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Wang Y, Liu W, Sun Y, Dong X. Transthyretin-Penetratin: A Potent Fusion Protein Inhibitor against Alzheimer's Amyloid-β Fibrillogenesis with High Blood Brain Barrier Crossing Capability. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:419-431. [PMID: 38450606 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The design of a potent amyloid-β protein (Aβ) inhibitor plays a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite endogenous transthyretin (TTR) being recognized as an Aβ inhibitor, the weak inhibitory and blood brain barrier (BBB) crossing capabilities hinder it for Aβ aggregation inhibition and transport. Therefore, we have herein designed a recombinant TTR by conjugating a cationic cell penetrating peptide (penetratin, Pen), which not only enabled the fusion protein, TTR-Pen (TP), to present high BBB penetration but also greatly enhanced the potency of Aβ inhibition. Namely, the protein fusion made TP positively charged, leading to a potent suppression of Aβ40 fibrillization at a low concentration (1.5 μM), while a TTR concentration as high as 12.5 μM was required to gain a similar function. Moreover, TP could mitigate Aβ-induced neuronal death, increase cultured cell viability from 72% to 92% at 2.5 μM, and extend the lifespan of AD nematodes from 14 to 18 d. Thermodynamic studies revealed that TP, enriched in positive charges, presented extensive electrostatic interactions with Aβ40. Importantly, TP showed excellent BBB penetration performance, with a 10 times higher BBB permeability than TTR, which would allow TP to enter the brain of AD patients and participate in the transport of Aβ species out of the brain. Thus, it is expected that the fusion protein has great potential for drug development in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
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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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Meyer N, Bentin J, Janot JM, Abrao-Nemeir I, Charles-Achille S, Pratlong M, Aquilina A, Trinquet E, Perrier V, Picaud F, Torrent J, Balme S. Ultrasensitive Detection of Aβ42 Seeds in Cerebrospinal Fluid with a Nanopipette-Based Real-Time Fast Amyloid Seeding and Translocation Assay. Anal Chem 2023; 95:12623-12630. [PMID: 37587130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
In this work, early-stage Aβ42 aggregates were detected using a real-time fast amyloid seeding and translocation (RT-FAST) assay. Specifically, Aβ42 monomers were incubated in buffer solution with and without preformed Aβ42 seeds in a quartz nanopipette coated with L-DOPA. Then, formed Aβ42 aggregates were analyzed on flyby resistive pulse sensing at various incubation time points. Aβ42 aggregates were detected only in the sample with Aβ42 seeds after 180 min of incubation, giving an on/off readout of the presence of preformed seeds. Moreover, this RT-FAST assay could detect preformed seeds spiked in 4% cerebrospinal fluid/buffer solution. However, in this condition, the time to detect the first aggregates was increased. Analysis of Cy3-labeled Aβ42 monomer adsorption on a quartz substrate after L-DOPA coating by confocal fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation showed the huge influence of Aβ42 adsorption on the aggregation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Meyer
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENCSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
- INM UM, CNRS, INSERM, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Jeremy Bentin
- Laboratoire de Nanomédecine, Imagerie et Thérapeutique, EA4662, Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (UFR Sciences et Techniques), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Jean-Marc Janot
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENCSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Imad Abrao-Nemeir
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENCSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Saly Charles-Achille
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENCSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Maud Pratlong
- PerkinElmer, Parc Marcel Boiteux, 30200 Codolet, France
| | | | - Eric Trinquet
- PerkinElmer, Parc Marcel Boiteux, 30200 Codolet, France
| | - Veronique Perrier
- INM UM, CNRS, INSERM, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Fabien Picaud
- Laboratoire de Nanomédecine, Imagerie et Thérapeutique, EA4662, Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (UFR Sciences et Techniques), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Joan Torrent
- INM UM, CNRS, INSERM, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Sebastien Balme
- Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENCSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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Mineiro R, Albuquerque T, Neves AR, Santos CRA, Costa D, Quintela T. The Role of Biological Rhythms in New Drug Formulations to Cross the Brain Barriers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12541. [PMID: 37628722 PMCID: PMC10454916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612541] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
For brain protection, the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier limit the traffic of molecules between blood and brain tissue and between blood and cerebrospinal fluid, respectively. Besides their protective function, brain barriers also limit the passage of therapeutic drugs to the brain, which constitutes a great challenge for the development of therapeutic strategies for brain disorders. This problem has led to the emergence of novel strategies to treat neurological disorders, like the development of nanoformulations to deliver therapeutic agents to the brain. Recently, functional molecular clocks have been identified in the blood-brain barrier and in the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. In fact, circadian rhythms in physiological functions related to drug disposition were also described in brain barriers. This opens the possibility for chronobiological approaches that aim to use time to improve drug efficacy and safety. The conjugation of nanoformulations with chronobiology for neurological disorders is still unexplored. Facing this, here, we reviewed the circadian rhythms in brain barriers, the nanoformulations studied to deliver drugs to the brain, and the nanoformulations with the potential to be conjugated with a chronobiological approach to therapeutic strategies for the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Mineiro
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Tânia Albuquerque
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana Raquel Neves
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Cecília R. A. Santos
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Diana Costa
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Telma Quintela
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- UDI-IPG—Unidade de Investigação para o Desenvolvimento do Interior, Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal
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El-Bana MA, El-Daly SM, Omara EA, Morsy SM, El-Naggar ME, Medhat D. Preparation of pumpkin oil-based nanoemulsion as a potential estrogen replacement therapy to alleviate neural-immune interactions in an experimental postmenopausal model. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2023; 166:106730. [PMID: 36931593 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2023.106730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
As estrogen production decreases during menopause; the brain's metabolism tends to stall and become less effective. Estrogen most likely protects against neurodegeneration. Consequently, a comprehensive study of the benefits of hormone replacement therapy as a neuroprotective effect is urgently required. This study was designed to fabricate pumpkin seed oil nanoparticles (PSO) in nanoemulsion form (PSO-NE) and investigate their potential role in attenuating the neural-immune interactions in an experimental postmenopausal model.Sixty female white albino rats were divided into six groups: control, sham, ovariectomized (OVX), and three OVX groups treated with 17β-estradiol, PSO, and PSO-NE respectively. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and particle size analyzer were performed for nanoemulsion evaluation. Serum levels of estrogen, brain amyloid precursor protein (APP), serum levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κβ), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transthyretin (TTR), and synaptophysin (SYP) were evaluated. The expression of estrogen receptors (ER-α, β) in the brain tissue was estimated. The findings revealed that the approached PSO-NE system was able to reduce the interfacial tension, enhance the dispersion entropy, lower the system free energy to an extremely small value, and augment the interfacial area. PSO-NE, showed a significant increase in the levels of estrogen, brain APP, SYP, and TTR accompanied with a significant increased in the expression of brain ER-α, β compared to the OVX group. In conclusion, the phytoestrogen content of PSO exhibited a significant prophylactic effect on neuro-inflammatory interactions, ameliorating both estrogen levels and the inflammatory cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona A El-Bana
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sherien M El-Daly
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Enayat A Omara
- Pathology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Safaa M Morsy
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mehrez E El-Naggar
- Institute of Textile Research and Technology, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Dalia Medhat
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
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Omega-3 PUFAs as a Dietary Supplement in Senile Systemic Amyloidosis. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15030749. [PMID: 36771455 PMCID: PMC9921273 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030749] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6), two omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), are the main components in oil derived from fish and other marine organisms. EPA and DHA are commercially available as dietary supplements and are considered to be very safe and contribute to guaranteeing human health. Studies report that PUFAs have a role in contrasting neurodegenerative processes related to amyloidogenic proteins, such as β-amyloid for AD, α-synuclein in PD, and transthyretin (TTR) in TTR amyloidosis. In this context, we investigated if EPA and DHA can interact directly with TTR, binding inside the thyroxin-binding pockets (T4BP) that contribute to the tetramer stabilization. The data obtained showed that EPA and DHA can contribute to stabilizing the TTR tetramer through interactions with T4BP.
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7
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Karima S, Aghamollaii V, Mahmoodi Baram S, Balenci L, Lanctôt KL, Kiss A, Tafakhori A, Mahdavi M, Rajaei S, Shateri S, Yarhoseini A, Mokhtari F, Fotouhi A, Riazi A. Boswellic Acids Improve Clinical Cognitive Scores and Reduce Systemic Inflammation in Patients with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:359-370. [PMID: 37248896 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221026] [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] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have had limited success. Considering the association of neuroinflammation with AD symptoms as demonstrated in multiple studies, assessment of the clinical efficacy of molecules that reduce systemic or brain inflammation is warranted. OBJECTIVE This clinical trial assessed whether boswellic acids can improve cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms while reducing inflammation in AD patients. METHODS A double-blind, placebo-controlled, study was conducted on 85 AD patients randomized to boswellic acids (K-Vie™ as the main ingredient in Memowell™) or placebo for 6 months. Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SOB) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were compared to baseline and between groups and constituted the co-primary clinical efficacy endpoints. Secondary outcomes included neuropsychiatric assessment (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire, NPI-Q) and assessment of AD and inflammation biomarkers. RESULTS Patients on K-Vie™ showed a 3.1- and 1.6-unit improvement in MMSE and CDR-SOB scores, respectively, when compared to patients on placebo. NPI-Q analysis revealed significant improvement in the K-Vie™ but not in the placebo group. Only mild gastrointestinal side effects were reported in a few patients. Patients on K-Vie™ showed improvement in plasma AD biomarkers and reduction of key inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and TNF. CONCLUSION Our results support the positive cognitive effects of boswellic acids by reducing the systemic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Karima
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vajiheh Aghamollaii
- Neurology Department, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Krista L Lanctôt
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Alex Kiss
- Department of Research Design and Biostatistics, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Abbas Tafakhori
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Meisam Mahdavi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Rajaei
- Clinical Trial Department, Behbalin Inc., Tehran, Iran
| | - Somayeh Shateri
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Yarhoseini
- Neurology Department, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Akbar Fotouhi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Riazi
- Kondor Pharma Inc. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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Oral Therapy for the Treatment of Transthyretin-Related Amyloid Cardiomyopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416145. [PMID: 36555787 PMCID: PMC9788438 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416145] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The care of systemic amyloidosis has improved dramatically due to improved awareness, accurate diagnostic tools, the development of powerful prognostic and companion biomarkers, and a continuous flow of innovative drugs, which translated into the blooming of phase 2/3 interventional studies for light chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. The unprecedented availability of effective drugs ignited great interest across various medical specialties, particularly among cardiologists who are now recognizing cardiac amyloidosis at an extraordinary pace. In all amyloidosis referral centers, we are observing a substantial increase in the prevalence of wild-type transthyretin (ATTRwt) cardiomyopathy, which is now becoming the most common form of cardiac amyloidosis. This review focuses on the oral drugs that have been recently introduced for the treatment of ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, for their ease of use in the clinic. They include both old repurposed drugs or fit-for-purpose designed compounds which bind and stabilize the TTR tetramer, thus reducing the formation of new amyloid fibrils, such as tafamidis, diflunisal, and acoramidis, as well as fibril disruptors which have the potential to promote the clearance of amyloid deposits, such as doxycycline. The development of novel therapies is based on the advances in the understanding of the molecular events underlying amyloid cardiomyopathy.
