1
|
Li X, Hernandez I, Koyuncu S, Kis B, Häggblad M, Lidemalm L, Abbas AA, Bendegúz S, Göblös A, Brautigam L, Lucas JJ, Carreras-Puigvert J, Hühn D, Pircs K, Vilchez D, Fernandez-Capetillo O. The anti-leprosy drug clofazimine reduces polyQ toxicity through activation of PPARγ. EBioMedicine 2024; 103:105124. [PMID: 38701619 PMCID: PMC11088276 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PolyQ diseases are autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of CAG repeats. While of slow progression, these diseases are ultimately fatal and lack effective therapies. METHODS A high-throughput chemical screen was conducted to identify drugs that lower the toxicity of a protein containing the first exon of Huntington's disease (HD) protein huntingtin (HTT) harbouring 94 glutamines (Htt-Q94). Candidate drugs were tested in a wide range of in vitro and in vivo models of polyQ toxicity. FINDINGS The chemical screen identified the anti-leprosy drug clofazimine as a hit, which was subsequently validated in several in vitro models. Computational analyses of transcriptional signatures revealed that the effect of clofazimine was due to the stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). In agreement with this, clofazimine rescued mitochondrial dysfunction triggered by Htt-Q94 expression. Importantly, clofazimine also limited polyQ toxicity in developing zebrafish and neuron-specific worm models of polyQ disease. INTERPRETATION Our results support the potential of repurposing the antimicrobial drug clofazimine for the treatment of polyQ diseases. FUNDING A full list of funding sources can be found in the acknowledgments section.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuexin Li
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ivó Hernandez
- Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Seda Koyuncu
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Balázs Kis
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Maria Häggblad
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Louise Lidemalm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna A Abbas
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sramkó Bendegúz
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Göblös
- Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation, University of Szeged, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lars Brautigam
- Zebrafish Core Facility, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jose J Lucas
- Center for Molecular Biology, "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO) CSIC/UAM, Madrid, 28049, Spain; Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Carreras-Puigvert
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniela Hühn
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karolina Pircs
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - David Vilchez
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Oscar Fernandez-Capetillo
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden; Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou Y, Xu J, Hou Y, Bekris L, Leverenz JB, Pieper AA, Cummings J, Cheng F. The Alzheimer's Cell Atlas (TACA): A single-cell molecular map for translational therapeutics accelerator in Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2022; 8:e12350. [PMID: 36254161 PMCID: PMC9558163 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Recent advances in generating massive single-cell/nucleus transcriptomic data have shown great potential for facilitating the identification of cell type-specific Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathobiology and drug-target discovery for therapeutic development. Methods We developed The Alzheimer's Cell Atlas (TACA) by compiling an AD brain cell atlas consisting of over 1.1 million cells/nuclei across 26 data sets, covering major brain regions (hippocampus, cerebellum, prefrontal cortex, and so on) and cell types (astrocyte, microglia, neuron, oligodendrocytes, and so on). We conducted nearly 1400 differential expression comparisons to identify cell type-specific molecular alterations (e.g., case vs healthy control, sex-specific, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4/ε4, and TREM2 mutations). Each comparison was followed by protein-protein interaction module detection, functional enrichment analysis, and omics-informed target and drug (over 700,000 perturbation profiles) screening. Over 400 cell-cell interaction analyses using 6000 ligand-receptor interactions were conducted to identify the cell-cell communication networks in AD. Results All results are integrated into TACA (https://taca.lerner.ccf.org/), a new web portal with cell type-specific, abundant transcriptomic information, and 12 interactive visualization tools for AD. Discussion We envision that TACA will be a highly valuable resource for both basic and translational research in AD, as it provides abundant information for AD pathobiology and actionable systems biology tools for drug discovery. Highlights We compiled an Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain cell atlas consisting of more than 1.1 million cells/nuclei transcriptomes from 26 data sets, covering major brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum) and cell types (e.g., neuron, oligodendrocyte, astrocyte, and microglia).We conducted over 1400 differential expression (DE) comparisons to identify cell type-specific gene expression alterations. Major comparison types are (1) AD versus healthy control; (2) sex-specific DE, (3) genotype-driven DE (i.e., apolipoprotein E [APOE] ε4/ε4 vs APOE ε3/ε3; TREM2R47H vs common variants) analysis; and (4) others. Each comparison was further followed by (1) human protein-protein interactome network module analysis, (2) pathway enrichment analysis, and (3) gene-set enrichment analysis.For drug screening, we conducted gene set enrichment analysis for all the comparisons with over 700,000 drug perturbation profiles connecting more than 10,000 human genes and 13,000 drugs/compounds.A total of over 400 analyses of cell-cell interactions against 6000 experimentally validated ligand-receptor interactions were conducted to reveal the disease-relevant cell-cell communications in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yadi Zhou
- Genomic Medicine Institute Lerner Research Institute Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - Jielin Xu
- Genomic Medicine Institute Lerner Research Institute Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - Yuan Hou
- Genomic Medicine Institute Lerner Research Institute Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - Lynn Bekris
