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Zhao Z, Liu Y, Ruan S, Hu Y. Current Anti-Amyloid-β Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment: From Clinical Research to Nanomedicine. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:7825-7845. [PMID: 38144511 PMCID: PMC10749171 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s444115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent successive approval of anti-amyloid-β (Aβ) monoclonal antibodies as disease-modifying therapies against Alzheimer's disease (AD) has raised great confidence in the development of anti-AD therapies; however, the current therapies still face the dilemma of significant adverse reactions and limited effects. In this review, we summarized the therapeutic characteristics of the approved anti-Aβ immunotherapies and dialectically analyzed the gains and losses from clinical trials. The review further proposed the reasonable selection of animal models in preclinical studies from the perspective of different animal models of Aβ deposition and deals in-depth with the recent advances of exploring preclinical nanomedical application in Aβ targeted therapy, aiming to provide a reliable systematic summary for the development of novel anti-Aβ therapies. Collectively, this review comprehensively dissects the pioneering work of Aβ-targeted therapies and proposed perspective insight into AD-modified therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Translational Research Institute for Neurological Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
- The Institute of Brain Science, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yun Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Translational Research Institute for Neurological Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
- The Institute of Brain Science, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shirong Ruan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Translational Research Institute for Neurological Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
- The Institute of Brain Science, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yixuan Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Translational Research Institute for Neurological Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
- The Institute of Brain Science, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Rhaman MM, Islam MR, Akash S, Mim M, Noor alam M, Nepovimova E, Valis M, Kuca K, Sharma R. Exploring the role of nanomedicines for the therapeutic approach of central nervous system dysfunction: At a glance. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:989471. [PMID: 36120565 PMCID: PMC9478743 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.989471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, research scientists, molecular biologists, and pharmacologists have placed a strong emphasis on cutting-edge nanostructured materials technologies to increase medicine delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). The application of nanoscience for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s disease (HD), brain cancer, and hemorrhage has the potential to transform care. Multiple studies have indicated that nanomaterials can be used to successfully treat CNS disorders in the case of neurodegeneration. Nanomedicine development for the cure of degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system is critical. Nanoparticles may act as a drug transporter that can precisely target sick brain sub-regions, boosting therapy success. It is important to develop strategies that can penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and improve the effectiveness of medications. One of the probable tactics is the use of different nanoscale materials. These nano-based pharmaceuticals offer low toxicity, tailored delivery, high stability, and drug loading capacity. They may also increase therapeutic effectiveness. A few examples of the many different kinds and forms of nanomaterials that have been widely employed to treat neurological diseases include quantum dots, dendrimers, metallic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, liposomes, and micelles. These unique qualities, including sensitivity, selectivity, and ability to traverse the BBB when employed in nano-sized particles, make these nanoparticles useful for imaging studies and treatment of NDs. Multifunctional nanoparticles carrying pharmacological medications serve two purposes: they improve medication distribution while also enabling cell dynamics imaging and pharmacokinetic study. However, because of the potential for wide-ranging clinical implications, safety concerns persist, limiting any potential for translation. The evidence for using nanotechnology to create drug delivery systems that could pass across the BBB and deliver therapeutic chemicals to CNS was examined in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Mominur Rhaman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- *Correspondence: Md. Mominur Rhaman, ; Rohit Sharma,
| | - Md. Rezaul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shopnil Akash
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mobasharah Mim
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Noor alam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Valis
- Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
- Andalusian Research Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
- *Correspondence: Md. Mominur Rhaman, ; Rohit Sharma,
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3
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Gottschalk AC, Hefti MM. The evolution of microtubule associated proteins - a reference proteomic perspective. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:266. [PMID: 35387592 PMCID: PMC8985376 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08502-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs), defined as proteins that bind microtubules but are not molecular motors or severing enzymes, play a key role in regulating microtubule stability in neurons. Existing studies of the evolutionary relationships between these proteins are limited to genomic data from a small number of species. We therefore used a large collection of publicly available reference-quality eukaryotic proteomes to carry out a phylogenetic analysis of microtubule associated proteins in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Complete or near-complete reference quality proteomes were obtained from Uniprot. Microtubule associated proteins were identified using InterProtScan, aligned using MUSCLE and then phylogenetic trees constructed using the WAG algorithm. We identified 889 proteins with tubulin binding domains, of which 663 were in eukaryotes, including 168 vertebrates and 64 invertebrates. The vertebrate proteins separated into three families, resembling human MAP 2, MAP4 and MAPT, respectively, while invertebrate MAPs clustered separately. We found significant variation in number of microtubule associated proteins and number of microtubule binding domains between taxa, with fish and mollusks having an unexpectedly high number of MAPs and binding domains, respectively. Our findings represent a novel analysis of the evolution of microtubule associated proteins based on publicly available proteomics data sets. We were able to confirm the phylogeny of MAPs identified based on more limited genomic analyses, and in addition, derived several novel insights on the structure and function of MAPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Gottschalk
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, 25 S Grand Ave, MRC-108A, Iowa City, IA, 52240, USA
| | - Marco M Hefti
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, 25 S Grand Ave, MRC-108A, Iowa City, IA, 52240, USA.
