Simple In Vitro Assays to Identify Amyloid-β Aggregation Blockers for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 1359-1370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Ping Guo ◽  
Sheng Yu ◽  
Patrick L. McGeer
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Disease Therapy

scholarly journals Rational design of a conformation-specific antibody for the quantification of Aβ oligomers

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (24) ◽  
pp. 13509-13518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco A. Aprile ◽  
Pietro Sormanni ◽  
Marina Podpolny ◽  
Shianne Chhangur ◽  
Lisa-Maria Needham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Aβ Oligomers ◽  
Detection And Quantification

Protein misfolding and aggregation is the hallmark of numerous human disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. This process involves the formation of transient and heterogeneous soluble oligomers, some of which are highly cytotoxic. A major challenge for the development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools is thus the detection and quantification of these elusive oligomers. Here, to address this problem, we develop a two-step rational design method for the discovery of oligomer-specific antibodies. The first step consists of an “antigen scanning” phase in which an initial panel of antibodies is designed to bind different epitopes covering the entire sequence of a target protein. This procedure enables the determination through in vitro assays of the regions exposed in the oligomers but not in the fibrillar deposits. The second step involves an “epitope mining” phase, in which a second panel of antibodies is designed to specifically target the regions identified during the scanning step. We illustrate this method in the case of the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, whose oligomers are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Our results show that this approach enables the accurate detection and quantification of Aβ oligomers in vitro, and inCaenorhabditis elegansand mouse hippocampal tissues.

Neuroprotective properties of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants of the SkQ-type

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 849-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nickolay K. Isaev ◽  
Elena V. Stelmashook ◽  
Elisaveta E. Genrikhs ◽  
Galina A. Korshunova ◽  
Natalya V. Sumbatyan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Brain Area ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Term Potentiation ◽  
Neuroprotective Action

AbstractIn 2008, using a model of compression brain ischemia, we presented the first evidence that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants of the SkQ family, i.e. SkQR1 [10-(6′-plastoquinonyl)decylrhodamine], have a neuroprotective action. It was shown that intraperitoneal injections of SkQR1 (0.5–1 μmol/kg) 1 day before ischemia significantly decreased the damaged brain area. Later, we studied in more detail the anti-ischemic action of this antioxidant in a model of experimental focal ischemia provoked by unilateral intravascular occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The neuroprotective action of SkQ family compounds (SkQR1, SkQ1, SkQTR1, SkQT1) was manifested through the decrease in trauma-induced neurological deficit in animals and prevention of amyloid-β-induced impairment of long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices. At present, most neurophysiologists suppose that long-term potentiation underlies cellular mechanisms of memory and learning. They consider inhibition of this process by amyloid-β1-42as anin vitromodel of memory disturbance in Alzheimer’s disease. Further development of the above studies revealed that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants could retard accumulation of hyperphosphorylated τ-protein, as well as amyloid-β1-42, and its precursor APP in the brain, which are involved in developing neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer’s disease.

scholarly journals Elevated Expression of MiR-17 in Microglia of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Abrogates Autophagy-Mediated Amyloid-β Degradation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shady Estfanous ◽  
Kylene P. Daily ◽  
Mostafa Eltobgy ◽  
Nicholas P. Deems ◽  
Midhun N. K. Anne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Tissue Sections ◽  
Cargo Receptor ◽  
5Xfad Mouse ◽  
Aβ Degradation

Autophagy is a proposed route of amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance by microglia that is halted in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), though mechanisms underlying this dysfunction remain elusive. Here, primary microglia from adult AD (5xFAD) mice were utilized to demonstrate that 5xFAD microglia fail to degrade Aβ and express low levels of autophagy cargo receptor NBR1. In 5xFAD mouse brains, we show for the first time that AD microglia express elevated levels of microRNA cluster Mirc1/Mir17-92a, which is known to downregulate autophagy proteins. By in situ hybridization in post-mortem AD human tissue sections, we observed that the Mirc1/Mir17-92a cluster member miR-17 is also elevated in human AD microglia, specifically in the vicinity of Aβ deposits, compared to non-disease controls. We show that NBR1 expression is negatively correlated with expression of miR-17 in human AD microglia via immunohistopathologic staining in human AD brain tissue sections. We demonstrate in healthy microglia that autophagy cargo receptor NBR1 is required for Aβ degradation. Inhibiting elevated miR-17 in 5xFAD mouse microglia improves Aβ degradation, autophagy, and NBR1 puncta formation in vitro and improves NBR1 expression in vivo. These findings offer a mechanism behind dysfunctional autophagy in AD microglia which may be useful for therapeutic interventions aiming to improve autophagy function in AD.

scholarly journals Active Targeted Nanoemulsions for Repurposing of Tegaserod in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1626
Author(s):  
Line Séguy ◽  
Léna Guyon ◽  
Manon Maurel ◽  
Pascal Verdié ◽  
Audrey Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Titration Calorimetry ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Disease Treatment ◽  
Cellular Effects ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
The Stability

