Regulation Of Tau Phosphorylation Research Articles

Wogonin increases β-amyloid clearance and inhibits tau phosphorylation via inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin: potential drug to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Many molecular lesions have been detected in AD, of which the most commonly observed is the accumulation of misfolded proteins, including β-amyloid (Aβ40 and Aβ42) and tau, in the aging brain. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway mediates Aβ clearance through autophagy and regulates tau phosphorylation via glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β). Thus, mTOR becomes an important therapeutic target for AD. However, no mTOR inhibitor has yet been marketed to treat AD. Here, we discovered a natural product, wogonin, which could potently promote Aβ clearance in the primary neural astrocytes and significantly decrease Aβ secretion in SH-SY5Y-APP and BACE1 cells [SH-SY5Y cells stably expressing the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β-secretase (BACE1)] through the mTOR/autophagy signaling pathway. Additionally, further research revealed that wogonin inhibited the activity of GSK3β via mTOR inhibition, finally leading to tau phosphorylation reduction in SH-SHY5Y cells and primary neural astrocytes. In conclusion, our study identified a small molecule, wogonin, which could effectively promote Aβ clearance and decrease tau phosphorylation, and highlighted its therapeutic potential for AD treatment.

ChemInform Abstract: Tau Protein Associated Inhibitors in Alzheimer Disease

AbstractReview: 33 refs.

Tau Protein Associated Inhibitors in Alzheimer Disease

AbstractNeurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein and senile plaque accumulated by amyloid‐β (Aβ) are two hallmarks in Alzheimer disease (AD). In the patients with AD, tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated, mutated or misfolding, which endows tau with stronger tendency to aggregate. Tau protein has the potency to mediate neuron toxicity of Aβ. The reduction of tau level ameliorates degeneration of neuron axon. Therefore, many researches are exploring new methods to regulate tau level. This review will mainly focus on small molecules that can directly inhibit tau fibrillation or control tau accumulation by regulating tau phosphorylation process.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5, a node protein in diminished tauopathy: a systems biology approach.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. One of the main pathological changes that occurs in AD is the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein in neurons. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is one of the major kinases involved in Tau phosphorylation, directly phosphorylating various residues and simultaneously regulating various substrates such as kinases and phosphatases that influence Tau phosphorylation in a synergistic and antagonistic way. It remains unknown how the interaction between CDK5 and its substrates promotes Tau phosphorylation, and systemic approaches are needed that allow an analysis of all the proteins involved. In this review, the role of the CDK5 signaling pathway in Tau hyperphosphorylation is described, an in silico model of the CDK5 signaling pathway is presented. The relationship among these theoretical and computational models shows that the regulation of Tau phosphorylation by PP2A and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is essential under basal conditions and also describes the leading role of CDK5 under excitotoxic conditions, where silencing of CDK5 can generate changes in these enzymes to reverse a pathological condition that simulates AD.

The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of GSK 3β gene and sporadic Alzheimer's disease in a cohort of southern Chinese Han population.

Recent studies suggest that genetic factors contribute to the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK 3β) is an important molecule which regulates tau phosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangles formation. GSK 3β gene may be a potential candidate gene for the risk of sAD. To investigate the association of the polymorphisms in GSK 3β gene with sAD, we conducted a case-control study in a southern Chinese Han cohort including 302 sAD patients and 315 control participants. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3732361, rs56728675, rs60393216, and rs334558) within the promoter region of GSK 3β gene were selected and genotyped with a polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection (PCR-LDR) method. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between target SNPs and the risk of sAD. After adjusting for age, sex, and APOE ε4 status, no association was revealed between these SNPs and sAD (P>0.05). The SNPs in the selected regions of GSK 3β gene are unlikely to confer the susceptibility of sAD in southern Chinese Han population. Further studies with a larger sample size and different ethnic populations are needed to reveal the role of SNPs of GSK 3β gene in the pathogenesis of sAD.

