阿里红多糖组分对APP/PS1双转基因模型小鼠海马区AKT/GSK3β/Tau/P-tau蛋白表达的影响

探究阿里红多糖组分(FOPS-a和FOPS-b)对阿尔茨海默症模型小鼠海马区AKT/GSK3β/Tau/P-tau蛋白表达的影响。实验选用64只3月龄雄性APP/PS1双转基因AD模型小鼠,随机分为模型组、多奈哌齐组(0.65 mg/kg)、阿里红多糖a组分(FOPS-a)与阿里红多糖b组分(FOPS-b)高、中、低(60、30、15 mg/kg),同月龄野生型C57BL/6J小鼠为正常组,每组8只,各组分别给与药物和生理盐水灌胃给药90天。6月龄时通过跳台、旷场实验检测小鼠行为学的变化,采用尼氏染色观察各组小鼠海马区神经元形态变化,应用RT-PCR法检测小鼠海马区AKT、GSK3β、Tau mRNA转录水平,Western-blot法检测AKT、GSK3β、Tau、P-tau蛋白的表达。结果发现阿里红多糖组分(FOPS-a和FOPS-b)均能明显改善小鼠学习与记忆功能并保护海马区神经元的损伤,上调AKT mRNA转录水平和蛋白表达,下调GSK3β、Tau mRNA转录水平和GSK3β、Tau、P-tau蛋白表达。研究表明阿里红多糖组分(FOPS-a和FOPS-b)通过减少海马区神经元纤维缠结从而保护神经元的损伤,发挥拮抗AD的作用。     

H102对APP转基因小鼠脑内淀粉样蛋白和淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白表达的影响

目的:研究H102对APP695转基因模型小鼠脑内淀粉样蛋白和淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白表达的影响方法:9月龄转基因小鼠随机分为模型组和药物注射组,正常对照组采用月龄和性别与之相匹配的C57BL/6J小鼠。药物注射组给予侧脑室注射H102,每只每次3μl,连续10d;模型组和正常对照组给予等体积NS。应用免疫组织化学结合刚果红组织学染色,普通光学显微镜观察海马和颞叶皮层蛋白表达的变化。免疫印迹法检测小鼠大脑皮层APP蛋白的表达。结果:Aβ和APP免疫组化染色结果显示对照组海马CA1区神经元胞浆着色呈阴性或弱阳性,模型组较对照组阳性细胞增多,表达增强,胞浆着色明显加深。药物注射组同模型组相比,胞浆着色变淡,表达减弱。刚果红染色观察转基因小鼠模型组和H102注射组大脑颞叶皮层和海马的淀粉样斑块,可见H102注射组淀粉样斑块数较模型组明显减少。正常对照组未见阳性淀粉样斑块。免疫印迹检测显示模型组APP蛋白表达明显增加,给药组与模型组相比具有统计学意义。结论:APP695转基因小鼠大脑CA1区Aβ蛋白和APP蛋白表达增加,H102能够明显抑制该转基因小鼠Aβ蛋白和APP蛋白表达。     

