Role of Extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer’s disease: Current Advances

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smriti Sharma

: The recent developments in the field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) point to their potential use for predicting and treating neurodegenerative diseases. This reviews focusses on the importance and latest advances in this field especially with respect to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Increasing evidence show that progression of amyloid-beta and tau brain pathology is correlated to the cognitive decline associated with AD. Lot of experimental data suggests involvement of EVs with these processes for instance EVs are known to circulate the misfolded proteins involved in AD. The currently available information on role of EVs in neurodegenerative disorder especially in AD and have also presented the knowledge gaps on which future research efforts should be focused.The recent developments in the field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) point to their potential use for predicting and treating neurodegenerative diseases. This reviews focusses on the importance and latest advances in this field especially with respect to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Increasing evidence show that progression of amyloid-beta and tau brain pathology is correlated to the cognitive decline associated with AD. Lot of experimental data suggests involvement of EVs with these processes for instance EVs are known to circulate the misfolded proteins involved in AD. The currently available information on role of EVs in neurodegenerative disorder especially in AD and have also presented the knowledge gaps on which future research efforts should be focused.

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Süß ◽  
Johannes C.M. Schlachetzki

: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disorder. Although proteinaceous aggregates of extracellular Amyloid-β (Aβ) and intracellular hyperphosphorylated microtubule- associated tau have long been identified as characteristic neuropathological hallmarks of AD, a disease- modifying therapy against these targets has not been successful. An emerging concept is that microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, are major players in AD pathogenesis. Microglia are longlived tissue-resident professional phagocytes that survey and rapidly respond to changes in their microenvironment. Subpopulations of microglia cluster around Aβ plaques and adopt a transcriptomic signature specifically linked to neurodegeneration. A plethora of molecules and pathways associated with microglia function and dysfunction has been identified as important players in mediating neurodegeneration. However, whether microglia exert either beneficial or detrimental effects in AD pathology may depend on the disease stage. : In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the stage-dependent role of microglia in AD, including recent insights from genetic and gene expression profiling studies as well as novel imaging techniques focusing on microglia in human AD pathology and AD mouse models.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Monterey ◽  
Haichao Wei ◽  
Xizi Wu ◽  
Jia Qian Wu

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and is the most common cause of dementia in an aging population. The majority of research effort has focused on the role of neurons in neurodegeneration and current therapies have limited ability to slow disease progression. Recently more attention has been given to the role of astrocytes in the process of neurodegeneration. Specifically, reactive astrocytes have both advantageous and adverse effects during neurodegeneration. The ability to isolate and depict astrocyte phenotype has been challenging. However, with the recent development of single-cell sequencing technologies researchers are provided with the resource to delineate specific biomarkers associated with reactive astrocytes in AD. In this review, we will focus on the role of astrocytes in normal conditions and the pathological development of AD. We will further review recent developments in the understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity and associated biomarkers. A better understanding of astrocyte contributions and phenotypic changes in AD can ultimately lead to more effective therapeutic targets.


Author(s):  
Sónia C. Correia ◽  
Paula I. Moreira ◽  
George Perry

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an intriguing and still unsolved puzzle that has attracted, over the last decades, the interest of the scientific community. Despite the limited knowledge regarding the initial cause(s) of AD, mitochondrial abnormalities have been pinpointed as one of the earliest and strongest events related with the pathological course of this complex neurodegenerative disease. In this sense, the present chapter addresses three distinct but connected pieces of the AD puzzle: (a) how could defects of mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics contribute to AD pathology? (b) Could mitochondrial defects promote the disease-defining amyloid-β‎ and tau pathologies, and vice versa? and (c) Are mitochondria feasible therapeutic targets to postpone AD symptomatology and neuropathology, and, if so, how and when? The understanding and connection of these puzzle pieces provide a more comprehensive picture about the fundamental role of mitochondrial (mal)function in the neurodegenerative processes that occur in AD and propels future research interventions aimed to forestall AD-related pathological phenotype by bolstering mitochondrial “health.”


