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Ye J, Wan H, Chen S, Liu GP. Targeting tau in Alzheimer's disease: from mechanisms to clinical therapy. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1489-1498. [PMID: 38051891 PMCID: PMC10883484 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease affecting older adults. Primary features of Alzheimer's disease include extracellular aggregation of amyloid-β plaques and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, formed by tau protein, in the cells. While there are amyloid-β-targeting therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, these therapies are costly and exhibit potential negative side effects. Mounting evidence suggests significant involvement of tau protein in Alzheimer's disease-related neurodegeneration. As an important microtubule-associated protein, tau plays an important role in maintaining the stability of neuronal microtubules and promoting axonal growth. In fact, clinical studies have shown that abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein occurs before accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain. Various therapeutic strategies targeting tau protein have begun to emerge, and are considered possible methods to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, abnormalities in post-translational modifications of the tau protein, including aberrant phosphorylation, ubiquitination, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation, acetylation, and truncation, contribute to its microtubule dissociation, misfolding, and subcellular missorting. This causes mitochondrial damage, synaptic impairments, gliosis, and neuroinflammation, eventually leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive deficits. This review summarizes the recent findings on the underlying mechanisms of tau protein in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease and discusses tau-targeted treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwang Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huali Wan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sihua Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gong-Ping Liu
- Co-innovation Center of Neurodegeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China and Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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Hole KL, Zhu B, Huggon L, Brown JT, Mason JM, Williams RJ. Tau P301L disengages from the proteosome core complex and neurogranin coincident with enhanced neuronal network excitability. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:429. [PMID: 38890273 PMCID: PMC11189525 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06815-2] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are characterised by the pathological accumulation of misfolded tau. The emerging view is that toxic tau species drive synaptic dysfunction and potentially tau propagation before measurable neurodegeneration is evident, but the underlying molecular events are not well defined. Human non-mutated 0N4R tau (tauWT) and P301L mutant 0N4R tau (tauP301L) were expressed in mouse primary cortical neurons using adeno-associated viruses to monitor early molecular changes and synaptic function before the onset of neuronal loss. In this model tauP301L was differentially phosphorylated relative to tauwt with a notable increase in phosphorylation at ser262. Affinity purification - mass spectrometry combined with tandem mass tagging was used to quantitatively compare the tauWT and tauP301L interactomes. This revealed an enrichment of tauP301L with ribosomal proteins but a decreased interaction with the proteasome core complex and reduced tauP301L degradation. Differences in the interaction of tauP301L with members of a key synaptic calcium-calmodulin signalling pathway were also identified, most notably, increased association with CaMKII but reduced association with calcineurin and the candidate AD biomarker neurogranin. Decreased association of neurogranin to tauP301L corresponded with the appearance of enhanced levels of extracellular neurogranin suggestive of potential release or leakage from synapses. Finally, analysis of neuronal network activity using micro-electrode arrays showed that overexpression of tauP301L promoted basal hyperexcitability coincident with these changes in the tau interactome and implicating tau in specific early alterations in synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katriona L Hole
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Bangfu Zhu
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Laura Huggon
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jon T Brown
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jody M Mason
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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3
