Membrane cholesterol content plays a key role in the neurotoxicity of β-amyloid: implications for Alzheimer's disease

RAGE induces physiological activation of NADPH oxidase in neurons and astrocytes and neuroprotection

The transmembrane receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a signaling receptor for many damage- and pathogen-associated molecules. Activation of RAGE is associated with inflammation and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Although several sources of ROS have been previously suggested, how RAGE induces ROS production is still unclear, considering the multiple targets of pathogen-associated molecules. Here, using acute brain slices and primary co-culture of cortical neurons and astrocytes, we investigated the effects of a range of synthetic peptides corresponding to the fragments of the RAGE V-domain on redox signaling. We found that the synthetic fragment (60-76) of the RAGE V-domain induces activation of ROS production in astrocytes and neurons from the primary co-culture and acute brain slices. This effect occurred through activation of RAGE and could be blocked by a RAGE inhibitor. Activation of RAGE by the synthetic fragment stimulates ROS production in NADPH oxidase (NOX). This RAGE-induced NOX activation produced only minor decreases in glutathione levels and increased the rate of lipid peroxidation, although it also reduced basal and β-amyloid induced cell death in neurons and astrocytes. Thus, specific activation of RAGE induces redox signaling through NOX, which can be a part of a cell protective mechanism.

Mitochondrial Permeability Transition, Cell Death and Neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic conditions occurring when neurons die in specific brain regions that lead to loss of movement or cognitive functions. Despite the progress in understanding the mechanisms of this pathology, currently no cure exists to treat these types of diseases: for some of them the only help is alleviating the associated symptoms. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of most the neurodegenerative disorders. The fast and transient permeability of mitochondria (the mitochondrial permeability transition, mPT) has been shown to be an initial step in the mechanism of apoptotic and necrotic cell death, which acts as a regulator of tissue regeneration for postmitotic neurons as it leads to the irreparable loss of cells and cell function. In this study, we review the role of the mitochondrial permeability transition in neuronal death in major neurodegenerative diseases, covering the inductors of mPTP opening in neurons, including the major ones-free radicals and calcium-and we discuss perspectives and difficulties in the development of a neuroprotective strategy based on the inhibition of mPTP in neurodegenerative disorders.

Characterizing the transmembrane domains of ADAM10 and BACE1 and the impact of membrane composition

The β-secretase, BACE1, and the α-secretase, ADAM10, are known to competitively cleave amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the amyloid cascades of Alzheimer's disease. Cleavage of APP by BACE1 produces a 99-residue C-terminal peptide (APP-C99) that is subsequently cleaved by γ-secretase to form amyloid-β (Aβ) protein, whereas cleavage of APP by ADAM10 is nonamyloidogenic. It has been speculated that ADAM10/APP and BACE1/APP interactions are regulated by colocalization within and outside of liquid-ordered membrane domains; however, the mechanism of this regulation and the character of the proteins' transmembrane domains are not well understood. In this work, we have developed and characterized minimal congener sequences for the transmembrane domains of ADAM10 and BACE1 using a multiscale modeling approach combining both temperature replica exchange and conventional molecular dynamics simulations based on the coarse-grained Martini2.2 and all-atom CHARMM36 force fields. Our results show that membrane composition impacts the character of the transmembrane domains of BACE1 and ADAM10, adding credence to the speculation that membrane domains are involved in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease.

Bioinformatic analysis of biological pathways in coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease

Aim. Using bioinformatic tools, to perform a pathway enrichment analysis in Alzheimer’s disease and coronary heart disease (CHD).

Materials and methods. Genes contributing to susceptibility to CHD and Alzheimer’s disease were obtained from the public database DisGeNET (Database of Gene – Disease Associations). A pathway enrichment analysis was performed in the ClueGO Cytoscape plug-in (version 3.6.0) using hypergeometric distribution and the KEGG and Reactome databases.

Results. The identified genes contributing to susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease and CHD are included in 69 common signaling pathways, grouped into the following subgroups: cell death signaling pathways (1); signaling pathways regulating immune responses (2); signaling pathways responsible for fatty acid metabolism (3); signaling pathways involved in the functioning of the nervous system (4), cardiovascular system (5), and endocrine system (6).

Conclusion. Following the performed analysis, we identified possible associations between processes involving genetic factors and their products in CHD and Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, we assumed that susceptibility genes involved in the implementation of these pathways regulate apoptosis, production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, lipid metabolism, β-amyloid formation, and angiogenesis.

The Association between Electronegative Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol L5 and Cognitive Functions in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

L5, the most electronegative subfraction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), may play a role in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular dysfunction and neurodegeneration. We hypothesized that serum L5 is associated with cognitive impairment and investigated the association between serum L5 levels and cognitive performance in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This cross-sectional study conducted in Taiwan included 22 patients with MCI and 40 older people with normal cognition (healthy controls). All participants were assessed with the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) and a CASI-estimated Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-CE). We compared the serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, and L5 levels between the MCI and control groups and examined the association between lipid profiles and cognitive performance in these groups. The serum L5 concentration and total CASI scores were significantly negatively correlated in the MCI group. Serum L5% was negatively correlated with MMSE-CE and total CASI scores, particularly in the orientation and language subdomains. No significant correlation between the serum L5 level and cognitive performance was noted in the control group. Conclusions: Serum L5, instead of TC or total LDL-C, could be associated with cognitive impairment through a disease stage-dependent mode that occurs during neurodegeneration.

The Interplay Between Cholesterol and Amyloid-β on HT22 Cell Viability, Morphology, and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of understanding in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease that has hindered progress on therapeutic development. The focus has been on targeting toxic amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology, but these therapeutics have generally failed in clinical trials. Aβ is an aggregation-prone protein that has been shown to disrupt cell membrane structure in molecular biophysics studies and interfere with membrane receptor signaling in cell and animal studies. Whether the lipid membrane or specific receptors are the primary target of attack has not been determined.

OBJECTIVE

This work elucidates some of the interplay between membrane cholesterol and Aβ42 on HT22 neuronal cell viability, morphology, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathways.

METHODS

The effects of cholesterol depletion by methyl-β-cyclodextrin followed by treatment with Aβ and/or PDGF-AA were assessed by MTT cell viability assays, western blot, optical and AFM microscopy.

RESULTS

Cell viability studies show that cholesterol depletion was mildly protective against Aβ toxicity. Together cholesterol reduction and Aβ42 treatment compounded the disruption of the PDGFα receptor activation. Phase contrast optical microscopy and live cell atomic force microscopy imaging revealed that cytotoxic levels of Aβ42 caused morphological changes including cell membrane damage, cytoskeletal disruption, and impaired cell adhesion; cell damage was ameliorated by cellular cholesterol depletion.

