| 1. |
- Beretta, Chiara, et al.
(författare)
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Amyloid-β deposits in human astrocytes contain truncated and highly resistant proteoforms
- 2024
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Elsevier. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 128
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that develops over decades. Glial cells, including astrocytes are tightly connected to the AD pathogenesis, but their impact on disease progression is still unclear. Our previous data show that astrocytes take up large amounts of aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) but are unable to successfully degrade the material, which is instead stored intracellularly. The aim of the present study was to analyze the astrocytic Aβ deposits composition in detail in order to understand their role in AD propagation. For this purpose, human induced pluripotent cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes were exposed to sonicated Aβ42 fibrils and magnetic beads. Live cell imaging and immunocytochemistry confirmed that the ingested Aβ aggregates and beads were transported to the same lysosomal compartments in the perinuclear region, which allowed us to successfully isolate the Aβ deposits from the astrocytes. Using a battery of experimental techniques, including mass spectrometry, western blot, ELISA and electron microscopy we demonstrate that human astrocytes truncate and pack the Aβ aggregates in a way that makes them highly resistant. Moreover, the astrocytes release specifically truncated forms of Aβ via different routes and thereby expose neighboring cells to pathogenic proteins. Taken together, our study establishes a role for astrocytes in mediating Aβ pathology, which could be of relevance for identifying novel treatment targets for AD.
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| 2. |
- Delsing, Louise, et al.
(författare)
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Models of the blood-brain barrier using iPSC-derived cells
- 2020
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Elsevier BV. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) constitutes the interface between the blood and the brain tissue. Its primary function is to maintain the tightly controlled microenvironment of the brain. Models of the BBB are useful for studying the development and maintenance of the BBB as well as diseases affecting it. Furthermore, BBB models are important tools in drug development and support the evaluation of the brain-penetrating properties of novel drug molecules. Currently used in vitro models of the BBB include immortalized brain endothelial cell lines and primary brain endothelial cells of human and animal origin. Unfortunately, many cell lines and primary cells do not recreate physiological restriction of transport in vitro. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain endothelial cells have proven a promising alternative source of brain endothelial-like cells that replicate tight cell layers with low paracellular permeability. Given the possibility to generate large amounts of human iPSC-derived brain endothelial cells they are a feasible alternative when modelling the BBB in vitro. iPSC-derived brain endothelial cells form tight cell layers in vitro and their barrier properties can be enhanced through co-culture with other cell types of the BBB. Currently, many different models of the BBB using iPSC-derived cells are under evaluation to study BBB formation, maintenance, disruption, drug transport and diseases affecting the BBB. This review summarizes important functions of the BBB and current efforts to create iPSC-derived BBB models in both static and dynamic conditions. In addition, it highlights key model requirements and remaining challenges for human iPSC-derived BBB models in vitro.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Johannesson, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Elevated soluble amyloid beta protofibrils in Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Elsevier. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 114
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Down syndrome (DS) is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21, which leads to a propensity to develop amyloid beta (A beta) brain pathology in early adulthood followed later by cognitive and behavioral deterioration. Characterization of the A beta pathology is important to better understand the clinical deterioration of DS individuals and to identify interventive strategies. Brain samples from people with DS and Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as nondemented controls (NDC), were analyzed with respect to different A beta species. Immunohistochemical staining using antibodies towards A beta was also performed. Elevated levels of soluble A beta protofibrils and insoluble A beta x-40 and A beta x-42 in formic acid brain extracts, and elevated immunohistochemical staining of A beta deposits were demonstrated with the antibody BAN2401 (lecanemab) in DS and AD compared with NDC. These data and the promising data in a large phase 2 CE clinical trial with lecanemab suggest that lecanemab may have the potential to preserve cognitive capacity in DS. Lecanemab is currently in a phase 3 CE clinical trial.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Konstantinidis, Evangelos, 1990-, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term effects of amyloid-beta deposits in human iPSC-derived astrocytes
