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Ali M, Garcia P, Lunkes LP, Sciortino A, Thomas M, Heurtaux T, Grzyb K, Halder R, Coowar D, Skupin A, Buée L, Blum D, Buttini M, Glaab E. Single cell transcriptome analysis of the THY-Tau22 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease reveals sex-dependent dysregulations. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:119. [PMID: 38453894 PMCID: PMC10920792 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01885-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression and pathology show pronounced sex differences, but the factors driving these remain poorly understood. To gain insights into early AD-associated molecular changes and their sex dependency for tau pathology in the cortex, we performed single-cell RNA-seq in the THY-Tau22 AD mouse model. By examining cell type-specific and cell type-agnostic AD-related gene activity changes and their sex-dimorphism for individual genes, pathways and cellular sub-networks, we identified both statistically significant alterations and interpreted the upstream mechanisms controlling them. Our results confirm several significant sex-dependent alterations in gene activity in the THY-Tau22 model mice compared to controls, with more pronounced alterations in females. Both changes shared across multiple cell types and cell type-specific changes were observed. The differential genes showed significant over-representation of known AD-relevant processes, such as pathways associated with neuronal differentiation, programmed cell death and inflammatory responses. Regulatory network analysis of these genes revealed upstream regulators that modulate many of the downstream targets with sex-dependent changes. Most key regulators have been previously implicated in AD, such as Egr1, Klf4, Chchd2, complement system genes, and myelin-associated glycoproteins. Comparing with similar data from the Tg2576 AD mouse model and human AD patients, we identified multiple genes with consistent, cell type-specific and sex-dependent alterations across all three datasets. These shared changes were particularly evident in the expression of myelin-associated genes such as Mbp and Plp1 in oligodendrocytes. In summary, we observed significant cell type-specific transcriptomic changes in the THY-Tau22 mouse model, with a strong over-representation of known AD-associated genes and processes. These include both sex-neutral and sex-specific patterns, characterized by consistent shifts in upstream master regulators and downstream target genes. Collectively, these findings provide insights into mechanisms influencing sex-specific susceptibility to AD and reveal key regulatory proteins that could be targeted for developing treatments addressing sex-dependent AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Pierre Garcia
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Laetitia P Lunkes
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Alessia Sciortino
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Melanie Thomas
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Tony Heurtaux
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, 8 avenue du Swing, L-4367, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology, L-3555, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Kamil Grzyb
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rashi Halder
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Djalil Coowar
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Alex Skupin
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Luc Buée
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 Lille Neuroscience & Cognition (LilNCog), Lille, France
- Alzheimer and Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
| | - David Blum
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 Lille Neuroscience & Cognition (LilNCog), Lille, France
- Alzheimer and Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
| | - Manuel Buttini
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Enrico Glaab
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
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Leite JP, Costa-Rodrigues D, Gales L. Inhibitors of Transthyretin Amyloidosis: How to Rank Drug Candidates Using X-ray Crystallography Data. Molecules 2024; 29:895. [PMID: 38398647 PMCID: PMC10893244 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29040895] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyloidosis is a group of protein misfolding diseases, which include spongiform encephalopathies, Alzheimer's disease and transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis; all of them are characterized by extracellular deposits of an insoluble fibrillar protein. TTR amyloidosis is a highly debilitating and life-threatening disease. Patients carry less stable TTR homotetramers that are prone to dissociation into non-native monomers, which in turn rapidly self-assemble into oligomers and, ultimately, amyloid fibrils. Liver transplantation to induce the production of wild-type TTR was the only therapeutic strategy until recently. A promising approach to ameliorate transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is based on the so-called TTR kinetic stabilizers. More than 1000 TTR stabilizers have already been tested by many research groups, but the diversity of experimental techniques and conditions used hampers an objective prioritization of the compounds. One of the most reliable and unambiguous techniques applied to determine the structures of the TTR/drug complexes is X-ray diffraction. Most of the potential inhibitors bind in the TTR channel and the crystal structures reveal the atomic details of the interaction between the protein and the compound. Here we suggest that the stabilization effect is associated with a compaction of the quaternary structure of the protein and propose a scoring function to rank drugs based on X-ray crystallography data.
