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Lane-Donovan C, Boxer AL. Disentangling tau: One protein, many therapeutic approaches. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00321. [PMID: 38278659 PMCID: PMC10963923 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The tauopathies encompass over 20 adult neurodegenerative diseases and are characterized by the dysfunction and accumulation of insoluble tau protein. Among them, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and progressive supranuclear palsy collectively impact millions of patients and their families worldwide. Despite years of drug development using a variety of mechanisms of action, no therapeutic directed against tau has been approved for clinical use. This raises important questions about our current model of tau pathology and invites thoughtful consideration of our approach to nonclinical models and clinical trial design. In this article, we review what is known about the biology and genetics of tau, placing it in the context of current and failed clinical trials. We highlight potential reasons for the lack of success to date and offer suggestions for new pathways in therapeutic development. Overall, our viewpoint to the future is optimistic for this important group of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Lane-Donovan
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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2
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Rawat P, Sehar U, Bisht J, Selman A, Culberson J, Reddy PH. Phosphorylated Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12841. [PMID: 36361631 PMCID: PMC9654278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in elderly people. Amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits and neurofibrillary tangles are the major pathological features in an Alzheimer's brain. These proteins are highly expressed in nerve cells and found in most tissues. Tau primarily provides stabilization to microtubules in the part of axons and dendrites. However, tau in a pathological state becomes hyperphosphorylated, causing tau dysfunction and leading to synaptic impairment and degeneration of neurons. This article presents a summary of the role of tau, phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in AD, and other tauopathies. Tauopathies, including Pick's disease, frontotemporal dementia, corticobasal degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, argyrophilic grain disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Huntington's disease, are the result of misprocessing and accumulation of tau within the neuronal and glial cells. This article also focuses on current research on the post-translational modifications and genetics of tau, tau pathology, the role of tau in tauopathies and the development of new drugs targeting p-tau, and the therapeutics for treating and possibly preventing tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Rawat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ujala Sehar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Jasbir Bisht
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ashley Selman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - John Culberson
- Department of Family Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - P. Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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3
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Berdyński M, Ludwiczak J, Barczak A, Barcikowska-Kotowicz M, Kuźma-Kozakiewicz M, Dunin-Horkawicz S, Żekanowski C, Borzemska B. TREM2 Gene Compound Heterozygosity in Neurodegenerative Disorders. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 89:1211-1219. [PMID: 36031890 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homozygous variants of the TREM2 and TYROBP genes have been shown to be causative for multiple bone cysts and neurodegeneration leading to progressive dementia (NHD, Nasu-Hakola disease). OBJECTIVE To determine if biallelic variants of these genes and/or oligogenic inheritance could be responsible for a wider spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions. METHODS We analyzed 52 genes associated with neurodegenerative disorders using targeted next generation sequencing in a selected group of 29 patients (n = 14 Alzheimer's disease, n = 8 frontotemporal dementia, n = 7 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) carrying diverse already determined rare variants in exon 2 of TREM2. Molecular modeling was used to get an insight into the potential effects of the mutation. RESULTS We identified a novel mutation c.401_406delinsTCTAT; p.(Asp134Valfs*55) in exon 3 of TREM2 in an Alzheimer's disease patient also carrying the p.Arg62His TREM2 variant. Molecular modeling revealed that the identified mutation prevents anchoring of the TREM2 protein in the membrane, leaving the core of the Ig-like domain intact. CONCLUSION Our results expand the spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, where the carriers of biallelic mutations in TREM2 have been described for Alzheimer's disease, and highlight the impact of variant burden in other genes on phenotypic heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Berdyński
- Department of Neurogenetics and Functional Genomics, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Ludwiczak
- Laboratory of Structural Bioinformatics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Barczak
- Rare Diseases Research Platform, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Kuźma-Kozakiewicz
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Stanisław Dunin-Horkawicz
- Laboratory of Structural Bioinformatics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Cezary Żekanowski
- Department of Neurogenetics and Functional Genomics, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Borzemska
- Department of Neurogenetics and Functional Genomics, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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4