- Genomic Medicine Institute Lerner Research Institute Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - James B Leverenz
- Department of Molecular Medicine Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health Neurological Institute Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - Andrew A Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland Ohio USA
- Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
- Geriatric Psychiatry, GRECC Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Cleveland Ohio USA
- Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
- Department of Neuroscience Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - Jeffrey Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience Pam Quirk Brain Health and Biomarker Laboratory Department of Brain Health School of Integrated Health Sciences University of Nevada Las Vegas Las Vegas Nevada USA
| | - Feixiong Cheng
- Genomic Medicine Institute Lerner Research Institute Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Needham H, Torpey G, Flores CC, Davis CJ, Vanderheyden WM, Gerstner JR. A Dichotomous Role for FABP7 in Sleep and Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis: A Hypothesis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:798994. [PMID: 35844236 PMCID: PMC9280343 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.798994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are a family of intracellular lipid chaperone proteins known to play critical roles in the regulation of fatty acid uptake and transport as well as gene expression. Brain-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP7) is enriched in astrocytes and has been implicated in sleep/wake regulation and neurodegenerative diseases; however, the precise mechanisms underlying the role of FABP7 in these biological processes remain unclear. FABP7 binds to both arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), resulting in discrete physiological responses. Here, we propose a dichotomous role for FABP7 in which ligand type determines the subcellular translocation of fatty acids, either promoting wakefulness aligned with Alzheimer's pathogenesis or promoting sleep with concomitant activation of anti-inflammatory pathways and neuroprotection. We hypothesize that FABP7-mediated translocation of AA to the endoplasmic reticulum of astrocytes increases astrogliosis, impedes glutamatergic uptake, and enhances wakefulness and inflammatory pathways via COX-2 dependent generation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Conversely, we propose that FABP7-mediated translocation of DHA to the nucleus stabilizes astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle dynamics, preserves glutamatergic uptake, and promotes sleep by activating anti-inflammatory pathways through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ transcriptional cascade. Importantly, this model generates several testable hypotheses applicable to other neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hope Needham
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Grace Torpey
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Carlos C. Flores
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Davis
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - William M. Vanderheyden
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Jason R. Gerstner
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Monascus purpureus Fermented Product Ameliorates Learning and Memory Impairment in the Amyloid Precursor Protein Transgenic J20 Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation8050193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that various hallmarks such as amyloid overproduction, tau dysfunction, insulin resistance/diabetic mechanisms, and neuroinflammation are associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study investigated the bioactive functions of ankaflavin (AK) and monascin (MS) in the fermented product of Monascus purpureus and found their abilities to ameliorate AD by modifying several important pathogenic factors including improved cognitive function, reversed behavioral deficits, reduced hippocampal β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) burden, decreased tau hyper-phosphorylation, and reduced neuroinflammation in the J20 mouse model of AD compared to wild type. Monascus purpureus fermented product (MPFP) was suggested to act as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist and it was compared against the action of a well-known anti-diabetic PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone. MPFP could be a promising therapeutic strategy for disease modification in AD.
Collapse
|
5
|
Brain Expression, Physiological Regulation and Role in Motivation and Associative Learning of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ. Neuroscience 2021; 479:91-106. [PMID: 34762981 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Like other members of the superfamily of nuclear receptors, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), is a ligand-activated transcription factor known for its insulin-sensitizing actions in the periphery. Despite only sparse evidence for PPARγ in the CNS, many reports suggest direct PPARγ-mediated actions in the brain. This study aimed to (i) map PPARγ expression in rodent brain areas, involved in the regulation of cognitive, motivational, and emotional functions, (ii) examine the regulation of central PPARγ by physiological variables (age, sex, obesity); (iii) chemotypically identify PPARγ-expressing cells in the frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus (HP); (iv) study whether activation of PPARγ by pioglitazone (Pio) in FC and HP cells can induce target gene expression; and (v) demonstrate the impact of activated PPARγ on learning behavior and motivation. Immunoreactive PPARγ was detectable in specific sub-nuclei/subfields of the FC, HP, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus, and granular layers of the cerebellum. PPARγ protein levels were upregulated during aging and in high fat diet-induced obesity. PPARγ mRNA expression was upregulated in the amygdala of females (but not males) that were made obese. Neural precursor cells, mature neurons, and astrocytes in primary FC and HP cultures were shown to express PPARγ. Pioglitazone dose-dependently upregulated PPARγ target genes in manner that was specific to the origin (FC or HP) of the cultures. Lastly, administration of Pio impaired motivation and associative learning. Collectively, we provide evidence for the presence of regulatable PPARγ in the brain and demonstrate their participation the regulation of key behaviors.
