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Sundram S, Dhiman N, Malviya R, Awasthi R. Non-coding RNAs in Regulation of Protein Aggregation and Clearance Pathways: Current Perspectives Towards Alzheimer's Research and Therapy. Curr Gene Ther 2024; 24:8-16. [PMID: 37519207 DOI: 10.2174/1566523223666230731093030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, affecting approximately 45.0 million people worldwide and ranking as the fifth leading cause of mortality. AD is identified by neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which include abnormally phosphorylated tau-protein and amyloid protein (amyloid plaques). Peptide dysregulation is caused by an imbalance between the production and clearance of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) and NFT. AD begins to develop when these peptides are not cleared from the body. As a result, understanding the processes that control both normal and pathological protein recycling in neuronal cells is critical. Insufficient Aβ and NFT clearance are important factors in the development of AD. Autophagy, lysosomal dysfunction, and ubiquitin-proteasome dysfunction have potential roles in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in AD. Modulation of these pathways may provide a novel treatment strategy for AD. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have recently emerged as important biological regulators, with particular relevance to the emergence and development of neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. ncRNAs can be used as potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers due to their critical regulatory functions in several biological processes involved in disease development, such as the aggregation and accumulation of Aβ and NFT. It is evident that ncRNAs play a role in the pathophysiology of AD. In this communication, we explored the link between ncRNAs and AD and their regulatory mechanisms that may help in finding new therapeutic targets and AD medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Sundram
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, India
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Neerupma Dhiman
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Rishabha Malviya
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Rajendra Awasthi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences & Technology, UPES University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
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Broadbent DG, Barnaba C, Perez GI, Schmidt JC. Quantitative analysis of autophagy reveals the role of ATG9 and ATG2 in autophagosome formation. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202210078. [PMID: 37115157 PMCID: PMC10148237 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202210078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a catabolic pathway required for the recycling of cytoplasmic materials. To define the mechanisms underlying autophagy it is critical to quantitatively characterize the dynamic behavior of autophagy factors in living cells. Using a panel of cell lines expressing HaloTagged autophagy factors from their endogenous loci, we analyzed the abundance, single-molecule dynamics, and autophagosome association kinetics of autophagy proteins involved in autophagosome biogenesis. We demonstrate that autophagosome formation is inefficient and ATG2-mediated tethering to donor membranes is a key commitment step in autophagosome formation. Furthermore, our observations support the model that phagophores are initiated by the accumulation of autophagy factors on mobile ATG9 vesicles, and that the ULK1 complex and PI3-kinase form a positive feedback loop required for autophagosome formation. Finally, we demonstrate that the duration of autophagosome biogenesis is ∼110 s. In total, our work provides quantitative insight into autophagosome biogenesis and establishes an experimental framework to analyze autophagy in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G. Broadbent
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Carlo Barnaba
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Gloria I. Perez
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jens C. Schmidt
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Witte K, Schneider-Burrus S, Salinas G, Mössner R, Ghoreschi K, Wolk K, Sabat R. Blood T Helper Memory Cells: A Tool for Studying Skin Inflammation in HS? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108854. [PMID: 37240200 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful lesions on intertriginous body areas such as the axillary, inguinal, and perianal sites. Given the limited treatment options for HS, expanding our knowledge of its pathogenetic mechanisms is a prerequisite for novel therapeutic developments. T cells are assumed to play a crucial role in HS pathogenesis. However, it is currently unknown whether blood T cells show specific molecular alterations in HS. To address this, we studied the molecular profile of CD4+ memory T (Thmem) cells purified from the blood of patients with HS and matched healthy participants. About 2.0% and 1.9% of protein-coding transcripts were found to be up- and down-regulated in blood HS Thmem cells, respectively. These differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) are known to be involved in nucleoside triphosphate/nucleotide metabolic processes, mitochondrion organization, and oxidative phosphorylation. The detected down-regulation of transcripts involved in oxidative phosphorylation suggest a metabolic shift of HS Thmem cells towards glycolysis. The inclusion of transcriptome data from skin from HS patients and healthy participants in the analyses revealed that in HS skin lesions, the expression pattern of transcripts identified as DETs in blood HS Thmem cells was very similar to the expression pattern of the totality of protein-coding transcripts. Furthermore, there was no significant association between the extent of the expressional changes in the DETs of blood HS Thmem cells and the extent of the expressional changes in these transcripts in HS skin lesions compared to healthy donor skin. Additionally, a gene ontology enrichment analysis did not demonstrate any association of the DETs of blood HS Thmem cells with skin disorders. Instead, there were associations with different neurological diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and thermogenesis. The levels of most DETs linked to neurological diseases showed a positive correlation to each other, suggesting common regulatory mechanisms. In summary, the transcriptomic changes in blood Thmem cells observed in patients with manifest cutaneous HS lesions do not appear to be characteristic of the molecular changes in the skin. Instead, they could be useful for studying comorbidities and identifying corresponding blood biomarkers in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Witte