The Mechanism for Tau Tangles (LB102)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects more than 5.2 million people in the US. The disease is characterized by the presence of “Tau Tangles”, which is the aggregation of the protein Tau. The Tau protein is expressed in the nervous system and helps stabilize microtubules, which help establish cell shape and serve as tracks for neuronal transport. The Tau protein is regulated through phosphorylation and in patients with AD, the Tau protein is hyperphosphorylated, which can lead to the formation of “Tau Tangles”. These tangles are made up of free floating Tau and can interfere in the neuron communication because of a structural change in the protein due to the phosphorylation. In a normal mature neuron, tubulin is present in over tenfold excess of the Tau protein, and almost all Tau protein is bound to microtubules. In AD, the ratio between free floating Tau and microtubule bound Tau increases. In neurons affected by AD, hyperphosphorylated and glycosylated Tau disengages from microtubules and disrupts microtubule organization. Tau kinases phosphorylate Tau; however the regulation of Tau phosphorylation is still unknown. The Olathe North SMART Team (Students Modeling A Research Topic) modeled the Tau kinase using 3D printing technology.Grant Funding Source: Supported by grants from the NIH‐SEPA and NIH‐CTSA.

The Cellular Distribution and Ser262 Phosphorylation of Tau Protein Are Regulated by BDNF In Vitro

The brain-enriched microtubule-associated protein tau, a critical regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics, forms insoluble aggregates in a number of neurodegenerative diseases termed tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hyperphosphorylation of tau protein is an important mechanism for aggregation, so many studies on the pathogenesis of AD and other tauopathies have focused on regulation of tau phosphorylation by kinases and phosphatases. Less studied are mechanisms of tau transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation by extracellular signals such as BDNF and how such changes alter neuronal function. Previously, we reported that tau is required for morphological plasticity induced by BDNF. Here, we further explore tau modification during BDNF-induced changes in neuronal cell morphology. In undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells lacking neurites, tau formed a sphere within the soma as revealed by immunocytochemistry. In contrast, tau was enriched in the neurites and sparse in the soma of SH-SY5Y cells induced to differentiate by retinoic acid (RA). Treatment with RA also increased total tau protein levels but decreased expression of tau phosphorylated at Ser262 as determined by Western blot. Both effects were further enhanced by subsequent BDNF treatment. Upregulation of tau protein and downregulation of p-Ser262 tau were correlated with total neurite length (R = .94 and R = −.98, respectively). When primary E18 hippocampal neurons were treated with nocodazole, a blocker of microtubule polymerization, nascent neurites were lost and tau shifted to the soma. This process of retrograde tau movement away from neurites was reversed by BDNF. These results indicate that tau is redistributed to neurites and dephosphorylated during RA- and BDNF-mediated differentiation.

P44, the ‘longevity‐assurance’ isoform of P53, regulates tau phosphorylation and is activated in an age‐dependent fashion

p44 is a short isoform of p53 with ‘longevity-assurance’ activity. Overexpression of p44 in the mouse (p44+/+ transgenic mice) causes a progeroid phenotype that mimics an accelerated form of aging. The phenotype includes abnormal phosphorylation of the microtubule-binding protein tau, synaptic deficits, and cognitive decline. Genetic engineering demonstrated that the phosphorylation status of tau acts upstream of the synaptic deficits. Here, we provide evidence that p44 promotes the phosphorylation of tau in the mouse. Specifically, we show that p44 binds to the promoter of tau kinases Dyrk1A, GSK3β, Cdk5, p35, and p39 and activates their transcription. The upregulation of the above kinases is followed by increased phosphorylation of tau. Finally, we show that p44 is preferentially found in the nucleus and that its levels increase with age in the mouse brain. Taken together, these results suggest that an imbalance in the p53:p44 ratio might be involved with the altered tau metabolism that characterizes aging.

The structure of human tau-tubulin kinase 1 both in the apo form and in complex with an inhibitor.

