Hyperphosphorylation and accumulation of neurofilament proteins in Alzheimer disease brain and in okadaic acid-treated SY5Y cells.

We investigated the role of neurofilament (NF) proteins in Alzheimer disease (AD) neurofibrillary degeneration. The levels and degree of phosphorylation of NF proteins in AD neocortex were determined by Western blots developed with a panel of phosphorylation-dependent NF antibodies. Levels of all three NF subunits and the degree of phosphorylation of NF-H and NF-M were significantly increased in AD as compared to Huntington disease brains used as control tissue. The increase in the levels of NF-H and NF-M was 1.7- and 1.5-fold (P<0.01) as determined by monoclonal antibody SMI33, and was 1.6-fold (P<0.01) in NF-L using antibody NR4. The phosphorylation of NF-H and NF-M in AD was increased respectively at the SMI31 epitope by 1.6- and 1.9-fold (P<0.05) and at the SMI33 epitope by 2.7- and 1.3-fold (P<0.01 and P<0.05). Essentially similar effects were observed in SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells when treated with okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase (PP)-2A and -1. This is the first biochemical evidence which unambiguously demonstrates the hyperphosphorylation and the accumulation of NF subunits in AD brain, and shows that the inhibition of PP-2A/PP-1 activities can lead to the hyperphosphorylation of NF-H and NF-M subunits.     

Interaction of tau isoforms with Alzheimer's disease abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau and in vitro phosphorylation into the disease-like protein

The microtubule-associated protein tau is a family of six isoforms that becomes abnormally hyperphosphorylated and accumulates in neurons undergoing neurodegeneration in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). We investigated the isoform-specific interaction of normal tau with AD hyperphosphorylated tau (AD P-tau). We found that the binding of AD P-tau to normal human recombinant tau was tau4L > tau4S > tau4 and tau3L > tau3S > tau3, and that its binding to tau4L was greater than to tau3L. AD P-tau also inhibited the assembly of microtubules promoted by each tau isoform and caused disassembly when added to preassembled microtubules. This inhibition and depolymerization of microtubules by the AD P-tau corresponded directly to the degree of its interaction with the different tau isoforms. In vitro hyperphosphorylation of recombinant tau (P-tau) conferred AD P-tau-like characteristics. Like AD P-tau, P-tau interacted with and sequestered normal tau and inhibited microtubule assembly. These studies suggest that the AD P-tau interacts preferentially with the tau isoforms that have the amino-terminal inserts and four microtubule binding domain repeats and that hyperphosphorylation of tau appears to be sufficient to acquire AD P-tau characteristics. Thus, lack of amino-terminal inserts and extra microtubule binding domain repeat in fetal human brain might be protective from Alzheimer's neurofibrillary degeneration.     

A pool of beta-tubulin is hyperphosphorylated at serine residues in Alzheimer disease brain.

In Alzheimer disease (AD) brain, activities of protein phosphatase (PP)-2A/PP-1 which are known to be associated with microtubules are compromised and are probably a cause of neurofibrillary degeneration through hyperphosphorylation of microtubule proteins. In the present study, an increase of approximately 11 pmol phosphate/microg protein in 100,000 x g pellet from AD compared with age-matched control brains was found. Tau protein, which is hyperphosphorylated in AD can only account for approximately 4 pmol phosphate/microg protein, suggesting the presence of non-tau hyperphosphorylated proteins in the diseased brain. Western blot analysis with phosphoserine antibodies revealed a approximately 54 kDa non-tau protein to be significantly hyperphosphorylated in AD compared with age-matched control cases in the particulate fraction. The approximately 54 kDa protein was purified by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified as beta-tubulin by immunolabeling with specific antibodies, mass spectrometry analysis and by N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The purified protein was hyperphosphorylated at serine residues in AD.     

