5xFAD Brains Research Articles

Metabolic preferences of astrocytes: Functional metabolic mapping reveals butyrate outcompetes acetate.

Disruptions to the gut-brain-axis have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders. Of these disruptions, reductions in the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), like butyrate, have been observed in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Butyrate supplementation in mice has shown promise in reducing neuroinflammation, amyloid-β accumulation, and enhancing memory. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To address this, we investigated the impact of butyrate on energy metabolism in mouse brain slices, primary cultures of astrocytes and neurons and in-vivo by dynamic isotope labelling with [U-13C]butyrate and [1,2-13C]acetate to map metabolism via mass spectrometry. Metabolic competition assays in cerebral cortical slices revealed no competition between butyrate and the ketone body, β-hydroxybutyrate, but competition with acetate. Astrocytes favoured butyrate metabolism compared to neurons, suggesting that the astrocytic compartment is the primary site of butyrate metabolism. In-vivo metabolism investigated in the 5xFAD mouse, an AD pathology model, showed no difference in 13C-labelling of TCA cycle metabolites between wild-type and 5xFAD brains, but butyrate metabolism remained elevated compared to acetate in both groups, indicating sustained uptake and metabolism in 5xFAD mice. Overall, these findings highlight the role of astrocytes in butyrate metabolism and the potential use of butyrate as an alternative brain fuel source.

Upregulation of Integrin beta-3 in astrocytes upon Alzheimer's disease progression in the 5xFAD mouse model

Integrins are receptors that have been linked to various brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. While Integrin beta-3 (ITGB3) is known to participate in multiple cellular processes such as adhesion, migration, and signaling, its specific role in AD remains poorly understood, particularly in astrocytes, the main glial cell type in the brain. In this study, we investigated alterations in ITGB3 gene and protein expression during aging in different brain regions of the 5xFAD mouse model of AD and assessed the interplay between ITGB3 and astrocytes. Primary cultures from adult mouse brains were used to gain further insight into the connection between ITGB3 and amyloid beta (Aβ) in astrocytes. In vivo studies showed a correlation between ITGB3 and the astrocytic marker GFAP in the 5xFAD brains, indicating its association with reactive astrocytes. In vitro studies revealed increased gene expression of ITGB3 upon Aβ treatment. Our findings underscore the potential significance of ITGB3 in astrocyte reactivity in the context of Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid β Induces Lipid Droplet‐Mediated Microglial Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease

AbstractBackgroundSeveral microglia‐expressed genes have emerged as top risk variants for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that are involved in lipid droplet (LD) formation and processing. Impaired microglial phagocytosis is one of the main proposed outcomes by which these AD‐risk genes may contribute to neurodegeneration, but the mechanisms translating genetic association to cellular dysfunction remain unknown. LD accumulation in aging (Nat Neurosci. 23(2),194‐208, 2020) appears to increase microglial inflammatory responses, while inflammatory challenges increase LD formation, thereby potentially setting up a feed‐forward injury that could contribute to the relentless progression in AD.MethodLD formation is dependent upon age and disease progression, and is more prominent in the hippocampus in brains from human patients and the AD mouse model 5xFAD. Despite variability in LD load between microglia from male versus female animals and between cells from different brain regions, LD‐laden microglia exhibited a deficit in amyloid‐beta (Aβ) phagocytosis evaluated using AβpH ‐ a human Aβ1‐42 analog that exhibits fluorescence upon lysosomal internalization (Chem Sci. 12, 10901‐10918, 2021). Extensive unbiased lipidomic and metabolomic profiling in microglia identified a substantial decrease in free fatty acids (FFAs) and a parallel increase in triacylglycerols (TAGs) as the key metabolic transition underlying LD formation.ResultWe show that microglia form LDs upon exposure to Aβ, and that their LD load increases with proximity to amyloid plaques in brains from human patients and the AD mouse model 5xFAD. Mechanistically, Aβ alone is sufficient to induce LD formation in microglia and that this conversion requires a specific metabolic conversion of FFAs to TAGs (the building blocks of LDs). This conversion is likely protective for the brain and microglia, as we recently showed that long‐chain saturated FFAs can be neurotoxic (Nature 599,102‐107, 2021), but it is not without cost for microglial phagocytic abilities. We demonstrate that a key enzyme for the conversion of FFAs to TAGs, promotes microglial LD formation, is increased in microglia from 5xFAD and human AD brains, and that inhibiting it improved microglial uptake of Aβ.ConclusionThese findings identify a new lipid‐mediated mechanism underlying microglial dysfunction that could become a novel therapeutic target for AD.

