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Chu D, Yang X, Wang J, Zhou Y, Gu JH, Miao J, Wu F, Liu F. Tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1221-1232. [PMID: 37905868 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two major neuropathological hallmarks-the extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, especially specific proteolysis, could be a driving force for Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration. Tau physiologically promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, whereas specific truncated fragments are sufficient to induce abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregate into toxic oligomers, resulting in them gaining prion-like characteristics. In addition, Tau truncations cause extensive impairments to neural and glial cell functions and animal cognition and behavior in a fragment-dependent manner. This review summarizes over 60 proteolytic cleavage sites and their corresponding truncated fragments, investigates the role of specific truncations in physiological and pathological states of Alzheimer's disease, and summarizes the latest applications of strategies targeting Tau fragments in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin Miao
- Laboratory of Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
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Yang M, Zinkgraf M, Fitzgerald-Cook C, Harrison BR, Putzier A, Promislow DEL, Wang AM. Using Drosophila to identify naturally occurring genetic modifiers of amyloid beta 42- and tau-induced toxicity. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad132. [PMID: 37311212 PMCID: PMC10468303 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by 2 pathological proteins, amyloid beta 42 and tau. The majority of Alzheimer's disease cases in the population are sporadic and late-onset Alzheimer's disease, which exhibits high levels of heritability. While several genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease have been identified and replicated in independent studies, including the ApoE ε4 allele, the great majority of the heritability of late-onset Alzheimer's disease remains unexplained, likely due to the aggregate effects of a very large number of genes with small effect size, as well as to biases in sample collection and statistical approaches. Here, we present an unbiased forward genetic screen in Drosophila looking for naturally occurring modifiers of amyloid beta 42- and tau-induced ommatidial degeneration. Our results identify 14 significant SNPs, which map to 12 potential genes in 8 unique genomic regions. Our hits that are significant after genome-wide correction identify genes involved in neuronal development, signal transduction, and organismal development. Looking more broadly at suggestive hits (P < 10-5), we see significant enrichment in genes associated with neurogenesis, development, and growth as well as significant enrichment in genes whose orthologs have been identified as significantly or suggestively associated with Alzheimer's disease in human GWAS studies. These latter genes include ones whose orthologs are in close proximity to regions in the human genome that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, but where a causal gene has not been identified. Together, our results illustrate the potential for complementary and convergent evidence provided through multitrait GWAS in Drosophila to supplement and inform human studies, helping to identify the remaining heritability and novel modifiers of complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Matthew Zinkgraf
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
| | - Cecilia Fitzgerald-Cook
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Benjamin R Harrison
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alexandra Putzier
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
| | - Daniel E L Promislow
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Adrienne M Wang
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
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Eberle RJ, Coronado MA, Gering I, Sommerhage S, Korostov K, Stefanski A, Stühler K, Kraemer-Schulien V, Blömeke L, Bannach O, Willbold D. Tau protein aggregation associated with SARS-CoV-2 main protease. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288138. [PMID: 37603556 PMCID: PMC10441795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary function of virus proteases is the proteolytic processing of the viral polyprotein. These enzymes can also cleave host cell proteins, which is important for viral pathogenicity, modulation of cellular processes, viral replication, the defeat of antiviral responses and modulation of the immune response. It is known that COVID-19 can influence multiple tissues or organs and that infection can damage the functionality of the brain in multiple ways. After COVID-19 infections, amyloid-β, neurogranin, tau and phosphorylated tau were detected extracellularly, implicating possible neurodegenerative processes. The present study describes the possible induction of tau aggregation by the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro) possibly relevant in neuropathology. Further investigations demonstrated that tau was proteolytically cleaved by the viral protease 3CL and, consequently, generated aggregates. However, more evidence is needed to confirm that COVID-19 is able to trigger neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Josef Eberle
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mônika Aparecida Coronado
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Ian Gering
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Simon Sommerhage
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Karolina Korostov
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Anja Stefanski
- Molecular Proteomics Laboratory (MPL), BMFZ, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kai Stühler
- Molecular Proteomics Laboratory (MPL), BMFZ, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Victoria Kraemer-Schulien
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Lara Blömeke
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Oliver Bannach
