Assessing the contribution of inflammation in models of Alzheimer's disease

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 886-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Johnston ◽  
Herve Boutin ◽  
Stuart M. Allan
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Inflammatory Mediators ◽  
Microglial Activation ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Cellular Expression ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Long Term Treatment

Inflammation has long been proposed as having a role in AD (Alzheimer's disease), although it remains unclear whether inflammation represents a cause or consequence of AD. Evidence from the clinical setting in support of a role for inflammation in AD includes increased expression of inflammatory mediators and microglial activation in the post-mortem AD brain. Also, epidemiological studies on AD patients under long-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs suggest some benefits, although recent prospective trials showed no effect. Furthermore, in AD patients, infection and other systemic inflammatory events worsen symptoms. Finally, several inflammatory genes are associated with increased risk of AD. Therefore, to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of AD and the role of inflammation, researchers have turned to experimental models and here we present a short overview of some key findings from these studies. Activation of microglia is seen in various transgenic models of AD, with both a protective role and a detrimental role being ascribed to it. Early microglial activation is probably beneficial in AD, through phagocytosis of amyloid β-peptide. At later stages however, pro-inflammatory cytokine release from microglia could contribute to neuronal demise. A better understanding of microglial phenotype at the various stages of AD is therefore still required. Although most studies suggest a detrimental role for pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor in AD, contradictory findings do exist. Age-related and differential cellular expression of these inflammatory mediators is probably a key determinant of their exact contribution to AD. In conclusion, there is no doubt that inflammatory processes are part of the pathophysiology of AD, but a better understanding of the exact contribution at different stages of the disease process is still required before appropriate treatment strategies can be devised.

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.

scholarly journals The Effect of Anesthesia and Surgery on Postoperative Changes in Plasma biomarkers of neuronal injury, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammation in healthy subjects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenguo Fan ◽  
Lijia Mai ◽  
Zhi Wu ◽  
Qiaomei Wu ◽  
Xiaoping Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Inflammatory Mediators ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Neuronal Injury ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Duration Of Surgery

Abstract Background: Anesthesia and surgery have been linked to neurological sequelae such as perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The exact mechanisms of PND remain ambiguous and controversial, which were deserved to explore further. Methods: Healthy subjects undergoing general anesthesia for orthognathic surgery were prospectively randomized to receive propofol or sevoflurane for anesthetic maintenance. Blood samples were taken preoperatively and at 3, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Neurofilament light (NFL), tau, Amyloid β (Aβ)40, Aβ42 and 21 inflammatory mediators in plasma were measured using highly sensitive assays.Results: A total of 50 healthy subjects were enrolled. The mean (SD) age was 24.80(4.63) years. Plasma NFL increased at each measurement from a baseline mean (SD) of 22.3 (20.4) pg/mL to a maximal mean (SD) level of 35.1 (28.7) pg/mL, a maximum increase of 599%, at 3 hours postoperatively. NFL level began to decline at 24 hours, but remained higher at 48 hours. The levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 decreased at 3 hours, and to minimum mean (SD) of 196.70 (38.61) pg/mL and 8.01(1.66) pg/mL at 24 hours postoperatively, respectively. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of plasma tau after anesthesia and surgery. Plasma IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, I-TAC and MIP-1β were significantly increased at 3 hours postoperatively and then declined, which had a similar trajectory with a return to baseline. The peak levels of NFL, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and MIP-1β correlated with duration of surgery. The peak plasma NFL level significantly correlated with the levels of IL-6 and IL-8.Conclusions: In the healthy adults, general anesthesia and surgery were associated with an increase in NFL, and a decrease in Aβ40 and Aβ42 in the plasma. Elevated plasma NFL levels might be attributed to many of inflammatory mediators. The data indicate systemic inflammation after anesthesia and surgery may induce neuronal injury. These preliminary findings in healthy subjects could help us to understand the effects of anesthesia/surgery on brain and the potential mechanisms of PND.Trial Registration: The study was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on Feb 11st, 2019 (ChiCTR1900021289).