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Almeida ZL, Brito RMM. Amyloid Disassembly: What Can We Learn from Chaperones? Biomedicines 2022; 10:3276. [PMID: 36552032 PMCID: PMC9776232 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation and subsequent accumulation of insoluble amyloid fibrils with cross-β structure is an intrinsic characteristic of amyloid diseases, i.e., amyloidoses. Amyloid formation involves a series of on-pathway and off-pathway protein aggregation events, leading to mature insoluble fibrils that eventually accumulate in multiple tissues. In this cascade of events, soluble oligomeric species are formed, which are among the most cytotoxic molecular entities along the amyloid cascade. The direct or indirect action of these amyloid soluble oligomers and amyloid protofibrils and fibrils in several tissues and organs lead to cell death in some cases and organ disfunction in general. There are dozens of different proteins and peptides causing multiple amyloid pathologies, chief among them Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and several other neurodegenerative diseases. Amyloid fibril disassembly is among the disease-modifying therapeutic strategies being pursued to overcome amyloid pathologies. The clearance of preformed amyloids and consequently the arresting of the progression of organ deterioration may increase patient survival and quality of life. In this review, we compiled from the literature many examples of chemical and biochemical agents able to disaggregate preformed amyloids, which have been classified as molecular chaperones, chemical chaperones, and pharmacological chaperones. We focused on their mode of action, chemical structure, interactions with the fibrillar structures, morphology and toxicity of the disaggregation products, and the potential use of disaggregation agents as a treatment option in amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rui M. M. Brito
- Chemistry Department and Coimbra Chemistry Centre—Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
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Janisse SE, Sharma VA, Caceres A, Medici V, Heffern MC. Systematic Evaluation of Copper(II)-Loaded Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography For Selective Enrichment of Copper-Binding Species in Human Serum and Plasma. Metallomics 2022; 14:6656374. [PMID: 35929804 PMCID: PMC9434637 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfac059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Copper is essential in a host of biological processes, and disruption of its homeostasis is associated with diseases including neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders. Extracellular copper shifts in its speciation between healthy and disease states, and identifying molecular components involved in these perturbations could widen the panel of biomarkers for copper status. While there have been exciting advances in approaches for studying the extracellular proteome with mass-spectrometry-based methods, the typical workflows disrupt metal-protein interactions due to the lability of these bonds either during sample preparation or in gas-phase environments. We sought to develop and apply a workflow to enrich for and identify protein populations with copper-binding propensities in extracellular fluids using an immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) resin. The strategy was optimized using human serum to allow for maximum quantity and diversity of protein enrichment. Protein populations could be differentiated based on protein load on the resin, likely on account of differences in abundance and affinity. The enrichment workflow was applied to plasma samples from patients with Wilson disease (WD) and protein IDs and differential abundancies compared to healthy subjects were compared to those yielded from a traditional proteomic workflow. While the IMAC workflow preserved differential abundance and protein ID information from the traditional workflow, it identified several additional proteins being differentially abundant including those involved in lipid metabolism, immune system, and antioxidant pathways. Our results suggest the potential for this IMAC workflow to identify new proteins as potential biomarkers in copper-associated disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E Janisse
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, One Shields Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Vibha A Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, One Shields Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Amanda Caceres
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, One Shields Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Valentina Medici
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California Davis, 4150 V Street, PSSB Suite 3500, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Marie C Heffern
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, One Shields Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Pal T, Paul R, Paul S. Phenylpropanoids on the Inhibition of β-Amyloid Aggregation and the Movement of These Molecules through the POPC Lipid Bilayer. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:7775-7790. [PMID: 35687701 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), caused by Aβ aggregation, is a major concern in medical research. It is a neurodegenerative disorder, leading to a loss of cognitive abilities, which is still claiming the lives of many people all over the world. This poses a challenge before the scientific community to discover effective drugs which can prevent such toxic aggregation. Recent experimental findings suggest the potency of two naturally-occurring phenylpropanoids, Schizotenuin A (SCH) and Lycopic Acid B (LAB) which can effectively combat the deleterious effects of Aβ aggregation, although nothing is known about their mechanism of inhibition. In this work, we deal with an extensive computational study on the inhibitory effects of these inhibitors by using an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation to interpret the underlying mechanism of their inhibitory processes. A series of investigations is carried out while studying the various structural and conformational changes of the peptide chains in the absence and presence of inhibitors. To investigate the details of the interactions between the peptide residues and inhibitors, nonbonding energy calculations, the radial distribution function, the coordination number of water and inhibitor molecules around the peptide residues, and hydrogen-bonding interactions are calculated. The potential of mean force (PMF) is calculated to estimate aggregate formation from their free-energy profiles. It is seen that the hydrophobic core of the KLVFFAE undergoes aggregation and that these inhibitors show great promise in preventing the onset of AD in the future by preventing Aβ aggregation. Also, the translocation studies on these inhibitors through a model POPC lipid bilayer shed light on their permeation properties and biocompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Triasha Pal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India 781039
| | - Rabindranath Paul
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India 781039
| | - Sandip Paul
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India 781039
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Abstract
Amyloids are organized suprastructural polypeptide arrangements. The prevalence of amyloid-related processes of pathophysiological relevance has been linked to aging-related degenerative diseases. Besides the role of genetic polymorphisms on the relative risk of amyloid diseases, the contributions of nongenetic ontogenic cluster of factors remain elusive. In recent decades, mounting evidences have been suggesting the role of essential micronutrients, in particular transition metals, in the regulation of amyloidogenic processes, both directly (such as binding to amyloid proteins) or indirectly (such as regulating regulatory partners, processing enzymes, and membrane transporters). The features of transition metals as regulatory cofactors of amyloid proteins and the consequences of metal dyshomeostasis in triggering amyloidogenic processes, as well as the evidences showing amelioration of symptoms by dietary supplementation, suggest an exaptative role of metals in regulating amyloid pathways. The self- and cross-talk replicative nature of these amyloid processes along with their systemic distribution support the concept of their metastatic nature. The role of amyloidosis as nutrient sensors would act as intra- and transgenerational epigenetic metabolic programming factors determining health span and life span, viability, which could participate as an evolutive selective pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Maurício T R Lima
- Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - pbiotech, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory for Macromolecules (LAMAC-DIMAV), National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology - INMETRO, Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tháyna Sisnande
- Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - pbiotech, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Gharibyan AL, Wasana Jayaweera S, Lehmann M, Anan I, Olofsson A. Endogenous Human Proteins Interfering with Amyloid Formation. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030446. [PMID: 35327638 PMCID: PMC8946693 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid formation is a pathological process associated with a wide range of degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes mellitus type 2. During disease progression, abnormal accumulation and deposition of proteinaceous material are accompanied by tissue degradation, inflammation, and dysfunction. Agents that can interfere with the process of amyloid formation or target already formed amyloid assemblies are consequently of therapeutic interest. In this context, a few endogenous proteins have been associated with an anti-amyloidogenic activity. Here, we review the properties of transthyretin, apolipoprotein E, clusterin, and BRICHOS protein domain which all effectively interfere with amyloid in vitro, as well as displaying a clinical impact in humans or animal models. Their involvement in the amyloid formation process is discussed, which may aid and inspire new strategies for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L. Gharibyan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (A.L.G.); (A.O.)
| | | | - Manuela Lehmann
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (M.L.); (I.A.)
| | - Intissar Anan
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (M.L.); (I.A.)
| | - Anders Olofsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (A.L.G.); (A.O.)
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Shippy DC, Watters JJ, Ulland TK. Transcriptional response of murine microglia in Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:183. [PMID: 35247975 PMCID: PMC8898509 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08417-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common cause of late-onset dementia. Microglia, the primary innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), have a complex role in AD neuropathology. In the initial stages of AD, microglia play a role in limiting pathology by removing amyloid-β (Aβ) by phagocytosis. In contrast, microglia also release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to promote neuroinflammation and exacerbate AD neuropathology. Therefore, investigating microglial gene networks could identify new targets for therapeutic strategies for AD. Results We identified 465 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in 5XFAD versus wild-type mice by microarray, 354 DEG in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated N9 microglia versus unstimulated control cells using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), with 32 DEG common between both datasets. Analyses of the 32 common DEG uncovered numerous molecular functions and pathways involved in Aβ phagocytosis and neuroinflammation associated with AD. Furthermore, multiplex ELISA confirmed the induction of several cytokines and chemokines in LPS-stimulated microglia. Conclusions In summary, AD triggered multiple signaling pathways that regulate numerous genes in microglia, contributing to Aβ phagocytosis and neuroinflammation. Overall, these data identified several regulatory factors and biomarkers in microglia that could be useful in further understanding AD neuropathology. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08417-8.
