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Haddadi M, Haghi M, Rezaei N, Kiani Z, Akkülah T, Celik A. APOE and Alzheimer's disease: Pathologic clues from transgenic Drosophila melanogaster. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 123:105420. [PMID: 38537387 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of neurodegenerative diseases. Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is the main genetic risk factor in the development of late-onset AD. However, the exact mechanism underlying ApoE4-mediated neurodegeneration remains unclear. We utilized Drosophila melanogaster to examine the neurotoxic effects of various human APOE isoforms when expressed specifically in glial and neural cells. We assessed impacts on mitochondrial dynamics, ER stress, lipid metabolism, and bio-metal ion concentrations in the central nervous system (CNS) of the transgenic flies. Dachshund antibody staining revealed a reduction in the number of Kenyon cells. Behavioral investigations including ethanol tolerance and learning and memory performance demonstrated neuronal dysfunction in APOE4-expressing larvae and adult flies. Transcription level of marf and drp-1 were found to be elevated in APOE4 flies, while atf4, atf6, and xbp-1 s showed down regulation. Enhanced concentrations of triglyceride and cholesterol in the CNS were observed in APOE4 transgenic flies, with especially pronounced effects upon glial-specific expression of the gene. Spectrophotometry of brain homogenate revealed enhanced Fe++ and Zn++ ion levels in conjunction with diminished Cu++ levels upon APOE4 expression. To explore therapeutic strategies, we subjected the flies to heat-shock treatment, aiming to activate heat-shock proteins (HSPs) and assess their potential to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of APOE isoforms. The results showed potential therapeutic benefits for APOE4-expressing flies, hinting at an ability to attenuate memory deterioration. Overall, our findings suggest that APOE4 can alter lipid metabolism, bio metal ion homeostasis, and disrupt the harmonious fission-fusion balance of neuronal and glial mitochondria, ultimately inducing ER stress. These alterations mirror the main clinical manifestations of AD in patients. Therefore, our work underscores the suitability of Drosophila as a fertile model for probing the pathological roles of APOE and furthering our understanding of diverse isoform-specific functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Haddadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran; Genetics and Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
| | - Mehrnaz Haghi
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Niloofar Rezaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
| | - Zahra Kiani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
| | - Taha Akkülah
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkiye; Center for Life Sciences and Technologies, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkiye
| | - Arzu Celik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkiye; Center for Life Sciences and Technologies, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkiye
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Apolipoprotein E in Cardiometabolic and Neurological Health and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179892. [PMID: 36077289 PMCID: PMC9456500 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A preponderance of evidence obtained from genetically modified mice and human population studies reveals the association of apolipoprotein E (apoE) deficiency and polymorphisms with pathogenesis of numerous chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis, obesity/diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. The human APOE gene is polymorphic with three major alleles, ε2, ε3 and ε4, encoding apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4, respectively. The APOE gene is expressed in many cell types, including hepatocytes, adipocytes, immune cells of the myeloid lineage, vascular smooth muscle cells, and in the brain. ApoE is present in subclasses of plasma lipoproteins, and it mediates the clearance of atherogenic lipoproteins from plasma circulation via its interaction with LDL receptor family proteins and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Extracellular apoE also interacts with cell surface receptors and confers signaling events for cell regulation, while apoE expressed endogenously in various cell types regulates cell functions via autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. This review article focuses on lipoprotein transport-dependent and -independent mechanisms by which apoE deficiency or polymorphisms contribute to cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and neurological disorders.
