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Tang Z, Peng Y, Jiang Y, Wang L, Guo M, Chen Z, Luo C, Zhang T, Xiao Y, Ni R, Qi X. Gastrodin ameliorates synaptic impairment, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in N2a/APP cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 719:150127. [PMID: 38761634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150127] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by abnormal β-amyloid and tau accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and synaptic dysfunction. Here, we aimed to assess the mechanisms and signalling pathways in the neuroprotective effect of gastrodin, a phenolic glycoside, on murine neuroblastoma N2a cells expressing human Swedish mutant APP (N2a/APP). We found that gastrodin increased the levels of presynaptic-SNAP, synaptophysin, and postsynaptic-PSD95 and reduced phospho-tau Ser396, APP and Aβ1-42 levels in N2a/APP cells. Gastrodin treatment reduced reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial fragmentation and DNA oxidation; restored mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ATP production. Upregulated phospho-GSK-3β and reduced phospho-ERK and phospho-JNK were involved in the protective effect of gastrodin. In conclusion, we demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of gastrodin in the N2a/APP cell line by ameliorating the impairment on synaptic and mitochondrial function, reducing tau phosphorylation, Aβ1-42 levels as well as reactive oxygen species generation. These results provide new mechanistic insights into the potential effect of gastrodin in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Tang
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yaqian Peng
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Min Guo
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhuyi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chao Luo
- Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Xiaolan Qi
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
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Ye J, Wan H, Chen S, Liu GP. Targeting tau in Alzheimer's disease: from mechanisms to clinical therapy. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1489-1498. [PMID: 38051891 PMCID: PMC10883484 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease affecting older adults. Primary features of Alzheimer's disease include extracellular aggregation of amyloid-β plaques and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, formed by tau protein, in the cells. While there are amyloid-β-targeting therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, these therapies are costly and exhibit potential negative side effects. Mounting evidence suggests significant involvement of tau protein in Alzheimer's disease-related neurodegeneration. As an important microtubule-associated protein, tau plays an important role in maintaining the stability of neuronal microtubules and promoting axonal growth. In fact, clinical studies have shown that abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein occurs before accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain. Various therapeutic strategies targeting tau protein have begun to emerge, and are considered possible methods to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, abnormalities in post-translational modifications of the tau protein, including aberrant phosphorylation, ubiquitination, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation, acetylation, and truncation, contribute to its microtubule dissociation, misfolding, and subcellular missorting. This causes mitochondrial damage, synaptic impairments, gliosis, and neuroinflammation, eventually leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive deficits. This review summarizes the recent findings on the underlying mechanisms of tau protein in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease and discusses tau-targeted treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwang Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huali Wan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sihua Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gong-Ping Liu
- Co-innovation Center of Neurodegeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China and Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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Sai Varshini M, Aishwarya Reddy R, Thaggikuppe Krishnamurthy P. Unlocking Hope: GSK-3 Inhibitors and Wnt Pathway Activation in Alzheimer's Therapy. J Drug Target 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38838023 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2365263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles. The Wnt signaling pathway known for its crucial role in neurodevelopment and adult neurogenesis has emerged as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in AD. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), a key regulator of the Wnt pathway, plays a pivotal role in AD pathogenesis by promoting tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated that inhibiting GSK-3β leads to the activation of Wnt pathway thereby promoting neuroprotective effects, and mitigating cognitive deficits in AD animal models. The modulation of Wnt signaling appears to have multifaceted benefits including the reduction of amyloid-β production, tau hyperphosphorylation, enhancement of synaptic plasticity, and inhibition of neuroinflammation. These findings suggest that targeting GSK-3β to activate Wnt pathway may represent a novel approach for slowing or halting the progression of AD. This hypothesis reviews the current state of research exploring the activation of Wnt pathway through the inhibition of GSK-3β as a promising therapeutic strategy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magham Sai Varshini
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty-643001, TN, India
| | - Ramakkamma Aishwarya Reddy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty-643001, TN, India
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Nozal V, Fernández-Gómez P, García-Rubia A, Martínez-González L, Cuevas EP, Carro E, Palomo V, Martínez A. Designing multitarget ligands for neurodegenerative diseases with improved permeability trough PLGA nanoencapsulation. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116626. [PMID: 38663103 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Multitarget ligands (MTLs) have emerged as an interesting alternative for addressing complex multifactorial pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases. However, a common challenge associated with these compounds is often their high molecular weight and low solubility, which becomes a hurdle when trying to permeate over the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we have designed two new MTLs that modulate three pharmacological targets simultaneously (tau, beta-amyloid and TAR DNA-binding protein 43). To enhance their brain penetration, we have formulated organic polymeric nanoparticles using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid). The characterization of the formulations, evaluation of their permeability through an in vitro BBB model, and assessment of their activity on disease-representative cellular models, such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have been conducted. The results demonstrate the potential of the new MTLs and their nanoparticle encapsulation for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa Nozal
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Paula Fernández-Gómez
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Alfonso García-Rubia
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Loreto Martínez-González
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Eva P Cuevas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Eva Carro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain; Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Valle Palomo
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), Madrid 28049, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain; Unidad de Nanobiotecnología Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC), Madrid 28049, Spain.
| | - Ana Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain.
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Patel V, Edison P. Cardiometabolic risk factors and neurodegeneration: a review of the mechanisms underlying diabetes, obesity and hypertension in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2024; 95:581-589. [PMID: 38290839 PMCID: PMC11103343 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2023-332661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that cardiometabolic risk factors play a significant role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Diabetes, obesity and hypertension are highly prevalent and can accelerate neurodegeneration and perpetuate the burden of AD. Insulin resistance and enzymes including insulin degrading enzymes are implicated in AD where breakdown of insulin is prioritised over amyloid-β. Leptin resistance and inflammation demonstrated by higher plasma and central nervous system levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α, are mechanisms connecting obesity and diabetes with AD. Leptin has been shown to ameliorate AD pathology and enhance long-term potentiation and hippocampal-dependent cognitive function. The renin-aldosterone angiotensin system, involved in hypertension, has been associated with AD pathology and neurotoxic reactive oxygen species, where angiotensin binds to specific angiotensin-1 receptors in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. This review aims to consolidate the evidence behind putative processes stimulated by obesity, diabetes and hypertension, which leads to increased AD risk. We focus on how novel knowledge can be applied clinically to facilitate recognition of efficacious treatment strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Patel
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Edison
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Buchholz S, Zempel H. The six brain-specific TAU isoforms and their role in Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative dementia syndromes. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3606-3628. [PMID: 38556838 PMCID: PMC11095451 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alternative splicing of the human MAPT gene generates six brain-specific TAU isoforms. Imbalances in the TAU isoform ratio can lead to neurodegenerative diseases, underscoring the need for precise control over TAU isoform balance. Tauopathies, characterized by intracellular aggregates of hyperphosphorylated TAU, exhibit extensive neurodegeneration and can be classified by the TAU isoforms present in pathological accumulations. METHODS A comprehensive review of TAU and related dementia syndromes literature was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and preprint server. RESULTS While TAU is recognized as key driver of neurodegeneration in specific tauopathies, the contribution of the isoforms to neuronal function and disease development remains largely elusive. DISCUSSION In this review we describe the role of TAU isoforms in health and disease, and stress the importance of comprehending and studying TAU isoforms in both, physiological and pathological context, in order to develop targeted therapeutic interventions for TAU-associated diseases. HIGHLIGHTS MAPT splicing is tightly regulated during neuronal maturation and throughout life. TAU isoform expression is development-, cell-type and brain region specific. The contribution of TAU to neurodegeneration might be isoform-specific. Ineffective TAU-based therapies highlight the need for specific targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Buchholz
- Institute of Human GeneticsFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital CologneUniversity of CologneCologneGermany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC)University of CologneCologneGermany
- Present address:
Department Schaefer, Neurobiology of AgeingMax Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany
| | - Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human GeneticsFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital CologneUniversity of CologneCologneGermany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC)University of CologneCologneGermany
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Qian W, Yuan L, Zhuge W, Gu L, Chen Y, Zhuge Q, Ni H, Lv X. Regulating Lars2 in mitochondria: A potential Alzheimer's therapy by inhibiting tau phosphorylation. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00353. [PMID: 38575503 PMCID: PMC11067343 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Driven by the scarcity of effective treatment options in clinical settings, the present study aimed to identify a new potential target for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment. We focused on Lars2, an enzyme synthesizing mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA, and its role in maintaining mitochondrial function. Bioinformatics analysis of human brain transcriptome data revealed downregulation of Lars2 in AD patients compared to healthy controls. During in vitro experiments, the knockdown of Lars2 in mouse neuroblastoma cells (neuro-2a cells) and primary cortical neurons led to morphological changes and decreased density in mouse hippocampal neurons. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we investigated how downregulated Lars2 expression could impede the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) pathway, thereby mitigating AKT's inhibitory effect on glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β). This led to the activation of GSK3β, causing excessive phosphorylation of Tau protein and subsequent neuronal degeneration. During in vivo experiments, knockout of lars2 in hippocampal neurons confirmed cognitive impairment through the Barnes maze test, the novel object recognition test, and nest-building experiments. Additionally, immunofluorescence assays indicated an increase in p-tau, atrophy in the hippocampal region, and a decrease in neurons following Lars2 knockout. Taken together, our findings indicate that Lars2 represents a promising therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Qian
