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Delpech JC, Pathak D, Varghese M, Kalavai SV, Hays EC, Hof PR, Johnson WE, Ikezu S, Medalla M, Luebke JI, Ikezu T. Wolframin-1-expressing neurons in the entorhinal cortex propagate tau to CA1 neurons and impair hippocampal memory in mice. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabe8455. [PMID: 34524859 PMCID: PMC8763211 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abe8455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Abnormally phosphorylated tau, an early neuropathologic marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), first occurs in the brain’s entorhinal cortex layer II (ECII) and then spreads to the CA1 field of the hippocampus. Animal models of tau propagation aiming to recapitulate this phenomenon mostly show tau transfer from ECII stellate neurons to the dentate gyrus, but tau pathology in the dentate gyrus does not appear until advanced stages of AD. Wolframin-1–expressing (Wfs1+) pyramidal neurons have been shown functionally to modulate hippocampal CA1 neurons in mice. Here, we report that Wfs1+ pyramidal neurons are conserved in the ECII of postmortem human brain tissue and that Wfs1 colocalized with abnormally phosphorylated tau in brains from individuals with early AD. Wfs1+ neuron–specific expression of human P301L mutant tau in mouse ECII resulted in transfer of tau to hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, suggesting spread of tau pathology as observed in the early Braak stages of AD. In mice expressing human mutant tau specifically in the ECII brain region, electrophysiological recordings of CA1 pyramidal neurons showed reduced excitability. Multielectrode array recordings of optogenetically stimulated Wfs1+ ECII axons resulted in reduced CA1 neuronal firing. Chemogenetic activation of CA1 pyramidal neurons showed a reduction in c-fos+ cells in the CA1. Last, a fear conditioning task revealed deficits in trace and contextual memory in mice overexpressing human mutant tau in the ECII. This work demonstrates tau transfer from the ECII to CA1 in mouse brain and provides an early Braak stage preclinical model of AD. Wolframin-1–positive neurons in the entorhinal cortex of mouse brain propagate tau to the hippocampal CA1 region resulting in memory impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Delpech
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,University of Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Dhruba Pathak
- Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Merina Varghese
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald C. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Srinidhi Venkatesan Kalavai
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma C Hays
- Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald C. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - W Evan Johnson
- Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seiko Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Medalla
- Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer I Luebke
- Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
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Ruan Z, Pathak D, Venkatesan Kalavai S, Yoshii-Kitahara A, Muraoka S, Bhatt N, Takamatsu-Yukawa K, Hu J, Wang Y, Hersh S, Ericsson M, Gorantla S, Gendelman HE, Kayed R, Ikezu S, Luebke JI, Ikezu T. Alzheimer's disease brain-derived extracellular vesicles spread tau pathology in interneurons. Brain 2021; 144:288-309. [PMID: 33246331 PMCID: PMC7880668 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles are highly transmissible and play critical roles in the propagation of tau pathology, although the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, for the first time, we comprehensively characterized the physicochemical structure and pathogenic function of human brain-derived extracellular vesicles isolated from Alzheimer's disease, prodromal Alzheimer's disease, and non-demented control cases. Alzheimer's disease extracellular vesicles were significantly enriched in epitope-specific tau oligomers in comparison to prodromal Alzheimer's disease or control extracellular vesicles as determined by dot blot and atomic force microscopy. Alzheimer's disease extracellular vesicles were more efficiently internalized by murine cortical neurons, as well as more efficient in transferring and misfolding tau, than prodromal Alzheimer's disease and control extracellular vesicles in vitro. Strikingly, the inoculation of Alzheimer's disease or prodromal Alzheimer's disease extracellular vesicles containing only 300 pg of tau into the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus of 18-month-old C57BL/6 mice resulted in the accumulation of abnormally phosphorylated tau throughout the hippocampus by 4.5 months, whereas inoculation of an equal amount of tau from control extracellular vesicles, isolated tau oligomers, or fibrils from the same Alzheimer's disease donor showed little tau pathology. Furthermore, Alzheimer's disease extracellular vesicles induced misfolding of endogenous tau in both oligomeric and sarkosyl-insoluble forms in the hippocampal region. Unexpectedly, phosphorylated tau was primarily accumulated in glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) GABAergic interneurons and, to a lesser extent, glutamate receptor 2/3-positive excitatory mossy cells, showing preferential extracellular vesicle-mediated GABAergic interneuronal tau propagation. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings of CA1 pyramidal cells showed significant reduction in the amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents. This was accompanied by reductions in c-fos+ GAD67+ neurons and GAD67+ neuronal puncta surrounding pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region, confirming reduced GABAergic transmission in this region. Our study posits a novel mechanism for the spread of tau in hippocampal GABAergic interneurons via brain-derived extracellular vesicles and their subsequent neuronal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Ruan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Dhruba Pathak
