Postmortem Alzheimer's Disease Brain Research Articles

The metabolism hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease: from the concept of central insulin resistance and associated consequences to insulin therapy.

The concept of central insulin resistance and dysfunctional insulin signaling in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been developed by Siegfried Hoyer in 1985-2000. It is widely recognized that a cerebrometabolic deficiency is one of the most relevant proximate characteristics of sporadic AD, including functional deficits in oxidative glucose breakdown, oxidative stress and amplifying the action of glucocorticoids in the brain. Insulin and insulin receptors are widely distributed in the brain and are impaired in the post-mortem Alzheimer brain. Functionally, altered insulin signaling may promote synaptic dysfunction and impaired connectivity, especially in highly connected and metabolically active regions of the brain, which in turn predisposes towards AD pathology. Thus, the hypothesis has been proposed that defects in the brain insulin signal transduction system and associated consequences, e.g., oxidative stress, are centrally involved in the etiopathogenesis of sporadic AD. Most importantly, in a research field still awaiting substantial progress in therapeutic options, the idea of AD as a brain type of diabetes mellitus is now being translated into clinical trials with promising early results.

Editorial: Siegfried Hoyer's concept of Alzheimer pathophysiology.

The concept of central insulin resistance and dysfunctional insulin signaling in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has been developed by Siegfried Hoyer in 1985-2000. It is widely recognized that the mechanisms underlying neuronal energy deficiency and in particular to elucidate insulin/insulin receptor cascade deficiencies are some of the most relevant proximate characteristics of sporadic AD. The imbalance between cerebral oxygen utilization and cerebral glucose utilization may cause rise in reactive oxygen species production and this might be causal for synapse degeneration. This concept has been substantiated by work on postmortem Alzheimer brains and has been translated back into the streptozotozin animal model, which has stimulated much further research by other researchers. Finally, the insulin hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease has currently advanced into a potential therapeutic avenue.

Characterization and first human investigation of FIBT, a novel fluorinated Aβ plaque neuroimaging PET radioligand.

Imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazoles (IBTs) are a promising novel class of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Their good in vivo imaging properties have previously been shown in preclinical studies. Among IBTs, fluorinated [(18)F]FIBT was selected for further characterization and advancement toward use in humans. [(18)F]FIBT characteristics were analyzed in relation to Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) as reference ligand. [(18)F]FIBT and [(3)H]PiB were coinjected to an APP/PS1 mouse for ex vivo dual-label autoradiographic correlation. Acute dose toxicity of FIBT was examined in two groups of healthy mice. Preexisting in vivo stability and biodistribution studies in mice were complemented with analogous studies in rats. [(18)F]FIBT was titrated against postmortem human AD brain homogenate in a saturation binding assay previously performed with [(3)H]PiB. Binding of [(18)F]FIBT to human AD brain was further analyzed by in vitro incubation of human AD brain sections in comparison to [(11)C]PiB in relation to standard immunohistochemistry. Finally, [(18)F]FIBT was administered to two human subjects for a dynamic 90 min PET/MR brain investigation. Ex vivo autoradiography confirmed good uptake of [(18)F]FIBT to mouse brain and its excellent correlation to [(3)H]PiB binding. No toxicity of FIBT could be found in mice at a concentration of 33.3 nmol/kg. As in mice, [(18)F]FIBT was showing high in vivo stability in rats and comparable regional brain biodistribution dynamics to [(3)H]PiB. Radioligand saturation binding confirmed at least one high-affinity binding component of [(18)F]FIBT around 1 nM. Good binding of FIBT relative to PiB was further confirmed in binding assays and autoradiographies using post-mortem AD brain. First use of [(18)F]FIBT in humans successfully yielded clinical [(18)F]FIBT PET/MR images with very good contrast. In summary, [(18)F]FIBT has been characterized to be a new lead compound with improved binding characteristics and pharmacokinetics on its own as well as in comparison to PiB. A pilot human PET investigation provided high-quality images with a plausible tracer distribution pattern. Detailed clinical investigations are needed to confirm these first results and to explore the specific qualities of [(18)F]FIBT PET for dementia imaging in relation to established ligands.