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Elsevier. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 125
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Growing evidence indicates that astrocytes are tightly connected to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, the way in which astrocytes participate in AD initiation and progression remains to be clarified. Our previous data show that astrocytes engulf large amounts of aggregated amyloid-beta (A beta) but are unable to successfully degrade the material. In this study, we aimed to evaluate how intracellular A beta-accumulation affects the astrocytes over time. For this purpose, human induced pluripotent cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes were exposed to sonicated A beta-fibrils and then cultured further for one week or ten weeks in A beta-free medium. Cells from both time points were analyzed for lysosomal proteins and astrocyte reactivity markers and the media were screened for inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the overall health of cytoplasmic organelles was investigated by immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Our data demonstrate that long-term astrocytes retained frequent A beta-inclusions that were enclosed within LAMP1-positive organelles and sustained markers associated with reactivity. Furthermore, A beta-accumulation resulted in endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial swelling, increased secretion of the cytokine CCL2/MCP-1 and formation of pathological lipid structures. Taken together, our results provide valuable information of how intracellular A beta-deposits affect astrocytes, and thereby contribute to the understanding of the role of astrocytes in AD progression.
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| 7. |
- Niss, Frida, et al.
(författare)
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Polyglutamine expanded Ataxin-7 induces DNA damage and alters FUS localization and function
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Elsevier BV. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, such as Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7), are caused by expansions of polyQ repeats in disease specific proteins. The sequestration of vital proteins into aggregates formed by polyQ proteins is believed to be a common pathological mechanism in these disorders. The RNA-binding protein FUS has been observed in polyQ aggregates, though if disruption of this protein plays a role in the neuronal dysfunction in SCA7 or other polyQ diseases remains unclear. We therefore analysed FUS localisation and function in a stable inducible PC12 cell model expressing the SCA7 polyQ protein ATXN7. We found that there was a high degree of FUS sequestration, which was associated with a more cytoplasmic FUS localisation, as well as a decreased expression of FUS regulated mRNAs. In contrast, the role of FUS in the formation of gamma H2AX positive DNA damage foci was unaffected. In fact, a statistical increase in the number of gamma H2AX foci, as well as an increased trend of single and double strand DNA breaks, detected by comet assay, could be observed in mutant ATXN7 cells. These results were further corroborated by a clear trend towards increased DNA damage in SCA7 patient fibroblasts. Our findings suggest that both alterations in the RNA regulatory functions of FUS, and increased DNA damage, may contribute to the pathology of SCA7.
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| 8. |
- Revol, Rebecca, et al.
(författare)
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Alpha-secretase dependent nuclear localization of the amyloid-β precursor protein-binding protein Fe65 promotes DNA repair
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fe65 is a brain enriched adaptor protein involved in various cellular processes, including actin cytoskeleton regulation, DNA repair and transcription. A well-studied interacting partner of Fe65 is the transmembrane amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP), which can undergo regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP). Following beta and gamma-secretase-mediated RIP, the released APP intracellular domain (AICD) together with Fe65 can translocate to the nucleus and regulate transcription. In this study, we investigated if Fe65 nuclear localization can also be regulated by different alpha-secretases, also known to participate in RIP of APP and other transmembrane proteins. We found that in both Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and all-trans retinoic acid differentiated neuroblastoma cells a strong negative impact on Fe65 nuclear localization, equal to the effect observed upon gamma-secretase inhibition, could be detected following inhibition of all three (ADAM9, ADAM10 and ADAM17) alpha-secretases. Moreover, using the comet assay and analysis of Fe65 dependent DNA repair associated posttranslational modifications of histones, we could show that inhibition of alpha-secretase-mediated Fe65 nuclear translocation resulted in impaired capacity of the cells to repair DNA damage. Taken together this suggests that alpha-secretase processing of APP and/or other Fe65 interacting transmembrane proteins play an important role in regulating Fe65 nuclear translocation and DNA repair.
