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Lloyd GM, Quintin S, Sorrentino ZA, Gorion KMM, Bell BM, Long B, Paterno G, Giasson BI. A multiverse of α-synuclein: investigation of prion strain properties with carboxyl-terminal truncation specific antibodies in animal models. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:91. [PMID: 38858742 PMCID: PMC11163735 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01805-z] [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: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the presence of misfolded α-Synuclein (αSyn) in the brain. These conditions manifest with diverse clinical and pathophysiological characteristics. This disease diversity is hypothesized to be driven by αSyn strains with differing biophysical properties, potentially influencing prion-type propagation and consequentially the progression of illness. Previously, we investigated this hypothesis by injecting brain lysate (seeds) from deceased individuals with various synucleinopathies or human recombinant αSyn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into transgenic mice overexpressing either wild type or A53T human αSyn. In the studies herein, we expanded on these experiments, utilizing a panel of antibodies specific for the major carboxyl-terminally truncated forms of αSyn (αSynΔC). These modified forms of αSyn are found enriched in human disease brains to inform on potential strain-specific proteolytic patterns. With monoclonal antibodies specific for human αSyn cleaved at residues 103, 114, 122, 125, and 129, we demonstrate that multiple system atrophy (MSA) seeds and PFFs induce differing neuroanatomical spread of αSyn pathology associated with host specific profiles. Overall, αSyn cleaved at residue 103 was most widely present in the induced pathological inclusions. Furthermore, αSynΔC-positive inclusions were present in astrocytes, but more frequently in activated microglia, with patterns dependent on host and inoculum. These findings support the hypothesis that synucleinopathy heterogeneity might stem from αSyn strains with unique biochemical properties that include proteolytic processing, which could result in dominant strain properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M Lloyd
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Stephan Quintin
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Zachary A Sorrentino
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Kimberly-Marie M Gorion
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Brach M Bell
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Brooke Long
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Giavanna Paterno
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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Sorrentino Z, Riklan J, Lloyd G, Lucke-Wold B, Mampre D, Quintin S, Zakare-Fagbamila R, Still M, Chandra V, Foote K, Giasson B, Hilliard J. Analysis of alpha-synuclein harvested from intracranial instruments used in deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4369598. [PMID: 38826474 PMCID: PMC11142310 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4369598/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) forms pathologic aggregates in Parkinson's disease (PD) and is implicated in mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. While pathologic αSyn has been extensively studied, there is currently no method to evaluate αSyn within the brains of living patients. Patients with PD are often treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in which surgical instruments are in direct contact with neuronal tissue; herein, we describe a method by which tissue is purified from DBS surgical instruments in PD and essential tremor (ET) patients and demonstrate that αSyn is robustly detected. 24 patients undergoing DBS surgery for PD (17 patients) or ET (7 patients) were enrolled; from patient samples, 81.2 ± 44.8 μg protein (n=15) is able to be purified, with immunoblot assays specific for αSyn reactive in all tested samples. Light microscopy revealed axons and capillaries as the primary components of purified tissue (n=3). Further analysis was conducted using western blot, demonstrating that truncated αSyn (1-125 αSyn) was significantly increased in PD (n=5) compared to ET (n=3), in which αSyn misfolding is not expected (0.64 ± 0.25 vs. 0.25 ± 0.12, P = 0.046), thus showing that pathologic αSyn can be reliably purified from living PD patients with this method.
