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Parra Bravo C, Naguib SA, Gan L. Cellular and pathological functions of tau. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9. [PMID: 39014245 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is involved in various cellular processes, including having a canonical role in binding and stabilization of microtubules in neurons. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases marked by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein aggregates in neurons, as seen, for example, in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Mutations in tau coding regions or that disrupt tau mRNA splicing, tau post-translational modifications and cellular stress factors (such as oxidative stress and inflammation) increase the tendency of tau to aggregate and interfere with its clearance. Pathological tau is strongly implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the propagation of tau aggregates is associated with disease severity. Recent technological advancements, including cryo-electron microscopy and disease models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, have increased our understanding of tau-related pathology in neurodegenerative conditions. Substantial progress has been made in deciphering tau aggregate structures and the molecular mechanisms that underlie protein aggregation and toxicity. In this Review, we discuss recent insights into the diverse cellular functions of tau and the pathology of tau inclusions and explore the potential for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah A Naguib
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Harvey J. Novel Leptin-Based Therapeutic Strategies to Limit Synaptic Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7352. [PMID: 39000459 PMCID: PMC11242278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137352] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau and amyloid beta (Aβ) are key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increasing evidence indicates that in the early pre-clinical stages of AD, phosphorylation and build-up of tau drives impairments in hippocampal excitatory synaptic function, which ultimately leads to cognitive deficits. Consequently, limiting tau-related synaptic abnormalities may have beneficial effects in AD. There is now significant evidence that the hippocampus is an important brain target for the endocrine hormone leptin and that leptin has pro-cognitive properties, as activation of synaptic leptin receptors markedly influences higher cognitive processes including learning and memory. Clinical studies have identified a link between the circulating leptin levels and the risk of AD, such that AD risk is elevated when leptin levels fall outwith the physiological range. This has fuelled interest in targeting the leptin system therapeutically. Accumulating evidence supports this possibility, as numerous studies have shown that leptin has protective effects in a variety of models of AD. Recent findings have demonstrated that leptin has beneficial effects in the preclinical stages of AD, as leptin prevents the early synaptic impairments driven by tau protein and amyloid β. Here we review recent findings that implicate the leptin system as a potential novel therapeutic target in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Harvey
- Department of Neuroscience, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
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3
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Kalyaanamoorthy S, Opare SK, Xu X, Ganesan A, Rao PPN. Post-Translational Modifications in Tau and Their Roles in Alzheimer's Pathology. Curr Alzheimer Res 2024; 21:24-49. [PMID: 38623984 DOI: 10.2174/0115672050301407240408033046] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (also known as tau) has been shown to accumulate into paired helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles, which are known hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Decades of research have shown that tau protein undergoes extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs), which can alter the protein's structure, function, and dynamics and impact the various properties such as solubility, aggregation, localization, and homeostasis. There is a vast amount of information describing the impact and role of different PTMs in AD pathology and neuroprotection. However, the complex interplay between these PTMs remains elusive. Therefore, in this review, we aim to comprehend the key post-translational modifications occurring in tau and summarize potential connections to clarify their impact on the physiology and pathophysiology of tau. Further, we describe how different computational modeling methods have helped in understanding the impact of PTMs on the structure and functions of the tau protein. Finally, we highlight the tau PTM-related therapeutics strategies that are explored for the development of AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stanley Kojo Opare
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiaoxiao Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aravindhan Ganesan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Praveen P N Rao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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4
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Hamilton K, Morrow K, Markantoni E, Harvey J. Leptin prevents aberrant targeting of tau to hippocampal synapses via PI 3 kinase driven inhibition of GSK3β. J Neurochem 2023; 167:520-537. [PMID: 37822142 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyper-phosphorylated tau are key hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with an accumulation of both proteins linked to hippocampal synaptic dysfunction. Recent evidence indicates that Aβ drives mis-localisation of tau from axons to synapses, resulting in AMPA receptor (AMPAR) internalisation and impaired excitatory synaptic function. These tau-driven synaptic impairments are thought to underlie the cognitive deficits in AD. Consequently, limiting the synapto-toxic effects of tau may prevent AD-related cognitive deficits. Increasing evidence links leptin dysfunction with higher AD risk, and numerous studies have identified neuroprotective properties of leptin in AD models of Aβ-induced toxicity. However, it is unclear if leptin protects against tau-related synaptic dysfunction. Here we show that Aβ1-42 significantly increases dendritic and synaptic levels of tau and p-tau in hippocampal neurons, and these effects were blocked by leptin. In accordance with GSK-3β being involved in tau phosphorylation, the protective effects of leptin involve PI 3-kinase (PI3K) activation and inhibition of GSK-3β. Aβ1-42 -driven synaptic targeting of tau was associated with the removal of GluA1-containing AMPARs from synapses, which was also inhibited by leptin-driven inhibition of GSK-3β. Direct application of oligomeric tau to hippocampal neurons caused internalisation of GluA1-containing AMPARs and this effect was blocked by prior application of leptin. Similarly, leptin prevented the ability of tau to block induction of activity-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal SC-CA1 synapses. These findings increase our understanding of the neuroprotective actions of leptin in the early pre-clinical stages of AD and further validate the leptin system as a therapeutic target in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Hamilton
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Kate Morrow
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Ermione Markantoni
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Jenni Harvey
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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5
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Fukiyama Y, Hirokawa T, Takai S, Kida T, Oku H. Involvement of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β (GSK3β) in Formation of Phosphorylated Tau and Death of Retinal Ganglion Cells of Rats Caused by Optic Nerve Crush. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:6941-6957. [PMID: 37754222 PMCID: PMC10527756 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45090438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathy is a neurodegenerative condition associated with oligomeric tau formation through abnormal phosphorylation. We previously showed that tauopathy is involved in death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve crush (ONC). It has been proposed that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is involved in the hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer's disease. To determine the roles of GSK3β in tauopathy-related death of RGCs, lithium chloride (LiCl), a GSK3β inhibitor, was injected intravitreally just after ONC. The neuroprotective effects of LiCl were determined by counting Tuj-1-stained RGCs on day 7. Changes of phosphorylated (ser 396) tau in the retina were determined by Simple Western analysis (WES) on day 3. Retinal GSK3β levels were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and an ELISA. There was a 1.9- and 2.1-fold increase in the levels of phosphorylated tau monomers and dimers on day 3 after ONC. LiCl significantly suppressed the increase in the levels of phosphorylated tau induced by ONC. GSK3β was mainly present in somas of RGCs, and ELISA showed that retinal levels increased to 2.0-fold on day 7. IHC showed that the GSK3β expression increased over time and remained in RGCs that were poorly stained by Tuj-1. The GSK3β and tau expression was colocalized in RGCs. The number of RGCs decreased from 1881 ± 188 (sham control) to 1150 ± 192 cells/mm2 on day 7, and LiCl preserved the levels at 1548 ± 173 cells/mm2. Accordingly, GSK3β may be a promising target for some optic nerve injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurie Fukiyama
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
| | - Takahisa Hirokawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
| | - Shinji Takai
- Department of Innovative Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan;
| | - Teruyo Kida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
| | - Hidehiro Oku
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
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Mody PH, Marvin KN, Hynds DL, Hanson LK. Cytomegalovirus infection induces Alzheimer's disease-associated alterations in tau. J Neurovirol 2023; 29:400-415. [PMID: 37436577 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-022-01109-9] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests with loss of neurons correlated with intercellular deposition of amyloid (amyloid plaques) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. However, targeting AD hallmarks has not as yet led to development of an effective treatment despite numerous clinical trials. A better understanding of the early stages of neurodegeneration may lead to development of more effective treatments. One underexplored area is the clinical correlation between infection with herpesviruses and increased risk of AD. We hypothesized that similar to work performed with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1), infection with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) herpesvirus increases levels and phosphorylation of tau, similar to AD tauopathy. We used murine CMV (MCMV) to infect mouse fibroblasts and rat neuronal cells to test our hypothesis. MCMV infection increased steady-state levels of primarily high molecular weight forms of tau and altered the patterns of tau phosphorylation. Both changes required viral late gene products. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) was upregulated in the HSVI model, but inhibition with lithium chloride suggested that this enzyme is unlikely to be involved in MCMV infection mediated tau phosphorylation. Thus, we confirm that MCMV, a beta herpes virus, like alpha herpes viruses (e.g., HSV1), can promote tau pathology. This suggests that CMV infection can be useful as another model system to study mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration. Since MCMV infects both mice and rats as permissive hosts, our findings from tissue culture can likely be applied to a variety of AD models to study development of abnormal tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapti H Mody
- Division of Biology, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, TX, 76204, USA
- Current affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Kelsey N Marvin
- Division of Biology, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, TX, 76204, USA
| | - DiAnna L Hynds
- Division of Biology, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, TX, 76204, USA
| | - Laura K Hanson
- Division of Biology, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, TX, 76204, USA.
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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.
