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Yang J, Shen N, Shen J, Yang Y, Li HL. Complicated Role of Post-translational Modification and Protease-Cleaved Fragments of Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:4712-4731. [PMID: 38114762 PMCID: PMC11236937 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03867-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Tau, a microtubule-associated protein predominantly localized in neuronal axons, plays a crucial role in promoting microtubule assembly, stabilizing their structure, and participating in axonal transport. Perturbations in tau's structure and function are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as tauopathies, the most common disorder of which is Alzheimer's disease (AD). In tauopathies, it has been found that tau has a variety of post-translational modification (PTM) abnormalities and/or tau is cleaved into a variety of fragments by some specific proteolytic enzymes; however, the precise contributions of these abnormal modifications and fragments to disease onset and progression remain incompletely understood. Herein, we provide an overview about the involvement of distinctive abnormal tau PTMs and different tau fragments in the pathogenesis of AD and other tauopathies and discuss the involvement of proteolytic enzymes such as caspases, calpains, and asparagine endopeptidase in mediating tau cleavage while also addressing the intercellular transmission role played by tau. We anticipate that further exploration into PTMs and fragmented forms of tau will yield valuable insights for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions targeting AD and other related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Naiting Shen
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jianying Shen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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2
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Langerscheidt F, Wied T, Al Kabbani MA, van Eimeren T, Wunderlich G, Zempel H. Genetic forms of tauopathies: inherited causes and implications of Alzheimer's disease-like TAU pathology in primary and secondary tauopathies. J Neurol 2024; 271:2992-3018. [PMID: 38554150 PMCID: PMC11136742 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12314-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurologic diseases characterized by pathological axodendritic distribution, ectopic expression, and/or phosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein TAU, encoded by the gene MAPT. Neuronal dysfunction, dementia, and neurodegeneration are common features of these often detrimental diseases. A neurodegenerative disease is considered a primary tauopathy when MAPT mutations/haplotypes are its primary cause and/or TAU is the main pathological feature. In case TAU pathology is observed but superimposed by another pathological hallmark, the condition is classified as a secondary tauopathy. In some tauopathies (e.g. MAPT-associated frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD)) TAU is recognized as a significant pathogenic driver of the disease. In many secondary tauopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), TAU is suggested to contribute to the development of dementia, but in others (e.g. Niemann-Pick disease (NPC)) TAU may only be a bystander. The genetic and pathological mechanisms underlying TAU pathology are often not fully understood. In this review, the genetic predispositions and variants associated with both primary and secondary tauopathies are examined in detail, assessing evidence for the role of TAU in these conditions. We highlight less common genetic forms of tauopathies to increase awareness for these disorders and the involvement of TAU in their pathology. This approach not only contributes to a deeper understanding of these conditions but may also lay the groundwork for potential TAU-based therapeutic interventions for various tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Langerscheidt
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tamara Wied
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Von-Liebig-Str. 20, 53359, Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Mohamed Aghyad Al Kabbani
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thilo van Eimeren
- Multimodal Neuroimaging Group, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gilbert Wunderlich
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
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3
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Chu D, Yang X, Wang J, Zhou Y, Gu JH, Miao J, Wu F, Liu F. Tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1221-1232. [PMID: 37905868 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two major neuropathological hallmarks-the extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, especially specific proteolysis, could be a driving force for Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration. Tau physiologically promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, whereas specific truncated fragments are sufficient to induce abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregate into toxic oligomers, resulting in them gaining prion-like characteristics. In addition, Tau truncations cause extensive impairments to neural and glial cell functions and animal cognition and behavior in a fragment-dependent manner. This review summarizes over 60 proteolytic cleavage sites and their corresponding truncated fragments, investigates the role of specific truncations in physiological and pathological states of Alzheimer's disease, and summarizes the latest applications of strategies targeting Tau fragments in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin Miao
- Laboratory of Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
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4