螺旋藻对运动疲劳大鼠海马损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的：研究BDNF/TrkB神经营养信号在运动疲劳大鼠海马神经元损伤中的作用与螺旋藻改善运动致脑海马损伤的作用及其可能的机制。方法：60只雄性SD大鼠随机分为：正常对照组（NC组）、正常+螺旋藻灌胃组（NS组）、运动模型组（EM组）、运动+螺旋藻灌胃组（ES组）、阳性对照组（PC组）,每组12只。EM组、ES组和PC组采用3周的递增式跑台训练建立运动疲劳模型。NC组不施加任何干预,用作对照。NS组和ES组按每天300 mg/kg体重灌胃螺旋藻,PC组以同等体积的人参提取物（1.92 g/kg）灌胃,连续灌胃3周。实验末,用免疫组化和免疫印迹法检测各组大鼠海马BDNF、TrkB、p-TrkB蛋白表达水平,并用尼氏染色法观察海马CA1区形态结构的变化,同时观察大鼠体重等一般情况。结果：与NC组比较,EM组大鼠的体重降低,海马CA1区神经元细胞形态异常且排列紊乱,部分细胞固缩呈不规则变化,部分神经元消失不见,海马BDNF、TrkB和p-TrkB蛋白表达均明显升高（P<0.01）;与EM组比较,ES组大鼠的体重增加,海马神经元损伤得到明显改善,神经元数目和尼氏小体数量增加,神经元排列渐趋规则,形态较完整,ES组海马BDNF、TrkB和p-TrkB蛋白表达均明显升高（P<0.05或P< 0.01）,且与PC组相比,已无明显差别（P>0.05）。结论：BDNF/TrkB神经营养信号可能参与运动致疲劳大鼠海马神经元损伤的修复过程;螺旋藻补充能改善运动疲劳大鼠海马神经元损伤,其原因可能与其上调BDNF和其受体（TrkB）及其受体磷酸化（p-TrkB）蛋白表达而发挥神经保护作用有关。     

miR-103a对癫痫大鼠海马组织星形胶质细胞活化的影响

为了考察miR-103a对癫痫大鼠海马组织星形胶质细胞活化的影响。本研究通过腹腔注射氯化锂和毛果芸香碱诱导癫痫大鼠模型,对大鼠脑室内注射miR-103a抑制剂来敲低miR-103a的表达;采用免疫组织化学染色检测大鼠海马组织中胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)的阳性表达;采用RT-qPCR和Western blotting方法检测大鼠海马组织中miR-103a、脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)、GFAP、TNF-α和IL-6的m RNA和蛋白表达;苏木精-伊红(HE)染色评价海马组织病变程度;Nissl染色检测神经元存活情况;TUNEL染色检测神经元的凋亡。结果显示,癫痫大鼠海马组织中miR-103a被上调。下调miR-103a抑制癫痫大鼠海马组织中GFAP的mRNA和蛋白表达,且抑制癫痫大鼠海马神经元的病理损伤,但能促进癫痫大鼠海马神经元的存活并抑制其凋亡。此外,下调miR-103a还抑制癫痫大鼠海马组织中IL-6和TNF-α的表达,并促进癫痫大鼠海马组织中BDNF的表达。本研究表明,靶向沉默miR-103a可以抑制癫痫大鼠海马组织中星形胶质细胞的活化并改善神经元的病理损伤。     

亚麻木酚素对2型糖尿病小鼠学习记忆的影响及其机制初探

目的:研究亚麻木酚素(Flax ligands,FL)对2型糖尿病模型小鼠空间学习记忆的影响及其初步机制。方法:雄性C57小鼠随机分为对照组(Con)、糖尿病模型组(DM)及亚麻木酚素治疗组(DM+FL),DM与DM+FL组给予高脂饮食加小剂量链脲佐菌素(Streptozotocin,STZ)诱导2型糖尿病模型,之后DM+FL组灌胃给予FL 10 mg/kg,每日一次,连续14天,Con与DM组给予等量生理盐水。通过新物体识别试验、Morris水迷宫试验检测小鼠的学习记忆能力,利用Western blot技术测定小鼠海马脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)及谷酰胺AMPA受体845位磷酸化(pGluA1-Ser845)蛋白表达水平。结果:与Con组比较,DM组小鼠新物体识别指数显著下降(P<0.01),在Morris水迷宫中逃避潜伏期延长(P<0.05),在目的象限内徘徊时间减少(P<0.01);小鼠海马区BDNF和pGluA1-Ser845的蛋白表达水平均显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。与DM组相比,DM+FL组小鼠新物体识别指数显著提高(P<0.01),在Morris水迷宫中逃避潜伏期明显缩短(P<0.05),目的象限徘徊时间显著增多(P<0.05);小鼠海马区BDNF和pGluA1-Ser845的蛋白表达水平均显著升高(P<0.01)。结论:亚麻木酚素对2型糖尿病小鼠学习记忆有明确改善作用,增加海马BDNF和pGlu-A1-Ser845的表达可能是其潜在作用机制。     

