1. |
- Gallardo, Rodrigo, et al.
(författare)
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De novo design of a biologically active amyloid
- 2016
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Ingår i: Science. - : AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE. - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 354:6313, s. 720-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most human proteins possess amyloidogenic segments, but only about 30 are associated with amyloid-associated pathologies, and it remains unclear what determines amyloid toxicity. We designed vascin, a synthetic amyloid peptide, based on an amyloidogenic fragment of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), a protein that is not associated to amyloidosis. Vascin recapitulates key biophysical and biochemical characteristics of natural amyloids, penetrates cells, and seeds the aggregation of VEGFR2 through direct interaction. We found that amyloid toxicity is observed only in cells that both express VEGFR2 and are dependent on VEGFR2 activity for survival. Thus, amyloid toxicity here appears to be both protein-specific and conditional-determined by VEGFR2 loss of function in a biological context in which target protein function is essential.
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2. |
- Balusu, Sriram, et al.
(författare)
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MEG3 activates necroptosis in human neuron xenografts modeling Alzheimer's disease.
- 2023
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Ingår i: Science (New York, N.Y.). - 1095-9203. ; 381:6663, s. 1176-1182
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neuronal cell loss is a defining feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We xenografted human or mouse neurons into the brain of a mouse model of AD. Only human neurons displayed tangles, Gallyas silver staining, granulovacuolar neurodegeneration (GVD), phosphorylated tau blood biomarkers, and considerable neuronal cell loss. The long noncoding RNA MEG3 was strongly up-regulated in human neurons. This neuron-specific long noncoding RNA is also up-regulated in AD patients. MEG3 expression alone was sufficient to induce necroptosis in human neurons in vitro. Down-regulation of MEG3 and inhibition of necroptosis using pharmacological or genetic manipulation of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, or mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) rescued neuronal cell loss in xenografted human neurons. This model suggests potential therapeutic approaches for AD and reveals a human-specific vulnerability to AD.
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3. |
- Borgegard, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
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Alzheimers Disease: Presenilin 2-Sparing gamma-Secretase Inhibition Is a Tolerable A beta Peptide-Lowering Strategy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroscience. - : Society for Neuroscience. - 0270-6474 .- 1529-2401. ; 32:48, s. 17297-17305
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- gamma-Secretase inhibition represents a major therapeutic strategy for lowering amyloid beta (A beta) peptide production in Alzheimers disease (AD). Progress toward clinical use of gamma-secretase inhibitors has, however, been hampered due to mechanism-based adverse events, primarily related to impairment of Notch signaling. The gamma-secretase inhibitor MRK-560 represents an exception as it is largely tolerable in vivo despite displaying only a small selectivity between A beta production and Notch signaling in vitro. In exploring the molecular basis for the observed tolerability, we show that MRK-560 displays a strong preference for the presenilin 1(PS1) over PS2 subclass of gamma-secretases and is tolerable in wild-type mice but causes dose-dependent Notch-related side effect in PS2-deficient mice at drug exposure levels resulting in a substantial decrease in brain A beta levels. This demonstrates that PS2 plays an important role in mediating essential Notch signaling in several peripheral organs during pharmacological inhibition of PS1 and provide preclinical in vivo proof of concept for PS2-sparing inhibition as a novel, tolerable and efficacious gamma-secretase targeting strategy for AD.
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4. |
- Borgegård, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
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Alzheimer's Disease : Presenilin 2-Sparing γ-Secretase Inhibition Is a Tolerable Aβ Peptide-Lowering Strategy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroscience. - 0270-6474 .- 1529-2401. ; 32:48, s. 17297-17305
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- γ-Secretase inhibition represents a major therapeutic strategy for lowering amyloid β (Aβ) peptide production in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Progress toward clinical use of γ-secretase inhibitors has, however, been hampered due to mechanism-based adverse events, primarily related to impairment of Notch signaling. The γ-secretase inhibitor MRK-560 represents an exception as it is largely tolerable in vivo despite displaying only a small selectivity between Aβ production and Notch signaling in vitro. In exploring the molecular basis for the observed tolerability, we show that MRK-560 displays a strong preference for the presenilin 1 (PS1) over PS2 subclass of γ-secretases and is tolerable in wild-type mice but causes dose-dependent Notch-related side effect in PS2-deficient mice at drug exposure levels resulting in a substantial decrease in brain Aβ levels. This demonstrates that PS2 plays an important role in mediating essential Notch signaling in several peripheral organs during pharmacological inhibition of PS1 and provide preclinical in vivo proof of concept for PS2-sparing inhibition as a novel, tolerable and efficacious γ-secretase targeting strategy for AD.
