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Shen H, Liu K, Kong F, Ren M, Wang X, Wang S. Strategies for measuring concentrations and forms of amyloid-β peptides. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 259:116405. [PMID: 38776801 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116405] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is affecting more and more people worldwide without the effective treatment, while the existed pathological mechanism has been confirmed barely useful in the treatment. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), a main component of senile plaque, is regarded as the most promising target in AD treatment. Aβ clearance from AD brain seems to be a reliably therapeutic strategy, as the two exited drugs, GV-971 and aducanumab, are both developed based on it. However, doubt still exists. To exhaustive expound on the pathological mechanism of Aβ, rigorous analyses on the concentrations and aggregation forms are essential. Thus, it is attracting broad attention these years. However, most of the sensors have not been used in pathological studies, as the lack of the bridge between analytical chemist and pathologists. In this review, we made a brief introduce on Aβ-related pathological mechanism included in β-amyloid hypothesis to elucidate the detection conditions of sensor methods. Furthermore, a summary of the sensor methods was made, which were based on Aβ concentrations and form detections that have been developed in the past 10 years. As the greatest number of the sensors were built on fluorescent spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and Roman spectroscopy, detailed elucidation on them was made. Notably, the aggregation process is another important factor in revealing the progress of AD and developing the treatment methods, so the sensors on monitoring Aβ aggregation processes were also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangyu Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, 250353, PR China
| | - Keyin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, 250353, PR China
| | - Fangong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, 250353, PR China
| | - Mingguang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, 250353, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, 250353, PR China; Shandong Haizhibao Ocean Technology Co., Ltd, Weihai, Shandong, 264333, PR China.
| | - Shoujuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, 250353, PR China.
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2
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Mazur T, Malik M, Bieńko DC. The impact of chelating compounds on Cu 2+, Fe 2+/ 3+, and Zn 2+ ions in Alzheimer's disease treatment. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 257:112601. [PMID: 38744143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112601] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid - β extracellular plaques and tau interfibrillar tangles, leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. With dementia posing a growing global health concern, there is an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address its challenges. The economic burden of dementia is projected to rise significantly, emphasizing the necessity for collaborative efforts in research and healthcare. In the United States alone, millions are affected by AD, with prevalence increasing with age and even affecting younger individuals. The complexity of AD involves intricate biological processes, including the aggregation of amyloid beta, oxidative stress, and metal ion dysregulation. Metal ions, particularly those from copper, iron, and zinc, play pivotal roles in AD pathology, influencing Aβ deposition and tau protein accumulation. Current treatments offer symptomatic relief but do not address the underlying disease mechanisms. This paper explores the potential of various chelating compounds to target metal ions involved in AD pathology. N-acylhydrazones, morpholine, chrysin, quinoline, oxindole, cyclam, catechol-based, and quinazolinone-based derivatives show promising chelation activity and therapeutic effects. Metal chelation therapy offers a targeted approach to AD treatment by addressing the core pathology. By selectively binding to metal ions implicated in disease progression, chelators may minimize side effects associated with broad-spectrum treatments. Additionally, chelators may offer neuroprotective effects beyond metal binding, further enhancing their therapeutic potential. Overall, metal chelation therapy presents a promising strategy in combating AD, with the potential to significantly impact disease progression and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Mazur
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Malik
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz C Bieńko
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
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3
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Ikeda K, Sugiura Y, Nakao H, Nakano M. Thermodynamics of oligomerization and Helix-to-sheet structural transition of amyloid β-protein on anionic phospholipid vesicles. Biophys Chem 2024; 310:107248. [PMID: 38653174 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107248] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Understanding oligomerization and aggregation of the amyloid-β protein is important to elucidate the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, and lipid membranes play critical roles in this process. In addition to studies reported by other groups, our group has also reported that the negatively-charged lipid bilayers with a high positive curvature induced α-helix-to-β-sheet conformational transitions of amyloid-β-(1-40) upon increase in protein density on the membrane surface and promoted amyloid fibril formation of the protein. Herein, we investigated detailed mechanisms of the conformational transition and oligomer formation of the amyloid-β protein on the membrane surface. Changes in the fractions of the three protein conformers (free monomer, membrane-bound α-helix-rich conformation, and β-sheet-rich conformation) were determined from the fluorescent spectral changes of the tryptophan probe in the protein. The helix-to-sheet structural transition on the surface was described by a thermodynamic model of octamer formation driven by entropic forces including hydrophobic interactions. These findings provide useful information for understanding the self-assembly of amyloidogenic proteins on lipid membrane surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Ikeda
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
| | - Yuuki Sugiura
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakao
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Minoru Nakano
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
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4
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Zhang W, Smith N, Zhou Y, McGee CM, Bartoli M, Fu S, Chen J, Domena JB, Joji A, Burr H, Lv G, Cilingir EK, Bedendo S, Claure ML, Tagliaferro A, Eliezer D, Veliz EA, Zhang F, Wang C, Leblanc RM. Carbon dots as dual inhibitors of tau and amyloid-beta aggregation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Biomater 2024:S1742-7061(24)00306-4. [PMID: 38849023 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of senile dementia, presenting a significant challenge for the development of effective treatments. AD is characterized by extracellular amyloid plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles. Therefore, targeting both hallmarks through inhibition of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau aggregation presents a promising approach for drug development. Carbon dots (CD), with their high biocompatibility, minimal cytotoxicity, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, have emerged as promising drug nanocarriers. Congo red, an azo dye, has gathered significant attention for inhibiting amyloid-beta and tau aggregation. However, Congo red's inability to cross the BBB limits its potential to be used as a drug candidate for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Furthermore, current studies only focus on using Congo red to target single disease hallmarks, without investigating dual inhibition capabilities. In this study, we synthesized Congo red-derived CD (CRCD) by using Congo red and citric acid as precursors, resulting in three variants, CRCD1, CRCD2 and CRCD3, based on different mass ratios of precursors. CRCD2 and CRCD3 exhibited sustained low cytotoxicity, and CRCD3 demonstrated the ability to traverse the BBB in a zebrafish model. Moreover, thioflavin T (ThT) aggregation assays and AFM imaging revealed CRCD as potent inhibitors against both tau and Aβ aggregation. Notably, CRCD1 emerged as the most robust inhibitor, displaying IC50 values of 0.2 ± 0.1 and 2.1 ± 0.5 µg/mL against tau and Aβ aggregation, respectively. Our findings underscore the dual inhibitory role of CRCD against tau and Aβ aggregation, showcasing effective BBB penetration and positioning CRCD as potential nanodrugs and nanocarriers for the CNS. Hence, CRCD-based compounds represent a promising candidate in the realm of multi-functional AD therapeutics, offering an innovative formulation component for future developments in this area. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This article reports Congo red-derived carbon dots (CRCD) as dual inhibitors of tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The CRCD are biocompatible and show strong fluorescence, high stability, the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and the function of addressing two major pathological features of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Nathan Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY 12180, USA
| | - Yiqun Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Caitlin M McGee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Mattia Bartoli
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy; Center for Sustainable Future Technologies (CSFT), Istituto Italiano di Technologia (IIT), Via Livorno 60, 10144 Turin, Italy
| | - Shiwei Fu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Jiuyan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Justin B Domena
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Annu Joji
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Hannah Burr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY 12180, USA
| | - Guohua Lv
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Emel K Cilingir
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Susanna Bedendo
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
| | - Matteo L Claure
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | | | - David Eliezer
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eduardo A Veliz
- Department of Natural Sciences, Miami Dade Collage, Miami, FL 33132, USA
| | - Fuwu Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Chunyu Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY 12180, USA.
