scholarly journals Caesalpinia mimosoides Leaf Extract Promotes Neurite Outgrowth and Inhibits BACE1 Activity in Mutant APP-Overexpressing Neuronal Neuro2a Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 901
Author(s):  
Panthakarn Rangsinth ◽  
Chatrawee Duangjan ◽  
Chanin Sillapachaiyaporn ◽  
Ciro Isidoro ◽  
Anchalee Prasansuklab ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is implicated in the imbalance of several proteins, including Amyloid-β (Aβ), amyloid precursor protein (APP), and BACE1. APP overexpression interferes with neurite outgrowth, while BACE1 plays a role in Aβ generation. Medicinal herbs with effects on neurite outgrowth stimulation and BACE1 inhibition may benefit AD. This study aimed to investigate the neurite outgrowth stimulatory effect, along with BACE1 inhibition of Caesalpinia mimosoides (CM), using wild-type (Neuro2a) and APP (Swedish mutant)-overexpressing (Neuro2a/APPSwe) neurons. The methanol extract of CM leaves stimulated neurite outgrowth in wild-type and APP-overexpressing cells. After exposure to the extract, the mRNA expression of the neurite outgrowth activation genes growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and teneurin-4 (Ten-4) was increased in both Neuro2a and Neuro2a/APPSwe cells, while the mRNA expression of neurite outgrowth negative regulators Nogo receptor (NgR) and Lingo-1 was reduced. Additionally, the extract suppressed BACE1 activity in the APP-overexpressing neurons. Virtual screening demonstrated that quercetin-3′-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, clausarinol, and theogallin were possible inhibitors of BACE1. ADMET was analyzed to predict drug-likeness properties of CM-constituents. These results suggest that CM extract promotes neurite outgrowth and inhibits BACE1 activity in APP-overexpressing neurons. Thus, CM may serve as a source of drugs for AD treatment. Additional studies for full identification of bioactive constituents and to confirm the neuritogenesis in vivo are needed for translation into clinic of the present findings.

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 69-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ko-Fan Chen ◽  
Damian C. Crowther

The formation of amyloid aggregates is a feature of most, if not all, polypeptide chains. In vivo modelling of this process has been undertaken in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster with remarkable success. Models of both neurological and systemic amyloid diseases have been generated and have informed our understanding of disease pathogenesis in two main ways. First, the toxic amyloid species have been at least partially characterized, for example in the case of the Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) associated with Alzheimer's disease. Secondly, the genetic underpinning of model disease-linked phenotypes has been characterized for a number of neurodegenerative disorders. The current challenge is to integrate our understanding of disease-linked processes in the fly with our growing knowledge of human disease, for the benefit of patients.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 2242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob L. Bouchard ◽  
Taylor C. Davey ◽  
Todd M. Doran

Amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs) self-assemble into polymorphic species with diverse biological activities that are implicated causally to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Synaptotoxicity of AβO species is dependent on their quaternary structure, however, low-abundance and environmental sensitivity of AβOs in vivo have impeded a thorough assessment of structure–function relationships. We developed a simple biochemical assay to quantify the relative abundance and morphology of cross-linked AβOs. We compared oligomers derived from synthetic Aβ40 (wild-type (WT) Aβ40) and a recombinant source, called Aβ(M1–40). Both peptides assemble into oligomers with common sizes and morphology, however, the predominant quaternary structures of Aβ(M1–40) oligomeric states were more diverse in terms of dispersity and morphology. We identified self-assembly conditions that stabilize high-molecular weight oligomers of Aβ(M1–40) with apparent molecular weights greater than 36 kDa. Given that mixtures of AβOs derived from both peptides have been shown to be potent neurotoxins that disrupt long-term potentiation, we anticipate that the diverse quaternary structures reported for Aβ(M1–40) oligomers using the assays reported here will facilitate research efforts aimed at isolating and identifying common toxic species that contribute to synaptic dysfunction.


