Astrocyte׳s endogenous apoE generates HDL-like lipoproteins using previously synthesized cholesterol through interaction with ABCA1

Lipoprotein Particles in Cerebrospinal Fluid

The brain is the most lipid-rich organ in the body, and the intricate interplay between lipid metabolism and pathologies associated with neurodegenerative disorders is being increasingly recognized. The brain is bathed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which, like plasma, contains lipid-protein complexes called lipoproteins that are responsible for extracellular lipid transport. Multiple CSF lipoprotein populations exist, some of which are produced de novo in the central nervous system and others that appear to be generated from protein constituents that are produced in the periphery. These CSF lipoproteins are thought to play key roles in maintaining lipid homeostasis in the central nervous system, while little else is known due to their limited accessibility and their low abundance in CSF. Recent work has provided new insights into the compositional complexity of CSF lipoprotein families and their metabolism in cerebral circulation. The purpose of this review is to summarize our current state of knowledge on the composition, origin, and metabolism of CSF lipoproteins.

Endo-lysosomal dysfunction and neuronal-glial crosstalk in Niemann-Pick type C disease

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a rare progressive lysosomal lipid storage disorder that manifests with a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical syndromes, including visceral, neurological and psychiatric symptoms. This monogenetic autosomal recessive disease is largely caused by mutations in the NPC1 gene, which controls intracellular lipid homeostasis. Vesicle-mediated endo-lysosomal lipid trafficking and non-vesicular lipid exchange via inter-organelle membrane contact sites are both regulated by the NPC1 protein. Loss of NPC1 function therefore triggers intracellular accumulation of diverse lipid species, including cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelin and sphingosine. The NPC1-mediated dysfunction of lipid transport has severe consequences for all brain cells, leading to neurodegeneration. Besides the cell-autonomous contribution of neuronal NPC1, aberrant NPC1 signalling in other brain cells is critical for the pathology. We discuss here the importance of endo-lysosomal dysfunction and a tight crosstalk between neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia in NPC pathology. We strongly believe that a cell-specific rescue may not be sufficient to counteract the severity of the NPC pathology, but targeting common mechanisms, such as endo-lysosomal and lipid trafficking dysfunction, may ameliorate NPC pathology. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Understanding the endo-lysosomal network in neurodegeneration'.

Discovery of small molecules from natural compound databases as potent retinoid X alpha receptor agonists to treat Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's is characterized as a progressive neurodegenerative disease due to beta-amyloid accumulation in the brain. Some previous studies reported that RXR agonists could be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. There are currently numerous attempts being made to discover a natural RXR agonist that is more potent than 9-cis-retinoic acid (9CR). One of the most efficient resources for finding high-potential compounds is natural databases. In this study, 81215 compounds from the IB screen library as natural databases were docked against the RXR-alpha binding site. The best compounds discovered interact with the RXR-alpha binding site with a lower binding energy (-11 to -13 kcal/mol) than the binding energy of -10.94 kcal/mol for 9-cis, which means that these compounds could interact stronger with RXR-alpha than 9CR. All selected compounds could pass the blood-brain barrier. Physiochemical properties assessment indicated that all compounds passed Lipinski's rule and had the potential to be oral drug candidates. The stability of protein-ligand complexes during a timescale of 100 ns by Molecular Dynamics simulation demonstrated that all compounds could effectively interact with the RXR binding site. The molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) represented that all selected hit compounds had a better binding affinity to the alpha RXR binding site compared to 9CR, which means these hit compounds had potential drug candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, experimental assessment is needed to validate this result.

iPS-cell-derived microglia promote brain organoid maturation via cholesterol transfer

