Immunohistochemical detection of apolipoprotein E within prion-associated lesions in squirrel monkey brains

Cross interactions between Apolipoprotein E and amyloid proteins in neurodegenerative diseases

Three common Apolipoprotein E isoforms, ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4, are key regulators of lipid homeostasis, among other functions. Apolipoprotein E can interact with amyloid proteins. The isoforms differ by one or two residues at positions 112 and 158, and possess distinct structural conformations and functions, leading to isoform-specific roles in amyloid-based neurodegenerative diseases. Over 30 different amyloid proteins have been found to share similar characteristics of structure and toxicity, suggesting a common interactome. The molecular and genetic interactions of ApoE with amyloid proteins have been extensively studied in neurodegenerative diseases, but have not yet been well connected and clarified. Here we summarize essential features of the interactions between ApoE and different amyloid proteins, identify gaps in the understanding of the interactome and propose the general interaction mechanism between ApoE isoforms and amyloid proteins. Perhaps more importantly, this review outlines what we can learn from the interactome of ApoE and amyloid proteins; that is the need to see both ApoE and amyloid proteins as a basis to understand neurodegenerative diseases.

Prion Efficiently Replicates in α-Synuclein Knockout Mice

Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders associated with the conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP^C) into an abnormal misfolded form named PrP^Sc. Other than accumulating in the brain, PrP^Sc can bind PrP^C and force it to change conformation to PrP^Sc. The exact mechanism which underlies the process of PrP^C/PrP^Sc conversion still needs to be defined and many molecules or cofactors might be involved. Several studies have documented an important role of PrP^C to act as receptor for abnormally folded forms of α-synuclein which are responsible of a group of diseases known as synucleinopathies. The presence of PrP^C was required to promote efficient internalization and spreading of abnormal α-synuclein between cells. In this work, we have assessed whether α-synuclein exerts any role in PrP^Sc conversion and propagation either in vitro or in vivo. Indeed, understanding the mechanism of PrP^C/PrP^Sc conversion and the identification of cofactors involved in this process is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies. Our results showed that PrP^Sc was able to efficiently propagate in the brain of animals even in the absence of α-synuclein thus suggesting that this protein did not act as key modulator of prion propagation. Thus, α-synuclein might take part in this process but is not specifically required for sustaining prion conversion and propagation.

The characterization of AD/PART co-pathology in CJD suggests independent pathogenic mechanisms and no cross-seeding between misfolded Aβ and prion proteins

Current evidence indicating a role of the human prion protein (PrP) in amyloid-beta (Aβ) formation or a synergistic effect between Aβ and prion pathology remains controversial. Conflicting results also concern the frequency of the association between the two protein misfolding disorders and the issue of whether the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) and the prion protein gene (PRNP), the major modifiers of Aβ- and PrP-related pathologies, also have a pathogenic role in other proteinopathies, including tau neurofibrillary degeneration. Here, we thoroughly characterized the Alzheimer’s disease/primary age-related tauopathy (AD/PART) spectrum in a series of 450 cases with definite sporadic or genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Moreover, we analyzed: (i) the effect of variables known to affect CJD pathogenesis and the co-occurring Aβ- and tau-related pathologies; (II) the influence of APOE genotype on CJD pathology, and (III) the effect of AD/PART co-pathology on the clinical CJD phenotype. AD/PART characterized 74% of CJD brains, with 53.3% and 8.2% showing low or intermediate-high levels of AD pathology, and 12.4 and 11.8% definite or possible PART. There was no significant correlation between variables affecting CJD (i.e., disease subtype, prion strain, PRNP genotype) and those defining the AD/PART spectrum (i.e., ABC score, Thal phase, prevalence of CAA and Braak stage), and no difference in the distribution of APOE ε4 and ε2 genotypes among CJD subtypes. Moreover, AD/PART co-pathology did not significantly affect the clinical presentation of typical CJD, except for a tendency to increase the frequency of cognitive symptoms. Altogether, the present results seem to exclude an increased prevalence AD/PART co-pathology in sporadic and genetic CJD, and indicate that largely independent pathogenic mechanisms drive AD/PART and CJD pathology even when they coexist in the same brain.