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Eldem E, Barve A, Sallin O, Foucras S, Annoni JM, Schmid AW, Alberi Auber L. Salivary Proteomics Identifies Transthyretin as a Biomarker of Early Dementia Conversion. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2022; 6:31-41. [PMID: 35360272 PMCID: PMC8925122 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains to date an incurable disease with a long asymptomatic phase. Early diagnosis in peripheral biofluids has emerged as key for identifying subjects at risk and developing therapeutics and preventative approaches. Objective: We apply proteomics discovery to identify salivary diagnostic biomarkers for AD, which are suitable for self-sampling and longitudinal biomonitoring during aging. Methods: 57 participants were recruited for the study and were categorized into Cognitively normal (CNh) (n = 19), mild cognitive impaired (MCI) (n = 21), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (n = 17). On a subset of subjects, 3 CNh and 3 mild AD, shot-gun filter aided sample preparation (FASP) proteomics and liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) was employed in saliva and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to identify neural-derived proteins. The protein level of salivary Transthyretin (TTR) was validated using western blot analysis across groups. Results: We found that 19.8% of the proteins in saliva are shared with CSF. When we compared the saliva and CSF proteome, 24 hits were decreased with only one protein expressed more. Among the differentially expressed proteins, TTR with reported function in amyloid misfolding, shows a significant drop in AD samples, confirmed by western blot showing a 0.5-fold reduction in MCI and AD compared to CNh. Conclusion: A reduction in salivary TTR appears with the onset of cognitive symptoms. More in general, the proteomic profiling of saliva shows a plethora of biomarkers worth pursuing as non-invasive hallmarks of dementia in the preclinical stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ece Eldem
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss Integrative Center for Human Health, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Aatmika Barve
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss Integrative Center for Human Health, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Sallin
- Swiss Integrative Center for Human Health, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Jean-Marie Annoni
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Hôpital Cantonal Fribourgeois, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Lavinia Alberi Auber
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss Integrative Center for Human Health, Fribourg, Switzerland
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16
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Cotrina EY, Santos LM, Rivas J, Blasi D, Leite JP, Liz MA, Busquets MA, Planas A, Prohens R, Gimeno A, Jiménez-Barbero J, Gales L, Llop J, Quintana J, Cardoso I, Arsequell G. Targeting transthyretin in Alzheimer's disease: Drug discovery of small-molecule chaperones as disease-modifying drug candidates for Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113847. [PMID: 34555615 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) has a well-established role in neuroprotection in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We have setup a drug discovery program of small-molecule compounds that act as chaperones enhancing TTR/Amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) interactions. A combination of computational drug repurposing approaches and in vitro biological assays have resulted in a set of molecules which were then screened with our in-house validated high-throughput screening ternary test. A prioritized list of chaperones was obtained and corroborated with ITC studies. Small-molecule chaperones have been discovered, among them our lead compound Iododiflunisal (IDIF), a molecule in the discovery phase; one investigational drug (luteolin); and 3 marketed drugs (sulindac, olsalazine and flufenamic), which could be directly repurposed or repositioned for clinical use. Not all TTR tetramer stabilizers behave as chaperones in vitro. These chemically diverse chaperones will be used for validating TTR as a target in vivo, and to select one repurposed drug as a candidate to enter clinical trials as AD disease-modifying drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Y Cotrina
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Santos
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Josep Rivas
- Plataforma Drug Discovery, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Blasi
- Plataforma Drug Discovery, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Pedro Leite
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), PT-4050-013, Porto, Portugal
| | - Márcia A Liz
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Antònia Busquets
- Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, University of Barcelona, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Planas
- Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, E-08017, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafel Prohens
- Centres Científics i Tecnologics, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Gimeno
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, E-48160, Derio, Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, E-48160, Derio, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, E-48009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Luis Gales
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), PT-4050-013, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jordi Llop
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), E-20014, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Jordi Quintana
- Plataforma Drug Discovery, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, PT-4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), PT-4050-013, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Gemma Arsequell
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Magalhães J, Eira J, Liz MA. The role of transthyretin in cell biology: impact on human pathophysiology. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6105-6117. [PMID: 34297165 PMCID: PMC11073172 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03899-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is an extracellular protein mainly produced in the liver and choroid plexus, with a well-stablished role in the transport of thyroxin and retinol throughout the body and brain. TTR is prone to aggregation, as both wild-type and mutated forms of the protein can lead to the accumulation of amyloid deposits, resulting in a disease called TTR amyloidosis. Recently, novel activities for TTR in cell biology have emerged, ranging from neuronal health preservation in both central and peripheral nervous systems, to cellular fate determination, regulation of proliferation and metabolism. Here, we review the novel literature regarding TTR new cellular effects. We pinpoint TTR as major player on brain health and nerve biology, activities that might impact on nervous systems pathologies, and assign a new link between TTR and angiogenesis and cancer. We also explore the molecular mechanisms underlying TTR activities at the cellular level, and suggest that these might go beyond its most acknowledged carrier functions and include interaction with receptors and activation of intracellular signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Magalhães
- Neurodegeneration Team, Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular and i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jessica Eira
- Neurodegeneration Team, Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular and i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Márcia Almeida Liz
- Neurodegeneration Team, Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular and i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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18
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Rahman MM, Lendel C. Extracellular protein components of amyloid plaques and their roles in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:59. [PMID: 34454574 PMCID: PMC8400902 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00465-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically defined by the presence of fibrillar amyloid β (Aβ) peptide in extracellular senile plaques and tau filaments in intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Extensive research has focused on understanding the assembly mechanisms and neurotoxic effects of Aβ during the last decades but still we only have a brief understanding of the disease associated biological processes. This review highlights the many other constituents that, beside Aβ, are accumulated in the plaques, with the focus on extracellular proteins. All living organisms rely on a delicate network of protein functionality. Deposition of significant amounts of certain proteins in insoluble inclusions will unquestionably lead to disturbances in the network, which may contribute to AD and copathology. This paper provide a comprehensive overview of extracellular proteins that have been shown to interact with Aβ and a discussion of their potential roles in AD pathology. Methods that can expand the knowledge about how the proteins are incorporated in plaques are described. Top-down methods to analyze post-mortem tissue and bottom-up approaches with the potential to provide molecular insights on the organization of plaque-like particles are compared. Finally, a network analysis of Aβ-interacting partners with enriched functional and structural key words is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mahafuzur Rahman
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Christofer Lendel
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.
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19
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Gião T, Saavedra J, Vieira JR, Pinto MT, Arsequell G, Cardoso I. Neuroprotection in early stages of Alzheimer's disease is promoted by transthyretin angiogenic properties. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2021; 13:143. [PMID: 34429155 PMCID: PMC8385857 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00883-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background While still controversial, it has been demonstrated that vascular defects can precede the onset of other AD hallmarks features, making it an important therapeutic target. Given that the protein transthyretin (TTR) has been established as neuroprotective in AD, here we investigated the influence of TTR in the vasculature. Methods We evaluated the thickness of the basement membrane and the length of brain microvessels, by immunohistochemistry, in AβPPswe/PS1A246E (AD) transgenic mice and non-transgenic mice (NT) bearing one (TTR+/−) or two (TTR+/+) copies of the TTR gene. The angiogenic potential of TTR was evaluated in vitro using the tube formation assay, and in vivo using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Results AD transgenic mice with TTR genetic reduction, AD/TTR+/−, exhibited a thicker BM in brain microvessels and decreased vessel length than animals with normal TTR levels, AD/TTR+/+. Further in vivo investigation, using the CAM assay, revealed that TTR is a pro-angiogenic molecule, and the neovessels formed are functional. Also, TTR increased the expression of key angiogenic molecules such as proteins interleukins 6 and 8, angiopoietin 2, and vascular endothelial growth factor, by endothelial cells, in vitro, under tube formation conditions. We showed that while TTR reduction also leads to a thicker BM in NT mice, this effect is more pronounced in AD mice than in NT animals, strengthening the idea that TTR is a neuroprotective protein. We also studied the effect of TTR tetrameric stabilization on BM thickness, showing that AD mice treated with the TTR tetrameric stabilizer iododiflunisal (IDIF) displayed a significant reduction of BM thickness and increased vessel length, when compared to non-treated littermates. Conclusion Our in vivo results demonstrate the involvement of TTR in angiogenesis, particularly as a modulator of vascular alterations occurring in AD. Since TTR is decreased early in AD, its tetrameric stabilization can represent a therapeutic avenue for the early treatment of AD through the maintenance of the vascular structure. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-021-00883-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Gião
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), 4050-013, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Saavedra
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Ricardo Vieira
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Teixeira Pinto
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho,45-, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gemma Arsequell
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. .,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), 4050-013, Porto, Portugal.
