Connecting the dots between tau dysfunction and neurodegeneration

An integrative systems-biology approach defines mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration

Despite years of intense investigation, the mechanisms underlying neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease, remain incompletely understood. To define relevant pathways, we conducted an unbiased, genome-scale forward genetic screen for age-associated neurodegeneration in Drosophila. We also measured proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease and identified Alzheimer's genetic variants that modify gene expression in disease-vulnerable neurons in humans. We then used a network model to integrate these data with previously published Alzheimer's disease proteomics, lipidomics and genomics. Here, we computationally predict and experimentally confirm how HNRNPA2B1 and MEPCE enhance toxicity of the tau protein, a pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the screen hits CSNK2A1 and NOTCH1 regulate DNA damage in Drosophila and human stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells. Our study identifies candidate pathways that could be targeted to ameliorate neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

Tau reduction impairs nephrocyte function in Drosophila

Tau, a microtubule-associated protein, is known for its significant involvement in neurodegenerative diseases. While various molecular and immunohistochemical techniques have confirmed the presence of Tau in podocytes, its precise function within these cells remains elusive. In this study, we investigate the role of Tau in kidney podocytes using Drosophila pericardial nephrocytes as a model. We found that knockdown of Drosophila Tau in nephrocytes resulted in apoptotic cell death and the disruption of nephrocyte structure. Furthermore, we observed that decreased Tau levels induced genomic damage and abnormal distribution of γ-H2Av, altering nuclei architecture in nephrocytes, and affecting the nuclear membrane structure by interfering with lamin with aging. Additionally, Tau knockdown led to a reduction in lipid droplets in Drosophila fat body tissues, suggesting a potential role of Tau in inter-organ communication. These findings underscore the importance of Tau in the nephrocytes of Drosophila, and advocate further research to broaden our understanding of podocyte biology in kidney diseases. [BMB Reports 2025; 58(4): 169-174].

Clinical-grade human dental pulp stem cells improve adult hippocampal neural regeneration and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease

Background: Disrupted hippocampal functions and progressive neuronal loss represent significant challenges in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). How to achieve the improvement of pathological progression and effective neural regeneration to ameliorate the intracerebral dysfunctional environment and cognitive impairment is the goal of the current AD therapy. Methods: We examined the therapeutic potential of clinical-grade human derived dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in cognitive function and neuropathology in AD. Specifically, we investigated the effect of neural crest-specific derived hDPSCs on endogenous neural regeneration and long-term efficacy following a single transplantation in the triple-transgenic mouse model (3xTg-AD). Results: Our research demonstrated that a single administration of clinical-grade hDPSCs yielded dramatic short-term therapeutic benefits (5 weeks) and sustained partial efficacy (6 months) with respect to improving cognitive impairment and delaying typical pathological progression in 3xTg-AD mice. Intriguingly, exogenous hDPSCs were robustly self-differentiated into newborn functional neurons in the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice. The foremost evidence is provided that hDPSCs promote endogenic neural regeneration by enhancing the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which may contribute to stabilizing the hippocampal neural network to reverse memory deficits. Conclusion: These findings highlight the multifunctional potential of hDPSCs in AD treatment, which enhances cognition through alleviating neuropathology and providing neural regenerative driving force. Understanding these multiplicity effects is critical to advancing the clinical translation of stem cell-based therapies for AD.

Epigenetics in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Healthy brain functioning requires a continuous fine-tuning of gene expression, involving changes in the epigenetic landscape and 3D chromatin organization. Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are three multifactorial neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) that are partially explained by genetics (gene mutations and genetic risk factors) and influenced by non-genetic factors (i.e., aging, lifestyle, and environmental conditions). Examining comprehensive studies of global and locus-specific (epi)genomic and transcriptomic alterations in human and mouse brain samples at the cell-type resolution has uncovered important phenomena associated with AD. First, DNA methylation and histone marks at promoters contribute to transcriptional dysregulation of genes that are directly implicated in AD pathogenesis (i.e., APP), neuroplasticity and cognition (i.e., PSD95), and microglial activation (i.e., TREM2). Second, the presence of AD genetic risk variants in cell-type-specific distal enhancers (i.e., BIN1 in microglia) alters transcription, presumably by disrupting associated enhancer-promoter interactions and chromatin looping. Third, epigenomic erosion is associated with widespread transcriptional disruption and cell identity loss. And fourth, aging, high cholesterol, air pollution, and pesticides have emerged as potential drivers of AD by inducing locus-specific and global epigenetic modifications that impact key AD-related pathways. Epigenetic studies in ALS/FTD also provide evidence that genetic and non-genetic factors alter gene expression profiles in neurons and astrocytes through aberrant epigenetic mechanisms. We additionally overview the recent development of potential new therapeutic strategies involving (epi)genetic editing and the use of small chromatin-modifying molecules (epidrugs).

An integrative systems-biology approach defines mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration

Despite years of intense investigation, the mechanisms underlying neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder, remain incompletely understood. To define relevant pathways, we integrated the results of an unbiased, genome-scale forward genetic screen for age-associated neurodegeneration in Drosophila with human and Drosophila Alzheimer's disease-associated multi-omics. We measured proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease and identified Alzheimer's disease human genetic variants that modify expression in disease-vulnerable neurons. We used a network optimization approach to integrate these data with previously published Alzheimer's disease multi-omic data. We computationally predicted and experimentally demonstrated how HNRNPA2B1 and MEPCE enhance tau-mediated neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the screen hits CSNK2A1 and NOTCH1 regulate DNA damage in Drosophila and human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells. Our work identifies candidate pathways that could be targeted to ameliorate neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

Influence of Tau on Neurotoxicity and Cerebral Vasculature Impairment Associated with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a fatal chronic neurodegenerative condition marked by a gradual decline in cognitive abilities and impaired vascular function within the central nervous system. This affliction initiates its insidious progression with the accumulation of two aberrant protein entities including Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These chronic elements target distinct brain regions, steadily erasing the functionality of the hippocampus and triggering the erosion of memory and neuronal integrity. Several assumptions are anticipated for AD as genetic alterations, the occurrence of Aβ plaques, altered processing of amyloid precursor protein, mitochondrial damage, and discrepancy of neurotropic factors. In addition to Aβ oligomers, the deposition of tau hyper-phosphorylates also plays an indispensable part in AD etiology. The brain comprises a complex network of capillaries that is crucial for maintaining proper function. Tau is expressed in cerebral blood vessels, where it helps to regulate blood flow and sustain the blood-brain barrier's integrity. In AD, tau pathology can disrupt cerebral blood supply and deteriorate the BBB, leading to neuronal neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation, deficits in the microvasculature and endothelial functions, and Aβ deposition are characteristically detected in the initial phases of AD. These variations trigger neuronal malfunction and cognitive impairment. Intracellular tau accumulation in microglia and astrocytes triggers deleterious effects on the integrity of endothelium and cerebral blood supply resulting in further advancement of the ailment and cerebral instability. In this review, we will discuss the impact of tau on neurovascular impairment, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and the role of hyperphosphorylated tau in neuron excitotoxicity and inflammation.