Improvement of neuronal cell survival by astrocyte-derived exosomes under hypoxic and ischemic conditions depends on prion protein

Prion protein (PrP) protects neural cells against oxidative stress, hypoxia, ischemia, and hypoglycemia. In the present study we confirm that cultured PrP-deficient neurons are more sensitive to oxidative stress than wild-type neurons and present the novel findings that wild-type, but not PrP-deficient astrocytes protect wild-type cerebellar neurons against oxidative stress and that exosomes released from stressed wild-type, but not from stressed PrP-deficient astrocytes reduce neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress. We show that neuroprotection by exosomes of stressed astrocytes depends on exosomal PrP but not on neuronal PrP and that astrocyte-derived exosomal PrP enters into neurons, suggesting neuronal uptake of astrocyte-derived exosomes. Upon exposure of wild-type astrocytes to hypoxic or ischemic conditions PrP levels in exosomes were increased. By mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis, we detected increased levels of 37/67 kDa laminin receptor, apolipoprotein E and the ribosomal proteins S3 and P0, and decreased levels of clusterin/apolipoprotein J in exosomes from wild-type astrocytes exposed to oxygen/glucose deprivation relative to exosomes from astrocytes maintained under normoxic conditions. The levels of these proteins were not altered in exosomes from stressed PrP-deficient astrocytes relative to unstressed PrP-deficient astrocytes. These results indicate that PrP in astrocytes is a sensor for oxidative stress and mediates beneficial cellular responses, e.g. release of exosomes carrying PrP and other molecules, resulting in improved survival of neurons under hypoxic and ischemic conditions.

Characterization of four new monoclonal antibodies against the distal N-terminal region of PrP(c)

Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals. They are characterized by the accumulation in the central nervous system of a pathological form of the host-encoded prion protein (PrP^C). The prion protein is a membrane glycoprotein that consists of two domains: a globular, structured C-terminus and an unstructured N-terminus. The N-terminal part of the protein is involved in different functions in both health and disease. In the present work we discuss the production and biochemical characterization of a panel of four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the distal N-terminus of PrP^C using a well-established methodology based on the immunization of Prnp^0/0 mice. Additionally, we show their ability to block prion (PrP^Sc) replication at nanomolar concentrations in a cell culture model of prion infection. These mAbs represent a promising tool for prion diagnostics and for studying the physiological role of the N-terminal domain of PrP^C.

Regional distribution of synaptic markers and APP correlate with distinct clinicopathological features in sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease

Recent studies suggest that subcortical structures, including striatum, are vulnerable to amyloid-β accumulation and other neuropathological features in familial Alzheimer's disease due to autosomal dominant mutations. We explored differences between familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease that might shed light on their respective pathogenic mechanisms. To this end, we analysed 12 brain regions, including neocortical, limbic and subcortical areas, from post-mortem brains of familial Alzheimer's disease (n = 10; age at death: 50.0 ± 8.6 years) with mutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP) or presenilin 1 (PSEN1), sporadic Alzheimer's disease (n = 19; age at death: 84.7 ± 7.8 years), neurologically normal elderly without amyloid-β accumulation (normal ageing; n = 13, age at death: 82.9 ± 10.8 years) and neurologically normal elderly with extensive cortical amyloid-β deposits (pathological ageing; n = 15; age at death: 92.7 ± 5.9 years). The levels of amyloid-β₄₀, amyloid-β₄₂, APP, apolipoprotein E, the synaptic marker PSD95 (now known as DLG4), the astrocyte marker GFAP, other molecules related to amyloid-β metabolism, and tau were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We observed that familial Alzheimer's disease had disproportionate amyloid-β₄₂ accumulation in subcortical areas compared with sporadic Alzheimer's disease, whereas sporadic Alzheimer's disease had disproportionate amyloid-β₄₂ accumulation in cortical areas compared to familial Alzheimer's disease. Compared with normal ageing, the levels of several proteins involved in amyloid-β metabolism were significantly altered in both sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease; however, such changes were not present in pathological ageing. Among molecules related to amyloid-β metabolism, the regional distribution of PSD95 strongly correlated with the regional pattern of amyloid-β₄₂ accumulation in sporadic Alzheimer's disease and pathological ageing, whereas the regional distribution of APP as well as β-C-terminal fragment of APP were strongly associated with the regional pattern of amyloid-β₄₂ accumulation in familial Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E and GFAP showed negative regional association with amyloid-β (especially amyloid-β₄₀) accumulation in both sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease. Familial Alzheimer's disease had greater striatal tau pathology than sporadic Alzheimer's disease. In a retrospective medical record review, atypical signs and symptoms were more frequent in familial Alzheimer's disease compared with sporadic Alzheimer's disease. These results suggest that disproportionate amyloid-β₄₂ accumulation in cortical areas in sporadic Alzheimer's disease may be mediated by synaptic processes, whereas disproportionate amyloid-β₄₂ accumulation in subcortical areas in familial Alzheimer's disease may be driven by APP and its processing. Region-specific amyloid-β₄₂ accumulation might account for differences in the relative amounts of tau pathology and clinical symptoms in familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Identification and removal of proteins that co-purify with infectious prion protein improves the analysis of its secondary structure

