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Eyvani K, Letafatkar N, Babaei P. AMPA Receptors Endocytosis Inhibition Attenuates Cognition Deficit Via c-Fos/BDNF Signaling in Amyloid β Neurotoxicity. Exp Aging Res 2024:1-13. [PMID: 39077805 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2024.2377440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Glutamatergic imbalance, particularly downregulation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPARs) endocytosis, has been addressed as a possible reason for cognitive dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We hypothesized that inhibition of AMPAR endocytosis may ameliorate memory impairment in AD model of rats. To approach this, twenty-four adults male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: saline + saline (control group), Aβ + saline, and Aβ + Tat-GluR23Y (AMPA endocytosis inhibitor). Animals received an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injection of Aβ (1-42) to induce neuro-toxicity, followed by chronic administration of GluR23Y, and further behavioral assessments by MWM. Afterward, the hippocampal level of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and c-Fos was measured via Western blotting. The results of our study revealed that chronic administration of GluR23Y improved both working and reference memories evidenced by shorter latency time and longer total time spent in the target zone in MWM. Additionally, this improvement was paralleled by an increase in BDNF, but a decrease in c-Fos. In conclusion, GluR23Y improves spatial memory impairment at least partly via elevating neuroprotective factor of BDNF and reducing apoptotic protein of c-Fos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Eyvani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Trauma Institute, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Cellular & Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Negin Letafatkar
- Neuroscience Research Center, Trauma Institute, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Cellular & Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Parvin Babaei
- Neuroscience Research Center, Trauma Institute, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Cellular & Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
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2
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Massa F, Martinuzzo C, Gómez de San José N, Pelagotti V, Kreshpa W, Abu-Rumeileh S, Barba L, Mattioli P, Orso B, Brugnolo A, Girtler N, Vigo T, Arnaldi D, Serrati C, Uccelli A, Morbelli S, Chincarini A, Otto M, Pardini M. Cerebrospinal fluid NPTX2 changes and relationship with regional brain metabolism metrics across mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol 2024; 271:1999-2009. [PMID: 38157030 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12154-7] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuronal pentraxin-2 (NPTX2), crucial for synaptic functioning, declines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as cognition deteriorates. The variations of CSF NPTX2 across mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its association with brain metabolism remain elusive, albeit relevant for patient stratification and pathophysiological insights. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 49 MCI-AD patients grouped by time until dementia (EMCI, n = 34 progressing within 2 years; LMCI, n = 15 progressing later/stable at follow-up). We analyzed demographic variables, cognitive status (MMSE score), and CSF NPTX2 levels using a commercial ELISA assay in EMCI, LMCI, and a control group of age-/sex-matched individuals with other non-dementing disorders (OND). Using [18F]FDG PET scans for voxel-based analysis, we explored correlations between regional brain metabolism metrics and CSF NPTX2 levels in MCI-AD patients, accounting for age. RESULTS Baseline and follow-up MMSE scores were lower in LMCI than EMCI (p value = 0.006 and p < 0.001). EMCI exhibited significantly higher CSF NPTX2 values than both LMCI (p = 0.028) and OND (p = 0.006). We found a significant positive correlation between NPTX2 values and metabolism of bilateral precuneus in MCI-AD patients (p < 0.005 at voxel level, p < 0.05 with family-wise error correction at the cluster level). CONCLUSIONS Higher CSF NPTX2 in EMCI compared to controls and LMCI suggests compensatory synaptic responses to initial AD pathology. Disease progression sees these mechanisms overwhelmed, lowering CSF NPTX2 approaching dementia. Positive CSF NPTX2 correlation with precuneus glucose metabolism links to AD-related metabolic changes across MCI course. These findings posit CSF NPTX2 as a promising biomarker for both AD staging and progression risk stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Massa
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Caterina Martinuzzo
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Virginia Pelagotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Wendy Kreshpa
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Samir Abu-Rumeileh
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Lorenzo Barba
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Pietro Mattioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Orso
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Brugnolo
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicola Girtler
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Vigo
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Dario Arnaldi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Uccelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Morbelli
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Science (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Chincarini
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Genoa Section, Genoa, Italy
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Matteo Pardini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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3
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Butler ML, Pervaiz N, Ypsilantis P, Wang Y, Cammasola Breda J, Mazzilli S, Nicks R, Spurlock E, Hefti MM, Huber BR, Alvarez VE, Stein TD, Campbell JD, McKee AC, Cherry JD. Repetitive head impacts induce neuronal loss and neuroinflammation in young athletes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.26.586815. [PMID: 38585925 PMCID: PMC10996668 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.26.586815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Repetitive head impacts (RHI) sustained from contact sports are the largest risk factor for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed after death and the multicellular cascade of events that trigger initial hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) deposition remain unclear. Further, the symptoms endorsed by young individuals with early disease are not fully explained by the extent of p-tau deposition, severely hampering development of therapeutic interventions. Here, we show that RHI exposure associates with a multicellular response in young individuals (<51 years old) prior to the onset of CTE p-tau pathology that correlates with number of years of RHI exposure. Leveraging single nucleus RNA sequencing of tissue from 8 control, 9 RHI-exposed, and 11 low stage CTE individuals, we identify SPP1+ inflammatory microglia, angiogenic and inflamed endothelial cell profiles, reactive astrocytes, and altered synaptic gene expression in excitatory and inhibitory neurons in all individuals with exposure to RHI. Surprisingly, we also observe a significant loss of cortical sulcus layer 2/3 neurons in contact sport athletes compared to controls independent of p-tau pathology. These results provide robust evidence that multiple years of RHI exposure is sufficient to induce lasting cellular alterations that may underlie p-tau deposition and help explain the early clinical symptoms observed in young former contact sport athletes. Furthermore, these data identify specific cellular responses to repetitive head impacts that may direct future identification of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane L.M.D. Butler
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
| | - Nida Pervaiz
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | | | - Yichen Wang
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Julia Cammasola Breda
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Sarah Mazzilli
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | | | | | - Marco M. Hefti
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City IA, USA
| | - Bertrand R. Huber
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Victor E. Alvarez
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Joshua D. Campbell
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Ann C. McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Cherry
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
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Chudzik A, Śledzianowski A, Przybyszewski AW. Machine Learning and Digital Biomarkers Can Detect Early Stages of Neurodegenerative Diseases. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:1572. [PMID: 38475108 DOI: 10.3390/s24051572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) are devastating conditions that can develop without noticeable symptoms, causing irreversible damage to neurons before any signs become clinically evident. NDs are a major cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Currently, there are no cures or treatments to halt their progression. Therefore, the development of early detection methods is urgently needed to delay neuronal loss as soon as possible. Despite advancements in Medtech, the early diagnosis of NDs remains a challenge at the intersection of medical, IT, and regulatory fields. Thus, this review explores "digital biomarkers" (tools designed for remote neurocognitive data collection and AI analysis) as a potential solution. The review summarizes that recent studies combining AI with digital biomarkers suggest the possibility of identifying pre-symptomatic indicators of NDs. For instance, research utilizing convolutional neural networks for eye tracking has achieved significant diagnostic accuracies. ROC-AUC scores reached up to 0.88, indicating high model performance in differentiating between PD patients and healthy controls. Similarly, advancements in facial expression analysis through tools have demonstrated significant potential in detecting emotional changes in ND patients, with some models reaching an accuracy of 0.89 and a precision of 0.85. This review follows a structured approach to article selection, starting with a comprehensive database search and culminating in a rigorous quality assessment and meaning for NDs of the different methods. The process is visualized in 10 tables with 54 parameters describing different approaches and their consequences for understanding various mechanisms in ND changes. However, these methods also face challenges related to data accuracy and privacy concerns. To address these issues, this review proposes strategies that emphasize the need for rigorous validation and rapid integration into clinical practice. Such integration could transform ND diagnostics, making early detection tools more cost-effective and globally accessible. In conclusion, this review underscores the urgent need to incorporate validated digital health tools into mainstream medical practice. This integration could indicate a new era in the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, potentially altering the trajectory of these conditions for millions worldwide. Thus, by highlighting specific and statistically significant findings, this review demonstrates the current progress in this field and the potential impact of these advancements on the global management of NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Chudzik
- Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science, 86 Koszykowa Street, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Albert Śledzianowski
- Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science, 86 Koszykowa Street, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej W Przybyszewski
- Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science, 86 Koszykowa Street, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland
- UMass Chan Medical School, Department of Neurology, 65 Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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Cao Q, Kumar M, Frazier A, Williams JB, Zhao S, Yan Z. Longitudinal characterization of behavioral, morphological and transcriptomic changes in a tauopathy mouse model. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:11697-11719. [PMID: 37925173 PMCID: PMC10683589 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205057] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), have the gradual onset of neurobiological changes preceding clinical diagnosis by decades. To elucidate how brain dysfunction proceeds in neurodegenerative disorders, we performed longitudinal characterization of behavioral, morphological, and transcriptomic changes in a tauopathy mouse model, P301S transgenic mice. P301S mice exhibited cognitive deficits as early as 3 months old, and deficits in social preference and social cognition at 5-6 months. They had a significant decrease of arborization in basal dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons from 3 months and apical dendrites of PFC pyramidal neurons at 9 months. Transcriptomic analysis of genome-wide changes revealed the enrichment of synaptic gene upregulation at 3 months of age, while most of these synaptic genes were downregulated in PFC and hippocampus of P301S mice at 9 months. These time-dependent changes in gene expression may lead to progressive alterations of neuronal structure and function, resulting in the manifestation of behavioral symptoms in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Manasa Kumar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Allea Frazier