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4
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Mckean NE, Handley RR, Snell RG. A Review of the Current Mammalian Models of Alzheimer's Disease and Challenges That Need to Be Overcome. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13168. [PMID: 34884970 PMCID: PMC8658123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the looming health crises of the near future. Increasing lifespans and better medical treatment for other conditions mean that the prevalence of this disease is expected to triple by 2050. The impact of AD includes both the large toll on individuals and their families as well as a large financial cost to society. So far, we have no way to prevent, slow, or cure the disease. Current medications can only alleviate some of the symptoms temporarily. Many animal models of AD have been created, with the first transgenic mouse model in 1995. Mouse models have been beset by challenges, and no mouse model fully captures the symptomatology of AD without multiple genetic mutations and/or transgenes, some of which have never been implicated in human AD. Over 25 years later, many mouse models have been given an AD-like disease and then 'cured' in the lab, only for the treatments to fail in clinical trials. This review argues that small animal models are insufficient for modelling complex disorders such as AD. In order to find effective treatments for AD, we need to create large animal models with brains and lifespan that are closer to humans, and underlying genetics that already predispose them to AD-like phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Elizabeth Mckean
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (N.E.M.); (R.R.H.)
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Renee Robyn Handley
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (N.E.M.); (R.R.H.)
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Russell Grant Snell
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (N.E.M.); (R.R.H.)
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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Vignon A, Salvador-Prince L, Lehmann S, Perrier V, Torrent J. Deconstructing Alzheimer's Disease: How to Bridge the Gap between Experimental Models and the Human Pathology? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8769. [PMID: 34445475 PMCID: PMC8395727 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovered more than a century ago, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not only still present in our societies but has also become the most common dementia, with 50 million people worldwide affected by the disease. This number is expected to double in the next generation, and no cure is currently available to slow down or stop the disease progression. Recently, some advances were made due to the approval of the aducanumab treatment by the American Food and Drug Administration. The etiology of this human-specific disease remains poorly understood, and the mechanisms of its development have not been completely clarified. Several hypotheses concerning the molecular mechanisms of AD have been proposed, but the existing studies focus primarily on the two main markers of the disease: the amyloid β peptides, whose aggregation in the brain generates amyloid plaques, and the abnormally phosphorylated tau proteins, which are responsible for neurofibrillary tangles. These protein aggregates induce neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, which, in turn, lead to cognitive and behavioral deficits. The challenge is, therefore, to create models that best reproduce this pathology. This review aims at gathering the different existing AD models developed in vitro, in cellulo, and in vivo. Many models have already been set up, but it is necessary to identify the most relevant ones for our investigations. The purpose of the review is to help researchers to identify the most pertinent disease models, from the most often used to the most recently generated and from simple to complex, explaining their specificities and giving concrete examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Vignon
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
| | - Lucie Salvador-Prince
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France;
| | - Véronique Perrier
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Joan Torrent
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
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Edler MK, Mhatre-Winters I, Richardson JR. Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease: A Comparative Species Review. Cells 2021; 10:1138. [PMID: 34066847 PMCID: PMC8150617 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the primary immune cells of the central nervous system that help nourish and support neurons, clear debris, and respond to foreign stimuli. Greatly impacted by their environment, microglia go through rapid changes in cell shape, gene expression, and functional behavior during states of infection, trauma, and neurodegeneration. Aging also has a profound effect on microglia, leading to chronic inflammation and an increase in the brain's susceptibility to neurodegenerative processes that occur in Alzheimer's disease. Despite the scientific community's growing knowledge in the field of neuroinflammation, the overall success rate of drug treatment for age-related and neurodegenerative diseases remains incredibly low. Potential reasons for the lack of translation from animal models to the clinic include the use of a single species model, an assumption of similarity in humans, and ignoring contradictory data or information from other species. To aid in the selection of validated and predictive animal models and to bridge the translational gap, this review evaluates similarities and differences among species in microglial activation and density, morphology and phenotype, cytokine expression, phagocytosis, and production of oxidative species in aging and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K. Edler
- Department of Anthropology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA;