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- attyloid GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- JuStruct: Jülich Centre for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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Tzara O, Amalie Simonsen S, Sode West A, Asser Karsdal M, Klingenberg Iversen H, Henriksen K. Quantification of Tau-A in serum after brain injury: a comparison of two analytical platforms, ELISA and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Brain Inj 2022; 36:792-799. [DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2022.2048692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ourania Tzara
- Neurodegenerative Diseases, Nordic Bioscience Biomarkers & Research, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Anders Sode West
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Stroke Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Morten Asser Karsdal
- Neurodegenerative Diseases, Nordic Bioscience Biomarkers & Research, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Helle Klingenberg Iversen
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Stroke Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kim Henriksen
- Neurodegenerative Diseases, Nordic Bioscience Biomarkers & Research, Herlev, Denmark
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Boyarko B, Hook V. Human Tau Isoforms and Proteolysis for Production of Toxic Tau Fragments in Neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:702788. [PMID: 34744602 PMCID: PMC8566764 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.702788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human tau protein is implicated in a wide range of neurodegenerative “tauopathy” diseases, consisting of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration which includes progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Pick’s disease, and FTLD-tau (frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism caused by MAPT mutations). Tau gene transcripts in the human brain undergo alternative splicing to yield 6 different tau protein isoforms that are expressed in different ratios in neurodegeneration which result in tau pathology of paired-helical filaments, neurofibrillary tangles, and tau fibrillar aggregates with detrimental microtubule destabilization. Protease-mediated tau truncation is an important post-translational modification (PTM) which drives neurodegeneration in a tau fragment-dependent manner. While numerous tau fragments have been identified, knowledge of the proteolytic steps that convert each parent tau isoform into specific truncated tau fragments has not yet been fully defined. An improved understanding of the relationships between tau isoforms and their proteolytic processing to generate neurotoxic tau fragments is important to the field. This review evaluates tau isoform expression patterns including PTMs and mutations that influence proteolysis of tau to generate toxic fragments that drive cognitive deficits in AD and other tauopathy models. This assessment identifies the gap in the field on understanding the details of proteolytic steps used to convert each tau isoform into fragments. Knowledge of the processing mechanisms of tau isoforms can lead to new protease targeted drug strategies to prevent the formation of toxic tau fragments in tauopathy neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Boyarko
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Chen J, Zhang S, Wang W, Sun H, Zhang Q, Liu X. Binding of Inhibitors to BACE1 Affected by pH-Dependent Protonation: An Exploration from Multiple Replica Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamics and MM-GBSA Calculations. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2591-2607. [PMID: 34185514 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, inhibiting the activity of β-amyloid cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) has been considered an efficient approach for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the current work, multiple replica Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (MR-GaMD) simulations and the molecular mechanics general Born surface area (MM-GBSA) method were combined to investigate the effect of pH-dependent protonation on the binding of the inhibitors CS9, C6U, and 6WE to BACE1. Dynamic analyses based on the MR-GaMD trajectory show that pH-dependent protonation strongly affects the structural flexibility, correlated motions, and dynamic behavior of inhibitor-bound BACE1. According to the constructed free energy profiles, in the protonated state at low pH, inhibitor-bound BACE1 tends to populate at more conformations than in high pH. The binding free energies calculated by MM-GBSA suggest that inhibitors possess stronger binding abilities under the protonation conditions at high pH than under the protonation conditions at low pH. Moreover, pH-dependent protonation exerts a significant effect on the hydrogen bonding interactions of CS9, C6U, and 6WE to BACE1, which correspondingly alters the binding abilities of the three inhibitors to BACE1. Furthermore, in different protonated environments, three inhibitors share common interaction clusters and similar binding sites in BACE1, which are reliably used as efficient targets for the design of potent inhibitors of BACE1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Chen
- School of Science, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan 250357, China
| | - Shaolong Zhang
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Science, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan 250357, China
| | - Haibo Sun
- School of Science, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan 250357, China
| | - Qinggang Zhang
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
| | - Xinguo Liu
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