The Na+/H+ Exchanger NHE6 Links Endosomal pH to Amyloid Pathologies in Alzheimer's Disease

Endosomal dysfunction has been implicated as an early step in neurodegeneration. Endosomes are a major site of production of Aβ peptide from the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by clipping enzymes (β and γ-secretases). The β-secretase enzyme BACE-1 requires acidic lumen pH for optimum function and acid pH promotes Aβ aggregation. The endosomal Na+/H+ exchanger NHE6 provides a leak pathway for protons, limiting luminal acidification by proton pumps. Therefore, we investigated whether NHE6 expression altered APP localization and processing in a stably transfected cell culture model of human APP expression. We show that co-expression with NHE6 shifts APP away from trans Golgi network into early and recycling endosomes in HEK293 cells. NHE6 alkalinized the endosomal lumen and significantly attenuated APP processing and Aβ secretion. To rule out non-specific overexpression effects we examined the effects of NHE6 mutations associated with neurodegeneration, which we predicted to result in loss of function by mapping on to the three dimensional homology model of NHE6 generated based on the template structure of E. coli NhaA. Finally, we show that NHE6 transcript and protein levels are lowered in post-mortem Alzheimer's brains relative to age-matched control brains. Patients with mutations in NHE6 show progressive neurodegeneration and tau pathologies. These observations, taken together with emerging evidence from genome wide association studies, suggest that endosomal Na+/H+ exchangers act as proton leak pathways that regulate Aβ generation and contribute to disease etiology. We suggest that therapeutic elevation of endosomal pH using mildly alkalinizing drugs or by enhancing NHE6 activity will significantly reduce amyloid and tau pathologies.

Vitamin D and Alzheimer's Disease: Neurocognition to Therapeutics.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the major cause of dementia worldwide, is characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognition. The sporadic form of AD accounts for nearly 90% of the patients developing this disease. The last century has witnessed significant research to identify various mechanisms and risk factors contributing to the complex etiopathogenesis of AD by analyzing postmortem AD brains and experimenting with animal and cell culture based models. However, the treatment strategies, as of now, are only symptomatic. Accumulating evidences suggested a significant association between vitamin D deficiency, dementia, and AD. This review encompasses the beneficial role of vitamin D in neurocognition and optimal brain health along with epidemiological evidence of the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among aged and AD population. Moreover, disrupted signaling, altered utilization of vitamin D, and polymorphisms of several related genes including vitamin D receptor (VDR) also predispose to AD or AD-like neurodegeneration. This review explores the relationship between this gene-environmental influence and long term vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for development of sporadic AD along with the role and rationale of therapeutic trials with vitamin D. It is, therefore, urgently warranted to further establish the role of this potentially neuroprotective vitamin in preventing and halting progressive neurodegeneration in AD patients.

Isolation and characterization of antibody fragments selective for toxic oligomeric tau

Oligomeric tau species are important in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as they are neurotoxic and can propagate tau-tangle pathology. Therefore, reagents that selectively recognize different key morphologies of tau are needed to help define the role of tau in AD and related diseases. We utilized a biopanning protocol that combines the binding diversity of phage-displayed antibody libraries with the powerful imaging capability of atomic force microscopy to isolate single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) that selectively bind toxic oligomeric tau. We isolated 3 different antibody fragments that bind oligomeric but not monomeric or fibrillar tau. The scFvs differentiate brain tissue homogenates of both 3×TG and tau-AD mice from wild-type mice, detecting oligomeric tau at much earlier ages than when neurofibrillary tangles are typically detected. The scFvs also distinguish human postmortem AD brain tissue from cognitively normal postmortem human brain tissue, demonstrating the potential of this approach for developing biomarkers for early detection and progression of AD.

Increased acetyl and total histone levels in post-mortem Alzheimer's disease brain