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Italia M, Salvadè M, La Greca F, Zianni E, Pelucchi S, Spinola A, Ferrari E, Archetti S, Alberici A, Benussi A, Solje E, Haapasalo A, Hoffmann D, Katisko K, Krüger J, Facchinetti R, Scuderi C, Padovani A, DiLuca M, Scheggia D, Borroni B, Gardoni F. Anti-GluA3 autoantibodies define a new sub-population of frontotemporal lobar degeneration patients with distinct neuropathological features. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 118:380-397. [PMID: 38485064 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Autoantibodies directed against the GluA3 subunit (anti-GluA3 hIgGs) of AMPA receptors have been identified in 20%-25% of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Data from patients and in vitro/ex vivo pre-clinical studies indicate that anti-GluA3 hIgGs negatively affect glutamatergic neurotransmission. However, whether and how the chronic presence of anti-GluA3 hIgGs triggers synaptic dysfunctions and the appearance of FTLD-related neuropathological and behavioural signature has not been clarified yet. To address this question, we developed and characterized a pre-clinical mouse model of passive immunization with anti-GluA3 hIgGs purified from patients. In parallel, we clinically compared FTLD patients who were positive for anti-GluA3 hIgGs to negative ones. Clinical data showed that the presence of anti-GluA3 hIgGs defined a subgroup of patients with distinct clinical features. In the preclinical model, anti-GluA3 hIgGs administration led to accumulation of phospho-tau in the postsynaptic fraction and dendritic spine loss in the prefrontal cortex. Remarkably, the preclinical model exhibited behavioural disturbances that mostly reflected the deficits proper of patients positive for anti-GluA3 hIgGs. Of note, anti-GluA3 hIgGs-mediated alterations were rescued in the animal model by enhancing glutamatergic neurotransmission with a positive allosteric modulator of AMPA receptors. Overall, our study clarified the contribution of anti-GluA3 autoantibodies to central nervous system symptoms and pathology and identified a specific subgroup of FTLD patients. Our findings will be instrumental in the development of a therapeutic personalised medicine strategy for patients positive for anti-GluA3 hIgGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Italia
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Salvadè
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo La Greca
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Zianni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Pelucchi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Spinola
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Ferrari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Archetti
- Department of Laboratories, Central Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry Analysis. ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Neurology Unit, Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Neuro Center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Dorit Hoffmann
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kasper Katisko
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Neuro Center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna Krüger
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Neurocenter, Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Roberta Facchinetti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Scuderi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Monica DiLuca
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Scheggia
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Gardoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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Yakout DW, Shroff A, Wei W, Thaker V, Allen ZD, Sajish M, Nazarko TY, Mabb AM. Tau regulates Arc stability in neuronal dendrites via a proteasome-sensitive but ubiquitin-independent pathway. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107237. [PMID: 38552740 PMCID: PMC11061231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the deposition of aggregates of the microtubule-associated protein tau, a main component of neurofibrillary tangles. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of tauopathy and dementia, with amyloid-beta pathology as an additional hallmark feature of the disease. Besides its role in stabilizing microtubules, tau is localized at postsynaptic sites and can regulate synaptic plasticity. The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) is an immediate early gene that plays a key role in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Arc has been implicated in AD pathogenesis and regulates the release of amyloid-beta. We found that decreased Arc levels correlate with AD status and disease severity. Importantly, Arc protein was upregulated in the hippocampus of Tau KO mice and dendrites of Tau KO primary hippocampal neurons. Overexpression of tau decreased Arc stability in an activity-dependent manner, exclusively in neuronal dendrites, which was coupled to an increase in the expression of dendritic and somatic surface GluA1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors. The tau-dependent decrease in Arc was found to be proteasome-sensitive, yet independent of Arc ubiquitination and required the endophilin-binding domain of Arc. Importantly, these effects on Arc stability and GluA1 localization were not observed in the commonly studied tau mutant, P301L. These observations provide a potential molecular basis for synaptic dysfunction mediated through the accumulation of tau in dendrites. Our findings confirm that Arc is misregulated in AD and further show a physiological role for tau in regulating Arc stability and AMPA receptor targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina W Yakout
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ankit Shroff
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Wei Wei
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Vishrut Thaker
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zachary D Allen
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mathew Sajish
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Taras Y Nazarko
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Angela M Mabb