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Bi H, Guo H, Wang Q, Zhang X, Zhao Y, Li J, Zhao W, Tuo H, Zhang Y. A Novel Variation in the Mitochondrial Complex I Assembly Factor NDUFAF5 Causes Isolated Bilateral Striatal Necrosis in Childhood. Front Neurol 2021; 12:675616. [PMID: 34177781 PMCID: PMC8223072 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.675616] [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: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Bilateral striatal necrosis (BSN) is characterized by symmetrical degeneration, predominantly of the caudate and putamen nucleus, in the basal ganglia. It is associated with numerous acquired and hereditary neuro-developmental and motor dysfunction-related pathological conditions. BSN results in high morbidity and mortality among infants and children, and its diagnosis is clinically challenging due to several overlapping disease phenotypes. Therefore, a precise genetic diagnosis is urgently needed for accurate genetic counseling and improved prognostic outcomes as well. Objective: To identify novel missense mutations in the NDUFAF5 gene as a cause of childhood BSN in members of a Chinese family and summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with the NDUFAF5 gene mutations. Methods: This study included a large family living in a remote northwestern area of China. Three siblings developed a neurological disorder characterized by generalized dystonia within the first decade of their lives. Cerebral computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral lesions of the putamen. Biochemical and genetic approaches were used to identify the cause of BSN. Results: Sequence analysis showed no pathogenic variation in PANK2, SLC25A19, SLC19A3, and NUP62 genes and in the entire mitochondrial genome as well. Whole-exome sequencing revealed compound heterozygous mutations consisting of NDUFAF5:c.425A > C(p.E142A) and c.836T > G (p.M279R). The father, a healthy sister, and a healthy brother of the affected siblings carried the c.836T > G mutation, and the mother carried the c.425A > C mutation. These variants were absent in 100 ethnically matched non-BSN controls. In silico analysis demonstrated that the E142A and M279R mutations in NDUFAF5 protein significantly perturbed the normal conformation of the protein due to alterations in the hydrogen bonding patterns around the evolutionarily conserved catalytic domains, leading to its loss of function in the early stage of mitochondrial complex I assembly. Conclusions: We identified a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.425A > C and c.836T > G) in the NDUFAF5 gene as the potential cause of autosomal recessive childhood BSN, which extended the pathogenic variation spectrum of the NDUFAF5 gene. This study provides substantial evidence for further improvement of genetic counseling and better clinical management of BSN affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Bi
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Guo
- Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qianfei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaming Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jimei Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiqin Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Houzhen Tuo
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongbo Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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5
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Masnata M, Salem S, de Rus Jacquet A, Anwer M, Cicchetti F. Targeting Tau to Treat Clinical Features of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurol 2020; 11:580732. [PMID: 33329322 PMCID: PMC7710872 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.580732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe motor, cognitive and psychiatric impairments. While motor deficits often confirm diagnosis, cognitive dysfunctions usually manifest early in the disease process and are consistently ranked among the leading factors that impact the patients' quality of life. The genetic component of HD, a mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, is traditionally presented as the main contributor to disease pathology. However, accumulating evidence suggests the implication of the microtubule-associated tau protein to the pathogenesis and therefore, proposes an alternative conceptual framework where tau and mutant huntingtin (mHTT) act conjointly to drive neurodegeneration and cognitive dysfunction. This perspective on disease etiology offers new avenues to design therapeutic interventions and could leverage decades of research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies to rapidly advance drug discovery. In this mini review, we examine the breadth of tau-targeting treatments currently tested in the preclinical and clinical settings for AD and other tauopathies, and discuss the potential application of these strategies to HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Masnata
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Shireen Salem
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Aurelie de Rus Jacquet
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Mehwish Anwer
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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6
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Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Enhances Memory Acquisition and Is Associated with Synaptoneurosome Modification in the Rat Hippocampus. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0311-19.2019. [PMID: 31699891 PMCID: PMC6900464 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0311-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation approach previously shown to enhance memory acquisition, but more studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Here, we examined the effects of anodal tDCS (0.25 mA for 30 min) on the memory performance of male Sprague Dawley rats in the passive avoidance test (PAT) and the associated modifications to the hippocampal proteomes. Results indicate anodal tDCS applied before the acquisition period significantly enhanced memory performance in the PAT. Following PAT, synaptoneurosomes were biochemically purified from the hippocampi of tDCS-treated or sham-treated rats and individual protein abundances were determined by bottom-up liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Proteomic analysis identified 184 differentially expressed hippocampal proteins when comparing the sham to the tDCS before memory acquisition treatment group. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) showed anodal tDCS before memory acquisition significantly enhanced pathways associated with memory, cognition, learning, transmission, neuritogenesis, and long-term potentiation (LTP). IPA identified significant upstream regulators including bdnf, shank3, and gsk3b. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and protein sequence similarity (PSS) networks show that glutamate receptor pathways, ion channel activity, memory, learning, cognition, and long-term memory were significantly associated with anodal tDCS. Centrality measures from both networks identified key proteins including dlg, shank, grin, and gria that were significantly modified by tDCS applied before the acquisition period. Together, our results provide descriptive molecular evidence that anodal tDCS enhances memory performance in the PAT by modifying hippocampal synaptic plasticity related proteins.
