1
|
Chu D, Yang X, Wang J, Zhou Y, Gu JH, Miao J, Wu F, Liu F. Tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1221-1232. [PMID: 37905868 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two major neuropathological hallmarks-the extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, especially specific proteolysis, could be a driving force for Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration. Tau physiologically promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, whereas specific truncated fragments are sufficient to induce abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregate into toxic oligomers, resulting in them gaining prion-like characteristics. In addition, Tau truncations cause extensive impairments to neural and glial cell functions and animal cognition and behavior in a fragment-dependent manner. This review summarizes over 60 proteolytic cleavage sites and their corresponding truncated fragments, investigates the role of specific truncations in physiological and pathological states of Alzheimer's disease, and summarizes the latest applications of strategies targeting Tau fragments in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin Miao
- Laboratory of Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yang J, Shen N, Shen J, Yang Y, Li HL. Complicated Role of Post-translational Modification and Protease-Cleaved Fragments of Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03867-x. [PMID: 38114762 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03867-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Tau, a microtubule-associated protein predominantly localized in neuronal axons, plays a crucial role in promoting microtubule assembly, stabilizing their structure, and participating in axonal transport. Perturbations in tau's structure and function are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as tauopathies, the most common disorder of which is Alzheimer's disease (AD). In tauopathies, it has been found that tau has a variety of post-translational modification (PTM) abnormalities and/or tau is cleaved into a variety of fragments by some specific proteolytic enzymes; however, the precise contributions of these abnormal modifications and fragments to disease onset and progression remain incompletely understood. Herein, we provide an overview about the involvement of distinctive abnormal tau PTMs and different tau fragments in the pathogenesis of AD and other tauopathies and discuss the involvement of proteolytic enzymes such as caspases, calpains, and asparagine endopeptidase in mediating tau cleavage while also addressing the intercellular transmission role played by tau. We anticipate that further exploration into PTMs and fragmented forms of tau will yield valuable insights for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions targeting AD and other related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Naiting Shen
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jianying Shen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, 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
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, 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.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Reinhardt L, Musacchio F, Bichmann M, Behrendt A, Ercan-Herbst E, Stein J, Becher I, Haberkant P, Mader J, Schöndorf DC, Schmitt M, Korffmann J, Reinhardt P, Pohl C, Savitski M, Klein C, Gasparini L, Fuhrmann M, Ehrnhoefer DE. Dual truncation of tau by caspase-2 accelerates its CHIP-mediated degradation. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 182:106126. [PMID: 37086756 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106126] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Intraneuronal aggregates of the microtubule binding protein Tau are a hallmark of different neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In these aggregates, Tau is modified by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation as well as by proteolytic cleavage. Here we identify a novel Tau cleavage site at aspartate 65 (D65) that is specific for caspase-2. In addition, we show that the previously described cleavage site at D421 is also efficiently processed by caspase-2, and both sites are cleaved in human brain samples. Caspase-2-generated Tau fragments show increased aggregation potential in vitro, but do not accumulate in vivo after AAV-mediated overexpression in mouse hippocampus. Interestingly, we observe that steady-state protein levels of caspase-2 generated Tau fragments are low in our in vivo model despite strong RNA expression, suggesting efficient clearance. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that caspase-2 cleavage significantly improves the recognition of Tau by the ubiquitin E3 ligase CHIP, leading to increased ubiquitination and faster degradation of Tau fragments. Taken together our data thus suggest that CHIP-induced ubiquitination is of particular importance for the clearance of caspase-2 generated Tau fragments in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Reinhardt
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Fabrizio Musacchio
- Neuroimmunology and Imaging Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Maria Bichmann
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Annika Behrendt
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ebru Ercan-Herbst
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juliane Stein
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Isabelle Becher
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Per Haberkant
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Mader
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - David C Schöndorf
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Melanie Schmitt
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Jürgen Korffmann
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Peter Reinhardt
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Christian Pohl
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Mikhail Savitski
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Corinna Klein
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Laura Gasparini
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Martin Fuhrmann