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Weishan Zhuge
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liuqing Gu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yutian Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qichuan Zhuge
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Haoqi Ni
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xinhuang Lv
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
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Abdallah AE. Review on anti-alzheimer drug development: approaches, challenges and perspectives. RSC Adv 2024; 14:11057-11088. [PMID: 38586442 PMCID: PMC10995770 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08333k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes failure of cerebral neurons and disability of the affected person to practice normal daily life activities. There is no concrete evidence to identify the exact reason behind the disease, so several relevant hypotheses emerged, highlighting many possible therapeutic targets, such as acetylcholinesterase, cholinergic receptors, N-methyl d-aspartate receptors, phosphodiesterase, amyloid β protein, protein phosphatase 2A, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, β-secretase, γ-secretase, α-secretase, serotonergic receptors, glutaminyl cyclase, tumor necrosis factor-α, γ-aminobutyric acid receptors, and mitochondria. All of these targets have been involved in the design of new potential drugs. An extensive number of these drugs have been studied in clinical trials. However, only galantamine, donepezil, and rivastigmine (ChEIs), memantine (NMDA antagonist), and aducanumab and lecanemab (selective anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies) have been approved for AD treatment. Many drugs failed in the clinical trials to such an extent that questions have been posed about the significance of some of the aforementioned targets. On the contrary, the data of other drugs were promising and shed light on the significance of their targets for the development of new potent anti-alzheimer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah E Abdallah
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University 11884 Cairo Egypt
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Wang C, Cui Y, Xu T, Zhou Y, Yang R, Wang T. New insights into glycogen synthase kinase-3: A common target for neurodegenerative diseases. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115923. [PMID: 37981175 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a highly conserved protein serine/threonine kinase that plays a central role in a wide variety of cellular processes to coordinate catabolic and anabolic pathways and regulate cell growth and fate. There is increasing evidence showing that abnormal glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of many disorders, such as cancer, diabetes, psychiatric diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize recent findings about the regulatory role of GSK-3 in the occurrence and development of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, mainly focusing on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The aim of this study is to provide new insight into the shared working mechanism of GSK-3 as a therapeutic target of multiple neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengfeng Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China; Institute of Brain Sciences and Related Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Yu Cui
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China
| | - Tong Xu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck, The Affiliated Qingdao Third People's Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266021, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China; Institute of Brain Sciences and Related Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck, The Affiliated Qingdao Third People's Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266021, China; Department of Health and Life Science, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266000, China.
| | - Rong Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck, The Affiliated Qingdao Third People's Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266021, China.
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China.
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Majeed J, Sabbagh MN, Kang MH, Lawrence JJ, Pruitt K, Bacus S, Reyna E, Brown M, Decourt B. Cancer drugs with high repositioning potential for Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2023; 28:311-332. [PMID: 38100555 PMCID: PMC10877737 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2023.2296079] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the recent full FDA approval of lecanemab, there is currently no disease modifying therapy (DMT) that can efficiently slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the general population. This statement emphasizes the need to identify novel DMTs in the shortest time possible to prevent a global epidemic of AD cases as the world population experiences an increase in lifespan. AREAS COVERED Here, we review several classes of anti-cancer drugs that have been or are being investigated in Phase II/III clinical trials for AD, including immunomodulatory drugs, RXR agonists, sex hormone therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies. EXPERT OPINION Given the overall course of brain pathologies during the progression of AD, we express a great enthusiasm for the repositioning of anti-cancer drugs as possible AD DMTs. We anticipate an increasing number of combinatorial therapy strategies to tackle AD symptoms and their underlying pathologies. However, we strongly encourage improvements in clinical trial study designs to better assess target engagement and possible efficacy over sufficient periods of drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad Majeed
- University of Arizona Honors College, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Marwan N. Sabbagh
- Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Division, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Min H. Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - J. Josh Lawrence
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Ellie Reyna
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Maddy Brown
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Boris Decourt
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Roseman University of Health Sciences, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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Schneeweis A, Pak DTS. Wherefore Art Tau? Functional importance of site-specific tau phosphorylation in diverse subcellular domains. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 164:106475. [PMID: 37778693 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2023.106475] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Tau has canonically been considered as an axonal protein, but studies have observed tau localization in other subcellular domains of neurons. This relocated tau has been identified in both physiological and pathological conditions, and it is often labeled mislocalized. Furthermore, these forms of tau are referred to as "hyperphosphorylated" without specifying the phosphosites involved. On the contrary, we speculate that tau may have multiple physiological functions in various locations regulated via specific phosphorylation sites, although this picture is obscured by a lack of comprehensive phosphosite analysis. Here, we examine findings in the literature on the subcellular location of tau and potential roles tau has in those regions. We intentionally focus on the site-specific phosphorylated patterns involved in governing these properties, which are not well elucidated. To facilitate understanding of these events, we have begun establishing a comprehensive map of tau phosphorylation signatures. Such efforts may clarify tau's diverse physiological functions beyond the axon as well as promote development of novel therapeutic strategies directed against distinct tau subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Schneeweis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Daniel T S Pak
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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12
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Shri SR, Manandhar S, Nayak Y, Pai KSR. Role of GSK-3β Inhibitors: New Promises and Opportunities for Alzheimer's Disease. Adv Pharm Bull 2023; 13:688-700. [PMID: 38022801 PMCID: PMC10676556 DOI: 10.34172/apb.2023.071] [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: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was discovered to be a multifunctional enzyme involved in a wide variety of biological processes, including early embryo formation, oncogenesis, as well cell death in neurodegenerative diseases. Several critical cellular processes in the brain are regulated by the GSK-3β, serving as a central switch in the signaling pathways. Dysregulation of GSK-3β kinase has been reported in diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, inflammation, and Huntington's disease. Thus, GSK-3β is widely regarded as a promising target for therapeutic use. The current review article focuses mainly on Alzheimer's disease, an age-related neurodegenerative brain disorder. GSK-3β activation increases amyloid-beta (Aβ) and the development of neurofibrillary tangles that are involved in the disruption of material transport between axons and dendrites. The drug-binding cavities of GSK-3β are explored, and different existing classes of GSK-3β inhibitors are explained in this review. Non-ATP competitive inhibitors, such as allosteric inhibitors, can reduce the side effects compared to ATP-competitive inhibitors. Whereas ATP-competitive inhibitors produce disarrangement of the cytoskeleton, neurofibrillary tangles formation, and lead to the death of neurons, etc. This could be because they are binding to a site separate from ATP. Owing to their interaction in particular and special binding sites, allosteric ligands interact with substrates more selectively, which will be beneficial in resolving drug-induced resistance and also helpful in reducing side effects. Hence, in this review, we focussed on the allosteric GSK-3β inhibitors and discussed their futuristic opportunities as anti-Alzheimer's compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - K Sreedhara Ranganath Pai
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal -576104, India
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13
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Caballero-Florán RN, Nelson AD, Min L, Jenkins PM. Effects of chronic lithium treatment on neuronal excitability and GABAergic transmission in an Ank3 mutant mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.26.564203. [PMID: 37961630 PMCID: PMC10634991 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.564203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common psychiatric disease that can lead to psychosocial disability, decreased quality of life, and high risk for suicide. Genome-wide association studies have shown that the ANK3 gene is a significant risk factor for BD, but the mechanisms involved in BD pathophysiology are not yet fully understood. Previous work has shown that ankyrin-G, the protein encoded by ANK3, stabilizes inhibitory synapses in vivo through its interaction with the GABAA receptor-associated protein (GABARAP). We generated a mouse model with a missense p.W1989R mutation in Ank3, that abolishes the interaction between ankyrin-G and GABARAP, which leads to reduced inhibitory signaling in the somatosensory cortex and increased pyramidal cell excitability. Humans with the same mutation exhibit BD symptoms, which can be attenuated with lithium therapy. In this study, we describe that chronic treatment of Ank3 p.W1989R mice with lithium normalizes neuronal excitability in cortical pyramidal neurons and increases inhibitory GABAergic postsynaptic currents. The same outcome in inhibitory transmission was observed when mice were treated with the GSK-3β inhibitor Tideglusib. These results suggest that lithium treatment modulates the excitability of pyramidal neurons in the cerebral cortex by increasing GABAergic neurotransmission, likely via GSK-3 inhibition. In addition to the importance of these findings regarding ANK3 variants as a risk factor for BD development, this study may have significant implications for treating other psychiatric disorders associated with alterations in inhibitory signaling, such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew D Nelson
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Lia Min
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Paul M Jenkins
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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14