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Affiliation(s)
- José P. Leite
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Diogo Costa-Rodrigues
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Gales
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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Medegan Fagla B, Buhimschi IA. Protein Misfolding in Pregnancy: Current Insights, Potential Mechanisms, and Implications for the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia. Molecules 2024; 29:610. [PMID: 38338354 PMCID: PMC10856193 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29030610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding disorders are a group of diseases characterized by supra-physiologic accumulation and aggregation of pathogenic proteoforms resulting from improper protein folding and/or insufficiency in clearance mechanisms. Although these processes have been historically linked to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, evidence linking protein misfolding to other pathologies continues to emerge. Indeed, the deposition of toxic protein aggregates in the form of oligomers or large amyloid fibrils has been linked to type 2 diabetes, various types of cancer, and, in more recent years, to preeclampsia, a life-threatening pregnancy-specific disorder. While extensive physiological mechanisms are in place to maintain proteostasis, processes, such as aging, genetic factors, or environmental stress in the form of hypoxia, nutrient deprivation or xenobiotic exposures can induce failure in these systems. As such, pregnancy, a natural physical state that already places the maternal body under significant physiological stress, creates an environment with a lower threshold for aberrant aggregation. In this review, we set out to discuss current evidence of protein misfolding in pregnancy and potential mechanisms supporting a key role for this process in preeclampsia pathogenesis. Improving our understanding of this emerging pathophysiological process in preeclampsia can lead to vital discoveries that can be harnessed to create better diagnoses and treatment modalities for the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irina Alexandra Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
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Ma W, Song X, Yuan GC, Wang P. RECCIPE: A new framework assessing localized cell-cell interaction on gene expression in multicellular ST data. Front Genet 2024; 15:1322886. [PMID: 38327830 PMCID: PMC10847567 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1322886] [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] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell interaction (CCI) plays a pivotal role in cellular communication within the tissue microenvironment. The recent development of spatial transcriptomics (ST) technology and associated data analysis methods has empowered researchers to systematically investigate CCI. However, existing methods are tailored to single-cell resolution datasets, whereas the majority of ST platforms lack such resolution. Additionally, the detection of CCI through association screening based on ST data, which has complicated dependence structure, necessitates proper control of false discovery rates due to the multiple hypothesis testing issue in high dimensional spaces. To address these challenges, we introduce RECCIPE, a novel method designed for identifying cell signaling interactions across multiple cell types in spatial transcriptomic data. RECCIPE integrates gene expression data, spatial information and cell type composition in a multivariate regression framework, enabling genome-wide screening for changes in gene expression levels attributed to CCIs. We show that RECCIPE not only achieves high accuracy in simulated datasets but also provides new biological insights from real data obtained from a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Overall, our framework provides a useful tool for studying impact of cell-cell interactions on gene expression in multicellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Ma
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xiaoyu Song
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Institute for Health Care Delivery Science, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Guo-Cheng Yuan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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5
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Joshi SM, Wilson TC, Li Z, Preshlock S, Gómez-Vallejo V, Gouverneur V, Llop J, Arsequell G. Synthesis and PET Imaging Biodistribution Studies of Radiolabeled Iododiflunisal, a Transthyretin Tetramer Stabilizer, Candidate Drug for Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2024; 29:488. [PMID: 38257401 PMCID: PMC10818730 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The small-molecule iododiflunisal (IDIF) is a transthyretin (TTR) tetramer stabilizer and acts as a chaperone of the TTR-Amyloid beta interaction. Oral administration of IDIF improves Alzheimer's Disease (AD)-like pathology in mice, although the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics remain unknown. Radiolabeling IDIF with positron or gamma emitters may aid in the in vivo evaluation of IDIF using non-invasive nuclear imaging techniques. In this work, we report an isotopic exchange reaction to obtain IDIF radiolabeled with 18F. [19F/18F]exchange reaction over IDIF in dimethyl sulfoxide at 160 °C resulted in the formation of [18F]IDIF in 7 ± 3% radiochemical yield in a 20 min reaction time, with a final radiochemical purity of >99%. Biodistribution studies after intravenous administration of [18F]IDIF in wild-type mice using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging showed capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier (ca. 1% of injected dose per gram of tissue in the brain at t > 10 min post administration), rapid accumulation in the liver, long circulation time, and progressive elimination via urine. Our results open opportunities for future studies in larger animal species or human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer M. Joshi
- CIC BiomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramón 182, Parque Tecnológico de San Sebastián, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; (S.M.J.); (V.G.-V.)
