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Klingstedt T, Lantz L, Shirani H, Ge J, Hanrieder J, Vidal R, Ghetti B, Nilsson KPR. Thiophene-Based Ligands for Specific Assignment of Distinct Aβ Pathologies in Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1581-1595. [PMID: 38523263 PMCID: PMC10995944 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00021] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregated species of amyloid-β (Aβ) are one of the pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and ligands that selectively target different Aβ deposits are of great interest. In this study, fluorescent thiophene-based ligands have been used to illustrate the features of different types of Aβ deposits found in AD brain tissue. A dual-staining protocol based on two ligands, HS-276 and LL-1, with different photophysical and binding properties, was developed and applied on brain tissue sections from patients affected by sporadic AD or familial AD associated with the PSEN1 A431E mutation. When binding to Aβ deposits, the ligands could easily be distinguished for their different fluorescence, and distinct staining patterns were revealed for these two types of AD. In sporadic AD, HS-276 consistently labeled all immunopositive Aβ plaques, whereas LL-1 mainly stained cored and neuritic Aβ deposits. In the PSEN1 A431E cases, each ligand was binding to specific types of Aβ plaques. The ligand-labeled Aβ deposits were localized in distinct cortical layers, and a laminar staining pattern could be seen. Biochemical characterization of the Aβ aggregates in the individual layers also showed that the variation of ligand binding properties was associated with certain Aβ peptide signatures. For the PSEN1 A431E cases, it was concluded that LL-1 was binding to cotton wool plaques, whereas HS-276 mainly stained diffuse Aβ deposits. Overall, our findings showed that a combination of ligands was essential to identify distinct aggregated Aβ species associated with different forms of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therése Klingstedt
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping
University, Linköping 581 83, Sweden
| | - Linda Lantz
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping
University, Linköping 581 83, Sweden
| | - Hamid Shirani
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping
University, Linköping 581 83, Sweden
| | - Junyue Ge
- Department
of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg,
Mölndal Hospital, Mölndal 431 80, Sweden
| | - Jörg Hanrieder
- Department
of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg,
Mölndal Hospital, Mölndal 431 80, Sweden
- Department
of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University
College London Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United
Kingdom
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - K. Peter R. Nilsson
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping
University, Linköping 581 83, Sweden
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Farzam F, Dabirmanesh B. Experimental techniques for detecting and evaluating the amyloid fibrils. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 206:183-227. [PMID: 38811081 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are insoluble proteins with intricate β-sheet structures associated with various human diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and prion diseases. Proteins can form aggregates when their structure is misfolded, resulting in highly organized amyloid fibrils or amorphous aggregates. The formation of protein aggregates is a promising research field for mitigating diseases and the pharmaceutical and food industries. It is important to monitor and minimize the appearance of aggregates in these protein products. Several methods exist to assess protein aggregation, that includes from basic investigations to advanced biophysical techniques. Physicochemical parameters such as molecular weight, conformation, structure, and dimension are examined to study aggregation. There is an urgent need to develop methods for the detection of protein aggregation and amyloid fibril formation both in vitro and in vivo. This chapter focuses on a comprehensive discussion of the methods used to characterize and evaluate aggregates and amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnoosh Farzam
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahareh Dabirmanesh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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3
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Calvo-Rodriguez M, Kharitonova EK, Snyder AC, Hou SS, Sanchez-Mico MV, Das S, Fan Z, Shirani H, Nilsson KPR, Serrano-Pozo A, Bacskai BJ. Real-time imaging of mitochondrial redox reveals increased mitochondrial oxidative stress associated with amyloid β aggregates in vivo in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:6. [PMID: 38238819 PMCID: PMC10797952 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00702-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reactive oxidative stress is a critical player in the amyloid beta (Aβ) toxicity that contributes to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Damaged mitochondria are one of the main sources of reactive oxygen species and accumulate in Aβ plaque-associated dystrophic neurites in the AD brain. Although Aβ causes neuronal mitochondria reactive oxidative stress in vitro, this has never been directly observed in vivo in the living mouse brain. Here, we tested for the first time whether Aβ plaques and soluble Aβ oligomers induce mitochondrial oxidative stress in surrounding neurons in vivo, and whether this neurotoxic effect can be abrogated using mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants. METHODS We expressed a genetically encoded fluorescent ratiometric mitochondria-targeted reporter of oxidative stress in mouse models of the disease and performed intravital multiphoton microscopy of neuronal mitochondria and Aβ plaques. RESULTS For the first time, we demonstrated by direct observation in the living mouse brain exacerbated mitochondrial oxidative stress in neurons after both Aβ plaque deposition and direct application of soluble oligomeric Aβ onto the brain, and determined the most likely pathological sequence of events leading to oxidative stress in vivo. Oxidative stress could be inhibited by both blocking calcium influx into mitochondria and treating with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SS31. Remarkably, the latter ameliorated plaque-associated dystrophic neurites without impacting Aβ plaque burden. CONCLUSIONS Considering these results, combination of mitochondria-targeted compounds with other anti-amyloid beta or anti-tau therapies hold promise as neuroprotective drugs for the prevention and/or treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Calvo-Rodriguez
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Present address: Foundational Neuroscience Center, AbbVie Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Kharitonova
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Austin C Snyder
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Steven S Hou
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Maria Virtudes Sanchez-Mico
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Sudeshna Das
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Zhanyun Fan
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Hamid Shirani
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Alberto Serrano-Pozo
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Brian J Bacskai
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16Th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
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4
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Ren W, Ni R. Noninvasive Visualization of Amyloid-Beta Deposits in Alzheimer's Amyloidosis Mice via Fluorescence Molecular Tomography Using Contrast Agent. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2785:271-285. [PMID: 38427199 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3774-6_16] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is pathologically featured by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque and neurofibrillary tangles. Compared to small animal positron emission tomography, optical imaging features nonionizing radiation, low cost, and logistic convenience. Optical detection of Aβ deposits is typically implemented by 2D macroscopic imaging and various microscopic techniques assisted with Aβ-targeted contrast agents. Here, we introduce fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), a macroscopic 3D fluorescence imaging technique, convenient for in vivo longitudinal monitoring of the animal brain without the involvement of cranial window opening operation. This chapter aims to provide the protocols for FMT in vivo imaging of Aβ deposits in the brain of rodent model of Alzheimer's disease. The materials, stepwise method, notes, limitations of FMT, and emerging opportunities for FMT techniques are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuwei Ren