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| 9. |
- Shimozawa, Makoto, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of cytoskeletal proteins as binding partners of Bri2 BRICHOS domain
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Elsevier. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 125
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteins must fold into three-dimensional structures to execute their biological functions. Therefore, maintenance of protein homeostasis, proteostasis, including prevention of protein misfolding is essential for cellular activity and health. Molecular chaperones are key actors in proteostasis. BRICHOS domain is an intramolecular chaperone that also interferes with several aggregation-prone proteins including amyloid beta (A beta), involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To extend the knowledge about Bri2 BRICHOS interactome we here used recombinant human (rh) Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry fusion protein to probe for potential binding partners. Firstly, exogenously added Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry was used to stain brain sections of wildtype and amyloid precursor protein (App) knock-in AD mice exhibiting robust A beta pathology. Unexpectedly, we found that rh Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry stained the cytoplasm of neurons which are devoid of A beta deposits. To identify these intraneuronal proteins that bind to the rh Bri2 BRICHOS domain, we performed co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) of mouse brain hippocampi homogenates using the Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry probe and analyzed co-IP proteins by LC-MS/MS. This identified several cytoskeletal proteins including spectrin alpha and beta chain, drebrin, tubulin beta 3, and beta-actin as binding partners. The interactions were confirmed by a second round of pulldown experiments using rh Bri2 BRICHOS linked to magnetic beads. The interaction of rh Bri2 BRICHOS and tubulin beta 3 was further investigated by staining both mouse brain sections and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with rh Bri2 BRICHOSmCherry and tubulin beta 3 immunostaining, which revealed partial co-localization. These data suggest a possible interplay of extracellular chaperone Bri2 BRICHOS domain in the intracellular space including the cytoskeleton.
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| 10. |
- Tuz-Sasik, Melek Umay, et al.
(författare)
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Efferent axons in the zebrafish lateral line degenerate following sensory hair cell ablation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Elsevier BV. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The zebrafish lateral line is a frequently used model to study the mechanisms behind peripheral neuronal innervation of sensory organs and the regeneration thereof. The lateral line system consists of neuromasts, a cluster of protruding hair cells, which are innervated by sensory afferent and modulatory efferent neurons. These flow-sensing hair cells are similar to the hair cells in the mammalian ear. Though, while hair cell loss in humans is irreversible, the zebrafish neuromasts are regarded as the fastest regenerating structure in vertebrates, making them an ideal model to study regeneration. However, one component of the lateral line system, the efferent projections, has largely been omitted in regenerative studies. Here, for the first time, we bring insights into the fate of efferent axons during ablation and regeneration of the hair cells in the zebrafish lateral line. Our behavioral analysis showed functional recovery of hair cells and sensory transmission within 48 h and their regeneration were in line with previous studies. Analysis of the inhibitory efferent projections revealed that in approximately half the cases the inhibitory efferent axons degenerated, which was never observed for the sensory afferent axons. Quantification of hair cells following ablation suggests that the presence of mature hair cells in the neuromast may prevent axon degeneration. Within 120 h, degenerated efferent axons regenerated along the axonal tract of the lateral line. Reanalysis of published single cell neuromast data hinted to a role for Bdnf in the survival of efferent axons. However, sequestering Bdnf, blocking the Trk-receptors, and inhibiting the down-stream ERK-signaling, did not induce axon degeneration, indicating that efferent survival is not mediated through neurotrophic factors. To further explore the relation between hair cells and efferent projections, we generated atoh1a mutants, where mature hair cells never form. In larvae lacking hair cells, inhibitory efferent projections were still present, following the tract of the sensory afferent without displaying any innervation. Our study reveal the fate of efferent innervation following hair cell ablation and provide insights into the inherent differences in regeneration between neurons in the peripheral and central nervous system.
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