1
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Singh M, Ali H, Renuka Jyothi S, Kaur I, Kumar S, Sharma N, Siva Prasad GV, Pramanik A, Hassan Almalki W, Imran M. Tau proteins and senescent Cells: Targeting aging pathways in Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2024; 1844:149165. [PMID: 39155034 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by abnormal accumulation of tau proteins and amyloid-β, leading to neuronal death and cognitive impairment. Recent studies have implicated aging pathways, including dysregulation of tau and cellular senescence in AD pathogenesis. In AD brains, tau protein, which normally stabilizes microtubules, becomes hyperphosphorylated and forms insoluble neurofibrillary tangles. These tau aggregates impair neuronal function and are propagated across the brain's neurocircuitry. Meanwhile, the number of senescent cells accumulating in the aging brain is rising, releasing a pro-inflammatory SASP responsible for neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. This review explores potential therapeutic interventions for AD targeting tau protein and senescent cells, and tau -directed compounds, senolytics, eliminating senescent cells, and agents that modulate the SASP-senomodulators. Ultimately, a combined approach that incorporates tau-directed medications and targeted senescent cell-based therapies holds promise for reducing the harmful impact of AD's shared aging pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahaveer Singh
- School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKMs NMIMS University, Shirpur campus, Maharastra India
| | - Haider Ali
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, India; Department of Pharmacology, Kyrgyz State Medical College, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
| | - S Renuka Jyothi
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Irwanjot Kaur
- Department of Allied Healthcare and Sciences, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan-303012, India
| | - Sachin Kumar
- NIMS Institute of Pharmacy, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
| | - Naveen Sharma
- Chandigarh Pharmacy College, Chandigarh Group of College, Jhanjeri, Mohali 140307, Punjab, India
| | - G V Siva Prasad
- Department of Chemistry, Raghu Engineering College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531162, India
| | - Atreyi Pramanik
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Division of Research and Innovation, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Waleed Hassan Almalki
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohd Imran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia; Center for Health Research, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia
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2
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Abdul Manap AS, Almadodi R, Sultana S, Sebastian MG, Kavani KS, Lyenouq VE, Shankar A. Alzheimer's disease: a review on the current trends of the effective diagnosis and therapeutics. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1429211. [PMID: 39185459 PMCID: PMC11341404 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1429211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The most prevalent cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive decline and accelerating memory loss characterize it. Alzheimer's disease advances sequentially, starting with preclinical stages, followed by mild cognitive and/or behavioral impairment, and ultimately leading to Alzheimer's disease dementia. In recent years, healthcare providers have been advised to make an earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's, prior to individuals developing Alzheimer's disease dementia. Regrettably, the identification of early-stage Alzheimer's disease in clinical settings can be arduous due to the tendency of patients and healthcare providers to disregard symptoms as typical signs of aging. Therefore, accurate and prompt diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is essential in order to facilitate the development of disease-modifying and secondary preventive therapies prior to the onset of symptoms. There has been a notable shift in the goal of the diagnosis process, transitioning from merely confirming the presence of symptomatic AD to recognizing the illness in its early, asymptomatic phases. Understanding the evolution of disease-modifying therapies and putting effective diagnostic and therapeutic management into practice requires an understanding of this concept. The outcomes of this study will enhance in-depth knowledge of the current status of Alzheimer's disease's diagnosis and treatment, justifying the necessity for the quest for potential novel biomarkers that can contribute to determining the stage of the disease, particularly in its earliest stages. Interestingly, latest clinical trial status on pharmacological agents, the nonpharmacological treatments such as behavior modification, exercise, and cognitive training as well as alternative approach on phytochemicals as neuroprotective agents have been covered in detailed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimi Syamima Abdul Manap
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reema Almadodi
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Shirin Sultana
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Vanessa Elle Lyenouq
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Aravind Shankar
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University, Selangor, Malaysia
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3
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Latimer CS, Prater KE, Postupna N, Dirk Keene C. Resistance and Resilience to Alzheimer's Disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041201. [PMID: 38151325 PMCID: PMC11293546 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Dementia is a significant public health crisis; the most common underlying cause of age-related cognitive decline and dementia is Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNC). As such, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of the underlying pathologic processes that contribute to the development of AD dementia. Although age is the top risk factor for dementia in general and AD specifically, these are not inevitable consequences of advanced age. Some individuals are able to live to advanced age without accumulating significant pathology (resistance to ADNC), whereas others are able to maintain cognitive function despite the presence of significant pathology (resilience to ADNC). Understanding mechanisms of resistance and resilience will inform therapeutic strategies to promote these processes to prevent or delay AD dementia. This article will highlight what is currently known about resistance and resilience to AD, including our current understanding of possible underlying mechanisms that may lead to candidate preventive and treatment interventions for this devastating neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin S Latimer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, Washington, USA
| | - Katherine E Prater
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, Washington, USA
| | - Nadia Postupna
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, Washington, USA
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, Washington, USA
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4
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Majumder M, Dutta D. Oligodendrocyte Dysfunction in Tauopathy: A Less Explored Area in Tau-Mediated Neurodegeneration. Cells 2024; 13:1112. [PMID: 38994964 PMCID: PMC11240328 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is the hallmark pathology in a spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders collectively called tauopathies. Physiologically, tau is an inherent neuronal protein that plays an important role in the assembly of microtubules and axonal transport. However, disease-associated mutations of this protein reduce its binding to the microtubule components and promote self-aggregation, leading to formation of tangles in neurons. Tau is also expressed in oligodendrocytes, where it has significant developmental roles in oligodendrocyte maturation and myelin synthesis. Oligodendrocyte-specific tau pathology, in the form of fibrils and coiled coils, is evident in major tauopathies including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Pick's disease (PiD). Multiple animal models of tauopathy expressing mutant forms of MAPT recapitulate oligodendroglial tau inclusions with potential to cause degeneration/malfunction of oligodendrocytes and affecting the neuronal myelin sheath. Till now, mechanistic studies heavily concentrated on elucidating neuronal tau pathology. Therefore, more investigations are warranted to comprehensively address tau-induced pathologies in oligodendrocytes. The present review provides the current knowledge available in the literature about the intricate relations between tau and oligodendrocytes in health and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Majumder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
| | - Debashis Dutta
- Department of Pediatrics, Darby’s Children Research Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Kuemper S, Cairns AG, Birchall K, Yao Z, Large JM. Targeted protein degradation in CNS disorders: a promising route to novel therapeutics? Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1370509. [PMID: 38685916 PMCID: PMC11057381 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1370509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a rapidly expanding field, with various PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) in clinical trials and molecular glues such as immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) already well established in the treatment of certain blood cancers. Many current approaches are focused on oncology targets, leaving numerous potential applications underexplored. Targeting proteins for degradation offers a novel therapeutic route for targets whose inhibition remains challenging, such as protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. This mini review focuses on the prospect of utilizing TPD for neurodegenerative disease targets, particularly PROTAC and molecular glue formats and opportunities for novel CNS E3 ligases. Some key challenges of utilizing such modalities including molecular design of degrader molecules, drug delivery and blood brain barrier penetrance will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Kuemper
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew G. Cairns
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
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6
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Wu YW, HuangFu WC, Lin TE, Peng CH, Tu HJ, Sung TY, Sung TY, Yen SC, Pan SL, Hsu KC. Identification of selective dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) inhibitors and their effects on tau and microtubule. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:129074. [PMID: 38163507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129074] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The overexpression of dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A), commonly observed in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down syndrome (DS), can induce the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and amyloid plaques. Hence, designing a selective DYRK1A inhibitor would result in a promising small molecule for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Developing selective inhibitors for DYRK1A has been a difficult challenge due to the highly preserved ATP-binding site of protein kinases. In this study, we employed a structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) campaign targeting DYRK1A from a database containing 1.6 million compounds. Enzymatic assays were utilized to verify inhibitory properties, confirming that Y020-3945 and Y020-3957 showed inhibitory activity towards DYRK1A. In particular, the compounds exhibited high selectivity for DYRK1A over a panel of 120 kinases, reduced the phosphorylation of tau, and reversed the tubulin polymerization for microtubule stability. Additionally, treatment with the compounds significantly reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α activated by DYRK1A-assisted NFTs and Aβ oligomers. These identified inhibitors possess promising therapeutic potential for conditions associated with DYRK1A in neurodegenerative diseases. The results showed that Y020-3945 and Y020-3957 demonstrated structural novelty compared to known DYRK1A inhibitors, making them a valuable addition to developing potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Wen Wu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun HuangFu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tony Eight Lin
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Hsiang Peng
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Ju Tu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yi Sung
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ying Sung
- Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chung Yen
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiow-Lin Pan
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; TMU Research Center for Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Cheng Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; TMU Research Center for Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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7
