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Ataei B, Hokmabadi M, Asadi S, Asadifard E, Aghaei Zarch SM, Najafi S, Bagheri-Mohammadi S. A review of the advances, insights, and prospects of gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease: A novel target for therapeutic medicine. Gene 2024; 912:148368. [PMID: 38485038 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are still an important issue for scientists because it is difficult to cure with the available molecular medications and conventional treatments. Due to the complex nature of the brain structures and heterogeneous morphological and physiological properties of neuronal cells, interventions for cerebral-related disorders using surgical approaches, and classical and ongoing treatments remain hard for physicians. Furthermore, the development of newly designed medications attempts to target AD are not successful in improving AD, because abnormalities of tau protein, aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, inflammatory responses, etc lead to advanced neurodegeneration processes that conventional treatments cannot stop them. In recent years, novel diagnostic strategies and therapeutic approaches have been developed to identify and cure early pathological events of AD. Accordingly, many gene-based therapies have been developed and introduce the therapeutic potential to prevent and cure AD. On the other hand, genetic investigations and postmortem assessments have detected a large number of factors associated with AD pathology. Also, genetically diverse animal models of AD help us to detect and prioritize novel resilience mechanisms. Hence, gene therapy can be considered an effective and powerful tool to identify and treat human diseases. Ultimately, gene study and gene-based therapy with a critical role in the detection and cure of various human disorders will have a fundamental role in our lives forever. This scientific review paper discusses the present status of different therapeutic strategies, particularly gene-based therapy in treating AD, along with its challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Ataei
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Science, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahsa Hokmabadi
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Armin Pathobiology and Medical Genetics Laboratory, Tehran, Iran; Medical Genomics Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Asadi
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Elnaz Asadifard
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohsen Aghaei Zarch
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sajad Najafi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saeid Bagheri-Mohammadi
- Department of Paramedicine, Amol School of Paramedical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Immunogenetics Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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Zimmer TS, Orr AL, Orr AG. Astrocytes in selective vulnerability to neurodegenerative disease. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:289-302. [PMID: 38521710 PMCID: PMC11006581 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.02.008] [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: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Selective vulnerability of specific brain regions and cell populations is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders. Mechanisms of selective vulnerability involve neuronal heterogeneity, functional specializations, and differential sensitivities to stressors and pathogenic factors. In this review we discuss the growing body of literature suggesting that, like neurons, astrocytes are heterogeneous and specialized, respond to and integrate diverse inputs, and induce selective effects on brain function. In disease, astrocytes undergo specific, context-dependent changes that promote different pathogenic trajectories and functional outcomes. We propose that astrocytes contribute to selective vulnerability through maladaptive transitions to context-divergent phenotypes that impair specific brain regions and functions. Further studies on the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in disease may provide new therapeutic approaches to enhance resilience against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till S Zimmer
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam L Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Ma J, Wang B, Wei X, Tian M, Bao X, Zhang Y, Qi H, Zhang Y, Hu M. Accumulation of extracellular elastin-derived peptides disturbed neuronal morphology and neuron-microglia crosstalk in aged brain. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38168728 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular elastin-derived peptides (EDPs) accumulate in the aging brain and have been associated with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The activation of inflammatory processes in glial cells with EDP treatment has received attention, but not in neurons. To properly understand EDPs' pathogenic significance, the impact on neuronal function and neuron-microglia crosstalk was explored further. Among the EDP molecules, Val-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly (VGVAPG) is a typical repeating hexapeptide. Here, we observed that EDPs-VGVAPG influenced neuronal survival and morphology in a dose-dependent manner. High concentrations of VGVAPG induced synapse loss and microglia hyperactivation in vivo and in vitro. Following EDP incubation, galectin 3 (Gal-3) released by neurons served as a chemokine, attracting microglial engulfment. Blocking Gal-3 and EDP binding remedied synapse loss in neurons and phagocytosis in microglia. In response to the accumulation of EDPs, proteomics in matrix remodeling and cytoskeleton dynamics, such as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family, were engaged. These findings in extracellular EDPs provided more evidence for the relationship between aging and neuron dysfunction, increasing the insight of neuroinflammatory responses and the development of new specialized extracellular matrix remolding-targeted therapy options for dementia or other neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ma
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bingqian Wang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoxi Wei
- Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meng Tian
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Xingfu Bao
- Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Huichuan Qi
- Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Min Hu
- Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Ball BK, Kuhn MK, Fleeman RM, Proctor EA, Brubaker DK. Differential responses of primary neuron-secreted MCP-1 and IL-9 to type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease-associated metabolites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.17.567595. [PMID: 38014333 PMCID: PMC10680853 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.17.567595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is implicated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. In this work, we investigated neuroinflammatory responses of primary neurons to potentially circulating, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeable metabolites associated with AD, T2D, or both. We identified nine metabolites associated with protective or detrimental properties of AD and T2D in literature (lauric acid, asparagine, fructose, arachidonic acid, aminoadipic acid, sorbitol, retinol, tryptophan, niacinamide) and stimulated primary mouse neuron cultures with each metabolite before quantifying cytokine secretion via Luminex. We employed unsupervised clustering, inferential statistics, and partial least squares discriminant analysis to identify relationships between cytokine concentration and disease-associations of metabolites. We identified MCP-1, a cytokine associated with monocyte recruitment, as differentially abundant between neurons stimulated by metabolites associated with protective and detrimental properties of AD and T2D. We also identified IL-9, a cytokine that promotes mast cell growth, to be differentially associated with T2D. Indeed, cytokines, such as MCP-1 and IL-9, released from neurons in response to BBB-permeable metabolites associated with T2D may contribute to AD development by downstream effects of neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan K. Ball
