1
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Singh H, Das A, Khan MM, Pourmotabbed T. New insights into the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of tauopathies. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1020-1026. [PMID: 37862204 PMCID: PMC10749630 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385288] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, which involve progressive neurodegeneration, cognitive deficits, and aberrant tau protein accumulation. The development of tauopathies cannot currently be stopped or slowed down by treatment measures. Given the significant contribution of tau burden in primary tauopathies and the strong association between pathogenic tau accumulation and cognitive deficits, there has been a lot of interest in creating therapies that can alleviate tau pathology and render neuroprotective effects. Recently, small molecules, immunotherapies, and gene therapy have been used to reduce the pathological tau burden and prevent neurodegeneration in animal models of tauopathies. However, the major pitfall of the current therapeutic approach is the difficulty of drugs and gene-targeting modalities to cross the blood-brain barrier and their unintended side effects. In this review, the current therapeutic strategies used for tauopathies including the use of oligonucleotide-based gene therapy approaches that have shown a promising result for the treatment of tauopathies and Alzheimer's disease in preclinical animal models, have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshi Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Asmita Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Muscle, Metabolism and Neuropathology, Division of Regenerative and Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tayebeh Pourmotabbed
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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2
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Chai K, Yang J, Tu Y, Wu J, Fang K, Shi S, Yao T. Molecular Deformation Is a Key Factor in Screening Aggregation Inhibitor for Intrinsically Disordered Protein Tau. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:717-728. [PMID: 38559297 PMCID: PMC10979476 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c01196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Direct inhibitor of tau aggregation has been extensively studied as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease. However, the natively unfolded structure of tau complicates the structure-based ligand design, and the relatively large surface areas that mediate tau-tau interactions in aggregation limit the potential for identifying high-affinity ligand binding sites. Herein, a group of isatin-pyrrolidinylpyridine derivative isomers (IPP1-IPP4) were designed and synthesized. They are like different forms of molecular "transformers". These isatin isomers exhibit different inhibitory effects on tau self-aggregation or even possess a depolymerizing effect. Our results revealed for the first time that the direct inhibitor of tau protein aggregation is not only determined by the previously reported conjugated structure, substituent, hydrogen bond donor, etc. but also depends more importantly on the molecular shape. In combination with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, a new inhibition mechanism was proposed: like a "molecular clip", IPP1 could noncovalently bind and fix a tau polypeptide chain at a multipoint to prevent the transition from the "natively unfolded conformation" to the "aggregation competent conformation" before nucleation. At the cellular and animal levels, the effectiveness of the inhibitor of the IPP1 has been confirmed, providing an innovative design strategy as well as a lead compound for Alzheimer's disease drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keke Chai
- School
of Chemical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical
Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jian Yang
- School
of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Ying Tu
- School
of Chemical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical
Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Junjie Wu
- School
of Chemical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical
Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Kang Fang
- School
of Chemical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical
Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shuo Shi
- School
of Chemical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical
Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tianming Yao
- School
of Chemical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical
Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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3
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Wongsodirdjo P, Caruso AC, Yong AK, Lester MA, Vella LJ, Hung YH, Nisbet RM. Messenger RNA-encoded antibody approach for targeting extracellular and intracellular tau. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae100. [PMID: 38585667 PMCID: PMC10996922 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have emerged as a leading therapeutic agent for the treatment of disease, including Alzheimer's disease. In the last year, two anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, lecanemab and aducanumab, have been approved in the USA for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, whilst several tau-targeting monoclonal antibodies are currently in clinical trials. Such antibodies, however, are expensive and timely to produce and require frequent dosing regimens to ensure disease-modifying effects. Synthetic in vitro-transcribed messenger RNA encoding antibodies for endogenous protein expression holds the potential to overcome many of the limitations associated with protein antibody production. Here, we have generated synthetic in vitro-transcribed messenger RNA encoding a tau-specific antibody as a full-sized immunoglobulin and as a single-chain variable fragment. In vitro transfection of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells demonstrated the ability of the synthetic messenger RNA to be translated into a functional tau-specific antibody. Furthermore, we show that the translation of the tau-specific single-chain variable fragment as an intrabody results in the specific engagement of intracellular tau. This work highlights the utility of messenger RNA for the delivery of antibody therapeutics, including intrabodies, for the targeting of tau in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Wongsodirdjo