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Kobeissy F, Goli M, Yadikar H, Shakkour Z, Kurup M, Haidar MA, Alroumi S, Mondello S, Wang KK, Mechref Y. Advances in neuroproteomics for neurotrauma: unraveling insights for personalized medicine and future prospects. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1288740. [PMID: 38073638 PMCID: PMC10703396 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1288740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroproteomics, an emerging field at the intersection of neuroscience and proteomics, has garnered significant attention in the context of neurotrauma research. Neuroproteomics involves the quantitative and qualitative analysis of nervous system components, essential for understanding the dynamic events involved in the vast areas of neuroscience, including, but not limited to, neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, mental illness, traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and other neurodegenerative diseases. With advancements in mass spectrometry coupled with bioinformatics and systems biology, neuroproteomics has led to the development of innovative techniques such as microproteomics, single-cell proteomics, and imaging mass spectrometry, which have significantly impacted neuronal biomarker research. By analyzing the complex protein interactions and alterations that occur in the injured brain, neuroproteomics provides valuable insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neurotrauma. This review explores how such insights can be harnessed to advance personalized medicine (PM) approaches, tailoring treatments based on individual patient profiles. Additionally, we highlight the potential future prospects of neuroproteomics, such as identifying novel biomarkers and developing targeted therapies by employing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). By shedding light on neurotrauma's current state and future directions, this review aims to stimulate further research and collaboration in this promising and transformative field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firas Kobeissy
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Mona Goli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Hamad Yadikar
- Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Zaynab Shakkour
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Milin Kurup
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL, United States
| | | | - Shahad Alroumi
- Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Stefania Mondello
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Kevin K. Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yehia Mechref
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
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8
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Cáceres C, Heusser B, Garnham A, Moczko E. The Major Hypotheses of Alzheimer's Disease: Related Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for Its Diagnosis and Treatment. Cells 2023; 12:2669. [PMID: 38067098 PMCID: PMC10705786 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a well-known chronic neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the progressive death of brain cells, resulting in memory loss and the loss of other critical body functions. In March 2019, one of the major pharmaceutical companies and its partners announced that currently, there is no drug to cure AD, and all clinical trials of the new ones have been cancelled, leaving many people without hope. However, despite the clear message and startling reality, the research continued. Finally, in the last two years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever medications to treat Alzheimer's, aducanumab and lecanemab. Despite researchers' support of this decision, there are serious concerns about their effectiveness and safety. The validation of aducanumab by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is still pending, and lecanemab was authorized without considering data from the phase III trials. Furthermore, numerous reports suggest that patients have died when undergoing extended treatment. While there is evidence that aducanumab and lecanemab may provide some relief to those suffering from AD, their impact remains a topic of ongoing research and debate within the medical community. The fact is that even though there are considerable efforts regarding pharmacological treatment, no definitive cure for AD has been found yet. Nevertheless, it is strongly believed that modern nanotechnology holds promising solutions and effective clinical strategies for the development of diagnostic tools and treatments for AD. This review summarizes the major hallmarks of AD, its etiological mechanisms, and challenges. It explores existing diagnostic and therapeutic methods and the potential of nanotechnology-based approaches for recognizing and monitoring patients at risk of irreversible neuronal degeneration. Overall, it provides a broad overview for those interested in the evolving areas of clinical neuroscience, AD, and related nanotechnology. With further research and development, nanotechnology-based approaches may offer new solutions and hope for millions of people affected by this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ewa Moczko
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Viña del Mar 2562307, Chile; (C.C.)
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9
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Ndunge OBA, Shikani HJ, Dai M, Freeman BD, Desruisseaux MS. Effects of anti-tau immunotherapy on reactive microgliosis, cerebral endotheliopathy, and cognitive function in an experimental model of cerebral malaria. J Neurochem 2023; 167:441-460. [PMID: 37814468 PMCID: PMC10596299 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral malaria (CM), a potentially fatal encephalopathy caused primarily by infection with Plasmodium falciparum, results in long-term adverse neuro-psychiatric sequelae. Neural cell injury contributes to the neurological deficits observed in CM. Abnormal regulation of tau, an axonal protein pathologically associated with the formation of neurofibrillary lesions in neurodegenerative diseases, has been linked to inflammation and cerebral microvascular compromise and has been reported in human and experimental CM (ECM). Immunotherapy with a monoclonal antibody to pathological tau (PHF-1 mAB) in experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases has been reported to mitigate cognitive decline. We investigated whether immunotherapy with PHF-1 mAB prevented cerebral endotheliopathy, neural cell injury, and neuroinflammation during ECM. Using C57BL/6 mice infected with either Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA), which causes ECM, Plasmodium berghei NK65 (PbN), which causes severe malaria, but not ECM, or uninfected mice (Un), we demonstrated that when compared to PbN infection or uninfected mice, PbA infection resulted in significant memory impairment at 6 days post-infection, in association with abnormal tau phosphorylation at Ser202 /Thr205 (pSer202 /Thr205 ) and Ser396-404 (pSer396-404 ) in mouse brains. ECM also resulted in significantly higher expression of inflammatory markers, in microvascular congestion, and glial cell activation. Treatment with PHF-1 mAB prevented PbA-induced cognitive impairment and was associated with significantly less vascular congestion, neuroinflammation, and neural cell activation in mice with ECM. These findings suggest that abnormal regulation of tau protein contributes to cerebral vasculopathy and is critical in the pathogenesis of neural cell injury during CM. Tau-targeted therapies may ameliorate the neural cell damage and subsequent neurocognitive impairment that occur during disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry J. Shikani
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Minxian Dai
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Brandi D. Freeman
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Mahalia S. Desruisseaux
- Correspondence and reprint requests: Mahalia S. Desruisseaux, MD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208022, TAC S169B, New Haven, CT 06520-8022,
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10
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Kim DY, Park J, Han IO. Hexosamine biosynthetic pathway and O-GlcNAc cycling of glucose metabolism in brain function and disease. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C981-C998. [PMID: 37602414 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00191.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Impaired brain glucose metabolism is considered a hallmark of brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Disruption of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) and subsequent O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) cycling has been identified as an emerging link between altered glucose metabolism and defects in the brain. Myriads of cytosolic and nuclear proteins in the nervous system are modified at serine or threonine residues with a single N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) molecule by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), which can be removed by β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase, OGA). Homeostatic regulation of O-GlcNAc cycling is important for the maintenance of normal brain activity. Although significant evidence linking dysregulated HBP metabolism and aberrant O-GlcNAc cycling to induction or progression of neuronal diseases has been obtained, the issue of whether altered O-GlcNAcylation is causal in brain pathogenesis remains uncertain. Elucidation of the specific functions and regulatory mechanisms of individual O-GlcNAcylated neuronal proteins in both normal and diseased states may facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets for various neuronal disorders. The information presented in this review highlights the importance of HBP/O-GlcNAcylation in the neuronal system and summarizes the roles and potential mechanisms of O-GlcNAcylated neuronal proteins in maintaining normal brain function and initiation and progression of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yeol Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Program in Biomedical Science and Engineering, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Jiwon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, Program in Biomedical Science and Engineering, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Inn-Oc Han
- Department of Biomedical Science, Program in Biomedical Science and Engineering, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
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11
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Li P, Chen J, Wang X, Su Z, Gao M, Huang Y. Liquid - liquid phase separation of tau: Driving forces, regulation, and biological implications. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 183:106167. [PMID: 37230179 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106167] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The past 15 years have witnessed an explosion in the studies of biomolecular condensates that are implicated in numerous biological processes and play vital roles in human health and diseases. Recent findings demonstrate that the microtubule-associated protein tau forms liquid condensates through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in in vitro experiments using purified recombinant proteins and cell-based experiments. Although in vivo studies are lacking, liquid condensates have emerged as an important assembly state of physiological and pathological tau and LLPS can regulate the function of microtubules, mediate stress granule formation, and accelerate tau amyloid aggregation. In this review, we summarize recent advances in tau LLPS, aiming to unveiling the delicate interactions driving tau LLPS. We further discuss the association of tau LLPS with physiology and disease in the context of the sophisticated regulation of tau LLPS. Deciphering the mechanisms underlying tau LLPS and the liquid-to-solid transition enables rational design of molecules that inhibit or delay the formation of tau solid species, thus providing novel targeted therapeutic strategies for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Jingxin Chen
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Meng Gao
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
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12
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Rayman JB. Focusing on oligomeric tau as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37140480 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2206561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tau has commanded much attention as a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. Tau pathology is a hallmark of primary tauopathies, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and subtypes of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), as well as secondary tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The development of tau therapeutics must reconcile with the structural complexity of the tau proteome, as well as an incomplete understanding of the role of tau in both physiology and disease. AREAS COVERED This review offers a current perspective on tau biology, discusses key barriers to the development of effective tau-based therapeutics, and promotes the idea that pathogenic (as opposed to merely pathological) tau should be at the center of drug development efforts. EXPERT OPINION An efficacious tau therapeutic will exhibit several primary features: 1) selectivity for pathogenic tau versus other tau species; 2) blood-brain barrier and cell membrane permeability, enabling access to intracellular tau in disease-relevant brain regions; and 3) minimal toxicity. Oligomeric tau is proposed as a major pathogenic form of tau and a compelling drug target in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph B Rayman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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13
