Browsing by Subject "Neurodegenerative diseases"

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    Alois Alzheimer: His Life and Times
    (Wiley, 2007-01) Goedert, Michel; Ghetti, Bernardino; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    Between national unification and World War I, Germany was preeminent in many areas of science and medicine. Alois Alzheimer, who lived during this period, was one of the founders of the field of neuropathology. His name will always be linked with the form of dementia that he described 100 years ago. Here we mark this anniversary by discussing Alzheimer's contributions to dementia research in the context of his life and times.
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    Central and Peripheral Inflammation: A Common Factor Causing Addictive and Neurological Disorders and Aging-Related Pathologie
    (MDPI, 2023-06-13) Escobar, Angélica P.; Bonansco, Christian; Cruz, Gonzalo; Dagnino-Subiabre, Alexies; Fuenzalida, Marco; Negrón, Ignacio; Sotomayor-Zárate, Ramón; Martínez-Pinto, Jonathan; Jorquera, Gonzalo; Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine
    Many diseases and degenerative processes affecting the nervous system and peripheral organs trigger the activation of inflammatory cascades. Inflammation can be triggered by different environmental conditions or risk factors, including drug and food addiction, stress, and aging, among others. Several pieces of evidence show that the modern lifestyle and, more recently, the confinement associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to increasing the incidence of addictive and neuropsychiatric disorders, plus cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we gather evidence on how some of these risk factors are implicated in activating central and peripheral inflammation contributing to some neuropathologies and behaviors associated with poor health. We discuss the current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the generation of inflammation and how these processes occur in different cells and tissues to promote ill health and diseases. Concomitantly, we discuss how some pathology-associated and addictive behaviors contribute to worsening these inflammation mechanisms, leading to a vicious cycle that promotes disease progression. Finally, we list some drugs targeting inflammation-related pathways that may have beneficial effects on the pathological processes associated with addictive, mental, and cardiometabolic illnesses.
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    Deciphering distinct genetic risk factors for FTLD-TDP pathological subtypes via whole-genome sequencing
    (Springer Nature, 2025-04-25) Pottier, Cyril; Küçükali, Fahri; Baker, Matt; Batzler, Anthony; Jenkins, Gregory D.; van Blitterswijk, Marka; Vicente, Cristina T.; De Coster, Wouter; Wynants, Sarah; Van de Walle, Pieter; Ross, Owen A.; Murray, Melissa E.; Faura, Júlia; Haggarty, Stephen J.; van Rooij, Jeroen G. J.; Mol, Merel O.; Hsiung, Ging-Yuek R.; Graff, Caroline; Öijerstedt, Linn; Neumann, Manuela; Asmann, Yan; McDonnell, Shannon K.; Baheti, Saurabh; Josephs, Keith A.; Whitwell, Jennifer L.; Bieniek, Kevin F.; Forsberg, Leah; Heuer, Hilary; Lago, Argentina Lario; Geier, Ethan G.; Yokoyama, Jennifer S.; Oddi, Alexis P.; Flanagan, Margaret; Mao, Qinwen; Hodges, John R.; Kwok, John B.; Domoto-Reilly, Kimiko; Synofzik, Matthis; Wilke, Carlo; Onyike, Chiadi; Dickerson, Bradford C.; Evers, Bret M.; Dugger, Brittany N.; Munoz, David G.; Keith, Julia; Zinman, Lorne; Rogaeva, Ekaterina; Suh, EunRan; Gefen, Tamar; Geula, Changiz; Weintraub, Sandra; Diehl-Schmid, Janine; Farlow, Martin R.; Edbauer, Dieter; Woodruff, Bryan K.; Caselli, Richard J.; Donker Kaat, Laura L.; Huey, Edward D.; Reiman, Eric M.; Mead, Simon; King, Andrew; Roeber, Sigrun; Nana, Alissa L.; Ertekin-Taner, Nilufer; Knopman, David S.; Petersen, Ronald C.; Petrucelli, Leonard; Uitti, Ryan J.; Wszolek, Zbigniew K.; Ramos, Eliana Marisa; Grinberg, Lea T.; Gorno Tempini, Maria Luisa; Rosen, Howard J.; Spina, Salvatore; Piguet, Olivier; Grossman, Murray; Trojanowski, John Q.; Keene, C. Dirk; Jin, Lee-Way; Prudlo, Johannes; Geschwind, Daniel H.; Rissman, Robert A.; Cruchaga, Carlos; Ghetti, Bernardino; Halliday, Glenda M.; Beach, Thomas G.; Serrano, Geidy E.; Arzberger, Thomas; Herms, Jochen; Boxer, Adam L.; Honig, Lawrence S.; Vonsattel, Jean P.; Lopez, Oscar L.; Kofler, Julia; White, Charles L., III; Gearing, Marla; Glass, Jonathan; Rohrer, Jonathan D.; Irwin, David J.; Lee, Edward B.; Van Deerlin, Vivianna; Castellani, Rudolph; Mesulam, Marsel M.; Tartaglia, Maria C.; Finger, Elizabeth C.; Troakes, Claire; Al-Sarraj, Safa; Dalgard, Clifton L.; Miller, Bruce L.; Seelaar, Harro; Graff-Radford, Neill R.; Boeve, Bradley F.; Mackenzie, Ian Ra; van Swieten, John C.; Seeley, William W.; Sleegers, Kristel; Dickson, Dennis W.; Biernacka, Joanna M.; Rademakers, Rosa; Neurology, School of Medicine
    Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with neuronal inclusions of the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (FTLD-TDP) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with only a limited number of risk loci identified. We report our comprehensive genome-wide association study as part of the International FTLD-TDP Whole-Genome Sequencing Consortium, including 985 patients and 3,153 controls compiled from 26 institutions/brain banks in North America, Europe and Australia, and meta-analysis with the Dementia-seq cohort. We confirm UNC13A as the strongest overall FTLD-TDP risk factor and identify TNIP1 as a novel FTLD-TDP risk factor. In subgroup analyzes, we further identify genome-wide significant loci specific to each of the three main FTLD-TDP pathological subtypes (A, B and C), as well as enrichment of risk loci in distinct tissues, brain regions, and neuronal subtypes, suggesting distinct disease aetiologies in each of the subtypes. Rare variant analysis confirmed TBK1 and identified C3AR1, SMG8, VIPR1, RBPJL, L3MBTL1 and ANO9, as novel subtype-specific FTLD-TDP risk genes, further highlighting the role of innate and adaptive immunity and notch signaling pathway in FTLD-TDP, with potential diagnostic and novel therapeutic implications.
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    Design, synthesis and biological assessment of novel N-substituted 3-(phthalimidin-2-yl)-2,6-dioxopiperidines and 3-substituted 2,6-dioxopiperidines for TNF-α inhibitory activity
    (Elsevier, 2011-07-01) Luo, Weiming; Yu, Qian-sheng; Salcedo, Isidro; Holloway, Harold W.; Lahiri, Debomoy K.; Brossi, Arnold; Tweedie, David; Greig, Nigel H.; Department of Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine
    Eight novel 2-(2,6-dioxopiperidin-3-yl)phthalimidine EM-12 dithiocarbamates 9 and 10, N-substituted 3-(phthalimidin-2-yl)-2,6-dioxopiperidines 11-14 and 3-substituted 2,6-dioxopiperidines 16 and 18 were synthesized as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis inhibitors. Synthesis involved utilization of a novel condensation approach, a one-pot reaction involving addition, iminium rearrangement and elimination, to generate the phthalimidine ring required for the creation of compounds 9-14. Agents were, thereafter, quantitatively assessed for their ability to suppress the synthesis on TNF-α in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged mouse macrophage-like cellular screen, utilizing cultured RAW 264.7 cells. Whereas compounds 9, 14 and 16 exhibited potent TNF-α lowering activity, reducing TNF-α by up to 48% at 30 μM, compounds 12, 17 and 18 presented moderate TNF-α inhibitory action. The TNF-α lowering properties of these analogs proved more potent than that of revlimid (3) and thalidomide (1). In particular, N-dithiophthalimidomethyl-3-(phthalimidin-2-yl)-2,6-dioxopiperidine 14 not only possessed the greatest potency of the analogs to reduce TNF-α synthesis, but achieved this with minor cellular toxicity at 30 μM. The pharmacological focus of the presented compounds is towards the development of well-tolerated agents to ameliorate the neuroinflammation, that is, commonly associated with neurodegenerative disorders, epitomized by Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
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    Editorial: Innovative Imaging Techniques in Preclinical Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases
    (Frontiers Media, 2021-12-23) Gatto, Rodolfo G.; Wu, Yu-Chien; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
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    Globular glial tauopathies (GGT): consensus recommendations
