scholarly journals Intracellular ways of development of Alzheimer's disease against the background of herpes viral infections (literature review)

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-46
Author(s):  
S.S. Ostrovska ◽  
V.F. Shatorna ◽  
E.O. Liholetov
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
The Body ◽  
Tau Proteins ◽  
Postmortem Brain ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Brain

The concept of the viral etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was first proposed in 1982. Its author MJ Ball suggested that the herpes simplex virus (HSV1) may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD, finding that the areas of the brain damaged in acute herpetic encephalitis are the same as those that are affected in AD, and those who survived usually suffer from memory loss and other cognitive impairment typical of AD. Subsequently, in all postmortem brain samples (temporal, frontal, and hippocampal) viral sequences of the viral thymidinekinase gene were found in a high proportion (70-100%) both in AD and in elderly people without it, while in young people and children the virus was found in very low proportions, so it was suggested that HSV1 comes from the peripheral ganglia, where the virus can remain inactive for many years, then enters the brain at an older age due to a decrease in the activity of the immune system. The increased risk of AD is associated with the presence of HSV1 in the brain and the carriage of a specific genetic factor – allele-ε4 of the apolipoprotein E4 gene (APOE-ε4). By themselves, neither HSV1 nor the APOE-ɛ4 allele were found as risk factors for the development of AD but their combination increased the risk of AD development by 12 times and made up 60% in patients with AD. The phenomena involved in the pathophysiology of AD are neurodegenerative changes that occur as a result of fibrillation and deposition of amyloid-β-peptide (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles – accumulations of aggregated phosphorylated tau-proteins (P-tau), leading to brain atrophy due to neuronal death. Traditionally, Aβ has been characterized as a catabolic by-product. However, it has recently been shown that Aβ-peptide has antiviral activity and protective effects against HSV infections in the brain. А 16-year study in Thailand with more than 33,000 patients showed that long-term use of antiherpetic drugs reduces the risk of dementia, including AD patients infected with HSV1. Patients with HSV1 infection who received antiherpetic drugs showed a lower risk of all types of dementia compared with the group without these drugs. Their positive effect on stopping the accumulation of amyloid beta and tau protein in the body has been confirmed. In this regard, it is assumed that vaccination against HSV1 may be useful not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of AD.

Phosphorylation of a full length amyloid-β peptide modulates its amyloid aggregation, cell binding and neurotoxic properties

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1545-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaheh Jamasbi ◽  
Frances Separovic ◽  
Mohammed Akhter Hossain ◽  
Giuseppe Donato Ciccotosto
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Plaques ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Amyloid Aggregation ◽  
Cell Binding ◽  
The Brain

Phosphorylation of Aβ42 promotes the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which lack the neurotoxic properties associated with oligomeric species causing pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease.

scholarly journals Neuron-specific methylome analysis reveals epigenetic regulation and tau-related dysfunction of BRCA1 in Alzheimer’s disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (45) ◽  
pp. E9645-E9654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuo Mano ◽  
Kenichi Nagata ◽  
Takashi Nonaka ◽  
Airi Tarutani ◽  
Tomohiro Imamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Tau Proteins ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanism ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Brca1 Protein ◽  
Dna Methylome ◽  
Methylome Analysis ◽  
The Brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by pathology of accumulated amyloid β (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau proteins in the brain. Postmortem degradation and cellular complexity within the brain have limited approaches to molecularly define the causal relationship between pathological features and neuronal dysfunction in AD. To overcome these limitations, we analyzed the neuron-specific DNA methylome of postmortem brain samples from AD patients, which allowed differentially hypomethylated region of the BRCA1 promoter to be identified. Expression of BRCA1 was significantly up-regulated in AD brains, consistent with its hypomethylation. BRCA1 protein levels were also elevated in response to DNA damage induced by Aβ. BRCA1 became mislocalized to the cytoplasm and highly insoluble in a tau-dependent manner, resulting in DNA fragmentation in both in vitro cellular and in vivo mouse models. BRCA1 dysfunction under Aβ burden is consistent with concomitant deterioration of genomic integrity and synaptic plasticity. The Brca1 promoter region of AD model mice brain was similarly hypomethylated, indicating an epigenetic mechanism underlying BRCA1 regulation in AD. Our results suggest deterioration of DNA integrity as a central contributing factor in AD pathogenesis. Moreover, these data demonstrate the technical feasibility of using neuron-specific DNA methylome analysis to facilitate discovery of etiological candidates in sporadic neurodegenerative diseases.

