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Gaikwad S, Senapati S, Haque MA, Kayed R. Senescence, brain inflammation, and oligomeric tau drive cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from clinical and preclinical studies. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:709-727. [PMID: 37814508 PMCID: PMC10841264 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Aging, tau pathology, and chronic inflammation in the brain play crucial roles in synaptic loss, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline in tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. Senescent cells accumulate in the aging brain, accelerate the aging process, and promote tauopathy progression through their abnormal inflammatory secretome known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Tau oligomers (TauO)-the most neurotoxic tau species-are known to induce senescence and the SASP, which subsequently promote neuropathology, inflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic dysfunction, neuronal death, and cognitive dysfunction. TauO, brain inflammation, and senescence are associated with heterogeneity in tauopathy progression and cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanisms driving the disease heterogeneity remain largely unknown, impeding the development of therapies for tauopathies. Based on clinical and preclinical evidence, this review highlights the critical role of TauO and senescence in neurodegeneration. We discuss key knowledge gaps and potential strategies for targeting senescence and TauO to treat tauopathies. HIGHLIGHTS: Senescence, oligomeric Tau (TauO), and brain inflammation accelerate the aging process and promote the progression of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. We discuss their role in contributing to heterogeneity in tauopathy and cognitive decline. We highlight strategies to target senescence and TauO to treat tauopathies while addressing key knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Gaikwad
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Sudipta Senapati
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Md. Anzarul Haque
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
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2
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Cáceres C, Heusser B, Garnham A, Moczko E. The Major Hypotheses of Alzheimer's Disease: Related Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for Its Diagnosis and Treatment. Cells 2023; 12:2669. [PMID: 38067098 PMCID: PMC10705786 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a well-known chronic neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the progressive death of brain cells, resulting in memory loss and the loss of other critical body functions. In March 2019, one of the major pharmaceutical companies and its partners announced that currently, there is no drug to cure AD, and all clinical trials of the new ones have been cancelled, leaving many people without hope. However, despite the clear message and startling reality, the research continued. Finally, in the last two years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever medications to treat Alzheimer's, aducanumab and lecanemab. Despite researchers' support of this decision, there are serious concerns about their effectiveness and safety. The validation of aducanumab by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is still pending, and lecanemab was authorized without considering data from the phase III trials. Furthermore, numerous reports suggest that patients have died when undergoing extended treatment. While there is evidence that aducanumab and lecanemab may provide some relief to those suffering from AD, their impact remains a topic of ongoing research and debate within the medical community. The fact is that even though there are considerable efforts regarding pharmacological treatment, no definitive cure for AD has been found yet. Nevertheless, it is strongly believed that modern nanotechnology holds promising solutions and effective clinical strategies for the development of diagnostic tools and treatments for AD. This review summarizes the major hallmarks of AD, its etiological mechanisms, and challenges. It explores existing diagnostic and therapeutic methods and the potential of nanotechnology-based approaches for recognizing and monitoring patients at risk of irreversible neuronal degeneration. Overall, it provides a broad overview for those interested in the evolving areas of clinical neuroscience, AD, and related nanotechnology. With further research and development, nanotechnology-based approaches may offer new solutions and hope for millions of people affected by this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ewa Moczko
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Viña del Mar 2562307, Chile; (C.C.)
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3
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Bhopatkar AA, Kayed R. Flanking regions, amyloid cores, and polymorphism: the potential interplay underlying structural diversity. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105122. [PMID: 37536631 PMCID: PMC10482755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The β-sheet-rich amyloid core is the defining feature of protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Recent investigations have revealed that there exist multiple examples of the same protein, with the same sequence, forming a variety of amyloid cores with distinct structural characteristics. These structural variants, termed as polymorphs, are hypothesized to influence the pathological profile and the progression of different neurodegenerative diseases, giving rise to unique phenotypic differences. Thus, identifying the origin and properties of these structural variants remain a focus of studies, as a preliminary step in the development of therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the potential role of the flanking regions of amyloid cores in inducing polymorphism. These regions, adjacent to the amyloid cores, show a preponderance for being structurally disordered, imbuing them with functional promiscuity. The dynamic nature of the flanking regions can then manifest in the form of conformational polymorphism of the aggregates. We take a closer look at the sequences flanking the amyloid cores, followed by a review of the polymorphic aggregates of the well-characterized proteins amyloid-β, α-synuclein, Tau, and TDP-43. We also consider different factors that can potentially influence aggregate structure and how these regions can be viewed as novel targets for therapeutic strategies by utilizing their unique structural properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anukool A Bhopatkar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
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Banka V, Kelleher A, Sehlin D, Hultqvist G, Sigurdsson EM, Syvänen S, Ding YS. Development of brain-penetrable antibody radioligands for in vivo PET imaging of amyloid-β and tau. FRONTIERS IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 3:1173693. [PMID: 37680310 PMCID: PMC10483511 DOI: 10.3389/fnume.2023.1173693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of two major proteins: amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau. Antibody-based PET radioligands are desirable due to their high specificity and affinity; however, antibody uptake in the brain is limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Previously, we demonstrated that antibody transport across the BBB can be facilitated through interaction with the transferrin receptor (TfR), and the bispecific antibody-based PET ligands were capable of detecting Aβ aggregates via ex vivo imaging. Since tau accumulation in the brain is more closely correlated with neuronal death and cognition, we report here our strategies to prepare four F-18-labeled specifically engineered bispecific antibody probes for the selective detection of tau and Aβ aggregates to evaluate their feasibility and specificity, particularly for in vivo PET imaging. Methods We first created and evaluated (via both in vitro and ex vivo studies) four specifically engineered bispecific antibodies, by fusion of single-chain variable fragments (scFv) of a TfR antibody with either a full-size IgG antibody of Aβ or tau or with their respective scFv. Using [18F]SFB as the prosthetic group, all four 18F-labeled bispecific antibody probes were then prepared by conjugation of antibody and [18F]SFB in acetonitrile/0.1 M borate buffer solution (final pH ~ 8.5) with an incubation of 20 min at room temperature, followed by purification on a PD MiniTrap G-25 size exclusion gravity column. Results Based on both in vitro and ex vivo evaluation, the bispecific antibodies displayed much higher brain concentrations than the unmodified antibody, supporting our subsequent F18-radiolabeling. [18F]SFB was produced in high yields in 60 min (decay-corrected radiochemical yield (RCY) 46.7 ± 5.4) with radiochemical purities of >95%, confirmed by analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and radio-TLC. Conjugation of [18F]SFB and bispecific antibodies showed a 65%-83% conversion efficiency with radiochemical purities of 95%-99% by radio-TLC. Conclusions We successfully labeled four novel and specifically engineered bispecific antibodies with [18F]SFB under mild conditions with a high RCY and purities. This study provides strategies to create brain-penetrable F-18 radiolabeled antibody probes for the selective detection of tau and Aβ aggregates in the brain of transgenic AD mice via in vivo PET imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Banka