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Rizzi L, Grinberg LT. Exploring the significance of caspase-cleaved tau in tauopathies and as a complementary pathology to phospho-tau in Alzheimer's disease: implications for biomarker development and therapeutic targeting. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:36. [PMID: 38419122 PMCID: PMC10900669 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01744-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases that typically require postmortem examination for a definitive diagnosis. Detecting neurotoxic tau fragments in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum provides an opportunity for in vivo diagnosis and disease monitoring. Current assays primarily focus on total tau or phospho-tau, overlooking other post-translational modifications (PTMs). Caspase-cleaved tau is a significant component of AD neuropathological lesions, and experimental studies confirm the high neurotoxicity of these tau species. Recent evidence indicates that certain caspase-cleaved tau species, such as D13 and D402, are abundant in AD brain neurons and only show a modest degree of co-occurrence with phospho-tau, meaning caspase-truncated tau pathology is partially distinct and complementary to phospho-tau pathology. Furthermore, these caspase-cleaved tau species are nearly absent in 4-repeat tauopathies. In this review, we will discuss the significance of caspase-cleaved tau in the development of tauopathies, specifically emphasizing its role in AD. In addition, we will explore the potential of caspase-cleaved tau as a biomarker and the advantages for drug development targeting caspase-6. Developing specific and sensitive assays for caspase-cleaved tau in biofluids holds promise for improving the diagnosis and monitoring of tauopathies, providing valuable insights into disease progression and treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liara Rizzi
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Sandler Neurosciences Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Lea T Grinberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Sandler Neurosciences Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Department of Pathology, LIM-22, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Volik PI, Kopeina GS, Zhivotovsky B, Zamaraev AV. Total recall: the role of PIDDosome components in neurodegeneration. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:996-1013. [PMID: 37716905 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
The PIDDosome is a multiprotein complex that includes p53-induced protein with a death domain 1 (PIDD1), receptor-interacting protein-associated ICH-1/CED-3 homologous protein with a death domain (RAIDD), and caspase-2, the activation of which is driven by PIDDosome assembly. In addition to the key role of the PIDDosome in the regulation of cell differentiation, tissue homeostasis, and organogenesis and regeneration, caspase-2, RAIDD and PIDD1 engagement in neuronal development was shown. Here, we focus on the involvement of PIDDosome components in neurodegenerative disorders, including retinal neuropathies, different types of brain damage, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Lewy body disease. We also discuss pathogenic variants of PIDD1, RAIDD, and caspase-2 that are associated with intellectual, behavioral, and psychological abnormalities, together with prospective PIDDosome inhibition strategies and their potential clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel I Volik
- Facuty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, RAS, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Gelina S Kopeina
- Facuty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, RAS, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Boris Zhivotovsky
- Facuty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, RAS, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Division of Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Alexey V Zamaraev
- Facuty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, RAS, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
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Cuellar ME, Yang M, Karavadhi S, Zhang YQ, Zhu H, Sun H, Shen M, Hall MD, Patnaik S, Ashe KH, Walters MA, Pockes S. An electrophilic fragment screening for the development of small molecules targeting caspase-2. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115632. [PMID: 37453329 PMCID: PMC10529632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent Alzheimer's research has shown increasing interest in the caspase-2 (Casp2) enzyme. However, the available Casp2 inhibitors, which have been pentapeptides or peptidomimetics, face challenges for use as CNS drugs. In this study, we successfully screened a 1920-compound chloroacetamide-based, electrophilic fragment library from Enamine. Our two-point dose screen identified 64 Casp2 hits, which were further evaluated in a ten-point dose-response study to assess selectivity over Casp3. We discovered compounds with inhibition values in the single-digit micromolar and sub-micromolar range, as well as up to 32-fold selectivity for Casp2 over Casp3. Target engagement analysis confirmed the covalent-irreversible binding of the selected fragments to Cys320 at the active site of Casp2. Overall, our findings lay a strong foundation for the future development of small-molecule Casp2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Cuellar
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA
| | - Mu Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA
| | - Surendra Karavadhi
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Ya-Qin Zhang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Hu Zhu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Hongmao Sun
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Samarjit Patnaik
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Karen H Ashe
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Michael A Walters
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA.
