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Wongsodirdjo P, Caruso AC, Yong AK, Lester MA, Vella LJ, Hung YH, Nisbet RM. Messenger RNA-encoded antibody approach for targeting extracellular and intracellular tau. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae100. [PMID: 38585667 PMCID: PMC10996922 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have emerged as a leading therapeutic agent for the treatment of disease, including Alzheimer's disease. In the last year, two anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, lecanemab and aducanumab, have been approved in the USA for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, whilst several tau-targeting monoclonal antibodies are currently in clinical trials. Such antibodies, however, are expensive and timely to produce and require frequent dosing regimens to ensure disease-modifying effects. Synthetic in vitro-transcribed messenger RNA encoding antibodies for endogenous protein expression holds the potential to overcome many of the limitations associated with protein antibody production. Here, we have generated synthetic in vitro-transcribed messenger RNA encoding a tau-specific antibody as a full-sized immunoglobulin and as a single-chain variable fragment. In vitro transfection of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells demonstrated the ability of the synthetic messenger RNA to be translated into a functional tau-specific antibody. Furthermore, we show that the translation of the tau-specific single-chain variable fragment as an intrabody results in the specific engagement of intracellular tau. This work highlights the utility of messenger RNA for the delivery of antibody therapeutics, including intrabodies, for the targeting of tau in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Wongsodirdjo
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Alayna C Caruso
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Alicia K Yong
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Madeleine A Lester
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Laura J Vella
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Ya Hui Hung
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca M Nisbet
- The Florey Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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2
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Sigurdsson EM. Tau Immunotherapies for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Tauopathies: Status of Trials and Insights from Preclinical Studies. J Alzheimers Dis 2024:JAD231238. [PMID: 38427486 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The tau protein undergoes pathological changes in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies that eventually lead to functional impairments. Over the years, several therapeutic approaches have been examined to slow or halt the progression of tau pathology but have yet to lead to an approved disease-modifying treatment. Of the drugs in clinical trials that directly target tau, immunotherapies are the largest category and mostly consist of antibodies in different stages of development. There is a reasonable optimism that at least some of these compounds will have a clinically meaningful efficacy. This view is based on the significant although modest efficacy of some antibodies targeting amyloid-β in Alzheimer's disease and the fact that tau pathology correlates much better with the degree of dementia than amyloid-β lesions. In Alzheimer's disease, clearing pathological tau may therefore improve function later in the disease process than when removing amyloid-β. This review provides a brief update on the active and passive clinical tau immunization trials with insight from preclinical studies. Various epitopes are being targeted and some of the antibodies are said to target extracellular tau but because almost all of pathological tau is found intracellularly, the most efficacious antibodies should be able to enter the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einar M Sigurdsson
- Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, and Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Esquivel AR, Hill SE, Blair LJ. DnaJs are enriched in tau regulators. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127486. [PMID: 37852393 PMCID: PMC10842427 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The aberrant accumulation of tau protein is implicated as a pathogenic factor in many neurodegenerative diseases. Tau seeding may underlie its predictable spread in these diseases. Molecular chaperones can modulate tau pathology, but their effects have mainly been studied in isolation. This study employed a semi-high throughput assay to identify molecular chaperones influencing tau seeding using Tau RD P301S FRET Biosensor cells, which express a portion of tau containing the frontotemporal dementia-related P301S tau mutation fused to a FRET biosensor. Approximately fifty chaperones from five major families were screened using live cell imaging to monitor FRET-positive tau seeding. Among the tested chaperones, five exhibited significant effects on tau in the primary screen. Notably, three of these were from the DnaJ family. In subsequent studies, overexpression of DnaJA2, DnaJB1, and DnaJB6b resulted in significant reductions in tau levels. Knockdown experiments by shRNA revealed an inverse correlation between DnaJB1 and DnaJB6b with tau levels. DnaJB6b overexpression, specifically, reduced total tau levels in a cellular model with a pre-existing pool of tau, partially through enhanced proteasomal degradation. Further, DnaJB6b interacted with tau complexes. These findings highlight the potent chaperone activity within the DnaJ family, particularly DnaJB6b, towards tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R Esquivel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
| | - Shannon E Hill
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
| | - Laura J Blair
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, USA; Research Service, James A Haley Veterans Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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4
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Ndunge OBA, Shikani HJ, Dai M, Freeman BD, Desruisseaux MS. Effects of anti-tau immunotherapy on reactive microgliosis, cerebral endotheliopathy, and cognitive function in an experimental model of cerebral malaria. J Neurochem 2023; 167:441-460. [PMID: 37814468 PMCID: PMC10596299 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral malaria (CM), a potentially fatal encephalopathy caused primarily by infection with Plasmodium falciparum, results in long-term adverse neuro-psychiatric sequelae. Neural cell injury contributes to the neurological deficits observed in CM. Abnormal regulation of tau, an axonal protein pathologically associated with the formation of neurofibrillary lesions in neurodegenerative diseases, has been linked to inflammation and cerebral microvascular compromise and has been reported in human and experimental CM (ECM). Immunotherapy with a monoclonal antibody to pathological tau (PHF-1 mAB) in experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases has been reported to mitigate cognitive decline. We investigated whether immunotherapy with PHF-1 mAB prevented cerebral endotheliopathy, neural cell injury, and neuroinflammation during ECM. Using C57BL/6 mice infected with either Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA), which causes ECM, Plasmodium berghei NK65 (PbN), which causes severe malaria, but not ECM, or uninfected mice (Un), we demonstrated that when compared to PbN infection or uninfected mice, PbA infection resulted in significant memory impairment at 6 days post-infection, in association with abnormal tau phosphorylation at Ser202 /Thr205 (pSer202 /Thr205 ) and Ser396-404 (pSer396-404 ) in mouse brains. ECM also resulted in significantly higher expression of inflammatory markers, in microvascular congestion, and glial cell activation. Treatment with PHF-1 mAB prevented PbA-induced cognitive impairment and was associated with significantly less vascular congestion, neuroinflammation, and neural cell activation in mice with ECM. These findings suggest that abnormal regulation of tau protein contributes to cerebral vasculopathy and is critical in the pathogenesis of neural cell injury during CM. Tau-targeted therapies may ameliorate the neural cell damage and subsequent neurocognitive impairment that occur during disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry J. Shikani
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Minxian Dai
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Brandi D. Freeman
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Mahalia S. Desruisseaux
- Correspondence and reprint requests: Mahalia S. Desruisseaux, MD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208022, TAC S169B, New Haven, CT 06520-8022,
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5
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Mees I, Nisbet R, Hannan A, Renoir T. Implications of Tau Dysregulation in Huntington's Disease and Potential for New Therapeutics. J Huntingtons Dis 2023; 12:1-13. [PMID: 37092231 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-230569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. The disease, characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric impairments, is caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene. Despite the discovery of the mutation in 1993, no disease-modifying treatments are yet available. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in HD is therefore crucial for the development of novel treatments. Emerging research has found that HD might be classified as a secondary tauopathy, with the presence of tau insoluble aggregates in late HD. Increased total tau protein levels have been observed in both HD patients and animal models of HD. Tau hyperphosphorylation, the main feature of tau pathology, has also been investigated and our own published results suggest that the protein phosphorylation machinery is dysregulated in the early stages of HD in R6/1 transgenic mice, primarily in the cortex and striatum. Protein phosphorylation, catalysed by kinases, regulates numerous cellular mechanisms and has been shown to be dysregulated in other neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. While it is still unclear how the mutation in the huntingtin gene leads to tau dysregulation in HD, several hypotheses have been explored. Evidence suggests that the mutant huntingtin does not directly interact with tau, but instead interacts with tau kinases, phosphatases, and proteins involved in tau alternative splicing, which could result in tau dysregulation as observed in HD. Altogether, there is increasing evidence that tau is undergoing pathological changes in HD and may be a good therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaline Mees
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Rebecca Nisbet
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Anthony Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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6
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Stefanoska K, Gajwani M, Tan ARP, Ahel HI, Asih PR, Volkerling A, Poljak A, Ittner A. Alzheimer's disease: Ablating single master site abolishes tau hyperphosphorylation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl8809. [PMID: 35857446 PMCID: PMC9258953 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl8809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Hyperphosphorylation of the neuronal tau protein is a hallmark of neurodegenerative tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease. A central unanswered question is why tau becomes progressively hyperphosphorylated. Here, we show that tau phosphorylation is governed by interdependence- a mechanistic link between initial site-specific and subsequent multi-site phosphorylation. Systematic assessment of site interdependence identified distinct residues (threonine-50, threonine-69, and threonine-181) as master sites that determine propagation of phosphorylation at multiple epitopes. CRISPR point mutation and expression of human tau in Alzheimer's mice showed that site interdependence governs physiologic and amyloid-associated multi-site phosphorylation and cognitive deficits, respectively. Combined targeting of master sites and p38α, the most central tau kinase linked to interdependence, synergistically ablated hyperphosphorylation. In summary, our work delineates how complex tau phosphorylation arises to inform therapeutic and biomarker design for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Stefanoska
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Corresponding author. (A.I.); (K.S.)
| | - Mehul Gajwani
- Dementia Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Human and Medical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton,Victoria, Australia
| | - Amanda R. P. Tan
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Holly I. Ahel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Human and Medical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Prita R. Asih
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Alexander Volkerling
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Anne Poljak
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Arne Ittner
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Corresponding author. (A.I.); (K.S.)
