Alzheimer's disease (AD), a leading cause of dementia worldwide, is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-beta plaques, tauopathy, neuronal loss, neuro-inflammation, brain atrophy, and cognitive deficits. AD manifests as familial early-onset (FAD) with specific gene mutations or sporadic late-onset (LOAD) caused by various genetic and environmental factors. Numerous transgenic rodent models have been developed to understand AD pathology development and progression. The TgF344-AD rat model is a double transgenic model that carries two human gene mutations: APP with the Swedish mutation and PSEN-1 with delta exon 9 mutations. This model exhibits a complete repertoire of AD pathology in an age-dependent manner. This review summarizes multidisciplinary research insights gained from studying TgF344-AD rats in the context of AD pathology. We explore neuropathological findings; electrophysiological assessments revealing disrupted synaptic transmission, reduced spatial coding, network-level dysfunctions, and altered sleep architecture; behavioral studies highlighting impaired spatial memory; alterations in excitatory-inhibitory systems; and molecular and physiological changes in TgF344-AD rats emphasizing their age-related effects. Additionally, the impact of various interventions studied in the model is compiled, underscoring their role in bridging gaps in understanding AD pathogenesis. The TgF344-AD rat model offers significant potential in identifying biomarkers for early detection and therapeutic interventions, providing a robust platform for advancing translational AD research. Key words Alzheimer's disease, Transgenic AD models, TgF344-AD rats, Spatial coding.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * genetika patologie metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta genetika metabolismus MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- mozek patologie metabolismus MeSH
- potkani inbrední F344 MeSH
- potkani transgenní * MeSH
- presenilin-1 genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, AD typically begins with mild cognitive decline escalating to severe impairment in communication and responsiveness. It primarily affects cerebral regions responsible for cognition, memory, and language processing, significantly impeding the functional independence of patients. With nearly 50 million dementia cases worldwide, a number expected to triple by 2050, the need for effective treatments is more urgent than ever. Recent insights into the association between obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative disorders have led to the development of promising treatments involving antidiabetic and anti-obesity agents. One such novel promising candidate for addressing AD pathology is a lipidized analogue of anorexigenic peptide called prolactin-releasing peptide (palm11-PrRP31). Interestingly, anorexigenic and orexigenic peptides have opposite effects on food intake regulation, however, both types exhibit neuroprotective properties. Recent studies have also identified ghrelin, an orexigenic peptide, as a potential neuroprotective agent. Hence, we employed both anorexigenic and orexigenic compounds to investigate the common mechanisms underpinning their neuroprotective effects in a triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD mouse model) combining amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology and Tau pathology, two hallmarks of AD. We treated 3xTg-AD mice for 4 months with two stable lipidized anorexigenic peptide analogues - palm11-PrRP31, and liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogue - as well as Dpr3-ghrelin, a stable analogue of the orexigenic peptide ghrelin, and using the method of immunohistochemistry and western blot demonstrate the effects of these compounds on the development of AD-like pathology in the brain. Palm11-PrRP31, Dpr3-ghrelin, and liraglutide reduced intraneuronal deposits of Aβ plaque load in the hippocampi and amygdalae of 3xTg-AD mice. Palm11-PrRP31 and Dpr3-ghrelin reduced microgliosis in the hippocampi, amygdalae, and cortices of 3xTg-AD mice. Palm11-PrRP31 and liraglutide reduced astrocytosis in the amygdalae of 3xTg-AD mice. We propose that these peptides are involved in reducing inflammation, a common mechanism underlying their therapeutic effects. This is the first study to demonstrate improvements in AD pathology following the administration of both orexigenic and anorexigenic compounds, highlighting the therapeutic potential of food intake-regulating peptides in neurodegenerative disorders.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * farmakoterapie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta genetika metabolismus MeSH