Transcriptional programs mediating neuronal toxicity and altered glial-neuronal signaling in a Drosophila knock-in tauopathy model

Missense mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein TAU (current and approved symbol is MAPT) cause autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia. Multiple models of frontotemporal dementia based on transgenic expression of human TAU in experimental model organisms, including Drosophila, have been described. These models replicate key features of the human disease but do not faithfully recreate the genetic context of the human disorder. Here we use CRISPR-Cas-mediated gene editing to model frontotemporal dementia caused by the TAU P301L mutation by creating the orthologous mutation, P251L, in the endogenous Drosophila tau gene. Flies heterozygous or homozygous for Tau P251L display age-dependent neurodegeneration, display metabolic defects, and accumulate DNA damage in affected neurons. To understand the molecular events promoting neuronal dysfunction and death in knock-in flies, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on approximately 130,000 cells from brains of Tau P251L mutant and control flies. We found that expression of disease-associated mutant tau altered gene expression cell autonomously in all neuronal cell types identified. Gene expression was also altered in glial cells, suggestive of non-cell-autonomous regulation. Cell signaling pathways, including glial-neuronal signaling, were broadly dysregulated as were brain region and cell type-specific protein interaction networks and gene regulatory programs. In summary, we present here a genetic model of tauopathy that faithfully recapitulates the genetic context and phenotypic features of the human disease, and use the results of comprehensive single-cell sequencing analysis to outline pathways of neurotoxicity and highlight the potential role of non-cell-autonomous changes in glia.

5-Aminothiazoles Reveal a New Ligand-Binding Site on Prolyl Oligopeptidase Which is Important for Modulation of Its Protein-Protein Interaction-Derived Functions

A series of novel 5-aminothiazole-based ligands for prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) comprise selective, potent modulators of the protein-protein interaction (PPI)-mediated functions of PREP, although they are only weak inhibitors of the proteolytic activity of PREP. The disconnected structure-activity relationships are significantly more pronounced for the 5-aminothiazole-based ligands than for the earlier published 5-aminooxazole-based ligands. Furthermore, the stability of the 5-aminothiazole scaffold allowed exploration of wider substitution patterns than that was possible with the 5-aminooxazole scaffold. The intriguing structure-activity relationships for the modulation of the proteolytic activity and PPI-derived functions of PREP were elaborated by presenting a new binding site for PPI modulating PREP ligands, which was initially discovered using molecular modeling and later confirmed through point mutation studies. Our results suggest that this new binding site on PREP is clearly more important than the active site of PREP for the modulation of its PPI-mediated functions.

Transcriptional programs mediating neuronal toxicity and altered glial-neuronal signaling in a Drosophila knock-in tauopathy model

Missense mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein tau cause autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia. Multiple models of frontotemporal dementia based on transgenic expression of human tau in experimental model organisms, including Drosophila, have been described. These models replicate key features of the human disease, but do not faithfully recreate the genetic context of the human disorder. Here we use CRISPR-Cas mediated gene editing to model frontotemporal dementia caused by the tau P301L mutation by creating the orthologous mutation, P251L, in the endogenous Drosophila tau gene. Flies heterozygous or homozygous for tau P251L display age-dependent neurodegeneration, metabolic defects and accumulate DNA damage in affected neurons. To understand the molecular events promoting neuronal dysfunction and death in knock-in flies we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on approximately 130,000 cells from brains of tau P251L mutant and control flies. We found that expression of disease-associated mutant tau altered gene expression cell autonomously in all neuronal cell types identified and non-cell autonomously in glial cells. Cell signaling pathways, including glial-neuronal signaling, were broadly dysregulated as were brain region and cell-type specific protein interaction networks and gene regulatory programs. In summary, we present here a genetic model of tauopathy, which faithfully recapitulates the genetic context and phenotypic features of the human disease and use the results of comprehensive single cell sequencing analysis to outline pathways of neurotoxicity and highlight the role of non-cell autonomous changes in glia.

Tau: More than a microtubule-binding protein in neurons

Tau protein was discovered as a microtubule-associated protein nearly 50 years ago, and our understanding of tau has revolved around that role. Even with tau's rise to stardom as a central player in neurodegenerative disease, therapeutic efforts have largely been targeted toward cytoskeletal changes. While some studies hinted toward non-cytoskeletal roles for tau, it is only fairly recently that these ideas have begun to receive considerable attention. Many new binding partners for tau have been identified, including DNA, RNA, RNA-binding proteins, some receptors, and other tau molecules. The diversity of tau binding partners coupled with the discovery of tau other than axonal compartments such as nucleus, dendrites, and synapses have led to the proposal of novel functions for tau in roles such as nuclear stability, cell signaling, transcriptional processing, and protein synthesis. Tau self-assembly in particular has made an impact, leading to the hypothesis that a prion-like function of hyperphosphorylated tau is central to tauopathies. With tau emerging as a multifaceted protein that operates in many parts of the cell and with many molecular partners, the field of tau biology is primed for discoveries that can provide new perspectives on both the unique biochemistry of tau and the nature of devastating neurological diseases.

Integrative analysis reveals a conserved role for the amyloid precursor protein in proteostasis during aging

Aβ peptides derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the normal function of APP and the importance of that role in neurodegenerative disease is less clear. We recover the Drosophila ortholog of APP, Appl, in an unbiased forward genetic screen for neurodegeneration mutants. We perform comprehensive single cell transcriptional and proteomic studies of Appl mutant flies to investigate Appl function in the aging brain. We find an unexpected role for Appl in control of multiple cellular pathways, including translation, mitochondrial function, nucleic acid and lipid metabolism, cellular signaling and proteostasis. We mechanistically define a role for Appl in regulating autophagy through TGFβ signaling and document the broader relevance of our findings using mouse genetic, human iPSC and in vivo tauopathy models. Our results demonstrate a conserved role for APP in controlling age-dependent proteostasis with plausible relevance to Alzheimer's disease.

α-Synuclein Drives Tau's Cytotoxic Aggregates Formation through Hydrophobic Interactions

Tau and α-synuclein are proteins involved in pathologies known as tauopathies and synucleinopathies, respectively. Moreover, evidence shows that there is a crosstalk between them as is seen in the brains of individuals with sporadic neurodegenerative disorders. Based on that, we present data showing that the hydrophobic α-peptide 71 VTGVTAVAQKTV82 induces the aggregation of the full-length tau fragment in the absence of heparin assessed by ThT. Moreover, AFM images reveal the presence of straight filaments and amorphous aggregates of full-length tau in the presence of the α-peptide. Additionally, ITC experiments showed the interaction of the α-peptide with tau full-length (441 amino acids),4R (amino acids from 244 to 369), and both hexapeptides 275 VQIINK280 and 306 VQIVYK311 through hydrophobic interactions. The Raman spectroscopy spectra showed conformational changes in the Amide region in the aggregates formed with full-length tau and α-syn peptide. Furthermore, the incubation of extracellular aggregates with N2a cells showed morphological differences in the cellular body and the nucleus suggesting cell death. Moreover,, the incubation of different types of aggregates in cell culture provokes the release of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Altogether, we found that α-synuclein peptide can drive the aggregation of full-length tau-provoking morphological and structural changes evoking cytotoxic effects.

Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies: disorders of disrupted neuronal identity

Postmitotic neurons require persistently active controls to maintain terminal differentiation. Unlike dividing cells, aberrant cell cycle activation in mature neurons causes apoptosis rather than transformation. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies, evidence suggests that pathogenic forms of tau drive neurodegeneration via neuronal cell cycle re-entry. Multiple interconnected mechanisms linking tau to cell cycle activation have been identified, including, but not limited to, tau-induced overstabilization of the actin cytoskeleton, consequent changes to nuclear architecture, and disruption of heterochromatin-mediated gene silencing. Cancer- and development-associated pathways are upregulated in human and cellular models of tauopathy, and many tau-induced cellular phenotypes are also present in various cancers and progenitor/stem cells. In this review, I delve into mechanistic parallels between tauopathies, cancer, and development, and highlight the role of tau in cancer and in the developing brain. Based on these studies, I put forth a model by which pathogenic forms of tau disrupt the program that maintains terminal neuronal differentiation, driving cell cycle re-entry and consequent neuronal death. This framework presents tauopathies as conditions involving the profound toxic disruption of neuronal identity.