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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
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Zhang H, Zhang Q, Tu J, You Q, Wang L. Dual function of protein phosphatase 5 (PPP5C): An emerging therapeutic target for drug discovery. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 254:115350. [PMID: 37054560 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorylation of proteins is reversibly controlled by the kinases and phosphatases in many posttranslational regulation patterns. Protein phosphatase 5 (PPP5C) is a serine/threonine protein phosphatase showing dual function by simultaneously exerting dephosphorylation and co-chaperone functions. Due to this special role, PPP5C was found to participate in many signal transductions related to various diseases. Abnormal expression of PPP5C results in cancers, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease, making it a potential drug target. However, the design of small molecules targeting PPP5C is struggling due to its special monomeric enzyme form and low basal activity by a self-inhibition mechanism. Through realizing the PPP5C's dual function as phosphatase and co-chaperone, more and more small molecules were found to regulate PPP5C with a different mechanism. This review aims to provide insights into PPP5C's dual function from structure to function, which could provide efficient design strategies for small molecules targeting PPP5C as therapeutic candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qiuyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jiaqi Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qidong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Solas M, Vela S, Smerdou C, Martisova E, Martínez-Valbuena I, Luquin MR, Ramírez MJ. JNK Activation in Alzheimer's Disease Is Driven by Amyloid β and Is Associated with Tau Pathology. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 36976903 PMCID: PMC10119940 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) is suggested to play a key role in neurodegenerative disorders, especially in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains unclear whether JNK or amyloid β (Aβ) appears first in the disease onset. Postmortem brain tissues from four dementia subtypes of patients (frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, and AD) were used to measure activated JNK (pJNK) and Aβ levels. pJNK expression is significantly increased in AD; however, similar pJNK expression was found in other dementias. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation, co-localization, and direct interaction between pJNK expression and Aβ levels in AD. Significant increased levels of pJNK were also found in Tg2576 mice, a model of AD. In this line, Aβ42 intracerebroventricular injection in wild-type mice was able to induce a significant elevation of pJNK levels. JNK3 overexpression, achieved by intrahippocampal injection of an adeno-associated viral vector expressing this protein, was enough to induce cognitive deficiencies and precipitate Tau aberrant misfolding in Tg2576 mice without accelerating amyloid pathology. JNK3 overexpression may therefore be triggered by increased Aβ. The latter, together with subsequent involvement of Tau pathology, may be underlying cognitive alterations in early stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Solas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Silvia Vela
- 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, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, 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
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Luo B, Chen J, Zhou GF, Xie XY, Tang J, Wen QX, Song L, Xie SQ, Long Y, Chen GJ, Hu XT. Apicidin attenuates memory deficits by reducing the Aβ load in APP/PS1 mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:1300-1311. [PMID: 36708130 PMCID: PMC10068467 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Amyloid beta (Aβ) is an important pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) can reduce the production of toxic Aβ by activating the nonamyloidogenic pathway of amyloid precursor protein (APP). We previously found that apicidin, which is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, can promote the expression of ADAM10 and reduce the production of Aβ in vitro. This study was designed to determine the potential of apicidin treatment to reverse learning and memory impairments in an AD mouse model and the possible correlation of these effects with ADAM10. METHODS Nine-month-old APP/PS1 mice and C57 mice received intraperitoneal injections of apicidin or vehicle for 2 months. At 11 months of age, we evaluated the memory performance of mice with Morris water maze (MWM) and context fear conditioning tests. The Aβ levels were assessed in mouse brain using the immunohistochemical method and ELISA. The expression of corresponding protein involved in proteolytic processing of APP and the phosphorylation of tau were assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS Apicidin reversed the deficits of spatial reference memory and contextual fear memory, attenuated the formation of Aβ-enriched plaques, and decreased the levels of soluble and insoluble Aβ40/42 in APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, apicidin significantly increased the expression of ADAM10, improved the level of sAPPα, and reduced the production of sAPPβ, but did not affect the levels of phosphorylated tau in APP/PS1 mice. CONCLUSION Apicidin significantly improves the AD symptoms of APP/PS1 mice by regulating the expression of ADAM10, which may contribute to decreasing the levels of Aβ rather than decreasing the phosphorylation of tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Luo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Gui-Feng Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Yong Xie
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Qi-Xin Wen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Song
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Shi-Qi Xie
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Long
- Department of Health Management, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guo-Jun Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Tong Hu
- Department of Health Management, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Neurology, The Ninth People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
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11
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Fernández-Ramírez MDC, Ng KKS, Menéndez M, Laurents DV, Hervás R, Carrión-Vázquez M. Expanded Conformations of Monomeric Tau Initiate Its Amyloidogenesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 62:e202209252. [PMID: 36542681 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202209252] [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: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Understanding early amyloidogenesis is key to rationally develop therapeutic strategies. Tau protein forms well-characterized pathological deposits but its aggregation mechanism is still poorly understood. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy based on a mechanical protection strategy, we studied the conformational landscape of the monomeric tau repeat domain (tau-RD244-368 ). We found two sets of conformational states, whose frequency is influenced by mutations and the chemical context. While pathological mutations Δ280K and P301L and a pro-amyloidogenic milieu favored expanded conformations and destabilized local structures, an anti-amyloidogenic environment promoted a compact ensemble, including a conformer whose topology might mask two amyloidogenic segments. Our results reveal that to initiate aggregation, monomeric tau-RD244-368 decreases its polymorphism adopting expanded conformations. This could account for the distinct structures found in vitro and across tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Del Carmen Fernández-Ramírez
- Instituto Cajal, IC-CSIC, Avda. Doctor Arce 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.,Current address: Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kevin Kan-Shing Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Margarita Menéndez
- Instituto de Química-Física Rocasolano, IQFR-CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Spain
| | - Douglas V Laurents
- Instituto de Química-Física Rocasolano, IQFR-CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rubén Hervás
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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12
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De Dios L, Collazo C, Inostroza-Nieves Y. Renin-angiotensin-system increases phosphorylated tau and Reactive Oxygen Species in human cortical neuron cell line. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022; 32:101355. [PMID: 36164564 PMCID: PMC9507985 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2022.101355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. AD patients had increased extracellular amyloid β plaques and intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in neurons. Recent studies have shown an association between the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) and AD. The involvement of RAS has been mediated through Angiotensin II (AngII), which is overexpressed in aging brains. However, the exact mechanism of how AngII contributes to AD is unknown. Thus, we hypothesize that AngII increases p-tau by activating its kinases, CDK5 and MAPK. In the human cortical neuron cell line, HCN2, treatment with AngII upregulated the gene expression of CDK5 (2.9 folds, p < 0.0001) and MAPTK (1.9 folds, p < 0.001). The AT1R antagonist, Losartan, blocked the changes in tau kinases. Also, AngII-induced the MAPK activation, increasing its phosphorylation by 400% (p < 0.0001), an increase that was also blocked by Losartan. An increase in p-tau by AngII was observed using fluorescent microscopy. We then quantified Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production, and it was significantly increased by AngII (p < 0.01), and treatment with Losartan blunted their production (p < 0.05). The data obtained demonstrated that AngII might contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Angiotensin II increases CDK5 and MAPK gene expression in human cortical neuron cell line. Angiotensin II increases tau phosphorylation in human cortical neuron cell line. Angiotensin II increases Reactive Oxygen Species production in human cortical neuron cell line.
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13
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Barbolina MV. Targeting Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau in Chemotherapy-Resistant Models of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:4535. [PMID: 36139693 PMCID: PMC9496900 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsed, recurrent, chemotherapy-resistant high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma is the deadliest stage of this disease. Expression of microtubule-associated protein tau (tau) has been linked to resistance to paclitaxel treatment. Here, I used models of platinum-resistant and created models of platinum/paclitaxel-resistant high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma to examine the impact of reducing tau expression on cell survival and tumor burden in cell culture and xenograft and syngeneic models of the disease. Tau was overexpressed in platinum/paclitaxel-resistant models; expression of phosphoSer396 and phosphoThr181 species was also found. A treatment with leucomethylene blue reduced the levels of tau in treated cells, was cytotoxic in cell cultures, and efficiently reduced the tumor burden in xenograft models. Furthermore, a combination of leucomethylene blue and paclitaxel synergized in eliminating cancer cells in cell culture and xenograft models. These findings underscore the feasibility of targeting tau as a treatment option in terminal-stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Barbolina
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60091, USA
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14
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Truncated Tau caused by intron retention is enriched in Alzheimer's disease cortex and exhibits altered biochemical properties. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204179119. [PMID: 36067305 PMCID: PMC9477417 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204179119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques and Tau tangles in brain tissues. Recent studies indicate that aberrant splicing and increased level of intron retention is linked to AD pathogenesis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed increased retention of intron 11 at the Tau gene in AD female dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex as compared to healthy controls, an observation validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction using different brain tissues. Retention of intron 11 introduces a premature stop codon, resulting in the production of truncated Tau11i protein. Probing with customized antibodies designed against amino acids encoded by intron 11 showed that Tau11i protein is more enriched in AD hippocampus, amygdala, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobe than in healthy controls. This indicates that Tau messenger RNA with the retained intron is translated in vivo instead of being subjected to nonsense-mediated decay. Compared to full-length Tau441 isoform, ectopically expressed Tau11i forms higher molecular weight species, is enriched in Sarkosyl-insoluble fraction, and exhibits greater protein stability in cycloheximide assay. Stably expressed Tau11i also shows weaker colocalization with α-tubulin of microtubule network in human mature cortical neurons as compared to Tau441. Endogenous Tau11i is enriched in Sarkosyl-insoluble fraction in AD hippocampus and forms aggregates that colocalize weakly with Tau4R fibril-like structure in AD temporal lobe. The elevated level of Tau11i protein in AD brain tissues tested, coupled with biochemical properties resembling pathological Tau species suggest that retention of intron 11 of Tau gene might be an early biomarker of AD pathology.