Histone acetylation is an epigenetic modification that plays a critical role in chromatin remodelling and transcriptional regulation. There is increasing evidence that epigenetic modifications may become compromised in aging and increase susceptibility to the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Immunohistochemical labelling of free-floating sections from the inferior temporal gyrus (Alzheimer's disease, n=14; control, n=17) and paraffin-embedded tissue microarrays containing tissue from the middle temporal gyrus (Alzheimer's disease, n=29; control, n=28) demonstrated that acetyl histone H3 and acetyl histone H4 levels, as well as total histone H3 and total histone H4 protein levels, were significantly increased in post-mortem Alzheimer's disease brain tissue compared to age- and sex-matched neurologically normal control brain tissue. Changes in acetyl histone levels were proportional to changes in total histone levels. The increase in acetyl histone H3 and H4 was observed in Neuronal N immunopositive pyramidal neurons in Alzheimer's disease brain. Using immunolabelling, histone markers correlated significantly with the level of glial fibrillary acidic protein and HLA-DP, -DQ and -DR immunopositive cells and with the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (hyperphosphorylated tau load and β-amyloid plaques). Given that histone acetylation changes were correlated with changes in total histone protein, it was important to evaluate if protein degradation pathways may be compromised in Alzheimer's disease. Consequently, significant positive correlations were also found between ubiquitin load and histone modifications. The relationship between histone acetylation and ubiquitin levels was further investigated in an in vitro model of SK-N-SH cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor Mg132 and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid. In this model, compromised protein degradation caused by Mg132 lead to elevated histone labelling. In addition, valproic acid worked synergistically with Mg132 in elevating ubiquitin load and causing cell death. These findings highlight important pathological relationships linking a compromise in protein turnover with the histone changes observed in Alzheimer's disease post-mortem human brain.

In vivo SPECT imaging of amyloid-β deposition with radioiodinated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative DRM106 in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Noninvasive determination of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) deposition has important significance for early diagnosis and medical intervention for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we investigated the availability of radiolabeled DRM106 ((123/125)I-DRM106 [6-iodo-2-[4-(1H-3-pyrazolyl)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine]), a compound with sufficient affinity for the synthesis of human Aβ fibrils and satisfactory metabolic stability, as a SPECT ligand in living brains. The sensitivity of (125)I-DRM106 for detecting Aβ deposition was compared with that of (125)I-IMPY (2-(4'-dimethylaminophenyl)-6-iodo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine), a well-known amyloid SPECT ligand, by ex vivo autoradiographic analyses in 18-mo-old amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice. To verify the sensitivity and quantitation of radiolabeled DRM106 for in vivo imaging, we compared the detectability of Aβ plaques with (123)I-DRM106 and a well-known amyloid PET agent, (11)C-labeled Pittsburgh compound B ((11)C-PiB), in 29-mo-old transgenic mice and age-matched nontransgenic littermates. Additionally, we compared the binding characteristics of (125)I-DRM106 with those of (11)C-PiB and (11)C-PBB3, which selectively bind to Aβ plaques and preferentially to tau aggregates, respectively, in postmortem AD brain sections. Ex vivo autoradiographic analysis showed that measurement with (125)I-DRM106 has a higher sensitivity for detecting Aβ accumulation than with (125)I-IMPY in transgenic mice. SPECT imaging with (123)I-DRM106 also successfully detected Aβ deposition in living aged transgenic mice and showed strong correlation (R = 0.95, P < 0.01) in quantitative analysis for Aβ plaque detection by PET imaging with (11)C-PiB, implying that sensitivity and quantitation of SPECT imaging with (123)I-DRM106 are almost as good as (11)C-PiB PET for the detectability of Aβ deposition. Further, the addition of nonradiolabeled DRM106 fully blocked the binding of (125)I-DRM106 and (11)C-PiB, but not (11)C-PBB3, to AD brain sections, and (125)I-DRM106 showed a lower binding ratio of the diffuse plaque-rich lateral temporal cortex to the dense-cored/neuritic plaque-rich hippocampal CA1 area, compared with (11)C-PiB. All of these data demonstrated the high potential of (123)I-DRM106 for amyloid imaging in preclinical and clinical application, and it might more preferentially detect dense-cored/neuritic amyloid deposition, which is expected to be closely associated with neuropathologic changes of AD.