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Banka V, Kelleher A, Sehlin D, Hultqvist G, Sigurdsson EM, Syvänen S, Ding YS. Development of brain-penetrable antibody radioligands for in vivo PET imaging of amyloid-β and tau. FRONTIERS IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 3:1173693. [PMID: 37680310 PMCID: PMC10483511 DOI: 10.3389/fnume.2023.1173693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of two major proteins: amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau. Antibody-based PET radioligands are desirable due to their high specificity and affinity; however, antibody uptake in the brain is limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Previously, we demonstrated that antibody transport across the BBB can be facilitated through interaction with the transferrin receptor (TfR), and the bispecific antibody-based PET ligands were capable of detecting Aβ aggregates via ex vivo imaging. Since tau accumulation in the brain is more closely correlated with neuronal death and cognition, we report here our strategies to prepare four F-18-labeled specifically engineered bispecific antibody probes for the selective detection of tau and Aβ aggregates to evaluate their feasibility and specificity, particularly for in vivo PET imaging. Methods We first created and evaluated (via both in vitro and ex vivo studies) four specifically engineered bispecific antibodies, by fusion of single-chain variable fragments (scFv) of a TfR antibody with either a full-size IgG antibody of Aβ or tau or with their respective scFv. Using [18F]SFB as the prosthetic group, all four 18F-labeled bispecific antibody probes were then prepared by conjugation of antibody and [18F]SFB in acetonitrile/0.1 M borate buffer solution (final pH ~ 8.5) with an incubation of 20 min at room temperature, followed by purification on a PD MiniTrap G-25 size exclusion gravity column. Results Based on both in vitro and ex vivo evaluation, the bispecific antibodies displayed much higher brain concentrations than the unmodified antibody, supporting our subsequent F18-radiolabeling. [18F]SFB was produced in high yields in 60 min (decay-corrected radiochemical yield (RCY) 46.7 ± 5.4) with radiochemical purities of >95%, confirmed by analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and radio-TLC. Conjugation of [18F]SFB and bispecific antibodies showed a 65%-83% conversion efficiency with radiochemical purities of 95%-99% by radio-TLC. Conclusions We successfully labeled four novel and specifically engineered bispecific antibodies with [18F]SFB under mild conditions with a high RCY and purities. This study provides strategies to create brain-penetrable F-18 radiolabeled antibody probes for the selective detection of tau and Aβ aggregates in the brain of transgenic AD mice via in vivo PET imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Banka
- Department of Radiology, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Andrew Kelleher
- Department of Radiology, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dag Sehlin
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala
University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Einar M. Sigurdsson
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York
University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stina Syvänen
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala
University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yu-Shin Ding
- Department of Radiology, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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14
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Daini E, Vandini E, Bodria M, Liao W, Baraldi C, Secco V, Ottani A, Zoli M, Giuliani D, Vilella A. Melanocortin receptor agonist NDP-α-MSH improves cognitive deficits and microgliosis but not amyloidosis in advanced stages of AD progression in 5XFAD and 3xTg mice. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1082036. [PMID: 36703981 PMCID: PMC9871936 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1082036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia and still lacks effective therapy. Clinical signs of AD include low levels of endogenous melanocortins (MCs) and previous studies have shown that treatment with MC analogs induces neuroprotection in the early stages of AD. Methods We investigated the neuroprotective role of MCs in two transgenic mouse models of severe AD using 5 and 7 month-old (mo) 5XFAD mice and 9 and 12 mo 3xTg mice. These mice were subjected to a chronic stimulation of MC receptors (MCRs) with MC analogue Nle4-D-Phe7-α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (NDP-α-MSH, 340 μg/kg, i.p.). Mouse behavior and ex-vivo histological and biochemical analyses were performed after 50 days of treatment. Results Our analysis demonstrated an improvement in cognitive abilities of AD mice at late stage of AD progression. We also showed that these protective effects are associated with decreased levels of hyperphosphorylated Tau but not with Aβ burden, that was unaffected in the hippocampus and in the cortex of AD mice. In addition, an age-dependent NDP effect on glial reactivity was observed only in 3xTg mice whereas a global downregulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was selectively observed in 7 mo 5XFAD and 14 mo 3xTg mice. Conclusion Our results suggest that MCR stimulation by NDP-α-MSH could represent a promising therapeutic strategy in managing cognitive decline also at late stage of AD, whereas the effects on neuroinflammation may be restricted to specific stages of AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Daini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vandini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Pharmacology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Martina Bodria
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Wenjie Liao
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Carlo Baraldi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valentina Secco
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ottani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Pharmacology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Michele Zoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Daniela Giuliani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Pharmacology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonietta Vilella
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy,*Correspondence: Antonietta Vilella,
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15
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Fišar Z. Linking the Amyloid, Tau, and Mitochondrial Hypotheses of Alzheimer's Disease and Identifying Promising Drug Targets. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1676. [PMID: 36421690 PMCID: PMC9687482 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Damage or loss of brain cells and impaired neurochemistry, neurogenesis, and synaptic and nonsynaptic plasticity of the brain lead to dementia in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Injury to synapses and neurons and accumulation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles are considered the main morphological and neuropathological features of AD. Age, genetic and epigenetic factors, environmental stressors, and lifestyle contribute to the risk of AD onset and progression. These risk factors are associated with structural and functional changes in the brain, leading to cognitive decline. Biomarkers of AD reflect or cause specific changes in brain function, especially changes in pathways associated with neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, bioenergetics, apoptosis, and oxidative and nitrosative stress. Even in the initial stages, AD is associated with Aβ neurotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and tau neurotoxicity. The integrative amyloid-tau-mitochondrial hypothesis assumes that the primary cause of AD is the neurotoxicity of Aβ oligomers and tau oligomers, mitochondrial dysfunction, and their mutual synergy. For the development of new efficient AD drugs, targeting the elimination of neurotoxicity, mutual potentiation of effects, and unwanted protein interactions of risk factors and biomarkers (mainly Aβ oligomers, tau oligomers, and mitochondrial dysfunction) in the early stage of the disease seems promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdeněk Fišar
- Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 11, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic
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16
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Rawat P, Sehar U, Bisht J, Selman A, Culberson J, Reddy PH. Phosphorylated Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12841. [PMID: 36361631 PMCID: PMC9654278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in elderly people. Amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits and neurofibrillary tangles are the major pathological features in an Alzheimer's brain. These proteins are highly expressed in nerve cells and found in most tissues. Tau primarily provides stabilization to microtubules in the part of axons and dendrites. However, tau in a pathological state becomes hyperphosphorylated, causing tau dysfunction and leading to synaptic impairment and degeneration of neurons. This article presents a summary of the role of tau, phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in AD, and other tauopathies. Tauopathies, including Pick's disease, frontotemporal dementia, corticobasal degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, argyrophilic grain disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Huntington's disease, are the result of misprocessing and accumulation of tau within the neuronal and glial cells. This article also focuses on current research on the post-translational modifications and genetics of tau, tau pathology, the role of tau in tauopathies and the development of new drugs targeting p-tau, and the therapeutics for treating and possibly preventing tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Rawat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ujala Sehar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Jasbir Bisht
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ashley Selman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - John Culberson
- Department of Family Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - P. Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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17
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Wang N, Liu W, Zhou L, Liu W, Liang X, Liu X, Xu Z, Zhong T, Wu Q, Jiao X, Chen J, Ning X, Jiang X, Zhao Q. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Notopterol Derivatives as Triple Inhibitors of AChE/BACE1/GSK3β for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:32131-32152. [PMID: 36120034 PMCID: PMC9476211 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is very complex, and there are many hypotheses. Therefore, the development of a multi-target-directed-ligand may be an effective therapeutic strategy. Our previous study showed that notopterol (a natural product from Notopterygium) is a dual BACE1/GSK3β inhibitor. In this study, we designed and synthesized 48 notopterol derivatives with furacoumarin as a scaffold in order to enhance their balanced AChE/BACE1/GSK3β inhibitory activity. Fortunately, 1c showed effective inhibitory activity against AChE (58.7% at 1.0 μM), BACE1 (48.3% at 20 μM), and GSK3β (40.3% at 10 μM). Furthermore, 1c showed good blood-brain barrier penetrability, suitable bioavailability, and oral safety. More importantly, 1c could ameliorate the impaired learning and memory in Aβ-induced AD mice. In conclusion, we reported the triple inhibitor of AChE/BACE1/GSK3β lead compounds based on a furocoumarin scaffold of notopterol for the first time, which provides a potential new strategy for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wang
- Department
of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern
Theater Command, Shenyang110840, People’s Republic
of China
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenjie Liu
- School
of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang
Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Lijun Zhou
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenwu Liu
- School
of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang
Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Xu Liang
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Liu
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zihua Xu
- Department
of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern
Theater Command, Shenyang110840, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Tianming Zhong
- Department
of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern
Theater Command, Shenyang110840, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department
of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern
Theater Command, Shenyang110840, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Xinming Jiao
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiangxia Chen
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyue Ning
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaowen Jiang
- Department
of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern
Theater Command, Shenyang110840, People’s Republic
of China
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
- Key
Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry
of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qingchun Zhao
- Department
of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern
Theater Command, Shenyang110840, People’s Republic
of China
- School
of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang110016, People’s Republic of China
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18
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Shared pathophysiology: Understanding stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2022; 218:107306. [PMID: 35636382 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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19
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Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Treatments and New Perspectives. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061117. [PMID: 35745693 PMCID: PMC9228613 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. The pathophysiology of this disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β, leading to the formation of senile plaques, and by the intracellular presence of neurofibrillary tangles based on hyperphosphorylated tau protein. In the therapeutic approach to AD, we can identify three important fronts: the approved drugs currently available for the treatment of the disease, which include aducanumab, donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantine, and a combination of memantine and donepezil; therapies under investigation that work mainly on Aβ pathology and tau pathology, and which include γ-secretase inhibitors, β-secretase inhibitors, α-secretase modulators, aggregation inhibitors, metal interfering drugs, drugs that enhance Aβ clearance, inhibitors of tau protein hyperphosphorylation, tau protein aggregation inhibitors, and drugs that promote the clearance of tau, and finally, other alternative therapies designed to improve lifestyle, thus contributing to the prevention of the disease. Therefore, the aim of this review was to analyze and describe current treatments and possible future alternatives in the therapeutic approach to AD.