The contribution of astrocytes to Alzheimer's disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 1316-1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy M. Birch
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Substantial Evidence ◽  
Supporting Cells ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
The Brain

Astrocytes were historically classified as supporting cells; however, it is becoming increasingly clear that they actively contribute to neuronal functioning under normal and pathological conditions. As interest in the contribution of neuroinflammation to Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression has grown, manipulating glial cells has become an attractive target for future therapies. Astrocytes have largely been under-represented in studies that assess the role of glia in these processes, despite substantial evidence of astrogliosis in AD. The actual role of astrocytes in AD remains elusive, as they seem to adopt different functions dependent on disease progression and the extent of accompanying parenchymal inflammation. Astrocytes may contribute to the clearance of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and restrict the spread of inflammation in the brain. Conversely, they may contribute to neurodegeneration in AD by releasing neurotoxins and neglecting crucial metabolic roles. The present review summarizes current evidence on the multi-faceted functions of astrocytes in AD, highlighting the significant scope available for future therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals The Neurovascular Unit Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis O. Soto-Rojas ◽  
Mar Pacheco-Herrero ◽  
Paola A. Martínez-Gómez ◽  
B. Berenice Campa-Córdoba ◽  
Ricardo Apátiga-Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Brain Parenchyma ◽  
Amyloid Angiopathy ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
The Brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Histopathologically, AD presents with two hallmarks: neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and aggregates of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) both in the brain parenchyma as neuritic plaques, and around blood vessels as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). According to the vascular hypothesis of AD, vascular risk factors can result in dysregulation of the neurovascular unit (NVU) and hypoxia. Hypoxia may reduce Aβ clearance from the brain and increase its production, leading to both parenchymal and vascular accumulation of Aβ. An increase in Aβ amplifies neuronal dysfunction, NFT formation, and accelerates neurodegeneration, resulting in dementia. In recent decades, therapeutic approaches have attempted to decrease the levels of abnormal Aβ or tau levels in the AD brain. However, several of these approaches have either been associated with an inappropriate immune response triggering inflammation, or have failed to improve cognition. Here, we review the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets associated with dysfunction of the NVU in AD.

scholarly journals Multi-pathogen infections and Alzheimer’s disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Vigasova ◽  
Michal Nemergut ◽  
Barbora Liskova ◽  
Jiri Damborsky
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Tau Proteins ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Periodontal Bacteria ◽  
Chronic Neuroinflammation ◽  
Microbial Infections ◽  
Multiple Pathogens

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease associated with the overproduction and accumulation of amyloid-β peptide and hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in the brain. Despite extensive research on the amyloid-based mechanism of AD pathogenesis, the underlying cause of AD is not fully understood. No disease-modifying therapies currently exist, and numerous clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any benefits. The recent discovery that the amyloid-β peptide has antimicrobial activities supports the possibility of an infectious aetiology of AD and suggests that amyloid-β plaque formation might be induced by infection. AD patients have a weakened blood–brain barrier and immune system and are thus at elevated risk of microbial infections. Such infections can cause chronic neuroinflammation, production of the antimicrobial amyloid-β peptide, and neurodegeneration. Various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites have been associated with AD. Most research in this area has focused on individual pathogens, with herpesviruses and periodontal bacteria being most frequently implicated. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential role of multi-pathogen infections in AD. Recognition of the potential coexistence of multiple pathogens and biofilms in AD’s aetiology may stimulate the development of novel approaches to its diagnosis and treatment. Multiple diagnostic tests could be applied simultaneously to detect major pathogens, followed by anti-microbial treatment using antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-biofilm agents.

scholarly journals Tau-first subtype of Alzheimer's disease consistently identified across in vivo and post mortem studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon M Aksman ◽  
Neil P Oxtoby ◽  
Marzia A Scelsi ◽  
Peter A Wijeratne ◽  
Alexandra L Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Tau Proteins ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Soluble Trem2 ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by the spread of misfolded amyloid-β and tau proteins throughout the brain. While it is commonly believed that amyloid-β abnormality drives the cascade of AD pathogenesis, several in vivo and post mortem studies indicate that in some subjects localized tau-based neurofibrillary tangles precede amyloid-β pathology. This suggests that there may be multiple distinct subtypes of protein aggregation pathways within AD, with potentially different demographic, cognitive and comorbidity profiles. We investigated this hypothesis, applying data-driven disease progression subtyping models to post mortem immunohistochemistry and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) based measures of protein pathologies in two large observational cohorts. We consistently identified both amyloid-first and tau-first AD subtypes, where tau-first subjects had higher levels of soluble TREM2 compared to amyloid-first subjects. Our work provides insight into AD progression that may be valuable for interventional trials targeting amyloid-β and tau.

scholarly journals Longitudinal evaluation of the natural history of amyloid-β in plasma and brain

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha C Burnham ◽  
Noelia Fandos ◽  
Christopher Fowler ◽  
Virginia Pérez-Grijalba ◽  
Vincent Dore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Total Protein ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Plaque Burden ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Pet Amyloid