- Neuroimmunology and Imaging Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Dagmar E Ehrnhoefer
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang H, Chen G, Ahn EH, Xia Y, Kang SS, Liu X, Liu C, Han MH, Chen S, Ye K. C/EBPβ/AEP is age-dependently activated in Parkinson's disease and mediates α-synuclein in the gut and brain. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:1. [PMID: 36609384 PMCID: PMC9822984 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-022-00430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative motor disorder, and its pathologic hallmarks include extensive dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in the Substantia nigra associated with Lewy bodies, predominantly consisting of phosphorylated and truncated α-Synuclein (α-Syn). Asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) cleaves human α-Syn at N103 residue and promotes its aggregation, contributing to PD pathogenesis. However, how AEP mediates Lewy body pathologies during aging and elicits PD onset remains incompletely understood. Knockout of AEP or C/EBPβ from α-SNCA mice, and their chronic rotenone exposure models were used, and the mechanism of α-Syn from the gut that spread to the brain was observed. Here we report that C/EBPβ/AEP pathway, aggravated by oxidative stress, is age-dependently activated and cleaves α-Syn N103 and regulates Lewy body-like pathologies spreading from the gut into the brain in human α-SNCA transgenic mice. Deletion of C/EBPβ or AEP substantially diminished the oxidative stress, neuro-inflammation, and PD pathologies, attenuating motor dysfunctions in aged α-SNCA mice. Noticeably, PD pathologies initiate in the gut and progressively spread into the brain. Chronic gastric exposure to a low dose of rotenone initiates Lewy body-like pathologies in the gut that propagate into the brain in a C/EBPβ/AEP-dependent manner. Hence, our studies demonstrate that C/EBPβ/AEP pathway is critical for mediating Lewy body pathology progression in PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Wang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China ,grid.452458.aDepartment of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University (Department of Neurology, Hebei Hospital of Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University), Brain Aging and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Hebei Province, Neuromedical Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, 050031 Hebei P. R. China ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA
| | - Guiqin Chen
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA ,grid.412632.00000 0004 1758 2270Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Eun Hee Ahn
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA ,grid.256753.00000 0004 0470 5964Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-Do, 24252, South Korea
| | - Yiyuan Xia
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA
| | - Seong Su Kang
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA
| | - Xia Liu
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA
| | - Chang Liu
- grid.458489.c0000 0001 0483 7922CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055 China ,grid.458489.c0000 0001 0483 7922Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- grid.458489.c0000 0001 0483 7922Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055 China
| | - Shengdi Chen
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Keqiang Ye
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA ,grid.458489.c0000 0001 0483 7922Department of Biology, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055 China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li L, Jiang Y, Wu G, Mahaman YAR, Ke D, Wang Q, Zhang B, Wang JZ, Li HL, Liu R, Wang X. Phosphorylation of Truncated Tau Promotes Abnormal Native Tau Pathology and Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:6183-6199. [PMID: 35896773 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02972-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal posttranslational modifications of tau play important roles in mediating neurodegeneration in tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease. Both phosphorylation and truncation are implicated in the pathogenesis of tauopathies. However, whether phosphorylation aggravates truncated tau-induced pathology and neurodegeneration remains elusive. Here, we construct different tau fragments cleaved by delta secretase, with either phosphorylation or non-phosphorylation mimic mutations, and evaluate the contributions of phosphorylation to truncated tau-induced pathological and behavioral alterations in vitro and in vivo through biochemical methods including detergent insoluble tau extraction, western blot, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and behavior tests. Our results show that the self-aggregation of phospho-truncated tau is significantly influenced by the domain it contains. N-terminal inhibits, proline-rich domain promotes, and C-terminus have no impact on phospho-truncated tau aggregation. Phosphorylation of truncated tau1-368, which contains the microtubule-binding repeat domain and the proline-rich domain, induces endogenous tau phosphorylation and aggregation. In vivo, phospho-tau1-368 but not non-phospho-tau1-368 leads to a decrease in body weight of C57BL/6 J mice. Intriguingly, although tau1-368-induced anxiety behavior in C57BL/6 J mice is phosphorylation-independent, the recognition memory of mice is impaired by phospho-tau1-368, but not by non-phospho-tau1-368. Immunofluorescence staining shows that overexpressing phospho-tau1-368 results in neuronal loss and gliosis in the hippocampus, while the transmission of tau1-368 is phosphorylation-independent as revealed by the flow cytometry results in vitro and immunofluorescence staining in vivo. Our findings indicate that phosphorylation of truncated tau significantly fosters endogenous tau pathology and neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Yanli Jiang
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Yacoubou Abdoul Razak Mahaman
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Dan Ke
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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, 226001, JS, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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.