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20
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Ge F, Zhu D, Tian M, Shi J. The Role of Thyroid Function in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:1553-1562. [PMID: 34420955 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The thyroid gland is crucial for the regulation of metabolism, growth, and development of various tissues, organs, systems, including the central nervous system. Recent studies have implicated the role of thyroid dysfunction in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), while AD leads to a significant increase in the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction. In this review, we have analyzed the role of thyroid function in the pathophysiology of AD as well as its biomarkers. The present review aims to provide encouraging targets for early screening of AD risk factors and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Ge
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Donglin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Minjie Tian
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingping Shi
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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21
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Physiological Metals Can Induce Conformational Changes in Transthyretin Structure: Neuroprotection or Misfolding Induction? CRYSTALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst11040354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a plasma homotetrameric protein that transports thyroxine and retinol. TTR itself, under pathological conditions, dissociates into partially unfolded monomers that aggregate and form fibrils. Metal ions such as Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Mn2+ and Ca2+ play a controversial role in the TTR amyloidogenic pathway. TTR is also present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), where it behaves as one of the major Aβ-binding-proteins. The interaction between TTR and Aβ is stronger in the presence of high concentrations of Cu2+. Crystals of TTR, soaked in solutions of physiological metals such as Cu2+ and Fe2+, but not Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Ni2+, revealed an unusual conformational change. Here, we investigate the effects that physiological metals have on TTR, in order to understand if metals can induce a specific and active conformation of TTR that guides its Aβ-scavenging role. The capability of certain metals to induce and accelerate its amyloidogenic process is also discussed.
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22
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Oka S, Leon J, Sakumi K, Abolhassani N, Sheng Z, Tsuchimoto D, LaFerla FM, Nakabeppu Y. MTH1 and OGG1 maintain a low level of 8-oxoguanine in Alzheimer's brain, and prevent the progression of Alzheimer's pathogenesis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5819. [PMID: 33758207 PMCID: PMC7988129 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84640-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
8-Oxoguanine (8-oxoG), a major oxidative base lesion, is highly accumulated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains during the pathogenic process. MTH1 hydrolyzes 8-oxo-dGTP to 8-oxo-dGMP, thereby avoiding 8-oxo-dG incorporation into DNA. 8-OxoG DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1) excises 8-oxoG paired with cytosine in DNA, thereby minimizing 8-oxoG accumulation in DNA. Levels of MTH1 and OGG1 are significantly reduced in the brains of sporadic AD cases. To understand how 8-oxoG accumulation in the genome is involved in AD pathogenesis, we established an AD mouse model with knockout of Mth1 and Ogg1 genes in a 3xTg-AD background. MTH1 and OGG1 deficiency increased 8-oxoG accumulation in nuclear and, to a lesser extent, mitochondrial genomes, causing microglial activation and neuronal loss with impaired cognitive function at 4–5 months of age. Furthermore, minocycline, which inhibits microglial activation and reduces neuroinflammation, markedly decreased the nuclear accumulation of 8-oxoG in microglia, and inhibited microgliosis and neuronal loss. Gene expression profiling revealed that MTH1 and OGG1 efficiently suppress progression of AD by inducing various protective genes against AD pathogenesis initiated by Aß/Tau accumulation in 3xTg-AD brain. Our findings indicate that efficient suppression of 8-oxoG accumulation in brain genomes is a new approach for prevention and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugako Oka
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66010, USA
| | - Julio Leon
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.,Laboratory for Advanced Genomics Circuit, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Sakumi
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Nona Abolhassani
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Zijing Sheng
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tsuchimoto
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Frank M LaFerla
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Yusaku Nakabeppu
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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23
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Wasana Jayaweera S, Surano S, Pettersson N, Oskarsson E, Lettius L, Gharibyan AL, Anan I, Olofsson A. Mechanisms of Transthyretin Inhibition of IAPP Amyloid Formation. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030411. [PMID: 33802170 PMCID: PMC8001701 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-formation by the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), produced by the β-cells in the human pancreas, has been associated with the development of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The human plasma-protein transthyretin (TTR), a well-known amyloid-inhibiting protein, is interestingly also expressed within the IAPP producing β-cells. In the present study, we have characterized the ability of TTR to interfere with IAPP amyloid-formation, both in terms of its intrinsic stability as well as with regard to the effect of TTR-stabilizing drugs. The results show that TTR can prolong the lag-phase as well as impair elongation in the course of IAPP-amyloid formation. We also show that the interfering ability correlates inversely with the thermodynamic stability of TTR, while no such correlation was observed as a function of kinetic stability. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the ability of TTR to interfere is maintained also at the low pH environment within the IAPP-containing granules of the pancreatic β-cells. However, at both neutral and low pH, the addition of TTR-stabilizing drugs partly impaired its efficacy. Taken together, these results expose mechanisms of TTR-mediated inhibition of IAPP amyloid-formation and highlights a potential therapeutic target to prevent the onset of T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanduni Wasana Jayaweera
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (S.W.J.); (S.S.); (N.P.); (E.O.); (L.L.); (A.L.G.)
| | - Solmaz Surano
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (S.W.J.); (S.S.); (N.P.); (E.O.); (L.L.); (A.L.G.)
| | - Nina Pettersson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (S.W.J.); (S.S.); (N.P.); (E.O.); (L.L.); (A.L.G.)
| | - Elvira Oskarsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (S.W.J.); (S.S.); (N.P.); (E.O.); (L.L.); (A.L.G.)
| | - Lovisa Lettius
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (S.W.J.); (S.S.); (N.P.); (E.O.); (L.L.); (A.L.G.)
| | - Anna L. Gharibyan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (S.W.J.); (S.S.); (N.P.); (E.O.); (L.L.); (A.L.G.)
| | - Intissar Anan
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Anders Olofsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (S.W.J.); (S.S.); (N.P.); (E.O.); (L.L.); (A.L.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-70-354-3301
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24
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Yamauchi K. The interaction of zinc with the multi-functional plasma thyroid hormone distributor protein, transthyretin: evolutionary and cross-species comparative aspects. Biometals 2021; 34:423-437. [PMID: 33686575 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-021-00294-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A considerable body of evidence has been accumulated showing the interrelationship between zinc and the plasma thyroid hormone (TH) distributor protein, transthyretin (TTR). TTR is a multi-functional protein, which emerged from 5-hydroxyisourate hydrolase (HIUHase) by neo-functionalization after gene duplication during early chordate evolution. HIUHase is also a zinc-binding protein. Most biochemical and molecular biological findings have been obtained from mammalian studies. However, in the past two decades, it has become clear that fish TTR displays zinc-dependent TH binding. After a brief introduction on plasma zinc, THs and their binding proteins, this review will focus on the role of zinc in TTR functions of various vertebrates. In particular primitive fish TTR has an extremely high zinc content, with an increased number of histidine residues which are involved in TH binding. However, zinc-dependent TH binding may have been gradually lost from TTRs during higher vertebrate evolution. Although human TTR has a low zinc content, zinc plays an essential role in TTR functions other than TH binding: the stability of TTR-holo retinol binding protein 4 (holoRBP4) complex, TTR amyloidogenesis, the sequestration of amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils and cryptic proteolytic activity. The interaction of TTR with metallothioneins may be a critical step in the exertion of some of these functions. Evolutionary and physiological insights on zinc-dependent functions of TTRs are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Yamauchi
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan.
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25
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Cotrina EY, Gimeno A, Llop J, Jiménez-Barbero J, Quintana J, Prohens R, Cardoso I, Arsequell G. An Assay for Screening Potential Drug Candidates for Alzheimer's Disease That Act as Chaperones of the Transthyretin and Amyloid-β Peptides Interaction. Chemistry 2020; 26:17462-17469. [PMID: 32761825 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202002933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The protein transthyretin (TTR) modulates amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides deposition and processing and this physiological effect is further enhanced by treatment with iododiflunisal (IDIF), a small-molecule compound (SMC) with TTR tetramer stabilization properties, which behaves as chaperone of the complex. This knowledge has prompted us to design and optimize a rapid and simple high-throughput assay that relies on the ability of test compounds to form ternary soluble complexes TTR/Aβ/SMC that prevent Aβ aggregation. The method uses the shorter Aβ(12-28) sequence which is cheaper and simpler to use while retaining the aggregation properties of their parents Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42). The test is carried out in 96-plate wells that are UV monitored for turbidity during 6 h. Given its reproducibility, we propose that this test can be a powerful tool for efficient screening of SMCs that act as chaperones of the TTR/Aβ interaction that may led to potential AD therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Y Cotrina
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Gimeno
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160, Derio, Spain.,Ikerbasque-Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Diaz de Haro 13, 48009, Bilbao, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Jordi Llop
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160, Derio, Spain.,Ikerbasque-Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Diaz de Haro 13, 48009, Bilbao, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Jordi Quintana
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF-IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafel Prohens
- Unitat de Polimorfisme i Calorimetria, Centres Científics i Tecnologics, Universitat de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gemma Arsequell
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
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26
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Oligomerization Profile of Human Transthyretin Variants with Distinct Amyloidogenicity. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235698. [PMID: 33287192 PMCID: PMC7730986 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the molecular hallmarks of amyloidoses is ordered protein aggregation involving the initial formation of soluble protein oligomers that eventually grow into insoluble fibrils. The identification and characterization of molecular species critical for amyloid fibril formation and disease development have been the focus of intense analysis in the literature. Here, using photo-induced cross-linking of unmodified proteins (PICUP), we studied the early stages of oligomerization of human transthyretin (TTR), a plasma protein involved in amyloid diseases (ATTR amyloidosis) with multiple clinical manifestations. Upon comparison, the oligomerization processes of wild-type TTR (TTRwt) and several TTR variants (TTRV30M, TTRL55P, and TTRT119M) clearly show distinct oligomerization kinetics for the amyloidogenic variants but a similar oligomerization mechanism. The oligomerization kinetics of the TTR amyloidogenic variants under analysis showed a good correlation with their amyloidogenic potential, with the most amyloidogenic variants aggregating faster (TTRL55P > TTRV30M > TTRwt). Moreover, the early stage oligomerization mechanism for these variants involves stepwise addition of monomeric units to the growing oligomer. A completely different behavior was observed for the nonamyloidogenic TTRT119M variant, which does not form oligomers in the same acidic conditions and even for longer incubation times. Thorough characterization of the initial steps of TTR oligomerization is critical for better understanding the origin of ATTR cytotoxicity and developing novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis.
