scholarly journals E2F4 as a single multifactorial target against Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noelia López-Sánchez ◽  
Morgan Ramón-Landreau ◽  
Cristina Trujillo ◽  
Alberto Garrido-García ◽  
José M. Frade
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Gene Networks ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Efficient Treatment ◽  
Dominant Negative Form ◽  
5Xfad Mice ◽  
Multifactorial Approach ◽  
Global Brain

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) has a multifactorial etiology, which requires a single multi-target approach for an efficient treatment. We have focused on E2F4, a transcription factor that regulates cell quiescence and tissue homeostasis, controls gene networks affected in AD, and is upregulated in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients and of APP/PS1 and 5xFAD transgenic mice. E2F4 contains an evolutionarily-conserved Thr-motif that, when phosphorylated, modulates its activity, thus constituting a potential target for intervention. Here we show that neuronal expression in 5xFAD mice of a dominant negative form of E2F4 lacking this Thr-motif (E2F4DN) potentiates a transcriptional program consistent with global brain homeostasis. The latter correlates with attenuation of both microglial immune response and astrogliosis, modulation of Aβ proteostasis, and blockade of neuronal tetraploidization. Moreover, E2F4DN prevents cognitive impairment and body weight loss, a known somatic alteration associated with AD. We propose E2F4DN-based gene therapy as a promising multifactorial approach against AD.

scholarly journals E2F4-Based Gene Therapy Mitigates the Phenotype of the Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model 5xFAD

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noelia López-Sánchez ◽  
Alberto Garrido-García ◽  
Morgan Ramón-Landreau ◽  
Vanesa Cano-Daganzo ◽  
José M. Frade
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Gene Networks ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Y Maze ◽  
Dominant Negative Form ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Approach

AbstractAfter decades of unfruitful work, no effective therapies are available for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), likely due to its complex etiology that requires a multifactorial therapeutic approach. We have recently shown using transgenic mice that E2 factor 4 (E2F4), a transcription factor that regulates cell quiescence and tissue homeostasis, and controls gene networks affected in AD, represents a good candidate for a multifactorial targeting of AD. Here we show that the expression of a dominant negative form of human E2F4 (hE2F4DN), unable to become phosphorylated in a Thr-conserved motif known to modulate E2F4 activity, is an effective and safe AD multifactorial therapeutic agent. Neuronal expression of hE2F4DN in homozygous 5xFAD (h5xFAD) mice after systemic administration of an AAV.PHP.B-hSyn1.hE2F4DN vector reduced the production and accumulation of Aβ in the hippocampus, attenuated reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis, abolished neuronal tetraploidization, and prevented cognitive impairment evaluated by Y-maze and Morris water maze, without triggering side effects. This treatment also reversed other alterations observed in h5xFAD mice such as paw-clasping behavior and body weight loss. Our results indicate that E2F4DN-based gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach against AD.

scholarly journals In vivo multi-parametric manganese-enhanced MRI for detecting amyloid plaques in rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Kim ◽  
Davide Di Censo ◽  
Mattia Baraldo ◽  
Camilla Simmons ◽  
Ilaria Rosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Plaques ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Surrounding Tissue ◽  
Rodent Models ◽  
Enhanced Mri ◽  
5Xfad Mice ◽  
Manganese Enhanced Mri