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15
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Tau as a Biomarker of Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137307. [PMID: 35806324 PMCID: PMC9266883 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Less than 50 years since tau was first isolated from a porcine brain, its detection in femtolitre concentrations in biological fluids is revolutionizing the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights the molecular and technological advances that have catapulted tau from obscurity to the forefront of biomarker diagnostics. Comprehensive updates are provided describing the burgeoning clinical applications of tau as a biomarker of neurodegeneration. For the clinician, tau not only enhances diagnostic accuracy, but holds promise as a predictor of clinical progression, phenotype, and response to drug therapy. For patients living with neurodegenerative disorders, characterization of tau dysregulation could provide much-needed clarity to a notoriously murky diagnostic landscape.
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16
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Landrieu I, Dupré E, Sinnaeve D, El Hajjar L, Smet-Nocca C. Deciphering the Structure and Formation of Amyloids in Neurodegenerative Diseases With Chemical Biology Tools. Front Chem 2022; 10:886382. [PMID: 35646824 PMCID: PMC9133342 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.886382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation into highly ordered, regularly repeated cross-β sheet structures called amyloid fibrils is closely associated to human disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, or systemic diseases like type II diabetes. Yet, in some cases, such as the HET-s prion, amyloids have biological functions. High-resolution structures of amyloids fibrils from cryo-electron microscopy have very recently highlighted their ultrastructural organization and polymorphisms. However, the molecular mechanisms and the role of co-factors (posttranslational modifications, non-proteinaceous components and other proteins) acting on the fibril formation are still poorly understood. Whether amyloid fibrils play a toxic or protective role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases remains to be elucidated. Furthermore, such aberrant protein-protein interactions challenge the search of small-molecule drugs or immunotherapy approaches targeting amyloid formation. In this review, we describe how chemical biology tools contribute to new insights on the mode of action of amyloidogenic proteins and peptides, defining their structural signature and aggregation pathways by capturing their molecular details and conformational heterogeneity. Challenging the imagination of scientists, this constantly expanding field provides crucial tools to unravel mechanistic detail of amyloid formation such as semisynthetic proteins and small-molecule sensors of conformational changes and/or aggregation. Protein engineering methods and bioorthogonal chemistry for the introduction of protein chemical modifications are additional fruitful strategies to tackle the challenge of understanding amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Landrieu
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Elian Dupré
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Davy Sinnaeve
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Léa El Hajjar
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Caroline Smet-Nocca
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
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17
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Alzheimer’s Disease and Tau Self-Assembly: In the Search of the Missing Link. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084192. [PMID: 35457009 PMCID: PMC9032712 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, apathy, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Two main pathological hallmarks have been described: neurofibrillary tangles, consisting of tau oligomers (hyperphosphorylated tau) and Aβ plaques. The influence of protein kinases and phosphatases on the hyperphosphorylation of tau is already known. Hyperphosphorylated tau undergoes conformational changes that promote its self-assembly. However, the process involving these mechanisms is yet to be elucidated. In vitro recombinant tau can be aggregated by the action of polyanions, such as heparin, arachidonic acid, and more recently, the action of polyphosphates. However, how that process occurs in vivo is yet to be understood. In this review, searching the most accurate and updated literature on the matter, we focus on the precise molecular events linking tau modifications, its misfolding and the initiation of its pathological self-assembly. Among these, we can identify challenges regarding tau phosphorylation, the link between tau heteroarylations and the onset of its self-assembly, as well as the possible metabolic pathways involving natural polyphosphates, that may play a role in tau self-assembly.
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18
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Hornakova L, Sinsky J, Janubova M, Mederlyova A, Paulenka Ivanovova N, Piestansky J, Kovac A, Galba J, Skrabana R, Cehlar O. Interaction kinetics reveal distinct properties of conformational ensembles of three-repeat and four-repeat tau proteins. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1178-1189. [PMID: 35322890 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14339] [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: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Tau protein is an intrinsically disordered protein. Its physiological state is best described as a conformational ensemble (CE) of metastable structures interconverting on the local and molecular scale. The monoclonal antibody DC39C recognizes a linear C-terminal tau epitope, and as the tau interaction partner, its binding parameters report about tau CE. Association kinetics of DC39C binding, together with crosslinking mass spectrometry, show differences in the accessibility of the C-terminus in CEs of tau isoforms. Furthermore, removal of the C-terminus accelerated the aggregation kinetics of three-repeat tau proteins. Our results suggest a novel mechanism of splicing-driven regulation of the tau C-terminal domain with consequences on the specific roles of tau isoforms in microtubule assembly and pathological aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Hornakova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84510, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 84215, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jakub Sinsky
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84510, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Maria Janubova
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo Nabrezie 10, 81102, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Anna Mederlyova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84510, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | | | - Juraj Piestansky
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo Nabrezie 10, 81102, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Odbojarov 10, 83232, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Toxicological and Antidoping Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, 832 32, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Andrej Kovac
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84510, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo Nabrezie 10, 81102, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jaroslav Galba
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo Nabrezie 10, 81102, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84510, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84510, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo Nabrezie 10, 81102, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ondrej Cehlar
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84510, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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19
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Lövestam S, Koh FA, van Knippenberg B, Kotecha A, Murzin AG, Goedert M, Scheres SHW. Assembly of recombinant tau into filaments identical to those of Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. eLife 2022; 11:e76494. [PMID: 35244536 PMCID: PMC8983045 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abundant filamentous inclusions of tau are characteristic of more than 20 neurodegenerative diseases that are collectively termed tauopathies. Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of tau amyloid filaments from human brain revealed that distinct tau folds characterise many different diseases. A lack of laboratory-based model systems to generate these structures has hampered efforts to uncover the molecular mechanisms that underlie tauopathies. Here, we report in vitro assembly conditions with recombinant tau that replicate the structures of filaments from both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as determined by cryo-EM. Our results suggest that post-translational modifications of tau modulate filament assembly, and that previously observed additional densities in AD and CTE filaments may arise from the presence of inorganic salts, like phosphates and sodium chloride. In vitro assembly of tau into disease-relevant filaments will facilitate studies to determine their roles in different diseases, as well as the development of compounds that specifically bind to these structures or prevent their formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Lövestam
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Alexey G Murzin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Sjors HW Scheres
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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20
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Loon A, Zamudio F, Sanneh A, Brown B, Smeltzer S, Brownlow ML, Quadri Z, Peters M, Weeber E, Nash K, Lee DC, Gordon MN, Morgan D, Selenica MLB. Accumulation of C-terminal cleaved tau is distinctly associated with cognitive deficits, synaptic plasticity impairment, and neurodegeneration in aged mice. GeroScience 2022; 44:173-194. [PMID: 34410588 PMCID: PMC8810980 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00408-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
C-terminal cleaved tau at D421 (∆D421-tau) accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, it is unclear how tau truncation, an understudied tau post-translational modification, contributes to AD pathology and progression. Utilizing an adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene delivery-based approach, we overexpressed full-length tau (FL-tau) and ∆D421-tau in 4- and 12-month-old mice for 4 months to study the neuropathological impact of accumulation in young adult (8-month) and middle-aged (16-month) mice. Overall, we show that independent of the tau species, age was an important factor facilitating tau phosphorylation, oligomer formation, and deposition into silver-positive tangles. However, mice overexpressing ∆D421-tau exhibited a distinct phosphorylation profile to those overexpressing FL-tau and increased tau oligomerization in the middle-age group. Importantly, overexpression of ∆D421-tau, but not FL-tau in middle-aged mice, resulted in pronounced cognitive impairments and hippocampal long-term potentiation deficits. While both FL-tau and ∆D421-tau induced neuronal loss in mice with age, ∆D421-tau led to significant neuronal loss in the CA3 area of the hippocampus and medial entorhinal cortex compared to FL-tau. Based on our data, we conclude that age increases the susceptibility to neuronal degeneration associated with ΔD421-tau accumulation. Our findings suggest that ΔD421-tau accumulation contributes to synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits, thus representing a potential target for tau-associated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjanet Loon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Frank Zamudio
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Awa Sanneh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Breanna Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Shayna Smeltzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Milene L. Brownlow
- Department of Molecular Pharmacological & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Zainuddin Quadri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging (SBCoA), College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY USA
| | - Melinda Peters
- Department of Molecular Pharmacological & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Edwin Weeber
- Department of Molecular Pharmacological & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Kevin Nash
- Department of Molecular Pharmacological & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Daniel C. Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging (SBCoA), College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY USA