| | - Roger M Leblanc
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
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5
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Nagashima K, Watanabe H, Akasaka T, Ono M. Development of Triphenylmethane Dyes for In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging of Aβ Oligomers. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2233-2242. [PMID: 38753435 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00053] [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] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Detection of amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers, regarded as the most toxic aggregated forms of Aβ, can contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, the development of imaging probes for in vivo visualization of Aβ oligomers is crucial. However, the structural uncertainty regarding Aβ oligomers makes it difficult to design imaging probes with high sensitivity to Aβ oligomers against highly aggregated Aβ fibrils. In this study, we developed Aβ oligomer-selective fluorescent probes based on triphenylmethane dyes through screening of commercially available compounds followed by structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on cyclic or acyclic 4-dialkylamino groups. We synthesized 11 triarylmethane-based Aβ oligomer probe (TAMAOP) derivatives. In vitro evaluation of fluorescence properties, TAMAOP-9, which had bulky 4-diisobutylamino groups introduced into three benzenes of a twisted triphenylmethane backbone, showed marked fluorescence enhancement in the presence of Aβ oligomers and demonstrated high selectivity for Aβ oligomers against Aβ fibrils. In docking studies using the Aβ trimer model, TAMAOP-9 bound to the hydrophobic surface and interacted with the side chain of Phe20. In vitro section staining revealed that TAMAOP-9 could visualize Aβ oligomers in the brains of AD model mice. An in vivo fluorescence imaging study using TAMAOP-9 showed significantly higher fluorescence signals from the brains of AD model mice than those of age-matched wild-type mice, confirmed by ex vivo section observation. These results suggest that TAMAOP-9 is a promising Aβ oligomer-targeting fluorescent probe applicable to in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Nagashima
- Department of Patho-Functional Bioanalysis, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Watanabe
- Department of Patho-Functional Bioanalysis, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takahiro Akasaka
- Department of Patho-Functional Bioanalysis, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ono
- Department of Patho-Functional Bioanalysis, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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6
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Ghosh D, Biswas A, Radhakrishna M. Advanced computational approaches to understand protein aggregation. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2024; 5:021302. [PMID: 38681860 PMCID: PMC11045254 DOI: 10.1063/5.0180691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a widespread phenomenon implicated in debilitating diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cataracts, presenting complex hurdles for the field of molecular biology. In this review, we explore the evolving realm of computational methods and bioinformatics tools that have revolutionized our comprehension of protein aggregation. Beginning with a discussion of the multifaceted challenges associated with understanding this process and emphasizing the critical need for precise predictive tools, we highlight how computational techniques have become indispensable for understanding protein aggregation. We focus on molecular simulations, notably molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, spanning from atomistic to coarse-grained levels, which have emerged as pivotal tools in unraveling the complex dynamics governing protein aggregation in diseases such as cataracts, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. MD simulations provide microscopic insights into protein interactions and the subtleties of aggregation pathways, with advanced techniques like replica exchange molecular dynamics, Metadynamics (MetaD), and umbrella sampling enhancing our understanding by probing intricate energy landscapes and transition states. We delve into specific applications of MD simulations, elucidating the chaperone mechanism underlying cataract formation using Markov state modeling and the intricate pathways and interactions driving the toxic aggregate formation in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Transitioning we highlight how computational techniques, including bioinformatics, sequence analysis, structural data, machine learning algorithms, and artificial intelligence have become indispensable for predicting protein aggregation propensity and locating aggregation-prone regions within protein sequences. Throughout our exploration, we underscore the symbiotic relationship between computational approaches and empirical data, which has paved the way for potential therapeutic strategies against protein aggregation-related diseases. In conclusion, this review offers a comprehensive overview of advanced computational methodologies and bioinformatics tools that have catalyzed breakthroughs in unraveling the molecular basis of protein aggregation, with significant implications for clinical interventions, standing at the intersection of computational biology and experimental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepshikha Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Anushka Biswas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, India
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7
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Li H, Zhao Z, Fassini A, Lee HK, Green RJ, Gomperts SN. Impaired Hippocampal Reactivation Preceding Robust Aβ Deposition in a Model of Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.26.595168. [PMID: 38853978 PMCID: PMC11160633 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.26.595168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Current therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) target amyloid-beta (Aβ) fibrils and high molecular weight protofibrils associated with plaques, but other bioactive species may directly contribute to neural systems failure in AD. Employing hippocampal electrophysiological recordings and dynamic calcium imaging across the sleep-wake cycle in young mice expressing human Aβ and Aβ oligomers, we reveal marked impairments of hippocampal function long before amyloid plaques predominate. In slow wave sleep (SWS), Aβ increased the proportion of hypoactive cells and reduced place-cell reactivation. During awake behavior, Aβ impaired theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) and drove excessive synchronization of place cell calcium fluctuations with hippocampal theta. Remarkably, the on-line impairment of hippocampal theta-gamma PAC correlated with the SWS impairment of place-cell reactivation. Together, these results identify toxic effects of Aβ on memory encoding and consolidation processes before robust plaque deposition and support targeting soluble Aβ-related species to treat and prevent AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyan Li
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhuoyang Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aline Fassini
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Han K. Lee
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Reese J. Green
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephen N. Gomperts
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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8
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Meng X, Song Q, Liu Z, Liu X, Wang Y, Liu J. Neurotoxic β-amyloid oligomers cause mitochondrial dysfunction-the trigger for PANoptosis in neurons. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1400544. [PMID: 38808033 PMCID: PMC11130508 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1400544] [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: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
As the global population ages, the incidence of elderly patients with dementia, represented by Alzheimer's disease (AD), will continue to increase. Previous studies have suggested that β-amyloid protein (Aβ) deposition is a key factor leading to AD. However, the clinical efficacy of treating AD with anti-Aβ protein antibodies is not satisfactory, suggesting that Aβ amyloidosis may be a pathological change rather than a key factor leading to AD. Identification of the causes of AD and development of corresponding prevention and treatment strategies is an important goal of current research. Following the discovery of soluble oligomeric forms of Aβ (AβO) in 1998, scientists began to focus on the neurotoxicity of AβOs. As an endogenous neurotoxin, the active growth of AβOs can lead to neuronal death, which is believed to occur before plaque formation, suggesting that AβOs are the key factors leading to AD. PANoptosis, a newly proposed concept of cell death that includes known modes of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, is a form of cell death regulated by the PANoptosome complex. Neuronal survival depends on proper mitochondrial function. Under conditions of AβO interference, mitochondrial dysfunction occurs, releasing lethal contents as potential upstream effectors of the PANoptosome. Considering the critical role of neurons in cognitive function and the development of AD as well as the regulatory role of mitochondrial function in neuronal survival, investigation of the potential mechanisms leading to neuronal PANoptosis is crucial. This review describes the disruption of neuronal mitochondrial function by AβOs and elucidates how AβOs may activate neuronal PANoptosis by causing mitochondrial dysfunction during the development of AD, providing guidance for the development of targeted neuronal treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jinyu Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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9
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Marshall KE, Mengham K, Spink MC, Vania L, Pollard HJ, Darrow MC, Duke E, Harkiolaki M, Serpell LC. Correlative cryo-soft X-ray tomography and cryo-structured illumination microscopy reveal changes to lysosomes in amyloid-β-treated neurons. Structure 2024; 32:585-593.e3. [PMID: 38471506 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.02.010] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Protein misfolding is common to neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) including Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is partly characterized by the self-assembly and accumulation of amyloid-beta in the brain. Lysosomes are a critical component of the proteostasis network required to degrade and recycle material from outside and within the cell and impaired proteostatic mechanisms have been implicated in NDs. We have previously established that toxic amyloid-beta oligomers are endocytosed, accumulate in lysosomes, and disrupt the endo-lysosomal system in neurons. Here, we use pioneering correlative cryo-structured illumination microscopy and cryo-soft X-ray tomography imaging techniques to reconstruct 3D cellular architecture in the native state revealing reduced X-ray density in lysosomes and increased carbon dense vesicles in oligomer treated neurons compared with untreated cells. This work provides unprecedented visual information on the changes to neuronal lysosomes inflicted by amyloid beta oligomers using advanced methods in structural cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Marshall
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK.
| | - Kurtis Mengham
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK
| | - Matthew C Spink
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Lyra Vania
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK
| | - Hannah Jane Pollard
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK
| | - Michele C Darrow
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Elizabeth Duke
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Maria Harkiolaki
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Louise C Serpell
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK.
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10
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Zhao Q, Ma L, Chen S, Huang L, She G, Sun Y, Shi W, Mu L. Tracking mitochondrial Cu(I) fluctuations through a ratiometric fluorescent probe in AD model cells: Towards understanding how AβOs induce mitochondrial Cu(I) dyshomeostasis. Talanta 2024; 271:125716. [PMID: 38301373 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125716] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial copper signaling pathway plays a role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), especially in relevant Amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs) neurotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Clarifying the relationship between mitochondrial copper homeostasis and both of mitochondrial dysfunction and AβOs neurotoxicity is important for understanding AD pathogenesis. Herein, we designed and synthesized a ratiometric fluorescent probe CHC-NS4 for Cu(I). CHC-NS4 possesses excellent ratiometric response, high selectivity to Cu(I) and specific ability to target mitochondria. Under mitochondrial dysfunction induced by oligomycin, mitochondrial Cu(I) levels gradually increased, which may be related to inhibition of ATP7A-mediated Cu(I) exportation and/or high expression of COX. On this basis, CHC-NS4 was further utilized to visualize the fluctuations of mitochondrial Cu(I) levels during progression of AD model cells induced by AβOs. It was found that mitochondrial Cu(I) levels were gradually elevated during the AD progression, which depended on not only AβOs concentration but also incubation time. Moreover, endocytosis maybe served as a prime pathway mode for mitochondrial Cu(I) dyshomeostasis induced by AβOs during AD progression. These results have provided a novel inspiration into mitochondrial copper biology in AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaowen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liyi Ma
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Siwei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Lushan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guangwei She
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yongan Sun
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Wensheng Shi
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Lixuan Mu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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11
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Ruttenberg SM, Nowick JS. A turn for the worse: Aβ β-hairpins in Alzheimer's disease. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 105:117715. [PMID: 38615460 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117715] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers are a cause of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). These soluble aggregates of the Aβ peptide have proven difficult to study due to their inherent metastability and heterogeneity. Strategies to isolate and stabilize homogenous Aβ oligomer populations have emerged such as mutations, covalent cross-linking, and protein fusions. These strategies along with molecular dynamics simulations have provided a variety of proposed structures of Aβ oligomers, many of which consist of molecules of Aβ in β-hairpin conformations. β-Hairpins are intramolecular antiparallel β-sheets composed of two β-strands connected by a loop or turn. Three decades of research suggests that Aβ peptides form several different β-hairpin conformations, some of which are building blocks of toxic Aβ oligomers. The insights from these studies are currently being used to design anti-Aβ antibodies and vaccines to treat AD. Research suggests that antibody therapies designed to target oligomeric Aβ may be more successful at treating AD than antibodies designed to target linear epitopes of Aβ or fibrillar Aβ. Aβ β-hairpins are good epitopes to use in antibody development to selectively target oligomeric Aβ. This review summarizes the research on β-hairpins in Aβ peptides and discusses the relevance of this conformation in AD pathogenesis and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Ruttenberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, United States
| | - James S Nowick
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, United States.
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12
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Maity B, Kameyama S, Tian J, Pham TT, Abe S, Chatani E, Murata K, Ueno T. Fusion of amyloid beta with ferritin yields an isolated oligomeric beta-sheet-rich aggregate inside the ferritin cage. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:2408-2417. [PMID: 38511491 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00173g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a severe brain condition caused by the formation of amyloid plaques composed of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. These peptides form oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils before deposition into amyloid plaques. Among these intermediates, Aβ oligomers (AβOs) were found to be the most toxic and therefore an appealing target for drug development and understanding their role in the disease. However, precise isolation and characterization of AβOs have proven challenging because AβOs tend to aggregate and form heterogeneous mixtures in solution. As a solution, we genetically fused the Aβ peptide with a ferritin monomer. Such fusion allowed the encapsulation of precisely 24 Aβ peptides inside the 24-mer ferritin cage. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), we disassembled ferritin and directly visualized the Aβ core enclosed within the cage. The thioflavin-T assay (ThT) and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) revealed the presence of a β-sheet structure in the encapsulated oligomeric aggregate. Gallic acid, an amyloid inhibitor, can inhibit the fluorescence of ThT bound AβOs. Our approach represents a significant advancement in the isolation and characterization of β-sheet rich AβOs and is expected to be useful for future studies of other disordered peptides such as α-synuclein and tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basudev Maity
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226 8501, Japan.
| | - Shiori Kameyama
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226 8501, Japan.
| | - Jiaxin Tian
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226 8501, Japan.
| | - Thuc Toan Pham
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226 8501, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Abe
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226 8501, Japan.
| | - Eri Chatani
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Murata
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institute for Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), National Institute for Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ueno
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226 8501, Japan.