- ghrelin farmakologie analogy a deriváty terapeutické užití metabolismus MeSH
- hormon uvolňující prolaktin * analogy a deriváty farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- liraglutid farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši transgenní * MeSH
- myši MeSH
- neuroprotektivní látky farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- neurozánětlivé nemoci farmakoterapie metabolismus MeSH
- presenilin-1 genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: The hippocampal representation of space, formed by the collective activity of populations of place cells, is considered as a substrate of spatial memory. Alzheimer's disease (AD), a widespread severe neurodegenerative condition of multifactorial origin, typically exhibits spatial memory deficits among its early clinical signs before more severe cognitive impacts develop. OBJECTIVE: To investigate mechanisms of spatial memory impairment in a double transgenic rat model of AD. METHODS: In this study, we utilized 9-12-month-old double-transgenic TgF344-AD rats and age-matched controls to analyze the spatial coding properties of CA1 place cells. We characterized the spatial memory representation, assessed cells' spatial information content and direction-specific activity, and compared their population coding in familiar and novel conditions. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that TgF344-AD animals exhibited lower precision in coding, as evidenced by reduced spatial information and larger receptive zones. This impairment was evident in maps representing novel environments. While controls instantly encoded directional context during their initial exposure to a novel environment, transgenics struggled to incorporate this information into the newly developed hippocampal spatial representation. This resulted in impairment in orthogonalization of stored activity patterns, an important feature directly related to episodic memory encoding capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results shed light on the nature of impairment at both the single-cell and population levels in the transgenic AD model. In addition to the observed spatial coding inaccuracy, the findings reveal a significantly impaired ability to adaptively modify and refine newly stored hippocampal memory patterns.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * patofyziologie MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta genetika MeSH
- hipokampální oblast CA1 patofyziologie MeSH
- hipokampus patofyziologie MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- poruchy paměti etiologie patofyziologie MeSH
- potkani inbrední F344 MeSH
- potkani transgenní * MeSH
- prostorová paměť fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Vedecká obec postupne rozuzluje etiologické faktory a patogenetické mechanizmy neurodegeneratívnych ochorení. Z roka na rok pribúdajú dôkazy o čoraz väčšej sile genetického pozadia ako etiologického faktora. V našom príspevku integrujeme dve roviny pohľadu na genetiku Alzheimerovej choroby a príbuzných demencií. V prvej časti článku sumarizujeme súčasné poznatky o genetickom pozadí neurodegeneratívnych demencií s hlavným zameraním sa na Alzheimerovu chorobu. Okrem "klasických" kauzálnych génov a génov susceptibility prinášame prehľad vybraných "nových" génov, ktorých polymorfizmy môžu zvyšovať náchylnosť na Alzheimerovu chorobu. V druhej časti - Skúsenosti z jedného centra - prinášame pohľad na vývoj a súčasný koncept genetického testovania na I. neurologickej klinike v Bratislave. Predstavujeme panel génov pre demencie, ktorý v súčasnosti zahŕňa 45 génov zapojených do patogenézy Alzheimerovej choroby, frontotemporálnej demencie, Parkinsonovej choroby a zriedkavých demencií. V blízkej budúcnosti ho plánujeme rozšíriť na 150-génový panel a postupne kontinuálne aktualizovať. Rozsah genetického testovania, ktorý prinášame v tomto príspevku, sa vzťahuje hlavne na kliniky špecializované na demencie a špecializované centrá pre demencie. Načrtávame koncept, akým by sa mohlo testovanie uberať do budúcnosti na príklade konceptu testovania na našej I. neurologickej klinike. V každom prípade sa snažíme priblížiť problematiku aj ostatným neurologickým klinikám, oddeleniam a ambulanciám, ktoré sa rovnako môžu zapojiť do tohto systému, ak majú vhodných pacientov. Článok ukončujeme kapitolou o relativite súčasných poznatkov, ktorá odzrkadľuje turbulentnú tému genetiky Alzheimerovej choroby, ktorá sa neustále mení, rozširuje, aktualizuje a možno prinesie odpovede na množstvo v súčasnosti nezodpovedaných otázok.