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Gupta S, Jinka SKA, Khanal S, Bhavnani N, Almashhori F, Lallo J, Mathias A, Al-Rhayyel Y, Herman D, Holden JG, Fleming SM, Raman P. Cognitive dysfunction and increased phosphorylated tau are associated with reduced O-GlcNAc signaling in an aging mouse model of metabolic syndrome. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1324-1344. [PMID: 37031439 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS), characterized by hyperglycemia, obesity, and hyperlipidemia, can increase the risk of developing late-onset dementia. Recent studies in patients and mouse models suggest a putative link between hyperphosphorylated tau, a component of Alzheimer's disease-related dementia (ADRD) pathology, and cerebral glucose hypometabolism. Impaired glucose metabolism reduces glucose flux through the hexosamine metabolic pathway triggering attenuated O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) protein modification. The goal of the current study was to investigate the link between cognitive function, tau pathology, and O-GlcNAc signaling in an aging mouse model of MetS, agouti KKAy+/- . Male and female C57BL/6, non-agouti KKAy-/- , and agouti KKAy+/- mice were aged 12-18 months on standard chow diet. Body weight, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were measured to confirm the MetS phenotype. Cognition, sensorimotor function, and emotional reactivity were assessed for each genotype followed by plasma and brain tissue collection for biochemical and molecular analyses. Body weight, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly elevated in agouti KKAy+/- mice versus C57BL/6 controls and non-agouti KKAy-/- . Behaviorally, agouti KKAy+/- revealed impairments in sensorimotor and cognitive function versus age-matched C57BL/6 and non-agouti KKAy-/- mice. Immunoblotting demonstrated increased phosphorylated tau accompanied with reduced O-GlcNAc protein expression in hippocampal-associated dorsal midbrain of female agouti KKAy+/- versus C57BL/6 control mice. Together, these data demonstrate that impaired cognitive function and AD-related pathology are associated with reduced O-GlcNAc signaling in aging MetS KKAy+/- mice. Overall, our study suggests that interaction of tau pathology with O-GlcNAc signaling may contribute to MetS-induced cognitive dysfunction in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Gupta
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Sanjay K A Jinka
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Saugat Khanal
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Neha Bhavnani
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Fayez Almashhori
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Jason Lallo
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Amy Mathias
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Yasmine Al-Rhayyel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Danielle Herman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - John G Holden
- Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Sheila M Fleming
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Priya Raman
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
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15
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Chen Y, Yu Y. Tau and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease: interplay mechanisms and clinical translation. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:165. [PMID: 37452321 PMCID: PMC10349496 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02853-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) contributes to most cases of dementia. Its prominent neuropathological features are the extracellular neuritic plaques and intercellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau protein, respectively. In the past few decades, disease-modifying therapy targeting Aβ has been the focus of AD drug development. Even though it is encouraging that two of these drugs have recently received accelerated US Food and Drug Administration approval for AD treatment, their efficacy or long-term safety is controversial. Tau has received increasing attention as a potential therapeutic target, since evidence indicates that tau pathology is more associated with cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, inflammation, especially neuroinflammation, accompanies AD pathological processes and is also linked to cognitive deficits. Accumulating evidence indicates that inflammation has a complex and tight interplay with tau pathology. Here, we review recent evidence on the interaction between tau pathology, focusing on tau post-translational modification and dissemination, and neuroinflammatory responses, including glial cell activation and inflammatory signaling pathways. Then, we summarize the latest clinical trials targeting tau and neuroinflammation. Sustained and increased inflammatory responses in glial cells and neurons are pivotal cellular drivers and regulators of the exacerbation of tau pathology, which further contributes to its worsening by aggravating inflammatory responses. Unraveling the precise mechanisms underlying the relationship between tau pathology and neuroinflammation will provide new insights into the discovery and clinical translation of therapeutic targets for AD and other tau-related diseases (tauopathies). Targeting multiple pathologies and precision therapy strategies will be the crucial direction for developing drugs for AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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16
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Abuelezz SA, Hendawy N. Spotlight on Coenzyme Q10 in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's disease: oxidative stress/PI3K/AKT/GSK 3ß/CREB/BDNF/TrKB. J Pharm Pharmacol 2023:rgad048. [PMID: 37315215 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgad048] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Excess amyloid beta (Aβ) and oxidative stress (OS) are inextricable hallmarks of the neuronal damage associated Alzheimer's disease. Aβ-induced cognitive and memory dysfunctions are mediated through different signalling pathways as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and their downstream intermediates including protein-kinase-B, known as Akt, glycogen-synthase-kinase-3β (GSK-3β), cAMP-response-element-binding-protein (CREB), brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin-related-kinase receptor-B (TrKB). The current work aims to investigate the protective potentials of CoQ10 against scopolamine (Scop)-induced cognitive disability and the contribution of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/CREB/BDNF/TrKB in the neuroprotection effects. METHODS The chronic co-administration of CQ10 (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day i.p.) with Scop in Wistar rats for 6 weeks were assayed both behaviourally and biochemically. KEY FINDINGS CoQ10 ameliorated the Scop-induced cognitive and memory defects by restoring alterations in novel object recognition and Morris water maze behavioural tests. CoQ10 favourably changed the Scop-induced deleterious effects in hippocampal malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2' deoxyguanosine, antioxidants and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/CREB/BDNF/TrKB levels. CONCLUSIONS These results exhibited the neuroprotective effects of CoQ10 on Scop-induced AD and revealed its ability to inhibit oxidative stress, amyloid deposition and to modulate PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/CREB/BDNF/TrKB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally A Abuelezz
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nevien Hendawy
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Basic Medical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, Suez, Egypt
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17
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Rayman JB. Focusing on oligomeric tau as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37140480 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2206561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tau has commanded much attention as a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. Tau pathology is a hallmark of primary tauopathies, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and subtypes of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), as well as secondary tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The development of tau therapeutics must reconcile with the structural complexity of the tau proteome, as well as an incomplete understanding of the role of tau in both physiology and disease. AREAS COVERED This review offers a current perspective on tau biology, discusses key barriers to the development of effective tau-based therapeutics, and promotes the idea that pathogenic (as opposed to merely pathological) tau should be at the center of drug development efforts. EXPERT OPINION An efficacious tau therapeutic will exhibit several primary features: 1) selectivity for pathogenic tau versus other tau species; 2) blood-brain barrier and cell membrane permeability, enabling access to intracellular tau in disease-relevant brain regions; and 3) minimal toxicity. Oligomeric tau is proposed as a major pathogenic form of tau and a compelling drug target in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph B Rayman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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18
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Balboni B, Masi M, Rocchia W, Girotto S, Cavalli A. GSK-3β Allosteric Inhibition: A Dead End or a New Pharmacological Frontier? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087541. [PMID: 37108703 PMCID: PMC10139115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Most kinase inhibitors are designed to bind to highly homologous ATP-binding sites, which leads to promiscuity and possible off-target effects. Allostery is an alternative approach to pursuing selectivity. However, allostery is difficult to exploit due to the wide variety of underlying mechanisms and the potential involvement of long-range conformational effects that are difficult to pinpoint. GSK-3β is involved in several pathologies. This critical target has an ATP-binding site that is highly homologous with the orthosteric sites of other kinases. Unsurprisingly, there is also great similarity between the ATP-binding sites of GSK-3β and its isomer, which is not redundant and thus would benefit from selective inhibition. Allostery would also allow for a moderate and tunable inhibition, which is ideal for GSK-3β, because this target is involved in multiple pathways, some of which must be preserved. However, despite considerable research efforts, only one allosteric GSK-3β inhibitor has reached the clinic. Moreover, unlike other kinases, there are no X-ray structures of GSK-3β in complex with allosteric inhibitors in the PDB data bank. This review aims to summarize the state of the art in allosteric GSK-3β inhibitor investigations, highlighting the aspects that make this target challenging for an allosteric approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Balboni
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Mirco Masi
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Walter Rocchia
- Computational mOdelling of NanosCalE and bioPhysical sysTems (CONCEPT) Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen 83, 16152 Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- Structural Biophysics and Translational Pharmacology Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
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19
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Xu Y, Zheng F, Zhong Q, Zhu Y. Ketogenic Diet as a Promising Non-Drug Intervention for Alzheimer’s Disease: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 92:1173-1198. [PMID: 37038820 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is mainly characterized by cognitive deficits. Although many studies have been devoted to developing disease-modifying therapies, there has been no effective therapy until now. However, dietary interventions may be a potential strategy to treat AD. The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet with adequate protein. KD increases the levels of ketone bodies, providing an alternative energy source when there is not sufficient energy supply because of impaired glucose metabolism. Accumulating preclinical and clinical studies have shown that a KD is beneficial to AD. The potential underlying mechanisms include improved mitochondrial function, optimization of gut microbiota composition, and reduced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The review provides an update on clinical and preclinical research on the effects of KD or medium-chain triglyceride supplementation on symptoms and pathophysiology in AD. We also detail the potential mechanisms of KD, involving amyloid and tau proteins, neuroinflammation, gut microbiota, oxidative stress, and brain metabolism. We aimed to determine the function of the KD in AD and outline important aspects of the mechanism, providing a reference for the implementation of the KD as a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuxiang Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital; The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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20
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Pascual-Gilabert M, Artero R, López-Castel A. The myotonic dystrophy type 1 drug development pipeline: 2022 edition. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103489. [PMID: 36634841 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The beginning of the 20th decade has witnessed an increase in drug development programs for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). We have collected nearly 20 candidate drugs with accomplished preclinical and clinical phases, updating our previous drug development pipeline review with new entries and relevant milestones for pre-existing candidates. Three interventional first-in-human clinical trials got underway with distinct drug classes, namely AOC 1001 and DYNE-101 nucleic acid-based therapies, and the small molecule pitolisant, which joins the race toward market authorization with other repurposed drugs, including tideglusib, metformin, or mexiletine, already in clinical evaluation. Furthermore, newly disclosed promising preclinical data for several additional nucleic-acid therapeutic candidates and a CRISPR-based approach, as well as the advent into the pipeline of novel therapeutic programs, increase the plausibility of success in the demanding task of providing valid treatments to patients with DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruben Artero
- University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Arturo López-Castel
- University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain.