- Psoriasis Research and Treatment Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Group of Molecular Immunopathology, Dermatology/Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sylke Schneider-Burrus
- Psoriasis Research and Treatment Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Center for Dermatosurgery, Havelklinik Berlin, 13595 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas
- NGS-Integrative Genomics Core Unit, Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rotraut Mössner
- Department of Dermatology, Georg-August-University Goettingen, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kamran Ghoreschi
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerstin Wolk
- Psoriasis Research and Treatment Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Group of Molecular Immunopathology, Dermatology/Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Sabat
- Psoriasis Research and Treatment Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Group of Molecular Immunopathology, Dermatology/Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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Exploring Whether Iron Sequestration within the CNS of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Causes a Functional Iron Deficiency That Advances Neurodegeneration. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030511. [PMID: 36979320 PMCID: PMC10046656 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The involvement of iron in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be multifaceted. Besides potentially inducing oxidative damage, the bioavailability of iron may be limited within the central nervous system, creating a functionally iron-deficient state. By comparing staining results from baseline and modified iron histochemical protocols, iron was found to be more tightly bound within cortical sections from patients with high levels of AD pathology compared to subjects with a diagnosis of something other than AD. To begin examining whether the bound iron could cause a functional iron deficiency, a protein-coding gene expression dataset of initial, middle, and advanced stages of AD from olfactory bulb tissue was analyzed for iron-related processes with an emphasis on anemia-related changes in initial AD to capture early pathogenic events. Indeed, anemia-related processes had statistically significant alterations, and the significance of these changes exceeded those for AD-related processes. Other changes in patients with initial AD included the expressions of transcripts with iron-responsive elements and for genes encoding proteins for iron transport and mitochondrial-related processes. In the latter category, there was a decreased expression for the gene encoding pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1). Other studies have shown that PITRM1 has an altered activity in patients with AD and is associated with pathological changes in this disease. Analysis of a gene expression dataset from PITRM1-deficient or sufficient organoids also revealed statistically significant changes in anemia-like processes. These findings, together with supporting evidence from the literature, raise the possibility that a pathogenic mechanism of AD could be a functional deficiency of iron contributing to neurodegeneration.
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24-Hydroxycholesterol Induces Tau Proteasome-Dependent Degradation via the SIRT1/PGC1α/Nrf2 Pathway: A Potential Mechanism to Counteract Alzheimer’s Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030631. [PMID: 36978879 PMCID: PMC10044740 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence indicates that cholesterol oxidation products, named oxysterols, play a key role in several events involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Although the majority of oxysterols causes neuron dysfunction and degeneration, 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC) has recently been thought to be neuroprotective also. The present study aimed at supporting this concept by exploring, in SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cells, whether 24-OHC affected the neuroprotective SIRT1/PGC1α/Nrf2 axis. We demonstrated that 24-OHC, through the up-regulation of the deacetylase SIRT1, was able to increase both PGC1α and Nrf2 expression and protein levels, as well as Nrf2 nuclear translocation. By acting on this neuroprotective pathway, 24-OHC favors tau protein clearance by triggering tau ubiquitination and subsequently its degradation through the ubiquitin–proteasome system. We also observed a modulation of SIRT1, PGC1α, and Nrf2 expression and synthesis in the brain of AD patients with the progression of the disease, suggesting their potential role in neuroprotection. These findings suggest that 24-OHC contributes to tau degradation through the up-regulation of the SIRT1/PGC1α/Nrf2 axis. Overall, the evidence points out the importance of avoiding 24-OHC loss, which can occur in the AD brain, and of limiting SIRT1, PGC1α, and Nrf2 deregulation in order to prevent the neurotoxic accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau and counteract neurodegeneration.