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27
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The Function of Transthyretin Complexes with Metallothionein in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239003. [PMID: 33256250 PMCID: PMC7730073 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed types of dementia in the elderly. An important pathological feature in AD is the aggregation and deposition of the β-amyloid (Aβ) in extracellular plaques. Transthyretin (TTR) can cleave Aβ, resulting in the formation of short peptides with less activity of amyloid plaques formation, as well as being able to degrade Aβ peptides that have already been aggregated. In the presence of TTR, Aβ aggregation decreases and toxicity of Aβ is abolished. This may prevent amyloidosis but the malfunction of this process leads to the development of AD. In the context of Aβplaque formation in AD, we discuss metallothionein (MT) interaction with TTR, the effects of which depend on the type of MT isoform. In the brains of patients with AD, the loss of MT-3 occurs. On the contrary, MT-1/2 level has been consistently reported to be increased. Through interaction with TTR, MT-2 reduces the ability of TTR to bind to Aβ, while MT-3 causes the opposite effect. It increases TTR-Aβ binding, providing inhibition of Aβ aggregation. The protective effect, assigned to MT-3 against the deposition of Aβ, relies also on this mechanism. Additionally, both Zn7MT-2 and Zn7MT-3, decrease Aβ neurotoxicity in cultured cortical neurons probably because of a metal swap between Zn7MT and Cu(II)Aβ. Understanding the molecular mechanism of metals transfer between MT and other proteins as well as cognition of the significance of TTR interaction with different MT isoforms can help in AD treatment and prevention.
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28
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De Lillo A, Pathak GA, De Angelis F, Di Girolamo M, Luigetti M, Sabatelli M, Perfetto F, Frusconi S, Manfellotto D, Fuciarelli M, Polimanti R. Epigenetic profiling of Italian patients identified methylation sites associated with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:176. [PMID: 33203445 PMCID: PMC7672937 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00967-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (hATTR) is a rare life-threatening disorder caused by amyloidogenic coding mutations located in TTR gene. To understand the high phenotypic variability observed among carriers of TTR disease-causing mutations, we conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) assessing more than 700,000 methylation sites and testing epigenetic difference of TTR coding mutation carriers vs. non-carriers. We observed a significant methylation change at cg09097335 site located in Beta-secretase 2 (BACE2) gene (standardized regression coefficient = -0.60, p = 6.26 × 10-8). This gene is involved in a protein interaction network enriched for biological processes and molecular pathways related to amyloid-beta metabolism (Gene Ontology: 0050435, q = 0.007), amyloid fiber formation (Reactome HSA-977225, q = 0.008), and Alzheimer's disease (KEGG hsa05010, q = 2.2 × 10-4). Additionally, TTR and BACE2 share APP (amyloid-beta precursor protein) as a validated protein interactor. Within TTR gene region, we observed that Val30Met disrupts a methylation site, cg13139646, causing a drastic hypomethylation in carriers of this amyloidogenic mutation (standardized regression coefficient = -2.18, p = 3.34 × 10-11). Cg13139646 showed co-methylation with cg19203115 (Pearson's r2 = 0.32), which showed significant epigenetic differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers of amyloidogenic mutations (standardized regression coefficient = -0.56, p = 8.6 × 10-4). In conclusion, we provide novel insights related to the molecular mechanisms involved in the complex heterogeneity of hATTR, highlighting the role of epigenetic regulation in this rare disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gita A Pathak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, VA CT Healthcare Center, VA CT 116A2, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Flavio De Angelis
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, VA CT Healthcare Center, VA CT 116A2, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marco Di Girolamo
- Clinical Pathophysiology Center, Fatebenefratelli Foundation -'San Giovanni Calibita' Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Luigetti
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Neurologia, Rome, Italy
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Centro Clinico NEMO Adulti, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Perfetto
- Regional Amyloid Centre, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Sabrina Frusconi
- Genetic Diagnostics Unit, Laboratory Department, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Dario Manfellotto
- Clinical Pathophysiology Center, Fatebenefratelli Foundation -'San Giovanni Calibita' Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Fuciarelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Renato Polimanti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, VA CT Healthcare Center, VA CT 116A2, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT, USA.
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA.
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29
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Saponaro F, Kim JH, Chiellini G. Transthyretin Stabilization: An Emerging Strategy for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228672. [PMID: 33212973 PMCID: PMC7698513 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR), previously named prealbumin is a plasma protein secreted mainly by the liver and choroid plexus (CP) that is a carrier for thyroid hormones (THs) and retinol (vitamin A). The structure of TTR, with four monomers rich in β-chains in a globular tetrameric protein, accounts for the predisposition of the protein to aggregate in fibrils, leading to a rare and severe disease, namely transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Much effort has been made and still is required to find new therapeutic compounds that can stabilize TTR ("kinetic stabilization") and prevent the amyloid genetic process. Moreover, TTR is an interesting therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases due to its recognized neuroprotective properties in the cognitive impairment context and interestingly in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Much evidence has been collected regarding the neuroprotective effects in AD, including through in vitro and in vivo studies as well as a wide range of clinical series. Despite this supported hypothesis of neuroprotection for TTR, the mechanisms are still not completely clear. The aim of this review is to highlight the most relevant findings on the neuroprotective role of TTR, and to summarize the recent progress on the development of TTR tetramer stabilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jin Hae Kim
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea;
| | - Grazia Chiellini
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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30
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Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric transport protein highly conserved through vertebrate evolution and synthesized in the liver, choroid plexus, and retinal pigment epithelium. TTR transports the thyroid hormone thyroxine and the retinol-binding protein (RBP) bound to retinol (vitamin A). Mutations in TTR are associated with inherited transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv), a progressive, debilitating disease that is ultimately fatal and is characterized by misfolding of TTR and aggregation as amyloid fibrils, predominantly leading to cardiomyopathy or polyneuropathy depending on the particular TTR mutation. Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy can also occur as an age-related disease caused by misfolding of wild-type TTR. Apart from its transport role, little is known about possible additional physiological functions of TTR. Evidence from animal model systems in which TTR has been disrupted via gene knockout is adding to our cumulative understanding of TTR function. There is growing evidence that TTR may have a role in neuroprotection and promotion of neurite outgrowth in response to injury. Here, we review the literature describing potential roles of TTR in neurobiology and in the pathophysiology of diseases other than ATTR amyloidosis. A greater understanding of these processes may also contribute to further clarification of the pathology of ATTR and the effects of potential therapies for TTR-related conditions.
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31
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Cao Q, Anderson DH, Liang WY, Chou J, Saelices L. The inhibition of cellular toxicity of amyloid-β by dissociated transthyretin. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:14015-14024. [PMID: 32769117 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The protective effect of transthyretin (TTR) on cellular toxicity of β-amyloid (Aβ) has been previously reported. TTR is a tetrameric carrier of thyroxine in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, the pathogenic aggregation of which causes systemic amyloidosis. However, studies have documented a protective effect of TTR against cellular toxicity of pathogenic Aβ, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. TTR binds Aβ, alters its aggregation, and inhibits its toxicity both in vitro and in vivo In this study, we investigate whether the amyloidogenic ability of TTR and its antiamyloid inhibitory effect are associated. Using protein aggregation and cytotoxicity assays, we found that the dissociation of the TTR tetramer, required for its amyloid pathogenesis, is also necessary to prevent cellular toxicity from Aβ oligomers. These findings suggest that the Aβ-binding site of TTR may be hidden in its tetrameric form. Aided by computational docking and peptide screening, we identified a TTR segment that is capable of altering Aβ aggregation and toxicity, mimicking TTR cellular protection. EM, immune detection analysis, and assessment of aggregation and cytotoxicity revealed that the TTR segment inhibits Aβ oligomer formation and also promotes the formation of nontoxic, nonamyloid amorphous aggregates, which are more sensitive to protease digestion. Finally, this segment also inhibits seeding of Aβ catalyzed by Aβ fibrils extracted from the brain of an Alzheimer's patient. Together, these findings suggest that mimicking the inhibitory effect of TTR with peptide-based therapeutics represents an additional avenue to explore for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Cao
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Daniel H Anderson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wilson Y Liang
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Joshua Chou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA .,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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32
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New fluid biomarkers tracking non-amyloid-β and non-tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:556-568. [PMID: 32284537 PMCID: PMC7210893 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-0418-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers based on the core pathological proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), i.e., amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau protein, are widely regarded as useful diagnostic biomarkers. However, a lack of biomarkers for monitoring the treatment response and indexing clinical severity has proven to be problematic in drug trials targeting Aβ. Therefore, new biomarkers are needed to track non-Aβ and non-tau pathology. Many proteins involved in the pathophysiological progression of AD have shown promise as new biomarkers. Neurodegeneration- and synapse-related biomarkers in CSF (e.g., neurofilament light polypeptide [NFL], neurogranin, and visinin-like protein 1) and blood (e.g., NFL) aid prediction of AD progress, as well as early diagnosis. Neuroinflammation, lipid dysmetabolism, and impaired protein clearance are considered important components of AD pathophysiology. Inflammation-related proteins in the CSF, such as progranulin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), are useful for the early detection of AD and can represent clinical severity. Several lipid metabolism-associated biomarkers and protein clearance-linked markers have also been suggested as candidate AD biomarkers. Combinations of subsets of new biomarkers enhance their utility in terms of broadly characterizing AD-associated pathological changes, thereby facilitating precise selection of susceptible patients and comprehensive monitoring of the treatment response. This approach could facilitate the development of effective treatments for AD. Finding new biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may help in tracking disease progression and identifying optimal patient-specific treatments. Although useful markers are available for diagnosis of AD, they are unreliable for tracking disease progression. Looking for better ways to track disease progression, Sun Ah Park at the Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea, and coworkers have reviewed alternative AD markers. They report that several markers for axonal degeneration, synaptic loss, brain inflammation and lipid metabolism show promise for tracking AD. Some of these markers can be obtained from blood samples, which are minimally invasive to collect. Use of combinations of markers is especially promising for estimating a patient’s disease stage. These results will contribute to developing tailored treatments for this common cause of dementia.