Non-proline-dependent protein kinases phosphorylate several sites found in tau from Alzheimer disease brain

Of 21 phosphorylation sites identified in PHF-tau 11 are on ser/thr-X motifs and are probably phosphorylated by non-proline-dependent protein kinases (non-PDPKs). The identities of the non-PDPKs and how they interact to hyperphosphorylate PHF-tau are still unclear. In a previous study we have shown that the rate of phosphorylation of human tau 39 by a PDPK (GSK-3) was increased several fold if tau were first prephosphorylated by non-PDPKs (Singh et al., FEBS Lett 358: 267-272, 1995). In this study we have examined how the specificity of a non-PDPK for different sites on human tau 39 is modulated when tau is prephosphorylated by other non-PDPKs (A-kinase, C-kinase, CK-1, CaM kinase II) as well as a PDPK (GSK-3). We found that the rate of phosphorylation of tau 39 by a non-PDPK can be stimulated if tau were first prephosphorylated by other non-PDPKs. Of the four non-PDPKs only CK-1 can phosphorylate sites (thr 231, ser 396, ser 404) known to be present in PHF-tau. Further, these sites were phosphorylated more rapidly and to a greater extent by CK-1 if tau 39 were first prephosphorylated by A-kinase, CaM kinase II or GSK-3. These results suggest that the site specificities of the non-PDPKs that participate in PHF-tau hyperphosphorylation can be modulated at the substrate level by the phosphorylation state of tau.Abbreviations PHF paired helical filaments - A-kinase cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase - CaM kinase II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II - C-kinase calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase - CK-1 casein kinase-1 - CK-2 casein kinase-2 - GSK-3 glycogen synthase kinase-3 - MAP kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase - PDPK proline-dependent protein kinase     

Oxidative stress induces transient O‐GlcNAc elevation and tau dephosphorylation in SH‐SY5Y cells

O‐linked β‐N‐acetlyglucosamine or O‐GlcNAc modification is a dynamic post‐translational modification occurring on the Ser/Thr residues of many intracellular proteins. The chronic imbalance between phosphorylation and O‐GlcNAc on tau protein is considered as one of the main hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, many studies also showed that O‐GlcNAc levels can elevate upon acute stress and suggested that this might facilitate cell survival. However, many consider chronic stress, including oxidative damage as a major risk factor in the development of the disease. In this study, using the neuronal cell line SH‐SY5Y we investigated the dynamic nature of O‐GlcNAc after treatment with 0.5 mM H₂O₂ for 30 min. to induce oxidative stress. We found that overall O‐GlcNAc quickly increased and reached peak level at around 2 hrs post‐stress, then returned to baseline levels after about 24 hrs. Interestingly, we also found that tau protein phosphorylation at site S262 showed parallel, whereas at S199 and PHF1 sites showed inverse dynamic to O‐Glycosylation. In conclusion, our results show that temporary elevation in O‐GlcNAc modification after H₂O₂‐induced oxidative stress is detectable in cells of neuronal origin. Furthermore, oxidative stress changes the dynamic balance between O‐GlcNAc and phosphorylation on tau proteins.     

Inhibitors of protein phosphatase-2A from human brain structures, immunocytological localization and activities towards dephosphorylation of the Alzheimer type hyperphosphorylated tau

Protein phosphatase (PP)-2A, which regulates the phosphorylation of tau, is regulated by two endogenous inhibitor proteins, I(1)(PP2A) and I(2)(PP2A), in mammalian tissues. Here, we report the cloning of I(1)(PP2A) and I(2)(PP2A) from human brain, and show that in PC12 cells and in I(1)(PP2A)-GFP or I(2)(PP2A)-GFP transfected NIH3T3 and human neural progenitor cells, I(1)(PP2A) is localized mostly in the cell cytoplasm and I(2)(PP2A) mostly in the nucleus. The recombinant I(1)(PP-2A) and I(2)(PP-2A) inhibit PP-2A activity towards hyperphosphorylated tau in vitro; the dephosphorylation of the hyperphosphorylated tau at specific sites is selectively inhibited. Overexpression of I(1)(PP2A) as well as I(2)(PP2A) results in tau hyperphosphorylation and degeneration of PC 12 cells.     