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Alayna C Caruso
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Alicia K Yong
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Madeleine A Lester
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Laura J Vella
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Ya Hui Hung
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca M Nisbet
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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4
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Zhao W, Liu K, Fan Y, Zhao Q, Tao Y, Zhang M, Gan L, Yu W, Sun B, Li D, Liu C, Wang J. Cryo-EM structures reveal variant Tau amyloid fibrils between the rTg4510 mouse model and sporadic human tauopathies. Cell Discov 2024; 10:27. [PMID: 38448404 PMCID: PMC10917778 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00637-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wanbing Zhao
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaien Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Fan
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinyue Zhao
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youqi Tao
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengwei Zhang
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linhua Gan
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbo Yu
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- WLA Laboratories, World Laureates Association, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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5
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Aljassabi A, Zieneldien T, Kim J, Regmi D, Cao C. Alzheimer's Disease Immunotherapy: Current Strategies and Future Prospects. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:755-772. [PMID: 38489183 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an extremely complex and heterogeneous pathology influenced by many factors contributing to its onset and progression, including aging, amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, tau fibril accumulation, inflammation, etc. Despite promising advances in drug development, there is no cure for AD. Although there have been substantial advancements in understanding the pathogenesis of AD, there have been over 200 unsuccessful clinical trials in the past decade. In recent years, immunotherapies have been at the forefront of these efforts. Immunotherapy alludes to the immunological field that strives to identify disease treatments via the enhancement, suppression, or induction of immune responses. Interestingly, immunotherapy in AD is a relatively new approach for non-infectious disease. At present, antibody therapy (passive immunotherapy) that targets anti-Aβ aimed to prevent the fibrillization of Aβ peptides and disrupt pre-existing fibrils is a predominant AD immunotherapy due to the continuous failure of active immunotherapy for AD. The most rational and safe strategies will be those targeting the toxic molecule without triggering an abnormal immune response, offering therapeutic advantages, thus making clinical trial design more efficient. This review offers a concise overview of immunotherapeutic strategies, including active and passive immunotherapy for AD. Our review encompasses approved methods and those presently under investigation in clinical trials, while elucidating the recent challenges, complications, successes, and potential treatments. Thus, immunotherapies targeting Aβ throughout the disease progression using a mutant oligomer-Aβ stimulated dendritic cell vaccine may offer a promising therapy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Aljassabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Tarek Zieneldien
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Janice Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Deepika Regmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Chuanhai Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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6
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Moore BD, Ran Y, Goodwin MS, Komatineni K, McFarland KN, Dillon K, Charles C, Ryu D, Liu X, Prokop S, Giasson BI, Golde TE, Levites Y. A C1qTNF3 collagen domain fusion chaperones diverse secreted proteins and anti-Aβ scFvs: Applications for gene therapies. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101146. [PMID: 38027063 PMCID: PMC10679951 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Enhancing production of protein cargoes delivered by gene therapies can improve efficacy by reducing the amount of vector or simply increasing transgene expression levels. We explored the utility of a 126-amino acid collagen domain (CD) derived from the C1qTNF3 protein as a fusion partner to chaperone secreted proteins, extracellular "decoy receptor" domains, and single-chain variable fragments (scFvs). Fusions to the CD domain result in multimerization and enhanced levels of secretion of numerous fusion proteins while maintaining functionality. Efficient creation of bifunctional proteins using the CD domain is also demonstrated. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vector delivery of the CD with a signal peptide resulted in high-level expression with minimal biological impact as assessed by whole-brain transcriptomics. As a proof-of-concept in vivo study, we evaluated three different anti-amyloid Aβ scFvs (anti-Aβ scFvs), alone or expressed as CD fusions, following viral delivery to neonatal CRND8 mice. The CD fusion increased half-life, expression levels, and improved efficacy for amyloid lowering of a weaker binding anti-Aβ scFv. These studies validate the potential utility of this small CD as a fusion partner for secretory cargoes delivered by gene therapy and demonstrate that it is feasible to use this CD fusion to create biotherapeutic molecules with enhanced avidity or bifunctionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda D. Moore