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33
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Cotrina EY, Gimeno A, Llop J, Jiménez-Barbero J, Quintana J, Valencia G, Cardoso I, Prohens R, Arsequell G. Calorimetric Studies of Binary and Ternary Molecular Interactions between Transthyretin, Aβ Peptides, and Small-Molecule Chaperones toward an Alternative Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3205-3214. [PMID: 32124607 PMCID: PMC7115756 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Transthyretin
(TTR) modulates the deposition, processing, and toxicity
of Abeta (Aβ) peptides. We have shown that this effect is enhanced
in mice by treatment with small molecules such as iododiflunisal (IDIF, 4), a good TTR stabilizer. Here, we describe the thermodynamics
of the formation of binary and ternary complexes among TTR, Aβ(1–42)
peptide, and TTR stabilizers using isothermal titration calorimetry
(ITC). A TTR/Aβ(1–42) (1:1)
complex with a dissociation constant of Kd = 0.94 μM is formed; with IDIF
(4), this constant improves up to Kd = 0.32 μM, indicating
the presence of a ternary complex TTR/IDIF/Aβ(1–42).
However, with the drugs diflunisal (1) or Tafamidis (2), an analogous chaperoning effect could not be observed.
Similar phenomena could be recorded with the shorter peptide Aβ(12–28)
(7). We propose the design of a simple assay system for
the search of other chaperones that behave like IDIF and may become
potential candidate drugs for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Y Cotrina
- Institut de Quı́mica Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Gimeno
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Jordi Llop
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160 Derio, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Diaz de Haro 13, 48009 Bilbao, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Jordi Quintana
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF-IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregorio Valencia
- Institut de Quı́mica Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rafel Prohens
- Unitat de Polimorfisme i Calorimetria, Centres Cientı́fics i Tecnològics, Universitat de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Arsequell
- Institut de Quı́mica Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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Undiscovered Roles for Transthyretin: From a Transporter Protein to a New Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062075. [PMID: 32197355 PMCID: PMC7139926 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR), an homotetrameric protein mainly synthesized by the liver and the choroid plexus, and secreted into the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid, respectively, has been specially acknowledged for its functions as a transporter protein of thyroxine and retinol (the latter through binding to the retinol-binding protein), in these fluids. Still, this protein has managed to stay in the spotlight as it has been assigned new and varied functions. In this review, we cover knowledge on novel TTR functions and the cellular pathways involved, spanning from neuroprotection to vascular events, while emphasizing its involvement in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We describe details of TTR as an amyloid binding protein and discuss its interaction with the amyloid Aβ peptides, and the proposed mechanisms underlying TTR neuroprotection in AD. We also present the importance of translating advances in the knowledge of the TTR neuroprotective role into drug discovery strategies focused on TTR as a new target in AD therapeutics.
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Liraglutide Protects Against Brain Amyloid-β 1-42 Accumulation in Female Mice with Early Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathology by Partially Rescuing Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051746. [PMID: 32143329 PMCID: PMC7084254 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide, being characterized by the deposition of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (enriched in the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau), respectively) and memory loss. Aging, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and female sex (especially after menopause) are risk factors for AD, but their crosslinking mechanisms remain unclear. Most clinical trials targeting AD neuropathology failed and it remains incurable. However, evidence suggests that effective anti-T2D drugs, such as the GLP-1 mimetic and neuroprotector liraglutide, can be also efficient against AD. Thus, we aimed to study the benefits of a peripheral liraglutide treatment in AD female mice. We used blood and brain cortical lysates from 10-month-old 3xTg-AD female mice, treated for 28 days with liraglutide (0.2 mg/kg, once/day) to evaluate parameters affected in AD (e.g., Aβ and p-tau, motor and cognitive function, glucose metabolism, inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress). Despite the limited signs of cognitive changes in mature female mice, liraglutide only reduced their cortical Aβ1–42 levels. Liraglutide partially attenuated brain estradiol and GLP-1 and activated PKA levels, oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammation in these AD female mice. Our results support the earlier use of liraglutide as a potential preventive/therapeutic agent against the accumulation of the first neuropathological features of AD in females.
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Ghadami SA, Chia S, Ruggeri FS, Meisl G, Bemporad F, Habchi J, Cascella R, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M, Knowles TPJ, Chiti F. Transthyretin Inhibits Primary and Secondary Nucleations of Amyloid-β Peptide Aggregation and Reduces the Toxicity of Its Oligomers. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:1112-1125. [PMID: 32011129 PMCID: PMC7997117 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Alzheimer’s
disease is associated with the deposition of
the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) into extracellular senile plaques
in the brain. In vitro and in vivo observations have indicated that
transthyretin (TTR) acts as an Aβ scavenger in the brain, but
the mechanism has not been fully resolved. We have monitored the aggregation
process of Aβ40 by thioflavin T fluorescence, in
the presence or absence of different concentrations of preformed seed
aggregates of Aβ40, of wild-type tetrameric TTR (WT-TTR),
and of a variant engineered to be stable as a monomer (M-TTR). Both
WT-TTR and M-TTR were found to inhibit specific steps of the process
of Aβ40 fibril formation, which are primary and secondary
nucleations, without affecting the elongation of the resulting fibrils.
Moreover, the analysis shows that both WT-TTR and M-TTR bind to Aβ40 oligomers formed in the aggregation reaction and inhibit
their conversion into the shortest fibrils able to elongate. Using
biophysical methods, TTR was found to change some aspects of its overall
structure following such interactions with Aβ40 oligomers,
as well as with oligomers of Aβ42, while maintaining
its overall topology. Hence, it is likely that the predominant mechanism
by which TTR exerts its protective role lies in the binding of TTR
to the Aβ oligomers and in inhibiting primary and secondary
nucleation processes, which limits both the toxicity of Aβ oligomers
and the ability of the fibrils to proliferate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyed Abolghasem Ghadami
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Sean Chia
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Francesco Simone Ruggeri
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Georg Meisl
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Francesco Bemporad
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Johnny Habchi
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.,Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, 19 J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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Talhada D, Costa-Brito AR, Duarte AC, Costa AR, Quintela T, Tomás J, Gonçalves I, Santos CRA. The choroid plexus: Simple structure, complex functions. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:751-753. [PMID: 31825126 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Talhada
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.,Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Ana Raquel Costa-Brito
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Duarte
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana Raquel Costa
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Telma Quintela
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Joana Tomás
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Isabel Gonçalves
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
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Plasma Transthyretin as a Predictor of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Conversion to Dementia. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18691. [PMID: 31822765 PMCID: PMC6904474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55318-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of dementia, with a higher incidence of these patients progressing to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than normal aging people. A biomarker for the early detection and prediction for this progression is important. We recruited MCI subjects in three teaching hospitals and conducted longitudinal follow-up for 5 years at one-year intervals. Cognitively healthy controls were recruited for comparisom at baseline. Plasma transthyretin (TTR) levels were measured by ELISA. Survival analysis with time to AD conversion as an outcome variable was calculated with the multivariable Cox proportional hazards models using TTR as a continuous variable with adjustment for other covariates and bootstrapping resampling analysis. In total, 184 MCI subjects and 40 sex- and age-matched controls were recruited at baseline. At baseline, MCI patients had higher TTR levels compared with the control group. During the longitudinal follow-ups, 135 MCI patients (73.4%) completed follow-up at least once. The TTR level was an independent predictor for MCI conversion to AD when using TTR as a continuous variable (p = 0.023, 95% CI 1.001–1.007). In addition, in MCI converters, the TTR level at the point when they converted to AD was significantly lower than that at baseline (328.6 ± 66.5 vs. 381.9 ± 77.6 ug/ml, p < 0.001). Our study demonstrates the temporal relationship between the plasma TTR level and the conversion from MCI to AD.
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Tola AJ, Leelawatwattana L, Prapunpoj P. The catalytic kinetics of chicken transthyretin towards human Aβ 1-42. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 226:108610. [PMID: 31454704 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.108610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The novel property of transthyretin (TTR) as a protease has been proposed to be significant. However, the study of TTR proteolysis properties has not been completely elucidated. Herein, we first report the catalytic activity of chicken TTR from plasma determined by using fluorescently labeled amyloid beta 1-42 peptide (Aβ1-42), and compared it with human TTR (human TTR) from plasma and recombinant Crocodylus porosus TTR. The enzyme kinetic study revealed that the affinity for Aβ1-42 of chicken TTR and C. porosus TTR (KM values were 12.72 ± 0.27 μM and 16.21 ± 0.02 μM, respectively) were significantly lower than human TTR (KM was 43.05 ± 0.39 μM). In addition, the catalytic efficiency of chicken TTR (Kcat/KM was 310,386.87 ± 13,627.12 M-1 s-1) was 4.3 and 5.5 folds higher than those of C. porosus TTR and human TTR (Kcat/KM were 72,893.80 ± 355.74 M-1 s-1 and 56,519.12 ± 5009.50 M-1 s-1, respectively), respectively. These results does not only indicated the relationship between structure and the proteolytic activity of TTR, but also suggested a potential development of TTR as a therapeutic anti-Aβ agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adesola Julius Tola
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla 90112, Thailand
| | - Ladda Leelawatwattana
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla 90112, Thailand
| | - Porntip Prapunpoj
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla 90112, Thailand.