Loss of NEIL1 causes defects in olfactory function in mice

Oxidative DNA damage accumulation has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The base excision repair pathway is a primary responder to oxidative DNA damage. Effects of loss of base excision repair on normal brain function is a relatively nascent area of research that needs further exploration for better understanding of related brain diseases. Recently, we found that loss of a versatile DNA glycosylase endonuclease 8-like 1 (NEIL1) causes deficits in spatial memory retention using the Morris water maze test. Furthermore, we found that there is a significant loss of NEIL1 enzyme levels and its activity in postmortem Alzheimer's disease brains. Based on the Allen Brain Atlas in situ hybridization data, the expression levels of Neil1 messenger RNA are higher in the olfactory bulb compared with other areas of the brain. Olfaction in mice is a central brain function that involves many central nervous system pathways. Here, we studied the effect of complete loss of Neil1 gene on olfactory function. We explored olfactory function in mice with 3 different behavioral tests namely, olfactory sensitivity, performance, and buried food tests. Neil1−/− mice performed poorly compared with wild-type mice in all 3 tests. Our data indicate that loss of Neil1 causes olfactory function deficits supporting our previous findings and that normal brain function requires robust DNA repair.

Comprehensive phosphoproteome analysis unravels the core signaling network that initiates the earliest synapse pathology in preclinical Alzheimer's disease brain.

Using a high-end mass spectrometry, we screened phosphoproteins and phosphopeptides in four types of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models and human AD postmortem brains. We identified commonly changed phosphoproteins in multiple models and also determined phosphoproteins related to initiation of amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition in the mouse brain. After confirming these proteins were also changed in and human AD brains, we put the proteins on experimentally verified protein-protein interaction databases. Surprisingly, most of the core phosphoproteins were directly connected, and they formed a functional network linked to synaptic spine formation. The change of the core network started at a preclinical stage even before histological Aβ deposition. Systems biology analyses suggested that phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) by overactivated kinases including protein kinases C and calmodulin-dependent kinases initiates synapse pathology. Two-photon microscopic observation revealed recovery of abnormal spine formation in the AD model mice by targeting a core protein MARCKS or by inhibiting candidate kinases, supporting our hypothesis formulated based on phosphoproteome analysis.

Soluble amyloid beta levels are elevated in the white matter of Alzheimer's patients, independent of cortical plaque severity.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of dementia. In addition to grey matter pathology, white matter changes are now recognized as an important pathological feature in the emergence of the disease. Despite growing recognition of the importance of white matter abnormalities in the pathogenesis of AD, the causes of white matter degeneration are still unknown. While multiple studies propose Wallerian-like degeneration as the source of white matter change, others suggest that primary white matter pathology may be due, at least in part, to other mechanisms, including local effects of toxic Aβ peptides. In the current study, we investigated levels of soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) in white matter of AD patients (n=12) compared with controls (n=10). Fresh frozen white matter samples were obtained from anterior (Brodmann area 9) and posterior (Brodmann area 1, 2 and 3) areas of post-mortem AD and control brains. ELISA was used to examine levels of soluble Aβ -42 and Aβ -40. Total cortical neuritic plaque severity rating was derived from individual ratings in the following areas of cortex: mid-frontal, superior temporal, pre-central, inferior parietal, hippocampus (CA1), subiculum, entorhinal cortex, transentorhinal cortex, inferior temporal, amygdala and basal forebrain. Compared with controls, AD samples had higher white matter levels of both soluble Aβ -42 and Aβ -40. While no regional white matter differences were found in Aβ -40, Aβ -42 levels were higher in anterior regions than in posterior regions across both groups. After statistically controlling for total cortical neuritic plaque severity, differences in both soluble Aβ -42 and Aβ -40 between the groups remained, suggesting that white matter Aβ peptides accumulate independent of overall grey matter fibrillar amyloid pathology and are not simply a reflection of overall amyloid burden. These results shed light on one potential mechanism through which white matter degeneration may occur in AD. Given that white matter degeneration may be an early marker of disease, preceding grey matter atrophy, understanding the mechanisms and risk factors that may lead to white matter loss could help to identify those at high risk and to intervene earlier in the pathogenic process.

Interleukin-18 alters protein expressions of neurodegenerative diseases-linked proteins in human SH-SY5Y neuron-like cells.