Tau-tubulin kinase 1 (TTBK1) is a dual-specificity (serine/threonine and tyrosine) kinase belonging to the casein kinase 1 superfamily. TTBK1 is a neuron-specific kinase that regulates tau phosphorylation. Hyperphosphorylation of tau is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Two kinase-domain constructs of TTBK1 were expressed in a baculovirus-infected insect-cell system and purified. The purified TTBK1 kinase-domain proteins were crystallized using the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method. X-ray diffraction data were collected and the structure of TTBK1 was determined by molecular replacement both as an apo structure and in complex with a kinase inhibitor.

Treating Alzheimer's disease with Yizhijiannao granules by regulating expression of multiple proteins in temporal lobe.

Yizhijiannao granules have been shown to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease patients. The present study sought to explore the mechanisms involved in the cognitive enhancing effects of Yizhijiannao granule. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 mice with learning and memory disorders were intragastrically treated with Yizhijiannao granule for 8 weeks. Mice intragastrically treated with double distilled water for 8 weeks were considered as the control group. 2D gel electrophoresis was used to isolate total protein from the temporal lobe of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 mice, and differential protein spots were obtained by mass spectrometry. Thirty-seven differential protein spots were found in the temporal lobe area of both groups. Ten protein spots were identified: high mobility group box 1, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1, neuroglobin, hemoglobin beta adult major chain, peroxiredoxin-6, cofilin-1, flotillin 1, peptidylprolyl isomerase A, voltage-dependent anion channel-2 and chaperonin containing TCP1, and subunit 2. Among other functions, these proteins are separately involved in the regulation of amyloid beta production, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, regulation of tau phosphorylation, and regulation of neuronal apoptosis. Our results revealed that Yizhijiannao granule can regulate the expression of various proteins in the temporal lobe of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 mice, and may be therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Blockade of lysosomal acid ceramidase induces GluN2B-dependent Tau phosphorylation in rat hippocampal slices.

The lysosomal acid ceramidase, an enzyme known to limit intracellular ceramide accumulation, has been reported to be defective in neurodegenerative disorders. We show here that rat hippocampal slices, preincubated with the acid ceramidase inhibitor (ACI) d-NMAPPD, exhibit increased N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in CA1 synapses. The ACI by itself did not interfere with either paired pulse facilitation or alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptor-mediated fEPSPs, indicating that its influence on synaptic transmission is postsynaptic in origin and specific to the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors. From a biochemical perspective, we observed that Tau phosphorylation at the Ser262 epitope was highly increased in hippocampal slices preincubated with the ACI, an effect totally prevented by the global NMDA receptor antagonist D/L(−)-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP-5), the calcium chelator 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), and the GluN2B (but not the GluN2A) receptor antagonist RO25-6981. On the other hand, preincubation of hippocampal slices with the compound KN-62, an inhibitor known to interfere with calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), totally abolished the effect of ACI on Tau phosphorylation at Ser262 epitopes. Collectively, these results provide experimental evidence that ceramides play an important role in regulating Tau phosphorylation in the hippocampus via a mechanism dependent on GluN2B receptor subunits and CaMKII activation.

Increased O-GlcNAcylation reduces pathological tau without affecting its normal phosphorylation in a mouse model of tauopathy

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), mainly consisting of fibrillar aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau, are a defining pathological feature of Alzheimer's Disease and other tauopathies. Progressive accumulation of tau into NFT is considered to be a toxic cellular event causing neurodegeneration. Tau is subject to O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification and O-GlcNAcylation of tau has been suggested to regulate tau phosphorylation. We tested if an increase in tau O-GlcNAcylation affected tau phosphorylation and aggregation in the rTg4510 tau transgenic mouse model. Acute treatment of rTg4510 mice with an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor transiently reduced tau phosphorylation at epitopes implicated in tau pathology. More importantly, long-term inhibitor treatment strongly increased tau O-GlcNAcylation, reduced the number of dystrophic neurons, and protected against the formation of pathological tau species without altering the phosphorylation of non-pathological tau. This indicates that O-GlcNAcylation prevents the aggregation of tau in a manner that does not affect its normal phosphorylation state. Collectively, our results support O-GlcNAcase inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and other tauopathies.