| | - Isha Mhatre-Winters
- School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA;
- Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Jason R. Richardson
- Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
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7
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Effects of relocation on immunological and physiological measures in female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0240705. [PMID: 33635869 PMCID: PMC7909711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we have quantified the effects of transport, relocation and acclimate/adapt to their new surroundings on female squirrel monkey. These responses are measured in blood samples obtained from squirrel monkeys, at different time points relative to their relocation from their old home to their new home. A group of squirrel monkeys we transported, by truck, for approximately 10 hours. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assayed in order to evaluate the phenotype of lymphocyte subsets by flow, mitogen-specific immune responses of PBMCs in vitro, and levels of cytokines at various time points including immediately before transport, immediately upon arrival, and after approximately 150 days of acclimation. We observed significant changes in T cells and subsets, NK and B cells (CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, CD16+, and CD20+). Mitogen specific (e.g. PHA, PWM and LPS) proliferation responses, IFN-γ by ELISPOT assay, and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4 and VEGF) significant changes were observed. Changes seen in the serum chemistry measurements mostly complement those seen in the hematology data. The specific goal was to empirically assess the effects of relocation stress in squirrel monkeys in terms of changes in the numbers and functions of various leukocyte subsets in the blood and the amount of time required for acclimating to their new environment. Such data will help to determine when newly arrived animals become available for use in research studies.
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8
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Edler MK, Munger EL, Meindl RS, Hopkins WD, Ely JJ, Erwin JM, Mufson EJ, Hof PR, Sherwood CC, Raghanti MA. Neuron loss associated with age but not Alzheimer's disease pathology in the chimpanzee brain. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190619. [PMID: 32951541 PMCID: PMC7540958 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of disease, ageing in the human brain is accompanied by mild cognitive dysfunction, gradual volumetric atrophy, a lack of significant cell loss, moderate neuroinflammation, and an increase in the amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau proteins. Conversely, pathologic age-related conditions, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), result in extensive neocortical and hippocampal atrophy, neuron death, substantial Aβ plaque and tau-associated neurofibrillary tangle pathologies, glial activation and severe cognitive decline. Humans are considered uniquely susceptible to neurodegenerative disorders, although recent studies have revealed Aβ and tau pathology in non-human primate brains. Here, we investigate the effect of age and AD-like pathology on cell density in a large sample of postmortem chimpanzee brains (n = 28, ages 12-62 years). Using a stereologic, unbiased design, we quantified neuron density, glia density and glia:neuron ratio in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and CA1 and CA3 hippocampal subfields. Ageing was associated with decreased CA1 and CA3 neuron densities, while AD pathologies were not correlated with changes in neuron or glia densities. Differing from cerebral ageing and AD in humans, these data indicate that chimpanzees exhibit regional neuron loss with ageing but appear protected from the severe cell death found in AD. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution of the primate ageing process'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K. Edler
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Emily L. Munger
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Richard S. Meindl
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - William D. Hopkins
- Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Joseph M. Erwin
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Elliott J. Mufson
- Departments of Neurobiology and Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- New York Consortium for Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY 10468, USA
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Mary Ann Raghanti
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
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9
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Hanif S, Muhammad P, Chesworth R, Rehman FU, Qian RJ, Zheng M, Shi BY. Nanomedicine-based immunotherapy for central nervous system disorders. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:936-953. [PMID: 32467570 PMCID: PMC7468531 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-0429-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) disorders represent a broad spectrum of brain ailments with short- and long-term disabilities, and nanomedicine-based approaches provide a new therapeutic approach to treating CNS disorders. A variety of potential drugs have been discovered to treat several neuronal disorders; however, their therapeutic success can be limited by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Furthermore, unique immune functions within the CNS provide novel target mechanisms for the amelioration of CNS diseases. Recently, various therapeutic approaches have been applied to fight brain-related disorders, with moderate outcomes. Among the various therapeutic strategies, nanomedicine-based immunotherapeutic systems represent a new era that can deliver useful cargo with promising pharmacokinetics. These approaches exploit the molecular and cellular targeting of CNS disorders for enhanced safety, efficacy, and specificity. In this review, we focus on the efficacy of nanomedicines that utilize immunotherapy to combat CNS disorders. Furthermore, we detailed summarize nanomedicine-based pathways for CNS ailments that aim to deliver drugs across the BBB by mimicking innate immune actions. Overview of how nanomedicines can utilize multiple immunotherapy pathways to combat CNS disorders. ![]()