2013 ◽  
Vol 450 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Broder ◽  
Christoph Becker-Pauly

The metalloproteases meprin α and meprin β exhibit structural and functional features that are unique among all extracellular proteases. Although meprins were discovered more than 30 years ago, their precise substrates and physiological roles have been elusive. Both enzymes were originally found to be highly expressed in kidney and intestine, which focused research on these particular tissues and associated pathologies. Only recently it has become evident that meprins exhibit a much broader expression pattern, implicating functions in angiogenesis, cancer, inflammation, fibrosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Different animal models, as well as proteomics approaches for the identification of protease substrates, have helped to reveal more precise molecular signalling events mediated by meprin activity, such as activation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. APP (amyloid precursor protein) is cleaved by meprin β in vivo, reminiscent of the β-secretase BACE1 (β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1). The subsequent release of Aβ (amyloid β) peptides is thought to be the major cause of the neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease. On the other hand, ADAM10 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 10), which is the constitutive α-secretase, was shown to be activated by meprin β, which is itself shed from the cell surface by ADAM10. In skin, both meprins are overexpressed in fibrotic tumours, characterized by massive accumulation of fibrillar collagens. Indeed, procollagen III is processed to its mature form by meprin α and meprin β, an essential step in collagen fibril assembly. The recently solved crystal structure of meprin β and the unique cleavage specificity of these proteases identified by proteomics will help to generate specific inhibitors that could be used as therapeutics to target meprins under certain pathological conditions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 996-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Brion ◽  
Kunie Ando ◽  
Céline Heraud ◽  
Karelle Leroy

NFTs (neurofibrillary tangles) in Alzheimer's disease and in tauopathies are hallmark neuropathological lesions whose relationship with neuronal dysfunction, neuronal death and with other lesions [such as Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) pathology] are still imperfectly understood. Many transgenic mice overexpressing wild-type or mutant tau proteins have been generated to investigate the physiopathology of tauopathies. Most of the mice overexpressing wild-type tau do not develop NFTs, but can develop a severe axonopathy, whereas overexpression of mutant tau leads to NFT formation, synaptic loss and neuronal death in several models. The association between neuronal death and NFTs has, however, been challenged in some models showing a dissociation between tau aggregation and tau toxicity. Cross-breeding of mice developing NFTs with mice developing Aβ deposits increases NFT pathology, highlighting the relationship between tau and amyloid pathology. On the other hand, tau expression seems to be necessary for expression of a pathological phenotype associated with amyloid pathology. These findings suggest that there is a bilateral cross-talk between Aβ and tau pathology. These observations are discussed by the presentation of some relevant models developed recently.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Poll ◽  
Lena C. Schmid ◽  
Julia Steffen ◽  
Jens Wagner ◽  
Boris Schmidt ◽  
...  

SummaryLearning and memory processes depend on the hippocampus and are impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Active neuronal ensembles form an engram by encoding information during learning. Their reactivation is required for memory recall. However, it remains unresolved whether the engram in CA1 principal neurons is impaired under AD-like conditions. We used two-photon in vivo imaging to visualize the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos within CA1 neurons during contextual fear conditioning and retrieval. Surprisingly, we identified engrams in wild-type mice and in the mouse model of AD indicating intact memory formation. However, under AD-like conditions engrams were superimposed by a high number of newly recruited fosGFP+ neurons during memory recall. This superimposition resembled the network configuration of wild-type mice exposed to a novel context. Artificial superimposition of the memory trace during recall in wild-type mice was sufficient to induce memory impairment. Thus, we propose superimposition of the CA1 memory trace as a mechanism for memory impairment in a mouse model of AD.HighlightsDecreased fosGFP expression in direct vicinity to amyloid-β plaquesIntact engram in CA1 of APP/PS1 miceImpurity of the retrieval network in CA1 is sufficient to impair memory recallPoll et al. present a novel mechanism for memory impairment in a mouse model of AD. The potential memory trace was found intact in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. However, excessive neuronal activity during retrieval, was superimposing the memory trace in a mouse model of AD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine J Pol ◽  
Mesele-Christina Valenti ◽  
Sarah M Schumacher ◽  
Ancai Yuan ◽  
Erhe Gao ◽  
...  

