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.

scholarly journals The Impact of Cholesterol, DHA, and Sphingolipids on Alzheimer’s Disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus O. W. Grimm ◽  
Valerie C. Zimmer ◽  
Johannes Lehmann ◽  
Heike S. Grimm ◽  
Tobias Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Senile Plaques ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Models ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Amyloid A ◽  
The Impact

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder currently affecting over 35 million people worldwide. Pathological hallmarks of AD are massive amyloidosis, extracellular senile plaques, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles accompanied by an excessive loss of synapses. Major constituents of senile plaques are 40–42 amino acid long peptides termedβ-amyloid (Aβ). Aβis produced by sequential proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP processing and Aβproduction have been one of the central scopes in AD research in the past. In the last years, lipids and lipid-related issues are more frequently discussed to contribute to the AD pathogenesis. This review summarizes lipid alterations found in ADpostmortembrains, AD transgenic mouse models, and the current understanding of how lipids influence the molecular mechanisms leading to AD and Aβgeneration, focusing especially on cholesterol, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and sphingolipids/glycosphingolipids.

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 Alterations of the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Calcium Signaling Molecular Components in Alzheimer’s Disease

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2577
Author(s):  
Mounia Chami ◽  
Frédéric Checler
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Ryanodine Receptors ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Intracellular Organelles ◽  
And Function ◽  
Molecular Components ◽  
Cellular Components ◽  
Er Calcium

Sustained imbalance in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) entry and clearance alters cellular integrity, ultimately leading to cellular homeostasis disequilibrium and cell death. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Beside the major pathological features associated with AD-linked toxic amyloid beta (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau), several studies suggested the contribution of altered Ca2+ handling in AD development. These studies documented physical or functional interactions of Aβ with several Ca2+ handling proteins located either at the plasma membrane or in intracellular organelles including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), considered the major intracellular Ca2+ pool. In this review, we describe the cellular components of ER Ca2+ dysregulations likely responsible for AD. These include alterations of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors’ (IP3Rs) and ryanodine receptors’ (RyRs) expression and function, dysfunction of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) activity and upregulation of its truncated isoform (S1T), as well as presenilin (PS1, PS2)-mediated ER Ca2+ leak/ER Ca2+ release potentiation. Finally, we highlight the functional consequences of alterations of these ER Ca2+ components in AD pathology and unravel the potential benefit of targeting ER Ca2+ homeostasis as a tool to alleviate AD pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation Signaling in APP Processing in Alzheimer’s Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Dongmei Chen ◽  
Tae Ho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Abnormal Accumulation ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

The abnormal accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the central nervous system is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The regulation of the processing of the single- transmembrane amyloid precursor protein (APP) plays an important role in the generation of Aβ in the brain. The phosphorylation of APP and key enzymes involved in the proteolytic processing of APP has been demonstrated to be critical for modulating the generation of Aβ by either altering the subcellular localization of APP or changing the enzymatic activities of the secretases responsible for APP processing. In addition, the phosphorylation may also have an impact on the physiological function of these proteins. In this review, we summarize the kinases and signaling pathways that may participate in regulating the phosphorylation of APP and secretases and how this further affects the function and processing of APP and Aβ pathology. We also discuss the potential of approaches that modulate these phosphorylation-signaling pathways or kinases as interventions for AD pathology.

Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 418-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lídia Pinheiro ◽  
Célia Faustino
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Senile Plaques ◽  
Symptomatic Relief ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
App Processing

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder linked to protein misfolding and aggregation. AD is pathologically characterized by senile plaques formed by extracellular Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and Intracellular Neurofibrillary Tangles (NFT) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Extensive synaptic loss and neuronal degeneration are responsible for memory impairment, cognitive decline and behavioral dysfunctions typical of AD. Amyloidosis has been implicated in the depression of acetylcholine synthesis and release, overactivation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and increased intracellular calcium levels that result in excitotoxic neuronal degeneration. Current drugs used in AD treatment are either cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA receptor antagonists; however, they provide only symptomatic relief and do not alter the progression of the disease. Aβ is the product of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) processing after successive cleavage by β- and γ-secretases while APP proteolysis by α-secretase results in non-amyloidogenic products. According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, Aβ dyshomeostasis results in the accumulation and aggregation of Aβ into soluble oligomers and insoluble fibrils. The former are synaptotoxic and can induce tau hyperphosphorylation while the latter deposit in senile plaques and elicit proinflammatory responses, contributing to oxidative stress, neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation. Aβ-protein-targeted therapeutic strategies are thus a promising disease-modifying approach for the treatment and prevention of AD. This review summarizes recent findings on Aβ-protein targeted AD drugs, including β-secretase inhibitors, γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators, α-secretase activators, direct inhibitors of Aβ aggregation and immunotherapy targeting Aβ, focusing mainly on those currently under clinical trials.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial- and Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease: From Pathogenesis to Biomarkers