A proteomics analysis of 5xFAD mouse brain regions reveals the lysosome-associated protein Arl8b as a candidate biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the intra- and extracellular accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. How Aβ aggregates perturb the proteome in brains of patients and AD transgenic mouse models, remains largely unclear. State-of-the-art mass spectrometry (MS) methods can comprehensively detect proteomic alterations, providing relevant insights unobtainable with transcriptomics investigations. Analyses of the relationship between progressive Aβ aggregation and protein abundance changes in brains of 5xFAD transgenic mice have not been reported previously.MethodsWe quantified progressive Aβ aggregation in hippocampus and cortex of 5xFAD mice and controls with immunohistochemistry and membrane filter assays. Protein changes in different mouse tissues were analyzed by MS-based proteomics using label-free quantification; resulting MS data were processed using an established pipeline. Results were contrasted with existing proteomic data sets from postmortem AD patient brains. Finally, abundance changes in the candidate marker Arl8b were validated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from AD patients and controls using ELISAs.ResultsExperiments revealed faster accumulation of Aβ42 peptides in hippocampus than in cortex of 5xFAD mice, with more protein abundance changes in hippocampus, indicating that Aβ42 aggregate deposition is associated with brain region-specific proteome perturbations. Generating time-resolved data sets, we defined Aβ aggregate-correlated and anticorrelated proteome changes, a fraction of which was conserved in postmortem AD patient brain tissue, suggesting that proteome changes in 5xFAD mice mimic disease-relevant changes in human AD. We detected a positive correlation between Aβ42 aggregate deposition in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice and the abundance of the lysosome-associated small GTPase Arl8b, which accumulated together with axonal lysosomal membranes in close proximity of extracellular Aβ plaques in 5xFAD brains. Abnormal aggregation of Arl8b was observed in human AD brain tissue. Arl8b protein levels were significantly increased in CSF of AD patients.ConclusionsWe report a comprehensive biochemical and proteomic investigation of hippocampal and cortical brain tissue derived from 5xFAD transgenic mice, providing a valuable resource to the neuroscientific community. We identified Arl8b, with significant abundance changes in 5xFAD and AD patient brains. Arl8b might enable the measurement of progressive lysosome accumulation in AD patients and have clinical utility as a candidate biomarker.

No difference in cerebral perfusion between the wild-type and the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Neuroimaging with [2,2-dimethyl-3-[(2R,3E)-3-oxidoiminobutan-2-yl]azanidylpropyl]-[(2R,3E)-3-hydroxyiminobutan-2-yl]azanide;oxo(99Tc)technetium-99(3+) ([99mTc]HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is used in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Hypoperfusion in select temporoparietal regions has been observed in human AD. However, it is unknown whether AD hypoperfusion signatures are also present in the 5XFAD mouse model. The current study was undertaken to compare baseline brain perfusion between 5XFAD and wild-type (WT) mice using [99mTc]HMPAO SPECT and determine whether hypoperfusion is recapitulated in 5XFAD mice. 5XFAD and WT mice underwent a 45 min SPECT scan, 20 min after [99mTc]HMPAO administration. Whole brain and regional standardized uptake values (SUV) and regional relative standardized uptake values (SUVR) with whole brain reference were compared between groups. Brain perfusion was similar between WT and 5XFAD brains. Whole brain [99mTc]HMPAO retention revealed no significant difference in SUV (5XFAD, 0.372 ± 0.762; WT, 0.640 ± 0.955; p = 0.536). Similarly, regional analysis revealed no significant differences in [99mTc]HMPAO metrics between groups (SUV: 0.357 ≤ p ≤ 0.640; SUVR: 0.595 ≤ p ≤ 0.936). These results suggest apparent discrepancies in rCBF between human AD and the 5XFAD model. Establishing baseline perfusion patterns in 5XFAD mice is essential to inform pre-clinical diagnostic and therapeutic drug discovery programs.

