | - Benedict C. Albensi
- St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Winnipeg, MB R2H2A6, Canada; (A.A.); (B.C.A.)
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada;
- Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba-University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Biology of Breathing Theme, Children Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Katowice School of Technology, 40-555 Katowice, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Li S, Yi Y, Cui K, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Han D, Sun L, Zhang X, Chen F, Zhang Y, Yang Y. A Single-Chain Variable Fragment Antibody Inhibits Aggregation of Phosphorylated Tau and Ameliorates Tau Toxicity in vitro and in vivo. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 79:1613-1629. [PMID: 33459708 DOI: 10.3233/jad-191266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common cause of dementia among elderly people. Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau correlates with the clinical progression of AD; therefore, therapies targeting the aggregation of tau may have potential applications for anti-AD drug development. Several inhibitors of tau aggregation, including small molecules and antibodies, have been found to decrease the aggregation of tau and the corresponding pathology. OBJECTIVE To screen one kind of single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody which could inhibit the aggregation of tau and ameliorate its cytotoxicity. METHODS/RESULTS Using phosphorylated tau (pTau) as an antigen, we obtained a scFv antibody via the screening of a high-capacity phage antibody library. Biochemical analysis revealed that this scFv antibody (scFv T1) had a strong ability to inhibit pTau aggregation both in dilute solutions and under conditions of macromolecular crowding. ScFv T1 could also depolymerize preformed pTau aggregates in vitro. Furthermore, scFv T1 was found to be able to inhibit the cytotoxicity of extracellular pTau aggregates and ameliorate tau-mediated toxicity when coexpressed with a hTauR406W mutant in the eye of transgenic Drosophila flies. CONCLUSION This scFv T1 antibody may be a potential new therapeutic agent against AD. Our methods can be used to develop novel strategies against protein aggregation for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sen Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Gene engineering and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Life Sciences & Biotechnology Education, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yushan Yi
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R.China
| | - Ke Cui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Gene engineering and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Life Sciences & Biotechnology Education, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yanqiu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Gene engineering and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Life Sciences & Biotechnology Education, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yange Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Gene engineering and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Life Sciences & Biotechnology Education, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Dou Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Gene engineering and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Life Sciences & Biotechnology Education, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Ling Sun
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R.China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R.China
| | - Fei Chen
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R.China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- B CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Yufeng Yang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R.China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Goodwin MS, Sinyavskaya O, Burg F, O'Neal V, Ceballos-Diaz C, Cruz PE, Lewis J, Giasson BI, Davies P, Golde TE, Levites Y. Anti-tau scFvs Targeted to the Cytoplasm or Secretory Pathway Variably Modify Pathology and Neurodegenerative Phenotypes. Mol Ther 2021; 29:859-872. [PMID: 33128896 PMCID: PMC7854277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies designed to treat neurodegenerative tauopathies that primarily engage extracellular tau may have limited efficacy as tau is primarily intracellular. We generated tau-targeting single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) and intrabodies (iBs) from the phosphorylated tau-specific antibodies CP13 and PHF1 and the pan-tau antibody Tau5. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) was utilized to express these antibody fragments in homozygous JNPL3 P301L tau mice. Two iBs (CP13i, PHF1i) and one scFv (PHF1s) abrogated tau pathology and delayed time to severe hindlimb paralysis. In a second tauopathy model (rTg4510), CP13i and PHF1i reduced tau pathology, but cognate scFvs did not. These data demonstrate that (1) disease-modifying efficacy does not require antibody effector functions, (2) the intracellular targeting of tau with phosphorylated tau-specific iBs is more effective than extracellular targeting with the scFvs, and (3) robust effects on tau pathology before neurodegeneration only resulted in modest disease modification as assessed by delay of severe motor phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marshall S Goodwin
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Olga Sinyavskaya
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Franklin Burg
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Veronica O'Neal
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Carolina Ceballos-Diaz
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Pedro E Cruz
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jada Lewis
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Peter Davies
- Litwin-Zucker Center for Research in Alzheimer's Disease, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore/LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Yona Levites