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Nehete PN, Williams LE, Chitta S, Nehete BP, Patel AG, Ramani MD, Wisniewski T, Scholtzova H. Class C CpG Oligodeoxynucleotide Immunomodulatory Response in Aged Squirrel Monkey ( Saimiri Boliviensis Boliviensis). Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:36. [PMID: 32194391 PMCID: PMC7063459 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One means of stimulating the mammalian innate immune system is via Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) being exposed to unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) DNA, also known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) of microbial origin. Synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) with defined CpG motifs possess broad immunostimulatory properties that make CpG ODNs suitable as therapeutic interventions in a variety of human disease conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rodent models are often used to preclinically test the effectiveness of CpG ODN therapeutic agents for AD and other disorders. However, the translatability of findings in such models is limited due to the significant difference of the expression of TLR9 between primates and rodents. The squirrel monkey (SQM), a New World non-human primate (NHP), is known to be phylogenetically proximate to humans, and develops extensive age-dependent cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a key pathological feature of AD. Hence, this model is currently being used to test AD therapeutics. In the present study, we conducted the first examination of Class C CpG ODN's immunomodulatory role in elderly SQMs. We documented the effectiveness of CpG ODN to trigger an immune response in an aged cohort whose immune system is senescent. The specific immune response patterns detected here closely resembled CpG ODN-induced immunostimulatory patterns observed in prior human studies. Overall, our findings provide critical data regarding the immunomodulatory potential of CpG ODN in this NHP model, allowing for future translational studies of innate immunity stimulation via TLR9 agonists for diverse indications, including AD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod N. Nehete
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, United States
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lawrence E. Williams
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, United States
| | - Sriram Chitta
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, United States
| | - Bharti P. Nehete
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, United States
| | - Akash G. Patel
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Margish D. Ramani
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Henrieta Scholtzova
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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11
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Freeze WM, Jacobs HIL, Schreuder FHBM, van Oostenbrugge RJ, Backes WH, Verhey FR, Klijn CJM. Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Small Vessel Disease Related Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Front Neurol 2018; 9:926. [PMID: 30483207 PMCID: PMC6240684 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Hypertensive vasculopathy and cerebral amyloid angiopathy are the two most common forms of cerebral small vessel disease. Both forms are associated with the development of primary intracerebral hemorrhage, but the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying spontaneous vessel rupture remain unknown. This work constitutes a systematic review on blood-brain barrier dysfunction in the etiology of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage due to cerebral small vessel disease. Methods: We searched Medline (1946–2018) and Embase (1974–2018) for animal and human studies reporting on blood-brain barrier dysfunction associated with intracerebral hemorrhage or cerebral microbleeds. Results: Of 26 eligible studies, 10 were animal studies and 16 were in humans. The authors found indications for blood-brain barrier dysfunction in all four animal studies addressing hypertensive vasculopathy-related intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 32 hypertensive animals included in all four studies combined), and in four of six studies on cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 47). Of the studies in humans, five of six studies in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 117) and seven out of nine studies examining intracerebral hemorrhage with mixed or unspecified underlying etiology (n = 489) found indications for blood-brain barrier dysfunction. One post-mortem study in hypertensive vasculopathy-related intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 82) found no evidence for blood-brain barrier abnormalities. Conclusions: Signs of blood-brain barrier dysfunction were found in 20 out of 26 studies. Blood-brain barrier integrity deserves further investigation with a view to identification of potential treatment targets for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney M Freeze
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Division of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Floris H B M Schreuder
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition & Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Robert J van Oostenbrugge
- Department of Neurology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Frans R Verhey
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Catharina J M Klijn
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition & Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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12