| | - Marcia N. Gordon
- Department of Molecular Pharmacological & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
- Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA
| | - Dave Morgan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacological & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
- Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA
| | - Maj-Linda B. Selenica
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging (SBCoA), College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 800 S. Limestone St, Lexington, KY 40536 USA
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21
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Limorenko G, Lashuel HA. Revisiting the grammar of Tau aggregation and pathology formation: how new insights from brain pathology are shaping how we study and target Tauopathies. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 51:513-565. [PMID: 34889934 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00127b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Converging evidence continues to point towards Tau aggregation and pathology formation as central events in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other Tauopathies. Despite significant advances in understanding the morphological and structural properties of Tau fibrils, many fundamental questions remain about what causes Tau to aggregate in the first place. The exact roles of cofactors, Tau post-translational modifications, and Tau interactome in regulating Tau aggregation, pathology formation, and toxicity remain unknown. Recent studies have put the spotlight on the wide gap between the complexity of Tau structures, aggregation, and pathology formation in the brain and the simplicity of experimental approaches used for modeling these processes in research laboratories. Embracing and deconstructing this complexity is an essential first step to understanding the role of Tau in health and disease. To help deconstruct this complexity and understand its implication for the development of effective Tau targeting diagnostics and therapies, we firstly review how our understanding of Tau aggregation and pathology formation has evolved over the past few decades. Secondly, we present an analysis of new findings and insights from recent studies illustrating the biochemical, structural, and functional heterogeneity of Tau aggregates. Thirdly, we discuss the importance of adopting new experimental approaches that embrace the complexity of Tau aggregation and pathology as an important first step towards developing mechanism- and structure-based therapies that account for the pathological and clinical heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease and Tauopathies. We believe that this is essential to develop effective diagnostics and therapies to treat these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Limorenko
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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22
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Sallaberry CA, Voss BJ, Majewski J, Biernat J, Mandelkow E, Chi EY, Vander Zanden CM. Tau and Membranes: Interactions That Promote Folding and Condensation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:725241. [PMID: 34621743 PMCID: PMC8491580 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.725241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau misfolding and assembly is linked to a number of neurodegenerative diseases collectively described as tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease. Anionic cellular membranes, such as the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane, are sites that concentrate and neutralize tau, primarily due to electrostatic interactions with tau’s microtubule binding repeat domain (RD). In addition to electrostatic interactions with lipids, tau also has interactions with membrane proteins, which are important for tau’s cellular functions. Tau also interacts with lipid tails to facilitate direct translocation across the membrane and can form stable protein-lipid complexes involved in cell-to-cell transport. Concentrated tau monomers at the membrane surface can form reversible condensates, change secondary structures, and induce oligomers, which may eventually undergo irreversible crosslinking and fibril formation. These β-sheet rich tau structures are capable of disrupting membrane organization and are toxic in cell-based assays. Given the evidence for relevant membrane-based tau assembly, we review the emerging hypothesis that polyanionic membranes may serve as a site for phase-separated tau condensation. Membrane-mediated phase separation may have important implications for regulating tau folding/misfolding, and may be a powerful mechanism to spatially direct tau for native membrane-mediated functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad A Sallaberry
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
| | - Barbie J Voss
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
| | - Jaroslaw Majewski
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA, United States.,Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Jacek Biernat
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (CAESAR) Center, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eva Y Chi
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Crystal M Vander Zanden
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
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23
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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.
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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.)
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Mroczek K, Fernando S, Fisher PR, Annesley SJ. Interactions and Cytotoxicity of Human Neurodegeneration- Associated Proteins Tau and α-Synuclein in the Simple Model Dictyostelium discoideum. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:741662. [PMID: 34552934 PMCID: PMC8450459 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.741662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The abnormal accumulation of the tau protein into aggregates is a hallmark in neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as tauopathies. In normal conditions, tau binds off and on microtubules aiding in their assembly and stability dependent on the phosphorylation state of the protein. In disease-affected neurons, hyperphosphorylation leads to the accumulation of the tau protein into aggregates, mainly neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) which have been seen to colocalise with other protein aggregates in neurodegeneration. One such protein is α-synuclein, the main constituent of Lewy bodies (LB), a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). In many neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, the colocalisation of tau and α-synuclein has been observed, suggesting possible interactions between the two proteins. To explore the cytotoxicity and interactions between these two proteins, we expressed full length human tau and α-synuclein in Dictyostelium discoideum alone, and in combination. We show that tau is phosphorylated in D. discoideum and colocalises closely (within 40 nm) with tubulin throughout the cytoplasm of the cell as well as with α-synuclein at the cortex. Expressing wild type α-synuclein alone caused inhibited growth on bacterial lawns, phagocytosis and intracellular Legionella proliferation rates, but activated mitochondrial respiration and non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The expression of tau alone impaired multicellular morphogenesis, axenic growth and phototaxis, while enhancing intracellular Legionella proliferation. Direct respirometric assays showed that tau impairs mitochondrial ATP synthesis and increased the "proton leak," while having no impact on respiratory complex I or II function. In most cases depending on the phenotype, the coexpression of tau and α-synuclein exacerbated (phototaxis, fruiting body morphology), or reversed (phagocytosis, growth on plates, mitochondrial respiratory function, Legionella proliferation) the defects caused by either tau or α-synuclein expressed individually. Proteomics data revealed distinct patterns of dysregulation in strains ectopically expressing tau or α-synuclein or both, but down regulation of expression of cytoskeletal proteins was apparent in all three groups and most evident in the strain expressing both proteins. These results indicate that tau and α-synuclein exhibit different but overlapping patterns of intracellular localisation, that they individually exert distinct but overlapping patterns of cytotoxic effects and that they interact, probably physically in the cell cortex as well as directly or indirectly in affecting some phenotypes. The results show the efficacy of using D. discoideum as a model to study the interaction of proteins involved in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah J. Annesley
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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Roscovitine, a Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-5 Inhibitor, Decreases Phosphorylated Tau Formation and Death of Retinal Ganglion Cells of Rats after Optic Nerve Crush. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158096. [PMID: 34360858 PMCID: PMC8347789 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal metabolism of misfolded tau proteins and are progressive. Pathological phosphorylation of tau occurs in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve injuries. Cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5) causes hyperphosphorylation of tau. To determine the roles played by Cdk5 in retinal degeneration, roscovitine, a Cdk5 inhibitor, was injected intravitreally after optic nerve crush (ONC). The neuroprotective effect of roscovitine was determined by the number of Tuj-1-stained RGCs on day 7. The change in the levels of phosphorylated tau, calpain-1, and cleaved α-fodrin was determined by immunoblots on day 3. The expression of P35/P25, a Cdk5 activator, in the RGCs was determined by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that roscovitine reduced the level of phosphorylated tau by 3.5- to 1.6-fold. Calpain-1 (2.1-fold) and cleaved α-fodrin (1.5-fold) were increased on day 3, suggesting that the calpain signaling pathway was activated. P35/P25 was accumulated in the RGCs that were poorly stained by Tuj-1. Calpain inhibition also reduced the increase in phosphorylated tau. The number of RGCs decreased from 2191 ± 178 (sham) to 1216 ± 122 cells/mm2 on day 7, and roscovitine preserved the level at 1622 ± 130 cells/mm2. We conclude that the calpain-mediated activation of Cdk5 is associated with the pathologic phosphorylation of tau.
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Proteomic Analysis Unveils Expressional Changes in Cytoskeleton- and Synaptic Plasticity-Associated Proteins in Rat Brain Six Months after Withdrawal from Morphine. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070683. [PMID: 34357055 PMCID: PMC8304287 DOI: 10.3390/life11070683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug withdrawal is associated with abstinence symptoms including deficits in cognitive functions that may persist even after prolonged discontinuation of drug intake. Cognitive deficits are, at least partially, caused by alterations in synaptic plasticity but the precise molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully identified. In the present study, changes in proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiles of selected brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum) from rats abstaining for six months after cessation of chronic treatment with morphine were determined by label-free quantitative (LFQ) proteomic analysis. Interestingly, prolonged morphine withdrawal was found to be associated especially with alterations in protein phosphorylation and to a lesser extent in protein expression. Gene ontology (GO) term analysis revealed enrichment in biological processes related to synaptic plasticity, cytoskeleton organization, and GTPase activity. More specifically, significant changes were observed in proteins localized in synaptic vesicles (e.g., synapsin-1, SV2a, Rab3a), in the active zone of the presynaptic nerve terminal (e.g., Bassoon, Piccolo, Rims1), and in the postsynaptic density (e.g., cadherin 13, catenins, Arhgap35, Shank3, Arhgef7). Other differentially phosphorylated proteins were associated with microtubule dynamics (microtubule-associated proteins, Tppp, collapsin response mediator proteins) and the actin–spectrin network (e.g., spectrins, adducins, band 4.1-like protein 1). Taken together, a six-month morphine withdrawal was manifested by significant alterations in the phosphorylation of synaptic proteins. The altered phosphorylation patterns modulating the function of synaptic proteins may contribute to long-term neuroadaptations induced by drug use and withdrawal.