- Living Systems Materialogy (LiSM) Research Group, International Research Frontiers Initiative (IRFI), Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
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13
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Pradeepkiran JA, Baig J, Islam MA, Kshirsagar S, Reddy PH. Amyloid-β and Phosphorylated Tau are the Key Biomarkers and Predictors of Alzheimer's Disease. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0286. [PMID: 38739937 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a age-related neurodegenerative disease and is a major public health concern both in Texas, US and Worldwide. This neurodegenerative disease is mainly characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) accumulation in the brains of patients with AD and increasing evidence suggests that these are key biomarkers in AD. Both Aβ and p-tau can be detected through various imaging techniques (such as positron emission tomography, PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. The presence of these biomarkers in individuals, who are asymptomatic or have mild cognitive impairment can indicate an increased risk of developing AD in the future. Furthermore, the combination of Aβ and p-tau biomarkers is often used for more accurate diagnosis and prediction of AD progression. Along with AD being a neurodegenerative disease, it is associated with other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, and diabetes because studies have shown that these comorbid conditions make people more vulnerable to AD. In the first part of this review, we discuss that biofluid-based biomarkers such as Aβ, p-Tau in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and Aβ & p-Tau in plasma could be used as an alternative sensitive technique to diagnose AD. In the second part, we discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms of chronic conditions linked with AD and how they affect the patients in clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javaria Baig
- Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Md Ariful Islam
- Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Sudhir Kshirsagar
- Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Pharmacology & Neuroscience Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Neurology Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Departments, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Public Health Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
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14
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de Vries LE, Huitinga I, Kessels HW, Swaab DF, Verhaagen J. The concept of resilience to Alzheimer's Disease: current definitions and cellular and molecular mechanisms. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:33. [PMID: 38589893 PMCID: PMC11003087 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00719-7] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Some individuals are able to maintain their cognitive abilities despite the presence of significant Alzheimer's Disease (AD) neuropathological changes. This discrepancy between cognition and pathology has been labeled as resilience and has evolved into a widely debated concept. External factors such as cognitive stimulation are associated with resilience to AD, but the exact cellular and molecular underpinnings are not completely understood. In this review, we discuss the current definitions used in the field, highlight the translational approaches used to investigate resilience to AD and summarize the underlying cellular and molecular substrates of resilience that have been derived from human and animal studies, which have received more and more attention in the last few years. From these studies the picture emerges that resilient individuals are different from AD patients in terms of specific pathological species and their cellular reaction to AD pathology, which possibly helps to maintain cognition up to a certain tipping point. Studying these rare resilient individuals can be of great importance as it could pave the way to novel therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luuk E de Vries
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Inge Huitinga
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helmut W Kessels
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dick F Swaab
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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Chen A, Shea D, Daggett V. Performance of SOBA-AD blood test in discriminating Alzheimer's disease patients from cognitively unimpaired controls in two independent cohorts. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7946. [PMID: 38575622 PMCID: PMC10995183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57107-w] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-beta (Aβ) toxic oligomers are critical early players in the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have developed a Soluble Oligomer Binding Assay (SOBA-AD) for detection of these Aβ oligomers that contain α-sheet secondary structure that discriminates plasma samples from patients on the AD continuum from non-AD controls. We tested 265 plasma samples from two independent cohorts to investigate the performance of SOBA-AD. Testing was performed at two different sites, with different personnel, reagents, and instrumentation. Across two cohorts, SOBA-AD discriminated AD patients from cognitively unimpaired (CU) subjects with 100% sensitivity, > 95% specificity, and > 98% area under the curve (AUC) (95% CI 0.95-1.00). A SOBA-AD positive readout, reflecting α-sheet toxic oligomer burden, was found in AD patients, and not in controls, providing separation of the two populations, aside from 5 SOBA-AD positive controls. Based on an earlier SOBA-AD study, the Aβ oligomers detected in these CU subjects may represent preclinical cases of AD. The results presented here support the value of SOBA-AD as a promising blood-based tool for the detection and confirmation of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Chen
- AltPep Corporation, 1150 Eastlake Avenue N, Suite 800, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Dylan Shea
- AltPep Corporation, 1150 Eastlake Avenue N, Suite 800, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- University of Washington, Box 355610, Seattle, WA, 98195-5610, USA
| | - Valerie Daggett
- AltPep Corporation, 1150 Eastlake Avenue N, Suite 800, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
- University of Washington, Box 355610, Seattle, WA, 98195-5610, USA.
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16
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Agha MM, Aziziyan F, Uversky VN. Each big journey starts with a first step: Importance of oligomerization. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 206:111-141. [PMID: 38811079 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Protein oligomers, widely found in nature, have significant physiological and pathological functions. They are classified into three groups based on their function and toxicity. Significant advancements are being achieved in the development of functional oligomers, with a focus on various applications and their engineering. The antimicrobial peptides oligomers play roles in death of bacterial and cancer cells. The predominant pathogenic species in neurodegenerative disorders, as shown by recent results, are amyloid oligomers, which are the main subject of this chapter. They are generated throughout the aggregation process, serving as both intermediates in the subsequent aggregation pathways and ultimate products. Some of them may possess potent cytotoxic properties and through diverse mechanisms cause cellular impairment, and ultimately, the death of cells and disease progression. Information regarding their structure, formation mechanism, and toxicity is limited due to their inherent instability and structural variability. This chapter aims to provide a concise overview of the current knowledge regarding amyloid oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansoureh Mirza Agha
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Biological Instrumentation, Pushchino, Moscow, Russia; Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United Staes.
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17
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Haynes JR, Whitmore CA, Behof WJ, Landman CA, Ong HH, Feld AP, Suero IC, Greer CB, Gore JC, Wijesinghe P, Matsubara JA, Wadzinski BE, Spiller BW, Pham W. TARGETING SOLUBLE AMYLOID-BETA OLIGOMERS WITH A NOVEL NANOBODY. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3944211. [PMID: 38559050 PMCID: PMC10980145 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3944211/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The classical amyloid cascade hypothesis postulates that the aggregation of amyloid plaques and the accumulation of intracellular hyperphosphorylated Tau tangles, together, lead to profound neuronal death. However, emerging research has demonstrated that soluble amyloid-β oligomers (SAβOs) accumulate early, prior to amyloid plaque formation. SAβOs induce memory impairment and disrupt cognitive function independent of amyloid-β plaques, and even in the absence of plaque formation. This work describes the development and characterization of a novel anti-SAβO (E3) nanobody generated from an alpaca immunized with SAβO. In-vitro assays and in-vivo studies using 5XFAD mice indicate that the fluorescein (FAM)-labeled E3 nanobody recognizes both SAβOs and amyloid-β plaques. The E3 nanobody traverses across the blood-brain barrier and binds to amyloid species in the brain of 5XFAD mice. Imaging of mouse brains reveals that SAβO and amyloid-β plaques are not only different in size, shape, and morphology, but also have a distinct spatial distribution in the brain. SAβOs are associated with neurons, while amyloid plaques reside in the extracellular matrix. The results of this study demonstrate that the SAβO nanobody can serve as a diagnostic agent with potential theragnostic applications in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R. Haynes
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Clayton A. Whitmore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - William J. Behof
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Charlotte A. Landman
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Henry H. Ong
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Andrew P. Feld
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Isabelle C. Suero
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Celeste B. Greer
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - John C. Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Printha Wijesinghe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z3N9, Canada
| | - Joanne A. Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z3N9, Canada
| | - Brian E. Wadzinski
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Spiller
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Wellington Pham
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
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18
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Chen S, Guo D, Zhu Y, Xiao S, Xie J, Zhang Z, Hu Y, Huang J, Ma X, Ning Z, Cao L, Cheng J, Tang Y. Amyloid β oligomer induces cerebral vasculopathy via pericyte-mediated endothelial dysfunction. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:56. [PMID: 38475929 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01423-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although abnormal accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein is thought to be the main cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD), emerging evidence suggests a pivotal vascular contribution to AD. Aberrant amyloid β induces neurovascular dysfunction, leading to changes in the morphology and function of the microvasculature. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms between Aβ deposition and vascular injuries. Recent studies have revealed that pericytes play a substantial role in the vasculopathy of AD. Additional research is imperative to attain a more comprehensive understanding. METHODS Two-photon microscopy and laser speckle imaging were used to examine cerebrovascular dysfunction. Aβ oligomer stereotactic injection model was established to explain the relationship between Aβ and vasculopathy. Immunofluorescence staining, western blot, and real-time PCR were applied to detect the morphological and molecular alternations of pericytes. Primary cultured pericytes and bEnd.3 cells were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS Vasculopathy including BBB damage, hypoperfusion, and low vessel density were found in the cortex of 8 to 10-month-old 5xFAD mice. A similar phenomenon accompanied by pericyte degeneration appeared in an Aβ-injected model, suggesting a direct relationship between Aβ and vascular dysfunction. Pericytes showed impaired features including low PDGFRβ expression and increased pro-inflammatory chemokines secretion under the administration of Aβ in vitro, of which supernatant cultured with bEND.3 cells led to significant endothelial dysfunction characterized by TJ protein deficiency. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide new insights into the pathogenic mechanism underlying Aβ-induced vasculopathy. Targeting pericyte therapies are promising to ameliorate vascular dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Daji Guo
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Songhua Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jiatian Xie
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jialin Huang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xueying Ma
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhiyuan Ning
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Lin Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Jinping Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China.
| | - Yamei Tang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China.
