C-terminal inhibition of tau assembly in vitro and in Alzheimer's disease

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (21) ◽  
pp. 3737-3745 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Abraha ◽  
N. Ghoshal ◽  
T.C. Gamblin ◽  
V. Cryns ◽  
R.W. Berry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Microtubule Binding ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Microtubule Binding Domain ◽  
Tau Polymerization

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is, in part, defined by the polymerization of tau into paired helical and straight filaments (PHF/SFs) which together comprise the fibrillar pathology in degenerating brain regions. Much of the tau in these filaments is modified by phosphorylation. Additionally, a subset also appears to be proteolytically truncated, resulting in the removal of its C terminus. Antibodies that recognize tau phosphorylated at S(396/404)or truncated at E(391) do not stain control brains but do stain brain sections very early in the disease process. We modeled these phosphorylation and truncation events by creating pseudo-phosphorylation and deletion mutants derived from a full-length recombinant human tau protein isoform (ht40) that contains N-terminal exons 2 and 3 and all four microtubule-binding repeats. In vitro assembly experiments demonstrate that both modifications greatly enhance the rates of tau filament formation and that truncation increases the mass of polymer formed, as well. Removal of as few as 12 or as many as 121 amino acids from the C terminus of tau greatly increases the rate and extent of tau polymerization. However, deletion of an additional 7 amino acids, (314)DLSKVTS(320), from the third microtubule-binding repeat results in the loss of tau's ability to form filaments in vitro. These results suggest that only part of the microtubule-binding domain (repeats 1, 2 and a small portion of 3) is crucial for tau polymerization. Moreover, the C terminus of tau clearly inhibits the assembly process; this inhibition can be partially reversed by site-specific phosphorylation and completely removed by truncation events at various sites from S(320) to the end of the molecule.

scholarly journals Possible Clues for Brain Energy Translation via Endolysosomal Trafficking of APP-CTFs in Alzheimer’s Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senthilkumar Sivanesan ◽  
Ravi Mundugaru ◽  
Jayakumar Rajadas
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Ketone Bodies ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Pentose Phosphate ◽  
Lactate Shuttle ◽  
Carboxy Terminal ◽  
Brain Energy

Vascular dysfunctions, hypometabolism, and insulin resistance are high and early risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a leading neurological disease associated with memory decline and cognitive dysfunctions. Early defects in glucose transporters and glycolysis occur during the course of AD progression. Hypometabolism begins well before the onset of early AD symptoms; this timing implicates the vulnerability of hypometabolic brain regions to beta-secretase 1 (BACE-1) upregulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, synaptic failure, and cell death. Despite the fact that ketone bodies, astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and glycogenolysis compensate to provide energy to the starving AD brain, a considerable energy crisis still persists and increases during disease progression. Studies that track brain energy metabolism in humans, animal models of AD, and in vitro studies reveal striking upregulation of beta-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) and carboxy-terminal fragments (CTFs). Currently, the precise role of CTFs is unclear, but evidence supports increased endosomal-lysosomal trafficking of β-APP and CTFs through autophagy through a vague mechanism. While intracellular accumulation of Aβ is attributed as both the cause and consequence of a defective endolysosomal-autophagic system, much remains to be explored about the other β-APP cleavage products. Many recent works report altered amino acid catabolism and expression of several urea cycle enzymes in AD brains, but the precise cause for this dysregulation is not fully explained. In this paper, we try to connect the role of CTFs in the energy translation process in AD brain based on recent findings.

scholarly journals Pre-clinical characterisation of E2814, a high-affinity antibody targeting the microtubule-binding repeat domain of tau for passive immunotherapy in Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm Roberts ◽  
Ioanna Sevastou ◽  
Yoichi Imaizumi ◽  
Kavita Mistry ◽  
Sonia Talma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Antibody Treatment ◽  
Microtubule Binding ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
The Brain

AbstractTau deposition in the brain is a pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). During the course of these tauopathies, tau spreads throughout the brain via synaptically-connected pathways. Such propagation of pathology is thought to be mediated by tau species (“seeds”) containing the microtubule binding region (MTBR) composed of either three repeat (3R) or four repeat (4R) isoforms. The tau MTBR also forms the core of the neuropathological filaments identified in AD brain and other tauopathies. Multiple approaches are being taken to limit tau pathology, including immunotherapy with anti-tau antibodies. Given its key structural role within fibrils, specifically targetting the MTBR with a therapeutic antibody to inhibit tau seeding and aggregation may be a promising strategy to provide disease-modifying treatment for AD and other tauopathies. Therefore, a monoclonal antibody generating campaign was initiated with focus on the MTBR. Herein we describe the pre-clinical generation and characterisation of E2814, a humanised, high affinity, IgG1 antibody recognising the tau MTBR. E2814 and its murine precursor, 7G6, as revealed by epitope mapping, are antibodies bi-epitopic for 4R and mono-epitopic for 3R tau isoforms because they bind to sequence motif HVPGG. Functionally, both antibodies inhibited tau aggregation in vitro. They also immunodepleted a variety of MTBR-containing tau protein species. In an in vivo model of tau seeding and transmission, attenuation of deposition of sarkosyl-insoluble tau in brain could also be observed in response to antibody treatment. In AD brain, E2814 bound different types of tau filaments as shown by immunogold labelling and recognised pathological tau structures by immunohistochemical staining. Tau fragments containing HVPGG epitopes were also found to be elevated in AD brain compared to PSP or control. Taken together, the data reported here have led to E2814 being proposed for clinical development.