- Department of Radiology, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Andrew Kelleher
- Department of Radiology, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dag Sehlin
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala
University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Einar M. Sigurdsson
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York
University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stina Syvänen
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala
University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yu-Shin Ding
- Department of Radiology, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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5
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Bittar A, Al-Lahham R, Bhatt N, Moore K, Montalbano M, Jerez C, Fung L, McAllen S, Ellsworth A, Kayed R. Passive Immunotherapy Targeting Tau Oligomeric Strains Reverses Tauopathy Phenotypes in Aged Human-Tau Mice in a Mouse Model-Specific Manner. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1103-1122. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Tau oligomers are one of the most toxic species, displaying prion-like strains which have different conformations resulting in different tauopathies. Passive immunotherapy targeting different tau species is a promising therapeutic approach. Age is one of the greatest risk factors; however, most immunotherapy studies are done in young to middle-aged mice tauopathy models, which is not representative of the many clinical trials done with older humans with established tauopathies. Objective: We utilized two different clones of tau oligomer monoclonal antibodies (TOMAs) in aged Htau and JNPL3 mouse models to investigate the potential of passive immunotherapy. Methods: Aged mice received a single intravenous injection of 120 μg/animal of either TOMA1, TOMA3 clones or a non-specific IgG. Their cognitive functions were assessed one-week post-injection using Y-maze and novel object recognition tests. Brain tissues were analyzed using biochemical and immunological assays. Results: TOMA 1 and 3 rescues cognitive phenotypes in aged animals in a mouse model-specific manner, indicative by a reduction in tau oligomers levels. The TOMAs were shown to have strong reactivity with different tau oligomeric species in the different mouse models in vitro and ex vivo. Conclusion: This is the first study testing tau passive immunotherapy in aged animals and supports our previous reports on of the role of oligomeric tau in disease progression further validating the potential of TOMAs to rescue the late-stage disease pathology and phenotype. Moreover, this study suggests that multiple tau oligomeric strains exist in aged animals; therefore, it is of great importance to further characterize these strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bittar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rabab Al-Lahham
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kenya Moore
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Mauro Montalbano
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Cynthia Jerez
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Leiana Fung
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | - Anna Ellsworth
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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Padhi D, Govindaraju T. Mechanistic Insights for Drug Repurposing and the Design of Hybrid Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease. J Med Chem 2022; 65:7088-7105. [PMID: 35559617 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The heterogeneity and complex nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is attributed to several genetic risk factors and molecular culprits. The slow pace and increasing failure rate of conventional drug discovery has led to the exploration of complementary strategies based on repurposing approved drugs to treat AD. Drug repurposing (DR) is a cost-effective, low-risk, and efficient approach for identifying novel therapeutic candidates for AD treatment. Similarly, hybrid drug design through the integration of distinct pharmacophores from known or failed drugs and natural products is an interesting strategy to target the multifactorial nature of AD. In this Perspective, we discuss the potential of DR and highlight promising drug candidates that can be advanced for clinical trials, backed by a detailed discussion on their plausible mechanisms of action. Our article fosters research on the hidden potential of DR and hybrid drug design with the goal of unravelling new drugs and targets to tackle AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dikshaa Padhi
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, Karnataka 560064, India
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, Karnataka 560064, India
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7
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Sengupta U, Kayed R. Amyloid β, Tau, and α-Synuclein aggregates in the pathogenesis, prognosis, and therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 214:102270. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Patel K, Srivastava S, Kushwah S, Mani A. Perspectives on the Role of APOE4 as a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2021; 5:899-910. [PMID: 35088039 PMCID: PMC8764632 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is coupled with chronic cognitive dysfunction. AD cases are mostly late onset, and genetic risk factors like the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) play a key role in this process. APOE ɛ2, APOE ɛ3, and APOE ɛ4 are three key alleles in the human APOE gene. For late onset, APOE ɛ4 has the most potent risk factor while APOE ɛ2 plays a defensive role. Several studies suggests that APOE ɛ4 causes AD via different processes like neurofibrillary tangle formation by amyloid-β accumulation, exacerbated neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular disease, and synaptic loss. But the pathway is still unclear that which actions of APOE ɛ4 lead to AD development. Since APOE was found to contribute to many AD pathways, targeting APOE ɛ4 can lead to a hopeful plan of action in development of new drugs to target AD. In this review, we focus on recent studies and perspectives, focusing on APOE ɛ4 as a key molecule in therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Patel
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
| | - Siwangi Srivastava
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
| | - Shikha Kushwah
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
| | - Ashutosh Mani
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
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García-Morales V, González-Acedo A, Melguizo-Rodríguez L, Pardo-Moreno T, Costela-Ruiz VJ, Montiel-Troya M, Ramos-Rodríguez JJ. Current Understanding of the Physiopathology, Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1910. [PMID: 34944723 PMCID: PMC8698840 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. It is characterized by cognitive decline and progressive memory loss. The aim of this review was to update the state of knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic methods and therapeutic approach to AD. Currently, the amyloid cascade hypothesis remains the leading theory in the pathophysiology of AD. This hypothesis states that amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition triggers a chemical cascade of events leading to the development of AD dementia. The antemortem diagnosis of AD is still based on clinical parameters. Diagnostic procedures in AD include fluid-based biomarkers such as those present in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma or diagnostic imaging methods. Currently, the therapeutic armory available focuses on symptom control and is based on four pillars: pharmacological treatment where acetylcholinesterase inhibitors stand out; pharmacological treatment under investigation which includes drugs focused on the control of Aβ pathology and tau hyperphosphorylation; treatment focusing on risk factors such as diabetes; or nonpharmacological treatments aimed at preventing development of the disease or treating symptoms through occupational therapy or psychological help. AD remains a largely unknown disease. Further research is needed to identify new biomarkers and therapies that can prevent progression of the pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria García-Morales
- Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, Physiology Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain;
| | - Anabel González-Acedo
- Biomedical Group (BIO277), Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (A.G.-A.); (V.J.C.-R.)
