| 1. |
- De Bastiani, Marco Antônio, et al.
(författare)
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Hippocampal GFAP-positive astrocyte responses to amyloid and tau pathologies.
- 2023
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Ingår i: Brain, behavior, and immunity. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2139 .- 0889-1591. ; 110, s. 175-184
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Alzheimer's disease clinical research, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) released/leaked into the cerebrospinal fluid and blood is widely measured and perceived as a biomarker of reactive astrogliosis. However, it was demonstrated that GFAP levels differ in individuals presenting with amyloid-β (Aβ) or tau pathologies. The molecular underpinnings behind this specificity are little explored. Here we investigated biomarker and transcriptomic associations of hippocampal GFAP-positive astrocytes with Aβ and tau pathologies in humans and mouse models.We studied 90 individuals with plasma GFAP, Aβ- and Tau-PET to investigate the association between biomarkers. Then, transcriptomic analysis in hippocampal GFAP-positive astrocytes isolated from mouse models presenting Aβ (PS2APP) or tau (P301S) pathologies was conducted to explore differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Gene Ontology terms, and protein-protein interaction networks associated with each phenotype.In humans, we found that plasma GFAP associates with Aβ but not tau pathology. Unveiling the unique nature of hippocampal GFAP-positive astrocytic responses to Aβ or tau pathologies, mouse transcriptomics showed scarce overlap of DEGs between the Aβ. and tau mouse models. While Aβ GFAP-positive astrocytes were overrepresented with DEGs associated with proteostasis and exocytosis-related processes, tau hippocampal GFAP-positive astrocytes presented greater abnormalities in functions related to DNA/RNA processing and cytoskeleton dynamics.Our results offer insights into Aβ- and tau-driven specific signatures in hippocampal GFAP-positive astrocytes. Characterizing how different underlying pathologies distinctly influence astrocyte responses is critical for the biological interpretation of astrocyte biomarkers and suggests the need to develop context-specific astrocyte targets to study AD.This study was supported by Instituto Serrapilheira, Alzheimer's Association, CAPES, CNPq and FAPERGS.
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| 2. |
- Ferrari-Souza, Joao Pedro, et al.
(författare)
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Vascular risk burden is a key player in the early progression of Alzheimer's disease
- 2024
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Ingår i: NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING. - 0197-4580 .- 1558-1497. ; 136, s. 88-98
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding whether vascular risk factors (VRFs) synergistically potentiate Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression is important in the context of emerging treatments for preclinical AD. In a group of 503 cognitively unimpaired individuals, we tested whether VRF burden interacts with AD pathophysiology to accelerate neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Baseline VRF burden was calculated considering medical data and AD pathophysiology was assessed based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid-beta 1-42 (A beta 1-42) and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-tau181). Neurodegeneration was assessed with plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and global cognition with the modified version of the Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite. The mean (SD) age of participants was 72.9 (6.1) years, and 220 (43.7%) were men. Linear mixed-effects models revealed that an elevated VRF burden synergistically interacted with AD pathophysiology to drive longitudinal plasma NfL increase and cognitive decline. Additionally, VRF burden was not associated with CSF A beta 1-42or p-tau181 changes over time. Our results suggest that VRF burden and AD pathophysiology are independent processes; however, they synergistically lead to neurodegeneration and cognitive deterioration. In preclinical stages, the combination of therapies targeting VRFs and AD pathophysiology might potentiate treatment outcomes.
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| 3. |
- Ferreira, Pamela C. L., et al.
(författare)
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Endocannabinoid System Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease
- 2023
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Ingår i: CANNABIS AND CANNABINOID RESEARCH. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 2578-5125 .- 2378-8763. ; 8:1, s. 77-91
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Alterations in the endocannabinoid system (ES) have been described in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. In the past years, multiple ES biomarkers have been developed, promising to advance our understanding of ES changes in AD.Discussion: ES biomarkers, including positron emission tomography with cannabinoid receptors tracers and biofluid-based endocannabinoids, are associated with AD disease progression and pathological features.Conclusion: Although not specific enough for AD diagnosis, ES biomarkers hold promise for prognosis, drug-target engagement, and a better understanding of the disease. Here, we summarize currently available ES biomarker findings and discuss their potential applications in the AD research field.
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| 4. |
- Gonzalez-Ortiz, Fernando, et al.
(författare)
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A novel ultrasensitive assay for plasma p-tau217: Performance in individuals with subjective cognitive decline and early Alzheimer's disease.
- 2024
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. - 1552-5279. ; 20:2, s. 1239-1249
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology among individuals with mild cognitive changesand those experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) remains challenging. Plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) is one of the most promising of the emerging biomarkers for AD. However, accessible methods are limited.We employed a novel p-tau217 immunoassay (University of Gothenburg [UGOT] p-tau217) in four independent cohorts (n=308) including a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker-classified cohort (Discovery), two cohorts consisting mostly of cognitively unimpaired (CU) and mild cognitively impaired (MCI) participants (MYHAT and Pittsburgh), and a population-based cohort of individuals with SCD (Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center's Alzheimer's At-Risk Cohort [β-AARC]).UGOT p-tau217 showed high accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]=0.80-0.91) identifying amyloid beta (Aβ) pathology, determined either by Aβ positron emission tomography or CSF Aβ42/40 ratio. In individuals experiencing SCD, UGOT p-tau217 showed high accuracy identifying those with a positive CSF Aβ42/40 ratio (AUC=0.91).UGOT p-tau217 can be an easily accessible and efficient way to screen and monitor patients with suspected AD pathophysiology, even in the early stages of the continuum.