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Dvela-Levitt M, Shaw JL, Greka A. A Rare Kidney Disease To Cure Them All? Towards Mechanism-Based Therapies for Proteinopathies. Trends Mol Med 2020; 27:394-409. [PMID: 33341352 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney diseases (ADTKDs) are a group of rare genetic diseases that lead to kidney failure. Mutations in the MUC1 gene cause ADTKD-MUC1 (MUC1 kidney disease, MKD), a disorder with no available therapies. Recent studies have identified the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive MKD disease pathogenesis. Armed with patient-derived cell lines and pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived kidney organoids, it was found that MKD is a toxic proteinopathy caused by the intracellular accumulation of misfolded MUC1 protein in the early secretory pathway. We discuss the advantages of studying rare monogenic kidney diseases, describe effective patient-derived model systems, and highlight recent mechanistic insights into protein quality control that have implications for additional proteinopathies beyond rare kidney diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Dvela-Levitt
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jillian L Shaw
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anna Greka
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Gill C, Phelan JP, Hatzipetros T, Kidd JD, Tassinari VR, Levine B, Wang MZ, Moreno A, Thompson K, Maier M, Grimm J, Gill A, Vieira FG. SOD1-positive aggregate accumulation in the CNS predicts slower disease progression and increased longevity in a mutant SOD1 mouse model of ALS. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6724. [PMID: 31040321 PMCID: PMC6491559 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43164-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-natively folded variants of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), however the relative toxicities of these variants are controversial. Here, we aimed to decipher the relationships between the different SOD1 variants (aggregated, soluble misfolded, soluble total) and the clinical presentation of ALS in the SOD1G93A mouse. Using a multi-approach strategy, we found that the CNS regions least affected by disease had the most aggregated SOD1. We also found that the levels of aggregated SOD1 in the spinal cord were inversely correlated with the disease progression. Conversely, in the most affected regions, we observed that there was a high soluble misfolded/soluble total SOD1 ratio. Taken together, these findings suggest that soluble misfolded SOD1 may be the disease driver in ALS, whereas aggregated SOD1 may serve to sequester the toxic species acting in a neuroprotective fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Gill
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James P Phelan
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Theo Hatzipetros
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joshua D Kidd
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Beth Levine
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Monica Z Wang
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew Moreno
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kenneth Thompson
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Jan Grimm
- Neurimmune AG, Schlieren-Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alan Gill
- ALS Therapy Development Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The growing body of evidence indicating the heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease (AD), coupled with disappointing clinical studies directed at a fit-for-all therapy, suggest that the development of a single magic cure suitable for all cases may not be possible. This calls for a shift in paradigm where targeted treatment is developed for specific AD subpopulations that share distinct genetic or pathological properties. Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4), the most prevalent genetic risk factor of AD, is expressed in more than half of AD patients and is thus an important possible AD therapeutic target. REVIEW This review focuses initially on the pathological effects of apoE4 in AD, as well as on the corresponding cellular and animal models and the suggested cellular and molecular mechanisms which mediate them. The second part of the review focuses on recent apoE4-targeted (from the APOE gene to the apoE protein and its interactors) therapeutic approaches that have been developed in animal models and are ready to be translated to human. Further, the issue of whether the pathological effects of apoE4 are due to loss of protective function or due to gain of toxic function is discussed herein. It is possible that both mechanisms coexist, with certain constituents of the apoE4 molecule and/or its downstream signaling mediating a toxic effect, while others are associated with a loss of protective function. CONCLUSION ApoE4 is a promising AD therapeutic target that remains understudied. Recent studies are now paving the way for effective apoE4-directed AD treatment approaches.
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Kuller LH. A new era for dementia epidemiology: Alzheimer’s disease, hardening of arteries, or just old age? Eur J Epidemiol 2018; 33:613-616. [DOI: 10.1007/s10654-018-0420-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Abstract
Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and sporadic fatal insomnia (sFI), or thalamic form of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease MM2 (sCJDMM2T), are prion diseases originally named and characterized in 1992 and 1999, respectively. FFI is genetically determined and linked to a D178N mutation coupled with the M129 genotype in the prion protein gene (PRNP) at chromosome 20. sFI is a phenocopy of FFI and likely its sporadic form. Both diseases are primarily characterized by progressive sleep impairment, disturbances of autonomic nervous system, and motor signs associated with severe loss of nerve cells in medial thalamic nuclei. Both diseases harbor an abnormal disease-associated prion protein isoform, resistant to proteases with relative mass of 19 kDa identified as resPrPTSE type 2. To date at least 70 kindreds affected by FFI with 198 members and 18 unrelated carriers along with 25 typical cases of sFI have been published. The D178N-129M mutation is thought to cause FFI by destabilizing the mutated prion protein and facilitating its conversion to PrPTSE. The thalamus is the brain region first affected. A similar mechanism triggered spontaneously may underlie sFI.
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