1
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Mallach A, Zielonka M, van Lieshout V, An Y, Khoo JH, Vanheusden M, Chen WT, Moechars D, Arancibia-Carcamo IL, Fiers M, De Strooper B. Microglia-astrocyte crosstalk in the amyloid plaque niche of an Alzheimer's disease mouse model, as revealed by spatial transcriptomics. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114216. [PMID: 38819990 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The amyloid plaque niche is a pivotal hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we employ two high-resolution spatial transcriptomics (ST) platforms, CosMx and Spatial Enhanced Resolution Omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), to characterize the transcriptomic alterations, cellular compositions, and signaling perturbations in the amyloid plaque niche in an AD mouse model. We discover heterogeneity in the cellular composition of plaque niches, marked by an increase in microglial accumulation. We profile the transcriptomic alterations of glial cells in the vicinity of plaques and conclude that the microglial response to plaques is consistent across different brain regions, while the astrocytic response is more heterogeneous. Meanwhile, as the microglial density of plaque niches increases, astrocytes acquire a more neurotoxic phenotype and play a key role in inducing GABAergic signaling and decreasing glutamatergic signaling in hippocampal neurons. We thus show that the accumulation of microglia around hippocampal plaques disrupts astrocytic signaling, in turn inducing an imbalance in neuronal synaptic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mallach
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Magdalena Zielonka
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle van Lieshout
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yanru An
- BGI Research, 49276 Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Marisa Vanheusden
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Discovery Biology, Muna Therapeutics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wei-Ting Chen
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Discovery Biology, Muna Therapeutics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daan Moechars
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - I Lorena Arancibia-Carcamo
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mark Fiers
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bart De Strooper
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
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2
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Spanos F, Gerenu G, Goikolea J, Latorre-Leal M, Balleza-Tapia H, Gomez K, Álvarez-Jiménez L, Piras A, Gómez-Galán M, Fisahn A, Cedazo-Minguez A, Maioli S, Loera-Valencia R. Impaired astrocytic synaptic function by peripheral cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1347535. [PMID: 38650656 PMCID: PMC11034371 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1347535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes represent the most abundant cell type in the brain, where they play critical roles in synaptic transmission, cognition, and behavior. Recent discoveries show astrocytes are involved in synaptic dysfunction during Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD patients have imbalanced cholesterol metabolism, demonstrated by high levels of side-chain oxidized cholesterol known as 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OH). Evidence from our laboratory has shown that elevated 27-OH can abolish synaptic connectivity during neuromaturation, but its effect on astrocyte function is currently unclear. Our results suggest that elevated 27-OH decreases the astrocyte function in vivo in Cyp27Tg, a mouse model of brain oxysterol imbalance. Here, we report a downregulation of glutamate transporters in the hippocampus of CYP27Tg mice together with increased GFAP. GLT-1 downregulation was also observed when WT mice were fed with high-cholesterol diets. To study the relationship between astrocytes and neurons, we have developed a 3D co-culture system that allows all the cell types from mice embryos to differentiate in vitro. We report that our 3D co-cultures reproduce the effects of 27-OH observed in 2D neurons and in vivo. Moreover, we found novel degenerative effects in astrocytes that do not appear in 2D cultures, together with the downregulation of glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST. We propose that this transporter dysregulation leads to neuronal hyperexcitability and synaptic dysfunction based on the effects of 27-OH on astrocytes. Taken together, these results report a new mechanism linking oxysterol imbalance in the brain and synaptic dysfunction through effects on astrocyte function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fokion Spanos
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gorka Gerenu
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Physiology, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute - Ikerbasque Basque foundation for Science and University of Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
- CIBERNED (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Institute Carlos III), Madrid, Spain
| | - Julen Goikolea
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - María Latorre-Leal
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hugo Balleza-Tapia
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karen Gomez
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura Álvarez-Jiménez
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonio Piras
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marta Gómez-Galán
- Anestesiologi Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - André Fisahn
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Angel Cedazo-Minguez
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Silvia Maioli
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raúl Loera-Valencia
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Chihuahua, Mexico
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3
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Long Y, Zhao Z, Xie W, Shi J, Yang F, Zhu D, Jiang P, Tang Q, Ti Z, Jiang B, Yang X, Gao G, Qi W. Kallistatin leads to cognition impairment via downregulating glutamine synthetase. Pharmacol Res 2024; 202:107145. [PMID: 38492829 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
In many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), glutamate-mediated neuronal excitotoxicity is considered the basis for cognitive impairment. The mRNA and protein expression of SERPINA4(Kallistatin) are higher in patients with AD. However, whether Kallistatin plays a regulatory role in glutamate-glutamine cycle homeostasis remains unclear. In this study, we identified impaired cognitive function in Kallistatin transgenic (KAL-TG) mice. Baseline glutamate levels were elevated and miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) frequency was increased in the hippocampus, suggesting the impairment of glutamate homeostasis in KAL-TG mice. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Kallistatin promoted lysine acetylation and ubiquitination of glutamine synthetase (GS) and facilitated its degradation via the proteasome pathway, thereby downregulating GS. Fenofibrate improved cognitive memory in KAL-TG mice by downregulating serum Kallistatin. Collectively, our study findings provide insights the mechanism by which Kallistatin regulates cognitive impairment, and suggest the potential of fenofibrate to prevente and treat of AD patients with high levels of Kallistatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlan Long
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanting Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinhui Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengyu Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Jiang
- Department of Clinical Medical Laboratory, Guangzhou First People Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qilong Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhou Ti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xia Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Guoquan Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; China Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diabetology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Weiwei Qi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for Gene Manipulation and Biomacromolecular Products (Sun Yat-sen University), Guangzhou, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
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4
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Li L, Li W, Jiang W, Xu R. Sulbactam protects neurons against double neurotoxicity of amyloid beta and glutamate load by upregulating glial glutamate transporter 1. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:64. [PMID: 38320997 PMCID: PMC10847450 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01827-5] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyloid beta (Abeta) synergistically enhances excitotoxicity of glutamate load by impairing glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) expression and function, which exacerbates the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our previous studies suggested that sulbactam can upregulate the expression levels and capacity of GLT1. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether sulbactam improves neuronal tolerance against neurotoxicity of Abeta and glutamate load by up-regulating GLT1 in primary neuron-astrocyte co-cultures. Early postnatal P0-P1 Wistar rat pups' cortices were collected for primary neuron-astrocyte cultures. Hoechst-propidium iodide (HO-PI) stain and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays were used to analyze neuronal death. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) was applied to determine cell viability. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were used to assess protein expressions including GLT1, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), BCL2 associated X (BAX), and cleaved caspase 3 (CCP3). Under the double effect of Abeta and glutamate load, more neurons were lost than that induced by Abeta or glutamate alone, shown as decreased cell viability, increased LDH concentration in the cultural medium, HO-PI positive stains, high CCP3 expression, and high BAX/BCL2 ratio resulting from increased BAX and decreased BCL2 expressions. Notably, pre-incubation with sulbactam significantly attenuated the neuronal loss and activation of apoptosis induced by both Abeta and glutamate in a dose-dependent manner. Simultaneously, both astrocytic and neuronal GLT1 expressions were upregulated after sulbactam incubation. Taken together, it could be concluded that sulbactam protected neurons against double neurotoxicity of Abeta and glutamate load by upregulating GLT1 expression. The conclusion provides evidence for potential intervention using sulbactam in AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- The Central Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| | - Wenbin Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease, Hebei Vascular Homeostasis Key Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Renhao Xu
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease, Hebei Vascular Homeostasis Key Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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5
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Vázquez-Durán DL, Ortega A, Rodríguez A. Amino Acid Transporters Proteins Involved in the Glutamate-Glutamine Cycle and Their Alterations in Murine Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-03966-3. [PMID: 38273046 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03966-3] [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: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The brain's ability to integrate external stimuli and generate responses is highly complex. While these mechanisms are not completely understood, current evidence suggests that alterations in cellular metabolism and microenvironment are involved in some dysfunctions as complex as Alzheimer's disease. This pathology courses with defects in the establishment of chemical synapses, which is dependent on the production and supply of neurotransmitters like glutamate and its recycling through the glutamate-glutamine cycle. Alterations in the expression and function of the amino acid transporters proteins involved in this cycle have recently been reported in different stages of Alzheimer's disease. Most of these data come from patients in advanced stages of the disease or post-mortem, due to the ethical and technical limitations of human studies. Therefore, genetically modified mouse models have been an excellent tool to analyze metabolic and even behavioral parameters that are very similar to those that develop in Alzheimer's disease, even at presymptomatic stages. Hence, this paper analyzes the role of glutamate metabolism and its intercellular trafficking in excitatory synapses from different approaches using transgenic mouse models; such an analysis will contribute to our present understanding of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arturo Ortega
- Departamento de Toxicología, Cinvestav- IPN, Mexico City, México
| | - Angelina Rodríguez
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Santiago de Querétaro, México.
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6
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Perrin F, Anderson LC, Mitchell SPC, Sinha P, Turchyna Y, Maesako M, Houser MCQ, Zhang C, Wagner SL, Tanzi RE, Berezovska O. PS1/gamma-secretase acts as rogue chaperone of glutamate transporter EAAT2/GLT-1 in Alzheimer's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3495211. [PMID: 37986905 PMCID: PMC10659539 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3495211/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: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The recently discovered interaction between presenilin 1 (PS1), a catalytic subunit of γ-secretase responsible for the generation of amyloid-β(Aβ) peptides, and GLT-1, the major glutamate transporter in the brain (EAAT2 in the human) may provide a mechanistic link between two important pathological aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD): abnormal Aβoccurrence and neuronal network hyperactivity. In the current study, we employed a FRET-based approach, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), to characterize the PS1/GLT-1 interaction in its native environment in the brain tissue of sporadic AD (sAD) patients. There was significantly less interaction between PS1 and GLT-1 in sAD brains, compared to tissue from patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), or non-demented age-matched controls. Since PS1 has been shown to adopt pathogenic "closed" conformation in sAD but not in FTLD, we assessed the impact of changes in PS1 conformation on the interaction. Familial AD (fAD) PS1 mutations which induce a "closed" PS1 conformation similar to that in sAD brain and gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) which induce a "relaxed" conformation, reduced and increased the interaction, respectively. This indicates that PS1 conformation seems to have a direct effect on the interaction with GLT-1. Furthermore, using biotinylation/streptavidin pull-down, western blotting, and cycloheximide chase assays, we determined that the presence of PS1 increased GLT-1 cell surface expression and GLT-1 homomultimer formation, but did not impact GLT-1 protein stability. Together, the current findings suggest that the newly described PS1/GLT-1 interaction endows PS1 with chaperone activity, modulating GLT-1 transport to the cell surface and stabilizing the dimeric-trimeric states of the protein. The diminished PS1/GLT-1 interaction suggests that these functions of the interaction may not work properly in AD.
