scholarly journals β-Amyloid (Aβ) Oligomers Impair Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Retrograde Trafficking by Down-regulating Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase, UCH-L1

2013 ◽  
Vol 288 (23) ◽  
pp. 16937-16948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne W. Poon ◽  
Anthony J. Carlos ◽  
Brittany L. Aguilar ◽  
Nicole C. Berchtold ◽  
Crystal K. Kawano ◽  
...  

We previously found that BDNF-dependent retrograde trafficking is impaired in AD transgenic mouse neurons. Utilizing a novel microfluidic culture chamber, we demonstrate that Aβ oligomers compromise BDNF-mediated retrograde transport by impairing endosomal vesicle velocities, resulting in impaired downstream signaling driven by BDNF/TrkB, including ERK5 activation, and CREB-dependent gene regulation. Our data suggest that a key mechanism mediating the deficit involves ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), a deubiquitinating enzyme that functions to regulate cellular ubiquitin. Aβ-induced deficits in BDNF trafficking and signaling are mimicked by LDN (an inhibitor of UCH-L1) and can be reversed by increasing cellular UCH-L1 levels, demonstrated here using a transducible TAT-UCH-L1 strategy. Finally, our data reveal that UCH-L1 mRNA levels are decreased in the hippocampi of AD brains. Taken together, our data implicate that UCH-L1 is important for regulating neurotrophin receptor sorting to signaling endosomes and supporting retrograde transport. Further, our results support the idea that in AD, Aβ may down-regulate UCH-L1 in the AD brain, which in turn impairs BDNF/TrkB-mediated retrograde signaling, compromising synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Xiang Zhang ◽  
Yi-Hui Lai ◽  
Pan-Ying Mi ◽  
Xue-Ling Dai ◽  
Ran Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Brain amyloid deposition is one of the main pathological characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Soluble oligomers formed during the process that causes β-amyloid (Aβ) to aggregate into plaques are considered to have major neurotoxicity. Currently, drug development for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease has encountered serious difficulties. Our newly proposed solution is to accelerate the aggregation of Aβ to reduce the amount of cytotoxic Aβ oligomers in brain tissue. This strategy differs from the existing strategy of reducing the total Aβ content and the number of amyloid plaques. Method In this study, we screened a small library and found that a flavonoid compound (ZGM1) promoted the aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ). We further verified the binding of ZGM1 to Aβ42 using a microscale thermophoresis (MST) assay. Subsequently, we used dot blotting (DB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thioflavin T fluorescence (ThT) measurements to study the aggregation of Aβ under the influence of ZGM1. By using cell experiments, we determined whether ZGM1 can inhibit the cytotoxicity of Aβ. Finally, we studied the protective effects of ZGM1 on cognitive function in APPswe/PS1 mice via behavioral experiments and measured the number of plaques in the mouse brain by thioflavin staining. Results ZGM1 can bind with Aβ directly and mediate a new Aβ assembly process to form reticular aggregates and reduce the amount of Aβ oligomers. Animal experiments showed that ZGM1 can significantly improve cognitive dysfunction and that Aβ plaque deposition in the brain tissue of mice in the drug-administered group was significantly increased. Conclusion Our research suggests that promoting Aβ aggregation is a promising treatment method for AD and deserves further investigation.


Author(s):  
Francesca Mantile ◽  
Angelo Capasso ◽  
Nadia Villacampa ◽  
Maria Donnini ◽  
Giovanna L. Liguori ◽  
...  

AbstractImmunization against β-amyloid (Aβ) is pursued as a possible strategy for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In clinical trials, Aβ 1–42 proved poorly immunogenic and caused severe adverse effects; therefore, safer and more immunogenic candidate vaccines are needed. Multimeric protein (1–11)E2 is able to induce an antibody response to Aβ, immunological memory, and IL-4 production, with no concomitant anti-Aβ T cell response. Antisera recognize Aβ oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils. In this study, we evaluated the effect of prophylactic immunization with three doses of (1–11)E2 in alum in the 3xTg mouse model of AD. Immunization with (1–11)E2 efficiently induced anti-Aβ antibodies, but afforded no protection against Aβ accumulation and neuroinflammation. The identification of the features of the anti-Aβ immune response that correlate with the ability to prevent Aβ accumulation remains an open problem that deserves further investigation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 6817-6829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Xiang ◽  
Yuan Lyu ◽  
Xiao Zhu ◽  
Ganesan Narsimhan