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40
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Rios X, Gómez-Vallejo V, Martín A, Cossío U, Morcillo MÁ, Alemi M, Cardoso I, Quintana J, Jiménez-Barbero J, Cotrina EY, Valencia G, Arsequell G, Llop J. Radiochemical examination of transthyretin (TTR) brain penetration assisted by iododiflunisal, a TTR tetramer stabilizer and a new candidate drug for AD. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13672. [PMID: 31541162 PMCID: PMC6754432 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50071-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well settled that the amyloidogenic properties of the plasma protein transporter transthyretin (TTR) can be modulated by compounds that stabilize its native tetrameric conformation. TTR is also present in cerebrospinal fluid where it can bind to Aβ-peptides and prevent Aβ aggregation. We have previously shown that treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) model mice with iododiflunisal (IDIF), a TTR tetramer stabilizing compound, prevents AD pathologies. This evidence positioned IDIF as a new lead drug for AD. In dissecting the mechanism of action of IDIF, we disclose here different labeling strategies for the preparation of 131I-labeled IDIF and 131I- and 124I-labeled TTR, which have been further used for the preparation of IDIF-TTR complexes labeled either on the compound or the protein. The biodistribution of all labeled species after intravenous administration has been investigated in mice using ex vivo and in vivo techniques. Our results confirm the capacity of TTR to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and suggest that the formation of TTR-IDIF complexes enhances BBB permeability of both IDIF and TTR. The increased TTR and IDIF brain concentrations may result in higher Aβ-peptide sequestration capacity with the subsequent inhibition of AD symptoms as we have previously observed in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xabier Rios
- Radiochemistry and Nuclear Imaging Group, CIC biomaGUNE, 20014, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, Spain
| | - Vanessa Gómez-Vallejo
- Radiochemistry and Nuclear Imaging Group, CIC biomaGUNE, 20014, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, Spain
| | - Abraham Martín
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940, Leioa, Spain.,Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Díaz de Haro 3, 48013, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Unai Cossío
- Radiochemistry and Nuclear Imaging Group, CIC biomaGUNE, 20014, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Morcillo
- Biomedical Applications of Radioisotopes and Pharmacokinetics Unit, CIEMAT, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mobina Alemi
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jordi Quintana
- Plataforma Drug Discovery, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Díaz de Haro 3, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.,CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160, Derio, Spain
| | - Ellen Y Cotrina
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregorio Valencia
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Arsequell
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (I.Q.A.C.-C.S.I.C.), 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jordi Llop
- Radiochemistry and Nuclear Imaging Group, CIC biomaGUNE, 20014, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red- Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.
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41
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Abstract
The unknown role of the carrier protein transthyretin (TTR) in mechanisms of functional recovery in the postischemic brain prompted us to study its expression following experimental stroke. Male C57/B6 mice (age 9 to 10 weeks) were subjected to permanent focal ischemia induced by photothrombosis (PT) and brain tissues were analyzed for ttr expression and TTR levels at 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days and 14 days following the insult by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Fourteen days after PT, non-specific TTR-like immunoreactive globules were found in the ischemic core and surrounding peri-infarct region by immunohistochemistry that could not be allocated to DAPI positive cells. No TTR immunoreactivity was found when stainings were performed with markers for neurons (Neuronal Nuclei, NeuN), reactive astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP) or microglia (cluster of differentiation 68, CD68). In addition, we could not find TTR by immunoblotting in protein extracts obtained from the ischemic territory nor ttr expression by RT-PCR at all time points following PT. In all experiments, ttr expression in the choroid plexus and TTR in the mouse serum served as positive controls and recombinant legumain peptide as negative control. Together, our results indicate that TTR is not synthesized in brain resident cells in the ischemic infarct core and adjacent peri-infarct area. Thus, it seems unlikely that in situ synthesized TTR is involved in mechanisms of tissue reorganization during the first 14 days following PT.
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42
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Mariottini C, Munari L, Gunzel E, Seco JM, Tzavaras N, Hansen J, Stern SA, Gao V, Aleyasin H, Sharma A, Azeloglu EU, Hodes GE, Russo SJ, Huff V, Birtwistle MR, Blitzer RD, Alberini CM, Iyengar R. Wilm's tumor 1 promotes memory flexibility. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3756. [PMID: 31434897 PMCID: PMC6704057 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11781-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Under physiological conditions, strength and persistence of memory must be regulated in order to produce behavioral flexibility. In fact, impairments in memory flexibility are associated with pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder or autism; however, the underlying mechanisms that enable memory flexibility are still poorly understood. Here, we identify transcriptional repressor Wilm's Tumor 1 (WT1) as a critical synaptic plasticity regulator that decreases memory strength, promoting memory flexibility. WT1 is activated in the hippocampus following induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) or learning. WT1 knockdown enhances CA1 neuronal excitability, LTP and long-term memory whereas its overexpression weakens memory retention. Moreover, forebrain WT1-deficient mice show deficits in both reversal, sequential learning tasks and contextual fear extinction, exhibiting impaired memory flexibility. We conclude that WT1 limits memory strength or promotes memory weakening, thus enabling memory flexibility, a process that is critical for learning from new experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mariottini
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA.
- Systems Biology Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA.
| | - Leonardo Munari
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Ellen Gunzel
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
- Systems Biology Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Joseph M Seco
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Nikos Tzavaras
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Jens Hansen
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
- Systems Biology Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Sarah A Stern
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, 10003, NY, USA
| | - Virginia Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, 10003, NY, USA
| | - Hossein Aleyasin
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Ali Sharma
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Evren U Azeloglu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Scott J Russo
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Vicki Huff
- Department of Genetics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, 77030, TX, USA
| | - Marc R Birtwistle
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
- Systems Biology Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Robert D Blitzer
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Cristina M Alberini
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA.
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, 10003, NY, USA.
| | - Ravi Iyengar
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA.
- Systems Biology Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, 10029, NY, USA.
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Uncovering the Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Curcumin on Transthyretin Amyloidosis. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061287. [PMID: 30875761 PMCID: PMC6471102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidoses (ATTR amyloidosis) are diseases associated with transthyretin (TTR) misfolding, aggregation and extracellular deposition in tissues as amyloid. Clinical manifestations of the disease are variable and include mainly polyneuropathy and/or cardiomyopathy. The reasons why TTR forms aggregates and amyloid are related with amino acid substitutions in the protein due to mutations, or with environmental alterations associated with aging, that make the protein more unstable and prone to aggregation. According to this model, several therapeutic approaches have been proposed for the diseases that range from stabilization of TTR, using chemical chaperones, to clearance of the aggregated protein deposited in tissues in the form of oligomers or small aggregates, by the action of disruptors or by activation of the immune system. Interestingly, different studies revealed that curcumin presents anti-amyloid properties, targeting multiple steps in the ATTR amyloidogenic cascade. The effects of curcumin on ATTR amyloidosis will be reviewed and discussed in the current work in order to contribute to knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in TTR amyloidosis and propose more efficient drugs for therapy.
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Liraglutide and its Neuroprotective Properties-Focus on Possible Biochemical Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease and Cerebral Ischemic Events. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20051050. [PMID: 30823403 PMCID: PMC6429395 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20051050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analog (glucagon like peptide-1) used primarily in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) and obesity. The literature starts to suggest that liraglutide may reduce the effects of ischemic stroke by activating anti-apoptotic pathways, as well as limiting the harmful effects of free radicals. The GLP-1R expression has been reported in the cerebral cortex, especially occipital and frontal lobes, the hypothalamus, and the thalamus. Liraglutide reduced the area of ischemia caused by MCAO (middle cerebral artery occlusion), limited neurological deficits, decreased hyperglycemia caused by stress, and presented anti-apoptotic effects by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl proteins and reduction of Bax and Bad protein expression. The pharmaceutical managed to decrease concentrations of proapoptotic factors, such as NF-κB (Nuclear Factor-kappa β), ICAM-1 (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1), caspase-3, and reduced the level of TUNEL-positive cells. Liraglutide was able to reduce the level of free radicals by decreasing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), and increasing the superoxide dismutase level (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase. Liraglutide may affect the neurovascular unit causing its remodeling, which seems to be crucial for recovery after stroke. Liraglutide may stabilize atherosclerotic plaque, as well as counteract its early formation and further development. Liraglutide, through its binding to GLP-1R (glucagon like peptide-1 receptor) and consequent activation of PI3K/MAPK (Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/mitogen associated protein kinase) dependent pathways, may have a positive impact on Aβ (amyloid beta) trafficking and clearance by increasing the presence of Aβ transporters in cerebrospinal fluid. Liraglutide seems to affect tau pathology. It is possible that liraglutide may have some stem cell stimulating properties. The effects may be connected with PKA (phosphorylase kinase A) activation. This paper presents potential mechanisms of liraglutide activity in conditions connected with neuronal damage, with special emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and cerebral ischemia.