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Hajda A, Grelich-Mucha M, Rybczyński P, Ośmiałowski B, Zaleśny R, Olesiak-Bańska J. BF 2-Functionalized Benzothiazole Amyloid Markers: Effect of Donor Substituents on One- and Two-Photon Properties. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:5676-5684. [PMID: 38060806 PMCID: PMC10731634 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00815] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Investigation of amyloids with the aid of fluorescence microscopy provides crucial insights into the development of numerous diseases associated with the formation of aggregates. Here, we present a series of BF2-functionalized benzothiazoles with electron-donating methoxy group(s), which are tested as amyloid fluorescent markers. We evaluate how the position of donor functional group(s) influences optical properties (fluorescence lifetime (τ) and fluorescence quantum yield (FQY)) in a solution and upon binding to amyloids. We elucidate the importance of surrounding environmental factors (hydrogen-bonding network, polarity, and viscosity) on the observed changes in FQY and evaluate how the localization of a donor influences radiative and nonradiative decay pathways. We conclude that a donor attached to the benzothiazole ring contributes to the increment of radiative decay pathways upon binding to amyloids (kr), while the donor attached to the flexible part of a molecule (with rotational freedom) contributes to a decrease in nonradiative decay pathways (knr). We find that the donor-acceptor-donor architecture allows us to obtain 58 times higher FQY of the dye upon binding to bovine insulin amyloids. Finally, we measure two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections (σ2) of the dyes and their change upon binding by the two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) technique. Measurements reveal that dyes that exhibit the increase/decrease of σ2 values when transferred from highly polar solvents to CHCl3 present a similar behavior upon amyloid binding. Our 2PA experimental values are supported by quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations. Despite this trend, the values of σ2 are not the same, which points out the importance of two-photon absorption measurements of amyloid-dye complexes in order to understand the performance of 2P probes upon binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Hajda
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science
and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, PL-50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Manuela Grelich-Mucha
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science
and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, PL-50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Patryk Rybczyński
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina Street 7, Toruń PL-87-100, Poland
| | - Borys Ośmiałowski
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina Street 7, Toruń PL-87-100, Poland
| | - Robert Zaleśny
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science
and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, PL-50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Olesiak-Bańska
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science
and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, PL-50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
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6
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Wellman SM, Coyne OA, Douglas MM, Kozai TDY. Aberrant accumulation of age- and disease-associated factors following neural probe implantation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Neural Eng 2023; 20:046044. [PMID: 37531953 PMCID: PMC10594264 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aceca5] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Objective. Electrical stimulation has had a profound impact on our current understanding of nervous system physiology and provided viable clinical options for addressing neurological dysfunction within the brain. Unfortunately, the brain's immune suppression of indwelling microelectrodes currently presents a major roadblock in the long-term application of neural recording and stimulating devices. In some ways, brain trauma induced by penetrating microelectrodes produces similar neuropathology as debilitating brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), while also suffering from end-stage neuron loss and tissue degeneration. The goal of the present study was to understand whether there may be any parallel mechanisms at play between brain injury from chronic microelectrode implantation and those of neurodegenerative disorder.Approach. We used two-photon microscopy to visualize the accumulation, if any, of age- and disease-associated factors around chronically implanted electrodes in both young and aged mouse models of AD.Main results. We determined that electrode injury leads to aberrant accumulation of lipofuscin, an age-related pigment, in wild-type and AD mice alike. Furthermore, we reveal that chronic microelectrode implantation reduces the growth of pre-existing Alzheimer's plaques while simultaneously elevating amyloid burden at the electrode-tissue interface. Lastly, we uncover novel spatial and temporal patterns of glial reactivity, axonal and myelin pathology, and neurodegeneration related to neurodegenerative disease around chronically implanted microelectrodes.Significance. This study offers multiple novel perspectives on the possible neurodegenerative mechanisms afflicting chronic brain implants, spurring new potential avenues of neuroscience investigation and design of more targeted therapies for improving neural device biocompatibility and treatment of degenerative brain disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Wellman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Olivia A Coyne
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Madeline M Douglas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Takashi D Y Kozai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- NeuroTech Center, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
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7
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Chen Y. Two-Photon Fluorescent Probes for Amyloid-β Plaques Imaging In Vivo. Molecules 2023; 28:6184. [PMID: 37687013 PMCID: PMC10488448 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176184] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide deposition, hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, reactive astrocytes, high levels of metal ions, and upregulated monoamine oxidases are considered to be the primary pathological markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among them, Aβ peptide deposition or Aβ plaques, is regarded as the initial factor in the pathogenesis of AD and a critical pathological hallmark in AD. This review highlights recently Aβ-specific fluorescent probes for two-photon imaging of Aβ plaques in vivo. It includes the synthesis and detection mechanism of probes, as well as their application to two-photon imaging of Aβ plaques in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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8
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Björk L, Klingstedt T, Nilsson KPR. Thiophene-Based Ligands: Design, Synthesis and Their Utilization for Optical Assignment of Polymorphic-Disease-Associated Protein Aggregates. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300044. [PMID: 36891883 PMCID: PMC10404026 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300044] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of ligands for detecting protein aggregates is of great interest, as these aggregated proteinaceous species are the pathological hallmarks of several devastating diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In this regard, thiophene-based ligands have emerged as powerful tools for fluorescent assessment of these pathological entities. The intrinsic conformationally sensitive photophysical properties of poly- and oligothiophenes have allowed optical assignment of disease-associated protein aggregates in tissue sections, as well as real-time in vivo imaging of protein deposits. Herein, we recount the chemical evolution of different generations of thiophene-based ligands, and exemplify their use for the optical distinction of polymorphic protein aggregates. Furthermore, the chemical determinants for achieving a superior fluorescent thiophene-based ligand, as well as the next generation of thiophene-based ligands targeting distinct aggregated species are described. Finally, the directions for future research into the chemical design of thiophene-based ligands that can aid in resolving the scientific challenges around protein aggregation diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Björk
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Therése Klingstedt
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
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9
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Sulheim E, WiderØe M, Bäck M, Nilsson KPR, Hammarström P, Nilsson LN, Davies CDL, Åslund AK. Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Amyloid-β Plaques in a Murine Alzheimer’s Disease Model. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 93:411-419. [PMID: 37038807 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: Early detection of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates is a critical step to improve the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) because neuronal damage by the Aβ aggregates occurs before clinical symptoms are apparent. We have previously shown that luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs), which are highly specific towards protein aggregates of Aβ, can be used to fluorescently label amyloid plaque in living rodents. Objective: We hypothesize that the LCO can be used to target gadolinium to the amyloid plaque and hence make the plaque detectable by T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A novel LCO-gadolinium construct was synthesized to selectively bind to Aβ plaques and give contrast in conventional T1-weighted MR images after intravenous injection in Tg-APPSwe mice. Results: We found that mice with high plaque-burden could be identified using the LCO-Gd constructs by conventional MRI. Conclusion: Our study shows that MR imaging of amyloid plaques is challenging but feasible, and hence contrast-mediated MR imaging could be a valuable tool for early AD detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einar Sulheim
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF AS, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marius WiderØe
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marcus Bäck
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Division of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - K. Peter R. Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Division of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Hammarström
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Division of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lars N.G. Nilsson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Andreas K.O. Åslund
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF AS, Trondheim, Norway
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10