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jamal B. Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Shengkai Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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Yu J, Zhang Y, Xun Y, Tang H, Fu X, Zhang R, Zhu F, Zhang J. Methylation and expression quantitative trait loci rs1799971 in the OPRM1 gene and rs4654327 in the OPRD1 gene are associated with opioid use disorder. Neurosci Lett 2023; 814:137468. [PMID: 37660978 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137468] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic and relapsing brain disease that results in significant mortality worldwide. Genetic factors are estimated to contribute to 40%-60% of the liability, with polymorphisms of opioid receptor genes implicated in this disorder. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations are not yet fully understood. In the present study, we first examined the methylation levels in the promoter region of the OPRM1, OPRD1, and OPRK1 genes in 111 healthy controls (HCs) and 120 patients with OUD, and genotyped three tag SNPs in these genes. Correlations between these SNPs and the methylation levels of the CpG sites and expression levels of the genes were analyzed. After identifying the mQTLs and eQTLs, we determined the associations between the mQTLs/eQTLs and susceptibility to and characteristics of OUD in 930 HCs and 801 patients with OUD. Our results demonstrated that SNPs rs1799971 in the OPRM1 gene and rs4654327 in the OPRD1 gene were both mQTLs and eQTLs. We observed unique correlations between mQTLs and methylation levels of several CpG sites in the OUD group compared to the HC group. Interestingly, both the two mQTLs and eQTLs were associated with the susceptibility to OUD. In conclusion, we suppose that mQTLs and eQTLs in genes may underlie the associations between certain risk genetic polymorphisms and OUD. These mQTLs and eQTLs could potentially serve as promising biomarkers for better management of opioid misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Yu
- Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Yudan Zhang
- Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Yufeng Xun
- Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Hua Tang
- Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Xiaoyu Fu
- Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of National Health Commission for Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Mental Health Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
| | - Jianbo Zhang
- Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of National Health Commission for Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
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7
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Wander CM, Li YD, Bao H, Asrican B, Luo YJ, Sullivan HA, Chao THH, Zhang WT, Chéry SL, Tart DS, Chen ZK, Shih YYI, Wickersham IR, Cohen TJ, Song J. Compensatory remodeling of a septo-hippocampal GABAergic network in the triple transgenic Alzheimer's mouse model. J Transl Med 2023; 21:258. [PMID: 37061718 PMCID: PMC10105965 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04078-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive loss of memory that cannot be efficiently managed by currently available AD therapeutics. So far, most treatments for AD that have the potential to improve memory target neural circuits to protect their integrity. However, the vulnerable neural circuits and their dynamic remodeling during AD progression remain largely undefined. METHODS Circuit-based approaches, including anterograde and retrograde tracing, slice electrophysiology, and fiber photometry, were used to investigate the dynamic structural and functional remodeling of a GABAergic circuit projected from the medial septum (MS) to the dentate gyrus (DG) in 3xTg-AD mice during AD progression. RESULTS We identified a long-distance GABAergic circuit that couples highly connected MS and DG GABAergic neurons during spatial memory encoding. Furthermore, we found hyperactivity of DG interneurons during early AD, which persisted into late AD stages. Interestingly, MS GABAergic projections developed a series of adaptive strategies to combat DG interneuron hyperactivity. During early-stage AD, MS-DG GABAergic projections exhibit increased inhibitory synaptic strength onto DG interneurons to inhibit their activities. During late-stage AD, MS-DG GABAergic projections form higher anatomical connectivity with DG interneurons and exhibit aberrant outgrowth to increase the inhibition onto DG interneurons. CONCLUSION We report the structural and functional remodeling of the MS-DG GABAergic circuit during disease progression in 3xTg-AD mice. Dynamic MS-DG GABAergic circuit remodeling represents a compensatory mechanism to combat DG interneuron hyperactivity induced by reduced GABA transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M Wander
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ya-Dong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201699, China.
| | - Hechen Bao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Brent Asrican
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yan-Jia Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201699, China
| | - Heather A Sullivan
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Tzu-Hao Harry Chao
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Wei-Ting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Samantha L Chéry
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Dalton S Tart
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ze-Ka Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yen-Yu Ian Shih
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ian R Wickersham
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Todd J Cohen
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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8
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Saura CA, Deprada A, Capilla-López MD, Parra-Damas A. Revealing cell vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease by single-cell transcriptomics. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 139:73-83. [PMID: 35623983 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that by affecting specific brain cell types and regions cause severe pathological and functional changes in memory neural circuits. A comprehensive knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD requires a deeper understanding of the cell-specific pathological responses through integrative molecular analyses. Recent application of high-throughput single-cell transcriptomics to postmortem tissue has proved powerful to unravel cell susceptibility and biological networks responding to amyloid and tau pathologies. Here, we review single-cell transcriptomic studies successfully applied to decipher cell-specific gene expression programs and pathways in the brain of AD patients. Transcriptional information reveals both specific and common gene signatures affecting the major cerebral cell types, including astrocytes, endothelial cells, microglia, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. Cell type-specific transcriptomes associated with AD pathology and clinical symptoms are related to common biological networks affecting, among others pathways, synaptic function, inflammation, proteostasis, cell death, oxidative stress, and myelination. The general picture that emerges from systems-level single-cell transcriptomics is a spatiotemporal pattern of cell diversity and biological pathways, and novel cell subpopulations affected in AD brain. We argue that broader implementation of cell transcriptomics in larger AD human cohorts using standardized protocols is fundamental for reliable assessment of temporal and regional cell-type gene profiling. The possibility of applying this methodology for personalized medicine in clinics is still challenging but opens new roads for future diagnosis and treatment in dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Saura
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain.
| | - Angel Deprada
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Maria Dolores Capilla-López
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Arnaldo Parra-Damas
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
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9
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Aftanas LI, Filimonova EA, Anisimenko MS, Berdyugina DA, Rezakova MV, Simutkin GG, Bokhan NA, Ivanova SA, Danilenko KV, Lipina TV. The habenular volume and PDE7A allelic polymorphism in major depressive disorder: preliminary findings. World J Biol Psychiatry 2023; 24:223-232. [PMID: 35673941 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2086297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The habenula is a brain structure implicated in depression, yet with unknown molecular mechanisms. Several phosphodiesterases (PDEs) have been associated with a risk of depression. Although the role of PDE7A in the brain is unknown, it has enriched expression in the medial habenula, suggesting that it may play a role in depression. METHODS We analysed: (1) habenula volume assessed by 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 84 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 41 healthy controls; (2) frequencies of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PDE7A gene in 235 patients and 41 controls; and (3) both indices in 80 patients and 27 controls. The analyses considered gender, age, body mass index and season of the MRI examination. RESULTS The analysis did not reveal habenula volumetric changes in MDD patients regardless of PDE7A SNPs. However, in the combined group, the carriers of one or more mutations among 10 SNPs in the PDE7A gene had a lower volume of the left habenula (driven mainly by rs972362 and rs138599850 mutations) and consequently had the reduced habenular laterality index in comparison with individuals without PDE7A mutations. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest the implication of the PDE7A gene into mechanisms determining the habenula structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyubomir I Aftanas
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | - German G Simutkin
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Nikolay A Bokhan
- National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia.,Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Ivanova
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia.,Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia
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10
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Differential dysregulation of CREB and synaptic genes in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster expressing shaggy (GSK3), Tau WT, or Amyloid-beta. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:1101-1108. [PMID: 36399243 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08059-9] [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: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tau, Amyloid-beta (Aβ42), and Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) contribute to synaptic dysfunction observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. In the current study, the effect of pan-neuronal expression of TauWT, Aβ42, or shaggy (orthologue of GSK3) in Drosophila melanogaster was assessed on the locomotor function, ethanol sensitivity, synaptic genes and CREB expression. The effect of TauWT and Aβ42 on the expression of shaggy was also determined. METHODS AND RESULTS Gene expression analysis was performed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR method. While syt1, SNAP25 and CREB (upstream transcription factor of syt1 and SNAP25) were upregulated in flies expressing TauWT or Aβ42, a prominent decline was observed in those genes in shaggy expressing flies. Although all transgenic flies showed climbing disability and higher sensitivity to ethanol, abnormality in these features was significantly more prominent in transgenic flies expressing shaggy compared to TauWT or Aβ42. Despite a significant upregulation of shaggy transcription in TauWT expressing flies, Aβ42 transgenic flies witnessed no significant changes. CONCLUSIONS TauWT, Aβ42, and shaggy may affect synaptic plasticity through dysregulation of synaptic genes and CREB, independently. However shaggy has more detrimental effect on synaptic genes expression, locomotor ability and sensitivity to ethanol. It is important when it comes to drug discovery. It appears that CREB is a direct effector of changes in synaptic genes expression as they showed similar pattern of alteration and it is likely to be a part of compensatory mechanisms independent of the GSK3/CREB pathway in TauWT or Aβ42 expressing flies.