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5. |
- Brodaty, Henry, et al.
(författare)
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The World of Dementia Beyond 2020
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of The American Geriatrics Society. - : Wiley. - 0002-8614 .- 1532-5415. ; 59:5, s. 923-927
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Counterpoised against dire projections of the tripling of the prevalence of dementia over the next 40 years are major developments in diagnostic biomarkers, neuroimaging, the molecular biology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), epidemiology of risk and protective factors, and drug treatments—mainly targeting the amyloid pathway, tau protein, and immunotherapy—that may have the potential to modify the progression of AD. Drug combinations and presymptomatic treatments are also being investigated. Previous trials of dementia-modifying drugs have not shown benefit, and even if current Phase III trials prove successful, these drugs will not eradicate other dementias, could (if not curative) increase dementia duration and prevalence, and are unlikely to come onto the market before 2020. In the meantime, delaying the onset of dementia by even 2 years would have significant economic and societal effects. This article provides an overview of current achievements and potentials of basic and clinical research that might affect the development of dementia prevalence and care within the near future.
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6. |
- Brownjohn, Philip W, et al.
(författare)
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Phenotypic Screening Identifies Modulators of Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing in Human Stem Cell Models of Alzheimer's Disease.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Stem cell reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 2213-6711. ; 8:4, s. 870-882
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human stem cell models have the potential to provide platforms for phenotypic screens to identify candidate treatments and cellular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and the accumulation of APP-derived amyloid β (Aβ) peptides are key processes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We designed a phenotypic small-molecule screen to identify modulators of APP processing in trisomy 21/Down syndrome neurons, a complex genetic model of AD. We identified the avermectins, commonly used as anthelmintics, as compounds that increase the relative production of short Aβ peptides at the expense of longer, potentially more toxic peptides. Further studies demonstrated that this effect is not due to an interaction with the core γ-secretase responsible for Aβ production. This study demonstrates the feasibility of phenotypic drug screening in human stem cell models of Alzheimer-type dementia, and points to possibilities for indirectly modulating APP processing, independently of γ-secretase modulation.
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7. |
- Chen, Wei-Ting, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial Transcriptomics and In Situ Sequencing to Study Alzheimer's Disease
- 2020
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Ingår i: Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 0092-8674 .- 1097-4172. ; 182:4, s. 976-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although complex inflammatory-like alterations are observed around the amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's disease (AD), little is known about the molecular changes and cellular interactions that characterize this response, We investigate here, in an AD mouse model, the transcriptional changes occurring in tissue domains in a 100-mu m diameter around amyloid plaques using spatial transcriptomics. We demonstrate early alterations in a gene co-expression network enriched for myelin and oligodendrocyte genes (OLIGs), whereas a multicellular gene co-expression network of plaque-induced genes (PIGs) involving the complement system, oxidative stress, lysosomes, and inflammation is prominent in the later phase of the disease. We confirm the majority of the observed alterations at the cellular level using in situ sequencing on mouse and human brain sections. Genome-wide spatial transcriptomics analysis provides an unprecedented approach to untangle the dysregulated cellular network in the vicinity of pathogenic hallmarks of AD and other brain diseases.
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8. |
- Rogers, Kathryn, et al.