| | - Steffen Pockes
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA; Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
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7
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Lepinay E, Cicchetti F. Tau: a biomarker of Huntington's disease. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4070-4083. [PMID: 37749233 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02230-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Developing effective treatments for patients with Huntington's disease (HD)-a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe cognitive, motor and psychiatric impairments-is proving extremely challenging. While the monogenic nature of this condition enables to identify individuals at risk, robust biomarkers would still be extremely valuable to help diagnose disease onset and progression, and especially to confirm treatment efficacy. If measurements of cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament levels, for example, have demonstrated use in recent clinical trials, other proteins may prove equal, if not greater, relevance as biomarkers. In fact, proteins such as tau could specifically be used to detect/predict cognitive affectations. We have herein reviewed the literature pertaining to the association between tau levels and cognitive states, zooming in on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and traumatic brain injury in which imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood samples have been interrogated or used to unveil a strong association between tau and cognition. Collectively, these areas of research have accrued compelling evidence to suggest tau-related measurements as both diagnostic and prognostic tools for clinical practice. The abundance of information retrieved in this niche of study has laid the groundwork for further understanding whether tau-related biomarkers may be applied to HD and guide future investigations to better understand and treat this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Lepinay
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
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8
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Pockes S, Walters MA, Ashe KH. Targeting caspase-2 interactions with tau in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Transl Res 2023; 254:34-40. [PMID: 36343883 PMCID: PMC9991976 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Targeting amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles has failed to provide effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). A more fruitful pathway to ADRD therapeutics may be the development of therapies that target common signaling pathways that disrupt synaptic connections and impede communication between neurons. In this review, we present our characterization of a signaling pathway common to several neurological diseases featuring dementia including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Huntington's disease. This signaling pathway features the cleavage of tau by caspase-2 (Casp2) yielding Δtau314 (Casp2/tau/Δtau314). Through a not yet fully delineated mechanism, Δtau314 catalyzes the mislocalization and accumulation of tau to dendritic spines leading to the internalization of AMPA receptors and the concomitant weakening of synaptic transmission. Here, we review the accumulated evidence supporting Casp2 as a druggable target and its importance in ADRD. Additionally, we provide a brief overview of our initial medicinal chemistry explorations aimed at the preparation of novel, brain penetrant Casp2 inhibitors. We anticipate that this review will spark broader interest in Casp2 as a target for restoring synaptic dysfunction in ADRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Pockes
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| | - Michael A Walters
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| | - Karen H Ashe
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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9
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Khezri MR, Ghasemnejad-Berenji M. The Role of Caspases in Alzheimer's Disease: Pathophysiology Implications and Pharmacologic Modulation. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 91:71-90. [PMID: 36442198 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220873] [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: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Although the main cause of the onset and development of AD is not known yet, neuronal death due to pathologic changes such as amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition, tau aggregation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and calcium dyshomeostasis are considered to be the main cause. At the present, there is no cure for this insidious disorder. However, accurate identification of molecular changes in AD can help provide new therapeutic goals. Caspases are a group of proteases which are known because of their role in cellular apoptosis. In addition, different caspases are involved in other cellular responses to the environment, such as induction of inflammation. Emerging evidence suggest that these proteases play a central role in AD pathophysiology due to their role in the processing of amyloid-β protein precursor, tau cleavage, and neuroinflammation. Therefore, it seems that targeting caspases may be a suitable therapeutic option to slow the progression of AD. This review focuses on the role of caspases in AD pathophysiology and introduce results from studies targeted caspases in different models of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Morteza Ghasemnejad-Berenji
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.,Research Center for Experimental and Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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10
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Dhage PA, Sharbidre AA, Magdum SM. Interlacing the relevance of caspase activation in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res Bull 2023; 192:83-92. [PMID: 36372374 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases is a renowned regulator of apoptosis. Members of this family are responsible for the proteolytic dismantling of numerous cellular structures. Apart from apoptosis, caspases remarkably contribute to a diverse range of molecular processes. Being the imperative members of several cellular cascades their abnormal activation/deactivation has severe implications and also leads to various diseased conditions. Similar aberrant activation of caspases is one of the several causes of neuropathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), a form of dementia severely affecting neuropsychiatric and cognitive functions. Emerging studies are providing deeper insights into the mechanisms of caspase action in the progression of AD. Current article is an attempt to review these studies and present the action mechanisms of different mammalian caspases in the advancement of AD associated neuropathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajakta A Dhage
- Department of Zoology, K.R.T. Arts, B.H. Commerce and A.M. Science College (KTHM College), Nashik 422002, MS, India.