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45
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Johnson BA, Coutts M, Vo HM, Hao X, Fatima N, Rivera MJ, Sims RJ, Neel MJ, Kang YJ, Monuki ES. Accurate, strong, and stable reporting of choroid plexus epithelial cells in transgenic mice using a human transthyretin BAC. Fluids Barriers CNS 2018; 15:22. [PMID: 30111340 PMCID: PMC6094443 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-018-0107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choroid plexus epithelial cells express high levels of transthyretin, produce cerebrospinal fluid and many of its proteins, and make up the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Choroid plexus epithelial cells are vital to brain health and may be involved in neurological diseases. Transgenic mice containing fluorescent and luminescent reporters of these cells would facilitate their study in health and disease, but prior transgenic reporters lost expression over the early postnatal period. METHODS Human bacterial artificial chromosomes in which the transthyretin coding sequence was replaced with DNA for tdTomato or luciferase 2 were used in pronuclear injections to produce transgenic mice. These mice were characterized by visualizing red fluorescence, immunostaining, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and luciferase enzyme assay. RESULTS Reporters were faithfully expressed in cells that express transthyretin constitutively, including choroid plexus epithelial cells, retinal pigment epithelium, pancreatic islets, and liver. Expression of tdTomato in choroid plexus began at the appropriate embryonic age, being detectable by E11.5. Relative levels of tdTomato transcript in the liver and choroid plexus paralleled relative levels of transcripts for transthyretin. Expression remained robust over the first postnatal year, although choroid plexus transcripts of tdTomato declined slightly with age whereas transthyretin remained constant. TdTomato expression patterns were consistent across three founder lines, displayed no sex differences, and were stable across several generations. Two of the tdTomato lines were bred to homozygosity, and homozygous mice are healthy and fertile. The usefulness of tdTomato reporters in visualizing and analyzing live Transwell cultures was demonstrated. Luciferase activity was very high in homogenates of choroid plexus and continued to be expressed through adulthood. Luciferase also was detectable in eye and pancreas. CONCLUSIONS Transgenic mice bearing fluorescent and luminescent reporters of transthyretin should prove useful for tracking transplanted choroid plexus epithelial cells, for purifying the cells, and for reporting their derivation from stem cells. They also should prove useful for studying transthyretin synthesis by other cell types, as transthyretin has been implicated in many functions and conditions, including clearance of β-amyloid peptides associated with Alzheimer's disease, heat shock in neurons, processing of neuropeptides, nerve regeneration, astrocyte metabolism, and transthyretin amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett A Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Margaret Coutts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Hillary M Vo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Xinya Hao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Nida Fatima
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Maria J Rivera
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, USA
| | - Robert J Sims
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, USA
| | - Michael J Neel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Young-Jin Kang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Edwin S Monuki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA. .,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA. .,Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.
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Mangrolia P, Murphy RM. Retinol-Binding Protein Interferes with Transthyretin-Mediated β-Amyloid Aggregation Inhibition. Biochemistry 2018; 57:5029-5040. [PMID: 30024734 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
β-Amyloid (Aβ) aggregation is causally linked to Alzheimer's disease. On the basis of in vitro and transgenic animal studies, transthyretin (TTR) is hypothesized to provide neuroprotection against Aβ toxicity by binding to Aβ and inhibiting its aggregation. TTR is a homotetrameric protein that circulates in blood and cerebrospinal fluid; its normal physiological role is as a carrier for thyroxine and retinol-binding protein (RBP). RBP forms a complex with retinol, and the holoprotein (hRBP) binds with high affinity to TTR. In this study, the role of TTR ligands in TTR-mediated inhibition of Aβ aggregation was investigated. hRBP strongly reduced the ability of TTR to inhibit Aβ aggregation. The effect was not due to competition between Aβ and hRBP for binding to TTR, as Aβ bound equally well to TTR-hRBP complexes and TTR. hRBP is known to stabilize the TTR tetrameric structure. We show that Aβ partially destabilizes TTR and that hRBP counteracts this destabilization. Taken together, our results support a mechanism wherein TTR-mediated inhibition of Aβ aggregation requires not only TTR-Aβ binding but also destabilization of TTR quaternary structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth Mangrolia
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering , University of Wisconsin-Madison , 1415 Engineering Drive , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States
| | - Regina M Murphy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering , University of Wisconsin-Madison , 1415 Engineering Drive , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States
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47
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Garai K, Posey AE, Li X, Buxbaum JN, Pappu RV. Inhibition of amyloid beta fibril formation by monomeric human transthyretin. Protein Sci 2018; 27:1252-1261. [PMID: 29498118 PMCID: PMC6032350 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetrameric protein that is found in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Dissociation of TTR tetramers sets off a downhill cascade of amyloid formation through polymerization of monomeric TTR. Interestingly, TTR has an additional, biologically relevant activity, which pertains to its ability to slow the progression of amyloid beta (Aβ) associated pathology in transgenic mice. In vitro, both TTR and a kinetically stable variant of monomeric TTR (M-TTR) inhibit the fibril formation of Aβ1-40/42 molecules. Published evidence suggests that tetrameric TTR binds preferentially to Aβ monomers, thus destabilizing fibril formation by depleting the pool of Aβ monomers from aggregating mixtures. Here, we investigate the effects of M-TTR on the in vitro aggregation of Aβ1-42 . Our data confirm previous observations that fibril formation of Aβ is suppressed in the presence of sub-stoichiometric amounts of M-TTR. Despite this, we find that sub-stoichiometric levels of M-TTR are not bona fide inhibitors of aggregation. Instead, they co-aggregate with Aβ to promote the formation of large, micron-scale insoluble, non-fibrillar amorphous deposits. Based on fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements, we find that M-TTR does not interact with monomeric Aβ. Two-color coincidence analysis of the fluorescence bursts of Aβ and M-TTR labeled with different fluorophores shows that M-TTR co-assembles with soluble Aβ aggregates and this appears to drive the co-aggregation into amorphous precipitates. Our results suggest that mimicking the co-aggregation activity with protein-based therapeutics might be a worthwhile strategy for rerouting amyloid beta peptides into inert, insoluble, and amorphous deposits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchan Garai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems EngineeringWashington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1097St. LouisMissouri63130
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, 36/P Gopanpally Village, SerilingampallyHyderabad500019India
| | - Ammon E. Posey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems EngineeringWashington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1097St. LouisMissouri63130
| | - Xinyi Li
- Department of Molecular and Experimental MedicineThe Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torey Pines RoadLa JollaCalifornia92037
| | - Joel N. Buxbaum
- Department of Molecular and Experimental MedicineThe Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torey Pines RoadLa JollaCalifornia92037
| | - Rohit V. Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems EngineeringWashington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1097St. LouisMissouri63130
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48
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Transthyretin Interferes with Aβ Amyloid Formation by Redirecting Oligomeric Nuclei into Non-Amyloid Aggregates. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:2722-2733. [PMID: 29890120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The pathological Aβ aggregates associated with Alzheimer's disease follow a nucleation-dependent path of formation. A nucleus represents an oligomeric assembly of Aβ peptides that acts as a template for subsequent incorporation of monomers to form a fibrillar structure. Nuclei can form de novo or via surface-catalyzed secondary nucleation, and the combined rates of elongation and nucleation control the overall rate of fibril formation. Transthyretin (TTR) obstructs Aβ fibril formation in favor of alternative non-fibrillar assemblies, but the mechanism behind this activity is not fully understood. This study shows that TTR does not significantly disturb fibril elongation; rather, it effectively interferes with the formation of oligomeric nuclei. We demonstrate that this interference can be modulated by altering the relative contribution of elongation and nucleation, and we show how TTR's effects can range from being essentially ineffective to almost complete inhibition of fibril formation without changing the concentration of TTR or monomeric Aβ.
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49
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Pate KM, Kim BJ, Shusta EV, Murphy RM. Transthyretin Mimetics as Anti-β-Amyloid Agents: A Comparison of Peptide and Protein Approaches. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:968-979. [PMID: 29512286 PMCID: PMC5991081 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
β-Amyloid (Aβ) aggregation is causally linked to neuronal pathology in Alzheimer's disease; therefore, several small molecules, antibodies, and peptides have been tested as anti-Aβ agents. We developed two compounds based on the Aβ-binding domain of transthyretin (TTR): a cyclic peptide cG8 and an engineered protein mTTR, and compared them for therapeutically relevant properties. Both mTTR and cG8 inhibit fibrillogenesis of Aβ, with mTTR inhibiting at a lower concentration than cG8. Both inhibit aggregation of amylin but not of α-synuclein. They both bind more Aβ aggregates than monomer, and neither disaggregates preformed fibrils. cG8 retained more of its activity in the presence of biological materials and was more resistant to proteolysis than mTTR. We examined the effect of mTTR or cG8 on Aβ binding to human neurons. When mTTR was co-incubated with Aβ under oligomer-forming conditions, Aβ morphology was drastically changed and Aβ-cell deposition significantly decreased. In contrast, cG8 did not affect morphology but decreased the amount of Aβ deposited. These results provide guidance for further evolution of TTR-mimetic anti-amyloid agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla M Pate
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Brandon J Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Eric V Shusta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Regina M Murphy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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50
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Li X, Song Y, Sanders CR, Buxbaum JN. Transthyretin Suppresses Amyloid-β Secretion by Interfering with Processing of the Amyloid-β Protein Precursor. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 52:1263-75. [PMID: 27079720 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), most hippocampal and cortical neurons show increased staining with anti-transthyretin (TTR) antibodies. Genetically programmed overexpression of wild type human TTR suppressed the neuropathologic and behavioral abnormalities in APP23 AD model mice and TTR-Aβ complexes have been isolated from some human AD brains and those of APP23 transgenic mice. In the present study, in vitro NMR analysis showed interaction between the hydrophobic thyroxine binding pocket of TTR and the cytoplasmic loop of the C99 fragment released by β-secretase cleavage of AβPP, with Kd = 86±9 μM. In cultured cells expressing both proteins, the interaction reduced phosphorylation of C99 (at T668) and suppressed its cleavage by γ-secretase, significantly decreasing Aβ secretion. Coupled with its previously demonstrated capacity to inhibit Aβ aggregation (with the resultant cytotoxicity in tissue culture) and its regulation by HSF1, these findings indicate that TTR can behave as a stress responsive multimodal suppressor of AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Li
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Johnson & Johnson, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yuanli Song
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Biologics Process Development, Devens, MA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Charles R Sanders
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joel N Buxbaum
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
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