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20
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Silva MC, Nandi G, Donovan KA, Cai Q, Berry BC, Nowak RP, Fischer ES, Gray NS, Ferguson FM, Haggarty SJ. Discovery and Optimization of Tau Targeted Protein Degraders Enabled by Patient Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Neuronal Models of Tauopathy. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:801179. [PMID: 35317195 PMCID: PMC8934437 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.801179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of misfolded, aggregating proteins concurrent with disease onset and progression is a hallmark of neurodegenerative proteinopathies. An important class of these are tauopathies, such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), associated with accumulation of aberrant forms of tau protein in the brain. Pathological tau undergoes abnormal post-translational modifications, misfolding, oligomerization and changes in solubility, cellular redistribution, and spreading. Development and testing of experimental therapeutics that target these pathological tau conformers requires use of cellular models that recapitulate neuronal endogenous, non-heterologous tau expression under genomic and physiological contexts relevant to disease. In this study, we employed FTD-patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived neurons, expressing a tau variant or mutation, as primary models for driving a medicinal chemistry campaign around tau targeting degrader series. Our screening goal was to establish structure-activity relationships (SAR) for the different chemical series to identify the molecular composition that most efficiently led to tau degradation in human FTD ex vivo neurons. We describe the identification of the lead compound QC-01-175 and follow-up optimization strategies for this molecule. We present three final lead molecules with tau degradation activity in mutant neurons, which establishes potential disease relevance and will drive future studies on specificity and pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Catarina Silva
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ghata Nandi
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Katherine A. Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Quan Cai
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bethany C. Berry
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Radoslaw P. Nowak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Eric S. Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Fleur M. Ferguson
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Fleur M. Ferguson,
| | - Stephen J. Haggarty
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Stephen J. Haggarty,
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21
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Abstract
The 14-3-3 family proteins are vital scaffold proteins that ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. They interact with numerous protein targets and mediate many cellular signaling pathways. The 14-3-3 binding motifs are often embedded in intrinsically disordered regions which are closely associated with liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In the past ten years, LLPS has been observed for a variety of proteins and biological processes, indicating that LLPS plays a fundamental role in the formation of membraneless organelles and cellular condensates. While extensive investigations have been performed on 14-3-3 proteins, its involvement in LLPS is overlooked. To date, 14-3-3 proteins have not been reported to undergo LLPS alone or regulate LLPS of their binding partners. To reveal the potential involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in LLPS, in this review, we summarized the LLPS propensity of 14-3-3 binding partners and found that about one half of them may undergo LLPS spontaneously. We further analyzed the phase separation behavior of representative 14-3-3 binders and discussed how 14-3-3 proteins may be involved. By modulating the conformation and valence of interactions and recruiting other molecules, we speculate that 14-3-3 proteins can efficiently regulate the functions of their targets in the context of LLPS. Considering the critical roles of 14-3-3 proteins, there is an urgent need for investigating the involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in the phase separation process of their targets and the underling mechanisms.
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22
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Hu Y, Yang D, Tu Y, Chai K, Chu L, Shi S, Yao T. Dynamic-Inspired Perspective on the Molecular Inhibitor of Tau Aggregation by Glucose Gallates Based on Human Neurons. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4162-4174. [PMID: 34649422 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00554] [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: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A molecular inhibitor of tau protein aggregation offers an attractive therapeutic possibility as disease-modifying treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, the ineffectiveness as well as adjoint toxicity due to superficial understanding of the inhibition mechanism has hindered drug development. Conventional approaches for screening drug ligands rely on compatible docking with the well-defined structure of a protein receptor. Therefore, the design of tau aggregation inhibitors has been inevitably hindered by the unstructured, highly dynamic nature of the tau protein. This paper suggested a new strategy for reducing tau aggregation through a dynamic process of conformational isomerization. A group of glucose gallate derivatives were selected as tau aggregation inhibitors. These star-shaped molecules have a biocompatible glucose core surrounded by several gallic acid polyphenol arms, which can bind to peptide chains at different sites, probably through hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking. Theoretically, by elevating the saddle point on the potential energy surfaces (PES) of proteins, the barrier in the dynamic pathway of peptide isomerization, glucose gallates effectively inhibit tau aggregation through a dynamic mechanism. A tau cell model based on human neurons was constructed. For the first time, we confirmed that the moderate thermodynamic binding of the molecular ligand to the tau peptide chain can not only prevent the isomerization of the peptide chain leading to aggregation but also avoid toxicity resulting from the dissociation of tau from microtubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Hu
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Danjing Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ying Tu
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Keke Chai
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lei Chu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shuo Shi
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tianming Yao
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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23
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Bharat V, Hsieh CH, Wang X. Mitochondrial Defects in Fibroblasts of Pathogenic MAPT Patients. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:765408. [PMID: 34805172 PMCID: PMC8595217 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.765408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in MAPT gene cause multiple neurological disorders, including frontal temporal lobar degeneration and parkinsonism. Increasing evidence indicates impaired mitochondrial homeostasis and mitophagy in patients and disease models of pathogenic MAPT. Here, using MAPT patients' fibroblasts as a model, we report that disease-causing MAPT mutations compromise early events of mitophagy. By employing biochemical and mitochondrial assays we discover that upon mitochondrial depolarization, the recruitment of LRRK2 and Parkin to mitochondria and degradation of the outer mitochondrial membrane protein Miro1 are disrupted. Using high resolution electron microscopy, we reveal that the contact of mitochondrial membranes with ER and cytoskeleton tracks is dissociated following mitochondrial damage. This membrane dissociation is blocked by a pathogenic MAPT mutation. Furthermore, we provide evidence showing that tau protein, which is encoded by MAPT gene, interacts with Miro1 protein, and this interaction is abolished by pathogenic MAPT mutations. Lastly, treating fibroblasts of a MAPT patient with a small molecule promotes Miro1 degradation following depolarization. Altogether, our results show molecular defects in a peripheral tissue of patients and suggest that targeting mitochondrial quality control may have a broad application for future therapeutic intervention.
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24
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Lee BE, Suh PG, Kim JI. O-GlcNAcylation in health and neurodegenerative diseases. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:1674-1682. [PMID: 34837015 PMCID: PMC8639716 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00709-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation is a posttranslational modification that adds O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to serine or threonine residues of many proteins. This protein modification interacts with key cellular pathways involved in transcription, translation, and proteostasis. Although ubiquitous throughout the body, O-GlcNAc is particularly abundant in the brain, and various proteins commonly found at synapses are O-GlcNAcylated. Recent studies have demonstrated that the modulation of O-GlcNAc in the brain alters synaptic and neuronal functions. Furthermore, altered brain O-GlcNAcylation is associated with either the etiology or pathology of numerous neurodegenerative diseases, while the manipulation of O-GlcNAc exerts neuroprotective effects against these diseases. Although the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the functional roles of O-GlcNAcylation in the brain remain unclear, O-GlcNAcylation is critical for regulating diverse neural functions, and its levels change during normal and pathological aging. In this review, we will highlight the functional importance of O-GlcNAcylation in the brain and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong Eun Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Pann-Ghill Suh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
- Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Ick Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea.