| | - Archana A Sharbidre
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, MS, India.
| | - Sujata M Magdum
- Department of Zoology, K.R.T. Arts, B.H. Commerce and A.M. Science College (KTHM College), Nashik 422002, MS, India.
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11
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Hlynialuk C, Kemper L, Leinonen-Wright K, Petersen RC, Ashe K, Smith B. Caspase-2 mRNA levels are not elevated in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, or Lewy Body dementia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274784. [PMID: 36129947 PMCID: PMC9491574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Caspase-2 is a member of the caspase family that exhibits both apoptotic and non-apoptotic properties, and has been shown to mediate synaptic deficits in models of several neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Lewy Body dementia (LBD). Our lab previously reported that caspase-2 protein levels are elevated in these diseases, leading us to hypothesize that elevated caspase-2 protein levels are due to increased transcription of caspase-2 mRNA. There are two major isoforms of caspase-2 mRNA, caspase-2L and caspase-2S. We tested our hypothesis by measuring the levels of these mRNA isoforms normalized to levels of RPL13 mRNA, a reference gene that showed no disease-associated changes. Here, we report no increases in caspase-2L mRNA levels in any of the three diseases studied, AD (with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)), HD and LBD, disproving our hypothesis. Caspase-2S mRNA showed a non-significant downward trend in AD. We also analyzed expression levels of SNAP25 and βIII-tubulin mRNA. SNAP25 mRNA was significantly lower in AD and there were downward trends in MCI, LBD, and HD. βIII-tubulin mRNA expression remained unchanged between disease groups and controls. These findings indicate that factors besides transcriptional regulation cause increases in caspase-2 protein levels. The reduction of SNAP25 mRNA expression suggests that presynaptic dysfunction contributes to cognitive deficits in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Hlynialuk
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Lisa Kemper
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Kailee Leinonen-Wright
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Ronald C. Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Karen Ashe
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Benjamin Smith
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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12
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Steuer EL, Kemper LJ, Hlynialuk CJW, Leinonen-Wright K, Montonye ML, Lapcinski IP, Forster CL, Ashe KH, Liu P. Blocking Site-Specific Cleavage of Human Tau Delays Progression of Disease-Related Phenotypes in Genetically Matched Tau-Transgenic Mice Modeling Frontotemporal Dementia. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4737-4754. [PMID: 35508385 PMCID: PMC9186797 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0543-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have recently demonstrated that a caspase-2-mediated cleavage of human tau (htau) at asparate-314 (D314) is responsible for cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration in mice modeling frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, these animal studies may be confounded by flaws in their model systems, such as endogenous functional gene disruption and inequivalent transgene expression. To avoid these weaknesses, we examined the pathogenic role of this site-specific htau cleavage in FTD using genetically matched htau targeted-insertion mouse lines: rT2 and rT3. Both male and female mice were included in this study. rT2 mice contain a single copy of the FTD-linked htau proline-to-leucine mutation at amino acid 301 (htau P301L), inserted into a neutral site to avoid dysregulation of host gene expression. The similarly constructed rT3 mice harbor an additional D314-to-glutamate (D314E) mutation that blocks htau cleavage. We demonstrate that htau transgene expression occurs primarily in the forebrain at similar levels in rT2 and rT3 mice. Importantly, expression of the cleavage-resistant D314E mutant delays transgene-induced tau accumulation in the postsynaptic density, brain atrophy, hippocampal neurodegeneration, and spatial memory impairment, without altering age-related progression of pathologic tau conformation and phosphorylation. Our comprehensive investigation of age-dependent disease phenotypes associated with the htau P301L variant in precisely engineered FTD-modeling mice unveils a transiently protective effect of blocking htau cleavage at D314. Findings of this study advance our understanding of the contribution of this tau cleavage to the pathogenesis of FTD, and aid the development of effective dementia-targeting therapies.