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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, 226001, JS, China.
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
p38 Inhibition Decreases Tau Toxicity in Microglia and Improves Their Phagocytic Function. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:1632-1648. [PMID: 35006531 PMCID: PMC8882095 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02715-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies are histopathologically characterized by tau aggregation, along with a chronic inflammatory response driven by microglia. Over the past few years, the role of microglia in AD has been studied mainly in relation to amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology. Consequently, there is a substantial knowledge gap concerning the molecular mechanisms involved in tau-mediated toxicity and neuroinflammation, thus hindering the development of therapeutic strategies. We previously demonstrated that extracellular soluble tau triggers p38 MAPK activation in microglia. Given the activation of this signaling pathway in AD and its involvement in neuroinflammation processes, here we evaluated the effect of p38 inhibition on primary microglia cultures subjected to tau treatment. Our data showed that the toxic effect driven by tau in microglia was diminished through p38 inhibition. Furthermore, p38 blockade enhanced microglia-mediated tau phagocytosis, as reflected by an increase in the number of lysosomes. In conclusion, these results contribute to our understanding of the functions of p38 in the central nervous system (CNS) beyond tau phosphorylation in neurons and provide further insights into the potential of p38 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to halt neuroinflammation in tauopathies.
Collapse
|
7
|
Barini E, Plotzky G, Mordashova Y, Hoppe J, Rodriguez-Correa E, Julier S, LePrieult F, Mairhofer I, Mezler M, Biesinger S, Cik M, Meinhardt MW, Ercan-Herbst E, Ehrnhoefer DE, Striebinger A, Bodie K, Klein C, Gasparini L, Schlegel K. Tau in the brain interstitial fluid is fragmented and seeding-competent. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 109:64-77. [PMID: 34655982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer disease, Tau pathology is thought to propagate from cell to cell throughout interconnected brain areas. However, the forms of Tau released into the brain interstitial fluid (ISF) in vivo during the development of Tauopathy and their pathological relevance remain unclear. Combining in vivo microdialysis and biochemical analysis, we find that in Tau transgenic mice, human Tau (hTau) present in brain ISF is truncated and comprises at least 10 distinct fragments spanning the entire Tau protein. The fragmentation pattern is similar across different Tau transgenic models, pathological stages and brain areas. ISF hTau concentration decreases during Tauopathy progression, while its phosphorylation increases. ISF from mice with established Tauopathy induces Tau aggregation in HEK293-Tau biosensor cells. Notably, immunodepletion of ISF phosphorylated Tau, but not Tau fragments, significantly reduces its ability to seed Tau aggregation and only a fraction of Tau, separated by ultracentrifugation, is seeding-competent. These results indicate that ISF seeding competence is driven by a small subset of Tau, which potentially contribute to the propagation of Tau pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erica Barini
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
| | - Gudrun Plotzky
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Yulia Mordashova
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Discovery and Exploratory Statistics (DIVES), Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Jonas Hoppe
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Esther Rodriguez-Correa
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Sonja Julier
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Florie LePrieult
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Ina Mairhofer
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Mario Mezler
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Sandra Biesinger
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Miroslav Cik
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Marcus W Meinhardt
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | | | - Dagmar E Ehrnhoefer
- BioMed X GmbH, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany; AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Andreas Striebinger
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Karen Bodie
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Preclinical Safety, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Corinna Klein
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Laura Gasparini
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
| | - Kerstin Schlegel
