Browsing by Author "Williams, Sean-Paul"

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    Characterizing Molecular and Synaptic Signatures in mouse models of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Independent of Amyloid and Tau Pathology
    (bioRxiv, 2023-12-20) Kotredes, Kevin P.; Pandey, Ravi S.; Persohn, Scott; Elderidge, Kierra; Burton, Charles P.; Miner, Ethan W.; Haynes, Kathryn A.; Santos, Diogo Francisco S.; Williams, Sean-Paul; Heaton, Nicholas; Ingraham, Cynthia M.; Lloyd, Christopher; Garceau, Dylan; O’Rourke, Rita; Herrick, Sarah; Rangel-Barajas, Claudia; Maharjan, Surendra; Wang, Nian; Sasner, Michael; Lamb, Bruce T.; Territo, Paul R.; Sukoff Rizzo, Stacey J.; Carter, Gregory W.; Howell, Gareth R.; Oblak, Adrian L.; Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
    Introduction: MODEL-AD is creating and distributing novel mouse models with humanized, clinically relevant genetic risk factors to more accurately mimic LOAD than commonly used transgenic models. Methods: We created the LOAD2 model by combining APOE4, Trem2*R47H, and humanized amyloid-beta. Mice aged up to 24 months were subjected to either a control diet or a high-fat/high-sugar diet (LOAD2+HFD) from two months of age. We assessed disease-relevant outcomes, including in vivo imaging, biomarkers, multi-omics, neuropathology, and behavior. Results: By 18 months, LOAD2+HFD mice exhibited cortical neuron loss, elevated insoluble brain Aβ42, increased plasma NfL, and altered gene/protein expression related to lipid metabolism and synaptic function. In vivo imaging showed age-dependent reductions in brain region volume and neurovascular uncoupling. LOAD2+HFD mice also displayed deficits in acquiring touchscreen-based cognitive tasks. Discussion: Collectively the comprehensive characterization of LOAD2+HFD mice reveal this model as important for preclinical studies that target features of LOAD independent of amyloid and tau.
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    Prophylactic evaluation of verubecestat on disease- and symptom-modifying effects in 5XFAD mice
    (Alzheimer’s Association, 2022-07-14) Oblak, Adrian L.; Cope, Zackary A.; Quinney, Sara K.; Pandey, Ravi S.; Biesdorf, Carla; Masters, Andi R.; Onos, Kristen D.; Haynes, Leslie; Keezer, Kelly J.; Meyer, Jill A.; Peters, Jonathan S.; Persohn, Scott A.; Bedwell, Amanda A.; Eldridge, Kierra; Speedy, Rachael; Little, Gabriela; Williams, Sean-Paul; Noarbe, Brenda; Obenaus, Andre; Sasner, Michael; Howell, Gareth R.; Carter, Gregory W.; Williams, Harriet; Lamb, Bruce T.; Territo, Paul R.; Sukoff Rizzo, Stacey J.; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Beta-secretase (BACE) inhibitors have been proposed as potential therapeutic interventions; however, initiating treatment once disease has significantly progressed has failed to effectively stop or treat disease. Whether BACE inhibition may have efficacy when administered prophylactically in the early stages of AD has been under-investigated. The present studies aimed to evaluate prophylactic treatment of the BACE inhibitor verubecestat in an AD mouse model using the National Institute on Aging (NIA) resources of the Model Organism Development for Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (MODEL-AD) Preclinical Testing Core (PTC) Drug Screening Pipeline. Methods: 5XFAD mice were administered verubecestat ad libitum in chow from 3 to 6 months of age, prior to the onset of significant disease pathology. Following treatment (6 months of age), in vivo imaging was conducted with 18F-florbetapir (AV-45/Amyvid) (18F-AV45) and 18-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose)-PET (positron emission tomography)/MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), brain and plasma amyloid beta (Aβ) were measured, and the clinical and behavioral characteristics of the mice were assessed and correlated with the pharmacokinetic data. Results: Prophylactic verubecestat treatment resulted in dose- and region-dependent attenuations of 18F-AV45 uptake in male and female 5XFAD mice. Plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 were also dose-dependently attenuated with treatment. Across the dose range evaluated, side effects including coat color changes and motor alterations were reported, in the absence of cognitive improvement or changes in 18F-FDG uptake. Discussion: Prophylactic treatment with verubecestat resulted in attenuated amyloid plaque deposition when treatment was initiated prior to significant pathology in 5XFAD mice. At the same dose range effective at attenuating Aβ levels, verubecestat produced side effects in the absence of improvements in cognitive function. Taken together these data demonstrate the rigorous translational approaches of the MODEL-AD PTC for interrogating potential therapeutics and provide insight into the limitations of verubecestat as a prophylactic intervention for early-stage AD.