Amyloid-ß plaque formation and BACE1 accumulation in the brains of a 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease mouse model is associated with altered distribution and not proteolysis of BACE1 substrates Sez6 and Sez6L

The formation of amyloid-ß peptides (Aß), that accumulate in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains, involves proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) firstly by ß-secretase (BACE1). Since BACE1 cleaves a plethora of other substrates, in this work we investigated whether the proteolysis and/or distribution of other BACE1 substrates, such as seizure protein 6 (Sez6) and seizure 6-like protein (Sez6L), is altered in AD. To test this we used 5xFAD mouse model brains that show an early accumulation of Aß plaques already at 2-months of age. Here we show for the first time that accumulation of BACE1 in peri-plaque regions and its enhanced levels in AD brains does not affect proteolysis of BACE1 substrates other than APP, such as Sez6 and Sez6L. We observed altered distribution of Sez6 and Sez6L in the area of Aß plaques in 5xFAD brains which is distinct to that of APP, BACE1 and/or LAMP1, suggesting different localization and/or function of these BACE1 substrates. While it is necessary to further elucidate the potential role that this may play in the course of AD, it is likely that Aß-targeted therapies may have beneficial effects against accumulation and/or altered distribution of BACE1 and its substrates, in addition to APP.

TREM2-independent neuroprotection is mediated by monocyte-derived macrophages in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

The relative contributions of microglia and infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) to containing Alzheimer's disease (AD) are not fully understood. In the 5xFAD animal model of amyloidosis, disease-associated microglia (DAM) expressing the Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), are found in close proximity to amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques. Deletion of TREM2 results in the absence of DAM and in an increased Aβ-plaque load. However, the necessity of TREM2 and DAM for resolving AD pathology is still debatable. Here, we activated systemic immunity by blocking the programmed cell death protein 1 / ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway in TREM2-/- and TREM2+/+ 5xFAD mice, to decipher the roles of the different myeloid populations in mitigating AD pathology. We found that anti-PD-L1 treatment resulted in cognitive improvement in TREM2-/- and TREM2+/+ 5xFAD mice. In addition, in both TREM2-/- 5xFAD and TREM2+/+ 5xFAD, the treatment resulted in a reduction in water soluble-Aβ, while reduction of insoluble-Aβ was observed only in TREM2+/+ 5xFAD mice. Eliminating monocytes using anti-CCR2 antibody fully abrogated the observed effects of anti-PD-L1 treatment in TREM-/- 5xFAD mice, and partially eliminated the effects in the TREM2+/+ 5xFAD. Single-cell RNA-seq of myeloid cells isolated from TREM2-/- 5xFAD brains revealed that MDMs express unique scavenger receptors, previously linked to soluble-Aβ removal, such as Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1). Overall, our findings highlight a novel TREM2-independent pathway by which cognitive improvement and removal of soluble-Aβ are achieved in an amyloidosis model. Thus, our results support the potential of MDM-harnessing immunotherapy in treating AD patients, irrespective of whether they carry a TREM2 mutation.