CONCLUSIONS

Cholesterol depletion impacted the effects of Aβ42 on HT22 cell viability, morphology, and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.

ApoJ/Clusterin concentrations are determinants of cerebrospinal fluid cholesterol efflux capacity and reduced levels are associated with Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) shares risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dysregulated cholesterol metabolism is a mechanism common to both diseases. Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is an ex vivo metric of plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function and inversely predicts incident CVD independently of other risk factors. Cholesterol pools in the central nervous system (CNS) are largely separate from those in blood, and CNS cholesterol excess may promote neurodegeneration. CEC of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be a useful measure of CNS cholesterol trafficking. We hypothesized that subjects with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) would have reduced CSF CEC compared with Cognitively Normal (CN) and that CSF apolipoproteins apoA-I, apoJ, and apoE might have associations with CSF CEC.

METHODS

We retrieved CSF and same-day ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma from 108 subjects (40 AD; 18 MCI; and 50 CN) from the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research biobank at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. For CSF CEC assays, we used N9 mouse microglial cells and SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, and the corresponding plasma assay used J774 cells. Cells were labeled with [³H]-cholesterol for 24 h, had ABCA1 expression upregulated for 6 h, were exposed to 33 μl of CSF, and then were incubated for 2.5 h. CEC was quantified as percent [³H]-cholesterol counts in medium of total counts medium+cells, normalized to a pool sample. ApoA-I, ApoJ, ApoE, and cholesterol were also measured in CSF.

RESULTS

We found that CSF CEC was significantly lower in MCI compared with controls and was poorly correlated with plasma CEC. CSF levels of ApoJ/Clusterin were also significantly lower in MCI and were significantly associated with CSF CEC. While CSF ApoA-I was also associated with CSF CEC, CSF ApoE had no association with CSF CEC. CSF CEC is significantly and positively associated with CSF Aβ. Taken together, ApoJ/Clusterin may be an important determinant of CSF CEC, which in turn could mitigate risk of MCI and AD risk by promoting cellular efflux of cholesterol or other lipids. In contrast, CSF ApoE does not appear to play a role in determining CSF CEC.

Cholesterol as a key player in amyloid β-mediated toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is one of the most devastating and widespread diseases worldwide, mainly affecting the aging population. One of the key factors contributing to AD-related neurotoxicity is the production and aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ). Many studies have shown the ability of Aβ to bind to the cell membrane and disrupt its structure, leading to cell death. Because amyloid damage affects different parts of the brain differently, it seems likely that not only Aβ but also the nature of the membrane interface with which the amyloid interacts, helps determine the final neurotoxic effect. Because cholesterol is the dominant component of the plasma membrane, it plays an important role in Aβ-induced toxicity. Elevated cholesterol levels and their regulation by statins have been shown to be important factors influencing the progression of neurodegeneration. However, data from many studies have shown that cholesterol has both neuroprotective and aggravating effects in relation to the development of AD. In this review, we attempt to summarize recent findings on the role of cholesterol in Aβ toxicity mediated by membrane binding in the pathogenesis of AD and to consider it in the broader context of the lipid composition of cell membranes.

Pharmacological sequestration of mitochondrial calcium uptake protects against dementia and β-amyloid neurotoxicity

All forms of dementia including Alzheimer's disease are currently incurable. Mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium alterations are shown to be involved in the mechanism of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Previously we have described the ability of compound Tg-2112x to protect neurons via sequestration of mitochondrial calcium uptake and we suggest that it can also be protective against neurodegeneration and development of dementia. Using primary co-culture neurons and astrocytes we studied the effect of Tg-2112x and its derivative Tg-2113x on β-amyloid-induced changes in calcium signal, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial calcium, and cell death. We have found that both compounds had no effect on β-amyloid or acetylcholine-induced calcium changes in the cytosol although Tg2113x, but not Tg2112x reduced glutamate-induced calcium signal. Both compounds were able to reduce mitochondrial calcium uptake and protected cells against β-amyloid-induced mitochondrial depolarization and cell death. Behavioral effects of Tg-2113x on learning and memory in fear conditioning were also studied in 3 mouse models of neurodegeneration: aged (16-month-old) C57Bl/6j mice, scopolamine-induced amnesia (3-month-old mice), and 9-month-old 5xFAD mice. It was found that Tg-2113x prevented age-, scopolamine- and cerebral amyloidosis-induced decrease in fear conditioning. In addition, Tg-2113x restored fear extinction of aged mice. Thus, reduction of the mitochondrial calcium uptake protects neurons and astrocytes against β-amyloid-induced cell death and contributes to protection against dementia of different ethology. These compounds could be used as background for the developing of a novel generation of disease-modifying neuroprotective agents.

Mechanistic Insights for Drug Repurposing and the Design of Hybrid Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease

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.

Molecular packing of lipid membranes and action mechanisms of membrane-active peptides

Biomembranes are involved in diverse cellular activities. How membranes and proteins interact in the activities might hinge on the former's physical characteristics, which in turn are influenced by packing of lipid molecules. Yet, the validity of this understanding and its mechanism are unclear. By varying chain saturation of membranes, we explored correlations between lipid packing and peptide-mediated membrane disruption for the antimicrobial peptide, melittin, and amyloidogenic peptide, β-amyloid (1-42). Remarkably, reducing molecular packing flexibility enhanced the membrane disruption, possibly due to a shift from membrane perforation to micellization. A theoretical analysis suggested the energetic basis of this shift. This mechanistically shows that a peptide's mechanism might be dictated not only by its intrinsic properties but also by physical characteristics of membranes.

Interaction of Mitochondrial Calcium and ROS in Neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative disorders are currently incurable devastating diseases which are characterized by the slow and progressive loss of neurons in specific brain regions. Progress in the investigation of the mechanisms of these disorders helped to identify a number of genes associated with familial forms of these diseases and a number of toxins and risk factors which trigger sporadic and toxic forms of these diseases. Recently, some similarities in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases were identified, including the involvement of mitochondria, oxidative stress, and the abnormality of Ca2+ signaling in neurons and astrocytes. Thus, mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species during metabolism which play a further role in redox signaling, but this may also act as an additional trigger for abnormal mitochondrial calcium handling, resulting in mitochondrial calcium overload. Combinations of these factors can be the trigger of neuronal cell death in some pathologies. Here, we review the latest literature on the crosstalk of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ in brain mitochondria in physiology and beyond, considering how changes in mitochondrial metabolism or redox signaling can convert this interaction into a pathological event.