| | - Lucía Melguizo-Rodríguez
- Biomedical Group (BIO277), Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (A.G.-A.); (V.J.C.-R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, Ibs Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Teresa Pardo-Moreno
- Instituto Nacional de Gestión Sanitaria (INGESA), Primary Health Care, 51003 Ceuta, Spain;
| | - Víctor Javier Costela-Ruiz
- Biomedical Group (BIO277), Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (A.G.-A.); (V.J.C.-R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, Ibs Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - María Montiel-Troya
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences (Ceuta), University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain;
| | - Juan José Ramos-Rodríguez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences (Ceuta), University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain;
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Kayed R, Dettmer U, Lesné SE. Soluble endogenous oligomeric α-synuclein species in neurodegenerative diseases: Expression, spreading, and cross-talk. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2021; 10:791-818. [PMID: 32508330 PMCID: PMC7458533 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-201965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
There is growing recognition in the field of neurodegenerative diseases that mixed proteinopathies are occurring at greater frequency than originally thought. This is particularly true for three amyloid proteins defining most of these neurological disorders, amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, and alpha-synuclein (αSyn). The co-existence and often co-localization of aggregated forms of these proteins has led to the emergence of concepts positing molecular interactions and cross-seeding between Aβ, tau, and αSyn aggregates. Amongst this trio, αSyn has received particular attention in this context during recent years due to its ability to modulate Aβ and tau aggregation in vivo, to interact at a molecular level with Aβ and tau in vivo and to cross-seed tau in mice. Here we provide a comprehensive, critical, and accessible review about the expression, role and nature of endogenous soluble αSyn oligomers because of recent developments in the understanding of αSyn multimerization, misfolding, aggregation, cross-talk, spreading and cross-seeding in neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease. We will also discuss our current understanding about the relative toxicity of endogenous αSyn oligomers in vivo and in vitro, and introduce potential opportunities to counter their deleterious effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakez Kayed
- Departments of Neurology & Neuroscience & Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA,George and Cynthia Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sylvain E. Lesné
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA,Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA,Correspondence to: Sylvain E. Lesné, PhD, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. Tel.: +1 612 626 8341; E-mail: ; Website: https://lesnelab.org
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11
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Yahi N, Di Scala C, Chahinian H, Fantini J. Innovative treatment targeting gangliosides aimed at blocking the formation of neurotoxic α-synuclein oligomers in Parkinson's disease. Glycoconj J 2021; 39:1-11. [PMID: 34328594 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-021-10012-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder which exhibits many of the characteristics of a pandemic. Current therapeutic strategies are centered on the dopaminergic system, with limited efficacy, so that a treatment that has a direct impact on the underlying disease pathogenesis is urgently needed. Although α-synuclein is a privileged target for such therapies, this protein has been in the past wrongly considered as exclusively intracellular, so that the impact of paracrine neurotoxicity mechanisms in PD have been largely ignored. In this article we review the data showing that lipid rafts act as plasma membrane machineries for the formation of α-synuclein pore-like oligomers which trigger an increase of intracellular Ca2+. This Ca2+ influx is responsible for a self-sustained cascade of neurotoxic events, including mitochondrial oxidative stress, tau phosphorylation, Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, Lewy body formation, and extracellular release of α-synuclein in exosomes. The first step of this cascade is the binding of α-synuclein to lipid raft gangliosides, suggesting that PD should be considered as both a proteinopathy and a ganglioside membrane disorder lipidopathy. Accordingly, blocking α-synuclein-ganglioside interactions should annihilate the whole neurotoxic cascade and stop disease progression. A pipeline of anti-oligomer molecules is under development, among which an in-silico designed synthetic peptide AmyP53 which is the first drug targeting gangliosides and thus able to prevent the formation of α-synuclein oligomers and all downstream neurotoxicity. These new therapeutic avenues challenge the current symptomatic approaches by finally targeting the root cause of PD through a long-awaited paradigm shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouara Yahi
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Coralie Di Scala
- Neuroscience Center-HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henri Chahinian
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Jacques Fantini
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France.
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12
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Zou X, Himbert S, Dujardin A, Juhasz J, Ros S, Stöver HDH, Rheinstädter MC. Curcumin and Homotaurine Suppress Amyloid-β 25-35 Aggregation in Synthetic Brain Membranes. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1395-1405. [PMID: 33826295 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides spontaneously aggregate into β- and cross-β-sheets in model brain membranes. These nanometer sized can fuse into larger micrometer sized clusters and become extracellular and serve as nuclei for further plaque and fibril growth. Curcumin and homotaurine represent two different types of Aβ aggregation inhibitors. While homotaurine is a peptic antiaggregant that binds to amyloid peptides, curcumin is a nonpeptic molecule that can inhibit aggregation by changing membrane properties. By using optical and fluorescent microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-vis spectroscopy, we study the effect of curcumin and homotaurine on Aβ25-35 aggregates in synthetic brain membranes. Both molecules partition spontaneously and uniformly in membranes and do not lead to observable membrane defects or disruption in our experiments. Both curcumin and homotaurine were found to significantly reduce the number of small, nanoscopic Aβ aggregates and the corresponding β- and cross-β-sheet signals. While a number of research projects focus on potential drug candidates that target Aβ peptides directly, membrane-lipid therapy explores membrane-mediated pathways to suppress peptide aggregation. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that membrane active drugs can be as efficient as peptide targeting drugs in inhibiting amyloid aggregation in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyuan Zou
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada
- Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Sebastian Himbert
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada
- Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Alix Dujardin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada
- Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Janos Juhasz
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada
- Department of Medical Physics, Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, ON L8V 5C2, Canada
| | - Samantha Ros
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Harald D. H. Stöver
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Maikel C. Rheinstädter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada
- Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
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13
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Davidowitz EJ, Krishnamurthy PK, Lopez P, Jimenez H, Adrien L, Davies P, Moe JG. In Vivo Validation of a Small Molecule Inhibitor of Tau Self-Association in htau Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 73:147-161. [PMID: 31771053 PMCID: PMC6957711 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Tau oligomers have been shown to transmit tau pathology from diseased neurons to healthy neurons through seeding, tau misfolding, and aggregation that is thought to play an influential role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. To develop a small molecule therapeutic for AD and related tauopathies, we have developed in vitro and cellular assays to select molecules inhibiting the first step in tau aggregation, the self-association of tau into oligomers. In vivo validation studies of an optimized lead compound were independently performed in the htau mouse model of tauopathy that expresses the human isoforms of tau without inherited tauopathy mutations that are irrelevant to AD. Treated mice did not show any adverse events related to the compound. The lead compound significantly reduced the level of self-associated tau and total and phosphorylated insoluble tau aggregates. The dose response was linear with respect to levels of compound in the brain. A confirmatory study was performed with male htau mice that gave consistent results. The results validated our screening approach by showing that targeting tau self-association can inhibit the entire tau aggregation pathway by using the selected and optimized lead compound whose activity translated from in vitro and cellular assays to an in vivo model of tau aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Heidy Jimenez
- The Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Leslie Adrien
- The Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Peter Davies
- The Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
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14