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Blackmore DG, Razansky D, Götz J. Ultrasound as a versatile tool for short- and long-term improvement and monitoring of brain function. Neuron 2023; 111:1174-1190. [PMID: 36917978 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Treating the brain with focused ultrasound (FUS) at low intensities elicits diverse responses in neurons, astroglia, and the extracellular matrix. In combination with intravenously injected microbubbles, FUS also opens the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and facilitates focal drug delivery. However, an incompletely understood cellular specificity and a wide parameter space currently limit the optimal application of FUS in preclinical and human studies. In this perspective, we discuss how different FUS modalities can be utilized to achieve short- and long-term improvements, thereby potentially treating brain disorders. We review the ongoing efforts to determine which parameters induce neuronal inhibition versus activation and how mechanoreceptors and signaling cascades are activated to induce long-term changes, including memory improvements. We suggest that optimal FUS treatments may require different FUS modalities and devices, depending on the targeted brain area or local pathology, and will be greatly enhanced by new techniques for monitoring FUS efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Blackmore
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Götz
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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11
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Hou SS, Yang J, Lee JH, Kwon Y, Calvo-Rodriguez M, Bao K, Ahn S, Kashiwagi S, Kumar ATN, Bacskai BJ, Choi HS. Near-infrared fluorescence lifetime imaging of amyloid-β aggregates and tau fibrils through the intact skull of mice. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:270-280. [PMID: 36747008 PMCID: PMC10040441 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01003-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-invasive methods for the in vivo detection of hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease can facilitate the study of the progression of the disease in mouse models and may enable its earlier diagnosis in humans. Here we show that the zwitterionic heptamethine fluorophore ZW800-1C, which has peak excitation and emission wavelengths in the near-infrared optical window, binds in vivo and at high contrast to amyloid-β deposits and to neurofibrillary tangles, and allows for the microscopic imaging of amyloid-β and tau aggregates through the intact skull of mice. In transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, we compare the performance of ZW800-1C with that of the two spectrally similar heptamethine fluorophores ZW800-1A and indocyanine green, and show that ZW800-1C undergoes a longer fluorescence-lifetime shift when bound to amyloid-β and tau aggregates than when circulating in blood vessels. ZW800-1C may prove advantageous for tracking the proteinic aggregates in rodent models of amyloid-β and tau pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven S Hou
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joyce Yang
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeong Heon Lee
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yeseo Kwon
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Calvo-Rodriguez
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kai Bao
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sung Ahn
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Satoshi Kashiwagi
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anand T N Kumar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian J Bacskai
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Hak Soo Choi
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Zheng T, Liversage AR, Tehrani KF, Call JA, Kner PA, Mortensen LJ. Imaging mitochondria through bone in live mice using two-photon fluorescence microscopy with adaptive optics. FRONTIERS IN NEUROIMAGING 2023; 2:959601. [PMID: 37554651 PMCID: PMC10406258 DOI: 10.3389/fnimg.2023.959601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mitochondria are extremely important organelles in the regulation of bone marrow and brain activity. However, live imaging of these subcellular features with high resolution in scattering tissues like brain or bone has proven challenging. METHODS In this study, we developed a two-photon fluorescence microscope with adaptive optics (TPFM-AO) for high-resolution imaging, which uses a home-built Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS) to correct system aberrations and a sensorless approach for correcting low order tissue aberrations. RESULTS Using AO increases the fluorescence intensity of the point spread function (PSF) and achieves fast imaging of subcellular organelles with 400 nm resolution through 85 μm of highly scattering tissue. We achieved ~1.55×, ~3.58×, and ~1.77× intensity increases using AO, and a reduction of the PSF width by ~0.83×, ~0.74×, and ~0.9× at the depths of 0, 50 μm and 85 μm in living mouse bone marrow respectively, allowing us to characterize mitochondrial health and the survival of functioning cells with a field of view of 67.5× 67.5 μm. We also investigate the role of initial signal and background levels in sample correction quality by varying the laser power and camera exposure time and develop an intensity-based criteria for sample correction. DISCUSSION This study demonstrates a promising tool for imaging of mitochondria and other organelles in optically distorting biological environments, which could facilitate the study of a variety of diseases connected to mitochondrial morphology and activity in a range of biological tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Zheng
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Adrian R. Liversage
- School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Kayvan F. Tehrani
- Biophotonics Imaging Laboratory, The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Jarrod A. Call
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Peter A. Kner
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Luke J. Mortensen
- School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Rhodes Center for ADS, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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13
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Housmans JAJ, Wu G, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F. A guide to studying protein aggregation. FEBS J 2023; 290:554-583. [PMID: 34862849 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Disrupted protein folding or decreased protein stability can lead to the accumulation of (partially) un- or misfolded proteins, which ultimately cause the formation of protein aggregates. Much of the interest in protein aggregation is associated with its involvement in a wide range of human diseases and the challenges it poses for large-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing and formulation of therapeutic proteins and peptides. On the other hand, protein aggregates can also be functional, as observed in nature, which triggered its use in the development of biomaterials or therapeutics as well as for the improvement of food characteristics. Thus, unmasking the various steps involved in protein aggregation is critical to obtain a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of amyloid formation. This knowledge will allow a more tailored development of diagnostic methods and treatments for amyloid-associated diseases, as well as applications in the fields of new (bio)materials, food technology and therapeutics. However, the complex and dynamic nature of the aggregation process makes the study of protein aggregation challenging. To provide guidance on how to analyse protein aggregation, in this review we summarize the most commonly investigated aspects of protein aggregation with some popular corresponding methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlle A J Housmans
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guiqin Wu
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Quantitative super-resolution imaging of pathological aggregates reveals distinct toxicity profiles in different synucleinopathies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2205591119. [PMID: 36206368 PMCID: PMC9573094 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205591119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of major neurodegenerative disorders. Increasing data suggest that smaller aggregates cause higher toxic response than filamentous aggregates (fibrils). However, the size of small aggregates has challenged their detection within biologically relevant environments. Here, we report approaches to quantitatively super-resolve aggregates in live cells and ex vivo brain tissues. We show that Amytracker 630 (AT630), a commercial aggregate-activated fluorophore, has outstanding photophysical properties that enable super-resolution imaging of α-synuclein, tau, and amyloid-β aggregates, achieving ∼4 nm precision. Applying AT630 to AppNL-G-F mouse brain tissues or aggregates extracted from a Parkinson's disease donor, we demonstrate excellent agreement with antibodies specific for amyloid-β or α-synuclein, respectively, confirming the specificity of AT630. Subsequently, we use AT630 to reveal a linear relationship between α-synuclein aggregate size and cellular toxicity and discovered that aggregates smaller than 450 ± 60 nm (aggregate450nm) readily penetrated the plasma membrane. We determine aggregate450nm concentrations in six Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies donor samples and show that aggregates in different synucleinopathies demonstrate distinct potency in toxicity. We further show that cell-penetrating aggregates are surrounded by proteasomes, which assemble into foci to gradually process aggregates. Our results suggest that the plasma membrane effectively filters out fibrils but is vulnerable to penetration by aggregates of 450 ± 60 nm. Together, our findings present an exciting strategy to determine specificity of aggregate toxicity within heterogeneous samples. Our approach to quantitatively measure these toxic aggregates in biological environments opens possibilities to molecular examinations of disease mechanisms under physiological conditions.