Disease‐modifying treatment with I2 imidazoline receptor ligand LSL60101 in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model: a comparative study with donepezil

Background and PurposeThe development of effective therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a challenge. I2 imidazoline receptor ligands have a neuroprotective role in AD. Moreover, co‐treatment of AChE inhibitors with neuroprotective agents have shown better effects on the prevention of dementia. Here, we assessed the potential therapeutic effect of the I2 ligand, donepezil and their combination in 5XFAD mice.Experimental Approach5XFAD female mice were treated with low doses (1 mg·kg−1·day−1) of LSL60101, donepezil and donepezil plus LSL60101, during 4 weeks per os. Novel object recognition, Morris water maze, open field, elevated plus maze and three‐chamber tests were used to evaluate the cognitive and behavioural status after treatment. The effects on AD‐like pathology were assessed with immunohistochemistry, western blot, ELISA and qPCR.Key ResultsChronic low‐dose treatment with LSL60101 and donepezil reversed cognitive deficits and impaired social behaviour. LSL60101 treatment did not affect anxiety‐like behaviour in contrast to donepezil. In the 5XFAD brains, LSL60101 and donepezil/LSL60101 treatments attenuated amyloid‐β pathology by decreasing amyloid‐β40 and amyloid‐β42 levels, amyloid‐β plaque number and tau hyperphosphorylation. These alterations were accompanied by reduced microglia marker Iba‐1 levels and increased Trem2 gene expression. LSL60101 and donepezil decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytic marker reactivity. However, only LSL60101 and donepezil/LSL60101 treatments significantly increased the synaptic marker levels of post‐synaptic density protein 95 and synaptophysin.Conclusion and ImplicationsChronic low‐dose treatment with selective I2‐ ligands can be an effective treatment for AD and provide insights into combination treatments for symptomatic and disease‐modifying drugs.

Cu, Fe, and Zn isotope ratios in murine Alzheimer's disease models suggest specific signatures of amyloidogenesis and tauopathy

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by accumulation of tau and amyloid-beta in the brain, and recent evidence suggests a correlation between associated protein aggregates and trace elements, such as copper, iron, and zinc. In AD, a distorted brain redox homeostasis and complexation by amyloid-beta and hyperphosphorylated tau may alter the isotopic composition of essential mineral elements. Therefore, high-precision isotopic analysis may reveal changes in the homeostasis of these elements. We used inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)-based techniques to determine the total Cu, Fe, and Zn contents in the brain, as well as their isotopic compositions in both mouse brain and serum. Results for male transgenic tau (Line 66, L66) and amyloid/presenilin (5xFAD) mice were compared with those for the corresponding age- and sex-matched wild-type control mice (WT). Our data show that L66 brains showed significantly higher Fe levels than did those from the corresponding WT. Significantly less Cu, but more Zn was found in 5xFAD brains. We observed significantly lighter isotopic compositions of Fe (enrichment in the lighter isotopes) in the brain and serum of L66 mice compared with WT. For 5xFAD mice, Zn exhibited a trend toward a lighter isotopic composition in the brain and a heavier isotopic composition in serum compared with WT. Neither mouse model yielded differences in the isotopic composition of Cu. Our findings indicate significant pathology-specific alterations of Fe and Zn brain homeostasis in mouse models of AD. The associated changes in isotopic composition may serve as a marker for proteinopathies underlying AD and other types of dementia.

Multiscale causal networks identify VGF as a key regulator of Alzheimer\u2019s disease

Though discovered over 100 years ago, the molecular foundation of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains elusive. To better characterize the complex nature of AD, we constructed multiscale causal networks on a large human AD multi-omics dataset, integrating clinical features of AD, DNA variation, and gene- and protein-expression. These probabilistic causal models enabled detection, prioritization and replication of high-confidence master regulators of AD-associated networks, including the top predicted regulator, VGF. Overexpression of neuropeptide precursor VGF in 5xFAD mice partially rescued beta-amyloid-mediated memory impairment and neuropathology. Molecular validation of network predictions downstream of VGF was also achieved in this AD model, with significant enrichment for homologous genes identified as differentially expressed in 5xFAD brains overexpressing VGF. Our findings support a causal role for VGF in protecting against AD pathogenesis and progression.

