| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Bergkvist, Liza, et al.
(författare)
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A beta PP processing results in greater toxicity per amount of A beta(1-42) than individually expressed and secreted A beta(1-42) in Drosophila melanogaster
- 2016
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Ingår i: BIOLOGY OPEN. - : COMPANY OF BIOLOGISTS LTD. - 2046-6390. ; 5:8, s. 1030-1039
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aggregation of the amyloid-beta (A beta) peptide into fibrillar deposits has long been considered the key neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimers disease (AD). A beta peptides are generated from proteolytic processing of the transmembrane A beta precursor protein (A beta PP) via sequential proteolysis through the beta-secretase activity of beta-site A beta PP-cleaving enzyme (BACE1) and by the intramembranous enzyme gamma-secretase. For over a decade, Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model organism to study AD, and two different approaches have been developed to investigate the toxicity caused by AD-associated gene products in vivo. In one model, the A beta peptide is directly over-expressed fused to a signal peptide, allowing secretion of the peptide into the extracellular space. In the other model, human A beta PP is co-expressed with human BACE1, resulting in production of the A beta peptide through the processing of A beta PP by BACE1 and by endogenous fly gamma-secretase. Here, we performed a parallel study of flies that expressed the A beta(1-42) peptide alone or that co-expressed A beta PP and BACE1. Toxic effects (assessed by eye phenotype, longevity and locomotor assays) and levels of the A beta(1-42), A beta(1-40) and A beta(1-38) peptides were examined. Our data reveal that the toxic effect per amount of detected A beta(1-42) peptide was higher in the flies co-expressing A beta PP and BACE1 than in the A beta(1-42)-expressing flies, and that the co-existence of A beta(1-42) and A beta(1-40) in the flies co-expressing A beta PP and BACE1 could be of significant importance to the neurotoxic effect detected in these flies. Thus, the toxicity detected in these two fly models seems to have different modes of action and is highly dependent on how and where the peptide is generated rather than on the actual level of the A beta(1-42) peptide in the flies. This is important knowledge that needs to be taken into consideration when using Drosophila models to investigate disease mechanisms or therapeutic strategies in AD research.
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| 3. |
- Bergkvist, Liza, 1985-
(författare)
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Amyloid-β and lysozyme proteotoxicity in Drosophila : Beneficial effects of lysozyme and serum amyloid P component in models of Alzheimer’s disease and lysozyme amyloidosis
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In the work presented this thesis, two different conditions that are classified as protein misfolding diseases: Alzheimer's disease and lysozyme amyloidosis and proteins that could have a beneficial effect in these diseases, have been studied using Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as the fruit fly. The fruit fly has been used for over 100 years to study and better understand fundamental biological processes. Although the fruit fly, unlike humans, is an invertebrate, many of its central biological mechanisms are very similar to ours. The first transgenic flies were designed in the early 1980s, and since then, the fruit fly has been one of the most widely used model organisms in studies on the effects of over-expressed human proteins in a biological system; one can regard the fly as a living, biological test tube. For most proteins, it is necessary that they fold into a three-dimensional structure to function properly. But sometimes the folding goes wrong; this may be due to mutations that make the protein unstable and subject to misfolding. A misfolded protein molecule can then aggregate with other misfolded proteins. In Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia, protein aggregates are present in the brains of patients. These aggregates are composed of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, a small peptide of around 42 amino acids which is cleaved from the larger, membrane-bound, protein AβPP by two different enzymes, BACE1 and γ-secretase. In the first part of this thesis, two different fly models for Alzheimer’s disease were used: the Aβ fly model, which directly expresses the Aβ peptide, and the AβPP-BACE1 fly model, in which all the components necessary to produce the Aβ peptide in the fly are expressed in the fly central nervous system (CNS). The two different fly models were compared and the results show that a significantly smaller amount of the Aβ peptide is needed to achieve the same, or an even greater, toxic effect in the AβPP-BACE1 model compared to the Aβ model. In the second part of the thesis, these two fly models for Alzheimer’s disease were again used, but now to investigate whether lysozyme, a protein involved in our innate immune system, can counteract the toxic effect of Aβ generated in the fly models. And indeed, lysozyme is able to save the flies from Aβ-induced toxicity. Aβ and lysozyme were found to interact with each other in vivo. The second misfolding disease studied in this thesis is lysozyme amyloidosis. It is a rare, dominantly inherited amyloid disease in which mutant variants of lysozyme give rise to aggregates, weighing up to several kilograms, that accumulate around the kidneys and liver, eventually leading to organ failure. In the third part of this thesis, a fly model for lysozyme amyloidosis was used to study the effect of co-expressing the serum amyloid P component (SAP), a protein that is part of all protein aggregates found within this disease class. SAP is able to rescue the toxicity induced by expressing the mutant variant of lysozyme, F57I, in the fly's CNS. To further investigate how SAP was able to do this, double-expressing lysozyme flies, which exhibit stronger disease phenotypes than those of the single-expressing lysozyme flies previously studied, were used in the fourth part of this thesis. SAP was observed to reduce F57I toxicity and promote F57I to form aggregates with more distinct amyloid characteristics. In conclusion, the work included in this thesis demonstrates that: i) Aβ generated from AβPP processing in the fly CNS results in higher proteotoxicity compared with direct expression of Aβ from the transgene, ii) lysozyme can prevent Aβ proteotoxicity in Drosophila and could thus be a potential therapeutic molecule to treat Alzheimer’s disease and iii) in a Drosophila model of lysozyme amyloidosis, SAP can prevent toxicity from the disease-associated lysozyme variant F57I and promote formation of aggregated lysozyme morphotypes with amyloid properties; this is important to take into account when a reduced level of SAP is considered as a treatment strategy for lysozyme amyloidosis.
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| 4. |
- Boman, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
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Distinct lysosomal network protein profiles in parkinsonian syndrome cerebrospinal fluid
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Parkinson's Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1877-7171 .- 1877-718X. ; 6:2, s. 307-315
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Clinical diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes like Parkinson’s disease, corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy is hampered by overlapping symptomatology and lack of biomarkers for diagnosis, and definitive diagnosis is only possible post-mortem. Since impaired protein degradation plays an important role in many neurodegenerative disorders, we hypothesized that levels and profiles of lysosomal network proteins in cerebrospinal fluid could be changed in these parkinsonian syndromes.Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from Parkinson’s disease patients (n=18), clinically diagnosed 4-repeat tauopathy patients, corticobasal syndrome (n=6) and progressive supranuclear palsy (n=5), pathologically diagnosed progressive supranuclear palsy (n=8) and corticobasal degeneration patients (n=7). Each patient set was compared to its appropriate control group consisting of the same number of age and gender matched individuals. Lysosomal network protein levels were detected via Western blotting.Results: Lysosomal network proteins have markedly different cerebrospinal fluid protein levels and profiles in Parkinson’s disease, corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy. Lysosomal-associated membrane proteins 1 and 2 were significantly decreased in Parkinson´s disease; early endosomal antigen 1 was decreased and lysozyme increased in progressive supranuclear palsy; and lysosomal-associated membrane proteins 1 and 2, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 and lysozyme were increased in corticobasal degeneration.Conclusions: Lysosomal network proteins hold promise of being interesting novel candidates for biomarker studies and for elucidating disease mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease, corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy, but further validation studies will be needed to assess the specificity and the predictive value of these proteins in CSF.