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Manchanda R, Fernandez-Fernandez A, Paluri SLA, Smith BR. Nanomaterials to target immunity. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 91:293-335. [PMID: 34099112 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Critical advances have recently been made in the field of immunotherapy, contributing to an improved understanding of how to harness and balance the power of immune responses in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Combining nanomedicine with immunotherapy provides the opportunity for customization, rational design, and targeting to minimize side effects and maximize efficacy. This review highlights current developments in the design and utilization of nano-based immunotherapy systems, including how rationally-designed nanosystems can target and modify immune cells to modulate immune responses in a therapeutic manner. We discuss the following topics: targeted immuno-engineered nanoformulations, commercial formulations, clinical applicability, challenges associated with current approaches, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romila Manchanda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States; Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez
- Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Sesha Lakshmi Arathi Paluri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States; Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Bryan Ronain Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States; Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
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15
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Latina V, Giacovazzo G, Cordella F, Balzamino BO, Micera A, Varano M, Marchetti C, Malerba F, Florio R, Ercole BB, La Regina F, Atlante A, Coccurello R, Di Angelantonio S, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Systemic delivery of a specific antibody targeting the pathological N-terminal truncated tau peptide reduces retinal degeneration in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:38. [PMID: 33750467 PMCID: PMC7942014 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01138-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Retina and optic nerve are sites of extra-cerebral manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein are detected in eyes from AD patients and transgenic animals in correlation with inflammation, reduction of synapses, visual deficits, loss of retinal cells and nerve fiber. However, neither the pathological relevance of other post-translational tau modifications-such as truncation with generation of toxic fragments-nor the potential neuroprotective action induced by their in vivo clearance have been investigated in the context of AD retinal degeneration. We have recently developed a monoclonal tau antibody (12A12mAb) which selectively targets the neurotoxic 20-22 kDa NH2-derived peptide generated from pathological truncation at the N-terminal domain of tau without cross-reacting with its full-length normal protein. Previous studies have shown that 12A12mAb, when intravenously (i.v.)-injected into 6-month-old Tg2576 animals, markedly improves their AD-like, behavioural and neuropathological syndrome. By taking advantage of this well-established tau-directed immunization regimen, we found that 12A12mAb administration also exerts a beneficial action on biochemical, morphological and metabolic parameters (i.e. APP/Aβ processing, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, synaptic proteins, microtubule stability, mitochondria-based energy production, neuronal death) associated with ocular injury in the AD phenotype. These findings prospect translational implications in the AD field by: (1) showing for the first time that cleavage of tau takes part in several pathological changes occurring in vivo in affected retinas and vitreous bodies and that its deleterious effects are successfully antagonized by administration of the specific 12A12mAb; (2) shedding further insights on the tight connections between neurosensory retina and brain, in particular following tau-based immunotherapy. In our view, the parallel response we detected in this preclinical animal model, both in the eye and in the hippocampus, following i.v. 12A12mAb injection opens novel diagnostic and therapeutic avenues for the clinical management of cerebral and extracerebral AD signs in human beings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Giacovazzo
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Cordella
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bijorn Omar Balzamino
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Micera
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Varano
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Malerba
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Bruni Ercole
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM)-CNR, Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Coccurello
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute for Complex System (ISC)-CNR, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
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16
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Castonguay AM, Gravel C, Lévesque M. Treating Parkinson's Disease with Antibodies: Previous Studies and Future Directions. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2021; 11:71-92. [PMID: 33104039 PMCID: PMC7990466 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-202221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Degenerating neurons contain abnormal aggregates called Lewy bodies, that are predominantly composed of the misfolded and/or mutated alpha-synuclein protein. Post-translational modifications, cellular stress, inflammation and gene mutations are thought to trigger its pathological misfolding and aggregation. With alpha-synuclein pathology being strongly associated with dopaminergic neuronal toxicity, strategies aimed to reduce its burden are expected to be beneficial in slowing disease progression. Moreover, multiple sources of evidence suggest a cell-to-cell transmission of pathological alpha-synuclein in a prion-like manner. Therefore, antibodies targeting extra- or intracellular alpha-synuclein could be efficient in limiting the aggregation and transmission. Several active and passive immunization strategies have been explored to target alpha-synuclein. Here, we summarize immunotherapeutic approaches that were tested in pre-clinical or clinical studies in the last two decades in an attempt to treat Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Castonguay
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Claude Gravel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Lévesque
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada
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17
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Kabir MT, Uddin MS, Mathew B, Das PK, Perveen A, Ashraf GM. Emerging Promise of Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A New Hope for the Development of Alzheimer's Vaccine. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:1214-1234. [PMID: 32321405 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200422105156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the characteristics of this devastating disorder include the progressive and disabling deficits in the cognitive functions including reasoning, attention, judgment, comprehension, memory, and language. OBJECTIVE In this article, we have focused on the recent progress that has been achieved in the development of an effective AD vaccine. SUMMARY Currently, available treatment options of AD are limited to deliver short-term symptomatic relief only. A number of strategies targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) have been developed in order to treat or prevent AD. In order to exert an effective immune response, an AD vaccine should contain adjuvants that can induce an effective anti-inflammatory T helper 2 (Th2) immune response. AD vaccines should also possess the immunogens which have the capacity to stimulate a protective immune response against various cytotoxic Aβ conformers. The induction of an effective vaccine's immune response would necessitate the parallel delivery of immunogen to dendritic cells (DCs) and their priming to stimulate a Th2-polarized response. The aforesaid immune response is likely to mediate the generation of neutralizing antibodies against the neurotoxic Aβ oligomers (AβOs) and also anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus preventing the AD-related inflammation. CONCLUSION Since there is an age-related decline in the immune functions, therefore vaccines are more likely to prevent AD instead of providing treatment. AD vaccines might be an effective and convenient approach to avoid the treatment-related huge expense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Division of Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ahalia School of Pharmacy, Palakkad, India
| | | | - Asma Perveen
- Glocal School of Life Sciences, Glocal University, Saharanpur, India
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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18
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Wang Y, Xu B, Zhou J, Wang J, Wang G, Cao Y. An Aβ3-10-KLH vaccine decreases Aβ plaques and astrocytes and microglia activation in the brain of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2021. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2021-020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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19
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Borsom EM, Lee K, Cope EK. Do the Bugs in Your Gut Eat Your Memories? Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E814. [PMID: 33153085 PMCID: PMC7693835 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human microbiota is composed of trillions of microbial cells inhabiting the oral cavity, skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, airways, and reproductive organs. The gut microbiota is composed of dynamic communities of microorganisms that communicate bidirectionally with the brain via cytokines, neurotransmitters, hormones, and secondary metabolites, known as the gut microbiota-brain axis. The gut microbiota-brain axis is suspected to be involved in the development of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. AD is an irreversible, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by amyloid-β plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation. Microglia and astrocytes, the resident immune cells of the CNS, play an integral role in AD development, as neuroinflammation is a driving factor of disease severity. The gut microbiota-brain axis is a novel target for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics to modulate critical neuroimmune and metabolic pathways. Potential therapeutics include probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and dietary intervention. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of the gut microbiota-brain axis and neuroinflammation in the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease, limitations of current research, and potential for gut microbiota-brain axis targeted therapies.