The mechanism of pore formation in model neural cell membranes by β amyloid (Aβ) peptides was investigated using molecular dynamics simulation which indicated that Aβ oligomers of size equal or greater than 3 has a higher tendency for pore formation than monomers and that cholesterol tends to retard Aβ binding and insertion into the membrane.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Sun ◽  
Anuj K. Sharma ◽  
Byung-Hee Han ◽  
Liviu M. Mirica

<p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, yet the cause and progression of this disorder are not completely understood. While the main hallmark of AD is the deposition of amyloid plaques consisting of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide, transition metal ions are also known to play a significant role in disease pathology by expediting the formation of neurotoxic soluble β-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidative stress. Thus, bifunctional metal chelators that can control these deleterious properties are highly desirable. Herein, we show that amentoflavone (AMF) – a natural biflavonoid compound, exhibits good metal-chelating properties, especially for chelating Cu<sup>2+</sup> with very high affinity (pCu<sub>7.4</sub> = 10.44). In addition, AMF binds to Aβ fibrils with a high affinity (<i>K<sub>i</sub></i> = 287 ± 20 nM) – as revealed by a competition thioflavin T (ThT) assay, and specifically labels the amyloid plaques <i>ex vivo</i> in the brain sections of transgenic AD mice – as confirmed via immunostaining with an Ab antibody. The effect of AMF on Aβ<sub>42</sub> aggregation and disaggregation of Aβ<sub>42</sub> fibrils was also investigated, to reveal that AMF can control the formation of neurotoxic soluble Aβ<sub>42</sub> oligomers, both in absence and presence of metal ions, and as confirmed via cell toxicity studies. Furthermore, an ascorbate consumption assay shows that AMF exhibits potent antioxidant properties and can chelate Cu<sup>2+</sup> and significantly diminish the Cu<sup>2+</sup>-ascorbate redox cycling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Overall, these studies strongly suggest that AMF acts as a bifunctional chelator that can interact with various Aβ aggregates and reduce their neurotoxicity, can also bind Cu<sup>2+</sup> and mediate its deleterious redox properties, and thus AMF has the potential to be a lead compound for further therapeutic agent development for AD. </p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Wang ◽  
Zhifu Fei ◽  
Song Luo ◽  
Hai Wang

Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known as senile dementia, is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and personality changes. Numerous evidences have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis and development of AD. However, the exact role of miR-335-5p in the progression of AD is still not clearly clarified. Methods: The protein and mRNA levels were measured by western blot and RNA extraction and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. The relationship between miR-335-5p and c-jun-N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with APP mutant gene to establish the in vitro AD cell model. Flow cytometry and western blot were performed to evaluate cell apoptosis. The APP/PS1 transgenic mice were used as an in vivo AD model. Morris water maze test was performed to assess the effect of miR- 335-5p on the cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Results: The JNK3 mRNA expression and protein levels of JNK3 and β-Amyloid (Aβ) were significantly up-regulated, and the mRNA expression of miR-335-5p was down-regulated in the brain tissues of AD patients. The expression levels of miR-335-5p and JNK3 were significantly inversely correlated. Further, the dual Luciferase assay verified the relationship between miR-335- 5p and JNK3. Overexpression of miR-335-5p significantly decreased the protein levels of JNK3 and Aβ and inhibited apoptosis in SH-SY5Y/APPswe cells, whereas the inhibition of miR-335-5p obtained the opposite results. Moreover, the overexpression of miR-335-5p remarkably improved the cognitive abilities of APP/PS1 mice. Conclusion: The results revealed that the increased JNK3 expression, negatively regulated by miR-335-5p, may be a potential mechanism that contributes to Aβ accumulation and AD progression, indicating a novel approach for AD treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kojiro Mukai ◽  
Emari Ogawa ◽  
Rei Uematsu ◽  
Yoshihiko Kuchitsu ◽  
Fumika Kiku ◽  
...  