Microglia are specialized brain-resident macrophages that arise from primitive macrophages colonizing the embryonic brain1. Microglia contribute to multiple aspects of brain development, but their precise roles in the early human brain remain poorly understood owing to limited access to relevant tissues2-6. The generation of brain organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells recapitulates some key features of human embryonic brain development7-10. However, current approaches do not incorporate microglia or address their role in organoid maturation11-21. Here we generated microglia-sufficient brain organoids by coculturing brain organoids with primitive-like macrophages generated from the same human induced pluripotent stem cells (iMac)22. In organoid cocultures, iMac differentiated into cells with microglia-like phenotypes and functions (iMicro) and modulated neuronal progenitor cell (NPC) differentiation, limiting NPC proliferation and promoting axonogenesis. Mechanistically, iMicro contained high levels of PLIN2+ lipid droplets that exported cholesterol and its esters, which were taken up by NPCs in the organoids. We also detected PLIN2+ lipid droplet-loaded microglia in mouse and human embryonic brains. Overall, our approach substantially advances current human brain organoid approaches by incorporating microglial cells, as illustrated by the discovery of a key pathway of lipid-mediated crosstalk between microglia and NPCs that leads to improved neurogenesis.

Glycolysis-cholesterol metabolic axis in immuno-oncology microenvironment: emerging role in immune cells and immunosuppressive signaling

Cell proliferation and function require nutrients, energy, and biosynthesis activity to duplicate repertoires for each daughter. It is therefore not surprising that tumor microenvironment (TME) metabolic reprogramming primarily orchestrates the interaction between tumor and immune cells. Tumor metabolic reprogramming affords bioenergetic, signaling intermediates, and biosynthesis requirements for both malignant and immune cells. Different immune cell subsets are recruited into the TME, and these manifestations have distinct effects on tumor progression and therapeutic outcomes, especially the mutual contribution of glycolysis and cholesterol metabolism. In particularly, glycolysis-cholesterol metabolic axis interconnection plays a critical role in the TME modulation, and their changes in tumor metabolism appear to be a double-edged sword in regulating various immune cell responses and immunotherapy efficacy. Hence, we discussed the signature manifestation of the glycolysis-cholesterol metabolic axis and its pivotal role in tumor immune regulation. We also highlight how hypothetical combinations of immunotherapy and glycolysis/cholesterol-related metabolic interventions unleash the potential of anti-tumor immunotherapies, as well as developing more effective personalized treatment strategies.

Oncolytic viruses engineered to enforce cholesterol efflux restore tumor-associated macrophage phagocytosis and anti-tumor immunity in glioblastoma

The codependency of cholesterol metabolism sustains the malignant progression of glioblastoma (GBM) and effective therapeutics remain scarce. In orthotopic GBM models in male mice, we identify that codependent cholesterol metabolism in tumors induces phagocytic dysfunction in monocyte-derived tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), resulting in disease progression. Manipulating cholesterol efflux with apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), a cholesterol reverse transporter, restores TAM phagocytosis and reactivates TAM-T cell antitumor immunity. Cholesterol metabolomics analysis of in vivo-sorted TAMs further reveals that ApoA1 mediates lipid-related metabolic remodeling and lowers 7-ketocholesterol levels, which directly inhibits tumor necrosis factor signaling in TAMs through mitochondrial translation inhibition. An ApoA1-armed oncolytic adenovirus is also developed, which restores antitumor immunity and elicits long-term tumor-specific immune surveillance. Our findings provide insight into the mechanisms by which cholesterol metabolism impairs antitumor immunity in GBM and offer an immunometabolic approach to target cholesterol disturbances in GBM.

Cholesterol homeostasis regulated by ABCA1 is critical for retinal ganglion cell survival

Genome-wide association studies have suggested a link between primary open-angle glaucoma and the function of ABCA1. ABCA1 is a key regulator of cholesterol efflux and the biogenesis of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Here, we showed that the POAG risk allele near ABCA1 attenuated ABCA1 expression in cultured cells. Consistently, POAG patients exhibited lower ABCA1 expression, reduced HDL, and higher cholesterol in white blood cells. Ablation of Abca1 in mice failed to form HDL, leading to elevated cholesterol levels in the retina. Counting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by using an artificial intelligence (AI) program revealed that Abca1-deficient mice progressively lost RGCs with age. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed aberrant oxidative phosphorylation in the Abca1-/- retina, as well as activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway and suppression of autophagy. Treatment of Abca1-/- mice using atorvastatin reduced the cholesterol level in the retina, thereby improving metabolism and protecting RGCs from death. Collectively, we show that lower ABCA1 expression and lower HDL are risk factors for POAG. Accumulated cholesterol in the Abca1-/- retina causes profound aberrant metabolism, leading to a POAG-like phenotype that can be prevented by atorvastatin. Our findings establish statin use as a preventive treatment for POAG associated with lower ABCA1 expression.