Amyloid β-peptide and Alzheimer's disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 99-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Allsop ◽  
Jennifer Mayes
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Senile Plaques ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Aβ Amyloid ◽  
Amyloid Cascade

One of the hallmarks of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is the formation of senile plaques in the brain, which contain fibrils composed of Aβ (amyloid β-peptide). According to the ‘amyloid cascade’ hypothesis, the aggregation of Aβ initiates a sequence of events leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, and on to the main symptom of dementia. However, emphasis has now shifted away from fibrillar forms of Aβ and towards smaller and more soluble ‘oligomers’ as the main culprit in AD. The present chapter commences with a brief introduction to the disease and its current treatment, and then focuses on the formation of Aβ from the APP (amyloid precursor protein), the genetics of early-onset AD, which has provided strong support for the amyloid cascade hypothesis, and then on the development of new drugs aimed at reducing the load of cerebral Aβ, which is still the main hope for providing a more effective treatment for AD in the future.

Is it All Said for NSAIDs in Alzheimer’s Disease? Role of Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 504-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Sanz-Blasco ◽  
Maria Calvo-Rodríguez ◽  
Erica Caballero ◽  
Monica Garcia-Durillo ◽  
Lucia Nunez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Aβ Oligomers ◽  
Mitochondrial Potential ◽  
Disease Modifying Drugs ◽  
Definitive Evidence

Objectives: Epidemiological data suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect against Alzheimer's disease (AD). Unfortunately, recent trials have failed in providing compelling evidence of neuroprotection. Discussion as to why NSAIDs effectivity is uncertain is ongoing. Possible explanations include the view that NSAIDs and other possible disease-modifying drugs should be provided before the patients develop symptoms of AD or cognitive decline. In addition, NSAID targets for neuroprotection are unclear. Both COX-dependent and independent mechanisms have been proposed, including γ-secretase that cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and yields amyloid β peptide (Aβ). Methods: We have proposed a neuroprotection mechanism for NSAIDs based on inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. Aβ oligomers promote Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload leading to neuron cell death. Several non-specific NSAIDs including ibuprofen, sulindac, indomethacin and Rflurbiprofen depolarize mitochondria in the low µM range and prevent mitochondrial Ca2+ overload induced by Aβ oligomers and/or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). However, at larger concentrations, NSAIDs may collapse mitochondrial potential (ΔΨ) leading to cell death. Results: Accordingly, this mechanism may explain neuroprotection at low concentrations and damage at larger doses, thus providing clues on the failure of promising trials. Perhaps lower NSAID concentrations and/or alternative compounds with larger dynamic ranges should be considered for future trials to provide definitive evidence of neuroprotection against AD.

scholarly journals A Super-Resolved View of the Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Amyloidogenic Pathway in Hippocampal Neurons

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Yang Yu ◽  
Yang Gao ◽  
Bengt Winblad ◽  
Lars Tjernberg ◽  
Sophia Schedin Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Stimulated Emission ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Primary Neurons ◽  
Amyloid Β Protein ◽  
Early Endosomes

Background: Processing of the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) is neurophysiologically important due to the resulting fragments that regulate synapse biology, as well as potentially harmful due to generation of the 42 amino acid long amyloid β-peptide (Aβ 42), which is a key player in Alzheimer’s disease. Objective: Our aim was to clarify the subcellular locations of the amyloidogenic AβPP processing in primary neurons, including the intracellular pools of the immediate substrate, AβPP C-terminal fragment (APP-CTF) and the product (Aβ 42). To overcome the difficulties of resolving these compartments due to their small size, we used super-resolution microscopy. Methods: Mouse primary hippocampal neurons were immunolabelled and imaged by stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, including three-dimensional, three-channel imaging and image analyses. Results: The first (β-secretase) and second (γ-secretase) cleavages of AβPP were localized to functionally and distally distinct compartments. The β-secretase cleavage was observed in early endosomes, where we were able to show that the liberated N- and C-terminal fragments were sorted into distinct vesicles budding from the early endosomes in soma. Lack of colocalization of Aβ 42 and APP-CTF in soma suggested that γ-secretase cleavage occurs in neurites. Indeed, APP-CTF was, in line with Aβ 42 in our previous study, enriched in the presynapse but absent from the postsynapse. In contrast, full-length AβPP was not detected in either the pre- or the postsynaptic side of the synapse. Furthermore, we observed that endogenously produced and endocytosed Aβ 42 were localized in different compartments. Conclusion: These findings provide critical super-resolved insight into amyloidogenic AβPP processing in primary neurons.

Conformation-Specific Perturbation of Membrane Dynamics by Structurally Distinct Oligomers of Alzheimer's Amyloid-β Peptide

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Madhu ◽  
Debapriya Das ◽  
Samrat Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Membrane Dynamics ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide

The accumulation of toxic soluble oligomers of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is a key step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. There are mainly two conformationally distinct oligomers, namely, prefibrillar...

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