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Ferreiro ◽  
I. Baldeiras ◽  
I. L. Ferreira ◽  
R. O. Costa ◽  
A. C. Rego ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Antioxidant Defenses

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, affecting several million of people worldwide. Pathological changes in the AD brain include the presence of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, loss of neurons and synapses, and oxidative damage. These changes strongly associate with mitochondrial dysfunction and stress of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Mitochondrial dysfunction is intimately linked to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial-driven apoptosis, which appear to be aggravated in the brain of AD patients. Concomitantly, mitochondria are closely associated with ER, and the deleterious crosstalk between both organelles has been shown to be involved in neuronal degeneration in AD. Stimuli that enhance expression of normal and/or folding-defective proteins activate an adaptive unfolded protein response (UPR) that, if unresolved, can cause apoptotic cell death. ER stress also induces the generation of ROS that, together with mitochondrial ROS and decreased activity of several antioxidant defenses, promotes chronic oxidative stress. In this paper we discuss the critical role of mitochondrial and ER dysfunction in oxidative injury in AD cellular and animal models, as well as in biological fluids from AD patients. Progress in developing peripheral and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers related to oxidative stress will also be summarized.

scholarly journals Detection Gap of Right-Asymmetric Neuronal Degeneration by CERAD Test Battery in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Kreuzer ◽  
Julia Sauerbeck ◽  
Maximilian Scheifele ◽  
Anna Stockbauer ◽  
Sonja Schönecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Clinical Evaluation ◽  
Fdg Pet ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Tomography ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Test Battery ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: Asymmetric disease characteristics on neuroimaging are common in structural and functional imaging of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in Alzheimer‘s disease (AD). However, a standardized clinical evaluation of asymmetric neuronal degeneration and its impact on clinical findings has only sporadically been investigated for F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-18-FDG-PET). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of lateralized neuronal degeneration on the detection of AD by detailed clinical testing. Furthermore, we compared associations between clinical evaluation and lateralized neuronal degeneration between FDG-PET hypometabolism and hippocampal atrophy. Finally, we investigated if specific subtests show associations with lateralized neuronal degeneration.Methods: One-hundred and forty-six patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD (age 71 ± 8) were investigated by FDG-PET and the “Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s disease” (CERAD) test battery. For assessment of neuronal degeneration, FDG-PET hypometabolism in brain regions typically affected in AD were graded by visual (3D-surface projections) and semiquantitative analysis. Asymmetry of the hippocampus (left-right) in magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) was rated visually by the Scheltens scale. Measures of asymmetry were calculated to quantify lateralized neuronal degeneration and asymmetry scores were subsequently correlated with CERAD.Results: Asymmetry with left-dominant neuronal degeneration to FDG-PET was an independent predictor of cognitive impairment (visual: β = −0.288, p < 0.001; semiquantitative: β = −0.451, p < 0.001) when controlled for age, gender, years of education and total burden of neuronal degeneration, whereas hippocampal asymmetry to MRI was not (β = −0.034; p = 0.731). Direct comparison of CERAD-PET associations in cases with right- and left-lateralized neuronal degeneration estimated a detection gap of 2.7 years for right-lateralized cases. Left-hemispheric neuronal degeneration was significantly associated with the total CERAD score and multiple subscores, whereas only MMSE (semiquantitative: β = 0.429, p < 0.001) and constructional praxis (semiquantitative: β = 0.292, p = 0.008) showed significant associations with right-hemispheric neuronal degeneration.Conclusions: Asymmetry of deteriorated cerebral glucose metabolism has a significant impact on the coupling between neuronal degeneration and cognitive function. Right dominant neuronal degeneration shows a delayed detection by global CERAD testing and requires evaluation of specific subdomains of cognitive testing.

scholarly journals The impact of anorexigenic peptides in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease pathology

2019 ◽  
Vol 240 (2) ◽  
pp. R47-R72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Maletínská ◽  
Andrea Popelová ◽  
Blanka Železná ◽  
Michal Bencze ◽  
Jaroslav Kuneš
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
The Impact