Tau; One Protein, So Many Diseases

Tau, a member of the microtubule-associated proteins, is a known component of the neuronal cytoskeleton; however, in the brain tissue, it is involved in other vital functions beyond maintaining the cellular architecture. The pathologic tau forms aggregates inside the neurons and ultimately forms the neurofibrillary tangles. Intracellular and extracellular accumulation of different tau isoforms, including dimers, oligomers, paired helical filaments and tangles, lead to a highly heterogenous group of diseases named "Tauopathies". About twenty-six different types of tauopathy diseases have been identified that have different clinical phenotypes or pathophysiological characteristics. Although all these diseases are identified by tau aggregation, they are distinguishable based on the specific tau isoforms, the affected cell types and the brain regions. The neuropathological and phenotypical heterogeneity of these diseases impose significant challenges for discovering new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the recent literature on tau protein and the pathophysiological mechanisms of tauopathies. This article mainly focuses on physiologic and pathologic tau and aims to summarize the upstream and downstream events and discuss the current diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.

Microglial Hemoxygenase-1 Deletion Reduces Inflammation in the Retina of Old Mice with Tauopathy

Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease are characterized by the accumulation of neurotoxic aggregates of tau protein. With aging and, especially, in Alzheimer's patients, the inducible enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) progressively increases in microglia, causing iron accumulation, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. The retina is an organ that can be readily accessed and can reflect changes that occur in the brain. In this context, we evaluated how the lack of microglial HO-1, using mice that do not express HO-1 in microglia (HMO-KO), impacts retinal macro and microgliosis of aged subjects (18 months old mice) subjected to tauopathy by intrahippocampal delivery of AAV-hTauP301L (TAU). Our results show that although tauopathy, measured as anti-TAUY9 and anti-AT8 positive immunostaining, was not observed in the retina of WT-TAU or HMO-KO+TAU mice, a morphometric study of retinal microglia and macroglia showed significant retinal changes in the TAU group compared to the WT group, such as: (i) increased number of activated microglia, (ii) retraction of microglial processes, (iii) increased number of CD68+ microglia, and (iv) increased retinal area occupied by GFAP (AROA) and C3 (AROC3). This retinal inflammatory profile was reduced in HMO-KO+TAU mice. Conclusion: Reduction of microglial HO-1 could be beneficial to prevent tauopathy-induced neuroinflammation.

Pathological Nuclear Hallmarks in Dentate Granule Cells of Alzheimer’s Patients: A Biphasic Regulation of Neurogenesis

The dentate gyrus (DG) of the human hippocampus is a complex and dynamic structure harboring mature and immature granular neurons in diverse proliferative states. While most mammals show persistent neurogenesis through adulthood, human neurogenesis is still under debate. We found nuclear alterations in granular cells in autopsied human brains, detected by immunohistochemistry. These alterations differ from those reported in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal circuit. Aging and early AD chromatin were clearly differentiated by the increased epigenetic markers H3K9me3 (heterochromatin suppressive mark) and H3K4me3 (transcriptional euchromatin mark). At early AD stages, lamin B2 was redistributed to the nucleoplasm, indicating cell-cycle reactivation, probably induced by hippocampal nuclear pathology. At intermediate and late AD stages, higher lamin B2 immunopositivity in the perinucleus suggests fewer immature neurons, less neurogenesis, and fewer adaptation resources to environmental factors. In addition, senile samples showed increased nuclear Tau interacting with aged chromatin, likely favoring DNA repair and maintaining genomic stability. However, at late AD stages, the progressive disappearance of phosphorylated Tau forms in the nucleus, increased chromatin disorganization, and increased nuclear autophagy support a model of biphasic neurogenesis in AD. Therefore, designing therapies to alleviate the neuronal nuclear pathology might be the only pathway to a true rejuvenation of brain circuits.

Reduction of kinesin I heavy chain decreases tau hyperphosphorylation, aggregation, and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease and tauopathy models

Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17, are characterized by tau pathology. Numerous motor proteins, many of which are involved in synaptic transmission, mediate transport in neurons. Dysfunction in motor protein-mediated neuronal transport mechanisms occurs in several neurodegenerative disorders but remains understudied in AD. Kinesins are the most important molecular motor proteins required for microtubule-dependent transport in neurons, and kinesin-1 is crucial for neuronal transport among all kinesins. Although kinesin-1 is required for normal neuronal functions, the dysfunction of these motor domains leading to neurodegenerative diseases is not fully understood. Here, we reported that the kinesin-I heavy chain (KIF5B), a key molecular motor protein, is involved in tau homeostasis in AD cells and animal models. We found that the levels of KIF5B in P301S tau mice are high. We also found that the knockdown and knockout (KO) of KIFf5B significantly decreased the tau stability, and overexpression of KIF5B in KIF5B-KO cells significantly increased the expression of phosphorylated and total tau levels. This suggested that KIF5B might prevent tau accumulation. By conducting experiments on P301S tau mice, we showed that partially reducing KIF5B levels can reduce hyperphosphorylation of the human tau protein, formation of insoluble aggregates, and memory impairment. Collectively, our results suggested that decreasing KIF5B levels is sufficient to prevent and/or slow down abnormal tau behavior of AD and other tauopathies.

Epigenetic Changes and Chromatin Reorganization in Brain Function: Lessons from Fear Memory Ensemble and Alzheimer’s Disease

Healthy brain functioning in mammals requires a continuous fine-tuning of gene expression. Accumulating evidence over the last three decades demonstrates that epigenetic mechanisms and dynamic changes in chromatin organization are critical components during the control of gene transcription in neural cells. Recent genome-wide analyses show that the regulation of brain genes requires the contribution of both promoter and long-distance enhancer elements, which must functionally interact with upregulated gene expression in response to physiological cues. Hence, a deep comprehension of the mechanisms mediating these enhancer–promoter interactions (EPIs) is critical if we are to understand the processes associated with learning, memory and recall. Moreover, the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases and neurological alterations are found to be strongly associated with changes in the components that support and/or modulate the dynamics of these EPIs. Here, we overview relevant discoveries in the field supporting the role of the chromatin organization and of specific epigenetic mechanisms during the control of gene transcription in neural cells from healthy mice subjected to the fear conditioning paradigm, a relevant model to study memory ensemble. Additionally, special consideration is dedicated to revising recent results generated by investigators working with animal models and human postmortem brain tissue to address how changes in the epigenome and chromatin architecture contribute to transcriptional dysregulation in Alzheimer’s disease, a widely studied neurodegenerative disease. We also discuss recent developments of potential new therapeutic strategies involving epigenetic editing and small chromatin-modifying molecules (or epidrugs).

Downregulation of glob1 mitigates human tau mediated neurotoxicity by restricting heterochromatin loss and elevating the autophagic response in drosophila

BACKGROUND

Human neuronal tauopathies are typically characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in the forms of paired helical filaments and/or neurofibrillary tangles in the brain neurons. Tau-mediated heterochromatin loss and subsequent global transcriptional upsurge have been demonstrated as one of the key factors that promotes tau toxicity. We have reported earlier that expression of human tau-transgene in Drosophila induces the expression of glob1, and its restored level restricts tau etiology by regulating tau hyperphosphorylation and ROS generation via GSK-3β/p-Akt and Nrf2-keap1-ARE pathways, respectively. In view of this noted capability of glob1 in regulation of oxidative stress, and involvement of ROS in chromatin remodeling; we investigate if downregulation of glob1 restores tau-mediated heterochromatin loss in order to alleviate neurotoxicity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The tau^V337M transgene was expressed in Drosophila eye by utilizing GAL4/UAS system. Expression of glob1 was depleted in tau^V337M expressing tissues by co-expressing an UAS-glob1RNAi transgene by GMR-Gal4 driver. Immunostaining and wstern blot analysis suggested that tissue-specific downregulation of glob1 restores the cellular level of CBP and minimizes tau-mediated heterochromatin loss. It also assists in mounting an improved protective autophagic response to alleviate the human tau-induced neurotoxicity in Drosophila tauopathy models.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study unfolds a novel aspect of the multitasking globin protein in restricting the pathogenesis of neuronal tauopathies. Interestingly, due to notable similarities between Drosophila glob1 and human globin gene(s), our findings may be helpful in developing novel therapeutic approaches against tauopathies.

