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Aldecoa I, Barroeta I, Carroll SL, Fortea J, Gilmore A, Ginsberg SD, Guzman SJ, Hamlett ED, Head E, Perez SE, Potter H, Molina‐Porcel L, Raha‐Chowdhury R, Wisniewski T, Yong WH, Zaman S, Ghosh S, Mufson EJ, Granholm A. Down Syndrome Biobank Consortium: A perspective. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:2262-2272. [PMID: 38270275 PMCID: PMC10984425 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have a partial or complete trisomy of chromosome 21, resulting in an increased risk for early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD)-type dementia by early midlife. Despite ongoing clinical trials to treat late-onset AD, individuals with DS are often excluded. Furthermore, timely diagnosis or management is often not available. Of the genetic causes of AD, people with DS represent the largest cohort. Currently, there is a knowledge gap regarding the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of DS-related AD (DS-AD), partly due to limited access to well-characterized brain tissue and biomaterials for research. To address this challenge, we created an international consortium of brain banks focused on collecting and disseminating brain tissue from persons with DS throughout their lifespan, named the Down Syndrome Biobank Consortium (DSBC) consisting of 11 biobanking sites located in Europe, India, and the USA. This perspective describes the DSBC harmonized protocols and tissue dissemination goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iban Aldecoa
- Pathology DepartmentHospital Clinic de Barcelona‐University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Neurological Tissue Bank of the BiobankHospital Clinic de Barcelona‐FCRB/IDIBAPSBarcelonaSpain
| | - Isabel Barroeta
- Neurology DepartmentHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, NeurologyBarcelonaSpain
| | - Steven L. Carroll
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Juan Fortea
- Neurology DepartmentHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, NeurologyBarcelonaSpain
| | - Anah Gilmore
- University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, NeurosurgeryAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline InstituteOrangeburgNew YorkUSA
- Departments of PsychiatryNeuroscience & Physiology, and the NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Samuel J. Guzman
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Eric D. Hamlett
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of California Irvine, UCI School of Medicine D440 Medical Sciences IIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sylvia E. Perez
- Barrow Neurological InstituteTranslational Neurosciences and NeurologyPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Huntington Potter
- University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, NeurologyAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Laura Molina‐Porcel
- Pathology DepartmentHospital Clinic de Barcelona‐University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders UnitNeurology Service, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Ruma Raha‐Chowdhury
- Department of PsychiatryCambridge Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research GroupUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Departments of Neurology, Pathology and PsychiatryNew York University Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - William H. Yong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of California Irvine, UCI School of Medicine D440 Medical Sciences IIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Shahid Zaman
- Department of PsychiatryCambridge Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research GroupUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Sujay Ghosh
- Department of ZoologyCytogenetics and Genomics Research UnitKolkataIndia
| | - Elliott J. Mufson
- Barrow Neurological InstituteTranslational Neurosciences and NeurologyPhoenixArizonaUSA
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Aragona M, Briglia M, Porcino C, Mhalhel K, Cometa M, Germanà PG, Montalbano G, Levanti M, Laurà R, Abbate F, Germanà A, Guerrera MC. Localization of Calretinin, Parvalbumin, and S100 Protein in Nothobranchius guentheri Retina: A Suitable Model for the Retina Aging. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2050. [PMID: 37895432 PMCID: PMC10608213 DOI: 10.3390/life13102050] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) are members of a heterogeneous family of proteins able to buffer intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration. CaBPs are expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system, including a subpopulation of retinal neurons. Since neurons expressing different CaBPs show different susceptibility to degeneration, it could be hypothesized that they are not just markers of different neuronal subpopulations, but that they might be crucial in survival. CaBPs' ability to buffer Ca2+ cytoplasmatic concentration makes them able to defend against a toxic increase in intracellular calcium that can lead to neurodegenerative processes, including those related to aging. An emergent model for aging studies is the annual killifish belonging to the Nothobranchius genus, thanks to its short lifespan. Members of this genus, such as Nothobranchius guentheri, show a retinal stratigraphy similar to that of other actinopterygian fishes and humans. However, according to our knowledge, CaBPs' occurrence and distribution in the retina of N. guentheri have never been investigated before. Therefore, the present study aimed to localize Calretinin N-18, Parvalbumin, and S100 protein (S100p) in the N. guentheri retina with immunohistochemistry methods. The results of the present investigation demonstrate for the first time the occurrence of Calretinin N-18, Parvalbumin, and S100p in N. guentheri retina and, consequently, the potential key role of these CaBPs in the biology of the retinal cells. Hence, the suitability of N. guentheri as a model to study the changes in CaBPs' expression patterns during neurodegenerative processes affecting the retina related both to disease and aging can be assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Caterina Porcino
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (M.B.); (K.M.); (M.C.); (P.G.G.); (G.M.); (M.L.); (R.L.); (F.A.); (A.G.); (M.C.G.)