Retinal cholesterol metabolism is perturbated in response to experimental glaucoma in the rat

Alterations of cholesterol metabolism have been described for many neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease in the brain and age-related macular degeneration in the retina. Recent evidence suggests that glaucoma, which is characterized by the progressive death of retinal ganglion cells, could also be associated with disruption of cholesterol homeostasis. In the present study we characterized cholesterol metabolism in a rat model of laser-induced intraocular hypertension, the main risk factor for glaucoma. Sterol levels were measured using gas-chromatography and cholesterol-related gene expression using quantitative RT-PCR at various time-points. As early as 18 hours after the laser procedure, genes implicated in cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake were upregulated (+49% and +100% for HMG-CoA reductase and LDLR genes respectively, vs. naive eyes) while genes involved in efflux were downregulated (-26% and -37% for ApoE and CYP27A1 genes, respectively). Cholesterol and precursor levels were consecutively elevated 3 days post-laser (+14%, +40% and +194% for cholesterol, desmosterol and lathosterol, respectively). Interestingly, counter-regulatory mechanisms were transcriptionally activated following these initial dysregulations, which were associated with the restoration of retinal cholesterol homeostasis, favorable to ganglion cell viability, one month after the laser-induced ocular hypertension. In conclusion, we report here for the first time that ocular hypertension is associated with transient major dynamic changes in retinal cholesterol metabolism.

Emerging role of HDL in brain cholesterol metabolism and neurodegenerative disorders

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs play a key role in cholesterol homeostasis maintenance in the central nervous system (CNS), by carrying newly synthesized cholesterol from astrocytes to neurons, to support their lipid-related physiological functions. As occurs for plasma HDLs, brain lipoproteins are assembled through the activity of membrane cholesterol transporters, undergo remodeling mediated by specific enzymes and transport proteins, and finally deliver cholesterol to neurons by a receptor-mediated internalization process. A growing number of evidences indicates a strong association between alterations of CNS cholesterol homeostasis and neurodegenerative disorders, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), and a possible role in this relationship may be played by defects in brain HDL metabolism. In the present review, we summarize and critically examine the current state of knowledge on major modifications of HDL and HDL-mediated brain cholesterol transport in AD, by taking into consideration the individual steps of this process. We also describe potential and encouraging HDL-based therapies that could represent new therapeutic strategies for AD treatment. Finally, we revise the main plasma and brain HDL modifications in other neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Amyloid beta increases ABCA1 and HMGCR protein expression, and cholesterol synthesis and accumulation in mice neurons and astrocytes

INTRODUCTION

Imbalanced cholesterol metabolism in the brain is one of the main pathophysiological mechanisms involved in Alzheimer's disease. We investigated the effect of amyloid-beta (Aβ) on the main proteins involved in regulation of cholesterol metabolism along with cholesterol content in astrocytes and neurons.

METHODS

Astrocytes and neurons were cultured and treated with Aβ. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) level in the cells and conditioned media, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), and cytochrome P450 46A1 (CYP46A1) in cell lysates were determined using immunoblotting. Astrocyte media was added to the Aβ-pretreated neurons then, HMGCR was assessed. Cholesterol was measured in both cells and media.

RESULTS

Aβ caused a significant increase in HMGCR and ABCA1 protein levels and cholesterol content in both cells without increasing cholesterol efflux. A similar increase was seen for cellular apoE level in astrocytes with no changes in media with a significant reduction of cholesterol efflux. HMGCR level was restored to near control level when Aβ-pretreated neurons were exposed to media from culture astrocytes.