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7
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Joly-Amado A, Kulkarni N, Nash KR. Reelin Signaling in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1479. [PMID: 37891846 PMCID: PMC10605156 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Reelin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein involved in neuronal migration during embryonic brain development and synaptic plasticity in the adult brain. The role of Reelin in the developing central nervous system has been extensively characterized. Indeed, a loss of Reelin or a disruption in its signaling cascade leads to neurodevelopmental defects and is associated with ataxia, intellectual disability, autism, and several psychiatric disorders. In the adult brain, Reelin is critically involved in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Reelin's signaling potentiates glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, induces synaptic maturation, and increases AMPA and NMDA receptor subunits' expression and activity. As a result, there is a growing literature reporting that a loss of function and/or reduction of Reelin is implicated in numerous neurodegenerative diseases. The present review summarizes the current state of the literature regarding the implication of Reelin and Reelin-mediated signaling during aging and neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting Reelin as a possible target in the prevention or treatment of progressive neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelie Joly-Amado
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (N.K.); (K.R.N.)
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8
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Shioda T, Takahashi I, Ikenaka K, Fujita N, Kanki T, Oka T, Mochizuki H, Antebi A, Yoshimori T, Nakamura S. Neuronal MML-1/MXL-2 regulates systemic aging via glutamate transporter and cell nonautonomous autophagic and peroxidase activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221553120. [PMID: 37722055 PMCID: PMC10523562 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221553120] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the presence of intertissue-communication regulating systemic aging, but the underlying molecular network has not been fully explored. We and others previously showed that two basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, MML-1 and HLH-30, are required for lifespan extension in several longevity paradigms, including germlineless Caenorhabditis elegans. However, it is unknown what tissues these factors target to promote longevity. Here, using tissue-specific knockdown experiments, we found that MML-1 and its heterodimer partners MXL-2 and HLH-30 act primarily in neurons to extend longevity in germlineless animals. Interestingly, however, the downstream cascades of MML-1 in neurons were distinct from those of HLH-30. Neuronal RNA interference (RNAi)-based transcriptome analysis revealed that the glutamate transporter GLT-5 is a downstream target of MML-1 but not HLH-30. Furthermore, the MML-1-GTL-5 axis in neurons is critical to prevent an age-dependent collapse of proteostasis and increased oxidative stress through autophagy and peroxidase MLT-7, respectively, in long-lived animals. Collectively, our study revealed that systemic aging is regulated by a molecular network involving neuronal MML-1 function in both neural and peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Shioda
- Laboratory of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Ittetsu Takahashi
- Laboratory of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Kensuke Ikenaka
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Naonobu Fujita
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama226-8503, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama226-8503, Japan
| | - Tomotake Kanki
- Department of Cellular Physiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata951-8510, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Oka
- Department of Life Science, Rikkyo University, Tokyo171-8501, Japan
| | - Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Adam Antebi
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Ageing, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne50931, Germany
| | - Tamotsu Yoshimori
- Laboratory of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
- Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
- Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Shuhei Nakamura
- Laboratory of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
- Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Osaka University, Osaka565-0871, Japan
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9
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Pereira MJ, Ayana R, Holt MG, Arckens L. Chemogenetic manipulation of astrocyte activity at the synapse- a gateway to manage brain disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1193130. [PMID: 37534103 PMCID: PMC10393042 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1193130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are the major glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). Initially regarded as supportive cells, it is now recognized that this highly heterogeneous cell population is an indispensable modulator of brain development and function. Astrocytes secrete neuroactive molecules that regulate synapse formation and maturation. They also express hundreds of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that, once activated by neurotransmitters, trigger intracellular signalling pathways that can trigger the release of gliotransmitters which, in turn, modulate synaptic transmission and neuroplasticity. Considering this, it is not surprising that astrocytic dysfunction, leading to synaptic impairment, is consistently described as a factor in brain diseases, whether they emerge early or late in life due to genetic or environmental factors. Here, we provide an overview of the literature showing that activation of genetically engineered GPCRs, known as Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), to specifically modulate astrocyte activity partially mimics endogenous signalling pathways in astrocytes and improves neuronal function and behavior in normal animals and disease models. Therefore, we propose that expressing these genetically engineered GPCRs in astrocytes could be a promising strategy to explore (new) signalling pathways which can be used to manage brain disorders. The precise molecular, functional and behavioral effects of this type of manipulation, however, differ depending on the DREADD receptor used, targeted brain region and timing of the intervention, between healthy and disease conditions. This is likely a reflection of regional and disease/disease progression-associated astrocyte heterogeneity. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the effects of such astrocyte manipulation(s) must be conducted considering the specific cellular and molecular environment characteristic of each disease and disease stage before this has therapeutic applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Pereira
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rajagopal Ayana
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G. Holt
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Laboratory of Synapse Biology, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Liu LZ, Fan SJ, Gao JX, Li WB, Xian XH. Ceftriaxone ameliorates hippocampal synapse loss by inhibiting microglial/macrophages activation in glial glutamate transporter-1 dependent manner in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res Bull 2023:110683. [PMID: 37301482 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Synapse loss is a major contributor to cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Impairments in the expression and/or glutamate uptake activity of glia glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) contribute to synapse loss in AD. Hence, targeting the restoration of GLT-1 activity may have potential for alleviating synapse loss in AD. Ceftriaxone (Cef) can upregulate the expression and glutamate uptake activity of GLT-1 in many disease models, including those for AD. The present study investigated the effects of Cef on synapse loss and the role of GLT-1 using APP/PS1 transgenic and GLT-1 knockdown APP/PS1 AD mice. Furthermore, the involvement of microglia in the process was investigated due to its important role in synapse loss in AD. We found that Cef treatment significantly ameliorated synapse loss and dendritic degeneration in APP/PS1 AD mice, evidenced by an increased dendritic spine density, decreased dendritic beading density, and upregulated levels of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin. The effects of Cef were suppressed by GLT-1 knockdown in GLT-1+/-/APP/PS1 AD mice. Simultaneously, Cef treatment inhibited ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) expression, decreased the proportion of CD11b+CD45hi cells, declined interleukin-6 (IL-6) content, and reduced the co-expression of Iba1 with PSD95 or synaptophysin in APP/PS1 AD mice. In conclusion, Cef treatment ameliorated synapse loss and dendritic degeneration in APP/PS1 AD mice in a GLT-1-dependent manner, and the inhibitory effect of Cef on the activation of microglia/macrophages and their phagocytosis for synaptic elements contributed to the mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Zhe Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, P.R. China; Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P. R. China.
| | - Shu-Juan Fan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, P.R. China; Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P. R. China.
| | - Jun-Xia Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, P.R. China; Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P. R. China.
| | - Wen-Bin Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, P.R. China; Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P. R. China.
| | - Xiao-Hui Xian
- Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, P.R. China; Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P. R. China.
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11
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Forrest SL, Kim JH, Crockford DR, Huynh K, Cheong R, Knott S, Kane MA, Ittner LM, Halliday GM, Kril JJ. Distribution Patterns of Astrocyte Populations in the Human Cortex. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1222-1232. [PMID: 35930103 PMCID: PMC10030423 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03700-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are a major class of glial cell in the central nervous system that have a diverse range of types and functions thought to be based on their anatomical location, morphology and cellular properties. Recent studies highlight that astrocyte dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of neurological conditions. However, few studies have described the pattern, distribution and density of astrocytes in the adult human cortex. This study mapped the distribution and density of astrocytes immunolabelled with a range of cytoskeletal and membrane markers in the human frontal cortex. Distinct and overlapping astrocyte populations were determined. The frontal cortex from ten normal control cases (75 ± 9 years) was immunostained with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 L1 (ALDH1L1), connexin-43 (Cx43), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), and glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1). All markers labelled populations of astrocytes in the grey and white matter, separate cortical layers, subpial and perivascular regions. All markers were informative for labelling different cellular properties and cellular compartments of astrocytes. ALDH1L1 labelled the largest population of astrocytes, and Cx43-immunopositive astrocytes were found in all cortical layers. AQP4 and GLT-1 labelled distal astrocytic process and end-feet in the same population of astrocytes (98% of GLT-1-immunopositive astrocytes contained AQP4). In contrast, GFAP, the most widely used marker, predominantly labelled astrocytes in superficial cortical layers. This study highlights the diversity of astrocytes in the human cortex, providing a reference map of the distribution of distinct and overlapping astrocyte populations which can be used for comparative purposes in various disease, inflammatory and injury states involving astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Forrest
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Jordan Hanxi Kim
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Daniel R Crockford
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katharine Huynh
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rosie Cheong
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Samantha Knott
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Madison A Kane
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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12
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Tang Y, Yan Y, Mao J, Ni J, Qing H. The hippocampus associated GABAergic neural network impairment in early-stage of Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 86:101865. [PMID: 36716975 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101865] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest neurodegenerative disease with slow progression. Pieces of evidence suggest that the GABAergic system is impaired in the early stage of AD, leading to hippocampal neuron over-activity and further leading to memory and cognitive impairment in patients with AD. However, the precise impairment mechanism of the GABAergic system on the pathogenesis of AD is still unclear. The impairment of neural networks associated with the GABAergic system is tightly associated with AD. Therefore, we describe the roles played by hippocampus-related GABAergic circuits and their impairments in AD neuropathology. In addition, we give our understand on the process from GABAergic circuit impairment to cognitive and memory impairment, since recent studies on astrocyte in AD plays an important role behind cognition dysfunction caused by GABAergic circuit impairment, which helps better understand the GABAergic system and could open up innovative AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhong Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jian Mao
- Zhengzhou Tobacco Institute of China National Tobacco Company, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Junjun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China.
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13
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Huffels CFM, Middeldorp J, Hol EM. Aß Pathology and Neuron-Glia Interactions: A Synaptocentric View. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1026-1046. [PMID: 35976488 PMCID: PMC10030451 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03699-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) causes the majority of dementia cases worldwide. Early pathological hallmarks include the accumulation of amyloid-ß (Aß) and activation of both astrocytes and microglia. Neurons form the building blocks of the central nervous system, and astrocytes and microglia provide essential input for its healthy functioning. Their function integrates at the level of the synapse, which is therefore sometimes referred to as the "quad-partite synapse". Increasing evidence puts AD forward as a disease of the synapse, where pre- and postsynaptic processes, as well as astrocyte and microglia functioning progressively deteriorate. Here, we aim to review the current knowledge on how Aß accumulation functionally affects the individual components of the quad-partite synapse. We highlight a selection of processes that are essential to the healthy functioning of the neuronal synapse, including presynaptic neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic receptor functioning. We further discuss how Aß affects the astrocyte's capacity to recycle neurotransmitters, release gliotransmitters, and maintain ion homeostasis. We additionally review literature on how Aß changes the immunoprotective function of microglia during AD progression and conclude by summarizing our main findings and highlighting the challenges in current studies, as well as the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan F M Huffels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurobiology & Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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14
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Andersen JV, Schousboe A. Glial Glutamine Homeostasis in Health and Disease. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1100-1128. [PMID: 36322369 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03771-1] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Glutamine is an essential cerebral metabolite. Several critical brain processes are directly linked to glutamine, including ammonia homeostasis, energy metabolism and neurotransmitter recycling. Astrocytes synthesize and release large quantities of glutamine, which is taken up by neurons to replenish the glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter pools. Astrocyte glutamine hereby sustains the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle, synaptic transmission and general brain function. Cerebral glutamine homeostasis is linked to the metabolic coupling of neurons and astrocytes, and relies on multiple cellular processes, including TCA cycle function, synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter uptake. Dysregulations of processes related to glutamine homeostasis are associated with several neurological diseases and may mediate excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration. In particular, diminished astrocyte glutamine synthesis is a common neuropathological component, depriving neurons of an essential metabolic substrate and precursor for neurotransmitter synthesis, hereby leading to synaptic dysfunction. While astrocyte glutamine synthesis is quantitatively dominant in the brain, oligodendrocyte-derived glutamine may serve important functions in white matter structures. In this review, the crucial roles of glial glutamine homeostasis in the healthy and diseased brain are discussed. First, we provide an overview of cellular recycling, transport, synthesis and metabolism of glutamine in the brain. These cellular aspects are subsequently discussed in relation to pathological glutamine homeostasis of hepatic encephalopathy, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Further studies on the multifaceted roles of cerebral glutamine will not only increase our understanding of the metabolic collaboration between brain cells, but may also aid to reveal much needed therapeutic targets of several neurological pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens V Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Arne Schousboe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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15
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Meftah S, Gan J. Alzheimer’s disease as a synaptopathy: Evidence for dysfunction of synapses during disease progression. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1129036. [PMID: 36970154 PMCID: PMC10033629 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1129036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The synapse has consistently been considered a vulnerable and critical target within Alzheimer’s disease, and synapse loss is, to date, one of the main biological correlates of cognitive decline within Alzheimer’s disease. This occurs prior to neuronal loss with ample evidence that synaptic dysfunction precedes this, in support of the idea that synaptic failure is a crucial stage within disease pathogenesis. The two main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal aggregates of amyloid or tau proteins, have had demonstrable effects on synaptic physiology in animal and cellular models of Alzheimer’s disease. There is also growing evidence that these two proteins may have a synergistic effect on neurophysiological dysfunction. Here, we review some of the main findings of synaptic alterations in Alzheimer’s disease, and what we know from Alzheimer’s disease animal and cellular models. First, we briefly summarize some of the human evidence to suggest that synapses are altered, including how this relates to network activity. Subsequently, animal and cellular models of Alzheimer’s disease are considered, highlighting mouse models of amyloid and tau pathology and the role these proteins may play in synaptic dysfunction, either in isolation or examining how the two pathologies may interact in dysfunction. This specifically focuses on neurophysiological function and dysfunction observed within these animal models, typically measured using electrophysiology or calcium imaging. Following synaptic dysfunction and loss, it would be impossible to imagine that this would not alter oscillatory activity within the brain. Therefore, this review also discusses how this may underpin some of the aberrant oscillatory patterns seen in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease and human patients. Finally, an overview of some key directions and considerations in the field of synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease is covered. This includes current therapeutics that are targeted specifically at synaptic dysfunction, but also methods that modulate activity to rescue aberrant oscillatory patterns. Other important future avenues of note in this field include the role of non-neuronal cell types such as astrocytes and microglia, and mechanisms of dysfunction independent of amyloid and tau in Alzheimer’s disease. The synapse will certainly continue to be an important target within Alzheimer’s disease for the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya Meftah
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jian Gan
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Jian Gan,
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16
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Kodam P, Sai Swaroop R, Pradhan SS, Sivaramakrishnan V, Vadrevu R. Integrated multi-omics analysis of Alzheimer's disease shows molecular signatures associated with disease progression and potential therapeutic targets. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3695. [PMID: 36879094 PMCID: PMC9986671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30892-6] [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: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the formation of amyloid plaques implicated in neuronal death. Genetics, age, and sex are the risk factors attributed to AD. Though omics studies have helped to identify pathways associated with AD, an integrated systems analysis with the available data could help to understand mechanisms, potential biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. Analysis of transcriptomic data sets from the GEO database, and proteomic and metabolomic data sets from literature was performed to identify deregulated pathways and commonality analysis identified overlapping pathways among the data sets. The deregulated pathways included those of neurotransmitter synapses, oxidative stress, inflammation, vitamins, complement, and coagulation pathways. Cell type analysis of GEO data sets showed microglia, endothelial, myeloid, and lymphoid cells are affected. Microglia are associated with inflammation and pruning of synapses with implications for memory and cognition. Analysis of the protein-cofactor network of B2, B6, and pantothenate shows metabolic pathways modulated by these vitamins which overlap with the deregulated pathways from the multi-omics analysis. Overall, the integrated analysis identified the molecular signature associated with AD. Treatment with anti-oxidants, B2, B6, and pantothenate in genetically susceptible individuals in the pre-symptomatic stage might help in better management of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Kodam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500078, India
| | - R Sai Swaroop
- Disease Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, 515134, India
| | - Sai Sanwid Pradhan
- Disease Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, 515134, India
| | - Venketesh Sivaramakrishnan
- Disease Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, 515134, India.
| | - Ramakrishna Vadrevu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500078, India.
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17
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Kurkinen M, Fułek M, Fułek K, Beszłej JA, Kurpas D, Leszek J. The Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis in Alzheimer’s Disease: Should We Change Our Thinking? Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030453. [PMID: 36979388 PMCID: PMC10046826 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Old age increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common neurodegenerative disease, a devastating disorder of the human mind and the leading cause of dementia. Worldwide, 50 million people have the disease, and it is estimated that there will be 150 million by 2050. Today, healthcare for AD patients consumes 1% of the global economy. According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, AD begins in the brain by accumulating and aggregating Aβ peptides and forming β-amyloid fibrils (Aβ42). However, in clinical trials, reducing Aβ peptide production and amyloid formation in the brain did not slow cognitive decline or improve daily life in AD patients. Prevention studies in cognitively unimpaired people at high risk or genetically destined to develop AD also have not slowed cognitive decline. These observations argue against the amyloid hypothesis of AD etiology, its development, and disease mechanisms. Here, we look at other avenues in the research of AD, such as the presenilin hypothesis, synaptic glutamate signaling, and the role of astrocytes and the glutamate transporter EAAT2 in the development of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michał Fułek
- Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Fułek
- Department and Clinic of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (K.F.); (J.L.)
| | | | - Donata Kurpas
- Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-141 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy Leszek
- Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (K.F.); (J.L.)
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18
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Matias I, Diniz LP, Araujo APB, Damico IV, de Moura P, Cabral-Miranda F, Diniz F, Parmeggiani B, de Mello Coelho V, Leite REP, Suemoto CK, Ferreira GC, Kubrusly RCC, Gomes FCA. Age-Associated Upregulation of Glutamate Transporters and Glutamine Synthetase in Senescent Astrocytes In Vitro and in the Mouse and Human Hippocampus. ASN Neuro 2023; 15:17590914231157974. [PMID: 36815213 PMCID: PMC9950616 DOI: 10.1177/17590914231157974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is marked by complex and progressive physiological changes, including in the glutamatergic system, that lead to a decline of brain function. Increased content of senescent cells in the brain, such as glial cells, has been reported to impact cognition both in animal models and human tissue during normal aging and in the context of neurodegenerative disease. Changes in the glutamatergic synaptic activity rely on the glutamate-glutamine cycle, in which astrocytes handle glutamate taken up from synapses and provide glutamine for neurons, thus maintaining excitatory neurotransmission. However, the mechanisms of glutamate homeostasis in brain aging are still poorly understood. Herein, we showed that mouse senescent astrocytes in vitro undergo upregulation of GLT-1, GLAST, and glutamine synthetase (GS), along with the increased enzymatic activity of GS and [3H]-D-aspartate uptake. Furthermore, we observed higher levels of GS and increased [3H]-D-aspartate uptake in the hippocampus of aged mice, although the activity of GS was similar between young and old mice. Analysis of a previously available RNAseq dataset of mice at different ages revealed upregulation of GLAST and GS mRNA levels in hippocampal astrocytes during aging. Corroborating these rodent data, we showed an increased number of GS + cells, and GS and GLT-1 levels/intensity in the hippocampus of elderly humans. Our data suggest that aged astrocytes undergo molecular and functional changes that control glutamate-glutamine homeostasis upon brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora Matias
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Isadora Matias, Instituto de Ciências
Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde,
Bloco F, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
| | - Luan Pereira Diniz
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Ana Paula Bergamo Araujo
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Isabella Vivarini Damico
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Pâmella de Moura
- Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal
Fluminense, Niterói, Brasil
| | - Felipe Cabral-Miranda
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Fabiola Diniz
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil,Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Belisa Parmeggiani
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Valeria de Mello Coelho
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Renata E. P. Leite
- Biobanco para Estudos em Envelhecimento, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil,Divisão de Geriatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São
Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Claudia K. Suemoto
- Divisão de Geriatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São
Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Gustavo Costa Ferreira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Flávia Carvalho Alcantara Gomes
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil,Flávia Carvalho Alcantara Gomes. Instituto
de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de
Ciências da Saúde, Bloco F, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
Brasil.