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11
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Lambracht-Washington D, Fu M, Manouchehri N, Hynan LS, Stuve O, Rosenberg RN. Glial cell transcriptome analyses in 3xTg-AD mice: Effects of aging, disease progression, and anti-Aβ immunotherapy. AGING BRAIN 2023; 3:100066. [PMID: 36911262 PMCID: PMC9997156 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2023.100066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To investigate how changes in expression of glial genes relate to a progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, and how anti-Aβ immunotherapy impact these changes, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis for brains from cohorts of 2-, 10-, and 20 month old 3xTg-AD mice, and a cross-sectional study in groups of 20 month-old mice treated with active DNA Aβ42 immunization, passive immunotherapy, untreated, and wild-type (wt) controls. Methods Twenty-four Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) mouse brain sections were used for the gene expression analyses (nanostring). Adjacent sections from these and additional mouse brains were stained for microglia using antibodies detecting IbaI and Gal3. For a semi-quantitative analysis of increased tau and amyloid pathology with aging and disease progression, a comparison of ELISA results from brains of 12 and 20 months old 3xTg-AD mice were shown. Results Based on the different comparisons of transcript numbers found the 3xTg-AD age groups with the senescent 20 months old wt control mouse brains, and the 20 months old 3xTg-AD mouse brains with the 20 months old wt control mouse brains, genes were assigned as upregulated due to aging, or due to disease progression, or due to both. The immunohistochemistry of microglia markers revealed that Gal3 might be an important marker for phagocytosing microglia around amyloid plaques. The comparison of the two anti-Aβ immunotherapy approaches showed a differential downregulation of inflammatory glial genes. Conclusion These results are relevant for future clinical trials using active anti-amyloid immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA
| | | | - Linda S Hynan
- Departments of Population and Data Sciences (Biostatistics) & Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA
| | - Olaf Stuve
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.,VA North Texas Health Care System, VA Medical Center Dallas, USA
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12
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Brandebura AN, Paumier A, Onur TS, Allen NJ. Astrocyte contribution to dysfunction, risk and progression in neurodegenerative disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:23-39. [PMID: 36316501 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 105.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing appreciation that non-neuronal cells contribute to the initiation, progression and pathology of diverse neurodegenerative disorders. This Review focuses on the role of astrocytes in disorders including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The important roles astrocytes have in supporting neuronal function in the healthy brain are considered, along with studies that have demonstrated how the physiological properties of astrocytes are altered in neurodegenerative disorders and may explain their contribution to neurodegeneration. Further, the question of whether in neurodegenerative disorders with specific genetic mutations these mutations directly impact on astrocyte function, and may suggest a driving role for astrocytes in disease initiation, is discussed. A summary of how astrocyte transcriptomic and proteomic signatures are altered during the progression of neurodegenerative disorders and may relate to functional changes is provided. Given the central role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders, potential strategies to target these cells for future therapeutic avenues are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Brandebura
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Adrien Paumier
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tarik S Onur
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicola J Allen
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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13
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Spatial Memory Training Counteracts Hippocampal GIRK Channel Decrease in the Transgenic APPSw,Ind J9 Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113444. [PMID: 36362230 PMCID: PMC9659077 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are critical determinants of neuronal excitability. They have been proposed as potential targets to restore excitatory/inhibitory balance in acute amyloidosis models, where hyperexcitability is a hallmark. However, the role of GIRK signaling in transgenic mice models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is largely unknown. Here, we study whether progressive amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the hippocampus during aging alters GIRK channel expression in mutant β-amyloid precursor protein (APPSw,Ind J9) transgenic AD mice. Additionally, we examine the impact of spatial memory training in a hippocampal-dependent task, on protein expression of GIRK subunits and Regulator of G-protein signaling 7 (RGS7) in the hippocampus of APPSw,Ind J9 mice. Firstly, we found a reduction in GIRK2 expression (the main neuronal GIRK channels subunit) in the hippocampus of 6-month-old APPSw,Ind J9 mice. Moreover, we found an aging effect on GIRK2 and GIRK3 subunits in both wild type (WT) and APPSw,Ind J9 mice. Finally, when 6-month-old animals were challenged to a spatial memory training, GIRK2 expression in the APPSw,Ind J9 mice were normalized to WT levels. Together, our results support the evidence that GIRK2 could account for the excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission imbalance found in AD models, and training in a cognitive hippocampal dependent task may have therapeutic benefits of reversing this effect and lessen early AD deficits.
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Estévez-Silva HM, Cuesto G, Romero N, Brito-Armas JM, Acevedo-Arozena A, Acebes Á, Marcellino DJ. Pridopidine Promotes Synaptogenesis and Reduces Spatial Memory Deficits in the Alzheimer's Disease APP/PS1 Mouse Model. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1566-1587. [PMID: 35917088 PMCID: PMC9606189 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01280-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sigma-1 receptor agonists have recently gained a great deal of interest due to their anti-amnesic, neuroprotective, and neurorestorative properties. Compounds such as PRE-084 or pridopidine (ACR16) are being studied as a potential treatment against cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative disease, also to include Alzheimer's disease. Here, we performed in vitro experiments using primary neuronal cell cultures from rats to evaluate the abilities of ACR16 and PRE-084 to induce new synapses and spines formation, analyzing the expression of the possible genes and proteins involved. We additionally examined their neuroprotective properties against neuronal death mediated by oxidative stress and excitotoxicity. Both ACR16 and PRE-084 exhibited a concentration-dependent neuroprotective effect against NMDA- and H2O2-related toxicity, in addition to promoting the formation of new synapses and dendritic spines. However, only ACR16 generated dendritic spines involved in new synapse establishment, maintaining a more expanded activation of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling cascades. Consequently, ACR16 was also evaluated in vivo, and a dose of 1.5 mg/kg/day was administered intraperitoneally in APP/PS1 mice before performing the Morris water maze. ACR16 diminished the spatial learning and memory deficits observed in APP/PS1 transgenic mice via PI3K/Akt pathway activation. These data point to ACR16 as a pharmacological tool to prevent synapse loss and memory deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease, due to its neuroprotective properties against oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, as well as the promotion of new synapses and spines through a mechanism that involves AKT and ERK signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor M Estévez-Silva
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Germán Cuesto
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ninovska Romero
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - José Miguel Brito-Armas
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, ITB-ULL/CIBERNED, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Abraham Acevedo-Arozena
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, ITB-ULL/CIBERNED, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ángel Acebes
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
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15
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Pun FW, Liu BHM, Long X, Leung HW, Leung GHD, Mewborne QT, Gao J, Shneyderman A, Ozerov IV, Wang J, Ren F, Aliper A, Bischof E, Izumchenko E, Guan X, Zhang K, Lu B, Rothstein JD, Cudkowicz ME, Zhavoronkov A. Identification of Therapeutic Targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using PandaOmics – An AI-Enabled Biological Target Discovery Platform. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:914017. [PMID: 35837482 PMCID: PMC9273868 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.914017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disease with ill-defined pathogenesis, calling for urgent developments of new therapeutic regimens. Herein, we applied PandaOmics, an AI-driven target discovery platform, to analyze the expression profiles of central nervous system (CNS) samples (237 cases; 91 controls) from public datasets, and direct iPSC-derived motor neurons (diMNs) (135 cases; 31 controls) from Answer ALS. Seventeen high-confidence and eleven novel therapeutic targets were identified and will be released onto ALS.AI (http://als.ai/). Among the proposed targets screened in the c9ALS Drosophila model, we verified 8 unreported genes (KCNB2, KCNS3, ADRA2B, NR3C1, P2RY14, PPP3CB, PTPRC, and RARA) whose suppression strongly rescues eye neurodegeneration. Dysregulated pathways identified from CNS and diMN data characterize different stages of disease development. Altogether, our study provides new insights into ALS pathophysiology and demonstrates how AI speeds up the target discovery process, and opens up new opportunities for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank W. Pun
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bonnie Hei Man Liu
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xi Long
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hoi Wing Leung
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Geoffrey Ho Duen Leung
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Quinlan T. Mewborne
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Junli Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Anastasia Shneyderman
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ivan V. Ozerov
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ju Wang
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Feng Ren
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alexander Aliper
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Evelyne Bischof
- College of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
- International Center for Multimorbidity and Complexity in Medicine (ICMC), Universität Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Evgeny Izumchenko
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Xiaoming Guan
- 4B Technologies Limited, Suzhou BioBay, Suzhou, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Bai Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jeffrey D. Rothstein
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Merit E. Cudkowicz
- Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Merit E. Cudkowicz,
| | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States
- Alex Zhavoronkov,
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16
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Wang T, Xu J, Xu Y, Xiao J, Bi N, Gu X, Wang HL. Gut microbiota shapes social dominance through modulating HDAC2 in the medial prefrontal cortex. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110478. [PMID: 35263606 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Social dominance is a ubiquitous phenomenon among social animals, including humans. To date, individual attributes leading to dominance (after a contest) remain largely elusive. Here, we report that socially dominant rats can be distinguished from subordinates based on their intestinal microbiota. When dysbiosis is induced, rats are predisposed to a subordinate state, while dysbiotic rats reclaim social dominance following microbiota transplantation. Winning hosts are characterized by core microbes, a majority of which are associated with butyrate production, and the sole colonization of Clostridium butyricum is sufficient to restore dominance. Regarding molecular aspects, a histone deacetylase, HDAC2, is responsive to microbial status and mediates competition outcome; however, this occurs only in a restricted population of cells in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Furthermore, HDAC2 acts by modulating synaptic activity in mPFC. Together, these findings uncover a link between commensals and host dominance, providing insight into the gut-brain mechanisms underlying dominance determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wang
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Jinchun Xu
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Yi Xu
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, 193 Tunxi Road, Hefei 230009, China.
| | - Jie Xiao
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Nanxi Bi
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Xiaozhen Gu
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Hui-Li Wang
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, 193 Tunxi Road, Hefei 230009, China.