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders associated with the accumulation of an abnormal isoform of the mammalian prion protein (PrP). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has previously been used to show that the conformation of aggregated, infectious PrP (PrP(Sc) ) varies between prion strains and these unique conformations may determine strain-specific disease phenotypes. However, the relative amounts of α-helix, β-sheet and other secondary structures have not always been consistent between studies, suggesting that other proteins might be confounding the analysis of PrP(Sc) secondary structure. We have used FTIR and LC-MS/MS to analyze enriched PrP(Sc) from mouse and hamster prion strains both before and after the removal of protein contaminants that commonly co-purify with PrP(Sc) . Our data show that non-PrP proteins do contribute to absorbances that have been associated with α-helical, loop, turn and β-sheet structures attributed to PrP(Sc) . The major contaminant, the α-helical protein ferritin, absorbs strongly at 1652 cm(-1) in the FTIR spectrum associated with PrP(Sc) . However, even the removal of more than 99% of the ferritin from PrP(Sc) did not completely abolish absorbance at 1652 cm(-1) . Our results show that contaminating proteins alter the FTIR spectrum attributed to PrP(Sc) and suggest that the α-helical, loop/turn and β-sheet secondary structure that remains following their removal are derived from PrP(Sc) itself.

Recombinant neural protein PrP can bind with both recombinant and native apolipoprotein E in vitro

The most essential and crucial step during the pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy is the conformational change of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) to pathologic isoform (PrP(Sc)). A lot of data revealed that caveolae-like domains (CLDs) in the cell surface were the probable place where the conversion of PrP proteins happened. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is an apolipoprotein which is considered to play an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases by forming protein complex through binding to the receptor located in the clathrin-coated pits of the cell surface. In this study, a 914-bp cDNA sequence encoding human ApoE3 was amplified from neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Three human ApoE isomers were expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. ApoE-specific antiserum was prepared by immunizing rabbits with the purified ApoE3. GST/His pull-down assay, immunoprecipitation and ELISA revealed that three full-length ApoE isomers interact with the recombinant full-length PrP protein in vitro. The regions corresponding to protein binding were mapped in the N-terminal segment of ApoE (amino acid 1-194) and the N-terminal of PrP (amino acid 23-90). Moreover, the recombinant PrP showed the ability to form a complex with the native ApoE from liver tissues. Our data provided direct evidence of molecular interaction between ApoE and PrP. It also supplied scientific clues for assessing the significance of CLDs on the surface of cellular membrane in the process of conformational conversion from PrP(C) to PrP(Sc) and probing into the pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

Immunohistochemistry for the prion protein: comparison of different monoclonal antibodies in human prion disease subtypes

Demonstration of the abnormal form of the prion protein (PrP) in the brain confirms the diagnosis of human prion disease (PrD). Using immunohistochemistry, we have compared ten monoclonal antibodies in PrD subtypes including sporadic and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), fatal familial insomnia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and control brains. CJD subgroups were determined using Western blot analysis for the protease-resistant PrP type in combination with sequencing to determine the genotype at the methionine/valine polymorphism at codon 129 of the prion protein gene. None of the antibodies labeled given subgroups exclusively, but the intensity of immunoreactivity varied among morphologically distinct types of deposit. Fine granular or synaptic PrP deposits stained weakly or not at all with antibodies against the N-terminus of PrP, and were visible in one case only with 12F10 and SAF54. Coarser and plaque type deposits were immunolabeled with all antibodies. The immunostaining patterns appear characteristic for the disease subgroups. Labeling of certain neurons in all cases irrespective of disease, and staining at the periphery and/or throughout the senile plaques of AD patients were also noted. Antibodies such as 6H4 and 12F10 failed to give this type of labeling and are therefore less likely to recognise non-pathological PrP material in immunohistochemistry.