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21
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Salem S, Cicchetti F. Untangling the Role of Tau in Huntington's Disease Pathology. J Huntingtons Dis 2023; 12:15-29. [PMID: 36806513 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-220557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence for the presence of pathological forms of tau in tissues of both Huntington's disease (HD) patients and animal models of this condition. While cumulative studies of the past decade have led to the proposition that this disorder could also be considered a tauopathy, the implications of tau in cellular toxicity and consequent behavioral impairments are largely unknown. In fact, recent animal work has challenged the contributory role of tau in HD pathogenesis/pathophysiology. This review presents the supporting and opposing arguments for the involvement of tau in HD, highlighting the discrepancies that have emerged. Reflecting on what is known in other tauopathies, the putative mechanisms through which tau could initiate and/or contribute to pathology are discussed, shedding light on the future research directions that could be considered to confirm, or rule out, the clinical relevance of tau in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shireen Salem
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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22
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Montalto G, Ricciarelli R. Tau, tau kinases, and tauopathies: An updated overview. Biofactors 2023. [PMID: 36688478 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a macrotubule-associated protein primarily involved in the stabilization of the cytoskeleton. Under normal conditions, phosphorylation reduces the affinity of tau for tubulin, allowing the protein to detach from microtubules and ensuring the system dynamics in neuronal cells. However, hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates into paired helical filaments, the main constituents of neurofibrillary tangles found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. In this review, we provide an overview of the structure of tau and the pathophysiological roles of tau phosphorylation. We also evaluate the major protein kinases involved and discuss the progress made in the development of drug therapies aimed at inhibiting tau kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Montalto
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Ricciarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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23
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The Strategies for Treating "Alzheimer's Disease": Insulin Signaling May Be a Feasible Target. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:6172-6188. [PMID: 36547082 PMCID: PMC9777526 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44120421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by senile plaques formed by amyloid-beta (Aβ) extracellularly and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein intracellularly. Apart from these two features, insulin deficiency and insulin resistance have also been observed in AD brains. Thus, AD has also been referred to as type 3 diabetes by some of the scientists in this field. Insulin plays a pivotal role in learning and memory and is involved in regulating tau phosphorylation though the PI3KAkt-GSK3b signaling pathway. Interestingly, recent studies revealed that in AD brains the microglia transformed into a disease-associated microglia (DAM) status in a TREM2-dependent manner to restrain the toxicity of Aβ and propagation of tau. This also correlated with PI3K-Akt signaling through the adaptor of TREM2. Whether insulin has any effect on microglia activation in AD pathology is unclear so far. However, many studies demonstrated that diabetes increased the risk of AD. In this review, we summarize the main strategies for curing AD, including lowering the level of Aβ, suppressing the phosphorylation of tau, the ablation and/or repopulation of microglia, and especially the supply of insulin. We also propose that attention should be given to the influences of insulin on microglia in AD.
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24
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Maglione AV, do Nascimento BPP, Ribeiro MO, de Souza TJL, da Silva REC, Sato MA, Penatti CAA, Britto LRG, de Souza JS, Maciel RMB, da Conceição RR, Laureano-Melo R, Giannocco G. Triiodothyronine Treatment reverses Depression-Like Behavior in a triple-transgenic animal model of Alzheimer's Disease. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:2735-2750. [PMID: 35951206 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-022-01055-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease's (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive and behavioral impairment. The central nervous system is an important target of thyroid hormones (TH). An inverse association between serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels and the risk of AD symptoms and progression has been reported. We investigated the effects of T3 treatment on the depression-like behavior in male transgenic 3xTg-AD mice. Animals were divided into 2 groups treated with daily intraperitoneal injections of 20 ng/g of body weight (b.w.) L-T3 (T3 group) or saline (vehicle, control group). The experimental protocol lasted 21 days, and behavioral tests were conducted on days 18-20. At the end of the experiment, the TH profile and hippocampal gene expression were evaluated. The T3-treated group significantly increased serum T3 and decreased thyroxine (T4) levels. When compared to control hippocampal samples, the T3 group exhibited attenuated glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10), amyloid-beta precursor-protein (APP), serotonin transporter (SERT), 5HT1A receptor, monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) gene expression, whereas augmented superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and Hairless gene expression. T3-treated animals also displayed reduced immobility time in both the tail suspension and forced swim tests, and in the latter presented a higher latency time compared to the control group. Therefore, our findings suggest that in an AD mouse model, T3 supplementation promotes improvements in depression-like behavior, through the modulation of the serotonergic related genes involved in the transmission mediated by 5HT1A receptors and serotonin reuptake, and attenuated disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa V Maglione
- Dept. Medicine, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna P P do Nascimento
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center of Biological Science and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miriam O Ribeiro
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center of Biological Science and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Talytha J L de Souza
- Dept. Medicine, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renata E C da Silva
- Dept. Medicine, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Monica A Sato
- Dept. Morphology and Physiology, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Centro Universitário FMABC, Santo André- Brazil, São Paulo, Santo André, Brazil
| | - Carlos A A Penatti
- Laboratory of Human Physiology, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz R G Britto
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Janaina S de Souza
- Dept. Medicine, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rui M B Maciel
- Dept. Medicine, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Rodrigues da Conceição
- Dept. Medicine, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Roberto Laureano-Melo
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacoly and Behavior, Universidade de Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gisele Giannocco
- Dept. Medicine, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
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25
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The Molecular Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:7095-7118. [PMID: 36083518 PMCID: PMC9616781 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03016-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) is an environmental paradigm encompassing sensory, cognitive, and physical stimulation at a heightened level. Previous studies have reported the beneficial effects of EE in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus. EE improves cognitive function as well as ameliorates depressive and anxiety-like behaviors, making it a potentially effective neuroprotective strategy against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we summarize the current evidence for EE as a neuroprotective strategy as well as the potential molecular pathways that can explain the effects of EE from a biochemical perspective using animal models. The effectiveness of EE in enhancing brain activity against neurodegeneration is explored with a view to differences present in early and late life EE exposure, with its potential application in human being discussed. We discuss EE as one of the non pharmacological approaches in preventing or delaying the onset of AD for future research.