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Yuan M, Wang Y, Huang Z, Jing F, Qiao P, Zou Q, Li J, Cai Z. Impaired autophagy in amyloid-beta pathology: A traditional review of recent Alzheimer's research. J Biomed Res 2023; 37:30-46. [PMID: 36642915 PMCID: PMC9898044 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.36.20220145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. The major pathological changes in AD progression are the generation and accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides as well as the presence of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the brain. Autophagy is a conserved degradation pathway that eliminates abnormal protein aggregates and damaged organelles. Previous studies have suggested that autophagy plays a key role in the production and clearance of Aβ peptides to maintain a steady-state of Aβ peptides levels. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that autophagy is significantly impaired in the pathogenesis of AD, especially in Aβ metabolism. Therefore, this article reviews the latest studies concerning the mechanisms of autophagy, the metabolism of Aβ peptides, and the defective autophagy in the production and clearance of Aβ peptides. Here, we also summarize the established and new strategies for targeting autophagy in vivo and through clinical AD trials to identify gaps in our knowledge and to generate further questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghao Yuan
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Zhenting Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Feng Jing
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Peifeng Qiao
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Qian Zou
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Zhiyou Cai
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Department of Neurology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400013, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China,Zhiyou Cai, Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.118, Xingguang Avenue, Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing 401147, China. Tel/Fax: +86-23-63515796/+86-23-63515796, E-mail:
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Bhatia S, Singh M, Singh T, Singh V. Scrutinizing the Therapeutic Potential of PROTACs in the Management of Alzheimer's Disease. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:13-25. [PMID: 35987974 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03722-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Finding an effective cure for Alzheimer's disease has eluded scientists despite intense research. The disease is a cause of suffering for millions of people worldwide and is characterized by dementia accompanied by cognitive and motor deficits, ultimately culminating in the death of the patient. The course of the disease progression has various underlying contributing pathways, with the first and foremost factor being the development and accumulation of aberrant and misfolded proteins exhibiting neurotoxic functions. The impairment of cellular clearance mechanisms adds to their accumulation, resulting in neuronal death. This is where the PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology comes into play, bringing the UPS degradation machinery in the proximity of the target protein for initiating its degradation and clearing abnormal protein debris with unparalleled precision demonstrating an edge over traditional protein inhibitors in many respects. The technology is widely explored in cancer research and utilized in the treatment of various tumors and malignancies, and is now being applied in treating AD. This review explores the application of PROTAC technology in developing lead compounds for managing this deadly disease along with detailing the pieces of evidence justifying its utility and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiveena Bhatia
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Manjinder Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India.
| | - Tanveer Singh
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A &M University Health Science Centre, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Varinder Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW An epidemic of age-associated cognitive decline, most commonly ascribed to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, is causing healthcare costs to soar and devastating caregivers. An estimated 6.5 million Americans are living today with Alzheimer's disease, with 13.8 million cases projected by mid-century. Although genetic mutations are known to cause neurodegeneration, autosomal dominant disease is very rare and most sporadic cases can be attributed, at least in part, to modifiable risk factors. RECENT FINDINGS Diet is a potential modifiable risk factor in cognitive decline. Food communicates with the brain through a complex signaling web involving multiple cells, mediators and receptors. Gut-brain communication is modulated by microorganisms including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and unicellular eukaryotes, which together constitute the microbiota. Microbes not only play major roles in the digestion and fermentation of the food, providing nutrients and bioactive metabolites, but also reflect the type and amount of food consumed and food-borne toxic exposures. Food components modify the diversity and abundance of the microbial populations, maintain the integrity of the gut barrier, and regulate the passage of microbes and their metabolites into the blood stream where they modulate the immune system and communicate with body systems including the brain. This paper will focus on selected mechanisms through which interactions between diet and the gut microbiota can modify brain integrity and cognitive function with emphasis on the pathogenesis of the most common dementia, Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Ettinger
- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, New York, USA.
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