芍药苷对巨细胞病毒感染小鼠脑组织损伤及海马神经元细胞凋亡的影响

海马组织在学习、记忆中发挥着重要作用,而且海马组织对巨细胞病毒(Cytomegalovirus,CMV)感染非常敏感,会使海马组织中的神经元大量丢失,神经元细胞发生凋亡.芍药苷可以减轻小鼠炎性脑损伤,其可能与提高机体抗氧化能力、清除体内自由基有关,但是芍药苷在CMV感染小鼠中研究甚少.为探讨芍药苷对CMV感染小鼠脑组织损伤及海马神经元细胞凋亡的影响,本研究将新生昆明小鼠随机分为4组:对照组、小鼠巨细胞病毒组(MCMV组)、芍药苷低剂量组(Pae-L组)和芍药苷高剂量组(Pae-H组),后三组通过腹腔注射MCMV病毒悬液建立模型,之后对照组和MCMV组经腹腔注射生理盐水,Pae-L组经腹腔注射10 mg/kg芍药苷,Pae-H组经腹腔注射30 mg/kg芍药苷;荧光定量PCR检测各组小鼠脑组织中MCMV-DNA载量的变化;Morris水迷宫检测各组小鼠学习记忆功能指标的变化;蛋白质免疫印迹(Western Blot)检测各组小鼠脑组织中MMP-9的表达变化;NeuN免疫染色检测各组小鼠海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞的变化;TUNEL染色检测各组小鼠海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡的变化;Western Blot检测各组小鼠海马组织中Bax、Bcl-2蛋白表达的变化.结果显示,与对照组比较,MCMV组小鼠的逃避潜伏期明显增加,穿越平台次数明显减少,脑组织中MMP-9蛋白表达水平显著上调,海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞数目显著减少,海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡指数显著增加,海马组织中Bax蛋白表达水平显著上调,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平显著下调;与MCMV组比较,Pae-L组和Pae-H组小鼠脑组织中MCMV-DNA载量减少,逃避潜伏期减少,穿越平台次数增加,脑组织中MMP-9蛋白表达水平下调,海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞数目增加,海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡指数减少,海马组织中Bax蛋白表达水平下调,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平明显上调.本研究提示,芍药苷能够改善MCMV感染引起的脑损伤,减轻海马组织中神经元细胞的凋亡.     

姜黄素对糖尿病大鼠大脑海马神经元的作用研究

目的观察姜黄素(Curcumin,Cur)对STZ诱导的2型糖尿病大鼠大脑海马神经元的影响。方法雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组:正常对照组(Con组),高糖高脂饮食结合链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导的2型糖尿病模型组(DM组)和给予姜黄素处理的糖尿病组(DM+Cur组)。免疫印迹法(WB法)检测大鼠大脑海马凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2和Bax的蛋白含量;免疫组织化学法(IHC法)检测凋亡执行者caspase-3在大鼠大脑海马各区中的表达情况。结果大鼠给予高糖高脂饮食一个月后,腹腔注射STZ可诱导大鼠血糖升高,继续给予高糖高脂饮食,大鼠出现类似于2型糖尿病的症状,通过WB检测,DM组大鼠海马的Bcl-2/Bax比值较Con组明显下降(P0.05),而给予姜黄素处理16周后的DM+Cur组大鼠可明显增强抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达而减弱促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达,两者比值增大(P0.05);另外,通过IHC法检测发现,DM组大鼠海马各区的caspase-3阳性表达明显增多,而DM+Cur组可减弱caspase-3的阳性表达。结论高糖高脂饮食结合STZ腹腔注射可诱导出2型糖尿病大鼠模型,姜黄素能通过调控DM大鼠海马凋亡相关蛋白的表达而发挥保护作用。     

