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Zhu M, Xiao B, Xue T, Qin S, Ding J, Wu Y, Tang Q, Huang M, Zhao N, Ye Y, Zhang Y, Zhang B, Li J, Guo F, Jiang Y, Zhang L, Zhang L. Cdc42GAP deficiency contributes to the Alzheimer's disease phenotype. Brain 2023; 146:4350-4365. [PMID: 37254741 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is a chronic degenerative disease with typical pathological features of extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and a significant decrease in the density of neuronal dendritic spines. Cdc42 is a member of the small G protein family that plays an important role in regulating synaptic plasticity and is regulated by Cdc42GAP, which switches Cdc42 from active GTP-bound to inactive GDP-bound states regulating downstream pathways via effector proteins. However, few studies have focused on Cdc42 in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In a heterozygous Cdc42GAP mouse model that exhibited elevated Cdc42-GTPase activity accompanied by increased Cdc42-PAK1-cofilin signalling, we found impairments in cognitive behaviours, neuron senescence, synaptic loss with depolymerization of F-actin and the pathological phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease, including phosphorylated tau (p-T231, AT8), along with increased soluble and insoluble Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40, which are consistent with typical Alzheimer's disease mice. Interestingly, these impairments increased significantly with age. Furthermore, the results of quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of the hippocampus of 11-month-old GAP mice suggested that Cdc42GAP deficiency induces and accelerates Alzheimer's disease-like phenotypes through activation of GSK-3β by dephosphorylation at Ser9, Ser389 and/or phosphorylation at Tyr216. In addition, overexpression of dominant-negative Cdc42 in the primary hippocampal and cortical neurons of heterozygous Cdc42GAP mice reversed synaptic loss and tau hyperphosphorylation. Importantly, the Cdc42 signalling pathway, Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40 and GSK-3β activity were increased in the cortical sections of Alzheimer's disease patients compared with those in healthy controls. Together, these data indicated that Cdc42GAP is involved in regulating Alzheimer's disease-like phenotypes such as cognitive deficits, dendritic spine loss, phosphorylated tau (p-T231, AT8) and increased soluble and insoluble Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40, possibly through the activation of GSK-3β, and these impairments increased significantly with age. Thus, we provide the first evidence that Cdc42 is involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease-like phenotypes, which may provide new targets for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjuan Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Sifei Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiuyang Ding
- School of Forensic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qingqiu Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mengfan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Na Zhao
- School of Forensic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yingshan Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yuning Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Boya Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fukun Guo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3026, USA
| | - Yong Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Orthopedic Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Merchant JP, Zhu K, Henrion MYR, Zaidi SSA, Lau B, Moein S, Alamprese ML, Pearse RV, Bennett DA, Ertekin-Taner N, Young-Pearse TL, Chang R. Predictive network analysis identifies JMJD6 and other potential key drivers in Alzheimer's disease. Commun Biol 2023; 6:503. [PMID: 37188718 PMCID: PMC10185548 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04791-5] [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: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of genetic studies on late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To better comprehend its complex etiology, we use an integrative approach to build robust predictive (causal) network models using two large human multi-omics datasets. We delineate bulk-tissue gene expression into single cell-type gene expression and integrate clinical and pathologic traits, single nucleotide variation, and deconvoluted gene expression for the construction of cell type-specific predictive network models. Here, we focus on neuron-specific network models and prioritize 19 predicted key drivers modulating Alzheimer's pathology, which we then validate by knockdown in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. We find that neuronal knockdown of 10 of the 19 targets significantly modulates levels of amyloid-beta and/or phosphorylated tau peptides, most notably JMJD6. We also confirm our network structure by RNA sequencing in the neurons following knockdown of each of the 10 targets, which additionally predicts that they are upstream regulators of REST and VGF. Our work thus identifies robust neuronal key drivers of the Alzheimer's-associated network state which may represent therapeutic targets with relevance to both amyloid and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie P Merchant
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kuixi Zhu
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Marc Y R Henrion
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, PO Box 30096, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Syed S A Zaidi