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20
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Pinheiro L, Faustino C. Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Amyloid-β in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2020; 16:418-452. [PMID: 30907320 DOI: 10.2174/1567205016666190321163438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder linked to protein misfolding and aggregation. AD is pathologically characterized by senile plaques formed by extracellular Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and Intracellular Neurofibrillary Tangles (NFT) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Extensive synaptic loss and neuronal degeneration are responsible for memory impairment, cognitive decline and behavioral dysfunctions typical of AD. Amyloidosis has been implicated in the depression of acetylcholine synthesis and release, overactivation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and increased intracellular calcium levels that result in excitotoxic neuronal degeneration. Current drugs used in AD treatment are either cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA receptor antagonists; however, they provide only symptomatic relief and do not alter the progression of the disease. Aβ is the product of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) processing after successive cleavage by β- and γ-secretases while APP proteolysis by α-secretase results in non-amyloidogenic products. According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, Aβ dyshomeostasis results in the accumulation and aggregation of Aβ into soluble oligomers and insoluble fibrils. The former are synaptotoxic and can induce tau hyperphosphorylation while the latter deposit in senile plaques and elicit proinflammatory responses, contributing to oxidative stress, neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation. Aβ-protein-targeted therapeutic strategies are thus a promising disease-modifying approach for the treatment and prevention of AD. This review summarizes recent findings on Aβ-protein targeted AD drugs, including β-secretase inhibitors, γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators, α-secretase activators, direct inhibitors of Aβ aggregation and immunotherapy targeting Aβ, focusing mainly on those currently under clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Pinheiro
- iMed.ULisboa - Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Célia Faustino
- iMed.ULisboa - Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
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21
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Kwon S, Iba M, Kim C, Masliah E. Immunotherapies for Aging-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases-Emerging Perspectives and New Targets. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:935-954. [PMID: 32347461 PMCID: PMC7222955 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00853-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia (VCID) have no disease-modifying treatments to date and now constitute a dementia crisis that affects 5 million in the USA and over 50 million worldwide. The most common pathological hallmark of these age-related neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of specific proteins, including amyloid beta (Aβ), tau, α-synuclein (α-syn), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43), and repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) peptides, in the intra- and extracellular spaces of selected brain regions. Whereas it remains controversial whether these accumulations are pathogenic or merely a byproduct of disease, the majority of therapeutic research has focused on clearing protein aggregates. Immunotherapies have garnered particular attention for their ability to target specific protein strains and conformations as well as promote clearance. Immunotherapies can also be neuroprotective: by neutralizing extracellular protein aggregates, they reduce spread, synaptic damage, and neuroinflammation. This review will briefly examine the current state of research in immunotherapies against the 3 most commonly targeted proteins for age-related neurodegenerative disease: Aβ, tau, and α-syn. The discussion will then turn to combinatorial strategies that enhance the effects of immunotherapy against aggregating protein, followed by new potential targets of immunotherapy such as aging-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somin Kwon
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michiyo Iba
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Changyoun Kim
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- Division of Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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22
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Mamun AA, Uddin MS, Bin Bashar MF, Zaman S, Begum Y, Bulbul IJ, Islam MS, Sarwar MS, Mathew B, Amran MS, Md Ashraf G, Bin-Jumah MN, Mousa SA, Abdel-Daim MM. Molecular Insight into the Therapeutic Promise of Targeting APOE4 for Alzheimer's Disease. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:5086250. [PMID: 32509144 PMCID: PMC7245681 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5086250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes chronic cognitive dysfunction. Most of the AD cases are late onset, and the apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoform is a key genetic risk factor. The APOE gene has 3 key alleles in humans including APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4. Among them, APOE4 is the most potent genetic risk factor for late-onset AD (LOAD), while APOE2 has a defensive effect. Research data suggest that APOE4 leads to the pathogenesis of AD through various processes such as accelerated beta-amyloid aggregations that raised neurofibrillary tangle formation, cerebrovascular diseases, aggravated neuroinflammation, and synaptic loss. However, the precise mode of actions regarding in what way APOE4 leads to AD pathology remains unclear. Since APOE contributes to several pathological pathways of AD, targeting APOE4 might serve as a promising strategy for the development of novel drugs to combat AD. In this review, we focus on the recent studies about APOE4-targeted therapeutic strategies that have been advanced in animal models and are being prepared for use in humans for the management of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Al Mamun
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Fahim Bin Bashar
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sonia Zaman
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Yesmin Begum
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Md. Shahid Sarwar
- Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Division of Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ahalia School of Pharmacy, Palakkad, India
| | - Md. Shah Amran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - May N. Bin-Jumah
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11474, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shaker A. Mousa
- Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, New York, NY 12144, USA
| | - Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
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23
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Toral-Rios D, Pichardo-Rojas PS, Alonso-Vanegas M, Campos-Peña V. GSK3β and Tau Protein in Alzheimer's Disease and Epilepsy. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:19. [PMID: 32256316 PMCID: PMC7089874 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia present in older adults; its etiology involves genetic and environmental factors. In recent years, epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between AD and chronic epilepsy since a considerable number of patients with AD may present seizures later on. Although the pathophysiology of seizures in AD is not completely understood, it could represent the result of several molecular mechanisms linked to amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ) accumulation and the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, which may induce an imbalance in the release and recapture of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, structural alterations of the neuronal cytoskeleton, synaptic loss, and neuroinflammation. These changes could favor the recurrent development of hypersynchronous discharges and epileptogenesis, which, in a chronic state, favor the neurodegenerative process and influence the cognitive decline observed in AD. Supporting this correlation, histopathological studies in the brain tissue of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients have revealed the presence of Aβ deposits and the accumulation of tau protein in the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), accompanied by an increase of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) activity that may lead to an imminent alteration in posttranslational modifications of some microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), mainly tau. The present review is focused on understanding the pathological aspects of GSK3β and tau in the development of TLE and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danira Toral-Rios
- Departamento de Fisiología Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Pavel S Pichardo-Rojas
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico
| | - Mario Alonso-Vanegas
- Centro Internacional de Cirug#x000ED;a de Epilepsia, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, HMG, Hospital Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Victoria Campos-Peña
- Laboratorio Experimental de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
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24
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Colom-Cadena M, Spires-Jones T, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Caggiano A, DeKosky ST, Fillit H, Harrison JE, Schneider LS, Scheltens P, de Haan W, Grundman M, van Dyck CH, Izzo NJ, Catalano SM. The clinical promise of biomarkers of synapse damage or loss in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2020; 12:21. [PMID: 32122400 PMCID: PMC7053087 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00588-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synapse damage and loss are fundamental to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and lead to reduced cognitive function. The goal of this review is to address the challenges of forging new clinical development approaches for AD therapeutics that can demonstrate reduction of synapse damage or loss. The key points of this review include the following: Synapse loss is a downstream effect of amyloidosis, tauopathy, inflammation, and other mechanisms occurring in AD.Synapse loss correlates most strongly with cognitive decline in AD because synaptic function underlies cognitive performance.Compounds that halt or reduce synapse damage or loss have a strong rationale as treatments of AD.Biomarkers that measure synapse degeneration or loss in patients will facilitate clinical development of such drugs.The ability of methods to sensitively measure synapse density in the brain of a living patient through synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, concentrations of synaptic proteins (e.g., neurogranin or synaptotagmin) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or functional imaging techniques such as quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) provides a compelling case to use these types of measurements as biomarkers that quantify synapse damage or loss in clinical trials in AD. CONCLUSION A number of emerging biomarkers are able to measure synapse injury and loss in the brain and may correlate with cognitive function in AD. These biomarkers hold promise both for use in diagnostics and in the measurement of therapeutic successes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martí Colom-Cadena