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19
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Ghatak S, Nakamura T, Lipton SA. Aberrant protein S-nitrosylation contributes to hyperexcitability-induced synaptic damage in Alzheimer's disease: Mechanistic insights and potential therapies. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1099467. [PMID: 36817649 PMCID: PMC9932935 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1099467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is arguably the most common cause of dementia in the elderly and is marked by progressive synaptic degeneration, which in turn leads to cognitive decline. Studies in patients and in various AD models have shown that one of the early signatures of AD is neuronal hyperactivity. This excessive electrical activity contributes to dysregulated neural network function and synaptic damage. Mechanistically, evidence suggests that hyperexcitability accelerates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that contribute to neural network impairment and synapse loss. This review focuses on the pathways and molecular changes that cause hyperexcitability and how RNS-dependent posttranslational modifications, represented predominantly by protein S-nitrosylation, mediate, at least in part, the deleterious effects of hyperexcitability on single neurons and the neural network, resulting in synaptic loss in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagata Ghatak
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Tomohiro Nakamura
- Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Tomohiro Nakamura,
| | - Stuart A. Lipton
- Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States,Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Stuart A. Lipton,
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20
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Silva-Parra J, Sandu C, Felder-Schmittbuhl MP, Hernández-Kelly LC, Ortega A. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Glia Cells: A Plausible Glutamatergic Neurotransmission Orchestrator. Neurotox Res 2023; 41:103-117. [PMID: 36607593 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-022-00623-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate is the major excitatory amino acid in the vertebrate brain. Glutamatergic signaling is involved in most of the central nervous system functions. Its main components, namely receptors, ion channels, and transporters, are tightly regulated at the transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels through a diverse array of extracellular signals, such as food, light, and neuroactive molecules. An exquisite and well-coordinated glial/neuronal bidirectional communication is required for proper excitatory amino acid signal transactions. Biochemical shuttles such as the glutamate/glutamine and the astrocyte-neuronal lactate represent the fundamental involvement of glial cells in glutamatergic transmission. In fact, the disruption of any of these coordinated biochemical intercellular cascades leads to an excitotoxic insult that underlies some aspects of most of the neurodegenerative diseases characterized thus far. In this contribution, we provide a comprehensive summary of the involvement of the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, a ligand-dependent transcription factor in the gene expression regulation of glial glutamate transporters. These receptors might serve as potential targets for the development of novel strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janisse Silva-Parra
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, CDMX, México
| | - Cristina Sandu
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marie-Paule Felder-Schmittbuhl
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Luisa C Hernández-Kelly
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, CDMX, México
| | - Arturo Ortega
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, CDMX, México.
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21
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Alijanpour S, Miryounesi M, Ghafouri-Fard S. The role of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) in epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Metab Brain Dis 2023; 38:1-16. [PMID: 36173507 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-022-01091-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) have important roles in the uptake of glutamate and termination of glutamatergic transmission. Up to now, five EAAT isoforms (EAAT1-5) have been identified in mammals. The main focus of this review is EAAT2. This protein has an important role in the pathoetiology of epilepsy. De novo dominant mutations, as well as inherited recessive mutation in this gene, have been associated with epilepsy. Moreover, dysregulation of this protein is implicated in a range of neurological diseases, namely amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, alzheimer's disease, parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and autism. In this review, we summarize the role of EAAT2 in epilepsy and other neurological disorders, then provide an overview of the therapeutic modulation of this protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Alijanpour
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Miryounesi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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22
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de Lima IB, Ribeiro FM. The Implication of Glial Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:164-182. [PMID: 34951388 PMCID: PMC10190153 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666211223140303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) was first identified more than 100 years ago, yet aspects pertaining to its origin and the mechanisms underlying disease progression are not well known. To this date, there is no therapeutic approach or disease-modifying drug that could halt or at least delay disease progression. Until recently, glial cells were seen as secondary actors in brain homeostasis. Although this view was gradually refuted and the relevance of glial cells for the most diverse brain functions such as synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission was vastly proved, many aspects of its functioning, as well as its role in pathological conditions, remain poorly understood. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in glial cells were shown to be involved in neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity. Besides its relevance for glial function, glutamatergic receptors are also central in the pathology of AD, and recent studies have shown that glial mGluRs play a role in the establishment and progression of AD. AD-related alterations in Ca2+ signalling, APP processing, and Aβ load, as well as AD-related neurodegeneration, are influenced by glial mGluRs. However, different types of mGluRs play different roles, depending on the cell type and brain region that is being analysed. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the current understanding of glial mGluRs and their implication in AD, providing an insight for future therapeutics and identifying existing research gaps worth investigating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabella B.Q. de Lima
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fabíola M. Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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23
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Wang L, Yu C, Tao Y, Yang X, Jiang Q, Yu H, Zhang J. Transcriptome analysis reveals potential marker genes for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Front Genet 2022; 13:1038585. [PMID: 36506318 PMCID: PMC9730885 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1038585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) are the two most common forms of dementia, share similar symptoms, and are sometimes difficult to distinguish. To investigate the potential mechanisms by which they differ, we identified differentially expressed genes in blood and brain samples from patients with these diseases, and performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis and other bioinformatics analyses. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis resulted in mining of different modules based on differences in gene expression between these two diseases. Enrichment analysis and generation of a protein-protein interaction network were used to identify core pathways for each disease. Modules were significantly involved in cAMP and AMPK signaling pathway, which may be regulated cell death in AD and VD. Genes of cAMP and neurotrophin signaling pathways, including ATP1A3, PP2A, NCEH1, ITPR1, CAMKK2, and HDAC1, were identified as key markers. Using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method, a diagnostic model for AD and VD was generated and verified through analysis of gene expression in blood of patients. Furthermore, single sample gene set enrichment analysis was used to characterize immune cell infiltration into brain tissue. That results showed that infiltration of DCs and pDCs cells was increased, and infiltration of B cells and TFH cells was decreased in the brain tissues of patients with AD and VD. In summary, classification based on target genes showed good diagnostic efficiency, and filled the gap in the diagnostic field or optimizes the existing diagnostic model, which could be used to distinguish between AD and VD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of the Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chunjiang Yu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of the Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,*Correspondence: Chunjiang Yu,
| | - Ye Tao
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of SuiHua City, Suihua, China
| | - Xiumei Yang
- Department of Cardiovascularology, The Fifth Hospital of the Harbin City, Harbin, China
| | - Qiao Jiang
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth People’s Hospital of the Dalian City, Dalian, China
| | - Haiyu Yu
- Rehabilitation Department of Jiamusi Center Hospital, Jiamusi, China
| | - Jiejun Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Hebei Yanda Hospital, Hebei, China
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24
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Sayehmiri F, Khodagholi F, Pourbadie HG, Naderi N, Aliakbarzadeh F, Hashemi R, Naderi S, Motamedi F. Phosphonate analog of 2-oxoglutarate regulates glutamate-glutamine homeostasis and counteracts amyloid beta induced learning and memory deficits in rats. Exp Gerontol 2022; 168:111944. [PMID: 36064157 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111944] [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: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic alteration is a mainstream concept underlying the cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial enzyme α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (α-KGDHC) seems to play a dual-edged sword role in cytotoxic insult. Here, using succinyl phosphonate (SP), a specific α-KGDHC inhibitor, we aimed to examine its potential action on AD progression. METHODS Male Wistar rats were assigned to two separate experiments. First, they were bilaterally microinjected into the dorsal CA1 area by amyloid-beta (Aβ)25-35 for four consecutive days. Seven days after the last injection, they were trained to acquire Morris Water Maze (MWM) task for three successive days when they were treated with SP after each training session. In the second experiment, SP was administered 30 min after the first Aβ microinjection and behavioral tests were performed one week after the last Aβ administration. The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and glutamine synthetase (GS), as key enzymes involved in glutamate-glutamine homeostasis and histological assays were evaluated in the hippocampi. RESULTS Our behavioral results indicated that post-training SP treatment enhanced task acquisition but did not change memory performance in Aβ-treated rats. However, administration of SP at the time of Aβ injection precludes the deteriorative effect of Aβ and neuronal injury on both spatial learning and memory performances indicating its preventive action against Aβ pathology at its early stages. Measurement of enzymes activity shows that α-KGDHC activity was reduced in the Aβ treated group, and SP administration restored its activity; also, GDH and GS activities were increased and decreased respectively due to Aβ, and SP reversed the action of Aβ on these enzymes. CONCLUSIONS This study proposes that SP possibly a promising therapeutic approach to improve memory impairment in AD, especially in the early phases of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Sayehmiri
- School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fariba Khodagholi
- Neurobilogy Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Nima Naderi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Aliakbarzadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Hashemi
- School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soudabeh Naderi
- School of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Motamedi
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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25
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Zhang H, Jiang X, Ma L, Wei W, Li Z, Chang S, Wen J, Sun J, Li H. Role of Aβ in Alzheimer’s-related synaptic dysfunction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:964075. [PMID: 36092715 PMCID: PMC9459380 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.964075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction is closely related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is also recognized as synaptic disorder. β-amyloid (Aβ) is one of the main pathogenic factors in AD, which disrupts synaptic plasticity and mediates the synaptic toxicity through different mechanisms. Aβ disrupts glutamate receptors, such as NMDA and AMPA receptors, which mediates calcium dyshomeostasis and damages synapse plasticity characterized by long-term potentiation (LTP) suppression and long-term depression (LTD) enhancement. As Aβ stimulates and Ca2+ influx, microglial cells and astrocyte can be activated and release cytokines, which reduces glutamate uptake and further impair synapse function. Besides, extracellular glutamate accumulation induced by Aβ mediates synapse toxicity resulting from reduced glutamate receptors and glutamate spillovers. Aβ also mediates synaptic dysfunction by acting on various signaling pathways and molecular targets, disrupting mitochondria and energy metabolism. In addition, Aβ overdeposition aggravates the toxic damage of hyperphosphorylated tau to synapses. Synaptic dysfunction plays a critical role in cognitive impairment of AD. The review addresses the possible mechanisms by which Aβ mediates AD-related synaptic impairment from distant perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqin Zhang
- Institute of Geriatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuefan Jiang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lina Ma
- Institute of Geriatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Geriatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zehui Li
- Institute of Geriatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Surui Chang
- Institute of Geriatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Wen
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Sun
- Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Li
- Institute of Geriatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Li,
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26
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Shah D, Gsell W, Wahis J, Luckett ES, Jamoulle T, Vermaercke B, Preman P, Moechars D, Hendrickx V, Jaspers T, Craessaerts K, Horré K, Wolfs L, Fiers M, Holt M, Thal DR, Callaerts-Vegh Z, D'Hooge R, Vandenberghe R, Himmelreich U, Bonin V, De Strooper B. Astrocyte calcium dysfunction causes early network hyperactivity in Alzheimer's disease. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111280. [PMID: 36001964 PMCID: PMC9433881 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctions of network activity and functional connectivity (FC) represent early events in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Astrocytes regulate local neuronal activity in the healthy brain, but their involvement in early network hyperactivity in AD is unknown. We show increased FC in the human cingulate cortex several years before amyloid deposition. We find the same early cingulate FC disruption and neuronal hyperactivity in AppNL-F mice. Crucially, these network disruptions are accompanied by decreased astrocyte calcium signaling. Recovery of astrocytic calcium activity normalizes neuronal hyperactivity and FC, as well as seizure susceptibility and day/night behavioral disruptions. In conclusion, we show that astrocytes mediate initial features of AD and drive clinically relevant phenotypes. The cingulate cortex of humans and mice shows early functional deficits in AD Astrocyte calcium signaling is decreased before the presence of amyloid plaques Recovery of astrocyte calcium signals mitigates neuronal hyperactivity Recovery of astrocytes normalizes cingulate connectivity and behavior disruptions
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Affiliation(s)
- Disha Shah
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Willy Gsell
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Wahis
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emma S Luckett
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tarik Jamoulle
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ben Vermaercke
- Neuro-electronics Research Flanders, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pranav Preman
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daan Moechars
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Véronique Hendrickx
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Jaspers
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katleen Craessaerts
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Horré
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen Wolfs
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mark Fiers
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew Holt
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Laboratory for Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology, LBI, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU-Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vincent Bonin
- Neuro-electronics Research Flanders, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK.