Flow-cytometric microglial sorting coupled with quantitative proteomics identifies moesin as a highly-abundant microglial protein with relevance to Alzheimer\u2019s disease

BackgroundProteomic characterization of microglia provides the most proximate assessment of functionally relevant molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation. However, microglial proteomics studies have been limited by low cellular yield and contamination by non-microglial proteins using existing enrichment strategies.MethodsWe coupled magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of microglia with tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry (TMT-MS) to obtain a highly-pure microglial proteome and identified a core set of highly-abundant microglial proteins in adult mouse brain. We interrogated existing human proteomic data for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) relevance of highly-abundant microglial proteins and performed immuno-histochemical and in-vitro validation studies.ResultsQuantitative multiplexed proteomics by TMT-MS of CD11b + MACS-enriched (N = 5 mice) and FACS-isolated (N = 5 mice), from adult wild-type mice, identified 1791 proteins. A total of 203 proteins were highly abundant in both datasets, representing a core-set of highly abundant microglial proteins. In addition, we found 953 differentially enriched proteins comparing MACS and FACS-based approaches, indicating significant differences between both strategies. The FACS-isolated microglia proteome was enriched with cytosolic, endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomal proteins involved in protein metabolism and immune system functions, as well as an abundance of canonical microglial proteins. Conversely, the MACS-enriched microglia proteome was enriched with mitochondrial and synaptic proteins and higher abundance of neuronal, oligodendrocytic and astrocytic proteins. From the 203 consensus microglial proteins with high abundance in both datasets, we confirmed microglial expression of moesin (Msn) in wild-type and 5xFAD mouse brains as well as in human AD brains. Msn expression is nearly exclusively found in microglia that surround Aβ plaques in 5xFAD brains. In in-vitro primary microglial studies, Msn silencing by siRNA decreased Aβ phagocytosis and increased lipopolysaccharide-induced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In network analysis of human brain proteomic data, Msn was a hub protein of an inflammatory co-expression module positively associated with AD neuropathological features and cognitive dysfunction.ConclusionsUsing FACS coupled with TMT-MS as the method of choice for microglial proteomics, we define a core set of highly-abundant adult microglial proteins. Among these, we validate Msn as highly-abundant in plaque-associated microglia with relevance to human AD.

Topographical Visualization of the Reciprocal Projection between the Medial Septum and the Hippocampus in the 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

It is widely known that the degeneration of neural circuits is prominent in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. The reciprocal connectivity of the medial septum (MS) and hippocampus, which constitutes the septo-hippocampo-septal (SHS) loop, is known to be associated with learning and memory. Despite the importance of the reciprocal projections between the MS and hippocampus in AD, the alteration of bidirectional connectivity between two structures has not yet been investigated at the mesoscale level. In this study, we adopted AD animal model, five familial AD mutations (5XFAD) mice, and anterograde and retrograde tracers, BDA and DiI, respectively, to visualize the pathology-related changes in topographical connectivity of the SHS loop in the 5XFAD brain. By comparing 4.5-month-old and 14-month-old 5XFAD mice, we successfully identified key circuit components of the SHS loop altered in 5XFAD brains. Remarkably, the SHS loop began to degenerate in 4.5-month-old 5XFAD mice before the onset of neuronal loss. The impairment of connectivity between the MS and hippocampus was accelerated in 14-month-old 5XFAD mice. These results demonstrate, for the first time, topographical evidence for the degradation of the interconnection between the MS and hippocampus at the mesoscale level in a mouse model of AD. Our results provide structural and functional insights into the interconnectivity of the MS and hippocampus, which will inform the use and development of various therapeutic approaches that target neural circuits for the treatment of AD.

Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) Disrupt the Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity and Elevate Amyloid Pathology in the Brains of 5XFAD Mice.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting 5.4 million people in the United States. Currently approved pharmacologic interventions for AD are limited to symptomatic improvement, not affecting the underlying pathology. Therefore, the search for novel therapeutic strategies is ongoing. A hallmark of AD is the compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB); thus, developing drugs that target the BBB to enhance its integrity and function could be a novel approach to prevent and/or treat AD. Previous evidence has shown the beneficial effects of growth factors in the treatment of AD pathology. Based on reported positive results obtained with the product Endoret®, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) on the BBB integrity and function, initially in a cell-based BBB model and in 5x Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (5xFAD) mice. Our results showed that while PRGF demonstrated a positive effect in the cell-based BBB model with the enhanced integrity and function of the model, the in-vivo findings showed that PRGF exacerbated amyloid pathology in 5xFAD brains. At 10 and 100% doses, PRGF increased amyloid deposition associated with increased apoptosis and neuroinflammation. In conclusion, our results suggest PRGF may not provide beneficial effects against AD and the consideration to utilize growth factors should further be investigated.