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Gibbons GS, Kim SJ, Wu Q, Riddle DM, Leight SN, Changolkar L, Xu H, Meymand ES, O'Reilly M, Zhang B, Brunden KR, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY. Conformation-selective tau monoclonal antibodies inhibit tau pathology in primary neurons and a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:64. [PMID: 33148293 PMCID: PMC7643305 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The spread of tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is mediated by cell-to-cell transmission of pathological tau seeds released from neurons that, upon internalization by recipient neurons, template the misfolding of naïve cellular tau, thereby propagating fibrillization. We hypothesize that anti-tau monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that selectively bind to pathological tau seeds will inhibit propagation of tau aggregates and reduce the spread of tau pathology in vivo. Methods We inoculated mice with human AD brain-derived extracts containing tau paired helical filaments (AD-tau) and identified two novel mAbs, DMR7 and SKT82, that selectively bind to a misfolded pathological conformation of tau relative to recombinant tau monomer. To evaluate the effects of these mAbs on the spread of pathological tau in vivo, 5xFAD mice harboring significant brain Aβ plaque burden were unilaterally injected with AD-tau in the hippocampus, to initiate the formation of neuritic plaque (NP) tau pathology, and were treated weekly with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of DMR7, SKT82, or IgG isotype control mAbs. Results DMR7 and SKT82 bind epitopes comprised of the proline-rich domain and c-terminal region of tau and binding is reduced upon disruption of the pathological conformation of AD-tau by chemical and thermal denaturation. We found that both DMR7 and SKT82 immunoprecipitate pathological tau and significantly reduce the seeding of cellular tau aggregates induced by AD-tau in primary neurons by 60.5 + 13.8% and 82.2 + 8.3%, respectively, compared to IgG control. To investigate the mechanism of mAb inhibition, we generated pH-sensitive fluorophore-labeled recombinant tau fibrils seeded by AD-tau to track internalization of tau seeds and demonstrate that the conformation-selective tau mAbs inhibit the internalization of tau seeds. DMR7 and SKT82 treatment reduced hyperphosphorylated NP tau as measured with AT8 immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, but did not achieve statistical significance in the contralateral cortex and SKT82 significantly reduced tau pathology in the ipsilateral hippocampus by 24.2%; p = 0.044. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that conformation-selective tau mAbs, DMR7 and SKT82, inhibit tau pathology in primary neurons by preventing the uptake of tau seeds and reduce tau pathology in vivo, providing potential novel therapeutic candidates for the treatment of AD. Supplementary information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s13024-020-00404-5.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Garrett S Gibbons
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Soo-Jung Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qihui Wu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Dawn M Riddle
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Susan N Leight
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lakshmi Changolkar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Emily S Meymand
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mia O'Reilly
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kurt R Brunden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Virginia M Y Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ng PY, Chang IS, Koh RY, Chye SM. Recent advances in tau-directed immunotherapy against Alzheimer's disease: an overview of pre-clinical and clinical development. Metab Brain Dis 2020; 35:1049-1066. [PMID: 32632666 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00591-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been a worldwide concern for many years now. This is due to the fact that AD is an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects quality of life. Failure of some Phase II/III clinical trials in AD targeting accumulation of β-amyloid in the brain has led to an increase in interest in studying alternative treatments against tubulin-associated unit (Tau) pathology. These alternative treatments include active and passive immunisation. Based on numerous studies, Tau is reported as a potential immunotherapeutic target for tauopathy-related diseases including AD. Accumulation and aggregation of hyperphosphorylated Tau as neuropil threads and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) are pathological hallmarks of AD. Both active and passive immunisation targeting Tau protein have shown the capabilities to decrease or prevent Tau pathology and improve either motor or cognitive impairment in various animal models. In this review, we summarise recent advances in active and passive immunisation targeting pathological Tau protein, and will discuss with data obtained from both animal and human trials. Together, we give a brief overview about problems being encountered in these immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pei Ying Ng
- School of Postgraduate, International Medical University, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - I Shuen Chang
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rhun Yian Koh
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Soi Moi Chye
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Plotkin SS, Cashman NR. Passive immunotherapies targeting Aβ and tau in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 144:105010. [PMID: 32682954 PMCID: PMC7365083 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins currently represent the two most promising targets to treat Alzheimer's disease. The most extensively developed method to treat the pathologic forms of these proteins is through the administration of exogenous antibodies, or passive immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the molecular-level strategies that researchers are using to design an effective therapeutic antibody, given the challenges in treating this disease. These challenges include selectively targeting a protein that has misfolded or is pathological rather than the more abundant, healthy protein, designing strategic constructs for immunizing an animal to raise an antibody that has the appropriate conformational selectivity to achieve this end, and clearing the pathological protein species before prion-like cell-to-cell spread of misfolded protein has irreparably damaged neurons, without invoking damaging inflammatory responses in the brain that naturally arise when the innate immune system is clearing foreign agents. The various solutions to these problems in current clinical trials will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven S Plotkin
- University of British Columbia, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Genome Sciences and Technology Program, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada.