- Department of Radiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Thomas C. Wilson
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK; (T.C.W.); (V.G.)
| | - Zibo Li
- Department of Radiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Sean Preshlock
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK; (T.C.W.); (V.G.)
| | - Vanessa Gómez-Vallejo
- CIC BiomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramón 182, Parque Tecnológico de San Sebastián, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; (S.M.J.); (V.G.-V.)
| | - Véronique Gouverneur
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK; (T.C.W.); (V.G.)
| | - Jordi Llop
- CIC BiomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramón 182, Parque Tecnológico de San Sebastián, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; (S.M.J.); (V.G.-V.)
| | - Gemma Arsequell
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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Poonsiri T, Dell’Accantera D, Loconte V, Casnati A, Cervoni L, Arcovito A, Benini S, Ferrari A, Cipolloni M, Cacioni E, De Franco F, Giacchè N, Rinaldo S, Folli C, Sansone F, Berni R, Cianci M. 3-O-Methyltolcapone and Its Lipophilic Analogues Are Potent Inhibitors of Transthyretin Amyloidogenesis with High Permeability and Low Toxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:479. [PMID: 38203650 PMCID: PMC10779086 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is an amyloidogenic homotetramer involved in the transport of thyroxine in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. To date, more than 130 TTR point mutations are known to destabilise the TTR tetramer, leading to its extracellular pathological aggregation accumulating in several organs, such as heart, peripheral and autonomic nerves, and leptomeninges. Tolcapone is an FDA-approved drug for Parkinson's disease that has been repurposed as a TTR stabiliser. We characterised 3-O-methyltolcapone and two newly synthesized lipophilic analogues, which are expected to be protected from the metabolic glucuronidation that is responsible for the lability of tolcapone in the organism. Immunoblotting assays indicated the high degree of TTR stabilisation, coupled with binding selectivity towards TTR in diluted plasma of 3-O-methyltolcapone and its lipophilic analogues. Furthermore, in vitro toxicity data showed their several-fold improved neuronal and hepatic safety compared to tolcapone. Calorimetric and structural data showed that both T4 binding sites of TTR are occupied by 3-O-methyltolcapone and its lipophilic analogs, consistent with an effective TTR tetramer stabilisation. Moreover, in vitro permeability studies showed that the three compounds can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier, which is a prerequisite for the inhibition of TTR amyloidogenesis in the cerebrospinal fluid. Our data demonstrate the relevance of 3-O-methyltolcapone and its lipophilic analogs as potent inhibitors of TTR amyloidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanalai Poonsiri
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography Laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (T.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Davide Dell’Accantera
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Valentina Loconte
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA;
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Alessandro Casnati
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Laura Cervoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Alessandro Arcovito
- Department of Biotechnological Sciences and Intensive Care, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli—IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Benini
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography Laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (T.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Alberto Ferrari
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (A.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Marco Cipolloni
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Elisa Cacioni
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Francesca De Franco
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Nicola Giacchè
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Serena Rinaldo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Claudia Folli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (A.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Francesco Sansone
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Rodolfo Berni
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Michele Cianci
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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Kim B, Ko YH, Si J, Na J, Ortore G, Chiellini G, Kim JH. Thyroxine metabolite-derived 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and synthetic analogs as efficient suppressors of transthyretin amyloidosis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4717-4728. [PMID: 37822560 PMCID: PMC10562617 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggregation and fibrillization of transthyretin (TTR) is a fatal pathogenic process that can cause cardiomyopathic and polyneuropathic diseases in humans. Although several therapeutic strategies have been designed to prevent and treat related pathological events, there is still an urgent need to develop better strategies to improve potency and wider applicability. Here, we present our study demonstrating that 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and selected thyronamine-like compounds can effectively prevent TTR aggregation. T1AM is one of the thyroid hormone (TH) metabolites, and T1AM and its analogs, such as SG2, SG6, and SG12, are notable molecules for their beneficial activities against metabolic disorders and neurodegeneration. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and biochemical analysis, we confirmed that T1AM analogs could bind to and suppress acid-induced aggregation of TTR. In addition, we employed computational approaches to further understand the detailed mechanisms of the interaction between T1AM analogs and TTR. This study demonstrates that T1AM analogs, whose beneficial effects against several pathological processes have already been proven, may have additional benefits against TTR aggregation and fibrillization. Moreover, we believe that our work provides invaluable insights to enhance the pleiotropic activity of T1AM and structurally related analogs, relevant for their therapeutic potential, with particular reference to the ability to prevent TTR aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bokyung Kim