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19
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Senapati S, Tripathi K, Awad K, Rahimipour S. Multifunctional Liposomes Targeting Amyloid-β Oligomers for Early Diagnosis and Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311670. [PMID: 38461531 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Early detection and treatment are crucial for Alzheimer's disease (AD) management. Current diagnostic and therapeutic methods focus on late-stage amyloid fibrils and plaques, overlooking toxic soluble amyloid β oligomers (AβOs) accumulating early in AD. A multifunctional liposome-based platform is designed for early diagnosis and therapy of AD, leveraging a novel self-assembled cyclic d,l-α-peptide (CP-2) that selectively targets AβOs. Biocompatible CP-2 conjugated liposomes (CP-2-LPs) effectively disrupt Aβ aggregation and mitigate Aβ-mediated toxicity in human neuroblastoma cells. In transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans AD models, CP-2-LPs significantly outperformed free CP-2 by improving cognitive and behavioral functions, extending lifespan, and reducing toxic AβO levels. Intravenous injection of fluorescently labeled CP-2-LPs reveals effective blood-brain barrier penetration, with significantly higher brain fluorescence in transgenic mice than WT, enabling precise diagnosis. These findings underscore CP-2-LPs as a valuable tool for early detection and targeted therapy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Senapati
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Kuldeep Tripathi
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Khadeja Awad
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Shai Rahimipour
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
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20
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Yook Y, Lee KY, Kim E, Lizarazo S, Yu X, Tsai NP. Hyperfunction of post-synaptic density protein 95 promotes seizure response in early-stage aβ pathology. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1233-1255. [PMID: 38413732 PMCID: PMC10933348 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00090-0] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) can lead to the formation of aggregates that contribute to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite globally reduced neural activity during AD onset, recent studies have suggested that Aβ induces hyperexcitability and seizure-like activity during the early stages of the disease that ultimately exacerbate cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we reveal an Aβ-induced elevation of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) in cultured neurons in vitro and in an in vivo AD model using APP/PS1 mice at 8 weeks of age. Elevation of PSD-95 occurs as a result of reduced ubiquitination caused by Akt-dependent phosphorylation of E3 ubiquitin ligase murine-double-minute 2 (Mdm2). The elevation of PSD-95 is consistent with the facilitation of excitatory synapses and the surface expression of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors induced by Aβ. Inhibition of PSD-95 corrects these Aβ-induced synaptic defects and reduces seizure activity in APP/PS1 mice. Our results demonstrate a mechanism underlying elevated seizure activity during early-stage Aβ pathology and suggest that PSD-95 could be an early biomarker and novel therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeeun Yook
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Kwan Young Lee
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Eunyoung Kim
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Simon Lizarazo
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Xinzhu Yu
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Nien-Pei Tsai
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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21
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Kreutzer AG, Malonis RJ, Parrocha CMT, Tong K, Guaglianone G, Nguyen JT, Diab MN, Lai JR, Nowick JS. Generation and Study of Antibodies against Two Triangular Trimers Derived from Aβ. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2024; 116:e24333. [PMID: 38644932 PMCID: PMC11029597 DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target the P-amyloid peptide (Aβ) are important Alzheimer's disease research tools and are now being used as Alzheimer's disease therapies. Conformation-specific mAbs that target oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ assemblies are of particular interest, as these assemblies are associated with Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and progression. This paper reports the generation of rabbit mAbs against two different triangular trimers derived from Aβ. These antibodies are the first mAbs generated against Aβ oligomer mimics in which the high-resolution structures of the oligomers are known. We describe the isolation of the mAbs using single B-cell sorting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from immunized rabbits, the selectivity of the mAbs for the triangular trimers, the immunoreactivity of the mAbs with aggregated Aβ42, and the immunoreactivity of the mAbs in brain tissue from the 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease mouse model. The characterization of these mAbs against structurally defined trimers derived from Aβ enhances understanding of antibody-amyloid recognition and may benefit the development of diagnostics and immunotherapies in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam G Kreutzer
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Ryan J Malonis
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | | | - Karen Tong
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | | | - Jennifer T Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Michelle N Diab
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Jonathan R Lai
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - James S Nowick
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
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22
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Lista S, Santos-Lozano A, Emanuele E, Mercuri NB, Gabelle A, López-Ortiz S, Martín-Hernández J, Maisto N, Imbimbo C, Caraci F, Imbimbo BP, Zetterberg H, Nisticò R. Monitoring synaptic pathology in Alzheimer's disease through fluid and PET imaging biomarkers: a comprehensive review and future perspectives. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:847-857. [PMID: 38228892 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently constrained by limited clinical treatment options. The initial pathophysiological event, which can be traced back to decades before the clinical symptoms become apparent, involves the excessive accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ), a peptide comprised of 40-42 amino acids, in extraneuronal plaques within the brain. Biochemical and histological studies have shown that overaccumulation of Aβ instigates an aberrant escalation in the phosphorylation and secretion of tau, a microtubule-binding axonal protein. The accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau into intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles is in turn correlated with microglial dysfunction and reactive astrocytosis, culminating in synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. As neurodegeneration progresses, it gives rise to mild clinical symptoms of AD, which may eventually evolve into overt dementia. Synaptic loss in AD may develop even before tau alteration and in response to possible elevations in soluble oligomeric forms of Aβ associated with early AD. These findings largely rely on post-mortem autopsy examinations, which typically involve a limited number of patients. Over the past decade, a range of fluid biomarkers such as neurogranin, α-synuclein, visinin-like protein 1 (VILIP-1), neuronal pentraxin 2, and β-synuclein, along with positron emission tomography (PET) markers like synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A, have been developed. These advancements have facilitated the exploration of how synaptic markers in AD patients correlate with cognitive impairment. However, fluid biomarkers indicating synaptic loss have only been validated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), not in plasma, with the exception of VILIP-1. The most promising PET radiotracer, [11C]UCB-J, currently faces significant challenges hindering its widespread clinical use, primarily due to the necessity of a cyclotron. As such, additional research geared toward the exploration of synaptic pathology biomarkers is crucial. This will not only enable their extensive clinical application, but also refine the optimization process of AD pharmacological trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Lista
- i+HeALTH Strategic Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, Miguel de Cervantes European University (UEMC), 47012, Valladolid, Spain.
| | - Alejandro Santos-Lozano
- i+HeALTH Strategic Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, Miguel de Cervantes European University (UEMC), 47012, Valladolid, Spain
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group (PaHerg), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Nicola B Mercuri
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Audrey Gabelle
- CMRR, Memory Resources and Research Center, Montpellier University of Excellence i-site, 34295, Montpellier, France
| | - Susana López-Ortiz
- i+HeALTH Strategic Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, Miguel de Cervantes European University (UEMC), 47012, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Juan Martín-Hernández
- i+HeALTH Strategic Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, Miguel de Cervantes European University (UEMC), 47012, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Nunzia Maisto
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, EBRI Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Camillo Imbimbo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
- Neuropharmacology and Translational Neurosciences Research Unit, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, 94018, Troina, Italy
| | - Bruno P Imbimbo
- Department of Research and Development, Chiesi Farmaceutici, 43122, Parma, Italy
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 80, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 431 80, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, WC1N, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53726, WI, USA
| | - Robert Nisticò
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, EBRI Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133, Rome, Italy.
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23
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Rinauro DJ, Chiti F, Vendruscolo M, Limbocker R. Misfolded protein oligomers: mechanisms of formation, cytotoxic effects, and pharmacological approaches against protein misfolding diseases. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:20. [PMID: 38378578 PMCID: PMC10877934 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00651-2] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The conversion of native peptides and proteins into amyloid aggregates is a hallmark of over 50 human disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Increasing evidence implicates misfolded protein oligomers produced during the amyloid formation process as the primary cytotoxic agents in many of these devastating conditions. In this review, we analyze the processes by which oligomers are formed, their structures, physicochemical properties, population dynamics, and the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity. We then focus on drug discovery strategies that target the formation of oligomers and their ability to disrupt cell physiology and trigger degenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon J Rinauro
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Ryan Limbocker
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, 10996, USA.
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24
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Kaar A, Weir MP, Rae MG. Altered neuronal group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor- and endoplasmic reticulum-mediated Ca 2+ signaling in two rodent models of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 2024; 823:137664. [PMID: 38309326 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137664] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Calcium mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) induced by, for example, IP3 receptor (IP3R) stimulation, and its subsequent crosstalk with extracellular Ca2+ influx mediated through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) and neuronal store-operated calcium entry (nSOCE), is essential for normal neuronal signaling and cellular homeostasis. However, several studies suggest that chronic calcium dysregulation may play a key role in the onset and/or progression of neurodegenerative conditions, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, using early postnatal hippocampal tissue from two transgenic murine models of AD, we provide further evidence that not only are crucial calcium signaling pathways dysregulated, but also that such dysregulation occurs at very early stages of development. Utilizing epifluorescence calcium imaging, we investigated ER-, nSOCE- and VGCC-mediated calcium signaling in cultured primary hippocampal neurons from two transgenic rodent models of AD: 3xTg-AD mice (PS1M146V/APPSWE/TauP301L) and TgF344-AD rats (APPSWE/PS1ΔE9) between 2 and 9 days old. Our results reveal that, in comparison to control hippocampal neurons, those from 3xTg-AD mice possessed significantly greater basal ER calcium levels, as measured by larger responses to I-mGluR-mediated ER Ca2+ mobilization (amplitude; 4 (0-19) vs 21(12-36) a.u., non-Tg vs 3xTg-AD; median difference (95 % Cl) = 14 a.u. (11-18); p = 0.004)) but reduced nSOCE (15 (4-22) vs 8(5-11) a.u., non-Tg vs 3xTg-AD; median difference (95 % Cl) = -7 a.u. (-3- -10 a.u.); p < 0.0001). Furthermore, unlike non-Tg neurons, where depolarization enhanced the amplitude, duration and area under the curve (A.U.C.) of I-mGluR-evoked ER-mediated calcium signals when compared with basal conditions, this was not apparent in 3xTg-AD neurons. Whilst the amplitude of depolarization-enhanced I-mGluR-evoked ER-mediated calcium signals from both non-Tg F344 and TgF344-AD neurons was significantly enhanced relative to basal conditions, the A.U.C. and duration of responses were enhanced significantly upon depolarization in non-Tg F344, but not in TgF344-AD, neurons. Overall, the nature of basal I-mGluR-mediated calcium responses did not differ significantly between non-Tg F344 and TgF344-AD neurons. In summary, our results characterizing ER- and nSOCE-mediated calcium signaling in neurons demonstrate that ER Ca2+ dyshomeostasis is an early and potentially pathogenic event in familial AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Kaar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Western Gateway Building, Cork, Ireland
| | - Megan P Weir
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Western Gateway Building, Cork, Ireland
| | - Mark G Rae
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Western Gateway Building, Cork, Ireland.
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25
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Kommaddi RP, Gowaikar R, P A H, Diwakar L, Singh K, Mondal A. Akt activation ameliorates deficits in hippocampal-dependent memory and activity-dependent synaptic protein synthesis in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105619. [PMID: 38182004 PMCID: PMC10839450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105619] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase-B (Akt) and the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways are implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Akt/mTOR signaling pathways, activated by external inputs, enable new protein synthesis at the synapse and synaptic plasticity. The molecular mechanisms impeding new protein synthesis at the synapse in AD pathogenesis remain elusive. Here, we aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms prior to the manifestation of histopathological hallmarks by characterizing Akt1/mTOR signaling cascades and new protein synthesis in the hippocampus of WT and amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) male mice. Intriguingly, compared to those in WT mice, we found significant decreases in pAkt1, pGSK3β, pmTOR, pS6 ribosomal protein, and p4E-BP1 levels in both post nuclear supernatant and synaptosomes isolated from the hippocampus of one-month-old (presymptomatic) APP/PS1 mice. In synaptoneurosomes prepared from the hippocampus of presymptomatic APP/PS1 mice, activity-dependent protein synthesis at the synapse was impaired and this deficit was sustained in young adults. In hippocampal neurons from C57BL/6 mice, downregulation of Akt1 precluded synaptic activity-dependent protein synthesis at the dendrites but not in the soma. In three-month-old APP/PS1 mice, Akt activator (SC79) administration restored deficits in memory recall and activity-dependent synaptic protein synthesis. C57BL/6 mice administered with an Akt inhibitor (MK2206) resulted in memory recall deficits compared to those treated with vehicle. We conclude that dysregulation of Akt1/mTOR and its downstream signaling molecules in the hippocampus contribute to memory recall deficits and loss of activity-dependent synaptic protein synthesis. In AD mice, however, Akt activation ameliorates deficits in memory recall and activity-dependent synaptic protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruturaj Gowaikar
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Haseena P A
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Latha Diwakar
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Kunal Singh
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Amrita Mondal
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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26
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Allnutt MA, Matera KM. Stabilization and Reduced Cytotoxicity of Amyloid Beta Aggregates in the Presence of Catechol Neurotransmitters. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:379-387. [PMID: 37847330 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-04036-1] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Oligomeric aggregates of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide have been implicated as the toxic species for Alzheimer's disease by contributing to oxidative cytotoxicity and physical disruption in cell membranes in the brain. Recent evidence points to the ability of the catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine in the presence of copper ions to both stabilize oligomers and decrease the toxic effects of these oligomers. Based on these results, physical characterization of aggregates and subsequent cell studies with a neuroblastoma line were performed that show both dopamine and the related neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, can stabilize oligomers and decrease toxicity of Aβ aggregates without copper present. To investigate this reduction of toxicity, structural characterization of oligomers in the presence of neurotransmitters was compared to aggregates formed with Aβ alone. Gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy show higher levels of oligomers in the presence of dopamine and norepinephrine, yet the oligomer structure is largely amorphous. Aβ aggregated alone forms the predicted highly organized fibrillar species, with increased levels of dityrosine covalent linkages, which are largely absent in the presence of the neurotransmitters. A proposed mechanism for the observed decrease in cell death by Aβ in the presence of dopamine and norepinephrine suggests the neurotransmitters both block the formation of organized oligomer structures and dityrosine stabilizing linkages while also behaving as antioxidants, providing a dual mechanism for increased cell viability.