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Cantrelle FX, Loyens A, Trivelli X, Reimann O, Despres C, Gandhi NS, Hackenberger CPR, Landrieu I, Smet-Nocca C. Phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation of the PHF-1 Epitope of Tau Protein Induce Local Conformational Changes of the C-Terminus and Modulate Tau Self-Assembly Into Fibrillar Aggregates. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:661368. [PMID: 34220449 PMCID: PMC8249575 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.661368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation of the neuronal microtubule-associated Tau protein plays a critical role in the aggregation process leading to the formation of insoluble intraneuronal fibrils within Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. In recent years, other posttranslational modifications (PTMs) have been highlighted in the regulation of Tau (dys)functions. Among these PTMs, the O-β-linked N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) modulates Tau phosphorylation and aggregation. We here focus on the role of the PHF-1 phospho-epitope of Tau C-terminal domain that is hyperphosphorylated in AD (at pS396/pS404) and encompasses S400 as the major O-GlcNAc site of Tau while two additional O-GlcNAc sites were found in the extreme C-terminus at S412 and S413. Using high resolution NMR spectroscopy, we showed that the O-GlcNAc glycosylation reduces phosphorylation of PHF-1 epitope by GSK3β alone or after priming by CDK2/cyclin A. Furthermore, investigations of the impact of PTMs on local conformation performed in small peptides highlight the role of S404 phosphorylation in inducing helical propensity in the region downstream pS404 that is exacerbated by other phosphorylations of PHF-1 epitope at S396 and S400, or O-GlcNAcylation of S400. Finally, the role of phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation of PHF-1 epitope was probed in in-vitro fibrillization assays in which O-GlcNAcylation slows down the rate of fibrillar assembly while GSK3β phosphorylation stimulates aggregation counteracting the effect of glycosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- François-Xavier Cantrelle
- Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, U1167, Institut Pasteur de Lille, CHU Lille, INSERM, University of Lille, Lille, France.,CNRS, ERL9002 - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Anne Loyens
- Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre AUBERT Neurosciences et Cancer, U1172, CHU Lille, INSERM, University of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Xavier Trivelli
- Université de Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Centrale Lille, Université d'Artois, Lille, France
| | - Oliver Reimann
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany.,Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Clément Despres
- Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, U1167, Institut Pasteur de Lille, CHU Lille, INSERM, University of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Neha S Gandhi
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Cancer and Ageing Research Program, School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Christian P R Hackenberger
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany.,Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, U1167, Institut Pasteur de Lille, CHU Lille, INSERM, University of Lille, Lille, France.,CNRS, ERL9002 - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Caroline Smet-Nocca
- Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, U1167, Institut Pasteur de Lille, CHU Lille, INSERM, University of Lille, Lille, France.,CNRS, ERL9002 - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
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An FM, Liu Z, Xuan XR, Liu QS, Wei CX. Sanweidoukou decoction, a Chinese herbal formula, ameliorates β-amyloid protein-induced neuronal insult via modulating MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways: Studies in vivo and in vitro. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 273:114002. [PMID: 33705924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The traditional Chinese medicine Sanweidoukou decoction (DK-3) was a classical formula for the treatment of nervous system diseases, recorded in the Chinese medical classic Sibu Yidian. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study is aim to investigate the neuroprotective effects of DK-3 on β-amyloid (Aβ) protein -induced AD-like pathologies and underlying molecular mechanisms both in vitro and in vivo studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hydrolysates of DK-3 were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. In vitro, MTT was utilized to examine effects of DK-3 on Aβ25-35-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. In vivo, male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with Aβ25-35 to induce AD-like pathologies and behavioral evaluations were conducted via Morris water maze (MWM) test. Histopathological changes were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) straining. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr181 site. The expression levels of tau hyperphosphorylation, inflammation-related cytokines such as COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, the phosphorylated state of various mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules (p38 MAPK, ERK, and JNK) and activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in vitro and in vivo were assessed via Western blot. RESULTS In vitro, DK-3 dose-dependently increased cell viability of PC12 cells induced by Aβ25-35. In vivo, DK-3 improved learning and memory abilities of Aβ25-35-induced AD-like rats. Moreover, DK-3 reversed hyperphosphorylation of tau and reduced the production of inflammation-related cytokines through significantly inhibited MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo studies. CONCLUSION The present study suggested that the traditional Chinese medicine DK-3 may play a role in preventing and treating AD by reducing the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and the expressions of inflammation-related cytokines via modulating the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Mao An
- Medical College, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Tongliao, 028000, Inner Mongolia, PR China.
| | - Zheng Liu
- Medical College, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Tongliao, 028000, Inner Mongolia, PR China.
| | - Xin-Ran Xuan
- Affiliated Hospitals, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Tongliao, 028000, Inner Mongolia, PR China.
| | - Qing-Shan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Center on Translational Neuroscience, Minzu University of China, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Cheng-Xi Wei
- Medical College, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Tongliao, 028000, Inner Mongolia, PR China.
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Nanjundaiah S, Chidambaram H, Chandrashekar M, Chinnathambi S. Role of Microglia in Regulating Cholesterol and Tau Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 41:651-668. [PMID: 32468440 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00883-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol, a principal constituent of the cell membrane, plays a crucial role in the brain by regulating the synaptic transmission, neuronal signaling, as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Defects in the cholesterol trafficking are associated with enhanced generation of hyperphosphorylated Tau and Amyloid-β protein. Tau, a major microtubule-associated protein in the brain, is the key regulator of the mature neuron. Abnormally hyperphosphorylated Tau hampers the major functions related to microtubule assembly by promoting neurofibrillary tangles of paired helical filaments, twisted ribbons, and straight filaments. The observed pathological changes due to impaired cholesterol and Tau protein accumulation cause Alzheimer's disease. Thus, in order to regulate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, regulation of cholesterol metabolism, as well as Tau phosphorylation, is essential. The current review provides an overview of (1) cholesterol synthesis in the brain, neurons, astrocytes, and microglia; (2) the mechanism involved in modulating cholesterol concentration between the astrocytes and brain; (3) major mechanisms involved in the hyperphosphorylation of Tau and amyloid-β protein; and (4) microglial involvement in its regulation. Thus, the answering key questions will provide an in-depth information on microglia involvement in managing the pathogenesis of cholesterol-modulated hyperphosphorylated Tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shwetha Nanjundaiah
- Neurobiology Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Hariharakrishnan Chidambaram
- Neurobiology Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Madhura Chandrashekar
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, MIT University, Loni Kalbhor, Pune, 412201, India
| | - Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi
- Neurobiology Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, 110025, India.
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30
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Chen YW, Rahman SK. Fatal Attraction: The Case of Toxic Soluble Dimers of Truncated PQBP-1 Mutants in X-Linked Intellectual Disability. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052240. [PMID: 33668121 PMCID: PMC7956452 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The frameshift mutants K192Sfs*7 and R153Sfs*41, of the polyglutamine tract-binding protein 1 (PQBP-1), are stable intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). They are each associated with the severe cognitive disorder known as the Renpenning syndrome, a form of X-linked intellectual disability (XLID). Relative to the monomeric wild-type protein, these mutants are dimeric, contain more folded contents, and have higher thermal stabilities. Comparisons can be drawn to the toxic oligomerisation in the “conformational diseases”, which collectively describe medical conditions involving a substantial protein structural transition in the pathogenic mechanism. At the molecular level, the end state of these diseases is often cytotoxic protein aggregation. The conformational disease proteins contain varying extents of intrinsic disorder, and the consensus pathogenesis includes an early oligomer formation. We reviewed the experimental characterisation of the toxic oligomers in representative cases. PQBP-1 mutant dimerisation was then compared to the oligomerisation of the conformational disease proteins. The PQBP-1 mutants are unique in behaving as stable soluble dimers, which do not further develop into higher oligomers or aggregates. The toxicity of the PQBP-1 mutant dimers lies in the native functions (in transcription regulation and possibly, RNA splicing) being compromised, rather than proceeding to aggregation. Other examples of stable IDP dimers were discussed and we speculated on the roles of IDP dimerisation in protein evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wai Chen
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom 999077, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom 999077, Hong Kong
- Correspondence:
| | - Shah Kamranur Rahman
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
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31
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Gu J, Xu W, Jin N, Li L, Zhou Y, Chu D, Gong CX, Iqbal K, Liu F. Truncation of Tau selectively facilitates its pathological activities. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13812-13828. [PMID: 32737201 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.012587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles of abnormally hyperphosphorylated Tau are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Tau is truncated at multiple sites by various proteases in AD brain. Although many studies have reported the effect of truncation on the aggregation of Tau, these studies mostly employed highly artificial conditions, using heparin sulfate or arachidonic acid to induce aggregation. Here, we report for the first time the pathological activities of various truncations of Tau, including site-specific phosphorylation, self-aggregation, binding to hyperphosphorylated and oligomeric Tau isolated from AD brain tissue (AD O-Tau), and aggregation seeded by AD O-Tau. We found that deletion of the first 150 or 230 amino acids (aa) enhanced Tau's site-specific phosphorylation, self-aggregation, and binding to AD O-Tau and aggregation seeded by AD O-Tau, but deletion of the first 50 aa did not produce a significant effect. Deletion of the last 50 aa was found to modulate Tau's site-specific phosphorylation, promote its self-aggregation, and cause it to be captured by and aggregation seeded by AD O-Tau, whereas deletion of the last 20 aa had no such effects. Among the truncated Taus, Tau151-391 showed the highest pathological activities. AD O-Tau induced aggregation of Tau151-391 in vitro and in cultured cells. These findings suggest that the first 150 aa and the last 50 aa protect Tau from pathological characteristics and that their deletions facilitate pathological activities. Thus, inhibition of Tau truncation may represent a potential therapeutic approach to suppress Tau pathology in AD and related tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlan Gu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA; Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wen Xu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA; Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nana Jin
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Longfei Li
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA; Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA; Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng-Xin Gong
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Khalid Iqbal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA.