Short-Term Fish Oil Treatment Changes the Composition of Phospholipids While Not Affecting the Expression of Mfsd2a Omega-3 Transporter in the Brain and Liver of the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Long-term fish oil (FO) supplementation is able to improve Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. We aimed to determine the impact of short-term fish oil (FO) intake on phospholipids composition and plaque pathology in 5xFAD mice, a widely used animal model of AD. A 3-week-long FO supplementation administered at 3 months of age decreased the number of dense core plaques in the 5xFAD cortex and changed phospholipids in the livers and brains of wild-type (Wt) and 5xFAD mice. Livers of both genotypes responded by increase of n-3 and reciprocal decrease of n-6 fatty acids. In Wt brains, FO supplementation induced elevation of n-3 fatty acids and subsequent enhancement of n-6/n-3 ratio. However, in 5xFAD brains the improved n-6/n-3 ratio was mainly due to FO-induced decrease in arachidonic and adrenic n-6 fatty acids. Also, brain and liver abundance of n-3 fatty acids were strongly correlated in Wts, oppositely to 5xFADs where significant brain-liver correlation exists only for n-6 fatty acids. Expression of omega-3 transporter Mfs2a remained unchanged after FO supplementation. We have demonstrated that even a short-term FO intake improves the phospholipid composition and has a significant effect on plaque burden in 5xFAD brains when applied in early stages of AD pathology.

Humanized TREM2 mice reveal microglia-intrinsic and -extrinsic effects of R47H polymorphism.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes late-onset dementia. The R47H variant of the microglial receptor TREM2 triples AD risk in genome-wide association studies. In mouse AD models, TREM2-deficient microglia fail to proliferate and cluster around the amyloid-β plaques characteristic of AD. In vitro, the common variant (CV) of TREM2 binds anionic lipids, whereas R47H mutation impairs binding. However, in vivo, the identity of TREM2 ligands and effect of the R47H variant remain unknown. We generated transgenic mice expressing human CV or R47H TREM2 and lacking endogenous TREM2 in the 5XFAD AD model. Only the CV transgene restored amyloid-β-induced microgliosis and microglial activation, indicating that R47H impairs TREM2 function in vivo. Remarkably, soluble TREM2 was found on neurons and plaques in CV- but not R47H-expressing 5XFAD brains, although in vitro CV and R47H were shed similarly via Adam17 proteolytic activity. These results demonstrate that TREM2 interacts with neurons and plaques duing amyloid-β accumulation and R47H impairs this interaction.

Deletion of the Inflammasome Sensor Aim2 Mitigates Aβ Deposition and Microglial Activation but Increases Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in an Alzheimer Disease Mouse Model

Objective: Inflammation is clearly associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). Knockout of Nlrp3, a gene encoding an inflammasome sensor, has been shown to ameliorate AD pathology in a mouse model. Because AIM2 is the most dominant inflammasome sensor expressed in mouse brains, here we investigate whether Aim2 deletion also influences the phenotype of a 5XFAD AD mouse model. Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR, immunostaining, immunoblotting, and behavioral analyses were applied to compare wild-type, Aim2-/-, 5XFAD, and Aim2-/-;5XFAD mice. Results: We found that Aim2 knockout mitigates Aβ deposition in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of 5XFAD mice. The activation of microglial cells is also reduced in Aim2-/-;5XFAD brains compared with 5XFAD brains. However, Aim2 knockout does not improve memory and anxiety phenotypes of 5XFAD mice in an open field, cued Y-maze, or Barnes maze. Compared with 5XFAD mice, Il-1 expression levels are not reduced in Aim2-/-;5XFAD mice. Unexpectedly, Il-6 and Il-18 expression levels in 5XFAD brains were further increased when Aim2 was deleted. Thus, inflammatory cytokine expression in 5XFAD brains is upregulated by Aim2 deletion through an unknown mechanism. Conclusion: Although Aim2 knockout mitigates Aβ deposition and microglial activation, Aim2 deletion does not have a beneficial effect on the spatial memory or cytokine expression of 5XFAD mice. Our findings suggest that Aβ aggregation and microglial activation may not always be correlated with the expression of inflammatory cytokines or cognitive function of 5XFAD mice. Our study also implies that different inflammasomes likely perform distinct roles in different physiological and/or pathological events.