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15
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Ni R, Chen Z, Deán-Ben XL, Voigt FF, Kirschenbaum D, Shi G, Villois A, Zhou Q, Crimi A, Arosio P, Nitsch RM, Nilsson KPR, Aguzzi A, Helmchen F, Klohs J, Razansky D. Multiscale optical and optoacoustic imaging of amyloid-β deposits in mice. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 6:1031-1044. [PMID: 35835994 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00906-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brains of rodents can be analysed by invasive intravital microscopy on a submillimetre scale, or via whole-brain images from modalities lacking the resolution or molecular specificity to accurately characterize Aβ pathologies. Here we show that large-field multifocal illumination fluorescence microscopy and panoramic volumetric multispectral optoacoustic tomography can be combined to longitudinally assess Aβ deposits in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. We used fluorescent Aβ-targeted probes (the luminescent conjugated oligothiophene HS-169 and the oxazine-derivative AOI987) to transcranially detect Aβ deposits in the cortex of APP/PS1 and arcAβ mice with single-plaque resolution (8 μm) and across the whole brain (including the hippocampus and the thalamus, which are inaccessible by conventional intravital microscopy) at sub-150 μm resolutions. Two-photon microscopy, light-sheet microscopy and immunohistochemistry of brain-tissue sections confirmed the specificity and regional distributions of the deposits. High-resolution multiscale optical and optoacoustic imaging of Aβ deposits across the entire brain in rodents thus facilitates the in vivo study of Aβ accumulation by brain region and by animal age and strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zhenyue Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xosé Luís Deán-Ben
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabian F Voigt
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Gloria Shi
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alessia Villois
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Quanyu Zhou
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Crimi
- Institute of Neuropathology, Universitätsspital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Neuropathology, Universitätsspital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fritjof Helmchen
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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16
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Ren W, Li L, Zhang J, Vaas M, Klohs J, Ripoll J, Wolf M, Ni R, Rudin M. Non-invasive visualization of amyloid-beta deposits in Alzheimer amyloidosis mice using magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence molecular tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:3809-3822. [PMID: 35991935 PMCID: PMC9352276 DOI: 10.1364/boe.458290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal cerebral accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Non-invasive monitoring of Aβ deposits enables assessing the disease burden in patients and animal models mimicking aspects of the human disease as well as evaluating the efficacy of Aβ-modulating therapies. Previous in vivo assessments of plaque load have been predominantly based on macroscopic fluorescence reflectance imaging (FRI) and confocal or two-photon microscopy using Aβ-specific imaging agents. However, the former method lacks depth resolution, whereas the latter is restricted by the limited field of view preventing a full coverage of the large brain region. Here, we utilized a fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pipeline with the curcumin derivative fluorescent probe CRANAD-2 to achieve full 3D brain coverage for detecting Aβ accumulation in the arcAβ mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis. A homebuilt FMT system was used for data acquisition, whereas a customized software platform enabled the integration of MRI-derived anatomical information as prior information for FMT image reconstruction. The results obtained from the FMT-MRI study were compared to those from conventional planar FRI recorded under similar physiological conditions, yielding comparable time courses of the fluorescence intensity following intravenous injection of CRANAD-2 in a region-of-interest comprising the brain. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the feasibility of visualizing Aβ deposition in 3D using a multimodal FMT-MRI strategy. This hybrid imaging method provides complementary anatomical, physiological and molecular information, thereby enabling the detailed characterization of the disease status in arcAβ mouse models, which can also facilitate monitoring the efficacy of putative treatments targeting Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuwei Ren
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Linlin Li
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jianru Zhang
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Markus Vaas
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Jan Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Jorge Ripoll
- Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid 28005, Spain
| | - Martin Wolf
- Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8091, Switzerland
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - Markus Rudin
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- The LOOP Zurich, Translational Research Center, Zurich 8044, Switzerland
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17
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In Vivo Dynamic Movement of Polymerized Amyloid β in the Perivascular Space of the Cerebral Cortex in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126422. [PMID: 35742862 PMCID: PMC9223597 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Disposition of amyloid β (Aβ) into the perivascular space of the cerebral cortex has been recently suggested as a major source of its clearance, and its disturbance may be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we explored the in vivo dynamics of Aβ in the perivascular space of anesthetized mice. Live images were obtained with two-photon microscopy through a closed cranial window. Either fluorescent-dye-labeled Aβ oligomers prepared freshly or Aβ fibrils after 6 days of incubation at 37 °C were placed over the cerebral cortex. Accumulation of Aβ was observed in the localized perivascular space of the penetrating arteries and veins. Transportation of the accumulated Aβ along the vessels was slow and associated with changes in shape. Aβ oligomers were transported smoothly and separately, whereas Aβ fibrils formed a mass and moved slowly. Parenchymal accumulation of Aβ oligomers, as well as Aβ fibrils along capillaries, increased gradually. In conclusion, we confirmed Aβ transportation between the cortical surface and the deeper parenchyma through the perivascular space that may be affected by the peptide polymerization. Facilitation of Aβ excretion through the system can be a key target in treating Alzheimer’s disease.
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18
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Just MK, Gram H, Theologidis V, Jensen PH, Nilsson KPR, Lindgren M, Knudsen K, Borghammer P, Van Den Berge N. Alpha-Synuclein Strain Variability in Body-First and Brain-First Synucleinopathies. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:907293. [PMID: 35693346 PMCID: PMC9178288 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.907293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic alpha-synuclein (asyn) aggregates are a defining feature of neurodegenerative synucleinopathies, which include Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, pure autonomic failure and multiple system atrophy. Early accurate differentiation between these synucleinopathies is challenging due to the highly heterogeneous clinical profile at early prodromal disease stages. Therefore, diagnosis is often made in late disease stages when a patient presents with a broad range of motor and non-motor symptoms easing the differentiation. Increasing data suggest the clinical heterogeneity seen in patients is explained by the presence of distinct asyn strains, which exhibit variable morphologies and pathological functions. Recently, asyn seed amplification assays (PMCA and RT-QuIC) and conformation-specific ligand assays have made promising progress in differentiating between synucleinopathies in prodromal and advanced disease stages. Importantly, the cellular environment is known to impact strain morphology. And, asyn aggregate pathology can propagate trans-synaptically along the brain-body axis, affecting multiple organs and propagating through multiple cell types. Here, we present our hypothesis that the changing cellular environments, an asyn seed may encounter during its brain-to-body or body-to-brain propagation, may influence the structure and thereby the function of the aggregate strains developing within the different cells. Additionally, we aim to review strain characteristics of the different synucleinopathies in clinical and preclinical studies. Future preclinical animal models of synucleinopathies should investigate if asyn strain morphology is altered during brain-to-body and body-to-brain spreading using these seeding amplification and conformation-specific assays. Such findings would greatly deepen our understanding of synucleinopathies and the potential link between strain and phenotypic variability, which may enable specific diagnosis of different synucleinopathies in the prodromal phase, creating a large therapeutic window with potential future applications in clinical trials and personalized therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mie Kristine Just
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Hjalte Gram
- Department of Biomedicine, DANDRITE-Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vasileios Theologidis
- Department of Biomedicine, DANDRITE-Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Poul Henning Jensen
- Department of Biomedicine, DANDRITE-Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - K. Peter R. Nilsson
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mikael Lindgren
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Karoline Knudsen
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Per Borghammer
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nathalie Van Den Berge
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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19
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Syvänen S, Meier SR, Roshanbin S, Xiong M, Faresjö R, Gustavsson T, Bonvicini G, Schlein E, Aguilar X, Julku U, Eriksson J, Sehlin D. PET Imaging in Preclinical Anti-Aβ Drug Development. Pharm Res 2022; 39:1481-1496. [PMID: 35501533 PMCID: PMC9246809 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-022-03277-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET), a medical imaging technique allowing for studies of the living human brain, has gained an important role in clinical trials of novel drugs against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). For example, PET data contributed to the conditional approval in 2021 of aducanumab, an antibody directed towards amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates, by showing a dose-dependent reduction in brain amyloid after treatment. In parallel to clinical studies, preclinical studies in animal models of Aβ pathology may also benefit from PET as a tool to detect target engagement and treatment effects of anti-Aβ drug candidates. PET is associated with a high level of translatability between species as similar, non-invasive protocols allow for longitudinal rather than cross-sectional studies and can be used both in a preclinical and clinical setting. This review focuses on the use of preclinical PET imaging in genetically modified animals that express human Aβ, and its present and potential future role in the development of drugs aimed at reducing brain Aβ levels as a therapeutic strategy to halt disease progression in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Syvänen