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A site-specific and caspase-2-mediated cleavage of human tau plays a pathologic role in dementia. In this study, we investigate the contribution of this cleavage to the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) using two genetically matched, tau-transgene targeted-insertion mouse lines that differ only by a cleavage-resistant mutation. The use of these mice avoids confounding effects associated with the random integration of tau transgenes to the mouse genome and allows us to comprehensively evaluate the impact of the tau cleavage on FTD phenotypes. Our data reveal that blocking this tau cleavage delays memory impairment and neurodegeneration of FTD-modeling mice. These findings improve our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying FTD and will facilitate the development of effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Steuer
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
| | - Lisa J Kemper
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
| | | | | | | | - Ian P Lapcinski
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
| | - Colleen L Forster
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- UMN Academic Health Center Biological Materials Procurement Network, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Karen H Ashe
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417
| | - Peng Liu
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
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13
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Singh G, Liu P, Yao KR, Strasser JM, Hlynialuk C, Leinonen-Wright K, Teravskis PJ, Choquette JM, Ikramuddin J, Bresinsky M, Nelson KM, Liao D, Ashe KH, Walters MA, Pockes S. Caspase-2 Inhibitor Blocks Tau Truncation and Restores Excitatory Neurotransmission in Neurons Modeling FTDP-17 Tauopathy. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1549-1557. [PMID: 35522720 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic and cognitive deficits mediated by a severe reduction in excitatory neurotransmission caused by a disproportionate accumulation of the neuronal protein tau in dendritic spines is a fundamental mechanism that has been found repeatedly in models of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and traumatic brain injury. Synapses thus damaged may contribute to dementia, among the most feared cause of debilitation in the elderly, and currently there are no treatments to repair them. Caspase-2 (Casp2) is an essential component of this pathological cascade. Although it is believed that Casp2 exerts its effects by hydrolyzing tau at aspartate-314, forming Δtau314, it is also possible that a noncatalytic mechanism is involved because catalytically dead Casp2 is biologically active in at least one relevant cellular pathway, that is, autophagy. To decipher whether the pathological effects of Casp2 on synaptic function are due to its catalytic or noncatalytic properties, we discovered and characterized a new Casp2 inhibitor, compound 1 [pKi (Casp2) = 8.12], which is 123-fold selective versus Casp3 and >2000-fold selective versus Casp1, Casp6, Casp7, and Casp9. In an in vitro assay based on Casp2-mediated cleavage of tau, compound 1 blocked the production of Δtau314. Importantly, compound 1 prevented tau from accumulating excessively in dendritic spines and rescued excitatory neurotransmission in cultured primary rat hippocampal neurons expressing the P301S tau variant linked to FTDP-17, a familial tauopathy. These results support the further development of small-molecule Casp2 inhibitors to treat synaptic deficits in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurpreet Singh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katherine R. Yao
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jessica M. Strasser
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Chris Hlynialuk
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Kailee Leinonen-Wright
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Peter J. Teravskis
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jessica M. Choquette
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Junaid Ikramuddin
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Merlin Bresinsky
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kathryn M. Nelson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Dezhi Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Karen H. Ashe
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, GRECC, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417, United States
| | - Michael A. Walters
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Steffen Pockes
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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14