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26
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Xu J, Mao C, Hou Y, Luo Y, Binder JL, Zhou Y, Bekris LM, Shin J, Hu M, Wang F, Eng C, Oprea TI, Flanagan ME, Pieper AA, Cummings J, Leverenz JB, Cheng F. Interpretable deep learning translation of GWAS and multi-omics findings to identify pathobiology and drug repurposing in Alzheimer's disease. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111717. [PMID: 36450252 PMCID: PMC9837836 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Translating human genetic findings (genome-wide association studies [GWAS]) to pathobiology and therapeutic discovery remains a major challenge for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We present a network topology-based deep learning framework to identify disease-associated genes (NETTAG). We leverage non-coding GWAS loci effects on quantitative trait loci, enhancers and CpG islands, promoter regions, open chromatin, and promoter flanking regions under the protein-protein interactome. Via NETTAG, we identified 156 AD-risk genes enriched in druggable targets. Combining network-based prediction and retrospective case-control observations with 10 million individuals, we identified that usage of four drugs (ibuprofen, gemfibrozil, cholecalciferol, and ceftriaxone) is associated with reduced likelihood of AD incidence. Gemfibrozil (an approved lipid regulator) is significantly associated with 43% reduced risk of AD compared with simvastatin using an active-comparator design (95% confidence interval 0.51-0.63, p < 0.0001). In summary, NETTAG offers a deep learning methodology that utilizes GWAS and multi-genomic findings to identify pathobiology and drug repurposing in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jielin Xu
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Chengsheng Mao
- Division of Health and Biomedical Informatics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yuan Hou
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Yuan Luo
- Division of Health and Biomedical Informatics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jessica L Binder
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Yadi Zhou
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Lynn M Bekris
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jiyoung Shin
- Division of Health and Biomedical Informatics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ming Hu
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Tudor I Oprea
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Margaret E Flanagan
- Department of Pathology and Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Andrew A Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Geriatric Psychiatry, GRECC, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland 44106, OH, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jeffrey Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - James B Leverenz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Feixiong Cheng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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27
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Mou CY, Xie YF, Wei JX, Wang QY, Le JY, Bao YJ, Zhang PP, Mao YC, Huang XH, Pan HB, Naman CB, Liu L, Liang HZ, Wu X, Xu J, Cui W. Rose Bengal inhibits β-amyloid oligomers-induced tau hyperphosphorylation via acting on Akt and CDK5 kinases. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:3579-3593. [PMID: 36221038 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06232-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation is considered as a main pathological mechanism underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rose Bengal (RB) is a synthetic dye used for disease diagnosis, which was reported to inhibit tau toxicity via inhibiting tau aggregation in Drosophila. However, it was unknown if RB could produce anti-AD effects in rodents. OBJECTIVES The research aimed to investigate if and how RB could prevent β-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in rodents. METHODS AND RESULTS RB was tested in vitro (0.3-1 μM) and prevented Aβ oligomers-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in PC12 cells. Moreover, RB (10-30 mg/kg, i.p.) effectively attenuated cognitive impairments induced by Aβ oligomers in mice. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that RB significantly increased the expression of pSer473-Akt, pSer9-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and reduced the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) both in vitro and in vivo. Molecular docking analysis suggested that RB might directly interact with GSK3β and CDK5 by acting on ATP binding sites. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis indicated that RB might act on protein phosphorylation pathways to inhibit tau hyperphosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS RB was shown to inhibit tau neurotoxicity at least partially via inhibiting the activity of GSK3β and CDK5, which is a novel neuroprotective mechanism besides the inhibition of tau aggregation. As tau hyperphosphorylation is an important target for AD therapy, this study also provided support for investigating the drug repurposing of RB as an anti-AD drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Ye Mou
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.,Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yan-Fei Xie
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jia-Xin Wei
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.,Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Qi-Yao Wang
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jing-Yang Le
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yong-Jie Bao
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Pan-Pan Zhang
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yue-Chun Mao
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Xing-Han Huang
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Han-Bo Pan
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - C Benjamin Naman
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Lin Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Hong-Ze Liang
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Xiang Wu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jia Xu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.,Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Wei Cui
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China. .,Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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28
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Kumar R, Tiwari V, Dey S. Role of proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5442-5452. [PMID: 34905657 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Two major pathological hallmarks have been identified for AD: extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Recently, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), which belongs to the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) non-receptor tyrosine kinase family, was recognized to contribute significantly towards the pathogenesis of AD. Pyk2 can influence the formation of amyloid plaques as well as NFTs. The kinase can directly phosphorylate tau, which is a significant component of NFTs and enhances tau pathology. Several competitive inhibitors have been developed for Pyk2, tested in several cancer models, as Pyk2 is known to be overexpressed under those conditions. The current review article discusses the possible mechanistic pathways by which Pyk2 can influence the pathogenesis of AD. Besides, it describes various inhibitors for Pyk2 and their potential role as therapeutics for AD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, GITAM Institute of Sciences, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, India
| | - Vishvanath Tiwari
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Sharmistha Dey
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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29
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Guo Q, Wu G, Huang F, Wei Z, Wang JZ, Zhang B, Liu R, Yang Y, Wang X, Li HL. Novel small molecular compound 2JY-OBZ4 alleviates AD pathology in cell models via regulating multiple targets. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:8077-8094. [PMID: 36227154 PMCID: PMC9596221 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative dementia, characterized by cognitive deficits and memory dysfunction, which is clinically incurable so far. Novel small molecular compound 2JY-OBZ4 is one of structural analogue of Huperzine A (Hup-A), an anti-AD drug in China. In our previous work, 2JY-OBZ4 exhibited potent effects on tau hyperphosphorylation, Aβ production and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. However, 2JY-OBZ4's anti-AD effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We here reported that 2JY-OBZ4 resisted tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr181 and Ser396 sites in HEK293-hTau cells transfected with GSK-3β, decreased tau phosphorylation via upregulating the activity of PP2A in HEK293-hTau cells and reduced Aβ production through regulating protein levels of APP cleavage enzymes in N2a-hAPP cells. Meanwhile, we found that 2JY-OBZ4 had no adverse effects on cell viability of mice primary neuron even at high concentration, and ameliorated synaptic loss induced by human oligomeric Aβ42. 2JY-OBZ4 had moderate AChE inhibitory activity with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) to be 39.48 μg/ml in vitro, which is more than two times higher than Hup-A. Together, 2JY-OBZ4 showed promising therapeutic effects in AD cell models through regulating multiple targets. The research provides a new candidate for the therapeutic development of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Guo
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong JS 226001, China
| | - Gang Wu
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong JS 226001, China
| | - Fang Huang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhen Wei
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong JS 226001, China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Rong Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong JS 226001, China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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30
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Baazaoui N, Iqbal K. Alzheimer's Disease: Challenges and a Therapeutic Opportunity to Treat It with a Neurotrophic Compound. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101409. [PMID: 36291618 PMCID: PMC9599095 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with an insidious onset and multifactorial nature. A deficit in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity are considered the early pathological features associated with neurofibrillary tau and amyloid β pathologies and neuroinflammation. The imbalance of neurotrophic factors with an increase in FGF-2 level and a decrease in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin 4 (NT-4) in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and parietal cortex and disruption of the brain micro-environment are other characteristics of AD. Neurotrophic factors are crucial in neuronal differentiation, maturation, and survival. Several attempts to use neurotrophic factors to treat AD were made, but these trials were halted due to their blood-brain barrier (BBB) impermeability, short-half-life, and severe side effects. In the present review we mainly focus on the major etiopathology features of AD and the use of a small neurotrophic and neurogenic peptide mimetic compound; P021 that was discovered in our laboratory and was found to overcome the difficulties faced in the administration of the whole neurotrophic factor proteins. We describe pre-clinical studies on P021 and its potential as a therapeutic drug for AD and related neurodegenerative disorders. Our study is limited because it focuses only on P021 and the relevant literature; a more thorough investigation is required to review studies on various therapeutic approaches and potential drugs that are emerging in the AD field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narjes Baazaoui
- Biology Department, College of Sciences and Arts Muhayil Assir, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Iqbal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-718-494-5259; Fax: +1-718-494-1080
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31
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Mumtaz I, Ayaz MO, Khan MS, Manzoor U, Ganayee MA, Bhat AQ, Dar GH, Alghamdi BS, Hashem AM, Dar MJ, Ashraf GM, Maqbool T. Clinical relevance of biomarkers, new therapeutic approaches, and role of post-translational modifications in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:977411. [PMID: 36158539 PMCID: PMC9490081 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.977411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive loss of cognitive functions like thinking, memory, reasoning, behavioral abilities, and social skills thus affecting the ability of a person to perform normal daily functions independently. There is no definitive cure for this disease, and treatment options available for the management of the disease are not very effective as well. Based on histopathology, AD is characterized by the accumulation of insoluble deposits of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Although several molecular events contribute to the formation of these insoluble deposits, the aberrant post-translational modifications (PTMs) of AD-related proteins (like APP, Aβ, tau, and BACE1) are also known to be involved in the onset and progression of this disease. However, early diagnosis of the disease as well as the development of effective therapeutic approaches is impeded by lack of proper clinical biomarkers. In this review, we summarized the current status and clinical relevance of biomarkers from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood and extracellular vesicles involved in onset and progression of AD. Moreover, we highlight the effects of several PTMs on the AD-related proteins, and provide an insight how these modifications impact the structure and function of proteins leading to AD pathology. Finally, for disease-modifying therapeutics, novel approaches, and targets are discussed for the successful treatment and management of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtisam Mumtaz
- Laboratory of Nanotherapeutics and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Nanotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Mir Owais Ayaz
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
- Centre for Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Utter Pradesh, India
| | - Mohamad Sultan Khan
- Neurobiology and Molecular Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Umar Manzoor
- Laboratory of Immune and Inflammatory Disease, Jeju Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea
| | - Mohd Azhardin Ganayee
- Laboratory of Nanotherapeutics and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Nanotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Aadil Qadir Bhat
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
- Centre for Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Utter Pradesh, India
| | - Ghulam Hassan Dar
- Sri Pratap College, Cluster University Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Badrah S. Alghamdi
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Unit, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Pre-clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M. Hashem
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Jamal Dar
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
- Centre for Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Utter Pradesh, India
| | - Gulam Md. Ashraf
- Pre-clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tariq Maqbool
- Laboratory of Nanotherapeutics and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Nanotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
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32
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The Pivotal Role of NF-kB in the Pathogenesis and Therapeutics of Alzheimer’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168972. [PMID: 36012242 PMCID: PMC9408758 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, with a high prevalence that is expected to double every 20 years. Besides the formation of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation is one the major phenotypes that worsens AD progression. Indeed, the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a well-established inflammatory transcription factor that fuels neurodegeneration. Thus, in this review, we provide an overview of the NF-κB role in the pathogenesis of AD, including its interaction with various molecular factors in AD mice models, neurons, and glial cells. Some of these cell types and molecules include reactive microglia and astrocytes, β-secretase, APOE, glutamate, miRNA, and tau protein, among others. Due to the multifactorial nature of AD development and the failure of many drugs designed to dampen AD progression, the pursuit of novel targets for AD therapeutics, including the NF-κB signaling pathway, is rising. Herein, we provide a synopsis of the drug development landscape for AD treatment, offering the perspective that NF-κB inhibitors may generate widespread interest in AD research in the future. Ultimately, the additional investigation of compounds and small molecules that target NF-κB signaling and the complete understanding of NF-κB mechanistic activation in different cell types will broaden and provide more therapeutic options for AD patients.