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Branden Lau
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Arizona Research Labs, Genetics Core, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Sara Moein
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Melissa L Alamprese
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Richard V Pearse
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Tracy L Young-Pearse
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Rui Chang
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- INTelico Therapeutics LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- PATH Biotech LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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Nik Akhtar S, Bunner WP, Brennan E, Lu Q, Szatmari EM. Crosstalk between the Rho and Rab family of small GTPases in neurodegenerative disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1084769. [PMID: 36779014 PMCID: PMC9911442 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1084769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is associated with defects in cytoskeletal dynamics and dysfunctions of the vesicular trafficking and sorting systems. In the last few decades, studies have demonstrated that the key regulators of cytoskeletal dynamics are proteins from the Rho family GTPases, meanwhile, the central hub for vesicle sorting and transport between target membranes is the Rab family of GTPases. In this regard, the role of Rho and Rab GTPases in the induction and maintenance of distinct functional and morphological neuronal domains (such as dendrites and axons) has been extensively studied. Several members belonging to these two families of proteins have been associated with many neurodegenerative disorders ranging from dementia to motor neuron degeneration. In this analysis, we attempt to present a brief review of the potential crosstalk between the Rab and Rho family members in neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Nik Akhtar
- The Harriet and John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Wyatt P. Bunner
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Elizabeth Brennan
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Qun Lu
- The Harriet and John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Erzsebet M. Szatmari Qun Lu
| | - Erzsebet M. Szatmari
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Erzsebet M. Szatmari Qun Lu
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Akhtar SN, Lu Q. RhoA-LIMK Signaling Axis Reveals Rostral-Caudal Plane and Spatial Dysregulation in the Brain of Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Models. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:1643-1656. [PMID: 37718806 PMCID: PMC11268434 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230408] [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] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND RhoA signaling is widely reported to be dysregulated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its therapeutic targeting demonstrated mixed outcomes. We hypothesize that the activation and inactivation states of RhoA and LIMK are different in the cortex and in subregions of hippocampus along the rostral-caudal dimensions. OBJECTIVE We intended to elucidate the plane and spatial dependent RhoA signaling in association with AD. METHODS We applied antibody pRhoA that recognizes an inactive state of RhoA (S188 phosphorylation) and antibody pLIMK against an active state of LIMK (T508 phosphorylation) to investigate RhoA signaling in wildtype (WT) and triple transgenic AD (3xTg-AD) mouse model. We prepared serial sections from the rostral to caudal coronal planes of the entire mouse brain followed by immunofluorescence staining with pRhoA and pLIMK antibodies. RESULTS Both pRhoA and pLIMK elicited a shift of expression pattern from rostral to caudal planes. Additionally, pRhoA demonstrated dynamic redistribution between the nucleus and cytoplasm. pLIMK did not show such nucleus and cytoplasm redistribution but the expression level was changed from rostral to caudal planes. At some planes, pRhoA showed an increasing trend in expression in the cortex but a decreasing trend in the dentate gyrus of the 3xTg-AD mouse hippocampus. pLIMK tends to decrease in the cortex but increase in the dentate gyrus of 3xTg-AD mouse hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS RhoA activation is dysregulated in both human and mouse AD brains, and the RhoA-LIMK signaling axis reveals spatial dysregulation along the rostral-caudal plane dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Nik Akhtar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University. Greenville, NC 27834
| | - Qun Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University. Greenville, NC 27834
- The Harriet and John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University. Greenville, NC 27834
