Variable Bax antigenicity is linked to keratinocyte position within epidermal strata and UV-induced apoptosis.

International audiencePro- and anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family are fundamental in the control of apoptosis. Among them, Bax plays a key role in apoptosis induction by mediating the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria to the cytosol. In this report, we investigated, by immunohistofluorescence, the in vivo distribution of Bax in normal human epidermis before and 24 h after exposure to solar-simulated radiation. Bax expression was evaluated with three different, Western blot pretested, anti-Bax antibodies (Ab) and correlated with markers of keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis using anti-beta(1) integrin and anti-active caspase-3 Abs respectively. Using anti-Bax N20 and A-3533 polyclonal Ab, we found that, whereas undifferentiated keratinocytes of the basal proliferative compartment contained Bax in the cytosol, the differentiated suprabasal cells had Bax mainly in the nucleus. This immunoreactivity pattern was not modified by skin irradiation. Interestingly, the well known apoptosis-related Bax redistribution to mitochondria in response to a cell death signal, could be detected only with yet another, the 2D2 monoclonal Ab. This relocalization occurred specifically in apoptotic, active caspase-3 positive cells of irradiated epidermis. Our data highlight the differentiation- and apoptosis-associated changes in the pattern of Bax subcellular and cellular distribution as uncovered by different anti-Bax Abs and suggest that Bax undergoes successive activation that progresses in parallel with keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis

Un cluster géographique de paralysie supranucléaire progressive dans le nord de la France

International audienceObjective: To describe a cluster of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in northern France. PSP has not been reported in geographical, temporal, or occupational clusters. A unit of Neurology and Neurogeriatrics opened in 2005 at the Centre Hospitalier de Wattrelos, serving the population of Wattrelos and Leers (combined population 51,551) and parts of neighboring towns. For most of the 20th century, this area was a center for chromate and phosphate ore processing, textile dyeing, and tanning. Significant industrial waste persists close to residential areas. Methods: From 2005 to 2014, 92 patients with PSP at Centre Hospitalier de Wattrelos were identified and studied. Detailed residential data were available in the medical records. Eighty cases have had magnetic resonance head scanning and 60 have died, of whom 13 have been examined neuropathologically. Results: The ratio of observed to expected PSP incidence over the period 2005 to 2012 was 12.3 (95% confidence interval: 7.4–35.9). Mean onset age was 74.3 years. The Richardson syndrome/PSP-parkinsonism ratio was 43%/42%. Four other phenotypes each occurred in 2% to 5%. Onset was gait/balance difficulty in 52%. None of the 92 affected patients were relatives and 7 were of North African ancestry. MRI was compatible with a clinical diagnostic of PSP in all cases. Histopathologic examination confirmed neurofibrillary degeneration and tufted astrocytes in all autopsied cases. Western blots revealed a typical tau 4R doublet. The tau H1 haplotype occurred in 95.8% of cases' chromosomes. Conclusions: We have identified a cluster of PSP in a geographical area with severe environmental contamination by industrial metals

Defining the human sperm microtubulome: an integrated genomics approach

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Reduced Tau protein expression is associated with frontotemporal degeneration with progranulin mutation

International audienceAbstractReduction of Tau protein expression was described in 2003 by Zhukareva et al. in a variant of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) referred to as diagnosis of dementia lacking distinctive histopathology, then re-classified as FTLD with ubiquitin inclusions. However, the analysis of Tau expression in FTLD has not been reconsidered since then. Knowledge of the molecular basis of protein aggregates and genes that are mutated in the FTLD spectrum would enable to determine whether the “Tau-less” is a separate pathological entity or if it belongs to an existing subclass of FTLD. To address this question, we have analyzed Tau expression in the frontal brain areas from control, Alzheimer’s disease and FTLD cases, including FTLD- Tau (MAPT), FTLD-TDP (sporadic, FTLD-TDP-GRN, FTLD-TDP-C9ORF72) and sporadic FTLD-FUS, using western blot and 2D-DIGE (Two-Dimensional fluorescence Difference Gel Electrophoresis) approaches. Surprisingly, we found that most of the FTLD-TDP-GRN brains are characterized by a huge reduction of Tau protein expression without any decrease in Tau mRNA levels. Interestingly, only cases affected by point mutations, rather than cases with total deletion of one GRN allele, seem to be affected by this reduction of Tau protein expression. Moreover, proteomic analysis highlighted correlations between reduced Tau protein level, synaptic impairment and massive reactive astrogliosis in these FTLD-GRN cases. Consistent with a recent study, our data also bring new insights regarding the role of progranulin in neurodegeneration by suggesting its involvement in lysosome and synaptic regulation. Together, our results demonstrate a strong association between progranulin deficiency and reduction of Tau protein expression that could lead to severe neuronal and glial dysfunctions. Our study also indicates that this FTLD-TDP-GRN subgroup could be part as a distinct entity of FTLD classification