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Sinsky J, Majerova P, Kovac A, Kotlyar M, Jurisica I, Hanes J. Physiological Tau Interactome in Brain and Its Link to Tauopathies. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:2429-2442. [PMID: 32357304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and most of the other tauopathies are incurable neurodegenerative diseases with unpleasant symptoms and consequences. The common hallmark of all of these diseases is tau pathology, but its connection with disease progress has not been completely understood so far. Therefore, uncovering novel tau-interacting partners and pathology affected molecular pathways can reveal the causes of diseases as well as potential targets for the development of AD treatment. Despite the large number of known tau-interacting partners, a limited number of studies focused on in vivo tau interactions in disease or healthy conditions are available. Here, we applied an in vivo cross-linking approach, capable of capturing weak and transient protein-protein interactions, to a unique transgenic rat model of progressive tau pathology similar to human AD. We have identified 175 potential novel and known tau-interacting proteins by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Several of the most promising candidates for possible drug development were selected for validation by coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization experiments in animal and cellular models. Three proteins, Baiap2, Gpr37l1, and Nptx1, were confirmed as novel tau-interacting partners, and on the basis of their known functions and implications in neurodegenerative or psychiatric disorders, we proposed their potential role in tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Sinsky
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 84510, Slovakia
| | - Petra Majerova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 84510, Slovakia.,AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, Bratislava 811 02, Slovakia
| | - Andrej Kovac
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 84510, Slovakia.,AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, Bratislava 811 02, Slovakia
| | - Max Kotlyar
- Krembil Research Institute, UHN, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Igor Jurisica
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 84510, Slovakia.,Krembil Research Institute, UHN, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada.,Departments of Medical Biophysics and Computer Science, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario ON M5S, Canada
| | - Jozef Hanes
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 84510, Slovakia.,AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, Bratislava 811 02, Slovakia
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Amadoro G, Latina V, Corsetti V, Calissano P. N-terminal tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD): Developing a novel diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165584. [PMID: 31676377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Tau truncation occurs at early stages during the development of human Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathy dementias. Tau cleavage, particularly in its N-terminal projection domain, is able to drive per se neurodegeneration, regardless of its pro-aggregative pathway(s) and in fragment(s)-dependent way. In this short review, we highlight the pathological relevance of the 20-22 kDa NH2-truncated tau fragment which is endowed with potent neurotoxic "gain-of-function" action(s), both in vitro and in vivo. An extensive comment on its clinical value as novel progression/diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in the context of tau-mediated neurodegeneration is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - V Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - V Corsetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - P Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Oku H, Kida T, Horie T, Taki K, Mimura M, Kojima S, Ikeda T. Tau Is Involved in Death of Retinal Ganglion Cells of Rats From Optic Nerve Crush. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:2380-2387. [PMID: 31141609 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-26683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine whether tauopathies are associated with impaired autophagy and involved in the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of rats from an optic nerve crush (ONC). Methods Short interfering RNA (siRNA) of the tau gene (si-Tau) or nontargeting siRNA (si-NC) was injected intravitreally 48 hours prior to ONC. The effects of silencing the tau gene on neuroprotection were determined by the number of Tuj-1-stained RGCs on days 7 and 14 after the ONC. The changes in the expressions of phosphorylated tau, P62, and LC3B were determined by immunoblots and immunohistochemistry on day 7. Results Autophagy was impaired in the retina on day 7 after the ONC as the P62 level increased by 3.1-fold from the sham control level with a reduction in the ratio LC3B2/LC3B1. There was a 2.1-fold increase of phosphorylated tau (ser 396) in the retina, and si-Tau depressed the increase by 1.3-fold (n = 3 each). The expressions of tau and P62 were well colocalized. They were observed in the somas of RGCs and retinal nerve fibers (RNFs), and these expressions were increased after the ONC. Pretreatment by si-Tau showed significant protection in the number of RGCs after the ONC. Specifically, the density of RGCs was 540 ± 74.5 cells/mm2 on day 14 in the si-NC group, while the level was maintained at 1321 ± 192 cells/mm2 in the si-Tau group (n = 4 each). Conclusions Silencing the tau gene is neuroprotective, and tauopathies may be involved in the death of RGCs after ONC. Impaired autophagy may be involved in ONC-induced tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidehiro Oku
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Teruyo Kida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taeko Horie
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koichiro Taki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masashi Mimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shota Kojima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsunehiko Ikeda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
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Weisová P, Cehlár O, Škrabana R, Žilková M, Filipčík P, Kováčech B, Prčina M, Wojčiaková Ľ, Fialová Ľ, Smolek T, Kontseková E, Žilka N, Novák M. Therapeutic antibody targeting microtubule-binding domain prevents neuronal internalization of extracellular tau via masking neuron surface proteoglycans. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:129. [PMID: 31391090 PMCID: PMC6685285 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0770-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathologically altered tau protein is a common denominator of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Therefore, promising immunotherapeutic approaches target and eliminate extracellular pathogenic tau species, which are thought to be responsible for seeding and propagation of tau pathology. Tau isoforms in misfolded states can propagate disease pathology in a template-dependent manner, proposed to be mediated by the release and internalization of extracellular tau. Monoclonal antibody DC8E8, binding four highly homologous and independent epitopes in microtubule-binding domain (MTBD) of diseased tau, inhibits tau-tau interaction, discriminates between healthy and pathologically truncated tau and reduces tau pathology in animal model in vivo. Here, we show that DC8E8 antibody acts via extracellular mechanism and does not influence viability and physiological functions of neurons. Importantly, in vitro functional assays showed that DC8E8 recognises pathogenic tau proteins of different size and origin, and potently blocks their entry into neurons. Next, we examined the mechanisms by which mouse antibody DC8E8 and its humanized version AX004 effectively block the neuronal internalization of extracellular AD tau species. We determined a novel mode of action of a therapeutic candidate antibody, which potently inhibits neuronal internalization of AD tau species by masking of epitopes present in MTBD important for interaction with neuron surface Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans (HSPGs). We show that interference of tau-heparane sulfate interaction with DC8E8 antibody via steric hindrance represents an efficient and important therapeutic approach halting tau propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petronela Weisová
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Ondrej Cehlár
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Rostislav Škrabana
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Monika Žilková
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Peter Filipčík
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Branislav Kováčech
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Prčina
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ľubica Wojčiaková
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ľubica Fialová
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Tomáš Smolek
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Eva Kontseková
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Norbert Žilka
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Novák
- Axon Neuroscience SE, Arch. Makariou & Kalogreon 4, Larnaca, Cyprus
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Tau-Reactive Endogenous Antibodies: Origin, Functionality, and Implications for the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:7406810. [PMID: 31687413 PMCID: PMC6811779 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7406810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), tau pathology manifested by the accumulation of intraneuronal tangles and soluble toxic oligomers emerges as a promising therapeutic target. Multiple anti-tau antibodies inhibiting the formation and propagation of cytotoxic tau or promoting its clearance and degradation have been tested in clinical trials, albeit with the inconclusive outcome. Antibodies against tau protein have been documented both in the brain circulatory system and at the periphery, but their origin and role under normal conditions and in AD remain unclear. While it is tempting to assign them a protective role in regulating tau level and removal of toxic variants, the supportive evidence remains sporadic, requiring systematic analysis and critical evaluation. Herein, we review recent data showing the occurrence of tau-reactive antibodies in the brain and peripheral circulation and discuss their origin and significance in tau clearance. Based on the emerging evidence, we cautiously propose that impairments of tau clearance at the periphery by humoral immunity might aggravate the tau pathology in the central nervous system, with implication for the neurodegenerative process of AD.