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7
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Strang KH, Golde TE, Giasson BI. MAPT mutations, tauopathy, and mechanisms of neurodegeneration. J Transl Med 2019; 99:912-928. [PMID: 30742061 PMCID: PMC7289372 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0197-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prominent pathological feature is the aberrant aggregation and inclusion formation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Because of the pathological association, these disorders are often referred to as tauopathies. Mutations in the MAPT gene that encodes tau can cause frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), providing the clearest evidence that tauopathy plays a causal role in neurodegeneration. However, large gaps in our knowledge remain regarding how various FTDP-17-linked tau mutations promote tau aggregation and neurodegeneration, and, more generally, how the tauopathy is linked to neurodegeneration. Herein, we review what is known about how FTDP-17-linked pathogenic MAPT mutations cause disease, with a major focus on the prion-like properties of wild-type and mutant tau proteins. The hypothesized mechanisms by which mutations in the MAPT gene promote tauopathy are quite varied and may not provide definitive insights into how tauopathy arises in the absence of mutation. Further, differences in the ability of tau and mutant tau proteins to support prion-like propagation in various model systems raise questions about the generalizability of this mechanism in various tauopathies. Notably, understanding the mechanisms of tauopathy induction and spread and tau-induced neurodegeneration has important implications for tau-targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin H. Strang
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Todd E. Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I. Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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8
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Hernandez I, Luna G, Rauch JN, Reis SA, Giroux M, Karch CM, Boctor D, Sibih YE, Storm NJ, Diaz A, Kaushik S, Zekanowski C, Kang AA, Hinman CR, Cerovac V, Guzman E, Zhou H, Haggarty SJ, Goate AM, Fisher SK, Cuervo AM, Kosik KS. A farnesyltransferase inhibitor activates lysosomes and reduces tau pathology in mice with tauopathy. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:eaat3005. [PMID: 30918111 PMCID: PMC7961212 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aat3005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Tau inclusions are a shared feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, among them frontotemporal dementia caused by tau mutations. Treatment approaches for these conditions include targeting posttranslational modifications of tau proteins, maintaining a steady-state amount of tau, and preventing its tendency to aggregate. We discovered a new regulatory pathway for tau degradation that operates through the farnesylated protein, Rhes, a GTPase in the Ras family. Here, we show that treatment with the farnesyltransferase inhibitor lonafarnib reduced Rhes and decreased brain atrophy, tau inclusions, tau sumoylation, and tau ubiquitination in the rTg4510 mouse model of tauopathy. In addition, lonafarnib treatment attenuated behavioral abnormalities in rTg4510 mice and reduced microgliosis in mouse brain. Direct reduction of Rhes in the rTg4510 mouse by siRNA reproduced the results observed with lonafarnib treatment. The mechanism of lonafarnib action mediated by Rhes to reduce tau pathology was shown to operate through activation of lysosomes. We finally showed in mouse brain and in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons a normal developmental increase in Rhes that was initially suppressed by tau mutations. The known safety of lonafarnib revealed in human clinical trials for cancer suggests that this drug could be repurposed for treating tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel Hernandez
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Gabriel Luna
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Jennifer N Rauch
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Surya A Reis
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Chemical Neurobiology Lab, and Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Michel Giroux
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Celeste M Karch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Daniel Boctor
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Youssef E Sibih
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Nadia J Storm
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology and Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Antonio Diaz
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology and Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Susmita Kaushik
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology and Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Cezary Zekanowski
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawinskiego St., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alexander A Kang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Cassidy R Hinman
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Vesna Cerovac
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Elmer Guzman
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Honjun Zhou
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Stephen J Haggarty
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Chemical Neurobiology Lab, and Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Alison M Goate
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Steven K Fisher
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Ana M Cuervo
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology and Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Kenneth S Kosik
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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9