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17
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Habif M, Do Carmo S, Báez MV, Colettis NC, Cercato MC, Salas DA, Acutain MF, Sister CL, Berkowicz VL, Canal MP, González Garello T, Cuello AC, Jerusalinsky DA. Early Long-Term Memory Impairment and Changes in the Expression of Synaptic Plasticity-Associated Genes, in the McGill-R-Thy1-APP Rat Model of Alzheimer's-Like Brain Amyloidosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:585873. [PMID: 33551786 PMCID: PMC7862771 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.585873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Accruing evidence supports the hypothesis that memory deficits in early Alzheimer Disease (AD) might be due to synaptic failure caused by accumulation of intracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers, then secreted to the extracellular media. Transgenic mouse AD models provide valuable information on AD pathology. However, the failure to translate these findings to humans calls for models that better recapitulate the human pathology. McGill-R-Thy1-APP transgenic (Tg) rat expresses the human amyloid precursor protein (APP751) with the Swedish and Indiana mutations (of familial AD), leading to an AD-like slow-progressing brain amyloid pathology. Therefore, it offers a unique opportunity to investigate learning and memory abilities at early stages of AD, when Aβ accumulation is restricted to the intracellular compartment, prior to plaque deposition. Our goal was to further investigate early deficits in memory, particularly long-term memory in McGill-R-Thy1-APP heterozygous (Tg+/–) rats. Short-term- and long-term habituation to an open field were preserved in 3-, 4-, and 6-month-old (Tg+/–). However, long-term memory of inhibitory avoidance to a foot-shock, novel object-recognition and social approaching behavior were seriously impaired in 4-month-old (Tg+/–) male rats, suggesting that they are unable to either consolidate and/or evoke such associative and discriminative memories with aversive, emotional and spatial components. The long-term memory deficits were accompanied by increased transcript levels of genes relevant to synaptic plasticity, learning and memory processing in the hippocampus, such as Grin2b, Dlg4, Camk2b, and Syn1. Our findings indicate that in addition to the previously well-documented deficits in learning and memory, McGill-R-Thy1-APP rats display particular long-term-memory deficits and deep social behavior alterations at pre-plaque early stages of the pathology. This highlights the importance of Aβ oligomers and emphasizes the validity of the model to study AD-like early processes, with potentially predictive value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Habif
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sonia Do Carmo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - María Verónica Báez
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Claudia Colettis
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Magalí Cecilia Cercato
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Alejandra Salas
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Florencia Acutain
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Caterina Laura Sister
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria Laura Berkowicz
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Pilar Canal
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás González Garello
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Diana Alicia Jerusalinsky
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurotoxins (LaN&N), Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia (IBCN) "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Ryan M, Tan VTY, Thompson N, Guévremont D, Mockett BG, Tate WP, Abraham WC, Hughes SM, Williams J. Lentivirus-Mediated Expression of Human Secreted Amyloid Precursor Protein-Alpha Promotes Long-Term Induction of Neuroprotective Genes and Pathways in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 79:1075-1090. [PMID: 33386801 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Secreted amyloid precursor protein-alpha (sAPPα) can enhance memory and is neurotrophic and neuroprotective across a range of disease-associated insults, including amyloid-β toxicity. In a significant step toward validating sAPPα as a therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we demonstrated that long-term overexpression of human sAPPα (for 8 months) in a mouse model of amyloidosis (APP/PS1) could prevent the behavioral and electrophysiological deficits that develop in these mice. OBJECTIVE To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the significant physiological and behavioral improvements observed in sAPPα-treated APP/PS1 mice. METHODS We assessed the long-term effects on the hippocampal transcriptome following continuous lentiviral delivery of sAPPα or empty-vector to male APP/PS1 mice and wild-type controls using Affymetrix Mouse Transcriptome Assays. Data analysis was carried out within the Affymetrix Transcriptome Analysis Console and an integrated analysis of the resulting transcriptomic data was performed with Ingenuity Pathway analysis (IPA). RESULTS Mouse transcriptome assays revealed expected AD-associated gene expression changes in empty-vector APP/PS1 mice, providing validation of the assays used for the analysis. By contrast, there were specific sAPPα-associated gene expression profiles which included increases in key neuroprotective genes such as Decorin, betaine-GABA transporter and protocadherin beta-5, subsequently validated by qRT-PCR. An integrated biological pathways analysis highlighted regulation of GABA receptor signaling, cell survival and inflammatory responses. Furthermore, upstream gene regulatory analysis implicated sAPPα activation of Interleukin-4, which can counteract inflammatory changes in AD. CONCLUSION This study identified key molecular processes that likely underpin the long-term neuroprotective and therapeutic effects of increasing sAPPα levels in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Ryan
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Valerie T Y Tan
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Nasya Thompson
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Diane Guévremont
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Bruce G Mockett
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Warren P Tate
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Wickliffe C Abraham
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie M Hughes
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Joanna Williams
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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19
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Lambracht-Washington D, Fu M, Hynan LS, Rosenberg RN. Changes in the brain transcriptome after DNA Aβ42 trimer immunization in a 3xTg-AD mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 148:105221. [PMID: 33316368 PMCID: PMC7845550 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been associated with accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in brain, and immunotherapy targeting Aβ provides potential for AD prevention. We have used a DNA Aβ42 trimer construct for immunization of 3xTg-AD mice and found previously significant reduction of amyloid and tau pathology due to the immunotherapy. We show here that DNA Aβ42 immunized 3xTg-AD mice showed better performance in nest building activities and had a higher 24 months survival rate compared to the non-treated AD controls. The analysis of differently expressed genes in brains from 24 months old mice showed significant increases transcript levels between non-immunized AD mice and wild-type controls for genes involved in microglia and astrocyte function, cytokine and inflammatory signaling, apoptosis, the innate and adaptive immune response and are consistent with an inflammatory phenotype in AD. Most of these upregulated genes were downregulated in the DNA Aβ42 immunized 3xTg-AD mice due to the vaccine. Transcript numbers for the immediate early genes, Arc, Bdnf, Homer1, Egr1 and cfos, involved in neuronal and neurotransmission pathways which were much lower in the non-immunized 3xTg-AD mice, were restored to wild-type mouse brain levels in DNA Aβ42 immunized 3xTg-AD mice indicating positive effects of DNA Aβ42 immunotherapy on synapse stability and plasticity. The immune response after immunization is complex, but the multitude of changes after DNA Aβ42 immunization shows that this response moves beyond the amyloid hypothesis and into direction of disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Lambracht-Washington
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA; Doris Lambracht Washington, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Department of Neurology , 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8813, USA.
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.
| | - Linda S Hynan
- Departments of Population and Data Sciences (Biostatistics) & Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.
| | - Roger N Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.
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20
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Perez-Rando M, Dujardin S, Bennett RE, Commins C, Nibhanupudy T, Hyman BT. Synaptic and metabolic gene expression alterations in neurons that are recipients of proteopathic tau seeds. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:168. [PMID: 33076986 PMCID: PMC7574323 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01049-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that misfolded tau molecules can be released, and taken up by adjacent neurons, propagating proteopathic seeds across neural systems. Yet critical to understanding whether tau propagation is relevant in pathophysiology of disease would be to learn if it alters neuronal properties. We utilized high resolution multi-color in situ hybridization technology, RNAScope, in a well-established tau transgenic animal, and found that a subset of neurons in the cortex do not appear to express the transgene, but do develop phospho-tau positive inclusions, consistent with having received tau seeds. Recipient neurons show decreases in their expression of synaptophysin, CAMKIIα, and mouse tau in both young and old animals. These results contrast with neurons that develop tau aggregates and also overexpress the transgene, which have few changes in expression of metabolic and synaptic markers. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that tau propagation impacts neuronal functional integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Perez-Rando
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 114, Room 2009, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Simon Dujardin
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 114, Room 2009, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Rachel E. Bennett
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 114, Room 2009, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Caitlin Commins
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 114, Room 2009, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Tara Nibhanupudy
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 114, Room 2009, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Bradley T. Hyman
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 114, Room 2009, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
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21
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Pomeshchik Y, Klementieva O, Gil J, Martinsson I, Hansen MG, de Vries T, Sancho-Balsells A, Russ K, Savchenko E, Collin A, Vaz AR, Bagnoli S, Nacmias B, Rampon C, Sorbi S, Brites D, Marko-Varga G, Kokaia Z, Rezeli M, Gouras GK, Roybon L. Human iPSC-Derived Hippocampal Spheroids: An Innovative Tool for Stratifying Alzheimer Disease Patient-Specific Cellular Phenotypes and Developing Therapies. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:256-273. [PMID: 32589876 PMCID: PMC7363942 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is important for memory formation and is severely affected in the brain with Alzheimer disease (AD). Our understanding of early pathogenic processes occurring in hippocampi in AD is limited due to tissue unavailability. Here, we report a chemical approach to rapidly generate free-floating hippocampal spheroids (HSs), from human induced pluripotent stem cells. When used to model AD, both APP and atypical PS1 variant HSs displayed increased Aβ42/Aβ40 peptide ratios and decreased synaptic protein levels, which are common features of AD. However, the two variants differed in tau hyperphosphorylation, protein aggregation, and protein network alterations. NeuroD1-mediated gene therapy in HSs-derived progenitors resulted in modulation of expression of numerous genes, including those involved in synaptic transmission. Thus, HSs can be harnessed to unravel the mechanisms underlying early pathogenic changes in the hippocampi of AD patients, and provide a robust platform for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting early stage AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuriy Pomeshchik
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Oxana Klementieva
- Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Medical Microspectroscopy, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Jeovanis Gil
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, BMC D13, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Isak Martinsson
- Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Marita Grønning Hansen
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC B10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Tessa de Vries
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Anna Sancho-Balsells
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Kaspar Russ
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Ekaterina Savchenko
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Anna Collin
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Pathology, Office for Medical Services, Lund SE-221 85, Sweden
| | - Ana Rita Vaz
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Silvia Bagnoli
- Laboratorio di Neurogenetica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino- NEUROFARBA, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence 50134, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Laboratorio di Neurogenetica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino- NEUROFARBA, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence 50134, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Claire Rampon
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse; CNRS, UPS, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Laboratorio di Neurogenetica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino- NEUROFARBA, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence 50134, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Dora Brites
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - György Marko-Varga
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, BMC D13, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Zaal Kokaia
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC B10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Melinda Rezeli
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, BMC D13, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Gunnar K Gouras
- Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Laurent Roybon
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden.