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Silvio R Meier
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sahar Roshanbin
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mengfei Xiong
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Faresjö
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tobias Gustavsson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gillian Bonvicini
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.,BioArctic AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Schlein
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ximena Aguilar
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Julku
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Eriksson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,PET Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dag Sehlin
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Non-invasive imaging of tau-targeted probe uptake by whole brain multi-spectral optoacoustic tomography. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2022; 49:2137-2152. [PMID: 35128565 PMCID: PMC9165274 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-05708-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Abnormal tau accumulation within the brain plays an important role in tauopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia. High-resolution imaging of tau deposits at the whole-brain scale in animal disease models is highly desired. Methods We approached this challenge by non-invasively imaging the brains of P301L mice of 4-repeat tau with concurrent volumetric multi-spectral optoacoustic tomography (vMSOT) at ~ 115 μm spatial resolution using the tau-targeted pyridinyl-butadienyl-benzothiazole derivative PBB5 (i.v.). In vitro probe characterization, concurrent vMSOT and epi-fluorescence imaging of in vivo PBB5 targeting (i.v.) was performed in P301L and wild-type mice, followed by ex vivo validation using AT-8 antibody for phosphorylated tau. Results PBB5 showed specific binding to recombinant K18 tau fibrils by fluorescence assay, to post-mortem Alzheimer’s disease brain tissue homogenate by competitive binding against [11C]PBB3 and to tau deposits (AT-8 positive) in post-mortem corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy brains. Dose-dependent optoacoustic and fluorescence signal intensities were observed in the mouse brains following i.v. administration of different concentrations of PBB5. In vivo vMSOT brain imaging of P301L mice showed higher retention of PBB5 in the tau-laden cortex and hippocampus compared to wild-type mice, as confirmed by ex vivo vMSOT, epi-fluorescence, multiphoton microscopy, and immunofluorescence staining. Conclusions We demonstrated non-invasive whole-brain imaging of tau in P301L mice with vMSOT system using PBB5 at a previously unachieved ~ 115 μm spatial resolution. This platform provides a new tool to study tau spreading and clearance in a tauopathy mouse model, foreseeable in monitoring tau targeting putative therapeutics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00259-022-05708-w.
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21
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Mukherjee A, Al-Lahham R, Corkins ME, Samanta S, Schmeichel AM, Singer W, Low PA, Govindaraju T, Soto C. Identification of Multicolor Fluorescent Probes for Heterogeneous Aβ Deposits in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:802614. [PMID: 35185519 PMCID: PMC8852231 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.802614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) into amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau into neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is a significant intra- and inter-individual variability in the morphology and conformation of Aβ aggregates, which may account in part for the extensive clinical and pathophysiological heterogeneity observed in AD. In this study, we sought to identify an array of fluorescent dyes to specifically probe Aβ aggregates, in an effort to address their diversity. We screened a small library of fluorescent probes and identified three benzothiazole-coumarin derivatives that stained both vascular and parenchymal Aβ deposits in AD brain sections. The set of these three dyes allowed the visualization of Aβ deposits in three different colors (blue, green and far-red). Importantly, two of these dyes specifically stained Aβ deposits with no apparent staining of hyperphosphorylated tau or α-synuclein deposits. Furthermore, this set of dyes demonstrated differential interactions with distinct types of Aβ deposits present in the same subject. Aβ aggregate-specific dyes identified in this study have the potential to be further developed into Aβ imaging probes for the diagnosis of AD. In addition, the far-red dye we identified in this study may serve as an imaging probe for small animal imaging of Aβ pathology. Finally, these dyes in combination may help us advance our understanding of the relation between the various Aβ deposits and the clinical diversity observed in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhisek Mukherjee
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rabab Al-Lahham
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mark E. Corkins
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sourav Samanta
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Wolfgang Singer
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Phillip A. Low
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, India
| | - Claudio Soto
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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22
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Ni R. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Tauopathy Animal Models. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:791679. [PMID: 35145392 PMCID: PMC8821905 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.791679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau plays an important role in tauopathic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and primary tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. Tauopathy animal models, such as transgenic, knock-in mouse and rat models, recapitulating tauopathy have facilitated the understanding of disease mechanisms. Aberrant accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau contributes to synaptic deficits, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, leading to cognitive impairment in animal models. Recent advances in molecular imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have provided valuable insights into the time course of disease pathophysiology in tauopathy animal models. High-field MRI has been applied for in vivo imaging in animal models of tauopathy, including diffusion tensor imaging for white matter integrity, arterial spin labeling for cerebral blood flow, resting-state functional MRI for functional connectivity, volumetric MRI for neurodegeneration, and MR spectroscopy. In addition, MR contrast agents for non-invasive imaging of tau have been developed recently. Many preclinical MRI indicators offer excellent translational value and provide a blueprint for clinical MRI in the brains of patients with tauopathies. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in using MRI to visualize the pathophysiology of tauopathy in small animals. We discussed the outstanding challenges in brain imaging using MRI in small animals and propose a future outlook for visualizing tau-related alterations in the brains of animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Ruiqing Ni,
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23
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Gorka F, Daly S, Pearson CM, Bulovaite E, Zhang YP, Handa A, Grant SGN, Snaddon TN, Needham LM, Lee SF. A Comparative Study of High-Contrast Fluorescence Lifetime Probes for Imaging Amyloid in Tissue. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:13710-13717. [PMID: 34883017 PMCID: PMC7615715 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Optical imaging of protein aggregates in living and post-mortem tissue can often be impeded by unwanted fluorescence, prompting the need for novel methods to extract meaningful signal in complex biological environments. Historically, benzothiazolium derivatives, prominently Thioflavin T, have been the state-of-the-art fluorescent probes for amyloid aggregates, but their optical, structural, and binding properties typically limit them to in vitro applications. This study compares the use of novel uncharged derivative, PAP_1, with parent Thioflavin T as a fluorescence lifetime imaging probe. This is applied specifically to imaging recombinant α-synuclein aggregates doped into brain tissue. Despite the 100-fold lower brightness of PAP_1 compared to that of Thioflavin T, PAP_1 binds to α-synuclein aggregates with an affinity several orders of magnitude greater than Thioflavin T; thus, we observe a specific decrease in the fluorescence lifetime of PAP_1 bound to α-synuclein aggregates, resulting in a separation of >1.4 standard deviations between PAP_1-stained brain tissue background and α-synuclein aggregates that is not observed with Thioflavin T. This enables contrast between highly fluorescent background tissue and amyloid fibrils that is attributed to the greater affinity of PAP_1 for α-synuclein aggregates, avoiding the substantial off-target staining observed with Thioflavin T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Gorka
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Department of Physics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, 35032, Germany
| | - Sam Daly
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Colin M Pearson
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, USA
| | - Edita Bulovaite
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Yu P. Zhang
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Anoushka Handa
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Seth G. N. Grant
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Thomas N. Snaddon
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, USA
| | - Lisa-Maria Needham
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Steven F. Lee
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
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24