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Onishi N, Mazzaferro N, Kunstelj Š, Alvarado DA, Muller AM, Vázquez FX. Flanking Domains Modulate α-Synuclein Monomer Structure: A Molecular Dynamics Domain Deletion Study. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.23.586267. [PMID: 38586052 PMCID: PMC10996548 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.23.586267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Aggregates of misfolded α-synuclein proteins (asyn) are key markers of Parkinson's disease. Asyn proteins have three domains: an N-terminal domain, a hydrophobic NAC core implicated in aggregation, and a proline-rich C-terminal domain. Proteins with truncated C-terminal domains are known to be prone to aggregation and suggest that studying domain-domain interactions in asyn monomers could help elucidate the role of the flanking domains in modulating protein structure. To this end, we used Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GAMD) to simulate wild-type (WT), N-terminal truncated (DN), C-terminal truncated (ΔC), and isolated NAC domain variants (isoNAC). Using clustering and contact analysis, we found that N- and C-terminal domains interact via electrostatic interactions, while the NAC and N-terminal domains interact through hydrophobic contacts. Our work also suggests that the C-terminal domain does not interact directly with the NAC domain but instead interacts with the N-terminal domain. Removal of the N-terminal domain led to increased contacts between NAC and C-terminal domains and the formation of interdomain β-sheets. Removal of either flanking domain also resulted in increased compactness of every domain. We also found that the contacts between flanking domains results in an electrostatic potential (ESP) that could possibly lead to favorable interactions with anionic lipid membranes. Removal of the C-terminal domain disrupts the ESP in a way that is likely to over-stabilize protein-membrane interactions. All of this suggests that one of the roles of the flanking domains may be to modulate the protein structure in a way that helps maintain elongation, hide hydrophobic residue from the solvent, and maintain an ESP that aids favorable interactions with the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriyo Onishi
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | | | - Špela Kunstelj
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Daisy A. Alvarado
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Anna M. Muller
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Frank X. Vázquez
- Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
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Wiseman JA, Murray HC, Faull RLMF, Dragunow M, Turner CP, Dieriks BV, Curtis MA. Aggregate-prone brain regions in Parkinson's disease are rich in unique N-terminus α-synuclein conformers with high proteolysis susceptibility. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:1. [PMID: 38167744 PMCID: PMC10762179 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00614-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In Parkinson's disease (PD), and other α-synucleinopathies, α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates form a myriad of conformational and truncational variants. Most antibodies used to detect and quantify α-Syn in the human brain target epitopes within the C-terminus (residues 96-140) of the 140 amino acid protein and may fail to capture the diversity of α-Syn variants present in PD. We sought to investigate the heterogeneity of α-Syn conformations and aggregation states in the PD human brain by labelling with multiple antibodies that detect epitopes along the entire length of α-Syn. We used multiplex immunohistochemistry to simultaneously immunolabel tissue sections with antibodies mapping the three structural domains of α-Syn. Discrete epitope-specific immunoreactivities were visualised and quantified in the olfactory bulb, medulla, substantia nigra, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus of ten PD cases, and the middle temporal gyrus of 23 PD, and 24 neurologically normal cases. Distinct Lewy neurite and Lewy body aggregate morphologies were detected across all interrogated regions/cases. Lewy neurites were the most prominent in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, while the substantia nigra, medulla and cortical regions showed a mixture of Lewy neurites and Lewy bodies. Importantly, unique N-terminus immunoreactivity revealed previously uncharacterised populations of (1) perinuclear, (2) glial (microglial and astrocytic), and (3) neuronal lysosomal α-Syn aggregates. These epitope-specific N-terminus immunoreactive aggregate populations were susceptible to proteolysis via time-dependent proteinase K digestion, suggesting a less stable oligomeric aggregation state. Our identification of unique N-terminus immunoreactive α-Syn aggregates adds to the emerging paradigm that α-Syn pathology is more abundant and complex in human brains with PD than previously realised. Our findings highlight that labelling multiple regions of the α-Syn protein is necessary to investigate the full spectrum of α-Syn pathology and prompt further investigation into the functional role of these N-terminus polymorphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Wiseman
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.
| | - Helen C Murray
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M F Faull
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Michael Dragunow
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Clinton P Turner
- LabPlus, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Te Whatu Ora, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Birger Victor Dieriks
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.
