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Wang B, Pan X, Teng IT, Li X, Kobeissy F, Wu ZY, Zhu J, Cai G, Yan H, Yan X, Liang M, Yu F, Lu J, Yang Z, Biondi E, Haskins W, Cao YC, Benner SA, Tan W, Wang KK. Functional Selection of Tau Oligomerization-Inhibiting Aptamers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402007. [PMID: 38407551 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Pathological hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of microtubule-associated Tau protein contribute to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other related tauopathies. Currently, no cure exists for Alzheimer's Disease. Aptamers offer significant potential as next-generation therapeutics in biotechnology and the treatment of neurological disorders. Traditional aptamer selection methods for Tau protein focus on binding affinity rather than interference with pathological Tau. In this study, we developed a new selection strategy to enrich DNA aptamers that bind to surviving monomeric Tau protein under conditions that would typically promote Tau aggregation. Employing this approach, we identified a set of aptamer candidates. Notably, BW1c demonstrates a high binding affinity (Kd=6.6 nM) to Tau protein and effectively inhibits arachidonic acid (AA)-induced Tau protein oligomerization and aggregation. Additionally, it inhibits GSK3β-mediated Tau hyperphosphorylation in cell-free systems and okadaic acid-mediated Tau hyperphosphorylation in cellular milieu. Lastly, retro-orbital injection of BW1c tau aptamer shows the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and gain access to neuronal cell body. Through further refinement and development, these Tau aptamers may pave the way for a first-in-class neurotherapeutic to mitigate tauopathy-associated neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, No. 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Xiaoshu Pan
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - I-Ting Teng
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Xiaowei Li
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers, Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1458, (USA). Department of Emergency Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Zo-Yu Wu
- Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers, Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1458, (USA). Department of Emergency Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jiepei Zhu
- Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers, Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1458, (USA). Department of Emergency Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Guangzheng Cai
- Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers, Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1458, (USA). Department of Emergency Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - He Yan
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Xin Yan
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Mingwei Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UF Health Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Fahong Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jianrong Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UF Health Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Zunyi Yang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, No. 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Elisa Biondi
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, No. 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - William Haskins
- Gryphon Bio, Inc., 611 Gateway Blvd. Suite 120 #253, South San Francisco, CA 94080-7066, USA
| | - Y Charles Cao
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Steven A Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, No. 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Weihong Tan
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China
| | - Kevin K Wang
- Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers, Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1458, (USA). Department of Emergency Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Gryphon Bio, Inc., 611 Gateway Blvd. Suite 120 #253, South San Francisco, CA 94080-7066, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
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Hou SJ, Huang YR, Zhu J, Jia YB, Niu XY, Yang JJ, Yu XL, Du XY, Liang SY, Cui F, Li LJ, Tian C, Liu RT. Mouse serum albumin induces neuronal apoptosis and tauopathies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:66. [PMID: 38654316 PMCID: PMC11040793 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01771-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The elderly frequently present impaired blood-brain barrier which is closely associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. However, how the albumin, the most abundant protein in the plasma, leaking through the disrupted BBB, contributes to the neuropathology remains poorly understood. We here demonstrated that mouse serum albumin-activated microglia induced astrocytes to A1 phenotype to remarkably increase levels of Elovl1, an astrocytic synthase for very long-chain saturated fatty acids, significantly promoting VLSFAs secretion and causing neuronal lippoapoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway. Moreover, MSA-activated microglia triggered remarkable tau phosphorylation at multiple sites through NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Intracerebroventricular injection of MSA into the brains of C57BL/6J mice to a similar concentration as in patient brains induced neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation, increased tau phosphorylation, and decreased the spatial learning and memory abilities, while Elovl1 knockdown significantly prevented the deleterious effect of MSA. Overall, our study here revealed that MSA induced tau phosphorylation and neuron apoptosis based on MSA-activated microglia and astrocytes, respectively, showing the critical roles of MSA in initiating the occurrence of tauopathies and cognitive decline, and providing potential therapeutic targets for MSA-induced neuropathology in multiple neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Jie Hou
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ya-Ru Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ying-Bo Jia
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Niu
- Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, Ningxia, China
| | - Jin-Ju Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Du
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shi-Yu Liang
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fang Cui
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ling-Jie Li
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chen Tian
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rui-Tian Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.
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3
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Longhini AP, DuBose A, Lobo S, Vijayan V, Bai Y, Rivera EK, Sala-Jarque J, Nikitina A, Carrettiero DC, Unger MT, Sclafani OR, Fu V, Beckett ER, Vigers M, Buée L, Landrieu I, Shell S, Shea JE, Han S, Kosik KS. Precision proteoform design for 4R tau isoform selective templated aggregation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320456121. [PMID: 38568974 PMCID: PMC11009657 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320456121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion-like spread of disease-specific tau conformers is a hallmark of all tauopathies. A 19-residue probe peptide containing a P301L mutation and spanning the R2/R3 splice junction of tau folds and stacks into seeding-competent fibrils and induces aggregation of 4R, but not 3R tau. These tau peptide fibrils propagate aggregated intracellular tau over multiple generations, have a high β-sheet content, a colocalized lipid signal, and adopt a well-defined U-shaped fold found in 4R tauopathy brain-derived fibrils. Fully atomistic replica exchange molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to compute the free energy landscapes of the conformational ensemble of the peptide monomers. These identified an aggregation-prohibiting β-hairpin structure and an aggregation-competent U-fold unique to 4R tauopathy fibrils. Guided by MD simulations, we identified that the N-terminal-flanking residues to PHF6, which slightly vary between 4R and 3R isoforms, modulate seeding. Strikingly, when a single amino acid switch at position 305 replaced the serine of 4R tau with a lysine from the corresponding position in the first repeat of 3R tau, the seeding induced by the 19-residue peptide was markedly reduced. Conversely, a 4R tau mimic with three repeats, prepared by replacing those amino acids in the first repeat with those amino acids uniquely present in the second repeat, recovered aggregation when exposed to the 19-residue peptide. These peptide fibrils function as partial prions to recruit naive 4R tau-ten times the length of the peptide-and serve as a critical template for 4R tauopathy propagation. These results hint at opportunities for tau isoform-specific therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Longhini
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Austin DuBose
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Samuel Lobo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Vishnu Vijayan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Yeran Bai
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp., Santa Barbara, CA93101
| | - Erica Keane Rivera
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Julia Sala-Jarque
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Arina Nikitina
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Daniel C. Carrettiero
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo09600-000, Brazil
| | - Matthew T. Unger
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Olivia R. Sclafani
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Valerie Fu
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Emily R. Beckett
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Michael Vigers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Luc Buée
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience & CognitionLilleF-59000, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence Development of Innovative Strategies for a Transdisciplinary Approach to Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer & Tauopathies Team, LilleF-59000, France
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- Center National de la Recherche Scientifique Équipe de Recherche 9002–Integrative Structural Biology, LilleF-59000, France
- University of Lille, Inserm, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167–Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related DiseasesLilleF-59000, France
| | - Scott Shell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Joan E. Shea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Physics, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Kenneth S. Kosik
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
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4
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Terron HM, Parikh SJ, Abdul-Hay SO, Sahara T, Kang D, Dickson DW, Saftig P, LaFerla FM, Lane S, Leissring MA. Prominent tauopathy and intracellular β-amyloid accumulation triggered by genetic deletion of cathepsin D: implications for Alzheimer disease pathogenesis. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:70. [PMID: 38575959 PMCID: PMC10996108 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01443-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cathepsin D (CatD) is a lysosomal protease that degrades both the amyloid-β protein (Aβ) and the microtubule-associated protein, tau, which accumulate pathognomonically in Alzheimer disease (AD), but few studies have examined the role of CatD in the development of Aβ pathology and tauopathy in vivo. METHODS CatD knockout (KO) mice were crossed to human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) transgenic mice, and amyloid burden was quantified by ELISA and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Tauopathy in CatD-KO mice, as initially suggested by Gallyas silver staining, was further characterized by extensive IHC and biochemical analyses. Controls included human tau transgenic mice (JNPL3) and another mouse model of a disease (Krabbe A) characterized by pronounced lysosomal dysfunction. Additional experiments examined the effects of CatD inhibition on tau catabolism in vitro and in cultured neuroblastoma cells with inducible expression of human tau. RESULTS Deletion of CatD in hAPP transgenic mice triggers large increases in cerebral Aβ, manifesting as intense, exclusively intracellular aggregates; extracellular Aβ deposition, by contrast, is neither triggered by CatD deletion, nor affected in older, haploinsufficient mice. Unexpectedly, CatD-KO mice were found to develop prominent tauopathy by just ∼ 3 weeks of age, accumulating sarkosyl-insoluble, hyperphosphorylated tau exceeding the pathology present in aged JNPL3 mice. CatD-KO mice exhibit pronounced perinuclear Gallyas silver staining reminiscent of mature neurofibrillary tangles in human AD, together with widespread phospho-tau immunoreactivity. Striking increases in sarkosyl-insoluble phospho-tau (∼ 1250%) are present in CatD-KO mice but notably absent from Krabbe A mice collected at an identical antemortem interval. In vitro and in cultured cells, we show that tau catabolism is slowed by blockade of CatD proteolytic activity, including via competitive inhibition by Aβ42. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support a major role for CatD in the proteostasis of both Aβ and tau in vivo. To our knowledge, the CatD-KO mouse line is the only model to develop detectable Aβ accumulation and profound tauopathy in the absence of overexpression of hAPP or human tau with disease-associated mutations. Given that tauopathy emerges from disruption of CatD, which can itself be potently inhibited by Aβ42, our findings suggest that impaired CatD activity may represent a key mechanism linking amyloid accumulation and tauopathy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Terron
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine (UCI MIND), Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Sagar J Parikh
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine (UCI MIND), Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Samer O Abdul-Hay
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Tomoko Sahara
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Dongcheul Kang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Paul Saftig
- Institut für Biochemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24098, Kiel, Germany
| | - Frank M LaFerla
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine (UCI MIND), Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Shelley Lane
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine (UCI MIND), Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Malcolm A Leissring
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine (UCI MIND), Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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5