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| 5. |
- Boman, Andrea, 1978-
(författare)
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Lysosomal network proteins as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disease
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The pre-symptomatic stage of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) occurs several decades before the clinical onset. Changes in the lysosomal network, i.e. the autophagosomal, endosomal and lysosomal vesicular system, are among the first alterations observed. There are currently no treatments to slow or cure neurodegenerative diseases, and there is a great need for discovery of treatment targets in cellular pathways where pathology pre-dates the neuronal death. It is also crucial to be able to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases earlier, both to enable early intervention treatment and aid in selecting clinical trial populations before the patient has widespread pathology.This thesis aims at investigating the potential of lysosomal network proteins as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disease.A targeted search for lysosomal network proteins was performed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from AD patients, and seven proteins: early endosomal antigen 1 (EEA1), lysosomal-associated membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LAMP-1, LAMP-2), lysozyme, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), Rab3 and Rab7, were elevated. The levels of EEA1, LAMP-1, LAMP-2, LC3, lysozyme and Rab3 were also measured in CSF from parkinsonian syndrome patients: PD, clinically diagnosed 4-repeat tauopathy, pathologically confirmed corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and pathologically confirmed progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients. LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 were decreased in PD. LC3 and lysozyme levels were increased in 4-repeat tauopathy patients. EEA1 was decreased and lysozyme increased in PSP, and LAMP-1, LAMP-2, LC3 and lysozyme were increased in CBD. The lysosomal network proteins had different CSF protein profiles in all the parkinsonian syndromes, as well as in AD. It should be emphasized that only a select few of the lysosomal network proteins were observed to be changed, rather than a general change in lysosomal network proteins, which implicates the involvement of these seven proteins in specific pathological processes. The most interesting candidates, LAMP-2 and lysozyme, were selected for further study for their involvement in the pathology of AD.Lysozyme was found to co-localise with Aβ plaques in AD patients and overexpression prolonged survival and improved the activity in a Drosophila model of AD. Lysozyme was found to alter the aggregation pathway of Aβ1-42, to counteract the formation of toxic Aβ species and to protect from Aβ1-42 induced cell toxicity. Aβ1-42 in turn was found to increase the expression of lysozyme in both neuronal and glial cells. These data suggest that lysozyme levels rise in AD as a compensatory response which is protective against Aβ associated toxicity.LAMP-2 mRNA and protein were found increased in brain areas relevant for AD pathology and various cellular models showed complex involvement of LAMP-2 in Aβ related pathology, with extensive crosstalk between LAMP-2 and Aβ. Exposure to oligomeric Aβ1-42 caused an upregulation of LAMP-2 and in turn, overexpression of LAMP-2 caused a reduction in secreted levels of Aβ1-42, as well as changing the generation pattern of Aβ and affecting clearance and secretion of Aβ1-42. These data indicate that the increased levels of LAMP-2 in AD could be an attempt to regulate Aβ generation and secretion.In summary, this thesis reports that utilising lysosomal network proteins as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases holds great promise.
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| 6. |
- Boman, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
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The role of LAMP-2 in AβPP processing and Aβ degradation; implications for Alzheimer’s Disease
- 2015
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dysfunction in the lysosomal network, i.e., the endosomal, lysosomal and autophagy systems, are implicated in the pathways in Alzheimer’s disease brain pathology. This dysfunction is mirrored in the cerebrospinal fluid where a specific subset of lysosomal network proteins are found at elevated levels, lysosomal associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP-2) being one of the identified lysosomal proteins. Here we report that hippocampus and frontal cortex in Alzheimer’s disease cases have increased mRNA and protein expression of LAMP-2, and thus these brain areas are likely involved in the increased LAMP-2 levels seen in cerebrospinal fluid from Alzheimer’s disease patients. The increased LAMP-2 levels correlated with increased levels of β-amyloid1-42 (Aβ1-42). Oligomeric Aβ1-42 caused an upregulation of intracellular LAMP-2 in neuroblastoma cells, but did not trigger the release of LAMP-2 to the extracellular milieu, indicating that other cell types or mechanisms are responsible for the LAMP-2 release seen in cerebrospinal fluid. Overexpression of LAMP-2 in neuroblastoma cells caused a trend of reduction of secreted Aβ1-42 and changed the processing pattern of the Aβ precursor protein. These results indicate that Aβ1-42 mediated increase of LAMP-2 expression can act as a regulator of Aβ generation and secretion. LAMP-2 overexpression did not change the cellular uptake of extracellularly added Aβ1-42, but caused a delayed clearance of Aβ1-42. Whether the prolonged intracellular localization of Aβ1-42 in LAMP-2 overexpressing cells can change the transmission or degradation of Aβ remains to be investigated.
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| 7. |
- Civitelli, Livia, et al.
(författare)
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The Luminescent Oligothiophene p-FTAA Converts Toxic A beta(1-42) Species into Nontoxic Amyloid Fibers with Altered Properties
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - : AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 291:17, s. 9233-9243
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aggregation of the amyloid-(beta) peptide (A beta) in the brain leads to the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques, which is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). It is a general hypothesis that soluble prefibrillar assemblies of the A beta peptide, rather than mature amyloid fibrils, cause neuronal dysfunction and memory impairment in AD. Thus, reducing the level of these prefibrillar species by using molecules that can interfere with the A beta fibrillation pathway may be a valid approach to reduce A beta cytotoxicity. Luminescent-conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs) have amyloid binding properties and spectral properties that differ when they bind to protein aggregates with different morphologies and can therefore be used to visualize protein aggregates. In this study, cell toxicity experiments and biophysical studies demonstrated that the LCO p-FTAA was able to reduce the pool of soluble toxic A beta species in favor of the formation of larger insoluble nontoxic amyloid fibrils, there by counteracting A beta-mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover, p-FTAA bound to early formed A beta species and induced a rapid formation of beta-sheet structures. These p-FTAA generated amyloid fibrils were less hydrophobic and more resistant to proteolysis by proteinase K. In summary, our data show that p-FTAA promoted the formation of insoluble and stable A beta species that were nontoxic which indicates that p-FTAA might have therapeutic potential.