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Zhang Y, Niu C. Relation of CDC42, Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells with cognitive function decline in Alzheimer's disease. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 9:1428-1436. [PMID: 35976992 PMCID: PMC9463943 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) regulates neurite outgrowth, neurotransmitter, and T help (Th) cell-mediated neuroinflammation, while its clinical implication in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of CDC42 with Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, as well as CDC42' longitudinal change and relation to cognitive function decline in AD patients. METHODS 150 AD patients were enrolled, then their blood Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells were quantified by flow cytometry at baseline; CDC42 was detected by RT-qPCR and MMSE score was assessed at baseline and during 3-year follow-up. Meanwhile, CDC42, Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells were quantified in 30 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs). RESULTS CDC42 (p < 0.001) and Th2 cells (p < 0.001) were lowest in AD patients, followed by PD patients, highest in HCs; but Th1 cells (p = 0.001) and Th17 cells (p < 0.001) showed opposite trends. CDC42 was not related to Th1 cells (p = 0.134), positively correlated with Th2 cells (p = 0.023) and MMSE (p < 0.001), while negatively associated with Th17 cells (p < 0.001) in AD patients. CDC42 was only related to Th17 cells (p = 0.048) and MMSE (p = 0.048) in PD patients; and it was not linked with Th1, Th2, Th17 cells, or MMSE in HCs (all p > 0.05). During a 3-year follow-up, CDC42 was gradually declined in AD patients (p < 0.001), its decline was positively correlated with MMSE decline at 1 year (p = 0.004), 2 years (p = 0.005), and 3 years (p = 0.026). INTERPRETATION CDC42 might have the potency to serve as a biomarker for estimating AD risk and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Chenglin Niu
- Department of ICU, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Mechanosensing and the Hippo Pathway in Microglia: A Potential Link to Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis? Cells 2021; 10:cells10113144. [PMID: 34831369 PMCID: PMC8622675 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The activation of microglia, the inflammatory cells of the central nervous system (CNS), has been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. How microglia sense the changing brain environment, in order to respond appropriately, is still being elucidated. Microglia are able to sense and respond to the mechanical properties of their microenvironment, and the physical and molecular pathways underlying this mechanosensing/mechanotransduction in microglia have recently been investigated. The Hippo pathway functions through mechanosensing and subsequent protein kinase cascades, and is critical for neuronal development and many other cellular processes. In this review, we examine evidence for the potential involvement of Hippo pathway components specifically in microglia in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. We suggest that the Hippo pathway is worth investigating as a mechanosensing pathway in microglia, and could be one potential therapeutic target pathway for preventing microglial-induced neurodegeneration in AD.
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Gene Expression Profile in Different Age Groups and Its Association with Cognitive Function in Healthy Malay Adults in Malaysia. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071611. [PMID: 34199148 PMCID: PMC8304476 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071611] [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: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of cognitive aging at the molecular level is complex and not well understood. Growing evidence suggests that cognitive differences might also be caused by ethnicity. Thus, this study aims to determine the gene expression changes associated with age-related cognitive decline among Malay adults in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 healthy Malay subjects, aged between 28 and 79, and recruited around Selangor and Klang Valley, Malaysia. Gene expression analysis was performed using a HumanHT-12v4.0 Expression BeadChip microarray kit. The top 20 differentially expressed genes at p < 0.05 and fold change (FC) = 1.2 showed that PAFAH1B3, HIST1H1E, KCNA3, TM7SF2, RGS1, and TGFBRAP1 were regulated with increased age. The gene set analysis suggests that the Malay adult's susceptibility to developing age-related cognitive decline might be due to the changes in gene expression patterns associated with inflammation, signal transduction, and metabolic pathway in the genetic network. It may, perhaps, have important implications for finding a biomarker for cognitive decline and offer molecular targets to achieve successful aging, mainly in the Malay population in Malaysia.
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Small GTPases of the Ras and Rho Families Switch on/off Signaling Pathways in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176312
expr 858053618 + 832508766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) of the Ras superfamily are key regulators of many key cellular events such as proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle regulation, migration, or apoptosis. To control these biological responses, GTPases activity is regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), GTPase activating proteins (GAPs), and in some small GTPases also guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). Moreover, small GTPases transduce signals by their downstream effector molecules. Many studies demonstrate that small GTPases of the Ras family are involved in neurodegeneration processes. Here, in this review, we focus on the signaling pathways controlled by these small protein superfamilies that culminate in neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Specifically, we concentrate on the two most studied families of the Ras superfamily: the Ras and Rho families. We summarize the latest findings of small GTPases of the Ras and Rho families in neurodegeneration in order to highlight these small proteins as potential therapeutic targets capable of slowing down different neurodegenerative diseases.