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Ho Ko
- Center for Self-Assembly and Complexity, Institute for Basic Science, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinbeom Si
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongbum Na
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Jin Hae Kim
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
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Ciccone L, Camodeca C, Tonali N, Barlettani L, Rossello A, Fruchart Gaillard C, Kaffy J, Petrarolo G, La Motta C, Nencetti S, Orlandini E. New Hybrid Compounds Incorporating Natural Products as Multifunctional Agents against Alzheimer's Disease. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2369. [PMID: 37896129 PMCID: PMC10610016 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of new hybrid derivatives 1a-c, 2a-c, 3a-c, 4a-c, 5a-c, inspired by nature, were synthesized and studied as multifunctional agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). These compounds were designed to merge together the trifluoromethyl benzyloxyaminic bioactive moiety, previously identified, with different acids available in nature. The ability of the synthesized compounds to chelate biometals, such as Cu2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+, was studied by UV-Vis spectrometer, and through a preliminary screening their antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH. Then, selected compounds were tested by in vitro ABTS free radical method and ex vivo rat brain TBARS assay. Compounds 2a-c, combining the strongest antioxidant and biometal chelators activities, were studied for their ability to contrast Aβ1-40 fibrillization process. Finally, starting from the promising profile obtained for compound 2a, we evaluated if it could be able to induce a positive cross-interaction between transthyretin (TTR) and Aβ in presence and in absence of Cu2+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Ciccone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.B.); (A.R.); (G.P.); (C.L.M.)
| | - Caterina Camodeca
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.B.); (A.R.); (G.P.); (C.L.M.)
| | - Nicolò Tonali
- CNRS, BioCIS, Bâtiment Henri Moissan, Université Paris-Saclay, 17 Av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France; (N.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Lucia Barlettani
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.B.); (A.R.); (G.P.); (C.L.M.)
| | - Armando Rossello
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.B.); (A.R.); (G.P.); (C.L.M.)
- Research Center “E. Piaggio”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Carole Fruchart Gaillard
- CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Université Paris Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;
| | - Julia Kaffy
- CNRS, BioCIS, Bâtiment Henri Moissan, Université Paris-Saclay, 17 Av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France; (N.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Giovanni Petrarolo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.B.); (A.R.); (G.P.); (C.L.M.)
| | - Concettina La Motta
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.B.); (A.R.); (G.P.); (C.L.M.)
| | - Susanna Nencetti
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.B.); (A.R.); (G.P.); (C.L.M.)
| | - Elisabetta Orlandini
- Research Center “E. Piaggio”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy;
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Santa Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Zhou S, Zou H, Wang Y, Lo GV, Yuan S. Atomic Mechanisms of Transthyretin Tetramer Dissociation Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:6667-6678. [PMID: 35993568 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The dissociation of the transthyretin (TTR) tetramer into a monomer is closely related to various TTR amyloidoses in humans. While the tetramer dissociation has been reported to be the rate-limiting step for TTR aggregation, few details are known about the mechanism. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed by combining conventional MD and biased metadynamics to investigate the mechanism for the wild-type (WT) and mutant (T119M) structures. Both were found to have a great deal in common. Conventional MD simulations reveal that interfacial hydrophobic interactions contribute significantly to stabilize the tetramer. Interfacial residues including L17, V20, L110, and V121 with close contacts form a hydrophobic channel. Metadynamics simulations indicate that the mouth opening of the hydrophobic channel is the first and the most difficult step for dissociation. Interactions of V20 between opposing dimers lock four monomers into the tetramer, and disruption of the interactions is found to be involved in the final step. During the dissociation, an increasing extent of solvation was observed by calculating the radial distribution functions of water around interfacial hydrophobic residues, suggesting that water plays a role in driving the tetramer dissociation. Moreover, compared to T119, residue M119 has a longer side chain that extends into the hydrophobic channel, making solvation more difficult, consistent with a higher energy barrier for dissociation of the T119M tetramer. This result provides a good explanation for the protective role of the T119M mutation. Overall, this study can provide atomic-level insights to better understand the pathogenesis of TTR amyloidosis and guide rational drug design in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyan Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory on Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China