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yong Ran
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marshall S. Goodwin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kavitha Komatineni
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Karen N. McFarland
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kristy Dillon
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Caleb Charles
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Danny Ryu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Xuefei Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Benoit I. Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Todd E. Golde
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yona Levites
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
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7
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Li X, Quan M, Wei Y, Wang W, Xu L, Wang Q, Jia J. Critical thinking of Alzheimer's transgenic mouse model: current research and future perspective. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023; 66:2711-2754. [PMID: 37480469 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2357-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic models are useful tools for studying the pathogenesis of and drug development for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). AD models are constructed usually using overexpression or knock-in of multiple pathogenic gene mutations from familial AD. Each transgenic model has its unique behavioral and pathological features. This review summarizes the research progress of transgenic mouse models, and their progress in the unique mechanism of amyloid-β oligomers, including the first transgenic mouse model built in China based on a single gene mutation (PSEN1 V97L) found in Chinese familial AD. We further summarized the preclinical findings of drugs using the models, and their future application in exploring the upstream mechanisms and multitarget drug development in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Li
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Meina Quan
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yiping Wei
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Lingzhi Xu
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Jianping Jia
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Clinical Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Memory Impairment, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100053, China.
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8
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Beltran-Lobo P, Hughes MM, Troakes C, Croft CL, Rupawala H, Jutzi D, Ruepp MD, Jimenez-Sanchez M, Perkinton MS, Kassiou M, Golde TE, Hanger DP, Verkhratsky A, Perez-Nievas BG, Noble W. P2X 7R influences tau aggregate burden in human tauopathies and shows distinct signalling in microglia and astrocytes. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:414-429. [PMID: 37716378 PMCID: PMC10896738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The purinoceptor P2X7R is a promising therapeutic target for tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Pharmacological inhibition or genetic knockdown of P2X7R ameliorates cognitive deficits and reduces pathological tau burden in mice that model aspects of tauopathy, including mice expressing mutant human frontotemporal dementia (FTD)-causing forms of tau. However, disagreements remain over which glial cell types express P2X7R and therefore the mechanism of action is unresolved. Here, we show that P2X7R protein levels increase in human AD post-mortem brain, in agreement with an upregulation of P2RX7 mRNA observed in transcriptome profiles from the AMP-AD consortium. P2X7R protein increases mirror advancing Braak stage and coincide with synapse loss. Using RNAScope we detect P2RX7 mRNA in microglia and astrocytes in human AD brain, including in the vicinity of senile plaques. In cultured microglia, P2X7R activation modulates the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway by promoting the formation of active complexes and release of IL-1β. In astrocytes, P2X7R activates NFκB signalling and increases production of the cytokines CCL2, CXCL1 and IL-6 together with the acute phase protein Lcn2. To further explore the role of P2X7R in a disease-relevant context, we expressed wild-type or FTD-causing mutant forms of tau in mouse organotypic brain slice cultures. Inhibition of P2X7R reduces insoluble tau levels without altering soluble tau phosphorylation or synaptic localisation, suggesting a non-cell autonomous role of glial P2X7R on pathological tau aggregation. These findings support further investigations into the cell-type specific effects of P2X7R-targeting therapies in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Beltran-Lobo
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Martina M Hughes
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK; London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Cara L Croft
- UK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Huzefa Rupawala
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Daniel Jutzi
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marc-David Ruepp
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Jimenez-Sanchez
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | | | - Michael Kassiou
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Department of Neurology, Emory Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Diane P Hanger
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Achucarro Center for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, 48011 Bilbao, Spain; Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-01102 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Beatriz G Perez-Nievas
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK.
| | - Wendy Noble
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RX, UK; University of Exeter, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Science, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK.