Mechanistic Link between Vitamin B12 and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly population, affecting over 55 million people worldwide. Histopathological hallmarks of this multifactorial disease are an increased plaque burden and tangles in the brains of affected individuals. Several lines of evidence indicate that B12 hypovitaminosis is linked to AD. In this review, the biochemical pathways involved in AD that are affected by vitamin B12, focusing on APP processing, Aβ fibrillization, Aβ-induced oxidative damage as well as tau hyperphosphorylation and tau aggregation, are summarized. Besides the mechanistic link, an overview of clinical studies utilizing vitamin B supplementation are given, and a potential link between diseases and medication resulting in a reduced vitamin B12 level and AD are discussed. Besides the disease-mediated B12 hypovitaminosis, the reduction in vitamin B12 levels caused by an increasing change in dietary preferences has been gaining in relevance. In particular, vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, and therefore might have potential implications for AD. In conclusion, our review emphasizes the important role of vitamin B12 in AD, which is particularly important, as even in industrialized countries a large proportion of the population might not be sufficiently supplied with vitamin B12.

An Overview of Several Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease: Characterization and Failure

Amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers are the most neurotoxic aggregates causing neuronal death and cognitive damage. A detailed elucidation of the aggregation pathways from oligomers to fibril formation is crucial to develop therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although experimental techniques rely on the measure of time- and space-average properties, they face severe difficulties in the investigation of Aβ peptide aggregation due to their intrinsically disorder character. Computer simulation is a tool that allows tracing the molecular motion of molecules; hence it complements Aβ experiments, as it allows to explore the binding mechanism between metal ions and Aβ oligomers close to the cellular membrane at the atomic resolution. In this context, integrated studies of experiments and computer simulations can assist in mapping the complete pathways of aggregation and toxicity of Aβ peptides. Aβ oligomers are disordered proteins, and due to a rapid exploration of their intrinsic conformational space in real-time, they are challenging therapeutic targets. Therefore, no good drug candidate could have been identified for clinical use. Our previous investigations identified two small molecules, M30 (2-Octahydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-ylethanamine) and Gabapentin, capable of Aβ binding and inhibiting molecular aggregation, synaptotoxicity, intracellular calcium signaling, cellular toxicity and memory losses induced by Aβ. Thus, we recommend these molecules as novel candidates to assist anti-AD drug discovery in the near future. This review discusses the most recent research investigations about the Aβ dynamics in water, close contact with cell membranes, and several therapeutic strategies to remove plaque formation.

A structural view onto disease-linked mutations in the human neutral amino acid exchanger ASCT1

The ASCT1 transporter of the SLC1 family is largely involved in equilibration of neutral amino acids' pools across the plasma membrane and plays a prominent role in the transport of both L- and D-isomers of serine, essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system in mammals. A number of mutations in ASCT1 (E256K, G381R, R457W) have been linked to severe neurodevelopmental disorders, however in the absence of ASCT1 structure it is hard to understand their impact on substrate transport. To ameliorate that we have determined a cryo-EM structure of human ASCT1 at 4.2 Å resolution and performed functional transport assays and molecular dynamics simulations, which revealed that given mutations lead to the diminished transport capability of ASCT1 caused by instability of transporter and impeded transport cycle.

Astrocytes respond to a neurotoxic Aβ fragment with state-dependent Ca2+ alteration and multiphasic transmitter release

Excessive amounts of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide have been suggested to dysregulate synaptic transmission in Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a major type of glial cell in the mammalian brain, astrocytes regulate neuronal function and undergo activity alterations upon Aβ exposure. Yet the mechanistic steps underlying astrocytic responses to Aβ peptide remain to be elucidated. Here by fluorescence imaging of signaling pathways, we dissected astrocytic responses to Aβ25-35 peptide, a neurotoxic Aβ fragment present in AD patients. In native health astrocytes, Aβ25-35 evoked Ca²⁺ elevations via purinergic receptors, being also dependent on the opening of connexin (CX) hemichannels. Aβ25-35, however, induced a Ca²⁺ diminution in Aβ-preconditioned astrocytes as a result of the potentiation of the plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase (PMCA). The PMCA and CX protein expression was observed with immunostaining in the brain tissue of hAPPJ20 AD mouse model. We also observed both Ca²⁺-independent and Ca²⁺-dependent glutamate release upon astrocytic Aβ exposure, with the former mediated by CX hemichannel and the latter by both anion channels and lysosome exocytosis. Our results suggest that Aβ peptide causes state-dependent responses in astrocytes, in association with a multiphasic release of signaling molecules. This study therefore helps to understand astrocyte engagement in AD-related amyloidopathy.

Glia-Driven Neuroinflammation and Systemic Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease

The neuroinflammatory hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was proposed more than 30 years ago. The involvement of the two main types of glial cells microglia and astrocytes, in neuroinflammation, was suggested early on. In this review, we highlight that the exact contributions of reactive glia to AD pathogenesis remain difficult to define, likely due to the heterogeneity of glia populations and alterations in their activation states through the stages of AD progression. In the case of microglia, it is becoming apparent that both beneficially and adversely activated cell populations can be identified at various stages of AD, which could be selectively targeted to either limit their damaging actions or enhance beneficial functions. In the case of astrocytes, less information is available about potential subpopulations of reactive cells; it also remains elusive whether astrocytes contribute to the neuropathology of AD by mainly gaining neurotoxic functions or losing their ability to support neurons due to astrocyte damage. We identify L-type calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, as a candidate drug for AD, which potentially targets both astrocytes and microglia. It has already shown consistent beneficial effects in basic experimental and clinical studies. We also highlight the recent evidence linking peripheral inflammation and neuroinflammation. Several chronic systemic inflammatory diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and periodontitis, can cause immune priming or adverse activation of glia, thus exacerbating neuroinflammation and increasing risk or facilitating the progression of AD. Therefore, reducing peripheral inflammation is a potentially effective strategy for lowering AD prevalence.