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Arrazola Sastre A, Luque Montoro M, Gálvez-Martín P, Lacerda HM, Lucia A, Llavero F, Zugaza JL. Small GTPases of the Ras and Rho Families Switch on/off Signaling Pathways in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6312. [PMID: 32878220 PMCID: PMC7504559 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [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: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) of the Ras superfamily are key regulators of many key cellular events such as proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle regulation, migration, or apoptosis. To control these biological responses, GTPases activity is regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), GTPase activating proteins (GAPs), and in some small GTPases also guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). Moreover, small GTPases transduce signals by their downstream effector molecules. Many studies demonstrate that small GTPases of the Ras family are involved in neurodegeneration processes. Here, in this review, we focus on the signaling pathways controlled by these small protein superfamilies that culminate in neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Specifically, we concentrate on the two most studied families of the Ras superfamily: the Ras and Rho families. We summarize the latest findings of small GTPases of the Ras and Rho families in neurodegeneration in order to highlight these small proteins as potential therapeutic targets capable of slowing down different neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alazne Arrazola Sastre
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.A.S.); (M.L.M.)
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology, and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Miriam Luque Montoro
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.A.S.); (M.L.M.)
| | - Patricia Gálvez-Martín
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 180041 Granada, Spain;
- R&D Human Health, Bioibérica S.A.U., 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Lucia
- Faculty of Sport Science, European University of Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain;
- Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (i+12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Llavero
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.A.S.); (M.L.M.)
- Faculty of Sport Science, European University of Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain;
| | - José Luis Zugaza
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.A.S.); (M.L.M.)
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology, and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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Yin P, Wang S, Wei Y, Wang X, Zhang J, Yin X, Feng J, Zhu M. Maresin1 Decreased Microglial Chemotaxis and Ameliorated Inflammation Induced by Amyloid-β42 in Neuron-Microglia Co-Culture Models. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 73:503-515. [PMID: 31796671 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yin
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Neurology, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yafen Wei
- Department of Neurology, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingdian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiang Yin
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiachun Feng
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mingqin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Borin M, Saraceno C, Catania M, Lorenzetto E, Pontelli V, Paterlini A, Fostinelli S, Avesani A, Di Fede G, Zanusso G, Benussi L, Binetti G, Zorzan S, Ghidoni R, Buffelli M, Bolognin S. Rac1 activation links tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ dysmetabolism in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018; 6:61. [PMID: 30005699 PMCID: PMC6045891 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-018-0567-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the earliest pathological features characterizing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the loss of dendritic spines. Among the many factors potentially mediating this loss of neuronal connectivity, the contribution of Rho-GTPases is of particular interest. This family of proteins has been known for years as a key regulator of actin cytoskeleton remodeling. More recent insights have indicated how its complex signaling might be triggered also in pathological conditions. Here, we showed that the Rho-GTPase family member Rac1 levels decreased in the frontal cortex of AD patients compared to non-demented controls. Also, Rac1 increased in plasma samples of AD patients with Mini-Mental State Examination < 18 compared to age-matched non demented controls. The use of different constitutively active peptides allowed us to investigate in vitro Rac1 specific signaling. Its activation increased the processing of amyloid precursor protein and induced the translocation of SET from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, resulting in tau hyperphosphorylation at residue pT181. Notably, Rac1 was abnormally activated in the hippocampus of 6-week-old 3xTg-AD mice. However, the total protein levels decreased at 7-months. A rescue strategy based on the intranasal administration of Rac1 active peptide at 6.5 months prevented dendritic spine loss. This data suggests the intriguing possibility of a dual role of Rac1 according to the different stages of the pathology. In an initial stage, Rac1 deregulation might represent a triggering co-factor due to the direct effect on Aβ and tau. However, at a later stage of the pathology, it might represent a potential therapeutic target due to the beneficial effect on spine dynamics.
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