scholarly journals Cathepsin B plays a critical role in inducing Alzheimer’s disease-like phenotypes following chronic systemic exposure to lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis in mice

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 350-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Wu ◽  
Junjun Ni ◽  
Yicong Liu ◽  
Jessica L. Teeling ◽  
Fumiko Takayama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Porphyromonas Gingivalis ◽  
Cathepsin B ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Systemic Exposure

scholarly journals Porphyromonas gingivalis-Induced Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingar Olsen
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Porphyromonas Gingivalis ◽  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Neurofibrillary Tangles ◽  
Chronic Periodontitis ◽  
Cathepsin B ◽  
Hyperphosphorylated Tau ◽  
Protein Kinase R

“Chronic” periodontitis and its keystone pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis have repeatedly been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Pathological hallmarks in AD are brain accumulations of amyloid-beta and neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated tau. In addition, neuroinflammation induced by P. gingivalis has increasingly been recognized as a factor in the pathogenesis of AD. The present mini-review discusses possible mechanisms for the induction of neuroinflammation by P. gingivalis in AD, involving factors such as pro-inflammatory mediators, amyloid-beta, tau, microglia, cathepsin B, and protein kinase R. Inflammagens of P. gingivalis such as lipopolysaccharide and gingipains are also discussed.

scholarly journals Systemic Exposure to Lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis Induces Bone Loss-Correlated Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Pathologies in Middle-Aged Mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-74
Author(s):  
Yebo Gu ◽  
Zhou Wu ◽  
Fan Zeng ◽  
Muzhou Jiang ◽  
Jessica L. Teeling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Bone Loss ◽  
Porphyromonas Gingivalis ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Systemic Exposure ◽  
Memory Decline ◽  
Periodontal Bacteria ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Total Tissue

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and bone loss are clinically exacerbated. However, the mechanism of exacerbation remains understood. Objective: We tested our hypothesis that periodontitis is involved in the exacerbation, contributing to AD pathologies. Methods: The bone, memory, and inflammation in bone and brain were examined in 12-month-old mice after systemic exposure to lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis (P gLPS) for 3 consecutive weeks. Results: Compared with control mice, bone loss in tibia (26% decrease) and memory decline (47% decrease) were induced in mice with a positive correlation after exposure to P gLPS (r = 0.7378, p = 0.0011). The IL-6 and IL-17 expression in tibia was negatively correlated with the bone volume/total tissue volume (r = –0.6619, p = 0.0052; r = –0.7129, p = 0.0019), while that in the cortex was negatively correlated with the memory test latency (r = –0.7198, p = 0.0017; p = 0.0351, r = –0.5291). Furthermore, the IL-17 expression in microglia was positively correlated with Aβ42 accumulation in neurons (r = 0.8635, p < 0.0001). In cultured MG6 microglia, the P gLPS-increased IL-6 expression was inhibited by a PI3K-specific inhibitor (68% decrease), and that of IL-17 was inhibited by IL-6 antibody (41% decrease). In cultured N2a neurons, conditioned medium from P gLPS-stimulated microglia (MCM) but not P gLPS increased the productions of AβPP, CatB, and Aβ42, which were significantly inhibited by pre-treatment with IL-17 antibody (67%, 51%, and 41% decrease). Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that chronic systemic exposure to P gLPS simultaneously induces inflammation-dependent bone loss and AD-like pathologies by elevating IL-6 and IL-17 from middle age, suggesting that periodontal bacteria induce exacerbation of bone loss and memory decline, resulting in AD progression.

scholarly journals Loss of ferroportin induces memory impairment by promoting ferroptosis in Alzheimer’s disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Dai Bao ◽  
Pei Pang ◽  
Xiao-Ting Zhou ◽  
Fan Hu ◽  
Wan Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Intracellular Iron