Collapse
|
6
|
Willems S, Zaienne D, Merk D. Targeting Nuclear Receptors in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9592-9638. [PMID: 34251209 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors, also known as ligand-activated transcription factors, regulate gene expression upon ligand signals and present as attractive therapeutic targets especially in chronic diseases. Despite the therapeutic relevance of some nuclear receptors in various pathologies, their potential in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation is insufficiently established. This perspective gathers preclinical and clinical data for a potential role of individual nuclear receptors as future targets in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, and concomitantly evaluates the level of medicinal chemistry targeting these proteins. Considerable evidence suggests the high promise of ligand-activated transcription factors to counteract neurodegenerative diseases with a particularly high potential of several orphan nuclear receptors. However, potent tools are lacking for orphan receptors, and limited central nervous system exposure or insufficient selectivity also compromises the suitability of well-studied nuclear receptor ligands for functional studies. Medicinal chemistry efforts are needed to develop dedicated high-quality tool compounds for the therapeutic validation of nuclear receptors in neurodegenerative pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Willems
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Zaienne
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Merk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Saunders AM, Burns DK, Gottschalk WK. Reassessment of Pioglitazone for Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:666958. [PMID: 34220427 PMCID: PMC8243371 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.666958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a quintessential 'unmet medical need', accounting for ∼65% of progressive cognitive impairment among the elderly, and 700,000 deaths in the United States in 2020. In 2019, the cost of caring for Alzheimer's sufferers was $244B, not including the emotional and physical toll on caregivers. In spite of this dismal reality, no treatments are available that reduce the risk of developing AD or that offer prolonged mitiagation of its most devestating symptoms. This review summarizes key aspects of the biology and genetics of Alzheimer's disease, and we describe how pioglitazone improves many of the patholophysiological determinants of AD. We also summarize the results of pre-clinical experiments, longitudinal observational studies, and clinical trials. The results of animal testing suggest that pioglitazone can be corrective as well as protective, and that its efficacy is enhanced in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but the dose-effect relations are not monotonic or sigmoid. Longitudinal cohort studies suggests that it delays the onset of dementia in individuals with pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus, which small scale, unblinded pilot studies seem to confirm. However, the results of placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trials have not borne this out, and we discuss possible explanations for these discrepancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann M. Saunders
- Zinfandel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Daniel K. Burns
- Zinfandel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rampa A, Gobbi S, Belluti F, Bisi A. Tackling Alzheimer's Disease with Existing Drugs: A Promising Strategy for Bypassing Obstacles. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:2305-2327. [PMID: 32867634 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200831140745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The unmet need for the development of effective drugs to treat Alzheimer 's disease has been steadily growing, representing a major challenge in drug discovery. In this context, drug repurposing, namely the identification of novel therapeutic indications for approved or investigational compounds, can be seen as an attractive attempt to obtain new medications reducing both the time and the economic burden usually required for research and development programs. In the last years, several classes of drugs have evidenced promising beneficial effects in neurodegenerative diseases, and for some of them, preliminary clinical trials have been started. This review aims to illustrate some of the most recent examples of drugs reprofiled for Alzheimer's disease, considering not only the finding of new uses for existing drugs but also the new hypotheses on disease pathogenesis that could promote previously unconsidered therapeutic regimens. Moreover, some examples of structural modifications performed on existing drugs in order to obtain multifunctional compounds will also be described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Rampa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Gobbi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Belluti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bisi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Moon JH, Hong JM, Park SY. The antidiabetic drug troglitazone protects against PrP (106‑126)‑induced neurotoxicity via the PPARγ‑autophagy pathway in neuronal cells. Mol Med Rep 2021; 23:430. [PMID: 33846779 PMCID: PMC8047904 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases, which involve the alteration of cellular prion protein into a misfolded isoform, disrupt the central nervous systems of humans and animals alike. Prior research has suggested that peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor (PPAR)γ and autophagy provide some protection against neurodegeneration. PPARs are critical to lipid metabolism regulation and autophagy is one of the main cellular mechanisms by which cell function and homeostasis is maintained. The present study examined the effect of troglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, on autophagy flux in a prion peptide (PrP) (106–126)-mediated neurodegeneration model. Western blot analysis confirmed that treatment with troglitazone increased LC3-II and p62 protein expression, whereas an excessive increase in autophagosomes was verified by transmission electron microscopy. Troglitazone weakened PrP (106–126)-mediated neurotoxicity via PPARγ activation and autophagy flux inhibition. A PPARγ antagonist blocked PPARγ activation as well as the neuroprotective effects induced by troglitazone treatment, indicating that PPARγ deactivation impaired troglitazone-mediated protective effects. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that troglitazone protected primary neuronal cells against PrP (106–126)-induced neuronal cell death by inhibiting autophagic flux and activating PPARγ signals. These results suggested that troglitazone may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and prion diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hong Moon