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7
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Poudel P, Park S. Recent Advances in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease Using Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040835. [PMID: 35456671 PMCID: PMC9026997 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Most existing treatments only provide symptomatic solutions. Here, we introduce currently available commercial drugs and new therapeutics, including repositioned drugs, to treat AD. Despite tremendous efforts, treatments targeting the hallmarks of AD show limited efficacy. Challenges in treating AD are partly caused by difficulties in penetrating the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Recently, nanoparticle (NP)-based systems have shown promising potential as precision medicines that can effectively penetrate the BBB and enhance the targeting ability of numerous drugs. Here, we describe how NPs enter the brain by crossing, avoiding, or disrupting the BBB. In addition, we provide an overview of the action of NPs in the microenvironment of the brain for the treatment of AD. Diverse systems, including liposomes, micelles, polymeric NPs, solid-lipid NPs, and inorganic NPs, have been investigated for NP drug loading to relieve AD symptoms, target AD hallmarks, and target moieties to diagnose AD. We also highlight NP-based immunotherapy, which has recently gained special attention as a potential treatment option to disrupt AD progression. Overall, this review focuses on recently investigated NP systems that represent innovative strategies to understand AD pathogenesis and suggests treatment and diagnostic modalities to cure AD.
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8
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Asih PR, Stefanoska K, Prikas E, Ittner A. High Level Forebrain Expression of Active Tau Kinase p38γ Exacerbates Cognitive Dysfunction in Aged APP-transgenic Alzheimer's Mice. Neuroscience 2022; 484:53-65. [PMID: 35031398 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Persistent improvement of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a common form of dementia, is an unattained therapeutic objective. Gene therapy holds promise for treatment of familial and sporadic forms of AD. p38γ, a member of the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family, inhibits amyloid-β toxicity through regulation of tau phosphorylation. We recently showed that a gene delivery approach increasing p38γ resulted in markedly better learning and memory performance in mouse models of AD at advanced stages of amyloid-β- and tau-mediated cognitive impairment. Notably, low-to-moderate expression of p38γ had beneficial outcomes on cognition. The impact of high levels of p38γ on neuronal function remain unclear. Therefore, we addressed the outcomes of high levels of active p38γ on brain function, by direct injection of p38γ-encoding adeno-associated virus (AAV) into the forebrain of aged mice of an APP transgenic AD mouse model. While motor function in p38γ-expressing APP transgenic mice 2 months post-injection was comparable to control treated APP mice, their activity was markedly reduced in the open field test and included frequent bouts of immobility. Moreover, their learning and memory function was markedly impaired compared to control-treated aged APP mice. These results suggest that high neuronal levels of active p38γ emphasize a stress kinase role of p38γ, perturbing circuit function in motivation, navigation, and spatial learning. Overall, this work shows excessive neuronal p38γ levels can aggravate circuit dysfunction and advises adjustable expression systems will be required for sustainable AD gene therapy based on p38γ activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prita R Asih
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kristie Stefanoska
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Emmanuel Prikas
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Arne Ittner
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
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9
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Congdon EE, Jiang Y, Sigurdsson EM. Targeting tau only extracellularly is likely to be less efficacious than targeting it both intra- and extracellularly. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 126:125-137. [PMID: 34896021 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of the tau protein is thought to be responsible for the neurodegeneration and subsequent functional impairments in diseases that are collectively named tauopathies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common tauopathy, but the group consists of over 20 different diseases, many of which have tau pathology as their primary feature. The development of tau therapies has mainly focused on preventing the formation of and/or clearing these aggregates. Of these, immunotherapies that aim to either elicit endogenous tau antibodies or deliver exogenous ones are the most common approach in clinical trials. While their mechanism of action can involve several pathways, both extra- and intracellular, pharmaceutical companies have primarily focused on antibody-mediated clearance of extracellular tau. As we have pointed out over the years, this is rather surprising because it is well known that most of pathological tau protein is found intracellularly. It has been repeatedly shown by several groups over the past decades that antibodies can enter neurons and that their cellular uptake can be enhanced by various means, particularly by altering their charge. Here, we will briefly describe the potential extra- and intracellular mechanisms involved in antibody-mediated clearance of tau pathology, discuss these in the context of recent failures of some of the tau antibody trials, and finally provide a brief overview of how the intracellular efficacy of tau antibodies can potentially be further improved by certain modifications that aim to enhance tau clearance via specific intracellular degradation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
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10
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Yin X, Qiu Y, Zhao C, Zhou Z, Bao J, Qian W. The Role of Amyloid-Beta and Tau in the Early Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e933084. [PMID: 34471085 PMCID: PMC8422899 DOI: 10.12659/msm.933084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The abnormal accumulation of amyloid-b (Ab) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) containing phosphorylated tau proteins are the main histopathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Synaptic damage and loss are earlier events than amyloid plaques and NFTs in AD progress and best correlate with cognitive deficits in AD patients. Soluble oligomeric Aß initiates the progression of AD and tau mediates the subsequent synaptic impairments at an early stage of AD. In this review we discuss how Ab or/and tau causes synaptic dysfunction. Ab oligomers gather at synapses and give rise to synaptic death in a variety of ways such as regulating receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases, unbalancing calcium homeostasis, and activating caspases and calcineurin. A large amount of hyperphosphorylated tau exists in the synapse of the AD brain. Aß-triggered synaptic deficits are dependent on tau. Soluble, hyperphosphorylated tau is much more correlated to cognitive decline in AD patients. Tau-targeted therapies have received more attention because the treatments targeting Aß failed in AD. Here, we also review the therapy strategies used to intervene in the very early stages of AD. Soluble hyperphosphorylated tau forms a complex with cell surface receptors, scaffold proteins, or intracellular signaling molecules to damage synaptic function. Therefore, therapeutic strategies targeting synaptic tau at the early stage of AD may ameliorating pathology in AD. This review aims to provide an update on the role of oligomeric Ab and soluble hyperphosphorylated tau in the early pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and to develop a new treatment strategy based on this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland).,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland).,NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Yanyan Qiu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Chenhao Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Junze Bao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Wei Qian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland).,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland).,NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
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11
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Ji C, Sigurdsson EM. Current Status of Clinical Trials on Tau Immunotherapies. Drugs 2021; 81:1135-1152. [PMID: 34101156 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-021-01546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tau immunotherapies have advanced from proof-of-concept studies to over a dozen clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Mechanistic studies in animal and culture models have provided valuable insight into how these therapies may work but multiple pathways are likely involved. Different groups have emphasized the importance of intracellular vs extracellular antibody-mediated clearance of the tau protein and there is no consensus on which pool of tau should ideally be targeted. Likewise, various normal and disease-selective epitopes are being targeted, and the antibody isotypes either favor phagocytosis of the tau-antibody complex or are neutral in that aspect. Most of the clinical trials are in early stages, thus their efficacy is not yet known, but all have been without any major adverse effects and some have reported target engagement. A few have been discontinued. One in phase I, presumably because of a poor pharmacokinetic profile, and three in phase II for a lack of efficacy although this trial stage is not well powered for efficacy measures. In these phase II studies, trials with two antibodies in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy or other primary tauopathies were halted but are continuing in patients with AD, and one antibody trial was stopped in early-stage AD but is continuing in moderate AD. These three antibodies have been reported to only work extracellularly and tau is not increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of primary tauopathies, which may explain the failures of two of them. In the discontinued AD trial, there are some concerns about how much of extracellular tau contains the N-terminal epitope that is being targeted. In addition, extracellular tau is only a small part of total tau, compared to intracellular tau. Targeting only the former may not be sufficient for functional benefits. Given these outcomes, decision makers within the pharmaceutical companies who green light these trials should attempt to target tau not only extracellularly but also intracellularly to increase their chances of success. Hopefully, some of the ongoing trials will provide some functional benefits to the large number of patients with tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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12
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Eshraghi M, Adlimoghaddam A, Mahmoodzadeh A, Sharifzad F, Yasavoli-Sharahi H, Lorzadeh S, Albensi BC, Ghavami S. Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis: Role of Autophagy and Mitophagy Focusing in Microglia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3330. [PMID: 33805142 PMCID: PMC8036323 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurological disorder, and currently, there is no cure for it. Several pathologic alterations have been described in the brain of AD patients, but the ultimate causative mechanisms of AD are still elusive. The classic hallmarks of AD, including amyloid plaques (Aβ) and tau tangles (tau), are the most studied features of AD. Unfortunately, all the efforts targeting these pathologies have failed to show the desired efficacy in AD patients so far. Neuroinflammation and impaired autophagy are two other main known pathologies in AD. It has been reported that these pathologies exist in AD brain long before the emergence of any clinical manifestation of AD. Microglia are the main inflammatory cells in the brain and are considered by many researchers as the next hope for finding a viable therapeutic target in AD. Interestingly, it appears that the autophagy and mitophagy are also changed in these cells in AD. Inside the cells, autophagy and inflammation interact in a bidirectional manner. In the current review, we briefly discussed an overview on autophagy and mitophagy in AD and then provided a comprehensive discussion on the role of these pathways in microglia and their involvement in AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Eshraghi
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Aida Adlimoghaddam
- St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Winnipeg, MB R2H2A6, Canada; (A.A.); (B.C.A.)
| | - Amir Mahmoodzadeh
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6734667149, Iran;
| | - Farzaneh Sharifzad
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada; (F.S.); (H.Y.-S.)
| | - Hamed Yasavoli-Sharahi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada; (F.S.); (H.Y.-S.)
| | - Shahrokh Lorzadeh
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada;
| | - Benedict C. Albensi
- St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Winnipeg, MB R2H2A6, Canada; (A.A.); (B.C.A.)