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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Ji C, Yang X, Eleish M, Jiang Y, Tetlow A, Song S, Martín-Ávila A, Wu Q, Zhou Y, Gan W, Lin Y, Sigurdsson EM. Neuronal hypofunction and network dysfunction in a mouse model at an early stage of tauopathy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.591735. [PMID: 38746288 PMCID: PMC11092661 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.591735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
We previously reported altered neuronal Ca 2+ dynamics in the motor cortex of 12-month-old JNPL3 tauopathy mice during quiet wakefulness or forced running, with a tau antibody treatment significantly restoring the neuronal Ca 2+ activity profile and decreasing pathological tau in these mice 1 . Whether neuronal functional deficits occur at an early stage of tauopathy and if tau antibody treatment is effective in younger tauopathy mice needed further investigation. In addition, neuronal network activity and neuronal firing patterns have not been well studied in behaving tauopathy models. In this study, we first performed in vivo two-photon Ca 2+ imaging in JNPL3 mice in their early stage of tauopathy at 6 months of age, compared to 12 month old mice and age-matched wild-type controls to evaluate neuronal functional deficits. At the animal level, frequency of neuronal Ca 2+ transients decreased only in 6 month old tauopathy mice compared to controls, and only when animals were running on a treadmill. The amplitude of neuronal transients decreased in tauopathy mice compared to controls under resting and running conditions in both age groups. Total neuronal activity decreased only in 6 month old tauopathy mice compared to controls under resting and running conditions. Within either tauopathy or wild-type group, only total activity decreased in older wild-type animals. The tauopathy mice at different ages did not differ in neuronal Ca 2+ transient frequency, amplitude or total activity. In summary, neuronal function did significantly attenuate at an early age in tauopathy mice compared to controls but interestingly did not deteriorate between 6 and 12 months of age. A more detailed populational analysis of the pattern of Ca 2+ activity at the neuronal level in the 6 month old cohort confirmed neuronal hypoactivity in layer 2/3 of primary motor cortex, compared to wild-type controls, when animals were either resting or running on a treadmill. Despite reduced activity, neuronal Ca 2+ profiles exhibited enhanced synchrony and dysregulated responses to running stimulus. Further ex vivo electrophysiological recordings revealed reduction of spontaneous excitatory synaptic transmission onto and in pyramidal neurons and enhanced excitability of inhibitory neurons in motor cortex, which were likely responsible for altered neuronal network activity in this region. Lastly, tau antibody treatment reduced pathological tau and gliosis partially restored the neuronal Ca 2+ activity deficits but failed to rescue altered network changes. Taken together, substantial neuronal and network dysfunction occurred in the early stage of tauopathy that was partially alleviated with acute tau antibody treatment, which highlights the importance of functional assessment when evaluating the therapeutic potential of tau antibodies. Highlights Layer 2/3 motor cortical neurons exhibited hypofunction in awake and behaving mice at the early stage of tauopathy.Altered neuronal network activity disrupted local circuitry engagement in tauopathy mice during treadmill running.Layer 2/3 motor cortical neurons in tauopathy mice exhibited enhanced neuronal excitability and altered excitatory synaptic transmissions.Acute tau antibody treatment reduced pathological tau and gliosis, and partially restored neuronal hypofunction profiles but not network dysfunction.
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Bankapalli K, Thomas RE, Vincow ES, Milstein G, Fisher LV, Pallanck LJ. A Drosophila model for mechanistic investigation of tau protein spread. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.21.590466. [PMID: 38712083 PMCID: PMC11071371 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.21.590466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Brain protein aggregates are a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease. Previous work indicates that specific protein components of these aggregates are toxic, including tau in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. Increasing evidence also indicates that these toxic proteins traffic between cells in a prion-like fashion, thereby spreading pathology from one brain region to another. However, the mechanisms involved in trafficking are poorly understood. We therefore developed a transgenic Drosophila model to facilitate rapid evaluation of candidate tau trafficking modifiers. Our model uses the bipartite Q system to drive co-expression of tau and GFP in the fly eye. We find age-dependent tau spread into the brain, represented by detection of tau, but not GFP in the brain. We also found that tau trafficking was attenuated upon inhibition of the endocytic factor dynamin or the kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3β ( GSK-3β ). Further work revealed that dynamin promotes tau uptake in recipient tissues, whereas GSK-3β appears to promote tau spread via direct phosphorylation of tau. Our robust and flexible system will promote the identification of tau trafficking components involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. SUMMARY STATEMENT The trafficking of toxic proteins in neurodegenerative disease is well-known but poorly understood. Our model will allow rapid and new insight into molecular mechanisms underlying this process.