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Ni R. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloidosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12768. [PMID: 34884573 PMCID: PMC8657987 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Aberrant Aβ accumulation induces neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular alterations, and synaptic deficits, leading to cognitive impairment. Animal models recapitulating the Aβ pathology, such as transgenic, knock-in mouse and rat models, have facilitated the understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of therapeutics targeting Aβ. There is a rapid advance in high-field MRI in small animals. Versatile high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, such as diffusion tensor imaging, arterial spin labeling, resting-state functional MRI, anatomical MRI, and MR spectroscopy, as well as contrast agents, have been developed for preclinical imaging in animal models. These tools have enabled high-resolution in vivo structural, functional, and molecular readouts with a whole-brain field of view. MRI has been used to visualize non-invasively the Aβ deposits, synaptic deficits, regional brain atrophy, impairment in white matter integrity, functional connectivity, and cerebrovascular and glymphatic system in animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. Many of the readouts are translational toward clinical MRI applications in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in MRI for visualizing the pathophysiology in amyloidosis animal models. We discuss the outstanding challenges in brain imaging using MRI in small animals and propose future outlook in visualizing Aβ-related alterations in the brains of animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, 8952 Zurich, Switzerland
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25
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Todarwal Y, Gustafsson C, Thi Minh NN, Ertzgaard I, Klingstedt T, Ghetti B, Vidal R, König C, Lindgren M, Nilsson KPR, Linares M, Norman P. Tau Protein Binding Modes in Alzheimer's Disease for Cationic Luminescent Ligands. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:11628-11636. [PMID: 34643404 PMCID: PMC8558859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c06019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The bi-thiophene-vinylene-benzothiazole (bTVBT4) ligand developed for Alzheimer's disease (AD)-specific detection of amyloid tau has been studied by a combination of several theoretical methods and experimental spectroscopies. With reference to the cryo-EM tau structure of the tau protofilament ( Nature 2017, 547, 185), a periodic model system of the fibril was created, and the interactions between this fibril and bTVBT4 were studied with nonbiased molecular dynamics simulations. Several binding sites and binding modes were identified and analyzed, and the results for the most prevailing fibril site and ligand modes are presented. A key validation of the simulation work is provided by the favorable comparison of the theoretical and experimental absorption spectra of bTVBT4 in solution and bound to the protein. It is conclusively shown that the ligand-protein binding occurs at the hydrophobic pocket defined by the residues Ile360, Thr361, and His362. This binding site is not accessible in the Pick's disease (PiD) fold, and fluorescence imaging of bTVBT4-stained brain tissue samples from patients diagnosed with AD and PiD provides strong support for the proposed tau binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh Todarwal
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Camilla Gustafsson
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nghia Nguyen Thi Minh
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstr. 3A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ingrid Ertzgaard
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Therése Klingstedt
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, SE 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Carolin König
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstr. 3A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Mikael Lindgren
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mathieu Linares
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,Laboratory of Organic Electronics, ITN, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden.,Scientific Visualization Group, ITN, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Patrick Norman
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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26
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Shi XF, Ji B, Kong Y, Guan Y, Ni R. Multimodal Contrast Agents for Optoacoustic Brain Imaging in Small Animals. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:746815. [PMID: 34650961 PMCID: PMC8505530 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.746815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging has demonstrated versatile applications in biomedical research, visualizing the disease pathophysiology and monitoring the treatment effect in an animal model, as well as toward applications in the clinical setting. Given the complex disease mechanism, multimodal imaging provides important etiological insights with different molecular, structural, and functional readouts in vivo. Various multimodal optoacoustic molecular imaging approaches have been applied in preclinical brain imaging studies, including optoacoustic/fluorescence imaging, optoacoustic imaging/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optoacoustic imaging/MRI/Raman, optoacoustic imaging/positron emission tomography, and optoacoustic/computed tomography. There is a rapid development in molecular imaging contrast agents employing a multimodal imaging strategy for pathological targets involved in brain diseases. Many chemical dyes for optoacoustic imaging have fluorescence properties and have been applied in hybrid optoacoustic/fluorescence imaging. Nanoparticles are widely used as hybrid contrast agents for their capability to incorporate different imaging components, tunable spectrum, and photostability. In this review, we summarize contrast agents including chemical dyes and nanoparticles applied in multimodal optoacoustic brain imaging integrated with other modalities in small animals, and provide outlook for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-feng Shi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, China
| | - Bin Ji
- Department of Radiopharmacy and Molecular Imaging, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanyan Kong
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihui Guan
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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27
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Ramesh M, Acharya A, Murugan NA, Ila H, Govindaraju T. Thiophene-Based Dual Modulators of Aβ and Tau Aggregation. Chembiochem 2021; 22:3348-3357. [PMID: 34546619 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and Tau aggregates in the brain, which induces various pathological events resulting in neurodegeneration. There have been continuous efforts to develop modulators of the Aβ and Tau aggregation process to halt or modify disease progression. A few small-molecule-based inhibitors that target both Aβ and Tau pathology have been reported. Here, we report the screening of a targeted library of small molecules to modulate Aβ and Tau aggregation together with their in vitro, in silico and cellular studies. In vitro ThT fluorescence assay, dot blot assay, gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results have shown that thiophene-based lead molecules effectively modulate Aβ aggregation and inhibit Tau aggregation. In silico studies performed by employing molecular docking, molecular dynamics and binding-free energy calculations have helped in understanding the mechanism of interaction of the lead thiophene compounds with Aβ and Tau fibril targets. In cellulo studies revealed that the lead candidate is biocompatible and effectively ameliorates neuronal cells from Aβ and Tau-mediated amyloid toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Ramesh
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Anand Acharya
- New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - N Arul Murugan
- Department of Computer Science, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hiriyakkanavar Ila
- New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
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28
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Klingstedt T, Shirani H, Ghetti B, Vidal R, R. Nilsson KP. Thiophene-Based Optical Ligands That Selectively Detect Aβ Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2568-2581. [PMID: 34101954 PMCID: PMC8409278 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In several neurodegenerative diseases, the presence of aggregates of specific proteins in the brain is a significant pathological hallmark; thus, developing ligands able to bind to the aggregated proteins is essential for any effort related to imaging and therapeutics. Here we report the synthesis of thiophene-based ligands containing nitrogen heterocycles. The ligands selectively recognized amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates in brain tissue from individuals diagnosed neuropathologically as having Alzheimer's disease (AD). The selectivity for Aβ was dependent on the position of nitrogen in the heterocyclic compounds, and the ability to bind Aβ was shown to be reduced when introducing anionic substituents on the thiophene backbone. Our findings provide the structural and functional basis for the development of ligands that can differentiate between aggregated proteinaceous species comprised of distinct proteins. These ligands might also be powerful tools for studying the pathogenesis of Aβ aggregation and for designing molecules for imaging of Aβ pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therése Klingstedt
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping UniversitySE-581 83LinköpingSweden
| | - Hamid Shirani
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping UniversitySE-581 83LinköpingSweden
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis46202IndianaUSA
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis46202IndianaUSA
| | - K. Peter R. Nilsson
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping UniversitySE-581 83LinköpingSweden
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29
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Luo Z, Xu H, Liu L, Ohulchanskyy TY, Qu J. Optical Imaging of Beta-Amyloid Plaques in Alzheimer's Disease. BIOSENSORS 2021; 11:255. [PMID: 34436057 PMCID: PMC8392287 DOI: 10.3390/bios11080255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial, irreversible, and incurable neurodegenerative disease. The main pathological feature of AD is the deposition of misfolded β-amyloid protein (Aβ) plaques in the brain. The abnormal accumulation of Aβ plaques leads to the loss of some neuron functions, further causing the neuron entanglement and the corresponding functional damage, which has a great impact on memory and cognitive functions. Hence, studying the accumulation mechanism of Aβ in the brain and its effect on other tissues is of great significance for the early diagnosis of AD. The current clinical studies of Aβ accumulation mainly rely on medical imaging techniques, which have some deficiencies in sensitivity and specificity. Optical imaging has recently become a research hotspot in the medical field and clinical applications, manifesting noninvasiveness, high sensitivity, absence of ionizing radiation, high contrast, and spatial resolution. Moreover, it is now emerging as a promising tool for the diagnosis and study of Aβ buildup. This review focuses on the application of the optical imaging technique for the determination of Aβ plaques in AD research. In addition, recent advances and key operational applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Junle Qu
- Center for Biomedical Photonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (Z.L.); (H.X.); (L.L.); (T.Y.O.)