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Bresinsky M, Strasser JM, Vallaster B, Liu P, McCue WM, Fuller J, Hubmann A, Singh G, Nelson KM, Cuellar ME, Wilmot CM, Finzel BC, Ashe KH, Walters MA, Pockes S. Structure-Based Design and Biological Evaluation of Novel Caspase-2 Inhibitors Based on the Peptide AcVDVAD-CHO and the Caspase-2-Mediated Tau Cleavage Sequence YKPVD314. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:20-40. [PMID: 35059567 PMCID: PMC8762753 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) was first described by Alois Alzheimer over 100 years ago, but there is still no overarching theory that can explain its cause in detail. There are also no effective therapies to treat either the cause or the associated symptoms of this devastating disease. A potential approach to better understand the pathogenesis of AD could be the development of selective caspase-2 (Casp2) probes, as we have shown that a Casp2-mediated cleavage product of tau (Δtau314) reversibly impairs cognitive and synaptic function in animal models of tauopathies. In this article, we map out the Casp2 binding site through the preparation and assay of a series of 35 pentapeptide inhibitors with the goal of gaining selectivity against caspase-3 (Casp3). We also employed computational docking methods to understand the key interactions in the binding pocket of Casp2 and the differences predicted for binding at Casp3. Moreover, we crystallographically characterized the binding of selected pentapeptides with Casp3. Furthermore, we engineered and expressed a series of recombinant tau mutants and investigated them in an in vitro cleavage assay. These studies resulted in simple peptidic inhibitors with nanomolar affinity, for example, AcVDV(Dab)D-CHO (24) with up to 27.7-fold selectivity against Casp3. Our findings provide a good basis for the future development of selective Casp2 probes and inhibitors that can serve as pharmacological tools in planned in vivo studies and as lead compounds for the design of bioavailable and more drug-like small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merlin Bresinsky
- Institute
of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Jessica M. Strasser
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Bernadette Vallaster
- Institute
of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Peng Liu
- Department
of Neurology, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis 55455, United States
| | - William M. McCue
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Jessica Fuller
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Alexander Hubmann
- Institute
of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Gurpreet Singh
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Kathryn M. Nelson
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Matthew E. Cuellar
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Carrie M. Wilmot
- Department
of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Barry C. Finzel
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Karen H. Ashe
- Department
of Neurology, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis 55455, United States
| | - Michael A. Walters
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States,
| | - Steffen Pockes
- Institute
of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, Regensburg 93053, Germany,Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States,Department
of Neurology, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis 55455, United States,
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15
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Targeted proteolytic products of τ and α-synuclein in neurodegeneration. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:905-912. [PMID: 34846537 PMCID: PMC8709889 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20210028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
CNS pathological inclusions comprising τ or α-synuclein (αSyn) define a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, and these can often present concurrently in the same individuals. The aggregation of both proteins is clearly associated with neurodegeneration and the deleterious properties of each protein is further supported by mutations in each gene (MAPT and SNCA, respectively) resulting in disease. The initiating events in most sporadic neurodegenerative diseases are still unclear but growing evidence suggests that the aberrant proteolytic cleavage of τ and αSyn results in products that can be toxic and/or initiate aggregation that can further spread by a prion-like mechanism. The accumulation of some of these cleavage products can further potentiate the progression of protein aggregation transmission and lead to their accumulation in peripheral biofluids such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. The future development of new tools to detect specific τ and αSyn abnormal cleavage products in peripheral biofluids could be useful biomarkers and better understand of the role of unique proteolytic activities could yield therapeutic interventions.