| | - Neil R Cashman
- University of British Columbia, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Sandusky-Beltran LA, Sigurdsson EM. Tau immunotherapies: Lessons learned, current status and future considerations. Neuropharmacology 2020; 175:108104. [PMID: 32360477 PMCID: PMC7492435 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The majority of clinical trials targeting the tau protein in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies are tau immunotherapies. Because tau pathology correlates better with the degree of dementia than amyloid-β lesions, targeting tau is likely to be more effective in improving cognition than clearing amyloid-β in Alzheimer's disease. However, the development of tau therapies is in many ways more complex than for amyloid-β therapies as briefly outlined in this review. Most of the trials are on humanized antibodies, which may have very different properties than the original mouse antibodies. The impact of these differences are to a large extent unknown, can be difficult to decipher, and may not always be properly considered. Furthermore, the ideal antibody properties for efficacy are not well established and can depend on several factors. However, considering the varied approaches in clinical trials, there is a general optimism that at least some of these trials may provide functional benefits to patients suffering of various tauopathies. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'The Quest for Disease-Modifying Therapies for Neurodegenerative Disorders'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L A Sandusky-Beltran
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA; Department of Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - E M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA; Department of Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Vitale F, Ortolan J, Volpe BT, Marambaud P, Giliberto L, d'Abramo C. Intramuscular injection of vectorized-scFvMC1 reduces pathological tau in two different tau transgenic models. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:126. [PMID: 32762731 PMCID: PMC7409655 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01003-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With evidence supporting the prion-like spreading of extracellular tau as a mechanism for the initiation and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), immunotherapy has emerged as a potential disease-modifying strategy to target tau. Many studies have proven effective to clear pathological tau species in animal models of AD, and several clinical trials using conventional immunotherapy with anti-tau native antibodies are currently active. We have previously generated a vectorized scFv derived from the conformation-dependent anti-tau antibody MC1, scFvMC1, and demonstrated that its intracranial injection was able to prevent tau pathology in adult tau mice. Here, we show that, in a prevention paradigm and in two different tau transgenic models (JNPL3 and P301S), a one-time intramuscular injection of AAV1-scFvMC1 generated a long-lasting peripheral source of anti-tau scFvMC1 and significantly reduced insoluble and soluble tau species in the brain. Moreover, our data showed that scFvMC1 was internalized by the microglia, in the absence of overt inflammation. This study demonstrates the efficacy of intramuscular delivery of vectorized scFv to target tau, and suggests a new potential application to treat AD and the other tauopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Vitale
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Litwin-Zucker Center for Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorder, The Feintein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Jasmin Ortolan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Litwin-Zucker Center for Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorder, The Feintein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Bruce T Volpe
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Disease, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, USA
| | - Philippe Marambaud
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Litwin-Zucker Center for Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorder, The Feintein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Luca Giliberto
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Litwin-Zucker Center for Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorder, The Feintein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA.
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA.
- Northwell Health Neuroscience Institute, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY, USA.
| | - Cristina d'Abramo
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Litwin-Zucker Center for Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorder, The Feintein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA.