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22
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Chang YC, Wu JT, Hong MY, Tung YA, Hsieh PH, Yee SW, Giacomini KM, Oyang YJ, Chen CY. GenEpi: gene-based epistasis discovery using machine learning. BMC Bioinformatics 2020; 21:68. [PMID: 32093643 PMCID: PMC7041299 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-020-3368-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide a powerful means to identify associations between genetic variants and phenotypes. However, GWAS techniques for detecting epistasis, the interactions between genetic variants associated with phenotypes, are still limited. We believe that developing an efficient and effective GWAS method to detect epistasis will be a key for discovering sophisticated pathogenesis, which is especially important for complex diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). RESULTS In this regard, this study presents GenEpi, a computational package to uncover epistasis associated with phenotypes by the proposed machine learning approach. GenEpi identifies both within-gene and cross-gene epistasis through a two-stage modeling workflow. In both stages, GenEpi adopts two-element combinatorial encoding when producing features and constructs the prediction models by L1-regularized regression with stability selection. The simulated data showed that GenEpi outperforms other widely-used methods on detecting the ground-truth epistasis. As real data is concerned, this study uses AD as an example to reveal the capability of GenEpi in finding disease-related variants and variant interactions that show both biological meanings and predictive power. CONCLUSIONS The results on simulation data and AD demonstrated that GenEpi has the ability to detect the epistasis associated with phenotypes effectively and efficiently. The released package can be generalized to largely facilitate the studies of many complex diseases in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chuan Chang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Taiwan AI Labs, Taipei, 10351, Taiwan
| | - June-Tai Wu
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yi Hong
- Department of Biomechatronics Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-An Tung
- Taiwan AI Labs, Taipei, 10351, Taiwan
- Genome and Systems biology degree program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Han Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Sook Wah Yee
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94158, California, USA
| | - Kathleen M Giacomini
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94158, California, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94143, California, USA
| | - Yen-Jen Oyang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yu Chen
- Taiwan AI Labs, Taipei, 10351, Taiwan.
- Department of Biomechatronics Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
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23
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Mega-Analysis of Gene Expression in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0226-19.2019. [PMID: 31767574 PMCID: PMC6893236 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0226-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
While multiple studies have been conducted of gene expression in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), their findings have not reached a clear consensus and have not accounted for the potentially confounding effects of changes in cellular composition. To help address this gap, we conducted a re-analysis based meta-analysis (mega-analysis) of ten independent studies of hippocampal gene expression in mouse models of AD. We used estimates of cellular composition as covariates in statistical models aimed to identify genes differentially expressed (DE) at either early or late stages of progression. Our analysis revealed changes in gene expression at early phases shared across studies, including dysregulation of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and the complement system. Expression changes at later stages were dominated by cellular compositional effects. Thus, despite the considerable heterogeneity of the mouse models, we identified common patterns that may contribute to our understanding of AD etiology. Our work also highlights the importance of controlling for cellular composition effects in genomics studies of neurodegeneration.
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24
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Baranger K, van Gijsel-Bonnello M, Stephan D, Carpentier W, Rivera S, Khrestchatisky M, Gharib B, De Reggi M, Benech P. Long-Term Pantethine Treatment Counteracts Pathologic Gene Dysregulation and Decreases Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis in a Transgenic Mouse Model. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:1237-1254. [PMID: 31267473 PMCID: PMC6985318 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00754-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The low-molecular weight thiol pantethine, known as a hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agent, is the major precursor of co-enzyme A. We have previously shown that pantethine treatment reduces amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced IL-1β release and alleviates pathological metabolic changes in primary astrocyte cultures. These properties of pantethine prompted us to investigate its potential benefits in vivo in the 5XFAD (Tg) mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).1.5-month-old Tg and wild-type (WT) male mice were submitted to intraperitoneal administration of pantethine or saline control solution for 5.5 months. The effects of such treatments were investigated by performing behavioral tests and evaluating astrogliosis, microgliosis, Αβ deposition, and whole genome expression arrays, using RNAs extracted from the mice hippocampi. We observed that long-term pantethine treatment significantly reduced glial reactivity and Αβ deposition, and abrogated behavioral alteration in Tg mice. Moreover, the transcriptomic profiles revealed that after pantethine treatment, the expression of genes differentially expressed in Tg mice, and in particular those known to be related to AD, were significantly alleviated. Most of the genes overexpressed in Tg compared to WT were involved in inflammation, complement activation, and phagocytosis and were found repressed upon pantethine treatment. In contrast, pantethine restored the expression of a significant number of genes involved in the regulation of Αβ processing and synaptic activities, which were downregulated in Tg mice. Altogether, our data support a beneficial role for long-term pantethine treatment in preserving CNS crucial functions altered by Aβ pathogenesis in Tg mice and highlight the potential efficiency of pantethine to alleviate AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Baranger
- CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Manuel van Gijsel-Bonnello
- CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
- Present Address: MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, Sir James Black Centre and School of Life Science - Division of Cell Signalling and Immunology, Welcome Trust Building, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH UK
| | - Delphine Stephan
- CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Wassila Carpentier
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, UMS Omique, Plateforme Post-génomique de la Pitié-Salpêtrière (P3S), F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Santiago Rivera
- CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | | | - Bouchra Gharib
- CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Max De Reggi
- CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Benech
- CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
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25
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Cao M, Li H, Zhao J, Cui J, Hu G. Identification of age- and gender-associated long noncoding RNAs in the human brain with Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 81:116-126. [PMID: 31280115 PMCID: PMC6732230 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age- and gender-associated brain disorder. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of brain development, homeostasis, and pathologies. Here, we used gene array data sets and bioinformatics analysis to identify differentially expressed age- and gender-associated lncRNAs in human AD brains. We found that the expressions of 16 age-associated and 13 gender-associated lncRNAs were dysregulated in AD brains. Notably, the expressions of age-associated lncRNAs-SNHG19 and LINC00672-were significantly correlated with Braak stage of AD, positively and negatively, respectively, whereas the expressions of gender-associated lncRNAs-RNF144A-AS1, LY86-AS1, and LINC00639-were negatively correlated with Braak stage of AD. Functional analysis suggests that the pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases, synaptic vesicle cycle, and endocytosis were overly represented within age- and gender-associated lncRNA-correlating genes. The identification of age- and gender-associated lncRNAs and their differential expressions in the human AD brain provide potential targets for further experimental validation and mechanistic investigation, which could, in turn, pave the way for developing age- and gender-specific prevention and adjunctive therapeutic options for patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Cao
- Core Laboratory, School of Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaqing Li
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Jian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biological Resource and Ecological Environment of Chinese Education Ministry, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Juan Cui
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
| | - Guoku Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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26
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Patel H, Hodges AK, Curtis C, Lee SH, Troakes C, Dobson RJB, Newhouse SJ. Transcriptomic analysis of probable asymptomatic and symptomatic alzheimer brains. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 80:644-656. [PMID: 31063847 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with intact cognition and neuropathology consistent with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are referred to as asymptomatic AD (AsymAD). These individuals are highly likely to develop AD, yet transcriptomic changes in the brain which might reveal mechanisms for their AD vulnerability are currently unknown. Entorhinal cortex, frontal cortex, temporal cortex and cerebellum tissue from 27 control, 33 AsymAD and 52 AD human brains were microarray expression profiled. Differential expression analysis identified a significant increase of transcriptomic activity in the frontal cortex of AsymAD subjects, suggesting fundamental changes in AD may initially begin within the frontal cortex region prior to AD diagnosis. Co-expression analysis identified an overactivation of the brain "glutamate-glutamine cycle", and disturbances in the brain energy pathways in both AsymAD and AD subjects, while the connectivity of key hub genes in this network indicates a shift from an already increased cell proliferation in AsymAD subjects to stress response and removal of amyloidogenic proteins in AD subjects. This study provides new insight into the earliest biological changes occurring in the brain prior to the manifestation of clinical AD symptoms and provides new potential therapeutic targets for early disease intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamel Patel
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Angela K Hodges
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Charles Curtis
- NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Sang Hyuck Lee
- NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK; London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Richard J B Dobson
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; Health Data Research UK London, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, UK; Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, UK; The National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, UK.
| | - Stephen J Newhouse
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; Health Data Research UK London, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, UK; Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, UK; The National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, UK.