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Tan CC, Zhang XY, Tan L, Yu JT. Tauopathies: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 61:487-508. [PMID: 29278892 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tauopathies are morphologically, biochemically, and clinically heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases defined by the accumulation of abnormal tau proteins in the brain. There is no effective method to prevent and reverse the tauopathies, but this gloomy picture has been changed by recent research advances. Evidences from genetic studies, experimental animal models, and molecular and cell biology have shed light on the main mechanisms of the diseases. The development of radiology and biochemistry, especially the development of PET imaging, will provide important biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. Given the central role of tau in tauopathies, many treatments have constantly emerged, including targeting phosphorylation, targeting aggregation, increasing microtubule stabilization, tau immunization, clearance of tau, anti-inflammatory treatment, and other therapeutics. There is still a long way to go before we obtain drug therapy targeted at multifactor mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Lan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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10
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Mutreja Y, Combs B, Gamblin TC. FTDP-17 Mutations Alter the Aggregation and Microtubule Stabilization Propensity of Tau in an Isoform-Specific Fashion. Biochemistry 2018; 58:742-754. [PMID: 30562452 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b01039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
More than 50 different intronic and exonic autosomal dominant mutations in the tau gene have been linked to the neurodegenerative disorder frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome-17 (FTDP-17). Although the pathological and clinical presentation of this disorder is heterogeneous among patients, the deposition of tau as pathological aggregates is a common feature. Collectively, FTDP-17 mutations have been shown to alter tau's ability to stabilize microtubules, enhance its aggregation, alter mRNA splicing, or induce its hyperphosphorylation, among other effects. Previous in vitro studies from our lab revealed that these mutations differ markedly from each other in the longest 2N4R isoform of tau. However, it is not entirely known whether the effect of a single mutation varies when compared between different isoforms of tau. Differences in the isoelectric points of the N-terminal region of tau isoforms lead to changes in their biochemical properties, raising the possibility that isoforms could also be disproportionately affected by disease-related mechanisms such as mutations. We therefore performed a comparative study of three FTDP-17 mutations present in different regions of tau (R5L, P301L, and R406W) in the three 4R isoforms of tau. We observed significant differences in the effect these mutations exert on the total amount and kinetics of aggregation, aggregate length distributions, and microtubule stabilizing propensity of 4R tau isoforms for all three selected mutants. These results demonstrate that different combinations of FTDP-17 mutations and tau isoforms are functionally distinct and could have important implications for our understanding of disease and animal models of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamini Mutreja
- Department of Molecular Biosciences , University of Kansas , 1200 Sunnyside Ave , Lawrence , Kansas 66045 , United States
| | - Benjamin Combs
- Department of Molecular Biosciences , University of Kansas , 1200 Sunnyside Ave , Lawrence , Kansas 66045 , United States.,Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine , Michigan State University , Grand Rapids , Michigan 49503 , United States
| | - T Chris Gamblin
- Department of Molecular Biosciences , University of Kansas , 1200 Sunnyside Ave , Lawrence , Kansas 66045 , United States
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11
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Sun L, Chen K, Li X, Xiao S. Rapidly Progressive Frontotemporal Dementia Associated with MAPT Mutation G389R. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 55:777-785. [PMID: 27802239 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia includes a large spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we report the case of a young patient with MAPT mutation G389R, who was 27 years old when he progressively developed severe behavioral disturbances. Initially, he presented with slowly progressive personality change. After 1 year, he exhibited moderate dementia with extrapyramidal and pyramidal symptoms. MRI showed frontotemporal atrophy. He rapidly progressed to severe dementia 3 years after onset. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous guanine to cytosine mutation at the first base of codon 389 (c.1165G>A) of MAPT, the tau gene, resulting in a glycine to arginine substitution in the patient and two unaffected relatives. We predicted the model of mutant tau protein through I-TASSER software, and speculated the structural change of tau protein caused by mutant site. We also detected the MAPT gene transcript and methylation of samples from peripheral blood leucocytes in an attempt to explain the possible mechanisms of incomplete penetrance, although there were not positive findings. This case is remarkable because of the early onset and rapid progression of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Sun
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kathryn Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, WA, USA
| | - Xia Li
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shifu Xiao
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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12