Novel phosphorylation sites in tau from Alzheimer brain support a role for casein kinase 1 in disease pathogenesis

Tau in Alzheimer disease brain is highly phosphorylated and aggregated into paired helical filaments comprising characteristic neurofibrillary tangles. Here we have analyzed insoluble Tau (PHF-tau) extracted from Alzheimer brain by mass spectrometry and identified 11 novel phosphorylation sites, 10 of which were assigned unambiguously to specific amino acid residues. This brings the number of directly identified sites in PHF-tau to 39, with an additional six sites indicated by reactivity with phosphospecific antibodies to Tau. We also identified five new phosphorylation sites in soluble Tau from control adult human brain, bringing the total number of reported sites to nine. To assess which kinases might be responsible for Tau phosphorylation, we used mass spectrometry to determine which sites were phosphorylated in vitro by several kinases. Casein kinase 1delta and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta were each found to phosphorylate numerous sites, and each kinase phosphorylated at least 15 sites that are also phosphorylated in PHF-tau from Alzheimer brain. A combination of casein kinase 1delta and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta activities could account for over three-quarters of the serine/threonine phosphorylation sites identified in PHF-tau, indicating that casein kinase 1delta may have a role, together with glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.     

Sera from patients with type 2 diabetes and neuropathy induce autophagy and colocalization with mitochondria in SY5Y cells

The etiology of diabetic neuropathy is multifactorial and not fully elucidated, although oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are major factors. We reported previously that complement-inactivated sera from type 2 diabetic patients with neuropathy induce apoptosis in cultured neuronal cells, possibly through an autoimmune immunoglobulin-mediated pathway. Recent evidence supports an emerging role for autophagy in a variety of diseases. Here we report that exposure of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to sera from type 2 diabetic patients with neuropathy is associated with increased levels of autophagosomes that is likely mediated by increased titers of IgM or IgG autoimmune immunoglobulins. The increased presence of macroautophagic vesicles was monitored using a specific immunohistochemical marker for autophagosomes, anti-LC3-II immunoreactivity, as well as the immunohistochemical signal for beclin-1, and was associated with increased co-localization with mitochondria in the cells exposed to diabetic neuropathic sera. We also report that dorsal root ganglia removed from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats exhibit increased levels of autophagosomes and co-localization with mitochondria in neuronal soma, concurrent with enhanced binding of IgG and IgM autoimmune immunoglobulins. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that the presence of autophagosomes is increased by a serum factor, likely autoantibody(ies) in a pathological condition. Stimulation of autophagy by an autoantibody-mediated pathway can provide a critical link between the immune system and the loss of function and eventual demise of neuronal tissue in type 2 diabetes.     

Synaptic oligomeric tau in Alzheimer’s disease — A potential culprit in the spread of tau pathology through the brain

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Sera from patients with type 2 Diabetes and Neuropathy Induce Autophagy and Colocalization with Mitochondria in SY5Y cells

The etiology of diabetic neuropathy is multifactorial and not fully elucidated, although oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are major factors. We reported previously that complement-inactivated sera from type 2 diabetic patients with neuropathy induce apoptosis in cultured neuronal cells, possibly through an autoimmune immunoglobulin-mediated pathway. Recent evidence supports an emerging role for autophagy in a variety of diseases. Here we report that exposure of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to sera from type 2 diabetic patients with neuropathy is associated with increased levels of autophagosomes that is likely mediated by increased titers of IgM or IgG autoimmune immunoglobulins. The increased presence of macroautophagic vesicles was monitored using a specific immunohistochemical marker for autophagosomes, anti-LC3-II immunoreactivity, as well as the immunohistochemical signal for beclin-1, and was associated with increased co-localization with mitochondria in the cells exposed to diabetic neuropathic sera. We also report that dorsal root ganglia removed from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats exhibit increased levels of autophagosomes and co-localization with mitochondria in neuronal soma, concurrent with enhanced binding of IgG and IgM autoimmune immunoglobulins. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that the presence of autophagosomes is increased by a serum factor, likely autoantibody(ies) in a pathological condition. Stimulation of autophagy by an autoantibody-mediated pathway can provide a critical link between the immune system and the loss of function and eventual demise of neuronal tissue in type 2 diabetes.     