FBP2–A New Player in Regulation of Motility of Mitochondria and Stability of Microtubules in Cardiomyocytes

Recently, we have shown that the physiological roles of a multifunctional protein fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase 2 (FBP2, also called muscle FBP) depend on the oligomeric state of the protein. Here, we present several lines of evidence that in HL-1 cardiomyocytes, a forced, chemically induced reduction in the FBP2 dimer-tetramer ratio that imitates AMP and NAD⁺ action and restricts FBP2-mitochondria interaction, results in an increase in Tau phosphorylation, augmentation of FBP2-Tau and FBP2-MAP1B interactions, disturbance of tubulin network, marked reduction in the speed of mitochondrial trafficking and increase in mitophagy. These results not only highlight the significance of oligomerization for the regulation of FBP2 physiological role in the cell, but they also demonstrate a novel, important cellular function of this multitasking protein—a function that might be crucial for processes that take place during physiological and pathological cardiac remodeling, and during the onset of diseases which are rooted in the destabilization of MT and/or mitochondrial network dynamics.

GSK3β is involved in promoting Alzheimer's disease pathologies following chronic systemic exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide in amyloid precursor proteinNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice

In line with the strong association between periodontitis and Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinically, preclinical studies have shown that systemic exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) initiates AD pathologies. However, the involvement of periodontitis in promoting AD pathologies is unclear. In the present study, we provided evidence that chronic systemic exposure to lipopolysaccharide derived from Pg (PgLPS, 1 mg/kg, daily, intraperitoneally) prompted neuroinflammation and tau hyperphosphorylation in 10-month-old of amyloid precursor protein (APP) knock-in mice, a model of AD, carrying the Swedish and Beyreuther/Iberian mutation (APP^NL-F/NL-F). The learning and memory function were assessed using the passive avoidance test. The production of APP, Amyloid (A)β_1-42, cytokines, synaptic proteins and the activation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β as well as phosphorylation of tau were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the cortex of APP^NL-F/NL-F mice. We found that systemic exposure of PgLPS for three consecutive weeks induced learning and memory deficits with significantly reduced postsynaptic density protein (PSD95). Increased hyperphosphorylation of tau in multiple residues, including Ser202, Thr231 and Ser396, but not the accumulation of Aβ_1-42 was detected in the neurons of APP^NL-F/NL-F mice. Furthermore, PgLPS increased the GSK3β activity by reducing its phosphorylation of the serine residue at position 9 (Ser9) and promoted neuroinflammation by increasing the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) while decreasing that of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor (TGFβ) in the cortex of APP^NL-F/NL-F mice. Moreover, the PgLPS-increased GSK3β activity was detected in both microglia and neurons, while the PgLPS-increased TNF-α expression was mainly detected in the microglia in the cortex of APP^NL-F/NL-F mice. In in vitro studies, PgLPS (1 µg/ml) stimulation increased the mRNA and protein level of TNF-α in MG6 microglia, which were significantly inhibited by the GSK3β-specific inhibitor TWS119. In contrast, the tau hyperphosphorylation and activation of GSK3β in N2a neurons were enhanced after treatment with conditioned medium from PgLPS-stimulated microglia, which was attenuated after pre-treatment with TNF-α inhibitor. Taken together, these findings indicate that GSK3β is involved in prompting microglia (TNF-α)-dependent tau hyperphosphorylation in neurons, resulting in learning and memory deficits in APP^NL-F/NL-F mice without changes in the Aβ expression during chronic systemic exposure to PgLPS. We propose that dampening GSK3β activation may help delay the periodontitis-promoted pathological progression of AD.

Increased Signal Delays and Unaltered Synaptic Input Pattern Recognition in Layer III Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons of the rTg4510 Mouse Model of Tauopathy: A Computer Simulation Study With Passive Membrane

Abnormal tau proteins are involved in pathology of many neurodegenerative disorders. Transgenic rTg4510 mice express high levels of human tau protein with P301L mutation linked to chromosome 17 that has been associated with frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism. By 9 months of age, these mice recapitulate key features of human tauopathies, including presence of hyperphosphorylated tau and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in brain tissue, atrophy and loss of neurons and synapses, and hyperexcitability of neurons, as well as cognitive deficiencies. We investigated effects of such human mutant tau protein on neuronal membrane, subthreshold dendritic signaling, and synaptic input pattern recognition/discrimination in layer III frontal transgenic (TG) pyramidal neurons of 9-month-old rTg4510 mice and compared these characteristics to those of wild-type (WT) pyramidal neurons from age-matched control mice. Passive segmental cable models of WT and TG neurons were set up in the NEURON simulator by using three-dimensionally reconstructed morphology and electrophysiological data of these cells. Our computer simulations predict leakage resistance and capacitance of neuronal membrane to be unaffected by the mutant tau protein. Computer models of TG neurons showed only modest alterations in distance dependence of somatopetal voltage and current transfers along dendrites and in rise times and half-widths of somatic Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSPs) relative to WT control. In contrast, a consistent and statistically significant slowdown was detected in the speed of simulated subthreshold dendritic signal propagation in all regions of the dendritic surface of mutant neurons. Predictors of synaptic input pattern recognition/discrimination remained unaltered in model TG neurons. This suggests that tau pathology is primarily associated with failures/loss in synaptic connections rather than with altered intraneuronal synaptic integration in neurons of affected networks.

Cofilin and Actin Dynamics: Multiple Modes of Regulation and Their Impacts in Neuronal Development and Degeneration

Proteins of the actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin family are ubiquitous among eukaryotes and are essential regulators of actin dynamics and function. Mammalian neurons express cofilin-1 as the major isoform, but ADF and cofilin-2 are also expressed. All isoforms bind preferentially and cooperatively along ADP-subunits in F-actin, affecting the filament helical rotation, and when either alone or when enhanced by other proteins, promotes filament severing and subunit turnover. Although self-regulating cofilin-mediated actin dynamics can drive motility without post-translational regulation, cells utilize many mechanisms to locally control cofilin, including cooperation/competition with other proteins. Newly identified post-translational modifications function with or are independent from the well-established phosphorylation of serine 3 and provide unexplored avenues for isoform specific regulation. Cofilin modulates actin transport and function in the nucleus as well as actin organization associated with mitochondrial fission and mitophagy. Under neuronal stress conditions, cofilin-saturated F-actin fragments can undergo oxidative cross-linking and bundle together to form cofilin-actin rods. Rods form in abundance within neurons around brain ischemic lesions and can be rapidly induced in neurites of most hippocampal and cortical neurons through energy depletion or glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. In ~20% of rodent hippocampal neurons, rods form more slowly in a receptor-mediated process triggered by factors intimately connected to disease-related dementias, e.g., amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease. This rod-inducing pathway requires a cellular prion protein, NADPH oxidase, and G-protein coupled receptors, e.g., CXCR4 and CCR5. Here, we will review many aspects of cofilin regulation and its contribution to synaptic loss and pathology of neurodegenerative diseases.

Factors associated with brain ageing - a systematic review

Background

Brain age is a biomarker that predicts chronological age using neuroimaging features. Deviations of this predicted age from chronological age is considered a sign of age-related brain changes, or commonly referred to as brain ageing. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and synthesize the evidence for an association between lifestyle, health factors and diseases in adult populations, with brain ageing.

Methods

This systematic review was undertaken in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of Embase and Medline was conducted to identify relevant articles using search terms relating to the prediction of age from neuroimaging data or brain ageing. The tables of two recent review papers on brain ageing were also examined to identify additional articles. Studies were limited to adult humans (aged 18 years and above), from clinical or general populations. Exposures and study design of all types were also considered eligible.