- Biosafety Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Min Hong
- Biosafety Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Youel Park
- Biosafety Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54596, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang Y, Zhao J, Guo FL, Gao X, Xie X, Liu S, Yang X, Yang X, Zhang L, Ye Y, Fan L, Wang J. Metformin Ameliorates Synaptic Defects in a Mouse Model of AD by Inhibiting Cdk5 Activity. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:170. [PMID: 32670025 PMCID: PMC7327108 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a serine/threonine kinase that is activated by the neuron-specific activators p35/p39 and plays important roles in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive behavior. However, the proteolytic cleavage of p35 to p25 leads to prolonged and aberrant Cdk5 activation and results in synaptic depression, highly mimicking the early pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, Cdk5 inhibition is a potential promising strategy for AD drug development. Here in the present study, we showed that metformin, the most widely used drug for type 2 diabetes, suppressed Cdk5 hyper-activation and Cdk5-dependent tau hyper-phosphorylation in the APP/PS1 mouse hippocampus. We also identified the underlying molecular and cellular mechanism that metformin prevented Cdk5 hyper-activation by inhibiting the calpain-dependent cleavage of p35 into p25. Moreover, chronic metformin treatment rescued the core phenotypes in APP/PS1 mice as evidenced by restored spine density, surface GluA1 trafficking, Long-term potentiation (LTP) expression, and spatial memory. Altogether our study discovered an unidentified role of metformin in suppressing Cdk5 hyper-activation and thus preventing AD pathogenesis and suggested that metformin is a potential promising AD therapeutic drug.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- YaLi Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - JianHua Zhao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Neurorestoratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Fang-Li Guo
- Department of Neurology, Anyang District Hospital of Puyang City, Anyang, China
| | - XiaHuan Gao
- Department of Pathology, People's Hospital of Tongchuan, Tongchuan, China
| | - Xine Xie
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jinhua, Jinhua, China
| | - ShouQing Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jinhua, Jinhua, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - XinFeng Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - LuYi Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - YuXiao Ye
- Department of Pathophysiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - LiBing Fan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - JianGang Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Neurorestoratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Department of Pathophysiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jojo GM, Kuppusamy G, Selvaraj K, Baruah UK. Prospective of managing impaired brain insulin signalling in late onset Alzheimers disease with excisting diabetic drugs. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2019; 18:229-242. [PMID: 31275894 DOI: 10.1007/s40200-019-00405-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among elderly. The exact cause of the disease is until now unknown and there is no complete cure for the disease. Growing evidence suggest that AD is a metabolic disorder associated with impairment in brain insulin signalling. These findings enriched the scope for the repurposing of diabetic drugs in AD management. Even though many of these drugs are moving in a positive direction in the ongoing clinical studies, the extent of the success has seen to influence by several properties of these drugs since they were originally designed to manage the peripheral insulin resistance. In depth understandings of these properties is hence highly significant to optimise the use of diabetic drugs in the clinical management of AD; which is the primary aim of the present review article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gifty M Jojo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, JSS College of pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysore, India
| | - Gowthamarajan Kuppusamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, JSS College of pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysore, India
| | - Kousalya Selvaraj
- Department of Pharmaceutics, JSS College of pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysore, India
| | - Uday Krishna Baruah
- Department of Pharmaceutics, JSS College of pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysore, India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Jojo GM, Kuppusamy G. Scope of new formulation approaches in the repurposing of pioglitazone for the management of Alzheimer’s disease. J Clin Pharm Ther 2019; 44:337-348. [DOI: 10.1111/jcpt.12808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gifty M. Jojo
- Department of Pharmaceutics JSS College of Pharmacy Ootacamund India
- JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research Mysuru India
| | - Gowthamarajan Kuppusamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics JSS College of Pharmacy Ootacamund India
- JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research Mysuru India