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Madison K. Kuhn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca M. Fleeman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Proctor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA, USA
- Department of Engineering Science & Mechanics, Penn State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Douglas K. Brubaker
- Center for Global Health & Diseases, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Blood Heart Lung Immunology Research Center, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Baringer SL, Lukacher AS, Palsa K, Kim H, Lippmann ES, Spiegelman VS, Simpson IA, Connor JR. Amyloid-β exposed astrocytes induce iron transport from endothelial cells at the blood-brain barrier by altering the ratio of apo- and holo-transferrin. J Neurochem 2023; 167:248-261. [PMID: 37667496 PMCID: PMC10592116 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Excessive brain iron accumulation is observed early in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, notably prior to widespread proteinopathy. These findings suggest that increases in brain iron levels are due to a dysregulation of the iron transport mechanism at the blood-brain barrier. Astrocytes release signals (apo- and holo-transferrin) that communicate brain iron needs to endothelial cells in order to modulate iron transport. Here we use iPSC-derived astrocytes and endothelial cells to investigate how early-disease levels of amyloid-β disrupt iron transport signals secreted by astrocytes to stimulate iron transport from endothelial cells. We demonstrate that conditioned media from astrocytes treated with amyloid-β stimulates iron transport from endothelial cells and induces changes in iron transport pathway proteins. The mechanism underlying this response begins with increased iron uptake and mitochondrial activity by the astrocytes, which in turn increases levels of apo-transferrin in the amyloid-β conditioned astrocyte media leading to increased iron transport from endothelial cells. These novel findings offer a potential explanation for the initiation of excessive iron accumulation in early stages of Alzheimer's disease. What's more, these data provide the first example of how the mechanism of iron transport regulation by apo- and holo-transferrin becomes misappropriated in disease that can lead to iron accumulation. The clinical benefit from understanding early dysregulation in brain iron transport in AD cannot be understated. If therapeutics can target this early process, they could possibly prevent the detrimental cascade that occurs with excessive iron accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Baringer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Avraham S. Lukacher
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Kondaiah Palsa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Hyosung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, USA, 37235
| | - Ethan S. Lippmann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, USA, 37235
| | - Vladimir S. Spiegelman
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Ian A. Simpson
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - James R. Connor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
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Palmer JM, Huentelman M, Ryan L. More than just risk for Alzheimer's disease: APOE ε4's impact on the aging brain. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:750-763. [PMID: 37460334 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE ε4) allele is most commonly associated with increased risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, recent longitudinal studies suggest that these risks are overestimated; most ε4 carriers will not develop dementia in their lifetime. In this article, we review new evidence regarding the impact of APOE ε4 on cognition among healthy older adults. We discuss emerging work from animal models suggesting that ε4 impacts brain structure and function in multiple ways that may lead to age-related cognitive impairment, independent from AD pathology. We discuss the importance of taking an individualized approach in future studies by incorporating biomarkers and neuroimaging methods that may better disentangle the phenotypic influences of APOE ε4 on the aging brain from prodromal AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Palmer
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Matthew Huentelman
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Lee Ryan
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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Baringer SL, Lukacher AS, Palsa K, Kim H, Lippmann ES, Spiegelman VS, Simpson IA, Connor JR. Amyloid-β exposed astrocytes induce iron transport from endothelial cells at the blood-brain barrier by altering the ratio of apo- and holo-transferrin. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.15.540795. [PMID: 37292926 PMCID: PMC10245582 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.15.540795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Excessive brain iron accumulation is observed in early in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, notably prior to widespread proteinopathy. These findings suggest that increases in brain iron levels are due to a dysregulation of the iron transport mechanism at the blood-brain barrier. Astrocytes release signals (apo- and holo-transferrin) that communicate brain iron needs to endothelial cells in order to modulate iron transport. Here we use iPSC-derived astrocytes and endothelial cells to investigate how early-disease levels of amyloid-β disrupt iron transport signals secreted by astrocytes to stimulate iron transport from endothelial cells. We demonstrate that conditioned media from astrocytes treated with amyloid-β stimulates iron transport from endothelial cells and induces changes in iron transport pathway protein levels. The mechanism underlying this response begins with increased iron uptake and mitochondrial activity by the astrocytes which in turn increases levels of apo-transferrin in the amyloid-β conditioned astrocyte media leading to increased iron transport from endothelial cells. These novel findings offer a potential explanation for the initiation of excessive iron accumulation in early stages of Alzheimer's disease. What's more, these data provide the first example of how the mechanism of iron transport regulation by apo- and holo-transferrin becomes misappropriated in disease to detrimental ends. The clinical benefit from understanding early dysregulation in brain iron transport in AD cannot be understated. If therapeutics can target this early process, they could possibly prevent the detrimental cascade that occurs with excessive iron accumulation. Significance Statement Excessive brain iron accumulation is hallmark pathology of Alzheimer's disease that occurs early in the disease staging and before widespread proteinopathy deposition. This overabundance of brain iron has been implicated to contribute to disease progression, thus understandingthe mechanism of early iron accumulation has significant therapeutic potential to slow to halt disease progression. Here, we show that in response to low levels of amyloid-β exposure, astrocytes increase their mitochondrial activity and iron uptake, resulting in iron deficient conditions. Elevated levels of apo (iron free)-transferrin stimulate iron release from endothelial cells. These data are the first to propose a mechanism for the initiation of iron accumulation and the misappropriation of iron transport signaling leading to dysfunctional brain iron homeostasis and resultant disease pathology.
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