Alzheimer’s disease and gut microbiota

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a most common neurodegenerative disorder, which associates with impaired cognition. Gut microbiota can modulate host brain function and behavior via microbiota-gut-brain axis, including cognitive behavior. Germ-free animals, antibiotics, probiotics intervention and diet can induce alterations of gut microbiota and gut physiology and also host cognitive behavior, increasing or decreasing risks of AD. The increased permeability of intestine and blood-brain barrier induced by gut microbiota disturbance will increase the incidence of neurodegeneration disorders. Gut microbial metabolites and their effects on host neurochemical changes may increase or decrease the risk of AD. Pathogenic microbes infection will also increase the risk of AD, and meanwhile, the onset of AD support the “hygiene hypothesis”. All the results suggest that AD may begin in the gut, and is closely related to the imbalance of gut microbiota. Modulation of gut microbiota through personalized diet or beneficial microbiota intervention will probably become a new treatment for AD.     

Copper transport and Alzheimer’s disease

This brief review discusses copper transport in humans, with an emphasis on knowledge learned from one of the simplest model organisms, yeast. There is a further focus on copper transport in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Copper homeostasis is essential for the well-being of all organisms, from bacteria to yeast to humans: survival depends on maintaining the required supply of copper for the many enzymes, dependent on copper for activity, while ensuring that there is no excess free copper, which would cause toxicity. A virtual orchestra of proteins are required to achieve copper homeostasis. For copper uptake, Cu(II) is first reduced to Cu(I) via a membrane-bound reductase. The reduced copper can then be internalised by a copper transporter where it is transferred to copper chaperones for transport and specific delivery to various organelles. Of significance are internal copper transporters, ATP7A and ATP7B, notable for their role in disorders of copper deficiency and toxicity, Menkes and Wilson’s disease, respectively. Metallothioneins and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase can protect against excess copper in cells. It is clear too, increasing age, environmental and lifestyle factors impact on brain copper. Studies on AD suggest an important role for copper in the brain, with some AD therapies focusing on mobilising copper in AD brains. The transport of copper into the brain is complex and involves numerous players, including amyloid precursor protein, Aβ peptide and cholesterol.     

Tackling neurodegenerative diseases: animal models of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

Our ageing society is confronted with a dramatic increase in incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases; biomedical research leading to novel therapeutic strategies is crucial to address this problem. Animal models of neurodegenerative conditions are invaluable in improving our understanding of the molecular basis of pathology, potentially revealing novel targets for intervention. Here, we review transgenic animal models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease reported in mice, zebrafish, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. This information will enable researchers to compare different animal models targeting disease-associated molecules by genomic engineering and to facilitate the development of novel animal models for any particular study, depending on the ultimate research goals.     

Chasing genes in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimers disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, and Parkinsons disease (PD), the most common movement disorder, are both neurodegenerative adult-onset diseases characterized by the progressive loss of specific neuronal populations and the accumulation of intraneuronal inclusions. The search for genetic and environmental factors that determine the fate of neurons during the ageing process has been a widespread approach in the battle against neurodegenerative disorders. Genetic studies of AD and PD initially focused on the search for genes involved in the aetiological mechanisms of monogenic forms of these diseases. They later expanded to study hundreds of patients, affected relative-pairs and population-based studies, sometimes performed on special isolated populations. A growing number of genes (and pathogenic mutations) is being identified that cause or increase susceptibility to AD and PD. This review discusses the way in which strategies of gene hunting have evolved during the last few years and the significance of finding genes such as the presenilins, -synuclein, parkin and DJ-1. In addition, we discuss possible links between these two neurodegenerative disorders. The clinical, pathological and genetic presentation of AD and PD suggests the involvement of a few overlapping interrelated pathways. Their imbricate features point to a spectrum of neurodegeneration (tauopathies, synucleinopathies, amyloidopathies) that need further intense investigation to find the missing links.     

Alzheimer disease and platelets: how’s that relevant

Alzheimer Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, and account for 60% to 70% of all cases of progressive cognitive impairment in elderly patients. At the microscopic level distinctive features of AD are neurons and synapses degeneration, together with extensive amounts of senile plaques and neurofibrillars tangles. The degenerative process probably starts 20–30 years before the clinical onset of the disease. Senile plaques are composed of a central core of amyloid β peptide, Aβ, derived from the metabolism of the larger amyloid precursor protein, APP, which is expressed not only in the brain, but even in non neuronal tissues. More than 30 years ago, some studies reported that human platelets express APP and all the enzymatic activities necessary to process this protein through the same pathways described in the brain. Since then a large number of evidence has been accumulated to suggest that platelets may be a good peripheral model to study the metabolism of APP, and the pathophysiology of the onset of AD. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge on the involvement of platelets in Alzheimer Disease. Although platelets are generally accepted as a suitable model for AD, the current scientific interest on this model is very high, because many concepts still remain debated and controversial. At the same time, however, these still unsolved divergences mirror a difficulty to establish constant parameters to better defined the role of platelets in AD.     