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Tarutani A, Hasegawa M. Ultrastructures of α-Synuclein Filaments in Synucleinopathy Brains and Experimental Models. J Mov Disord 2024; 17:15-29. [PMID: 37990381 PMCID: PMC10846975 DOI: 10.14802/jmd.23213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular α-synuclein (α-syn) inclusions are a neuropathological hallmark of Lewy body disease (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), both of which are termed synucleinopathies. LBD is defined by Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in neurons, while MSA displays glial cytoplasmic inclusions in oligodendrocytes. Pathological α-syn adopts an ordered filamentous structure with a 5-10 nm filament diameter, and this conformational change has been suggested to be involved in the disease onset and progression. Synucleinopathies also exhibit characteristic ultrastructural and biochemical properties of α-syn filaments, and α-syn strains with distinct conformations have been identified. Numerous experimental studies have supported the idea that pathological α-syn self-amplifies and spreads throughout the brain, during which processes the conformation of α-syn filaments may drive the disease specificity. In this review, we summarize the ultrastructural features and heterogeneity of α-syn filaments in the brains of patients with synucleinopathy and in experimental models of seeded α-syn aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airi Tarutani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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Lloyd GM, Long B, Quintin S, Sorrentino ZA, Gorion KMM, Bell BM, Carrillo D, Sullivan P, Borchelt D, Giasson BI. Carboxyl truncation of α-synuclein occurs early and is influenced by human APOE genotype in transgenic mouse models of α-synuclein pathogenesis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:119. [PMID: 37482615 PMCID: PMC10363304 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01623-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications to the carboxyl (C) terminus domain of α-synuclein can play an important role in promoting the pathologic aggregation of α-synuclein. Various cleavages that diminish this highly charged, proline-rich region can result in exposure of hydrophobic, aggregation-prone regions, thereby accelerating the aggregation kinetics of α-synuclein into misfolded, pathologic forms. C-terminally truncated forms of α-synuclein are abundant in human diseased brains compared to controls, suggesting a role in disease pathogenesis. Factors that alter the homeostatic proteolytic processing of α-synuclein may ultimately tip the balance towards a progressive disease state. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) has been implicated in the acceleration of cognitive impairment in patients with Lewy body diseases. The APOE4 isoform has been found to cause dysregulation in the endosomal-lysosomal pathway, which could result in altered α-synuclein degradation as a potential mechanism for promoting its pathologic misfolding. Herein, we investigate the spatiotemporal accumulation of C-terminally truncated α-synuclein in a seeded and progressive mouse model of synucleinopathy. Furthermore, we study how this process is influenced in the context of mice that are altered to express either the human APOE3 or APOE4 isoforms. We found that specific C-terminal truncation of α-synuclein occurs at early stages of pathogenesis. We also found that proteolytic processing of this domain differs across various brain regions and is influenced by the presence of different human APOE isoforms. Our data demonstrate an early pathogenic role for C-terminally truncated α-synuclein, and highlight the influence of APOE isoforms in modulating its impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M Lloyd
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Brooke Long
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Stephan Quintin
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Zachary A Sorrentino
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Kimberly-Marie M Gorion
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Brach M Bell
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Denise Carrillo
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Patrick Sullivan
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David Borchelt
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, BMS J483/CTRND, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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Quintin S, Lloyd GM, Paterno G, Xia Y, Sorrentino Z, Bell BM, Gorion KM, Lee EB, Prokop S, Giasson BI. Cellular processing of α-synuclein fibrils results in distinct physiological C-terminal truncations with a major cleavage site at residue Glu 114. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104912. [PMID: 37307916 PMCID: PMC10404685 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104912] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
α-synuclein (αS) is an abundant, neuronal protein that assembles into fibrillar pathological inclusions in a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases that include Lewy body diseases (LBD) and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). The cellular and regional distributions of pathological inclusions vary widely between different synucleinopathies contributing to the spectrum of clinical presentations. Extensive cleavage within the carboxy (C)-terminal region of αS is associated with inclusion formation, although the events leading to these modifications and the implications for pathobiology are of ongoing study. αS preformed fibrils can induce prion-like spread of αS pathology in both in vitro and animal models of disease. Using C truncation-specific antibodies, we demonstrated here that prion-like cellular uptake and processing of αS preformed fibrils resulted in two major cleavages at residues 103 and 114. A third cleavage product (122 αS) accumulated upon application of lysosomal protease inhibitors. In vitro, both 1-103 and 1-114 αS polymerized rapidly and extensively in isolation and in the presence of full-length αS. 1-103 αS also demonstrated more extensive aggregation when expressed in cultured cells. Furthermore, we used novel antibodies to αS cleaved at residue Glu114, to assess x-114 αS pathology in postmortem brain tissue from patients with LBD and MSA, as well as three different transgenic αS mouse models of prion-like induction. The distribution of x-114 αS pathology was distinct from that of overall αS pathology. These studies reveal the cellular formation and behavior of αS C-truncated at residues 114 and 103 as well as the disease dependent distribution of x-114 αS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Quintin
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Grace M Lloyd
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Giavanna Paterno
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yuxing Xia
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Zachary Sorrentino
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Brach M Bell
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kimberly-Marie Gorion
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (PENN) School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
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From protein biomarkers to proteomics in dementia with Lewy Bodies. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 83:101771. [PMID: 36328346 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia. Despite considerable research progress, there remain gaps in our understanding of the pathophysiology and there is no disease-modifying treatment. Proteomics is a powerful tool to elucidate complex biological pathways across heterogenous conditions. This review summarizes the widely used proteomic methods and presents evidence for protein dysregulation in the brain and peripheral tissues in DLB. Proteomics of post-mortem brain tissue shows that DLB shares common features with other dementias, such as synaptic dysfunction, but retains a unique protein signature. Promising diagnostic biomarkers are being identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, and peripheral tissues, such as serum Heart-type fatty acid binding protein. Research is needed to track these changes from the prodromal stage to established dementia, with standardized workflows to ensure replicability. Identifying novel protein targets in causative biological pathways could lead to the development of new targeted therapeutics or the stratification of participants for clinical trials.