The scientific community is gradually unraveling the etiological factors and pathogenetic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. From year to year there is the robust evidence of the increasing power of the genetic background as an etiological factor. In our paper, we integrate two levels of insight into the genetics of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. In the first part of the article, we summarize current knowledge about the genetic background of neurodegenerative dementias, with the main focus on Alzheimer's disease. In addition to "classic" causal genes and susceptibility genes, we provide an overview of selected "new" genes whose polymorphisms can increase susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. In the second part - Experience from one center - we present an insight into the development and current concept of genetic testing at the I. Neurological Clinic. We present a dementia gene panel that currently includes 45 genes involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease and rare dementias. In the near future, we plan to expand it to a 150 gene panel and gradually update it continuously. The scope of genetic testing that we present in this manuscript mainly applies to dementia clinics and dementia centers. We outline the concept of how testing should proceed in the future using the example of the testing concept at our I. Neurological Clinic. In any case, we are trying to bring this issue closer to other neurological clinics, departments and outpatient clinics, which can also join this system if they have suitable patients. We conclude the article with a chapter on the relativity of current knowledge, which reflects the turbulent topic of the genetics of Alzheimer's disease, which is constantly changing, expanding and updating, and may bring answers to a number of currently unanswered questions.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * diagnóza genetika klasifikace MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta analýza genetika MeSH
- apolipoproteiny E analýza genetika klasifikace MeSH
- epigeneze genetická genetika MeSH
- genetické pozadí MeSH
- genetické testování * metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- preseniliny analýza genetika MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
AIM: Astrocytes respond to stressors by acquiring a reactive state characterized by changes in their morphology and function. Molecules underlying reactive astrogliosis, however, remain largely unknown. Given that several studies observed increase in the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) in reactive astrocytes, we here test whether APP plays a role in reactive astrogliosis. METHODS: We investigated whether APP instigates reactive astroglios by examining in vitro and in vivo the morphology and function of naive and APP-deficient astrocytes in response to APP and well-established stressors. RESULTS: Overexpression of APP in cultured astrocytes led to remodeling of the intermediate filament network, enhancement of cytokine production, and activation of cellular programs centered around the interferon (IFN) pathway, all signs of reactive astrogliosis. Conversely, APP deletion abrogated remodeling of the intermediate filament network and blunted expression of IFN-stimulated gene products in response to lipopolysaccharide. Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), mouse reactive astrocytes also exhibited an association between APP and IFN, while APP deletion curbed the increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein observed canonically in astrocytes in response to TBI. CONCLUSIONS: The APP thus represents a candidate molecular inducer and regulator of reactive astrogliosis. This finding has implications for understanding pathophysiology of neurodegenerative and other diseases of the nervous system characterized by reactive astrogliosis and opens potential new therapeutic avenues targeting APP and its pathways to modulate reactive astrogliosis.
- MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta * metabolismus genetika MeSH
- astrocyty * metabolismus patologie MeSH
- glióza * metabolismus patologie MeSH
- kultivované buňky MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši knockoutované MeSH
- myši MeSH
- traumatické poranění mozku metabolismus patologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Experimental studies in flies, mice, and humans suggest a significant role of impaired axonal transport in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mechanisms underlying these impairments in axonal transport, however, remain poorly understood. Here we report that the Swedish familial AD mutation causes a standstill of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the axons at the expense of its reduced anterograde transport. The standstill reflects the perturbed directionality of the axonal transport of APP, which spends significantly more time traveling in the retrograde direction. This ineffective movement is accompanied by an enhanced association of dynactin-1 with APP, which suggests that reduced anterograde transport of APP is the result of enhanced activation of the retrograde molecular motor dynein by dynactin-1. The impact of the Swedish mutation on axonal transport is not limited to the APP vesicles since it also reverses the directionality of a subset of early endosomes, which become enlarged and aberrantly accumulate in distal locations. In addition, it also reduces the trafficking of lysosomes due to their less effective retrograde movement. Altogether, our experiments suggest a pivotal involvement of retrograde molecular motors and transport in the mechanisms underlying impaired axonal transport in AD and reveal significantly more widespread derangement of axonal transport pathways in the pathogenesis of AD.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * metabolismus genetika patologie MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- axonální transport * genetika MeSH
- axony metabolismus patologie MeSH
- dynaktinový komplex metabolismus genetika MeSH
- dyneiny metabolismus MeSH
- endozomy metabolismus genetika MeSH