(författare)
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Modulation of γ-secretase by EVP-0015962 reduces amyloid deposition and behavioral deficits in Tg2576 mice.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Molecular neurodegeneration. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1750-1326. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: A hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the presence of senile plaques in human brain primarily containing the amyloid peptides Aβ42 and Aβ40. Many drug discovery efforts have focused on decreasing the production of Aβ42 through γ-secretase inhibition. However, identification of γ-secretase inhibitors has also uncovered mechanism-based side effects. One approach to circumvent these side effects has been modulation of γ-secretase to shift Aβ production to favor shorter, less amyloidogenic peptides than Aβ42, without affecting the overall cleavage efficiency of the enzyme. This approach, frequently called γ-secretase modulation, appears more promising and has lead to the development of new therapeutic candidates for disease modification in Alzheimer’s disease. Results: Here we describe EVP-0015962, a novel small molecule γ-secretase modulator. EVP-0015962 decreased Aβ42 in H4 cells (IC50 = 67 nM) and increased the shorter Aβ38 by 1.7 fold at the IC50 for lowering of Aβ42. AβTotal, as well as other carboxyl-terminal fragments of amyloid precursor protein, were not changed. EVP-0015962 did not cause the accumulation of other γ-secretase substrates, such as the Notch and ephrin A4 receptors, whereas a γ-secretase inhibitor reduced processing of both. A single oral dose of EVP-0015962 (30 mg/kg) decreased Aβ42 and did not alter AβTotal peptide levels in a dose-dependent manner in Tg2576 mouse brain at an age when overt Aβ deposition was not present. In Tg2576 mice, chronic treatment with EVP-0015962 (20 or 60 mg/kg/day in a food formulation) reduced Aβ aggregates, amyloid plaques, inflammatory markers, and cognitive deficits. Conclusions: EVP-0015962 is orally bioavailable, detected in brain, and a potent, selective γ-secretase modulator in vitro and in vivo. Chronic treatment with EVP-0015962 was well tolerated in mice and lowered the production of Aβ42, attenuated memory deficits, and reduced Aβ plaque formation and inflammation in Tg2576 transgenic animals. In summary, these data suggest that γ-secretase modulation with EVP-0015962 represents a viable therapeutic alternative for disease modification in Alzheimer’s disease.
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9. |
- Sala Frigerio, Carlo, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced expression of hsa-miR-27a-3p in CSF of patients with Alzheimer disease.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Neurology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1526-632X .- 0028-3878. ; 81:24, s. 2103-2106
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We evaluated microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD) by analyzing the expression level of miRNAs in CSF of patients with AD dementia and nonaffected control subjects.
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10. |
- Scheltens, Philip, et al.
(författare)
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Alzheimer's disease.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Lancet (London, England). - 1474-547X. ; 388:10043, s. 505-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although the prevalence of dementia continues to increase worldwide, incidence in the western world might have decreased as a result of better vascular care and improved brain health. Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent cause of dementia, is still defined by the combined presence of amyloid and tau, but researchers are gradually moving away from the simple assumption of linear causality as proposed in the original amyloid hypothesis. Age-related, protective, and disease-promoting factors probably interact with the core mechanisms of the disease. Amyloid β42, and tau proteins are established core cerebrospinal biomarkers; novel candidate biomarkers include amyloid β oligomers and synaptic markers. MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose PET are established imaging techniques for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid PET is gaining traction in the clinical arena, but validity and cost-effectiveness remain to be established. Tau PET might offer new insights and be of great help in differential diagnosis and selection of patients for trials. In the search for understanding the disease mechanism and keys to treatment, research is moving increasingly into the earliest phase of disease. Preclinical Alzheimer's disease is defined as biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's pathological changes in cognitively healthy individuals. Patients with subjective cognitive decline have been identified as a useful population in whom to look for preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Moderately positive results for interventions targeting several lifestyle factors in non-demented elderly patients and moderately positive interim results for lowering amyloid in pre-dementia Alzheimer's disease suggest that, ultimately, there will be a future in which specific anti-Alzheimer's therapy will be combined with lifestyle interventions targeting general brain health to jointly combat the disease. In this Seminar, we discuss the main developments in Alzheimer's research.
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