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Kang SG, Eskandari-Sedighi G, Hromadkova L, Safar JG, Westaway D. Cellular Biology of Tau Diversity and Pathogenic Conformers. Front Neurol 2020; 11:590199. [PMID: 33304310 PMCID: PMC7693435 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.590199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau accumulation is a prominent feature in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders and remarkable effort has been expended working out the biochemistry and cell biology of this cytoplasmic protein. Tau's wayward properties may derive from germline mutations in the case of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-MAPT) but may also be prompted by less understood cues—perhaps environmental or from molecular damage as a consequence of chronological aging—in the case of idiopathic tauopathies. Tau properties are undoubtedly affected by its covalent structure and in this respect tau protein is not only subject to changes in length produced by alternative splicing and endoproteolysis, but different types of posttranslational modifications that affect different amino acid residues. Another layer of complexity concerns alternate conformations—“conformers”—of the same covalent structures; in vivo conformers can encompass soluble oligomeric species, ramified fibrillar structures evident by light and electron microscopy and other forms of the protein that have undergone liquid-liquid phase separation to make demixed liquid droplets. Biological concepts based upon conformers have been charted previously for templated replication mechanisms for prion proteins built of the PrP polypeptide; these are now providing useful explanations to feature tau pathobiology, including how this protein accumulates within cells and how it can exhibit predictable patterns of spread across different neuroanatomical regions of an affected brain. In sum, the documented, intrinsic heterogeneity of tau forms and conformers now begins to speak to a fundamental basis for diversity in clinical presentation of tauopathy sub-types. In terms of interventions, emphasis upon subclinical events may be worthwhile, noting that irrevocable cell loss and ramified protein assemblies feature at end-stage tauopathy, whereas earlier events may offer better opportunities for diverting pathogenic processes. Nonetheless, the complexity of tau sub-types, which may be present even within intermediate disease stages, likely mitigates against one-size-fits-all therapeutic strategies and may require a suite of interventions. We consider the extent to which animal models of tauopathy can be reasonably enrolled in the campaign to produce such interventions and to slow the otherwise inexorable march of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Gyun Kang
- Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Lenka Hromadkova
- Department of Neurology and Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jiri G Safar
- Department of Neurology and Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - David Westaway
- Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Tang MHE, Blair JPM, Bager CL, Bay-Jensen AC, Henriksen K, Christiansen C, Karsdal MA. Matrix metalloproteinase-degraded type I collagen is associated with APOE/TOMM40 variants and preclinical dementia. NEUROLOGY-GENETICS 2020; 6:e508. [PMID: 33134509 PMCID: PMC7577557 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000000508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective Dysregulation of type I collagen metabolism has a great impact on human health. We have previously seen that matrix metalloproteinase–degraded type I collagen (C1M) is associated with early death and age-related pathologies. To dissect the biological impact of type I collagen dysregulation, we have performed a genome-wide screening of the genetic factors related to type I collagen turnover. Methods Patient registry data and genotypes have been collected for a total of 4,981 Danish postmenopausal women. Genome-wide association with serum levels of C1M was assessed and phenotype-genotype association analysis performed. Results Twenty-two genome-wide significant variants associated with C1M were identified in the APOE-C1/TOMM40 gene cluster. The APOE-C1/TOMM40 gene cluster is associated with hyperlipidemia and cognitive disorders, and we further found that C1M levels correlated with tau degradation markers and were decreased in women with preclinical cognitive impairment. Conclusions Our study provides elements for better understanding the role of the collagen metabolism in the onset of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Hung Eric Tang
- ProScion (M.-H.E.T., J.P.M.B., C.L.B.), Herlev; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (J.P.M.B.), University of Copenhagen; ImmunoScience (A.-C.B.-J., C.C., M.A.K.), and Endocrinology (K.H.), Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Joseph P M Blair
- ProScion (M.-H.E.T., J.P.M.B., C.L.B.), Herlev; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (J.P.M.B.), University of Copenhagen; ImmunoScience (A.-C.B.-J., C.C., M.A.K.), and Endocrinology (K.H.), Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Cecilie Liv Bager
- ProScion (M.-H.E.T., J.P.M.B., C.L.B.), Herlev; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (J.P.M.B.), University of Copenhagen; ImmunoScience (A.-C.B.-J., C.C., M.A.K.), and Endocrinology (K.H.), Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Anne-Christine Bay-Jensen
- ProScion (M.-H.E.T., J.P.M.B., C.L.B.), Herlev; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (J.P.M.B.), University of Copenhagen; ImmunoScience (A.-C.B.-J., C.C., M.A.K.), and Endocrinology (K.H.), Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Kim Henriksen
- ProScion (M.-H.E.T., J.P.M.B., C.L.B.), Herlev; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (J.P.M.B.), University of Copenhagen; ImmunoScience (A.-C.B.-J., C.C., M.A.K.), and Endocrinology (K.H.), Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Claus Christiansen
- ProScion (M.-H.E.T., J.P.M.B., C.L.B.), Herlev; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (J.P.M.B.), University of Copenhagen; ImmunoScience (A.-C.B.-J., C.C., M.A.K.), and Endocrinology (K.H.), Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Morten Asser Karsdal
- ProScion (M.-H.E.T., J.P.M.B., C.L.B.), Herlev; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (J.P.M.B.), University of Copenhagen; ImmunoScience (A.-C.B.-J., C.C., M.A.K.), and Endocrinology (K.H.), Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark
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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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Jonesco DS, Karsdal MA, Henriksen K. The CNS-specific proteoglycan, brevican, and its ADAMTS4-cleaved fragment show differential serological levels in Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia and non-demented controls: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234632. [PMID: 32559242 PMCID: PMC7304580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence indicate that the brain-specific protein, brevican, is proteolytically cleaved during neurodegeneration, hence positioning fragments of brevican as potential blood biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia. We aimed to develop two assays capable of detecting the brevican N-terminal (N-Brev) and the ADAMTS4-generated fragment (Brev-A), cleaved at Ser401, in serum and to perform a preliminary assessment of their diagnostic potential in dementias. Monoclonal antibodies against N-Brev and Brev-A were used to develop two ELISAs detecting each epitope. A comparison of brevican fragments in serum from individuals with AD (n = 28), other dementia (OD) (n = 41), and non-dementia-related memory complaints (NDCs) (n = 48) was conducted. Anti-N-Brev and anti-Brev-A antibodies selectively recognized their targets and dilution and spike recoveries were within limits of ±20%. Intra- and inter-assay CVs were below limits of 10% and 15%, respectively. For the N-Brev biomarker, serum from patients with OD showed significantly lower levels than those with AD (p = 0.05) and NDCs (p < 0.01). The opposite pattern was evident for Brev-A: serum levels in patients with OD were significantly higher than for AD (p = 0.04) and NDCs (p = 0.01). For both N-Brev and Brev-A, levels did not differ between AD and NDCs. The ratio of N-Brev/Brev-A resulted in increased significant differences between OD and AD (p < 0.01) and between OD and NDCs (p < 0.0001). The ratio discriminated between NDCs and OD (AUC: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65-0.85, p < 0.0001) and between OD and AD (AUC: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.85, p < 0.01). In conclusion, we developed the first assays detecting the N-terminal of brevican as well as an ADAMTS4-cleaved fragment of brevican in blood. Differential levels of N-Brev and Brev-A between AD and OD allow for these biomarkers to possibly distinguish between different forms of dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kim Henriksen
- Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
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A soluble truncated tau species related to cognitive dysfunction is elevated in the brain of cognitively impaired human individuals. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3869. [PMID: 32123248 PMCID: PMC7052165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60777-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and their levels correlate with the severity of cognitive dysfunction in humans. However, experimental evidence suggests that soluble tau species cause cognitive deficits and memory impairment. Our recent study suggests that caspase-2 (Casp2)-catalyzed tau cleavage at aspartate 314 mediates synaptic dysfunction and memory impairment in mouse and cellular models of neurodegenerative disorders. Δtau314, the C-terminally-truncated cleavage products, are soluble and present in human brain. In addition, levels of Δtau314 proteins are elevated in the brain of the cognitively impaired individuals compared to the cognitively normal individuals, indicating a possible role for Δtau314 proteins in cognitive deterioration. Here we show that (1) Δtau314 proteins are present in the inferior temporal gyrus of human brains; (2) Δtau314 proteins are generated from all six tau splicing isoforms, (3) levels of both Casp2 and Δtau314 proteins are elevated in cognitively impaired individuals compared to cognitively normal individuals, and (4) levels of Δtau314 proteins show a modest predictive value for dementia. These findings advance our understanding of the characteristics of Δtau314 proteins and their relevance to cognitive dysfunction and shed light on the contribution of Casp2-mediated Δtau314 production to cognitive deterioration.
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12
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Jonesco DS, Hassager C, Frydland M, Kjærgaard J, Karsdal M, Henriksen K. A caspase-6-cleaved fragment of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein as a potential serological biomarker of CNS injury after cardiac arrest. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224633. [PMID: 31693684 PMCID: PMC6834260 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood levels of Glial Fibrillary Acidic protein (GFAP) reflect processes associated with different types of CNS injury. Evidence suggests that GFAP is cleaved by caspases during CNS injury, hence positioning GFAP fragments as potential biomarkers of injury-associated processes. We set out to develop an assay detecting the neo-epitope generated by caspase-6 cleavage of GFAP (GFAP-C6), and to assess the ability of GFAP-C6 to reflect pathological processes in patients suffering a cardiac arrest and subsequent global cerebral ischemia. Anti-GFAP-C6 antibodies recognized their specific target sequence, and dilution and spike recoveries in serum were within limits of ±20% reflecting high precision and accuracy of measurements. Intra- and inter-assay CVs were below limits of 10% and 15%, respectively. Serological levels of GFAP-C6 were significantly elevated 72 hours after CA (Mean±SD) (20.39±10.59 ng/mL) compared to time of admission (17.79±10.77 ng/mL, p<0.0001), 24 hours (17.40±7.99 ng/mL, p<0.0001) and 48 hours (17.87±8.56 ng/mL, p<0.0001) after CA, but were not related to neurological outcome at day 180. GFAP-C6 levels at admission, 24, 48, and 72 hours after cardiac arrest correlated with two proteolytic fragments of tau, tau-A (r = 0.30, r = 0.40, r = 0.50, r = 0.53, p < 0.0001) and tau-C (r = 54, r = 0.48, r = 0.55, r = 0.54, p < 0.0001), respectively. GFAP-C6 levels did not correlate with other markers of CNS damage; total tau, NSE and S100B. In conclusion, we developed the first assay detecting a caspase-6 cleaved fragment of GFAP in blood. Increased levels at 72 hours after cardiac arrest as well as moderate correlations between GFAP-C6 and two other blood biomarkers of neurodegeneration suggest the ability of GFAP-C6 to reflect pathological processes of the injured brain. Investigations into the potential of GFAP-C6 in other types of CNS injury are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ditte S. Jonesco
- Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Christian Hassager
- Department of Cardiology B, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Frydland
- Department of Cardiology B, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Kjærgaard
- Department of Cardiology B, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Karsdal
- Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Kim Henriksen
- Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
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13