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Ichimata S, Martinez-Valbuena I, Lee S, Li J, Karakani AM, Kovacs GG. Distinct Molecular Signatures of Amyloid-Beta and Tau in Alzheimer's Disease Associated with Down Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11596. [PMID: 37511361 PMCID: PMC10380583 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411596] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Limited comparative data exist on the molecular spectrum of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau deposition in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). We assessed Aβ and tau deposition severity in the temporal lobe and cerebellum of ten DS and ten sAD cases. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies against eight different Aβ epitopes (6F/3D, Aβ38, Aβ39, Aβ40, Aβ42, Aβ43, pyroglutamate Aβ at third glutamic acid (AβNp3E), phosphorylated- (p-)Aβ at 8th serine (AβpSer8)), and six different pathological tau epitopes (p-Ser202/Thr205, p-Thr231, p-Ser396, Alz50, MC1, GT38). Findings were evaluated semi-quantitatively and quantitatively using digital pathology. DS cases had significantly higher neocortical parenchymal deposition (Aβ38, Aβ42, and AβpSer8), and cerebellar parenchymal deposition (Aβ40, Aβ42, AβNp3E, and AβpSer8) than sAD cases. Furthermore, DS cases had a significantly larger mean plaque size (6F/3D, Aβ42, AβNp3E) in the temporal lobe, and significantly greater deposition of cerebral and cerebellar Aβ42 than sAD cases in the quantitative analysis. Western blotting corroborated these findings. Regarding tau pathology, DS cases had significantly more severe cerebral tau deposition than sAD cases, especially in the white matter (p-Ser202/Thr205, p-Thr231, Alz50, and MC1). Greater total tau deposition in the white matter (p-Ser202/Thr205, p-Thr231, and Alz50) of DS cases was confirmed by quantitative analysis. Our data suggest that the Aβ and tau molecular signatures in DS are distinct from those in sAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shojiro Ichimata
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Jun Li
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Ali M. Karakani
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Gabor G. Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease, Rossy Program for PSP Research and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
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Adeoye T, Shah SI, Demuro A, Rabson DA, Ullah G. Upregulated Ca 2+ Release from the Endoplasmic Reticulum Leads to Impaired Presynaptic Function in Familial Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:2167. [PMID: 35883609 PMCID: PMC9315668 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release from presynaptic terminals is primarily regulated by rapid Ca2+ influx through membrane-resident voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs). Moreover, accumulating evidence indicates that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is extensively present in axonal terminals of neurons and plays a modulatory role in synaptic transmission by regulating Ca2+ levels. Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) is marked by enhanced Ca2+ release from the ER and downregulation of Ca2+ buffering proteins. However, the precise consequence of impaired Ca2+ signaling within the vicinity of VGCCs (active zone (AZ)) on exocytosis is poorly understood. Here, we perform in silico experiments of intracellular Ca2+ signaling and exocytosis in a detailed biophysical model of hippocampal synapses to investigate the effect of aberrant Ca2+ signaling on neurotransmitter release in FAD. Our model predicts that enhanced Ca2+ release from the ER increases the probability of neurotransmitter release in FAD. Moreover, over very short timescales (30-60 ms), the model exhibits activity-dependent and enhanced short-term plasticity in FAD, indicating neuronal hyperactivity-a hallmark of the disease. Similar to previous observations in AD animal models, our model reveals that during prolonged stimulation (~450 ms), pathological Ca2+ signaling increases depression and desynchronization with stimulus, causing affected synapses to operate unreliably. Overall, our work provides direct evidence in support of a crucial role played by altered Ca2+ homeostasis mediated by intracellular stores in FAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Adeoye
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (T.A.); (S.I.S.); (D.A.R.)
| | - Syed I. Shah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (T.A.); (S.I.S.); (D.A.R.)
| | - Angelo Demuro
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - David A. Rabson
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (T.A.); (S.I.S.); (D.A.R.)
| | - Ghanim Ullah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (T.A.); (S.I.S.); (D.A.R.)
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Wakeman DR, Weed MR, Perez SE, Cline EN, Viola KL, Wilcox KC, Moddrelle DS, Nisbett EZ, Kurian AM, Bell AF, Pike R, Jacobson PB, Klein WL, Mufson EJ, Lawrence MS, Elsworth JD. Intrathecal amyloid-beta oligomer administration increases tau phosphorylation in the medial temporal lobe in the African green monkey: A nonhuman primate model of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2022; 48:e12800. [PMID: 35156715 PMCID: PMC10902791 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS An obstacle to developing new treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been the inadequate translation of findings in current AD transgenic rodent models to the prediction of clinical outcomes. By contrast, nonhuman primates (NHPs) share a close neurobiology with humans in virtually all aspects relevant to developing a translational AD model. The present investigation used African green monkeys (AGMs) to refine an inducible NHP model of AD based on the administration of amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs), a key upstream initiator of AD pathology. METHODS AβOs or vehicle were repeatedly delivered over 4 weeks to age-matched young adult AGMs by intracerebroventricular (ICV) or intrathecal (IT) injections. Induction of AD-like pathology was assessed in subregions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) by quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the AT8 antibody to detect hyperphosphorylated tau. Hippocampal volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans prior to, and after, intrathecal injections. RESULTS IT administration of AβOs in young adult AGMs revealed an elevation of tau phosphorylation in the MTL cortical memory circuit compared with controls. The largest increases were detected in the entorhinal cortex that persisted for at least 12 weeks after dosing. MRI scans showed a reduction in hippocampal volume following AβO injections. CONCLUSIONS Repeated IT delivery of AβOs in young adult AGMs led to an accelerated AD-like neuropathology in MTL, similar to human AD, supporting the value of this translational model to de-risk the clinical trial of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sylvia E Perez
- Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Erika N Cline
- Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Kirsten L Viola
- Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Kyle C Wilcox
- Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - David S Moddrelle
- Virscio Inc., St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, St. Kitts, West Indies
| | - Ernell Z Nisbett
- Virscio Inc., St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, St. Kitts, West Indies
| | | | - Amanda F Bell
- Virscio Inc., St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, St. Kitts, West Indies
| | - Ricaldo Pike
- Virscio Inc., St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, St. Kitts, West Indies
| | | | - William L Klein
- Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Elliott J Mufson
- Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Ichimata S, Yoshida K, Visanji NP, Lang AE, Nishida N, Kovacs GG. Patterns of Mixed Pathologies in Down Syndrome. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 87:595-607. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-215675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: Down syndrome (DS) is frequently associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related neuropathological changes. There are few observations on the spectrum of mixed proteinopathies in DS patients. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate multiple disease-associated proteinopathies in a series of DS cases. Methods: We analyzed the distribution of neurodegenerative disease associated proteins in postmortem brain samples from 11 DS cases (6 females, median age 57, range 38–66 years). Sections were stained for phosphorylated tau, 3-repeat and 4-repeat tau, amyloid-β, alpha synuclein, phosphorylated TDP-43, and P62. A comprehensive anatomical mapping and staging were applied for all proteins. Results: Tau and amyloid-β pathology was prevalent in all cases and compatible with that typically seen in AD with some subtle deviations. Four of 11 cases presented with Lewy-related pathology (LRP). Two cases followed the Braak staging (stage 4 and 5) whereas 2 cases presented with an atypical distribution. Two cases showed limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) (stage 1 and stage 2) neuropathologic change. Two cases exhibited aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG). Conclusion: In addition to subtle deviations from AD regarding the morphology of Aβ deposition and distribution of neuronal tau pathology, we find that the spectrum of mixed-pathologies in DS show distinctive features such as deviations from the Braak staging of LRP and that LATE neuropathologic change and ARTAG pathology can be seen in individuals younger than in sporadic AD cases. Our observations support the notion that DS has distinctive pathogenic pathways from sporadic AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shojiro Ichimata