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Li S, Zhang J, Liu X, Wang N, Sun L, Liu J, Liu X, Masoudi A, Wang H, Li C, Guo C, Liu X. Proteomic characterization of hUC-MSC extracellular vesicles and evaluation of its therapeutic potential to treat Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5959. [PMID: 38472335 PMCID: PMC10933327 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56549-6] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been used as a cell replacement therapy and have been shown to effectively overcome some of the disadvantages of cell therapy. However, the specific mechanism of action of EVs is still unclear, and there is no appropriate system for characterizing the differences in the molecular active substances of EVs produced by cells in different physiological states. We used a data-independent acquisition (DIA) quantitative proteomics method to identify and quantify the protein composition of two generations EVs from three different donors and analysed the function and possible mechanism of action of the proteins in EVs of hUC-MSCs via bioinformatics. By comparative proteomic analysis, we characterized the different passages EVs. Furthermore, we found that adaptor-related protein complex 2 subunit alpha 1 (AP2A1) and adaptor-related protein complex 2 subunit beta 1 (AP2B1) in hUC-MSC-derived EVs may play a significant role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating the synaptic vesicle cycle signalling pathway. Our work provides a direction for batch-to-batch quality control of hUC-MSC-derived EVs and their application in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Anti-Tumour Molecular Target Technology Innovation Center, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Jiayi Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Anti-Tumour Molecular Target Technology Innovation Center, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xinxing Liu
- Jianyuan Precision Medicines (Zhangjiakou) Co., Ltd., Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
| | - Ningmei Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Anti-Tumour Molecular Target Technology Innovation Center, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Luyao Sun
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Anti-Tumour Molecular Target Technology Innovation Center, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Jianling Liu
- Jianyuan Precision Medicines (Zhangjiakou) Co., Ltd., Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
| | - Xingliang Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
| | - Abolfazl Masoudi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Anti-Tumour Molecular Target Technology Innovation Center, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Anti-Tumour Molecular Target Technology Innovation Center, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Chunxia Li
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Fifth Hospital of Zhangjiakou, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
| | - Chunyan Guo
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology; Department of Pharmacy, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China.
| | - Xifu Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Anti-Tumour Molecular Target Technology Innovation Center, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
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Tseng JH, Cohen TJ. The emerging nontraditional roles for tau in the brain. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:89-94. [PMID: 38063261 PMCID: PMC11068308 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Heng Tseng
- Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at the Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Todd J. Cohen
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Longfield SF, Mollazade M, Wallis TP, Gormal RS, Joensuu M, Wark JR, van Waardenberg AJ, Small C, Graham ME, Meunier FA, Martínez-Mármol R. Tau forms synaptic nano-biomolecular condensates controlling the dynamic clustering of recycling synaptic vesicles. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7277. [PMID: 37949856 PMCID: PMC10638352 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43130-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal communication relies on the release of neurotransmitters from various populations of synaptic vesicles. Despite displaying vastly different release probabilities and mobilities, the reserve and recycling pool of vesicles co-exist within a single cluster suggesting that small synaptic biomolecular condensates could regulate their nanoscale distribution. Here, we performed a large-scale activity-dependent phosphoproteome analysis of hippocampal neurons in vitro and identified Tau as a highly phosphorylated and disordered candidate protein. Single-molecule super-resolution microscopy revealed that Tau undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation to generate presynaptic nanoclusters whose density and number are regulated by activity. This activity-dependent diffusion process allows Tau to translocate into the presynapse where it forms biomolecular condensates, to selectively control the mobility of recycling vesicles. Tau, therefore, forms presynaptic nano-biomolecular condensates that regulate the nanoscale organization of synaptic vesicles in an activity-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanley F Longfield
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mahdie Mollazade
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Tristan P Wallis
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Rachel S Gormal
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Merja Joensuu
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jesse R Wark
- Synapse Proteomics, Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI), The University of Sydney, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | | | - Christopher Small
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mark E Graham
- Synapse Proteomics, Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI), The University of Sydney, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Frédéric A Meunier
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Science, The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Ramón Martínez-Mármol
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland; St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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10