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Edler MK, Sherwood CC, Meindl RS, Hopkins WD, Ely JJ, Erwin JM, Mufson EJ, Hof PR, Raghanti MA. Aged chimpanzees exhibit pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 59:107-120. [PMID: 28888720 PMCID: PMC6343147 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a uniquely human brain disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) into extracellular plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) made from intracellular, abnormally phosphorylated tau, and selective neuronal loss. We analyzed a large group of aged chimpanzees (n = 20, age 37-62 years) for evidence of Aβ and tau lesions in brain regions affected by AD in humans. Aβ was observed in plaques and blood vessels, and tau lesions were found in the form of pretangles, NFT, and tau-immunoreactive neuritic clusters. Aβ deposition was higher in vessels than in plaques and correlated with increases in tau lesions, suggesting that amyloid build-up in the brain's microvasculature precedes plaque formation in chimpanzees. Age was correlated to greater volumes of Aβ plaques and vessels. Tangle pathology was observed in individuals that exhibited plaques and moderate or severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a condition in which amyloid accumulates in the brain's vasculature. Amyloid and tau pathology in aged chimpanzees suggests these AD lesions are not specific to the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K Edler
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Richard S Meindl
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - William D Hopkins
- Division of Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Joseph M Erwin
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elliott J Mufson
- Departments of Neurobiology and Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; New York Consortium for Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Ann Raghanti
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA; Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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13
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Drummond E, Wisniewski T. Alzheimer's disease: experimental models and reality. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:155-175. [PMID: 28025715 PMCID: PMC5253109 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1662-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 435] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Experimental models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are critical to gaining a better understanding of pathogenesis and to assess the potential of novel therapeutic approaches. The most commonly used experimental animal models are transgenic mice that overexpress human genes associated with familial AD (FAD) that result in the formation of amyloid plaques. However, AD is defined by the presence and interplay of both amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangle pathology. The track record of success in AD clinical trials thus far has been very poor. In part, this high failure rate has been related to the premature translation of highly successful results in animal models that mirror only limited aspects of AD pathology to humans. A greater understanding of the strengths and weakness of each of the various models and the use of more than one model to evaluate potential therapies would help enhance the success of therapy translation from preclinical studies to patients. In this review, we summarize the pathological features and limitations of the major experimental models of AD, including transgenic mice, transgenic rats, various physiological models of sporadic AD and in vitro human cell culture models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Drummond
- Center for Cognitive Neurology and Department of Neurology, NYU School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology and Departments of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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14
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Heuer E, Jacobs J, Du R, Wang S, Kiefer OP, Cintron AF, Dooyema J, Meng Y, Zhang X, Walker LC. Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities in an Aged Squirrel Monkey with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 57:519-530. [PMID: 28269776 PMCID: PMC5624788 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) in magnetic resonance imaging scans have emerged as indicators of potentially serious side effects in clinical trials of therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. These anomalies include an edematous type (ARIA-E) that appears as hyperintense (bright) regions by T2-weighted MRI, and a type characterized by the deposition of hemosiderin (ARIA-H) that elicits a hypointense signal, especially in T2* susceptibility weighted images. ARIA in general has been linked to the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ)-type cerebral amyloid angiopathy, an accumulation of misfolded Aβ protein in the vascular wall that impairs the integrity of brain blood vessels. However, the pathobiology of ARIA remains poorly understood, in part due to the absence of an animal model of the disorder that would enable a contemporaneous analysis of tissue integrity in the affected region. Here we describe both ARIA-E and ARIA-H in an aged squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), a nonhuman primate model of naturally occurring cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Histopathologic examination of the anomalous region revealed reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis, infiltration of systemic inflammatory/immune cells, damage to axons and myelin, and hemosiderin deposition. The disruption of axons in particular suggests that ARIA-E could have functional consequences for affected regions. The squirrel monkey model can be useful for studying the pathogenesis and long-term effects of ARIA, and for testing the safety and efficacy of emerging therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Heuer
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96783 USA
| | - Jessica Jacobs
- Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96783 USA
| | - Rebecca Du
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Silun Wang
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Orion P. Kiefer
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Amarallys F. Cintron
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Jeromy Dooyema
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Yuguang Meng
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Lary C. Walker
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
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15
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Rosen RF, Tomidokoro Y, Farberg AS, Dooyema J, Ciliax B, Preuss TM, Neubert TA, Ghiso JA, LeVine H, Walker LC. Comparative pathobiology of β-amyloid and the unique susceptibility of humans to Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2016; 44:185-196. [PMID: 27318146 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The misfolding and accumulation of the protein fragment β-amyloid (Aβ) is an early and essential event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite close biological similarities among primates, humans appear to be uniquely susceptible to the profound neurodegeneration and dementia that characterize AD, even though nonhuman primates deposit copious Aβ in senile plaques and cerebral amyloid-β angiopathy as they grow old. Because the amino acid sequence of Aβ is identical in all primates studied to date, we asked whether differences in the properties of aggregated Aβ might underlie the vulnerability of humans and the resistance of other primates to AD. In a comparison of aged squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and humans with AD, immunochemical and mass spectrometric analyses indicate that the populations of Aβ fragments are largely similar in the 2 species. In addition, Aβ-rich brain extracts from the brains of aged squirrel monkeys and AD patients similarly seed the deposition of Aβ in a transgenic mouse model. However, the epitope exposure of aggregated Aβ differs in sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable oligomeric Aβ from the 2 species. In addition, the high-affinity binding of (3)H Pittsburgh Compound B to Aβ is significantly diminished in tissue extracts from squirrel monkeys compared with AD patients. These findings support the hypothesis that differences in the pathobiology of aggregated Aβ among primates are linked to post-translational attributes of the misfolded protein, such as molecular conformation and/or the involvement of species-specific cofactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca F Rosen
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | | | - Aaron S Farberg
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jeromy Dooyema
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brian Ciliax
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Todd M Preuss
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas A Neubert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jorge A Ghiso
- Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harry LeVine
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, Center on Aging, Center for Structural Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Lary C Walker
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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16
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Didier ES, MacLean AG, Mohan M, Didier PJ, Lackner AA, Kuroda MJ. Contributions of Nonhuman Primates to Research on Aging. Vet Pathol 2016; 53:277-90. [PMID: 26869153 PMCID: PMC5027759 DOI: 10.1177/0300985815622974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aging is the biological process of declining physiologic function associated with increasing mortality rate during advancing age. Humans and higher nonhuman primates exhibit unusually longer average life spans as compared with mammals of similar body mass. Furthermore, the population of humans worldwide is growing older as a result of improvements in public health, social services, and health care systems. Comparative studies among a wide range of organisms that include nonhuman primates contribute greatly to our understanding about the basic mechanisms of aging. Based on their genetic and physiologic relatedness to humans, nonhuman primates are especially important for better understanding processes of aging unique to primates, as well as for testing intervention strategies to improve healthy aging and to treat diseases and disabilities in older people. Rhesus and cynomolgus macaques are the predominant monkeys used in studies on aging, but research with lower nonhuman primate species is increasing. One of the priority topics of research about aging in nonhuman primates involves neurologic changes associated with cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Additional areas of research include osteoporosis, reproductive decline, caloric restriction, and their mimetics, as well as immune senescence and chronic inflammation that affect vaccine efficacy and resistance to infections and cancer. The purpose of this review is to highlight the findings from nonhuman primate research that contribute to our understanding about aging and health span in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- E S Didier
- Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - A G MacLean
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - M Mohan
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - P J Didier
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - A A Lackner
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - M J Kuroda
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
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17