    (Springer, 2013) Ahmed, Zeshan; Bigio, Eileen H.; Budka, Herbert; Dickson, Dennis W.; Ferrer, Isidro; Ghetti, Bernardino; Giaccone, Giorgio; Hatanpaa, Kimmo J.; Holton, Janice L.; Josephs, Keith A.; Powers, James; Spina, Salvatore; Takahashi, Hitoshi; White, Charles L., III; Revesz, Tamas; Kovacs, Gabor G.; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    Recent studies have highlighted a group of 4-repeat (4R) tauopathies that are characterised neuropathologically by widespread, globular glial inclusions (GGIs). Tau immunohistochemistry reveals 4R immunoreactive globular oligodendroglial and astrocytic inclusions and the latter are predominantly negative for Gallyas silver staining. These cases are associated with a range of clinical presentations, which correlate with the severity and distribution of underlying tau pathology and neurodegeneration. Their heterogeneous clinicopathological features combined with their rarity and under-recognition have led to cases characterised by GGIs being described in the literature using various and redundant terminologies. In this report, a group of neuropathologists form a consensus on the terminology and classification of cases with GGIs. After studying microscopic images from previously reported cases with suspected GGIs (n = 22), this panel of neuropathologists with extensive experience in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases and a documented record of previous experience with at least one case with GGIs, agreed that (1) GGIs were present in all the cases reviewed; (2) the morphology of globular astrocytic inclusions was different to tufted astrocytes and finally that (3) the cases represented a number of different neuropathological subtypes. They also agreed that the different morphological subtypes are likely to be part of a spectrum of a distinct disease entity, for which they recommend that the overarching term globular glial tauopathy (GGT) should be used. Type I cases typically present with frontotemporal dementia, which correlates with the fronto-temporal distribution of pathology. Type II cases are characterised by pyramidal features reflecting motor cortex involvement and corticospinal tract degeneration. Type III cases can present with a combination of frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease with fronto-temporal cortex, motor cortex and corticospinal tract being severely affected. Extrapyramidal features can be present in Type II and III cases and significant degeneration of the white matter is a feature of all GGT subtypes. Improved detection and classification will be necessary for the establishment of neuropathological and clinical diagnostic research criteria in the future.
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    Heterozygous De Novo UBTF Gain-of-Function Variant Is Associated with Neurodegeneration in Childhood
    (Elsevier, 2017-08-03) Edvardson, Simon; Nicolae, Claudia M.; Agrawal, Pankaj B.; Mignot, Cyril; Payne, Katelyn; Prasad, Asuri Narayan; Prasad, Chitra; Sadler, Laurie; Nava, Caroline; Mullen, Thomas E.; Begtrup, Amber; Baskin, Berivan; Powis, Zöe; Shaag, Avraham; Keren, Boris; Moldovan, George-Lucian; Elpeleg, Orly; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is transcribed from rDNA by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) to produce the 45S precursor of the 28S, 5.8S, and 18S rRNA components of the ribosome. Two transcription factors have been defined for Pol I in mammals, the selectivity factor SL1, and the upstream binding transcription factor (UBF), which interacts with the upstream control element to facilitate the assembly of the transcription initiation complex including SL1 and Pol I. In seven unrelated affected individuals, all suffering from developmental regression starting at 2.5-7 years, we identified a heterozygous variant, c.628G>A in UBTF, encoding p.Glu210Lys in UBF, which occurred de novo in all cases. While the levels of UBF, Ser388 phosphorylated UBF, and other Pol I-related components (POLR1E, TAF1A, and TAF1C) remained unchanged in cells of an affected individual, the variant conferred gain of function to UBF, manifesting by markedly increased UBF binding to the rDNA promoter and to the 5'- external transcribed spacer. This was associated with significantly increased 18S expression, and enlarged nucleoli which were reduced in number per cell. The data link neurodegeneration in childhood with altered rDNA chromatin status and rRNA metabolism.