Genetic inhibition of phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α does not block Aβ-dependent elevation of BACE1 and APP levels or reduce amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) initiates the production of β-amyloid (Aβ), the major constituent of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). BACE1 is elevated ∼2–3 fold in AD brain and is concentrated in dystrophic neurites near plaques, suggesting BACE1 elevation is Aβ−dependent. Previously, we showed that phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α de-represses translation of BACE1 mRNA following stress such as energy deprivation. We hypothesized that stress induced by Aβ might increase BACE1 levels by the same translational mechanism involving eIF2α phosphorylation. To test this hypothesis, we used three different genetic strategies to determine the effects of reducing eIF2α phosphorylation on Aβ-dependent BACE1 elevation in vitro and in vivo: 1) a two-vector adeno-associated virus (AAV) system to express constitutively active GADD34, the regulatory subunit of PP1c eIF2α phosphatase; 2) a non-phosphorylatable eIF2α S51A knockin mutation; 3) a BACE1-YFP transgene lacking the BACE1 mRNA 5′ untranslated region (UTR) required for eIF2α translational regulation. The first two strategies were used in primary neurons and 5XFAD transgenic mice, while the third strategy was employed only in 5XFAD mice. Despite very effective reduction of eIF2α phosphorylation in both primary neurons and 5XFAD brains, or elimination of eIF2α-mediated regulation of BACE1-YFP mRNA translation in 5XFAD brains, Aβ-dependent BACE1 elevation was not decreased. Additionally, robust inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation did not block Aβ-dependent APP elevation in primary neurons, nor did it reduce amyloid pathology in 5XFAD mice. We conclude that amyloid-associated BACE1 elevation is not caused by translational de-repression via eIF2α phosphorylation, but instead appears to involve a post-translational mechanism. These definitive genetic results exclude a role for eIF2α phosphorylation in Aβ-dependent BACE1 and APP elevation. We suggest a vicious pathogenic cycle wherein Aβ42 toxicity induces peri-plaque BACE1 and APP accumulation in dystrophic neurites leading to exacerbated Aβ production and plaque progression.

Inhibition of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Ameliorates β-Amyloid Pathology and Restores Lysosomal Acidification and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Activity in the Alzheimer Disease Mouse Model: IN VIVO AND IN VITRO STUDIES

Accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) deposits is a primary pathological feature of Alzheimer disease that is correlated with neurotoxicity and cognitive decline. The role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis has been debated. To study the role of GSK-3 in Aβ pathology, we used 5XFAD mice co-expressing mutated amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 that develop massive cerebral Aβ loads. Both GSK-3 isozymes (α/β) were hyperactive in this model. Nasal treatment of 5XFAD mice with a novel substrate competitive GSK-3 inhibitor, L803-mts, reduced Aβ deposits and ameliorated cognitive deficits. Analyses of 5XFAD hemi-brain samples indicated that L803-mts restored the activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and inhibited autophagy. Lysosomal acidification was impaired in the 5XFAD brains as indicated by reduced cathepsin D activity and decreased N-glycoyslation of the vacuolar ATPase subunit V0a1, a modification required for lysosomal acidification. Treatment with L803-mts restored lysosomal acidification in 5XFAD brains. Studies in SH-SY5Y cells confirmed that GSK-3α and GSK-3β impair lysosomal acidification and that treatment with L803-mts enhanced the acidic lysosomal pool as demonstrated in LysoTracker Red-stained cells. Furthermore, L803-mts restored impaired lysosomal acidification caused by dysfunctional presenilin-1. We provide evidence that mTOR is a target activated by GSK-3 but inhibited by impaired lysosomal acidification and elevation in amyloid precursor protein/Aβ loads. Taken together, our data indicate that GSK-3 is a player in Aβ pathology. Inhibition of GSK-3 restores lysosomal acidification that in turn enables clearance of Aβ burdens and reactivation of mTOR. These changes facilitate amelioration in cognitive function.