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9
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Zhao J, Wu Y, Xiao T, Cheng C, Zhang T, Gao Z, Hu S, Ren Z, Yu X, Yang F, Li G. A specific anti-cyclin D1 intrabody represses breast cancer cell proliferation by interrupting the cyclin D1-CDK4 interaction. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 198:555-568. [PMID: 36808524 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-06866-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cyclin D1 overexpression may contribute to development of various cancers, including breast cancer, and thus may serve as a key cancer diagnostic marker and therapeutic target. In our previous study, we generated a cyclin D1-specific single-chain variable fragment antibody (ADκ) from a human semi-synthetic single-chain variable fragment library. ADκ specifically interacted with recombinant and endogenous cyclin D1 proteins through an unknown molecular basis to inhibit HepG2 cell growth and proliferation. RESULTS Here, using phage display and in silico protein structure modeling methods combined with cyclin D1 mutational analysis, key residues that bind to ADκ were identified. Notably, residue K112 within the cyclin box was required for cyclin D1-ADκ binding. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying ADκ anti-tumor effects, a cyclin D1-specific nuclear localization signal-containing intrabody (NLS-ADκ) was constructed. When expressed within cells, NLS-ADκ interacted specifically with cyclin D1 to significantly inhibit cell proliferation, induce G1-phase arrest, and trigger apoptosis of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Moreover, the NLS-ADκ-cyclin D1 interaction blocked binding of cyclin D1 to CDK4 and inhibited RB protein phosphorylation, resulting in altered expression of downstream cell proliferation-related target genes. CONCLUSION We identified amino acid residues in cyclin D1 that may play key roles in the ADκ-cyclin D1 interaction. A nuclear localization antibody against cyclin D1 (NLS-ADκ) was constructed and successfully expressed in breast cancer cells. NLS-ADκ exerted tumor suppressor effects via blocking the binding of CDK4 to cyclin D1 and inhibiting phosphorylation of RB. The results presented here demonstrate anti-tumor potential of intrabody-based cyclin D1-targeted breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, 256600, China
| | - Tong Xiao
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Ziyang Gao
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Siyuan Hu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Ze Ren
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Xinze Yu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Guiying Li
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
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10
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Bespalov A, Courade JP, Khiroug L, Terstappen GC, Wang Y. A call for better understanding of target engagement in Tau antibody development. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:103338. [PMID: 35973661 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Significant efforts have been channeled into developing antibodies for the treatment of CNS indications. Disappointment with the first generation of clinical Tau antibodies in Alzheimer's disease has highlighted the challenges in understanding whether an antibody can reach or affect the target in the compartment where it is involved in pathological processes. Here, we highlight different aspects essential for improving translatability of Tau-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yipeng Wang
- Shanghai Qiangrui Biotech, Shanghai, PR China
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11
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Marino M, Holt MG. AAV Vector-Mediated Antibody Delivery (A-MAD) in the Central Nervous System. Front Neurol 2022; 13:870799. [PMID: 35493843 PMCID: PMC9039256 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.870799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last four decades, monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives have emerged as a powerful class of therapeutics, largely due to their exquisite targeting specificity. Several clinical areas, most notably oncology and autoimmune disorders, have seen the successful introduction of monoclonal-based therapeutics. However, their adoption for treatment of Central Nervous System diseases has been comparatively slow, largely due to issues of efficient delivery resulting from limited permeability of the Blood Brain Barrier. Nevertheless, CNS diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent as societies age, accounting for ~6.5 million fatalities worldwide per year. Therefore, harnessing the full therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies (and their derivatives) in this clinical area has become a priority. Adeno-associated virus-based vectors (AAVs) are a potential solution to this problem. Preclinical studies have shown that AAV vector-mediated antibody delivery provides protection against a broad range of peripheral diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza and malaria. The parallel identification and optimization of AAV vector platforms which cross the Blood Brain Barrier with high efficiency, widely transducing the Central Nervous System and allowing high levels of local transgene production, has now opened a number of interesting scenarios for the development of AAV vector-mediated antibody delivery strategies to target Central Nervous System proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marika Marino
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G. Holt