Results

A systematic search identified 52 studies, which examined brain ageing in clinical and community dwelling adults (mean age between 21 to 78 years, ~ 37% were female). Most research came from studies of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or Alzheimer’s disease, or healthy populations that were assessed cognitively. From these studies, psychiatric and neurologic diseases were most commonly associated with accelerated brain ageing, though not all studies drew the same conclusions. Evidence for all other exposures is nascent, and relatively inconsistent. Heterogenous methodologies, or methods of outcome ascertainment, were partly accountable.

Conclusion

This systematic review summarised the current evidence for an association between genetic, lifestyle, health, or diseases and brain ageing. Overall there is good evidence to suggest schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease are associated with accelerated brain ageing. Evidence for all other exposures was mixed or limited. This was mostly due to a lack of independent replication, and inconsistency across studies that were primarily cross sectional in nature. Future research efforts should focus on replicating current findings, using prospective datasets.

Trial registration

A copy of the review protocol can be accessed through PROSPERO, registration number CRD42020142817.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-021-02331-4.

The Synaptic Vesicle Protein 2A Interacts With Key Pathogenic Factors in Alzheimer's Disease: Implications for Treatment

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a serious neurodegenerative disease, is pathologically characterized by synaptic loss and dysfunction. Synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) is an indispensable vesicular protein specifically expressed in synapses and can be used as a biomarker for synaptic density. We found that the expression of SV2A was down-regulated in the hippocampus of AD patients, yet the relation of SV2A to other hallmarks of AD pathology such as amyloid precursor protein (APP), β-amyloid (Aβ), and Tau protein is not thoroughly clear. In addition, SV2A colocalized with APP and was down-regulated at Aβ deposition. Moreover, we found that SV2A deficiency leads to a simultaneous increase in Aβ and Tau hyperphosphorylation, while SV2A overexpression was associated with downregulation of β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 and apolipoprotein E genes. In addition, evidence gained in the study points to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway as a possible mediator in SV2A regulation influencing the incidence and development of AD. With limited effective diagnostic methods for AD, a close interplay between SV2A and AD-related proteins demonstrated in our study may provide novel and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities.

Genetic reduction of tyramine β hydroxylase suppresses Tau toxicity in a Drosophila model of tauopathy

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal phosphorylation and accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein, Tau. These diseases are associated with degeneration and dysfunction of the noradrenergic system, a critical regulator of memory, locomotion, and the fight or flight response. Though Tau pathology accumulates early in noradrenergic neurons, the relationship between noradrenaline signaling and tauopathy pathogenesis remains unclear. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a valuable model organism commonly used to investigate factors that promote Tau-mediated degeneration. Moreover, Drosophila contain the biogenic amine, octopamine, which is the functional homolog to noradrenaline. Using a Drosophila model of tauopathy, we conducted a candidate modifier screen targeting tyramine β hydroxylase (tβh), the enzyme that controls the production of octopamine in the fly, to determine if levels of this enzyme modulate Tau-induced degeneration in the fly eye. We found that genetic reduction of tβh suppresses Tau toxicity, independent of Tau phosphorylation. These findings show that reduction of tβh, a critical enzyme in the octopaminergic pathway, suppresses Tau pathogenicity and establishes an interaction that can be further utilized to determine the relationship between noradrenergic-like signaling and Tau toxicity in Drosophila.

The Microfluidic Toolbox for Analyzing Exosome Biomarkers of Aging

As the fields of aging and neurological disease expand to liquid biopsies, there is a need to identify informative biomarkers for the diagnosis of neurodegeneration and other age-related disorders such as cancers. A means of high-throughput screening of biomolecules relevant to aging can facilitate this discovery in complex biofluids, such as blood. Exosomes, the smallest of extracellular vesicles, are found in many biofluids and, in recent years, have been found to be excellent candidates as liquid biopsy biomarkers due to their participation in intercellular communication and various pathologies such as cancer metastasis. Recently, exosomes have emerged as novel biomarkers for age-related diseases. Hence, the study of exosomes, their protein and genetic cargo can serve as early biomarkers for age-associated pathologies, especially neurodegenerative diseases. However, a disadvantage of exosome studies includes a lack in standardization of isolating, detecting, and profiling exosomes for downstream analysis. In this review, we will address current techniques for high-throughput isolation and detection of exosomes through various microfluidic and biosensing strategies and how they may be adapted for the detection of biomarkers of age-associated disorders.

Chinese nutraceuticals and physical activity; their role in neurodegenerative tauopathies

The onset of neurodegenerative disease has not only been a major cause of scientific worry, but of economic burden to the health system. This condition has been further attributed to mis-stability, deletion or mutation of tau protein, causing the onset of Corticobasal degeneration, Pick's diseases, Progressive supranuclear palsy, Argyrophilic grains disease, Alzheimer's diseases etc. as scientifically renowned. This is mainly related to dysregulation of translational machinery, upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibition of several essential cascades such as ERK signaling cascade, GSK3β, CREB, and PKA/PKB (Akt) signaling cascades that enhances protein processing, normal protein folding, cognitive function, and microtubule associated tau stability. Administration of some nutrients and/or bioactive compounds has a high tendency to impede tau mediated inflammation at neuronal level. Furthermore, prevention and neutralization of protein misfolding through modulation of microtubule tau stability and prevention of protein misfolding is by virtue few of the numerous beneficial effects of physical activity. Of utmost important in this study is the exploration of promising bioactivities of nutraceuticals found in china and the ameliorating potential of physical activity on tauopathies, while highlighting animal and in vitro studies that have been investigated for comprehensive understanding of its potential and an insight into the effects on human highly probable to tau mediated neurodegeneration.

Biotin rescues mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity in a tauopathy model

Mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction are often implicated in neurological disease, but effective mechanism-based therapies remain elusive. We performed a genome-scale forward genetic screen in a Drosophila model of tauopathy, a class of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of the protein tau, and identified manipulation of the B-vitamin biotin as a potential therapeutic approach in tauopathy. We show that tau transgenic flies have an innate biotin deficiency due to tau-mediated relaxation of chromatin and consequent aberrant expression of multiple biotin-related genes, disrupting both carboxylase and mitochondrial function. Biotin depletion alone causes mitochondrial pathology and neurodegeneration in both flies and human neurons, implicating mitochondrial dysfunction as a mechanism in biotin deficiency. Finally, carboxylase biotin levels are reduced in mammalian tauopathies, including brains of human Alzheimer's disease patients. These results provide insight into pathogenic mechanisms of human biotin deficiency, the resulting effects on neuronal health, and a potential therapeutic pathway in the treatment of tau-mediated neurotoxicity.

SARS-CoV-2 targets neurons of 3D human brain organoids

COVID‐19 pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is a public health emergency. COVID‐19 typically exhibits respiratory illness. Unexpectedly, emerging clinical reports indicate that neurological symptoms continue to rise, suggesting detrimental effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 on the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we show that a Düsseldorf isolate of SARS‐CoV‐2 enters 3D human brain organoids within 2 days of exposure. We identified that SARS‐CoV‐2 preferably targets neurons of brain organoids. Imaging neurons of organoids reveal that SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure is associated with altered distribution of Tau from axons to soma, hyperphosphorylation, and apparent neuronal death. Our studies, therefore, provide initial insights into the potential neurotoxic effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 and emphasize that brain organoids could model CNS pathologies of COVID‐19.

HGF Mediates Clinical-Grade Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improved Functional Recovery in a Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Stem cells have emerged as a potential therapy for a range of neural insults, but their application in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still limited and the mechanisms underlying the cognitive benefits of stem cells remain to be elucidated. Here, the effects of clinical-grade human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) on the recovery of cognitive ability in SAMP8 mice, a senescence-accelerated mouse model of AD is explored. A functional assay identifies that the core functional factor hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secreted from hUC-MSCs plays critical roles in hUC-MSC-modulated recovery of damaged neural cells by down-regulating hyperphosphorylated tau, reversing spine loss, and promoting synaptic plasticity in an AD cell model. Mechanistically, structural and functional recovery, as well as cognitive enhancements elicited by exposure to hUC-MSCs, are at least partially mediated by HGF in the AD hippocampus through the activation of the cMet-AKT-GSK3β signaling pathway. Taken together, these data strongly implicate HGF in mediating hUC-MSC-induced improvements in functional recovery in AD models.