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16
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Vogels T, Vargová G, Brezováková V, Quint WH, Hromádka T. Viral Delivery of Non-Mutated Human Truncated Tau to Neurons Recapitulates Key Features of Human Tauopathy in Wild-Type Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 77:551-568. [PMID: 32675411 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated and truncated tau aggregates is one of the major defining factors and key drivers of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. OBJECTIVE We developed an AAV-induced model of tauopathy mediated by human truncated tau protein without familial frontotemporal dementia-related mutations to study tau propagation and the functional consequences of tau pathology. METHODS We performed targeted transductions of the hippocampus or entorhinal cortex in adult mice followed by histological analysis to study the progression of hippocampal tau pathology and tau spreading. We performed behavioral analysis of mice with AAV-induced hippocampal tau pathology. RESULTS AAV-induced hippocampal tau pathology was characterized by tau hyperphosphorylation (AT8 positivity), sarkosyl insolubility, and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles. AAV-induced tau pathology was associated with microgliosis and hypertrophic astrocytes in the absence of cognitive deficits. Additionally, the co-expression of mCherry fluorescent protein and human truncated tau enabled us to detect both local spreading of human tau and spreading from the entorhinal cortex to the synaptically connected dentate gyrus. CONCLUSION Targeted delivery of AAV with truncated tau protein into subcortical and cortical structures of mammalian brains represents an efficient approach for creating temporally and spatially well-defined tau pathology suitable for in vivo studies of tau propagation and neuronal circuit deficits in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Vogels
- Axon Neuroscience R & D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Gréta Vargová
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | | | - Tomáš Hromádka
- Axon Neuroscience R & D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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17
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Liu P, Ashe KH. The molecular implications of a caspase-2-mediated site-specific tau cleavage in tauopathies. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1774-1775. [PMID: 33510072 PMCID: PMC8328769 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.306073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Department of Neurology; N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Karen H Ashe
- Department of Neurology; Department of Neuroscience; N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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18
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Masnata M, Salem S, de Rus Jacquet A, Anwer M, Cicchetti F. Targeting Tau to Treat Clinical Features of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurol 2020; 11:580732. [PMID: 33329322 PMCID: PMC7710872 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.580732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe motor, cognitive and psychiatric impairments. While motor deficits often confirm diagnosis, cognitive dysfunctions usually manifest early in the disease process and are consistently ranked among the leading factors that impact the patients' quality of life. The genetic component of HD, a mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, is traditionally presented as the main contributor to disease pathology. However, accumulating evidence suggests the implication of the microtubule-associated tau protein to the pathogenesis and therefore, proposes an alternative conceptual framework where tau and mutant huntingtin (mHTT) act conjointly to drive neurodegeneration and cognitive dysfunction. This perspective on disease etiology offers new avenues to design therapeutic interventions and could leverage decades of research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies to rapidly advance drug discovery. In this mini review, we examine the breadth of tau-targeting treatments currently tested in the preclinical and clinical settings for AD and other tauopathies, and discuss the potential application of these strategies to HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Masnata
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Shireen Salem
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Aurelie de Rus Jacquet
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Mehwish Anwer
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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19
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Sladky VC, Villunger A. Uncovering the PIDDosome and caspase-2 as regulators of organogenesis and cellular differentiation. Cell Death Differ 2020; 27:2037-2047. [PMID: 32415279 PMCID: PMC7308375 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-0556-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The PIDDosome is a multiprotein complex that drives activation of caspase-2, an endopeptidase originally implicated in apoptosis. Yet, unlike other caspases involved in cell death and inflammation, caspase-2 seems to exert additional versatile functions unrelated to cell death. These emerging roles range from control of transcription factor activity to ploidy surveillance. Thus, caspase-2 and the PIDDosome act as a critical regulatory unit controlling cellular differentiation processes during organogenesis and regeneration. These newly established functions of the PIDDosome and its downstream effector render its components attractive targets for drug-development aiming to prevent fatty liver diseases, neurodegenerative disorders or osteoporosis. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina C Sladky
- Division of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Villunger
- Division of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. .,Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, 1090, Vienna, Austria. .,CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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20