Melatonin Alters Fluid Phase Coexistence in POPC/DPPC/Cholesterol Membranes

The structure and biophysical properties of lipid membranes are important for cellular functions in health and disease. In Alzheimer's disease, the neuronal membrane is a target for toxic amyloid-β (Aβ). Melatonin is an important pineal gland hormone that has been shown to protect against Aβ toxicity in cellular and animal studies, but the molecular mechanism of this protection is not fully understood. Melatonin is a small membrane-active molecule that has been shown to interact with model lipid membranes and alter the membrane biophysical properties, such as membrane molecular order and dynamics. This effect of melatonin has been previously studied in simple model bilayers with one or two lipid components. To make it more relevant to neuronal membranes, we used a more complex ternary lipid mixture as our membrane model. In this study, we used ²H-NMR to investigate the effect of melatonin on the phase behavior of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), and cholesterol lipid membranes. We used deuterium-labeled POPC-d₃₁ and DPPC-d₆₂,separately to probe the changes in hydrocarbon chain order as a function of temperature and melatonin concentration. We find that POPC/DPPC/cholesterol at molar proportions of 3:3:2 is close to liquid-disordered/liquid-ordered phase separation and that melatonin can induce phase separation in these ternary mixtures by preferentially incorporating into the disordered phase and increasing its level of disorder. At 5 mol% melatonin, we observed phase separation in samples with POPC-d₃₁, but not with DPPC-d₆₂, whereas at 10 mol% melatonin, phase separation was observed in both samples with either POPC-d₃₁ or DPPC-d₆₂. These results indicate that melatonin can have a strong effect on membrane structure and physical properties, which may provide some clues to understanding how melatonin protects against Aβ, and that choice of chain perdeuteration is an important consideration from a technical point of view.

Interaction of Oxidative Stress and Misfolded Proteins in the Mechanism of Neurodegeneration

Aggregation of the misfolded proteins β-amyloid, tau, huntingtin, and α-synuclein is one of the most important steps in the pathology underlying a wide spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders, including the two most common ones—Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Activity and toxicity of these proteins depends on the stage and form of aggregates. Excessive production of free radicals, including reactive oxygen species which lead to oxidative stress, is proven to be involved in the mechanism of pathology in most of neurodegenerative disorders. Both reactive oxygen species and misfolded proteins play a physiological role in the brain, and only deregulation in redox state and aggregation of the proteins leads to pathology. Here, we review the role of misfolded proteins in the activation of ROS production from various sources in neurons and glia. We discuss if free radicals can influence structural changes of the key toxic intermediates and describe the putative mechanisms by which oxidative stress and oligomers may cause neuronal death.

A Novel Aβ40 Assembly at Physiological Concentration

Aggregates of amyloid-β (Aβ) are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, but there is no consensus as to either the nature of the toxic molecular complex or the mechanism by which toxic aggregates are produced. We report on a novel feature of amyloid-lipid interactions where discontinuities in the lipid continuum can serve as catalytic centers for a previously unseen microscale aggregation phenomenon. We show that specific lipid membrane conditions rapidly produce long contours of lipid-bound peptide, even at sub-physiological concentrations of Aβ. Using single molecule fluorescence, time-lapse TIRF microscopy and AFM imaging we characterize this phenomenon and identify some exceptional properties of the aggregation pathway which make it a likely contributor to early oligomer and fibril formation, and thus a potential critical mechanism in the etiology of AD. We infer that these amyloidogenic events occur only at areas of high membrane curvature, which suggests a range of possible mechanisms by which accumulated physiological changes may lead to their inception. The speed of the formation is in hours to days, even at 1 nM peptide concentrations. Lipid features of this type may act like an assembly line for monomeric and small oligomeric subunits of Aβ to increase their aggregation states. We conclude that under lipid environmental conditions, where catalytic centers of the observed type are common, key pathological features of AD may arise on a very short timescale under physiological concentration.

Insoluble tau aggregates induce neuronal death through modification of membrane ion conductance, activation of voltage-gated calcium channels and NADPH oxidase

Most neurodegenerative disorders are associated with aggregation and accumulation of misfolded proteins. One of these proteins, tau, is involved in a number of pathologies including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Aggregation and phosphorylation of tau have been shown to be a trigger for abnormal signal transduction and disruption of cellular homeostasis. Here, we have studied the effect of extracellular tau at different stages of aggregation in cortical co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes, to understand how this process affects tau pathogenicity. We found that the species formed after prolonged in vitro aggregation of tau (longer than 1 day) are able to stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through the activation of NADPH oxidase without decreasing the level of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione. The same late insoluble aggregates of tau induced calcium signals in neurons and a gradual increase in the ionic current of artificial membranes. Both tau-induced calcium signals and ROS production in NADPH oxidase were reduced in the presence of the inhibitor of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) nifedipine. This suggests that insoluble aggregates of tau incorporate into the membrane and modify ionic currents, changing plasma membrane potential and activating VGCCs, which induces a calcium influx that triggers ROS production in NADPH oxidase. The combination of all these effects likely leads to toxicity, as only the same insoluble tau aggregates which demonstrated membrane-active properties produced neuronal cell death.

Influence of human amylin on the membrane stability of rat primary hippocampal neurons

The two most common aging-related diseases, Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, are associated with accumulation of amyloid proteins (β-amyloid and amylin, respectively). This amylin aggregation is reportedly cytotoxic to neurons. We found that aggregation of human amylin (hAmylin) induced neuronal apoptosis without obvious microglial infiltration in vivo. High concentrations of hAmylin irreversibly aggregated on the surface of the neuronal plasma membrane. Long-term incubation with hAmylin induced morphological changes in neurons. Moreover, hAmylin permeabilized the neuronal membrane within 1 min in a manner similar to Triton X-100, allowing impermeable fluorescent antibodies to enter the neurons and stain intracellular antigens. hAmylin also permeabilized the cell membrane of astrocytes, though more slowly. Under scanning electron microscopy, we observed that hAmylin destroyed the integrity of the cell membranes of both neurons and astrocytes. Additionally, it increased intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential. Thus, by aggregating on the surface of neurons, hAmylin impaired the cell membrane integrity, induced reactive oxygen species production, reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential, and ultimately induced neuronal apoptosis.

Modelling mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease using human induced pluripotent stem cells

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. To date, only five pharmacological agents have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use in AD, all of which target the symptoms of the disease rather than the cause. Increasing our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of AD will facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies. Over the years, the major hypotheses of AD etiology have focused on deposition of amyloid beta and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review we highlight the potential of experimental model systems based on human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to provide novel insights into the cellular pathophysiology underlying neurodegeneration in AD. Whilst Down syndrome and familial AD iPSC models faithfully reproduce features of AD such as accumulation of Aβ and tau, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, sporadic AD is much more difficult to model in this way due to its complex etiology. Nevertheless, iPSC-based modelling of AD has provided invaluable insights into the underlying pathophysiology of the disease, and has a huge potential for use as a platform for drug discovery.