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada;
- Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba-University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Biology of Breathing Theme, Children Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Katowice School of Technology, 40-555 Katowice, Poland
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13
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Wegmann S, DeVos SL, Zeitler B, Marlen K, Bennett RE, Perez-Rando M, MacKenzie D, Yu Q, Commins C, Bannon RN, Corjuc BT, Chase A, Diez L, Nguyen HOB, Hinkley S, Zhang L, Goodwin A, Ledeboer A, Lam S, Ankoudinova I, Tran H, Scarlott N, Amora R, Surosky R, Miller JC, Robbins AB, Rebar EJ, Urnov FD, Holmes MC, Pooler AM, Riley B, Zhang HS, Hyman BT. Persistent repression of tau in the brain using engineered zinc finger protein transcription factors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/12/eabe1611. [PMID: 33741591 PMCID: PMC7978433 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal tau reduction confers resilience against β-amyloid and tau-related neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Here, we introduce a novel translational approach to lower expression of the tau gene MAPT at the transcriptional level using gene-silencing zinc finger protein transcription factors (ZFP-TFs). Following a single administration of adeno-associated virus (AAV), either locally into the hippocampus or intravenously to enable whole-brain transduction, we selectively reduced tau messenger RNA and protein by 50 to 80% out to 11 months, the longest time point studied. Sustained tau lowering was achieved without detectable off-target effects, overt histopathological changes, or molecular alterations. Tau reduction with AAV ZFP-TFs was able to rescue neuronal damage around amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (APP/PS1 line). The highly specific, durable, and controlled knockdown of endogenous tau makes AAV-delivered ZFP-TFs a promising approach for the treatment of tau-related human brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Wegmann
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah L DeVos
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | | | | | - Rachel E Bennett
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Marta Perez-Rando
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Danny MacKenzie
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Qi Yu
- Sangamo Therapeutics Inc., Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | - Caitlin Commins
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Riley N Bannon
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Bianca T Corjuc
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Alison Chase
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Lisa Diez
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Lei Zhang
- Sangamo Therapeutics Inc., Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen Lam
- Sangamo Therapeutics Inc., Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | | | - Hung Tran
- Sangamo Therapeutics Inc., Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ashley B Robbins
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | | | | | | | - Amy M Pooler
- Sangamo Therapeutics Inc., Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | - Brigit Riley
- Sangamo Therapeutics Inc., Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | | | - Bradley T Hyman
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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14
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Coughlin DG, Dickson DW, Josephs KA, Litvan I. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1281:151-176. [PMID: 33433875 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51140-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are neurodegenerative tauopathies with neuronal and glial lesions composed of tau that is composed predominantly of isomers with four repeats in the microtubule-binding domain (4R tau). The brain regions vulnerable to pathology in PSP and CBD overlap, but there are differences, particularly with respect to distribution of neuronal loss, the relative abundance of neuronal and glial lesions, the morphologic features of glial lesions, and the frequency of comorbid pathology. Both PSP and CBD have a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, including disorders of movement and cognition. Recognition of phenotypic diversity in PSP and CBD may improve antemortem diagnostic accuracy, which tends to be very good for the most common presentation of PSP (Richardson syndrome), but poor for the most characteristic presentation of CBD (corticobasal syndrome: CBS). Development of molecular and imaging biomarkers may improve antemortem diagnostic accuracy. Currently, multidisciplinary symptomatic and supportive treatment with pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies remains the standard of care. In the future, experimental therapeutic trials will be important to slow disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Irene Litvan
- UC San Diego Department of Neurosciences, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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15
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Gibbons GS, Kim SJ, Wu Q, Riddle DM, Leight SN, Changolkar L, Xu H, Meymand ES, O'Reilly M, Zhang B, Brunden KR, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY. Conformation-selective tau monoclonal antibodies inhibit tau pathology in primary neurons and a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:64. [PMID: 33148293 PMCID: PMC7643305 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The spread of tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is mediated by cell-to-cell transmission of pathological tau seeds released from neurons that, upon internalization by recipient neurons, template the misfolding of naïve cellular tau, thereby propagating fibrillization. We hypothesize that anti-tau monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that selectively bind to pathological tau seeds will inhibit propagation of tau aggregates and reduce the spread of tau pathology in vivo. Methods We inoculated mice with human AD brain-derived extracts containing tau paired helical filaments (AD-tau) and identified two novel mAbs, DMR7 and SKT82, that selectively bind to a misfolded pathological conformation of tau relative to recombinant tau monomer. To evaluate the effects of these mAbs on the spread of pathological tau in vivo, 5xFAD mice harboring significant brain Aβ plaque burden were unilaterally injected with AD-tau in the hippocampus, to initiate the formation of neuritic plaque (NP) tau pathology, and were treated weekly with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of DMR7, SKT82, or IgG isotype control mAbs. Results DMR7 and SKT82 bind epitopes comprised of the proline-rich domain and c-terminal region of tau and binding is reduced upon disruption of the pathological conformation of AD-tau by chemical and thermal denaturation. We found that both DMR7 and SKT82 immunoprecipitate pathological tau and significantly reduce the seeding of cellular tau aggregates induced by AD-tau in primary neurons by 60.5 + 13.8% and 82.2 + 8.3%, respectively, compared to IgG control. To investigate the mechanism of mAb inhibition, we generated pH-sensitive fluorophore-labeled recombinant tau fibrils seeded by AD-tau to track internalization of tau seeds and demonstrate that the conformation-selective tau mAbs inhibit the internalization of tau seeds. DMR7 and SKT82 treatment reduced hyperphosphorylated NP tau as measured with AT8 immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, but did not achieve statistical significance in the contralateral cortex and SKT82 significantly reduced tau pathology in the ipsilateral hippocampus by 24.2%; p = 0.044. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that conformation-selective tau mAbs, DMR7 and SKT82, inhibit tau pathology in primary neurons by preventing the uptake of tau seeds and reduce tau pathology in vivo, providing potential novel therapeutic candidates for the treatment of AD. Supplementary information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s13024-020-00404-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett S Gibbons
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Soo-Jung Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qihui Wu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Dawn M Riddle
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Susan N Leight
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lakshmi Changolkar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Emily S Meymand
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mia O'Reilly
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kurt R Brunden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Virginia M Y Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3600 Spruce St. 3 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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16
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Ng PY, Chang IS, Koh RY, Chye SM. Recent advances in tau-directed immunotherapy against Alzheimer's disease: an overview of pre-clinical and clinical development. Metab Brain Dis 2020; 35:1049-1066. [PMID: 32632666 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00591-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been a worldwide concern for many years now. This is due to the fact that AD is an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects quality of life. Failure of some Phase II/III clinical trials in AD targeting accumulation of β-amyloid in the brain has led to an increase in interest in studying alternative treatments against tubulin-associated unit (Tau) pathology. These alternative treatments include active and passive immunisation. Based on numerous studies, Tau is reported as a potential immunotherapeutic target for tauopathy-related diseases including AD. Accumulation and aggregation of hyperphosphorylated Tau as neuropil threads and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) are pathological hallmarks of AD. Both active and passive immunisation targeting Tau protein have shown the capabilities to decrease or prevent Tau pathology and improve either motor or cognitive impairment in various animal models. In this review, we summarise recent advances in active and passive immunisation targeting pathological Tau protein, and will discuss with data obtained from both animal and human trials. Together, we give a brief overview about problems being encountered in these immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Ying Ng
- School of Postgraduate, International Medical University, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - I Shuen Chang
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rhun Yian Koh
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Soi Moi Chye
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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17
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Lehmann M, Marklund M, Bolender AL, Bidhendi EE, Zetterström P, Andersen PM, Brännström T, Marklund SL, Gilthorpe JD, Nordström U. Aggregate-selective antibody attenuates seeded aggregation but not spontaneously evolving disease in SOD1 ALS model mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:161. [PMID: 32928301 PMCID: PMC7488686 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01032-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that propagation of the motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves the pathogenic aggregation of disease-associated proteins that spread in a prion-like manner. We have identified two aggregate strains of human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) that arise in the CNS of transgenic mouse models of SOD1-mediated ALS. Both strains transmit template-directed aggregation and premature fatal paralysis when inoculated into the spinal cord of adult hSOD1 transgenic mice. This spread of pathogenic aggregation could be a potential target for immunotherapeutic intervention. Here we generated mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to exposed epitopes in hSOD1 aggregate strains and identified an aggregate selective mAb that targets the aa 143-153 C-terminal extremity of hSOD1 (αSOD1143-153). Both pre-incubation of seeds with αSOD1143-153 prior to inoculation, and weekly intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration attenuated transmission of pathogenic aggregation and prolonged the survival of seed-inoculated hSOD1G85R Tg mice. In contrast, administration of a mAb targeting aa 65-72 (αSOD165-72), which exhibits high affinity towards monomeric disordered hSOD1, had an adverse effect and aggravated seed induced premature ALS-like disease. Although the mAbs reached similar concentrations in CSF, only αSOD1143-153 was found in association with aggregated hSOD1 in spinal cord homogenates. Our results suggest that an aggregate-selective immunotherapeutic approach may suppress seeded transmission of pathogenic aggregation in ALS. However, long-term administration of αSOD1143-153 was unable to prolong the lifespan of non-inoculated hSOD1G85R Tg mice. Thus, spontaneously initiated hSOD1 aggregation in spinal motor neurons may be poorly accessible to therapeutic antibodies.