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG , Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chung DEC, Roemer S, Petrucelli L, Dickson DW. Cellular and pathological heterogeneity of primary tauopathies. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:57. [PMID: 34425874 PMCID: PMC8381569 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00476-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau is abnormally aggregated in neuronal and glial cells in a range of neurodegenerative diseases that are collectively referred to as tauopathies. Multiple studies have suggested that pathological tau species may act as a seed that promotes aggregation of endogenous tau in naïve cells and contributes to propagation of tau pathology. While they share pathological tau aggregation as a common feature, tauopathies are distinct from one another with respect to predominant tau isoforms that accumulate and the selective vulnerability of brain regions and cell types that have tau inclusions. For instance, primary tauopathies present with glial tau pathology, while it is mostly neuronal in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Also, morphologies of tau inclusions can greatly vary even within the same cell type, suggesting distinct mechanisms or distinct tau conformers in each tauopathy. Neuropathological heterogeneity across tauopathies challenges our understanding of pathophysiology behind tau seeding and aggregation, as well as our efforts to develop effective therapeutic strategies for AD and other tauopathies. In this review, we describe diverse neuropathological features of tau inclusions in neurodegenerative tauopathies and discuss what has been learned from experimental studies with mouse models, advanced transcriptomics, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) on the biology underlying cell type-specific tau pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dah-eun Chloe Chung
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 32224 Jacksonville, FL USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 77030 Houston, TX USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, 77030 Houston, TX USA
| | - Shanu Roemer
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 32224 Jacksonville, FL USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bichmann M, Prat Oriol N, Ercan-Herbst E, Schöndorf DC, Gomez Ramos B, Schwärzler V, Neu M, Schlüter A, Wang X, Jin L, Hu C, Tian Y, Ried JS, Haberkant P, Gasparini L, Ehrnhoefer DE. SETD7-mediated monomethylation is enriched on soluble Tau in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:46. [PMID: 34215303 PMCID: PMC8254302 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00468-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease (AD) are characterized by alterations in the post-translational modification (PTM) pattern of Tau, which parallel the formation of insoluble Tau aggregates, neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. While PTMs on aggregated Tau have been studied in detail, much less is known about the modification patterns of soluble Tau. Furthermore, PTMs other than phosphorylation have only come into focus recently and are still understudied. Soluble Tau species are likely responsible for the spreading of pathology during disease progression and are currently being investigated as targets for immunotherapies. A better understanding of their biochemical properties is thus of high importance. METHODS We used a mass spectrometry approach to characterize Tau PTMs on a detergent-soluble fraction of human AD and control brain tissue, which led to the discovery of novel lysine methylation events. We developed specific antibodies against Tau methylated at these sites and biochemically characterized methylated Tau species in extracts from human brain, the rTg4510 mouse model and in hiPSC-derived neurons. RESULTS Our study demonstrates that methylated Tau levels increase with Tau pathology stage in human AD samples as well as in a mouse model of Tauopathy. Methylated Tau is enriched in soluble brain extracts and is not associated with hyperphosphorylated, high molecular weight Tau species. We also show that in hiPSC-derived neurons and mouse brain, methylated Tau preferentially localizes to the cell soma and nuclear fractions and is absent from neurites. Knock down and inhibitor studies supported by proteomics data led to the identification of SETD7 as a novel lysine methyltransferase for Tau. SETD7 specifically methylates Tau at K132, an event that facilitates subsequent methylation at K130. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that methylated Tau has a specific somatic and nuclear localization, suggesting that the methylation of soluble Tau species may provide a signal for their translocation to different subcellular compartments. Since the mislocalization and depletion of Tau from axons is associated with tauopathies, our findings may shed light onto this disease-associated phenomenon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bichmann
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nuria Prat Oriol
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ebru Ercan-Herbst
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David C Schöndorf
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstr. 50, 67061, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Borja Gomez Ramos
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Life Sciences Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-4367, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Vera Schwärzler
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marie Neu
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstr. 50, 67061, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Annabelle Schlüter
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstr. 50, 67061, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Xue Wang
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center (ABC), 100 Research Dr, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Liang Jin
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center (ABC), 100 Research Dr, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Chenqi Hu
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center (ABC), 100 Research Dr, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Yu Tian
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center (ABC), 100 Research Dr, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Janina S Ried