Differential Aggregation and Phosphorylation of Alpha Synuclein in Membrane Compartments Associated With Parkinson Disease

The aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) is a major factor behind the onset of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Sublocalization of this protein may be relevant for the formation of multimeric α-syn oligomeric configurations, insoluble aggregates that form Lewy bodies in PD brains. Processing of this protein aggregation is regulated by associations with distinct lipid classes. For instance, instability of lipid raft (LR) microdomains, membrane regions with a particular lipid composition, is an early event in the development of PD. However, the relevance of membrane microdomains in the regulation and trafficking of the distinct α-syn configurations associated with PD remains unexplored. In this study, using 6- and 14-month-old healthy and MPTP-treated animals as a model of PD, we have investigated the putative molecular alterations of raft membrane microstructures, and their impact on α-syn dynamics and conformation. A comparison of lipid analyses of LR microstructures and non-raft (NR) fractions showed alterations in gangliosides, cholesterol, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and phospholipids in the midbrain and cortex of aged and MPTP-treated mice. In particular, the increase of PUFA and phosphatidylserine (PS) during aging correlated with α-syn multimeric formation in NR. In these aggregates, α-syn was phosphorylated in pSer129, the most abundant post-transductional modification of α-syn promoting toxic aggregation. Interestingly, similar variations in PUFA and PS content correlating with α-syn insoluble accumulation were also detected in membrane microstructures from the human cortex of incidental Parkinson Disease (iPD) and PD, as compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, structural changes in membrane lipid microenvironments may induce rearrangements in raft-interacting proteins involved in other neuropathologies. Therefore, we also investigated the dynamic of other protein markers involved in cognition and memory impairment such as metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), ionotropic NMDA receptor (NMDAR2B), prion protein (PrPc) and amyloid precursor protein (APP), whose activity depends on membrane lipid organization. We observed a decline of these protein markers in LR fractions with the progression of aging and pathology. Overall, our findings demonstrate that lipid alterations in membranous compartments promoted by brain aging and PD-like injury may have an effect on α-syn aggregation and segregation in abnormal multimeric structures.

An Increase in Membrane Cholesterol by Graphene Oxide Disrupts Calcium Homeostasis in Primary Astrocytes

The use of graphene nanomaterials (GNMs) for biomedical applications targeted to the central nervous system is exponentially increasing, although precise information on their effects on brain cells is lacking. In this work, the molecular changes induced in cortical astrocytes by few-layer graphene (FLG) and graphene oxide (GO) flakes are addressed. The results show that exposure to FLG/GO does not affect cell viability or proliferation. However, proteomic and lipidomic analyses unveil alterations in several cellular processes, including intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺ ]_i ) homeostasis and cholesterol metabolism, which are particularly intense in cells exposed to GO. Indeed, GO exposure impairs spontaneous and evoked astrocyte [Ca²⁺ ]_i signals and induces a marked increase in membrane cholesterol levels. Importantly, cholesterol depletion fully rescues [Ca²⁺ ]_i dynamics in GO-treated cells, indicating a causal relationship between these GO-mediated effects. The results indicate that exposure to GNMs alters intracellular signaling in astrocytes and may impact astrocyte-neuron interactions.

Structure of amyloid β25-35 in lipid environment and cholesterol-dependent membrane pore formation

The amyloid β (Aβ) peptide and its shorter variants, including a highly cytotoxic Aβ_25–35 peptide, exert their neurotoxic effect during Alzheimer’s disease by various mechanisms, including cellular membrane permeabilization. The intrinsic polymorphism of Aβ has prevented the identification of the molecular basis of Aβ pore formation by direct structural methods, and computational studies have led to highly divergent pore models. Here, we have employed a set of biophysical techniques to directly monitor Ca²⁺-transporting Aβ_25–35 pores in lipid membranes, to quantitatively characterize pore formation, and to identify the key structural features of the pore. Moreover, the effect of membrane cholesterol on pore formation and the structure of Aβ_25–35 has been elucidated. The data suggest that the membrane-embedded peptide forms 6- or 8-stranded β-barrel like structures. The 8-stranded barrels may conduct Ca²⁺ ions through an inner cavity, whereas the tightly packed 6-stranded barrels need to assemble into supramolecular structures to form a central pore. Cholesterol affects Aβ_25–35 pore formation by a dual mechanism, i.e., by direct interaction with the peptide and by affecting membrane structure. Collectively, our data illuminate the molecular basis of Aβ membrane pore formation, which should advance both basic and clinical research on Alzheimer’s disease and membrane-associated pathologies in general.

Regimes of Complex Lipid Bilayer Phases Induced by Cholesterol Concentration in MD Simulation

Cholesterol is essential to the formation of phase-separated lipid domains in membranes. Lipid domains can exist in different thermodynamic phases depending on the molecular composition and play significant roles in determining structure and function of membrane proteins. We investigate the role of cholesterol in the structure and dynamics of ternary lipid mixtures displaying phase separation using molecular dynamics simulations, employing a physiologically relevant span of cholesterol concentration. We find that cholesterol can induce formation of three regimes of phase behavior: 1) miscible liquid-disordered bulk, 2) phase-separated, domain-registered coexistence of liquid-disordered and liquid-ordered domains, and 3) phase-separated, domain-antiregistered coexistence of liquid-disordered and newly identified nanoscopic gel domains composed of cholesterol threads we name "cholesterolic gel" domains. These findings are validated and discussed in the context of current experimental knowledge, models of cholesterol spatial distributions, and models of ternary lipid-mixture phase separation.

Interactions between amyloid β peptide and lipid membranes

The presence of amyloid plaques in the brain is a typical characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid plaques are formed from the deposits of aggregated amyloid β peptide (Aβ). The toxicity induced by Aβ aggregates is correlated with Aβ-membrane interactions. The mutual influences between aggregation and membranes are complicated and unclear. In recent years advanced experiments and findings are emerging to give us more detailed information on Aβ-membrane interactions. In this review, we mainly focus on the Aβ-membrane interactions and membrane-induced Aβ structures. The mechanism of Aβ-membrane interactions is also summarized, which provides insights into the prevention and treatment of AD.

Monitoring Ca2+ elevations in individual astrocytes upon local release of amyloid beta in acute brain slices

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is thought to involve acute neurotoxic effects exerted by oligomeric forms of amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ). Application of Aβ oligomers in physiological concentrations have been shown to transiently elevate internal Ca2+ in cultured astroglia. While the cellular machinery involved has been extensively explored, to what degree this important signalling cascade occurs in organised brain tissue has remained unclear. Here we adapted two-photon excitation microscopy and calibrated time-resolved imaging (FLIM), coupled with patch-clamp electrophysiology, to monitor Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) inside individual astrocytes and principal neurons in acute brain slices. Inside the slice tissue local micro-ejection of Aβ in sub-micromolar concentrations triggered prominent [Ca2+] elevations in an adjacent astrocyte translated as an approximately two-fold increase (averaged over ∼5min) in basal [Ca2+]. This elevation did not spread to neighbouring cells and appeared comparable in amplitude with commonly documented spontaneous [Ca2+] rises in astroglia. Principal nerve cells (pyramidal neurons) also showed Ca2+ sensitivity, albeit to a lesser degree. These observations shed light on the extent and dynamics of the acute physiological effects of Aβ on brain cells in situ, in the context of AD.