Decreased glucose transporters correlate to abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer disease

Brain glucose uptake/metabolism is impaired in Alzheimer disease (AD). Here, we report that levels of the two major brain glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT3) responsible for glucose uptake into neurons were decreased in AD brain. This decrease correlated to the decrease in O-GlcNAcylation, to the hyperphosphorylation of tau, and to the density of neurofibrillary tangles in human brains. We also found down-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1, a major regulator of GLUT1 and GLUT3, in AD brain. These studies provide a possible mechanism by which GLUT1 and GLUT3 deficiency could cause impaired brain glucose uptake/metabolism and contribute to neurodegeneration via down-regulation of O-GlcNAcylation and hyperphosphorylation of tau in AD.     

Amyloid-beta and tau serve antioxidant functions in the aging and Alzheimer brain

Historically, amyloid-beta and tau (tau), the major components of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, respectively, have been considered central mediators of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. Therefore, efforts to understand disease mechanisms have concentrated on understanding either the processes involved in amyloid-beta deposition as senile plaques or on the phosphorylation and aggregation of tau as neurofibrillary tangles. However, in light of recent evidence, such "lesion-centric" approaches look to be inappropriate. In fact, rather than initiators of disease pathogenesis, the lesions occur consequent to oxidative stress and function as a primary line of antioxidant defense. Given this, it is perhaps not surprising that the increased sensitivity to oxidative stress in the aged brain, even in control individuals, is invariably marked by the appearance of both amyloid-beta and tau. Additionally, in Alzheimer disease, where chronic oxidative stress persists and is superimposed upon an age-related vulnerable environment, one would predict, and there is, an increased lesion load. The notion that amyloid-beta and tau function as protective components brings into serious question the rationale of current therapeutic efforts targeted toward lesion removal.     

Tubulin from cultured tobacco cells: isolation and identification based on similarities to brain tubulin

The microtubule protein, tubulin, was isolated from most other proteins of cell suspension cultures of Nicotiana tabacum L. by its copolymerization with cow-brain tubulin. Cow-brain tubulin was added to the soluble protein fraction of extract from ³⁵S-labeled tobacco cells and subjected to two cycles of temperature-dependent assembly-disassembly (copolymerization). When analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) about 70% of the radioactivity in the twice copolymerized protein was found in a prominent doublet migrating close to the doublet of brain tubulin. When analyzed by two-dimensional isoelectric-focusing-SDS-PAGE the radioactive doublet behaved like the doublet of brain tubulin. Limited proteolysis of the individual polypeptides of the coublets showed that, while the peptide maps of the leading radioactive band and of the β-subunit of brain tubulin were virtually indistinguishable, the maps of the trailing radioactive band and of the α-subunit of brain tubulin, though similar, were not identical. Most of the copolymerized ³⁵S-labeled protein also behaved like brain tubulin during gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. It is concluded that the doublet of radioactive polypeptides isolated by copolymerization with brain tubulin are tobacco tubulin polypeptides that have, in their native as well as denatured forms, properties very similar to, but not identical with, cow brain tubulin. Apparently, tubulin has been highly conserved during evolution.     

Glutamate treatment and p25 transfection increase Cdk5 mediated tau phosphorylation in SH-SY5Y cells

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) of hyperphosphorylated tau protein are a major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). One of the tau phosphorylating kinases with pathological relevance in AD has been suggested to be the cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5). The proposed mechanism leading to pathological Cdk5 activity is through induced cleavage of p35 to a proteolytic product, p25. To further study activation of Cdk5 and its role in tau phosphorylation in vitro, we used differentiated SH-SY5Y cells treated with neurotoxic stimuli or transfected with p25. We show that glutamate increased tau phosphorylation, concomitant with an increased Cdk5 activity achieved by upregulation of Cdk5 and p35 protein levels. Treatment with the calcium ionophore A23187 generated the calpain cleaved p25 fragment but only in toxic conditions that caused dephosphorylation and loss of tau. When p25 was transfected to the cells, increased tau phosphorylation was achieved. However, application of the Cdk5 inhibitor Roscovitine did not result in inhibition of tau phosphorylation possibly due to activation of extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2), which also is capable of phosphorylating tau. Cdk5 and Erk1/2 kinases share some common substrates but impact of their cross talk on tau phosphorylation has not previously been demonstrated. We also show that p25 is degraded via the proteasome in Roscovitine treated cells.     

