scholarly journals Plasmalogens Inhibit APP Processing by Directly Affectingγ-Secretase Activity in Alzheimer’s Disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana L. Rothhaar ◽  
Sven Grösgen ◽  
Viola J. Haupenthal ◽  
Verena K. Burg ◽  
Benjamin Hundsdörfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Vicious Cycle ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Secretase Activity ◽  
Brain Phospholipids ◽  
Plasmalogen Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Aβ Production

Lipids play an important role as risk or protective factors in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previously it has been shown that plasmalogens, the major brain phospholipids, are altered in AD. However, it remained unclear whether plasmalogens themselves are able to modulate amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing or if the reduced plasmalogen level is a consequence of AD. Here we identify the plasmalogens which are altered in human ADpostmortembrains and investigate their impact on APP processing resulting in Aβ production. All tested plasmalogen species showed a reduction in γ-secretase activity whereas β- and α-secretase activity mainly remained unchanged. Plasmalogens directly affected γ-secretase activity, protein and RNA level of the secretases were unaffected, pointing towards a direct influence of plasmalogens on γ-secretase activity. Plasmalogens were also able to decrease γ-secretase activity in humanpostmortemAD brains emphasizing the impact of plasmalogens in AD. In summary our findings show that decreased plasmalogen levels are not only a consequence of AD but that plasmalogens also decrease APP processing by directly affecting γ-secretase activity, resulting in a vicious cycle: Aβ reduces plasmalogen levels and reduced plasmalogen levels directly increase γ-secretase activity leading to an even stronger production of Aβ peptides.

Selective Secretase Targeting for Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Alvaro Miranda ◽  
Enrique Montiel ◽  
Henning Ulrich ◽  
Cristian Paz
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Plaques ◽  
Neuroprotective Activity ◽  
Amyloid Β Protein ◽  
Secretase Activity ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Aβ Production ◽  
Bace 1

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with marked atrophy of the cerebral cortex and accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid plaques are formed by oligomers of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain, with a length of 42 and 40 amino acids. α-secretase cleaves amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) producing the membrane-bound fragment CTFα and the soluble fragment sAβPPα with neuroprotective activity; β-secretase produces membrane-bound fragment CTFβ and a soluble fragment sAβPPβ. After α-secretase cleavage of AβPP, γ-secretase cleaves CTFα to produce the cytoplasmic fragment AICD and P3 in the non-amyloidogenic pathway. CTFβ is cleaved by γ-secretase producing AICD as well as Aβ in amyloidogenic pathways. In the last years, the study of natural products and synthetic compounds, such as α-secretase activity enhancers, β-secretase inhibitors (BACE-1), and γ-secretase activity modulators, have been the focus of pharmaceuticals and researchers. Drugs were improved regarding solubility, blood-brain barrier penetration, selectivity, and potency decreasing Aβ42. In this regard, BACE-1 inhibitors, such as Atabecestat, NB-360, Umibecestat, PF-06751979, Verubecestat, LY2886721, Lanabecestat, LY2811376, and Elenbecestat, were submitted to phase I-III clinical trials. However, inhibition of Aβ production did not recover cognitive functions or reverse the disease. Novel strategies are being developed, aiming at a partial reduction of Aβ production, such as the development of γ-secretase modulators or α-secretase enhancers. Such therapeutic tools shall focus on slowing down or minimizing the progression of neuronal damage. Here, we summarize structures and the activities of the latest compounds designed for AD treatment, with remarkable in vitro, in vivo, and clinical phase activities.

scholarly journals Shotgun lipidomics of liver and brain tissue of Alzheimer’s disease model mice treated with acitretin

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna A. Lauer ◽  
Daniel Janitschke ◽  
Malena dos Santos Guilherme ◽  
Vu Thu Thuy Nguyen ◽  
Cornel M. Bachmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Lipid Homeostasis ◽  
Medical Surveillance ◽  
Shotgun Lipidomics ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Cognitive Improvement ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a very frequent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ). Acitretin, a retinoid-derivative and approved treatment for Psoriasis vulgaris, increases non-amyloidogenic Amyloid-Precursor-Protein-(APP)-processing, prevents Aβ-production and elicits cognitive improvement in AD mouse models. As an unintended side effect, acitretin could result in hyperlipidemia. Here, we analyzed the impact of acitretin on the lipidome in brain and liver tissue in the 5xFAD mouse-model. In line with literature, triglycerides were increased in liver accompanied by increased PCaa, plasmalogens and acyl-carnitines, whereas SM-species were decreased. In brain, these effects were partially enhanced or similar but also inverted. While for SM and plasmalogens similar effects were found, PCaa, TAG and acyl-carnitines showed an inverse effect in both tissues. Our findings emphasize, that potential pharmaceuticals to treat AD should be carefully monitored with respect to lipid-homeostasis because APP-processing itself modulates lipid-metabolism and medication might result in further and unexpected changes. Moreover, deducing effects of brain lipid-homeostasis from results obtained for other tissues should be considered cautiously. With respect to acitretin, the increase in brain plasmalogens might display a further positive probability in AD-treatment, while other results, such as decreased SM, indicate the need of medical surveillance for treated patients.