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25
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Stamelou M, Respondek G, Giagkou N, Whitwell JL, Kovacs GG, Höglinger GU. Evolving concepts in progressive supranuclear palsy and other 4-repeat tauopathies. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:601-620. [PMID: 34426686 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00541-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are classified according to whether tau deposits predominantly contain tau isoforms with three or four repeats of the microtubule-binding domain. Those in which four-repeat (4R) tau predominates are known as 4R-tauopathies, and include progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, argyrophilic grain disease, globular glial tauopathies and conditions associated with specific MAPT mutations. In these diseases, 4R-tau deposits are found in various cell types and anatomical regions of the brain and the conditions share pathological, pathophysiological and clinical characteristics. Despite being considered 'prototype' tauopathies and, therefore, ideal for studying neuroprotective agents, 4R-tauopathies are still severe and untreatable diseases for which no validated biomarkers exist. However, advances in research have addressed the issues of phenotypic overlap, early clinical diagnosis, pathophysiology and identification of biomarkers, setting a road map towards development of treatments. New clinical criteria have been developed and large cohorts with early disease are being followed up in prospective studies. New clinical trial readouts are emerging and biomarker research is focused on molecular pathways that have been identified. Lessons learned from failed trials of neuroprotective drugs are being used to design new trials. In this Review, we present an overview of the latest research in 4R-tauopathies, with a focus on progressive supranuclear palsy, and discuss how current evidence dictates ongoing and future research goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stamelou
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Dept, HYGEIA Hospital, Athens, Greece. .,European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. .,Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Gesine Respondek
- Department of Neurology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Giagkou
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Dept, HYGEIA Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- Department of Neurology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
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26
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Imbimbo BP, Ippati S, Watling M, Balducci C. A critical appraisal of tau-targeting therapies for primary and secondary tauopathies. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 18:1008-1037. [PMID: 34533272 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Primary tauopathies are neurological disorders in which tau protein deposition is the predominant pathological feature. Alzheimer's disease is a secondary tauopathy with tau forming hyperphosphorylated insoluble aggregates. Tau pathology can propagate from region to region in the brain, while alterations in tau processing may impair tau physiological functions. METHODS We reviewed literature on tau biology and anti-tau drugs using PubMed, meeting abstracts, and ClnicalTrials.gov. RESULTS The past 15 years have seen >30 drugs interfering with tau aggregation, processing, and accumulation reaching the clinic. Initial results with tau aggregation inhibitors and anti-tau monoclonal antibodies have not shown clinical efficacy. DISCUSSION The reasons for these clinical failures are unclear but could be linked to the clearing of physiological forms of tau by non-specific drugs. Research is now concentrating efforts on developing reliable translational animal models and selective compounds targeting specific tau epitopes, neurotoxic tau aggregates, and post-translational tau modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno P Imbimbo
- Department of Research & Development, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Ippati
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Mark Watling
- CNS & Pain Department, TranScrip Ltd, Reading, UK
| | - Claudia Balducci
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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27
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Van Kolen K, Malia TJ, Theunis C, Nanjunda R, Teplyakov A, Ernst R, Wu SJ, Luo J, Borgers M, Vandermeeren M, Bottelbergs A, Wintmolders C, Lacy E, Maurin H, Larsen P, Willems R, Van De Casteele T, Triana-Baltzer G, Slemmon R, Galpern W, Trojanowski JQ, Sun H, Mercken MH. Discovery and Functional Characterization of hPT3, a Humanized Anti-Phospho Tau Selective Monoclonal Antibody. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 77:1397-1416. [PMID: 32894244 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a consequence of the discovery of an extracellular component responsible for the progression of tau pathology, tau immunotherapy is being extensively explored in both preclinical and clinical studies as a disease modifying strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVE Describe the characteristics of the anti-phospho (T212/T217) tau selective antibody PT3 and its humanized variant hPT3. METHODS By performing different immunization campaigns, a large collection of antibodies has been generated and prioritized. In depth, in vitro characterization using surface plasmon resonance, phospho-epitope mapping, and X-ray crystallography experiments were performed. Further characterization involved immunohistochemical staining on mouse- and human postmortem tissue and neutralization of tau seeding by immunodepletion assays. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Various in vitro experiments demonstrated a high intrinsic affinity for PT3 and hPT3 for AD brain-derived paired helical filaments but also to non-aggregated phospho (T212/T217) tau. Further functional analyses in cellular and in vivo models of tau seeding demonstrated almost complete depletion of tau seeds in an AD brain homogenate. Ongoing trials will provide the clinical evaluation of the tau spreading hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristof Van Kolen
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Thomas J Malia
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Clara Theunis
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Rupesh Nanjunda
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Alexey Teplyakov
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Robin Ernst
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Sheng-Jiun Wu
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Jinquan Luo
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Marianne Borgers
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Marc Vandermeeren
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Astrid Bottelbergs
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Cindy Wintmolders
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Eilyn Lacy
- Biologics Research, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Hervé Maurin
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Peter Larsen
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Roland Willems
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Tom Van De Casteele
- Translational Medicine and Early Development Statistics Janssen Research & Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | | | - Randy Slemmon
- Neuroscience biomarkers, Janssen Research & Development, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Wendy Galpern
- Neuroscience Experimental medicine, Janssen Research & Development, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | | | - Hong Sun
- Neuroscience Clinical Development, Janssen Research & Development, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | - Marc H Mercken
- Neuroscience Department, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
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28
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Gadhave K, Kumar D, Uversky VN, Giri R. A multitude of signaling pathways associated with Alzheimer's disease and their roles in AD pathogenesis and therapy. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:2689-2745. [PMID: 32783388 PMCID: PMC7876169 DOI: 10.1002/med.21719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The exact molecular mechanisms associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology continue to represent a mystery. In the past decades, comprehensive data were generated on the involvement of different signaling pathways in the AD pathogenesis. However, the utilization of signaling pathways as potential targets for the development of drugs against AD is rather limited due to the immense complexity of the brain and intricate molecular links between these pathways. Therefore, finding a correlation and cross-talk between these signaling pathways and establishing different therapeutic targets within and between those pathways are needed for better understanding of the biological events responsible for the AD-related neurodegeneration. For example, autophagy is a conservative cellular process that shows link with many other AD-related pathways and is crucial for maintenance of the correct cellular balance by degrading AD-associated pathogenic proteins. Considering the central role of autophagy in AD and its interplay with many other pathways, the finest therapeutic strategy to fight against AD is the use of autophagy as a target. As an essential step in this direction, this comprehensive review represents recent findings on the individual AD-related signaling pathways, describes key features of these pathways and their cross-talk with autophagy, represents current drug development, and introduces some of the multitarget beneficial approaches and strategies for the therapeutic intervention of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kundlik Gadhave
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Byrd Alzheimer’s Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Laboratory of New Methods in Biology, Institute for Biological Instrumentation, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Rajanish Giri
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
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29
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Przewodowska D, Marzec W, Madetko N. Novel Therapies for Parkinsonian Syndromes-Recent Progress and Future Perspectives. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:720220. [PMID: 34512258 PMCID: PMC8427499 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.720220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Atypical parkinsonian syndromes are rare, fatal neurodegenerative diseases associated with abnormal protein accumulation in the brain. Examples of these syndromes include progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, and corticobasal degeneration. A common clinical feature in parkinsonism is a limited improvement with levodopa. So far, there are no disease-modifying treatments to address these conditions, and therapy is only limited to the alleviation of symptoms. Diagnosis is devastating for patients, as prognosis is extremely poor, and the disease tends to progress rapidly. Currently, potential causes and neuropathological mechanisms involved in these diseases are being widely investigated. Objectives: The goal of this review is to summarize recent advances and gather emerging disease-modifying therapies that could slow the progression of atypical parkinsonian syndromes. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched regarding novel perspectives for atypical parkinsonism treatment. The following medical subject headings were used: "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-therapy," "treatment of atypical parkinsonian syndromes," "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-clinical trial," "therapy of tauopathy," "alpha-synucleinopathy treatment," "PSP therapy/treatment," "CBD therapy/treatment," "MSA therapy/treatment," and "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-disease modifying." All search results were manually reviewed prior to inclusion in this review. Results: Neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, microglia activation, proteasomal impairment, and oxidative stress play a role in the neurodegenerative process. Ongoing studies and clinical trials target these components in order to suppress toxic protein accumulation. Various approaches such as stem cell therapy, anti-aggregation/anti-phosphorylation agent administration, or usage of active and passive immunization appear to have promising results. Conclusion: Presently, disease-modifying strategies for atypical parkinsonian syndromes are being actively explored, with encouraging preliminary results. This leads to an assumption that developing accurate, safe, and progression-halting treatment is not far off. Nevertheless, the further investigation remains necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Przewodowska
- Students' Scientific Association of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Weronika Marzec
- Students' Scientific Association of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Madetko
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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30
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Wang D, Huang X, Yan L, Zhou L, Yan C, Wu J, Su Z, Huang Y. The Structure Biology of Tau and Clue for Aggregation Inhibitor Design. Protein J 2021; 40:656-668. [PMID: 34401998 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-021-10017-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that is mainly expressed in central and peripheral nerve systems. Tau binds to tubulin and regulates assembly and stabilization of microtubule, thus playing a critical role in neuron morphology, axon development and navigation. Tau is highly stable under normal conditions; however, there are several factors that can induce or promote aggregation of tau, forming neurofibrillary tangles. Neurofibrillary tangles are toxic to neurons, which may be related to a series of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Thus, tau is widely accepted as an important therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. While the monomeric structure of tau is highly disordered, the aggregate structure of tau is formed by closed packing of β-stands. Studies on the structure of tau and the structural transition mechanism provide valuable information on the occurrence, development, and therapy of tauopathies. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the structural investigation of tau and based on which we discuss aggregation inhibitor design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Xianlong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Lu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Luoqi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Chang Yan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Jinhu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China. .,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China.