AbstractIron homeostasis disturbance has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and excess iron exacerbates oxidative damage and cognitive defects. Ferroptosis is a nonapoptotic form of cell death dependent upon intracellular iron. However, the involvement of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of AD remains elusive. Here, we report that ferroportin1 (Fpn), the only identified mammalian nonheme iron exporter, was downregulated in the brains of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice as an Alzheimer’s mouse model and Alzheimer’s patients. Genetic deletion of Fpn in principal neurons of the neocortex and hippocampus by breeding Fpnfl/fl mice with NEX-Cre mice led to AD-like hippocampal atrophy and memory deficits. Interestingly, the canonical morphological and molecular characteristics of ferroptosis were observed in both Fpnfl/fl/NEXcre and AD mice. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of ferroptosis-related RNA-seq data showed that the differentially expressed genes were highly enriched in gene sets associated with AD. Furthermore, administration of specific inhibitors of ferroptosis effectively reduced the neuronal death and memory impairments induced by Aβ aggregation in vitro and in vivo. In addition, restoring Fpn ameliorated ferroptosis and memory impairment in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Our study demonstrates the critical role of Fpn and ferroptosis in the progression of AD, thus provides promising therapeutic approaches for this disease.

scholarly journals Identification of Novel Cathepsin B Inhibitors with Implications in Alzheimer’s Disease: Computational Refining and Biochemical Evaluation

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1946
Author(s):  
Nitin Chitranshi ◽  
Ashutosh Kumar ◽  
Samran Sheriff ◽  
Veer Gupta ◽  
Angela Godinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Hydrogen Bond ◽  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Cathepsin B ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Proteolytic Degradation ◽  
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Brain

Amyloid precursor protein (APP), upon proteolytic degradation, forms aggregates of amyloid β (Aβ) and plaques in the brain, which are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cathepsin B is a cysteine protease enzyme that catalyzes the proteolytic degradation of APP in the brain. Thus, cathepsin B inhibition is a crucial therapeutic aspect for the discovery of new anti-Alzheimer’s drugs. In this study, we have employed mixed-feature ligand-based virtual screening (LBVS) by integrating pharmacophore mapping, docking, and molecular dynamics to detect small, potent molecules that act as cathepsin B inhibitors. The LBVS model was generated by using hydrophobic (HY), hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), and hydrogen bond donor (HBD) features, using a dataset of 24 known cathepsin B inhibitors of both natural and synthetic origins. A validated eight-feature pharmacophore hypothesis (Hypo III) was utilized to screen the Maybridge chemical database. The docking score, MM-PBSA, and MM-GBSA methodology was applied to prioritize the lead compounds as virtual screening hits. These compounds share a common amide scaffold, and showed important interactions with Gln23, Cys29, His110, His111, Glu122, His199, and Trp221. The identified inhibitors were further evaluated for cathepsin-B-inhibitory activity. Our study suggests that pyridine, acetamide, and benzohydrazide compounds could be used as a starting point for the development of novel therapeutics.

scholarly journals The APOE ε4/ε4 Genotype Potentiates Vascular Fibrin(Ogen) Deposition in Amyloid-Laden Vessels in the Brains of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 1251-1258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Hultman ◽  
Sidney Strickland ◽  
Erin H Norris
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Postmortem Brain ◽  
Amyloid Angiopathy ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Cerebrovascular Dysfunction ◽  
Postmortem Brain Tissue ◽  
Clotting Protein

Evidence indicates a critical role for cerebrovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. We have shown that fibrin(ogen), the principal blood-clotting protein, is deposited in the AD neurovasculature and interacts with beta-amyloid (Ab), resulting in increased formation of blood clots. As apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a lipid-transporting protein with three human isoforms (E2, E3, and E4), also binds to Aβ, we hypothesized that ApoE and fibrin(ogen) may have a combined effect on the vascular pathophysiology in AD. We assessed whether APOE genotype differentially influences vascular fibrin(ogen) deposition in postmortem brain tissue using immunohistochemistry. An increased deposition of fibrin(ogen) was observed in AD cases compared with non-demented controls, and there was a strong correlation between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) severity and fibrin(ogen) deposition. Moreover, brains from AD cases homozygous for APOE ε4 showed increased deposition of fibrin(ogen), specifically in CAA- and oligomeric Aβ-positive vessels compared with AD APOE ε2 and ε3 allele carriers, an effect that was not directly linked to CAA severity and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. These data further support a role for fibrin(ogen) in AD pathophysiology and link the APOE ε4/ε4 genotype with increased thrombosis and/or impaired fibrinolysis in the human AD brain.

scholarly journals Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons: Linking Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose L. Martinez ◽  
Matthew D. Zammit ◽  
Nicole R. West ◽  
Bradley T. Christian ◽  
Anita Bhattacharyya
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Basal Forebrain ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Cholinergic Neurons ◽  
Cholinergic Innervation ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons

Down syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) is characterized by intellectual impairment at birth and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology in middle age. As individuals with DS age, their cognitive functions decline as they develop AD pathology. The susceptibility to degeneration of a subset of neurons, known as basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs), in DS and AD is a critical link between cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration in both disorders. BFCNs are the primary source of cholinergic innervation to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as the amygdala. They play a critical role in the processing of information related to cognitive function and are directly engaged in regulating circuits of attention and memory throughout the lifespan. Given the importance of BFCNs in attention and memory, it is not surprising that these neurons contribute to dysfunctional neuronal circuitry in DS and are vulnerable in adults with DS and AD, where their degeneration leads to memory loss and disturbance in language. BFCNs are thus a relevant cell target for therapeutics for both DS and AD but, despite some success, efforts in this area have waned. There are gaps in our knowledge of BFCN vulnerability that preclude our ability to effectively design interventions. Here, we review the role of BFCN function and degeneration in AD and DS and identify under-studied aspects of BFCN biology. The current gaps in BFCN relevant imaging studies, therapeutics, and human models limit our insight into the mechanistic vulnerability of BFCNs in individuals with DS and AD.

scholarly journals Implication of exosomes derived from cholesterol-accumulated astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease pathology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Wu ◽  
Leonardo Cortez ◽  
Razieh Kamali-Jamil ◽  
Valerie Sim ◽  
Holger Wille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Influence Function ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Cholesterol Accumulation ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Neuronal Viability ◽  
Cultured Astrocytes ◽  
Aβ Production

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides generated from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) play a critical role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Aβ-containing neuronal exosomes, which represent a novel form of intercellular communication, have been shown to influence function/vulnerability of neurons in AD. Unlike neurons, the significance of exosomes derived from astrocytes remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the significance of exosomes derived from U18666A-induced cholesterol-accumulated astrocytes in the development of AD pathology. Our results show that cholesterol accumulation decreases exosome secretion, whereas lowering cholesterol level increases exosome secretion from cultured astrocytes. Interestingly, exosomes secreted from U18666A-treated astrocytes contain higher levels of APP, APP-CTFs, soluble APP, APP secretases and Aβ1-40 than exosomes secreted from control astrocytes. Furthermore, we show that exosomes derived from U18666A-treated astrocytes can lead to neurodegeneration, which is attenuated by decreasing Aβ production or by neutralizing exosomal Aβ peptide with an Aβ antibody. These results, taken together, suggest that exosomes derived from cholesterol-accumulated astrocytes can play an important role in trafficking APP/Aβ peptides and influencing neuronal viability in the affected regions of the AD brain.

scholarly journals Blocking microglial activation of reactive astrocytes is neuroprotective in models of Alzheimer’s disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Sung Park ◽  
Tae-In Kam ◽  
Saebom Lee ◽  
Hyejin Park ◽  
Yumin Oh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Subcutaneous Administration ◽  
Reactive Astrocytes ◽  
Reactive Astrocyte ◽  
Spatial Learning And Memory ◽  
Neuronal Viability ◽  
Age Related

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of age-related dementia. Increasing evidence suggests that neuroinflammation mediated by microglia and astrocytes contributes to disease progression and severity in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. During AD progression, resident microglia undergo proinflammatory activation, resulting in an increased capacity to convert resting astrocytes to reactive astrocytes. Therefore, microglia are a major therapeutic target for AD and blocking microglia-astrocyte activation could limit neurodegeneration in AD. Here we report that NLY01, an engineered exedin-4, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, selectively blocks β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced activation of microglia through GLP-1R activation and inhibits the formation of reactive astrocytes as well as preserves neurons in AD models. In two transgenic AD mouse models (5xFAD and 3xTg-AD), repeated subcutaneous administration of NLY01 blocked microglia-mediated reactive astrocyte conversion and preserved neuronal viability, resulting in improved spatial learning and memory. Our study indicates that the GLP-1 pathway plays a critical role in microglia-reactive astrocyte associated neuroinflammation in AD and the effects of NLY01 are primarily mediated through a direct action on Aβ-induced GLP-1R+ microglia, contributing to the inhibition of astrocyte reactivity. These results show that targeting upregulated GLP-1R in microglia is a viable therapy for AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.

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