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Moors TE, Mona D, Luehe S, Duran-Pacheco G, Spycher L, Mundigl O, Kaluza K, Huber S, Hug MN, Kremer T, Ritter M, Dziadek S, Dernick G, van de Berg WDJ, Britschgi M. Multi-platform quantitation of alpha-synuclein human brain proteoforms suggests disease-specific biochemical profiles of synucleinopathies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:82. [PMID: 35659116 PMCID: PMC9164351 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01382-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on immunostainings and biochemical analyses, certain post-translationally modified alpha-synuclein (aSyn) variants, including C-terminally truncated (CTT) and Serine-129 phosphorylated (pSer129) aSyn, are proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease with (PDD) and without dementia (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, quantitative information about aSyn proteoforms in the human brain in physiological and different pathological conditions is still limited. To address this, we generated sequential biochemical extracts of the substantia nigra, putamen and hippocampus from 28 donors diagnosed and neuropathologically-confirmed with different synucleinopathies (PD/PDD/DLB/MSA), as well as Alzheimer’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and aged normal subjects. The tissue extracts were used to build a reverse phase array including 65 aSyn antibodies for detection. In this multiplex approach, we observed increased immunoreactivity in donors with synucleinopathies compared to controls in detergent-insoluble fractions, mainly for antibodies against CT aSyn and pSer129 aSyn. In addition, despite of the restricted sample size, clustering analysis suggested disease-specific immunoreactivity signatures in patient groups with different synucleinopathies. We aimed to validate and quantify these findings using newly developed immunoassays towards total, 119 and 122 CTT, and pSer129 aSyn. In line with previous studies, we found that synucleinopathies shared an enrichment of post-translationally modified aSyn in detergent-insoluble fractions compared to the other analyzed groups. Our measurements allowed for a quantitative separation of PDD/DLB patients from other synucleinopathies based on higher detergent-insoluble pSer129 aSyn concentrations in the hippocampus. In addition, we found that MSA stood out due to enrichment of CTT and pSer129 aSyn also in the detergent-soluble fraction of the SN and putamen. Together, our results achieved by multiplexed and quantitative immunoassay-based approaches in human brain extracts of a limited sample set point to disease-specific biochemical aSyn proteoform profiles in distinct neurodegenerative disorders.
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Unique seeding profiles and prion-like propagation of synucleinopathies are highly dependent on the host in human α-synuclein transgenic mice. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:663-685. [PMID: 35488930 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02425-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
α-synuclein (αSyn) is an intrinsically disordered protein which can undergo structural transformations, resulting in the formation of stable, insoluble fibrils. αSyn amyloid-type nucleation can be induced by misfolded 'seeds' serving as a conformational template, tantamount to the prion-like mechanism. Accumulation of αSyn inclusions is a key feature of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), and are found as additional pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) such as AD with amygdala predominant Lewy bodies (AD/ALB). While these disorders accumulate the same pathological protein, they exhibit heterogeneity in clinical and histological features; however, the mechanism(s) underlying this variability remains elusive. Accruing data from human autopsy studies, animal inoculation modeling, and in vitro characterization experiments, have lent credence to the hypothesis that conformational polymorphism of the αSyn amyloid-type fibril structure results in distinct "strains" with categorical infectivity traits. Herein, we directly compare the seeding abilities and outcome of human brain lysates from these diseases, as well as recombinant preformed human αSyn fibrils by the intracerebral inoculation of transgenic mice overexpressing either human wild-type αSyn or human αSyn with the familial A53T mutation. Our study has revealed that the initiating inoculum heavily dictates the phenotypic and pathological course of disease. Interestingly, we have also established relevant host-dependent distinctions between propagation profiles, including burden and spread of inclusion pathology throughout the neuroaxis, as well as severity of neurological symptoms. These findings provide compelling evidence supporting the hypothesis that diverse prion-type conformers may explain the variability seen in synucleinopathies.