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18
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Ittner A, Asih PR, Tan ARP, Prikas E, Bertz J, Stefanoska K, Lin Y, Volkerling AM, Ke YD, Delerue F, Ittner LM. Reduction of advanced tau-mediated memory deficits by the MAP kinase p38γ. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 140:279-294. [PMID: 32725265 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02191-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Hyperphosphorylation of the neuronal tau protein contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) by promoting tau pathology and neuronal and cognitive deficits. In contrast, we have previously shown that site-specific tau phosphorylation can inhibit toxic signals induced by amyloid-β (Aβ) in mouse models. The post-synaptic mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase p38γ mediates this site-specific phosphorylation on tau at Threonine-205 (T205). Using a gene therapeutic approach, we draw on this neuroprotective mechanism to improve memory in two Aβ-dependent mouse models of AD at stages when advanced memory deficits are present. Increasing activity of post-synaptic kinase p38γ that targets T205 in tau reduced memory deficits in symptomatic Aβ-induced AD models. Reconstitution experiments with wildtype human tau or phosphorylation-deficient tauT205A showed that T205 modification is critical for downstream effects of p38γ that prevent memory impairment in APP-transgenic mice. Furthermore, genome editing of the T205 codon in the murine Mapt gene showed that this single side chain in endogenous tau critically modulates memory deficits in APP-transgenic Alzheimer's mice. Ablating the protective effect of p38γ activity by genetic p38γ deletion in a tau transgenic mouse model that expresses non-pathogenic tau rendered tau toxic and resulted in impaired memory function in the absence of human Aβ. Thus, we propose that modulating neuronal p38γ activity serves as an intrinsic tau-dependent therapeutic approach to augment compromised cognition in advanced dementia.
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19
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van der Hoven J, van Hummel A, Przybyla M, Asih PR, Gajwani M, Feiten AF, Ke YD, Ittner A, van Eersel J, Ittner LM. Contribution of endogenous antibodies to learning deficits and astrocytosis in human P301S mutant tau transgenic mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13845. [PMID: 32796905 PMCID: PMC7428012 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70845-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies have been explored extensively as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease, where amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and the tau protein deposit in patient brains. While the major focus of antibody-based therapy development was on Aβ, arguably with limited success in clinical trials, targeting tau has become an emerging strategy, possibly extending therapies to dementias with isolated tau pathology. Interestingly, low titres of autoantibodies to pathological tau have been described in humans and transgenic mouse models, but their pathophysiological relevance remained elusive. Here, we used two independent approaches to deplete the B-cell lineage and hence antibody formation in human P301S mutant tau transgenic mice, TAU58/2. TAU58/2 mice were either crossed with the B-cell-deficient Ighm knockout line (muMT−/−) or treated with anti-CD20 antibodies that target B-cell precursors. In both models, B-cell depletion significantly reduced astrocytosis in TAU58/2 mice. Only when B-cells were absent throughout life, in TAU58/2.muMT−/− mice, were spatial learning deficits moderately aggravated while motor performance improved as compared to B-cell-competent TAU58/2 mice. This was associated with changes in brain region-specific tau solubility. No other relevant behavioural or neuropathological changes were observed in TAU58/2 mice in the absence of B-cells/antibodies. Taken together, our data suggests that the presence of antibodies throughout life contributes to astrocytosis in TAU58/2 mice and limits learning deficits, while other deficits and neuropathological changes appear to be independent of the presence of B-cells/antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia van der Hoven
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Annika van Hummel
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Magdalena Przybyla
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Prita R Asih
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Mehul Gajwani
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Astrid F Feiten
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Yazi D Ke
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Arne Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Janet van Eersel
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia. .,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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20
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Tau immunotherapies: Lessons learned, current status and future considerations. Neuropharmacology 2020; 175:108104. [PMID: 32360477 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The majority of clinical trials targeting the tau protein in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies are tau immunotherapies. Because tau pathology correlates better with the degree of dementia than amyloid-β lesions, targeting tau is likely to be more effective in improving cognition than clearing amyloid-β in Alzheimer's disease. However, the development of tau therapies is in many ways more complex than for amyloid-β therapies as briefly outlined in this review. Most of the trials are on humanized antibodies, which may have very different properties than the original mouse antibodies. The impact of these differences are to a large extent unknown, can be difficult to decipher, and may not always be properly considered. Furthermore, the ideal antibody properties for efficacy are not well established and can depend on several factors. However, considering the varied approaches in clinical trials, there is a general optimism that at least some of these trials may provide functional benefits to patients suffering of various tauopathies. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'The Quest for Disease-Modifying Therapies for Neurodegenerative Disorders'.
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21
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Coughlin DG, Litvan I. Progressive supranuclear palsy: Advances in diagnosis and management. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2020; 73:105-116. [PMID: 32487421 PMCID: PMC7462164 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a complex clinicopathologic disease with no current cure or disease modulating therapies that can only be definitively confirmed at autopsy. Growing understanding of the phenotypic diversity of PSP has led to expanded clinical criteria and new insights into etiopathogenesis that coupled with improved in vivo biomarkers makes increased access to current clinical trials possible. Current standard-of-care treatment of PSP is multidisciplinary, supportive and symptomatic, and several trials of potentially disease modulating agents have already been completed with disappointing results. Current ongoing clinical trials target the abnormal aggregation of tau through a variety of mechanisms including immunotherapy and gene therapy offer a more direct method of treatment. Here we review PSP clinicopathologic correlations, in vivo biomarkers including MRI, PET, and CSF biomarkers. We additionally review current pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods of treatment, prior and ongoing clinical trials in PSP. Newly expanded clinical criteria and improved specific biomarkers will aid in identifying patients with PSP earlier and more accurately and expand access to these potentially beneficial clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Coughlin
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Irene Litvan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
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22
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Xie J, Liang R, Wang Y, Huang J, Cao X, Niu B. Progress in Target Drug Molecules for Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:4-36. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666191203113745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that 4 widespread in the elderly.
The etiology of AD is complicated, and its pathogenesis is still unclear. Although there are many
researches on anti-AD drugs, they are limited to reverse relief symptoms and cannot treat diseases.
Therefore, the development of high-efficiency anti-AD drugs with no side effects has become an urgent
need. Based on the published literature, this paper summarizes the main targets of AD and their drugs,
and focuses on the research and development progress of these drugs in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayang Xie
- School of Life Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Ruirui Liang
- School of Life Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yajiang Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Junyi Huang
- School of Life Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xin Cao
- Zhongshan Hospital Institute of Clinical Science, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Niu
- School of Life Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China
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23
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Amir Mishan M, Rezaei Kanavi M, Shahpasand K, Ahmadieh H. Pathogenic Tau Protein Species: Promising Therapeutic Targets for Ocular Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Ophthalmic Vis Res 2019; 14:491-505. [PMID: 31875105 PMCID: PMC6825701 DOI: 10.18502/jovr.v14i4.5459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein, which is highly expressed in the central nervous system as well as ocular neurons and stabilizes microtubule structure. It is a phospho-protein being moderately phosphorylated under physiological conditions but its abnormal hyperphosphorylation or some post-phosphorylation modifications would result in a pathogenic condition, microtubule dissociation, and aggregation. The aggregates can induce neuroinflammation and trigger some pathogenic cascades, leading to neurodegeneration. Taking these together, targeting pathogenic tau employing tau immunotherapy may be a promising therapeutic strategy in fighting with cerebral and ocular neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Amir Mishan
- Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mozhgan Rezaei Kanavi
- Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Koorosh Shahpasand
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Ahmadieh
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Ittner A, Ittner LM. Dendritic Tau in Alzheimer's Disease. Neuron 2019; 99:13-27. [PMID: 30001506 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau and amyloid-β (Aβ) are key players in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ and tau are linked in a molecular pathway at the post-synapse with tau-dependent synaptic dysfunction being a major pathomechanism in AD. Recent work on site-specific modification of dendritic and more specifically post-synaptic tau has revealed new endogenous functions of tau that limits synaptic Aβ toxicity. Thus, molecular studies opened a new perspective on tau, placing it at the center of neurotoxic and neuroprotective signaling at the post-synapse. Here, we review recent advances on tau in the dendritic compartments, with implications for understanding and treatment of AD and related neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Ittner
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia; Dementia Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
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25
