1
|
Alosco ML, White M, Bell C, Faheem F, Tripodis Y, Yhang E, Baucom Z, Martin B, Palmisano J, Dams-O'Connor K, Crary JF, Goldstein LE, Katz DI, Dwyer B, Daneshvar DH, Nowinski C, Cantu RC, Kowall NW, Stern RA, Alvarez VE, Huber BR, Stein TD, McKee AC, Mez J. Cognitive, functional, and neuropsychiatric correlates of regional tau pathology in autopsy-confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:10. [PMID: 38317248 PMCID: PMC10845638 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00697-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) accumulation. The clinical features associated with CTE pathology are unclear. In brain donors with autopsy-confirmed CTE, we investigated the association of CTE p-tau pathology density and location with cognitive, functional, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. METHODS In 364 brain donors with autopsy confirmed CTE, semi-quantitative p-tau severity (range: 0-3) was assessed in 10 cortical and subcortical regions. We summed ratings across regions to form a p-tau severity global composite (range: 0-30). Informants completed standardized scales of cognition (Cognitive Difficulties Scale, CDS; BRIEF-A Metacognition Index, MI), activities of daily living (Functional Activities Questionnaire), neurobehavioral dysregulation (BRIEF-A Behavioral Regulation Index, BRI; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, BIS-11), aggression (Brown-Goodwin Aggression Scale), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale-15, GDS-15), and apathy (Apathy Evaluation Scale, AES). Ordinary least squares regression models examined associations between global and regional p-tau severity (separate models for each region) with each clinical scale, adjusting for age at death, racial identity, education level, and history of hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and substance use treatment. Ridge regression models that incorporated p-tau severity across all regions in the same model assessed which regions showed independent effects. RESULTS The sample was predominantly American football players (333; 91.2%); 140 (38.5%) had low CTE and 224 (61.5%) had high CTE. Global p-tau severity was associated with higher (i.e., worse) scores on the cognitive and functional scales: MI ([Formula: see text] standardized = 0.02, 95%CI = 0.01-0.04), CDS ([Formula: see text] standardized = 0.02, 95%CI = 0.01-0.04), and FAQ ([Formula: see text] standardized = 0.03, 95%CI = 0.01-0.04). After false-discovery rate correction, p-tau severity in the frontal, inferior parietal, and superior temporal cortex, and the amygdala was associated with higher CDS ([Formula: see text] sstandardized = 0.17-0.29, ps < 0.01) and FAQ ([Formula: see text] sstandardized = 0.21-0.26, ps < 0.01); frontal and inferior parietal cortex was associated with higher MI ([Formula: see text] sstandardized = 0.21-0.29, ps < 0.05); frontal cortex was associated with higher BRI ([Formula: see text] standardized = 0.21, p < 0.01). Regions with effects independent of other regions included frontal cortex (CDS, MI, FAQ, BRI), inferior parietal cortex (CDS) and amygdala (FAQ). P-tau explained 13-49% of variance in cognitive and functional scales and 6-14% of variance in neuropsychiatric scales. CONCLUSION Accumulation of p-tau aggregates, especially in the frontal cortex, are associated with cognitive, functional, and certain neurobehavioral symptoms in CTE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Micaela White
- Davis School of Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Carter Bell
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Farwa Faheem
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eukyung Yhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary Baucom
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brett Martin
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Palmisano
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristen Dams-O'Connor
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Brain Injury Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lee E Goldstein
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Biomedical, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Boston University College of Engineering, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas I Katz
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, MA, USA
| | - Brigid Dwyer
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, MA, USA
| | - Daniel H Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Nowinski
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert C Cantu
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, USA
| | - Neil W Kowall
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Bertrand Russell Huber
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Ann C McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Phansalkar R, Goodwill VS, Nirschl JJ, De Lillo C, Choi J, Spurlock E, Coughlin DG, Pizzo D, Sigurdson CJ, Hiniker A, Alvarez VE, Mckee AC, Lin JH. TDP43 pathology in chronic traumatic encephalopathy retinas. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:152. [PMID: 37737191 PMCID: PMC10515050 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01650-6] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head trauma. Brain pathology in CTE is characterized by neuronal loss, gliosis, and a distinctive pattern of neuronal accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and phospho-TDP43 (p-TDP43). Visual anomalies have been reported by patients with CTE, but the ocular pathology underlying these symptoms is unknown. We evaluated retinal pathology in post-mortem eyes collected from 8 contact sport athletes with brain autopsy-confirmed stage IV CTE and compared their findings to retinas from 8 control patients without CTE and with no known history of head injury. Pupil-optic nerve cross sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), p-tau, p-TDP43, and total TDP43 by immunohistochemistry. No significant retinal degeneration was observed in CTE eyes compared to control eyes by H&E. Strong cytoplasmic p-TDP43 and total TDP43 staining was found in 6/8 CTE eyes in a subset of inner nuclear layer interneurons (INL) of the retina, while only 1/8 control eyes showed similar p-TDP43 pathology. The morphology and location of these inner nuclear layer interneurons were most compatible with retinal horizontal cells, although other retinal cell types present in INL could not be ruled out. No p-tau pathology was observed in CTE or control retinas. These findings identify novel retinal TDP43 pathology in CTE retinas and support further investigation into the role of p-TDP43 in producing visual deficits in patients with CTE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Vanessa S Goodwill
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Nirschl
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jihee Choi
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth Spurlock
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David G Coughlin
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Donald Pizzo
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Annie Hiniker
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann C Mckee