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Arendt T, Stieler JT, Holzer M. Tau and tauopathies. Brain Res Bull 2016; 126:238-292. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 333] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Subramaniyan Parimalam S, Tarhan MC, Karsten SL, Fujita H, Shintaku H, Kotera H, Yokokawa R. On-chip microtubule gliding assay for parallel measurement of tau protein species. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:1691-1697. [PMID: 27056640 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc01486g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Tau protein is a well-established biomarker for a group of neurodegenerative diseases collectively called tauopathies. So far, clinically relevant detection of tau species in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cannot be achieved without immunological methods. Recently, it was shown that different tau isoforms including the ones carrying various types of mutations affect microtubule (MT)-kinesin binding and velocity in an isoform specific manner. Here, based on these observations, we developed a microfluidic device to analyze tau mutations, isoforms and their ratios. The assay device consists of three regions: a MT reservoir which captures MTs from a solution to a kinesin-coated surface, a microchannel which guides gliding MTs, and an arrowhead-shaped collector which concentrates MTs. Tau-bound fluorescently labeled MTs (tau-MTs) were assayed, and the increase in fluorescence intensity (FI) corresponding to the total number of MTs accumulated was measured at the collector. We show that our device is capable of differentiating 3R and 4R tau isoform ratios and effects of point mutations within 5 minutes. Furthermore, radially oriented collector regions enable simultaneous FI measurements for six independent assays. Performing parallel assays in the proposed device with minimal image processing provides a cost-efficient, easy-to-use and fast tau detection platform.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mehmet C Tarhan
- Laboratory for Integrated Micro Mechatronic Systems (LIMMS), Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan and Center for International Research on Micronano Mechatronics (CIRMM), Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Stanislav L Karsten
- Center for International Research on Micronano Mechatronics (CIRMM), Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, Japan and NeuroInDx Inc., Signal Hill, CA, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Fujita
- Center for International Research on Micronano Mechatronics (CIRMM), Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Hidetoshi Kotera
- Department of Micro Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Ryuji Yokokawa
- Department of Micro Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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Sydow A, Hochgräfe K, Könen S, Cadinu D, Matenia D, Petrova O, Joseph M, Dennissen FJ, Mandelkow EM. Age-dependent neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in a novel Ala152Thr-Tau transgenic mouse model of PSP and AD. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:17. [PMID: 26916334 PMCID: PMC4766625 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0281-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mutations of Tau are associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, the Tau mutation A152T was described as a novel risk factor for frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders and Alzheimer disease. In vitro Tau-A152T shows a decreased binding to microtubules and a reduced tendency to form abnormal fibers. Results To study the effects of this mutation we generated a mouse model expressing human full-length Tau with this mutation (hTau40AT). At young age (2–3 months) immunohistological analysis reveals pathological Tau conformation and Tau-hyperphosphorylation combined with Tau missorting into the somatodendritic compartment of neurons. With increasing age there is Tau aggregation including co-aggregates of endogenous mouse Tau and exogenous human Tau, accompanied by loss of synapses (especially presynaptic failure) and neurons. From ~10 months onwards the mice show a prominent neuroinflammatory response as judged by activation of microglia and astrocytes. This progressive neuroinflammation becomes visible by in vivo bioluminescence imaging after crossbreeding of hTau40AT mice and Gfap-luciferase reporter mice. In contrast to other Tau-transgenic models and Alzheimer disease patients with reduced protein clearance, hTau40AT mice show a strong induction of autophagy. Although Tau-hyperphosphorylation and aggregation is also present in spinal cord and motor cortex (due to the Thy1.2 promoter), neuromotor performance is not affected. Deficits in spatial reference memory are manifest at ~16 months and are accompanied by neuronal death. Conclusions The hTau40AT mice mimic pathological hallmarks of tauopathies including a cognitive phenotype combined with pronounced neuroinflammation visible by bioluminescence. Thus the mice are suitable for mechanistic studies of Tau induced toxicity and in vivo validation of neuroprotective compounds. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40478-016-0281-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Rossi G, Tagliavini F. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration: old knowledge and new insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms of tau mutations. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:192. [PMID: 26528178 PMCID: PMC4604311 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases which includes tauopathies. In the central nervous system (CNS) tau is the major microtubule-associated protein (MAP) of neurons, promoting assembly and stabilization of microtubules (MTs) required for morphogenesis and axonal transport. Primary tauopathies are characterized by deposition of abnormal fibrils of tau in neuronal and glial cells, leading to neuronal death, brain atrophy and eventually dementia. In genetic tauopathies mutations of tau gene impair the ability of tau to bind to MTs, alter the normal ratio among tau isoforms and favor fibril formation. Recently, additional functions have been ascribed to tau and different pathogenetic mechanisms are then emerging. In fact, a role of tau in DNA protection and genome stability has been reported and chromosome aberrations have been found associated with tau mutations. Furthermore, newly structurally and functionally characterized mutations have suggested novel pathological features, such as a tendency to form oligomeric rather than fibrillar aggregates. Tau mutations affecting axonal transport and plasma membrane interaction have also been described. In this article, we will review the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying tau mutations, focusing in particular on the less common aspects, so far poorly investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomina Rossi