scholarly journals β-Amyloid is Associated with Aberrant Metabolic Connectivity in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1169-1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Carbonell ◽  
Arnaud Charil ◽  
Alex P Zijdenbos ◽  
Alan C Evans ◽  
Barry J Bedell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Β Amyloid ◽  
Glucose Hypometabolism

Positron emission tomography (PET) studies using [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) have identified a well-defined pattern of glucose hypometabolism in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The assessment of the metabolic relationship among brain regions has the potential to provide unique information regarding the disease process. Previous studies of metabolic correlation patterns have demonstrated alterations in AD subjects relative to age-matched, healthy control subjects. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between β-amyloid, apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE ε4) genotype, and metabolic correlations patterns in subjects diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Mild cognitive impairment subjects from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) study were categorized into β-amyloid-low and β-amyloid-high groups, based on quantitative analysis of [18F]florbetapir PET scans, and APOE ε4 non-carriers and carriers based on genotyping. We generated voxel-wise metabolic correlation strength maps across the entire cerebral cortex for each group, and, subsequently, performed a seed-based analysis. We found that the APOE ε4 genotype was closely related to regional glucose hypometabolism, while elevated, fibrillar β-amyloid burden was associated with specific derangements of the metabolic correlation patterns.

scholarly journals Conjugates of neuroprotective chaperone L-PGDS provide MRI contrast for detection of amyloid β-rich regions in live Alzheimer’s Disease mouse model brain

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhargy Sharma ◽  
Joanes Grandjean ◽  
Margaret Phillips ◽  
Ambrish Kumar ◽  
Francesca Mandino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Mouse Brain ◽  
Amyloid Fibrils ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Mri Contrast ◽  
Neuroprotective Function

AbstractEndogenous brain proteins can recognize the toxic oligomers of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and interact with them to prevent their aggregation. Lipocalin-type Prostaglandin D Synthase (L-PGDS) is a major Aβ-chaperone protein in the human cerebrospinal fluid. Here we demonstrate that L-PGDS detects amyloids in diseased mouse brain. Conjugation of L-PGDS with magnetic nanoparticles enhanced the contrast for magnetic resonance imaging. We conjugated the L-PGDS protein with ferritin nanocages to detect amyloids in the AD mouse model brain. We show here that the conjugates administered through intraventricular injections co-localize with amyloids in the mouse brain. These conjugates can target the brain regions through non-invasive intranasal administration, as shown in healthy mice. These conjugates can inhibit the aggregation of amyloids in vitro and show potential neuroprotective function by breaking down the mature amyloid fibrils.

scholarly journals Amplification, not spreading limits rate of tau aggregate accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Meisl ◽  
Yukun Zuo ◽  
Kieren Allinson ◽  
Timothy Rittman ◽  
Sarah DeVos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Replication Rate ◽  
Promising Strategy ◽  
Human Brains ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Tau Aggregate ◽  
Rate Of Accumulation

AbstractBoth the replication of protein aggregates and their spreading throughout the brain are implicated in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the rates of these processes are unknown and the identity of the rate-determining process in humans has therefore remained elusive. By bringing together chemical kinetics with measurements of tau seeds and aggregates across brain regions, we are able to quantify their replication rate in human brains. Remarkably, we obtain comparable rates in several different datasets, with 5 different methods of tau quantification, from seed amplification assays in vitro to tau PET studies in living patients. Our results suggest that the overall rate of accumulation of tau in neocortical regions is limited not by spreading between brain regions but by local replication, which doubles the number of seeds every ~5 years. Thus, we propose that limiting local replication constitutes the most promising strategy to control tau accumulation during AD.