Abstract Plasma amyloid-β peptide concentration has recently been shown to have high accuracy to predict amyloid-β plaque burden in the brain. These amyloid-β plasma markers will allow wider screening of the population and simplify and reduce screening costs for therapeutic trials in Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this study was to determine how longitudinal changes in blood amyloid-β track with changes in brain amyloid-β. Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle study participants with a minimum of two assessments were evaluated (111 cognitively normal, 7 mild cognitively impaired, 15 participants with Alzheimer’s disease). Amyloid-β burden in the brain was evaluated through PET and was expressed in Centiloids. Total protein amyloid-β 42/40 plasma ratios were determined using ABtest® assays. We applied our method for obtaining natural history trajectories from short term data to measures of total protein amyloid-β 42/40 plasma ratios and PET amyloid-β. The natural history trajectory of total protein amyloid-β 42/40 plasma ratios appears to approximately mirror that of PET amyloid-β, with both spanning decades. Rates of change of 7.9% and 8.8%, were observed for total protein amyloid-β 42/40 plasma ratios and PET amyloid-β, respectively. The trajectory of plasma amyloid-β preceded that of brain amyloid-β by a median value of 6 years (significant at 88% confidence interval). These findings, showing the tight association between changes in plasma and brain amyloid-β, support the use of plasma total protein amyloid-β 42/40 plasma ratios as a surrogate marker of brain amyloid-β. Also, that plasma total protein amyloid-β 42/40 plasma ratios has potential utility in monitoring trial participants, and as an outcome measure.

scholarly journals ABCA7 and Pathogenic Pathways of Alzheimer’s Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Brain

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) reporter family functions to regulate the homeostasis of phospholipids and cholesterol in the central nervous system, as well as peripheral tissues. ABCA7 belongs to the A subfamily of ABC transporters, which shares 54% sequence identity with ABCA1. While ABCA7 is expressed in a variety of tissues/organs, including the brain, recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified ABCA7 gene variants as susceptibility loci for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). More important, subsequent genome sequencing analyses have revealed that premature termination codon mutations in ABCA7 are associated with the increased risk for AD. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia, where the accumulation and deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides cleaved from amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the brain trigger the pathogenic cascade of the disease. In consistence with human genetic studies, increasing evidence has demonstrated that ABCA7 deficiency exacerbates Aβ pathology using in vitro and in vivo models. While ABCA7 has been shown to mediate phagocytic activity in macrophages, ABCA7 is also involved in the microglial Aβ clearance pathway. Furthermore, ABCA7 deficiency results in accelerated Aβ production, likely by facilitating endocytosis and/or processing of APP. Taken together, current evidence suggests that ABCA7 loss-of-function contributes to AD-related phenotypes through multiple pathways. A better understanding of the function of ABCA7 beyond lipid metabolism in both physiological and pathological conditions becomes increasingly important to explore AD pathogenesis.

scholarly journals The Use of Antimicrobial and Antiviral Drugs in Alzheimer’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4920
Author(s):  
Umar H. Iqbal ◽  
Emma Zeng ◽  
Giulio M. Pasinetti
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Antiviral Drugs ◽  
Tau Proteins ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Potential Therapeutics

The aggregation and accumulation of amyloid-β plaques and tau proteins in the brain have been central characteristics in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), making them the focus of most of the research exploring potential therapeutics for this neurodegenerative disease. With success in interventions aimed at depleting amyloid-β peptides being limited at best, a greater understanding of the physiological role of amyloid-β peptides is needed. The development of amyloid-β plaques has been determined to occur 10–20 years prior to AD symptom manifestation, hence earlier interventions might be necessary to address presymptomatic AD. Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that amyloid-β peptides may play a role in innate immunity as an antimicrobial peptide. These findings, coupled with the evidence of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria in AD brains, suggests that the buildup of amyloid-β plaques could be a response to the presence of viruses and bacteria. This has led to the foundation of the antimicrobial hypothesis for AD. The present review will highlight the current understanding of amyloid-β, and the role of bacteria and viruses in AD, and will also explore the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs in Alzheimer’s disease.

scholarly journals Metabolic Disturbances Induced by Sleep Restriction as Potential Triggers for Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Enrique García-Aviles ◽  
Rebeca Méndez-Hernández ◽  
Mara A. Guzmán-Ruiz ◽  
Miguel Cruz ◽  
Natalí N. Guerrero-Vargas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Deficit ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Sleep Restriction ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Metabolic Disturbances ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Chronic Sleep

Sleep has a major role in learning, memory consolidation, and metabolic function. Although it is known that sleep restriction increases the accumulation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) and the risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the mechanism behind these effects remains unknown. In this review, we discuss how chronic sleep restriction induces metabolic and cognitive impairments that could result in the development of AD in late life. Here, we integrate evidence regarding mechanisms whereby metabolic signaling becomes disturbed after short or chronic sleep restriction in the context of cognitive impairment, particularly in the accumulation of Aβ in the brain. We also discuss the role of the blood-brain barrier in sleep restriction with an emphasis on the transport of metabolic signals into the brain and Aβ clearance. This review presents the unexplored possibility that the alteration of peripheral metabolic signals induced by sleep restriction, especially insulin resistance, is responsible for cognitive deficit and, subsequently, implicated in AD development.

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