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27
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Wood OWG, Yeung JHY, Faull RLM, Kwakowsky A. EAAT2 as a therapeutic research target in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:952096. [PMID: 36033606 PMCID: PMC9399514 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.952096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the human central nervous system, responsible for a wide variety of normal physiological processes. Glutamatergic metabolism and its sequestration are tightly regulated in the normal human brain, and it has been demonstrated that dysregulation of the glutamatergic system can have wide-ranging effects both in acute brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. The excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) is the dominant glutamatergic transporter in the human brain, responsible for efficient removal of glutamate from the synaptic cleft for recycling within glial cells. As such, it has a key role in maintaining excitatory-inhibitory homeostasis. Animal studies have demonstrated dysregulation or alterations of EAAT2 expression can have implications in neurodegenerative disorders. Despite extensive research into glutamatergic alterations in AD mouse models, there is a lack of studies examining the expression of EAAT2 within the AD human brain. In this systematic review, 29 articles were identified that either analyzed EAAT2 expression in the AD human brain or used a human-derived cell culture. Studies were inconclusive as to whether EAAT2 was upregulated or downregulated in AD. However, changes in localization and correlation between EAAT2 expression and symptomatology was noted. These findings implicate EAAT2 alterations as a key process in AD progression and highlight the need for further research into the characterization of EAAT2 processes in normal physiology and disease in human tissue and to identify compounds that can act as EAAT2 neuromodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver W. G. Wood
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jason H. Y. Yeung
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L. M. Faull
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Kwakowsky
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Galway Neuroscience Centre, School of Medicine, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- *Correspondence: Andrea Kwakowsky
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28
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Bioactive human Alzheimer brain soluble Aβ: pathophysiology and therapeutic opportunities. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3182-3191. [PMID: 35484241 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01589-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) plays an early role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The precise mechanism of how Aβ accumulation leads to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment remains unclear but is likely due to small soluble oligomers of Aβ (oAβ). Most studies have used chemical synthetic or cell-secreted Aβ oligomers to study their pathogenic mechanisms, but the Aβ derived from human AD brain tissue is less well characterized. Here we review updated knowledge on the extraction and characterization of bioactive human AD brain oAβ and the mechanisms by which they cause hippocampal synaptic dysfunction. Human AD brain-derived oAβ can impair hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and enhance long-term depression (LTD). Many studies suggest that oAβ may directly disrupt neuronal NMDA receptors, AMPA receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). oAβ also impairs astrocytic synaptic functions, including glutamate uptake, D-serine release, and NMDA receptor function. We also discuss oAβ-induced neuronal hyperexcitation. These results may suggest a multi-target approach for the treatment of AD, including both oAβ neutralization and reversal of glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity.
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29
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Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease: an overview of systematic reviews. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 78:1567-1587. [PMID: 35881170 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-022-03363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. In this umbrella systematic review (SR), we summarized the efficacy of different pharmacological interventions in improving cognitive function in patients with AD. METHODS A systematic search was performed through the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases for SRs of studies assessing the efficacy of pharmacological interventions versus placebo in improving cognitive function in AD or mild cognitive impairment due to AD. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Risk of Bias in SRs (ROBIS) tool. RESULTS Out of 1748 articles found through the database survey, 33 SR articles were included. These studies assessed effects of immunotherapy, cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), memantine, statins, lithium, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidiabetic agents, Cerebrolysin, RAS-targeting antihypertensive drugs (ARBs and ACEIs), psychostimulants, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) inhibitors, melatonin, and herbal medications on cognitive function in AD patients. There was no notable overall RoB in 18 studies (54.5%), the RoB in 14 studies (42.4%) was high, and in one study (3.0%) it was unclear. CONCLUSIONS The use of ChEIs, including rivastigmine, galantamine, and donepezil, as well as memantine has demonstrated a positive impact on improving cognitive outcomes of AD patients, but no considerable effects were found for immunotherapies. Melatonin, statins, antihypertensive drugs, antidiabetic agents, Cerebrolysin, psychostimulants, and some herbal drugs such as Danggui-Shaoyao-San and Ginkgo biloba seem to be effective in improving cognitive function of AD patients, but the evidence in this regard is limited.
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30
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Andersen JV, Schousboe A, Verkhratsky A. Astrocyte energy and neurotransmitter metabolism in Alzheimer's disease: integration of the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 217:102331. [PMID: 35872221 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes contribute to the complex cellular pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neurons and astrocytes function in close collaboration through neurotransmitter recycling, collectively known as the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle, which is essential to sustain neurotransmission. Neurotransmitter recycling is intimately linked to astrocyte energy metabolism. In the course of AD, astrocytes undergo extensive metabolic remodeling, which may profoundly affect the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. The consequences of altered astrocyte function and metabolism in relation to neurotransmitter recycling are yet to be comprehended. Metabolic alterations of astrocytes in AD deprive neurons of metabolic support, thereby contributing to synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. In addition, several astrocyte-specific components of the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle, including glutamine synthesis and synaptic neurotransmitter uptake, are perturbed in AD. Integration of the complex astrocyte biology within the context of AD is essential for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the disease, while restoring astrocyte metabolism may serve as an approach to arrest or even revert clinical progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens V Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Arne Schousboe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Achucarro Center for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, 48011 Bilbao, Spain; Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-01102 Vilnius, Lithuania.
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31
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WNT/β-catenin Pathway: a Possible Link Between Hypertension and Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Hypertens Rep 2022; 24:465-475. [PMID: 35788966 DOI: 10.1007/s11906-022-01209-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recent research has shown that older people with high blood pressure (BP), or hypertension, are more likely to have biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Essential hypertension represents the most common cardiovascular disease worldwide and is thought to be responsible for about 13% of all deaths. People with essential hypertension who regularly take prescribed BP medications are half as likely to develop AD as those who do not take them. What then is the connection? RECENT FINDINGS We know that high BP can damage small blood vessels in the brain, affecting those parts that are responsible for memory and thinking. However, the link between AD and hypertension remains unclear. Recent advances in the field of molecular and cellular biology have revealed a downregulation of the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway in both hypertension and AD. In AD, the glutamate transport function is decreased, a decrease that is associated with a loss of synapse and neuronal death. β-catenin signaling appears to act as a major regulator of glutamate transporters (EAAT and GS) expression and can be harnessed to remove excess glutamate in AD. This review focuses on the possible link between hypertension and AD through the decreased WNT/β-catenin which interacts with the glutamatergic pathway.
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Targa Dias Anastacio H, Matosin N, Ooi L. Neuronal hyperexcitability in Alzheimer's disease: what are the drivers behind this aberrant phenotype? Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:257. [PMID: 35732622 PMCID: PMC9217953 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02024-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to loss of cognitive abilities and ultimately, death. With no cure available, limited treatments mostly focus on symptom management. Identifying early changes in the disease course may provide new therapeutic targets to halt or reverse disease progression. Clinical studies have shown that cortical and hippocampal hyperactivity are a feature shared by patients in the early stages of disease, progressing to hypoactivity during later stages of neurodegeneration. The exact mechanisms causing neuronal excitability changes are not fully characterized; however, animal and cell models have provided insights into some of the factors involved in this phenotype. In this review, we summarize the evidence for neuronal excitability changes over the course of AD onset and progression and the molecular mechanisms underpinning these differences. Specifically, we discuss contributors to aberrant neuronal excitability, including abnormal levels of intracellular Ca2+ and glutamate, pathological amyloid β (Aβ) and tau, genetic risk factors, including APOE, and impaired inhibitory interneuron and glial function. In light of recent research indicating hyperexcitability could be a predictive marker of cognitive dysfunction, we further argue that the hyperexcitability phenotype could be leveraged to improve the diagnosis and treatment of AD, and present potential targets for future AD treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Targa Dias Anastacio
- grid.510958.0Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia ,grid.1007.60000 0004 0486 528XMolecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Natalie Matosin
- grid.510958.0Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia ,grid.1007.60000 0004 0486 528XMolecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Lezanne Ooi
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia. .,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
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Cox MF, Hascup ER, Bartke A, Hascup KN. Friend or Foe? Defining the Role of Glutamate in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:929474. [PMID: 35821835 PMCID: PMC9261322 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.929474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a naturally occurring decline of physiological processes and biological pathways that affects both the structural and functional integrity of the body and brain. These physiological changes reduce motor skills, executive function, memory recall, and processing speeds. Aging is also a major risk factor for multiple neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Identifying a biomarker, or biomarkers, that signals the transition from physiological to pathological aging would aid in earlier therapeutic options or interventional strategies. Considering the importance of glutamate signaling in synaptic plasticity, motor movement, and cognition, this neurotransmitter serves as a juncture between cognitive health and disease. This article discusses glutamatergic signaling during physiological aging and the pathological changes observed in AD patients. Findings from studies in mouse models of successful aging and AD are reviewed and provide a biological context for this transition. Finally, current techniques to monitor brain glutamate are highlighted. These techniques may aid in elucidating time-point specific therapeutic windows to modify disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- MaKayla F. Cox
- Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
| | - Erin R. Hascup
- Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
| | - Andrzej Bartke
- Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
| | - Kevin N. Hascup
- Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Kevin N. Hascup,
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Hulshof LA, van Nuijs D, Hol EM, Middeldorp J. The Role of Astrocytes in Synapse Loss in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:899251. [PMID: 35783099 PMCID: PMC9244621 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.899251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting 35 million people worldwide. One pathological feature of progressing AD is the loss of synapses. This is the strongest correlate of cognitive decline. Astrocytes, as an essential part of the tripartite synapse, play a role in synapse formation, maintenance, and elimination. During AD, astrocytes get a reactive phenotype with an altered gene expression profile and changed function compared to healthy astrocytes. This process likely affects their interaction with synapses. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the scientific literature including information on how astrocytes affect synapse formation and elimination in the brain of AD patients and in animal models of the disease. We review molecular and cellular changes in AD astrocytes and conclude that these predominantly result in lower synapse numbers, indicative of decreased synapse support or even synaptotoxicity, or increased elimination, resulting in synapse loss, and consequential cognitive decline, as associated with AD. Preventing AD induced changes in astrocytes might therefore be a potential therapeutic target for dementia. Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=148278, identifier [CRD148278].
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne A. Hulshof
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Danny van Nuijs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department Neurobiology and Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Jinte Middeldorp
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Xia D, Lianoglou S, Sandmann T, Calvert M, Suh JH, Thomsen E, Dugas J, Pizzo ME, DeVos SL, Earr TK, Lin CC, Davis S, Ha C, Leung AWS, Nguyen H, Chau R, Yulyaningsih E, Lopez I, Solanoy H, Masoud ST, Liang CC, Lin K, Astarita G, Khoury N, Zuchero JY, Thorne RG, Shen K, Miller S, Palop JJ, Garceau D, Sasner M, Whitesell JD, Harris JA, Hummel S, Gnörich J, Wind K, Kunze L, Zatcepin A, Brendel M, Willem M, Haass C, Barnett D, Zimmer TS, Orr AG, Scearce-Levie K, Lewcock JW, Di Paolo G, Sanchez PE. Novel App knock-in mouse model shows key features of amyloid pathology and reveals profound metabolic dysregulation of microglia. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:41. [PMID: 35690868 PMCID: PMC9188195 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00547-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic mutations underlying familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) were identified decades ago, but the field is still in search of transformative therapies for patients. While mouse models based on overexpression of mutated transgenes have yielded key insights in mechanisms of disease, those models are subject to artifacts, including random genetic integration of the transgene, ectopic expression and non-physiological protein levels. The genetic engineering of novel mouse models using knock-in approaches addresses some of those limitations. With mounting evidence of the role played by microglia in AD, high-dimensional approaches to phenotype microglia in those models are critical to refine our understanding of the immune response in the brain. METHODS We engineered a novel App knock-in mouse model (AppSAA) using homologous recombination to introduce three disease-causing coding mutations (Swedish, Arctic and Austrian) to the mouse App gene. Amyloid-β pathology, neurodegeneration, glial responses, brain metabolism and behavioral phenotypes were characterized in heterozygous and homozygous AppSAA mice at different ages in brain and/ or biofluids. Wild type littermate mice were used as experimental controls. We used in situ imaging technologies to define the whole-brain distribution of amyloid plaques and compare it to other AD mouse models and human brain pathology. To further explore the microglial response to AD relevant pathology, we isolated microglia with fibrillar Aβ content from the brain and performed transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses and in vivo brain imaging to measure energy metabolism and microglial response. Finally, we also characterized the mice in various behavioral assays. RESULTS Leveraging multi-omics approaches, we discovered profound alteration of diverse lipids and metabolites as well as an exacerbated disease-associated transcriptomic response in microglia with high intracellular Aβ content. The AppSAA knock-in mouse model recapitulates key pathological features of AD such as a progressive accumulation of parenchymal amyloid plaques and vascular amyloid deposits, altered astroglial and microglial responses and elevation of CSF markers of neurodegeneration. Those observations were associated with increased TSPO and FDG-PET brain signals and a hyperactivity phenotype as the animals aged. DISCUSSION Our findings demonstrate that fibrillar Aβ in microglia is associated with lipid dyshomeostasis consistent with lysosomal dysfunction and foam cell phenotypes as well as profound immuno-metabolic perturbations, opening new avenues to further investigate metabolic pathways at play in microglia responding to AD-relevant pathogenesis. The in-depth characterization of pathological hallmarks of AD in this novel and open-access mouse model should serve as a resource for the scientific community to investigate disease-relevant biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xia
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Steve Lianoglou
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Thomas Sandmann
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Meredith Calvert
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Jung H. Suh
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Elliot Thomsen
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Jason Dugas
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Michelle E. Pizzo
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Sarah L. DeVos
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Timothy K. Earr
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Chia-Ching Lin
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Sonnet Davis
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Connie Ha
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Amy Wing-Sze Leung
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Hoang Nguyen
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Roni Chau
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Ernie Yulyaningsih
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Isabel Lopez
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Hilda Solanoy
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Shababa T. Masoud
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Chun-chi Liang
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Karin Lin
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Giuseppe Astarita
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Nathalie Khoury
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Joy Yu Zuchero
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Robert G. Thorne
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, 9-177 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Kevin Shen
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Stephanie Miller
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Jorge J. Palop
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Selina Hummel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Gnörich
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Karin Wind
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lea Kunze
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Artem Zatcepin
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Willem
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Haass
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Metabolic Biochemistry, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig- Maximilians-Universität, München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Barnett
- Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Till S. Zimmer
- Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Anna G. Orr
- Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Kimberly Scearce-Levie
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Joseph W. Lewcock
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Gilbert Di Paolo
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Pascal E. Sanchez
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
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Satarker S, Bojja SL, Gurram PC, Mudgal J, Arora D, Nampoothiri M. Astrocytic Glutamatergic Transmission and Its Implications in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071139. [PMID: 35406702 PMCID: PMC8997779 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Several neurodegenerative disorders involve impaired neurotransmission, and glutamatergic neurotransmission sets a prototypical example. Glutamate is a predominant excitatory neurotransmitter where the astrocytes play a pivotal role in maintaining the extracellular levels through release and uptake mechanisms. Astrocytes modulate calcium-mediated excitability and release several neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, including glutamate, and significantly modulate neurotransmission. Accumulating evidence supports the concept of excitotoxicity caused by astrocytic glutamatergic release in pathological conditions. Thus, the current review highlights different vesicular and non-vesicular mechanisms of astrocytic glutamate release and their implication in neurodegenerative diseases. As in presynaptic neurons, the vesicular release of astrocytic glutamate is also primarily meditated by calcium-mediated exocytosis. V-ATPase is crucial in the acidification and maintenance of the gradient that facilitates the vesicular storage of glutamate. Along with these, several other components, such as cystine/glutamate antiporter, hemichannels, BEST-1, TREK-1, purinergic receptors and so forth, also contribute to glutamate release under physiological and pathological conditions. Events of hampered glutamate uptake could promote inflamed astrocytes to trigger repetitive release of glutamate. This could be favorable towards the development and worsening of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, across neurodegenerative diseases, we review the relations between defective glutamatergic signaling and astrocytic vesicular and non-vesicular events in glutamate homeostasis. The optimum regulation of astrocytic glutamatergic transmission could pave the way for the management of these diseases and add to their therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sairaj Satarker
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Sree Lalitha Bojja
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Prasada Chowdari Gurram
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Jayesh Mudgal
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Devinder Arora
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia;
| | - Madhavan Nampoothiri
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Ju Y, Tam KY. Pathological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:543-549. [PMID: 34380884 PMCID: PMC8504384 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.320970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a rather complex neurodegenerative disease, which is attributed to a combination of multiple factors. Among the many pathological pathways, synaptic dysfunctions, such as synapses loss and deficits in synaptic plasticity, were thought to be strongly associated with cognitive decline. The deficiencies in various sorts of neurotransmissions are responsible for the multifarious neurodegenerative symptoms in Alzheimer's disease, for example, the cholinergic and glutamatergic deficits for cognitive decline, the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission dyshomeostasis for synaptic plasticity deficits and epileptiform symptoms, and the monoamine neurotransmission for neuropsychiatric symptoms. Amyloid cascade hypothesis is the most popular pathological theory to explain Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and attracts considerable attention. Multiple lines of genetic and pathological evidence support the predominant role of amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Neurofibrillary tangles assembled by microtubule-associated protein tau are other important histopathological characteristics in Alzheimer's disease brains. Cascade of tau toxicity was proved to lead to neuron damage, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in brain. Ageing is the main risk factor of neurodegenerative diseases, and is associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, reduced metabolism, endocrine insufficiencies and organ failures. These aging related risk factors were also proved to be some of the risk factors contributing to Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease drug development, many good therapeutic strategies have been investigated in clinical evaluations. However, complex mechanism of Alzheimer's disease and the interplay among different pathological factors call for the come out of all-powerful therapies with multiple curing functions. This review seeks to summarize some of the representative treatments targeting different pathological pathways currently under clinical evaluations. Multi-target therapies as an emerging strategy for Alzheimer's disease treatment will be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaojun Ju
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau Special Adiministrative Region, China
| | - Kin Yip Tam
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau Special Adiministrative Region, China
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Cortical Hyperexcitability in the Driver’s Seat in ALS. CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/ctn6010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by the degeneration of cortical and spinal motor neurons. With no effective treatment available to date, patients face progressive paralysis and eventually succumb to the disease due to respiratory failure within only a few years. Recent research has revealed the multifaceted nature of the mechanisms and cell types involved in motor neuron degeneration, thereby opening up new therapeutic avenues. Intriguingly, two key features present in both ALS patients and rodent models of the disease are cortical hyperexcitability and hyperconnectivity, the mechanisms of which are still not fully understood. We here recapitulate current findings arguing for cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms causing cortical excitation and inhibition imbalance, which is involved in the degeneration of motor neurons in ALS. Moreover, we will highlight recent evidence that strongly indicates a cardinal role for the motor cortex as a main driver and source of the disease, thus arguing for a corticofugal trajectory of the pathology.