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) are present in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains in addition to neuronal loss, Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau-protein neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Previously we showed that levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-18 (IL-18), are elevated in post-mortem AD brains. IL-18 can modulate the tau kinases, Cdk5 and GSK3β, as well as Aβ-production. IL-18 levels are also increased in AD risk diseases, including type-2 diabetes and obesity. Here, we explored other IL-18 regulated proteins in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells. Differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, incubated with IL-18 for 24, 48, or 72 h, were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Specific altered protein spots were chosen and identified with mass spectrometry (MS) and verified by western immunoblotting (WIB). IL-18 had time-dependent effects on the SH-SY5Y proteome, modulating numerous protein levels/modifications. We concentrated on those related to OS (DDAH2, peroxiredoxins 2, 3, and 6, DJ-1, BLVRA), Aβ-degradation (MMP14, TIMP2), Aβ-aggregation (Septin-2), and modifications of axon growth and guidance associated, collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2). IL-18 significantly increased antioxidative enzymes, indicative of OS, and altered levels of glycolytic α- and γ-enolase and multifunctional 14-3-3γ and -ε, commonly affected in neurodegenerative diseases. MMP14, TIMP2, α-enolase and 14-3-3ε, indirectly involved in Aβ metabolism, as well as Septin-2 showed changes that increase Aβ levels. Increased 14-3-3γ may contribute to GSK3β driven tau hyperphosphorylation and CRMP2 Thr514 and Ser522 phosphorylation with the Thr555-site, a target for Rho kinase, showing time-dependent changes. IL-18 also increased caspase-1 levels and vacuolization of the cells. Although our SH-SY5Y cells were not aged, as neurons in AD, our work suggests that heightened or prolonged IL-18 levels can drive protein changes of known relevance to AD pathogenesis.

Inside Alzheimer brain with CLARITY: senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and axons in 3-D.

Inside Alzheimer brain with CLARITY: senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and axons in 3-D.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide protects against β-amyloid toxicity

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neurotrophin. However, its role in human Alzheimer's disease (AD) is largely unknown. We examined PACAP expression in postmortem human AD and triple transgenic mouse (3xTG, Psen1/APPSwe/TauP301L) brains. We established an in vitro model of primary neuronal cell culture to study the protective effects of PACAP against β-amyloid (Aβ) toxicity. We further studied the PACAP-Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) pathway on mitochondrial function. PACAP expression was reduced in AD and 3xTG mouse brains. This reduction was inversely correlated with Aβ and tau protein levels. Treatment with PACAP effectively protected neurons against Aβ toxicity. PACAP stimulated mitochondrial Sirt3 production. Similar to PACAP, Sirt3 was reduced in AD and 3xTG brains. Knocking down Sirt3 compromised the neuroprotective effects of PACAP, and this was reversed by over-expressing Sirt3. PACAP is reduced in AD and may represent a novel therapeutic strategy.

Identification of N-Terminally Truncated Pyroglutamate Amyloid-β in Cholesterol-Enriched Diet-Fed Rabbit and AD Brain

The main amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) variants detected in the human brain are Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42; however, a significant proportion of Aβ in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain also consists of N-terminal truncated/modified species. AβN3(pE), Aβ peptide bearing amino-terminal pyroglutamate at position 3, has been demonstrated to be a major N-truncated/modified constituent of intracellular, extracellular, and vascular Aβ deposits in AD and Down syndrome brain tissue. It has been previously demonstrated that rabbits fed a diet enriched in cholesterol and given water containing trace copper levels developed AD-like pathology including intraneuronal and extracellular Aβ accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, vascular inflammation, astrocytosis, microgliosis, reduced levels of acetylcholine, as well as learning deficits and thus, may be used as a non-transgenic animal model of sporadic AD. In the present study, we have demonstrated for the first time the presence of AβN3(pE) in blood vessels in cholesterol-enriched diet-fed rabbit brain. In addition, we detected AβN3(pE) immunoreactivity in all postmortem AD brain samples studied. We believe that our results are potentially important for evaluation of novel therapeutic molecules/strategies targeting Aβ peptides in a suitable non-transgenic animal model.

Base excision DNA repair levels in mitochondrial lysates of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a senile dementia with increased incidence in older subjects (age >65 years). One of the earliest markers of AD is oxidative DNA damage. Recently, it has been reported that preclinical AD patient brains show elevated levels of oxidative damage in both nuclear and mitochondrial nucleic acids. Moreover, different oxidative lesions in mitochondrial DNA are between 5- and 10-fold higher than in nuclear DNA in both control and AD postmortem brains. We previously showed that there is a significant loss of base excision repair (BER) components in whole tissue extracts of AD and mild cognitive impairment subjects relative to matched control subjects. However, comprehensive analysis of specific steps in BER levels in mitochondrial extracts of AD patient brains is not available. In this study, we mainly investigated various components of BER in mitochondrial extracts of AD and matched control postmortem brain samples. We found that the 5-hydroxyuracil incision and ligase activities are significantly lower in AD brains, whereas the uracil incision, abasic site cleavage, and deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate incorporation activities are normal in these samples.