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Rösler TW, Tayaranian Marvian A, Brendel M, Nykänen NP, Höllerhage M, Schwarz SC, Hopfner F, Koeglsperger T, Respondek G, Schweyer K, Levin J, Villemagne VL, Barthel H, Sabri O, Müller U, Meissner WG, Kovacs GG, Höglinger GU. Four-repeat tauopathies. Prog Neurobiol 2019; 180:101644. [PMID: 31238088 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein with versatile functions in the dynamic assembly of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Four-repeat (4R-) tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases defined by cytoplasmic inclusions predominantly composed of tau protein isoforms with four microtubule-binding domains. Progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, argyrophilic grain disease or glial globular tauopathy belong to the group of 4R-tauopathies. The present review provides an introduction in the current concept of 4R-tauopathies, including an overview of the neuropathological and clinical spectrum of these diseases. It describes the genetic and environmental etiological factors, as well as the contemporary knowledge about the pathophysiological mechanisms, including post-translational modifications, aggregation and fragmentation of tau, as well as the role of protein degradation mechanisms. Furthermore, current theories about disease propagation are discussed, involving different extracellular tau species and their cellular release and uptake mechanisms. Finally, molecular diagnostic tools for 4R-tauopathies, including tau-PET and fluid biomarkers, and investigational therapeutic strategies are presented. In summary, we report on 4R-tauopathies as overarching disease concept based on a shared pathophysiological concept, and highlight the challenges and opportunities on the way towards a causal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Rösler
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Amir Tayaranian Marvian
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Niko-Petteri Nykänen
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Höllerhage
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sigrid C Schwarz
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Koeglsperger
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Gesine Respondek
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schweyer
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Levin
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Victor L Villemagne
- Dept. of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Dept. of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Henryk Barthel
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Osama Sabri
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrich Müller
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Wassilios G Meissner
- Service de Neurologie, CHU Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, 33000 Bordeaux, France; CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Dept. of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand; New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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38
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Jebarupa B, Mathew B, Srinivasu BY, Sasikumaran A, Joseph S, Mandal AK, Thomas T, Mitra G. Understanding molecular features of aggregation-resistant tau conformer using oxidized monomer. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2019; 1863:993-1005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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39
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Fichou Y, Al-Hilaly YK, Devred F, Smet-Nocca C, Tsvetkov PO, Verelst J, Winderickx J, Geukens N, Vanmechelen E, Perrotin A, Serpell L, Hanseeuw BJ, Medina M, Buée L, Landrieu I. The elusive tau molecular structures: can we translate the recent breakthroughs into new targets for intervention? Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:31. [PMID: 30823892 PMCID: PMC6397507 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0682-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Insights into tau molecular structures have advanced significantly in recent years. This field has been the subject of recent breakthroughs, including the first cryo-electron microscopy structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer’s and Pick’s disease inclusions, as well as the structure of the repeat regions of tau bound to microtubules. Tau structure covers various species as the tau protein itself takes many forms. We will here address a range of studies that help to define the many facets of tau protein structures and how they translate into pathogenic forms. New results shed light on previous data that need now to be revisited in order to up-date our knowledge of tau molecular structure. Finally, we explore how these data can contribute the important medical aspects of this research - diagnosis and therapeutics.
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40
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Wen G, Yao H, Li Y, Ding R, Ren X, Tan Y, Ren W, Yu H, Zhan X, Wang X, Xu E, Yao J, Zhang G, Lu Y, Wu X. Regulation of Tau Protein on the Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine in the Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Model. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:287. [PMID: 31114516 PMCID: PMC6503093 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau protein is known to play an important role in maintaining microtubule assembly and stabilization, and maintaining the normal morphology of neurons, but several studies have found that chronic stress leads to Tau hyperphosphorylation. A large number of clinical trials have found that ketamine, which is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, produces a rapid, long-lasting, and potent antidepressant effect in patients suffering from major depression. This rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine, which involves many mechanisms, has attracted wide attention. However, the relationship between ketamine's antidepressant effects and Tau protein has rarely been examined. We used C57BL/6 and Tau KO mice exposed to 42 days of chronic unpredictable mild stress (the CUMS model) to investigate the effect of ketamine on behavioral changes and synaptic functioning of the hippocampus. The results showed that a single treatment of ketamine rapidly relieved the CUMS-induced anhedonia, depression-like, and anxious behaviors of the C57BL/6 mice. The abnormal behaviors were accompanied by increased levels of specific alterations of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein in cytoplasm and synapse in the hippocampus of the C57BL/6 mice, but ketamine reduced the aggregation of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein only in the synapse. We also found that CUMS exposure reduced the levels of GluA1 and PSD95 in the hippocampus of the C57BL/6 mice and that these deficits were reversed by ketamine. However, the Tau KO mice did not develop any stress-induced depressive behaviors or deficits of hippocampal function. The antidepressant effect of ketamine may decrease the levels of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein in synapse of C57BL/6 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gehua Wen
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hui Yao
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yanning Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Runtao Ding
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinghua Ren
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yaqing Tan
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weishu Ren
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hao Yu
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoni Zhan
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Enyu Xu
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Yao
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guohua Zhang
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry in Congenital Malformation, the Affiliated Sheng Jing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xu Wu
- School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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41
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Gallardo G, Holtzman DM. Amyloid-β and Tau at the Crossroads of Alzheimer's Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1184:187-203. [PMID: 32096039 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9358-8_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia characterized neuropathologically by senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Early breakthroughs in AD research led to the discovery of amyloid-β as the major component of senile plaques and tau protein as the major component of NFTs. Shortly following the identification of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide was the discovery that a genetic mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a type1 transmembrane protein, can be a cause of autosomal dominant familial AD (fAD). These discoveries, coupled with other breakthroughs in cell biology and human genetics, have led to a theory known as the "amyloid hypothesis", which postulates that amyloid-β is the predominant driving factor in AD development. Nonetheless, more recent advances in imaging analysis, biomarkers and mouse models are now redefining this original hypothesis, as it is likely amyloid-β, tau and other pathophysiological mechanism such as inflammation, come together at a crossroads that ultimately leads to the development of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert Gallardo
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. .,Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA. .,Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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42
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Götz J, Halliday G, Nisbet RM. Molecular Pathogenesis of the Tauopathies. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2018; 14:239-261. [PMID: 30355155 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-012418-012936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The tauopathies constitute a group of diseases that have Tau inclusions in neurons or glia as their common denominator. In this review, we describe the biochemical and histological differences in Tau pathology that are characteristic of the spectrum of frontotemporal lobar degeneration as primary tauopathies and of Alzheimer's disease as a secondary tauopathy, as well as the commonalities and differences between the familial and sporadic forms. Furthermore, we discuss selected advances in transgenic animal models in delineating the different pathomechanisms of Tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Götz
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia;
| | - Glenda Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre and Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Rebecca M Nisbet
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia;
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43
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Koss DJ, Dubini M, Buchanan H, Hull C, Platt B. Distinctive temporal profiles of detergent-soluble and -insoluble tau and Aβ species in human Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2018; 1699:121-134. [PMID: 30102892 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology relevant proteins tau and beta-amyloid (Aβ) exist as an array of post-translationally modified and conformationally altered species with varying abundance, solubility and toxicity. Insoluble neurofibrillary tau tangles and Aβ plaques are end-stage AD hallmarks, yet may carry less disease significance compared to soluble species. At present, it is unclear how soluble and insoluble tau and Aβ relate to each other as well as to disease progression. Here, detergent soluble and insoluble fractions generated from post-mortem human temporal lobe samples (Brodmann area 21) were probed for tau and Aβ markers in immuno-dot assays. Measures were quantified according to diagnosis (AD cf. Non-AD), neuropathological severity, and correlated with disease progression (Braak stages). All markers were elevated within AD cases cf. non-AD controls (p < 0.05) independent of solubility. However, when considered according to neuropathological severity, phospho-tau (detected via CP13 and AT8 antibodies) was elevated early within the soluble fraction (p < 0.05 intermediate cf. low severity) and emerged only later within the insoluble fraction (p < 0.05 high cf. low severity). In contrast, PHF1 phospho-tau, TOC1 reactive tau oligomers and amyloid markers rose within the two fractions simultaneously. Independent of solubility, cognitive correlations were observed for tau makers and for fibrillary amyloid (OC), however only soluble total Aβ was significantly correlated with intellectual impairment. Following the exclusion of end-stage cases, only soluble total Aβ remained correlated with cognition. The data indicate differential rates of protein aggregation during AD progression and confirm the disease relevance of early emerging soluble Aβ species.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Koss
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
| | - Marina Dubini
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Heather Buchanan
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Claire Hull
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Bettina Platt
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
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44
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Cieri D, Vicario M, Vallese F, D'Orsi B, Berto P, Grinzato A, Catoni C, De Stefani D, Rizzuto R, Brini M, Calì T. Tau localises within mitochondrial sub-compartments and its caspase cleavage affects ER-mitochondria interactions and cellular Ca 2+ handling. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018; 1864:3247-3256. [PMID: 30006151 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) composed by tau and extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques accumulate in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and contribute to neuronal dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration are increasingly considered two faces of the same coin and an early pathological event in AD. Compelling evidence indicates that tau and mitochondria are closely linked and suggests that tau-dependent modulation of mitochondrial functions might be a trigger for the neurodegeneration process; however, whether this occurs either directly or indirectly is not clear. Furthermore, whether tau influences cellular Ca2+ handling and ER-mitochondria cross-talk is yet to be explored. Here, by focusing on wt tau, either full-length (2N4R) or the caspase 3-cleaved form truncated at the C-terminus (2N4RΔC20), we examined the above-mentioned aspects. Using new genetically encoded split-GFP-based tools and organelle-targeted aequorin probes, we assessed: i) tau distribution within the mitochondrial sub-compartments; ii) the effect of tau on the short- (8-10 nm) and the long- (40-50 nm) range ER-mitochondria interactions; and iii) the effect of tau on cytosolic, ER and mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis. Our results indicate that a fraction of tau is found at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and within the inner mitochondrial space (IMS), suggesting a potential tau-dependent regulation of mitochondrial functions. The ER Ca2+ content and the short-range ER-mitochondria interactions were selectively affected by the expression of the caspase 3-cleaved 2N4RΔC20 tau, indicating that Ca2+ mis-handling and defects in the ER-mitochondria communications might be an important pathological event in tau-related dysfunction and thereby contributing to neurodegeneration. Finally, our data provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Cieri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Vicario
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Vallese
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Beatrice D'Orsi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Berto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Diego De Stefani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Rosario Rizzuto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marisa Brini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Tito Calì
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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45
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Novak P, Cehlar O, Skrabana R, Novak M. Tau Conformation as a Target for Disease-Modifying Therapy: The Role of Truncation. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 64:S535-S546. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-179942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ondrej Cehlar
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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46
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Park S, Lee JH, Jeon JH, Lee MJ. Degradation or aggregation: the ramifications of post-translational modifications on tau. BMB Rep 2018; 51:265-273. [PMID: 29661268 PMCID: PMC6033068 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2018.51.6.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein is encoded in the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene and contributes to the stability of microtubules in axons. Despite of its basic isoelectric point and high solubility, tau is often found in intraneuronal filamentous inclusions such as paired helical filaments (PHFs), which are the primary constituent of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). This pathological feature is the nosological entity termed "tauopathies" which notably include Alzheimer's disease (AD). A proteinaceous signature of all tauopathies is hyperphosphorylation of the accumulated tau, which has been extensively studied as a major pharmacological target for AD therapy. However, in addition to phosphorylation events, tau undergoes a number of diverse posttranslational modifications (PTMs) which appear to be controlled by complex crosstalk. It remains to be elucidated which of the PTMs or their combinations have pro-aggregation or anti-aggregation properties. In this review, we outline the consequences of and communications between several key PTMs of tau, such as acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination, focusing on their roles in aggregation and degradation. We place emphasis on the structure of tau protofilaments from the human AD brain, which may be good targets to modulate etiological PTMs which cause tau aggregation. [BMB Reports 2018; 51(6): 265-273].