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Facal CL, Fernández Bessone I, Muñiz JA, Pereyra AE, Pedroncini O, Páez-Paz I, Clerici-Delville R, Arnaiz C, Urrutia L, Falasco G, Argañaraz CV, Saez T, Marin-Burgin A, Soiza-Reilly M, Falzone T, Avale ME. Tau reduction with artificial microRNAs modulates neuronal physiology and improves tauopathy phenotypes in mice. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1080-1095. [PMID: 38310353 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal tau accumulation is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, named tauopathies. Strategies aimed at reducing tau in the brain are promising therapeutic interventions, yet more precise therapies would require targeting specific nuclei and neuronal subpopulations affected by disease while avoiding global reduction of physiological tau. Here, we developed artificial microRNAs directed against the human MAPT mRNA to dwindle tau protein by engaging the endogenous RNA interference pathway. In human differentiated neurons in culture, microRNA-mediated tau reduction diminished neuronal firing without affecting neuronal morphology or impairing axonal transport. In the htau mouse model of tauopathy, we locally expressed artificial microRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), an area particularly vulnerable to initiating tau pathology in this model. Tau knockdown prevented the accumulation of insoluble and hyperphosphorylated tau, modulated firing activity of putative pyramidal neurons, and improved glucose uptake in the PFC. Moreover, such tau reduction prevented cognitive decline in aged htau mice. Our results suggest target engagement of designed tau-microRNAs to effectively reduce tau pathology, providing a proof of concept for a potential therapeutic approach based on local tau knockdown to rescue tauopathy-related phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lucía Facal
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Iván Fernández Bessone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Andrés Muñiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Ezequiel Pereyra
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Olivia Pedroncini
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Indiana Páez-Paz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ramiro Clerici-Delville
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cayetana Arnaiz
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Urrutia
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Germán Falasco
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Verónica Argañaraz
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Trinidad Saez
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonia Marin-Burgin
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Falzone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Elena Avale
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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6
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Tak H, Chattopadhyay A, Banavath HN. A meta-analysis of differentially expressed circulatory micro-RNAs in chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other tauopathies: A significant role of miR-181c-5p. Ir J Med Sci 2024; 193:999-1007. [PMID: 37540332 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-023-03469-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Micro-RNA (miRs) targeting kinases and phosphatases regulate the hyper-phosphorylation of tau protein, which is a characteristic feature of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). PRIMARY OBJECTIVE Identification of lead dysregulated miR expressed in CTE, and other similar tauopathies. METHODS A search strategy was devised using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to mine into multiple indexing databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed spanning from 2005 to June 2022. Seven articles were screened out of 34,221 publications based on inclusion criteria and were categorized into two groups i.e., (1) CTE and its risk factors and (2) Age-related neurodegenerative disorders. RESULTS Statistical analysis [RevMan 5.4.1] results showed that the overall risk ratio (RR) of the first group is significant (RR = 0.62, 95% CI = [0.38, 1.00], z = 1.95, p = 0.05) whereas, the second group favours the control population (RR = 1.64, 95% CI = [0.85, 3.16], z = 1.14, p = 0.14). CONCLUSION We observed that among all other dysregulated miRs, miR-181c-5p is significantly overexpressed in Alzhimers disease (AD) and CTE. Further, we found that miR-210-3p is also upregulated notably in all groups. In sum, we conclude that these miRs can be considered as potential target and biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of various tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshita Tak
- Department of Sports Biosciences, School of Sports Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Arpan Chattopadhyay
- Department of Sports Biosciences, School of Sports Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Hemanth Naick Banavath
- Department of Sports Biosciences, School of Sports Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India.
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7
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Chen C, Kumbhar R, Wang H, Yang X, Gadhave K, Rastegar C, Kimura Y, Behensky A, Kotha S, Kuo G, Katakam S, Jeong D, Wang L, Wang A, Chen R, Zhang S, Jin L, Workman CJ, Vignali DAA, Pletinkova O, Jia H, Peng W, Nauen DW, Wong PC, Redding-Ochoa J, Troncoso JC, Ying M, Dawson VL, Dawson TM, Mao X. Lymphocyte-Activation Gene 3 Facilitates Pathological Tau Neuron-to-Neuron Transmission. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2303775. [PMID: 38327094 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The spread of prion-like protein aggregates is a common driver of pathogenesis in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related Tauopathies. Tau pathologies exhibit a clear progressive spreading pattern that correlates with disease severity. Clinical observation combined with complementary experimental studies has shown that Tau preformed fibrils (PFF) are prion-like seeds that propagate pathology by entering cells and templating misfolding and aggregation of endogenous Tau. While several cell surface receptors of Tau are known, they are not specific to the fibrillar form of Tau. Moreover, the underlying cellular mechanisms of Tau PFF spreading remain poorly understood. Here, it is shown that the lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (Lag3) is a cell surface receptor that binds to PFF but not the monomer of Tau. Deletion of Lag3 or inhibition of Lag3 in primary cortical neurons significantly reduces the internalization of Tau PFF and subsequent Tau propagation and neuron-to-neuron transmission. Propagation of Tau pathology and behavioral deficits induced by injection of Tau PFF in the hippocampus and overlying cortex are attenuated in mice lacking Lag3 selectively in neurons. These results identify neuronal Lag3 as a receptor of pathologic Tau in the brain,and for AD and related Tauopathies, a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Chen
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ramhari Kumbhar
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Hu Wang
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xiuli Yang
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kundlik Gadhave
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Cyrus Rastegar
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yasuyoshi Kimura
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Adam Behensky
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sumasri Kotha
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Grace Kuo
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sruthi Katakam
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Deok Jeong
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Liang Wang
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Anthony Wang
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Rong Chen
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Shu Zhang
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Lingtao Jin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Creg J Workman
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Dario A A Vignali
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Olga Pletinkova
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Hongpeng Jia
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Weiyi Peng
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, 3517 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - David W Nauen
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Philip C Wong
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Javier Redding-Ochoa
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mingyao Ying
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Valina L Dawson
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Adrienne Helis Malvin Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, LA, 70130-2685, USA
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ted M Dawson
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xiaobo Mao
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
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8
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Iwasaki Y. [Neuropathology of the Neurodegenerative Diseases]. Brain Nerve 2024; 76:343-351. [PMID: 38589279 DOI: 10.11477/mf.1416202611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
A definite diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is required for neuropathological examination during an autopsy. Each neurodegenerative disease has specific vulnerable regions and affected systems (system degeneration), and is typified by an accumulation of abnormal protein with the formation of characteristic morphological aggregates in the nerve and glial cells, called proteinopathy. The most common neurodegenerative diseases are tauopathy, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Pick's disease (PiD); α-synucleinopathy, including multiple system atrophy (MSA); and TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) proteinopathy, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). PSP and CBD show characteristic tau-positive astrocytic inclusions known as tufted astrocytes and astrocytic plaques, respectively. PiD shows tau-positive neuronal inclusions termed Pick bodies. MSA is characterized by α-synuclein-positive oligodendroglial inclusions, called glial cytoplasmic inclusions. ALS- and FTLD-TDP show TDP-43-positive neuronal inclusions, such as skein-like and round inclusions. Huntington's disease shows polyglutamine-positive neuronal inclusions, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease shows diffuse deposition of granular prions in the neuropil. The atypical proteins in these diseases have abnormal conformational properties. A comprehensive comparison of the clinical findings and neuropathological observations, including neuroanatomy and images acquired during life, is important to improve the sensitivity of clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Iwasaki
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University
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9
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Sugiyama M, Kosik KS, Panagiotou E. Mathematical topology and geometry-based classification of tauopathies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7560. [PMID: 38555402 PMCID: PMC10981734 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58221-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's, are associated with the presence of neurofibrillary lesions formed by tau protein filaments in the cerebral cortex. While it is known that different morphologies of tau filaments characterize different neurodegenerative diseases, there are few metrics of global and local structure complexity that enable to quantify their structural diversity rigorously. In this manuscript, we employ for the first time mathematical topology and geometry to classify neurodegenerative diseases by using cryo-electron microscopy structures of tau filaments that are available in the Protein Data Bank. By employing mathematical topology metrics (Gauss linking integral, writhe and second Vassiliev measure) we achieve a consistent, but more refined classification of tauopathies, than what was previously observed through visual inspection. Our results reveal a hierarchy of classification from global to local topology and geometry characteristics. In particular, we find that tauopathies can be classified with respect to the handedness of their global conformations and the handedness of the relative orientations of their repeats. Progressive supranuclear palsy is identified as an outlier, with a more complex structure than the rest, reflected by a small, but observable knotoid structure (a diagrammatic structure representing non-trivial topology). This topological characteristic can be attributed to a pattern in the beginning of the R3 repeat that is present in all tauopathies but at different extent. Moreover, by comparing single filament to paired filament structures within tauopathies we find a consistent change in the side-chain orientations with respect to the alpha carbon atoms at the area of interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Sugiyama
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, USA
| | - Kenneth S Kosik
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Eleni Panagiotou
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA.
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10
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Li W, Li JY. Overlaps and divergences between tauopathies and synucleinopathies: a duet of neurodegeneration. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:16. [PMID: 38528629 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00407-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy, defined as the abnormal accumulation of proteins that eventually leads to cell death, is one of the most significant pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases. Tauopathies, represented by Alzheimer's disease (AD), and synucleinopathies, represented by Parkinson's disease (PD), show similarities in multiple aspects. AD manifests extrapyramidal symptoms while dementia is also a major sign of advanced PD. We and other researchers have sequentially shown the cross-seeding phenomenon of α-synuclein (α-syn) and tau, reinforcing pathologies between synucleinopathies and tauopathies. The highly overlapping clinical and pathological features imply shared pathogenic mechanisms between the two groups of disease. The diagnostic and therapeutic strategies seemingly appropriate for one distinct neurodegenerative disease may also apply to a broader spectrum. Therefore, a clear understanding of the overlaps and divergences between tauopathy and synucleinopathy is critical for unraveling the nature of the complicated associations among neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss the shared and diverse characteristics of tauopathies and synucleinopathies from aspects of genetic causes, clinical manifestations, pathological progression and potential common therapeutic approaches targeting the pathology, in the aim to provide a timely update for setting the scheme of disease classification and provide novel insights into the therapeutic development for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Li
- Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Jia-Yi Li
- Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China.
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A10, 22184, Lund, Sweden.