CONCLUSION

Almost all events related to cholesterol homeostasis in neurons and astrocytes, are somehow affected by Aβ. However, because ABCA1 has the most important role(s) in brain cholesterol homeostasis, all subsequent events associated with astrocytes-cholesterol synthesis and its shuttling to neurons are influenced by the effects of Aβ on ABCA1 which could likely be responsible for altered brain cholesterol metabolism in Alzheimer's disease.

Involvement of Lipids in Alzheimer's Disease Pathology and Potential Therapies

Lipids constitute the bulk of the dry mass of the brain and have been associated with healthy function as well as the most common pathological conditions of the brain. Demographic factors, genetics, and lifestyles are the major factors that influence lipid metabolism and are also the key components of lipid disruption in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Additionally, the most common genetic risk factor of AD, APOE ϵ4 genotype, is involved in lipid transport and metabolism. We propose that lipids are at the center of Alzheimer's disease pathology based on their involvement in the blood-brain barrier function, amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, myelination, membrane remodeling, receptor signaling, inflammation, oxidation, and energy balance. Under healthy conditions, lipid homeostasis bestows a balanced cellular environment that enables the proper functioning of brain cells. However, under pathological conditions, dyshomeostasis of brain lipid composition can result in disturbed BBB, abnormal processing of APP, dysfunction in endocytosis/exocytosis/autophagocytosis, altered myelination, disturbed signaling, unbalanced energy metabolism, and enhanced inflammation. These lipid disturbances may contribute to abnormalities in brain function that are the hallmark of AD. The wide variance of lipid disturbances associated with brain function suggest that AD pathology may present as a complex interaction between several metabolic pathways that are augmented by risk factors such as age, genetics, and lifestyles. Herewith, we examine factors that influence brain lipid composition, review the association of lipids with all known facets of AD pathology, and offer pointers for potential therapies that target lipid pathways.

Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Microglia

Microglia, once viewed as static bystanders with limited homeostatic functions, are now considered key players in the development of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Microglial activation is a salient feature of neuroinflammation involving a dynamic process that generates multitudinous microglial phenotypes that can respond to a variety of situational cues in the central nervous system. Recently, a flurry of single cell RNA-sequencing studies have defined microglial phenotypes in unprecedented detail, and have highlighted robust changes in the expression of genes involved in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Increased expression of genes such as Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) and Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) in microglia during development, damage, and disease, suggest that increased lipid metabolism is needed to fuel protective cellular functions such as phagocytosis. This review describes our current understanding of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in microglia, and highlights microglial lipid metabolism as a modifiable target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.

Is 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol a potent modulator of cholesterol metabolism in Müller cells? An in vitro study about neuron to glia communication in the retina

Communication between neurons and glia plays a major role in nervous tissue homeostasis. It is thought to participate in tuning cholesterol metabolism to cellular demand, which is a critical issue for neuronal health. Cholesterol is a membrane lipid crucial for nervous tissue functioning, and perturbed regulation of its metabolism has been linked to several neurodegenerative disorders. In the brain, 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24S-OHC) is an oxysterol synthesized by neurons to eliminate cholesterol, and 24S-OHC has been shown to regulate cholesterol metabolism in astrocytes, glial cells which provide cholesterol to neurons. In the retina, 24S-OHC is also an elimination product of cholesterol produced by neurons, especially the retinal ganglion cells. However, it is not known whether Müller cells, the major macroglial cells of the retina, play the role of cholesterol provider for retinal neurons and whether they respond to 24S-OHC signaling, similarly to brain glial cells. In the present study, primary cultures of rat Müller cells were treated with 0, 0.5 or 1.5 μM 24S-OHC for 48 hours. The levels of cholesterol, precursors and oxysterols were quantified using gas chromatography coupled to flame-ionization detection or mass spectrometry. In addition, the expression of key genes related to cholesterol metabolism was analyzed using RTq-PCR. Müller cells were shown to express many genes linked to cholesterol metabolism, including genes coding for proteins implicated in cholesterol biosynthesis (HMGCR), cholesterol uptake and export via lipoproteins (LDL-R, SR-BI, ApoE and ABACA1) and regulation of cholesterol metabolism (SREBP2 and LXRβ). Cholesterol and several of its precursors and oxidative products were present. CYP27A1, the main retinal enzyme implicated in cholesterol elimination via oxysterol production, was quantified at low transcript levels but neither of its two typical products were detected in Müller cells. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that 24S-OHC has a strong hypocholesterolemic effect in Müller cells, leading to cholesterol depletion (-37 % at 1.5 μM). This was mediated by a decrease in cholesterol synthesis, as illustrated by reduced levels of cholesterol precursors: desmosterol (-38 % at 1.5 μM) and lathosterol (-84 % at 1.5 μM), and strong downregulation of HMGCR gene expression (2.4 fold decrease at 1.5μM). In addition, LDL-R and SR-BI gene expression were reduced in response to 24S-OHC treatment (2 fold and 1.6 fold at 1.5 μM, respectively), suggesting diminished lipoprotein uptake by the cells. On the contrary, there was a dramatic overexpression of ABCA1 transporter (10 fold increase at 1.5 μM), probably mediating an increase in cholesterol efflux. Finally, 24S-OHC induced a small but significant upregulation of the CYP27A1 gene. These data indicate that Müller cells possess the necessary cholesterol metabolism machinery and that they are able to sharply adjust their cholesterol metabolism in response to 24S-OHC, a signal molecule of neuronal cholesterol status. This suggests that Müller cells could be major players of cholesterol homeostasis in the retina via neuron-glia crosstalk.