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tara Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | | | - Steven T DeKosky
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Howard Fillit
- Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - John E Harrison
- Metis Cognition Ltd, Kilmington, UK
- Alzheimer Center, AUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Phillip Scheltens
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem de Haan
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Christopher H van Dyck
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit and Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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25
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Ghosh S, Durgvanshi S, Agarwal S, Raghunath M, Sinha JK. Current Status of Drug Targets and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies in the Management of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:883-903. [PMID: 32348223 PMCID: PMC7569315 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x18666200429011823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease affecting the elderly. AD is associated with a progressive decline in memory and cognitive abilities, drastic changes in behavioural patterns and other psychiatric manifestations. It leads to a significant decline in the quality of life at personal, household as well as national level. Although AD was described about hundred years back and multiple theories have been proposed, its exact pathophysiology is unknown. There is no cure for AD and the life expectancy of AD patients remains low at 3-9 years. An accurate understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) involved in the pathogenesis of AD is imperative to devise a successful treatment strategy. This review explains and summarises the current understanding of different therapeutic strategies based on various molecular pathways known to date. Different strategies based on anti-amyloid pathology, glutamatergic pathway, anti-tau, neuroprotection through neurotrophic factors and cholinergic neurotransmission have been discussed. Further, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, nutraceuticals, and dietary interventions has also been explained in the management of AD. It further describes different pharmacological and dietary interventions being used in treating and/or managing AD. Additionally, this article provides a thorough review of the literature for improving the therapeutic paradigm of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jitendra Kumar Sinha
- Address correspondence to this author at the Amity Institute of Neuropsychology and Neurosciences (AINN), Amity University UP, Sector-125, Noida 201303, India; Tel: +91-120-4392971, +91-8919679822; Emails: ,
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26
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Bittar A, Bhatt N, Kayed R. Advances and considerations in AD tau-targeted immunotherapy. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104707. [PMID: 31841678 PMCID: PMC6980703 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The multifactorial and complex nature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has made it difficult to identify therapeutic targets that are causally involved in the disease process. However, accumulating evidence from experimental and clinical studies that investigate the early disease process point towards the required role of tau in AD etiology. Importantly, a large number of studies investigate and characterize the plethora of pathological forms of tau protein involved in disease onset and propagation. Immunotherapy is one of the most clinical approaches anticipated to make a difference in the field of AD therapeutics. Tau –targeted immunotherapy is the new direction after the failure of amyloid beta (Aß)-targeted immunotherapy and the growing number of studies that highlight the Aß-independent disease process. It is now well established that immunotherapy alone will most likely be insufficient as a monotherapy. Therefore, this review discusses updates on tau-targeted immunotherapy studies, AD-relevant tau species, updates on promising biomarkers and a prospect on combination therapies to surround the disease propagation in an efficient and timely manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bittar
- Department of Neurology, The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
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27
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Nguyen L, Montrasio F, Pattamatta A, Tusi SK, Bardhi O, Meyer KD, Hayes L, Nakamura K, Banez-Coronel M, Coyne A, Guo S, Laboissonniere LA, Gu Y, Narayanan S, Smith B, Nitsch RM, Kankel MW, Rushe M, Rothstein J, Zu T, Grimm J, Ranum LPW. Antibody Therapy Targeting RAN Proteins Rescues C9 ALS/FTD Phenotypes in C9orf72 Mouse Model. Neuron 2019; 105:645-662.e11. [PMID: 31831332 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The intronic C9orf72 G4C2 expansion, the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTD, produces sense- and antisense-expansion RNAs and six dipeptide repeat-associated, non-ATG (RAN) proteins, but their roles in disease are unclear. We generated high-affinity human antibodies targeting GA or GP RAN proteins. These antibodies cross the blood-brain barrier and co-localize with intracellular RAN aggregates in C9-ALS/FTD BAC mice. In cells, α-GA1 interacts with TRIM21, and α-GA1 treatment reduced GA levels, increased GA turnover, and decreased RAN toxicity and co-aggregation of proteasome and autophagy proteins to GA aggregates. In C9-BAC mice, α-GA1 reduced GA as well as GP and GR proteins, improved behavioral deficits, decreased neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, and increased survival. Glycosylation of the Fc region of α-GA1 is important for cell entry and efficacy. These data demonstrate that RAN proteins drive C9-ALS/FTD in C9-BAC transgenic mice and establish a novel therapeutic approach for C9orf72 ALS/FTD and other RAN-protein diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Nguyen
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Amrutha Pattamatta
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Solaleh Khoramian Tusi
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Olgert Bardhi
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Kevin D Meyer
- Neurimmune AG, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; Institute for Regenerative Medicine-IREM, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Lindsey Hayes
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Katsuya Nakamura
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Monica Banez-Coronel
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Alyssa Coyne
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Shu Guo
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lauren A Laboissonniere
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yuanzheng Gu
- Neuromuscular and Movement Disorders, Biogen, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Smith
- Neuromuscular and Movement Disorders, Biogen, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Neurimmune AG, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; Institute for Regenerative Medicine-IREM, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Mark W Kankel
- Neuromuscular and Movement Disorders, Biogen, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mia Rushe
- Neuromuscular and Movement Disorders, Biogen, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jeffrey Rothstein
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tao Zu
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jan Grimm
- Neurimmune AG, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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28
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Meijerink M, van den Broek TJ, Dulos R, Garthoff J, Knippels L, Knipping K, Harthoorn L, Houben G, Verschuren L, van Bilsen J. Network-Based Selection of Candidate Markers and Assays to Assess the Impact of Oral Immune Interventions on Gut Functions. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2672. [PMID: 31798593 PMCID: PMC6863931 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
To assess the safety and efficacy of oral immune interventions, it is important and required by regulation to assess the impact of those interventions not only on the immune system, but also on other organs such as the gut as the porte d'entrée. Despite clear indications that the immune system interacts with several physiological functions of the gut, it is still unknown which pathways and molecules are crucial to assessing the impact of nutritional immune interventions on gut functioning. Here we used a network-based systems biology approach to clarify the molecular relationships between immune system and gut functioning and to identify crucial biomarkers to assess effects on gut functions upon nutritional immune interventions. First, the different gut functionalities were categorized based on literature and EFSA guidance documents. Moreover, an overview of the current assays and methods to measure gut function was generated. Secondly, gut-function related biological processes and adverse events were selected and subsequently linked to the physiological functions of the GI tract. Thirdly, database terms and annotations from the Gene ontology database and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) related to the previously selected gut-function related processes were selected. Next, database terms and annotations were used to identify the pathways and genes involved in those gut functionalities. In parallel, information from CTD was used to identify immune disease related genes. The resulting lists of both gut and immune function genes showed an overlap of 753 genes out of 1,296 gut-function related genes indicating the close gut-immune relationship. Using bioinformatics enrichment tools DAVID and Panther, the identified gut-immune markers were predicted to be involved in motility, barrier function, the digestion and absorption of vitamins and fat, regulation of the digestive system and gastric acid, and protection from injurious or allergenic material. Concluding, here we provide a promising systems biology approach to identify genes that help to clarify the relationships between immune system and gut functioning, with the aim to identify candidate biomarkers to monitor nutritional immune intervention assays for safety and efficacy in the general population. This knowledge helps to optimize future study designs to predict effects of nutritional immune intervention on gut functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Léon Knippels