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27
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Coelho R, De Benedictis CA, Sauer AK, Figueira AJ, Faustino H, Grabrucker AM, Gomes CM. Secondary Modification of S100B Influences Anti Amyloid-β Aggregation Activity and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1787. [PMID: 38339064 PMCID: PMC10855146 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031787] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteinaceous aggregates accumulate in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), inducing cellular defense mechanisms and altering the redox status. S100 pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly S100B, are activated during AD, but recent findings reveal an unconventional molecular chaperone role for S100B in hindering Aβ aggregation and toxicity. This suggests a potential protective role for S100B at the onset of Aβ proteotoxicity, occurring in a complex biochemical environment prone to oxidative damage. Herein, we report an investigation in which extracellular oxidative conditions are mimicked to test if the susceptibility of S100B to oxidation influences its protective activities. Resorting to mild oxidation of S100B, we observed methionine oxidation as inferred from mass spectrometry, but no cysteine-mediated crosslinking. Structural analysis showed that the folding, structure, and stability of oxidized S100B were not affected, and nor was its quaternary structure. However, studies on Aβ aggregation kinetics indicated that oxidized S100B was more effective in preventing aggregation, potentially linked to the oxidation of Met residues within the S100:Aβ binding cleft that favors interactions. Using a cell culture model to analyze the S100B functions in a highly oxidative milieu, as in AD, we observed that Aβ toxicity is rescued by the co-administration of oxidized S100B to a greater extent than by S100B. Additionally, results suggest a disrupted positive feedback loop involving S100B which is caused by its oxidation, leading to the downstream regulation of IL-17 and IFN-α2 expression as mediated by S100B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Coelho
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.C.); (A.J.F.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Chiara A. De Benedictis
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.B.); (A.K.S.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ann Katrin Sauer
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.B.); (A.K.S.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
| | - António J. Figueira
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.C.); (A.J.F.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Hélio Faustino
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, Oliveira do Hospital, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição No. 2, 3405-155 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andreas M. Grabrucker
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.B.); (A.K.S.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
| | - Cláudio M. Gomes
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.C.); (A.J.F.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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28
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O’Day DH. The Complex Interplay between Toxic Hallmark Proteins, Calmodulin-Binding Proteins, Ion Channels, and Receptors Involved in Calcium Dyshomeostasis in Neurodegeneration. Biomolecules 2024; 14:173. [PMID: 38397410 PMCID: PMC10886625 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020173] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Calcium dyshomeostasis is an early critical event in neurodegeneration as exemplified by Alzheimer's (AD), Huntington's (HD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases. Neuronal calcium homeostasis is maintained by a diversity of ion channels, buffers, calcium-binding protein effectors, and intracellular storage in the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and lysosomes. The function of these components and compartments is impacted by the toxic hallmark proteins of AD (amyloid beta and Tau), HD (huntingtin) and PD (alpha-synuclein) as well as by interactions with downstream calcium-binding proteins, especially calmodulin. Each of the toxic hallmark proteins (amyloid beta, Tau, huntingtin, and alpha-synuclein) binds to calmodulin. Multiple channels and receptors involved in calcium homeostasis and dysregulation also bind to and are regulated by calmodulin. The primary goal of this review is to show the complexity of these interactions and how they can impact research and the search for therapies. A secondary goal is to suggest that therapeutic targets downstream from calcium dyshomeostasis may offer greater opportunities for success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danton H. O’Day
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada;
- Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
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29
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Martins IM, Lima A, de Graaff W, Cristóvão JS, Brosens N, Aronica E, Kluskens LD, Gomes CM, Azeredo J, Kessels HW. M13 phage grafted with peptide motifs as a tool to detect amyloid-β oligomers in brain tissue. Commun Biol 2024; 7:134. [PMID: 38280942 PMCID: PMC10821927 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05806-5] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Oligomeric clusters of amyloid-β (Aβ) are one of the major biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, proficient methods to detect Aβ-oligomers in brain tissue are lacking. Here we show that synthetic M13 bacteriophages displaying Aβ-derived peptides on their surface preferentially interact with Aβ-oligomers. When exposed to brain tissue isolated from APP/PS1-transgenic mice, these bacteriophages detect small-sized Aβ-aggregates in hippocampus at an early age, prior to the occurrence of Aβ-plaques. Similarly, the bacteriophages reveal the presence of such small Aβ-aggregates in post-mortem hippocampus tissue of AD-patients. These results advocate bacteriophages displaying Aβ-peptides as a convenient and low-cost tool to identify Aβ-oligomers in post-mortem brain tissue of AD-model mice and AD-patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivone M Martins
- CEB- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Alexandre Lima
- CEB- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wim de Graaff
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joana S Cristóvão
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Niek Brosens
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Leon D Kluskens
- CEB- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cláudio M Gomes
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Azeredo
- CEB- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Helmut W Kessels
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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30
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Medegan Fagla B, Buhimschi IA. Protein Misfolding in Pregnancy: Current Insights, Potential Mechanisms, and Implications for the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia. Molecules 2024; 29:610. [PMID: 38338354 PMCID: PMC10856193 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29030610] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding disorders are a group of diseases characterized by supra-physiologic accumulation and aggregation of pathogenic proteoforms resulting from improper protein folding and/or insufficiency in clearance mechanisms. Although these processes have been historically linked to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, evidence linking protein misfolding to other pathologies continues to emerge. Indeed, the deposition of toxic protein aggregates in the form of oligomers or large amyloid fibrils has been linked to type 2 diabetes, various types of cancer, and, in more recent years, to preeclampsia, a life-threatening pregnancy-specific disorder. While extensive physiological mechanisms are in place to maintain proteostasis, processes, such as aging, genetic factors, or environmental stress in the form of hypoxia, nutrient deprivation or xenobiotic exposures can induce failure in these systems. As such, pregnancy, a natural physical state that already places the maternal body under significant physiological stress, creates an environment with a lower threshold for aberrant aggregation. In this review, we set out to discuss current evidence of protein misfolding in pregnancy and potential mechanisms supporting a key role for this process in preeclampsia pathogenesis. Improving our understanding of this emerging pathophysiological process in preeclampsia can lead to vital discoveries that can be harnessed to create better diagnoses and treatment modalities for the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irina Alexandra Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
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31
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Kreutzer AG, Parrocha CMT, Haerianardakani S, Guaglianone G, Nguyen JT, Diab MN, Yong W, Perez-Rosendahl M, Head E, Nowick JS. Antibodies Raised Against an Aβ Oligomer Mimic Recognize Pathological Features in Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Amyloid-Disease Brain Tissue. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:104-121. [PMID: 38292607 PMCID: PMC10823522 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Antibodies that target the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) and its associated assemblies are important tools in Alzheimer's disease research and have emerged as promising Alzheimer's disease therapies. This paper reports the creation and characterization of a triangular Aβ trimer mimic composed of Aβ17-36 β-hairpins and the generation and study of polyclonal antibodies raised against the Aβ trimer mimic. The Aβ trimer mimic is covalently stabilized by three disulfide bonds at the corners of the triangular trimer to create a homogeneous oligomer. Structural, biophysical, and cell-based studies demonstrate that the Aβ trimer mimic shares characteristics with oligomers of full-length Aβ. X-ray crystallography elucidates the structure of the trimer and reveals that four copies of the trimer assemble to form a dodecamer. SDS-PAGE, size exclusion chromatography, and dynamic light scattering reveal that the trimer also forms higher-order assemblies in solution. Cell-based toxicity assays show that the trimer elicits LDH release, decreases ATP levels, and activates caspase-3/7 mediated apoptosis. Immunostaining studies on brain slices from people who lived with Alzheimer's disease and people who lived with Down syndrome reveal that the polyclonal antibodies raised against the Aβ trimer mimic recognize pathological features including different types of Aβ plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam G. Kreutzer
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Chelsea Marie T. Parrocha
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Sepehr Haerianardakani
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Gretchen Guaglianone
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Jennifer T. Nguyen
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Michelle N. Diab
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - William Yong
- Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University
of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Mari Perez-Rosendahl
- Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University
of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University
of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - James S. Nowick
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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32
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Bigi A, Napolitano L, Vadukul DM, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Aprile FA, Cascella R. A single-domain antibody detects and neutralises toxic Aβ 42 oligomers in the Alzheimer's disease CSF. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:13. [PMID: 38238842 PMCID: PMC10795411 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01361-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) aggregation consists of a complex chain of nucleation events producing soluble oligomeric intermediates, which are considered the major neurotoxic agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cerebral lesions in the brain of AD patients start to develop 20 years before symptom onset; however, no preventive strategies, effective treatments, or specific and sensitive diagnostic tests to identify people with early-stage AD are currently available. In addition, the isolation and characterisation of neurotoxic Aβ42 oligomers are particularly difficult because of their transient and heterogeneous nature. To overcome this challenge, a rationally designed method generated a single-domain antibody (sdAb), named DesAb-O, targeting Aβ42 oligomers. METHODS We investigated the ability of DesAb-O to selectively detect preformed Aβ42 oligomers both in vitro and in cultured neuronal cells, by using dot-blot, ELISA immunoassay and super-resolution STED microscopy, and to counteract the toxicity induced by the oligomers, monitoring their interaction with neuronal membrane and the resulting mitochondrial impairment. We then applied this approach to CSF samples (CSFs) from AD patients as compared to age-matched control subjects. RESULTS DesAb-O was found to selectively detect synthetic Aβ42 oligomers both in vitro and in cultured cells, and to neutralise their associated neuronal dysfunction. DesAb-O can also identify Aβ42 oligomers present in the CSFs of AD patients with respect to healthy individuals, and completely prevent cell dysfunction induced by the administration of CSFs to neuronal cells. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data indicate a promising method for the improvement of an early diagnosis of AD and for the generation of novel therapeutic approaches based on sdAbs for the treatment of AD and other devastating neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bigi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Liliana Napolitano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Devkee M Vadukul
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco A Aprile
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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33
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Deshpande P, Chen CY, Chimata AV, Li JC, Sarkar A, Yeates C, Chen CH, Kango-Singh M, Singh A. miR-277 targets the proapoptotic gene-hid to ameliorate Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's model. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:71. [PMID: 38238337 PMCID: PMC10796706 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06361-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits reduced cognitive function with no cure to date. One of the reasons for AD is the accumulation of Amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) plaque(s) that trigger aberrant gene expression and signaling, which results in neuronal cell death by an unknown mechanism(s). Misexpression of human Aβ42 in the developing retina of Drosophila exhibits AD-like neuropathology. Small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of their target genes and thereby regulate different signaling pathways. In a forward genetic screen, we identified miR-277 (human ortholog is hsa-miR-3660) as a genetic modifier of Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Loss-of-function of miR-277 enhances the Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Whereas gain-of-function of miR-277 in the GMR > Aβ42 background downregulates cell death to maintain the number of neurons and thereby restores the retinal axonal targeting defects indicating the functional rescue. In addition, gain-of-function of miR-277 rescues the eclosion- and climbing assays defects observed in GMR > Aβ42 background. Thus, gain-of-function of miR-277 rescues both structurally as well as functionally the Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Furthermore, we identified head involution defective (hid), an evolutionarily conserved proapoptotic gene, as one of the targets of miR-277 and validated these results using luciferase- and qPCR -assays. In the GMR > Aβ42 background, the gain-of-function of miR-277 results in the reduction of hid transcript levels to one-third of its levels as compared to GMR > Aβ42 background alone. Here, we provide a novel molecular mechanism where miR-277 targets and downregulates proapoptotic gene, hid, transcript levels to rescue Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration by blocking cell death. These studies shed light on molecular mechanism(s) that mediate cell death response following Aβ42 accumulation seen in neurodegenerative disorders in humans and provide new therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chao-Yi Chen
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Jian-Chiuan Li
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ankita Sarkar
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Catherine Yeates
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Chun-Hong Chen
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Madhuri Kango-Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Integrative Science and Engineering (ISE), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
| | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Integrative Science and Engineering (ISE), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA), Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, USA.