Cholesterol Changes the Mechanisms of Aβ Peptide Binding to the DMPC Bilayer

Using isobaric-isothermal all-atom replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations, we investigated the equilibrium binding of Aβ10-40 monomers to the zwitterionic dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayer containing cholesterol. Our previous REMD simulations, which studied binding of the same peptide to the cholesterol-free DMPC bilayer, served as a control, against which we measured the impact of cholesterol. Our findings are as follows. First, addition of cholesterol to the DMPC bilayer partially expels the Aβ peptide from the hydrophobic core and promotes its binding to bilayer polar headgroups. Using thermodynamic and energetics analyses, we argued that Aβ partial expulsion is not related to cholesterol-induced changes in lateral pressure within the bilayer but is caused by binding energetics, which favors Aβ binding to the surface of the densely packed cholesterol-rich bilayer. Second, cholesterol has a protective effect on the DMPC bilayer structure against perturbations caused by Aβ binding. More specifically, cholesterol reduces bilayer thinning and overall depletion of bilayer density beneath the Aβ binding footprint. Third, we found that the Aβ peptide contains a single cholesterol binding site, which involves hydrophobic C-terminal amino acids (Ile31-Val36), Phe19, and Phe20 from the central hydrophobic cluster, and cationic Lys28 from the turn region. This binding site accounts for about 76% of all Aβ-cholesterol interactions. Because cholesterol binding site in the Aβ10-40 peptide does not contain the GXXXG motif featured in cholesterol interactions with the transmembrane domain C99 of the β-amyloid precursor protein, we argued that the binding mechanisms for Aβ and C99 are distinct reflecting their different conformations and positions in the lipid bilayer. Fourth, cholesterol sharply reduces the helical propensity in the bound Aβ peptide. As a result, cholesterol largely eliminates the emergence of helical structure observed upon Aβ transition from a water environment to the cholesterol-free DMPC bilayer. We explain this effect by the formation of hydrogen bonds between cholesterol and the Aβ backbone, which prevent helix formation. Taken together, we expect that our simulations will advance understanding of a molecular-level mechanism behind the role of cholesterol in Alzheimer's disease.

How Does the P7C3-Series of Neuroprotective Small Molecules Prevent Membrane Disruption?

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are conducted to suggest a mechanism of action for the aminopropyl dibromocarbazole derivative (P7C3) small molecule, which protects neurons from apoptotic cell death. At first, the influence of embedded Aβ₄₂ stacks on the structure of membrane is studied. Then, the effect of P7C3 molecules on the Aβ₄₂ fibril enriched membrane and Aβ₄₂ fibril depleted membrane (when Aβ₄₂ fibrils are originally dissolved in the aqueous phase) are evaluated. Also, the formation of an amyloid ion channel in the Aβ₄₂ enriched membrane is examined by calculating deuterium order parameter, density profile, and surface thickness. For Aβ₄₂ in the fully inserted state, ion channel-like structures are formed. The presence of P7C3 molecules in this case just postpones membrane destruction but could not prevent pore formation. In contrast, when both Aβ₄₂ and P7C3 molecules are embedded in the aqueous solution, the P7C3 molecules are self-assembled at membrane/ionic aqueous solution interface and prevent the precipitation and deposition of Aβ₄₂ fibrils into the membrane.

Changes in lipid membranes may trigger amyloid toxicity in Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ), implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), interact with the cellular membrane and induce amyloid toxicity. The composition of cellular membranes changes in aging and AD. We designed multi-component lipid models to mimic healthy and diseased states of the neuronal membrane. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and black lipid membrane (BLM) techniques, we demonstrated that these model membranes differ in their nanoscale structure and physical properties, and interact differently with Aβ_1–42. Based on our data, we propose a new hypothesis that changes in lipid membrane due to aging and AD may trigger amyloid toxicity through electrostatic mechanisms, similar to the accepted mechanism of antimicrobial peptide action. Understanding the role of the membrane changes as a key activating amyloid toxicity may aid in the development of a new avenue for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Membrane Cholesterol Modulates Superwarfarin Toxicity

Superwarfarins are modified analogs of warfarin with additional lipophilic aromatic rings, up to 100-fold greater potency, and longer biological half-lives. We hypothesized that increased hydrophobicity allowed interactions with amphiphilic membranes and modulation of biological responses. We find that superwarfarins brodifacoum and difenacoum increase lactate production and cell death in neuroblastoma cells. In contrast, neither causes changes in glioma cells that have higher cholesterol content. After choleterol depletion, lactate production was increased and cell viability was reduced. Drug-membrane interactions were examined by surface X-ray scattering using Langmuir monolayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and/or cholesterol. Specular X-ray reflectivity data revealed that superwarfarins, but not warfarin, intercalate between dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine molecules, whereas grazing incidence X-ray diffraction demonstrated changes in lateral crystalline order of the film. Neither agent showed significant interactions with monolayers containing >20% cholesterol. These findings demonstrate an affinity of superwarfarins to biomembranes and suggest that cellular responses to these agents are regulated by cholesterol content.

Tau Spread, Apolipoprotein E, Inflammation, and More: Rapidly Evolving Basic Science in Alzheimer Disease

To date, Alzheimer disease drug candidates have produced negative results in human trials, and progress in moving new targets out of the laboratory and into trials has been slow. However, based on 3 decades of previous work, there is reason to hope that amyloid-based and other novel therapies will move at a faster pace toward successful clinical trials. This article highlights selected preclinical research topics that are rapidly advancing in the laboratory.