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoyoung Park
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
| | - Jung Hoon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
| | - Jun Hyoung Jeon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
| | - Min Jae Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul 03080,
Korea
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47
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Foidl BM, Humpel C. Differential Hyperphosphorylation of Tau-S199, -T231 and -S396 in Organotypic Brain Slices of Alzheimer Mice. A Model to Study Early Tau Hyperphosphorylation Using Okadaic Acid. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:113. [PMID: 29725295 PMCID: PMC5917035 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, characterized by extracellular aggregation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylation of tau causing intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). There is urgent need to study the interactions between Aβ and tau, especially to solve the question of the pathological cascade. In the present study, we aim to develop a model of organotypic brain slices in which both plaque and tau pathology can be examined. Organotypic brain slices (150 μm thick, coronal, at the hippocampal level) from adult (9 month) wildtype (WT, C57BL/6N) and transgenic AD mice (TG, APP_SweDI) were cultured for 2 weeks. To induce tau hyperphosphorylation 100 nM okadaic acid (OA), 10 μM wortmannin (WM) or both were added to the slices. Hyperphosphorylation of tau was tested at tau-S199, tau-T231 and tau-S396 using Western blot. Our data show that in TG mice with plaques a 50 kDa fragment of tau-S396 was hyperphosphorylated and that OA induced hyperphosphorylation of tau-S199. In WT mice (without plaques) OA caused hyperphosphorylation of a 50 kDa and a 38 kDa tau-T231 form and a 25 kDa sdftau-S396 fragment. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist MK801 (1 μM) did not block these effects. Immunohistochemistry showed diffuse increased tau-S396 and tau-T231-like immunoreactivities at the hippocampal level but no formation of NFTs. Confocal microscopy indicated, that pTau-T231 was preferentially located in cytoplasma surrounding nuclei whereas pTau-S396 was found mainly in nerve fibers and strongly associated with plaques. In conclusion we provide a novel in vitro model to study both plaque and tau hyperphosphorylation but not NFTs, which could be useful to study pathological processes in AD and to screen for drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina M Foidl
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Humpel
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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48
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Zhou Y, Shi J, Chu D, Hu W, Guan Z, Gong CX, Iqbal K, Liu F. Relevance of Phosphorylation and Truncation of Tau to the Etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:27. [PMID: 29472853 PMCID: PMC5810298 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubule (MT) associated protein tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated and aggregated into paired helical filaments (PHFs), which manifest as neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Hyperphosphorylation and truncation of tau have been linked to the progression of the disease. However, the nature of phosphorylation and truncation of tau in AD brain are not very clear. In the present study we investigated the association of phosphorylation and truncation with high-molecular weight oligomers of tau (HMW-tau) in post-mortem AD brain by western blots. We found that tau from AD brain appears as a smear from low molecular weight (LMW) to HMW tau species in western blots developed with pan-tau antibodies. Similar level of LMW-tau was found in AD and control brains, whereas HMW-tau was found in AD brain only. HMW-tau was hyperphosphorylated at multiple sites and not unphosphorylated at Ser46 or Ser198/199/202. HMW-tau was weakly labeled by tau antibodies 43D against a.a. 6–18 and HT7 against a.a. 159–163 of tau, whereas, the C-terminal antibodies, tau46 and tau46.1, strongly labeled HMW-tau. The ratio of HMW-tau/LMW-tau detected by tau antibodies increased as the epitope of the tau antibodies ranges from N-terminal to C-terminal. The level of tau truncated at Asp421 was increased in AD brain, but was poorly associated with the HMW-tau. These findings suggest that tau pathogenesis involves both hyperphosphorylation and dominantly N-terminal truncation of tau in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jianhua Shi
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wen Hu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zongyu Guan
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Cheng-Xin Gong
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, United States
| | - Khalid Iqbal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, United States
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49
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Longhena F, Spano P, Bellucci A. Targeting of Disordered Proteins by Small Molecules in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2018; 245:85-110. [PMID: 28965171 DOI: 10.1007/164_2017_60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The formation of protein aggregates and inclusions in the brain and spinal cord is a common neuropathological feature of a number of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and many others. These are commonly referred as neurodegenerative proteinopathies or protein-misfolding diseases. The main characteristic of protein aggregates in these disorders is the fact that they are enriched in amyloid fibrils. Since protein aggregation is considered to play a central role for the onset of neurodegenerative proteinopathies, research is ongoing to develop strategies aimed at preventing or removing protein aggregation in the brain of affected patients. Numerous studies have shown that small molecule-based approaches may be potentially the most promising for halting protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, several of these compounds have been found to interact with intrinsically disordered proteins and promote their clearing in experimental models. This notwithstanding, at present small molecule inhibitors still awaits achievements for clinical translation. Hopefully, if we determine whether the formation of insoluble inclusions is effectively neurotoxic and find a valid biomarker to assess their protein aggregation-inhibitory activity in the human central nervous system, the use of small molecule inhibitors will be considered as a cure for neurodegenerative protein-misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Longhena
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa No. 11, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - PierFranco Spano
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa No. 11, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - Arianna Bellucci
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa No. 11, Brescia, 25123, Italy.
- Laboratory of Personalized and Preventive Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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50
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Apicco DJ, Ash PEA, Maziuk B, LeBlang C, Medalla M, Al Abdullatif A, Ferragud A, Botelho E, Ballance HI, Dhawan U, Boudeau S, Cruz AL, Kashy D, Wong A, Goldberg LR, Yazdani N, Zhang C, Ung CY, Tripodis Y, Kanaan NM, Ikezu T, Cottone P, Leszyk J, Li H, Luebke J, Bryant CD, Wolozin B. Reducing the RNA binding protein TIA1 protects against tau-mediated neurodegeneration in vivo. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:72-80. [PMID: 29273772 PMCID: PMC5745051 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-017-0022-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Emerging studies suggest a role for tau in regulating the biology of RNA binding proteins (RBPs). We now show that reducing the RBP T-cell intracellular antigen 1 (TIA1) in vivo protects against neurodegeneration and prolongs survival in transgenic P301S Tau mice. Biochemical fractionation shows co-enrichment and co-localization of tau oligomers and RBPs in transgenic P301S Tau mice. Reducing TIA1 decreased the number and size of granules co-localizing with stress granule markers. Decreasing TIA1 also inhibited the accumulation of tau oligomers at the expense of increasing neurofibrillary tangles. Despite the increase in neurofibrillary tangles, TIA1 reduction increased neuronal survival and rescued behavioral deficits and lifespan. These data provide in vivo evidence that TIA1 plays a key role in mediating toxicity and further suggest that RBPs direct the pathway of tau aggregation and the resulting neurodegeneration. We propose a model in which dysfunction of the translational stress response leads to tau-mediated pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Apicco
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter E A Ash
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brandon Maziuk
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chelsey LeBlang
- Department of Anatomy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Medalla
- Department of Anatomy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ali Al Abdullatif
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonio Ferragud
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily Botelho
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heather I Ballance
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Uma Dhawan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samantha Boudeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna Lourdes Cruz
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Kashy
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aria Wong
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa R Goldberg
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neema Yazdani
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Choong Y Ung
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Kanaan
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pietro Cottone
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John Leszyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jennifer Luebke
- Department of Anatomy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Camron D Bryant
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin Wolozin
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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