AbstractAmyloid plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that develop in its earliest stages. Thus, non-invasive detection of these plaques would be invaluable for diagnosis and the development and monitoring of treatments, but this remains a challenge due to their small size. Here, we investigated the utility of manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) for visualizing plaques in transgenic rodent models of AD across two species: 5xFAD mice and TgF344-AD rats. Animals were given subcutaneous injections of MnCl2 and imaged in vivo using a 9.4 T Bruker scanner. MnCl2 improved signal-to-noise ratio but was not necessary to detect plaques in high-resolution images. Plaques were visible in all transgenic animals and no wild-types, and quantitative susceptibility mapping showed that they were more paramagnetic than the surrounding tissue. This, combined with beta-amyloid and iron staining, indicate that plaque MR visibility in both animal models was driven by plaque size and iron load. Longitudinal relaxation rate mapping revealed increased manganese uptake in brain regions of high plaque burden in transgenic animals compared to their wild-type littermates. This was limited to the rhinencephalon in the TgF344-AD rats, while it was most significantly increased in the cortex of the 5xFAD mice. Alizarin Red staining suggests that manganese bound to plaques in 5xFAD mice but not in TgF344-AD rats. Multi-parametric MEMRI is a simple, viable method for detecting amyloid plaques in rodent models of AD. Manganese-induced signal enhancement can enable higher-resolution imaging, which is key to visualizing these small amyloid deposits. We also present the first in vivo evidence of manganese as a potential targeted contrast agent for imaging plaques in the 5xFAD model of AD.

scholarly journals Pharmacological ablation of astrocytes reduces Aβ degradation and synaptic connectivity in an ex vivo model of Alzheimer’s disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Davis ◽  
Bibiana C. Mota ◽  
Larissa Stead ◽  
Emily O. C. Palmer ◽  
Laura Lombardero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Insulin Degrading Enzyme ◽  
Ex Vivo Model ◽  
Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Aβ Clearance ◽  
5Xfad Mice

Abstract Background Astrocytes provide a vital support to neurons in normal and pathological conditions. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains, reactive astrocytes have been found surrounding amyloid plaques, forming an astrocytic scar. However, their role and potential mechanisms whereby they affect neuroinflammation, amyloid pathology, and synaptic density in AD remain unclear. Methods To explore the role of astrocytes on Aβ pathology and neuroinflammatory markers, we pharmacologically ablated them in organotypic brain culture slices (OBCSs) from 5XFAD mouse model of AD and wild-type (WT) littermates with the selective astrocytic toxin L-alpha-aminoadipate (L-AAA). To examine the effects on synaptic circuitry, we measured dendritic spine number and size in OBCSs from Thy-1-GFP transgenic mice incubated with synthetic Aβ42 or double transgenics Thy-1-GFP/5XFAD mice treated with LAAA or vehicle for 24 h. Results Treatment of OBCSs with L-AAA resulted in an increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in conditioned media of WTs and 5XFAD slices, associated with changes in microglia morphology but not in density. The profile of inflammatory markers following astrocytic loss was different in WT and transgenic cultures, showing reductions in inflammatory mediators produced in astrocytes only in WT sections. In addition, pharmacological ablation of astrocytes led to an increase in Aβ levels in homogenates of OBCS from 5XFAD mice compared with vehicle controls, with reduced enzymatic degradation of Aβ due to lower neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) expression. Furthermore, OBSCs from wild-type mice treated with L-AAA and synthetic amyloid presented 56% higher levels of Aβ in culture media compared to sections treated with Aβ alone, concomitant with reduced expression of IDE in culture medium, suggesting that astrocytes contribute to Aβ clearance and degradation. Quantification of hippocampal dendritic spines revealed a reduction in their density following L-AAA treatment in all groups analyzed. In addition, pharmacological ablation of astrocytes resulted in a decrease in spine size in 5XFAD OBCSs but not in OBCSs from WT treated with synthetic Aβ compared to vehicle control. Conclusions Astrocytes play a protective role in AD by aiding Aβ clearance and supporting synaptic plasticity.

scholarly journals Disruption of the astrocyte–neuron interaction is responsible for the impairments in learning and memory in 5XFAD mice: an Alzheimer’s disease animal model

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moonseok Choi ◽  
Sang-Min Lee ◽  
Dongsoo Kim ◽  
Heh-In Im ◽  
Hye-Sun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Memory Formation ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Stat3 Phosphorylation ◽  
Neuron Interactions ◽  
5Xfad Mice