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Nisbet RM, Götz J. Amyloid-β and Tau in Alzheimer's Disease: Novel Pathomechanisms and Non-Pharmacological Treatment Strategies. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 64:S517-S527. [PMID: 29562514 DOI: 10.3233/jad-179907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of the peptide amyloid-β (Aβ) and the protein tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains is a gradual process that involves the post-translational modification and assembly of monomeric forms into larger structures that eventually form fibrillar inclusions. This process is thought to both drive and initiate AD. However, why the axonally enriched tau in the course of AD accumulates in the somatodendritic domain is not fully understood. We discuss new data that provide a possible explanation that involves de novo protein synthesis, induced by Aβ and mediated through the kinase Fyn. We further discuss how in a pathological state, tau, being a scaffolding protein, impairs nuclear and mitochondrial functions and reduces action potential generation at the axon initial segment. Pathological tau can further be packaged into exosomes, released by one neuron and taken up by another, contributing to its pathogenicity. We also present our new work that suggests ultrasound as a new treatment modality to clear pathological Aβ and tau. We put this work into perspective, discussing current vaccination strategies and improved brain delivery methods involving antibody engineering and viral approaches. We propose that rather than reducing post-translational modifications of tau, its levels and de novo synthesis need to be reduced. We anticipate a surge in combinatorial strategies, simultaneously targeting multiple pathologies, and an improved drug delivery to the brain facilitated by emerging technologies such as ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Nisbet
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane (St Lucia Campus), QLD, Australia
| | - Jürgen Götz
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane (St Lucia Campus), QLD, Australia
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26
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Qß Virus-like particle-based vaccine induces robust immunity and protects against tauopathy. NPJ Vaccines 2019; 4:26. [PMID: 31231552 PMCID: PMC6547647 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-019-0118-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are progressive neurodegenerative diseases clinically characterized by cognitive decline and could be caused by the aggregation of hyperphosphorylated pathological tau (pTau) as neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) inside neurons. There is currently no FDA-approved treatment that cures, slows or prevents tauopathies. Current immunotherapy strategies targeting pTau have generated encouraging data but may pose concerns about scalability, affordability, and efficacy. Here, we engineered a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine in which tau peptide, phosphorylated at threonine 181, was linked at high valency to Qß bacteriophage VLPs (pT181-Qß). We demonstrate that vaccination with pT181-Qß is sufficient to induce a robust and long-lived anti-pT181 antibody response in the sera and the brains of both Non-Tg and rTg4510 mice. Only sera from pT181-Qß vaccinated mice are reactive to classical somatodendritic pTau in human FTD and AD post-mortem brain sections. Finally, we demonstrate that pT181-Qß vaccination reduces both soluble and insoluble species of hyperphosphorylated pTau in the hippocampus and cortex, avoids a Th1-mediated pro-inflammatory cell response, prevents hippocampal and corpus callosum atrophy and rescues cognitive dysfunction in a 4-month-old rTg4510 mouse model of FTD. These studies provide a valid scientific premise for the development of VLP-based immunotherapy to target pTau and potentially prevent Alzheimer’s diseases and related tauopathies. Tauopathies such as fronto-temporal dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are characterized by the accumulation of phosphorylated Tau (pTau) protein into pathogenic neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Kiran Bhaskar and colleagues at the University of New Mexico investigate the efficacy of an active vaccine approach in the treatment of rTg4510 mice—an aggressive model of tauopathy. Mice receive 3 intramuscular doses of a disease-relevant pTau peptide (pT181) multivalently conjugated to an immunostimulatory bacteriophage virus-like particle (pT181-Qß). Vaccination induces high titers of anti-pTau—stable to at least 20 weeks—that is also able to bind human disease samples, but importantly does not react to unphosphorylated physiological Tau protein. Antibody can enter the brain and bind both soluble and intraneuronal pTau. Vaccination of mice reduces brain NFT, pathology, indicators of neuroinflammation and improves cognitive function in two different models of memory.
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27
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Pandit R, Leinenga G, Götz J. Repeated ultrasound treatment of tau transgenic mice clears neuronal tau by autophagy and improves behavioral functions. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:3754-3767. [PMID: 31281511 PMCID: PMC6587352 DOI: 10.7150/thno.34388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular deposits of pathological tau are the hallmark of a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders collectively known as tauopathies, with Alzheimer's disease, a secondary tauopathy, being further characterized by extracellular amyloid plaques. A major obstacle in developing effective treatments for tauopathies is the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which restricts the access of therapeutic agents to the brain. An emerging technology to overcome this limitation is the application of low-intensity ultrasound which, together with intravenously injected microbubbles, transiently opens the blood-brain barrier, thereby facilitating the delivery of therapeutic agents into the brain. Interestingly, even in the absence of therapeutic agents, ultrasound has previously been shown to reduce amyloid plaques and improve cognitive functions in amyloid-depositing mice through microglial clearance. Ultrasound has also been shown to facilitate the delivery of antibody fragments against pathological tau in P301L tau transgenic mice; however, the effect of ultrasound alone has not been thoroughly investigated in a tauopathy mouse model. Methods: Here, we performed repeated scanning ultrasound treatments over a period of 15 weeks in K369I tau transgenic mice with an early-onset tau-related motor and memory phenotype. We used immunohistochemical and biochemical methods to analyze the effect of ultrasound on the mice and determine the underlying mechanism of action, together with an analysis of their motor and memory functions following repeated ultrasound treatments. Results: Repeated ultrasound treatments significantly reduced tau pathology in the absence of histological damage. Associated impaired motor functions showed improvement towards the end of the treatment regime, with memory functions showing a trend towards improvement. In assessing potential clearance mechanisms, we ruled out a role for ubiquitination of tau, a prerequisite for proteasomal clearance. However, the treatment regime induced the autophagy pathway in neurons as reflected by an increase in the autophagosome membrane marker LC3II and a reduction in the autophagic flux marker p62, along with a decrease of mTOR activity and an increase in beclin 1 levels. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the interaction of tau and p62 in the ultrasound-treated mice, suggesting removal of tau by autophagosomes. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that a neuronal protein aggregate clearance mechanism induced by ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening operates for tau, further supporting the potential of low-intensity ultrasound to treat neurodegenerative disorders.
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Katsinelos T, Tuck BJ, Mukadam AS, McEwan WA. The Role of Antibodies and Their Receptors in Protection Against Ordered Protein Assembly in Neurodegeneration. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1139. [PMID: 31214163 PMCID: PMC6554282 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ordered assemblies of proteins are found in the postmortem brains of sufferers of several neurodegenerative diseases. The cytoplasmic microtubule associated protein tau and alpha-synuclein (αS) are found in an assembled state in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, respectively. An accumulating body of evidence suggests a "prion-like" mechanism of spread of these assemblies through the diseased brain. Under this hypothesis, assembled variants of these proteins promote the conversion of native proteins to the assembled state. This likely inflicts pathology on cells of the brain through a toxic gain-of-function mechanism. Experiments in animal models of tau and αS pathology have demonstrated that the passive transfer of anti-tau or anti-αS antibodies induces a reduction in the levels of assembled proteins. This is further accompanied by improvements in neurological function and preservation of brain volume. Immunotherapy is therefore considered one of the brightest hopes as a therapeutic avenue in an area currently without disease-modifying therapy. Following a series of disappointing clinical trials targeting beta-amyloid, a peptide that accumulates in the extracellular spaces of the AD brain, attention is turning to active and passive immunotherapies that target tau and αS. However, there are several remaining uncertainties concerning the mechanism by which antibodies afford protection against self-propagating protein conformations. This review will discuss current understanding of how antibodies and their receptors can be brought to bear on proteins involved in neurodegeneration. Parallels will be made to antibody-mediated protection against classical viral infections. Common mechanisms that may contribute to protection against self-propagating protein conformations include blocking the entry of protein "seeds" to cells, clearance of immune complexes by microglia, and the intracellular protein degradation pathway initiated by cytoplasmic antibodies via the Fc receptor TRIM21. As with anti-viral immunity, protective mechanisms may be accompanied by the activation of immune signaling pathways and we will discuss the suitability of such activation in the neurological setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - William A. McEwan
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Katsel P, Haroutunian V. Is Alzheimer disease a failure of mobilizing immune defense? Lessons from cognitively fit oldest-old. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2019. [PMID: 31607776 PMCID: PMC6780355 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2019.21.1/vharoutunian] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Multifaceted evidence supports the hypothesis that inflammatory-immune mechanisms contribute to Alzheimer disease (AD) neuropathology and genetic association of several immune specific genes (TREM2, CR1, and CD33) suggests that maladaptive immune responses may be pivotal drivers of AD pathogenesis. We reviewed microglia-related data from postmortem AD studies and examined supporting evidence from AD animal models to answer the following questions: i) What is the temporal sequence of immune activation in AD progression and what is its impact on cognition? ii) Are there discordant, “primed”, microglia responses in AD vs successful cognitive aging? iii) Does central nervous system (CNS) repair in aging depend on recruitment of the elements of cellular adaptive immune response such as effector T cells, and can the recruitment of systemic immune cells ameliorate AD neuropathology? iv) How effective are the immune-system-based therapeutic approaches currently employed for the treatment of AD?