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
- Synapse Biology Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Matthew G. Holt
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12
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Zhang Y, Wu KM, Yang L, Dong Q, Yu JT. Tauopathies: new perspectives and challenges. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:28. [PMID: 35392986 PMCID: PMC8991707 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00533-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by neuronal and/or glial tau-positive inclusions. MAIN BODY Clinically, tauopathies can present with a range of phenotypes that include cognitive/behavioral-disorders, movement disorders, language disorders and non-specific amnestic symptoms in advanced age. Pathologically, tauopathies can be classified based on the predominant tau isoforms that are present in the inclusion bodies (i.e., 3R, 4R or equal 3R:4R ratio). Imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood-based tau biomarkers have the potential to be used as a routine diagnostic strategy and in the evaluation of patients with tauopathies. As tauopathies are strongly linked neuropathologically and genetically to tau protein abnormalities, there is a growing interest in pursuing of tau-directed therapeutics for the disorders. Here we synthesize emerging lessons on tauopathies from clinical, pathological, genetic, and experimental studies toward a unified concept of these disorders that may accelerate the therapeutics. CONCLUSIONS Since tauopathies are still untreatable diseases, efforts have been made to depict clinical and pathological characteristics, identify biomarkers, elucidate underlying pathogenesis to achieve early diagnosis and develop disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Kai-Min Wu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Qiang Dong
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040 China
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13
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Marino M, Zhou L, Rincon MY, Callaerts-Vegh Z, Verhaert J, Wahis J, Creemers E, Yshii L, Wierda K, Saito T, Marneffe C, Voytyuk I, Wouters Y, Dewilde M, Duqué SI, Vincke C, Levites Y, Golde TE, Saido TC, Muyldermans S, Liston A, De Strooper B, Holt MG. AAV-mediated delivery of an anti-BACE1 VHH alleviates pathology in an Alzheimer's disease model. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e09824. [PMID: 35352880 PMCID: PMC8988209 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Single domain antibodies (VHHs) are potentially disruptive therapeutics, with important biological value for treatment of several diseases, including neurological disorders. However, VHHs have not been widely used in the central nervous system (CNS), largely because of their restricted blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. Here, we propose a gene transfer strategy based on BBB-crossing Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors to deliver VHH directly into the CNS. As a proof-of-concept, we explored the potential of AAV-delivered VHH to inhibit BACE1, a well-characterized target in Alzheimer's disease. First, we generated a panel of VHHs targeting BACE1, one of which, VHH-B9, shows high selectivity for BACE1 and efficacy in lowering BACE1 activity in vitro. We further demonstrate that a single systemic dose of AAV-VHH-B9 produces positive long-term (12 months plus) effects on amyloid load, neuroinflammation, synaptic function, and cognitive performance, in the AppNL-G-F Alzheimer's disease mouse model. These results constitute a novel therapeutic approach forneurodegenerative diseases, which is applicable to a range of CNS disease targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marika Marino
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lujia Zhou
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Melvin Y Rincon
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jens Verhaert
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Wahis
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eline Creemers
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Electrophysiology Expertise Unit, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lidia Yshii
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Keimpe Wierda
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Electrophysiology Expertise Unit, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Takashi Saito
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Catherine Marneffe
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iryna Voytyuk
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yessica Wouters
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Dewilde
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandra I Duqué
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cécile Vincke
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yona Levites
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Takaomi C Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako-shi, Japan
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adrian Liston
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,UK Dementia Research institute at UCL, London, UK.,Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G Holt
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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14