Serum zinc levels and Alzheimer’s disease

Concentrations of zinc in postmortem serum and four brain regions were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis, respectively, in nine Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and eight control subjects. A statistically significant elevation of zinc serum was observed in AD subjects (136.4±66.8 μg/dL) compared with age-matched control subjects (71.1±35.0 μg/dL). No significant differences were observed between AD and control zinc concentrations in the amygdala, hippocampus, cerebellum, and superior and middle temporal gryi.     

FKBP immunophilins and Alzheimer’s disease: A chaperoned affair

The FK506-binding protein (FKBP) family of immunophilins consists of proteins with a variety of protein–protein interaction domains and versatile cellular functions. Analysis of the functions of immunophilins has been the focus of studies in recent years and has led to the identification of various molecular pathways in which FKBPs play an active role. All FKBPs contain a domain with prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) activity. Binding of the immunosuppressant molecule FK506 to this domain inhibits their PPIase activity while mediating immune suppression through inhibition of calcineurin. The larger members, FKBP51 and FKBP52, interact with Hsp90 and exhibit chaperone activity that is shown to regulate steroid hormone signalling. From these studies it is clear that FKBP proteins are expressed ubiquitously but show relatively high levels of expression in the nervous system. Consistent with this expression, FKBPs have been implicated with both neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. This review will focus on recent studies involving FKBP immunophilins in Alzheimer’s-disease-related pathways.     

Intramembranous Fragment of Amyloid-β: A Potential Immunogen for Alzheimer’s Disease Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy holds great promise for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but meningoencephalitis observed in the first AD vaccination trial, which accompanied T-lymphocytic infiltration, needs to be overcome. This study was aimed to investigate alternative approaches for a safer vaccine to treat AD. We used intramembranous fragment of amyloid-β (IF-Aβ) to immunize Kunming mice for up to 2.5 months and then evaluated the immunization efficacy and potential adverse effects. Immunization of mice with IF-Aβ plus Freund’s adjuvant resulted in moderate levels of Aβ antibodies (IgG), and the anti-sera were able to neutralize Aβ1-42-neurotoxicity in cultured primary cortical neurons. IF-Aβ itself did not show neurotoxicity, and immunization with IF-Aβ did not cause behavioral deficits in Morris water maze or any abnormalities by histological examinations of major organs including the brain. We conclude that vaccination with IF-Aβ may be a potentially safe and effective treatment for AD.     

Autophagic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease: Cellular and molecular mechanistic approaches to halt Alzheimer’s pathogenesis

Autophagy is a preserved cytoplasmic self-degradation process and endorses recycling of intracellular constituents into bioenergetics for the controlling of cellular homeostasis. Functional autophagy process is essential in eliminating cytoplasmic waste components and helps in the recycling of some of its constituents. Studies have revealed that neurodegenerative disorders may be caused by mutations in autophagy-related genes and alterations of autophagic flux. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irrevocable deleterious neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the formation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the hippocampus and cortex. In the central nervous system of healthy people, there is no accretion of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides due to the balance between generation and degradation of Aβ. However, for AD patients, the generation of Aβ peptides is higher than lysis that causes accretion of Aβ. Likewise, the maturation of autophagolysosomes and inhibition of their retrograde transport creates favorable conditions for Aβ accumulation. Furthermore, increasing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling raises tau levels as well as phosphorylation. Alteration of mTOR activity occurs in the early stage of AD. In addition, copious evidence links autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction in AD. Compromised mitophagy is also accountable for dysfunctional mitochondria that raises Alzheimer’s pathology. Therefore, autophagic dysfunction might lead to the deposit of atypical proteins in the AD brain and manipulation of autophagy could be considered as an emerging therapeutic target. This review highlights the critical linkage of autophagy in the pathogenesis of AD, and avows a new insight to search for therapeutic target for blocking Alzheimer’s pathogenesis.     

New approaches for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent chronic neurodegenerative disease. Current approved therapies are symptomatic treatments having some effect on cognitive function. Therapies that target β-amyloid (Aβ) have been the focus of efforts to develop a disease modification treatment for AD but these approaches have failed to show any clinical benefit so far. Beyond the ‘Aβ hypothesis’, there are a number of newer approaches to treat AD with neuroinflammation emerging as a very active area of research based on risk gene analysis. This short review will summarize approved drug therapies, recent clinical trials and new approaches for the treatment of AD.     

Resveratrol-maltol hybrids as multi-target-directed agents for Alzheimer’s disease

The 3-hydroxypyran-4-one moiety (maltol) was incorporated into the structure of resveratrol to achieve a series of resveratrol-maltol hybrids (8a–8k) as novel multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs). In vitro biological evaluation of the MTDLs revealed these compounds to have a triple function, namely inhibition of self-induced Aβ_1–42 aggregation, antioxidation, and metal chelating activity. Among all the evaluated MTDLs, compounds 8i and 8j showed the most promise, demonstrating micromolar IC₅₀ values for Aβ_1–42 aggregation inhibition, more potent ABTS⁺ scavenging activity than Trolox, and good metal chelating activities.     