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33
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Sen S, Lagas S, Roy A, Kumar H. Cytoskeleton saga: Its regulation in normal physiology and modulation in neurodegenerative disorders. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 925:175001. [PMID: 35525310 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cells are fundamental units of life. To ensure the maintenance of homeostasis, integrity of structural and functional counterparts is needed to be essentially balanced. The cytoskeleton plays a vital role in regulating the cellular morphology, signalling and other factors involved in pathological conditions. Microtubules, actin (microfilaments), intermediate filaments (IF) and their interactions are required for these activities. Various proteins associated with these components are primary requirements for directing their functions. Disruption of this organization due to faulty genetics, oxidative stress or impaired transport mechanisms are the major causes of dysregulated signalling cascades leading to various pathological conditions like Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), Huntington's disease (HD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) or any traumatic injury like spinal cord injury (SCI). Novel or conventional therapeutic approaches may be specific or non-specific, targeting either three basic components of the cytoskeleton or various cascades that serve as a cue to numerous pathways like ROCK signalling or the GSK-3β pathway. An enormous number of drugs have been redirected for modulating the cytoskeletal dynamics and thereby may pave the way for inhibiting the progression of these diseases and their complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santimoy Sen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Sheetal Lagas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Abhishek Roy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Hemant Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
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Soliman A, Bakota L, Brandt R. Microtubule-modulating Agents in the Fight Against Neurodegeneration: Will it ever Work? Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:782-798. [PMID: 34852744 PMCID: PMC9878958 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666211201101020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule skeleton plays an essential role in nerve cells as the most important structural determinant of morphology and as a highway for axonal transport processes. Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by changes in the structure and organization of microtubules and microtubule-regulating proteins such as the microtubule-associated protein tau, which exhibits characteristic changes in a whole class of diseases collectively referred to as tauopathies. Changes in the dynamics of microtubules appear to occur early under neurodegenerative conditions and are also likely to contribute to age-related dysfunction of neurons. Thus, modulating microtubule dynamics and correcting impaired microtubule stability can be a useful neuroprotective strategy to counteract the disruption of the microtubule system in disease and aging. In this article, we review current microtubule- directed approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with microtubules as a drug target, tau as a drug target, and post-translational modifications as potential modifiers of the microtubule system. We discuss limitations of the approaches that can be traced back to the rather unspecific mechanism of action, which causes undesirable side effects in non-neuronal cell types or which are due to the disruption of non-microtubule-related interactions. We also develop some thoughts on how the specificity of the approaches can be improved and what further targets could be used for modulating substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Soliman
- Department of Neurobiology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Lidia Bakota
- Department of Neurobiology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Roland Brandt
- Department of Neurobiology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany;,Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany;,Institute of Cognitive Science, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany,Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Neurobiology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany; Tel: +49 541 969 2338; E-mail:
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Potential role of Drug Repositioning Strategy (DRS) for management of tauopathy. Life Sci 2022; 291:120267. [PMID: 34974076 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathy is a term that has been used to represent a pathological condition in which hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregates in neurons and glia which results in neurodegeneration, synapse loss and dysfunction and cognitive impairments. Recently, drug repositioning strategy (DRS) becomes a promising field and an alternative approach to advancing new treatments from actually developed and FDA approved drugs for an indication other than the indication it was originally intended for. This paradigm provides an advantage because the safety of the candidate compound has already been established, which abolishes the need for further preclinical safety testing and thus substantially reduces the time and cost involved in progressing of clinical trials. In the present review, we focused on correlation between tauopathy and common diseases as type 2 diabetes mellitus and the global virus COVID-19 and how tau pathology can aggravate development of these diseases in addition to how these diseases can be a risk factor for development of tauopathy. Moreover, correlation between COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus was also discussed. Therefore, repositioning of a drug in the daily clinical practice of patients to manage or prevent two or more diseases at the same time with lower side effects and drug-drug interactions is a promising idea. This review concluded the results of pre-clinical and clinical studies applied on antidiabetics, COVID-19 medications, antihypertensives, antidepressants and cholesterol lowering drugs for possible drug repositioning for management of tauopathy.
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Gong B, Ji W, Chen X, Li P, Cheng W, Zhao Y, He B, Zhuang J, Gao J, Yin Y. Recent Advancements in Strategies for Abnormal Protein Clearance in Alzheimer's Disease. Mini Rev Med Chem 2022; 22:2260-2270. [PMID: 35156576 DOI: 10.2174/1389557522666220214092824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a intricate neurodegenerative disease with chronic and progressive development whose typical neuropathological features encompasses senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles respectively formed by the extracellular deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain, particularly in limbic and cortical regions. The pathological changes are considered to be caused by the loss of Aβ and tau protein clearance mechanisms under pathological conditions, which leads to an imbalance between the rates of clearance and production. Consequently, the main strategies for treating AD aim to reduce the production of Aβ and hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain, inhibit their accumulation, or accelerate their clearance. Although drugs utilizing these therapeutic strategies have been studied successively, their therapeutic effects have generally been less than ideal. Fortunately, recent advances have been made in clearance strategies for these abnormally expressed proteins, including immunotherapies and nanomedicines targeting Aβ or tau, which could represent an important breakthrough for treating AD. Here, we review recent development of the strategies for the removal of abnormal proteins and provide new ideas and methods for treating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baofeng Gong
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Wenbo Ji
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Xiaohan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Wenbin Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Yuchen Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Bin He
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Jianhua Zhuang
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
| | - You Yin
- Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China; b Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, Chin
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Arciniegas Ruiz SM, Eldar-Finkelman H. Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Inhibitors: Preclinical and Clinical Focus on CNS-A Decade Onward. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:792364. [PMID: 35126052 PMCID: PMC8813766 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.792364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein kinase, GSK-3, participates in diverse biological processes and is now recognized a promising drug discovery target in treating multiple pathological conditions. Over the last decade, a range of newly developed GSK-3 inhibitors of diverse chemotypes and inhibition modes has been developed. Even more conspicuous is the dramatic increase in the indications that were tested from mood and behavior disorders, autism and cognitive disabilities, to neurodegeneration, brain injury and pain. Indeed, clinical and pre-clinical studies were largely expanded uncovering new mechanisms and novel insights into the contribution of GSK-3 to neurodegeneration and central nerve system (CNS)-related disorders. In this review we summarize new developments in the field and describe the use of GSK-3 inhibitors in the variety of CNS disorders. This remarkable volume of information being generated undoubtedly reflects the great interest, as well as the intense hope, in developing potent and safe GSK-3 inhibitors in clinical practice.
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Piazzi M, Bavelloni A, Cenni V, Faenza I, Blalock WL. Revisiting the Role of GSK3, A Modulator of Innate Immunity, in Idiopathic Inclusion Body Myositis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113255. [PMID: 34831477 PMCID: PMC8625526 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic or sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM) is the leading age-related (onset >50 years of age) autoimmune muscular pathology, resulting in significant debilitation in affected individuals. Once viewed as primarily a degenerative disorder, it is now evident that much like several other neuro-muscular degenerative disorders, IBM has a major autoinflammatory component resulting in chronic inflammation-induced muscle destruction. Thus, IBM is now considered primarily an inflammatory pathology. To date, there is no effective treatment for sporadic inclusion body myositis, and little is understood about the pathology at the molecular level, which would offer the best hopes of at least slowing down the degenerative process. Among the previously examined potential molecular players in IBM is glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3, whose role in promoting TAU phosphorylation and inclusion bodies in Alzheimer’s disease is well known. This review looks to re-examine the role of GSK3 in IBM, not strictly as a promoter of TAU and Abeta inclusions, but as a novel player in the innate immune system, discussing some of the recent roles discovered for this well-studied kinase in inflammatory-mediated pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Piazzi
- “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza” Istituto di Genetica Molecolare-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IGM-CNR), 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (V.C.)