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11
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Venkatramani A, Ashtam A, Panda D. EB1 Increases the Dynamics of Tau Droplets and Inhibits Tau Aggregation: Implications in Tauopathies. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1219-1233. [PMID: 38445984 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
EB1, a microtubule plus end-tracking protein (+TIP), regulates microtubule dynamics. Recent evidence indicates cross-talk between EB proteins and tau, a microtubule-associated neuronal protein that is important for the growth and stability of microtubules. We investigated the interaction between tau and EB1 and the effect of binding of EB1 on tau function and aggregation. EB1 colocalized with tau in SH-SY5Y cells and coimmunoprecipitated with tau. Further, purified EB1 impaired the ability of adult tau to induce tubulin polymerization in vitro. EB1 bound to tau with a dissociation constant of 2.5 ± 0.7 μM. EB1 reduced heparin-induced tau aggregation with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 4.3 ± 0.2 μM, and increased the dynamics of tau in phase-separated droplets. The fluorescence recovery rate in tau droplets increased from 0.02 ± 0.01 to 0.07 ± 0.03 s-1, while the half-time of recovery decreased from 44.5 ± 14 to 13.5 ± 6 s in the presence of 8 μM EB1, suggesting a delay in the transition of tau from the soluble to aggregated form in tau liquid-liquid phase separation. EB1 decreased the rate of aggregation and increased the critical concentration of tau aggregation. Dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, dot blot assays, and SDS-PAGE analysis showed that EB1 inhibited the formation of oligomers and higher-order aggregates of tau. The data suggest a novel role for EB1 as a regulator of tau function and aggregation, and the findings indicated the role of the EB family proteins in neuronal function and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Venkatramani
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Anvesh Ashtam
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Dulal Panda
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
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12
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Ashrafi-Kooshk MR, Norouzi F, Zare Karizak A, Ahmadian S, Moosavi-Movahedi AA, Riazi G. Crosstalk between tau protein autoproteolysis and amyloid fibril formation. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 262:129953. [PMID: 38325678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Tau cleavage has been shown to have a significant effect on protein aggregation. Tau truncation results in the formation of aggregation-prone fragments leading to toxic aggregates and also causes the formation of harmful fragments that do not aggregate. Thus, targeting proteolysis of tau would be beneficial for the development of therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. In this study, amino-terminal quantification and ThT fluorimetry were respectively used to analyze the kinetics of tau fragmentation and fibril formation. SDS-PAGE analysis of tau protein incubated with a disulfide-reducing agent demonstrated that the cysteines of tau have a crucial role in the fibrillation and autoproteolysis. However, the structures converted to amyloid fibrils were different with conformations that led to autoproteolysis. The quantification of the amino terminal indicated that the double-disulfide parallel structures formed in the presence of heparin did not have protease activity. The survey of possible tau disulfide-mediated dimer configurations suggested that the non-register single disulfide bound conformations were involved in the tau autoproteolysis process. Moreover, the inhibition of autoproteolysis resulted in the increment of aggregation rate; hence it seems that the tau auto-cleavage is the cellular defense mechanism against protein fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatemeh Norouzi
- Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashkan Zare Karizak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Gholamhossein Riazi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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Lane-Donovan C, Boxer AL. Disentangling tau: One protein, many therapeutic approaches. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00321. [PMID: 38278659 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The tauopathies encompass over 20 adult neurodegenerative diseases and are characterized by the dysfunction and accumulation of insoluble tau protein. Among them, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and progressive supranuclear palsy collectively impact millions of patients and their families worldwide. Despite years of drug development using a variety of mechanisms of action, no therapeutic directed against tau has been approved for clinical use. This raises important questions about our current model of tau pathology and invites thoughtful consideration of our approach to nonclinical models and clinical trial design. In this article, we review what is known about the biology and genetics of tau, placing it in the context of current and failed clinical trials. We highlight potential reasons for the lack of success to date and offer suggestions for new pathways in therapeutic development. Overall, our viewpoint to the future is optimistic for this important group of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Lane-Donovan
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Parmera JB, de Godoi Carneiro C, de Almeida IJ, de Oliveira MCB, Barbosa PM, Studart-Neto A, Ono CR, Nitrini R, Buchpiguel CA, Barbosa ER, Brucki SMD, Coutinho AM. Probable 4-Repeat Tauopathy Criteria Predict Brain Amyloid Negativity, Distinct Clinical Features, and FDG-PET/MRI Neurodegeneneration Patterns in Corticobasal Syndrome. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2024; 11:238-247. [PMID: 38155526 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) is associated with diverse underlying pathologies, including the four-repeat (4R)-tauopathies. The Movement Disorders Society (MDS) criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) proposed the novel category "probable 4R-tauopathy" to address the phenotypic overlap between PSP and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). OBJECTIVES To investigate the clinical ability of the MDS-PSP criteria for probable 4R-tauopathy in predicting a negative amyloid-PET in CBS. Additionally, this study aims to explore CBS patients classified as 4R-tauopathy concerning their clinical features and neuroimaging degeneration patterns. METHODS Thirty-two patients with probable CBS were prospectively evaluated and split into those who fulfilled or did not fulfill the 4R-tauopathy criteria (CBS-4RT+ vs. CBS-4RT-). All patients underwent positron emission tomographies (PET) with [18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose and [11 C]Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB) on a hybrid PET-MRI scanner to perform multimodal quantitative comparisons with a control group. RESULTS Eleven patients were clinically classified as CBS-4RT+, and only one had a positive PIB-PET. The CBS-4RT+ classification had 92% specificity, 52% sensitivity, and 69% accuracy in predicting a negative PIB-PET. The CBS-4RT+ group presented with dysarthria and perseveration more often than the CBS-4RT- group. Moreover, the CBS-4RT+ group showed a prominent frontal hypometabolism extending to the supplementary motor area and striatum, and brain atrophy at the anterior cingulate and bilateral striata. CONCLUSIONS The 4R-tauopathy criteria were highly specific in predicting a negative amyloid-PET in CBS. Patients classified as 4R-tauopathy presented distinct clinical aspects, as well as brain metabolism and atrophy patterns previously associated with tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacy Bezerra Parmera
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila de Godoi Carneiro
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine (LIM 43), Nuclear Medicine Division and Institute of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabel Junqueira de Almeida
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech, and Occupational Therapy, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Pedro Melo Barbosa
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Studart-Neto
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Rachel Ono
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine (LIM 43), Nuclear Medicine Division and Institute of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Nitrini
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Alberto Buchpiguel
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine (LIM 43), Nuclear Medicine Division and Institute of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Egberto Reis Barbosa
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Artur Martins Coutinho
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine (LIM 43), Nuclear Medicine Division and Institute of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Varlow C, Mathis CA, Vasdev N. In vitro evaluation of [ 3H]PI-2620 and structural derivatives in non-Alzheimer's tauopathies. Nucl Med Biol 2024; 130-131:108891. [PMID: 38458074 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2024.108891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD tauopathies such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are characterized by the abnormal aggregation of three-repeat (3R) and/or four-repeat (4R) tau isoforms. Several tau-PET tracers have been applied for human imaging of AD and non-AD tauopathies including [18F]PI-2620. Our objective is to evaluate [3H]PI-2620 and two promising structural derivatives, [3H]PI-2014 and [3H]F-4, using in vitro saturation assays and competitive binding assays against new chemical entities based on this scaffold in human AD tissues for comparison with PSP, CBD and CTE tissues. Thin section autoradiography was employed to assess specific binding and distribution of [3H]PI-2620 and [3H]F-4 in fresh-frozen human post-mortem AD, PSP, CBD and CTE tissues. Immunohistochemistry was performed for phospho-tau (AT8) and 4R-tau (RD4). Homogenate filtration binding assays were performed for saturation analysis and competitive binding studies against [3H]PI-2620. All compounds bound with high affinity in AD tissue. In PSP tissue [3H]PI-2620 demonstrated the highest affinity (5.3 nM) and in CBD tissue [3H]F-4 bound with the highest affinity (9.4 nM). Over 40 fluorinated derivatives based on PI-2620 and F-4 were screened in AD and PSP tissue. Notably, compound 2 was the most potent derivative in PSP tissue (Ki = 7.3 nM). By autoradiography, [3H]PI-2620 and [3H]F-4 demonstrated positive signals similar in intensity in AD, PSP and CTE tissues that were displaced by homologous blockade. Binding of both radiotracers aligned with immunostaining for 4R-tau. This work demonstrates that [3H]PI-2620 and [3H]F-4 show promise for imaging 4R-tau aggregates in non-AD tauopathies. PI-2620 continues to serve as a structural scaffold for PET radiotracers with higher affinity for non-AD tau over AD tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassis Varlow
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.
| | - Chester A Mathis
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Neil Vasdev
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.