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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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14
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Grand J, Kjaergaard J, Nielsen N, Friberg H, Cronberg T, Bro-Jeppesen J, Karsdal MA, Nielsen HB, Frydland M, Henriksen K, Mattsson N, Zetterberg H, Hassager C. Serum tau fragments as predictors of death or poor neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Biomarkers 2019; 24:584-591. [PMID: 31017476 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2019.1609580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: Anoxic brain injury is the primary cause of death after resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and prognostication is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of two fragments of tau as serum biomarkers for neurological outcome. Methods: Single-center sub-study of 171 patients included in the Target Temperature Management (TTM) Trial randomly assigned to TTM at 33 °C or TTM at 36 °C for 24 h after OHCA. Fragments (tau-A and tau-C) of the neuronal protein tau were measured in serum 24, 48 and 72 h after OHCA. The primary endpoint was neurological outcome. Results: Median (quartile 1 - quartile 3) tau-A (ng/ml) values were 58 (43-71) versus 51 (43-67), 72 (57-84) versus 71 (59-82) and 76 (61-92) versus 75 (64-89) for good versus unfavourable outcome at 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively (pgroup = 0.95). Median tau C (ng/ml) values were 38 (29-50) versus 36 (29-49), 49 (38-58) versus 48 (33-59) and 48 (39-59) versus 48 (36-62) (pgroup = 0.95). Tau-A and tau-C did not predict neurological outcome (area under the receiver-operating curve at 48 h; tau-A: 0.51 and tau-C: 0.51). Conclusions: Serum levels of tau fragments were unable to predict neurological outcome after OHCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Grand
- a Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Jesper Kjaergaard
- a Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Niklas Nielsen
- b Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Helsingborg Hospital , Helsingborg , Sweden
| | - Hans Friberg
- c Department of Clinical Sciences, Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden
| | | | - John Bro-Jeppesen
- a Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | | | | | - Martin Frydland
- a Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Kim Henriksen
- e Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience , Herlev , Denmark
| | - Niklas Mattsson
- f Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden.,g Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University , Lund , Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- h Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Mölndal , Sweden.,i Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg , Mölndal , Sweden.,j UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL , London , UK.,k Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology , London , UK
| | - Christian Hassager
- a Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark
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15
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Neergaard JS, Dragsbæk K, Christiansen C, Karsdal MA, Brix S, Henriksen K. Two novel blood-based biomarker candidates measuring degradation of tau are associated with dementia: A prospective study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194802. [PMID: 29641555 PMCID: PMC5895005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Truncated tau appears to be specifically related to disease pathology and recent studies have shown the presence and elevation of several truncated tau species in Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the relevance of truncated Tau measurements in blood is still being studied. OBJECTIVE The aim of the current study was to assess the longitudinal associations between baseline levels of two novel blood biomarker candidates measuring truncated tau, Tau-A and Tau-C, and the risk of incident dementia and AD in elderly women. METHODS Using solid phase competitive ELISA, two tau fragments were detected in serum of 5,309 women from the Prospective Epidemiological Risk Factor study. The study was an observational, prospective study of Danish postmenopausal women. Subjects were followed with registry-linkage for up to 15 years (median follow-up time 13.7 years). Cox regression was used to assess the utility of the biomarker candidates in relation to dementia and AD. RESULTS High levels of Tau-A and Tau-C (above the median) in blood were associated with lower risk of dementia and AD (Tau-A: Dementia HR[95% CI] = 0.85[0.70-1.04]; AD 0.71[0.52-0.98] and Tau-C: Dementia 0.84[0.70-1.00]; AD 0.78[0.60-1.03]). Tau-C gave a very modest increase in the AUC in a 5-year prediction horizon as compared to a reference model with age and education, while a combination of the two did not improve their predictive capacity. CONCLUSIONS Measurement of tau in serum is feasible. The serological tau turnover profile may be related to the diagnosis and development of dementia and AD. The exact processing and profile in serum in relation to cognitive disorders remains to be further assessed to provide simple non-invasive tests to identify subjects with progressive cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Skov Neergaard
- Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Katrine Dragsbæk
- Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Susanne Brix
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
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16
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Quinn JP, Corbett NJ, Kellett KAB, Hooper NM. Tau Proteolysis in the Pathogenesis of Tauopathies: Neurotoxic Fragments and Novel Biomarkers. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 63:13-33. [PMID: 29630551 PMCID: PMC5900574 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