| | - Huizhen Zou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory on Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory on Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China
| | - Glenn V Lo
- Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Nicholls State University, P.O. Box 2022, Thibodaux, Louisiana 70310, United States
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory on Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China
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Weller AE, Ferraro TN, Doyle GA, Reiner BC, Crist RC, Berrettini WH. Single Nucleus Transcriptome Data from Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Models Yield New Insight into Pathophysiology. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1233-1247. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: 5XFAD humanized mutant mice and Trem2 knockout (T2KO) mice are two mouse models relevant to the study of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related pathology. Objective: To determine hippocampal transcriptomic and polyadenylation site usage alterations caused by genetic mutations engineered in 5XFAD and T2KO mice. Methods: Employing a publicly available single-nucleus RNA sequencing dataset, we used Seurat and Sierra analytic programs to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential transcript usage (DTU), respectively, in hippocampal cell types from each of the two mouse models. We analyzed cell type-specific DEGs further using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Results: We identified several DEGs in both neuronal and glial cell subtypes in comparisons of wild type (WT) versus 5XFAD and WT versus T2KO mice, including Ttr, Fth1, Pcsk1n, Malat1, Rpl37, Rtn1, Sepw1, Uba52, Mbp, Arl6ip5, Gm26917, Vwa1, and Pgrmc1. We also observed DTU in common between the two comparisons in neuronal and glial subtypes, specifically in the genes Prnp, Rbm4b, Pnisr, Opcml, Cpne7, Adgrb1, Gabarapl2, Ubb, Ndfip1, Car11, and Stmn4. IPA identified three statistically significant canonical pathways that appeared in multiple cell types and that overlapped between 5XFAD and T2KO comparisons to WT, including ‘FXR/RXR Activation’, ‘LXR/RXR Activation’, and ‘Acute Phase Response Signaling’. Conclusion: DEG, DTU, and IPA findings, derived from two different mouse models of AD, highlight the importance of energy imbalance and inflammatory processes in specific hippocampal cell types, including subtypes of neurons and glial cells, in the development of AD-related pathology. Additional studies are needed to further characterize these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E. Weller
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Thomas N. Ferraro
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Glenn A. Doyle
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin C. Reiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Richard C. Crist
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wade H. Berrettini
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Alzheimer’s Disease and Toxins Produced by Marine Dinoflagellates: An Issue to Explore. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20040253. [PMID: 35447926 PMCID: PMC9029327 DOI: 10.3390/md20040253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper examined the toxins naturally produced by marine dinoflagellates and their effects on increases in β-amyloid plaques along with tau protein hyperphosphorylation, both major drivers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This approach is in line with the demand for certain natural compounds, namely those produced by marine invertebrates that have the potential to be used in the treatment of AD. Current advances in AD treatment are discussed as well as the main factors that potentially affect the puzzling global AD pattern. This study focused on yessotoxins (YTXs), gymnodimine (GYM), spirolides (SPXs), and gambierol, all toxins that have been shown to reduce β-amyloid plaques and tau hyperphosphorylation, thus preventing the neuronal or synaptic dysfunction that ultimately causes the cell death associated with AD (or other neurodegenerative diseases). Another group of toxins described, okadaic acid (OA) and its derivatives, inhibit protein phosphatase activity, which facilitates the presence of phosphorylated tau proteins. A few studies have used OA to trigger AD in zebrafish, providing an opportunity to test in vivo the effectiveness of new drugs in treating or attenuating AD. Constraints on the production of marine toxins for use in these tests have been considered. Different lines of research are anticipated regarding the action of the two groups of toxins.
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Barbas R, Font-Bardia M, Ballesteros A, Arsequell G, Prohens R, Frontera A. Static discrete disorder in the crystal structure of iododiflunisal: on the importance of hydrogen bond, halogen bond and π-stacking interactions. CrystEngComm 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2ce00202g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We report a combined computational/crystallographic analysis focused on the static discrete disorder shown by the drug iododiflunisal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Barbas
- Unitat de Polimorfisme i Calorimetria, Centres Científics i Tecnològics, Universitat de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Font-Bardia
- Unitat de Difracció de Raigs X, Centres Científics i Tecnològics, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Ballesteros
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Instituto de Química Organometálica “Enrique Moles”, Universidad de Oviedo, Julián Clavería, 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Gemma Arsequell
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafel Prohens
- Unitat de Polimorfisme i Calorimetria, Centres Científics i Tecnològics, Universitat de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Frontera
- Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crta. de Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
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