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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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Pathological Relevance of Post-Translationally Modified Alpha-Synuclein (pSer87, pSer129, nTyr39) in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease and Multiple System Atrophy. Cells 2022; 11:cells11050906. [PMID: 35269528 PMCID: PMC8909017 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggregated alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein) is the main component of Lewy bodies (LBs), Lewy neurites (LNs), and glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs), which are pathological hallmarks of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Initiating factors that culminate in forming LBs/LNs/GCIs remain elusive. Several species of α-synuclein exist, including phosphorylated and nitrated forms. It is unclear which α-synuclein post-translational modifications (PTMs) appear within aggregates throughout disease pathology. Herein we aimed to establish the predominant α-synuclein PTMs in postmortem IPD and MSA pathology using immunohistochemistry. We examined the patterns of three α-synuclein PTMs (pS87, pS129, nY39) simultaneously in pathology-affected regions of 15 IPD cases, 5 MSA cases, and 6 neurologically normal controls. All antibodies recognized LBs, LNs, and GCIs, albeit to a variable extent. pS129 α-synuclein antibody was particularly immunopositive for LNs and synaptic dot-like structures, followed by nY39 α-synuclein antibody. GCIs, neuronal inclusions, and small threads were positive for nY39 α-synuclein in MSA. Quantification of the LB scores revealed that pS129 α-synuclein was the dominant and earliest α-synuclein PTM, followed by nY39 α-synuclein, while lower amounts of pSer87 α-synuclein appeared later in disease progression in PD. These results may have implications for novel biomarker and therapeutic developments.
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Jellinger KA, Wenning GK, Stefanova N. Is Multiple System Atrophy a Prion-like Disorder? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10093. [PMID: 34576255 PMCID: PMC8472631 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rapidly progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease of uncertain aetiology that belongs to the family of α-synucleinopathies. It clinically presents with parkinsonism, cerebellar, autonomic, and motor impairment in variable combinations. Pathological hallmarks are fibrillary α-synuclein (αSyn)-rich glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) mainly involving oligodendroglia and to a lesser extent neurons, inducing a multisystem neurodegeneration, glial activation, and widespread demyelinization. The neuronal αSyn pathology of MSA has molecular properties different from Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease (PD), both of which could serve as a pool of αSyn (prion) seeds that could initiate and drive the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies. The molecular cascade leading to the "prion-like" transfer of "strains" of aggregated αSyn contributing to the progression of the disease is poorly understood, while some presented evidence that MSA is a prion disease. However, this hypothesis is difficult to reconcile with postmortem analysis of human brains and the fact that MSA-like pathology was induced by intracerebral inoculation of human MSA brain homogenates only in homozygous mutant 53T mice, without production of disease-specific GCIs, or with replication of MSA prions in primary astrocyte cultures from transgenic mice expressing human αSyn. Whereas recent intrastriatal injection of Lewy body-derived or synthetic human αSyn fibrils induced PD-like pathology including neuronal αSyn aggregates in macaques, no such transmission of αSyn pathology in non-human primates by MSA brain lysate has been reported until now. Given the similarities between αSyn and prions, there is a considerable debate whether they should be referred to as "prions", "prion-like", "prionoids", or something else. Here, the findings supporting the proposed nature of αSyn as a prion and its self-propagation through seeding as well as the transmissibility of neurodegenerative disorders are discussed. The proof of disease causation rests on the concordance of scientific evidence, none of which has provided convincing evidence for the classification of MSA as a prion disease or its human transmission until now.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gregor K. Wenning
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (G.K.W.); (N.S.)
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (G.K.W.); (N.S.)
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