With predictions showing that 131.5 million people worldwide will be living with dementia by 2050, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning disease is crucial in the hunt for novel therapeutics and for biomarkers to detect disease early and/or monitor disease progression. The metabolism of the microtubule-associated protein tau is altered in different dementias, the so-called tauopathies. Tau detaches from microtubules, aggregates into oligomers and neurofibrillary tangles, which can be secreted from neurons, and spreads through the brain during disease progression. Post-translational modifications exacerbate the production of both oligomeric and soluble forms of tau, with proteolysis by a range of different proteases being a crucial driver. However, the impact of tau proteolysis on disease progression has been overlooked until recently. Studies have highlighted that proteolytic fragments of tau can drive neurodegeneration in a fragment-dependent manner as a result of aggregation and/or transcellular propagation. Proteolytic fragments of tau have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with different tauopathies, providing an opportunity to develop these fragments as novel disease progression biomarkers. A range of therapeutic strategies have been proposed to halt the toxicity associated with proteolysis, including reducing protease expression and/or activity, selectively inhibiting protease-substrate interactions, and blocking the action of the resulting fragments. This review highlights the importance of tau proteolysis in the pathogenesis of tauopathies, identifies putative sites during tau fragment-mediated neurodegeneration that could be targeted therapeutically, and discusses the potential use of proteolytic fragments of tau as biomarkers for different tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Quinn
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Nicola J. Corbett
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine A. B. Kellett
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Nigel M. Hooper
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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17
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18
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Neergaard JS, Dragsbæk K, Christiansen C, Nielsen HB, Workman CT, Brix S, Henriksen K, Karsdal MA. Modifiable risk factors promoting neurodegeneration is associated with two novel brain degradation markers measured in serum. Neurochem Int 2017; 108:303-308. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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19
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Ozcelik S, Sprenger F, Skachokova Z, Fraser G, Abramowski D, Clavaguera F, Probst A, Frank S, Müller M, Staufenbiel M, Goedert M, Tolnay M, Winkler DT. Co-expression of truncated and full-length tau induces severe neurotoxicity. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:1790-1798. [PMID: 26830137 PMCID: PMC5116481 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Abundant tau inclusions are a defining hallmark of several human neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Protein fragmentation is a widely observed event in neurodegenerative proteinopathies. The relevance of tau fragmentation for the neurodegenerative process in tauopathies has yet remained unclear. Here we found that co-expression of truncated and full-length human tau in mice provoked the formation of soluble high-molecular-weight tau, the failure of axonal transport, clumping of mitochondria, disruption of the Golgi apparatus and missorting of synaptic proteins. This was associated with extensive nerve cell dysfunction and severe paralysis by the age of 3 weeks. When the expression of truncated tau was halted, most mice recovered behaviorally and functionally. In contrast, co-expression of full-length tau isoforms did not result in paralysis. Truncated tau thus induces extensive but reversible neurotoxicity in the presence of full-length tau through the formation of nonfilamentous high-molecular-weight tau aggregates, in the absence of tau filaments. Targeting tau fragmentation may provide a novel approach for the treatment of human tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ozcelik
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - F Sprenger
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Z Skachokova
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - G Fraser
- MRC, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - D Abramowski
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - F Clavaguera
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - A Probst
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - S Frank
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Müller
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Staufenbiel
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Goedert
- MRC, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - M Tolnay
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - D T Winkler
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Pathology and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. E-mail:
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20
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Shahim P, Linemann T, Inekci D, Karsdal MA, Blennow K, Tegner Y, Zetterberg H, Henriksen K. Serum Tau Fragments Predict Return to Play in Concussed Professional Ice Hockey Players. J Neurotrauma 2016; 33:1995-1999. [PMID: 25621407 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2014.3741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of sports-related concussion is mainly based on subjective clinical symptoms and neuropsychological tests. Therefore, reliable brain injury biomarkers to assess when it is safe to return to play are highly desirable. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of two newly described tau fragments for diagnosis and prognosis of sports-related concussions. This multi-center prospective cohort study involved all 12 teams of the top professional ice hockey league in Sweden. A total of 288 players consented to participate in the study. Thirty-five players sustained concussions, of whom 28 underwent repeated blood samplings at 1, 12, 36, and 144 h after the trauma, or when the player returned to play (7 to >90 days). There was no significant increase in the levels of Tau-A in post-concussion samples compared with preseason values. However, serum levels of Tau-C were significantly higher in post-concussion samples compared with preseason. Further, levels of Tau-A correlated with the duration of post-concussive symptoms. Tau-A in serum, which is newly discovered biomarker, could be used to predict when it is safe to return to play after a sports-related concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pashtun Shahim
- 1 Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology , the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Thomas Linemann