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 Neuronal aging potentiates beta-amyloid generation via amyloid precursor protein endocytosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Burrinha ◽  
Ricardo Gomes ◽  
Ana Paula Terrasso ◽  
Cláudia Guimas Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Precursor Protein ◽  
Precursor Protein ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Early Endosomes ◽  
Primary Mouse ◽  
Β Amyloid ◽  
Aβ Production

AbstractAging increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). During normal aging synapses decline and β-Amyloid (Aβ) accumulates. An Aβ defective clearance with aging is postulated as responsible for Aβ accumulation, although a role for increased Aβ production with aging can also lead to Aβ accumulation. To test this hypothesis, we established a long-term culture of primary mouse neurons that mimics neuronal aging (lysosomal lipofuscin accumulation and synapse decline). Intracellular endogenous Aβ42 accumulated in aged neurites due to increased amyloid-precursor protein (APP) processing. We show that APP processing is up-regulated by a specific age-dependent increase in APP endocytosis. Endocytosed APP accumulated in early endosomes that, in turn were found augmented in aged neurites. APP processing and early endosomes up-regulation was recapitulated in vivo. Finally, we found that inhibition of Aβ production reduced the decline in synapses in aged neurons. We propose that potentiation of APP endocytosis by neuronal aging increases Aβ production, which contributes to aging-dependent decline in synapses.SummaryHow aging increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is not clear. We show that normal neuronal aging increases the intracellular production of β-amyloid, due to an upregulation of the amyloid precursor protein endocytosis. Importantly, increased Aβ production contributes to the aging-dependent synapse loss.

scholarly journals Enhancing α-secretase Processing for Alzheimer’s Disease—A View on SFRP1

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bor Luen Tang
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Experimental Therapeutics ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Endogenous Inhibitor ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Target ◽  
A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides generated via sequential β- and γ-secretase processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) are major etiopathological agents of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, an initial APP cleavage by an α-secretase, such as the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein ADAM10, precludes β-secretase cleavage and leads to APP processing that does not produce Aβ. The latter appears to underlie the disease symptom-attenuating effects of a multitude of experimental therapeutics in AD animal models. Recent work has indicated that an endogenous inhibitor of ADAM10, secreted-frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1), is elevated in human AD brains and associated with amyloid plaques in mouse AD models. Importantly, genetic or functional attenuation of SFRP1 lowered Aβ accumulation and improved AD-related histopathological and neurological traits. Given SFRP1′s well-known activity in attenuating Wnt signaling, which is also commonly impaired in AD, SFRP1 appears to be a promising therapeutic target for AD. This idea, however, needs to be addressed with care because of cancer enhancement potentials resulting from a systemic loss of SFRP1 activity, as well as an upregulation of ADAM10 activity. In this focused review, I shall discuss α-secretase-effected APP processing in AD with a focus on SFRP1, and explore the contrasting perspectives arising from the recent findings.

scholarly journals Presenilin-1 280Glu→Ala Mutation Alters C-Terminal APP Processing Yielding Longer Aβ Peptides: Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 184-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory D. Van Vickle ◽  
Chera L. Esh ◽  
Tyler A. Kokjohn ◽  
R. Lyle Patton ◽  
Walter M. Kalback ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Presenilin 1 ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
App Processing

scholarly journals Modulation of Gamma-Secretase for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Tate ◽  
Timothy D. McKee ◽  
Robyn M. B. Loureiro ◽  
Jo Ann Dumin ◽  
Weiming Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Gamma Secretase ◽  
Synaptic Loss ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Protein Substrates ◽  
Secretase Activity ◽  
Small Molecule Modulators ◽  
Multiple Chemical

The Amyloid Hypothesis states that the cascade of events associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD)—formation of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline—are triggered by Aβpeptide dysregulation (Kakuda et al., 2006, Sato et al., 2003, Qi-Takahara et al., 2005). Sinceγ-secretase is critical for Aβproduction, many in the biopharmaceutical community focused onγ-secretase as a target for therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease. However, pharmacological approaches to controlγ-secretase activity are challenging because the enzyme has multiple, physiologically critical protein substrates. To lower amyloidogenic Aβpeptides without affecting otherγ-secretase substrates, the epsilon (ε) cleavage that is essential for the activity of many substrates must be preserved. Small molecule modulators ofγ-secretase activity have been discovered that spare theεcleavage of APP and other substrates while decreasing the production of Aβ42. Multiple chemical classes ofγ-secretase modulators have been identified which differ in the pattern of Aβpeptides produced. Ideally, modulators will allow theεcleavage of all substrates while shifting APP cleavage from Aβ42and other highly amyloidogenic Aβpeptides to shorter and less neurotoxic forms of the peptides without altering the total Aβpool. Here, we compare chemically distinct modulators for effects on APP processing andin vivoactivity.

scholarly journals Up-regulation of APP endocytosis by neuronal aging drives amyloid dependent-synapse loss

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Burrinha ◽  
Isak Martinsson ◽  
Ricardo Gomes ◽  
Ana Paula Terrasso ◽  
Gunnar K. Gouras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Aged Mouse ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Synapse Loss ◽  
Aged Brain ◽  
Early Endosomes ◽  
Aβ Production

Neuronal aging increases the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. During normal aging, synapses decline, and β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulates intraneuronally. However, little is known about the underlying cell biological mechanisms. We studied normal neuronal aging using normal aged brain and aged mouse primary neurons that accumulate lysosomal lipofuscin and show synapse loss. We identify the up-regulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) endocytosis as a neuronal aging mechanism that potentiates APP processing and Aβ production in vitro and in vivo. The increased APP endocytosis may contribute to the observed early endosomes enlargement in the aged brain. Mechanistically, we show that clathrin-dependent APP endocytosis requires F-actin and that clathrin and endocytic F-actin increase with neuronal aging. Finally, Aβ production inhibition reverts synaptic decline in aged neurons while Aβ accumulation, promoted by endocytosis up-regulation in younger neurons, recapitulates aging-related synapse decline. Overall, we identify APP endocytosis up-regulation as a potential mechanism of neuronal aging and, thus, a novel target to prevent late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Astrocytic Histamine N-Methyltransferase as a Possible Target for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1408
Author(s):  
Cecilia Flores-Clemente ◽  
María Inés Nicolás-Vázquez ◽  
Elvia Mera Jiménez ◽  
Maricarmen Hernández-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Histaminergic System ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Tuberomammillary Nucleus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents the principal cause of dementia among the elderly. Great efforts have been established to understand the physiopathology of AD. Changes in neurotransmitter systems in patients with AD, including cholinergic, GABAergic, serotoninergic, noradrenergic, and histaminergic changes have been reported. Interestingly, changes in the histaminergic system have been related to cognitive impairment in AD patients. The principal pathological changes in the brains of AD patients, related to the histaminergic system, are neurofibrillary degeneration of the tuberomammillary nucleus, the main source of histamine in the brain, low histamine levels, and altered signaling of its receptors. The increase of histamine levels can be achieved by inhibiting its degrading enzyme, histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT), a cytoplasmatic enzyme located in astrocytes. Thus, increasing histamine levels could be employed in AD patients as co-therapy due to their effects on cognitive functions, neuroplasticity, neuronal survival, neurogenesis, and the degradation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. In this sense, the evaluation of the impact of HNMT inhibitors on animal models of AD would be interesting, consequently highlighting its relevance.

Perturbed endoplasmic reticulum function, synaptic apoptosis and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

2001 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 151-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Mattson ◽  
Devin S. Gary ◽  
Sic L. Chan ◽  
Wenzhen Duan
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
App Processing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Er Calcium

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) appears to be a focal point for alterations that result in neuronal dysfunction and death in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aberrant proteolytic processing and/or trafficking of the ϐ-amyloid precursor protein (APP) in ER may promote neuronal degeneration by increasing the levels of the neurotoxic forms of ϐ-amyloid (Aϐ) and by decreasing the levels of the neuroprotective secreted form of APP (sAPPα). Some cases of AD are caused by mutations in the genes encoding presenilin 1 (PS1). When expressed in cultured neuronal cells and transgenic mice, PS1 mutations cause abnormalities in ER calcium homoeostasis, enhancing the calcium responses to stimuli that activate IP3- and ryanodine-sensitive ER calcium pools. Two major consequences of this disrupted ER calcium regulation are altered proteolytic processing of APP and increased vulnerability of neurons to apoptosis and excitotoxicity. The impact of PS1 mutations and aberrant APP processing is particularly great in synaptic terminals. Perturbed synaptic calcium homoeostasis promotes activation of apoptotic cascades involving production of Par-4 (prostate apoptosis response-4), mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation. Aϐ 42 (the 42-amino-acid form of Aϐ) induces membrane lipid peroxidation in synapses and dendrites resulting in impairment of membrane ion-motive ATPases and glucose and glutamate transporters. This disrupts synaptic ion and energy homoeostasis thereby promoting synaptic degeneration. In contrast, sAPPα activates signalling pathways that protect synapses against excitotoxicity and apoptosis. In the more common sporadic forms of AD, the initiating causes of the neurodegenerative cascade are less well defined, but probably involve increased levels of oxidative stress and impaired energy metabolism. Such alterations have been shown to disrupt neuronal calcium homoeostasis in experimental models, and may therefore feed into the same neurodegenerative cascade initiated by mutations in presenilins and APP. Perturbed synaptic ER calcium homoeostasis and consequent alterations in APP processing appear to be pivotal events in both sporadic and familial forms of AD.

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