Post-mortem Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectrometric Measures of Brain Regions in Patients with a Pathological Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Multi-infarct Dementia

1992 ◽  
Vol 160 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. O. Besson ◽  
Philip V. Best ◽  
E. Roy Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Relaxation Times ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Pathological Diagnosis ◽  
Tissue Water Content ◽  
Tissue Water ◽  
Spin Lattice

In-vitro spectrometric measures were made of spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times of samples of grey and white matter from the brains of 15 patients with a pathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, 5 with multi-infarct dementia, and 11 non-demented subjects. Relaxation times were significantly greater in the parietal white matter and temporal white matter of patients with Alzheimer's disease compared with that of the other subjects. This was associated with an increase in tissue water content. These findings confirm measures obtained in some imaging studies.

scholarly journals Current Concepts of Neurodegenerative Mechanisms in Alzheimer’s Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasthuri Bai Magalingam ◽  
Ammu Radhakrishnan ◽  
Ng Shee Ping ◽  
Nagaraja Haleagrahara
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Effective Remedy ◽  
And Function

Neurodegenerative diseases are hereditary or sporadic conditions that result in the progressive loss of the structure and function of neurons as well as neuronal death. Although a range of diseases lie under this umbrella term, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the most common neurodegenerative diseases that affect a large population around the globe. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of extracellular amyloid-β plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles in brain regions and manifests as a type of dementia in aged individuals that results in memory loss, multiple cognitive abnormalities, and intellectual disabilities that interfere with quality of life. Since the discovery of AD, a wealth of new information has emerged that delineates the causes, mechanisms of disease, and potential therapeutic agents, but an effective remedy to cure the diseases has not been identified yet. This could be because of the complexity of the disease process, as it involves various contributing factors that include environmental factors and genetic predispositions. This review summarizes the current understanding on neurodegenerative mechanisms that lead to the emergence of the pathology of AD.

scholarly journals Asparagine residue 368 is involved in Alzheimer's disease tau strain–specific aggregation

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (41) ◽  
pp. 13996-14014
Author(s):  
Shotaro Shimonaka ◽  
Shin-Ei Matsumoto ◽  
Montasir Elahi ◽  
Koichi Ishiguro ◽  
Masato Hasegawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy ◽  
Corticobasal Degeneration ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Partial Deletion ◽  
Tau Aggregation ◽  
Asparagine Residue

In tauopathies, tau forms pathogenic fibrils with distinct conformations (termed “tau strains”) and acts as an aggregation “seed” templating the conversion of normal tau into isomorphic fibrils. Previous research showed that the aggregation core of tau fibril covers the C-terminal region (243–406 amino acids (aa)) and differs among the diseases. However, the mechanisms by which distinct fibrous structures are formed and inherited via templated aggregation are still unknown. Here, we sought to identify the key sequences of seed-dependent aggregation. To identify sequences for which deletion reduces tau aggregation, SH-SY5Y cells expressing a series of 10 partial deletion (Del 1–10, covering 244–400 aa) mutants of tau-CTF24 (243–441 aa) were treated with tau seeds prepared from a different tauopathy patient's brain (Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration) or recombinant tau, and then seed-dependent tau aggregation was assessed biochemically. We found that the Del 8 mutant lacking 353–368 aa showed significantly decreased aggregation in both cellular and in vitro models. Furthermore, to identify the minimum sequence responsible for tau aggregation, we systematically repeated cellular tau aggregation assays for the delineation of shorter deletion sites and revealed that Asn-368 mutation suppressed tau aggregation triggered by an AD tau seed, but not using other tauopathy seeds. Our study suggested that 353–368 aa is a novel aggregation-responsible sequence other than PHF6 and PHF6*, and within this sequence, the Asn-368 residue plays a role in strain-specific tau aggregation in different tauopathies.

scholarly journals Thyroid hormones promote cell differentiation and up-regulate the expression of the seladin-1 gene in in vitro models of human neuronal precursors

2008 ◽  
Vol 197 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Benvenuti ◽  
P Luciani ◽  
I Cellai ◽  
C Deledda ◽  
S Baglioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Developing Brain ◽  
Neuronal Marker ◽  
Neuronal Precursor Cells ◽  
Neuronal Precursors

Thyroid hormones (TH) play an important role in the development of human brain, by regulating the expression of specific genes. Selective Alzheimer's disease indicator-1 (seladin-1) is a recently discovered gene with neuroprotective properties, which has been found to be down-regulated in brain regions affected by Alzheimer's disease. Seladin-1 has anti-apoptotic properties mainly due to the inhibition of the activation of caspase 3. The aim of this study was to determine whether seladin-1 may be regarded as a new mediator of the effects of TH in the developing brain. In order to demonstrate this hypothesis, the effects of TH both on cell differentiation and on the expression of seladin-1 were assessed in two different cell models, i.e. fetal human neuroepithelial cells (FNC) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), which can be differentiated into neurons. 3,3′,5-Triiodothyronine (T3) determined different biological responses (inhibition of cell adhesion, induction of migration, and increase in the expression of the neuronal marker neurofilament-M and Na+ and Ca2+ channel functionality) in both FNC and hMSC, which express TH receptors. Then, we showed that TH significantly increase the expression levels of seladin-1, and that T3 effectively prevents camptothecin-induced apoptosis. However, in hMSC-derived neurons the expression of seladin-1 was not affected by TH. Our results demonstrated for the first time that seladin-1 is a novel TH-regulated gene in neuronal precursors. In view of its anti-apoptotic activity, it might be hypothesized that one of the functions of the increased seladin-1 levels in the developing brain may be to protect neuronal precursor cells from death.

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