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Golde TE. Disease-Modifying Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease: More Questions than Answers. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:209-227. [PMID: 35229269 PMCID: PMC8885119 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01201-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific advances over the last four decades have steadily infused the Alzheimer's disease (AD) field with great optimism that therapies targeting Aβ, amyloid, tau, and innate immune activation states in the brain would provide disease modification. Unfortunately, this optimistic scenario has not yet played out. Though a recent approval of the anti-Aβ aggregate binding antibody, Aduhelm (aducanumab), as a "disease-modifying therapy for AD" is viewed by some as a breakthrough, many remain unconvinced by the data underlying this approval. Collectively, we have not succeeded in changing AD from a largely untreatable, inevitable, and incurable disease to a treatable, preventable, and curable one. Here, I will review the major foci of the AD "disease-modifying" therapeutic pipeline and some of the "open questions" that remain in terms of these therapeutic approaches. I will conclude the review by discussing how we, as a field, might adjust our approach, learning from our past failures to ensure future success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd E Golde
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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15
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Limorenko G, Lashuel HA. Revisiting the grammar of Tau aggregation and pathology formation: how new insights from brain pathology are shaping how we study and target Tauopathies. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 51:513-565. [PMID: 34889934 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00127b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Converging evidence continues to point towards Tau aggregation and pathology formation as central events in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other Tauopathies. Despite significant advances in understanding the morphological and structural properties of Tau fibrils, many fundamental questions remain about what causes Tau to aggregate in the first place. The exact roles of cofactors, Tau post-translational modifications, and Tau interactome in regulating Tau aggregation, pathology formation, and toxicity remain unknown. Recent studies have put the spotlight on the wide gap between the complexity of Tau structures, aggregation, and pathology formation in the brain and the simplicity of experimental approaches used for modeling these processes in research laboratories. Embracing and deconstructing this complexity is an essential first step to understanding the role of Tau in health and disease. To help deconstruct this complexity and understand its implication for the development of effective Tau targeting diagnostics and therapies, we firstly review how our understanding of Tau aggregation and pathology formation has evolved over the past few decades. Secondly, we present an analysis of new findings and insights from recent studies illustrating the biochemical, structural, and functional heterogeneity of Tau aggregates. Thirdly, we discuss the importance of adopting new experimental approaches that embrace the complexity of Tau aggregation and pathology as an important first step towards developing mechanism- and structure-based therapies that account for the pathological and clinical heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease and Tauopathies. We believe that this is essential to develop effective diagnostics and therapies to treat these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Limorenko
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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16
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Congdon EE, Jiang Y, Sigurdsson EM. Targeting tau only extracellularly is likely to be less efficacious than targeting it both intra- and extracellularly. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 126:125-137. [PMID: 34896021 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of the tau protein is thought to be responsible for the neurodegeneration and subsequent functional impairments in diseases that are collectively named tauopathies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common tauopathy, but the group consists of over 20 different diseases, many of which have tau pathology as their primary feature. The development of tau therapies has mainly focused on preventing the formation of and/or clearing these aggregates. Of these, immunotherapies that aim to either elicit endogenous tau antibodies or deliver exogenous ones are the most common approach in clinical trials. While their mechanism of action can involve several pathways, both extra- and intracellular, pharmaceutical companies have primarily focused on antibody-mediated clearance of extracellular tau. As we have pointed out over the years, this is rather surprising because it is well known that most of pathological tau protein is found intracellularly. It has been repeatedly shown by several groups over the past decades that antibodies can enter neurons and that their cellular uptake can be enhanced by various means, particularly by altering their charge. Here, we will briefly describe the potential extra- and intracellular mechanisms involved in antibody-mediated clearance of tau pathology, discuss these in the context of recent failures of some of the tau antibody trials, and finally provide a brief overview of how the intracellular efficacy of tau antibodies can potentially be further improved by certain modifications that aim to enhance tau clearance via specific intracellular degradation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
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17