APP Function and Lipids: A Bidirectional Link

Extracellular neuritic plaques, composed of aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, are one of the major histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. One of the most prominent risk factor for sporadic AD, carrying one or two aberrant copies of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 alleles, closely links AD to lipids. Further, several lipid classes and fatty acids have been reported to be changed in the brain of AD-affected individuals. Interestingly, the observed lipid changes in the brain seem not only to be a consequence of the disease but also modulate Aβ generation. In line with these observations, protective lipids being able to decrease Aβ generation and also potential negative lipids in respect to AD were identified. Mechanistically, Aβ peptides are generated by sequential proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretase. The α-secretase appears to compete with β-secretase for the initial cleavage of APP, preventing Aβ production. All APP-cleaving secretases as well as APP are transmembrane proteins, further illustrating the impact of lipids on Aβ generation. Beside the pathological impact of Aβ, accumulating evidence suggests that Aβ and the APP intracellular domain (AICD) play an important role in regulating lipid homeostasis, either by direct effects or by affecting gene expression or protein stability of enzymes involved in the de novo synthesis of different lipid classes. This review summarizes the current literature addressing the complex bidirectional link between lipids and AD and APP processing including lipid alterations found in AD post mortem brains, lipids that alter APP processing and the physiological functions of Aβ and AICD in the regulation of several lipid metabolism pathways.

The Impact of Vitamin E and Other Fat-Soluble Vitamins on Alzheimer´s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly population, currently affecting 46 million people worldwide. Histopathologically, the disease is characterized by the occurrence of extracellular amyloid plaques composed of aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing the microtubule-associated protein tau. Aβ peptides are derived from the sequential processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by enzymes called secretases, which are strongly influenced by the lipid environment. Several vitamins have been reported to be reduced in the plasma/serum of AD-affected individuals indicating they have an impact on AD pathogenesis. In this review we focus on vitamin E and the other lipophilic vitamins A, D, and K, and summarize the current knowledge about their status in AD patients, their impact on cognitive functions and AD risk, as well as their influence on the molecular mechanisms of AD. The vitamins might affect the generation and clearance of Aβ both by direct effects and indirectly by altering the cellular lipid homeostasis. Additionally, vitamins A, D, E, and K are reported to influence further mechanisms discussed to be involved in AD pathogenesis, e.g., Aβ-aggregation, Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory processes, as summarized in this article.

Reduced sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) processing through site-1 protease (S1P) inhibition alters oligodendrocyte differentiation in vitro

The formation of the myelin membrane of the oligodendrocyte in the CNS is a fundamental process requiring the coordinated synthesis of many different components. The myelin membrane is particularly rich in lipids, however, the regulation of this lipid synthesis is not understood. In other cell types, including Schwann cells, the myelin-forming cells of the PNS, lipid synthesis is tightly regulated by the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) family of transcription factors, but this has not been previously shown in oligodendrocytes. We investigated SREBPs' role during oligodendrocyte differentiation in vitro. Both SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 were expressed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells and differentiating oligodendrocytes. Using the selective site-1 protease (S1P) inhibitor PF-429242, which inhibits the cleavage of SREBP precursor forms into mature forms, we found that preventing SREBP processing inhibited process growth and reduced the expression level of myelin basic protein, a major component of myelin. Further, process extension deficits could be rescued by the addition of exogenous cholesterol. Blocking SREBP processing reduced mRNA transcription and protein levels of SREBP target genes involved in both the fatty acid and the cholesterol synthetic pathways. Furthermore, de novo levels and total levels of cholesterol synthesis were greatly diminished when SREBP processing was inhibited. Together these results indicate that SREBPs are important regulators of oligodendrocyte maturation and that perturbation of their activity may affect myelin formation and integrity. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13781.

Reduced sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) processing through site-1 protease (S1P) inhibition alters oligodendrocyte differentiation in vitro

The formation of the myelin membrane of the oligodendrocyte in the CNS is a fundamental process requiring the coordinated synthesis of many different components. The myelin membrane is particularly rich in lipids, however, the regulation of this lipid synthesis is not understood. In other cell types, including Schwann cells, the myelin-forming cells of the PNS, lipid synthesis is tightly regulated by the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) family of transcription factors, but this has not been previously shown in oligodendrocytes. We investigated SREBPs' role during oligodendrocyte differentiation in vitro. Both SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 were expressed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells and differentiating oligodendrocytes. Using the selective site-1 protease (S1P) inhibitor PF-429242, which inhibits the cleavage of SREBP precursor forms into mature forms, we found that preventing SREBP processing inhibited process growth and reduced the expression level of myelin basic protein, a major component of myelin. Further, process extension deficits could be rescued by the addition of exogenous cholesterol. Blocking SREBP processing reduced mRNA transcription and protein levels of SREBP target genes involved in both the fatty acid and the cholesterol synthetic pathways. Furthermore, de novo levels and total levels of cholesterol synthesis were greatly diminished when SREBP processing was inhibited. Together these results indicate that SREBPs are important regulators of oligodendrocyte maturation and that perturbation of their activity may affect myelin formation and integrity. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13781.

Neuroprotective Effects of Engineered Polymeric Nasal Microspheres Containing Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on β-Amyloid (1-42)-Induced Toxicity

β-Amyloid (Aβ) plaques are the key neurotoxic assemblies in Alzheimer disease. It has been suggested that an interaction occurs between membrane cholesterol and Aβ aggregation in the brain. Cyclodextrins can remove cholesterol from cell membranes and change receptor function. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-CD) polymeric microspheres, based on chitosan or sodium alginate, on the levels of lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species production, and mitochondrial function in brain synaptosomes. The effect of microspheres on DNA fragmentation, the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and Apex1 mRNAs in rat hippocampus after Aβ(1-42) peptide-induced neurotoxicity was also evaluated. Comparison with HP-CD raw material was performed. Aβ(1-42) treatment significantly decreased the mitochondrial activity of Apex1 and Bcl-2 mRNAs, induced DNA fragmentation, and increased mRNA levels of Bax. Treatment with HP-CD microspheres against Aβ(1-42) significantly reduced DNA fragmentation and increased the Bcl-2/Bax mRNA ratio and mitochondrial function. In addition, HP-CD microspheres used against Aβ(1-42) decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species production. These results indicate that nasally administered spray-dried HP-CD microspheres are able to provide protection against Aβ(1-42)-induced neurotoxicity, due to the suppressed levels of oxidative stress and apoptotic signals in the rat hippocampus.

The pleiotropic effects of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid on the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease

Among omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is important for adequate brain development and cognition. DHA is highly concentrated in the brain and plays an essential role in brain functioning. DHA, one of the major constituents in fish fats, readily crosses the blood-brain barrier from blood to the brain. Its critical role was further supported by its reduced levels in the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. This agrees with a potential role of DHA in memory, learning and cognitive processes. Since there is yet no cure for dementia such as AD, there is growing interest in the role of DHA-supplemented diet in the prevention of AD pathogenesis. Accordingly, animal, epidemiological, preclinical and clinical studies indicated that DHA has neuroprotective effects in a number of neurodegenerative conditions including AD. The beneficial effects of this key omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may depend on the stage of disease progression, other dietary mediators and the apolipoprotein ApoE genotype. Herein, our review investigates, from animal and cell culture studies, the molecular mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective potential of DHA with emphasis on AD.