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Srinidhi Venkatesan Kalavai
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Asuka Yoshii-Kitahara
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Satoshi Muraoka
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Kayo Takamatsu-Yukawa
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jianqiao Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Yuzhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Samuel Hersh
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Maria Ericsson
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Santhi Gorantla
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neurosciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Howard E Gendelman
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neurosciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Seiko Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jennifer I Luebke
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinidhi Venkatesan Kalavai
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seiko Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Ruan Z, Delpech JC, Venkatesan Kalavai S, Van Enoo AA, Hu J, Ikezu S, Ikezu T. P2RX7 inhibitor suppresses exosome secretion and disease phenotype in P301S tau transgenic mice. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:47. [PMID: 32811520 PMCID: PMC7436984 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00396-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuronal accumulation of misfolded microtubule-associated protein tau is a hallmark of neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and other tauopathies, and has been a therapeutic target. Microglia can spread tau pathology by secreting tau-containing exosomes, although the specific molecular target is yet to be identified for the therapeutic intervention. P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2RX7) is an ATP-gated cation channel, enriched in microglia and triggers exosome secretion. The purpose of the study is to examine the therapeutic effect of an orally applicable, CNS-penetrant P2RX7 specific inhibitor on the early disease stage of a tauopathy mouse model. Methods Three-months-old P301S tau mice were treated with P2RX7-specific inhibitor GSK1482160 or vehicle for 30 days, followed by behavioral, biochemical and immunohistochemical assessment. GSK1482160 was also tested for exosome secretion from primary cultured murine astrocytes, neurons and microglia in vitro. Results Oral administration of GSK1482160 significantly reduced accumulation of MC1+ and Alz50+ misfolded tau in hippocampal regions, which was accompanied with reduced accumulation of Tsg101, an exosome marker, in hippocampal neurons. Proximity ligation assay demonstrated complex formation of Alz50+ tau and Tsg101 in hippocampal neurons, which was reduced by GSK1482160. On the other hand, GSK1482160 had no effect on microglial ramification or CD68 expression, which was significantly enhanced in P301S mice, or pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. Strikingly, GSK1482160-treated P301S mice show significantly improved working and contextual memory as determined by Y-maze and fear conditioning tests. GSK1482160 also significantly increased accumulation of Tsg101 and CD81 in microglia in vivo, suggesting its suppression of P2RX7-induced exosome secretion from microglia. This effect was confirmed in vitro, as ATP-induced secretion of tau-containing exosome was significantly suppressed by GSK1482160 treatment from primary murine microglia, but not from neurons or astrocytes. Discussion The oral administration of P2RX7 inhibition mitigates disease phenotypes in P301S mice, likely by suppressing release of microglial exosomes. P2RX7 could be a novel therapeutic target for the early stage tauopathy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Ruan
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jean-Christophe Delpech
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Srinidhi Venkatesan Kalavai
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Alicia A Van Enoo
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jianqiao Hu
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Seiko Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. .,Alzheimer's Disease Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. .,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. .,Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, L-606B, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
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