三七皂苷Rg1对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤海马部位保护作用机制的研究

本文探讨三七皂苷Rg1对局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠海马部位的脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derivedneurotrophic factor,BDNF)阳性蛋白的含量和阳性神经元数目是否具有上调作用。实验结果表明三七皂苷Rg1高、中、低剂量组和阳性对照组均能明显改善脑缺血的神经缺失症状,并能上调大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤海马部位的BDNF阳性蛋白的含量和阳性神经元数量(P<0.05);与阳性对照组(尼莫地平1 mg/kg)相比,用药7 d时,Rg1中剂量组(100 mg/kg)在改善脑缺血的神经缺失症状以及上调大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤海马部位的BDNF阳性蛋白的含量和阳性神经元数量方面,作用上强于尼莫地平(P<0.05)。三七皂苷Rg1能上调BDNF阳性蛋白的表达,通过BDNF对脑缺血再灌注神经元损伤所起的保护作用,从而发挥其对脑缺血的治疗作用,这可能是三七皂苷Rg1对脑缺血保护作用的机制之一。     

有氧运动对高脂饮食小鼠肝脏中CLK2蛋白表达的影响

目的: 探讨有氧运动对高脂饮食小鼠肝脏中Cdc2 激酶(CLK2)蛋白表达及肝脏脂肪含量的影响。方法: 雄性C57/BL6小鼠经正常饮食或高脂饮食16周后,分为正常饮食组、高脂饮食组和高脂饮食+运动组(8周有氧运动),每组10只小鼠。采用免疫印迹方法比较各组小鼠肝脏CLK2蛋白表达;采用油红O染色法比较各组小鼠肝脏脂肪含量;采用实时定量PCR方法比较各组小鼠脂肪代谢相关基因。结果:与正常饮食组小鼠相比,高脂饮食小鼠表现出胰岛素抵抗,肝脏CLK2蛋白含量增加,以及肝脏脂肪积累增加。然而有氧运动可改善高脂饮食小鼠胰岛素抵抗状态,并抑制肝脏中CLK2蛋白增加。结论:有氧运动可降低高脂饮食小鼠肝脏中CLK2蛋白表达,而改善肥胖小鼠肝脏脂肪堆积及代谢紊乱。     

SIRT3在氧糖剥夺再灌注损伤小鼠神经元中的表达及意义

目的:通过建立体外脑缺血模型,探讨沉默信息因子3(SIRT3)在小鼠皮层神经元氧糖剥夺再灌注(OGD/R)损伤后的表达和意义。方法:C57BL/6J小鼠皮层神经元原代培养7天后,以氧糖剥夺不同时长(2 h、4 h、6 h、8 h)再灌注24 h作为观察时间点,利用细胞增殖-毒性检测试剂盒(Cell Counting Kit-8,CCK-8)检测细胞活力;小鼠乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)试剂盒检测LDH释放;蛋白印迹法(Western blot WB)观察微管相关蛋白1轻链3(LC3-Ⅱ)、活化凋亡蛋白3(Cleaved caspase-3)、以及SIRT3的表达变化;免疫荧光下进一步观察LC3-II、SIRT3表达。结果:与正常组比,随着氧糖剥夺时间的延长,LDH释放量呈台阶式升高(P0.01),而神经元活性进展性下降(P0.01);蛋白印迹结果发现在缺血损伤后LC3-Ⅱ整体上调,并于OGD 4h达峰值,SIRT3分子表达趋势与LC3-Ⅱ相似均呈抛物线状,而Cleaved caspase-3整体上调;相应的,细胞免疫荧光结果显示缺血损伤后神经元胞体和突起中LC3呈点状高表达,与此同时SIRT3荧光强度亦增高。结论:神经元缺血时间越长损伤越重;LC3-Ⅱ和SIRT3表达呈现相似性;SIRT3可能通过调控线粒体自噬参与了拮抗神经元缺血损伤的作用。     