- 2 Biomarkers & Research , Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Dilek Inekci
- 2 Biomarkers & Research , Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Kaj Blennow
- 1 Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology , the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Yelverton Tegner
- 3 Division of Medical Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology , Luleå, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- 1 Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology , the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden .,4 UCL Institute of Neurology , Queen Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kim Henriksen
- 2 Biomarkers & Research , Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
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Baird AL, Westwood S, Lovestone S. Blood-Based Proteomic Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology. Front Neurol 2015; 6:236. [PMID: 26635716 PMCID: PMC4644785 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The complexity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its long prodromal phase poses challenges for early diagnosis and yet allows for the possibility of the development of disease modifying treatments for secondary prevention. It is, therefore, of importance to develop biomarkers, in particular, in the preclinical or early phases that reflect the pathological characteristics of the disease and, moreover, could be of utility in triaging subjects for preventative therapeutic clinical trials. Much research has sought biomarkers for diagnostic purposes by comparing affected people to unaffected controls. However, given that AD pathology precedes disease onset, a pathology endophenotype design for biomarker discovery creates the opportunity for detection of much earlier markers of disease. Blood-based biomarkers potentially provide a minimally invasive option for this purpose and research in the field has adopted various “omics” approaches in order to achieve this. This review will, therefore, examine the current literature regarding blood-based proteomic biomarkers of AD and its associated pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Baird
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Sarah Westwood
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Simon Lovestone
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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22
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Inekci D, Jonesco DS, Kennard S, Karsdal MA, Henriksen K. The potential of pathological protein fragmentation in blood-based biomarker development for dementia - with emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurol 2015; 6:90. [PMID: 26029153 PMCID: PMC4426721 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of dementia is challenging and early stages are rarely detected limiting the possibilities for early intervention. Another challenge is the overlap in the clinical features across the different dementia types leading to difficulties in the differential diagnosis. Identifying biomarkers that can detect the pre-dementia stage and allow differential diagnosis could provide an opportunity for timely and optimal intervention strategies. Also, such biomarkers could help in selection and inclusion of the right patients in clinical trials of both Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia treatment candidates. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been the most investigated source of biomarkers and several candidate proteins have been identified. However, looking solely at protein levels is too simplistic to provide enough detailed information to differentiate between dementias, as there is a significant crossover between the proteins involved in the different types of dementia. Additionally, CSF sampling makes these biomarkers challenging for presymptomatic identification. We need to focus on disease-specific protein fragmentation to find a fragment pattern unique for each separate dementia type – a form of protein fragmentology. Targeting protein fragments generated by disease-specific combinations of proteins and proteases opposed to detecting the intact protein could reduce the overlap between diagnostic groups as the extent of processing as well as which proteins and proteases constitute the major hallmark of each dementia type differ. In addition, the fragments could be detectable in blood as they may be able to cross the blood–brain barrier due to their smaller size. In this review, the potential of the fragment-based biomarker discovery for dementia diagnosis and prognosis is discussed, especially highlighting how the knowledge from CSF protein biomarkers can be used to guide blood-based biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilek Inekci
- Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research , Herlev , Denmark ; Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark , Lyngby , Denmark
| | | | - Sophie Kennard
- Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research , Herlev , Denmark
| | | | - Kim Henriksen
- Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research , Herlev , Denmark
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Expert consensus document: Mind the gaps—advancing research into short-term and long-term neuropsychological outcomes of youth sports-related concussions. Nat Rev Neurol 2015; 11:230-44. [PMID: 25776822 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2015.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sports-related concussions and repetitive subconcussive exposure are increasingly recognized as potential dangers to paediatric populations, but much remains unknown about the short-term and long-term consequences of these events, including potential cognitive impairment and risk of later-life dementia. This Expert Consensus Document is the result of a 1-day meeting convened by Safe Kids Worldwide, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, and the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. The goal is to highlight knowledge gaps and areas of critically needed research in the areas of concussion science, dementia, genetics, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, neuroimaging, sports injury surveillance, and information sharing. For each of these areas, we propose clear and achievable paths to improve the understanding, treatment and prevention of youth sports-related concussions.