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27
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Paiva I, Carvalho K, Santos P, Cellai L, Pavlou MAS, Jain G, Gnad T, Pfeifer A, Vieau D, Fischer A, Buée L, Outeiro TF, Blum D. A
2A
R‐induced transcriptional deregulation in astrocytes: An in vitro study. Glia 2019; 67:2329-2342. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.23688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Paiva
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Kévin Carvalho
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR‐S 1172 ‐ JPArc, LabEx DISTALZ Lille France
| | - Patrícia Santos
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Lucrezia Cellai
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR‐S 1172 ‐ JPArc, LabEx DISTALZ Lille France
| | - Maria Angeliki S. Pavlou
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Gaurav Jain
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Thorsten Gnad
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology University Hospital, University of Bonn Bonn Germany
| | - Alexander Pfeifer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology University Hospital, University of Bonn Bonn Germany
| | - Didier Vieau
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR‐S 1172 ‐ JPArc, LabEx DISTALZ Lille France
| | - André Fischer
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Luc Buée
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR‐S 1172 ‐ JPArc, LabEx DISTALZ Lille France
| | - Tiago F. Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine Göttingen Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School Newcastle University Newcastle Upon Tyne UK
| | - David Blum
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR‐S 1172 ‐ JPArc, LabEx DISTALZ Lille France
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28
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Duggan MR, Joshi S, Tan YF, Slifker M, Ross EA, Wimmer M, Parikh V. Transcriptomic changes in the prefrontal cortex of rats as a function of age and cognitive engagement. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 163:107035. [PMID: 31185277 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Although changes in cognitive functions including attention are well documented in aging, the neurobiological basis for such alterations is not fully understood. Increasing evidence points towards the contribution of genetic factors in age-related cognitive decline. However, genetic studies have remained inconsistent in characterizing specific genes that could predict functional decline in aging. Here we utilized next generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify patterns of differentially expressed genes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region implicated in attention, of young and aged animals that were either cognitively trained or had limited cognitive engagement. Consistent with previous investigations, aging alone was associated with increased expression of genes involved in multiple facets of innate and adaptive immune responses. On the contrary, the expression of immunity-related transcripts was reduced by cognitive engagement. In addition, transcripts across a wide range of cellular processes, including those associated with neuronal remodeling and plasticity, were upregulated by this behavioral manipulation. Surprisingly, aged subjects accounted for higher mean counts of upregulated transcripts and lower mean counts for downregulated transcripts as compared to the young subjects. Because aged rats exhibited lower attentional capacities, it is plausible that transcriptional changes associated with performance in these animals were reflective of compensatory changes that occurred to cope with the declining integrity of PFC functioning. Interestingly, the effects of both aging and cognitive engagement resulted in an upregulation of transcripts linked to extracellular exosomes, suggesting such extracellular vesicles may moderate a reciprocal gene by environment interaction in order to facilitate the reorganization of PFC circuitry and maintain functionality. Taken together, these findings provide novel insights into the capacities of both cognitive engagement as well as aging to alter gene expression in the PFC, and how the effects of such dynamic factors relate to variation in age-related cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Duggan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Surbhi Joshi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Yin-Fei Tan
- Genetics Research Facilities, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, United States
| | - Michael Slifker
- Biostatisitics and Bionformatics Facilities, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, United States
| | - Eric A Ross
- Biostatisitics and Bionformatics Facilities, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, United States
| | - Mathieu Wimmer
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
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29
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Sánchez-Rodríguez I, Gruart A, Delgado-García JM, Jiménez-Díaz L, Navarro-López JD. Role of GirK Channels in Long-Term Potentiation of Synaptic Inhibition in an In Vivo Mouse Model of Early Amyloid- β Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20051168. [PMID: 30866445 PMCID: PMC6429279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20051168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Imbalances of excitatory/inhibitory synaptic transmission occur early in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), leading to hippocampal hyperexcitability and causing synaptic, network, and cognitive dysfunctions. G-protein-gated potassium (GirK) channels play a key role in the control of neuronal excitability, contributing to inhibitory signaling. Here, we evaluate the relationship between GirK channel activity and inhibitory hippocampal functionality in vivo. In a non-transgenic mouse model of AD, field postsynaptic potentials (fPSPs) from the CA3–CA1 synapse in the dorsal hippocampus were recorded in freely moving mice. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of amyloid-β (Aβ) or GirK channel modulators impaired ionotropic (GABAA-mediated fPSPs) and metabotropic (GirK-mediated fPSPs) inhibitory signaling and disrupted the potentiation of synaptic inhibition. However, the activation of GirK channels prevented Aβ-induced changes in GABAA components. Our data shows, for the first time, the presence of long-term potentiation (LTP) for both the GABAA and GirK-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic responses in vivo. In addition, our results support the importance of an accurate level of GirK-dependent signaling for dorsal hippocampal performance in early amyloid pathology models by controlling the excess of excitation that disrupts synaptic plasticity processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Sánchez-Rodríguez
- Neurophysiology & Behavior Laboratory, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Agnès Gruart
- Division of Neurosciences, University Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain.
| | | | - Lydia Jiménez-Díaz
- Neurophysiology & Behavior Laboratory, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Juan D Navarro-López
- Neurophysiology & Behavior Laboratory, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
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30
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McMackin R, Bede P, Pender N, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B. Neurophysiological markers of network dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 22:101706. [PMID: 30738372 PMCID: PMC6370863 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
There is strong clinical, imaging and pathological evidence that neurodegeneration is associated with altered brain connectivity. While functional imaging (fMRI) can detect resting and activated states of metabolic activity, its use is limited by poor temporal resolution, cost and confounding vascular parameters. By contrast, electrophysiological (e.g. EEG/MEG) recordings provide direct measures of neural activity with excellent temporal resolution, and source localization methodologies can address problems of spatial resolution, permitting measurement of functional activity of brain networks with a spatial resolution similar to that of fMRI. This opens an exciting therapeutic approach focussed on pharmacological and physiological modulation of brain network activity. This review describes current neurophysiological approaches towards evaluating cortical network dysfunction in common neurodegenerative disorders. It explores how modern neurophysiologic tools can provide markers for diagnosis, prognosis, subcategorization and clinical trial outcome measures, and how modulation of brain networks can contribute to new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roisin McMackin
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse St., Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Peter Bede
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse St., Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland; Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse St., Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Niall Pender
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse St., Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland; Beaumont Hospital Dublin, Department of Psychology, Beaumont Road, Beaumont, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse St., Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland; Beaumont Hospital Dublin, Department of Neurology, Beaumont Road, Beaumont, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Bahman Nasseroleslami
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse St., Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
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31
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Singh RD, Hillestad ML, Livia C, Li M, Alekseev AE, Witt TA, Stalboerger PG, Yamada S, Terzic A, Behfar A. M 3RNA Drives Targeted Gene Delivery in Acute Myocardial Infarction. Tissue Eng Part A 2018; 25:145-158. [PMID: 30047313 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2017.0445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT The M3RNA (microencapsulated modified messenger RNA) platform is an approach to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) in vivo, achieving a nonintegrating and viral-free approach to gene therapy. This technology was, in this study, tested for its utility in the myocardium, providing a unique avenue for targeted gene delivery into the freshly infarcted myocardial tissue. This study provides the evidentiary basis for the use of M3RNA in the heart through depiction of its performance in cultured cells, healthy rodent myocardium, and acutely injured porcine hearts. By testing the technology in large animal models of infarction, compatibility of M3RNA with current coronary intervention procedures was verified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman Deep Singh
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Matthew L Hillestad
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Christopher Livia
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,3 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Mark Li
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,3 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Alexey E Alekseev
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,4 Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tyra A Witt
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Paul G Stalboerger
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Satsuki Yamada
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Andre Terzic
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,3 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Atta Behfar
- 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 VanCleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,3 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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32
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Swanson A, Wolf T, Sitzmann A, Willette AA. Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease: Pleiotropic roles for cytokines and neuronal pentraxins. Behav Brain Res 2018; 347:49-56. [PMID: 29462653 PMCID: PMC5988985 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a potential factor speculated to underlie Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiopathogenesis and progression. The overwhelming focus in this area of research to date has been on the chronic upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines to understand how neuroinflammatory mechanisms contribute to neurodegeneration. Yet, it is important to understand the pleiotropic roles of these cytokines in modulating neuroinflammation in which they cannot be labeled as a strictly "good" or "bad" biomarker phenotype. As such, biomarkers with more precise functions are needed to better understand how neuroinflammation impacts the brain in AD. Neuronal pentraxins are a concentration- dependent group of pro- or anti- inflammatory cytokines. There is contradictory evidence of these pentraxins as being both neuroprotective and potentially detrimental in AD. Potential neuroprotective examples include their ability to predict AD-related outcomes such as cognition, memory function and synaptic refinement. This review will briefly outline the basis of AD and subsequently summarize findings for neuropathological mechanisms of neuroinflammation, roles for traditional pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and data found thus far on the neuronal pentraxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Swanson
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 2312 Food Sciences Building, 536 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
| | - Tovah Wolf
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 2312 Food Sciences Building, 536 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
| | - Alli Sitzmann
- Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, W112 Lagomarcino Hall, 901 Stange Road, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
| | - Auriel A Willette
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 2312 Food Sciences Building, 536 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011, United States; Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, W112 Lagomarcino Hall, 901 Stange Road, Ames, IA 50011, United States; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, 2008 Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA 50011, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, 2007 Roy Carver Pavilion, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.
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33
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Ramos-Miguel A, Jones AA, Sawada K, Barr AM, Bayer TA, Falkai P, Leurgans SE, Schneider JA, Bennett DA, Honer WG. Frontotemporal dysregulation of the SNARE protein interactome is associated with faster cognitive decline in old age. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 114:31-44. [PMID: 29496544 PMCID: PMC6483375 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular underpinnings associated with cognitive reserve remain poorly understood. Because animal models fail to fully recapitulate the complexity of human brain aging, postmortem studies from well-designed cohorts are crucial to unmask mechanisms conferring cognitive resistance against cumulative neuropathologies. We tested the hypothesis that functionality of the SNARE protein interactome might be an important resilience factor preserving cognitive abilities in old age. Cognition was assessed annually in participants from the Rush "Memory and Aging Project" (MAP), a community-dwelling cohort representative of the overall aging population. Associations between cognition and postmortem neurochemical data were evaluated in functional assays quantifying various species of the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) machinery in samples from the inferior temporal (IT, n = 154) and middle-frontal (MF, n = 174) gyri. Using blue-native gel electrophoresis, we isolated and quantified several types of complexes containing the three SNARE proteins (syntaxin-1, SNAP25, VAMP), as well as the GABAergic/glutamatergic selectively expressed complexins-I/II (CPLX1/2), in brain tissue homogenates and reconstitution assays with recombinant proteins. Multivariate analyses revealed significant associations between IT and MF neurochemical data (SNARE proteins and/or complexes), and multiple age-related neuropathologies, as well as with multiple cognitive domains of MAP participants. Controlling for demographic variables, neuropathologic indices and total synapse density, we found that temporal 150-kDa SNARE species (representative of pan-synaptic functionality) and frontal CPLX1/CPLX2 ratio of 500-kDa heteromeric species (representative of inhibitory/excitatory input functionality) were, among all the immunocharacterized complexes, the strongest predictors of cognitive function nearest death. Interestingly, these two neurochemical variables were associated with different cognitive domains. In addition, linear mixed effect models of global cognitive decline estimated that both 150-kDa SNARE levels and CPLX1/CPLX2 ratio were associated with better cognition and less decline over time. The results are consistent with previous studies reporting that synapse dysfunction (i.e. dysplasticity) may be initiated early, and relatively independent of neuropathology-driven synapse loss. Frontotemporal dysregulation of the GABAergic/glutamatergic stimuli might be a target for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Ramos-Miguel
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Andrea A Jones
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Ken Sawada
- Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Alasdair M Barr
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, 2176 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Thomas A Bayer
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medicine Goettingen, von-Siebold-Strasse 5, D-37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, D-80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Sue E Leurgans
- Rush Alzheimer's disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Rush Alzheimer's disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - William G Honer
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada.