Background and Purpose: The activation of 5-HT4 receptors with agonists has emerged as a valuable therapeutic strategy to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by enhancing the nonamyloidogenic pathway. Here, the potential therapeutic effects of tegaserod, an effective agent for irritable bowel syndrome, were assessed for AD treatment. To envisage its efficient repurposing, tegaserod-loaded nanoemulsions were developed and functionalized by a blood–brain barrier shuttle peptide. Results: The butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of tegaserod and its neuroprotective cellular effects were highlighted, confirming the interest of this pleiotropic drug for AD treatment. In regard to its drugability profile, and in order to limit its peripheral distribution after IV administration, its encapsulation into monodisperse lipid nanoemulsions (Tg-NEs) of about 50 nm, and with neutral zeta potential characteristics, was performed. The stability of the formulation in stock conditions at 4 °C and in blood biomimetic medium was established. The adsorption on Tg-NEs of peptide-22 was realized. The functionalized NEs were characterized by chromatographic methods (SEC and C18/HPLC) and isothermal titration calorimetry, attesting the efficiency of the adsorption. From in vitro assays, these nanocarriers appeared suitable for enabling tegaserod controlled release without hemolytic properties. Conclusion: The developed peptide-22 functionalized Tg-NEs appear as a valuable tool to allow exploration of the repurposed tegaserod in AD treatment in further preclinical studies.

scholarly journals The inhibition of cellular toxicity of amyloid-β by dissociated transthyretin

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (41) ◽  
pp. 14015-14024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Cao ◽  
Daniel H. Anderson ◽  
Wilson Y. Liang ◽  
Joshua Chou ◽  
Lorena Saelices
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Aβ Oligomers ◽  
Cellular Toxicity ◽  
Computational Docking

The protective effect of transthyretin (TTR) on cellular toxicity of β-amyloid (Aβ) has been previously reported. TTR is a tetrameric carrier of thyroxine in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, the pathogenic aggregation of which causes systemic amyloidosis. However, studies have documented a protective effect of TTR against cellular toxicity of pathogenic Aβ, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. TTR binds Aβ, alters its aggregation, and inhibits its toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigate whether the amyloidogenic ability of TTR and its antiamyloid inhibitory effect are associated. Using protein aggregation and cytotoxicity assays, we found that the dissociation of the TTR tetramer, required for its amyloid pathogenesis, is also necessary to prevent cellular toxicity from Aβ oligomers. These findings suggest that the Aβ-binding site of TTR may be hidden in its tetrameric form. Aided by computational docking and peptide screening, we identified a TTR segment that is capable of altering Aβ aggregation and toxicity, mimicking TTR cellular protection. EM, immune detection analysis, and assessment of aggregation and cytotoxicity revealed that the TTR segment inhibits Aβ oligomer formation and also promotes the formation of nontoxic, nonamyloid amorphous aggregates, which are more sensitive to protease digestion. Finally, this segment also inhibits seeding of Aβ catalyzed by Aβ fibrils extracted from the brain of an Alzheimer's patient. Together, these findings suggest that mimicking the inhibitory effect of TTR with peptide-based therapeutics represents an additional avenue to explore for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

scholarly journals N,N′-Diacetyl-p-phenylenediamine restores microglial phagocytosis and improves cognitive defects in Alzheimer’s disease transgenic mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (47) ◽  
pp. 23426-23436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Hee Park ◽  
Misun Lee ◽  
Geewoo Nam ◽  
Mingeun Kim ◽  
Juhye Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Causative Factor ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Microglial Phagocytosis ◽  
Cognitive Defects

As a central feature of neuroinflammation, microglial dysfunction has been increasingly considered a causative factor of neurodegeneration implicating an intertwined pathology with amyloidogenic proteins. Herein, we report the smallest synthetic molecule (N,N′-diacetyl-p-phenylenediamine [DAPPD]), simply composed of a benzene ring with 2 acetamide groups at the para position, known to date as a chemical reagent that is able to promote the phagocytic aptitude of microglia and subsequently ameliorate cognitive defects. Based on our mechanistic investigations in vitro and in vivo, 1) the capability of DAPPD to restore microglial phagocytosis is responsible for diminishing the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) species and significantly improving cognitive function in the brains of 2 types of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) transgenic mice, and 2) the rectification of microglial function by DAPPD is a result of its ability to suppress the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins through its impact on the NF-κB pathway. Overall, our in vitro and in vivo investigations on efficacies and molecular-level mechanisms demonstrate the ability of DAPPD to regulate microglial function, suppress neuroinflammation, foster cerebral Aβ clearance, and attenuate cognitive deficits in AD transgenic mouse models. Discovery of such antineuroinflammatory compounds signifies the potential in discovering effective therapeutic molecules against AD-associated neurodegeneration.

Hippocampal GABAergic Neurons are Susceptible to Amyloid-β Toxicity in vitro and are Decreased in Number in the Alzheimer's Disease TgCRND8 Mouse Model

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slavica Krantic ◽  
Nathalie Isorce ◽  
Naguib Mechawar ◽  
Maria Antonietta Davoli ◽  
Erika Vignault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Gabaergic Neurons ◽  
Tgcrnd8 Mouse ◽  
Toxicity In Vitro

scholarly journals The Therapeutic Potential of Berberis darwinii Stem-Bark: Quantification of Berberine and In Vitro Evidence for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1100600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Habtemariam
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Potent Inhibitor ◽  
Methanolic Extract ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Stem Bark ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition ◽  
Disease Therapy

Berberis darwinii is native to South America but has been widely distributed in Europe and other continents following its discovery by Charles Darwin. Herewith, the therapeutic potential of stem-bark of the plant for treating Alzheimer's disease was studied using an in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay. It was found that the methanolic extract of the stem-bark was a potent inhibitor of the enzyme with an IC50 value of 1.23 ± 0.05 μg/mL. An HPLC-based berberine quantification study revealed an astonishing 38% yield of the dried methanolic extract.

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