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Tauopathies represent a spectrum of incurable and progressive age-associated neurodegenerative diseases that currently are diagnosed definitively only at autopsy. Few clinical diagnoses, such as classic Richardson's syndrome of progressive supranuclear palsy, are specific for underlying tauopathy and no clinical syndrome is fully sensitive to reliably identify all forms of clinically manifest tauopathy. Thus, a major unmet need for the development and implementation of tau-targeted therapies is precise antemortem diagnosis. This article reviews new and emerging diagnostic therapies for tauopathies including novel imaging techniques and biomarkers and also reviews recent tau therapeutics. RECENT FINDINGS Building evidence from animal and cell models suggests that prion-like misfolding and propagation of pathogenic tau proteins between brain cells are central to the neurodegenerative process. These rapidly growing developments build rationale and motivation for the development of therapeutics targeting this mechanism through altering phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications of the tau protein, blocking aggregation and spread using small molecular compounds or immunotherapy and reducing or silencing expression of the MAPT tau gene. New clinical criteria, CSF, MRI, and PET biomarkers will aid in identifying tauopathies earlier and more accurately which will aid in selection for new clinical trials which focus on a variety of agents including immunotherapy and gene silencing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Coughlin
- Frontotemporal Dementia Center (FTDC), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Frontotemporal Dementia Center (FTDC), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Davidson MA, Mattison DR, Azoulay L, Krewski D. Thiazolidinedione drugs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: past, present and future. Crit Rev Toxicol 2017; 48:52-108. [PMID: 28816105 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2017.1351420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Thiazolidinedione (TZD) drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have proven effective in improving insulin sensitivity, hyperglycemia, and lipid metabolism. Though well tolerated by some patients, their mechanism of action as ligands of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) results in the activation of several pathways in addition to those responsible for glycemic control and lipid homeostasis. These pathways, which include those related to inflammation, bone formation, and cell proliferation, may lead to adverse health outcomes. As treatment with TZDs has been associated with adverse hepatic, cardiovascular, osteological, and carcinogenic events in some studies, the role of TZDs in the treatment of T2DM continues to be debated. At the same time, new therapeutic roles for TZDs are being investigated, with new forms and isoforms currently in the pre-clinical phase for use in the prevention and treatment of some cancers, inflammatory diseases, and other conditions. The aims of this review are to provide an overview of the mechanism(s) of action of TZDs, a review of their safety for use in the treatment of T2DM, and a perspective on their current and future therapeutic roles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Davidson
- a Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Canada.,b McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment , Ottawa , Canada
| | - Donald R Mattison
- b McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment , Ottawa , Canada.,c Risk Sciences International , Ottawa , Canada
| | - Laurent Azoulay
- d Center for Clinical Epidemiology , Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Canada.,e Department of Oncology , McGill University , Montreal , Canada
| | - Daniel Krewski
- a Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Canada.,b McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment , Ottawa , Canada.,c Risk Sciences International , Ottawa , Canada.,f Faculty of Medicine , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Pioglitazone prevents tau oligomerization. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 478:1035-42. [PMID: 27543203 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Tau aggregation and amyloid β protein (Aβ) deposition are the main causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) activation modulates Aβ production. To test whether the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone (PIO) is also effective in preventing tau aggregation in AD, we used a cellular model in which wild-type tau protein (4R0N) is overexpressed (M1C cells) (Hamano et al., 2012) as well as primary neuronal cultures. PIO reduced both phosphorylated and total tau levels, and inactivated glycogen synthase kinase 3β, a major tau kinase, associated with activation of Akt. In addition, PIO decreased cleaved caspase3 and C-terminal truncated tau species by caspase, which is expected to decrease tau aggregation. A fractionation study showed that PIO reduced high molecular-weight (120 kDa), oligomeric tau species in Tris Insoluble, sarkosyl-soluble fractions. Tau decrease was reversed by adding GW9662, a PPARγ antagonist. Together, our current results support the idea that PPARγ agonists may be useful therapeutic agents for AD.
Collapse
|
16
|
Toba J, Nikkuni M, Ishizeki M, Yoshii A, Watamura N, Inoue T, Ohshima T. PPARγ agonist pioglitazone improves cerebellar dysfunction at pre-Aβ deposition stage in APPswe/PS1dE9 Alzheimer's disease model mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 473:1039-1044. [PMID: 27059136 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the best known neurodegenerative diseases; it causes dementia and its pathological features include accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. Elevated Cdk5 activity and CRMP2 phosphorylation have been reported in the brains of AD model mice at the early stage of the disease, but the significance thereof in human AD remains unelucidated. We have recently reported that Aβ accumulation in the cerebellum of AD model APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice, and cerebellar dysfunctions, such as impairment of motor coordination ability and long-term depression (LTD) induction, at the pre-Aβ accumulation stage. In the present study, we found increased phosphorylation levels of CRMP2 as well as increased p35 protein levels in the cerebellum of APP/PS1 mice. Interestingly, we show that pioglitazone, an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, normalized the p35 protein and CRMP2 phosphorylation levels in the cerebellum. Impaired motor coordination ability and LTD in APP/PS1 mice were ameliorated by pioglitazone treatment at the pre-Aβ accumulation stage. These results suggest a correlation between CRMP2 phosphorylation and AD pathophysiology, and indicate the effectiveness of pioglitazone treatment at the pre-Aβ accumulation stage in AD model mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junya Toba