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31
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McDade E, Llibre-Guerra JJ, Holtzman DM, Morris JC, Bateman RJ. The informed road map to prevention of Alzheimer Disease: A call to arms. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:49. [PMID: 34289882 PMCID: PMC8293489 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00467-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) prevention trials hold the promise to delay or prevent cognitive decline and dementia onset by intervening before significant neuronal damage occurs. In recent years, the first AD prevention trials have launched and are yielding important findings on the biology of targeting asymptomatic AD pathology. However, there are limitations that impact the design of these prevention trials, including the translation of animal models that recapitulate key stages and multiple pathological aspects of the human disease, missing target validation in asymptomatic disease, uncertain causality of the association of pathophysiologic changes with cognitive and clinical symptoms, and limited biomarker validation for novel targets. The field is accelerating advancements in key areas including the development of highly specific and quantitative biomarker measures for AD pathology, increasing our understanding of the course and relationship of amyloid and tau pathology in asymptomatic through symptomatic stages, and the development of powerful interventions that can slow or reverse AD amyloid pathology. We review the current status of prevention trials and propose key areas of needed research as a call to basic and translational scientists to accelerate AD prevention. Specifically, we review (1) sporadic and dominantly inherited primary and secondary AD prevention trials, (2) proposed targets, mechanisms, and drugs including the amyloid, tau, and inflammatory pathways and combination treatments, (3) the need for more appropriate prevention animal models and experiments, and (4) biomarkers and outcome measures needed to design human asymptomatic prevention trials. We conclude with actions needed to effectively move prevention targets and trials forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric McDade
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box, St Louis, MO 8111 USA
- Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
- Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - Jorge J. Llibre-Guerra
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box, St Louis, MO 8111 USA
- Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
- Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - David M. Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box, St Louis, MO 8111 USA
- Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
- Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - John C. Morris
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box, St Louis, MO 8111 USA
- Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
- Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - Randall J. Bateman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box, St Louis, MO 8111 USA
- Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
- Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
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32
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Bartolomé-Nebreda JM, Trabanco AA, Velter AI, Buijnsters P. O-GlcNAcase inhibitors as potential therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies: analysis of the patent literature. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:1117-1154. [PMID: 34176417 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1947242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: O-GlcNAcylation is a highly abundant post-translational modification of multiple proteins, including the microtubule-binding protein tau, governed by just two enzymes' concerted action O-GlcNAc transferase OGT and the hydrolase OGA. It is an approach to reduce abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies based on the ability of O-GlcNAcylation competing with tau phosphorylation, thus minimizing aggregation. The preclinical validation confirmed OGA inhibitors' efficacy in different transgenic tau mice models. Only three other OGA inhibitors have advanced into clinical trials thus far.Areas covered: 2008-2020 patent literature on OGA inhibitors.Expert opinion: Neurodegenerative disorders and AD specifically represent an enormous challenge since no effective treatments are available. Promising preclinical data has prompted considerable interest in searching for OGA inhibitors as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. Efforts from different companies have yielded a diverse set of chemotypes. OGA is a highly ubiquitous enzyme with many client proteins, generated data confirms a promising benign profile for OGA inhibition in healthy volunteers. Additionally, OGA PET tracers' existence will be critical for proper dose selection for future PoC Phase II studies, which will proof the true potential of OGA inhibition for the treatment of AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Bartolomé-Nebreda
- A Division of Janssen-Cilag SA, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Toledo, Spain
| | - Andrés A Trabanco
- A Division of Janssen-Cilag SA, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Toledo, Spain
| | - Adriana Ingrid Velter
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Peter Buijnsters
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Discovery Chemistry Department, Discovery, Product Development & Supply, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
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33
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Chemical-Mediated Targeted Protein Degradation in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070607. [PMID: 34202541 PMCID: PMC8305580 DOI: 10.3390/life11070607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, are a class of diseases that lead to dysfunction of cognition and mobility. Aggregates of misfolded proteins such as β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein, and polyglutamates are known to be among the main causes of neurodegenerative diseases; however, they are considered to be some of the most challenging drug targets because they cannot be modulated by conventional small-molecule agents. Recently, the degradation of target proteins by small molecules has emerged as a new therapeutic modality and has garnered the interest of the researchers in the pharmaceutical industry. Bifunctional molecules that recruit target proteins to a cellular protein degradation machinery, such as the ubiquitin–proteasome system and autophagy–lysosome pathway, have been designed. The representative targeted protein degradation technologies include molecular glues, proteolysis-targeting chimeras, hydrophobic tagging, autophagy-targeting chimeras, and autophagosome-tethering compounds. Although these modalities have been shown to degrade many disease-related proteins, such technologies are expected to be potentially important for neurogenerative diseases caused by protein aggregation. Herein, we review the recent progress in chemical-mediated targeted protein degradation toward the discovery of drugs for neurogenerative diseases.
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34
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Nowak D, Słupski W, Rutkowska M. New therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. POSTEP HIG MED DOSW 2021. [DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.9532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) described as a chronic and irreversible neurodegenerative disease
remains the most common cause of dementia. Due to the aging of the population, the incurability
of AD has become a growing problem of medicine in the 21stcentury. Current treatment
is only symptomatic, providing minimal, temporary improvement in the patient’s
cognitive function. This paper presents the latest trends in the search for effective pharmacotherapy
capable of preventing or inhibiting AD progression. Since the exact pathogenesis
of Alzheimer’s disease is not known, the main therapeutic strategies are based only on the
following hypotheses: amyloid cascade, tau protein, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and
those associated with dysfunction of the cholinergic system as well as glutamatergic. Most
of the compounds currently tested in clinical trials are targeted at pathological amyloid β
(A β), which is considered the cause of neurodegeneration, according to the most widely described
cascade theory. Most of the compounds currently tested in clinical trials are targeted
at pathological amyloid β (Aβ), which is the main cause of neurodegeneration according to
the widely described theory of the amyloid cascade. Attempts to fight the toxic Aβ are based
on the following: immunotherapy (vaccines, monoclonal antibodies), compounds that inhibit
its formation: γ-secretase inhibitors/modulators and β-secretase. Immunotherapy can
also be us,ed to increase the clearance of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, the occurrence
of which is another feature of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to immunotherapy, anti-inflammatory,
metabolic and neuroprotective compounds have been the subject of a number of studies. A range of symptomatic compounds that improve cognitive functions by compensating
cholinergic, noradrenergic and glutamatergic signaling deficits have also been investigated
in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Nowak
- Katedra i Zakład Farmakologii, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu
| | - Wojciech Słupski
- Katedra i Zakład Farmakologii, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu
| | - Maria Rutkowska
- Katedra i Zakład Farmakologii, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu
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35
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Firdaus Z, Singh TD. An Insight in Pathophysiological Mechanism of Alzheimer's Disease and its Management Using Plant Natural Products. Mini Rev Med Chem 2021; 21:35-57. [PMID: 32744972 DOI: 10.2174/1389557520666200730155928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated nervous system disorder and a leading cause of dementia worldwide. Clinically, it is described by cognitive impairment and pathophysiologically by deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain and neurodegeneration. This article reviews the pathophysiology, course of neuronal degeneration, and the various possible hypothesis of AD progression. These hypotheses include amyloid cascade, tau hyperphosphorylation, cholinergic disruption, metal dysregulation, vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. There is an exponential increase in the occurrence of AD in the recent few years that indicate an urgent need to develop some effective treatment. Currently, only 2 classes of drugs are available for AD treatment, namely acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and NMDA receptor antagonist. Since AD is a complex neurological disorder and these drugs use a single target approach, alternatives are needed due to limited effectiveness and unpleasant side-effects of these drugs. Currently, plants have been used for drug development research especially because of their multiple sites of action and fewer side effects. Uses of some herbs and phytoconstituents for the management of neuronal disorders like AD have been documented in this article. Phytochemical screening of these plants shows the presence of many beneficial constituents like flavonoids, triterpenes, alkaloids, sterols, polyphenols, and tannins. These compounds show a wide array of pharmacological activities, such as anti-amyloidogenic, anticholinesterase, and antioxidants. This article summarizes the present understanding of AD progression and gathers biochemical evidence from various works on natural products that can be useful in the management of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Firdaus
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221005, India
| | - Tryambak Deo Singh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221005, India
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36
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Kowalska M, Wize K, Prendecki M, Lianeri M, Kozubski W, Dorszewska J. Genetic Variants and Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 17:208-223. [PMID: 32091332 DOI: 10.2174/1567205017666200224121447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In an aging society, the number of people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is still growing. Currently, intensive research is being carried out on the pathogenesis of AD. The results of these studies indicated that oxidative stress plays an important role in the onset and development of this disease. Moreover, in AD oxidative stress is generated by both genetic and biochemical factors as well as the functioning of the systems responsible for their formation and removal. The genetic factors associated with the regulation of the redox system include TOMM40, APOE, LPR, MAPT, APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes. The most important biochemical parameters related to the formation of oxidative species in AD are p53, Homocysteine (Hcy) and a number of others. The formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is also related to the efficiency of the DNA repair system, the effectiveness of the apoptosis, autophagy and mitophagy processes as well as the antioxidant potential. However, these factors are responsible for the development of many disorders, often with similar clinical symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease. The discovery of markers of the early diagnosis of AD may contribute to the introduction of pharmacotherapy and slow down the progression of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kowalska
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Wize
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Michał Prendecki
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Margarita Lianeri
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Wojciech Kozubski
- Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jolanta Dorszewska
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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37
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Thapa P, Upadhyay SP, Suo WZ, Singh V, Gurung P, Lee ES, Sharma R, Sharma M. Chalcone and its analogs: Therapeutic and diagnostic applications in Alzheimer's disease. Bioorg Chem 2021; 108:104681. [PMID: 33571811 PMCID: PMC7928223 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Chalcone [(E)-1,3-diphenyl-2-propene-1-one], a small molecule with α, β unsaturated carbonyl group is a precursor or component of many natural flavonoids and isoflavonoids. It is one of the privileged structures in medicinal chemistry. It possesses a wide range of biological activities encouraging many medicinal chemists to study this scaffold for its usefulness to oncology, infectious diseases, virology and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Small molecular size, convenient and cost-effective synthesis, and flexibility for modifications to modulate lipophilicity suitable for blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability make chalcones a preferred candidate for their therapeutic and diagnostic potential in AD. This review summarizes and highlights the importance of chalcone and its analogs as single target small therapeutic agents, multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) as well as molecular imaging agents for AD. The information summarized here will guide many medicinal chemist and researchers involved in drug discovery to consider chalcone as a potential scaffold for the development of anti-AD agents including theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritam Thapa
- Drug Discovery Program, Midwest Veterans' Biomedical Research Foundation, KCVA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA.