AbstractCoat protein complex I (COP-I) mediates the retrograde transport from the Golgi apparatus to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Mutation of the COPA gene, encoding one of the COP-I subunits (α-COP), causes an immune dysregulatory disease known as COPA syndrome. The molecular mechanism by which the impaired retrograde transport results in autoinflammation remains poorly understood. Here we report that STING, an innate immunity protein, is a cargo of the retrograde membrane transport. In the presence of the disease-causative α-COP variants, STING cannot be retrieved back to the ER from the Golgi. The forced Golgi residency of STING results in the cGAS-independent and palmitoylation-dependent activation of the STING downstream signaling pathway. Surf4, a protein that circulates between the ER/ ER-Golgi intermediate compartment/ Golgi, binds STING and α-COP, and mediates the retrograde transport of STING to the ER. The STING/Surf4/α-COP complex is disrupted in the presence of the disease-causative α-COP variant. We also find that the STING ligand cGAMP impairs the formation of the STING/Surf4/α-COP complex. Our results suggest a homeostatic regulation of STING at the resting state by retrograde membrane traffic and provide insights into the pathogenesis of COPA syndrome.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 985
Author(s):  
Luisa Müller ◽  
Nicole Power Guerra ◽  
Jan Stenzel ◽  
Claire Rühlmann ◽  
Tobias Lindner ◽  
...  

Caloric restriction (CR) slows the aging process, extends lifespan, and exerts neuroprotective effects. It is widely accepted that CR attenuates β-amyloid (Aβ) neuropathology in models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by so-far unknown mechanisms. One promising process induced by CR is autophagy, which is known to degrade aggregated proteins such as amyloids. In addition, autophagy positively regulates glucose uptake and may improve cerebral hypometabolism—a hallmark of AD—and, consequently, neural activity. To evaluate this hypothesis, APPswe/PS1delta9 (tg) mice and their littermates (wild-type, wt) underwent CR for either 16 or 68 weeks. Whereas short-term CR for 16 weeks revealed no noteworthy changes of AD phenotype in tg mice, long-term CR for 68 weeks showed beneficial effects. Thus, cerebral glucose metabolism and neuronal integrity were markedly increased upon 68 weeks CR in tg mice, indicated by an elevated hippocampal fluorodeoxyglucose [18F] ([18F]FDG) uptake and increased N-acetylaspartate-to-creatine ratio using positron emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) imaging and magnet resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Improved neuronal activity and integrity resulted in a better cognitive performance within the Morris Water Maze. Moreover, CR for 68 weeks caused a significant increase of LC3BII and p62 protein expression, showing enhanced autophagy. Additionally, a significant decrease of Aβ plaques in tg mice in the hippocampus was observed, accompanied by reduced microgliosis as indicated by significantly decreased numbers of iba1-positive cells. In summary, long-term CR revealed an overall neuroprotective effect in tg mice. Further, this study shows, for the first time, that CR-induced autophagy in tg mice accompanies the observed attenuation of Aβ pathology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (21) ◽  
pp. eabe4601
Author(s):  
Sandro Da Mesquita ◽  
Jasmin Herz ◽  
Morgan Wall ◽  
Taitea Dykstra ◽  
Kalil Alves de Lima ◽  
...  

Aging leads to a progressive deterioration of meningeal lymphatics and peripheral immunity, which may accelerate cognitive decline. We hypothesized that an age-related reduction in C-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7)–dependent egress of immune cells through the lymphatic vasculature mediates some aspects of brain aging and potentially exacerbates cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease–like brain β-amyloid (Aβ) pathology. We report a reduction in CCR7 expression by meningeal T cells in old mice that is linked to increased effector and regulatory T cells. Hematopoietic CCR7 deficiency mimicked the aging-associated changes in meningeal T cells and led to reduced glymphatic influx and cognitive impairment. Deletion of CCR7 in 5xFAD transgenic mice resulted in deleterious neurovascular and microglial activation, along with increased Aβ deposition in the brain. Treating old mice with anti-CD25 antibodies alleviated the exacerbated meningeal regulatory T cell response and improved cognitive function, highlighting the therapeutic potential of modulating meningeal immunity to fine-tune brain function in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases.


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