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Genomics Research Center, Knollstr. 50, 67061, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Per Haberkant
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Gasparini
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstr. 50, 67061, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Dagmar E Ehrnhoefer
- BioMed X Institute, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neuroscience Discovery, Knollstr. 50, 67061, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Perea JR, Bolós M, Avila J. Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease in the Context of Tau Pathology. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101439. [PMID: 33066368 PMCID: PMC7602223 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the cells that comprise the innate immune system in the brain. First described more than a century ago, these cells were initially assigned a secondary role in the central nervous system (CNS) with respect to the protagonists, neurons. However, the latest advances have revealed the complexity and importance of microglia in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia associated with aging. This pathology is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), which forms senile plaques in the neocortex, as well as by the aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, a process that leads to the development of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Over the past few years, efforts have been focused on studying the interaction between Aβ and microglia, together with the ability of the latter to decrease the levels of this peptide. Given that most clinical trials following this strategy have failed, current endeavors focus on deciphering the molecular mechanisms that trigger the tau-induced inflammatory response of microglia. In this review, we summarize the most recent studies on the physiological and pathological functions of tau protein and microglia. In addition, we analyze the impact of microglial AD-risk genes (APOE, TREM2, and CD33) in tau pathology, and we discuss the role of extracellular soluble tau in neuroinflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Ramón Perea
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), 1 Nicolás Cabrera, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (J.R.P.); (M.B.)
- Network Center for Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 5 Valderrebollo, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Bolós
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), 1 Nicolás Cabrera, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (J.R.P.); (M.B.)
- Network Center for Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 5 Valderrebollo, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), 1 Nicolás Cabrera, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (J.R.P.); (M.B.)
- Network Center for Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 5 Valderrebollo, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.:+34-196-4564
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Delta-secretase cleavage of Tau mediates its pathology and propagation in Alzheimer's disease. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:1275-1287. [PMID: 32859953 PMCID: PMC8080617 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-00494-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with age as a major risk factor. AD is the most common dementia with abnormal structures, including extracellular senile plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, as key neuropathologic hallmarks. The early feature of AD pathology is degeneration of the locus coeruleus (LC), which is the main source of norepinephrine (NE) supplying various cortical and subcortical areas that are affected in AD. The spread of Tau deposits is first initiated in the LC and is transported in a stepwise manner from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus and then to associative regions of the neocortex as the disease progresses. Most recently, we reported that the NE metabolite DOPEGAL activates delta-secretase (AEP, asparagine endopeptidase) and triggers pathological Tau aggregation in the LC, providing molecular insight into why LC neurons are selectively vulnerable to developing early Tau pathology and degenerating later in the disease and how δ-secretase mediates the spread of Tau pathology to the rest of the brain. This review summarizes our current understanding of the crucial role of δ-secretase in driving and spreading AD pathologies by cleaving multiple critical players, including APP and Tau, supporting that blockade of δ-secretase may provide an innovative disease-modifying therapeutic strategy for treating AD. The identification of an enzyme that plays a critical role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could lead to novel therapeutic interventions. In the earliest stage of AD, the build-up of Tau protein aggregates causes degeneration of a site in the brainstem. These abnormal Tau accumulations then spread to other parts of the brain. Recent research suggests that an enzyme called delta-secretase cleaves Tau and other key molecules, making Tau more prone to forming aggregates and thus facilitating disease progression. Keqiang Ye and co-workers at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, USA, reviewed current understanding of the role of delta-secretase in AD pathology. Studies show that delta-secretase expression levels are high in aged mice and AD brains. Inhibiting delta-secretase could therefore limit neurodegeneration and alleviate cognitive deficits in patients.