Krüppel-like factors (KLF) have important roles in metabolism. We previously found that KLF5 is a positive transcriptional regulator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α ( Ppara) , a central regulator of cardiac fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Mice with cardiomyocyte-specific Klf5 ablation ( α MHC-Klf5 -/- ) had reduced cardiac Ppara expression and FAO. At age 6-12 months these mice develop distinct cardiac dysfunction. The role of PPARα activation in I/R injury is unclear as both beneficial and detrimental effects have been reported. We aimed to study if Ppara expression changes during I/R are driven by KLF5 and explore its protective or detrimental role. Wild type mice were subjected to in vivo I/R or sham surgery. I/R resulted in an initial increase in Ppara , and its target gene pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 ( Pdk4) mRNA after 2h reperfusion, followed by decreased expression after 24h reperfusion. The Ppara expression is associated with parallel changes in cardiac Klf5 mRNA expression. Concurrent, there was a decrease of cardiac FAO-related genes carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1β ( Cpt1b), very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (Vlcad), and acyl-CoA oxidase ( Aox) in mice with I/R. To define the cell type causing the temporal changes in Klf5 and Ppara after I/R we isolated primary cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Our data suggest a similar effect in primary isolated cardiomyocytes only. Klf5 mRNA expression is increased after 2 hour hypoxia and normalized after 4 hour re-oxygenation in cardiomyocytes, whereas there are no changes after hypoxia/normoxia in fibroblasts. To assess the importance of cardiomyocyte KLF5 in I/R we used α MHC-Klf5 -/- mice. Interestingly, despite reduced FAO, 7 month old αMHC-Klf5 -/- mice subjected to I/R had a marked increase in mortality; 4 of 7 αMHC-Klf5 -/- mice died within the first 24h of reperfusion while no mortality was observed in age-matched wild type mice that underwent I/R. In conclusion, I/R is associated with an increase in Klf5 and Ppara in the first hours of reperfusion followed by a decrease in Klf5 and Ppara , likely accounted for by cardiomyocytes. Increased mortality for α MHC-Klf5 -/- mice with I/R injury suggests that the initial increase may be an adaptive response that is critical for survival.


2013 ◽  
Vol 450 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristoffer Brännström ◽  
Anders Öhman ◽  
Malin Lindhagen-Persson ◽  
Anders Olofsson

Identifying factors that affect the self-assembly of Aβ (amyloid-β peptide) is of utmost importance in the quest to understand the molecular mechanisms causing AD (Alzheimer's disease). Ca2+ has previously been shown to accelerate both Aβ fibril nucleation and maturation, and dysregulated Ca2+ homoeostasis frequently correlates with development of AD. The mechanisms regarding Ca2+ binding, as well as its effect on fibril kinetics, are not fully understood. Using a polymerization assay we show that Ca2+ in a dynamic and reversible manner enhances both the elongation rate and fibrillar stability, where specifically the ‘dock and lock’ phase mechanism is enhanced. Through NMR analysis we found that Ca2+ affects the fibrillar architecture. In addition, and unexpectedly, we found that Ca2+ does not bind the free Aβ monomer. This implies that Ca2+ binding requires an architecture adopted by assembled peptides, and consequently is mediated through intermolecular interactions between adjacent peptides. This gives a mechanistic explanation to the enhancing effect on fibril maturation and indicates structural similarities between prefibrillar structures and mature amyloid. Taken together we show how Ca2+ levels affect the delicate equilibrium between the monomeric and assembled Aβ and how fluctuations in vivo may contribute to development and progression of the disease.