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Teravskis PJ, Ashe KH, Liao D. The Accumulation of Tau in Postsynaptic Structures: A Common Feature in Multiple Neurodegenerative Diseases? Neuroscientist 2020; 26:503-520. [PMID: 32389059 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420916696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Increasingly, research suggests that neurodegenerative diseases and dementias are caused not by unique, solitary cellular mechanisms, but by multiple contributory mechanisms manifesting as heterogeneous clinical presentations. However, diverse neurodegenerative diseases also share common pathological hallmarks and cellular mechanisms. One such mechanism involves the redistribution of the microtubule associated protein tau from the axon into the somatodendritic compartment of neurons, followed by the mislocalization of tau into dendritic spines, resulting in postsynaptic functional deficits. Here we review various signaling pathways that trigger the redistribution of tau to the cell body and dendritic tree, and its mislocalization to dendritic spines. The convergence of multiple pathways in different disease models onto this final common pathway suggests that it may be an attractive pathway to target for developing new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Teravskis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Karen H Ashe
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,N. Budd Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Dezhi Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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21
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A soluble truncated tau species related to cognitive dysfunction is elevated in the brain of cognitively impaired human individuals. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3869. [PMID: 32123248 PMCID: PMC7052165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60777-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and their levels correlate with the severity of cognitive dysfunction in humans. However, experimental evidence suggests that soluble tau species cause cognitive deficits and memory impairment. Our recent study suggests that caspase-2 (Casp2)-catalyzed tau cleavage at aspartate 314 mediates synaptic dysfunction and memory impairment in mouse and cellular models of neurodegenerative disorders. Δtau314, the C-terminally-truncated cleavage products, are soluble and present in human brain. In addition, levels of Δtau314 proteins are elevated in the brain of the cognitively impaired individuals compared to the cognitively normal individuals, indicating a possible role for Δtau314 proteins in cognitive deterioration. Here we show that (1) Δtau314 proteins are present in the inferior temporal gyrus of human brains; (2) Δtau314 proteins are generated from all six tau splicing isoforms, (3) levels of both Casp2 and Δtau314 proteins are elevated in cognitively impaired individuals compared to cognitively normal individuals, and (4) levels of Δtau314 proteins show a modest predictive value for dementia. These findings advance our understanding of the characteristics of Δtau314 proteins and their relevance to cognitive dysfunction and shed light on the contribution of Casp2-mediated Δtau314 production to cognitive deterioration.
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22
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Kalabova D, Filandr F, Alblova M, Petrvalska O, Horvath M, Man P, Obsil T, Obsilova V. 14-3-3 protein binding blocks the dimerization interface of caspase-2. FEBS J 2020; 287:3494-3510. [PMID: 31961068 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Among all species, caspase-2 (C2) is the most evolutionarily conserved caspase required for effective initiation of apoptosis following death stimuli. C2 is activated through dimerization and autoproteolytic cleavage and inhibited through phosphorylation at Ser139 and Ser164 , within the linker between the caspase recruitment and p19 domains of the zymogen, followed by association with the adaptor protein 14-3-3, which maintains C2 in its immature form procaspase (proC2). However, the mechanism of 14-3-3-dependent inhibition of C2 activation remains unclear. Here, we report the structural characterization of the complex between proC2 and 14-3-3 by hydrogen/deuterium mass spectrometry and protein crystallography to determine the molecular basis for 14-3-3-mediated inhibition of C2 activation. Our data reveal that the 14-3-3 dimer interacts with proC2 not only through ligand-binding grooves but also through other regions outside the central channel, thus explaining the isoform-dependent specificity of 14-3-3 protein binding to proC2 and the substantially higher binding affinity of 14-3-3 protein to proC2 than to the doubly phosphorylated peptide. The formation of the complex between 14-3-3 protein and proC2 does not induce any large conformational change in proC2. Furthermore, 14-3-3 protein interacts with and masks both the nuclear localization sequence and the C-terminal region of the p12 domain of proC2 through transient interactions in which both the p19 and p12 domains of proC2 are not firmly docked onto the surface of 14-3-3. This masked region of p12 domain is involved in C2 dimerization. Therefore, 14-3-3 protein likely inhibits proC2 activation by blocking its dimerization surface. DATABASES: Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank under the accession numbers 6SAD and 6S9K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Kalabova
- Division BIOCEV, Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Filandr
- Division BIOCEV, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslava Alblova
- Division BIOCEV, Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Olivia Petrvalska
- Division BIOCEV, Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Matej Horvath
- Division BIOCEV, Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Man
- Division BIOCEV, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Obsil
- Division BIOCEV, Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Obsilova
- Division BIOCEV, Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
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