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Katsel
- Department of Psychiatry, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vahram Haroutunian
- Department of Neuroscience, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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30
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Chukwu JE, Congdon EE, Sigurdsson EM, Kong XP. Structural characterization of monoclonal antibodies targeting C-terminal Ser 404 region of phosphorylated tau protein. MAbs 2019; 11:477-488. [PMID: 30794086 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2019.1574530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting tau with immunotherapies is currently the most common approach taken in clinical trials of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The most prominent pathological feature of tau is its hyperphosphorylation, which may cause the protein to aggregate into toxic assemblies that collectively lead to neurodegeneration. Of the phospho-epitopes, the region around Ser396/Ser404 has received particular attention for therapeutic targeting because of its prominence and stability in diseased tissue. Herein, we present the antigen-binding fragment (Fab)/epitope complex structures of three different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target the pSer404 tau epitope region. Most notably, these structures reveal an antigen conformation similar to a previously described pathogenic tau epitope, pSer422, which was shown to have a β-strand structure that may be linked to the seeding core in tau oligomers. In addition, we have previously reported on the similarly ordered conformation observed in a pSer396 epitope, which is in tandem with pSer404. Our data are the first Fab structures of mAbs bound to this epitope region of the tau protein and support the existence of proteopathic tau conformations stabilized by specific phosphorylation events that are viable targets for immune modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Chukwu
- a Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology , New York University School of Medicine , New York , NY , USA
| | - Erin E Congdon
- b Departments of Neuroscience & Physiology, & Psychiatry , New York University School of Medicine , New York , NY , USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- b Departments of Neuroscience & Physiology, & Psychiatry , New York University School of Medicine , New York , NY , USA
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- a Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology , New York University School of Medicine , New York , NY , USA
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31
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Jadhav S, Avila J, Schöll M, Kovacs GG, Kövari E, Skrabana R, Evans LD, Kontsekova E, Malawska B, de Silva R, Buee L, Zilka N. A walk through tau therapeutic strategies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:22. [PMID: 30767766 PMCID: PMC6376692 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0664-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau neuronal and glial pathologies drive the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease and related human tauopathies. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that pathological tau species can travel from cell to cell and spread the pathology through the brain. Throughout the last decade, physiological and pathological tau have become attractive targets for AD therapies. Several therapeutic approaches have been proposed, including the inhibition of protein kinases or protein-3-O-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)-L-serine/threonine Nacetylglucosaminyl hydrolase, the inhibition of tau aggregation, active and passive immunotherapies, and tau silencing by antisense oligonucleotides. New tau therapeutics, across the board, have demonstrated the ability to prevent or reduce tau lesions and improve either cognitive or motor impairment in a variety of animal models developing neurofibrillary pathology. The most advanced strategy for the treatment of human tauopathies remains immunotherapy, which has already reached the clinical stage of drug development. Tau vaccines or humanised antibodies target a variety of tau species either in the intracellular or extracellular spaces. Some of them recognise the amino-terminus or carboxy-terminus, while others display binding abilities to the proline-rich area or microtubule binding domains. The main therapeutic foci in existing clinical trials are on Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and non-fluent primary progressive aphasia. Tau therapy offers a new hope for the treatment of many fatal brain disorders. First efficacy data from clinical trials will be available by the end of this decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Jadhav
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jesus Avila
- Centro de Biologia Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones, Cientificas, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, C/ Nicolas Cabrera, 1. Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative, Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Schöll
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of, Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, AKH 4J, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1097, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enikö Kövari
- Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lewis D Evans
- Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Eva Kontsekova
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Cracow, Poland
| | - Rohan de Silva
- Reta Lila Weston Institute and Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Luc Buee
- Universite of Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, UMRS1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille cedex, France.
| | - Norbert Zilka
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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32
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Rosenberg RN, Fu M, Lambracht-Washington D. Active full-length DNA Aβ 42 immunization in 3xTg-AD mice reduces not only amyloid deposition but also tau pathology. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2018; 10:115. [PMID: 30454039 PMCID: PMC6245829 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0441-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most well-known and most common type of age-related dementia. Amyloid deposition and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein are both pathological hallmarks of AD. Using a triple-transgenic mouse model (3xTg-AD) that develops plaques and tangles in the brain similar to human AD, we provide evidence that active full-length DNA amyloid-β peptide 1–42 (Aβ42) trimer immunization leads to reduction of both amyloid and tau aggregation and accumulation. Methods Immune responses were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (antibody production) and enzyme-linked immunospot (cellular activation, cytokine production). Brains from 20-month-old 3x Tg-AD mice that had received DNA Aβ42 immunotherapy were compared with brains from age- and gender-matched transgenic Aβ42 peptide-immunized and control mice by histology, Western blot analysis, and ELISA. Protein kinase activation and kinase levels were studied in Western blots from mouse hemibrain lysates. Results Quantitative ELISA showed a 40% reduction of Aβ42 peptide and a 25–50% reduction of total tau and different phosphorylated tau molecules in the DNA Aβ42 trimer-immunized 3xTg-AD mice compared with nonimmunized 3xTg-AD control animals. Plaque and Aβ peptide reductions in the brain were due to the anti-Aβ antibodies generated following the immunizations. Reductions of tau were likely due to indirect actions such as less Aβ in the brain resulting in less tau kinase activation. Conclusions The significance of these findings is that DNA Aβ42 trimer immunotherapy targets two major pathologies in AD—amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles—in one vaccine without inducing inflammatory T-cell responses, which carry the danger of autoimmune inflammation, as found in a clinical trial using active Aβ42 peptide immunization in patients with AD (AN1792).
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger N Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | - Doris Lambracht-Washington
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA.
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33
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Rosenqvist N, Asuni AA, Andersson CR, Christensen S, Daechsel JA, Egebjerg J, Falsig J, Helboe L, Jul P, Kartberg F, Pedersen LØ, Sigurdsson EM, Sotty F, Skjødt K, Stavenhagen JB, Volbracht C, Pedersen JT. Highly specific and selective anti-pS396-tau antibody C10.2 targets seeding-competent tau. ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA-TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2018; 4:521-534. [PMID: 30386817 PMCID: PMC6205114 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The abnormal hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau plays a crucial role in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Methods Highly specific and selective anti-pS396-tau antibodies have been generated using peptide immunization with screening against pathologic hyperphosphorylated tau from rTg4510 mouse and AD brains and selection in in vitro and in vivo tau seeding assays. Results The antibody C10.2 bound specifically to pS396-tau with an IC50 of 104 pM and detected preferentially hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates from AD brain with an IC50 of 1.2 nM. C10.2 significantly reduced tau seeding of P301L human tau in HEK293 cells, murine cortical neurons, and mice. AD brain extracts depleted with C10.2 were not able to seed tau in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that C10.2 specifically recognized pathologic seeding-competent tau. Discussion Targeting pS396-tau with an antibody like C10.2 may provide therapeutic benefit in AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pia Jul
- H. Lundbeck A/S, Valby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Karsten Skjødt
- Department of Cancer and Inflammarion Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
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34
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Stefanoska K, Bertz J, Volkerling AM, van der Hoven J, Ittner LM, Ittner A. Neuronal MAP kinase p38α inhibits c-Jun N-terminal kinase to modulate anxiety-related behaviour. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14296. [PMID: 30250211 PMCID: PMC6155170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32592-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Modulation of behavioural responses by neuronal signalling pathways remains incompletely understood. Signalling via mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades regulates multiple neuronal functions. Here, we show that neuronal p38α, a MAP kinase of the p38 kinase family, has a critical and specific role in modulating anxiety-related behaviour in mice. Neuron-specific p38α-knockout mice show increased levels of anxiety in behaviour tests, yet no other behavioural, cognitive or motor deficits. Using CRISPR-mediated deletion of p38α in cells, we show that p38α inhibits c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity, a function that is specific to p38α over other p38 kinases. Consistently, brains of neuron-specific p38α-knockout mice show increased JNK activity. Inhibiting JNK using a specific blood-brain barrier-permeable inhibitor reduces JNK activity in brains of p38α-knockout mice to physiological levels and reverts anxiety behaviour. Thus, our results suggest that neuronal p38α negatively regulates JNK activity that is required for specific modulation of anxiety-related behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Stefanoska
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Josefine Bertz
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Alexander M Volkerling
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Julia van der Hoven
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Dementia Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Arne Ittner
- Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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35
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Selective targeting of 3 repeat Tau with brain penetrating single chain antibodies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 136:69-87. [PMID: 29934874 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-1869-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly affecting more than 5 million people in the U.S. AD is characterized by the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) and Tau in the brain, and is manifested by severe impairments in memory and cognition. Therefore, removing tau pathology has become one of the main therapeutic goals for the treatment of AD. Tau (tubulin-associated unit) is a major neuronal cytoskeletal protein found in the CNS encoded by the gene MAPT. Alternative splicing generates two major isoforms of tau containing either 3 or 4 repeat (R) segments. These 3R or 4RTau species are differentially expressed in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have been focused on reducing Tau accumulation with antibodies against total Tau, 4RTau or phosphorylated isoforms. Here, we developed a brain penetrating, single chain antibody that specifically recognizes a pathogenic 3RTau. This single chain antibody was modified by the addition of a fragment of the apoB protein to facilitate trafficking into the brain, once in the CNS these antibody fragments reduced the accumulation of 3RTau and related deficits in a transgenic mouse model of tauopathy. NMR studies showed that the single chain antibody recognized an epitope at aa 40-62 of 3RTau. This single chain antibody reduced 3RTau transmission and facilitated the clearance of Tau via the endosomal-lysosomal pathway. Together, these results suggest that targeting 3RTau with highly specific, brain penetrating, single chain antibodies might be of potential value for the treatment of tauopathies such as Pick's Disease.