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan H Lin
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alosco ML, Ly M, Mosaheb S, Saltiel N, Uretsky M, Tripodis Y, Martin B, Palmisano J, Delano-Wood L, Bondi MW, Meng G, Xia W, Daley S, Goldstein LE, Katz DI, Dwyer B, Daneshvar DH, Nowinski C, Cantu RC, Kowall NW, Stern RA, Alvarez VE, Mez J, Huber BR, McKee AC, Stein TD. Decreased myelin proteins in brain donors exposed to football-related repetitive head impacts. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad019. [PMID: 36895961 PMCID: PMC9990992 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad019] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
American football players and other individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts can exhibit a constellation of later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. While tau-based diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy can underpin certain symptoms, contributions from non-tau pathologies from repetitive head impacts are increasingly recognized. We examined cross-sectional associations between myelin integrity using immunoassays for myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 with risk factors and clinical outcomes in brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts from American football. Immunoassays for myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 were conducted on dorsolateral frontal white matter tissue samples of 205 male brain donors. Proxies of exposure to repetitive head impacts included years of exposure and age of first exposure to American football play. Informants completed the Functional Activities Questionnaire, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (Behavioral Regulation Index), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11. Associations between myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 with exposure proxies and clinical scales were tested. Of the 205 male brain donors who played amateur and professional football, the mean age was 67.17 (SD = 16.78), and 75.9% (n = 126) were reported by informants to be functionally impaired prior to death. Myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 correlated with the ischaemic injury scale score, a global indicator of cerebrovascular disease (r = -0.23 and -0.20, respectively, Ps < 0.01). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy was the most common neurodegenerative disease (n = 151, 73.7%). Myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 were not associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy status, but lower proteolipid protein 1 was associated with more severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (P = 0.03). Myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 were not associated with other neurodegenerative disease pathologies. More years of football play was associated with lower proteolipid protein 1 [beta = -2.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-4.52, -0.38]] and compared with those who played <11 years of football (n = 78), those who played 11 or more years (n = 128) had lower myelin-associated glycoprotein (mean difference = 46.00, 95% CI [5.32, 86.69]) and proteolipid protein 1 (mean difference = 24.72, 95% CI [2.40, 47.05]). Younger age of first exposure corresponded to lower proteolipid protein 1 (beta = 4.35, 95% CI [0.25, 8.45]). Among brain donors who were aged 50 or older (n = 144), lower proteolipid protein 1 (beta = -0.02, 95% CI [-0.047, -0.001]) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (beta = -0.01, 95% CI [-0.03, -0.002]) were associated with higher Functional Activities Questionnaire scores. Lower myelin-associated glycoprotein correlated with higher Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 scores (beta = -0.02, 95% CI [-0.04, -0.0003]). Results suggest that decreased myelin may represent a late effect of repetitive head impacts that contributes to the manifestation of cognitive symptoms and impulsivity. Clinical-pathological correlation studies with prospective objective clinical assessments are needed to confirm our findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Ly
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sydney Mosaheb
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Saltiel
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Madeline Uretsky
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brett Martin
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Palmisano
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Delano-Wood
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark W Bondi
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Weiming Xia
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Daley
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lee E Goldstein
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Biomedical, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Boston University College of Engineering, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas I Katz
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, MA, USA
| | - Brigid Dwyer
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, MA, USA
| | - Daniel H Daneshvar
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Robert C Cantu
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, USA
| | - Neil W Kowall
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bertrand Russell Huber
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann C McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Butler MLMD, Dixon E, Stein TD, Alvarez VE, Huber B, Buckland ME, McKee AC, Cherry JD. Tau Pathology in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is Primarily Neuronal. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2022; 81:773-780. [PMID: 35903039 PMCID: PMC9487650 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlac065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Millions of individuals are exposed to repetitive head impacts (RHI) each year through contact sports, military blast, and interpersonal violence. RHI is the major risk factor for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative tauopathy. Recent consensus criteria defined the pathognomonic lesion in CTE as perivascular, hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in neuronal aggregates. Astroglial p-tau is an inconsistent supporting feature and not in itself diagnostic of CTE. This study quantitated the spatial and cellular distribution of p-tau pathology in postmortem dorsolateral frontal cortex of 150 individuals with CTE, from ages 21 to 80 years old, without comorbid pathology. p-Tau-immunoreactive cells were quantitated in the gray matter sulcus, crest, subpial region, and within pathognomonic CTE lesions. Significantly more neuronal p-tau than astrocytic p-tau was found across all cortical regions (p < 0.0001). Sulcal astrocytic p-tau was primarily (75%, p < 0.0001) localized to subpial regions as thorn-shaped astrocytes, a form of age-related tau astrogliopathy. Neuronal p-tau was significantly associated with age, years of RHI exposure, and CTE severity; astrocytic p-tau pathology was only significantly associated with age. These findings strongly support neuronal degeneration as a driving feature of CTE and will help inform future research and the development of fluid biomarkers for the detection of neuronal degeneration in CTE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgane L M D Butler