AbstractThe morphological dynamics of astrocytes are altered in the hippocampus during memory induction. Astrocyte–neuron interactions on synapses are called tripartite synapses. These control the synaptic function in the central nervous system. Astrocytes are activated in a reactive state by STAT3 phosphorylation in 5XFAD mice, an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) animal model. However, changes in astrocyte–neuron interactions in reactive or resting-state astrocytes during memory induction remain to be defined. Here, we investigated the time-dependent changes in astrocyte morphology and the number of astrocyte–neuron interactions in the hippocampus over the course of long-term memory formation in 5XFAD mice. Hippocampal-dependent long-term memory was induced using a contextual fear conditioning test in 5XFAD mice. The number of astrocytic processes increased in both wild-type and 5XFAD mice during memory formation. To assess astrocyte–neuron interactions in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, we counted the colocalization of glial fibrillary acidic protein and postsynaptic density protein 95 via immunofluorescence. Both groups revealed an increase in astrocyte–neuron interactions after memory induction. At 24 h after memory formation, the number of tripartite synapses returned to baseline levels in both groups. However, the total number of astrocyte–neuron interactions was significantly decreased in 5XFAD mice. Administration of Stattic, a STAT3 phosphorylation inhibitor, rescued the number of astrocyte–neuron interactions in 5XFAD mice. In conclusion, we suggest that a decreased number of astrocyte–neuron interactions may underlie memory impairment in the early stages of AD.

scholarly journals Alterations in the Gut-Microbial-Inflammasome-Brain Axis in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
Pradeep K. Shukla ◽  
David F. Delotterie ◽  
Jianfeng Xiao ◽  
Joseph F. Pierre ◽  
RadhaKrishna Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Gut Barrier Function ◽  
Elevated Expression ◽  
5Xfad Mice

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline, is a major cause of death and disability among the older population. Despite decades of scientific research, the underlying etiological triggers are unknown. Recent studies suggested that gut microbiota can influence AD progression; however, potential mechanisms linking the gut microbiota with AD pathogenesis remain obscure. In the present study, we provided a potential mechanistic link between dysbiotic gut microbiota and neuroinflammation associated with AD progression. Using a mouse model of AD, we discovered that unfavorable gut microbiota are correlated with abnormally elevated expression of gut NLRP3 and lead to peripheral inflammasome activation, which in turn exacerbates AD-associated neuroinflammation. To this end, we observe significantly altered gut microbiota compositions in young and old 5xFAD mice compared to age-matched non-transgenic mice. Moreover, 5xFAD mice demonstrated compromised gut barrier function as evident from the loss of tight junction and adherens junction proteins compared to non-transgenic mice. Concurrently, we observed increased expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β production in the 5xFAD gut. Consistent with our hypothesis, increased gut–microbial–inflammasome activation is positively correlated with enhanced astrogliosis and microglial activation, along with higher expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β production in the brains of 5xFAD mice. These data indicate that the elevated expression of gut–microbial–inflammasome components may be an important trigger for subsequent downstream activation of inflammatory and potentially cytotoxic mediators, and gastrointestinal NLRP3 may promote NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation. Thus, modulation of the gut microbiota may be a potential strategy for the treatment of AD-related neurological disorders in genetically susceptible hosts.

scholarly journals Impact of Gut Microbiome Manipulation in 5xFAD Mice on Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Pathology

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 815
Author(s):  
Malena dos Santos Guilherme ◽  
Vu Thu Thuy Nguyen ◽  
Christoph Reinhardt ◽  
Kristina Endres
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Plaque Deposition ◽  
Glycation End Products ◽  
Plaque Load ◽  
5Xfad Mice ◽  
Building Capability