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16
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Han M, Saxton A, Currey H, Waldherr SM, Liachko NF, Kraemer BC. Transgenic Dendra2::tau expression allows in vivo monitoring of tau proteostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050473. [PMID: 38469687 PMCID: PMC10985736 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein homeostasis is perturbed in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, which are pathologically characterized by aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau (encoded by the human MAPT gene). Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans serve as a powerful model organism to study tauopathy disease mechanisms, but moderating transgenic expression level has proven problematic. To study neuronal tau proteostasis, we generated a suite of transgenic strains expressing low, medium or high levels of Dendra2::tau fusion proteins by comparing integrated multicopy transgene arrays with single-copy safe-harbor locus strains generated by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange. Multicopy Dendra2::tau strains exhibited expression level-dependent neuronal dysfunction that was modifiable by known genetic suppressors or an enhancer of tauopathy. Single-copy Dendra2::tau strains lacked distinguishable phenotypes on their own but enabled detection of enhancer-driven neuronal dysfunction. We used multicopy Dendra2::tau strains in optical pulse-chase experiments measuring tau turnover in vivo and found that Dendra2::tau turned over faster than the relatively stable Dendra2. Furthermore, Dendra2::tau turnover was dependent on the protein expression level and independent of co-expression with human TDP-43 (officially known as TARDBP), an aggregating protein interacting with pathological tau. We present Dendra2::tau transgenic C. elegans as a novel tool for investigating molecular mechanisms of tau proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Han
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
| | - Aleen Saxton
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Heather Currey
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Sarah M Waldherr
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Nicole F Liachko
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Brian C Kraemer
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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17
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Alhadidy MM, Kanaan NM. Biochemical approaches to assess the impact of post-translational modifications on pathogenic tau conformations using recombinant protein. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:301-318. [PMID: 38348781 PMCID: PMC10903483 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is associated with many neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies. Aggregates of tau are thought of as a main contributor to neurodegeneration in these diseases. Increasingly, evidence points to earlier, soluble conformations of abnormally modified monomers and multimeric tau as toxic forms of tau. The biological processes driving tau from physiological species to pathogenic conformations remain poorly understood, but certain avenues are currently under investigation including the functional consequences of various pathological tau changes (e.g. mutations, post-translational modifications (PTMs), and protein-protein interactions). PTMs can regulate several aspects of tau biology such as proteasomal and autophagic clearance, solubility, and aggregation. Moreover, PTMs can contribute to the transition of tau from normal to pathogenic conformations. However, our understating of how PTMs specifically regulate the transition of tau into pathogenic conformations is partly impeded by the relative lack of structured frameworks to assess and quantify these conformations. In this review, we describe a set of approaches that includes several in vitro assays to determine the contribution of PTMs to tau's transition into known pathogenic conformations. The approaches begin with different methods to create recombinant tau proteins carrying specific PTMs followed by validation of the PTMs status. Then, we describe a set of biochemical and biophysical assays that assess the contribution of a given PTM to different tau conformations, including aggregation, oligomerization, exposure of the phosphatase-activating domain, and seeding. Together, these approaches can facilitate the advancement of our understanding of the relationships between PTMs and tau conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M. Alhadidy
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
| | - Nicholas M. Kanaan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
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18
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Pinzi L, Conze C, Bisi N, Torre GD, Soliman A, Monteiro-Abreu N, Trushina NI, Krusenbaum A, Dolouei MK, Hellwig A, Christodoulou MS, Passarella D, Bakota L, Rastelli G, Brandt R. Quantitative live cell imaging of a tauopathy model enables the identification of a polypharmacological drug candidate that restores physiological microtubule interaction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1679. [PMID: 38396035 PMCID: PMC10891143 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45851-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease are characterized by aggregation and increased phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Tau's pathological changes are closely linked to neurodegeneration, making tau a prime candidate for intervention. We developed an approach to monitor pathological changes of aggregation-prone human tau in living neurons. We identified 2-phenyloxazole (PHOX) derivatives as putative polypharmacological small molecules that interact with tau and modulate tau kinases. We found that PHOX15 inhibits tau aggregation, restores tau's physiological microtubule interaction, and reduces tau phosphorylation at disease-relevant sites. Molecular dynamics simulations highlight cryptic channel-like pockets crossing tau protofilaments and suggest that PHOX15 binding reduces the protofilament's ability to adopt a PHF-like conformation by modifying a key glycine triad. Our data demonstrate that live-cell imaging of a tauopathy model enables screening of compounds that modulate tau-microtubule interaction and allows identification of a promising polypharmacological drug candidate that simultaneously inhibits tau aggregation and reduces tau phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Pinzi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Christian Conze
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Nicolo Bisi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Gabriele Dalla Torre
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Ahmed Soliman
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Nanci Monteiro-Abreu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Nataliya I Trushina
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Andrea Krusenbaum
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Maryam Khodaei Dolouei
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Andrea Hellwig
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael S Christodoulou
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Lidia Bakota
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Giulio Rastelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Roland Brandt
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
- Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
- Institute of Cognitive Science, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
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19
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do Nascimento Amorim MDS, Silva França ÁR, Santos-Oliveira R, Rodrigues Sanches J, Marinho Melo T, Araújo Serra Pinto B, Barbosa LRS, Alencar LMR. Atomic Force Microscopy Applied to the Study of Tauopathies. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:699-715. [PMID: 38305187 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a scanning probe microscopy technique which has a physical principle, the measurement of interatomic forces between a very thin tip and the surface of a sample, allowing the obtaining of quantitative data at the nanoscale, contributing to the surface study and mechanical characterization. Due to its great versatility, AFM has been used to investigate the structural and nanomechanical properties of several inorganic and biological materials, including neurons affected by tauopathies. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases featured by aggregation of phosphorylated tau protein inside neurons, leading to functional loss and progressive neurotoxicity. In the broad universe of neurodegenerative diseases, tauopathies comprise the most prevalent, with Alzheimer's disease as its main representative. This review highlights the use of AFM as a suitable research technique for the study of cellular damages in tauopathies, even in early stages, allowing elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria do Socorro do Nascimento Amorim
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Nanosystems, Department of Physics, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Álefe Roger Silva França
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Nanosystems, Department of Physics, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Ralph Santos-Oliveira
- Nuclear Engineering Institute, Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, Rio de Janeiro 21941906, Brazil
- Laboratory of Nanoradiopharmacy, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro 23070200, Brazil
| | - Jonas Rodrigues Sanches
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís, 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Thamys Marinho Melo
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís, 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Bruno Araújo Serra Pinto
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís, 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Leandro R S Barbosa
- Department of General Physics, Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas 13083-100, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana Magalhães Rebelo Alencar
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Nanosystems, Department of Physics, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
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20
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Sahara N, Higuchi M. Diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of pathological tau proteins in neurodegenerative disorders. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:165-180. [PMID: 37746832 PMCID: PMC10839408 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies, characterized by fibrillar tau accumulation in neurons and glial cells, constitute a major neuropathological category of neurodegenerative diseases. Neurofibrillary tau lesions are strongly associated with cognitive deficits in these diseases, but the causal mechanisms underlying tau-induced neuronal dysfunction remain unresolved. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy examination have revealed various core structures of tau filaments from different tauopathy patients, which can be used to classify tauopathies. In vivo visualization of tau pathology is now available using several tau positron emission tomography tracers. Among these radioprobes, PM-PBB3 allows high-contrast imaging of tau deposits in the brains of patients with diverse disorders and tauopathy mouse models. Selective degradation of pathological tau species by the ubiquitin-proteasome system or autophagy machinery is a potential therapeutic strategy. Alternatively, the non-cell-autonomous clearance of pathological tau species through neuron-glia networks could be reinforced as a disease-modifying treatment. In addition, the development of neuroinflammatory biomarkers is required for understanding the contribution of immunocompetent cells in the brain to preventing neurodegeneration. This review provides an overview of the current research and development of diagnostic and therapeutic agents targeting divergent tau pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naruhiko Sahara
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical SciencesNational Institutes for Quantum Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Makoto Higuchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical SciencesNational Institutes for Quantum Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
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21
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Kauwe G, Pareja-Navarro KA, Yao L, Chen JH, Wong I, Saloner R, Cifuentes H, Nana AL, Shah S, Li Y, Le D, Spina S, Grinberg LT, Seeley WW, Kramer JH, Sacktor TC, Schilling B, Gan L, Casaletto KB, Tracy TE. KIBRA repairs synaptic plasticity and promotes resilience to tauopathy-related memory loss. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e169064. [PMID: 38299587 PMCID: PMC10836803 DOI: 10.1172/jci169064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity is obstructed by pathogenic tau in the brain, representing a key mechanism that underlies memory loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Here, we found that reduced levels of the memory-associated protein KIdney/BRAin (KIBRA) in the brain and increased KIBRA protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid are associated with cognitive impairment and pathological tau levels in disease. We next defined a mechanism for plasticity repair in vulnerable neurons using the C-terminus of the KIBRA protein (CT-KIBRA). We showed that CT-KIBRA restored plasticity and memory in transgenic mice expressing pathogenic human tau; however, CT-KIBRA did not alter tau levels or prevent tau-induced synapse loss. Instead, we found that CT-KIBRA stabilized the protein kinase Mζ (PKMζ) to maintain synaptic plasticity and memory despite tau-mediated pathogenesis. Thus, our results distinguished KIBRA both as a biomarker of synapse dysfunction and as the foundation for a synapse repair mechanism to reverse cognitive impairment in tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Kauwe
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | | | - Lei Yao
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Jackson H. Chen
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Ivy Wong
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Rowan Saloner
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Helen Cifuentes
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Alissa L. Nana
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Samah Shah
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Yaqiao Li
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, Califoria, USA
| | - David Le
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, Califoria, USA
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - William W. Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joel H. Kramer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Todd C. Sacktor
- The Robert F. Furchgott Center of Neural and Behavioral Science, Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Anesthesiology, and Neurology, State University of New York Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | | | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kaitlin B. Casaletto
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Tara E. Tracy
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
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22
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Kimura T, Sato H, Kano M, Tatsumi L, Tomita T. Novel aspects of the phosphorylation and structure of pathological tau: implications for tauopathy biomarkers. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:181-193. [PMID: 37391389 PMCID: PMC10839341 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The deposition of highly phosphorylated and aggregated tau is a characteristic of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. It has long been known that different isoforms of tau are aggregated in different cell types and brain regions in each tauopathy. Recent advances in analytical techniques revealed the details of the biochemical and structural biological differences of tau specific to each tauopathy. In this review, we explain recent advances in the analysis of post-translational modifications of tau, particularly phosphorylation, brought about by the development of mass-spectrometry and Phos-tag technology. We then discuss the structure of tau filaments in each tauopathy revealed by the advent of cryo-EM. Finally, we describe the progress in biofluid and imaging biomarkers for tauopathy. This review summarizes current efforts to elucidate the characteristics of pathological tau and the landscape of the use of tau as a biomarker to diagnose and determine the pathological stage of tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taeko Kimura
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesThe University of TokyoJapan
| | - Haruaki Sato
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesThe University of TokyoJapan
| | - Maria Kano
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesThe University of TokyoJapan
| | - Lisa Tatsumi
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesThe University of TokyoJapan
| | - Taisuke Tomita
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesThe University of TokyoJapan
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23
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Pragati, Sarkar S. Reinstated Activity of Human Tau-induced Enhanced Insulin Signaling Restricts Disease Pathogenesis by Regulating the Functioning of Kinases/Phosphatases and Tau Hyperphosphorylation in Drosophila. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:982-1001. [PMID: 37674037 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03599-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Frontotemporal dementia, and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), etc. are characterized by tau hyperphosphorylation and distinguished accumulation of paired helical filaments (PHFs)/or neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in a specific-neuronal subset of the brain. Among different reported risk factors, type 2 diabetes (T2D) has gained attention due to its correlation with tau pathogenesis. However, mechanistic details and the precise contribution of insulin pathway in tau etiology is still debatable. We demonstrate that expression of human tau causes overactivation of insulin pathway in Drosophila disease models. We subsequently noted that tissue-specific downregulation of insulin signaling or even exclusive reduction of its growth-promoting sub-branch effectively reinstates the overactivated insulin signaling pathway in human tau expressing cells, which in turn restricts pathogenic tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregate formation. It was further noted that restored tau phosphorylation was achieved due to a reestablished balance between the levels of different kinase(s) (GSK3β and ERK/P38 MAP kinase) and phosphatase (PP2A). Taken together, our study demonstrates a precise involvement of the insulin pathway and associated molecular events in the pathogenesis of human tauopathies in Drosophila, which will be immensely helpful in developing novel therapeutic options against these devastating human brain disorders. Moreover, our study reveals an interesting link between tau etiology and aberrant insulin signaling, which is a characteristic feature of Type 2 Diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragati
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Surajit Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India.