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kwon S, Iba M, Kim C, Masliah E. Immunotherapies for Aging-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases-Emerging Perspectives and New Targets. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:935-954. [PMID: 32347461 PMCID: PMC7222955 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00853-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia (VCID) have no disease-modifying treatments to date and now constitute a dementia crisis that affects 5 million in the USA and over 50 million worldwide. The most common pathological hallmark of these age-related neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of specific proteins, including amyloid beta (Aβ), tau, α-synuclein (α-syn), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43), and repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) peptides, in the intra- and extracellular spaces of selected brain regions. Whereas it remains controversial whether these accumulations are pathogenic or merely a byproduct of disease, the majority of therapeutic research has focused on clearing protein aggregates. Immunotherapies have garnered particular attention for their ability to target specific protein strains and conformations as well as promote clearance. Immunotherapies can also be neuroprotective: by neutralizing extracellular protein aggregates, they reduce spread, synaptic damage, and neuroinflammation. This review will briefly examine the current state of research in immunotherapies against the 3 most commonly targeted proteins for age-related neurodegenerative disease: Aβ, tau, and α-syn. The discussion will then turn to combinatorial strategies that enhance the effects of immunotherapy against aggregating protein, followed by new potential targets of immunotherapy such as aging-related processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Somin Kwon
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michiyo Iba
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Changyoun Kim
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- Division of Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Krishnaswamy S, Huang HW, Marchal IS, Ryoo HD, Sigurdsson EM. Neuronally expressed anti-tau scFv prevents tauopathy-induced phenotypes in Drosophila models. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 137:104770. [PMID: 31982516 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
We have derived single-chain variable fragments (scFv) from tau antibody hybridomas and previously shown their promise as imaging diagnostic agents. Here, we examined the therapeutic potential of anti-tau scFv in transgenic Drosophila models that express in neurons wild-type (WT) human tau (htau) or the human tauopathy mutation R406W. scFv expressing flies were crossed with the tauopathy flies and analyzed. Overall, the survival curves differed significantly (p < .0001). Control flies not expressing htau survived the longest, whereas R406W expressing flies had the shortest lifespan, which was greatly prolonged by co-expressing the anti-tau scFv (p < .0001). Likewise, htau WT expressing flies had a moderately short lifespan, which was prolonged by co-expressing the anti-tau scFv (p < .01). In addition, the htau expression impaired wing expansion after eclosion (p < .0001), and caused progressive abdomen expansion (p < .0001). These features were more severe in htau R406W flies than in htau WT flies. Importantly, both phenotypes were prevented by co-expression of the anti-tau scFv (p < .01-0.0001). Lastly, brain analyses revealed scFv-mediated tau clearance (p < .05-0.01), and its prevention of tau-mediated neurotoxicity (p < .05-0.001). In summary, these findings support the therapeutic potential of an anti-tau scFv, including as gene therapies, and the use of Drosophila models for such screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Senthilkumar Krishnaswamy
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States of America
| | - Huai-Wei Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States of America
| | - Isabella S Marchal
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States of America
| | - Hyung Don Ryoo
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States of America; Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Bittar A, Bhatt N, Kayed R. Advances and considerations in AD tau-targeted immunotherapy. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104707. [PMID: 31841678 PMCID: PMC6980703 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The multifactorial and complex nature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has made it difficult to identify therapeutic targets that are causally involved in the disease process. However, accumulating evidence from experimental and clinical studies that investigate the early disease process point towards the required role of tau in AD etiology. Importantly, a large number of studies investigate and characterize the plethora of pathological forms of tau protein involved in disease onset and propagation. Immunotherapy is one of the most clinical approaches anticipated to make a difference in the field of AD therapeutics. Tau –targeted immunotherapy is the new direction after the failure of amyloid beta (Aß)-targeted immunotherapy and the growing number of studies that highlight the Aß-independent disease process. It is now well established that immunotherapy alone will most likely be insufficient as a monotherapy. Therefore, this review discusses updates on tau-targeted immunotherapy studies, AD-relevant tau species, updates on promising biomarkers and a prospect on combination therapies to surround the disease propagation in an efficient and timely manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bittar
- Department of Neurology, The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Weber-Adrian D, Kofoed RH, Chan JWY, Silburt J, Noroozian Z, Kügler S, Hynynen K, Aubert I. Strategy to enhance transgene expression in proximity of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Theranostics 2019; 9:8127-8137. [PMID: 31754385 PMCID: PMC6857057 DOI: 10.7150/thno.36718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy can be designed to efficiently counter pathological features characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we took advantage of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter to preferentially enhance transgene expression near plaques composed of amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ), a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), in the TgCRND8 mouse model of amyloidosis. Methods: The delivery of intravenously injected recombinant adeno-associated virus mosaic serotype 1/2 (rAAV1/2) to the cortex and hippocampus of TgCRND8 mice was facilitated using transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound in combination with microbubbles (MRIgFUS), which transiently and locally increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). rAAV1/2 expression of the reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP) under a GFAP promoter was compared to GFP expression driven by the constitutive human beta actin (HBA) promoter. Results: MRIgFUS targeting the cortex and hippocampus facilitated the entry of rAAV1/2 and GFP expression under the GFAP promoter was localized to GFAP-positive astrocytes. Adjacent to Aβ plaques where GFAP is upregulated, the volume, surface area, and fluorescence intensity of the transgene GFP were greater in rAAV1/2-GFAP-GFP compared to rAAV1/2-HBA-GFP treated animals. In peripheral organs, GFP expression was particularly strong in the liver, irrespective of the promoter. Conclusion: The GFAP promoter enhanced transgene expression in proximity of Aβ plaques in the brain of TgCRND8 mice, and it also resulted in significant expression in the liver. Future gene therapies for neurological disorders could benefit from using a GFAP promoter to regulate transgene expression in response to disease-induced astrocytic reactivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Weber-Adrian
- Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Rikke Hahn Kofoed
- Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Josephine Wing Yee Chan
- Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joseph Silburt
- Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Zeinab Noroozian
- Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Sebastian Kügler
- Department of Neurology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Vogels T, Murgoci AN, Hromádka T. Intersection of pathological tau and microglia at the synapse. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:109. [PMID: 31277708 PMCID: PMC6612163 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0754-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a heterogenous class of diseases characterized by cellular accumulation of aggregated tau and include diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Tau pathology is strongly linked to neurodegeneration and clinical symptoms in tauopathy patients. Furthermore, synapse loss is an early pathological event in tauopathies and is the strongest correlate of cognitive decline. Tau pathology is additionally associated with chronic neuroinflammatory processes, such as reactive microglia, astrocytes, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory molecules (e.g. complement proteins, cytokines). Recent studies show that as the principal immune cells of the brain, microglia play a particularly important role in the initiation and progression of tau pathology and associated neurodegeneration. Furthermore, AD risk genes such as Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) and Apolipoprotein E (APOE) are enriched in the innate immune system and modulate the neuroinflammatory response of microglia to tau pathology. Microglia can play an active role in synaptic dysfunction by abnormally phagocytosing synaptic compartments of neurons with tau pathology. Furthermore, microglia are involved in synaptic spreading of tau – a process which is thought to underlie the progressive nature of tau pathology propagation through the brain. Spreading of pathological tau is also the predominant target for tau-based immunotherapy. Active tau vaccines, therapeutic tau antibodies and other approaches targeting the immune system are actively explored as treatment options for AD and other tauopathies. This review describes the role of microglia in the pathobiology of tauopathies and the mechanism of action of potential therapeutics targeting the immune system in tauopathies.
Collapse
|
33
|
Hoskin JL, Sabbagh MN, Al-Hasan Y, Decourt B. Tau immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2019; 28:545-554. [PMID: 31094578 PMCID: PMC7169377 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1619694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the World. Pathologically, it is characterized by extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The latter is composed of irregular, pathological forms of the tau protein. Currently, FDA-approved symptomatic treatments are limited to the targeting of cholinergic deficits and glutamatergic dysfunctions. However, as understanding of β-amyloid plaques and NFTs expands, these dysfunctional proteins represent potential therapeutic interventions. The present review article evaluates active and passive immunotherapies in clinical development for AD to date and their potential to significantly improve the treatment of AD going forward. AREAS COVERED All clinical trials that have targeted β-amyloid to date have produced somewhat disappointing results, leading to a shift in intervention focus to targeting tau protein. A key component in understanding the value of targeting tau in therapeutic paradigms has come from the conceptualization of prion-like pathological spread of tau isoforms from neuron to neuron, and referred to as 'tauons'. Immunotherapies currently under investigation include approaches aiming at preventing pathological tau aggregation, stabilizing microtubules, and blocking of tauons. EXPERT OPINION A multi-targeted approach that would use biologics targeting tau offers great promise to the development of effective AD therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin L. Hoskin
- Department of Neurology, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain HealthCleveland Clinic Nevada, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Marwan Noel Sabbagh
- Department of Neurology, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain HealthCleveland Clinic Nevada, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Camille and Larry Ruvo Endowed Chair for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Yazan Al-Hasan
- Department of Neurology, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain HealthCleveland Clinic Nevada, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Boris Decourt
- Camille and Larry Ruvo Endowed Chair for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wang Z, Gao G, Duan C, Yang H. Progress of immunotherapy of anti-α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 115:108843. [PMID: 31055236 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive loss of neurons and abnormal protein accumulation, including amyloid (A)β and tau in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy bodies and α-synuclein (α-syn) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent evidence suggests that adaptive immunity plays an important role in PD, and that anti-α-syn antibodies can be used as therapy in neurodegenerative diseases; monoclonal antibodies were shown to inhibit α-syn propagation and aggregation in PD models and patients. In this review, we summarize the different pathological states of α-syn, including gene mutations, truncation, phosphorylation, and the high molecular weight form, and describe the specific antibodies that recognize the α-syn monomer or oligomer, some of which have been tested in clinic trials. We also discuss future research directions and potential targets in PD therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Wang