2005 ◽  
Vol 391 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Costantini ◽  
Richard Weindruch ◽  
Giuliano Della Valle ◽  
Luigi Puglielli

Aging is the single most important risk factor for AD (Alzheimer's disease). However, the molecular events that connect normal aging to AD are mostly unknown. The abnormal accumulation of Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) in the form of senile plaques is one of the main characteristics of AD. In the present study, we show that two members of the neurotrophin receptor superfamily, TrkA (tyrosine kinase receptor A) and p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor), differentially regulate the processing of APP (amyloid precursor protein): TrkA reduces, whereas p75NTR activates, β-cleavage of APP. The p75NTR-dependent effect requires NGF (nerve growth factor) binding and activation of the second messenger ceramide. We also show that normal aging activates Aβ generation in the brain by ‘switching’ from the TrkA to the p75NTR receptor system. Such an effect is abolished in p75NTR ‘knockout’ animals, and can be blocked by both caloric restriction and inhibitors of nSMase (neutral sphingomyelinase). In contrast with caloric restriction, which prevents the age-associated up-regulation of p75NTR expression, nSMase inhibitors block the activation of ceramide. When taken together, these results indicate that the p75NTR–ceramide signalling pathway activates the rate of Aβ generation in an age-dependent fashion, and provide a new target for both the understanding and the prevention of late-onset AD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine R. Brown ◽  
Sheena E. Radford ◽  
Eric W. Hewitt

Amyloid plaques are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The major component of these plaques are highly ordered amyloid fibrils formed by amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. However, whilst Aβ amyloid fibril assembly has been subjected to detailed and extensive analysis in vitro, these studies may not reproduce how Aβ fibrils assemble in the brain. This is because the brain represents a highly complex and dynamic environment, and in Alzheimer’s disease multiple cofactors may affect the assembly of Aβ fibrils. Moreover, in vivo amyloid plaque formation will reflect the balance between the assembly of Aβ fibrils and their degradation. This review explores the roles of microglia as cofactors in Aβ aggregation and in the clearance of amyloid deposits. In addition, we discuss how infection may be an additional cofactor in Aβ fibril assembly by virtue of the antimicrobial properties of Aβ peptides. Crucially, by understanding the roles of microglia and infection in Aβ amyloid fibril assembly it may be possible to identify new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. L687-L697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwan Dib ◽  
Zsuzsanna Zsengeller ◽  
Alex Mitsialis ◽  
Bao Lu ◽  
Stewart Craig ◽  
...  

The neuropeptide substance P manifests its biological functions through ligation of a G protein-coupled receptor, the NK1R. Mice with targeted deletion of this receptor reveal a preponderance of proinflammatory properties resulting from ligand activation, demonstrating a neurogenic component to multiple forms of inflammation and injury. We hypothesized that NK1R deficiency would afford a similar protection from inflammation associated with hyperoxia. Counter to our expectations, however, NK1R−/− animals suffered significantly worse lung injury compared with wild-type mice following exposure to 90% oxygen. Median survival was shortened to 84 h for NK1R−/− mice from 120 h for wild-type animals. Infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs was significantly increased; NK1R−/− animals also exhibited increased pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein levels. TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was significantly elevated in NK1R−/− animals following hyperoxia. Furthermore, induction of metallothionein and Na+-K+-ATPase was accelerated in NK1R−/− compared with wild-type mice, consistent with increased oxidative injury and edema. In cultured mouse lung epithelial cells in 95% O2, however, addition of substance P promoted cell death, suggesting the neurogenic component of hyperoxic lung injury is mediated by additional mechanisms in vivo. Release of bioactive constituents including substance P from sensory neurons results from activation of the vanilloid receptor, TRPV1. In mice with targeted deletion of the TRPV1 gene, acute hyperoxic injury is attenuated relative to NK1R−/− animals. Our findings thus reveal a major neurogenic mechanism in acute hyperoxic lung injury and demonstrate concerted actions of sensory neurotransmitters revealing significant protection for NK1R-mediated functions.


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