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34
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Ruttenberg S, Kreutzer AG, Truex NL, Nowick JS. β-Hairpin Alignment Alters Oligomer Formation in Aβ-Derived Peptides. Biochemistry 2024; 63:212-218. [PMID: 38163326 PMCID: PMC10795187 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) forms heterogeneous oligomers, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many Aβ oligomers consist of β-hairpin building blocks─Aβ peptides in β-hairpin conformations. β-Hairpins of Aβ can adopt a variety of alignments, but the role that β-hairpin alignment plays in the formation and heterogeneity of Aβ oligomers is poorly understood. To explore the effect of β-hairpin alignment on the oligomerization of Aβ peptides, we designed and studied two model peptides with two different β-hairpin alignments. Peptides Aβm17-36 and Aβm17-35 mimic two different β-hairpins that Aβ can form, the Aβ17-36 and Aβ17-35 β-hairpins, respectively. These hairpins are similar in composition but differ in hairpin alignment, altering the facial arrangements of the side chains of the residues that they contain. X-ray crystallography and SDS-PAGE demonstrate that the difference in facial arrangement between these peptides leads to distinct oligomer formation. In the crystal state, Aβm17-36 forms triangular trimers that further assemble to form hexamers, while Aβm17-35 forms tetrameric β-barrels. In SDS-PAGE, Aβm17-36 assembles to form a ladder of oligomers, while Aβm17-35 either assembles to form a dimer or does not assemble at all. The differences in the behavior of Aβm17-36 and Aβm17-35 suggest β-hairpin alignment as a source of the observed heterogeneity of Aβ oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah
M. Ruttenberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine, California 92697-2025, United
States
| | - Adam G. Kreutzer
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine, California 92697-2025, United
States
| | - Nicholas L. Truex
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine, California 92697-2025, United
States
| | - James S. Nowick
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine, California 92697-2025, United
States
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35
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Wang WH, Kao YC, Hsieh CH, Tsai SY, Cheung CHY, Huang HC, Juan HF. Multiomics Reveals Induction of Neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)C Cell Death by Mitochondrial Division Inhibitor 1 through Multiple Effects. J Proteome Res 2024; 23:301-315. [PMID: 38064546 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00566] [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] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) is a well-known synthetic compound aimed at inhibiting dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) to suppress mitochondrial fission, making it a valuable tool for studying mitochondrial dynamics. However, its specific effects beyond Drp1 inhibition remain to be confirmed. In this study, we employed integrative proteomics and phosphoproteomics to delve into the molecular responses induced by Mdivi-1 in SK-N-BE(2)C cells. A total of 3070 proteins and 1945 phosphorylation sites were identified, with 880 of them represented as phosphoproteins. Among these, 266 proteins and 97 phosphorylation sites were found to be sensitive to the Mdivi-1 treatment. Functional enrichment analysis unveiled their involvement in serine biosynthesis and extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. Through targeted metabolomics, we observed that Mdivi-1 enhanced intracellular serine biosynthesis while reducing the production of C24:1-ceramide. Within these regulated phosphoproteins, dynamic dephosphorylation of proteasome subunit alpha type 3 serine 250 (PSMA3-S250) occurred after Mdivi-1 treatment. Further site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that the dephosphorylation-deficient mutant PSMA3-S250A exhibited a decreased cell survival. This research confirms that Mdivi-1's inhibition of mitochondrial division leads to various side effects, ultimately influencing cell survival, rather than solely targeting Drp1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hsuan Wang
- Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Kao
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Hui Hsieh
- Center for Computational and Systems Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Yu Tsai
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | | | - Hsuan-Cheng Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Fen Juan
- Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
- Center for Computational and Systems Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
- Center for Advanced Computing and Imaging in Biomedicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
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36
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Jang C, Portugal Barron D, Duo L, Ma C, Seabaugh H, Guo Z. EPR Studies of Aβ42 Oligomers Indicate a Parallel In-Register β-Sheet Structure. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:86-97. [PMID: 38109787 PMCID: PMC10767747 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00364] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Aβ aggregation leads to the formation of both insoluble amyloid fibrils and soluble oligomers. Understanding the structures of Aβ oligomers is important for delineating the mechanism of Aβ aggregation and developing effective therapeutics. Here, we use site-directed spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to study Aβ42 oligomers prepared by using the protocol of Aβ-derived diffusible ligands. We obtained the EPR spectra of 37 Aβ42 oligomer samples, each spin-labeled at a unique residue position of the Aβ42 sequence. Analysis of the disordered EPR components shows that the N-terminal region has a lower local structural stability. Spin label mobility analysis reveals three structured segments at residues 9-11, 15-22, and 30-40. Intermolecular spin-spin interactions indicate a parallel in-register β-sheet structure, with residues 34-38 forming the structural core. Residues 16-21 also adopt the parallel in-register β-structure, albeit with weaker intermolecular packing. Our results suggest that there is a structural class of Aβ oligomers that adopt fibril-like conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Jang
- Department of Neurology,
Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Diana Portugal Barron
- Department of Neurology,
Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Lan Duo
- Department of Neurology,
Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Christine Ma
- Department of Neurology,
Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Hanna Seabaugh
- Department of Neurology,
Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Zhefeng Guo
- Department of Neurology,
Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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37
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Ichimata S, Yoshida K, Li J, Rogaeva E, Lang AE, Kovacs GG. The molecular spectrum of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in neurodegenerative diseases beyond Alzheimer's disease. Brain Pathol 2024; 34:e13210. [PMID: 37652560 PMCID: PMC10711260 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13210] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the molecular spectrum of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in neurodegenerative diseases beyond Alzheimer's disease (AD). We analyzed Aβ deposition in the temporal cortex and striatum in 116 autopsies, including Lewy body disease (LBD; N = 51), multiple system atrophy (MSA; N = 10), frontotemporal lobar degeneration-TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP; N = 16), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP; N = 39). The LBD group exhibited the most Aβ deposition in the temporal cortex and striatum (90/76%, respectively), followed by PSP (69/28%), FTLD-TDP (50/25%), and the MSA group (50/10%). We conducted immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies targeting eight Aβ epitopes in the LBD and PSP groups. Immunohistochemical findings were evaluated semi-quantitatively and quantitatively using digital pathology. Females with LBD exhibited significantly more severe Aβ deposition, particularly Aβ42 and Aβ43 , along with significantly more severe tau pathology. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of all Aβ peptides in the LBD group revealed an association with the APOE-ε4 genotypes. No significant differences were observed between males and females in the PSP group. Finally, we compared striatal Aβ deposition in cases with LBD (N = 15), AD without α-synuclein pathology (N = 6), and PSP (N = 5). There were no differences in the pan-Aβ antibody (6F/3D)-immunolabeled deposition burden among the three groups, but the deposition burden of peptides with high aggregation capacity, especially Aβ43 , was significantly higher in the AD and LBD groups than in the PSP group. Furthermore, considerable heterogeneity was observed in the composition of Aβ peptides on a case-by-case basis in the AD and LBD groups, whereas it was relatively uniform in the PSP group. Cluster analysis further supported these findings. Our data suggest that the type of concomitant proteinopathies influences the spectrum of Aβ deposition, impacted also by sex and APOE genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shojiro Ichimata
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative DiseaseUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative DiseaseUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Jun Li
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative DiseaseUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Ekaterina Rogaeva
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative DiseaseUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Anthony E. Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative DiseaseUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Program in Progressive Supranuclear PalsyToronto Western HospitalTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Gabor G. Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative DiseaseUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Program in Progressive Supranuclear PalsyToronto Western HospitalTorontoOntarioCanada
- Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoOntarioCanada
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38
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Aljassabi A, Zieneldien T, Kim J, Regmi D, Cao C. Alzheimer's Disease Immunotherapy: Current Strategies and Future Prospects. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:755-772. [PMID: 38489183 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231163] [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] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an extremely complex and heterogeneous pathology influenced by many factors contributing to its onset and progression, including aging, amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, tau fibril accumulation, inflammation, etc. Despite promising advances in drug development, there is no cure for AD. Although there have been substantial advancements in understanding the pathogenesis of AD, there have been over 200 unsuccessful clinical trials in the past decade. In recent years, immunotherapies have been at the forefront of these efforts. Immunotherapy alludes to the immunological field that strives to identify disease treatments via the enhancement, suppression, or induction of immune responses. Interestingly, immunotherapy in AD is a relatively new approach for non-infectious disease. At present, antibody therapy (passive immunotherapy) that targets anti-Aβ aimed to prevent the fibrillization of Aβ peptides and disrupt pre-existing fibrils is a predominant AD immunotherapy due to the continuous failure of active immunotherapy for AD. The most rational and safe strategies will be those targeting the toxic molecule without triggering an abnormal immune response, offering therapeutic advantages, thus making clinical trial design more efficient. This review offers a concise overview of immunotherapeutic strategies, including active and passive immunotherapy for AD. Our review encompasses approved methods and those presently under investigation in clinical trials, while elucidating the recent challenges, complications, successes, and potential treatments. Thus, immunotherapies targeting Aβ throughout the disease progression using a mutant oligomer-Aβ stimulated dendritic cell vaccine may offer a promising therapy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Aljassabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Tarek Zieneldien
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Janice Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Deepika Regmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Chuanhai Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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39
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Tooyama I, Kato T, Taguchi H, Kageyama Y, Irie K, Hirahara Y, Yanagisawa D. Visualization of Amyloid Oligomers in the Brain of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. Acta Histochem Cytochem 2023; 56:87-94. [PMID: 38318103 PMCID: PMC10838628 DOI: 10.1267/ahc.23-00058] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
In the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), highly neurotoxic amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers appear early, they are thus considered to be deeply involved in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. However, Aβ oligomer visualization is challenging in human tissues due to their multiple forms (e.g., low- and high-molecular-weight oligomers, including protofibrils) as well as their tendency to rapidly change forms and aggregate. In this review, we present two visualization approaches for Aβ oligomers in tissues: an immunohistochemical (using the monoclonal antibody TxCo1 against toxic Aβ oligomer conformers) and imaging mass spectrometry using the small chemical Shiga-Y51 that specifically binds Aβ oligomers. TxCo1 immunohistochemistry revealed Aβ oligomer distributions in postmortem human brains with AD. Using Shiga-Y51, imaging mass spectrometry revealed Aβ oligomer distributions in the brain of a transgenic mouse model for AD. These two methods would potentially contribute to elucidating the pathological mechanisms underlying AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuo Tooyama