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    Longitudinal Associations of Blood Phosphorylated Tau181 and Neurofilament Light Chain With Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer Disease
    (American Medical Association, 2021) Moscoso, Alexis; Grothe, Michel J.; Ashton, Nicholas J.; Karikari, Thomas K.; Rodríguez, Juan Lantero; Snellman, Anniina; Suárez-Calvet, Marc; Blennow, Kaj; Zetterberg, Henrik; Schöll, Michael; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Importance: Plasma phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 (p-tau181) has been proposed as an easily accessible biomarker for the detection of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology, but its ability to monitor disease progression in AD remains unclear. Objective: To study the potential of longitudinal plasma p-tau181 measures for assessing neurodegeneration progression and cognitive decline in AD in comparison to plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL), a disease-nonspecific marker of neuronal injury. Design, setting, and participants: This longitudinal cohort study included data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative from February 1, 2007, to June 6, 2016. Follow-up blood sampling was performed for up to 8 years. Plasma p-tau181 measurements were performed in 2020. This was a multicentric observational study of 1113 participants, including cognitively unimpaired participants as well as patients with cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment and AD dementia). Participants were eligible for inclusion if they had available plasma p-tau181 and NfL measurements and at least 1 fluorine-18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) or structural magnetic resonance imaging scan performed at the same study visit. Exclusion criteria included any significant neurologic disorder other than suspected AD; presence of infection, infarction, or multiple lacunes as detected by magnetic resonance imaging; and any significant systemic condition that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol. Exposures: Plasma p-tau181 and NfL measured with single-molecule array technology. Main outcomes and measures: Longitudinal imaging markers of neurodegeneration (FDG PET and structural magnetic resonance imaging) and cognitive test scores (Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale with 13 tasks). Data were analyzed from June 20 to August 15, 2020. Results: Of the 1113 participants (mean [SD] age, 74.0 [7.6] years; 600 men [53.9%]; 992 non-Hispanic White participants [89.1%]), a total of 378 individuals (34.0%) were cognitively unimpaired (CU) and 735 participants (66.0%) were cognitively impaired (CImp). Of the CImp group, 537 (73.1%) had mild cognitive impairment, and 198 (26.9%) had AD dementia. Longitudinal changes of plasma p-tau181 were associated with cognitive decline (CU: r = -0.24, P < .001; CImp: r = 0.34, P < .001) and a prospective decrease in glucose metabolism (CU: r = -0.05, P = .48; CImp: r = -0.27, P < .001) and gray matter volume (CU: r = -0.19, P < .001; CImp: r = -0.31, P < .001) in highly AD-characteristic brain regions. These associations were restricted to amyloid-β-positive individuals. Both plasma p-tau181 and NfL were independently associated with cognition and neurodegeneration in brain regions typically affected in AD. However, NfL was also associated with neurodegeneration in brain regions exceeding this AD-typical spatial pattern in amyloid-β-negative participants. Mediation analyses found that approximately 25% to 45% of plasma p-tau181 outcomes on cognition measures were mediated by the neuroimaging-derived markers of neurodegeneration, suggesting links between plasma p-tau181 and cognition independent of these measures. Conclusions and relevance: Study findings suggest that plasma p-tau181 was an accessible and scalable marker for predicting and monitoring neurodegeneration and cognitive decline and was, unlike plasma NfL, AD specific. The study findings suggest implications for the use of plasma biomarkers as measures to monitor AD progression in clinical practice and treatment trials.
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    Microglia become hypofunctional and release metalloproteases and tau seeds when phagocytosing live neurons with P301S tau aggregates
    (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2021) Brelstaff, Jack H.; Mason, Matthew; Katsinelos, Taxiarchis; McEwan, William A.; Ghetti, Bernardino; Tolkovsky, Aviva M.; Grazia Spillantini, Maria; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    The microtubule-associated protein tau aggregates in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, causing inflammation and changing the inflammatory signature of microglia by unknown mechanisms. We have shown that microglia phagocytose live neurons containing tau aggregates cultured from P301S tau mice due to neuronal tau aggregate-induced exposure of the “eat me” signal phosphatidylserine. Here, we show that after phagocytosing tau aggregate-bearing neurons, microglia become hypophagocytic while releasing seed-competent insoluble tau aggregates. These microglia express a senescence-like phenotype, demonstrated by acidic β-galactosidase activity, secretion of paracrine senescence-associated cytokines, and maturation of matrix remodeling enzymes, results that are corroborated in P301S mouse brains and ex vivo brain slices. In particular, the nuclear factor κB–dependent activation of matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP3/stromelysin1) was replicated in brains from patients with tauopathy. These data show that microglia that have been activated to ingest live tau aggregates-bearing neurons behave hormetically, becoming hypofunctional while acting as vectors of tau aggregate spreading.
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    Myeloid antigen-presenting cells in neurodegenerative diseases: a focus on classical and non-classical MHC molecules
    (Frontiers Media, 2024-12-09) Afify, Reham; Lipsius, Katherine; Wyatt-Johnson, Season J.; Brutkiewicz, Randy R.; Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
    In recent years, increasing evidence has highlighted the critical role of myeloid cells, specifically those that present antigen (APCs) in health and disease. These shape the progression and development of neurodegenerative disorders, where considerable interplay between the immune system and neurons influences the course of disease pathogenesis. Antigen-presenting myeloid cells display different classes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and MHC-like proteins on their surface for presenting various types of antigens to a wide variety of T cells. While most studies focus on the role of myeloid MHC class I and II molecules in health and disease, there is still much that remains unknown about non-polymorphic MHC-like molecules such as CD1d and MR1. Thus, in this review, we will summarize the recent findings regarding the contributions of both classical and non-classical MHC molecules, particularly on myeloid microglial APCs, in neurodegenerative diseases. This will offer a better understanding of altered mechanisms that may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting immune cell-MHC interactions, to mitigate neurodegeneration and its associated pathology.