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480 Japan
| | - Miyu Nikkuni
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480 Japan
| | - Masato Ishizeki
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480 Japan
| | - Aya Yoshii
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480 Japan
| | - Naoto Watamura
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480 Japan
| | - Takafumi Inoue
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480 Japan
| | - Toshio Ohshima
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480 Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kwon KJ, Lee EJ, Cho KS, Cho DH, Shin CY, Han SH. Ginkgo biloba extract (Egb761) attenuates zinc-induced tau phosphorylation at Ser262 by regulating GSK3β activity in rat primary cortical neurons. Food Funct 2016; 6:2058-67. [PMID: 26032477 DOI: 10.1039/c5fo00219b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In the brain, an excessive amount of zinc promotes the deposition of β-amyloid proteins and the intraneuronal accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. These consequences are key neuropathological traits that reflect Alzheimer's disease. Egb761, a standardized Ginkgo biloba extract, is a powerful antioxidant known to exhibit neuroprotective actions. In this study, we investigated whether Egb761 can counteract the zinc-induced tau phosphorylation in rat primary cortical neurons. To determine the modification of tau phosphorylation by Egb761 treatment, we conducted Western blot analyses, MTT assay, ROS measurements and immunocytochemistry. We found that zinc-induced tau phosphorylation occurred at Ser262 in a time- and dose-dependent manner while other tau sites were not phosphorylated. Tau phosphorylation at Ser262 was increased 30 min after zinc treatment and peaked 3 h after zinc treatment (control: 100 ± 1.2%, 30 min: 253 ± 2.24%, 3 h: 373 ± 1.3%). Interestingly, Egb761 treatment attenuated the zinc-induced tau hyperphosphorylation at Ser262 in a concentration-dependent manner while the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine showed a similar effect. Furthermore, Egb761 prevented the zinc-induced activation of p38 MAPK and GSK3β, as well as the zinc-induced increase in ROS production and neuronal cell death. Lithium chloride also inhibited the zinc-induced tau phosphorylation but did not affect ROS levels. These results suggest the potential of Egb761 for inhibiting the zinc-induced tau phosphorylation at Ser262 through its anti-oxidative actions involving the regulation of GSK3β. Therefore, Egb761 may be a candidate for the treatment of tauopathy present in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung Ja Kwon
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience Research, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Therapeutic Actions of the Thiazolidinediones in Alzheimer's Disease. PPAR Res 2015; 2015:957248. [PMID: 26587016 PMCID: PMC4637502 DOI: 10.1155/2015/957248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial metabolic brain disorder characterized by protein aggregates, synaptic failure, and cognitive impairment. In the AD brain is common to observe the accumulation of senile plaques formed by amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide and the neurofibrillary tangles composed of modified tau protein, which both lead to cellular damage and progressive neurodegeneration. Currently, there is no effective therapy for AD; however several studies have shown that the treatments with the peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonists known as thiazolidinedione drugs (TZDs), like rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, attenuate neurodegeneration and improve cognition in mouse models and patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Furthermore, studies on animal models have shown that TZDs inhibit neuroinflammation, facilitate amyloid-β plaque clearance, enhance mitochondrial function, improve synaptic plasticity, and, more recently, attenuate tau hyperphosphorylation. How TZDs may improve or reduce these pathologic signs of AD and what the mechanisms and the implicated pathways in which these drugs work are are questions that remain to be answered. However, in this review, we will discuss several cellular targets, in which TZDs can be acting against the neurodegeneration.
Collapse
|
19
|
Colca JR. The TZD insulin sensitizer clue provides a new route into diabetes drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 10:1259-70. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2015.1100164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
20
|
The Role of MAPT in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Genetics, Mechanisms and Therapy. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:4893-904. [PMID: 26363795 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9415-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is a gene responsible for encoding tau protein, which is tightly implicated in keeping the function of microtubules and axonal transport. Hyperphosphorylated tau protein participates in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which characterize many neurodegenerative disorders termed tauopathies. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have demonstrated numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in MAPT associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, it has been presumed that MAPT plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of neurodegeneration via affecting the structure and function of tau. Here, we review the advanced studies to summarize the biochemical properties of MAPT and its encoded protein, as well as the genetics and epigenetics of MAPT in neurodegeneration. Finally, given the potential mechanisms of MAPT to neurodegeneration pathogenesis, targeting MAPT and tau might present significant treatments of MAPT mutation-related neurodegeneration. Affirmatively, the identification of MAPT is extremely beneficial for improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases and developing the mechanism-based therapies.