Efficacy and Safety of A Liposome-Based Vaccine against Protein Tau,Assessed in Tau.P301L Mice That Model Tauopathy

Progressive aggregation of protein Tau into oligomers and fibrils correlates with cognitive decline and synaptic dysfunction, leading to neurodegeneration in vulnerable brain regions in Alzheimer''s disease. The unmet need of effective therapy for Alzheimer''s disease, combined with problematic pharmacological approaches, led the field to explore immunotherapy, first against amyloid peptides and recently against protein Tau. Here we adapted the liposome-based amyloid vaccine that proved safe and efficacious, and incorporated a synthetic phosphorylated peptide to mimic the important phospho-epitope of protein Tau at residues pS396/pS404. We demonstrate that the liposome-based vaccine elicited, rapidly and robustly, specific antisera in wild-type mice and in Tau.P301L mice. Long-term vaccination proved to be safe, because it improved the clinical condition and reduced indices of tauopathy in the brain of the Tau.P301L mice, while no signs of neuro-inflammation or other adverse neurological effects were observed. The data corroborate the hypothesis that liposomes carrying phosphorylated peptides of protein Tau have considerable potential as safe and effective treatment against tauopathies, including Alzheimer''s disease.     

NMDA receptor dysfunction contributes to impaired brain‐derived neurotrophic factor‐induced facilitation of hippocampal synaptic transmission in a Tau transgenic model

While the spatiotemporal development of Tau pathology has been correlated with occurrence of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's patients, mechanisms underlying these deficits remain unclear. Both brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor TrkB play a critical role in hippocampus‐dependent synaptic plasticity and memory. When applied on hippocampal slices, BDNF is able to enhance AMPA receptor‐dependent hippocampal basal synaptic transmission through a mechanism involving TrkB and N‐methyl‐d‐Aspartate receptors (NMDAR). Using THY‐Tau22 transgenic mice, we demonstrated that hippocampal Tau pathology is associated with loss of synaptic enhancement normally induced by exogenous BDNF. This defective response was concomitant to significant memory impairments. We show here that loss of BDNF response was due to impaired NMDAR function. Indeed, we observed a significant reduction of NMDA‐induced field excitatory postsynaptic potential depression in the hippocampus of Tau mice together with a reduced phosphorylation of NR2B at the Y1472, known to be critical for NMDAR function. Interestingly, we found that both NR2B and Src, one of the NR2B main kinases, interact with Tau and are mislocalized to the insoluble protein fraction rich in pathological Tau species. Defective response to BDNF was thus likely related to abnormal interaction of Src and NR2B with Tau in THY‐Tau22 animals. These are the first data demonstrating a relationship between Tau pathology and synaptic effects of BDNF and supporting a contribution of defective BDNF response and impaired NMDAR function to the cognitive deficits associated with Tauopathies.     

Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠模型的建立及生物学特征

目的:建立Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠模型,从分子生物学、行为学及病理学角度研究其生物学特征。方法:将自行建立的Tau转基因小鼠与Jackson实验室引种的APP/PS1双转基因小鼠杂交、传代;PCR鉴定小鼠基因型;RT-PCR检测外源基因的转录;Western blot测定外源基因的蛋白表达;Bielschowsky氏染色法和ABC免疫组化法观察大脑神经纤维缠结和老年斑等病理改变;Morris水迷宫观测学习记忆的改变。结果:Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠的大脑可转录和表达Tau、APP和PS1三种外源基因,6~8月龄时大脑皮层和海马可见神经元纤维缠结和老年斑,其学习记忆获得能力在6月龄开始受损。结论:建立的Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠具有Tau和Aβ两种病理改变和学习记忆障碍,为深入探究Tau与Aβ的关系、阐明AD的发病机制以及研发靶点治疗药物提供实验工具。     

nNOS–CAPON interaction mediates amyloid‐β‐induced neurotoxicity,especially in the early stages