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Tureckova J, Kamenicka M, Kolenicova D, Filipi T, Hermanova Z, Kriska J, Meszarosova L, Pukajova B, Valihrach L, Androvic P, Zucha D, Chmelova M, Vargova L, Anderova M. Compromised Astrocyte Swelling/Volume Regulation in the Hippocampus of the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:783120. [PMID: 35153718 PMCID: PMC8829436 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.783120] [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: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to disclose the impact of amyloid-β toxicity and tau pathology on astrocyte swelling, their volume recovery and extracellular space (ECS) diffusion parameters, namely volume fraction (α) and tortuosity (λ), in a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (3xTg-AD). Astrocyte volume changes, which reflect astrocyte ability to take up ions/neurotransmitters, were quantified during and after exposure to hypo-osmotic stress, or hyperkalemia in acute hippocampal slices, and were correlated with alterations in ECS diffusion parameters. Astrocyte volume and ECS diffusion parameters were monitored during physiological aging (controls) and during AD progression in 3-, 9-, 12- and 18-month-old mice. In the hippocampus of controls α gradually declined with age, while it remained unaffected in 3xTg-AD mice during the entire time course. Moreover, age-related increases in λ occurred much earlier in 3xTg-AD animals than in controls. In 3xTg-AD mice changes in α induced by hypo-osmotic stress or hyperkalemia were comparable to those observed in controls, however, AD progression affected α recovery following exposure to both. Compared to controls, a smaller astrocyte swelling was detected in 3xTg-AD mice only during hyperkalemia. Since we observed a large variance in astrocyte swelling/volume regulation, we divided them into high- (HRA) and low-responding astrocytes (LRA). In response to hyperkalemia, the incidence of LRA was higher in 3xTg-AD mice than in controls, which may also reflect compromised K+ and neurotransmitter uptake. Furthermore, we performed single-cell RT-qPCR to identify possible age-related alterations in astrocytic gene expression profiles. Already in 3-month-old 3xTg-AD mice, we detected a downregulation of genes affecting the ion/neurotransmitter uptake and cell volume regulation, namely genes of glutamate transporters, α2β2 subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase, connexin 30 or Kir4.1 channel. In conclusion, the aged hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice displays an enlarged ECS volume fraction and an increased number of obstacles, which emerge earlier than in physiological aging. Both these changes may strongly affect intercellular communication and influence astrocyte ionic/neurotransmitter uptake, which becomes impaired during aging and this phenomenon is manifested earlier in 3xTg-AD mice. The increased incidence of astrocytes with limited ability to take up ions/neurotransmitters may further add to a cytotoxic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Tureckova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Jana Tureckova,
| | - Monika Kamenicka
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Denisa Kolenicova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tereza Filipi
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Zuzana Hermanova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Kriska
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Lenka Meszarosova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Barbora Pukajova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Lukas Valihrach
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czechia
| | - Peter Androvic
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czechia
| | - Daniel Zucha
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czechia
- Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czechia
| | - Martina Chmelova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Lydia Vargova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Miroslava Anderova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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40
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Huffels CFM, Osborn LM, Hulshof LA, Kooijman L, Henning L, Steinhäuser C, Hol EM. Amyloid-β plaques affect astrocyte Kir4.1 protein expression but not function in the dentate gyrus of APP/PS1 mice. Glia 2022; 70:748-767. [PMID: 34981861 PMCID: PMC9306581 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer pathology is accompanied by astrogliosis. Reactive astrocytes surrounding amyloid plaques may directly affect neuronal communication, and one of the mechanisms by which astrocytes impact neuronal function is by affecting K+ homeostasis. Here we studied, using hippocampal slices from 9‐month‐old Alzheimer mice (APP/PS1) and wild‐type littermates, whether astrocyte function is changed by analyzing Kir4.1 expression and function and astrocyte coupling in astrocytes surrounding amyloid‐β plaques. Immunohistochemical analysis of Kir4.1 protein in the dentate gyrus revealed localized increases in astrocytes surrounding amyloid‐β plaque deposits. We subsequently focused on changes in astrocyte function by using patch‐clamp slice electrophysiology on both plaque‐ and non‐plaque associated astrocytes to characterize general membrane properties. We found that Ba2+‐sensitive Kir4.1 conductance in astrocytes surrounding plaques was not affected by changes in Kir4.1 protein expression. Additional analysis of astrocyte gap junction coupling efficiency in the dentate gyrus revealed no apparent changes. Quantification of basic features of glutamatergic transmission to granule cells did not indicate disturbed neuronal communication in the dentate gyrus of APP/PS1 mice. Together, these results suggest that astrocytes in the dentate gyrus of APP/PS1 mice maintain their ability to buffer extracellular K+ and attempt to rectify imbalances in K+ concentration to maintain normal neuronal and synaptic function, possibly by localized increases in Kir4.1 protein expression. Our earlier transcriptomic data indicated that chronically activated astrocytes lose their neuronal support function. Here we show that, despite localized increased Kir4.1 protein expression, astrocyte Kir4.1 channel dysfunction is likely not involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan F. M. Huffels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Lana M. Osborn
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Lianne A. Hulshof
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Lieneke Kooijman
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Lukas Henning
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical FacultyUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | | | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
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41
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Song J, Yang X, Zhang M, Wang C, Chen L. Glutamate Metabolism in Mitochondria is Closely Related to Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 84:557-578. [PMID: 34602474 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and its excitatory neurotoxicity is closely related to the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease. However, increasing evidence shows that in the process of Alzheimer's disease, glutamate is not only limited to its excitotoxicity as a neurotransmitter but also related to the disorder of its metabolic balance. The balance of glutamate metabolism in the brain is an important determinant of central nervous system health, and the maintenance of this balance is closely related to glutamate uptake, glutamate circulation, intracellular mitochondrial transport, and mitochondrial metabolism. In this paper, we intend to elaborate the key role of mitochondrial glutamate metabolism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and review glutamate metabolism in mitochondria as a potential target in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Song
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.,Cadre's Ward, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuehan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Cadre's Ward, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
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42
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Monteiro-Fernandes D, Silva JM, Soares-Cunha C, Dalla C, Kokras N, Arnaud F, Billiras R, Zhuravleva V, Waites C, Bretin S, Sousa N, Sotiropoulos I. Allosteric modulation of AMPA receptors counteracts Tau-related excitotoxic synaptic signaling and memory deficits in stress- and Aβ-evoked hippocampal pathology. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:5899-5911. [PMID: 32467647 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0794-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite considerable progress in the understanding of its neuropathology, Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a complex disorder with no effective treatment that counteracts the memory deficits and the underlying synaptic malfunction triggered by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and Tau protein. Mounting evidence supports a precipitating role for chronic environmental stress and glutamatergic excitotoxicity in AD, suggesting that targeting of glutamate receptor signaling may be a promising approach against both stress and AD pathologies. In light of the limited cognitive benefit of the direct antagonism of NMDA receptors in AD, we here focus on an alternative way to modify glutamatergic signaling through positive allosteric modulation of AMPA receptors, by the use of a PAM-AMPA compound. Using non-transgenic animal model of Aβ oligomer injection as well as the combined stress and Aβ i.c.v. infusion, we demonstrate that positive allosteric modulation of AMPA receptors by PAM-AMPA treatment reverted memory, but not mood, deficits. Furthermore, PAM-AMPA treatment reverted stress/Aβ-driven synaptic missorting of Tau and associated Fyn/GluN2B-driven excitotoxic synaptic signaling accompanied by recovery of neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampus. Our findings suggest that positive allosteric modulation of AMPA receptors restores synaptic integrity and cognitive performance in stress- and Aβ-evoked hippocampal pathology. As the prevalence of AD is increasing at an alarming rate, novel therapeutic targeting of glutamatergic signaling should be further explored against the early stages of AD synaptic malfunction with the goal of attenuating further synaptic damage before it becomes irreversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Monteiro-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Minho, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Margarida Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Minho, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Minho, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - François Arnaud
- Pôle Innovation Thérapeutique Neuropsychiatrie, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Suresnes, France
| | - Rodolphe Billiras
- Pôle Innovation Thérapeutique Neuropsychiatrie, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Suresnes, France
| | - Viktoriya Zhuravleva
- Neurobiology and Behavior Graduate Program, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Clarissa Waites
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sylvie Bretin
- Pôle Innovation Thérapeutique Neuropsychiatrie, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Suresnes, France
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Minho, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Minho, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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43
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Yeung JHY, Palpagama TH, Wood OWG, Turner C, Waldvogel HJ, Faull RLM, Kwakowsky A. EAAT2 Expression in the Hippocampus, Subiculum, Entorhinal Cortex and Superior Temporal Gyrus in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:702824. [PMID: 34588956 PMCID: PMC8475191 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.702824] [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: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neuropathological disorder characterized by the presence and accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Glutamate dysregulation and the concept of glutamatergic excitotoxicity have been frequently described in the pathogenesis of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders and are postulated to play a major role in the progression of AD. In particular, alterations in homeostatic mechanisms, such as glutamate uptake, have been implicated in AD. An association with excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), the main glutamate uptake transporter, dysfunction has also been described. Several animal and few human studies examined EAAT2 expression in multiple brain regions in AD but studies of the hippocampus, the most severely affected brain region, are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to assess alterations in the expression of EAAT2 qualitatively and quantitatively through DAB immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence within the hippocampus, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus (STG) regions, between human AD and control cases. Although no significant EAAT2 density changes were observed between control and AD cases, there appeared to be increased transporter expression most likely localized to fine astrocytic branches in the neuropil as seen on both DAB IHC and immunofluorescence. Therefore, individual astrocytes are not outlined by EAAT2 staining and are not easily recognizable in the CA1–3 and dentate gyrus regions of AD cases, but the altered expression patterns observed between AD and control hippocampal cases could indicate alterations in glutamate recycling and potentially disturbed glutamatergic homeostasis. In conclusion, no significant EAAT2 density changes were found between control and AD cases, but the observed spatial differences in transporter expression and their functional significance will have to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason H Y Yeung
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thulani H Palpagama
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Oliver W G Wood
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Clinton Turner
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, LabPlus, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Henry J Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Kwakowsky
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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44