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30
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Carta M, Aguzzi A. Molecular foundations of prion strain diversity. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 72:22-31. [PMID: 34416480 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite being caused by a single protein, prion diseases are strikingly heterogenous. Individual prion variants, known as strains, possess distinct biochemical properties, form aggregates with characteristic morphologies and preferentially seed certain brain regions, causing markedly different disease phenotypes. Strain diversity is determined by protein structure, post-translational modifications and the presence of extracellular matrix components, with single amino acid substitutions or altered protein glycosylation exerting dramatic effects. Here, we review recent advances in the study of prion strains and discuss how a deeper knowledge of the molecular origins of strain heterogeneity is providing a foundation for the development of anti-prion therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfredi Carta
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
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31
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Cantelli A, Malferrari M, Soldà A, Simonetti G, Forni S, Toscanella E, Mattioli EJ, Zerbetto F, Zanelli A, Di Giosia M, Zangoli M, Barbarella G, Rapino S, Di Maria F, Calvaresi M. Human Serum Albumin-Oligothiophene Bioconjugate: A Phototheranostic Platform for Localized Killing of Cancer Cells by Precise Light Activation. JACS AU 2021; 1:925-935. [PMID: 34467339 PMCID: PMC8395684 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The electronic, optical, and redox properties of thiophene-based materials have made them pivotal in nanoscience and nanotechnology. However, the exploitation of oligothiophenes in photodynamic therapy is hindered by their intrinsic hydrophobicity that lowers their biocompatibility and availability in water environments. Here, we developed human serum albumin (HSA)-oligothiophene bioconjugates that afford the use of insoluble oligothiophenes in physiological environments. UV-vis and electrophoresis proved the conjugation of the oligothiophene sensitizers to the protein. The bioconjugate is water-soluble and biocompatible, does not have any "dark toxicity", and preserves HSA in the physiological monomeric form, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering and circular dichroism measurements. In contrast, upon irradiation with ultralow light doses, the bioconjugate efficiently produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to the complete eradication of cancer cells. Real-time monitoring of the photokilling activity of the HSA-oligothiophene bioconjugate shows that living cells "explode" upon irradiation. Photodependent and dose-dependent apoptosis is one of the primary mechanisms of cell death activated by bioconjugate irradiation. The bioconjugate is a novel theranostic platform able to generate ROS intracellularly and provide imaging through the fluorescence of the oligothiophene. It is also a real-time self-reporting system able to monitor the apoptotic process. The induced phototoxicity is strongly confined to the irradiated region, showing localized killing of cancer cells by precise light activation of the bioconjugate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cantelli
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Malferrari
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alice Soldà
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Simonetti
- IRCCS
Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Sonny Forni
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Edoardo Toscanella
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Edoardo J. Mattioli
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Zerbetto
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Zanelli
- Istituto
per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Piero Gobetti, 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Di Giosia
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Mattia Zangoli
- Istituto
per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Piero Gobetti, 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
- Mediteknology
srl, Via Piero Gobetti,
101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanna Barbarella
- Istituto
per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Piero Gobetti, 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
- Mediteknology
srl, Via Piero Gobetti,
101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Rapino
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Maria
- Istituto
per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Piero Gobetti, 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
- Mediteknology
srl, Via Piero Gobetti,
101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Calvaresi
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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32
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Calvo-Rodriguez M, Kharitonova EK, Bacskai BJ. In vivo brain imaging of mitochondrial Ca 2+ in neurodegenerative diseases with multiphoton microscopy. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2021; 1868:118998. [PMID: 33684410 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.118998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria are involved in a large number of essential roles related to neuronal function. Ca2+ handling by mitochondria is critical for many of these functions, including energy production and cellular fate. Conversely, mitochondrial Ca2+ mishandling has been related to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Investigating mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics is essential for advancing our understanding of the role of intracellular mitochondrial Ca2+ signals in physiology and pathology. Improved Ca2+ indicators, and the ability to target them to different cells and compartments, have emerged as useful tools for analysis of Ca2+ signals in living organisms. Combined with state-of-the-art techniques such as multiphoton microscopy, they allow for the study of mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics in vivo in mouse models of the disease. Here, we provide an overview of the Ca2+ transporters/ion channels in mitochondrial membranes, and the involvement of mitochondrial Ca2+ in neurodegenerative diseases followed by a summary of the main tools available to evaluate mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics in vivo using the aforementioned technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Calvo-Rodriguez
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
| | - Elizabeth K Kharitonova
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Brian J Bacskai
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 114, 16th St, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
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33
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Gustafsson C, Shirani H, Leira P, Rehn DR, Linares M, Nilsson KPR, Norman P, Lindgren M. Deciphering the Electronic Transitions of Thiophene-Based Donor-Acceptor-Donor Pentameric Ligands Utilized for Multimodal Fluorescence Microscopy of Protein Aggregates. Chemphyschem 2021; 22:323-335. [PMID: 33219724 PMCID: PMC7898931 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202000669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Anionic pentameric thiophene acetates can be used for fluorescence detection and diagnosis of protein amyloid aggregates. Replacing the central thiophene unit by benzothiadiazole (BTD) or quinoxaline (QX) leads to large emission shifts and basic spectral features have been reported [Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 15133‐13137]. Here we present new detailed experimental results of solvent effects, time‐resolved fluorescence and examples employing multi‐photon microscopy and lifetime imaging. Quantum chemical response calculations elucidate how the introduction of the BTD/QX groups changes the electronic states and emissions. The dramatic red‐shift follows an increased conjugation and quinoid character of the π‐electrons of the thiophene backbone. An efficient charge transfer in the excited states S1 and S2 compared to the all‐thiophene analogue makes these more sensitive to the polarity and quenching by the solvent. Taken together, the results guide in the interpretation of images of stained Alzheimer disease brain sections employing advanced fluorescence microscopy and lifetime imaging, and can aid in optimizing future fluorescent ligand development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Gustafsson
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hamid Shirani
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Petter Leira
- Department of Physics-Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Dirk R Rehn
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathieu Linares
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.,Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Scientific Visualization Group, ITN and Swedish e-Science Research Center (SeRC) Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Patrick Norman
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikael Lindgren
- Department of Physics-Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway
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Investigating the mechanism of action of aggregation-inducing antimicrobial Pept-ins. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:524-536.e4. [PMID: 33434517 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation can be selectively induced by aggregation-prone regions (APRs) contained in the target proteins. Aggregation-inducing antimicrobial peptides (Pept-ins) contain sequences homologous to APRs of target proteins and exert their bactericidal effect by causing aggregation of a large number of proteins. To better understand the mechanism of action of Pept-ins and the resistance mechanisms, we analyzed the phenotypic, lipidomic, and transcriptomic as well as genotypic changes in laboratory-derived Pept-in-resistant E. coli mutator cells. The analysis showed that the Pept-in resistance mechanism is dominated by a decreased Pept-in uptake, in both laboratory-derived mutator cells and clinical isolates. Our data indicate that Pept-in uptake involves an electrostatic attraction between the Pept-in and the bacterial membrane and follows a complex mechanism potentially involving many transporters. Furthermore, it seems more challenging for bacteria to become resistant toward Pept-ins that are less dependent on electrostatic attraction for uptake, suggesting that future Pept-ins should be selected for this property.