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Benn JA, Mukadam AS, McEwan WA. Targeted protein degradation using intracellular antibodies and its application to neurodegenerative disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 126:138-149. [PMID: 34654628 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies mediate the majority of their effects in the extracellular domain, or in intracellular compartments isolated from the cytosol. Under a growing list of circumstances, however, antibodies are found to gain access to the cytoplasm. Cytosolic immune complexes are bound by the atypical antibody receptor TRIM21, which mediates the rapid degradation of the immune complexes at the proteasome. These discoveries have informed the development of TRIM-Away, a technique to selectively deplete proteins using delivery of antibodies into cells. A range of related approaches that elicit selective protein degradation using intracellular constructs linking antibody fragments to degradative effector functions have also been developed. These methods hold promise for inducing the degradation of proteins as both research tools and as a novel therapeutic approach. Protein aggregates are a pathophysiological feature of neurodegenerative diseases and are considered to have a causal role in pathology. Immunotherapy is emerging as a promising route towards their selective targeting, and a role of antibodies in the cytosol has been demonstrated in cell-based assays. This review will explore the mechanisms by which therapeutic antibodies engage and eliminate intracellularly aggregated proteins. We will discuss how future developments in intracellular antibody technology may enhance the therapeutic potential of such antibody-derived therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Benn
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge, UK
| | - Aamir S Mukadam
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge, UK
| | - William A McEwan
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge, UK.
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18
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Lennon MJ, Rigney G, Raymont V, Sachdev P. Genetic Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease: A Scoping Review. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 84:491-504. [PMID: 34569966 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Effective, disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain a quandary, following a panoply of expensive failures in human clinical trials. Given the stagnation in therapeutics, alternative approaches are needed. Recent successes of genetic therapies in other neurodegenerative diseases may highlight the way forward. This scoping review explores suggested targets of genetic therapy in AD, with a focus on vector-based approaches in pre-clinical and clinical trials. Putative targets of genetic therapies tested in pre-clinical trials include amyloid pathway intermediates and enzymes modulation, tau protein downregulation, APOE4 downregulation and APOE2 upregulation, neurotrophin expression (nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and inflammatory cytokine alteration, among several other approaches. There have been three completed human clinical trials for genetic therapy in AD patients, all of which upregulated NGF in AD patients, showing some mixed evidence of benefit. Several impediments remain to be surpassed before genetic therapies can be successfully applied to AD, including the challenge of delivering monogenic genetic therapies for complex polygenic disorders, risks in the dominant delivery method (intracranial injection), stability of genetic therapies in vivo, poor translatability of pre-clinical AD models, and the expense of genetic therapy production. Genetic therapies represent an exciting opportunity within the world of AD therapeutics, but clinical applications likely remain a long term, rather than short term, possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Lennon
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Grant Rigney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Perminder Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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19
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Ji C, Sigurdsson EM. Current Status of Clinical Trials on Tau Immunotherapies. Drugs 2021; 81:1135-1152. [PMID: 34101156 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-021-01546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tau immunotherapies have advanced from proof-of-concept studies to over a dozen clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Mechanistic studies in animal and culture models have provided valuable insight into how these therapies may work but multiple pathways are likely involved. Different groups have emphasized the importance of intracellular vs extracellular antibody-mediated clearance of the tau protein and there is no consensus on which pool of tau should ideally be targeted. Likewise, various normal and disease-selective epitopes are being targeted, and the antibody isotypes either favor phagocytosis of the tau-antibody complex or are neutral in that aspect. Most of the clinical trials are in early stages, thus their efficacy is not yet known, but all have been without any major adverse effects and some have reported target engagement. A few have been discontinued. One in phase I, presumably because of a poor pharmacokinetic profile, and three in phase II for a lack of efficacy although this trial stage is not well powered for efficacy measures. In these phase II studies, trials with two antibodies in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy or other primary