- Department of Neurobiology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center of Parkinson Disease Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory for Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Key Laboratory on Parkinson's Disease, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ge Gao
- Department of Neurobiology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center of Parkinson Disease Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory for Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Key Laboratory on Parkinson's Disease, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Chunli Duan
- Department of Neurobiology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center of Parkinson Disease Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory for Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Key Laboratory on Parkinson's Disease, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurobiology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center of Parkinson Disease Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory for Neural Regeneration and Repair, Beijing Key Laboratory on Parkinson's Disease, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Vasili E, Dominguez-Meijide A, Outeiro TF. Spreading of α-Synuclein and Tau: A Systematic Comparison of the Mechanisms Involved. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:107. [PMID: 31105524 PMCID: PMC6494944 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are age-associated neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) and tau, respectively. The coexistence of aSyn and tau aggregates suggests a strong overlap between tauopathies and synucleinopathies. Interestingly, misfolded forms of aSyn and tau can propagate from cell to cell, and throughout the brain, thereby templating the misfolding of native forms of the proteins. The exact mechanisms involved in the propagation of the two proteins show similarities, and are reminiscent of the spreading characteristic of prion diseases. Recently, several models were developed to study the spreading of aSyn and tau. Here, we discuss the mechanisms involved, the similarities and differences between the spreading of the two proteins and that of the prion protein, and the different cell and animal models used for studying these processes. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved may lead to the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention in a variety of devastating neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eftychia Vasili
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Antonio Dominguez-Meijide
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany.,The Medical School, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Ittner LM, Klugmann M, Ke YD. Adeno-associated virus-based Alzheimer's disease mouse models and potential new therapeutic avenues. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:3649-3665. [PMID: 30817847 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly prevalent neurodegenerative condition that presents with cognitive decline. The current understanding of underlying disease mechanisms remains incomplete. Genetically modified mouse models have been instrumental in deciphering pathomechanisms in AD. While these models were typically generated by classical transgenesis and genome editing, the use of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to model and investigate AD in mice, as well as to develop novel gene-therapy approaches, is emerging. Here, we reviewed literature that used AAVs to study and model AD and discuss potential gene therapy strategies. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on Therapeutics for Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: New Directions for Precision Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.18/issuetoc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthias Klugmann
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yazi D Ke
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Yu A, Fox SG, Cavallini A, Kerridge C, O'Neill MJ, Wolak J, Bose S, Morimoto RI. Tau protein aggregates inhibit the protein-folding and vesicular trafficking arms of the cellular proteostasis network. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:7917-7930. [PMID: 30936201 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.007527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a diverse class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the formation of insoluble tau aggregates and the loss of cellular function and neuronal death. Tau inclusions have been shown to contain a number of proteins, including molecular chaperones, but the consequences of these entrapments are not well established. Here, using a human cell system for seeding-dependent tau aggregation, we demonstrate that the molecular chaperones heat-shock cognate 71-kDa protein (HSC70)/heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), HSP90, and J-domain co-chaperones are sequestered by tau aggregates. By employing single-cell analysis of protein-folding and clathrin-mediated endocytosis, we show that both chaperone-dependent cellular activities are significantly impaired by tau aggregation and can be reversed by treatment with small-molecule regulators of heat-shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) proteostasis that induce the expression of cytosolic chaperones. These results reveal that the sequestration of cytoplasmic molecular chaperones by tau aggregates interferes with two arms of the proteostasis network, likely having profound negative consequences for cellular function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anan Yu
- From the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208 and
| | - Susan G Fox
- From the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208 and
| | - Annalisa Cavallini
- the Lilly Research Centre, Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Kerridge
- the Lilly Research Centre, Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J O'Neill
- the Lilly Research Centre, Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Wolak
- the Lilly Research Centre, Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Suchira Bose
- the Lilly Research Centre, Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6PH, United Kingdom
| | - Richard I Morimoto
- From the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208 and
| |
Collapse
|