Collapse
|
21
|
Cai Z, Xiao M, Chang L, Yan LJ. Role of insulin resistance in Alzheimer's disease. Metab Brain Dis 2015; 30:839-51. [PMID: 25399337 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-014-9631-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A critical role of insulin resistance (IR) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) includes beta-amyloid (Aβ) production and accumulation, the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), failure of synaptic transmission and neuronal degeneration. Aβ is sequentially cleavaged from APP by two proteolytic enzymes: β-secretase and γ-secretase. IR could regulate Aβ production via enhancing β- and γ-secretase activity. Meanwhile, IR induces oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain which contributes to Aβ and tau pathology. Aβ accumulation can enhance IR through Aβ-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress. IR is a possible linking between amyloid plaques and NFTs pathology via oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Additionally, IR could disrupt acetylcholine activity, and accelerate axon degeneration and failures in axonal transport, and lead to cognitive impairment in AD. Preclinical and clinical studies have supported that insulin could be useful in the treatment of AD. Thus, an effective measure to inhibit IR may be a novel drug target in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyou Cai
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan Renmin Hospital, No. 39 Chaoyang Middle Road, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China,
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Chen J, Li S, Sun W, Li J. Anti-diabetes drug pioglitazone ameliorates synaptic defects in AD transgenic mice by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase5 activity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123864. [PMID: 25875370 PMCID: PMC4396851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a serine/threonine kinase that is activated by the neuron specific activators p35/p39 and plays many important roles in neuronal development. However, aberrant activation of Cdk5 is believed to be associated with the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Here in the present study, enhanced Cdk5 activity was observed in mouse models of AD; whereas soluble amyloid-β oligomers (Aβ), which contribute to synaptic failures during AD pathogenesis, induced Cdk5 hyperactivation in cultured hippocampal neurons. Inhibition of Cdk5 activity by pharmacological or genetic approaches reversed dendritic spine loss caused by soluble amyloid-β oligomers (Aβ) treatment. Interestingly, we found that the anti-diabetes drug pioglitazone could inhibit Cdk5 activity by decreasing p35 protein level. More importantly, pioglitazone treatment corrected long-term potentiation (LTP) deficit caused by Aβ exposure in cultured slices and pioglitazone administration rescued impaired LTP and spatial memory in AD mouse models. Taken together, our study describes an unanticipated role of pioglitazone in alleviating AD and reveals a potential therapeutic drug for AD curing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail: (JL); (JC)
| | - Shenghua Li
- Department of Neurology, Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenshan Sun
- Department of Neurology, Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junrong Li
- Department of Neurology, Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail: (JL); (JC)
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Desai NC, Pandit UP, Dodiya A. Thiazolidinedione compounds: a patent review (2010 – present). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2015; 25:479-88. [DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2014.1001738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
24
|
Zolezzi JM, Inestrosa NC. Brain metabolite clearance: impact on Alzheimer's disease. Metab Brain Dis 2014; 29:553-61. [PMID: 24664180 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-014-9527-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder often associated with aging and characterized by several critical molecular changes that take place in the brain. Among the molecular hallmarks of AD, increased levels of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and the subsequent Aβ-derived damage are the most well-studied factors; however, despite the large amounts of effort and resources devoted to the study of AD and AD pathophysiology, the scientific community still awaits therapeutic alternatives capable of ensuring a better outcome for AD patients. In 2012, Cramer et al. (Science 335:1503-1506 2012) astonished the scientific community by rescuing behavioral and cognitive impairments in AD mouse models via oral administration of bexarotene, a drug used to treat some types of skin cancer. Moreover, these authors demonstrated that bexarotene, a retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist, exerts major effects on Aβ levels, mainly through increased apolipoprotein E (ApoE) expression. Apart from the valid questions addressed in Cramer's work, only a few attempts have been made to explain the effects of bexarotene. Most of these explanations have been solely based on the ability of bexarotene to reduce Aβ levels and not on the mechanisms that lead to such a reduction. Although it is well known that an imbalance in the Aβ production/excretion rate is the basis of increased Aβ levels in AD, no further explanations have been proposed to address the potential involvement of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a critical Aβ-clearance structure, in the bexarotene-mediated effects. Moreover, no attempt has been made to explain how the different effects observed after bexarotene administration are connected to each other. Based on current information and on our own experience with nuclear receptors (NR), we offer new perspectives on the mechanisms of bexarotene action, which should help to improve our knowledge of NRs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Zolezzi
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá, Gral. Velásquez, 1775, Arica, Chile
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zolezzi JM, Bastías-Candia S, Santos MJ, Inestrosa NC. Alzheimer's disease: relevant molecular and physiopathological events affecting amyloid-β brain balance and the putative role of PPARs. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:176. [PMID: 25120477 PMCID: PMC4112937 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of age-related dementia. With the expected aging of the human population, the estimated morbidity of AD suggests a critical upcoming health problem. Several lines of research are focused on understanding AD pathophysiology, and although the etiology of the disease remains a matter of intense debate, increased brain levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) appear to be a critical event in triggering a wide range of molecular alterations leading to AD. It has become evident in recent years that an altered balance between production and clearance is responsible for the accumulation of brain Aβ. Moreover, Aβ clearance is a complex event that involves more than neurons and microglia. The status of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and choroid plexus, along with hepatic functionality, should be considered when Aβ balance is addressed. Furthermore, it has been proposed that exposure to sub-toxic concentrations of metals, such as copper, could both directly affect these secondary structures and act as a seeding or nucleation core that facilitates Aβ aggregation. Recently, we have addressed peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs)-related mechanisms, including the direct modulation of mitochondrial dynamics through the PPARγ-coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) axis and the crosstalk with critical aging- and neurodegenerative-related cellular pathways. In the present review, we revise the current knowledge regarding the molecular aspects of Aβ production and clearance and provide a physiological context that gives a more complete view of this issue. Additionally, we consider the different structures involved in AD-altered Aβ brain balance, which could be directly or indirectly affected by a nuclear receptor (NR)/PPAR-related mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Zolezzi