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Zhou J, Jangili P, Son S, Ji MS, Won M, Kim JS. Fluorescent Diagnostic Probes in Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2001945. [PMID: 32902000 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating disorders that feature progressive and selective loss of function or structure of anatomically or physiologically associated neuronal systems. Both chronic and acute neurodegenerative diseases are associated with high morbidity and mortality along with the death of neurons in different areas of the brain; moreover, there are few or no effective curative therapy options for treating these disorders. There is an urgent need to diagnose neurodegenerative disease as early as possible, and to distinguish between different disorders with overlapping symptoms that will help to decide the best clinical treatment. Recently, in neurodegenerative disease research, fluorescent-probe-mediated biomarker visualization techniques have been gaining increasing attention for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. A survey of fluorescent probes for sensing and imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases is provided. These imaging probes are categorized based on the different potential biomarkers of various neurodegenerative diseases, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Guides to develop new sensing strategies, recognition mechanisms, as well as the ideal features to further improve neurodegenerative disease fluorescence imaging are also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhou
- College of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Paramesh Jangili
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Subin Son
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Myung Sun Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Miae Won
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jong Seung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
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36
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Filadi R, Greotti E. The yin and yang of mitochondrial Ca 2+ signaling in cell physiology and pathology. Cell Calcium 2020; 93:102321. [PMID: 33310302 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2020.102321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria are autonomous and dynamic cellular organelles orchestrating a diverse range of cellular activities. Numerous cell-signaling pathways target these organelles and Ca2+ is one of the most significant. Mitochondria are able to rapidly and transiently take up Ca2+, thanks to the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter complex, as well as to extrude it through the Na+/Ca2+ and H+/Ca2+ exchangers. The transient accumulation of Ca2+ in the mitochondrial matrix impacts on mitochondrial functions and cell pathophysiology. Here we summarize the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling in both physiological (yang) and pathological (yin) processes and the methods that can be used to investigate mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis. As an example of the pivotal role of mitochondria in pathology, we described the state of the art of mitochondrial Ca2+ alterations in different pathological conditions, with a special focus on Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Filadi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 35131 Padua, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy.
| | - Elisa Greotti
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 35131 Padua, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy.
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Ni R, Chen Z, Gerez JA, Shi G, Zhou Q, Riek R, Nilsson KPR, Razansky D, Klohs J. Detection of cerebral tauopathy in P301L mice using high-resolution large-field multifocal illumination fluorescence microscopy. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:4989-5002. [PMID: 33014595 PMCID: PMC7510859 DOI: 10.1364/boe.395803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Current intravital microscopy techniques visualize tauopathy with high-resolution, but have a small field-of-view and depth-of-focus. Herein, we report a transcranial detection of tauopathy over the entire cortex of P301L tauopathy mice using large-field multifocal illumination (LMI) fluorescence microscopy technique and luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes. In vitro assays revealed that fluorescent ligand h-FTAA is optimal for in vivo tau imaging, which was confirmed by observing elevated probe retention in the cortex of P301L mice compared to non-transgenic littermates. Immunohistochemical staining further verified the specificity of h-FTAA to detect tauopathy in P301L mice. The new imaging platform can be leveraged in pre-clinical mechanistic studies of tau spreading and clearance as well as longitudinal monitoring of tau targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-strasse 27 HIT E22.4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zhenyue Chen
- University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-strasse 27 HIT E22.4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juan A. Gerez
- ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gloria Shi
- University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-strasse 27 HIT E22.4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Quanyu Zhou
- University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-strasse 27 HIT E22.4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland Riek
- ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K. Peter R. Nilsson
- Linköping University, Division of Chemistry, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Daniel Razansky
- University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-strasse 27 HIT E22.4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Klohs
- University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-strasse 27 HIT E22.4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
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Choi JW, Ju YH, Choi Y, Hyeon SJ, Gadhe CG, Park JH, Kim MS, Baek S, Kim Y, Park KD, Pae AN, Ryu H, Lee CJ, Cho BR. PyrPeg, a Blood-Brain-Barrier-Penetrating Two-Photon Imaging Probe, Selectively Detects Neuritic Plaques, Not Tau Aggregates. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:1801-1810. [PMID: 32421307 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) tracers have made a significant contribution to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by allowing a definitive diagnosis in living patients. Unfortunately, they also detect tau and other protein aggregates that compromise test accuracy. In AD research, there has been a growing need for in vivo Aβ imaging by two-photon microscopy, which enables deep-brain-fluorescence imaging. There is no suitable neuritic Aβ probe for two-photon microscopy. Here we report PyrPeg, a novel two-photon fluorescent probe that can selectively target insoluble Aβ rather than tau and α-synuclein aggregates in the AD model brain and postmortem brain. When injected intravenously, PyrPeg detects the neuritic plaques in the brain and olfactory bulb of the AD model. PyrPeg may serve as a useful blood-brain-barrier-penetrating diagnostic tool for optical and functional monitoring of insoluble forms of Aβ aggregates in the living AD brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Woo Choi
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon Ha Ju
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55 Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
- IBS School, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunsook Choi
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Seung Jae Hyeon
- Centers for Neuromedicine and Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, KIST, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Changdev G. Gadhe
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Hyun Park
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Mun Seok Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Daejin University, 1007 Hoguk-ro, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 11159, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungyeop Baek
- Integrated Science and Engineering Division, Department of Pharmacy and Department of Biotechnology, and Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - YoungSoo Kim
- Integrated Science and Engineering Division, Department of Pharmacy and Department of Biotechnology, and Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Duk Park
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ae Nim Pae
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Ryu
- Centers for Neuromedicine and Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, KIST, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC) and Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
| | - C. Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55 Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
- IBS School, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong Rae Cho
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry, Daejin University, 1007 Hoguk-ro, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 11159, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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39
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Kim K, Lee CH, Park CB. Chemical sensing platforms for detecting trace-level Alzheimer's core biomarkers. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:5446-5472. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00107d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of recent advances in optical and electrical detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in clinically relevant fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayoung Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon 305-701
- Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Heon Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon 305-701
- Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Beum Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon 305-701
- Republic of Korea
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