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24
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Zhuang S, Chakraborty P, Zweckstetter M. Regulation of tau by peptidyl-prolyl isomerases. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 84:102739. [PMID: 38061261 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Tau is an intrinsically disordered protein found abundantly in axons, where it binds to microtubules. Since tau is a central player in the dynamic microtubule network, it is highly regulated by post-translational modifications. Abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau characterize a group of diseases called tauopathies. A specific protein family of cis/trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPIases) can interact with tau to regulate its aggregation and neuronal resilience. Structural interactions between tau and specific PPIases have been determined, establishing possible mechanisms for tau regulation and modification. While there have been numerous in vivo studies evaluating the impact of PPIase expression on tau biology/pathology, the direct roles of PPIases have yet to be fully characterized. Different PPIases correlate to either increased or decreased levels of tau-associated degeneration. Therefore, the ability of PPIases to structurally modify and regulate tau should be further investigated due to its potential therapeutic implications for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Zhuang
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pijush Chakraborty
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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25
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Siew JJ, Chen HM, Chiu FL, Lee CW, Chang YM, Chen HL, Nguyen TNA, Liao HT, Liu M, Hagar HT, Sun YC, Lai HL, Kuo MH, Blum D, Buée L, Jin LW, Chen SY, Ko TM, Huang JR, Kuo HC, Liu FT, Chern Y. Galectin-3 aggravates microglial activation and tau transmission in tauopathy. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e165523. [PMID: 37988169 PMCID: PMC10786694 DOI: 10.1172/jci165523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques, aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau), and microglia activation. Galectin-3 (Gal3) is a β-galactoside-binding protein that has been implicated in amyloid pathology. Its role in tauopathy remains enigmatic. Here, we showed that Gal3 was upregulated in the microglia of humans and mice with tauopathy. pTau triggered the release of Gal3 from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia in both its free and extracellular vesicular-associated (EV-associated) forms. Both forms of Gal3 increased the accumulation of pathogenic tau in recipient cells. Binding of Gal3 to pTau greatly enhanced tau fibrillation. Besides Gal3, pTau was sorted into EVs for transmission. Moreover, pTau markedly enhanced the number of EVs released by iMGL in a Gal3-dependent manner, suggesting a role of Gal3 in biogenesis of EVs. Single-cell RNA-Seq analysis of the hippocampus of a mouse model of tauopathy (THY-Tau22) revealed a group of pathogenic tau-evoked, Gal3-associated microglia with altered cellular machineries implicated in neurodegeneration, including enhanced immune and inflammatory responses. Genetic removal of Gal3 in THY-Tau22 mice suppressed microglia activation, reduced the level of pTau and synaptic loss in neurons, and rescued memory impairment. Collectively, Gal3 is a potential therapeutic target for tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Feng-Lan Chiu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mengyu Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Hsiao-Tien Hagar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Yung-Chen Sun
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Min-Hao Kuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - David Blum
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
- Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, LiCEND, Lille, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
- Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, LiCEND, Lille, France
| | - Lee-Way Jin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | | | - Tai-Ming Ko
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jie-Rong Huang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chih Kuo
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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El Hajjar L, Bridot C, Nguyen M, Cantrelle FX, Landrieu I, Smet-Nocca C. The O-GlcNAc Modification of Recombinant Tau Protein and Characterization of the O-GlcNAc Pattern for Functional Study. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:237-269. [PMID: 38512671 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The neuronal microtubule-associated tau protein is characterized in vivo by a large number of post-translational modifications along the entire primary sequence that modulates its function. The primary modification of tau is phosphorylation of serine/threonine or tyrosine residues that is involved in the regulation of microtubule binding and polymerization. In neurodegenerative disorders referred to as tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease, tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated and forms fibrillar inclusions in neurons progressing throughout different brain area during the course of the disease. The O-β-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is another reversible post-translational modification of serine/threonine residues that is installed and removed by the unique O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAc hydrolase (OGA), respectively. This modification was described as a potential modulator of tau phosphorylation and functions in the physiopathology. Moreover, reducing protein O-GlcNAc levels in the brain upon treatment of tauopathy mouse models with an OGA inhibitor reveals a beneficial effect on tau pathology and neurodegeneration. However, whether the role of tau O-GlcNAcylation is responsible of the protective effect against tau toxicity remains to be determined. The production of O-GlcNAc modified recombinant tau protein is a valuable tool for the investigations of the impact of O-GlcNAcylation on tau functions, modulation of interactions with partners and crosstalk with other post-translational modifications, including but not restricted to phosphorylation. We describe here the in vitro O-GlcNAcylation of tau with recombinant OGT for which we provide an expression and purification protocol. The use of the O-GlcNAc tau protein in functional studies requires the analytical characterization of the O-GlcNAc pattern. Here, we describe a method for the O-GlcNAc modification of tau protein with recombinant OGT and the analytical characterization of the resulting O-GlcNAc pattern by a combination of methods for the overall characterization of tau O-GlcNAcylation by chemoenzymatic labeling and mass spectrometry, as well as the quantitative, site-specific pattern by NMR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa El Hajjar
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Clarisse Bridot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Marine Nguyen
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - François-Xavier Cantrelle
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS, EMR9002 BSI Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
- LabEx (Laboratory of Excellence) DISTALZ (Development of Innovative Strategies for a Transdisciplinary Approach to Alzheimer's Disease ANR-11-LABX-01), Lille, France
| | - Caroline Smet-Nocca
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France.
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France.
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Iqbal K. Tau and Alzheimer's disease: Past, present and future. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:116-121. [PMID: 38126608 PMCID: PMC10977900 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
My journey with tau started when in 1974 for the first time I isolated neurofibrillary tangles of paired helical filaments (PHFs) from autopsied Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains and discovered that they were made up of a ~50-70 KDa protein on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Subsequently my team discovered that this PHF protein and the microtubule-associated factor called tau were one and the same protein. However, we found that tau in neurofibrillary tangles/PHFs in AD brain was abnormally hyperphosphorylated, and unlike normal tau, which promoted the assembly of tubulin into microtubules, the AD-hyperphosphorylated tau inhibited microtubule assembly. These discoveries of tau pathology in AD opened a new and a major area of research on tau and on the molecular pathology of this major cause of dementia in middle- and old-age individuals. Tau pathology, which without fail is made up of the aggregated hyperphosphorylated state of the protein, is also the hallmark lesion of a family of around 20 related neurodegenerative diseases, called tauopathies. Currently, tau pathology is a major drug target for the treatment of AD and related tauopathies. Both active and passive tau immunization human clinical trials at various stages are underway. Initial results range from negative to partially promising. Future studies will reveal whether tau therapy alone or in combination with drugs targeting Aβ and/or neurodegeneration will be required to achieve the most effective treatment for AD and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Iqbal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, USA
- Phanes Biotech, Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA
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Puangmalai N, Bhatt N, Bittar A, Jerez C, Shchankin N, Kayed R. Traumatic brain injury derived pathological tau polymorphs induce the distinct propagation pattern and neuroinflammatory response in wild type mice. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 232:102562. [PMID: 38135105 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The misfolding and aggregation of the tau protein into neurofibrillary tangles constitutes a central feature of tauopathies. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has emerged as a potential risk factor, triggering the onset and progression of tauopathies. Our previous research revealed distinct polymorphisms in soluble tau oligomers originating from single versus repetitive mild TBIs. However, the mechanisms orchestrating the dissemination of TBI brain-derived tau polymorphs (TBI-BDTPs) remain elusive. In this study, we explored whether TBI-BDTPs could initiate pathological tau formation, leading to distinct pathogenic trajectories. Wild-type mice were exposed to TBI-BDTPs from sham, single-blast (SB), or repeated-blast (RB) conditions, and their memory function was assessed through behavioral assays at 2- and 8-month post-injection. Our findings revealed that RB-BDTPs induced cognitive and motor deficits, concurrently fostering the emergence of toxic tau aggregates within the injected hippocampus. Strikingly, this tau pathology propagated to cortical layers, intensifying over time. Importantly, RB-BDTP-exposed animals displayed heightened glial cell activation, NLRP3 inflammasome formation, and increased TBI biomarkers, particularly triggering the aggregation of S100B, which is indicative of a neuroinflammatory response. Collectively, our results shed light on the intricate mechanisms underlying TBI-BDTP-induced tau pathology and its association with neuroinflammatory processes. This investigation enhances our understanding of tauopathies and their interplay with neurodegenerative and inflammatory pathways following traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicha Puangmalai
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Alice Bittar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Cynthia Jerez
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Nikita Shchankin
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