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Höglund K, Fourier A, Perret-Liaudet A, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Portelius E. Alzheimer's disease--Recent biomarker developments in relation to updated diagnostic criteria. Clin Chim Acta 2015; 449:3-8. [PMID: 25668231 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2015.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by neuroaxonal and synaptic degeneration accompanied by intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles and accumulation of extracellular plaques in specific brain regions. These features are reflected in the AD cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by increased concentrations of total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau), together with decreased concentrations of β-amyloid (Aβ42), respectively. In combination, Aβ42, p-tau and t-tau are 85-95% sensitive and specific for AD in both prodromal and dementia stages of the disease and they are now included in the diagnostic research criteria for AD. However, to fully implement these biomarkers into clinical practice, harmonization of data is needed. This work is ongoing through the standardization of analytical procedures between clinical laboratories and the production of reference materials for CSF Aβ42, p-tau and t-tau. To monitor other aspects of AD neuropathology, e.g., synaptic dysfunction and/or to develop markers of progression, identifying novel candidate biomarkers is of great importance. Based on knowledge from the established biomarkers, exemplified by Aβ and its many variants, and emerging data on neurogranin fragments as biomarker candidate(s), a thorough protein characterization in order to fully understand the diagnostic value of a protein is a suggested approach for successful biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kina Höglund
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Anthony Fourier
- Neurobiology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; BIORAN team INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon, France
| | - Armand Perret-Liaudet
- Neurobiology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; BIORAN team INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon, France
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Erik Portelius
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.
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25
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Snyder HM, Carrillo MC, Grodstein F, Henriksen K, Jeromin A, Lovestone S, Mielke MM, O'Bryant S, Sarasa M, Sjøgren M, Soares H, Teeling J, Trushina E, Ward M, West T, Bain LJ, Shineman DW, Weiner M, Fillit HM. Developing novel blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2014; 10:109-14. [PMID: 24365657 PMCID: PMC4769619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the public health crisis of the 21st century. There is a clear need for a widely available, inexpensive and reliable method to diagnosis Alzheimer's disease in the earliest stages, track disease progression, and accelerate clinical development of new therapeutics. One avenue of research being explored is blood based biomarkers. In April 2012, the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation convened top scientists from around the world to discuss the state of blood based biomarker development. This manuscript summarizes the meeting and the resultant discussion, including potential next steps to move this area of research forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Snyder
- Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Maria C Carrillo
- Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Francine Grodstein
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kim Henriksen
- Biomarker and Research Division, Nordic Biosciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Simon Lovestone
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Neurosciences, King's College, London, UK
| | - Michelle M Mielke
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Sid O'Bryant
- Internal Medicine Department, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tim West
- C2N Diagnostics, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lisa J Bain
- Independent Science Writer, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Michael Weiner
- School of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
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26
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Henriksen K, O'Bryant SE, Hampel H, Trojanowski JQ, Montine TJ, Jeromin A, Blennow K, Lönneborg A, Wyss-Coray T, Soares H, Bazenet C, Sjögren M, Hu W, Lovestone S, Karsdal MA, Weiner MW. The future of blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2014; 10:115-31. [PMID: 23850333 PMCID: PMC4128378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is significantly hampered by the lack of easily accessible biomarkers that can detect disease presence and predict disease risk reliably. Fluid biomarkers of AD currently provide indications of disease stage; however, they are not robust predictors of disease progression or treatment response, and most are measured in cerebrospinal fluid, which limits their applicability. With these aspects in mind, the aim of this article is to underscore the concerted efforts of the Blood-Based Biomarker Interest Group, an international working group of experts in the field. The points addressed include: (1) the major challenges in the development of blood-based biomarkers of AD, including patient heterogeneity, inclusion of the "right" control population, and the blood-brain barrier; (2) the need for a clear definition of the purpose of the individual markers (e.g., prognostic, diagnostic, or monitoring therapeutic efficacy); (3) a critical evaluation of the ongoing biomarker approaches; and (4) highlighting the need for standardization of preanalytical variables and analytical methodologies used by the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Henriksen
- Nordic Bioscience Biomarkers and Research, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Herlev, Denmark.
| | - Sid E O'Bryant
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Harald Hampel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, Udall Parkinson's Research Center, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Kaj Blennow
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Goteborg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Molndal, Sweden
| | | | - Tony Wyss-Coray
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Chantal Bazenet
- King's College London, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
| | | | - William Hu
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Simon Lovestone
- King's College London, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
| | - Morten A Karsdal
- Nordic Bioscience Biomarkers and Research, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Michael W Weiner
- Departments of Medicine, Radiology, Psychiatry, and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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