tauopathies were halted but are continuing in patients with AD, and one antibody trial was stopped in early-stage AD but is continuing in moderate AD. These three antibodies have been reported to only work extracellularly and tau is not increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of primary tauopathies, which may explain the failures of two of them. In the discontinued AD trial, there are some concerns about how much of extracellular tau contains the N-terminal epitope that is being targeted. In addition, extracellular tau is only a small part of total tau, compared to intracellular tau. Targeting only the former may not be sufficient for functional benefits. Given these outcomes, decision makers within the pharmaceutical companies who green light these trials should attempt to target tau not only extracellularly but also intracellularly to increase their chances of success. Hopefully, some of the ongoing trials will provide some functional benefits to the large number of patients with tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Xia Y, Prokop S, Giasson BI. "Don't Phos Over Tau": recent developments in clinical biomarkers and therapies targeting tau phosphorylation in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:37. [PMID: 34090488 PMCID: PMC8180161 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00460-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications found in aggregated tau isolated from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient brains. In tauopathies like AD, increased phosphorylation or hyperphosphorylation can contribute to microtubule dysfunction and is associated with tau aggregation. In this review, we provide an overview of the structure and functions of tau protein as well as the physiologic roles of tau phosphorylation. We also extensively survey tau phosphorylation sites identified in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid from AD patients compared to age-matched healthy controls, which may serve as disease-specific biomarkers. Recently, new assays have been developed to measure minute amounts of specific forms of phosphorylated tau in both cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, which could potentially be useful for aiding clinical diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. Additionally, multiple therapies targeting phosphorylated tau are in various stages of clinical trials including kinase inhibitors, phosphatase activators, and tau immunotherapy. With promising early results, therapies that target phosphorylated tau could be useful at slowing tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Xia
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. .,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA. .,McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA.
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Galasko
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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22
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Croft CL, Goodwin MS, Ryu DH, Lessard CB, Tejeda G, Marrero M, Vause AR, Paterno G, Cruz PE, Lewis J, Giasson BI, Golde TE. Photodynamic studies reveal rapid formation and appreciable turnover of tau inclusions. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 141:359-381. [PMID: 33496840 PMCID: PMC7882582 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02264-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of the tau protein in fibrillar intracellular aggregates is a defining feature of multiple neurodegenerative diseases collectively referred to as tauopathies. Despite intensive study of tau, there is limited information on the formation and clearance dynamics of tau inclusions. Using rAAV vectors to mediate expression of Dendra2-tagged human wild-type, P301L and pro-aggregant P301L/S320F tau proteins, with and without the addition of exogenous tau fibrillar seeds, we evaluated tau inclusion dynamics in organotypic brain slice culture (BSC) models using long-term optical pulse labeling methodology. Our studies reveal that tau inclusions typically form in 12–96 h in tauopathy BSC models. Unexpectedly, we demonstrate appreciable turnover of tau within inclusions with an average half-life of ~ 1 week when inclusions are newly formed. When BSCs with inclusions are aged in culture for extended periods, tau inclusions continue to turnover, but their half-lives increase to ~ 2 weeks and ~ 3 weeks after 1 and 2 months in culture, respectively. Individual tau inclusions can be long-lived structures that can persist for months in these BSC models and for even longer in the human brain. However, our data indicate that tau inclusions, are not ‘tombstones’, but dynamic structures with appreciable turnover. Understanding the cellular processes mediating this inclusion turnover may lead to new therapeutic strategies that could reverse pathological tau inclusion formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara L Croft
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London, UK
| | - Marshall S Goodwin
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Daniel H Ryu
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Christian B Lessard
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Giancarlo Tejeda
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Marc Marrero
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Ava R Vause
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Giavanna Paterno
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Pedro E Cruz
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Jada Lewis
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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