| | - Sunil P Upadhyay
- Drug Discovery Program, Midwest Veterans' Biomedical Research Foundation, KCVA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA
| | - William Z Suo
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease & Aging Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA
| | - Vikas Singh
- Division of Neurology, KCVA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Prajwal Gurung
- Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Eung Seok Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Ram Sharma
- Drug Discovery Program, Midwest Veterans' Biomedical Research Foundation, KCVA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA
| | - Mukut Sharma
- Drug Discovery Program, Midwest Veterans' Biomedical Research Foundation, KCVA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA
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38
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Zeng Y, Yang J, Zhang B, Gao M, Su Z, Huang Y. The structure and phase of tau: from monomer to amyloid filament. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:1873-1886. [PMID: 33078207 PMCID: PMC11073437 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03681-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein involved in regulation of assembly and spatial organization of microtubule in neurons. However, in pathological conditions, tau monomers assemble into amyloid filaments characterized by the cross-β structures in a number of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. In this review, we summarize recent progression on the characterization of structures of tau monomer and filament, as well as the dynamic liquid droplet assembly. Our aim is to reveal how post-translational modifications, amino acid mutations, and interacting molecules modulate the conformational ensemble of tau monomer, and how they accelerate or inhibit tau assembly into aggregates. Structure-based aggregation inhibitor design is also discussed in the context of dynamics and heterogeneity of tau structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bailing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
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39
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The Neurovascular Unit Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042022. [PMID: 33670754 PMCID: PMC7922832 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Histopathologically, AD presents with two hallmarks: neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and aggregates of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) both in the brain parenchyma as neuritic plaques, and around blood vessels as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). According to the vascular hypothesis of AD, vascular risk factors can result in dysregulation of the neurovascular unit (NVU) and hypoxia. Hypoxia may reduce Aβ clearance from the brain and increase its production, leading to both parenchymal and vascular accumulation of Aβ. An increase in Aβ amplifies neuronal dysfunction, NFT formation, and accelerates neurodegeneration, resulting in dementia. In recent decades, therapeutic approaches have attempted to decrease the levels of abnormal Aβ or tau levels in the AD brain. However, several of these approaches have either been associated with an inappropriate immune response triggering inflammation, or have failed to improve cognition. Here, we review the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets associated with dysfunction of the NVU in AD.
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40
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Tomoshige S, Ishikawa M. PROTACs and Other Chemical Protein Degradation Technologies for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202004746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shusuke Tomoshige
- Graduate School of Life Sciences Tohoku University 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Minoru Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Life Sciences Tohoku University 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-8577 Japan
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41
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Sun Y, Guo Y, Feng X, Fu L, Zheng Y, Dong Y, Zhang Y, Yu X, Kong W, Wu H. Norovirus P particle-based tau vaccine-generated phosphorylated tau antibodies markedly ameliorate tau pathology and improve behavioral deficits in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:61. [PMID: 33579892 PMCID: PMC7881025 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00416-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yongqing Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Xuejian Feng
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Lu Fu
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yayuan Zheng
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yue Dong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Xianghui Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Wei Kong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Hui Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China. .,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
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42
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Chen X, Salehi A, Pearn ML, Overk C, Nguyen PD, Kleschevnikov AM, Maccecchini M, Mobley WC. Targeting increased levels of APP in Down syndrome: Posiphen-mediated reductions in APP and its products reverse endosomal phenotypes in the Ts65Dn mouse model. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 17:271-292. [PMID: 32975365 PMCID: PMC7984396 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent clinical trials targeting amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have yet to demonstrate efficacy. Reviewing the hypotheses for AD pathogenesis and defining possible links between them may enhance insights into both upstream initiating events and downstream mechanisms, thereby promoting discovery of novel treatments. Evidence that in Down syndrome (DS), a population markedly predisposed to develop early onset AD, increased APP gene dose is necessary for both AD neuropathology and dementia points to normalization of the levels of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its products as a route to further define AD pathogenesis and discovering novel treatments. BACKGROUND AD and DS share several characteristic manifestations. DS is caused by trisomy of whole or part of chromosome 21; this chromosome contains about 233 protein-coding genes, including APP. Recent evidence points to a defining role for increased expression of the gene for APP and for its 99 amino acid C-terminal fragment (C99, also known as β-CTF) in dysregulating the endosomal/lysosomal system. The latter is critical for normal cellular function and in neurons for transmitting neurotrophic signals. NEW/UPDATED HYPOTHESIS We hypothesize that the increase in APP gene dose in DS initiates a process in which increased levels of full-length APP (fl-APP) and its products, including β-CTF and possibly Aβ peptides (Aβ42 and Aβ40), drive AD pathogenesis through an endosome-dependent mechanism(s), which compromises transport of neurotrophic signals. To test this hypothesis, we carried out studies in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS and examined the effects of Posiphen, an orally available small molecule shown in prior studies to reduce fl-APP. In vitro, Posiphen lowered fl-APP and its C-terminal fragments, reversed Rab5 hyperactivation and early endosome enlargement, and restored retrograde transport of neurotrophin signaling. In vivo, Posiphen treatment (50 mg/kg/d, 26 days, intraperitoneal [i.p.]) of Ts65Dn mice was well tolerated and demonstrated no adverse effects in behavior. Treatment resulted in normalization of the levels of fl-APP, C-terminal fragments and small reductions in Aβ species, restoration to normal levels of Rab5 activity, reduced phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and reversed deficits in TrkB (tropomyosin receptor kinase B) activation and in the Akt (protein kinase B [PKB]), ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), and CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) signaling pathways. Remarkably, Posiphen treatment also restored the level of choline acetyltransferase protein to 2N levels. These findings support the APP gene dose hypothesis, point to the need for additional studies to explore the mechanisms by which increased APP gene expression acts to increase the risk for AD in DS, and to possible utility of treatments to normalize the levels of APP and its products for preventing AD in those with DS. MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR THE HYPOTHESIS Important unanswered questions are: (1) When should one intervene in those with DS; (2) would an APP-based strategy have untoward consequences on possible adaptive changes induced by chronically increased APP gene dose; (3) do other genes present on chromosome 21, or on other chromosomes whose expression is dysregulated in DS, contribute to AD pathogenesis; and (4) can one model strategies that combine the use of an APP-based treatment with those directed at other AD phenotypes including p-tau and inflammation. LINKAGE TO OTHER MAJOR THEORIES The APP gene dose hypothesis interfaces with the amyloid cascade hypothesis of AD as well as with the genetic and cell biological observations that support it. Moreover, upregulation of fl-APP protein and products may drive downstream events that dysregulate tau homeostasis and inflammatory responses that contribute to propagation of AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu‐Qiao Chen
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ahmad Salehi
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford Medical SchoolPalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Matthew L. Pearn
- Department of AnesthesiologyUniversity of California San Diego, School of MedicineLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- V.A. San Diego Healthcare SystemSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Cassia Overk
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Phuong D. Nguyen
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | | | | | - William C. Mobley
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
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Turab Naqvi AA, Hasan GM, Hassan MI. Targeting Tau Hyperphosphorylation via Kinase Inhibition: Strategy to Address Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:1059-1073. [PMID: 31903881 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200106125910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau is involved in the tubulin binding leading to microtubule stabilization in neuronal cells which is essential for stabilization of neuron cytoskeleton. The regulation of tau activity is accommodated by several kinases which phosphorylate tau protein on specific sites. In pathological conditions, abnormal activity of tau kinases such as glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3β), cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and microtubule affinity regulating kinase (MARK) lead to tau hyperphosphorylation. Hyperphosphorylation of tau protein leads to aggregation of tau into paired helical filaments like structures which are major constituents of neurofibrillary tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we discuss various tau protein kinases and their association with tau hyperphosphorylation. We also discuss various strategies and the advancements made in the area of Alzheimer's disease drug development by designing effective and specific inhibitors for such kinases using traditional in vitro/in vivo methods and state of the art in silico techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Abu Turab Naqvi
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi - 110025, India
| | - Gulam Mustafa Hasan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj - 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi - 110025, India
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44
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Gu JL, Liu F. Tau in Alzheimer's Disease: Pathological Alterations and an Attractive Therapeutic Target. Curr Med Sci 2021; 40:1009-1021. [PMID: 33428128 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-020-2282-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease with two major hallmarks: extracellular amyloid plaques made of amyloid-β (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau. The number of NFTs correlates positively with the severity of dementia in AD patients. However, there is still no efficient therapy available for AD treatment and prevention so far. A deeper understanding of AD pathogenesis has identified novel strategies for the generation of specific therapies over the past few decades. Several studies have suggested that the prion-like seeding and spreading of tau pathology in the brain may be a key driver of AD. Tau protein is considered as a promising candidate target for the development of therapeutic interventions due to its considerable pathological role in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation plays a detrimental pathological role, eventually leading to neurodegeneration. In the present review, we describe the recent research progresses in the pathological mechanisms of tau protein in AD and briefly discuss tau-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Lan Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China. .,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration and Ministry of Education of Jiangsu, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
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45
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Breijyeh Z, Karaman R. Comprehensive Review on Alzheimer's Disease: Causes and Treatment. Molecules 2020; 25:E5789. [PMID: 33302541 PMCID: PMC7764106 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 897] [Impact Index Per Article: 224.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disorder that causes degeneration of the cells in the brain and it is the main cause of dementia, which is characterized by a decline in thinking and independence in personal daily activities. AD is considered a multifactorial disease: two main hypotheses were proposed as a cause for AD, cholinergic and amyloid hypotheses. Additionally, several risk factors such as increasing age, genetic factors, head injuries, vascular diseases, infections, and environmental factors play a role in the disease. Currently, there are only two classes of approved drugs to treat AD, including inhibitors to cholinesterase enzyme and antagonists to N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA), which are effective only in treating the symptoms of AD, but do not cure or prevent the disease. Nowadays, the research is focusing on understanding AD pathology by targeting several mechanisms, such as abnormal tau protein metabolism, β-amyloid, inflammatory response, and cholinergic and free radical damage, aiming to develop successful treatments that are capable of stopping or modifying the course of AD. This review discusses currently available drugs and future theories for the development of new therapies for AD, such as disease-modifying therapeutics (DMT), chaperones, and natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafik Karaman
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 20002, Palestine;
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46
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Soeda Y, Takashima A. New Insights Into Drug Discovery Targeting Tau Protein. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:590896. [PMID: 33343298 PMCID: PMC7744460 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.590896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau is characterized by the fact that it is an intrinsically disordered protein due to its lack of a stable conformation and high flexibility. Intracellular inclusions of fibrillar forms of tau with a β-sheet structure accumulate in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Accordingly, detachment of tau from microtubules and transition of tau from a disordered state to an abnormally aggregated state are essential events preceding the onset of tau-related diseases. Many reports have shown that this transition is caused by post-translational modifications, including hyperphosphorylation and acetylation. The misfolded tau is self-assembled and forms a tau oligomer before the appearance of tau inclusions. Animal and pathological studies using human samples have demonstrated that tau oligomer formation contributes to neuronal loss. During the progression of tauopathies, tau seeds are released from cells and incorporated into other cells, leading to the propagation of pathological tau aggregation. Accumulating evidence suggests several potential approaches for blocking tau-mediated toxicity: (1) direct inhibition of pathological tau aggregation and (2) inhibition of tau post-translational modifications that occur prior to pathological tau aggregation, (3) inhibition of tau propagation and (4) stabilization of microtubules. In addition to traditional low-molecular-weight compounds, newer drug discovery approaches such as the development of medium-molecular-weight drugs (peptide- or oligonucleotide-based drugs) and high-molecular-weight drugs (antibody-based drugs) provide alternative pathways to preventing the formation of abnormal tau. Of particular interest are recent studies suggesting that tau droplet formation by liquid-liquid phase separation may be the initial step in aberrant tau aggregation, as well results that implicate roles for tau in dendritic and nuclear functions. Here, we review the mechanisms through which drugs can target tau and consider recent clinical trials for the treatment of tauopathies. In addition, we discuss the utility of these newer strategies and propose future directions for research on tau-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Soeda
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Takashima
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
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47
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Silva MC, Haggarty SJ. Tauopathies: Deciphering Disease Mechanisms to Develop Effective Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238948. [PMID: 33255694 PMCID: PMC7728099 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) in the form of neurofibrillary tangles and paired helical filaments in neurons and glia, leading to brain cell death. These diseases include frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can be sporadic or inherited when caused by mutations in the MAPT gene. Despite an incredibly high socio-economic burden worldwide, there are still no effective disease-modifying therapies, and few tau-focused experimental drugs have reached clinical trials. One major hindrance for therapeutic development is the knowledge gap in molecular mechanisms of tau-mediated neuronal toxicity and death. For the promise of precision medicine for brain disorders to be fulfilled, it is necessary to integrate known genetic causes of disease, i.e., MAPT mutations, with an understanding of the dysregulated molecular pathways that constitute potential therapeutic targets. Here, the growing understanding of known and proposed mechanisms of disease etiology will be reviewed, together with promising experimental tau-directed therapeutics, such as recently developed tau degraders. Current challenges faced by the fields of tau research and drug discovery will also be addressed.
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Chandupatla RR, Flatley A, Feederle R, Mandelkow E, Kaniyappan S. Novel antibody against low-n oligomers of tau protein promotes clearance of tau in cells via lysosomes. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2020; 6:e12097. [PMID: 33145390 PMCID: PMC7593557 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tau, a natively unfolded soluble protein, forms abnormal oligomers and insoluble filaments in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD). Tau-induced toxicity is mainly due to oligomers rather than monomers or fibrils. METHODS We have developed monoclonal antibodies against purified low-n tau oligomers of the tau repeat domain as a tool to neutralize tau aggregation and toxicity. In vitro aggregation inhibition was tested by thioflavin S, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Using a split-luciferase complementation assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), the inhibition of aggregation was analyzed in an N2a cell model of tauopathy. RESULTS Antibodies inhibited tau aggregation in vitro up to ~90% by blocking tau at an oligomeric state. Some antibodies were able to block tau dimerization/oligomerization in cells, as measured by a split-luciferase complementation assay. Antibodies applied extracellularly were internalized and led to sequestration of tau into lysosomes for degradation. DISCUSSION Novel low-n tau oligomer specific monoclonal antibody inhibits Tau oligomerization in cells and promotes toxic tau clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew Flatley
- Institute for Diabetes and ObesityMonoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Helmholtz Center MunichGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthNeuherbergGermany
- DZNE–German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesMunichGermany
| | - Regina Feederle
- Institute for Diabetes and ObesityMonoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Helmholtz Center MunichGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthNeuherbergGermany
- CAESAR–Center of Advanced European Studies and ResearchBonnGermany
| | - Eva‐Maria Mandelkow
- DZNE–German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesBonnGermany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric PsychiatryUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Senthilvelrajan Kaniyappan
- DZNE–German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesBonnGermany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric PsychiatryUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
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Neves JF, Petrvalská O, Bosica F, Cantrelle FX, Merzougui H, O'Mahony G, Hanoulle X, Obšil T, Landrieu I. Phosphorylated full-length Tau interacts with 14-3-3 proteins via two short phosphorylated sequences, each occupying a binding groove of 14-3-3 dimer. FEBS J 2020; 288:1918-1934. [PMID: 32979285 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) remain poorly explored targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The interaction of 14-3-3 proteins with Tau was shown to be linked to Tau pathology. This PPI is therefore seen as a potential target for Alzheimer's disease. When Tau is phosphorylated by PKA (Tau-PKA), several phosphorylation sites are generated, including two known 14-3-3 binding sites, surrounding the phosphorylated serines 214 and 324 of Tau. The crystal structures of 14-3-3 in complex with peptides surrounding these Tau phosphosites show that both these motifs are anchored in the amphipathic binding groove of 14-3-3. However, in the absence of structural data with the full-length Tau protein, the stoichiometry of the complex or the interface and affinity of the partners is still unclear. In this work, we addressed these points, using a broad range of biophysical techniques. The interaction of the long and disordered Tau-PKA protein with 14-3-3σ is restricted to two short sequences, containing phosphorylated serines, which bind in the amphipathic binding groove of 14-3-3σ. Phosphorylation of Tau is fundamental for the formation of this stable complex, and the affinity of the Tau-PKA/14-3-3σ interaction is in the 1-10 micromolar range. Each monomer of the 14-3-3σ dimer binds one of two different phosphorylated peptides of Tau-PKA, suggesting a 14-3-3/Tau-PKA stoichiometry of 2 : 1, confirmed by analytical ultracentrifugation. These results contribute to a better understanding of this PPI and provide useful insights for drug discovery projects aiming at the modulation of this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Filipe Neves
- CNRS ERL9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France.,Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Univ. Lille, Lille, France
| | - Olivia Petrvalská
- Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Francesco Bosica
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - François-Xavier Cantrelle
- CNRS ERL9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France.,Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Univ. Lille, Lille, France
| | - Hamida Merzougui
- CNRS ERL9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France.,Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Univ. Lille, Lille, France
| | - Gavin O'Mahony
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Xavier Hanoulle
- CNRS ERL9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France.,Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Univ. Lille, Lille, France
| | - Tomáš Obšil
- Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS ERL9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France.,Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Univ. Lille, Lille, France
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Smart treatment strategies for alleviating tauopathy and neuroinflammation to improve clinical outcome in Alzheimer's disease. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:2110-2129. [PMID: 33011341 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease leading to progressive loss of memory that mainly affects people above 60 years of age. It is one of the leading causes of deaths in the USA. Given its inherent heterogeneity and a still-incomplete understanding of its pathology, biomarkers, and targets available for therapy, it is a challenge to design an effective therapeutic strategy. Several hypotheses have been proposed to understand the disease and to identify reliable markers and targets for treatments. However, none have resulted in strong support from clinical trials. In this review, we objectively discuss the various therapeutic strategies and mechanistic approaches to improve the current clinical outcome of AD therapy.
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