Multimodal retinal imaging to detect and understand Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Retinal neurodegeneration and visual dysfunctions have been reported in a majority of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, and, in light of the quest for novel biomarkers for these neurodegenerative proteinopathies, the retina has been receiving increasing attention as an organ for diagnosing, monitoring, and understanding disease. Thinning of retinal layers, abnormalities in vasculature, and protein deposition can be imaged at unprecedented resolution, which offers a unique systems biology view on the cellular and molecular changes underlying these pathologies. It makes the retina not only a promising target for biomarker development, but it also suggests that novel fundamental insights into the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease can be obtained by studying the retina–brain axis.     

Ionic and signal transduction alterations in Alzheimer’s disease

Several lines of, evidence indicate that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has systemic expression. Systemic changes are manifested as alterations in a number of molecular and cellular processes. Although, these alterations appear to have little or no consequence in peripheral systems, their parallel expression in the central nervous system (CNS) could account for the principal clinical manifestations of the disease. Recent research seems to indicate that alterations in ion channels, calcium homeostasis, and protein kinase C (PKC) can be linked and thereby constitute a model of pathophysiological relevance. Considering the difficulties of studying dynamic pathophysiological processes in the disease-ridden postmortem AD brain, peripheral tissues such as fibroblasts provide a suitable model to study molecular and cellular aspects of the disease.     

Genetic discoveries and advances in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a heterogeneous disorder with multiple patterns of clinical manifestations. Recently, due to the advance of linkage studies, next-generation sequencing and genome-wide association studies, a large number of putative risk genes for AD have been identified using acquired genome mega data. The genetic association between three causal genes, including amyloid precursor protein, presenilin1, and presenilin2 in early-onset AD (EOAD), was discovered over the past few decades. These discoveries showed that there should be additional genetic risk factors for both EOAD and late-onset AD (LOAD) to help fully explain the leading molecular mechanisms in a single pathophysiological entity. This study reviews the clinical features and genetic etiology of LOAD and discusses a variety of AD-mediated genes that are involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism, endocytosis, and immune response according to their mutations for more efficient selection of functional candidate genes for LOAD. New mechanisms and pathways have been identified as a result.     

Predictive association of copper metabolism proteins with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease: a preliminary perspective

Neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), constitute a major worldwide health problem. Several hypothesis have been put forth to elucidate the basis of onset and pathogenesis of AD and PD; however, till date, none of these seems to clearly elucidate the complex pathoetiology of these disorders. Notably, copper dyshomeostasis has been shown to underlie the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases including AD and PD. Numerous studies have concluded beyond doubt that imbalance in copper homeostatic mechanisms in conjunction with aging causes an acceleration in the copper toxicity elicited oxidative stress, which is detrimental to the central nervous system. Amyloid precursor protein and α-synuclein protein involved in AD and PD are copper binding proteins, respectively. In this review, we have discussed the possible association of copper metabolism proteins with AD and PD along with briefly outlining the expanding proportion of “copper interactome” in human biology. Using network biology, we found that copper metabolism proteins, superoxide dismutase 1 and ceruloplasmin may represent direct and indirect link with AD and PD, respectively.     

A brief overview of amyloids and Alzheimer’s disease

Amyloid fibrils are self-assembled fibrous protein aggregates that are associated with a number of presently incurable diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Millions of people worldwide suffer from amyloid diseases. This review summarizes the unique cross-β structure of amyloid fibrils, morphological variations, the kinetics of amyloid fibril formation, and the cytotoxic effects of these fibrils and oligomers. Alzheimer’s disease is also explored as an example of an amyloid disease to show the various approaches to treat these amyloid diseases. Finally, this review investigates the nanotechnological and biological applications of amyloid fibrils; as well as a summary of the typical biological pathways involved in the disposal of amyloid fibrils and their precursors.     

Mathematical model on Alzheimer’s disease

Background

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys memory and cognitive skills. AD is characterized by the presence of two types of neuropathological hallmarks: extracellular plaques consisting of amyloid β-peptides and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. The disease affects 5 million people in the United States and 44 million world-wide. Currently there is no drug that can cure, stop or even slow the progression of the disease. If no cure is found, by 2050 the number of alzheimer’s patients in the U.S. will reach 15 million and the cost of caring for them will exceed $ 1 trillion annually.

Results

The present paper develops a mathematical model of AD that includes neurons, astrocytes, microglias and peripheral macrophages, as well as amyloid β aggregation and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. The model is represented by a system of partial differential equations. The model is used to simulate the effect of drugs that either failed in clinical trials, or are currently in clinical trials.

Conclusions

Based on these simulations it is suggested that combined therapy with TNF- α inhibitor and anti amyloid β could yield significant efficacy in slowing the progression of AD.