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34
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Lanke V, Moolamalla STR, Roy D, Vinod PK. Integrative Analysis of Hippocampus Gene Expression Profiles Identifies Network Alterations in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:153. [PMID: 29875655 PMCID: PMC5974201 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder contributing to rapid decline in cognitive function and ultimately dementia. Most cases of AD occur in elderly and later years. There is a growing need for understanding the relationship between aging and AD to identify shared and unique hallmarks associated with the disease in a region and cell-type specific manner. Although genomic studies on AD have been performed extensively, the molecular mechanism of disease progression is still not clear. The major objective of our study is to obtain a higher-order network-level understanding of aging and AD, and their relationship using the hippocampal gene expression profiles of young (20-50 years), aging (70-99 years), and AD (70-99 years). The hippocampus is vulnerable to damage at early stages of AD and altered neurogenesis in the hippocampus is linked to the onset of AD. We combined the weighted gene co-expression network and weighted protein-protein interaction network-level approaches to study the transition from young to aging to AD. The network analysis revealed the organization of co-expression network into functional modules that are cell-type specific in aging and AD. We found that modules associated with astrocytes, endothelial cells and microglial cells are upregulated and significantly correlate with both aging and AD. The modules associated with neurons, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are downregulated and significantly correlate with AD than aging. The oligodendrocytes module does not show significant correlation with neither aging nor disease. Further, we identified aging- and AD-specific interactions/subnetworks by integrating the gene expression with a human protein-protein interaction network. We found dysregulation of genes encoding protein kinases (FYN, SYK, SRC, PKC, MAPK1, ephrin receptors) and transcription factors (FOS, STAT3, CEBPB, MYC, NFKβ, and EGR1) in AD. Further, we found genes that encode proteins with neuroprotective function (14-3-3 proteins, PIN1, ATXN1, BDNF, VEGFA) to be part of the downregulated AD subnetwork. Our study highlights that simultaneously analyzing aging and AD will help to understand the pre-clinical and clinical phase of AD and aid in developing the treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Lanke
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - S T R Moolamalla
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dipanjan Roy
- Cognitive Brain Dynamics Lab, National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon, India
| | - P K Vinod
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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35
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CRTC1 mediates preferential transcription at neuronal activity-regulated CRE/TATA promoters. Sci Rep 2017; 7:18004. [PMID: 29269871 PMCID: PMC5740062 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18215-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression mediated by the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is essential for a wide range of brain processes. The transcriptional coactivartor CREB-regulated transcription coactivator-1 (CRTC1) is required for efficient induction of CREB target genes during neuronal activity. However, the mechanisms regulating induction of specific CREB/CRTC1-dependent genes during neuronal activity remain largely unclear. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating activity-dependent gene transcription upon activation of the CREB/CRTC1 signaling pathway in neurons. Depolarization and cAMP signals induce preferential transcription of activity-dependent genes containing promoters with proximal CRE/TATA sequences, such as c-fos, Dusp1, Nr4a1, Nr4a2 and Ptgs2, but not genes with proximal CRE/TATA-less promoters (e.g. Nr4a3, Presenilin-1 and Presenilin-2). Notably, biochemical and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses reveal constitutive binding of CREB to target gene promoters in the absence of neuronal activity, whereas recruitment of CRTC1 to proximal CRE/TATA promoters depends on neuronal activity. Neuronal activity induces rapid CRTC1 dephosphorylation, nuclear translocation and binding to endogenous CREB. These results indicate that neuronal activity induces a preferential binding of CRTC1 to the transcriptional complex in CRE/TATA-containing promoters to engage activity-dependent transcription in neurons.
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Al-Harbi AN, Khan KM, Rahman A. Developmental Vitamin D Deficiency Affects Spatial Learning in Wistar Rats. J Nutr 2017; 147:1795-1805. [PMID: 28747485 DOI: 10.3945/jn.117.249953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a global problem. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D is involved in brain development and function. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with poor cognitive function in adults, but the effect of developmental vitamin D deficiency (DVDD) on cognitive function and brain development in children has not been well established.Objective: We explored the effects of DVDD on cognitive functions and brain morphology of rat pups.Methods: Wistar rat pups born to control and vitamin D-deficient dams were divided into 4 groups: control (C), deficient during gestation (dG), deficient during lactation (dL), and deficient during gestation and lactation (dGL). Spatial learning and memory were assessed by the Morris water maze test at postnatal day (PND) 24 and PND 45. Cortical thickness at the level of the hippocampus was measured at PND 63, and synapses were counted in specified areas of the hippocampus at PND 32 and PND 63.Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that at PND 24, learning (escape latency) was impaired (by 42%) in the dGL group, whereas at PND 45, both the dL and the dGL groups showed learning impairment (by 47% and 45%, respectively) compared with their respective C groups (P < 0.05). Short-term or long-term memory was largely unaffected by DVDD either at PND 24 or PND 45. Compared with the C group, all the DVDD groups had fewer synapses in the molecular layer of the hippocampus (P < 0.001). The synapse number decreased by 54% in the dGL group at PND 33 and by 70% in the dL and dGL groups at PND 63. All the DVDD groups at PND 63 showed a reduced cortical thickness (by 22%) compared with the C group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: These results suggest that a combined prenatal and postnatal DVDD for ≥6 wk in rat pups affects learning but not memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwar N Al-Harbi
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Life Sciences, and
| | - Khalid M Khan
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
| | - Abdur Rahman
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Life Sciences, and
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Lozada LE, Desai A, Kevala K, Lee JW, Kim HY. Perinatal Brain Docosahexaenoic Acid Concentration Has a Lasting Impact on Cognition in Mice. J Nutr 2017; 147:1624-1630. [PMID: 28768838 PMCID: PMC5572498 DOI: 10.3945/jn.117.254607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Premature infants are deprived of prenatal accumulation of brain docosahexaenoic acid [DHA (22:6n-3)], an omega-3 fatty acid [ω-3 FA (n-3 FA)] important for proper development of cognitive function. The resulting brain DHA deficit can be reversed by ω-3 FA supplementation.Objective: The objective was to test whether there is a critical period for providing ω-3 FA to correct cognitive deficits caused by developmental ω-3 FA deprivation in mice.Methods: Twelve timed-pregnant mice [embryonic day 14 (E14), C57/BL6NCr] were fed an ω-3 FA-deficient diet containing 0.04% α-linolenic acid [ALA (18:3n-3)], and their offspring were fed the same deficient diet (Def group) or changed to an ω-3 FA-adequate diet containing 3.1% ALA at 3 wk, 2 mo, or 4 mo of age. In parallel, 3 E14 pregnant mice were fed the adequate diet and their offspring were fed the same diet (Adeq group) throughout the experiment. Brain FA composition, learning and memory, and hippocampal synaptic protein expression were evaluated at 6 mo by gas chromatography, the Morris water maze test, and western blot analysis, respectively.Results: Maternal dietary ω-3 FA deprivation decreased DHA by >50% in the brain of their offspring at 3 wk of age. The Def group showed significantly worse learning and memory at 6 mo than those groups fed the adequate diet. These pups also had decreased hippocampal expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 (43% of Adeq group), Homer protein homolog 1 (21% of Adeq group), and synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (64% of Adeq group). Changing mice to the adequate diet at 3 wk, 2 mo, or 4 mo of age restored brain DHA to the age-matched adequate concentration. However, deficits in hippocampal synaptic protein expression and spatial learning and memory were normalized only when the diet was changed at 3 wk.Conclusion: Developmental deprivation of brain DHA by dietary ω-3 FA depletion in mice may have a lasting impact on cognitive function if not corrected at an early age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Lozada
- Department of Pediatrics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; and,Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - Abhishek Desai
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - Karl Kevala
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ji-Won Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - Hee-Yong Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD
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Veatch OJ, Keenan BT, Gehrman PR, Malow BA, Pack AI. Pleiotropic genetic effects influencing sleep and neurological disorders. Lancet Neurol 2017; 16:158-170. [PMID: 28102151 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(16)30339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Research evidence increasingly points to the large impact of sleep disturbances on public health. Many aspects of sleep are heritable and genes influencing traits such as timing, EEG characteristics, sleep duration, and response to sleep loss have been identified. Notably, large-scale genome-wide analyses have implicated numerous genes with small effects on sleep timing. Additionally, there has been considerable progress in the identification of genes influencing risk for some neurological sleep disorders. For restless legs syndrome, implicated variants are typically in genes associated with neuronal development. By contrast, genes conferring risk for narcolepsy function in the immune system. Many genetic variants associated with sleep disorders are also implicated in neurological disorders in which sleep abnormalities are common; for example, variation in genes involved in synaptic homoeostasis are implicated in autism spectrum disorder and sleep-wake control. Further investigation into pleiotropic roles of genes influencing both sleep and neurological disorders could lead to new treatment strategies for a variety of sleep disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia J Veatch
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Brendan T Keenan
- Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Philip R Gehrman
- Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Beth A Malow
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Allan I Pack
- Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Ramos-Miguel A, Sawada K, Jones AA, Thornton AE, Barr AM, Leurgans SE, Schneider JA, Bennett DA, Honer WG. Presynaptic proteins complexin-I and complexin-II differentially influence cognitive function in early and late stages of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:395-407. [PMID: 27866231 PMCID: PMC6542594 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1647-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 11/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progressive accumulation of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology is associated with cognitive dysfunction. Differences in cognitive reserve may contribute to individual differences in cognitive function in the presence of comparable neuropathology. The protective effects of cognitive reserve could contribute differentially in early versus late stages of the disease. We investigated presynaptic proteins as measures of brain reserve (a subset of total cognitive reserve), and used Braak staging to estimate the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Antemortem evaluations of cognitive function, postmortem assessments of pathologic indices, and presynaptic protein analyses, including the complexins I and II as respective measures of inhibitory and excitatory terminal function, were assayed in multiple key brain regions in 418 deceased participants from a community study. After covarying for demographic variables, pathologic indices, and overall synapse density, lower brain complexin-I and -II levels contributed to cognitive dysfunction (P < 0.01). Each complexin appeared to be dysregulated at a different Braak stage. Inhibitory complexin-I explained 14.4% of the variance in global cognition in Braak 0-II, while excitatory complexin-II explained 7.3% of the variance in Braak V-VI. Unlike other presynaptic proteins, complexins did not colocalize with pathologic tau within neuritic plaques, suggesting that these functional components of the synaptic machinery are cleared early from dystrophic neurites. Moreover, complexin levels showed distinct patterns of change related to memory challenges in a rat model, supporting the functional specificity of these proteins. The present results suggest that disruption of inhibitory synaptic terminals may trigger early cognitive impairment, while excitatory terminal disruption may contribute relatively more to later cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Ramos-Miguel
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Ken Sawada
- Kochi Prefectural Aki General Hospital, 3-33 Hoheicho, Kochi, 784-0027, Japan
| | - Andrea A Jones
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Allen E Thornton
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Alasdair M Barr
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, 2176 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sue E Leurgans
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S Paulina Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S Paulina Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S Paulina Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - William G Honer
- BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada.