The gut brain axis seems to modulate various psychiatric and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Growing evidence has led to the assumption that the gut microbiome might contribute to or even present the nucleus of origin for these diseases. In this regard, modifiers of the microbial composition might provide attractive new therapeutics. Aim of our study was to elucidate the effect of a rigorously changed gut microbiome on pathological hallmarks of AD. 5xFAD model mice were treated by antibiotics or probiotics (L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus) for 14 weeks. Pathogenesis was measured by nest building capability and plaque deposition. The gut microbiome was affected as expected: antibiotics significantly reduced viable commensals, while probiotics transiently increased Lactobacillaceae. Nesting score, however, was only improved in antibiotics-treated mice. These animals additionally displayed reduced plaque load in the hippocampus. While various physiological parameters were not affected, blood sugar was reduced and serum glucagon level significantly elevated in the antibiotics-treated animals together with a reduction in the receptor for advanced glycation end products RAGE—the inward transporter of Aβ peptides of the brain. Assumedly, the beneficial effect of the antibiotics was based on their anti-diabetic potential.

scholarly journals Effects of optogenetic stimulation of basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons on Alzheimer’s disease pathology

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline A. Wilson ◽  
Sarah Fouda ◽  
Shuzo Sakata
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Basal Forebrain ◽  
Gamma Oscillations ◽  
Cortical Region ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Amyloid Load ◽  
5Xfad Mice ◽  
Frontal Cortical Region

Abstract Neuronal activity can modify Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Overexcitation of neurons can facilitate disease progression whereas the induction of cortical gamma oscillations can reduce amyloid load and improve cognitive functions in mouse models. Although previous studies have induced cortical gamma oscillations by either optogenetic activation of cortical parvalbumin-positive (PV+) neurons or sensory stimuli, it is still unclear whether other approaches to induce gamma oscillations can also be beneficial. Here we show that optogenetic activation of PV+ neurons in the basal forebrain (BF) increases amyloid burden, rather than reducing it. We applied 40 Hz optical stimulation in the BF by expressing channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in PV+ neurons of 5xFAD mice. After 1-h induction of cortical gamma oscillations over three days, we observed the increase in the concentration of amyloid-β42 in the frontal cortical region, but not amyloid-β40. Amyloid plaques were accumulated more in the medial prefrontal cortex and the septal nuclei, both of which are targets of BF PV+ neurons. These results suggest that beneficial effects of cortical gamma oscillations on Alzheimer’s disease pathology can depend on the induction mechanisms of cortical gamma oscillations.

DEF8 and Autophagy-Associated Genes are Altered in Mild Cognitive Impairment, Probable Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and a Transgenic Model of the Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Esteban Leyton ◽  
Diego Matus ◽  
Sandra Espinoza ◽  
José Matías Benitez ◽  
Bastián I. Cortes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
5Xfad Mice

Background: Disturbances in the autophagy/endolysosomal systems are proposed as early signatures of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, few studies are available concerning autophagy gene expression in AD patients. Objective: To explore the differential expression of classical genes involved in the autophagy pathway, among them a less characterized one, DEF8 (Differentially expressed in FDCP 8), initially considered a Rubicon family member, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probable AD (pAD) and correlate the results with the expression of DEF8 in the brain of 5xFAD mice. Method: By real-time PCR and flow cytometry, we evaluated autophagy genes levels in PBMCs from MCI and pAD patients. We evaluated DEF8 levels and its localization in brain samples of the 5xFAD mice by real-time PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. Results: Transcriptional levels of DEF8 were significantly reduced in PBMCs of MCI and pAD patients compared with healthy donors, correlating with the MoCA and MoCA-MIS cognitive tests scores. DEF8 protein levels were increased in lymphocytes from MCI but not pAD, compared to controls. In the case of brain samples from 5xFAD mice, we observed a reduced mRNA expression and augmented protein levels in 5xFAD compared to age-matched wild-type mice. DEF8 presented a neuronal localization. Conclusion: DEF8, a protein proposed to act at the final step of the autophagy/endolysosomal pathway, is differentially expressed in PBMCs of MCI and pAD and neurons of 5xFAD mice. These results suggest a potential role for DEF8 in the pathophysiology of AD.

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