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá Arica, Chile
| | - Sussy Bastías-Candia
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá Arica, Chile
| | - Manuel J Santos
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile ; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes Punta Arenas, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ferguson LB, Most D, Blednov YA, Harris RA. PPAR agonists regulate brain gene expression: relationship to their effects on ethanol consumption. Neuropharmacology 2014; 86:397-407. [PMID: 25036611 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear hormone receptors that act as ligand-activated transcription factors. Although prescribed for dyslipidemia and type-II diabetes, PPAR agonists also possess anti-addictive characteristics. PPAR agonists decrease ethanol consumption and reduce withdrawal severity and susceptibility to stress-induced relapse in rodents. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms facilitating these properties have yet to be investigated. We tested three PPAR agonists in a continuous access two-bottle choice (2BC) drinking paradigm and found that tesaglitazar (PPARα/γ; 1.5 mg/kg) and fenofibrate (PPARα; 150 mg/kg) decreased ethanol consumption in male C57BL/6J mice while bezafibrate (PPARα/γ/β; 75 mg/kg) did not. We hypothesized that changes in brain gene expression following fenofibrate and tesaglitazar treatment lead to reduced ethanol drinking. We studied unbiased genomic profiles in areas of the brain known to be important for ethanol dependence, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala, and also profiled gene expression in liver. Genomic profiles from the non-effective bezafibrate treatment were used to filter out genes not associated with ethanol consumption. Because PPAR agonists are anti-inflammatory, they would be expected to target microglia and astrocytes. Surprisingly, PPAR agonists produced a strong neuronal signature in mouse brain, and fenofibrate and tesaglitazar (but not bezafibrate) targeted a subset of GABAergic interneurons in the amygdala. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed co-expression of treatment-significant genes. Functional annotation of these gene networks suggested that PPAR agonists might act via neuropeptide and dopaminergic signaling pathways in the amygdala. Our results reveal gene targets through which PPAR agonists can affect alcohol consumption behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Ferguson
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States; The Institute for Neuroscience (INS), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States.
| | - Dana Most
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States; The Institute for Neuroscience (INS), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Yuri A Blednov
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - R Adron Harris
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Utreras E, Hamada R, Prochazkova M, Terse A, Takahashi S, Ohshima T, Kulkarni AB. Suppression of neuroinflammation in forebrain-specific Cdk5 conditional knockout mice by PPARγ agonist improves neuronal loss and early lethality. J Neuroinflammation 2014; 11:28. [PMID: 24495352 PMCID: PMC3931315 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-11-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is essential for brain development and function, and its deregulated expression is implicated in some of neurodegenerative diseases. We reported earlier that the forebrain-specific Cdk5 conditional knockout (cKO) mice displayed an early lethality associated with neuroinflammation, increased expression of the neuronal tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and neuronal migration defects. Methods In order to suppress neuroinflammation in the cKO mice, we first treated these mice with pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, and analyzed its effects on neuronal loss and longevity. In a second approach, to delineate the precise role of tPA in neuroinflammation in these mice, we generated Cdk5 cKO; tPA double knockout (dKO) mice. Results We found that pioglitazone treatment significantly reduced astrogliosis, microgliosis, neuronal loss and behavioral deficit in Cdk5 cKO mice. Interestingly, the dKO mice displayed a partial reversal in astrogliosis, but they still died at early age, suggesting that the increased expression of tPA in the cKO mice does not contribute significantly to the pathological process leading to neuroinflammation, neuronal loss and early lethality. Conclusion The suppression of neuroinflammation in Cdk5 cKO mice ameliorates gliosis and neuronal loss, thus suggesting the potential beneficial effects of the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone for the treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Toshio Ohshima
- Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cacabelos R, Cacabelos P, Torrellas C, Tellado I, Carril JC. Pharmacogenomics of Alzheimer's disease: novel therapeutic strategies for drug development. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1175:323-556. [PMID: 25150875 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0956-8_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major problem of health and disability, with a relevant economic impact on our society. Despite important advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment, its primary causes still remain elusive, accurate biomarkers are not well characterized, and the available pharmacological treatments are not cost-effective. As a complex disorder, AD is a polygenic and multifactorial clinical entity in which hundreds of defective genes distributed across the human genome may contribute to its pathogenesis. Diverse environmental factors, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and epigenetic phenomena, together with structural and functional genomic dysfunctions, lead to amyloid deposition, neurofibrillary tangle formation, and premature neuronal death, the major neuropathological hallmarks of AD. Future perspectives for the global management of AD predict that genomics and proteomics may help in the search for reliable biomarkers. In practical terms, the therapeutic response to conventional drugs (cholinesterase inhibitors, multifactorial strategies) is genotype-specific. Genomic factors potentially involved in AD pharmacogenomics include at least five categories of gene clusters: (1) genes associated with disease pathogenesis; (2) genes associated with the mechanism of action of drugs; (3) genes associated with drug metabolism (phase I and II reactions); (4) genes associated with drug transporters; and (5) pleiotropic genes involved in multifaceted cascades and metabolic reactions. The implementation of pharmacogenomic strategies will contribute to optimize drug development and therapeutics in AD and related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Cacabelos
- Chair of Genomic Medicine, Camilo José Cela University, 28692, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain,
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|