- IRCCS, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Bavelloni
- Laboratorio di Oncologia Sperimentale, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Vittoria Cenni
- “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza” Istituto di Genetica Molecolare-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IGM-CNR), 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (V.C.)
- IRCCS, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Irene Faenza
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche and Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - William L. Blalock
- “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza” Istituto di Genetica Molecolare-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IGM-CNR), 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (V.C.)
- IRCCS, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence:
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He Z, You G, Liu Q, Li N. Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes Mellitus in Comparison: The Therapeutic Efficacy of the Vanadium Compound. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111931. [PMID: 34769364 PMCID: PMC8584792 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an intractable neurodegenerative disease that leads to dementia, primarily in elderly people. The neurotoxicity of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau protein has been demonstrated over the last two decades. In line with these findings, several etiological hypotheses of AD have been proposed, including the amyloid cascade hypothesis, the oxidative stress hypothesis, the inflammatory hypothesis, the cholinergic hypothesis, et al. In the meantime, great efforts had been made in developing effective drugs for AD. However, the clinical efficacy of the drugs that were approved by the US Food and Drug Association (FDA) to date were determined only mild/moderate. We recently adopted a vanadium compound bis(ethylmaltolato)-oxidovanadium (IV) (BEOV), which was originally used for curing diabetes mellitus (DM), to treat AD in a mouse model. It was shown that BEOV effectively reduced the Aβ level, ameliorated the inflammation in brains of the AD mice, and improved the spatial learning and memory activities of the AD mice. These finding encouraged us to further examine the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of BEOV in AD. In this review, we summarized the achievement of vanadium compounds in medical studies and investigated the prospect of BEOV in AD and DM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun He
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Z.H.); (G.Y.); (Q.L.)
| | - Guanying You
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Z.H.); (G.Y.); (Q.L.)
| | - Qiong Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Z.H.); (G.Y.); (Q.L.)
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Nan Li
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Z.H.); (G.Y.); (Q.L.)
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-(0)755-2653-5432; Fax: +86-(0)755-8671-3951
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Stamelou M, Respondek G, Giagkou N, Whitwell JL, Kovacs GG, Höglinger GU. Evolving concepts in progressive supranuclear palsy and other 4-repeat tauopathies. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:601-620. [PMID: 34426686 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00541-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are classified according to whether tau deposits predominantly contain tau isoforms with three or four repeats of the microtubule-binding domain. Those in which four-repeat (4R) tau predominates are known as 4R-tauopathies, and include progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, argyrophilic grain disease, globular glial tauopathies and conditions associated with specific MAPT mutations. In these diseases, 4R-tau deposits are found in various cell types and anatomical regions of the brain and the conditions share pathological, pathophysiological and clinical characteristics. Despite being considered 'prototype' tauopathies and, therefore, ideal for studying neuroprotective agents, 4R-tauopathies are still severe and untreatable diseases for which no validated biomarkers exist. However, advances in research have addressed the issues of phenotypic overlap, early clinical diagnosis, pathophysiology and identification of biomarkers, setting a road map towards development of treatments. New clinical criteria have been developed and large cohorts with early disease are being followed up in prospective studies. New clinical trial readouts are emerging and biomarker research is focused on molecular pathways that have been identified. Lessons learned from failed trials of neuroprotective drugs are being used to design new trials. In this Review, we present an overview of the latest research in 4R-tauopathies, with a focus on progressive supranuclear palsy, and discuss how current evidence dictates ongoing and future research goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stamelou
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Dept, HYGEIA Hospital, Athens, Greece. .,European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. .,Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Gesine Respondek
- Department of Neurology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Giagkou
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Dept, HYGEIA Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- Department of Neurology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
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Chronic oral administration of adipoRon reverses cognitive impairments and ameliorates neuropathology in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:5669-5689. [PMID: 32132650 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0701-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Circulating adiponectin (APN) levels decrease with age and obesity. On the other hand, a reduction in APN levels is associated with neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. We previously showed that aged adiponectin knockout (APN-/-) mice developed Alzheimer's like pathologies, cerebral insulin resistance, and cognitive impairments. More recently, we also demonstrated that APN deficiency increased Aβ-induced microglia activation and neuroinflammatory responses in 5xFAD mice. There is compelling evidence that deregulated insulin activities or cerebral insulin resistance contributes to neuroinflammation and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrated that APN levels were reduced in the brain of AD patients and 5xFAD mice. We crossbred 5xFAD mice with APN-/- mice to generate APN-deficient 5xFAD (5xFAD;APN-/-). APN deficiency in 5xFAD mice accelerated amyloid loading, increased cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and reduced insulin-signaling activities. Pharmacokinetics study demonstrated adipoRon (APN receptor agonist) was a blood-brain barrier penetrant. AdipoRon improved neuronal insulin-signaling activities and insulin sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Chronic adipoRon treatment improved spatial memory functions and significantly rescued neuronal and synaptic loss in 5xFAD and 5xFAD;APN-/- mice. AdipoRon lowered plaque and Aβ levels in AD mice. AdipoRon also exerted anti-inflammatory effects by reducing microglial and astrocytes activation as well as suppressing cerebral cytokines levels. The microglial phagocytic activity toward Aβ was restored after adipoRon treatment. Our results indicated that adipoRon exerts multiple beneficial effects providing important therapeutic implications. We propose chronic adipoRon administration as a potential treatment for AD.
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Imbimbo BP, Ippati S, Watling M, Balducci C. A critical appraisal of tau-targeting therapies for primary and secondary tauopathies. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 18:1008-1037. [PMID: 34533272 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Primary tauopathies are neurological disorders in which tau protein deposition is the predominant pathological feature. Alzheimer's disease is a secondary tauopathy with tau forming hyperphosphorylated insoluble aggregates. Tau pathology can propagate from region to region in the brain, while alterations in tau processing may impair tau physiological functions. METHODS We reviewed literature on tau biology and anti-tau drugs using PubMed, meeting abstracts, and ClnicalTrials.gov. RESULTS The past 15 years have seen >30 drugs interfering with tau aggregation, processing, and accumulation reaching the clinic. Initial results with tau aggregation inhibitors and anti-tau monoclonal antibodies have not shown clinical efficacy. DISCUSSION The reasons for these clinical failures are unclear but could be linked to the clearing of physiological forms of tau by non-specific drugs. Research is now concentrating efforts on developing reliable translational animal models and selective compounds targeting specific tau epitopes, neurotoxic tau aggregates, and post-translational tau modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno P Imbimbo
- Department of Research & Development, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Ippati
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Mark Watling
- CNS & Pain Department, TranScrip Ltd, Reading, UK
| | - Claudia Balducci
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Gupta GL, Samant NP. Current druggable targets for therapeutic control of Alzheimer's disease. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 109:106549. [PMID: 34464763 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that has an increasingly large burden on health and social care systems. The pathophysiology involves the accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta plaques (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles contributing to neuronal death and leading to cognition impairment. However, its cause remains poorly understood, and there is no cure for AD despite extensive research and billions of dollars spent over decades. Currently, there are only four US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs and one combination therapy available in the market for the symptomatic relief of AD. Since 2003, no new drug has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of AD. Researchers continue to explore new treatments and therapeutic strategies to treat AD. The need for novel discoveries on therapeutic targets and the development of new therapeutic approaches is imminent when considering the current expectations regarding the increased number of AD cases each year and the huge financial cost amounted to healthcare. This review focused on the current status of drugs in the clinical pipeline targeting β-amyloid, tau phosphorylation, or neurotransmitter dysfunction for therapeutic control of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girdhari Lal Gupta
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, Shirpur Campus, Shirpur 425 405, Maharashtra, India; Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400 056, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Nikita Patil Samant
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400 056, Maharashtra, India
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Uddin MS, Yu WS, Lim LW. Exploring ER stress response in cellular aging and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 70:101417. [PMID: 34339860 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
One evident hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the irregular accumulation of proteins due to changes in proteostasis involving endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. To alleviate ER stress and reinstate proteostasis, cells undergo an integrated signaling cascade called the unfolded protein response (UPR) that reduces the number of misfolded proteins and inhibits abnormal protein accumulation. Aging is associated with changes in the expression of ER chaperones and folding enzymes, leading to the impairment of proteostasis, and accumulation of misfolded proteins. The disrupted initiation of UPR prevents the elimination of unfolded proteins, leading to ER stress. In AD, the accumulation of misfolded proteins caused by sustained cellular stress leads to neurodegeneration and neuronal death. Current research has revealed that ER stress can trigger an inflammatory response through diverse transducers of UPR. Although the involvement of a neuroinflammatory component in AD has been documented for decades, whether it is a contributing factor or part of the neurodegenerative events is so far unknown. Besides, a feedback loop occurs between neuroinflammation and ER stress, which is strongly associated with neurodegenerative processes in AD. In this review, we focus on the current research on ER stress and UPR in cellular aging and neuroinflammatory processes, leading to memory impairment and synapse dysfunction in AD.