Dual Roles of Astrocyte-Derived Factors in Regulation of Blood-Brain Barrier Function after Brain Damage

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major functional barrier in the central nervous system (CNS), and inhibits the extravasation of intravascular contents and transports various essential nutrients between the blood and the brain. After brain damage by traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia and several other CNS disorders, the functions of the BBB are disrupted, resulting in severe secondary damage including brain edema and inflammatory injury. Therefore, BBB protection and recovery are considered novel therapeutic strategies for reducing brain damage. Emerging evidence suggests key roles of astrocyte-derived factors in BBB disruption and recovery after brain damage. The astrocyte-derived vascular permeability factors include vascular endothelial growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, nitric oxide, glutamate and endothelin-1, which enhance BBB permeability leading to BBB disruption. By contrast, the astrocyte-derived protective factors include angiopoietin-1, sonic hedgehog, glial-derived neurotrophic factor, retinoic acid and insulin-like growth factor-1 and apolipoprotein E which attenuate BBB permeability resulting in recovery of BBB function. In this review, the roles of these astrocyte-derived factors in BBB function are summarized, and their significance as therapeutic targets for BBB protection and recovery after brain damage are discussed.

Cell-specific production, secretion, and function of apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a 34-kDa glycoprotein that is secreted from many cells throughout the body. ApoE is best known for its role in lipoprotein metabolism. Recent studies underline the association of circulating lipoprotein-associated apoE levels and the development for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Besides its well-established role in pathology of CVD, it is also implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and recent new data on adipose-produced apoE point to a novel metabolic role for apoE in obesity. The regulation of apoE production and secretion is remarkably cell and tissue specific. Here, we summarize recent insights into the differential regulation apoE production and secretion by hepatocytes, monocytes/macrophages, adipocytes, and the central nervous system and relevant variations in apoE biochemistry and function.

ABCA1 Agonist Reverses the ApoE4-Driven Cognitive and Brain Pathologies

The allele ɛ4 of apolipoprotein E (apoE4) is the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is therefore a promising therapeutic target. Human and animal model studies suggest that apoE4 is hypolipidated; accordingly, we have previously shown that the retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist bexarotene upregulates ABCA1, the main apoE-lipidating protein, resulting in increased lipidation of apoE4, and the subsequent reversal of the pathological effects of apoE4, namely: accumulation of Aβ42 and hyperphosphorylated tau, as well as reduction in the levels of synaptic markers and cognitive deficits. Since the RXR system has numerous other targets, it is important to devise the means of activating ABCA1 selectively. We presently utilized CS-6253, a peptide shown to directly activate ABCA1 in vitro, and examined the extent to which it can affect the degree of lipidation of apoE4 in vivo and counteract the associated brain and behavioral pathologies. This revealed that treatment of young apoE4-targeted replacement mice with CS-6253 increases the lipidation of apoE4. This was associated with a reversal of the apoE4-driven Aβ42 accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation in hippocampal neurons, as well as of the synaptic impairments and cognitive deficits. These findings suggest that the pathological effects of apoE4 in vivo are associated with decreased activation of ABCA1 and impaired lipidation of apoE4 and that the downstream brain-related pathology and cognitive deficits can be counteracted by treatment with the ABCA1 agonist CS-6253. These findings have important clinical ramifications and put forward ABCA1 as a promising target for apoE4-related treatment of AD.