In neurons, increased protein–protein interactions between neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and its carboxy‐terminal PDZ ligand (CAPON) contribute to excitotoxicity and abnormal dendritic spine development, both of which are involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In models of Alzheimer's disease, increased nNOS–CAPON interaction was detected after treatment with amyloid‐β in vitro, and a similar change was found in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice (a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease), compared with age‐matched background mice in vivo. After blocking the nNOS–CAPON interaction, memory was rescued in 4‐month‐old APP/PS1 mice, and dendritic impairments were ameliorated both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated that S‐nitrosylation of Dexras1 and inhibition of the ERK–CREB–BDNF pathway might be downstream of the nNOS–CAPON interaction.     

Fingolimod Phosphate Attenuates Oligomeric Amyloid β–Induced Neurotoxicity via Increased Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Neurons

The neurodegenerative processes that underlie Alzheimer''s disease are mediated, in part, by soluble oligomeric amyloid β, a neurotoxic protein that inhibits hippocampal long-term potentiation, disrupts synaptic plasticity, and induces the production of reactive oxygen species. Here we show that the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor (S1PR) agonist fingolimod phosphate (FTY720-P)-a new oral drug for multiple sclerosis-protects neurons against oligomeric amyloid β-induced neurotoxicity. We confirmed that primary mouse cortical neurons express all of the S1P receptor subtypes and FTY720-P directly affects the neurons. Treatment with FTY720-P enhanced the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neurons. Moreover, blocking BDNF-TrkB signaling with a BDNF scavenger, TrkB inhibitor, or ERK1/2 inhibitor almost completely ablated these neuroprotective effects. These results suggested that the neuroprotective effects of FTY720-P are mediated by upregulated neuronal BDNF levels. Therefore, FTY720-P may be a promising therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer''s disease.     

Intracellular Clusterin Interacts with Brain Isoforms of the Bridging Integrator 1 and with the Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau in Alzheimer's Disease

Sporadic or late-onset Alzheimer''s disease (AD) is expected to affect 50% of individuals reaching 85 years of age. The most significant genetic risk factor for late-onset AD is the e4 allele of APOE gene encoding apolipoprotein E, a lipid carrier shown to modulate brain amyloid burden. Recent genome-wide association studies have uncovered additional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to AD susceptibility, including those in the CLU and BIN1 genes encoding for clusterin (CLU) and the bridging integrator 1 (BIN1) proteins, respectively. Because CLU has been implicated in brain amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance in mouse models of amyloid deposition, we sought to investigate whether an AD-linked SNP in the CLU gene altered Aβ42 biomarker levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Instead, we found that the CLU rs11136000 SNP modified CSF levels of the microtubule-associated protein Tau in AD patients. We also found that an intracellular form of CLU (iCLU) was upregulated in the brain of Tau overexpressing Tg4510 mice, but not in Tg2576 amyloid mouse model. By overexpressing iCLU and Tau in cell culture systems we discovered that iCLU was a Tau-interacting protein and that iCLU associated with brain-specific isoforms of BIN1, also recently identified as a Tau-binding protein. Through expression analysis of CLU and BIN1 variants, we found that CLU and BIN1 interacted via their coiled-coil motifs. In co-immunoprecipitation studies using human brain tissue, we showed that iCLU and the major BIN1 isoform expressed in neurons were associated with modified Tau species found in AD. Finally, we showed that expression of certain coding CLU variants linked to AD risk led to increased levels of iCLU. Together, our findings suggest that iCLU and BIN1 interaction might impact Tau function in neurons and uncover potential new mechanisms underlying the etiology of Tau pathology in AD.     