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| 8. |
- Fahlgren, Anna, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Design and Outcome of a CDIO Syllabus Survey for a Biomedicine Program
- 2019
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Ingår i: The 15th International CDIO Conference: Proceedings – Full Papers. - Aarhus : Aarhus University. - 9788775074594 ; , s. 191-200
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The CDIO Syllabus survey has successfully been applied to the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Experimental and Medical Biosciences, within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Linköping University, Sweden. The programs are and have been, subject to considerable redesign with strong influence from the CDIO framework. One of the main drivers for the redesign is a shift concerning the main job market after graduation, from an academic career to industry and healthcare. One of the steps in the development process has been to carry out a Syllabus survey based on an adapted version of the CDIO Syllabus. The survey was sent out to students and to various categories of professionals, and in total 87 responses were received. The adapted version of the Syllabus and the design, execution, and outcome of the survey is presented.
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| 9. |
- Helmfors, Linda, et al.
(författare)
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Protective properties of lysozyme on β-amyloid pathology : implications for Alzheimer disease
- 2015
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Disease. - : Elsevier. - 0969-9961 .- 1095-953X. ; 83, s. 122-133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The hallmarks of Alzheimer disease are amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accompanied by signs of neuroinflammation. Lysozyme is a major player in the innate immune system and has recently been shown to prevent the aggregation of amyloid-β1-40 in vitro. In this study we found that patients with Alzheimer disease have increased lysozyme levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and lysozyme co-localized with amyloid-β in plaques. In Drosophila neuronal co-expression of lysozyme and amyloid-β1-42 reduced the formation of soluble and insoluble amyloid-β species, prolonged survival and improved the activity of amyloid-β1-42 transgenic flies. This suggests that lysozyme levels rise in Alzheimer disease as a compensatory response to amyloid-β increases and aggregation. In support of this, in vitro aggregation assays revealed that lysozyme associates with amyloid-β1-42 and alters its aggregation pathway to counteract the formation of toxic amyloid-β species. Overall, these studies establish a protective role for lysozyme against amyloid-β associated toxicities and identify increased lysozyme in patients with Alzheimer disease. Therefore, lysozyme has potential as a new biomarker as well as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer disease.
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| 10. |
- Kågedal, Matts, et al.
(författare)
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Estimation of drug receptor occupancy when non-displaceable binding differs between brain regions : extending the simplified reference tissue model
- 2015
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Ingår i: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. - : Wiley. - 0306-5251 .- 1365-2125. ; 80:1, s. 116-127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: The simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) is used for estimation of receptor occupancy assuming that the non-displaceable binding in the reference region is identical to the brain regions of interest. The aim of this work was to extended the SRTM to also account for inter-regional differences in non-displaceable concentrations, and to investigate if this model allowed estimation of receptor occupancy using white matter as reference. It was also investigated if an apparent higher affinity in caudate compared to other brain regions, could be better explained by a difference in the extent of non-displaceable binding.METHODS: The analysis was based on a PET study in 6 healthy volunteers using the 5-HT1B receptor radioligand [(11) C]AZ10419369. The radioligand was given intravenously as a tracer dose alone and following different oral doses of the 5-HT1B receptor antagonist AZD3783. Nonlinear mixed effects models were developed where differences between regions in non-specific concentrations were accounted for. The properties of the models were also evaluated by means of simulation studies.RESULTS: The estimate (95% CI) of KiPL was 10.2 ng/ml (5.4-15) and 10.4 ng/ml (8.1-13.6) based on the extended SRTM with white matter as reference and based on the SRTM using cerebellum as reference respectively. The estimate (95% CI) of KiPL for caudate relative to other brain regions was 55% ( 48% -62%).CONCLUSIONS: The extended SRTM allows consideration of white matter as reference region when no suitable grey matter region exists. The AZD3783 affinity appears to be higher in caudate compared with other brain regions.
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