6 research outputs found
β-Amyloid 1-42 Oligomers Impair Function of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons
Cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is associated with a decline in the levels of growth factors, impairment of axonal transport and marked degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs). Neurogenesis persists in the adult human brain, and the stimulation of regenerative processes in the CNS is an attractive prospect for neuroreplacement therapy in neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. Currently, it is still not clear how the pathophysiological environment in the AD brain affects stem cell biology. Previous studies investigating the effects of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide on neurogenesis have been inconclusive, since both neurogenic and neurotoxic effects on progenitor cell populations have been reported. In this study, we treated pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES) cells with nerve growth factor (NGF) as well as with fibrillar and oligomeric Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 (nM-µM concentrations) and thereafter studied the differentiation in vitro during 28-35 days. The process applied real time quantitative PCR, immunocytochemistry as well as functional studies of intracellular calcium signaling. Treatment with NGF promoted the differentiation into functionally mature BFCNs. In comparison to untreated cells, oligomeric Aβ1–40 increased the number of functional neurons, whereas oligomeric Aβ1–42 suppressed the number of functional neurons. Interestingly, oligomeric Aβ exposure did not influence the number of hES cell-derived neurons compared with untreated cells, while in contrast fibrillar Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 induced gliogenesis. These findings indicate that Aβ1–42 oligomers may impair the function of stem cell-derived neurons. We propose that it may be possible for future AD therapies to promote the maturation of functional stem cell-derived neurons by altering the brain microenvironment with trophic support and by targeting different aggregation forms of Aβ
VCP Mutations Causing Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Disrupt Localization of TDP-43 and Induce Cell Death*S⃞
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with inclusion body myopathy and
Paget disease of bone is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder caused by
mutations in the VCP (valosin-containing protein) gene. The disease
is characterized neuropathologically by frontal and temporal lobar atrophy,
neuron loss and gliosis, and ubiquitin-positive inclusions (FTLD-U), which are
distinct from those seen in other sporadic and familial FTLD-U entities. The
major component of the ubiquitinated inclusions of FTLD with VCP
mutation is TDP-43 (TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa). TDP-43 proteinopathy
links sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, sporadic FTLD-U, and most
familial forms of FTLD-U. Understanding the relationship between individual
gene defects and pathologic TDP-43 will facilitate the characterization of the
mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration. Using cell culture models, we have
investigated the role of mutant VCP in intracellular trafficking,
proteasomal function, and cell death and demonstrate that mutations in the
VCP gene 1) alter localization of TDP-43 between the nucleus and
cytosol, 2) decrease proteasome activity, 3) induce endoplasmic reticulum
stress, 4) increase markers of apoptosis, and 5) impair cell viability. These
results suggest that VCP mutation-induced neurodegeneration is
mediated by several mechanisms