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Milano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Milano, Italy
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The Role of MAPT in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Genetics, Mechanisms and Therapy. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:4893-904. [PMID: 26363795 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9415-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is a gene responsible for encoding tau protein, which is tightly implicated in keeping the function of microtubules and axonal transport. Hyperphosphorylated tau protein participates in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which characterize many neurodegenerative disorders termed tauopathies. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have demonstrated numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in MAPT associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, it has been presumed that MAPT plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of neurodegeneration via affecting the structure and function of tau. Here, we review the advanced studies to summarize the biochemical properties of MAPT and its encoded protein, as well as the genetics and epigenetics of MAPT in neurodegeneration. Finally, given the potential mechanisms of MAPT to neurodegeneration pathogenesis, targeting MAPT and tau might present significant treatments of MAPT mutation-related neurodegeneration. Affirmatively, the identification of MAPT is extremely beneficial for improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases and developing the mechanism-based therapies.
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Role of the Tau N-terminal region in microtubule stabilization revealed by new endogenous truncated forms. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9659. [PMID: 25974414 PMCID: PMC4431475 DOI: 10.1038/srep09659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a central player in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related
Tauopathies, where it is found as aggregates in degenerating neurons. Abnormal
post-translational modifications, such as truncation, are likely involved in the
pathological process. A major step forward in understanding the role of Tau
truncation would be to identify the precise cleavage sites of the several truncated
Tau fragments that are observed until now in AD brains, especially those truncated
at the N-terminus, which are less characterized than those truncated at the
C-terminus. Here, we optimized a proteomics approach and succeeded in identifying a
number of new N-terminally truncated Tau species from the human brain. We initiated
cell-based functional studies by analyzing the biochemical characteristics of two
N-terminally truncated Tau species starting at residues Met11 and Gln124
respectively. Our results show, interestingly, that the Gln124-Tau fragment displays
a stronger ability to bind and stabilize microtubules, suggesting that the Tau
N-terminal domain could play a direct role in the regulation of microtubule
stabilization. Future studies based on our new N-terminally truncated-Tau species
should improve our knowledge of the role of truncation in Tau biology as well as in
the AD pathological process.
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Fontana F, Siva K, Denti MA. A network of RNA and protein interactions in Fronto Temporal Dementia. Front Mol Neurosci 2015; 8:9. [PMID: 25852467 PMCID: PMC4365750 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of the fronto temporal lobes and abnormal protein inclusions. It exhibits a broad clinicopathological spectrum and has been linked to mutations in seven different genes. We will provide a picture, which connects the products of these genes, albeit diverse in nature and function, in a network. Despite the paucity of information available for some of these genes, we believe that RNA processing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression might constitute a common theme in the network. Recent studies have unraveled the role of mutations affecting the functions of RNA binding proteins and regulation of microRNAs. This review will combine all the recent findings on genes involved in the pathogenesis of FTD, highlighting the importance of a common network of interactions in order to study and decipher the heterogeneous clinical manifestations associated with FTD. This approach could be helpful for the research of potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Fontana
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
| | - Kavitha Siva
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
| | - Michela A. Denti
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
- CNR, Institute of NeurosciencePadua, Italy
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Fontaine SN, Sabbagh JJ, Baker J, Martinez-Licha CR, Darling A, Dickey CA. Cellular factors modulating the mechanism of tau protein aggregation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:1863-79. [PMID: 25666877 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1839-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Pathological accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau, in the form of neurofibrillary tangles, is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent neurodegenerative condition worldwide. In addition to Alzheimer's disease, a number of neurodegenerative diseases, called tauopathies, are characterized by the accumulation of aggregated tau in a variety of brain regions. While tau normally plays an important role in stabilizing the microtubule network of the cytoskeleton, its dissociation from microtubules and eventual aggregation into pathological deposits is an area of intense focus for therapeutic development. Here we discuss the known cellular factors that affect tau aggregation, from post-translational modifications to molecular chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Fontaine
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA
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