- Medical Innovation Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kato
- Medical Innovation Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Taguchi
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kageyama
- Medical Innovation Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
- Education Center for Medicine and Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Irie
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukie Hirahara
- Faculty of Nursing, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
| | - Daijiro Yanagisawa
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
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40
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Xiong L, She L, Sun J, Xu X, Li L, Zeng Y, Tang H, Liang G, Wang W, Zhao X. Isolinderalactone Ameliorates the Pathology of Alzheimer's Disease by Inhibiting the JNK Signaling Pathway. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:2718-2729. [PMID: 38081625 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal cell damage is a major cause of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Multiple factors, such as amyloid deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, can lead to neuronal cell damage. Therefore, the development of multi-target drugs with broad neuroprotective effects may be an effective strategy for the treatment of AD. Natural products have become an important source of drug discovery because of their good pharmacological activity, multiple targets, and low toxicity. In this study, we screened a natural compound library and found that the fat-soluble sesquiterpene natural compound isolinderalactone (Iso) extracted from the dried root pieces of Lindera aggregata had the ability to alleviate cellular damage induced by β-amyloid-1-42 (Aβ1-42). The role and mechanism of Iso in AD have not yet been reported. Herein, we demonstrated that Iso significantly reduced the level of apoptosis in PC12 cells. Besides, Iso treatment reduced amyloid deposition, neuron apoptosis, and neuroinflammation, ultimately improving the cognitive dysfunction of APP/PS1 (APPswe/PSEN 1dE9) mice. Notably, Iso-10 mg/kg showed superior improved effects in APP/PS1 mice compared with the positive control drug donepezil-5 mg/kg. Mechanistically, the results of RNA sequencing combined with Western blots showed that Iso exerted its therapeutic effect by inhibiting the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest that Iso is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xiong
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Lingyu She
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, China
| | - Jinfeng Sun
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, China
| | - Xiangwei Xu
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Liwei Li
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Yuqing Zeng
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Hao Tang
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Guang Liang
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Xia Zhao
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
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41
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Samdin TD, Jones CR, Guaglianone G, Kreutzer AG, Freites JA, Wierzbicki M, Nowick JS. A β-barrel-like tetramer formed by a β-hairpin derived from Aβ. Chem Sci 2023; 15:285-297. [PMID: 38131075 PMCID: PMC10732006 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05185d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
β-Hairpins formed by the β-amyloid peptide Aβ are building blocks of Aβ oligomers. Three different alignments of β-hairpins have been observed in the structures of Aβ oligomers or fibrils. Differences in β-hairpin alignment likely contribute to the heterogeneity of Aβ oligomers and thus impede their study at high-resolution. Here, we designed, synthesized, and studied a series of β-hairpin peptides derived from Aβ12-40 in one of these three alignments and investigated their solution-phase assembly and folding. These assays reveal the formation of tetramers and octamers that are stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between Aβ residues 12-14 and 38-40 as part of an extended β-hairpin conformation. X-ray crystallographic studies of one peptide from this series reveal the formation of β-barrel-like tetramers and octamers that are stabilized by edge-to-edge hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic packing. Dye-leakage and caspase 3/7 activation assays using tetramer and octamer forming peptides from this series reveal membrane-damaging and apoptotic properties. A molecular dynamics simulation of the β-barrel-like tetramer embedded in a lipid bilayer shows membrane disruption and water permeation. The tetramers and octamers described herein provide additional models of how Aβ may assemble into oligomers and supports the hypothesis that β-hairpin alignment and topology may contribute directly to oligomer heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuan D Samdin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
| | - Chelsea R Jones
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
| | - Gretchen Guaglianone
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
| | - Adam G Kreutzer
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
| | - J Alfredo Freites
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
| | - Michał Wierzbicki
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
| | - James S Nowick
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697-2025 USA
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42
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Portugal Barron D, Guo Z. The supersaturation perspective on the amyloid hypothesis. Chem Sci 2023; 15:46-54. [PMID: 38131088 PMCID: PMC10731913 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03981a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer's over the past three decades has been guided by the amyloid hypothesis, which puts Aβ deposition as the initiating event of a pathogenic cascade leading to dementia. In the current form, the amyloid hypothesis lacks a comprehensive framework that considers the complex nature of Aβ aggregation. The explanation of how Aβ deposition leads to downstream pathology, and how reducing Aβ plaque load via anti-amyloid therapy can lead to improvement in cognition remains insufficient. In this perspective we integrate the concept of Aβ supersaturation into the amyloid hypothesis, laying out a framework for the mechanistic understanding and therapeutic intervention of Alzheimer's disease. We discuss the important distinction between in vitro and in vivo patterns of Aβ aggregation, the impact of different aggregation stages on therapeutic strategies, and how future investigations could integrate this concept in order to produce a more thorough understanding and better treatment for Alzheimer's and other amyloid-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Portugal Barron
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Zhefeng Guo
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA
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43
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Yu Z, Blade G, Bouley BS, Dobrucki IT, Dobrucki LW, Mirica LM. Coordination Chemistry of Sulfur-Containing Bifunctional Chelators: Toward in Vivo Stabilization of 64Cu PET Imaging Agents for Alzheimer's Disease. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:20820-20833. [PMID: 38060375 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The broader utilization of 64Cu positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents has been hindered by the unproductive demetalation induced by bioreductants. To advance the development of 64Cu-based PET imaging tracers for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), there is a need for novel ligand design strategies. In this study, we developed sulfur-containing dithiapyridinophane (N2S2) bifunctional chelators (BFCs) as well as all nitrogen-based diazapyridinophane (N4) BFCs to compare their abilities to chelate Cu and target Aβ aggregates. Through spectrophotometric titrations and electrochemical measurements, we have demonstrated that the N2S2-based BFCs exhibit >10 orders of magnitude higher binding affinity toward Cu(I) compared to their N4-based counterparts, while both types of BFCs exhibit high stability constants toward Cu(II). Notably, solid state structures for both Cu(II) and Cu(I) complexes supported by the two ligand frameworks were obtained, providing molecular insights into their copper chelating abilities. Aβ binding experiments were conducted to study the structure-affinity relationship, and fluorescence microscopy imaging studies confirmed the selective labeling of the BFCs and their copper complexes. Furthermore, we investigated the potential of these ligands for the 64Cu-based PET imaging of AD through radiolabeling and autoradiography studies. We believe our findings provide molecular insights into the design of bifunctional Cu chelators that can effectively stabilize both Cu(II) and Cu(I) and, thus, can have significant implications for the development of 64Cu PET imaging as a diagnostic tool for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengxin Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, The Neuroscience Program, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Glenn Blade
- Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, The Neuroscience Program, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Bailey S Bouley
- Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, The Neuroscience Program, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Iwona T Dobrucki
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Lawrence W Dobrucki
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Liviu M Mirica
- Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, The Neuroscience Program, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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44
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Valencia-Olvera AC, Balu D, Bellur S, McNally T, Saleh Y, Pham D, Ghura S, York J, Johansson JO, LaDu MJ, Tai L. A novel apoE-mimetic increases brain apoE levels, reduces Aβ pathology and improves memory when treated before onset of pathology in male mice that express APOE3. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:216. [PMID: 38102668 PMCID: PMC10722727 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01353-z] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive dysfunction and amyloid plaques composed of the amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ). APOE is the greatest genetic risk for AD with APOE4 increasing risk up to ~ 15-fold compared to APOE3. Evidence suggests that levels and lipidation of the apoE protein could regulate AD progression. In glia, apoE is lipidated via cholesterol efflux from intracellular pools, primarily by the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). Therefore, increasing ABCA1 activity is suggested to be a therapeutic approach for AD. CS-6253 (CS) is a novel apoE mimetic peptide that was developed to bind and stabilize ABCA1 and maintain its localization into the plasma membrane therefore promoting cholesterol efflux. The goal of this study was to determine whether CS could modulate apoE levels and lipidation, Aβ pathology, and behavior in a model that expresses human APOE and overproduce Aβ. METHODS In vitro, APOE3-glia or APOE4-glia were treated with CS. In vivo, male and female, E3FAD (5xFAD+/-/APOE3+/+) and E4FAD (5xFAD+/-/APOE4+/+) mice were treated with CS via intraperitoneal injection at early (from 4 to 8 months of age) and late ages (from 8 to 10 months of age). ApoE levels, ABCA1 levels and, apoE lipidation were measured by western blot and ELISA. Aβ and amyloid levels were assessed by histochemistry and ELISA. Learning and memory were tested by Morris Water Maze and synaptic proteins were measured by Western blot. RESULTS CS treatment increased apoE levels and cholesterol efflux in primary glial cultures. In young male E3FAD mice, CS treatment increased soluble apoE and lipid-associated apoE, reduced soluble oAβ and insoluble Aβ levels as well as Aβ and amyloid deposition, and improved memory and synaptic protein levels. CS treatment did not induce any therapeutic benefits in young female E3FAD and E4FAD mice or in any groups when treatment was started at later ages. CONCLUSIONS CS treatment reduced Aβ pathology and improved memory only in young male E3FAD, the cohort with the least AD pathology. Therefore, the degree of Aβ pathology or Aβ overproduction may impact the ability of targeting ABCA1 to be an effective AD therapeutic. This suggests that ABCA1-stabilizing treatment by CS-6253 works best in conditions of modest Aβ levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Valencia-Olvera
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Deebika Balu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shreya Bellur
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas McNally
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yaseen Saleh
- University of Miami/Jackson Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Don Pham
- Department of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shivesh Ghura
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason York
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Mary Jo LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Leon Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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45