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29
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Horsley D, Rickard JE, Vorley T, Leeper MF, Wischik CM, Harrington CR. Assays for the Screening and Characterization of Tau Aggregation Inhibitors. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:93-104. [PMID: 38512662 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Aggregation of tau protein is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative tauopathies. Inhibition of tau aggregation may provide a method for treatment of these disorders. Methods to identify tau aggregation inhibitors (TAIs) in vitro are useful and here we describe assays for TAIs using purified recombinant tau protein fragments in a cell-free immunoassay format and in a stably transfected cell model to create a more physiological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Horsley
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Janet E Rickard
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Thomas Vorley
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Matilda F Leeper
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Claude M Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Charles R Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
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Bakota L, Brandt R. Why kiss-and-hop explains that tau does not stabilize microtubules and does not interfere with axonal transport (at physiological conditions). Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:47-52. [PMID: 37694806 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that is enriched in the axonal process of neurons. Post-translational modifications of tau have been implicated in the development of tauopathies characterized by defects in axonal transport, neuronal atrophy, and microtubule disassembly. Although tau is almost quantitatively bound to microtubules under physiological conditions, it does not significantly affect axonal transport. Furthermore, acute or chronic tau deficiency does not result in significant destabilization of neuronal microtubules, challenging the classical view that disease-related tau modifications directly cause axonal microtubule collapse. Here, we discuss how the rapid interaction kinetics of the tau-microtubule interaction, which we previously termed the kiss-and-hop interaction, explains why tau does not affect microtubule-dependent axonal transport but still allows tau to modulate microtubule polymerization. In contrast, tau modifications that slow down the kinetics of the tau-microtubule interaction and increase the residence time of tau at a microtubule interaction site can disrupt axonal transport and cause dendritic atrophy. We discuss the consequences of such a gain-of-toxicity mechanism in terms of the development of disease-modulating drugs that target the tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Bakota
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Roland Brandt
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
- Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Science, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
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31
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Langerscheidt F, Bell-Simons M, Zempel H. Differentiating SH-SY5Y Cells into Polarized Human Neurons for Studying Endogenous and Exogenous Tau Trafficking: Four Protocols to Obtain Neurons with Noradrenergic, Dopaminergic, and Cholinergic Properties. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:521-532. [PMID: 38512687 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Pathological alterations of the neuronal Tau protein are characteristic for many neurodegenerative diseases, called tauopathies. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of tauopathies, human neuronal cell models are required to study Tau physiology and pathology in vitro. Primary rodent neurons are an often used model for studying Tau, but rodent Tau differs in sequence, splicing, and aggregation propensity, and rodent neuronal physiology cannot be compared to humans. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons are expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line is a commonly used cell model in neuroscience as it combines convenient handling and low costs with the advantages of human-derived cells. Since naïve SH-SY5Y cells show little similarity to human neurons and almost no Tau expression, differentiation is necessary to obtain human-like neurons for studying Tau protein-related aspects of health and disease. As they express in principle all six Tau isoforms seen in the human brain, differentiated SH-SY5Y-derived neurons are suitable for investigating the human microtubule-associated protein Tau and, for example, its sorting and trafficking. Here, we describe and discuss a general cultivation procedure as well as four differentiation methods to obtain SH-SY5Y-derived neurons resembling noradrenergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic properties, based on the treatment with retinoic acid (RA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and 12-O-tetrade canoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). TPA and RA-/TPA-based protocols achieve differentiation efficiencies of 40-50% after 9 days of treatment. The highest differentiation efficiency (~75%) is accomplished by a combination of RA and BDNF; treatment only with RA is the most time-efficient method as ~50% differentiated cells can be obtained already after 7 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Langerscheidt
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Campus Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Michael Bell-Simons
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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Zempel H. Genetic and sporadic forms of tauopathies-TAU as a disease driver for the majority of patients but the minority of tauopathies. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:66-70. [PMID: 37795931 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Ageing-associated tauopathies like frontotemporal dementia (FTD), variants thereof (like progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), pick diseases (PiD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD)), and of course the most prevalent form of dementia, Alzheimer Disease (AD), are widely recognized forms of tauopathies. The list of tauopathies is expanding. We now include: (i) tauopathies where the disease cause or trigger is clearly either physical, such as in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and (ii) genetic diseases that result in tauopathy but have pathogenic genetic variants in genes not related to TAU. Examples of the latter are myotonic dystrophy Type 1 and Type 2 (DM1, DM2, due to pathogenic genetic variants in the genes DMPK and CNBP, respectively), Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPD, due to mutations in NPC1 or NPC2), Kufs Disease (CLN6), Christianson Syndrome (SLC9A6), familial forms of Parkinson Disease (PD), and many others. In terms of affected brain regions and cell types, intracellular distribution of TAU pathology/aggregates, age of disease onset, velocity of disease progression and spreading of TAU pathology, there is, however, little in common in most of these disease entities. Here, I reason that TAU/MAPT is causative for the minority of tauopathies (e.g., MAPT-related FTD/PSP and Vacuolar Tauopathy (VCP)) and a critical mediator for others, like shown by overwhelming evidence for AD. However, TAU may also be a mere bystander or even protective in other settings. Improved understanding of rare tauopathies is necessary to develop specific treatments, but also to improve our understanding of the pathomechanistic role of TAU and to identify diseases that may profit from TAU-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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LaCroix MS, Artikis E, Hitt BD, Beaver JD, Estill-Terpack SJ, Gleason K, Tamminga CA, Evers BM, White CL, Caughey B, Diamond MI. Tau seeding without tauopathy. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105545. [PMID: 38072056 PMCID: PMC10797195 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are caused by brain accumulation of tau assemblies. Evidence suggests tau functions as a prion, and cells and animals can efficiently propagate unique, transmissible tau pathologies. This suggests a dedicated cellular replication machinery, potentially reflecting a normal physiologic function for tau seeds. Consequently, we hypothesized that healthy control brains would contain seeding activity. We have recently developed a novel monoclonal antibody (MD3.1) specific for tau seeds. We used this antibody to immunopurify tau from the parietal and cerebellar cortices of 19 healthy subjects without any neuropathology, ranging 19 to 65 years. We detected seeding in lysates from the parietal cortex, but not in the cerebellum. We also detected no seeding in brain homogenates from wildtype or human tau knockin mice, suggesting that cellular/genetic context dictates development of seed-competent tau. Seeding did not correlate with subject age or brain tau levels. We confirmed our essential findings using an orthogonal assay, real-time quaking-induced conversion, which amplifies tau seeds in vitro. Dot blot analyses revealed no AT8 immunoreactivity above background levels in parietal and cerebellar extracts and ∼1/100 of that present in AD. Based on binding to a panel of antibodies, the conformational characteristics of control seeds differed from AD, suggesting a unique underlying assembly, or structural ensemble. Tau's ability to adopt self-replicating conformations under nonpathogenic conditions may reflect a normal function that goes awry in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S LaCroix
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Brian D Hitt
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Joshua D Beaver
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Sandi-Jo Estill-Terpack
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kelly Gleason
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Carol A Tamminga
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bret M Evers
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Byron Caughey
- NIH/NIAID, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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Singh AK, Selvarasu K, Durairajan SSK. Isolation and Detection of Pathological Tau Species in a Tauopathy Mouse Model. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2761:317-328. [PMID: 38427247 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3662-6_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies becomes insoluble due to hyperphosphorylation, conformational alterations, and aggregation. To analyze insoluble tau and pathological tau species, this study employs a methodology that utilizes wild-type and transgenic tau mice (P310S Tau) tissue extraction using 1% Sarkosyl or N-Lauroylsarcosine sodium salt and the radio immunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) buffer. However, the commonly used methods to study the insoluble tau fraction using detergents like Sarkosyl and RIPA require a large amount of homogenate, which can pose challenges when dealing with small tissue samples. Additionally, the study employs immunohistochemistry to visualize and quantify the pathological tau species in the brain tissue of transgenic mice, aiming to identify and analyze pathological tau species such as hyperphosphorylated tau to further our understanding of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhay Kumar Singh
- Molecular Mycology and Neurodegenerative Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | - Karthikeyan Selvarasu
- Molecular Mycology and Neurodegenerative Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | - Siva Sundara Kumar Durairajan
- Molecular Mycology and Neurodegenerative Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India.