The Role of Caveolin 1 in HIV Infection and Pathogenesis

Caveolin 1 (Cav-1) is a major component of the caveolae structure and is expressed in a variety of cell types including macrophages, which are susceptible to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Caveolae structures are present in abundance in mechanically stressed cells such as endothelial cells and adipocytes. HIV infection induces dysfunction of these cells and promotes pathogenesis. Cav-1 and the caveolae structure are believed to be involved in multiple cellular processes that include signal transduction, lipid regulation, endocytosis, transcytosis, and mechanoprotection. Such a broad biological role of Cav-1/caveolae is bound to have functional cross relationships with several molecular pathways including HIV replication and viral-induced pathogenesis. The current review covers the relationship of Cav-1 and HIV in respect to viral replication, persistence, and the potential role in pathogenesis.

Dietary cholesterol promotes repair of demyelinated lesions in the adult brain

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder in which remyelination failure contributes to persistent disability. Cholesterol is rate-limiting for myelin biogenesis in the developing CNS; however, whether cholesterol insufficiency contributes to remyelination failure in MS, is unclear. Here, we show the relationship between cholesterol, myelination and neurological parameters in mouse models of demyelination and remyelination. In the cuprizone model, acute disease reduces serum cholesterol levels that can be restored by dietary cholesterol. Concomitant with blood-brain barrier impairment, supplemented cholesterol directly supports oligodendrocyte precursor proliferation and differentiation, and restores the balance of growth factors, creating a permissive environment for repair. This leads to attenuated axon damage, enhanced remyelination and improved motor learning. Remarkably, in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, cholesterol supplementation does not exacerbate disease expression. These findings emphasize the safety of dietary cholesterol in inflammatory diseases and point to a previously unrecognized role of cholesterol in promoting repair after demyelinating episodes.

Cholesterol is important for axonal myelination during development. Here the authors show that cholesterol levels are reduced in a cuprizone mouse model of multiple sclerosis and that dietary cholesterol supplementation enhances remyelination and recovery.

Subcellular Changes in Bridging Integrator 1 Protein Expression in the Cerebral Cortex During the Progression of Alzheimer Disease Pathology

Genome-wide association studies have established BIN1 (Bridging Integrator 1) as the most significant late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD) susceptibility locus after APOE We analyzed BIN1 protein expression using automated immunohistochemistry on the hippocampal CA1 region in 19 patients with either no, mild, or moderate-to-marked AD pathology, who had been assessed by Clinical Dementia Rating and CERAD scores. We also examined the amygdala, prefrontal, temporal, and occipital regions in a subset of these patients. In non-demented controls without AD pathology, BIN1 protein was expressed in white matter, glia, particularly oligodendrocytes, and in the neuropil in which the BIN1 signal decorated axons. With increasing severity of AD, BIN1 in the CA1 region showed: 1) sustained expression in glial cells, 2) decreased areas of neuropil expression, and 3) increased cytoplasmic neuronal expression that did not correlate with neurofibrillary tangle load. In patients with AD, both the prefrontal cortex and CA1 showed a decrease in BIN1-immunoreactive (BIN1-ir) neuropil areas and increases in numbers of BIN1-ir neurons. The numbers of CA1 BIN1-ir pyramidal neurons correlated with hippocampal CERAD neuritic plaque scores; BIN1 neuropil signal was absent in neuritic plaques. Our data provide novel insight into the relationship between BIN1 protein expression and the progression of AD-associated pathology and its diagnostic hallmarks.