Neuroprotective brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling in the TAU-P301L tauopathy zebrafish model

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) dysregulations contribute to the neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative pathologies and could be efficiently targeted by therapies. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the relationship between BDNF and amyloid load has been extensively studied, how Tau pathology affects BDNF signaling remains unclear. Using the TAU-P301L transgenic zebrafish line, we investigated how early Tau-induced neurotoxicity modifies BDNF signaling. Alterations in BDNF expression levels were observed as early as 48 h post fertilization in TAU-P301L zebrafish embryos while TrkB receptor expression was not affected. Decreasing BDNF expression, using a knockdown strategy in wild-type embryos to mimic Tau-associated decrease, did not modify TrkB expression but promoted neurotoxicity as demonstrated by axonal outgrowth shortening and neuronal cell death. Moreover, the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 reduced the length of axonal projections. Rescue experiments with exogenous BDNF partially corrected neuronal alterations in TAU-P301L by counteracting primary axonal growth impairment but without effect on apoptosis. Importantly, the axonal rescue was proved functionally effective in a behavioral test, at a similar level as obtained with the GSK3β inhibitor LiCl, known to decrease TAU phosphorylation. Finally, treatment with a TrkB agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, led to comparable results and allowed full rescue of locomotor response. We provided here strong evidence that Tau neurotoxicity provoked alterations in BDNF system and that BDNF pathway might represent an efficient therapeutic target.

A TREML2 missense variant influences specific hippocampal subfield volumes in cognitively normal elderly subjects

INTRODUCTION

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-like transcript 2 gene (TREML2) is a newly identified AD susceptibility gene. Its missense variant rs3747742-C substantially decreases AD risk in both Caucasians and Han Chinese, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, to uncover the possible mechanisms by which TREML2 rs3747742-C reduces AD risk, we investigated the possible relation of this variant with AD-related brain structures using a cognitively normal elderly population from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database.

METHODS

In total, 158 cognitively normal elders from ADNI database with complete data for brain structures and TREML2 rs3747742 genotype were included in this study. The association of TREML2 rs3747742 genotype with the structures of three cerebral cortices (entorhinal cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and parahippocampal gyrus), two subcortical regions (amygdala and hippocampus), and three subfields of hippocampus (CA1, CA2 + CA3, and CA4 + dentate gyrus) was investigated.

RESULTS

A significant difference was noted in the volume of right CA1 subfield among three genotypes of TREML2 rs3747742 (p = .0364). In the multivariate analysis, TREML2 rs3747742-C significantly increased right CA1 subfield volume after adjusting for age, gender, education years, APOE ε4 status, and intracranial volume under the recessive genetic model (Bonferroni corrected p = .003586).

CONCLUSION

The present study provides the first evidence that TREML2 rs3747742-C carriers have larger volumes of hippocampal CA1 subfield in a cognitively normal elderly population. These findings imply that enhancement of brain reserve may contribute to the protection of TREML2 rs3747742-C in AD susceptibility.

Consequences of hyperphosphorylated tau on the morphology and excitability of hippocampal neurons in aged tau transgenic mice

The intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau characterizes many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. A critical role for tau is supported by studies in transgenic mouse models expressing the P301L mutation with accumulation of hyperphosphorylated human tau in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of aged mice. Especially, the somatodendritic mislocalization of hyperphosphorylated tau seems to affect the neuronal network of the hippocampus. To show the consequences of aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau within hippocampal neurons of aged mice, the CA1 pyramidal cells were analyzed morphologically and electrophysiologically. Here we demonstrate in the P301L pR5 mouse model that hyperphosphorylated tau leads to an increase in stubby spines and filopodia, as well as a decrease in total dendritic length of hippocampal pyramidal neurons due to a decrease in apical dendritic length and nodes. This atrophy is in line with the significant reduction in CA1 long-term potentiation. Furthermore, mutant tau induced a depolarized threshold for action potential initiation and an increased current of inward rectifying potassium channels, which should lead, together with the long-term potentiation decrease, to a decreased excitability of CA1 neurons.

Developmental expression of human tau in Drosophila melanogaster glial cells induces motor deficits and disrupts maintenance of PNS axonal integrity, without affecting synapse formation

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal phosphorylation and accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein, tau, in both neuronal and glial cells. Though tau pathology in glial cells is a prominent feature of many of these disorders, the pathological contribution of these lesions to tauopathy pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Moreover, while tau pathology is predominantly found in the central nervous system, a role for tau in the cells of the peripheral nervous system has been described, though not well characterized. To investigate the effects of glial tau expression on the development and maintenance of the peripheral nervous system, we utilized a Drosophila melanogaster model of tauopathy that expresses human wild-type tau in glial cells during development. We found that glial tau expression during development results in larval locomotor deficits and organismal lethality at the pupal stage, without affecting larval neuromuscular junction synapse development or post-synaptic amplitude. There was, however, a significant decrease in the decay time of synaptic potentials upon repeated stimulation of the motoneuron. Behavioral abnormalities were accompanied by glial cell death, disrupted maintenance of glial-axonal integrity, and the abnormal accumulation of the presynaptic protein, Bruchpilot, in peripheral nerve axons. Together, these data demonstrate that human tau expression in Drosophila glial cells does not affect neuromuscular junction synapse formation during development, but is deleterious to the maintenance of glial-axonal interactions in the peripheral nervous system.

Insight into the Structure of the "Unstructured" Tau Protein

Combining structural proteomics experimental data with computational methods is a powerful tool for protein structure prediction. Here, we apply a recently developed approach for de novo protein structure determination based on the incorporation of short-distance crosslinking data as constraints in discrete molecular dynamics simulations (CL-DMD), for the determination of the conformational ensemble of tau protein in solution. The predicted structures were in agreement with surface modification and long-distance crosslinking data. Tau in solution was found as an ensemble of rather compact globular conformations with distinct topology, inter-residue contacts, and a number of transient secondary-structure elements. Regions important for pathological aggregation consistently were found to contain β strands. The determined structures are compatible with the tau protein in solution being a molten globule at near-ground state with persistent residual structural features which we were able to capture by CL-DMD. The predicted structure may facilitate an understanding of the misfolding and oligomerization pathways of the tau protein.

A Human Embryonic Stem Cell Model of Aβ-Dependent Chronic Progressive Neurodegeneration

We describe the construction and phenotypic analysis of a human embryonic stem cell model of progressive Aβ-dependent neurodegeneration (ND) with potential relevance to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We modified one allele of the normal APP locus to directly express a secretory form of Aβ40 or Aβ42, enabling expression from this edited allele to bypass the normal amyloidogenic APP processing pathway. Following neuronal differentiation, edited cell lines specifically accumulate intracellular aggregated/oligomeric Aβ, exhibit a synaptic deficit, and have an abnormal accumulation of endolysosomal vesicles. Edited cultures progress to a stage of overt ND. All phenotypes appear at earlier culture times for Aβ42 relative to Aβ40. Whole transcriptome RNA-Seq analysis identified 23 up and 70 down regulated genes (differentially expressed genes) with similar directional fold change but larger absolute values in the Aβ42 samples suggesting common underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Pathway/annotation analysis suggested that down regulation of extracellular matrix and cilia functions is significantly overrepresented. This cellular model could be useful for uncovering mechanisms directly linking Aβ to neuronal death and as a tool to screen for new therapeutic agents that slow or prevent human ND.