- Danone Nutricia Research, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Karen Knipping
- Danone Nutricia Research, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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29
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Devitt G, Rice W, Crisford A, Nandhakumar I, Mudher A, Mahajan S. Conformational Evolution of Molecular Signatures during Amyloidogenic Protein Aggregation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:4593-4611. [PMID: 31661242 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation is a pathological hallmark of proteinopathies such as Alzheimer's disease and results in the deposition of β-sheet-rich amyloidogenic protein aggregates. Such proteinopathies can be classified by the identity of one or more aggregated proteins, with recent evidence also suggesting that distinct molecular conformers (strains) of the same protein can be observed in different diseases, as well is in subtypes of the same disease. Therefore, methods for the quantification of pathological changes in protein conformation are central to understanding and treating proteinopathies. In this work, the evolution of Raman spectroscopic molecular signatures of three conformationally distinct proteins, bovine serum albumin (α-helical-rich), β2-microglobulin (β-sheet-rich), and tau (natively disordered), was assessed during aggregation into oligomers and fibrils. The morphological evolution was tracked using atomic force microscopy and corresponding conformational changes were assessed by their Raman signatures acquired in both wet and dried conditions. A deconvolution model was developed which allowed us to quantify the conformation of the nonregular protein tau, as well as for the oligomeric and fibrillar species of each of the proteins. Principle component analysis of the fingerprint region allowed further identification of the distinguishing spectral features and unsupervised distinction. While an increase in β-sheet is seen on aggregation, crucially, however, each protein also retains a significant proportion of its native monomeric structure after aggregation. Thus, spectral analysis of each aggregated species, oligomeric, as well as fibrillar, for each protein resulted in a unique and quantitative "conformational fingerprint". This approach allowed us to provide the first differential detection of both oligomers and fibrils of the three different amyloidogenic proteins, including tau, whose aggregates have never before been interrogated using spontaneous Raman spectroscopy. Quantitative "conformational fingerprinting" by Raman spectroscopy thus demonstrates its huge potential and utility in understanding proteinopathic disease mechanisms and for providing strain-specific early diagnostic markers and targets for disease-modifying therapies.
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30
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Lardenoije R, van den Hove DL, Jung SE, Havermans M, Blackburn P, Liu B, Rutten BP, Lemere CA. Active Amyloid-β Vaccination Results in Epigenetic Changes in the Hippocampus of an Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Mouse Model. Curr Alzheimer Res 2019; 16:861-870. [DOI: 10.2174/1567205016666190827122009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background:
While evidence accumulates for a role of epigenetic modifications in the
pathophysiological cascade of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyloid-β (Aβ)-targeted active immunotherapy
approaches are under investigation to prevent or slow the progression of AD. The impact of Aβ active
vaccines on epigenetic markers has not been studied thus far.
Objective:
The current study aims to establish the relationship between active immunotherapy with a
MER5101-based vaccine (consisting of Aβ1-15 copies conjugated with a 7 aa spacer to the diphtheria
toxoid carrier protein, formulated in a Th2-biased adjuvant) and epigenetic DNA modifications in the
hippocampus of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice.
Methods:
As we previously reported, immunotherapy started when the mice were 10 months of age and
behavioral testing occurred at 14 months of age, after which the mice were sacrificed for further analysis
of their brains. In this add-on study, global levels of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, and
DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) were determined using quantitative immunohistochemistry, and
compared to our previously analyzed immunization-induced changes in AD-related neuropathology and
cognition.
Results:
Active immunization did not affect global DNA methylation levels but instead, resulted in decreased
DNA hydroxymethylation and DNMT3A levels. Independent of immunization, inverse correlations
with behavioral performance were observed for levels of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation,
as well as DNMT3A, while Aβ pathology and synaptic markers did not correlate with DNA methylation
levels but did positively correlate with DNA hydroxymethylation and levels of DNMT3A.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that active Aβ vaccination has significant effects on the epigenome in
the hippocampus of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, and suggest that DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation
may be involved in cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Lardenoije
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Daniël L.A. van den Hove
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | - Sophie E. Jung
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | - Monique Havermans
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | | | - Bin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Bart P.F. Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | - Cynthia A. Lemere
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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31
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Loera-Valencia R, Cedazo-Minguez A, Kenigsberg PA, Page G, Duarte AI, Giusti P, Zusso M, Robert P, Frisoni GB, Cattaneo A, Zille M, Boltze J, Cartier N, Buee L, Johansson G, Winblad B. Current and emerging avenues for Alzheimer's disease drug targets. J Intern Med 2019; 286:398-437. [PMID: 31286586 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most frequent cause of dementia, is escalating as a global epidemic, and so far, there is neither cure nor treatment to alter its progression. The most important feature of the disease is neuronal death and loss of cognitive functions, caused probably from several pathological processes in the brain. The main neuropathological features of AD are widely described as amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of the aggregated protein tau, which contribute to the disease. Nevertheless, AD brains suffer from a variety of alterations in function, such as energy metabolism, inflammation and synaptic activity. The latest decades have seen an explosion of genes and molecules that can be employed as targets aiming to improve brain physiology, which can result in preventive strategies for AD. Moreover, therapeutics using these targets can help AD brains to sustain function during the development of AD pathology. Here, we review broadly recent information for potential targets that can modify AD through diverse pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches including gene therapy. We propose that AD could be tackled not only using combination therapies including Aβ and tau, but also considering insulin and cholesterol metabolism, vascular function, synaptic plasticity, epigenetics, neurovascular junction and blood-brain barrier targets that have been studied recently. We also make a case for the role of gut microbiota in AD. Our hope is to promote the continuing research of diverse targets affecting AD and promote diverse targeting as a near-future strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Loera-Valencia
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Centre for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - A Cedazo-Minguez
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Centre for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - G Page
- Neurovascular Unit and Cognitive impairments - EA3808, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - A I Duarte
- CNC- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - P Giusti
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - M Zusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - P Robert
- CoBTeK - lab, CHU Nice University Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - G B Frisoni
- University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Cattaneo
- University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - M Zille
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Lübeck, Germany
| | - J Boltze
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - N Cartier
- Preclinical research platform, INSERM U1169/MIRCen Commissariat à l'énergie atomique, Fontenay aux Roses, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
| | - L Buee
- Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, CHU-Lille, Inserm, Univ. Lille, Lille, France
| | - G Johansson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Centre for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - B Winblad
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Centre for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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32