Lithium Down-regulates Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and Induces Degradation of Mutant Huntingtin

Lithium is an effective mood stabilizer that has been clinically used to treat bipolar disorder for several decades. Recent studies have suggested that lithium possesses robust neuroprotective and anti-tumor properties. Thus far, a large number of lithium targets have been discovered. Here, we report for the first time that HDAC1 is a target of lithium. Lithium significantly down-regulated HDAC1 at the translational level by targeting HDAC1 mRNA. We also showed that depletion of HDAC1 is essential for the neuroprotective effects of lithium and for the lithium-mediated degradation of mutant huntingtin through the autophagic pathway. Our studies explain the multiple functions of lithium and reveal a novel mechanism for the function of lithium in neurodegeneration.

Leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 regulates tau phosphorylation through direct activation of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) has been identified as the causal molecule for autosomal-dominant Parkinson's disease (PD). Experimental evidence indicates that LRRK2 may play an important role in the pathology induced by abnormal phosphorylation of tau. In the present study, we demonstrated that LRRK2 directly associates with GSK-3β, and that this interaction enhances the kinase activity of GSK-3β. Furthermore, we found that LRRK2-mediated activation of GSK-3β induces high phosphorylation of tau at Ser396 in SH-SY5Y cells. From our present findings, we conclude that LRRK2 may function as a novel enhancer for GSK-3β and as a physiological regulator of neurite outgrowth and axonal transport through regulation of the GSK-3β-mediated phosphorylation of tau at the cellular level. Since LRRK2 is detected in tau-positive inclusions in brain tissue affected by various neurodegenerative disorders, including PD, LRRK2-stimulated phosphorylation of tau by GSK-3β may be involved in development of pathological features in the initial stage of PD.

Inhibition of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Reverses Tau Hyperphosphorylation Induced by Pin1 Down-Regulation

One of the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the occurrence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that are composed of abnormally hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. Abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation is mainly induced due to the imbalance between protein kinases and phosphatases. In the tanglerich subregions of the hippocampus and parietal cortex in the brain of AD patients, the levels of the phosphorylationdependent protein peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (Pin1) were found to be low. Although Pin1 can regulate tau phosphorylation, it is not clear whether the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), the primary mediator of tau phosphorylation in AD, could reverse tau hyperphosphorylation induced due to the down-regulation of Pin1. We found that while suppression of Pin1, either by using its inhibitor Juglone or a shRNA plasmid against Pin1, induces tau hyperphosphorylation and GSK-3β activation both in vivo and in vitro, inhibition of GSK-3β by SB216763 or LiCl reverses tau hyperphosphorylation. Our data suggest that GSK-3β activation plays an important role in tau hyperphosphorylation induced by the down-regulation of Pin1, and the inhibition of GSK-3β might be a potential therapeutic approach for AD pathology.

MTOR regulates tau phosphorylation and degradation: implications for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies

Accumulation of tau is a critical event in several neurodegenerative disorders, collectively known as tauopathies, which include Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Pathological tau is hyperphosphorylated and aggregates to form neurofibrillary tangles. The molecular mechanisms leading to tau accumulation remain unclear and more needs to be done to elucidate them. Age is a major risk factor for all tauopathies, suggesting that molecular changes contributing to the aging process may facilitate tau accumulation and represent common mechanisms across different tauopathies. Here, we use multiple animal models and complementary genetic and pharmacological approaches to show that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates tau phosphorylation and degradation. Specifically, we show that genetically increasing mTOR activity elevates endogenous mouse tau levels and phosphorylation. Complementary to it, we further demonstrate that pharmacologically reducing mTOR signaling with rapamycin ameliorates tau pathology and the associated behavioral deficits in a mouse model overexpressing mutant human tau. Mechanistically, we provide compelling evidence that the association between mTOR and tau is linked to GSK3β and autophagy function. In summary, we show that increasing mTOR signaling facilitates tau pathology, while reducing mTOR signaling ameliorates tau pathology. Given the overwhelming evidence that reducing mTOR signaling increases lifespan and healthspan, the data presented here have profound clinical implications for aging and tauopathies and provide the molecular basis for how aging may contribute to tau pathology. Additionally, these results provide preclinical data indicating that reducing mTOR signaling may be a valid therapeutic approach for tauopathies.