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Nuclear but not mitochondrial-encoded oxidative phosphorylation genes are altered in aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2016; 13:510-519. [PMID: 27793643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We have comprehensively described the expression profiles of mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA genes that encode subunits of the respiratory oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes (I-V) in the hippocampus from young controls, age matched, mild cognitively impaired (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects. METHODS Hippocampal tissues from 44 non-AD controls (NC), 10 amnestic MCI, and 18 AD cases were analyzed on Affymetrix Hg-U133 plus 2.0 arrays. RESULTS The microarray data revealed significant down regulation in OXPHOS genes in AD, particularly those encoded in the nucleus. In contrast, there was up regulation of the same gene(s) in MCI subjects compared to AD and ND cases. No significant differences were observed in mtDNA genes identified in the array between AD, ND, and MCI subjects except one mt-ND6. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that restoration of the expression of nuclear-encoded OXPHOS genes in aging could be a viable strategy for blunting AD progression.
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Silva DES, Cali MP, Pazin WM, Carlos-Lima E, Salles Trevisan MT, Venâncio T, Arcisio-Miranda M, Ito AS, Carlos RM. Luminescent Ru(II) Phenanthroline Complexes as a Probe for Real-Time Imaging of Aβ Self-Aggregation and Therapeutic Applications in Alzheimer’s Disease. J Med Chem 2016; 59:9215-9227. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Debora E. S. Silva
- Departamento
de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São
Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Mariana P. Cali
- Departamento
de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São
Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Wallance M. Pazin
- Departamento de
Física, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Estevão Carlos-Lima
- Departamento
de Biofísica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Maria Teresa Salles Trevisan
- Departamento
de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Ceará Fortaleza, 60451-970, Brazil
| | - Tiago Venâncio
- Departamento
de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São
Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Manoel Arcisio-Miranda
- Departamento
de Biofísica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Amando S. Ito
- Departamento de
Física, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Rose M. Carlos
- Departamento
de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São
Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905, Brazil
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Briggs CA, Chakroborty S, Stutzmann GE. Emerging pathways driving early synaptic pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 483:988-997. [PMID: 27659710 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.09.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The current state of the AD research field is highly dynamic is some respects, while seemingly stagnant in others. Regarding the former, our current lack of understanding of initiating disease mechanisms, the absence of effective treatment options, and the looming escalation of AD patients is energizing new research directions including a much-needed re-focusing on early pathogenic mechanisms, validating novel targets, and investigating relevant biomarkers, among other exciting new efforts to curb disease progression and foremost, preserve memory function. With regard to the latter, the recent disappointing series of failed Phase III clinical trials targeting Aβ and APP processing, in concert with poor association between brain Aβ levels and cognitive function, have led many to call for a re-evaluation of the primacy of the amyloid cascade hypothesis. In this review, we integrate new insights into one of the earliest described signaling abnormalities in AD pathogenesis, namely intracellular Ca2+ signaling disruptions, and focus on its role in driving synaptic deficits - which is the feature that does correlate with AD-associated memory loss. Excess Ca2+release from intracellular stores such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has been well-described in cellular and animal models of AD, as well as human patients, and here we expand upon recent developments in ER-localized release channels such as the IP3R and RyR, and the recent emphasis on RyR2. Consistent with ER Ca2+ mishandling in AD are recent findings implicating aspects of SOCE, such as STIM2 function, and TRPC3 and TRPC6 levels. Other Ca2+-regulated organelles important in signaling and protein handling are brought into the discussion, with new perspectives on lysosomal regulation. These early signaling abnormalities are discussed in the context of synaptic pathophysiology and disruptions in synaptic plasticity with a particular emphasis on short-term plasticity deficits. Overall, we aim to update and expand the list of early neuronal signaling abnormalities implicated in AD pathogenesis, identify specific channels and organelles involved, and link these to proximal synaptic impairments driving the memory loss in AD. This is all within the broader goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets to preserve cognitive function in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark A Briggs
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Shreaya Chakroborty
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Grace E Stutzmann
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA.
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Immunity factor contributes to altered brain functional networks in individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease: Neuroimaging-genetic evidence. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 56:84-95. [PMID: 26899953 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Clusterin (CLU) is recognized as a secreted protein that is related to the processes of inflammation and immunity in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The effects of the risk variant of the C allele at the rs11136000 locus of the CLU gene are associated with variations in the brain structure and function. However, the relationship of the CLU-C allele to architectural disruptions in resting-state networks in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) subjects (i.e., individuals with elevated risk of AD) remains relatively unknown. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and an imaging genetic approach, this study investigated whether individual brain functional networks, i.e., the default mode network (DMN) and the task-positive network, were modulated by the CLU-C allele (rs11136000) in 50 elderly participants, including 26 aMCI subjects and 24 healthy controls. CLU-by-aMCI interactions were associated with the information-bridging regions between resting-state networks rather than with the DMN itself, especially in cortical midline regions. Interestingly, the complex communications between resting-state networks were enhanced in aMCI subjects with the CLU rs11136000 CC genotype and were modulated by the degree of memory impairment, suggesting a reconstructed balance of the resting-state networks in these individuals with an elevated risk of AD. The neuroimaging-genetic evidence indicates that immunity factors may contribute to alterations in brain functional networks in aMCI. These findings add to the evidence that the CLU gene may represent a potential therapeutic target for slowing disease progression in AD.
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Pogue AI, Lukiw WJ. Aluminum, the genetic apparatus of the human CNS and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Morphologie 2016; 100:56-64. [PMID: 26969391 DOI: 10.1016/j.morpho.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The genomes of eukaryotes orchestrate their expression to ensure an effective, homeostatic and functional gene signaling program, and this includes fundamentally altered patterns of transcription during aging, development, differentiation and disease. These actions constitute an extremely complex and intricate process as genetic operations such as transcription involve the very rapid translocation and polymerization of ribonucleotides using RNA polymerases, accessory transcription protein complexes and other interrelated chromatin proteins and genetic factors. As both free ribonucleotides and polymerized single-stranded RNA chains, ribonucleotides are highly charged with phosphate, and this genetic system is extremely vulnerable to disruption by a large number of electrostatic forces, and primarily by cationic metals such as aluminum. Aluminum has been shown by independent researchers to be particularly genotoxic to the genetic apparatus, and it has become reasonably clear that aluminum disturbs genetic signaling programs in the CNS that bear a surprising resemblance to those observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. This paper will focus on a discussion of two molecular-genetic aspects of aluminum genotoxicity: (1) the observation that micro-RNA (miRNA)-mediated global gene expression patterns in aluminum-treated transgenic animal models of AD (Tg-AD) strongly resemble those found in AD; and (2) the concept of "human biochemical individuality" and the hypothesis that individuals with certain gene expression patterns may be especially sensitive and perhaps predisposed to aluminum genotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A I Pogue
- Alchem Biotech, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - W J Lukiw
- Alchem Biotech, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Neuroscience Center and the Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
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Grillo FW. Long live the axon. Parallels between ageing and pathology from a presynaptic point of view. J Chem Neuroanat 2015; 76:28-34. [PMID: 26698224 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
All animals have to find the right balance between investing resources into their reproductive cycle and protecting their tissues from age-related damage. In higher order organisms the brain is particularly vulnerable to ageing, as the great majority of post-mitotic neurons are there to stay for an entire life. While ageing is unavoidable, it may progress at different rates in different individuals of the same species depending on a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Inevitably though, ageing results in a cognitive and sensory-motor decline caused by changes in neuronal structure and function. Besides normal ageing, age-related pathological conditions can develop in a sizeable proportion of the population. While this wide array of diseases are considerably different compared to physiological ageing, the two processes share many similarities and are likely to interact. At the subcellular level, two key structures are involved in brain ageing: axons and their synapses. Here I highlight how the ageing process affects these structures in normal and neurodegenerative states in different brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico W Grillo
- MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Medical Research Council, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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