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Basak I, Patil KS, Alves G, Larsen JP, Møller SG. microRNAs as neuroregulators, biomarkers and therapeutic agents in neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:811-27. [PMID: 26608596 PMCID: PMC11108480 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2093-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has experienced the emergence of microRNAs as a key molecular tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of human diseases. Although the focus has mostly been on cancer, neurodegenerative diseases present an exciting, yet less explored, platform for microRNA research. Several studies have highlighted the significance of microRNAs in neurogenesis and neurodegeneration, and pre-clinical studies have shown the potential of microRNAs as biomarkers. Despite this, no bona fide microRNAs have been identified as true diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for neurodegenerative disease. This is mainly due to the lack of precisely defined patient cohorts and the variability within and between individual cohorts. However, the discovery that microRNAs exist as stable molecules at detectable levels in body fluids has opened up new avenues for microRNAs as potential biomarker candidates. Furthermore, technological developments in microRNA biology have contributed to the possible design of microRNA-mediated disease intervention strategies. The combination of these advancements, with the availability of well-defined longitudinal patient cohort, promises to not only assist in developing invaluable diagnostic tools for clinicians, but also to increase our overall understanding of the underlying heterogeneity of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge of microRNAs in neurodegeneration and provide a perspective of the applicability of microRNAs as a basis for future therapeutic intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indranil Basak
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, New York, NY, 11439, USA
| | - Ketan S Patil
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, New York, NY, 11439, USA
| | - Guido Alves
- Norwegian Center for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Jan Petter Larsen
- Norwegian Center for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Simon Geir Møller
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, New York, NY, 11439, USA.
- Norwegian Center for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068, Stavanger, Norway.
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18
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Perez SE, Raghanti MA, Hof PR, Kramer L, Ikonomovic MD, Lacor PN, Erwin JM, Sherwood CC, Mufson EJ. Alzheimer's disease pathology in the neocortex and hippocampus of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). J Comp Neurol 2013; 521:4318-38. [PMID: 23881733 PMCID: PMC6317365 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The two major histopathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are amyloid beta protein (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Aβ pathology is a common feature in the aged nonhuman primate brain, whereas NFT are found almost exclusively in humans. Few studies have examined AD-related pathology in great apes, which are the closest phylogenetic relatives of humans. In the present study, we examined Aβ and tau-like lesions in the neocortex and hippocampus of aged male and female western lowland gorillas using immunohistochemistry and histochemistry. Analysis revealed an age-related increase in Aβ-immunoreactive plaques and vasculature in the gorilla brain. Aβ plaques were more abundant in the neocortex and hippocampus of females, whereas Aβ-positive blood vessels were more widespread in male gorillas. Plaques were also Aβ40-, Aβ42-, and Aβ oligomer-immunoreactive, but only weakly thioflavine S- or 6-CN-PiB-positive in both sexes, indicative of the less fibrillar (diffuse) nature of Aβ plaques in gorillas. Although phosphorylated neurofilament immunostaining revealed a few dystrophic neurites and neurons, choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive fibers were not dystrophic. Neurons stained for the tau marker Alz50 were found in the neocortex and hippocampus of gorillas at all ages. Occasional Alz50-, MC1-, and AT8-immunoreactive astrocyte and oligodendrocyte coiled bodies and neuritic clusters were seen in the neocortex and hippocampus of the oldest gorillas. This study demonstrates the spontaneous presence of both Aβ plaques and tau-like lesions in the neocortex and hippocampus in old male and female western lowland gorillas, placing this species at relevance in the context of AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary Ann Raghanti
- Department of Anthropology and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio 44109
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | | | - Milos D. Ikonomovic
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Pascale N. Lacor
- Neurobiology Department and Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208
| | - Joseph M. Erwin
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
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19
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The Impact of MicroRNAs on Brain Aging and Neurodegeneration. Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res 2012; 2012:359369. [PMID: 22312330 PMCID: PMC3270527 DOI: 10.1155/2012/359369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular instructions that govern gene expression regulation are encoded in the genome and ultimately determine the morphology and functional specifications of the human brain. As a consequence, changes in gene expression levels might be directly related to the functional decline associated with brain aging. Small noncoding RNAs, including miRNAs, comprise a group of regulatory molecules that modulate the expression of hundred of genes which play important roles in brain metabolism. Recent comparative studies in humans and nonhuman primates revealed that miRNAs regulate multiple pathways and interconnected signaling cascades that are the basis for the cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders during aging. Identifying the roles of miRNAs and their target genes in model organisms combined with system-level studies of the brain would provide more comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of brain deterioration during the aging process.