The toxicity of tau in Alzheimer disease: turnover, targets and potential therapeutics

It has been almost 25 years since the initial discovery that tau was the primary component of the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in Alzheimer disease (AD) brain. Although AD is defined by both β-amyloid (Aβ) pathology (Aβ plaques) and tau pathology (NFTs), whether or not tau played a critical role in disease pathogenesis was a subject of discussion for many years. However, given the increasing evidence that pathological forms of tau can compromise neuronal function and that tau is likely an important mediator of Aβ toxicity, there is a growing awareness that tau is a central player in AD pathogenesis. In this review we begin with a brief history of tau, then provide an overview of pathological forms of tau, followed by a discussion of the differential degradation of tau by either the proteasome or autophagy and possible mechanisms by which pathological forms of tau may exert their toxicity. We conclude by discussing possible avenues for therapeutic intervention based on these emerging themes of tau's role in AD.     

N-acetyl-L-cysteine protects SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cells from oxidative stress and cell cytotoxicity: effects on beta-amyloid secretion and tau phosphorylation

Redox changes within neurones are increasingly being implicated as an important causative agent in brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cells have developed a number of defensive mechanisms to maintain intracellular redox homeostasis, including the glutathione (GSH) system and antioxidant enzymes. Here we examine the effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on beta-amyloid (A beta) secretion and tau phosphorylation in SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cells after exposure to oxidative stress inducing/cytotoxic compounds (H(2)O(2), UV light and toxic A beta peptides). A beta and tau protein are hallmark molecules in the pathology of AD while the stress factors are implicated in the aetiology of AD. The results show that H(2)O(2), UV light, A beta 1-42 and toxic A beta 25-35, but not the inactive A beta 35-25, produce a significant induction of oxidative stress and cell cytotoxicity. The effects are reversed when cells are pre-treated with 30 mM NAC. Cells exposed to H(2)O(2), UV light and A beta 25-35, but not A beta 35-25, secrete significantly higher amounts of A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42 into the culture medium. NAC pre-treatment increased the release of A beta 1-40 compared with controls and potentiated the release of both A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42 in A beta 25-35-treated cells. Tau phosphorylation was markedly reduced by H(2)O(2) and UV light but increased by A beta 25-35. NAC strongly lowered phospho-tau levels in the presence or absence of stress treatment.     

Expression of glutathione-S-transferase isozyme in the SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line increases resistance to oxidative stress.

Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of enzymes that function to catalyze the nucleophilic attack of glutathione on electrophilic groups of a second substrate. GSTs are present in many organs and have been implicated in the detoxification of endogenous alpha, beta unsaturated aldehydes, including 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Exogenous GST protects hippocampal neurons against HNE in culture. To test the hypothesis that overexpression of GST in cells would increase resistance to exogenous or endogenous HNE induced by oxidative stress, stable transfectants of SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with GST were established. Stable GST transfectants demonstrated enzyme activities 13.7 times (Clone 1) and 30 times (Clone 2) higher than cells transfected with vector alone. GST transfectants (both Clones 1 and 2) demonstrated significantly (p <.05) increased resistance to ferrous sulfate/hydrogen peroxide (20.9% for Clone 1; 46.5% for Clone 2), amyloid beta-peptide (12.2% for Clone 1; 27.5.% for Clone 2), and peroxynitrite (24.3% for Clone 1; 43.9% for Clone 2), but not to exogenous application of HNE in culture medium. GST transfectants treated with 1,1,4-tris (acetyloxy)nonane, a nontoxic derivative of HNE that is degraded to HNE intracellularly, demonstrated a statistically significant (p <.05) increase in viability in a dose-dependent manner compared with SY5Y cells transfected with vector alone. These results suggest that overexpression of GST increases resistance to endogenous HNE induced by oxidative stress or released in the degradation of 1,1,4-tris (acetyloxy)nonane, but not to exogenous application of HNE.