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35
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Ayoub CA, Moore KI, Kuret J. Quantification of Methylation and Phosphorylation Stoichiometry. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:221-235. [PMID: 38512670 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease (AD) are neurodegenerative disorders accompanied by the conversion of functional forms of the microtubule associated protein Tau into non-functional aggregates. A variety of post-translational modifications (PTMs) on Tau precede or accompany the conversion, placing them in position to modulate Tau function as well as its propensity to aggregate. Although Tau PTMs can be characterized by their sites of modification, their total stoichiometry when summed over all sites also is an important metric of their potential impact on function. Here we provide a protocol for rapidly producing recombinant Tau with enzyme-specific PTMs at high stoichiometry in vitro and demonstrate its utility in the context of hyperphosphorylation. Additionally, protocols for estimating phosphorylation and methylation stoichiometry on Tau proteins isolated from any source are presented. Together these methods support experimentation on Tau PTM function over a wide range of experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Ayoub
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Khadijah I Moore
- Interdisciplinary Biophysics Graduate Program, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jeff Kuret
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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36
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Allroggen N, Breuer H, Bachmann S, Bell M, Zempel H. Studying Microtubule Dynamics in Human Neurons: Two-Dimensional Microtubule Tracing and Kymographs in iPSC- and SH-SY5Y-Derived Neurons for Tau Research. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:561-580. [PMID: 38512690 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The study of microtubule (MT) dynamics is essential for the understanding of cellular transport, cell polarity, axon formation, and other neurodevelopmental mechanisms. All these processes rely on the constant transition between assembly and disassembly of tubulin polymers to/from MTs, known as dynamic instability. This process is well-regulated, among others, by phosphorylation of microtubule-associated proteins (MAP), including the Tau protein. Protein kinases, in particular the microtubule affinity regulating kinase (MARK), regulate the MT-Tau interaction, inducing Tau dissociation by phosphorylation. Phosphorylated Tau dissociates from microtubules forming insoluble aggregates known as neurofibrillary tangles. These accumulations of hyperphosphorylated Tau in the neurons disrupt the physiological MT-based transport machinery within the cell and can potentially lead to the development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Further investigations on the MT cytoskeleton dynamics are essential as they may elucidate pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases - particularly tauopathies - as well as fundamental neurodevelopmental processes.The study of the dynamic assembly and disassembly of the MT network requires live-cell imaging rather than conventional immunocytochemistry based on fixed samples. To investigate MT dynamics, we perform live-cell imaging of neurons transfected with a fluorescently tagged version of the microtubule plus-end tracking protein (+TIP) EB3. This protein associates with the growing ends of MTs and thus visualizes MT growth in real time. Our imaging analysis protocol allows the determination of quantity, orientation, and velocity of MT growth in the soma and neurites of transfected neurons, using ImageJ-based tracking software and kymographs. Furthermore, functional effects of Tau and MARK kinases on the MT cytoskeleton can be assessed by overexpression or downregulation experiments of the respective protein prior to the live imaging assay. We use two different human neuronal cell models, naive and differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), both of which have shown success as models to study Tau-related pathologies.This protocol describes an optimized method for analysis of microtubule dynamics using fluorescent tagged EB3 protein as microtubule plus end marker. In this chapter, we outline the process of neuronal transfection, live-cell imaging, and necessary time-lapse image analysis based on ImageJ in two human-derived neuronal systems, which are suitable for the analysis of Tau trafficking and sorting studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Allroggen
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Helen Breuer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sarah Bachmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Bell
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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Diamond MI. Travels with tau prions. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:83-88. [PMID: 37950616 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Tau was originally identified as a microtubule associated protein, and subsequently recognized to constitute the fibrillar assemblies found in Alzheimer disease and related neurodegenerative tauopathies. Point mutations in the microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT) gene cause dominantly inherited tauopathies, and most predispose it to aggregate. This indicates tau aggregation underlies pathogenesis of tauopathies. Our work has suggested that tau functions as a prion, forming unique intracellular pathological assemblies that subsequently move to other cells, inducing further aggregation that underlies disease progression. Remarkably, in simple cells tau forms stably propagating aggregates of distinct conformation, termed strains. Each strain induces a unique and, in some cases, transmissible, neuropathological phenotype upon inoculation into a mouse model. After binding heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the plasma membrane, tau assemblies enter cells via macropinocytosis. From within a vesicle, if not trafficked to the endolysosomal system, tau subsequently enters the cytoplasm, where it becomes a template for its own replication, apparently after processing by valosin containing protein. The smallest seed unit is a stable monomer, which suggests that initial folding events in tau presage subsequent pathological aggregation. The study of tau prions has raised important questions about basic cell biological processes that underlie their replication and propagation, with implications for therapy of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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38
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Abstract
Over the last 50 years the different isoforms of tau proteins (45-60 kDa) have been a focus of research because of their roles in modulating the dynamic properties of microtubules shaping the structure and function of neurons but also becoming a center of attention in the pathology of neurodegeneration associated with tauopathies. Much less attention has been given to Big tau, a unique isoform containing exon 4a encoding about 250 amino acids to form a much longer projection domain of a protein of 110 kDa. Big tau is expressed in peripheral neurons and selective regions of the central nervous system in a defined transition during postnatal developmental stages. Although Big tau was discovered 30 years ago, there has been a persistent gap of knowledge regarding its physiological properties and pathological implications. This Perspective summarizes the progress so far in defining the structure and expression of Big tau within and outside the nervous system, proposes a role for Big tau in improving axonal transport in projecting axons, considers its potential in averting tau aggregation in tauopathies and highlights the need for further progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzhak Fischer
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Wang B, Martini-Stoica H, Qi C, Lu TC, Wang S, Xiong W, Qi Y, Xu Y, Sardiello M, Li H, Zheng H. TFEB-vacuolar ATPase signaling regulates lysosomal function and microglial activation in tauopathy. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:48-62. [PMID: 37985800 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01494-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factor EB (TFEB) mediates gene expression through binding to the coordinated lysosome expression and regulation (CLEAR) sequence. TFEB targets include subunits of the vacuolar ATPase (v-ATPase), which are essential for lysosome acidification. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing of wild-type and PS19 (Tau) transgenic mice expressing the P301S mutant tau identified three unique microglia subclusters in Tau mice that were associated with heightened lysosome and immune pathway genes. To explore the lysosome-immune relationship, we specifically disrupted the TFEB-v-ATPase signaling by creating a knock-in mouse line in which the CLEAR sequence of one of the v-ATPase subunits, Atp6v1h, was mutated. CLEAR mutant exhibited a muted response to TFEB, resulting in impaired lysosomal acidification and activity. Crossing the CLEAR mutant with Tau mice led to higher tau pathology but diminished microglia response. These microglia were enriched in a subcluster low in mTOR and HIF-1 pathways and were locked in a homeostatic state. Our studies demonstrate a physiological function of TFEB-v-ATPase signaling in maintaining lysosomal homeostasis and a critical role of the lysosome in mounting a microglia and immune response in tauopathy and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiping Wang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Heidi Martini-Stoica
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Chuangye Qi
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tzu-Chiao Lu
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shuo Wang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wen Xiong
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yanyan Qi
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yin Xu
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Marco Sardiello
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Dan and Jan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hongjie Li
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hui Zheng
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Malotaux V, Colmant L, Quenon L, Huyghe L, Gérard T, Dricot L, Ivanoiu A, Lhommel R, Hanseeuw B. Suspecting Non-Alzheimer's Pathologies and Mixed Pathologies: A Comparative Study Between Brain Metabolism and Tau Images. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:421-433. [PMID: 38108350 PMCID: PMC10789317 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology can be disclosed in vivo using amyloid and tau imaging, unlike non-AD neuropathologies for which no specific markers exist. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare brain hypometabolism and tauopathy to unveil non-AD pathologies. METHODS Sixty-one patients presenting cognitive complaints (age 48-90), including 32 with positive AD biomarkers (52%), performed [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET (brain metabolism) and [18F]-MK-6240-PET (tau). We normalized these images using data from clinically normal individuals (n = 30), resulting in comparable FDG and tau z-scores. We computed between-patients correlations to evaluate regional associations. For each patient, a predominant biomarker (i.e., Hypometabolism > Tauopathy or Hypometabolism≤Tauopathy) was determined in the temporal and frontoparietal lobes. We computed within-patient correlations between tau and metabolism and investigated their associations with demographics, cognition, cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), CSF biomarkers, and white matter hypointensities (WMH). RESULTS We observed negative associations between tau and FDG in 37 of the 68 cortical regions-of-interest (average Pearson's r = -0.25), mainly in the temporal lobe. Thirteen patients (21%) had Hypometabolism > Tauopathy whereas twenty-five patients (41%) had Hypometabolism≤Tauopathy. Tau-predominant patients were more frequently females and had greater amyloid burden. Twenty-three patients (38%) had Hypometabolism≤Tauopathy in the temporal lobe, but Hypometabolism > Tauopathy in the frontoparietal lobe. This group was older and had higher CVRF than Tau-predominant patients. Patients with more negative associations between tau and metabolism were younger, had worse cognition, and greater amyloid and WMH burdens. CONCLUSIONS Tau-FDG comparison can help suspect non-AD pathologies in patients presenting cognitive complaints. Stronger Tau-FDG correlations are associated with younger age, worse cognition, and greater amyloid and WMH burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Malotaux
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lise Colmant
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lisa Quenon
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lara Huyghe
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Gérard
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Dricot
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adrian Ivanoiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Renaud Lhommel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bernard Hanseeuw
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- WEL Research Institute, Welbio department, Wavre, Belgium
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41
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Fereydouni-Forouzandeh P, Canet G, Diego-Diàz S, Rocaboy E, Petry S, Whittington RA, Planel E. Western Blot of Tau Protein from Mouse Brains Extracts: How to Avoid Signal Artifacts. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:309-321. [PMID: 38512673 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein enriched in the axonal compartment. Its most well-known function is to bind and stabilize microtubules. In Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies, tau undergoes several abnormal post-translational modifications including hyperphosphorylation, conformational changes, oligomerization, and aggregation. Numerous mouse models of tauopathies have been developed, and Western blotting remains an invaluable tool in studying tau protein physiological and pathological changes in these models. However, many of the antibodies that have been developed to analyze tau post-translational modifications are mouse monoclonal, which are at risk of producing artifactual signals in Western blotting procedures. This risk does not arise due to their lack of specificity, but rather because the secondary antibodies used to detect them will also react with the heavy chain of endogenous mouse immunoglobulins (Igs), leading to a non-specific signal at the same molecular weight as tau protein (around 50 kDa). Here, we present the use of anti-light-chain secondary antibodies as a simple and efficient technique to prevent non-specific Ig signals around 50 kDa. We demonstrate the efficacy of this method by either eliminating or identifying artifactual signals when using monoclonal antibodies directed at non-phosphorylated epitopes (T49, Tau3R, Tau4R), phosphorylated epitopes (MC6, AT180, CP13), or an abnormal tau conformation (MC1), in wild-type (WT) mice with tau hyperphosphorylation (hypothermic), transgenic mice overexpressing human tau (hTau mice), and tau knockout (TKO) mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Geoffrey Canet
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Sofia Diego-Diàz
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Emma Rocaboy
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Serena Petry
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Robert A Whittington
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Université Laval, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada.
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Canet G, Rocaboy E, Diego-Diàz S, Whittington RA, Julien C, Planel E. Methods for Biochemical Isolation of Insoluble Tau in Rodent Models of Tauopathies. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:323-341. [PMID: 38512674 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The intracellular accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau is a characteristic feature of tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Formation of insoluble tau aggregates is initiated by the abnormal hyperphosphorylation and oligomerization of tau. Over the past decades, multiple transgenic rodent models mimicking tauopathies have been develop, showcasing this neuropathological hallmark. The biochemical analysis of insoluble tau in these models has served as a valuable tool to understand the progression of tau-related pathology. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive review of the two primary methods for isolating insoluble tau, namely, sarkosyl and formic acid extraction (and their variants), which are employed for biochemical analysis in transgenic mouse models of tauopathy. We also analyze the strengths and limitations of these methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Canet
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Emma Rocaboy
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Sofia Diego-Diàz
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Robert A Whittington
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carl Julien
- Centre de Recherche en Sciences Animales de Deschambault, Deschambault, QC, Canada
- Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada.