New piperazine multi-effect drugs prevent neurofibrillary degeneration and amyloid deposition, and preserve memory in animal models of Alzheimer's disease

International audienceAlzheimer's Disease is a devastating dementing disease involving amyloid deposits, neurofibrillary tangles, progressive and irreversible cognitive impairment. Today, only symptomatic drugs are available and therapeutic treatments, possibly acting at a multiscale level, are thus urgently needed. To that purpose, we designed multi-effects compounds by synthesizing drug candidates derived by substituting a novel N,N'-disubstituted piperazine anti-amyloid scaffold and adding acetylcholinesterase inhibition property. Two compounds were synthesized and evaluated. The most promising hybrid molecule reduces both the amyloid pathology and the Tau pathology as well as the memory impairments in a preclinical model of Alzheimer's disease. In vitro also, the compound reduces the phosphorylation of Tau and inhibits the release of Aβ peptides while preserving the processing of other metabolites of the amyloid precursor protein. We synthetized and tested the first drug capable of ameliorating both the amyloid and Tau pathology in animal models of AD as well as preventing the major brain lesions and associated memory impairments. This work paves the way for future compound medicines against both Alzheimer's-related brain lesions development and the associated cognitive impairments

Additional file 3: Figure S3. of Reduced Tau protein expression is associated with frontotemporal degeneration with progranulin mutation

Reduction of Tau protein expression does not result from greater post-mortem delay, aberrant RIN or cortical atrophy in FTLD-TDP-GRNlτ brains. (a) Fixed hemibrain weight, (b) post-mortem delay and (c) RIN (RNA Integrity Number) of FTLD-TDP-GRNlτ, FTLD-TDP-C9ORF72, sporadic FTLD-TDP, sporadic FTLD-FUS and control brains. Results are expressed as means ± SEM. For statistical analysis the Kruskal-Wallis test was used (*p < 0.05; ns non significant). a.u arbitrary unit, SEM: standard error of the mean. (TIF 164 kb

Additional file 2: Figure S2. of Reduced Tau protein expression is associated with frontotemporal degeneration with progranulin mutation

Conservation of several proteins among the different FTLD subclasses. (a) Western blot analysis of NSE (Neuron Specific Enolase), Aconitase, Histone H3 and Heavy (NF-H) Neurofilaments protein level in control and FTLD-U brain samples. Are shown representative data from FTLD-TDP-GRNlτ (n = 8), FTLD-TDP-C9ORF72 (n = 10), sporadic FTLD-TDP (n = 8), sporadic FTLD-FUS (n = 5) and control brains (n = 8). (b) Protein levels were quantified and normalized to a pool containing same protein amount of each control used in this study. Actin was used as loading control. Results are expressed as means ± SEM. For statistical analysis the Kruskal-Wallis test was used (ns non significant). SEM: standard error of the mean. (TIF 223 kb

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Reduced Tau protein expression is associated with frontotemporal degeneration with progranulin mutation

Preservation of Tau mRNA in FTLD-TDP-GRNlτ group. qPCR analysis was done on total Tau mRNA in control and FTLD brain samples. Both 5’UTR (Untranslated Region) and E11-12 (Exons 11–12) primers target regions present in all Tau transcripts. Data were normalized to the mean value of control cases with Large Ribosomal Protein P0 (RPLP0) used as reference gene. Results are expressed as means ± SEM. For statistical analysis the Mann–Whitney test was used (ns non significant), n = 5–10/group. SEM: standard error of the mean. (TIF 176 kb

Myotonic dystrophy CTG expansion affects synaptic vesicle proteins, neurotransmission and mouse behaviour.: Synaptic dysfunction in myotonic dystrophy

International audienceMyotonic dystrophy type 1 is a complex multisystemic inherited disorder, which displays multiple debilitating neurological manifestations. Despite recent progress in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of myotonic dystrophy type 1 in skeletal muscle and heart, the pathways affected in the central nervous system are largely unknown. To address this question, we studied the only transgenic mouse line expressing CTG trinucleotide repeats in the central nervous system. These mice recreate molecular features of RNA toxicity, such as RNA foci accumulation and missplicing. They exhibit relevant behavioural and cognitive phenotypes, deficits in short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as changes in neurochemical levels. In the search for disease intermediates affected by disease mutation, a global proteomics approach revealed RAB3A upregulation and synapsin I hyperphosphorylation in the central nervous system of transgenic mice, transfected cells and post-mortem brains of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1. These protein defects were associated with electrophysiological and behavioural deficits in mice and altered spontaneous neurosecretion in cell culture. Taking advantage of a relevant transgenic mouse of a complex human disease, we found a novel connection between physiological phenotypes and synaptic protein dysregulation, indicative of synaptic dysfunction in myotonic dystrophy type 1 brain pathology