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Rösler TW, Tayaranian Marvian A, Brendel M, Nykänen NP, Höllerhage M, Schwarz SC, Hopfner F, Koeglsperger T, Respondek G, Schweyer K, Levin J, Villemagne VL, Barthel H, Sabri O, Müller U, Meissner WG, Kovacs GG, Höglinger GU. Four-repeat tauopathies. Prog Neurobiol 2019; 180:101644. [PMID: 31238088 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein with versatile functions in the dynamic assembly of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Four-repeat (4R-) tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases defined by cytoplasmic inclusions predominantly composed of tau protein isoforms with four microtubule-binding domains. Progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, argyrophilic grain disease or glial globular tauopathy belong to the group of 4R-tauopathies. The present review provides an introduction in the current concept of 4R-tauopathies, including an overview of the neuropathological and clinical spectrum of these diseases. It describes the genetic and environmental etiological factors, as well as the contemporary knowledge about the pathophysiological mechanisms, including post-translational modifications, aggregation and fragmentation of tau, as well as the role of protein degradation mechanisms. Furthermore, current theories about disease propagation are discussed, involving different extracellular tau species and their cellular release and uptake mechanisms. Finally, molecular diagnostic tools for 4R-tauopathies, including tau-PET and fluid biomarkers, and investigational therapeutic strategies are presented. In summary, we report on 4R-tauopathies as overarching disease concept based on a shared pathophysiological concept, and highlight the challenges and opportunities on the way towards a causal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Rösler
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Amir Tayaranian Marvian
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Niko-Petteri Nykänen
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Höllerhage
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sigrid C Schwarz
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Koeglsperger
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Gesine Respondek
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schweyer
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Levin
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Victor L Villemagne
- Dept. of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Dept. of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Henryk Barthel
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Osama Sabri
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrich Müller
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Wassilios G Meissner
- Service de Neurologie, CHU Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, 33000 Bordeaux, France; CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Dept. of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand; New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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Prpar Mihevc S, Majdič G. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction and Alzheimer's Disease - Two Facets of the Same Disease? Front Neurosci 2019; 13:604. [PMID: 31249505 PMCID: PMC6582309 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases present a major and increasing burden in the societies worldwide. With aging populations, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing, yet there are no effective cures and very few treatment options are available. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative conditions and although the pathology is well studied, the pathogenesis of this debilitating illness is still poorly understood. This is, among other reasons, also due to the lack of good animal models as laboratory rodents do not develop spontaneous neurodegenerative diseases and human Alzheimer’s disease is only partially mimicked by transgenic rodent models. On the other hand, older dogs commonly develop canine cognitive dysfunction, a disease that is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in many aspects. Dogs show cognitive deficits that could be paralleled to human symptoms such as disorientation, memory loss, changes in behavior, and in their brains, beta amyloid plaques are commonly detected both in extracellular space as senile plaques and around the blood vessels. Dogs could be therefore potentially a very good model for studying pathological process and novel treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease. In the present article, we will review the current knowledge about the pathogenesis of canine cognitive dysfunction, its similarities and dissimilarities with Alzheimer’s disease, and developments of novel treatments for these two diseases with a focus on canine cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Prpar Mihevc
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute for Preclinical Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Majdič
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute for Preclinical Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Medical Faculty, Institute for Physiology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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Marciani DJ. Promising Results from Alzheimer's Disease Passive Immunotherapy Support the Development of a Preventive Vaccine. RESEARCH 2019; 2019:5341375. [PMID: 31549066 PMCID: PMC6750119 DOI: 10.34133/2019/5341375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The apparently near-term effects of the monoclonal antibody BAN2401 in slowing the progression of prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD) has created cautious optimism about the therapeutic use of antibodies that neutralize cytotoxic soluble amyloid-β aggregates, rather than removing plaque. Plaque being protective, as it immobilizes cytotoxic amyloid-β, rather than AD's causative agent. The presence of natural antibodies against cytotoxic amyloid-β implies the existence of a protective anti-AD immunity. Hence, for vaccines to induce a similar immunoresponse that prevents and/or delays the onset of AD, they must have adjuvants that stimulate a sole anti-inflammatory Th2 immunity, plus immunogens that induce a protective immunoresponse against diverse cytotoxic amyloid-β conformers. Indeed, amyloid-β pleomorphism may explain the lack of long-term protection by monoclonal antibodies that neutralize single conformers, like aducanumab. A situation that would allow new cytotoxic conformers to escape neutralization by previously effective monoclonal antibodies. Stimulation of a vaccine's effective immunoresponse would require the concurrent delivery of immunogen to dendritic cells and their priming, to induce a polarized Th2 immunity. An immunoresponse that would produce besides neutralizing antibodies against neurotoxic amyloid-β oligomers, anti-inflammatory cytokines; preventing inflammation that aggravates AD. Because of age-linked immune decline, vaccines would be significantly more effective in preventing, rather than treating AD. Considering the amyloid-β's role in tau's pathological hyperphosphorylation and their synergism in AD, the development of preventive vaccines against both amyloid-β and tau should be considered. Due to convenience and cost, vaccines may be the only option available to many countries to forestall the impending AD epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Marciani
- Qantu Therapeutics, Inc., 612 E. Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75057, USA
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is characterized by extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which are considered as major targets for AD therapies. However, no effective therapy is available to cure or prevent the progression of AD up until now. Accumulation of NFTs, which consist of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau, is directly correlated with the degree of dementia in AD patients. Emerging evidence indicates that the prion-like seeding and spreading of tau pathology may be the key driver of AD. In the past decades, greater understanding of tau pathway reveals new targets for the development of specific therapies. Here, we review the recent research progress in the mechanism underlying tau pathology in AD and briefly introduce tau-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, PR China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York 10314, United States
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapeutics – 1: Repeated clinical failures continue to question the amyloid hypothesis of AD and the current understanding of AD causality. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 158:359-375. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Xu M, Zhou H, Liu Y, Sun J, Xie W, Zhao P, Liu J. Ultrasound-Excited Protoporphyrin IX-Modified Multifunctional Nanoparticles as a Strong Inhibitor of Tau Phosphorylation and β-Amyloid Aggregation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:32965-32980. [PMID: 30192126 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b08230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become one of the most serious societal problems globally, with no effective treatments. Parenchymal accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles are the hallmarks of AD. Their possible interactions and synergistic effects in AD have been gradually elucidated. The failure of many clinical trials suggests that it is difficult to treat AD with a focus on a single target. Instead, multiple targets may be an important direction for AD drug research. In this study, we used protoporphyrin IX (PX)-modified oxidized mesoporous carbon nanospheres (OMCN) (PX@OMCN@PEG(OP)@RVGs) as a novel AD multifunctional nanodrug having multiple targets. The nanodrug efficiently inhibits tau phosphorylation. In addition, the use of PX with focused ultrasound triggered the production of reactive oxygen species that significantly inhibited Aβ aggregation. Both approaches notably increased the cognitive level of APP/PS1 transgenic (Tg) mice and ultimately achieved dual-target inhibition of AD. Furthermore, the safe and effective delivery of PX across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) due to modification of the RVG peptide was demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. The favorable photothermal effect of the nanoparticles improved the BBB permeability of PX@OP@RVGs under near-infrared irradiation. The results demonstrated that the novel PX@OP@RVG multifunctional nanomedicine has a dual-target treatment capability for AD and can traverse the BBB, indicating the potential for the effective treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Xu
- Department of Chemistry , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Chemistry , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Yanan Liu
- Department of Chemistry , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Chemistry , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Wenjie Xie
- Department of Chemistry , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Chemistry , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
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