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20
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Abstract
Nonhuman primate (NHP) aging research has traditionally relied mainly on the rhesus macaque. But the long lifespan, low reproductive rate, and relatively large body size of macaques and related Old World monkeys make them less than ideal models for aging research. Manifold advantages would attend the use of smaller, more rapidly developing, shorter-lived NHP species in aging studies, not the least of which are lower cost and the ability to do shorter research projects. Arbitrarily defining "small" primates as those weighing less than 500 g, we assess small, relatively short-lived species among the prosimians and callitrichids for suitability as models for human aging research. Using the criteria of availability, knowledge about (and ease of) maintenance, the possibility of genetic manipulation (a hallmark of 21st century biology), and similarities to humans in the physiology of age-related changes, we suggest three species--two prosimians (Microcebus murinus and Galago senegalensis) and one New World monkey (Callithrix jacchus)--that deserve scrutiny for development as major NHP models for aging studies. We discuss one other New World monkey group, Cebus spp., that might also be an effective NHP model of aging as these species are longer-lived for their body size than any primate except humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven N Austad
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, USA
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21
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Rosen RF, Walker LC, Levine H. PIB binding in aged primate brain: enrichment of high-affinity sites in humans with Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2009; 32:223-34. [PMID: 19329226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2008] [Revised: 02/04/2009] [Accepted: 02/10/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Aged nonhuman primates accumulate large amounts of human-sequence amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain, yet they do not manifest the full phenotype of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To assess the biophysical properties of Aβ that might govern its pathogenic potential in humans and nonhuman primates, we incubated the benzothiazole imaging agent Pittsburgh Compound B (PIB) with cortical tissue homogenates from normal aged humans, humans with AD, and from aged squirrel monkeys, rhesus monkeys, and chimpanzees with cerebral Aβ-amyloidosis. Relative to humans with AD, high-affinity PIB binding is markedly reduced in cortical extracts from aged nonhuman primates containing levels of insoluble Aβ similar to those in AD. The high-affinity binding of PIB may be selective for a pathologic, human-specific conformation of multimeric Aβ, and thus could be a useful experimental tool for clarifying the unique predisposition of humans to Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca F Rosen
- Division of Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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22
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Rosen RF, Farberg AS, Gearing M, Dooyema J, Long PM, Anderson DC, Davis-Turak J, Coppola G, Geschwind DH, Paré JF, Duong TQ, Hopkins WD, Preuss TM, Walker LC. Tauopathy with paired helical filaments in an aged chimpanzee. J Comp Neurol 2008; 509:259-70. [PMID: 18481275 DOI: 10.1002/cne.21744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
An enigmatic feature of age-related neurodegenerative diseases is that they seldom, if ever, are fully manifested in nonhuman species under natural conditions. The neurodegenerative tauopathies are typified by the intracellular aggregation of hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and the dysfunction and death of affected neurons. We document the first case of tauopathy with paired helical filaments in an aged chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). Pathologic forms of tau in neuronal somata, neuropil threads, and plaque-like clusters of neurites were histologically identified throughout the neocortex and, to a lesser degree, in allocortical and subcortical structures. Ultrastructurally, the neurofibrillary tangles consisted of tau-immunoreactive paired helical filaments with a diameter and helical periodicity indistinguishable from those seen in Alzheimer's disease. A moderate degree of Abeta deposition was present in the cerebral vasculature and, less frequently, in senile plaques. Sequencing of the exons and flanking intronic regions in the genomic MAPT locus disclosed no mutations that are associated with the known human hereditary tauopathies, nor any polymorphisms of obvious functional significance. Although the lesion profile in this chimpanzee differed somewhat from that in Alzheimer's disease, the copresence of paired helical filaments and Abeta-amyloidosis indicates that the molecular mechanisms for the pathogenesis of the two canonical Alzheimer lesions--neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques--are present in aged chimpanzees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca F Rosen
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA
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