Neuron loss in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease correlates with intraneuronal Aβ42 accumulation and Caspase-3 activation

BackgroundAlthough the mechanism of neuron loss in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is enigmatic, it is associated with cerebral accumulation of Aβ42. The 5XFAD mouse model of amyloid deposition expresses five familial AD (FAD) mutations that are additive in driving Aβ42 overproduction. 5XFAD mice exhibit intraneuronal Aβ42 accumulation at 1.5 months, amyloid deposition at 2 months, and memory deficits by 4 months of age.ResultsHere, we demonstrate by unbiased stereology that statistically significant neuron loss occurs by 9 months of age in 5XFAD mice. We validated two Aβ42-selective antibodies by immunostaining 5XFAD; BACE1−/− bigenic brain sections and then used these antibodies to show that intraneuronal Aβ42 and amyloid deposition develop in the same regions where neuron loss is observed in 5XFAD brain. In 5XFAD neuronal soma, intraneuronal Aβ42 accumulates in puncta that co-label for Transferrin receptor and LAMP-1, indicating endosomal and lysosomal localization, respectively. In addition, in young 5XFAD brains, we observed activated Caspase-3 in the soma and proximal dendrites of intraneuronal Aβ42-labeled neurons. In older 5XFAD brains, we found activated Caspase-3-positive punctate accumulations that co-localize with the neuronal marker class III β-tubulin, suggesting neuron loss by apoptosis.ConclusionsTogether, our results indicate a temporal sequence of intraneuronal Aβ42 accumulation, Caspase-3 activation, and neuron loss that implies a potential apoptotic mechanism of neuron death in the 5XFAD mouse.

Mechanisms Underlying Insulin Deficiency-Induced Acceleration of β-Amyloidosis in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Although evidence is accumulating that diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), the mechanisms by which defects in insulin signaling may lead to the acceleration of AD progression remain unclear. In this study, we applied streptozotocin (STZ) to induce experimental diabetes in AD transgenic mice (5XFAD model) and investigated how insulin deficiency affects the β-amyloidogenic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Two and half months after 5XFAD mice were treated with STZ (90 mg/kg, i.p., once daily for two consecutive days), they showed significant reductions in brain insulin levels without changes in insulin receptor expression. Concentrations of cerebral amyloid-β peptides (Aβ40 and Aβ42) were significantly increased in STZ-treated 5XFAD mice as compared with vehicle-treated 5XFAD controls. Importantly, STZ-induced insulin deficiency upregulated levels of both β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and full-length APP in 5XFAD mouse brains, which was accompanied by dramatic elevations in the β-cleaved C-terminal fragment (C99). Interestingly, BACE1 mRNA levels were not affected, whereas phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α, a mechanism proposed to mediate the post-transcriptional upregulation of BACE1, was significantly elevated in STZ-treated 5XFAD mice. Meanwhile, levels of GGA3, an adapter protein responsible for sorting BACE1 to lysosomal degradation, are indistinguishable between STZ- and vehicle-treated 5XFAD mice. Moreover, STZ treatments did not affect levels of Aβ-degrading enzymes such as neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) in 5XFAD brains. Taken together, our findings provide a mechanistic foundation for a link between diabetes and AD by demonstrating that insulin deficiency may change APP processing to favor β-amyloidogenesis via the translational upregulation of BACE1 in combination with elevations in its substrate, APP.