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Sun X, Ogbolu VC, Baas PW, Qiang L. Reevaluating tau reduction as a therapeutic approach for tauopathies: Insights and perspectives. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:57-62. [PMID: 37819557 PMCID: PMC10843461 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Tau, one of the most abundant microtubule-associated protein in neurons plays a role in regulating microtubule dynamics in axons, as well as shaping the overall morphology of the axon. Recent studies challenge the traditional view of tau as a microtubule stabilizer and shed new light on the complexity of its role in regulating various properties of the microtubule. While reducing tau levels shows therapeutic promise for early tauopathies, efficacy wanes in later stages due to resilient toxic tau aggregates and neurofibrillary tangles. Notably, tauopathies involve factors beyond toxic tau alone, necessitating a broader therapeutic approach. Overexpression of human tau in mouse models, although useful for answering some questions, may not accurately reflect disease mechanisms in patients with tauopathies. Furthermore, the interplay between tau and MAP6, another microtubule-associated protein, adds complexity to tau's regulation of microtubule dynamics. Tau promotes the formation and elongation of labile microtubule domains, vital for cellular processes, while MAP6 stabilizes microtubules. A delicate balance between these proteins is important for neuronal function. Therefore, tau reduction therapies require a comprehensive understanding of disease progression, considering functional tau loss, toxic aggregates, and microtubule dynamics. Stage-dependent application and potential unintended consequences must be carefully evaluated. Restoring microtubule dynamics in late-stage tauopathies may necessitate alternative strategies. This knowledge is valuable for developing effective and safe treatments for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Victor C. Ogbolu
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Peter W. Baas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
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Zhong P, Cao Q, Yan Z. Distinct and Convergent Alterations of Entorhinal Cortical Circuits in Two Mouse Models for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:1121-1131. [PMID: 38489190 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Background The impairment of neural circuits controlling cognitive processes has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). However, it is largely unclear what circuits are specifically changed in ADRD, particularly at the early stage. Objective Our goal of this study is to reveal the functional changes in the circuit of entorhinal cortex (EC), an interface between neocortex and hippocampus, in AD. Methods Electrophysiological, optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches were used to examine and manipulate entorhinal cortical circuits in amyloid-β familial AD model (5×FAD) and tauopathy model (P301S Tau). Results We found that, compared to wild-type mice, electrical stimulation of EC induced markedly smaller responses in subiculum (hippocampal output) of 5×FAD mice (6-month-old), suggesting that synaptic communication in the EC to subiculum circuit is specifically blocked in this AD model. In addition, optogenetic stimulation of glutamatergic terminals from prefrontal cortex (PFC) induced smaller responses in EC of 5×FAD and P301S Tau mice (6-month-old), suggesting that synaptic communication in the PFC to EC pathway is compromised in both ADRD models. Chemogenetic activation of PFC to EC pathway did not affect the bursting activity of EC neurons in 5×FAD mice, but partially restored the diminished EC neuronal activity in P301S Tau mice. Conclusions These data suggest that 5×FAD mice has a specific impairment of short-range hippocampal gateway (EC to subiculum), which may be caused by amyloid-β deposits; while two ADRD models have a common impairment of long-range cortical to hippocampal circuit (PFC to EC), which may be caused by microtubule/tau-based transport deficits. These circuit deficits provide a pathophysiological basis for unique and common impairments of various cognitive processes in ADRD conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Sun K, Patel T, Kang SG, Yarahmady A, Srinivasan M, Julien O, Heras J, Mok SA. Disease-Associated Mutations in Tau Encode for Changes in Aggregate Structure Conformation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:4282-4297. [PMID: 38054595 PMCID: PMC10741665 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of tau fibrils is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, which are collectively termed tauopathies. Cryo-EM studies have shown that the packed fibril core of tau adopts distinct structures in different tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease, corticobasal degeneration, and progressive supranuclear palsy. A subset of tauopathies are linked to missense mutations in the tau protein, but it is not clear whether these mutations impact the structure of tau fibrils. To answer this question, we developed a high-throughput protein purification platform and purified a panel of 37 tau variants using the full-length 0N4R splice isoform. Each of these variants was used to create fibrils in vitro, and their relative structures were studied using a high-throughput protease sensitivity platform. We find that a subset of the disease-associated mutations form fibrils that resemble wild-type tau, while others are strikingly different. The impact of mutations on tau structure was not clearly associated with either the location of the mutation or the relative kinetics of fibril assembly, suggesting that tau mutations alter the packed core structures through a complex molecular mechanism. Together, these studies show that single-point mutations can impact the assembly of tau into fibrils, providing insight into its association with pathology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry
T. Sun
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
| | - Tark Patel
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
| | - Sang-Gyun Kang
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
| | - Allan Yarahmady
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
| | - Mahalashmi Srinivasan
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
| | - Olivier Julien
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
| | - Jónathan Heras
- Department
of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, University
of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain 26004
| | - Sue-Ann Mok
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
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Younas N, Saleem T, Younas A, Zerr I. Nuclear face of Tau: an inside player in neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:196. [PMID: 38087392 PMCID: PMC10714511 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau (Tubulin associated unit) protein is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies. Tau is predominantly an axonal protein with a crucial role in the stabilization and dynamics of the microtubules. Since the discovery of Tau protein in 1975, research efforts were concentrated on the pathophysiological role of Tau protein in the context of the microtubules. Although, for more than three decades, different localizations of Tau protein have been discovered e.g., in the nuclear compartments. Discovery of the role of Tau protein in various cellular compartments especially in the nucleus opens up a new fold of complexity in tauopathies. Data from cellular models, animal models, and the human brain indicate that nuclear Tau is crucial for genome stability and to cope with cellular distress. Moreover, it's nature of nuclear translocation, its interactions with the nuclear DNA/RNA and proteins suggest it could play multiple roles in the nucleus. To comprehend Tau pathophysiology and efficient Tau-based therapies, there is an urgent need to understand whole repertoire of Tau species (nuclear and cytoplasmic) and their functional relevance. To complete the map of Tau repertoire, understanding of various species of Tau in the nucleus and cytoplasm, identification if specific transcripts of Tau, isoforms and post-translational modifications could foretell Tau's localizations and functions, and how they are modified in neurodegenerative diseases like AD, is urgently required. In this review, we explore the nuclear face of Tau protein, its nuclear localizations and functions and its linkage with Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany.
| | - Tayyaba Saleem
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Abrar Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
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Cho H, Choi BY, Shin YH, Suh SW, Park SB. Neuroinflammation-Modulating Agent SB1617 Enhances LC3-Associated Phagocytosis to Mitigate Tau Pathology. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:4139-4152. [PMID: 38014902 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein aggregation and propagation in neurons and surrounding microglia are well-known risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, emerging therapeutic strategies that target neuroinflammatory activity in microglia have the potential to prevent tauopathy. Here, we explored the microglia-mediated neuroprotective function of SB1617 against tau aggregation. Our study revealed that SB1617-inactivated pathogenic M1-like microglia, reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines via translational regulation, and induced microglial polarization toward the M2 phenotype and phagocytic function. Furthermore, we observed that extracellular pathogenic tau aggregates were eliminated via LC3-associated phagocytosis. The in vivo efficacy of SB1617 was confirmed in mice with traumatic brain injury in which SB1617 exerted neuroprotective effects by reducing pathogenic tau levels through microglia-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Our results indicated that SB1617-mediated microglial surveillance with LC3-associated phagocytosis is a critical molecular mechanism in the regulation of tau proteostasis. This study provides new insights into tauopathies and directions for developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Cho
- Department of Biophysics and Chemical Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Bo Young Choi
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
- Department of Physical Education, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
| | - Young-Hee Shin
- CRI Center for Chemical Proteomics, Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Tech University of Korea, Siheung 15073, Korea
| | - Sang Won Suh
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
| | - Seung Bum Park
- Department of Biophysics and Chemical Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- CRI Center for Chemical Proteomics, Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Meng L, Liu C, Liu M, Chen J, Liu C, Zhang Z, Chen G, Zhang Z. The yeast protein Ure2p triggers Tau pathology in a mouse model of tauopathy. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113342. [PMID: 37897723 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms that trigger Tau aggregation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain elusive. Fungi, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), can be found in brain samples from patients with AD. Here, we show that the yeast protein Ure2p from S. cerevisiae interacts with Tau and facilitates its aggregation. The Ure2p-seeded Tau fibrils are more potent in seeding Tau and causing neurotoxicity in vitro. When injected into the hippocampus of Tau P301S transgenic mice, the Ure2p-seeded Tau fibrils show enhanced seeding activity compared with pure Tau fibrils. Strikingly, intracranial injection of Ure2p fibrils promotes the aggregation of Tau and cognitive impairment in Tau P301S mice. Furthermore, intranasal infection of S. cerevisiae in the nasal cavity of Tau P301S mice accelerates the aggregation of Tau. Together, these observations indicate that the yeast protein Ure2p initiates Tau pathology. Our results provide a conceptual advance that non-mammalian prions may cross-seed mammalian prion-like proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jiehui Chen
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Chaoyang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Guiqin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430000, China.
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Gao Y, Wang Y, Lei H, Xu Z, Li S, Yu H, Xie J, Zhang Z, Liu G, Zhang Y, Zheng J, Wang JZ. A novel transgenic mouse line with hippocampus-dominant and inducible expression of truncated human tau. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:51. [PMID: 37950283 PMCID: PMC10637005 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intraneuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau is a defining hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, mouse models imitating AD-exclusive neuronal tau pathologies are lacking. METHODS We generated a new tet-on transgenic mouse model expressing truncated human tau N1-368 (termed hTau368), a tau fragment increased in the brains of AD patients and aged mouse brains. Doxycycline (dox) was administered in drinking water to induce hTau368 expression. Immunostaining and Western blotting were performed to measure the tau level. RNA sequencing was performed to evaluate gene expression, and several behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate mouse cognitive functions, emotion and locomotion. RESULTS Dox treatment for 1-2 months at a young age induced overt and reversible human tau accumulation in the brains of hTau368 transgenic mice, predominantly in the hippocampus. Meanwhile, the transgenic mice exhibited AD-like high level of tau phosphorylation, glial activation, loss of mature neurons, impaired hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptic degeneration and cognitive deficits. CONCLUSIONS This study developed a well-characterized and easy-to-use tool for the investigations and drug development for AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yuying Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Huiyang Lei
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhendong Xu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shihong Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Haitao Yu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jiazhao Xie
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Gongping Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, Department of Endocrine, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China.
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226000, China.
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Jiang Y, MacNeil LT. Simple model systems reveal conserved mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:82. [PMID: 37950311 PMCID: PMC10638731 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00664-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of effective therapies that slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental cellular mechanisms underlying these diseases. Model organisms, including yeast, worms, and flies, provide simple systems with which to investigate the mechanisms of disease. The evolutionary conservation of cellular pathways regulating proteostasis and stress response in these organisms facilitates the study of genetic factors that contribute to, or protect against, neurodegeneration. Here, we review genetic modifiers of neurodegeneration and related cellular pathways identified in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, focusing on models of AD and related tauopathies. We further address the potential of simple model systems to better understand the fundamental mechanisms that lead to AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Lesley T MacNeil
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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