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Hamilton K, Morrow K, Markantoni E, Harvey J. Leptin prevents aberrant targeting of tau to hippocampal synapses via PI 3 kinase driven inhibition of GSK3β. J Neurochem 2023; 167:520-537. [PMID: 37822142 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyper-phosphorylated tau are key hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with an accumulation of both proteins linked to hippocampal synaptic dysfunction. Recent evidence indicates that Aβ drives mis-localisation of tau from axons to synapses, resulting in AMPA receptor (AMPAR) internalisation and impaired excitatory synaptic function. These tau-driven synaptic impairments are thought to underlie the cognitive deficits in AD. Consequently, limiting the synapto-toxic effects of tau may prevent AD-related cognitive deficits. Increasing evidence links leptin dysfunction with higher AD risk, and numerous studies have identified neuroprotective properties of leptin in AD models of Aβ-induced toxicity. However, it is unclear if leptin protects against tau-related synaptic dysfunction. Here we show that Aβ1-42 significantly increases dendritic and synaptic levels of tau and p-tau in hippocampal neurons, and these effects were blocked by leptin. In accordance with GSK-3β being involved in tau phosphorylation, the protective effects of leptin involve PI 3-kinase (PI3K) activation and inhibition of GSK-3β. Aβ1-42 -driven synaptic targeting of tau was associated with the removal of GluA1-containing AMPARs from synapses, which was also inhibited by leptin-driven inhibition of GSK-3β. Direct application of oligomeric tau to hippocampal neurons caused internalisation of GluA1-containing AMPARs and this effect was blocked by prior application of leptin. Similarly, leptin prevented the ability of tau to block induction of activity-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal SC-CA1 synapses. These findings increase our understanding of the neuroprotective actions of leptin in the early pre-clinical stages of AD and further validate the leptin system as a therapeutic target in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Hamilton
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Kate Morrow
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Ermione Markantoni
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Jenni Harvey
- Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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Wang YH, Luo PP, Geng AY, Li X, Liu TH, He YJ, Huang L, Tang YQ. Identification of highly reliable risk genes for Alzheimer's disease through joint-tissue integrative analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1183119. [PMID: 37416324 PMCID: PMC10320295 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1183119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous genetic variants associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but their interpretation is hindered by the strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) among the variants, making it difficult to identify the causal variants directly. To address this issue, the transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) was employed to infer the association between gene expression and a trait at the genetic level using expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) cohorts. In this study, we applied the TWAS theory and utilized the improved Joint-Tissue Imputation (JTI) approach and Mendelian Randomization (MR) framework (MR-JTI) to identify potential AD-associated genes. By integrating LD score, GTEx eQTL data, and GWAS summary statistic data from a large cohort using MR-JTI, a total of 415 AD-associated genes were identified. Then, 2873 differentially expressed genes from 11 AD-related datasets were used for the Fisher test of these AD-associated genes. We finally obtained 36 highly reliable AD-associated genes, including APOC1, CR1, ERBB2, and RIN3. Moreover, the GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are primarily involved in antigen processing and presentation, amyloid-beta formation, tau protein binding, and response to oxidative stress. The identification of these potential AD-associated genes not only provides insights into the pathogenesis of AD but also offers biomarkers for early diagnosis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Heng Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pan Pan Luo
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ao Yi Geng
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinwei Li
- School of Microelectronics and Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tai-Hang Liu
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Jie He
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ya Qin Tang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Opland CK, Bryan MR, Harris B, McGillion-Moore J, Tian X, Chen Y, Itano MS, Diering GH, Meeker RB, Cohen TJ. Activity-dependent tau cleavage by caspase-3 promotes neuronal dysfunction and synaptotoxicity. iScience 2023; 26:106905. [PMID: 37305696 PMCID: PMC10251131 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau-mediated toxicity is associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. In particular, tau post-translational modifications (PTMs) are thought to generate aberrant tau species resulting in neuronal dysfunction. Despite being well characterized in postmortem AD brain, it is unclear how caspase-mediated C-terminal tau cleavage promotes neurodegeneration, as few studies have developed the models to dissect this pathogenic mechanism. Here, we show that proteasome impairment results in cleaved tau accumulation at the post-synaptic density (PSD), a process that is modulated by neuronal activity. Cleaved tau (at residue D421) impairs neuronal firing and causes inefficient initiation of network bursts, consistent with reduced excitatory drive. We propose that reduced neuronal activity, or silencing, is coupled to proteasome dysfunction, which drives cleaved tau accumulation at the PSD and subsequent synaptotoxicity. Our study connects three common themes in the progression of AD: impaired proteostasis, caspase-mediated tau cleavage, and synapse degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carli K. Opland
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Miles R. Bryan
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Braxton Harris
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jake McGillion-Moore
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xu Tian
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Youjun Chen
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michelle S. Itano
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Graham H. Diering
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rick B. Meeker
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Todd J. Cohen