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Monterey MD, Wei H, Wu X, Wu JQ. The Many Faces of Astrocytes in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurol 2021; 12:619626. [PMID: 34531807 PMCID: PMC8438135 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.619626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and is the most common cause of dementia in an aging population. The majority of research effort has focused on the role of neurons in neurodegeneration and current therapies have limited ability to slow disease progression. Recently more attention has been given to the role of astrocytes in the process of neurodegeneration. Specifically, reactive astrocytes have both advantageous and adverse effects during neurodegeneration. The ability to isolate and depict astrocyte phenotype has been challenging. However, with the recent development of single-cell sequencing technologies researchers are provided with the resource to delineate specific biomarkers associated with reactive astrocytes in AD. In this review, we will focus on the role of astrocytes in normal conditions and the pathological development of AD. We will further review recent developments in the understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity and associated biomarkers. A better understanding of astrocyte contributions and phenotypic changes in AD can ultimately lead to more effective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Monterey
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Haichao Wei
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Xizi Wu
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jia Qian Wu
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
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45
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Cioffi F, Adam RHI, Bansal R, Broersen K. A Review of Oxidative Stress Products and Related Genes in Early Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:977-1001. [PMID: 34420962 PMCID: PMC8543250 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress is associated with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Reactive oxygen species can modify lipids, DNA, RNA, and proteins in the brain. The products of their peroxidation and oxidation are readily detectable at incipient stages of disease. Based on these oxidation products, various biomarker-based strategies have been developed to identify oxidative stress levels in AD. Known oxidative stress-related biomarkers include lipid peroxidation products F2-isoprostanes, as well as malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal which both conjugate to specific amino acids to modify proteins, and DNA or RNA oxidation products 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHG), respectively. The inducible enzyme heme oxygenase type 1 (HO-1) is found to be upregulated in response to oxidative stress-related events in the AD brain. While these global biomarkers for oxidative stress are associated with early-stage AD, they generally poorly differentiate from other neurodegenerative disorders that also coincide with oxidative stress. Redox proteomics approaches provided specificity of oxidative stress-associated biomarkers to AD pathology by the identification of oxidatively damaged pathology-specific proteins. In this review, we discuss the potential combined diagnostic value of these reported biomarkers in the context of AD and discuss eight oxidative stress-related mRNA biomarkers in AD that we newly identified using a transcriptomics approach. We review these genes in the context of their reported involvement in oxidative stress regulation and specificity for AD. Further research is warranted to establish the protein levels and their functionalities as well as the molecular mechanisms by which these potential biomarkers are involved in regulation of oxidative stress levels and their potential for determination of oxidative stress and disease status of AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cioffi
- Department of Nanobiophysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Rayan Hassan Ibrahim Adam
- Department of Nanobiophysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Ruchi Bansal
- Department of Medical Cell Biophysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.,Department of Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology, and Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kerensa Broersen
- Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
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46
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Mather M. Noradrenaline in the aging brain: Promoting cognitive reserve or accelerating Alzheimer's disease? Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 116:108-124. [PMID: 34099360 PMCID: PMC8292227 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many believe that engaging in novel and mentally challenging activities promotes brain health and prevents Alzheimer's disease in later life. However, mental stimulation may also have risks as well as benefits. As neurons release neurotransmitters, they often also release amyloid peptides and tau proteins into the extracellular space. These by-products of neural activity can aggregate into the tau tangle and amyloid plaque signatures of Alzheimer's disease. Over time, more active brain regions accumulate more pathology. Thus, increasing brain activity can have a cost. But the neuromodulator noradrenaline, released during novel and mentally stimulating events, may have some protective effects-as well as some negative effects. Via its inhibitory and excitatory effects on neurons and microglia, noradrenaline sometimes prevents and sometimes accelerates the production and accumulation of amyloid-β and tau in various brain regions. Both α2A- and β-adrenergic receptors influence amyloid-β production and tau hyperphosphorylation. Adrenergic activity also influences clearance of amyloid-β and tau. Furthermore, some findings suggest that Alzheimer's disease increases noradrenergic activity, at least in its early phases. Because older brains clear the by-products of synaptic activity less effectively, increased synaptic activity in the older brain risks accelerating the accumulation of Alzheimer's pathology more than it does in the younger brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Mather
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Department of Psychology, & Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
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47
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Nanclares C, Baraibar AM, Araque A, Kofuji P. Dysregulation of Astrocyte-Neuronal Communication in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7887. [PMID: 34360652 PMCID: PMC8346080 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies implicate astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, their role in pathogenesis is poorly understood. Astrocytes have well-established functions in supportive functions such as extracellular ionic homeostasis, structural support, and neurovascular coupling. However, emerging research on astrocytic function in the healthy brain also indicates their role in regulating synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability via the release of neuroactive substances named gliotransmitters. Here, we review how this "active" role of astrocytes at synapses could contribute to synaptic and neuronal network dysfunction and cognitive impairment in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paulo Kofuji
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (C.N.); (A.M.B.); (A.A.)
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48
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Andersen JV, Markussen KH, Jakobsen E, Schousboe A, Waagepetersen HS, Rosenberg PA, Aldana BI. Glutamate metabolism and recycling at the excitatory synapse in health and neurodegeneration. Neuropharmacology 2021; 196:108719. [PMID: 34273389 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter of the brain. Cellular homeostasis of glutamate is of paramount importance for normal brain function and relies on an intricate metabolic collaboration between neurons and astrocytes. Glutamate is extensively recycled between neurons and astrocytes in a process known as the glutamate-glutamine cycle. The recycling of glutamate is closely linked to brain energy metabolism and is essential to sustain glutamatergic neurotransmission. However, a considerable amount of glutamate is also metabolized and serves as a metabolic hub connecting glucose and amino acid metabolism in both neurons and astrocytes. Disruptions in glutamate clearance, leading to neuronal overstimulation and excitotoxicity, have been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the link between brain energy homeostasis and glutamate metabolism is gaining attention in several neurological conditions. In this review, we provide an overview of the dynamics of synaptic glutamate homeostasis and the underlying metabolic processes with a cellular focus on neurons and astrocytes. In particular, we review the recently discovered role of neuronal glutamate uptake in synaptic glutamate homeostasis and discuss current advances in cellular glutamate metabolism in the context of Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease. Understanding the intricate regulation of glutamate-dependent metabolic processes at the synapse will not only increase our insight into the metabolic mechanisms of glutamate homeostasis, but may reveal new metabolic targets to ameliorate neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens V Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Kia H Markussen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Emil Jakobsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arne Schousboe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helle S Waagepetersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul A Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology and the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Blanca I Aldana
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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49
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Gasiorowska A, Wydrych M, Drapich P, Zadrozny M, Steczkowska M, Niewiadomski W, Niewiadomska G. The Biology and Pathobiology of Glutamatergic, Cholinergic, and Dopaminergic Signaling in the Aging Brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:654931. [PMID: 34326765 PMCID: PMC8315271 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.654931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The elderly population is growing worldwide, with important health and socioeconomic implications. Clinical and experimental studies on aging have uncovered numerous changes in the brain, such as decreased neurogenesis, increased synaptic defects, greater metabolic stress, and enhanced inflammation. These changes are associated with cognitive decline and neurobehavioral deficits. Although aging is not a disease, it is a significant risk factor for functional worsening, affective impairment, disease exaggeration, dementia, and general disease susceptibility. Conversely, life events related to mental stress and trauma can also lead to accelerated age-associated disorders and dementia. Here, we review human studies and studies on mice and rats, such as those modeling human neurodegenerative diseases, that have helped elucidate (1) the dynamics and mechanisms underlying the biological and pathological aging of the main projecting systems in the brain (glutamatergic, cholinergic, and dopaminergic) and (2) the effect of defective glutamatergic, cholinergic, and dopaminergic projection on disabilities associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Detailed knowledge of the mechanisms of age-related diseases can be an important element in the development of effective ways of treatment. In this context, we briefly analyze which adverse changes associated with neurodegenerative diseases in the cholinergic, glutaminergic and dopaminergic systems could be targeted by therapeutic strategies developed as a result of our better understanding of these damaging mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gasiorowska
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Wydrych
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Patrycja Drapich
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Zadrozny
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Steczkowska
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wiktor Niewiadomski
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grazyna Niewiadomska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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50
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Ohashi N, Terashima T, Katagi M, Nakae Y, Okano J, Suzuki Y, Kojima H. GLT1 gene delivery based on bone marrow-derived cells ameliorates motor function and survival in a mouse model of ALS. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12803. [PMID: 34140581 PMCID: PMC8211665 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92285-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an intractable neurodegenerative disease. CD68-positive bone marrow (BM)-derived cells (BMDCs) accumulate in the pathological lesion in the SOD1(G93A) ALS mouse model after BM transplantation (BMT). Therefore, we investigated whether BMDCs can be applied as gene carriers for cell-based gene therapy by employing the accumulation of BMDCs. In ALS mice, YFP reporter signals were observed in 12-14% of white blood cells (WBCs) and in the spinal cord via transplantation of BM after lentiviral vector (LV) infection. After confirmation of gene transduction by LV with the CD68 promoter in 4-7% of WBCs and in the spinal cord of ALS mice, BM cells were infected with LVs expressing glutamate transporter (GLT) 1 that protects neurons from glutamate toxicity, driven by the CD68 promoter, which were transplanted into ALS mice. The treated mice showed improvement of motor behaviors and prolonged survival. Additionally, interleukin (IL)-1β was significantly suppressed, and IL-4, arginase 1, and FIZZ were significantly increased in the mice. These results suggested that GLT1 expression by BMDCs improved the spinal cord environment. Therefore, our gene therapy strategy may be applied to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS in which BMDCs accumulate in the pathological lesion by BMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuko Ohashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-Cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan
| | - Tomoya Terashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-Cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
| | - Miwako Katagi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-Cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan
| | - Yuki Nakae
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-Cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan
| | - Junko Okano
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Suzuki
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Hideto Kojima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-Cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan
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