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45
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Taylor HBC, Emptage NJ, Jeans AF. Long-term depression links amyloid-β to the pathological hyperphosphorylation of tau. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109638. [PMID: 34469725 PMCID: PMC8424646 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease, soluble oligomers of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβo) trigger a cascade of events that includes abnormal hyperphosphorylation of the protein tau, which is essential for pathogenesis. However, the mechanistic link between these two key pathological proteins remains unclear. Using hippocampal slices, we show here that an Aβo-mediated increase in glutamate release probability causes enhancement of synaptically evoked N-methyl-d-aspartate subtype glutamate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression (LTD). We also find that elevated glutamate release probability is required for Aβo-induced pathological hyperphosphorylation of tau, which is likewise NMDAR dependent. Finally, we show that chronic, repeated chemical or optogenetic induction of NMDAR-dependent LTD alone is sufficient to cause tau hyperphosphorylation without Aβo. Together, these results support a possible causal chain in which Aβo increases glutamate release probability, thus leading to enhanced LTD induction, which in turn drives hyperphosphorylation of tau. Our data identify a mechanistic pathway linking the two critical pathogenic proteins of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry B C Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Nigel J Emptage
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK.
| | - Alexander F Jeans
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK.
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Przewodowska D, Marzec W, Madetko N. Novel Therapies for Parkinsonian Syndromes-Recent Progress and Future Perspectives. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:720220. [PMID: 34512258 PMCID: PMC8427499 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.720220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Atypical parkinsonian syndromes are rare, fatal neurodegenerative diseases associated with abnormal protein accumulation in the brain. Examples of these syndromes include progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, and corticobasal degeneration. A common clinical feature in parkinsonism is a limited improvement with levodopa. So far, there are no disease-modifying treatments to address these conditions, and therapy is only limited to the alleviation of symptoms. Diagnosis is devastating for patients, as prognosis is extremely poor, and the disease tends to progress rapidly. Currently, potential causes and neuropathological mechanisms involved in these diseases are being widely investigated. Objectives: The goal of this review is to summarize recent advances and gather emerging disease-modifying therapies that could slow the progression of atypical parkinsonian syndromes. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched regarding novel perspectives for atypical parkinsonism treatment. The following medical subject headings were used: "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-therapy," "treatment of atypical parkinsonian syndromes," "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-clinical trial," "therapy of tauopathy," "alpha-synucleinopathy treatment," "PSP therapy/treatment," "CBD therapy/treatment," "MSA therapy/treatment," and "atypical parkinsonian syndromes-disease modifying." All search results were manually reviewed prior to inclusion in this review. Results: Neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, microglia activation, proteasomal impairment, and oxidative stress play a role in the neurodegenerative process. Ongoing studies and clinical trials target these components in order to suppress toxic protein accumulation. Various approaches such as stem cell therapy, anti-aggregation/anti-phosphorylation agent administration, or usage of active and passive immunization appear to have promising results. Conclusion: Presently, disease-modifying strategies for atypical parkinsonian syndromes are being actively explored, with encouraging preliminary results. This leads to an assumption that developing accurate, safe, and progression-halting treatment is not far off. Nevertheless, the further investigation remains necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Przewodowska
- Students' Scientific Association of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Weronika Marzec
- Students' Scientific Association of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Madetko
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Wang D, Huang X, Yan L, Zhou L, Yan C, Wu J, Su Z, Huang Y. The Structure Biology of Tau and Clue for Aggregation Inhibitor Design. Protein J 2021; 40:656-668. [PMID: 34401998 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-021-10017-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that is mainly expressed in central and peripheral nerve systems. Tau binds to tubulin and regulates assembly and stabilization of microtubule, thus playing a critical role in neuron morphology, axon development and navigation. Tau is highly stable under normal conditions; however, there are several factors that can induce or promote aggregation of tau, forming neurofibrillary tangles. Neurofibrillary tangles are toxic to neurons, which may be related to a series of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Thus, tau is widely accepted as an important therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. While the monomeric structure of tau is highly disordered, the aggregate structure of tau is formed by closed packing of β-stands. Studies on the structure of tau and the structural transition mechanism provide valuable information on the occurrence, development, and therapy of tauopathies. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the structural investigation of tau and based on which we discuss aggregation inhibitor design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Xianlong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Lu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Luoqi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Chang Yan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Jinhu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China. .,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China.
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Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease: Might Mitochondrial Dysfunction Help Deciphering the Common Path? Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10081257. [PMID: 34439505 PMCID: PMC8389322 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing number of clinical and epidemiological studies support the hypothesis of a tight correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the development risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Indeed, the proposed definition of Alzheimer's disease as type 3 diabetes (T3D) underlines the key role played by deranged insulin signaling to accumulation of aggregated amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the senile plaques of the brain. Metabolic disturbances such as hyperglycemia, peripheral hyperinsulinemia, dysregulated lipid metabolism, and chronic inflammation associated with T2DM are responsible for an inefficient transport of insulin to the brain, producing a neuronal insulin resistance that triggers an enhanced production and deposition of Aβ and concomitantly contributes to impairment in the micro-tubule-associated protein Tau, leading to neural degeneration and cognitive decline. Furthermore, the reduced antioxidant capacity observed in T2DM patients, together with the impairment of cerebral glucose metabolism and the decreased performance of mitochondrial activity, suggests the existence of a relationship between oxidative damage, mitochondrial impairment, and cognitive dysfunction that could further reinforce the common pathophysiology of T2DM and AD. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms by which insulin-signaling dysregulation in T2DM can contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of AD, deepening the analysis of complex mechanisms involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under oxidative stress and their possible influence in AD and T2DM. In addition, the role of current therapies as tools for prevention or treatment of damage induced by oxidative stress in T2DM and AD will be debated.
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Abstract
Tauopathies consist of over 25 different neurodegenerative diseases that include argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Pick’s disease (PiD). Tauopathies are defined by brain accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau in fibrillar aggregates, whose prevalence strongly correlates with dementia. Dominant mutations in tau cause neurodegenerative diseases, and most increase its aggregation propensity. Pathogenesis of tauopathies may involve pathological tau conformers that serve as templates to recruit native protein into growing assemblies and also move between brain cells to cause disease progression, similar to prions. Prions adopt pathological conformations, termed “strains,” that stably propagate in living systems, and create unique patterns of neuropathology. Data from multiple laboratories now suggest that tau acts as a prion. It propagates unique strains indefinitely in cultured cells, and when these are inoculated into mouse models, they create defined neuropathological patterns, which establish a direct link between conformation and disease. In humans, distinct fibril structures are associated with different diseases, but causality has not been established as in mice. Cryo-EM structures of tau fibrils isolated from tauopathy brains reveal distinct fibril cores across disease. Interestingly, the conformation of the tau monomer unit within different fibril subtypes from the same patient appears relatively preserved. This is consistent with data that the tau monomer samples an ensemble of conformations that act as distinct pathologic templates in the formation of restricted numbers of strains. The propensity of a tau monomer to adopt distinct conformations appears to be linked to defined local motifs that expose different patterns of amyloidogenic amino acid sequences. The prion hypothesis, which predicts that protein structure dictates resultant disease, has proved particularly useful to understand the diversity of human tauopathies. The challenge now is to develop methods to rapidly classify patients according to the structure of the underlying pathological protein assemblies to achieve more accurate diagnosis and effective therapy.
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Cohen P, Cross D, Jänne PA. Kinase drug discovery 20 years after imatinib: progress and future directions. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:551-569. [PMID: 34002056 PMCID: PMC8127496 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00195-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 424] [Impact Index Per Article: 141.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Protein kinases regulate nearly all aspects of cell life, and alterations in their expression, or mutations in their genes, cause cancer and other diseases. Here, we review the remarkable progress made over the past 20 years in improving the potency and specificity of small-molecule inhibitors of protein and lipid kinases, resulting in the approval of more than 70 new drugs since imatinib was approved in 2001. These compounds have had a significant impact on the way in which we now treat cancers and non-cancerous conditions. We discuss how the challenge of drug resistance to kinase inhibitors is being met and the future of kinase drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Cohen
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
| | | | - Pasi A Jänne
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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