- From the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Erin Dixon
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bertrand Huber
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael E Buckland
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Ann C McKee
- From the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan D Cherry
- Send correspondence to: Jonathan D. Cherry, PhD, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130, USA; E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cherry JD, Agus F, Dixon E, Huber B, Alvarez VE, Mez J, McKee AC, Labadorf A, Stein TD. Differential gene expression in the cortical sulcus compared to the gyral crest within the early stages of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Free Neuropathol 2021; 2:3453. [PMID: 34485990 PMCID: PMC8415801 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2021-3453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative tauopathy found in individuals with a history of repetitive head impacts (RHI). Previous work has demonstrated that neuroinflammation is involved in CTE pathogenesis, however, the specific inflammatory mechanisms are still unclear. Here, using RNA-sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we investigated the genetic changes found in tissue taken from the region CTE pathology is first found, the cortical sulcus, and compared it to neighboring gryal crest tissue to identify what pathways were directly related to initial hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) deposition. 21 cases were chosen for analysis: 6 cases had no exposure to RHI or presence of neurodegenerative disease (Control), 5 cases had exposure to RHI but no presence of neurodegenerative disease (RHI), and 10 cases had exposure to RHI and low stage CTE (CTE). Two sets of genes were identified: genes that changed in both the sulcus and crest and genes that changed specifically in the sulcus relative to the crest. When examining genes that changed in both the sulcus and crest, GSEA demonstrated an increase in immune related processes and a decrease in neuronal processes in RHI and CTE groups. Sulcal specific alterations were observed to be driven by three mechanisms: anatomy, RHI, or p-tau. First, we observed consistent sulcal specific alterations in immune, extracellular matrix, vascular, neuronal, and endocytosis/exocytosis categories across all groups, suggesting the sulcus has a unique molecular signature compared to the neighboring crest independent of pathology. Second, individuals with a history of RHI demonstrated impairment in metabolic and mitochondrial related processes. Finally, in individuals with CTE, we observed impairment of immune and phagocytic related processes. Overall, this work provides the first observation of biological processes specifically altered in the sulcus that could be directly implicated in CTE pathogenesis and provide novel targets for biomarkers and therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Cherry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MAUnited States
| | - Filisia Agus
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston MAUnited States
| | - Erin Dixon
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MAUnited States
| | - Bertrand Huber
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MAUnited States
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MAUnited States
| | - Victor E. Alvarez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MAUnited States
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford MAUnited States
| | - Jesse Mez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
| | - Ann C. McKee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MAUnited States
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford MAUnited States
| | - Adam Labadorf
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston MAUnited States
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MAUnited States
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MAUnited States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MAUnited States
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford MAUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cherry JD, Esnault CD, Baucom ZH, Tripodis Y, Huber BR, Alvarez VE, Stein TD, Dickson DW, McKee AC. Tau isoforms are differentially expressed across the hippocampus in chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:86. [PMID: 33980303 PMCID: PMC8114683 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01189-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by hyperphosphorylated tau, found in individuals with a history of exposure to repetitive head impacts. While the neuropathologic hallmark of CTE is found in the cortex, hippocampal tau has proven to be an important neuropathologic feature to examine the extent of disease severity. However, the hippocampus is also heavily affected in many other tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). How CTE and AD differentially affect the hippocampus is unclear. Using immunofluorescent analysis, a detailed histologic characterization of 3R and 4R tau isoforms and their differential accumulation in the temporal cortex in CTE and AD was performed. CTE and AD were both observed to contain mixed 3R and 4R tau isoforms, with 4R predominating in mild disease and 3R increasing proportionally as pathological severity increased. CTE demonstrated high levels of tau in hippocampal subfields CA2 and CA3 compared to CA1. There were also low levels of tau in the subiculum compared to CA1 in CTE. In contrast, AD had higher levels of tau in CA1 and subiculum compared to CA2/3. Direct comparison of the tau burden between AD and CTE demonstrated that CTE had higher tau densities in CA4 and CA2/3, while AD had elevated tau in the subiculum. Amyloid beta pathology did not contribute to tau isoform levels. Finally, it was demonstrated that higher levels of 3R tau correlated to more severe extracellular tau (ghost tangles) pathology. These findings suggest that mixed 3R/4R tauopathies begin as 4R predominant then transition to 3R predominant as pathological severity increases and ghost tangles develop. Overall, this work demonstrates that the relative deposition of tau isoforms among hippocampal subfields can aid in differential diagnosis of AD and CTE, and might help improve specificity of biomarkers for in vivo diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Cherry
- VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA.
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA.
| | - Camille D Esnault
- VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
| | - Zachary H Baucom
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
| | - Bertrand R Huber
- VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Ann C McKee
- VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA.
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 20118, USA.
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA.
| |
Collapse
|