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Naomi P. Visanji
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Edmund J Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease and Rossy Program in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anthony E. Lang
- Edmund J Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease and Rossy Program in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Naoki Nishida
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Gabor G. Kovacs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Edmund J Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease and Rossy Program in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
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Capsoni S, Cattaneo A. Getting Into the Brain: The Intranasal Approach to Enhance the Delivery of Nerve Growth Factor and Its Painless Derivative in Alzheimer’s Disease and Down Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:773347. [PMID: 35360160 PMCID: PMC8961408 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.773347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurotrophin Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) holds a great potential as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of neurological diseases. However, its safe and effective delivery to the brain is limited by the fact that NGF needs to be selectively targeted to the brain, to avoid severe side effects such as pain and to bypass the blood brain barrier. In this perspective, we will summarize the different approaches that have been used, or are currently applied, to deliver NGF to the brain, during preclinical and clinical trials to develop NGF as a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer’s disease. We will focus on the intranasal delivery of NGF, an approach that is used to deliver proteins to the brain in a non-invasive, safe, and effective manner minimizing systemic exposure. We will also describe the main experimental facts related to the effective intranasal delivery of a mutant form of NGF [painless NGF, human nerve growth factor painless (hNGFp)] in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease and compare it to other ways to deliver NGF to the brain. We will also report new data on the application of intranasal delivery of hNGFp in Down Syndrome mouse model. These new data extend the therapeutic potential of hNGFp for the treatment of the dementia that is progressively associated to Down Syndrome. In conclusion, we will show how this approach can be a promising strategy and a potential solution for other unmet medical needs of safely and effectively delivering this neuroprotective neurotrophin to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Capsoni
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- Section of Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- *Correspondence: Simona Capsoni,
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- European Brain Research Institute–Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
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Reiken S, Sittenfeld L, Dridi H, Liu Y, Liu X, Marks AR. Alzheimer's-like signaling in brains of COVID-19 patients. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:955-965. [PMID: 35112786 PMCID: PMC9011576 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The mechanisms that lead to cognitive impairment associated with COVID‐19 are not well understood. Methods Brain lysates from control and COVID‐19 patients were analyzed for oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathway markers, and measurements of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)‐linked signaling biochemistry. Post‐translational modifications of the ryanodine receptor/calcium (Ca2+) release channels (RyR) on the endoplasmic reticuli (ER), known to be linked to AD, were also measured by co‐immunoprecipitation/immunoblotting of the brain lysates. Results We provide evidence linking SARS‐CoV‐2 infection to activation of TGF‐β signaling and oxidative overload. The neuropathological pathways causing tau hyperphosphorylation typically associated with AD were also shown to be activated in COVID‐19 patients. RyR2 in COVID‐19 brains demonstrated a “leaky” phenotype, which can promote cognitive and behavioral defects. Discussion COVID‐19 neuropathology includes AD‐like features and leaky RyR2 channels could be a therapeutic target for amelioration of some cognitive defects associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Reiken
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Leah Sittenfeld
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Haikel Dridi
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew R Marks
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
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