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
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Radford RAW, Rayner SL, Szwaja P, Morsch M, Cheng F, Zhu T, Widagdo J, Anggono V, Pountney DL, Chung R, Lee A. Identification of phosphorylated tau protein interactors in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) reveals networks involved in protein degradation, stress response, cytoskeletal dynamics, metabolic processes, and neurotransmission. J Neurochem 2023; 165:563-586. [PMID: 36847488 PMCID: PMC10953353 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disease defined pathologically by the presence of insoluble phosphorylated-Tau (p-Tau) in neurons and glia. Identifying co-aggregating proteins within p-Tau inclusions may reveal important insights into processes affected by the aggregation of Tau. We used a proteomic approach, which combines antibody-mediated biotinylation and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify proteins proximal to p-Tau in PSP. Using this proof-of-concept workflow for identifying interacting proteins of interest, we characterized proteins proximal to p-Tau in PSP cases, identifying >84% of previously identified interaction partners of Tau and known modifiers of Tau aggregation, while 19 novel proteins not previously found associated with Tau were identified. Furthermore, our data also identified confidently assigned phosphorylation sites that have been previously reported on p-Tau. Additionally, using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) and human RNA-seq datasets, we identified proteins previously associated with neurological disorders and pathways involved in protein degradation, stress responses, cytoskeletal dynamics, metabolism, and neurotransmission. Together, our study demonstrates the utility of biotinylation by antibody recognition (BAR) approach to answer a fundamental question to rapidly identify proteins in proximity to p-Tau from post-mortem tissue. The application of this workflow opens up the opportunity to identify novel protein targets to give us insight into the biological process at the onset and progression of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan A. W. Radford
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease ResearchMacquarie Medical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversityNew South WalesNorth RydeAustralia
| | - Stephanie L. Rayner
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease ResearchMacquarie Medical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversityNew South WalesNorth RydeAustralia
| | - Paulina Szwaja
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease ResearchMacquarie Medical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversityNew South WalesNorth RydeAustralia
| | - Marco Morsch
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease ResearchMacquarie Medical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversityNew South WalesNorth RydeAustralia
| | - Flora Cheng
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease ResearchMacquarie Medical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversityNew South WalesNorth RydeAustralia
| | - Tianyi Zhu
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandQueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Jocelyn Widagdo
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandQueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Victor Anggono
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandQueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Dean L. Pountney
- School of Pharmacy and Medical SciencesGriffith UniversityQueenslandGold CoastAustralia
| | - Roger Chung
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease ResearchMacquarie Medical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversityNew South WalesNorth RydeAustralia
| | - Albert Lee
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease ResearchMacquarie Medical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversityNew South WalesNorth RydeAustralia
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Hu Z, Ondrejcak T, Yu P, Zhang Y, Yang Y, Klyubin I, Kennelly SP, Rowan MJ, Hu NW. Do tau-synaptic long-term depression interactions in the hippocampus play a pivotal role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease? Neural Regen Res 2022; 18:1213-1219. [PMID: 36453396 PMCID: PMC9838152 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.360166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease correlates with the extent of tau pathology, in particular tau hyperphosphorylation that initially appears in the transentorhinal and related regions of the brain including the hippocampus. Recent evidence indicates that tau hyperphosphorylation caused by either amyloid-β or long-term depression, a form of synaptic weakening involved in learning and memory, share similar mechanisms. Studies from our group and others demonstrate that long-term depression-inducing low-frequency stimulation triggers tau phosphorylation at different residues in the hippocampus under different experimental conditions including aging. Conversely, certain forms of long-term depression at hippocampal glutamatergic synapses require endogenous tau, in particular, phosphorylation at residue Ser396. Elucidating the exact mechanisms of interaction between tau and long-term depression may help our understanding of the physiological and pathological functions of tau/tau (hyper)phosphorylation. We first summarize experimental evidence regarding tau-long-term depression interactions, followed by a discussion of possible mechanisms by which this interplay may influence the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we conclude with some thoughts and perspectives on future research about these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengtao Hu
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China,Department of Gerontology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Tomas Ondrejcak
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pengpeng Yu
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Yin Yang
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China,Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Igor Klyubin
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean P. Kennelly
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland,Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael J. Rowan
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Neng-Wei Hu
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China,Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland,Correspondence to: Neng-Wei Hu, .
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