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36
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Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Pathologically, AD is characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, with associated loss of synapses and neurons, resulting in cognitive deficits and eventually dementia. Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and tau protein are the primary components of the plaques and tangles, respectively. In the decades since Aβ and tau were identified, development of therapies for AD has primarily focused on Aβ, but tau has received more attention in recent years, in part because of the failure of various Aβ-targeting treatments in clinical trials. In this article, we review the current status of tau-targeting therapies for AD. Initially, potential anti-tau therapies were based mainly on inhibition of kinases or tau aggregation, or on stabilization of microtubules, but most of these approaches have been discontinued because of toxicity and/or lack of efficacy. Currently, the majority of tau-targeting therapies in clinical trials are immunotherapies, which have shown promise in numerous preclinical studies. Given that tau pathology correlates better with cognitive impairments than do Aβ lesions, targeting of tau is expected to be more effective than Aβ clearance once the clinical symptoms are evident. With future improvements in diagnostics, these two hallmarks of the disease might be targeted prophylactically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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DeVos SL, Corjuc BT, Oakley DH, Nobuhara CK, Bannon RN, Chase A, Commins C, Gonzalez JA, Dooley PM, Frosch MP, Hyman BT. Synaptic Tau Seeding Precedes Tau Pathology in Human Alzheimer's Disease Brain. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:267. [PMID: 29740275 PMCID: PMC5928393 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by the presence of intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates as well as extracellular amyloid-beta plaques. The presence and spread of tau pathology through the brain is classified by Braak stages and thought to correlate with the progression of AD. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have examined the ability of tau pathology to move from one neuron to the next, suggesting a "prion-like" spread of tau aggregates may be an underlying cause of Braak tau staging in AD. Using the HEK293 TauRD-P301S-CFP/YFP expressing biosensor cells as a highly sensitive and specific tool to identify the presence of seed competent aggregated tau in brain lysate-i.e., tau aggregates that are capable of recruiting and misfolding monomeric tau-, we detected substantial tau seeding levels in the entorhinal cortex from human cases with only very rare NFTs, suggesting that soluble tau aggregates can exist prior to the development of overt tau pathology. We next looked at tau seeding levels in human brains of varying Braak stages along six regions of the Braak Tau Pathway. Tau seeding levels were detected not only in the brain regions impacted by pathology, but also in the subsequent non-pathology containing region along the Braak pathway. These data imply that pathogenic tau aggregates precede overt tau pathology in a manner that is consistent with transneuronal spread of tau aggregates. We then detected tau seeding in frontal white matter tracts and the optic nerve, two brain regions comprised of axons that contain little to no neuronal cell bodies, implying that tau aggregates can indeed traverse along axons. Finally, we isolated cytosolic and synaptosome fractions along the Braak Tau Pathway from brains of varying Braak stages. Phosphorylated and seed competent tau was significantly enriched in the synaptic fraction of brain regions that did not have extensive cellular tau pathology, further suggesting that aggregated tau seeds move through the human brain along synaptically connected neurons. Together, these data provide further evidence that the spread of tau aggregates through the human brain along synaptically connected networks results in the pathogenesis of human Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. DeVos
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Bianca T. Corjuc
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Derek H. Oakley
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- C.S. Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Chloe K. Nobuhara
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Riley N. Bannon
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Alison Chase
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Caitlin Commins
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Jose A. Gonzalez
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Patrick M. Dooley
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Matthew P. Frosch
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- C.S. Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bradley T. Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
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38
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Chukwu JE, Pedersen JT, Pedersen LØ, Volbracht C, Sigurdsson EM, Kong XP. Tau Antibody Structure Reveals a Molecular Switch Defining a Pathological Conformation of the Tau Protein. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6209. [PMID: 29670132 PMCID: PMC5906480 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24276-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau antibodies have shown therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease and several are in clinical trials. As a microtubule-associated protein, tau relies on dynamic phosphorylation for its normal functions. In tauopathies, it becomes hyperphosphorylated and aggregates into toxic assemblies, which collectively lead to neurodegeneration. Of the phospho-epitopes, the region around Ser396 has received particular attention because of its prominence and stability in tauopathies. Here we report the first structure of a monoclonal tau antibody in complex with the pathologically important phospho-Ser396 residue. Its binding region reveals tau residues Tyr394 to phospho-Ser396 stabilized in a β-strand conformation that is coordinated by a phospho-specific antigen binding site. These details highlight a molecular switch that defines this prominent conformation of tau and ways to target it. Overall, the structure of the antibody-antigen complex clarifies why certain phosphorylation sites in tau are more closely linked to neurodegeneration than others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Chukwu
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jan T Pedersen
- Neurodegeneration, H. Lundbeck A/S, DK-2500, Valby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Neuroscience & Physiology, & Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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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.
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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.
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Betrie AH, Ayton S, Bush AI, Angus JA, Lei P, Wright CE. Evidence of a Cardiovascular Function for Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 56:849-860. [PMID: 28059795 DOI: 10.3233/jad-161093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Aggregation of tau protein into intracellular deposits is a pathognomonic feature of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and lowering tau is a prominent therapeutic strategy under development. However, the physiological function of tau protein is not well known, particularly in the periphery. Lowering tau protein risks disrupting its physiological role leading to unwanted effects. In this study, the presence of tau protein in cardiac tissue is confirmed and the functional role in the cardiovascular system and the consequences of its loss were explored. Isolated right and left atria and small mesenteric arteries from wild type and tau deficient (KO) mice of two age groups (13 and 23 months old) were used to assess cardiovascular phenotypes. Tau KO mice showed an increased systolic blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy at 13 months, which was accompanied by a significantly lower right atrial rate and a subtle decrease in the maximum contractility to calcium, isoprenaline, and electrical sympathetic nerve stimulation. Aging tau KO mice to 23 months resulted in cardiac hypertrophy with significantly attenuated left atrial contractility, increased blood pressure, and sensitivity of isolated mesenteric arteries to angiotensin II contraction and isoprenaline relaxation compared to their younger counterparts. This study supports a functional role of tau in the heart and loss of this protein leads to a deterioration in cardiovascular performance which worsens with age. Taken together, these results provide insight into the peripheral function of tau protein, and give caution to the therapeutic strategy of lowering tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashenafi H Betrie
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cardiovascular Therapeutics Unit, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Scott Ayton
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashley I Bush
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - James A Angus
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cardiovascular Therapeutics Unit, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peng Lei
- Department of Neurology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan, China
| | - Christine E Wright
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cardiovascular Therapeutics Unit, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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41
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Biundo F, Del Prete D, Zhang H, Arancio O, D'Adamio L. A role for tau in learning, memory and synaptic plasticity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3184. [PMID: 29453339 PMCID: PMC5816660 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21596-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders: mutations in the gene encoding for tau (MAPT) are linked to Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD) and hyper-phosphorylated aggregates of tau forming neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that constitute a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD) and FTD. Accordingly, tau is a favored therapeutic target for the treatment of these diseases. Given the criticality of tau to dementia's pathogenesis and therapy, it is important to understand the physiological function of tau in the central nervous system. Analysis of Mapt knock out (Mapt-/-) mice has yielded inconsistent results. Some studies have shown that tau deletion does not alter memory while others have described synaptic plasticity and memory alterations in Mapt-/- mice. To help clarifying these contrasting results, we analyzed a distinct Mapt-/- model on a B6129PF3/J genetic background. We found that tau deletion leads to aging-dependent short-term memory deficits, hyperactivity and synaptic plasticity defects. In contrast, Mapt+/- mice only showed a mild short memory deficit in the novel object recognition task. Thus, while tau is important for normal neuronal functions underlying learning and memory, partial reduction of tau expression may have fractional deleterious effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Biundo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Dolores Del Prete
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 168 St., New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Ottavio Arancio
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 168 St., New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Luciano D'Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
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Phos-tau peptide immunization of amyloid-tg-mice reduced non-mutant phos-tau pathology, improved cognition and reduced amyloid plaques. Exp Neurol 2018; 303:48-58. [PMID: 29432723 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Tau-immumotherapy has shown promising results in tangle/tauopathy-tg animal models. Here we immunized amyloid-mice (APPSwe/PSEN1dE9-tg, presenting amyloid-plaques, not neurofibrillary-tangles) with phos-tau peptides, previously shown by us to have high efficacy in mutant-tau tauopathy-mice. These amyloid-mice allowed us to test the effect of the vaccine in a model of familial AD patients with mutant amyloid plaque pathology, where tau pathology - once develops - is of non-mutant tau. Fourteen-month-old amyloid-mice were immunized with phos-tau peptides or vehicle. Eight weeks later, amelioration of cognitive impairment was noticed. Histological analysis revealed that the phos (non-mutant)-tau pathology (detected by us in these aged amyloid-mice while not in non-tg-mice), was lower in the phos-tau immunized amyloid-mice than in the non-immunized mice. Interestingly, we detected a decrease in amyloid plaque pathology, probably associated with the increased microglial burden, which surrounded both tau and amyloid pathology. These results point to the added value of immunizing AD-mice with the phos-tau-vaccine, targeting both tau and amyloid pathology, which may have clinical relevance. It also points to the multifaceted interplay between tau/amyloid pathologies.