The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ inhibits memory loss, neuropathology, and extends lifespan in aged 3xTg-AD mice

Oxidative stress, likely stemming from dysfunctional mitochondria, occurs before major cognitive deficits and neuropathologies become apparent in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and in mouse models of the disease. We previously reported that treating 2- to 7-month-old 3xTg-AD mice with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ (mitoquinone mesylate: [10-(4,5-Dimethoxy-2-methyl-3,6-dioxo-1,4-cyclohexadien-1-yl)decyl](triphenyl)phosphonium methanesulfonate), a period when AD-like pathologies first manifest in them, prevents AD-like symptoms from developing. To elucidate further a role for mitochondria-derived oxidative stress in AD progression, we examined the ability of MitoQ to inhibit AD-like pathologies in these mice at an age in which cognitive and neuropathological symptoms have fully developed. 3xTg-AD female mice received MitoQ in their drinking water for five months beginning at twelve months after birth. Untreated 18-month-old 3xTg-AD mice exhibited significant learning deficits and extensive AD-like neuropathologies. MitoQ-treated mice showed improved memory retention compared to untreated 3xTg-AD mice as well as reduced brain oxidative stress, synapse loss, astrogliosis, microglial cell proliferation, Aβ accumulation, caspase activation, and tau hyperphosphorylation. Additionally, MitoQ treatment significantly increased the abbreviated lifespan of the 3xTg-AD mice. These findings support a role for the involvement of mitochondria-derived oxidative stress in the etiology of AD and suggest that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants may lessen symptoms in AD patients.

Microtubule-Associated Proteins: Structuring the Cytoskeleton

Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) were initially discovered as proteins that bind to and stabilize microtubules. Today, an ever-growing number of MAPs reveals a more complex picture of these proteins as organizers of the microtubule cytoskeleton that have a large variety of functions. MAPs enable microtubules to participate in a plethora of cellular processes such as the assembly of mitotic and meiotic spindles, neuronal development, and the formation of the ciliary axoneme. Although some subgroups of MAPs have been exhaustively characterized, a strikingly large number of MAPs remain barely characterized other than their interactions with microtubules. We provide a comprehensive view on the currently known MAPs in mammals. We discuss their molecular mechanisms and functions, as well as their physiological role and links to pathologies.

LC3-Associated Endocytosis Facilitates β-Amyloid Clearance and Mitigates Neurodegeneration in Murine Alzheimer's Disease

The expression of some proteins in the autophagy pathway declines with age, which may impact neurodegeneration in diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease. We have identified a novel non-canonical function of several autophagy proteins in the conjugation of LC3 to Rab5+, clathrin+ endosomes containing β-amyloid in a process of LC3-associated endocytosis (LANDO). We found that LANDO in microglia is a critical regulator of immune-mediated aggregate removal and microglial activation in a murine model of AD. Mice lacking LANDO but not canonical autophagy in the myeloid compartment or specifically in microglia have a robust increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the hippocampus and increased levels of neurotoxic β-amyloid. This inflammation and β-amyloid deposition were associated with reactive microgliosis and tau hyperphosphorylation. LANDO-deficient AD mice displayed accelerated neurodegeneration, impaired neuronal signaling, and memory deficits. Our data support a protective role for LANDO in microglia in neurodegenerative pathologies resulting from β-amyloid deposition.

D-ribose is elevated in T1DM patients and can be involved in the onset of encephalopathy

Although many mechanisms have been proposed for diabetic encephalopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the risk factors for cognitive impairment in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are less clear. Here, we show that streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1DM rats showed cognitive impairment in both Y maze and Morris water maze assays, accompanied with D-ribose was significantly increased in blood and urine, in addition to D-glucose. Furthermore, advanced glycation end products (AGE), Tau hyperphosphorylation and neuronal death in the hippocampal CA4/DG region were detected in T1DM rats. The expression and activity of transketolase (TKT), an important enzyme in the pentose shunt, were decreased in the brain, indicating that TKT may be involved in D-ribose metabolism in T1DM. Support for these change was demonstrated by the activation of TKT with benfotiamine (BTMP) treatment. Decreased D-ribose levels but not D-glucose levels; markedly reduced AGE accumulation, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuronal death; and improved cognitive ability in T1DM rats were shown after BTMP administration. In clinical investigation, T1DM patients had high D-ribose levels in both urine and serum. Our work suggests that D-ribose is involved in the cognitive impairment in T1DM and may provide a potentially novel target for treating diabetic encephalopathy.

Amyloid-β and Tau in Alzheimer's Disease: Novel Pathomechanisms and Non-Pharmacological Treatment Strategies

Accumulation of the peptide amyloid-β (Aβ) and the protein tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains is a gradual process that involves the post-translational modification and assembly of monomeric forms into larger structures that eventually form fibrillar inclusions. This process is thought to both drive and initiate AD. However, why the axonally enriched tau in the course of AD accumulates in the somatodendritic domain is not fully understood. We discuss new data that provide a possible explanation that involves de novo protein synthesis, induced by Aβ and mediated through the kinase Fyn. We further discuss how in a pathological state, tau, being a scaffolding protein, impairs nuclear and mitochondrial functions and reduces action potential generation at the axon initial segment. Pathological tau can further be packaged into exosomes, released by one neuron and taken up by another, contributing to its pathogenicity. We also present our new work that suggests ultrasound as a new treatment modality to clear pathological Aβ and tau. We put this work into perspective, discussing current vaccination strategies and improved brain delivery methods involving antibody engineering and viral approaches. We propose that rather than reducing post-translational modifications of tau, its levels and de novo synthesis need to be reduced. We anticipate a surge in combinatorial strategies, simultaneously targeting multiple pathologies, and an improved drug delivery to the brain facilitated by emerging technologies such as ultrasound.

Proteomics Approaches for Biomarker and Drug Target Discovery in ALS and FTD

Neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are increasing in prevalence but lack targeted therapeutics. Although the pathological mechanisms behind these diseases remain unclear, both ALS and FTD are characterized pathologically by aberrant protein aggregation and inclusion formation within neurons, which correlates with neurodegeneration. Notably, aggregation of several key proteins, including TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and tau, have been implicated in these diseases. Proteomics methods are being increasingly applied to better understand disease-related mechanisms and to identify biomarkers of disease, using model systems as well as human samples. Proteomics-based approaches offer unbiased, high-throughput, and quantitative results with numerous applications for investigating proteins of interest. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of ALS and FTD pathophysiology obtained using proteomics approaches, and we assess technical and experimental limitations. We compare findings from various mass spectrometry (MS) approaches including quantitative proteomics methods such as stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and tandem mass tagging (TMT) to approaches such as label-free quantitation (LFQ) and sequential windowed acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion mass spectra (SWATH-MS) in studies of ALS and FTD. Similarly, we describe disease-related protein-protein interaction (PPI) studies using approaches including immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry (IP-MS) and proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) and discuss future application of new techniques including proximity-dependent ascorbic acid peroxidase labeling (APEX), and biotinylation by antibody recognition (BAR). Furthermore, we explore the use of MS to detect post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as ubiquitination and phosphorylation, of disease-relevant proteins in ALS and FTD. We also discuss upstream technologies that enable enrichment of proteins of interest, highlighting the contributions of new techniques to isolate disease-relevant protein inclusions including flow cytometric analysis of inclusions and trafficking (FloIT). These recently developed approaches, as well as related advances yet to be applied to studies of these neurodegenerative diseases, offer numerous opportunities for discovery of potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for ALS and FTD.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Xueshuantong Enhances Cerebral Blood Flow and Improves Neural Functions in Alzheimer's Disease Mice

Reduced cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may occur in early AD, which contributes to the pathogenesis and/or pathological progression of AD. Reversing this deficit may have therapeutic potential. Certain traditional Chinese herbal medicines (e.g., Saponin and its major component Xueshuantong [XST]) increase blood flow in humans, but whether they could be effective in treating AD patients has not been tested. We found that systemic XST injection elevated cerebral blood flow in APP/PS1 transgenic mice using two-photon time-lapse imaging in the same microvessels before and after injection. Subchronic XST treatment led to improved spatial learning and memory and motor performance in the APP/PS1 mice, suggesting improved neural plasticity and functions. Two-photon time lapse imaging of the same plaques revealed a reduction in plaque size after XST treatment. In addition, western blots experiments showed that XST treatment led to reduced processing of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) and enhanced clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) without altering the total level of AβPP. We also found increased synapse density in the immediate vicinity of amyloid plaques, suggesting enhanced synaptic function. We conclude that targeting cerebral blood flow can be an effective strategy in treating AD.