Ca2+ is a key factor in α-synuclein-induced neurotoxicity

Aggregation of α-synuclein leads to the formation of oligomeric intermediates that can interact with membranes to form pores. However, it is unknown how this leads to cell toxicity in Parkinson's disease. We investigated the species-specific effects of α-synuclein on Ca²⁺ signalling in primary neurons and astrocytes using live neuronal imaging and electrophysiology on artificial membranes. We demonstrate that α-synuclein induces an increase in basal intracellular Ca²⁺ in its unfolded monomeric state as well as in its oligomeric state. Electrophysiology of artificial membranes demonstrated that α-synuclein monomers induce irregular ionic currents, whereas α-synuclein oligomers induce rare discrete channel formation events. Despite the ability of monomeric α-synuclein to affect Ca²⁺ signalling, it is only the oligomeric form of α-synuclein that induces cell death. Oligomer-induced cell death was abolished by the exclusion of extracellular Ca²⁺, which prevented the α-synuclein-induced Ca²⁺ dysregulation. The findings of this study confirm that α-synuclein interacts with membranes to affect Ca²⁺ signalling in a structure-specific manner and the oligomeric β-sheet-rich α-synuclein species ultimately leads to Ca²⁺ dysregulation and Ca²⁺-dependent cell death.

Summary: Monomeric and oligomeric α-synuclein induce Ca²⁺ signal in neurons and astrocytes by incorporating into the membrane.

Alzheimer's peptide amyloid-β, fragment 22-40, perturbs lipid dynamics

The peptide amyloid-β (Aβ) interacts with membranes of cells in the human brain and is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The intercalation of Aβ in membranes alters membrane properties, including the structure and lipid dynamics. Any change in the membrane lipid dynamics will affect essential membrane processes, such as energy conversion, signal transduction and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, and may result in the observed neurotoxicity associated with the disease. The influence of this peptide on membrane dynamics was studied with quasi-elastic neutron scattering, a technique which allows a wide range of observation times from picoseconds to nanoseconds, over nanometer length scales. The effect of the membrane integral neurotoxic peptide amyloid-β, residues 22-40, on the in- and out-of-plane lipid dynamics was observed in an oriented DMPC/DMPS bilayer at 15 °C, in its gel phase, and at 30 °C, near the phase transition temperature of the lipids. Near the phase-transition temperature, a 1.5 mol% of peptide causes up to a twofold decrease in the lipid diffusion coefficients. In the gel-phase, this effect is reversed, with amyloid-β(22-40) increasing the lipid diffusion coefficients. The observed changes in lipid diffusion are relevant to protein-protein interactions, which are strongly influenced by the diffusion of membrane components. The effect of the amyloid-β peptide fragment on the diffusion of membrane lipids will provide insight into the membrane's role in AD.

Astrogliosis: An integral player in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is the main cause of dementia in the elderly and begins with a subtle decline in episodic memory followed by a more general decline in overall cognitive abilities. Though the exact trigger for this cascade of events remains unknown the presence of the misfolded amyloid-beta protein triggers reactive gliosis, a prominent neuropathological feature in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. The cytoskeletal and morphological changes of astrogliosis are its evident features, while changes in oxidative stress defense, cholesterol metabolism, and gene transcription programs are less manifest. However, these latter molecular changes may underlie a disruption in homeostatic regulation that keeps the brain environment balanced. Astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease show changes in glutamate and GABA signaling and recycling, potassium buffering, and in cholinergic, purinergic, and calcium signaling. Ultimately the dysregulation of homeostasis maintained by astrocytes can have grave consequences for the stability of microcircuits within key brain regions. Specifically, altered inhibition influenced by astrocytes can lead to local circuit imbalance with farther reaching consequences for the functioning of larger neuronal networks. Healthy astrocytes have a role in maintaining and modulating normal neuronal communication, synaptic physiology and energy metabolism, astrogliosis interferes with these functions. This review considers the molecular and functional changes occurring during astrogliosis in Alzheimer's disease, and proposes that astrocytes are key players in the development of dementia.

The Position of Aβ22-40 and Aβ1-42 in Anionic Lipid Membranes Containing Cholesterol

Amyloid-β peptides interact with cell membranes in the human brain and are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. An emerging explanation of the molecular mechanism, which results in neurodegeneration, places the cause of neurotoxicity of the amyloid- peptides on their potentially negative interaction with neuronal membranes. It is known that amyloid-β peptides interact with the membrane, modifying the membrane's structural and dynamic properties. We present a series of X-ray diffraction experiments on anionic model lipid membranes containing various amounts of cholesterol. These experiments provide experimental evidence for an interaction of both the full length amyloid-β1-42 peptide, and the peptide fragment amyloid-β22-40 with anionic bilayer containing cholesterol. The location of the amyloid-β peptides was determined from these experiments, with the full length peptide embedding into the membrane, and the peptide fragment occupying 2 positions-on the membrane surface and embedded into the membrane core.

Astrocyte physiopathology: At the crossroads of intercellular networking, inflammation and cell death

Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience have led to the awareness that we should revise our traditional mode of thinking and studying the CNS, i.e. by isolating the privileged network of "intelligent" synaptic contacts. We may instead need to contemplate all the variegate communications occurring between the different neural cell types, and centrally involving the astrocytes. Basically, it appears that a single astrocyte should be considered as a core that receives and integrates information from thousands of synapses, other glial cells and the blood vessels. In turn, it generates complex outputs that control the neural circuitry and coordinate it with the local microcirculation. Astrocytes thus emerge as the possible fulcrum of the functional homeostasis of the healthy CNS. Yet, evidence indicates that the bridging properties of the astrocytes can change in parallel with, or as a result of, the morphological, biochemical and functional alterations these cells undergo upon injury or disease. As a consequence, they have the potential to transform from supportive friends and interactive partners for neurons into noxious foes. In this review, we summarize the currently available knowledge on the contribution of astrocytes to the functioning of the CNS and what goes wrong in various pathological conditions, with a particular focus on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease and ischemia. The observations described convincingly demonstrate that the development and progression of several neurological disorders involve the de-regulation of a finely tuned interplay between multiple cell populations. Thus, it seems that a better understanding of the mechanisms governing the integrated communication and detrimental responses of the astrocytes as well as their impact towards the homeostasis and performance of the CNS is fundamental to open novel therapeutic perspectives.