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43
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DeVos SL, Miller RL, Schoch KM, Holmes BB, Kebodeaux CS, Wegener AJ, Chen G, Shen T, Tran H, Nichols B, Zanardi TA, Kordasiewicz HB, Swayze EE, Bennett CF, Diamond MI, Miller TM. Tau reduction prevents neuronal loss and reverses pathological tau deposition and seeding in mice with tauopathy. Sci Transl Med 2018; 9:9/374/eaag0481. [PMID: 28123067 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aag0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 304] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau directly correlates with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and other primary tauopathies. One therapeutic strategy may be to reduce total tau expression. We identified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that selectively decreased human tau mRNA and protein in mice expressing mutant P301S human tau. After reduction of human tau in this mouse model of tauopathy, fewer tau inclusions developed, and preexisting phosphorylated tau and Thioflavin S pathology were reversed. The resolution of tau pathology was accompanied by the prevention of hippocampal volume loss, neuronal death, and nesting deficits. In addition, mouse survival was extended, and pathological tau seeding was reversed. In nonhuman primates, tau ASOs distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord and reduced tau mRNA and protein in the brain, spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. These data support investigation of a tau-lowering therapy in human patients who have tau-positive inclusions even after pathological tau deposition has begun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L DeVos
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Rebecca L Miller
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kathleen M Schoch
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Carey S Kebodeaux
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Amy J Wegener
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tao Shen
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hien Tran
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 90201, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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44
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Young ZT, Mok SA, Gestwicki JE. Therapeutic Strategies for Restoring Tau Homeostasis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2018; 8:cshperspect.a024612. [PMID: 28159830 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a024612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Normal tau homeostasis is achieved when the synthesis, processing, and degradation of the protein is balanced. Together, the pathways that regulate tau homeostasis ensure that the protein is at the proper levels and that its posttranslational modifications and subcellular localization are appropriately controlled. These pathways include the enzymes responsible for posttranslational modifications, those systems that regulate mRNA splicing, and the molecular chaperones that control tau turnover and its binding to microtubules. In tauopathies, this delicate balance is disturbed. Tau becomes abnormally modified by posttranslational modification, it loses affinity for microtubules, and it accumulates in proteotoxic aggregates. How and why does this imbalance occur? In this review, we discuss how molecular chaperones and other components of the protein homeostasis (e.g., proteostasis) network normally govern tau quality control. We also discuss how aging might reduce the capacity of these systems and how tau mutations might further affect this balance. Finally, we discuss how small-molecule inhibitors are being used to probe and perturb the tau quality-control systems, playing a particularly prominent role in revealing the logic of tau homeostasis. As such, there is now interest in developing these chemical probes into therapeutics, with the goal of restoring normal tau homeostasis to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zapporah T Young
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Sue Ann Mok
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Jason E Gestwicki
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
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45
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Sigurdsson EM. Tau Immunotherapies for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Tauopathies: Progress and Potential Pitfalls. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 64:S555-S565. [PMID: 29865056 PMCID: PMC6171771 DOI: 10.3233/jad-179937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tau immunotherapies have now advanced from proof-of-concept studies to Phase II clinical trials. This review briefly outlines developments in the field and discusses how these therapies may work, which involves multiple variables that are connected in complex ways. These various factors are likely to define therapeutic success in humans and have not been thoroughly investigated, at least based on published reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einar M. Sigurdsson
- New York University School of Medicine, Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, and Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, Science Building, 435 East 30 Street, Room SB1115, New York, NY 10016,
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46
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Rajamohamedsait H, Rasool S, Rajamohamedsait W, Lin Y, Sigurdsson EM. Prophylactic Active Tau Immunization Leads to Sustained Reduction in Both Tau and Amyloid-β Pathologies in 3xTg Mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17034. [PMID: 29213096 PMCID: PMC5719023 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17313-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathologies are intertwined in Alzheimer's disease, and various immunotherapies targeting these hallmarks are in clinical trials. To determine if tau pathology influences Aβ burden and to assess prophylactic benefits, 3xTg and wild-type mice received tau immunization from 2-6 months of age. The mice developed a high IgG titer that was maintained at 22 months of age. Pronounced tau and Aβ pathologies were primarily detected in the subiculum/CA1 region, which was therefore the focus of analysis. The therapy reduced histopathological tau aggregates by 70-74% overall (68% in males and 78-86% in females), compared to 3xTg controls. Likewise, western blot analysis revealed a 41% clearance of soluble tau (38-76% in males and 48% in females) and 42-47% clearance of insoluble tau (47-58% in males and 49% in females) in the immunized mice. Furthermore, Aβ burden was reduced by 84% overall (61% in males and 97% in females). These benefits were associated with reductions in microgliosis and microhemorrhages. In summary, prophylactic tau immunization not only prevents tau pathology but also Aβ deposition and related pathologies in a sustained manner, indicating that tau pathology can promote Aβ deposition, and that a short immunization regimen can have a long-lasting beneficial effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hameetha Rajamohamedsait
- Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
| | - Suhail Rasool
- Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
| | - Wajitha Rajamohamedsait
- Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
| | - Yan Lin
- Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
- Departments of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
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47
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Nisbet RM, Van der Jeugd A, Leinenga G, Evans HT, Janowicz PW, Götz J. Combined effects of scanning ultrasound and a tau-specific single chain antibody in a tau transgenic mouse model. Brain 2017; 140:1220-1230. [PMID: 28379300 PMCID: PMC5405237 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β as extracellular plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau as intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Tau pathology characterizes not only Alzheimer’s disease, but also many other tauopathies, presenting tau as an attractive therapeutic target. Passive tau immunotherapy has been previously explored; however, because only a small fraction of peripherally delivered antibodies crosses the blood–brain barrier, enters the brain and engages with tau that forms intracellular aggregates, more efficient ways of antibody delivery and neuronal uptake are warranted. In the brain, tau exists as multiple isoforms. Here, we investigated the efficacy of a novel 2N tau isoform-specific single chain antibody fragment, RN2N, delivered by passive immunization in the P301L human tau transgenic pR5 mouse model. We demonstrate that, in treated mice, RN2N reduces anxiety-like behaviour and phosphorylation of tau at distinct sites. When administration of RN2N was combined with focused ultrasound in a scanning mode (scanning ultrasound), RN2N delivery into the brain and uptake by neurons were markedly increased, and efficacy was significantly enhanced. Our study provides evidence that scanning ultrasound is a viable tool to enhance the delivery of biologics across the blood–brain barrier and improve therapeutic outcomes and further presents single-chain antibodies as an alternative to full-length antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Nisbet
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ann Van der Jeugd
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Gerhard Leinenga
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Harrison T Evans
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Phillip W Janowicz
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jürgen Götz
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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48
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Braczynski AK, Schulz JB, Bach JP. Vaccination strategies in tauopathies and synucleinopathies. J Neurochem 2017; 143:467-488. [PMID: 28869766 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination therapies constitute potential treatment options in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease or Parkinson disease. While a lot of research has been performed on vaccination against extracellular amyloid β, the focus recently shifted toward vaccination against the intracellular proteins tau and α-synuclein, with promising results in terms of protein accumulation reduction. In this review, we briefly summarize lessons to be learned from clinical vaccination trials in Alzheimer disease that target amyloid β. We then focus on tau and α-synuclein. For both proteins, we provide important data on protein immunogenicity, and put them into context with data available from both animals and human vaccination trials targeted at tau and α-synuclein. Together, we give a comprehensive overview about current clinical data, and discuss associated problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Braczynski
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.,Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA) - JARA-Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, FZ Jülich and RWTH University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan-Philipp Bach
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
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Grizzell JA, Patel S, Barreto GE, Echeverria V. Cotinine improves visual recognition memory and decreases cortical Tau phosphorylation in the Tg6799 mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 78:75-81. [PMID: 28536070 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the progressive aggregation of hyperphosphorylated forms of the microtubule associated protein Tau in the central nervous system. Cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine, reduced working memory deficits, synaptic loss, and amyloid β peptide aggregation into oligomers and plaques as well as inhibited the cerebral Tau kinase, glycogen synthase 3β (GSK3β) in the transgenic (Tg)6799 (5XFAD) mice. In this study, the effect of cotinine on visual recognition memory and cortical Tau phosphorylation at the GSK3β sites Serine (Ser)-396/Ser-404 and phospho-CREB were investigated in the Tg6799 and non-transgenic (NT) littermate mice. Tg mice showed short-term visual recognition memory impairment in the novel object recognition test, and higher levels of Tau phosphorylation when compared to NT mice. Cotinine significantly improved visual recognition memory performance increased CREB phosphorylation and reduced cortical Tau phosphorylation. Potential mechanisms underlying theses beneficial effects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alex Grizzell
- Research & Development Service, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL 33744, USA
| | - Sagar Patel
- Department of Psychology, NeuroNET Research Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - George E Barreto
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Center for Biomedical Research, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Carlos Antúnez 1920, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Research & Development Service, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL 33744, USA; Fac. Cs de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, Concepción 4080871, Chile.
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Strang KH, Goodwin MS, Riffe C, Moore BD, Chakrabarty P, Levites Y, Golde TE, Giasson BI. Generation and characterization of new monoclonal antibodies targeting the PHF1 and AT8 epitopes on human tau. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2017; 5:58. [PMID: 28760159 PMCID: PMC5537986 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-017-0458-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, defined by the presence of brain pathological inclusions comprised of abnormally aggregated and highly phosphorylated tau protein. The abundance of brain tau aggregates correlates with disease severity and select phospho-tau epitopes increase at early stages of disease. We generated and characterized a series of novel monoclonal antibodies directed to tau phosphorylated at several of these phospho-epitopes, including Ser396/Ser404, Ser404 and Thr205. We also generated phosphorylation independent antibodies against amino acid residues 193–211. We show that most of these antibodies are highly specific for tau and strongly recognize pathological inclusions in human brains and in a transgenic mouse model of tauopathy. They also reveal epitope-specific differences in the biochemical properties of Alzheimer’s disease sarkosyl-insoluble tau. These new reagents will be useful for investigating the progression of tau pathology and further as tools to target the cellular transmission of tau pathology.
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