AAV-Tau Mediates Pyramidal Neurodegeneration by Cell-Cycle Re-Entry without Neurofibrillary Tangle Formation in Wild-Type Mice

In Alzheimer''s disease tauopathy is considered secondary to amyloid, and the duality obscures their relation and the definition of their respective contributions.Transgenic mouse models do not resolve this problem conclusively, i.e. the relative hierarchy of amyloid and tau pathology depends on the actual model and the genes expressed or inactivated. Here, we approached the problem in non-transgenic models by intracerebral injection of adeno-associated viral vectors to express protein tau or amyloid precursor protein in the hippocampus in vivo. AAV-APP mutant caused neuronal accumulation of amyloid peptides, and eventually amyloid plaques at 6 months post-injection, but with only marginal hippocampal cell-death. In contrast, AAV-Tau, either wild-type or mutant P301L, provoked dramatic degeneration of pyramidal neurons in CA1/2 and cortex within weeks. Tau-mediated neurodegeneration proceeded without formation of large fibrillar tau-aggregates or tangles, but with increased expression of cell-cycle markers.We present novel AAV-based models, which demonstrate that protein tau mediates pyramidal neurodegeneration in vivo. The data firmly support the unifying hypothesis that post-mitotic neurons are forced to re-enter the cell-cycle in primary and secondary tauopathies, including Alzheimer''s disease.     

咖啡因预防阿尔兹海默病作用机制的研究

目的:探究咖啡因对阿尔茨海默病(AD)的预防作用。方法:乙醇提取茶叶中咖啡因;颈部皮下注射5%D-半乳糖生理盐水溶液,建立小鼠衰老模型;随机分为实验组(高、低剂量咖啡因)、阳性对照组、阴性对照组;另设正常对照组,连续给药4周。检测超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)以及丙二醛(MDA)的水平,取鼠脑海马组织以western blotting检测脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)和胞外信号调节激酶(p-ERK1/2)表达量,同时制作病理切片,行HE染色。结果:Western blot检测脑海马组织BDNF和p-ERK1/2的表达,阴性对照组的BDNF表达水平明显低于正常组、低剂量组和阳性对照组(P0.01);注射D-半乳糖的各组小鼠p-ERK1/2的表达明显低于正常组,阴性对照组与正常组比较,差异显著(P0.05)。模型组SOD活力明显低于正常对照组、高、低剂量咖啡因组和阳性对照组(P0.01),但MDA含量则相反。结论:咖啡因能提高衰老模型小鼠SOD活力,促进BDNF和p-ERK1/2的表达,延缓衰老进程,对阿尔茨海默病(AD)有预防作用。     

Amyloidogenesis of Tau protein

The role of microtubule‐associated protein Tau in neurodegeneration has been extensively investigated since the discovery of Tau amyloid aggregates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The process of formation of amyloid fibrils is known as amyloidogenesis and attracts much attention as a potential target in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions linked to protein aggregation. Cerebral deposition of amyloid aggregates of Tau is observed not only in AD but also in numerous other tauopathies and prion diseases. Amyloidogenesis of intrinsically unstructured monomers of Tau can be triggered by mutations in the Tau gene, post‐translational modifications, or interactions with polyanionic molecules and aggregation‐prone proteins/peptides. The self‐assembly of amyloid fibrils of Tau shares a number of characteristic features with amyloidogenesis of other proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases. For example, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that the nucleation phase, which is the rate‐limiting stage of Tau amyloidogenesis, is shortened in the presence of fragmented preformed Tau fibrils acting as aggregation templates (“seeds”). Accordingly, Tau aggregates released by tauopathy‐affected neurons can spread the neurodegenerative process in the brain through a prion‐like mechanism, originally described for the pathogenic form of prion protein. Moreover, Tau has been shown to form amyloid strains—structurally diverse self‐propagating aggregates of potentially various pathological effects, resembling in this respect prion strains. Here, we review the current literature on Tau aggregation and discuss mechanisms of propagation of Tau amyloid in the light of the prion‐like paradigm.