Apolipoprotein E Isoforms and AMD

The cholesterol transporting protein apolipoprotein E (ApoE) occurs in three allelic variants in humans unlike in other species. The resulting protein isoforms E2, E3 and E4 exhibit differences in lipid binding, integrating into lipoprotein particles and affinity for lipoprotein receptors. ApoE isoforms confer genetic risk for several diseases of aging including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A single E4 allele increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, whereas the E2 allele is protective. Intriguingly, the E4 allele is protective in AMD. Current thinking about different functions of ApoE isoforms comes largely from studies on Alzheimer's disease. These data cannot be directly extrapolated to AMD since the primary cells affected in these diseases (neurons vs. retinal pigment epithelium) are so different. Here, we propose that ApoE serves a fundamentally different purpose in regulating cholesterol homeostasis in the retinal pigment epithelium and this could explain why allelic risk factors are flipped for AMD compared to Alzheimer's disease.

Neuroprotective effect against axonal damage-induced retinal ganglion cell death in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice through the suppression of kainate receptor signaling

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plays important roles in the body, including a carrier of cholesterols, an anti-oxidant, and a ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptors. In the nervous system, the presence of ApoE4 isoforms is associated with Alzheimer's disease. ApoE gene polymorphisms are also associated with glaucoma, but the function of ApoE in the retina remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of ApoE in axonal damage-induced RGC death. ApoE was detected in the astrocytes and Müller cells in the wild-type (WT) retina. RGC damage was induced in adult ApoE-deficient mice (male, 10-12 weeks old) through ocular hypertension (OH), optic nerve crush (NC), or by administering kainic acid (KA) intravitreally. The WT mice were treated with a glutamate receptor antagonist (MK801 or CNQX) 30 min before performing NC or left untreated. Seven days later, the retinas were flat mounted and Fluorogold-labeled RGCs were counted. We found that the RGCs in the ApoE-deficient mice were resistant to OH-induced RGC death and optic nerve degeneration 4 weeks after induction. In WT mice, NC effectively induced RGC death (control: 4085±331 cells/mm(2), NC: 1728±170 cells/mm(2)). CNQX, an inhibitor of KA receptors, suppressed this RGC death (3031±246 cells/mm(2)), but MK801, an inhibitor of NMDA receptors, did not (1769±212 cells/mm(2)). This indicated the involvement of KA receptor signaling in NC-induced RGC death. We found that NC- or KA-induced RGC death was significantly less in the ApoE-deficient mice than in the WT mice. These data suggest that the ApoE deficiency had a neuroprotective effect against axonal damage-induced RGC death by suppressing the KA receptor signaling.

ApoA-I/HDL Generation and Intracellular Cholesterol Transport through Cytosolic Lipid-Protein Particles in Astrocytes

Exogenous apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) associates with ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) on the cell surface of astrocytes like various peripheral cells and enhances the translocation of newly synthesized cholesterol from the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus (ER/Golgi) to the cytosol. The cholesterol translocated to the cytosol is incorporated to cytosolic lipid-protein particles (CLPP) together with phospholipids and proteins such as sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, caveolin-1, protein kinase Cα (PK-Cα), and cyclophilin A. The CLPP are high density lipoproteins- (HDL-)like cytosolic lipid-protein complex with densities of 1.09–1.16 g/mL and diameters of 17-18 nm. The association of exogenous apoA-I with cellular ABCA1 induces tyrosine phosphorylation, activation, and translocation to the CLPP of ABCA1-associated phospholipase Cγ (PL-Cγ) in rat astrocytes. Furthermore, PK-Cα is translocated and activated to/in the CLPP through theproduction of diacylglyceride in the CLPP. ApoA-I enhances both the association of CLPP with microtubules and the phosphorylation of α-tubulin as a component of microtubules. The CLPP are dissociated from microtubules after α-tubulin in microtubules is phosphorylated by the CLPP-associated PK-Cα. The association and dissociation between CLPP and microtubules may participate in the intracellular transport of cholesterol to the plasma membrane.