HemeOxygenase-1: Transducer of Sterol Dys-Regulation in Alzheimer Disease

Cholesterol (CH) and oxysterols have been consistently implicated in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and otherhuman neurodegenerative conditions, althoughthe mechanisms underlying these relationships remain poorly understood. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a highly-inducible stress protein responsible for the catabolism of heme to free iron, carbon monoxide (CO) and biliverdin/bilirubin. HO-1 mRNA and protein levels are augmented in Alzheimer-diseased neural tissues where they may promote pathological iron deposition and oxidative mitochondrial damage characteristic of this disorder. Here, we review evidence derived from cultured rat astroglia, post-mortem human AD brain samples, novel GFAP. HMOX1 transgenic mice and a triple transgenic AD mouse model (3xTg-AD) implicating HO-1 as a pivotal transducer of noxious ambient stimuli into abnormal patterns of brain sterol/oxysterol homeostasis germane to the pathogenesis of AD and other aging-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Soluble amyloid beta levels are elevated in the white matter of Alzheimer¿s patients, independent of cortical plaque severity

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of dementia. In addition to grey matter pathology, white matter changes are now recognized as an important pathological feature in the emergence of the disease. Despite growing recognition of the importance of white matter abnormalities in the pathogenesis of AD, the causes of white matter degeneration are still unknown. While multiple studies propose Wallerian-like degeneration as the source of white matter change, others suggest that primary white matter pathology may be due, at least in part, to other mechanisms, including local effects of toxic Aβ peptides. In the current study, we investigated levels of soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) in white matter of AD patients (n=12) compared with controls (n=10). Fresh frozen white matter samples were obtained from anterior (Brodmann area 9) and posterior (Brodmann area 1, 2 and 3) areas of post-mortem AD and control brains. ELISA was used to examine levels of soluble Aβ -42 and Aβ -40. Total cortical neuritic plaque severity rating was derived from individual ratings in the following areas of cortex: mid-frontal, superior temporal, pre-central, inferior parietal, hippocampus (CA1), subiculum, entorhinal cortex, transentorhinal cortex, inferior temporal, amygdala and basal forebrain. Compared with controls, AD samples had higher white matter levels of both soluble Aβ -42 and Aβ -40. While no regional white matter differences were found in Aβ -40, Aβ -42 levels were higher in anterior regions than in posterior regions across both groups. After statistically controlling for total cortical neuritic plaque severity, differences in both soluble Aβ -42 and Aβ -40 between the groups remained, suggesting that white matter Aβ peptides accumulate independent of overall grey matter fibrillar amyloid pathology and are not simply a reflection of overall amyloid burden. These results shed light on one potential mechanism through which white matter degeneration may occur in AD. Given that white matter degeneration may be an early marker of disease, preceding grey matter atrophy, understanding the mechanisms and risk factors that may lead to white matter loss could help to identify those at high risk and to intervene earlier in the pathogenic process.

Novel radioiodinated 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives with improved in vivo properties for SPECT imaging of β-amyloid plaques

We designed and synthesized a novel series of radioiodinated 3-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)pyridine (1,3,4-PODP) derivatives for imaging β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In binding experiments in vitro, 1,3,4-PODP derivatives (3 and 6) displayed high affinity for Aβ(1-42) aggregates (25 and 14 nM, respectively). In experiments in vivo, [123/125I]3 and [123/125I]6 displayed good initial uptake into and rapid washout from the brain in normal mice, and clearly labeled Aβ plaques in Tg2576 mice. Furthermore, specific labeling of Aβ plaques was observed in in vitro autoradiography of postmortem AD brain sections. These results suggested that 1,3,4-PODP derivatives may be useful SPECT probes for detecting Aβ plaques in AD brains.

Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease: are the alterations in the UPR network involved in the cognitive impairment?

Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease: are the alterations in the UPR network involved in the cognitive impairment?