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Alexandre Quadros Gomes ◽  
João Paulo Bastos Silva ◽  
Camila Fernanda Rodrigues Romeiro ◽  
Sávio Monteiro dos Santos ◽  
Caroline Azulay Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and neurodegenerative disorder of the cortex and hippocampus, which eventually leads to cognitive impairment. Although the etiology of AD remains unclear, the presence ofβ-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in these learning and memory regions is a hallmark of AD. Therefore, the inhibition of Aβpeptide aggregation has been considered the primary therapeutic strategy for AD treatment. Many studies have shown that resveratrol has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties and can decrease the toxicity and aggregation of Aβpeptides in the hippocampus of AD patients, promote neurogenesis, and prevent hippocampal damage. In addition, the antioxidant activity of resveratrol plays an important role in neuronal differentiation through the activation of silent information regulator-1 (SIRT1). SIRT1 plays a vital role in the growth and differentiation of neurons and prevents the apoptotic death of these neurons by deacetylating and repressing p53 activity; however, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Resveratrol also has anti-inflammatory effects as it suppresses M1 microglia activation, which is involved in the initiation of neurodegeneration, and promotes Th2 responses by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and SIRT1 expression. This review will focus on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory neuroprotective effects of resveratrol, specifically on its role in SIRT1 and the association with AD pathophysiology.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunitha Kodidela ◽  
Kelli Gerth ◽  
Sanjana Haque ◽  
Yuqing Gong ◽  
Saifudeen Ismael ◽  
...  

The longevity of people with HIV/AIDS has been prolonged with the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The age-related complications, especially cognitive deficits, rise as HIV patients live longer. Deposition of beta-amyloid (Aβ), a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has been observed in subjects with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Various mechanisms such as neuroinflammation induced by HIV proteins (e.g., Tat, gp120, Nef), excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and the use of ART contribute to the deposition of Aβ, leading to dementia. However, progressive dementia in older subjects with HIV might be due to HAND, AD, or both. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs)/exosomes, have gained recognition for their importance in understanding the pathology of both HAND and AD. EVs can serve as a possible link between HIV and AD, due to their ability to package and transport the toxic proteins implicated in both AD and HIV (Aβ/tau and gp120/tat, respectively). Given that Aß is also elevated in neuron-derived exosomes isolated from the plasma of HIV patients, it is reasonable to suggest that neuron-to-neuron exosomal transport of Aβ and tau also contributes to AD-like pathology in HIV-infected subjects. Therefore, exploring exosomal contents is likely to help distinguish HAND from AD. However, future prospective clinical studies need to be conducted to compare the exosomal contents in the plasma of HIV subjects with and without HAND as well as those with and without AD. This would help to find new markers and develop new treatment strategies to treat AD in HIV-positive subjects. This review presents comprehensive literatures on the mechanisms contributing to Aβ deposition in HIV-infected cells, the role of EVs in the propagation of Aβ in AD, the possible role of EVs in HIV-induced AD-like pathology, and finally, possible therapeutic targets or molecules to treat HIV subjects with AD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasha R. Womack ◽  
Craig Vollert ◽  
Odochi Nwoko ◽  
Monika Schmitt ◽  
Sagi Montazari ◽  
...  

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common cause of dementia in aged populations. A substantial amount of data demonstrates that chronic neuroinflammation can accelerate neurodegenerative pathologies, while epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that the use of anti-inflammatory agents may be neuroprotective. In AD, chronic neuroinflammation results in the upregulation of cyclooxygenase and increased production of prostaglandin H2, a precursor for many vasoactive prostanoids. While it is well-established that many prostaglandins can modulate the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the brain is poorly understood. We have conducted studies to assess the effect of elevated prostacyclin biosynthesis in a mouse model of AD. Upregulated prostacyclin expression significantly worsened multiple measures associated with amyloid disease pathologies. Mice overexpressing both amyloid and PGI2 exhibited impaired learning and memory and increased anxiety-like behavior compared with non-transgenic and PGI2 control mice. PGI2 overexpression accelerated the development of amyloid accumulation in the brain and selectively increased the production of soluble amyloid-β 42. PGI2 damaged the microvasculature through alterations in vascular length and branching; amyloid expression exacerbated these effects. Our findings demonstrate that chronic prostacyclin expression plays a novel and unexpected role that hastens the development of the AD phenotype.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1353
Author(s):  
Francesca Romana Buccellato ◽  
Marianna D’Anca ◽  
Chiara Fenoglio ◽  
Elio Scarpini ◽  
Daniela Galimberti

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder accounting for over 50% of all dementia patients and representing a leading cause of death worldwide for the global ageing population. The lack of effective treatments for overt AD urges the discovery of biomarkers for early diagnosis, i.e., in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or prodromal AD. The brain is exposed to oxidative stress as levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are increased, whereas cellular antioxidant defenses are decreased. Increased ROS levels can damage cellular structures or molecules, leading to protein, lipid, DNA, or RNA oxidation. Oxidative damage is involved in the molecular mechanisms which link the accumulation of amyloid-β and neurofibrillary tangles, containing hyperphosphorylated tau, to microglia response. In this scenario, microglia are thought to play a crucial role not only in the early events of AD pathogenesis but also in the progression of the disease. This review will focus on oxidative damage products as possible peripheral biomarkers in AD and in the preclinical phases of the disease. Particular attention will be paid to biological fluids such as blood, CSF, urine, and saliva, and potential future use of molecules contained in such body fluids for early differential diagnosis and monitoring the disease course. We will also review the role of oxidative damage and microglia in the pathogenesis of AD and, more broadly, in neurodegeneration.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Chiasserini ◽  
Irene Bijnsdorp ◽  
Giovanni Bellomo ◽  
Pier Luigi Orvietani ◽  
Sander R. Piersma ◽  
...  

AbstractCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contains different types of extracellular vesicles (EVs) with undisclosed biomarker potential for neurodegenerative diseases. The aims of the present study were: i) to compare the proteome EVs isolated using different ultracentrifugation speed ii) to preliminary explore the EVs proteome in a common neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared to neurological controls. CSF samples from control subjects and AD patients were pooled separately (15 mL) and subjected to ultracentrifugation (UC) at different speeds (20,000g and 100,000g) to isolate separate EV fractions (P20 and P100). The proteome was analysed using high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and comparisons were made using bioinformatic analysis. EVs isolated at 100,000g (P100) had a proteome consistent with vesicles secreted via an ESCRT-dependent mechanism, being highly enriched in alix (PDCD6IP), syntenin-1 (SDCBP) and TSG101. EVs isolated at 20,000g were substantially different, showing enrichment in cytoskeletal and cell adhesion molecules. The pools from patients diagnosed with AD showed a distinct protein profile of CSF EVs, with increased levels of ADAM10, SPON1, CH3IL1 and MDK in the P100 fraction. CSF EV offer a new potential biosource of protein markers for AD detection and a complementary framework to the analysis of whole biological fluids for biomarker discovery.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baruh Polis ◽  
Kolluru D Srikanth ◽  
Vyacheslav Gurevich ◽  
Hava Gil-Henn ◽  
Abraham O. Samson

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an insidious onset. The disease is characterized by cognitive impairment and a distinct pathology with neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.Growing evidence highlights the role of arginase activity in the manifestation of AD. Upregulation of arginase was shown to contribute to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. Regulation of arginase activity appears to be a promising approach for interfering with the pathogenesis of AD and other metabolic disorders. Therefore, the enzyme represents a novel therapeutic target.Here, we administer an arginase inhibitor L-norvaline to a mouse model of AD. Then, we evaluate the neuroprotective effect of L-norvaline using immunohistochemistry, proteomics, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. Finally, we identify the biological pathways activated by the treatment.Remarkably, we find that L-norvaline treatment reverses the cognitive decline in AD mice. We show the treatment is neuroprotective as indicated by reduced beta-amyloidosis, alleviated microgliosis, and TNFα transcription levels. Moreover, elevated levels of neuroplasticity related protein PSD-95 were detected in the hippocampi of mice treated with L-norvaline. Furthermore, we disclose several biological pathways, which are involved in cell survival and neuroplasticity and are activated by the treatment.Through these modes of action, L-norvaline has the potential to improve the symptoms of AD and even interfere with its pathogenesis. As such, L-norvaline is a promising neuroprotective molecule that might be tailored for the treatment of a range of neurodegenerative disorders.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 631
Author(s):  
Doaa M. Hanafy ◽  
Geoffrey E. Burrows ◽  
Paul D. Prenzler ◽  
Rodney A. Hill

With an increase in the longevity and thus the proportion of the elderly, especially in developed nations, there is a rise in pathological conditions that accompany ageing, such as neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive and memory decline. The pathophysiology of the disease is poorly understood, with several factors contributing to its development, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, cholinergic neuronal apoptotic death, and the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain. Current medications are only palliative and cannot stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Recent clinical trials of synthetic compounds for the treatment of AD have failed because of their adverse effects or lack of efficacy. Thus, there is impetus behind the search for drugs from natural origins, in addition to the discovery of novel, conventional therapeutics. Mints have been used traditionally for conditions relevant to the central nervous system. Recent studies showed that mint extracts and/or their phenolic constituents have a neuroprotective potential and can target multiple events of AD. In this review, we provide evidence of the potential role of mint extracts and their derivatives as possible sources of treatments in managing AD. Some of the molecular pathways implicated in the development of AD are reviewed, with focus on apoptosis and some redox pathways, pointing to mechanisms that may be modulated for the treatment of AD, and the need for future research invoking knowledge of these pathways is highlighted.


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