- genetická variace MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lyzozomy metabolismus MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) including miR-29c-3p have been reported in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in recent researches. Nevertheless, the functional role and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-29c-3p in AD pathogenesis are still not well elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine whether miR-29c-3p regulated beta-Ameyloid (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity by targeting beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). The expressions of miR 29c 3p and BACE1 mRNA and protein levels in Abeta-treated PC12 cellular AD model were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Luciferase reporter assay verified the potential target of miR 29c 3p. Cell viability, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity in PC12 cells were detected by the MTT assay, flow cytometry, and caspase-3 activity assay, respectively. Our results indicated that miR-29c-3p downregulation and BACE1 upregulation existed in the cellular AD model of PC12 cells. Moreover, miR-29c-3p directly inhibited BACE1 expression. miR-29c-3p overexpression and BACE1 knockdown strengthened Abeta-induced cell apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity in PC12 cells, which was partially eliminated by over-expression of BACE1. Conversely, BACE1 knockdown reversed the miR-29c-3p inhibition- mediated inhibitory effect on Abeta-induced cell toxicity, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity in PC12 cells. Considering, miR-29c-3p attenuated Abeta-induced neurotoxicity through targeting BACE1 in an cellular AD model of PC12, providing a potential therapeutic target for AD treatment.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein toxicita genetika metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta genetika metabolismus MeSH
- aspartátové endopeptidasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- kaspasa 3 metabolismus MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikro RNA * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- sekretasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The exact signaling leading to neurological dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases is currently unknown. We hypothesize that the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. This postulate rests on extensive data from cell and animal experimental studies, demonstrating that JNK signaling plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. The sustained activation of JNK leads to synaptic dysfunction and even neuronal apoptosis, ultimately resulting in memory deficits and neurodegeneration. JNK phosphorylates the amyloid precursor protein and tau, ultimately resulting in the formation of extraneuronal senile plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles. Our hypothesis could be validated by investigating the cerebral cortex of elderly chimpanzees injected with phosphorylated JNK or transgenic pig and chimpanzee models established using gene editing technology including CRISPR. This hypothesis provides clues for further understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and the development of potential target therapeutic drugs.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc genetika MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein * metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fosforylace MeSH
- genový targeting * MeSH
- JNK mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- mozková kůra metabolismus patologie MeSH
- neurodegenerativní nemoci patologie MeSH
- neurony metabolismus MeSH
- Pan troglodytes MeSH
- prasata MeSH
- proteiny tau metabolismus MeSH
- signální transdukce * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
BACKGROUND: Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) is a potential drug for the treatment of obesity and associated Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) due to its strong anorexigenic and antidiabetic properties. In our recent study, the lipidized PrRP analog palm11-PrRP31 was proven to exert beneficial effects in APP/PS1 mice, a model of Alzheimer ́s Disease (AD)-like amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology, reducing the Aβ plaque load, microgliosis and astrocytosis in the hippocampus and cortex. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we focused on the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of palm11-PrRP31 and its possible impact on synaptogenesis in the cerebellum of APP/PS1 mice, because others have suggested that cerebellar Aβ plaques contribute to cognitive deficits in AD. METHODS: APP/PS1 mice were treated subcutaneously with palm11-PrRP31 for 2 months, then immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry were used to quantify pathological markers connected to AD, compared to control mice. RESULTS: In the cerebella of 8 months old APP/PS1 mice, we found widespread Aβ plaques surrounded by activated microglia detected by ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule (Iba1), but no increase in astrocytic marker Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) compared to controls. Interestingly, no difference in both presynaptic markers syntaxin1A and postsynaptic marker spinophilin was registered between APP/PS1 and control mice. Palm11-PrRP31 treatment significantly reduced the Aβ plaque load and microgliosis in the cerebellum. Furthermore, palm11-PrRP31 increased synaptogenesis and attenuated neuroinflammation and apoptosis in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest palm11-PrRP31 is a promising agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidní plaky patologie MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta genetika metabolismus MeSH
- diabetes mellitus 2. typu * MeSH
- hormon uvolňující prolaktin metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- mozeček MeSH
- myši transgenní MeSH
- myši MeSH
- presenilin-1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Peripheral infections followed by systemic inflammation may contribute to the onset of Alzheimer`s disease (AD) and accelerate the disease progression later in life. Yet, the impact of systemic inflammation on the plasma and brain tissue metabolome and lipidome in AD has not been investigated. In this study, targeted metabolomic and untargeted lipidomic profiling experiments were performed on the plasma, cortices, and hippocampi of wild-type (WT) mice and transgenic APdE9 mice after chronic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, as well as saline-treated APdE9 mice. The lipidome and the metabolome of these mice were compared to saline-treated WT animals. In the brain tissue of all three models, the lipidome was more influenced than the metabolome. The LPS-treated APdE9 mice had the highest number of changes in brain metabolic pathways with significant alterations in levels of lysine, myo-inositol, spermine, phosphocreatine, acylcarnitines and diacylglycerols, which were not observed in the saline-treated APdE9 mice. In the WT mice, the effect of the LPS administration on metabolome and lipidome was negligible. The study provided exciting information about the biochemical perturbations due to LPS-induced inflammation in the transgenic AD model, which can significantly enhance our understanding of the role of systemic inflammation in AD pathogenesis.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta genetika imunologie metabolismus MeSH
- hipokampus metabolismus MeSH
- lipidomika metody MeSH
- metabolom MeSH
- metabolomika metody MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- mozek metabolismus MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši transgenní MeSH
- myši MeSH
- presenilin-1 metabolismus MeSH
- zánět metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH