Human-Induced Neurons from Presenilin 1 Mutant Patients Model Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology

Amyloid β-Oligomers Inhibit the Nuclear Ca2+ Signals and the Neuroprotective Gene Expression Induced by Gabazine in Hippocampal Neurons

Hippocampal neuronal activity generates dendritic and somatic Ca2+ signals, which, depending on stimulus intensity, rapidly propagate to the nucleus and induce the expression of transcription factors and genes with crucial roles in cognitive functions. Soluble amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs), the main synaptotoxins engaged in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, generate aberrant Ca2+ signals in primary hippocampal neurons, increase their oxidative tone and disrupt structural plasticity. Here, we explored the effects of sub-lethal AβOs concentrations on activity-generated nuclear Ca2+ signals and on the Ca2+-dependent expression of neuroprotective genes. To induce neuronal activity, neuron-enriched primary hippocampal cultures were treated with the GABAA receptor blocker gabazine (GBZ), and nuclear Ca2+ signals were measured in AβOs-treated or control neurons transfected with a genetically encoded nuclear Ca2+ sensor. Incubation (6 h) with AβOs significantly reduced the nuclear Ca2+ signals and the enhanced phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) induced by GBZ. Likewise, incubation (6 h) with AβOs significantly reduced the GBZ-induced increases in the mRNA levels of neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim domain protein 4 (Npas4), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ryanodine receptor type-2 (RyR2), and the antioxidant enzyme NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase (Nqo1). Based on these findings we propose that AβOs, by inhibiting the generation of activity-induced nuclear Ca2+ signals, disrupt key neuroprotective gene expression pathways required for hippocampal-dependent learning and memory processes.

Cytosolic calcium: Judge, jury and executioner of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and beyond

This review discusses the driving principles that may underlie neurodegeneration in dementia, represented most dominantly by Alzheimer's disease (AD). While a myriad of different disease risk factors contribute to AD, these ultimately converge to a common disease outcome. Based on decades of research, a picture emerges where upstream risk factors combine in a feedforward pathophysiological cycle, culminating in a rise of cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+ ]c ) that triggers neurodegeneration. In this framework, positive AD risk factors entail conditions, characteristics, or lifestyles that initiate or accelerate self-reinforcing cycles of pathophysiology, whereas negative risk factors or therapeutic interventions, particularly those mitigating elevated [Ca2+ ]c , oppose these effects and therefore have neuroprotective potential.

Familial Alzheimer's disease-associated PSEN1 mutations affect neurodevelopment through increased Notch signaling

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, but its root cause may lie in neurodevelopment. PSEN1 mutations cause the majority of familial AD, potentially by disrupting proper Notch signaling, causing early unnoticed cellular changes that affect later AD progression. While rodent models are useful for modeling later stages of AD, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical spheroids (hCSs) allow access to studying the human cortex at the cellular level over the course of development. Here, we show that the PSEN1 L435F heterozygous mutation affects hCS development, increasing size, increasing progenitors, and decreasing post-mitotic neurons as a result of increased Notch target gene expression during early hCS development. We also show altered Aβ expression and neuronal activity at later hCS stages. These results contrast previous findings, showing how individual PSEN1 mutations may differentially affect neurodevelopment and may give insight into fAD progression to provide earlier time points for more effective treatments.

Protein mishandling and impaired lysosomal proteolysis generated through calcium dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease

Impairments in neural lysosomal- and autophagic-mediated degradation of cellular debris contribute to neuritic dystrophy and synaptic loss. While these are well-characterized features of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), the upstream cellular processes driving deficits in pathogenic protein mishandling are less understood. Using a series of fluorescent biosensors and optical imaging in model cells, AD mouse models and human neurons derived from AD patients, we reveal a previously undescribed cellular signaling cascade underlying protein mishandling mediated by intracellular calcium dysregulation, an early component of AD pathogenesis. Increased Ca2+ release via the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident ryanodine receptor (RyR) is associated with reduced expression of the lysosome proton pump vacuolar-ATPase (vATPase) subunits (V1B2 and V0a1), resulting in lysosome deacidification and disrupted proteolytic activity in AD mouse models and human-induced neurons (HiN). As a result of impaired lysosome digestive capacity, mature autophagosomes with hyperphosphorylated tau accumulated in AD murine neurons and AD HiN, exacerbating proteinopathy. Normalizing AD-associated aberrant RyR-Ca2+ signaling with the negative allosteric modulator, dantrolene (Ryanodex), restored vATPase levels, lysosomal acidification and proteolytic activity, and autophagic clearance of intracellular protein aggregates in AD neurons. These results highlight that prior to overt AD histopathology or cognitive deficits, aberrant upstream Ca2+ signaling disrupts lysosomal acidification and contributes to pathological accumulation of intracellular protein aggregates. Importantly, this is demonstrated in animal models of AD, and in human iPSC-derived neurons from AD patients. Furthermore, pharmacological suppression of RyR-Ca2+ release rescued proteolytic function, revealing a target for therapeutic intervention that has demonstrated effects in clinically-relevant assays.

Intracellular Injection of Brain Extracts from Alzheimer's Disease Patients Triggers Unregulated Ca2+ Release from Intracellular Stores That Hinders Cellular Bioenergetics

Strong evidence indicates that amyloid beta (Aβ) inflicts its toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by promoting uncontrolled elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ in neurons. We have previously shown that synthetic Aβ42 oligomers stimulate abnormal intracellular Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum stores, suggesting that a similar mechanism of Ca²⁺ toxicity may be common to the endogenous Aβs oligomers. Here, we use human postmortem brain extracts from AD-affected patients and test their ability to trigger Ca²⁺ fluxes when injected intracellularly into Xenopus oocytes. Immunological characterization of the samples revealed the elevated content of soluble Aβ oligomers only in samples from AD patients. Intracellular injection of brain extracts from control patients failed to trigger detectable changes in intracellular Ca²⁺. Conversely, brain extracts from AD patients triggered Ca²⁺ events consisting of local and global Ca²⁺ fluorescent transients. Pre-incubation with either the conformation-specific OC antiserum or caffeine completely suppressed the brain extract's ability to trigger cytosolic Ca²⁺ events. Computational modeling suggests that these Ca²⁺ fluxes may impair cells bioenergetic by affecting ATP and ROS production. These results support the hypothesis that Aβ oligomers contained in neurons of AD-affected brains may represent the toxic agents responsible for neuronal malfunctioning and death associated with the disruption of Ca²⁺ homeostasis.

Autophagy Balances Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease

Autophagy is a highly evolutionary conserved process that degrades cytosolic macromolecules or damaged organelles (e.g., mitochondria), as well as intracellular pathogens for energy and survival. Dysfunction of autophagy has been associated with the pathologies of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Recently, the presence of sustained immune response in the brain has been considered a new core pathology in AD. Accumulating evidence suggests that autophagy activation may suppress inflammation response through degrading inflammasomes or pro-inflammatory cytokines and improving immune system function in both clinical trials and preclinical studies. This review provides an overview of updated information on autophagy and inflammation and their potential mediators in AD. In summary, we believe that understanding the relationship between autophagy and inflammation will provide insightful knowledge for future therapeutic implications in AD.

Ca2+ Dyshomeostasis Disrupts Neuronal and Synaptic Function in Alzheimer's Disease

Ca²⁺ homeostasis is essential for multiple neuronal functions and thus, Ca²⁺ dyshomeostasis can lead to widespread impairment of cellular and synaptic signaling, subsequently contributing to dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). While numerous studies implicate Ca²⁺ mishandling in AD, the cellular basis for loss of cognitive function remains under investigation. The process of synaptic degradation and degeneration in AD is slow, and constitutes a series of maladaptive processes each contributing to a further destabilization of the Ca²⁺ homeostatic machinery. Ca²⁺ homeostasis involves precise maintenance of cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels, despite extracellular influx via multiple synaptic Ca²⁺ channels, and intracellular release via organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via ryanodine receptor (RyRs) and IP₃R, lysosomes via transient receptor potential mucolipin channel (TRPML) and two pore channel (TPC), and mitochondria via the permeability transition pore (PTP). Furthermore, functioning of these organelles relies upon regulated inter-organelle Ca²⁺ handling, with aberrant signaling resulting in synaptic dysfunction, protein mishandling, oxidative stress and defective bioenergetics, among other consequences consistent with AD. With few effective treatments currently available to mitigate AD, the past few years have seen a significant increase in the study of synaptic and cellular mechanisms as drivers of AD, including Ca²⁺ dyshomeostasis. Here, we detail some key findings and discuss implications for future AD treatments.

Approaches to Optimizing Dantrolene Neuroprotection for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder with high incidence and mortality, is leading its way to the top of the list of the deadliest diseases without an effective disease-modifying drug. Ca2+ dysregulation, specifically abnormal release of Ca2+ via over activated ryanodine receptor (RyR), has been increasingly considered as an alternative upstream mechanism in AD pathology. Consequently, dantrolene, a RyR antagonist and FDA approved drug to treat malignant hyperthermia and chronic muscle spasms, has been shown to ameliorate memory loss in AD transgenic mice. However, the inefficiency of dantrolene to pass the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and penetrate the Central Nervous System needs to be resolved, considering its dose-dependent neuroprotection in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. In this mini-review, we will discuss the current status of dantrolene neuroprotection in AD treatment and a strategy to maximize its beneficial effects, such as intranasal administration of dantrolene.