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly population. Numerous epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that patients who suffer from obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus have a higher risk of cognitive dysfunction and AD. Several recent studies demonstrated that food intake-lowering (anorexigenic) peptides have the potential to improve metabolic disorders and that they may also potentially be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the neuroprotective effects of anorexigenic peptides of both peripheral and central origins are discussed. Moreover, the role of leptin as a key modulator of energy homeostasis is discussed in relation to its interaction with anorexigenic peptides and their analogs in AD-like pathology. Although there is no perfect experimental model of human AD pathology, animal studies have already proven that anorexigenic peptides exhibit neuroprotective properties. This phenomenon is extremely important for the potential development of new drugs in view of the aging of the human population and of the significantly increasing incidence of AD.

scholarly journals Alterations of Transcription of Genes Coding Anti-oxidative and Mitochondria-Related Proteins in Amyloid β Toxicity: Relevance to Alzheimer’s Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 1374-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Cieślik ◽  
Grzegorz A. Czapski ◽  
Sylwia Wójtowicz ◽  
Iga Wieczorek ◽  
Przemysław L. Wencel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Brain Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Sirtuin 1 ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
The Impact

AbstractA growing body of evidence indicates that pathological forms of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide contribute to neuronal degeneration and synaptic loss in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we investigated the impact of exogenous Aβ1-42 oligomers (AβO) and endogenously liberated Aβ peptides on transcription of genes for anti-oxidative and mitochondria-related proteins in cell lines (neuronal SH-SY5Y and microglial BV2) and in brain cortex of transgenic AD (Tg-AD) mice, respectively. Our results demonstrated significant AβO-evoked changes in transcription of genes in SH-SY5Y cells, where AβO enhanced expression of Sod1, Cat, mt-Nd1, Bcl2, and attenuated Sirt5, Sod2 and Sdha. In BV2 line, AβO increased the level of mRNA for Sod2, Dnm1l, Bcl2, and decreased for Gpx4, Sirt1, Sirt3, mt-Nd1, Sdha and Mfn2. Then, AβO enhanced free radicals level and impaired mitochondrial membrane potential only in SH-SY5Y cells, but reduced viability of both cell types. Inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 and activator of sirtuin-1 more efficiently enhanced viability of SH-SY5Y than BV2 affected by AβO. Analysis of brain cortex of Tg-AD mice confirmed significant downregulation of Sirt1, Mfn1 and mt-Nd1 and upregulation of Dnm1l. In human AD brain, changes of microRNA pattern (miRNA-9, miRNA-34a, miRNA-146a and miRNA-155) seem to be responsible for decrease in Sirt1 expression. Overall, our results demonstrated a diverse response of neuronal and microglial cells to AβO toxicity. Alterations of genes encoding Sirt1, Mfn1 and Drp1 in an experimental model of AD suggest that modulation of mitochondria dynamics and Sirt1, including miRNA strategy, may be crucial for improvement of AD therapy.

scholarly journals Protein Tau: Prime Cause of Synaptic and Neuronal Degeneration in Alzheimer's Disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Crespo-Biel ◽  
Clara Theunis ◽  
Fred Van Leuven
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Preclinical Models ◽  
Protein Tau ◽  
Tau Isoforms ◽  
Late Event

The microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAPT) is a major component of the pathogenesis of a wide variety of brain-damaging disorders, known as tauopathies. These include Alzheimer's disease (AD), denoted as secondary tauopathy because of the obligatory combination with amyloid pathology. In all tauopathies, protein Tau becomes aberrantly phosphorylated, adopts abnormal conformations, and aggregates into fibrils that eventually accumulate as threads in neuropil and as tangles in soma. The argyrophilic neurofibrillary threads and tangles, together denoted as NFT, provide the postmortem pathological diagnosis for all tauopathies. In AD, neurofibrillary threads and tangles (NFTs) are codiagnostic with amyloid depositions but their separated and combined contributions to clinical symptoms remain elusive. Importantly, NFTs are now considered a late event and not directly responsible for early synaptic dysfunctions. Conversely, the biochemical and pathological timeline is not exactly known in human tauopathy, but experimental models point to smaller Tau-aggregates, termed oligomers or multimers, as synaptotoxic in early stages. The challenge is to molecularly define these Tau-isoforms that cause early cognitive and synaptic impairments. Here, we discuss relevant studies and data obtained in our mono- and bigenic validated preclinical models, with the perspective of Tau as a therapeutic target.

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