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| 5. |
- Gonzalez-Ortiz, Fernando, et al.
(författare)
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A novel ultrasensitive assay for plasma p-tau217: performance in individuals with subjective cognitive decline and early Alzheimer's disease.
- 2023
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Ingår i: medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences.
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology among cognitively unimpaired individuals and those experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) remains challenging. Plasma p-tau217 is one of the most promising of the emerging biomarkers for AD. However, accessible methods are limited.We employed a novel p-tau217 immunoassay (UGOT p-tau217) in four independent cohorts (n=308) including a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker-classified cohort (Discovery), two cohorts consisting mostly of cognitively unimpaired participants (MYHAT and Pittsburgh), and a population-based cohort of individuals with SCD (β-AARC).UGOT p-tau217 showed high accuracy (AUC= 0.80-0.91) identifying Aβ pathology, determined either by Aβ positron emission tomography or CSF Aβ42/40 ratio. In individuals experiencing SCD, UGOT p-tau217 showed high accuracy identifying those with a positive CSF Aβ42/40 ratio (AUC= 0.91).UGOT p-tau217 can be an easily accessible and efficient way to screen and monitor patients with suspected AD pathophysiology, even in the early stages of the continuum.
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| 6. |
- Pascoal, Tharick, et al.
(författare)
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Astrocyte reactivity influences the association of amyloid-β and tau biomarkers in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
- 2023
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Ingår i: Research square. - : Research Square Platform LLC.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An unresolved question for the understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology is why a significant percentage of amyloid β (Aβ)-positive cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals do not develop detectable downstream tau pathology and, consequently, clinical deterioration. In vitro evidence suggests that reactive astrocytes are key to unleashing Aβ effects in pathological tau phosphorylation. In a large study ( n =1,016) across three cohorts, we tested whether astrocyte reactivity modulates the association of Aβ with plasma tau phosphorylation in CU people. We found that Aβ pathology was associated with increased plasma phosphorylated tau levels only in individuals positive for astrocyte reactivity (Ast+). Cross-sectional and longitudinal tau-PET analysis revealed that tau tangles accumulated as a function of Aβ burden only in CU Ast+ individuals with a topographic distribution compatible with early AD. Our findings suggest that increased astrocyte reactivity is an important upstream event linking Aβ burden with initial tau pathology which might have implications for the biological definition of preclinical AD and for selecting individuals for early preventive clinical trials.
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| 7. |
- Schaffer Aguzzoli, Cristiano, et al.
(författare)
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Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Microglial Activation in Patients with Alzheimer Disease
- 2023
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Ingår i: JAMA network open. - 2574-3805. ; 6:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Importance: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are commonly encountered and are highly debilitating in patients with Alzheimer disease. Understanding their underpinnings has implications for identifying biomarkers and treatment for these symptoms. Objective: To evaluate whether glial markers are associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals across the Alzheimer disease continuum. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2023, leveraging data from the Translational Biomarkers in Aging and Dementia cohort at McGill University, Canada. Recruitment was based on referrals of individuals from the community or from outpatient clinics. Exclusion criteria included active substance abuse, major surgery, recent head trauma, safety contraindications for positron emission tomography (PET) or magnetic resonance imaging, being currently enrolled in other studies, and having inadequately treated systemic conditions. Main Outcomes and Measures: All individuals underwent assessment for neuropsychiatric symptoms (Neuropsychiatry Inventory Questionnaire [NPI-Q]), and imaging for microglial activation ([11C]PBR28 PET), amyloid-β ([18F]AZD4694 PET), and tau tangles ([18F]MK6240 PET). Results: Of the 109 participants, 72 (66%) were women and 37 (34%) were men; the median age was 71.8 years (range, 38.0-86.5 years). Overall, 70 had no cognitive impairment and 39 had cognitive impairment (25 mild; 14 Alzheimer disease dementia). Amyloid-β PET positivity was present in 21 cognitively unimpaired individuals (30%) and in 31 cognitively impaired individuals (79%). The NPI-Q severity score was associated with microglial activation in the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices (β=7.37; 95% CI, 1.34-13.41; P=.01). A leave-one-out approach revealed that irritability was the NPI-Q domain most closely associated with the presence of brain microglial activation (β=6.86; 95% CI, 1.77-11.95; P=.008). Furthermore, we found that microglia-associated irritability was associated with study partner burden measured by NPI-Q distress score (β=5.72; 95% CI, 0.33-11.10; P=.03). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study of 109 individuals across the AD continuum, microglial activation was associated with and a potential biomarker of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer disease. Moreover, our findings suggest that the combination of amyloid-β- and microglia-targeted therapies could have an impact on relieving these symptoms.
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