Tau protein function: The mechanical exploration of axonal transport disorder caused by persistent pressure in dorsal root ganglia

Objective

We analyzed the function of Tau protein to explore the underlying mechanism of axonal transport disorder caused by persistent pressure in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG).

Methods

Wistar rats were divided into the sham operated group, the control group and the experimental group. The Wistar rat model of continuous compression of DRG was used for further investigation. DRG neurons were extracted and cultured, and the protein content was detected using bicinchoninic acid method. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were performed to detect the protein content. Intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride was performed for interaction with Tau. The results were then analyzed statistically.

Results

After 2 weeks of sustained pressure, the expression level of Tau₃₉₆ increased by 33%, while Tau₄₀₄ increased by 25% in the DRG of the experimental group (p < 0.05). The expression level of PSD‐95 in the DRG decreased by 15% (p < 0.05), while the expression of vGluT1, vGluT3 and vAchT decreased significantly in the DRG of the experimental group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of vGluT2 and vGAT among the three groups (p > 0.05). After intervention with lithium chloride, the expression of phosphorylated Tau at the above sites decreased in varying degrees compared with the model group. The expression level of Tau₄₀₄ was reduced by 55%, and that of Tau₁₉₉ by 60% in the DRG of the experimental group.

Conclusion

Chronic compression of DRG and hypoxia caused phosphorylation of Tau in axons and inhibition of PSD‐95, and the function of the synaptic glutamic acid vesicle is defective in the synapse. This process is crucial in the development and progression of axonal transport dysfunction induced by chronic DRG compression, and phosphorylation of Tau plays a substantial role in this process.

Tauopathies: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

Tauopathies are morphologically, biochemically, and clinically heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases defined by the accumulation of abnormal tau proteins in the brain. There is no effective method to prevent and reverse the tauopathies, but this gloomy picture has been changed by recent research advances. Evidences from genetic studies, experimental animal models, and molecular and cell biology have shed light on the main mechanisms of the diseases. The development of radiology and biochemistry, especially the development of PET imaging, will provide important biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. Given the central role of tau in tauopathies, many treatments have constantly emerged, including targeting phosphorylation, targeting aggregation, increasing microtubule stabilization, tau immunization, clearance of tau, anti-inflammatory treatment, and other therapeutics. There is still a long way to go before we obtain drug therapy targeted at multifactor mechanisms.

Chromatin Changes Associated with Neuronal Maintenance and Their Pharmacological Application

Background:

The transcriptional control of neuronal specification and early development has been intensively stud-ied over the past few decades. However, relatively little is known about transcriptional programs associated with the mainte-nance of terminally differentiated neuronal cells with respect to their functions, structures, and cell type-specific identity features.

Methods:

Notably, largely because of the recent advances in related techniques such as next generation sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, the physiological implications of system-wide regulation of gene expression through changes in chromatin states have begun to be extensively studied in various contexts and systems, including the nervous system.

Results:

Here, we attempt to review our current understanding of the link between chromatin changes and neuronal mainte-nance in the period of life after the completion of neuronal development. Perturbations involving chromatin changes in the system-wide transcriptional control are believed to be closely associated with diverse aspects of neuronal aging and neuro-degenerative conditions.

Conclusion:

In this review, we focused on heterochromatin and epigenetic dysregulation in neurodegenerative conditions as well as neuronal aging, the most important risk factor leading to neuronal degeneration, in order to highlight the close association between chromatin changes and neuronal maintenance. Lastly, we reviewed the cur-rently available and potential future applications of pharmacological control of the chromatin states associated with neuronal maintenance.

Pathogenic tau-induced piRNA depletion promotes neuronal death through transposable element dysregulation in neurodegenerative tauopathies

Transposable elements, known colloquially as “jumping genes,” constitute approximately 45% of the human genome. Cells utilize epigenetic defenses to limit transposable element jumping, including formation of silencing heterochromatin and generation of piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small RNAs that facilitate clearance of transposable element transcripts. Here we identify transposable element dysregulation as a key mediator of neuronal death in tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative disorders that are pathologically characterized by deposits of tau protein in the brain. Mechanistically, we find that heterochromatin decondensation and reduction of piwi/piRNAs drive transposable element dysregulation in tauopathy. We further report a significant increase in transcripts of the endogenous retrovirus class of transposable elements in human Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, suggesting that transposable element dysregulation is conserved in human tauopathy. Taken together, our data identify heterochromatin decondensation, piwi/piRNA depletion and consequent transposable element dysregulation as a novel, pharmacologically targetable, mechanistic driver of neurodegeneration in tauopathy.

Neuronal Cell Death

Neuronal cell death occurs extensively during development and pathology, where it is especially important because of the limited capacity of adult neurons to proliferate or be replaced. The concept of cell death used to be simple as there were just two or three types, so we just had to work out which type was involved in our particular pathology and then block it. However, we now know that there are at least a dozen ways for neurons to die, that blocking a particular mechanism of cell death may not prevent the cell from dying, and that non-neuronal cells also contribute to neuronal death. We review here the mechanisms of neuronal death by intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, oncosis, necroptosis, parthanatos, ferroptosis, sarmoptosis, autophagic cell death, autosis, autolysis, paraptosis, pyroptosis, phagoptosis, and mitochondrial permeability transition. We next explore the mechanisms of neuronal death during development, and those induced by axotomy, aberrant cell-cycle reentry, glutamate (excitoxicity and oxytosis), loss of connected neurons, aggregated proteins and the unfolded protein response, oxidants, inflammation, and microglia. We then reassess which forms of cell death occur in stroke and Alzheimer's disease, two of the most important pathologies involving neuronal cell death. We also discuss why it has been so difficult to pinpoint the type of neuronal death involved, if and why the mechanism of neuronal death matters, the molecular overlap and interplay between death subroutines, and the therapeutic implications of these multiple overlapping forms of neuronal death.

Inflammatory and apoptotic signalling pathways and concussion severity: a genetic association study

The objective was to investigate the relationship between IL-1B rs16944, IL-6 rs1800795, and CASP8 rs3834129 genetic polymorphisms and concussion severity. Rugby players from high school, senior amateur, and professional teams completed a concussion severity questionnaire and donated a DNA sample. Participants (n = 163) were split into symptom severity groups around the median number and duration of symptoms. The frequency of participants with high symptom counts (more than five symptoms) increased across the IL-1B (C/C: 35%; C/T: 51%; T/T: 56%; P = 0.047) and the IL-6 (C/C: 31%; C/G: 44%; G/G: 58%; P = 0.027) genotypes. The C-C inferred interleukin allele construct frequency, created from combining the IL-1B and IL-6 genotype data, was lower in participants reporting a high symptom count (18%), compared to those with a low symptom count (fewer than six symptoms, 36%, P = 0.002). Similarly, the C-C inferred interleukin allele construct frequency was lower in those reporting prolonged symptom duration (more than one week, 16%), as opposed to short symptom duration (less than one week, 34%, P = 0.015). This study provides evidence of novel inflammatory pathway genetic associations with concussion severity, which supports the hypothesis implicating neuroinflammation in the development of concussion symptoms.