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Ng AN, Salter EW, Georgiou J, Bortolotto ZA, Collingridge GL. Amyloid-β 1-42 oligomers enhance mGlu 5R-dependent synaptic weakening via NMDAR activation and complement C5aR1 signaling. iScience 2023; 26:108412. [PMID: 38053635 PMCID: PMC10694656 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic weakening and loss are well-correlated with the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oligomeric amyloid beta (oAβ) is considered a major synaptotoxic trigger for AD. Recent studies have implicated hyperactivation of the complement cascade as the driving force for loss of synapses caused by oAβ. However, the initial synaptic cues that trigger pathological complement activity remain elusive. Here, we examined a form of synaptic long-term depression (LTD) mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) that is disrupted in rodent models of AD. Exogenous application of oAβ (1-42) to mouse hippocampal slices enhanced the magnitude of mGlu subtype 5 receptor (mGlu5R)-dependent LTD. We found that the enhanced synaptic weakening occurred via both N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and complement C5aR1 signaling. Our findings reveal a mechanistic interaction between mGlu5R, NMDARs, and the complement system in aberrant synaptic weakening induced by oAβ, which could represent an early trigger of synaptic loss and degeneration in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Na Ng
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Eric W. Salter
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - John Georgiou
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Zuner A. Bortolotto
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Graham L. Collingridge
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
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46
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Lalwani RC, Volmar CH, Wahlestedt C, Webster KA, Shehadeh LA. Contextualizing the Role of Osteopontin in the Inflammatory Responses of Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3232. [PMID: 38137453 PMCID: PMC10741223 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive accumulations of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates from soluble oligomers to insoluble plaques and hyperphosphorylated intraneuronal tau, also from soluble oligomers to insoluble neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Tau and Aβ complexes spread from the entorhinal cortex of the brain to interconnected regions, where they bind pattern recognition receptors on microglia and astroglia to trigger inflammation and neurotoxicity that ultimately lead to neurodegeneration and clinical AD. Systemic inflammation is initiated by Aβ's egress into the circulation, which may be secondary to microglial activation and can confer both destructive and reparative actions. Microglial activation pathways and downstream drivers of Aβ/NFT neurotoxicity, including inflammatory regulators, are primary targets for AD therapy. Osteopontin (OPN), an inflammatory cytokine and biomarker of AD, is implicated in Aβ clearance and toxicity, microglial activation, and inflammation, and is considered to be a potential therapeutic target. Here, using the most relevant works from the literature, we review and contextualize the evidence for a central role of OPN and associated inflammation in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshni C. Lalwani
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Claude-Henry Volmar
- Department of Psychiatry, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (C.-H.V.); (C.W.)
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- Department of Psychiatry, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (C.-H.V.); (C.W.)
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Keith A. Webster
- Integene International Holdings, LLC, Miami, FL 33137, USA;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Everglades BioPharma, Houston, TX 77098, USA
| | - Lina A. Shehadeh
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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47
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Senapati S, Secchi V, Cova F, Richman M, Villa I, Yehuda R, Shenberger Y, Campione M, Rahimipour S, Monguzzi A. Noninvasive Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease with Scintillating Nanotubes. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301527. [PMID: 37826854 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301527] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Effective and accessible treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are urgently needed. Soluble Aβ oligomers are identified as neurotoxic species in AD and targeted in antibody-based drug development to mitigate cognitive decline. However, controversy exists concerning their efficacy and safety. In this study, an alternative strategy is proposed to inhibit the formation of Aβ oligomers by selectively oxidizing specific amino acids in the Aβ sequence, thereby preventing its aggregation. Targeted oxidation is achieved using biocompatible and blood-brain barrier-permeable multicomponent nanoscintillators that generate singlet oxygen upon X-ray interaction. Surface-modified scintillators interact selectively with Aβ and, upon X-ray irradiation, inhibit the formation of neurotoxic aggregates both in vitro and in vivo. Feeding transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing human Aβ with the nanoscintillators and subsequent irradiation with soft X-ray reduces Aβ oligomer levels, extends lifespan, and restores memory and behavioral deficits. These findings support the potential of X-ray-based therapy for AD and warrant further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Senapati
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Valeria Secchi
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via R. Cozzi 55, Milan, 20125, Italy
| | - Francesca Cova
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via R. Cozzi 55, Milan, 20125, Italy
| | - Michal Richman
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Irene Villa
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via R. Cozzi 55, Milan, 20125, Italy
| | - Ronen Yehuda
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Yulia Shenberger
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Marcello Campione
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, Milan, 20126, Italy
| | - Shai Rahimipour
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Angelo Monguzzi
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via R. Cozzi 55, Milan, 20125, Italy
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48
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Eremin DV, Kondaurova EM, Rodnyy AY, Molobekova CA, Kudlay DA, Naumenko VS. Serotonin Receptors as a Potential Target in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:2023-2042. [PMID: 38462447 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923120064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide that has an increasing impact on aging societies. Besides its critical role in the control of various physiological functions and behavior, brain serotonin (5-HT) system is involved in the regulation of migration, proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and programmed death of neurons. At the same time, a growing body of evidence indicates the involvement of 5-HT neurotransmission in the formation of insoluble aggregates of β-amyloid and tau protein, the main histopathological signs of AD. The review describes the role of various 5-HT receptors and intracellular signaling cascades induced by them in the pathological processes leading to the development of AD, first of all, in protein aggregation. Changes in the functioning of certain types of 5-HT receptors or associated intracellular signaling mediators prevent accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles. Based on the experimental data, it can be suggested that the use of 5-HT receptors as new drug targets will not only improve cognitive performance in AD, but will be also important in treating the causes of AD-related dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii V Eremin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Elena M Kondaurova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Aleksander Ya Rodnyy
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Camilla A Molobekova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Dmitrii A Kudlay
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Vladimir S Naumenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
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49
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Cook I, Leyh TS. Sterol-activated amyloid beta fibril formation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105445. [PMID: 37949224 PMCID: PMC10704437 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105445] [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: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The metabolic processes that link Alzheimer's disease (AD) to elevated cholesterol levels in the brain are not fully defined. Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque accumulation is believed to begin decades prior to symptoms and to contribute significantly to the disease. Cholesterol and its metabolites accelerate plaque formation through as-yet-undefined mechanisms. Here, the mechanism of cholesterol (CH) and cholesterol 3-sulfate (CS) induced acceleration of Aβ42 fibril formation is examined in quantitative ligand binding, Aβ42 fibril polymerization, and molecular dynamics studies. Equilibrium and pre-steady-state binding studies reveal that monomeric Aβ42•ligand complexes form and dissociate rapidly relative to oligomerization, that the ligand/peptide stoichiometry is 1-to-1, and that the peptide is likely saturated in vivo. Analysis of Aβ42 polymerization progress curves demonstrates that ligands accelerate polymer synthesis by catalyzing the conversion of peptide monomers into dimers that nucleate the polymerization reaction. Nucleation is accelerated ∼49-fold by CH, and ∼13,000-fold by CS - a minor CH metabolite. Polymerization kinetic models predict that at presumed disease-relevant CS and CH concentrations, approximately half of the polymerization nuclei will contain CS, small oligomers of neurotoxic dimensions (∼12-mers) will contain substantial CS, and fibril-formation lag times will decrease 13-fold relative to unliganded Aβ42. Molecular dynamics models, which quantitatively predict all experimental findings, indicate that the acceleration mechanism is rooted in ligand-induced stabilization of the peptide in non-helical conformations that readily form polymerization nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Cook
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Thomas S Leyh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
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50
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Smeralda W, Since M, Corvaisier S, Fayolle D, Cardin J, Duprey S, Jourdan JP, Cullin C, Malzert-Freon A. A Biomimetic Multiparametric Assay to Characterise Anti-Amyloid Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16982. [PMID: 38069305 PMCID: PMC10707238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most widespread form of senile dementia worldwide and represents a leading socioeconomic problem in healthcare. Although it is widely debated, the aggregation of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is linked to the onset and progression of this neurodegenerative disease. Molecules capable of interfering with specific steps in the fibrillation process remain of pharmacological interest. To identify such compounds, we have set up a small molecule screening process combining multiple experimental methods (UV and florescence spectrometry, ITC, and ATR-FTIR) to identify and characterise potential modulators of Aβ1-42 fibrillation through the description of the biochemical interactions (molecule-membrane Aβ peptide). Three known modulators, namely bexarotene, Chicago sky blue and indomethacin, have been evaluated through this process, and their modulation mechanism in the presence of a biomembrane has been described. Such a well-adapted physico-chemical approach to drug discovery proves to be an undeniable asset for the rapid characterisation of compounds of therapeutic interest for Alzheimer's disease. This strategy could be adapted and transposed to search for modulators of other amyloids such as tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willy Smeralda
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN, Boulevard Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France; (W.S.); (S.C.); (D.F.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Marc Since
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN, Boulevard Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France; (W.S.); (S.C.); (D.F.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Sophie Corvaisier
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN, Boulevard Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France; (W.S.); (S.C.); (D.F.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Dimitri Fayolle
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN, Boulevard Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France; (W.S.); (S.C.); (D.F.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Julien Cardin
- CIMAP, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, UMR6252 CNRS, CEA, Normandie Université, 6 Bd du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen, France; (J.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Sylvain Duprey
- CIMAP, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, UMR6252 CNRS, CEA, Normandie Université, 6 Bd du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen, France; (J.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Jean-Pierre Jourdan
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN, Boulevard Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France; (W.S.); (S.C.); (D.F.); (J.-P.J.)
- Pharmacie à Usage Intérieur, Centre Hospitalier de Vire, Normandie, 14504 Vire, France
| | | | - Aurélie Malzert-Freon
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN, Boulevard Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France; (W.S.); (S.C.); (D.F.); (J.-P.J.)
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