Rapamycin decreases tau phosphorylation at Ser214 through regulation of cAMP-dependent kinase

Preventing or reducing tau hyperphosphorylation is considered to be a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Rapamycin may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD, because the rapamycin-induced autophagy may enhance the clearance of the hyperphosphorylated tau. However, recent rodent studies show that the protective effect of rapamycin may not be limited in the autophagic clearance of the hyperphosphorylated tau. Because some tau-related kinases are targets of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), we assume that rapamycin may regulate tau phosphorylation by regulating these kinases. Our results showed that in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, treatment with rapamycin induced phosphorylation of the type IIα regulatory (RIIα) subunit of cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA). Rapamycin also induced nuclear translocation of the catalytic subunits (Cat) of PKA and decreases in tau phosphorylation at Ser214 (pS214). The above effects of rapamycin were prevented by pretreatment with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor U0126. In addition, these effects of rapamycin might not depend on the level of tau expression, because similar results were obtained in both the non-tau-expressing wild type human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and HEK293 cells stably transfected with the longest isoform of recombinant human tau (tau441; HEK293/tau441). These findings suggest that rapamycin decreases pS214 via regulation of PKA. Because tau phosphorylation at Ser214 may prime tau for further phosphorylation by other kinases, our findings provide a novel possible mechanism by which rapamycin reduces or prevents tau hyperphosphorylation.

NMDA reduces Tau phosphorylation in rat hippocampal slices by targeting NR2A receptors, GSK3β, and PKC activities.

The molecular mechanisms that regulate Tau phosphorylation are complex and currently incompletely understood. In the present study, pharmacological inhibitors were deployed to investigate potential processes by which the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors modulates Tau phosphorylation in rat hippocampal slices. Our results demonstrated that Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 residues was decreased in NMDA-treated hippocampal slices, an effect that was not reproduced at Ser262 and Ser404 epitopes. NMDA-induced reduction of Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 was further promoted when NR2A-containing receptors were pharmacologically isolated and were completely abrogated by the NR2A receptor antagonist NVP-AAM077. Compared with nontreated slices, we observed that NMDA receptor activation was reflected in high Ser9 and low Tyr216 phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β), suggesting that NMDA receptor activation might diminish Tau phosphorylation via a pathway involving GSK3β inhibition. Accordingly, we found that GSK3β inactivation by a protein kinase C- (PKC-) dependent mechanism is involved in the NMDA-induced reduction of Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 epitopes. Taken together, these data indicate that NR2A receptor activation may be important in limiting Tau phosphorylation by a PKC/GSK3β pathway and strengthen the idea that these receptors might act as an important molecular device counteracting neuronal cell death mechanisms in various pathological conditions.

Effects of PTEN inhibition on regulation of tau phosphorylation in an okadaic acid-induced neurodegeneration model

One of pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) consisting of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau. The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of tau hyperphosphorylation remain largely unclear. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD, however, potential functions and role of tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in AD pathogenesis have not been fully explored. Here, we report that okadaic acid (OA)-induced tau phosphorylation is accompanied by PTEN induction, knockdown of PTEN reduces the tau hyperphosphorylation by OA in SH-SY5Y cells and increases cell proliferation and survival. The effect of PTEN suppression on tau dephosphorylation appeared to be mediated by inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 while enhancing the Akt activity. Reduction of tau phosphorylation was also observed in the OA-induced parental SH-SY5Y cells co-treated with bisperoxovanadate (bpv), a potent PTEN inhibitor. Our studies provide evidence for an effect of PTEN on the phosphorylation of tau in AD pathogenesis and give some insight into the mechanisms through which suppression of PTEN expression may contribute towards the amelioration of tauopathy, implying that pharmacological intervention of PTEN may be a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of AD.

P3‐034: Rapamycin downregulates tau phosphorylation in SH‐SY5Y cells

P3‐034: Rapamycin downregulates tau phosphorylation in SH‐SY5Y cells