Collapse
|
12
|
Guo T, Zhang D, Zeng Y, Huang TY, Xu H, Zhao Y. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:40. [PMID: 32677986 PMCID: PMC7364557 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00391-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder seen in age-dependent dementia. There is currently no effective treatment for AD, which may be attributed in part to lack of a clear underlying mechanism. Studies within the last few decades provide growing evidence for a central role of amyloid β (Aβ) and tau, as well as glial contributions to various molecular and cellular pathways in AD pathogenesis. Herein, we review recent progress with respect to Aβ- and tau-associated mechanisms, and discuss glial dysfunction in AD with emphasis on neuronal and glial receptors that mediate Aβ-induced toxicity. We also discuss other critical factors that may affect AD pathogenesis, including genetics, aging, variables related to environment, lifestyle habits, and describe the potential role of apolipoprotein E (APOE), viral and bacterial infection, sleep, and microbiota. Although we have gained much towards understanding various aspects underlying this devastating neurodegenerative disorder, greater commitment towards research in molecular mechanism, diagnostics and treatment will be needed in future AD research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Guo
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Denghong Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuzhe Zeng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Center of People's Liberation Army, The Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China
| | - Timothy Y Huang
- Neuroscience Initiative, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.
| | - Huaxi Xu
- Neuroscience Initiative, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.
| | - Yingjun Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Schlegel K, Awwad K, Heym RG, Holzinger D, Doell A, Barghorn S, Jahn TR, Klein C, Mordashova Y, Schulz M, Gasparini L. N368-Tau fragments generated by legumain are detected only in trace amount in the insoluble Tau aggregates isolated from AD brain. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:177. [PMID: 31722749 PMCID: PMC6854719 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0831-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Intraneuronal insoluble inclusions made of Tau protein are neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer Disease (AD). Cleavage of Tau by legumain (LGMN) has been proposed to be crucial for aggregation of Tau into fibrils. However, it remains unclear if LGMN-cleaved Tau fragments accumulate in AD Tau inclusions.Using an in vitro enzymatic assay and non-targeted mass spectrometry, we identified four putative LGMN cleavage sites at Tau residues N167-, N255-, N296- and N368. Cleavage at N368 generates variously sized N368-Tau fragments that are aggregation prone in the Thioflavin T assay in vitro. N368-cleaved Tau is not detected in the brain of legumain knockout mice, indicating that LGMN is required for Tau cleavage in the mouse brain in vivo. Using a targeted mass spectrometry method in combination with tissue fractionation and biochemical analysis, we investigated whether N368-cleaved Tau is differentially produced and aggregated in brain of AD patients and control subjects. In brain soluble extracts, despite reduced uncleaved Tau in AD, levels of N368-cleaved Tau are comparable in AD and control hippocampus, suggesting that LGMN-mediated cleavage of Tau is not altered in AD. Consistently, levels of activated, cleaved LGMN are also similar in AD and control brain extracts. To assess the potential accumulation of N368-cleaved Tau in insoluble Tau aggregates, we analyzed sarkosyl-insoluble extracts from AD and control hippocampus. Both N368-cleaved Tau and uncleaved Tau were significantly increased in AD as a consequence of pathological Tau inclusions accumulation. However, the amount of N368-cleaved Tau represented only a very minor component (< 0.1%) of insoluble Tau.Our data indicate that LGMN physiologically cleaves Tau in the mouse and human brain generating N368-cleaved Tau fragments, which remain largely soluble and are present only in low proportion in Tau insoluble aggregates compared to uncleaved Tau. This suggests that LGMN-cleaved Tau has limited role in the progressive accumulation of Tau inclusions in AD.
Collapse
|