Amyloid-β impairs vesicular secretion in neuronal and astrocyte peptidergic transmission

Regulated secretion of neuropeptides and neurotrophic factors critically modulates function and plasticity of synapses and circuitries. It is believed that rising amyloid-β (Aβ) concentrations, synaptic dysfunction and network disorganization underlie early phases of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we analyze the impact of soluble Aβ1-42 assemblies on peptidergic secretion in cortical neurons and astrocytes. We show that neurons and astrocytes differentially produce and release carboxypeptidase E (CPE) and secretogranin III (SgIII), two dense-core vesicle (DCV) markers belonging to the regulated secretory pathway. Importantly, Aβ1-42, but not scrambled Aβ1-42, dramatically impairs basal and Ca2+-regulated secretions of endogenously produced CPE and SgIII in cultured neurons and astrocytes. Additionally, KCl-evoked secretion of the DCV cargo brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is lowered by Aβ1-42 administration, whereas glutamate release from synaptic vesicle (SVs) remains unchanged. In agreement with cell culture results, Aβ1-42 effects on CPE and SgIII secretion are faithfully recapitulated in acute adult brain slices. These results demonstrate that neuronal and astrocyte secretion of DCV cargos is impaired by Aβ in vitro and in situ. Furthermore, Aβ-induced dysregulated peptidergic transmission could have an important role in the pathogenesis of AD and DCV cargos are possible candidates as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers

Dense core vesicle markers in CSF and cortical tissues of patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Background: New fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) that reveal synaptic and neural network dysfunctions are needed for clinical practice and therapeutic trial design. Dense core vesicle (DCV) cargos are promising cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) indicators of synaptic failure in AD patients. However, their value as biomarkers has not yet been determined. Methods: Immunoassays were performed to analyze the secretory proteins prohormone convertases PC1/3 and PC2, carboxypeptidase E (CPE), secretogranins SgIII and SgII, and Cystatin C in the cerebral cortex (n = 45, provided by Bellvitge University Hospital) and CSF samples (n = 66, provided by The Sant Pau Initiative on Neurodegeneration cohort) from AD patients (n = 56) and age-matched controls (n = 55). Results: In AD tissues, most DCV proteins were aberrantly accumulated in dystrophic neurites and activated astrocytes, whereas PC1/3, PC2 and CPE were also specifically accumulated in hippocampal granulovacuolar degeneration bodies. AD individuals displayed an overall decline of secretory proteins in the CSF. Interestingly, in AD patients, the CSF levels of prohormone convertases strongly correlated inversely with those of neurodegeneration markers and directly with cognitive impairment status. Conclusions: These results demonstrate marked alterations of neuronal-specific prohormone convertases in CSF and cortical tissues of AD patients. The neuronal DCV cargos are biomarker candidates for synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration in AD

Behaviour and cognitive changes correlated with hippocampal neuroinflammaging and neuronal markers in female SAMP8, a model of accelerated senescence

Senescence accelerated mice P8 (SAMP8) is a phenotypic model of age, characterized by deficits in memory and altered behaviour. Here determined the effect of age in SAMP8, compared with the resistant strain, SAMR1, in behaviour and learning parameters linking these disturbances with oxidative stress environment. We found impairment in emotional behaviour with regard to fear and anxiety in young SAMP8 vs. age-mated SAMR1. Differences were attenuated with age. In contrast, learning capabilities are worse in SAMP8, both in young and aged animals, with regard to SAMR1. These waves in behaviour and cognition were correlated with an excess of Oxidative stress (OS) in SAMP8 at younger ages that diminished with age. In this manner, we found changes in the hippocampal expression of ALDH2, IL-6, HMOX1, COX2, CXCL10, iNOS, and MCP-1 with an altered amyloidogenic pathway by increasing the Amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) and BACE1, and reduced ADAM10 expression; in addition, astrogliosis and neuronal markers decreased. Moreover, Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and Nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-kβ) expression and protein levels were higher in younger SAMP8 than in SAMR1. In conclusion, the accelerated senescence process present in SAMP8 can be linked with an initial deregulation in redox homeostasis, named neuroinflammaging, by inducing molecular changes that lead to neuroinflammation and the neurodegenerative process. These changes are reflected in the emotional and cognitive behaviour of SAMP8 that differs from that of SAMR1 and that highlighted the importance of earlier oxidative processes in the onset of neurodegeneration

Cortical alterations of peptidergic secretion in Alzheimer's disease = Alteraciones corticales de la secreción peptidérgica en la enfermedad de Alzheimer

[eng] The Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by neurological alterations that lead to a severe cognitive decline and dementia. Nowadays has become the main cause of dementia, accounting for 50–70% of cases (Winblad et al., 2016). Commonly, the first symptom of the dementia is the difficulty in the recall of recent events, which can progress rapidly into different personality and behavioral changes and a more severe impairment of the memory. Progressive advance of cognitive impairment interferes in the development of daily activities, causing a high grade of dependence, mainly in the final phases of the disease. (Winblad et al., 2016). As the prevalence of overall dementia rises steeply with age, being this factor the strongest risk factor for AD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), the progressive aging of the population is increasing the incidence of the disease, which has become a global health problem. In fact, an estimated 40 million people, mostly older than 60 years, have dementia worldwide, and this number is estimated to double every 20 years, until at least 2050 (Qiu et al., 2009). This insidious onset and the gradual progression of impairment of AD –the average duration of illness is 8–10 years (Masters et al., 2015)- makes this pathology specially harmful compared to other diseases with a more clear clinical onset, and often abrupt resolution (Jack, 2012). Because of that, the disease has become an important economic charge for the health systems, which have to take care of a rising number of highly dependent people.[spa] The Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder characterized by the presence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles caused by the aberrant accumulation of β-amyloid peptide and hyperphosphorylated Tau, respectively. Nowadays, AD is the main cause of dementia, being aging its main risk factor. Given that progressive alterations have been detected in neuropeptide levels in patients and animal models of Alzheimer's disease, it has been suggested that this pathway may be involved in the neurophysiology of the disease. In this doctoral thesis, we study the cortical alterations of the peptidergic secretion pathway in Alzheimer's disease. During its elaboration, the localization of dense granule proteins in the normal brain has been characterized and aberrant accumulations of these are found in the pathological structures typical of the disease, such as granulovacuolar degeneration bodies or dystrophic neurites. The study of the acute effect of β-amyloid peptide showed a reduction of the regulated peptidergic release in neurons and astrocytes in vitro as well as in acute brain slices in response to the treatment, suggesting that the secretion pathway can suppose an early target of the pathology. Finally, the content analysis of characteristic proteins of the pathway showed a reduction of their levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of transgenic animals and patients with mild cognitive impairment, which may suggest that the proteins of the route can be candidates as progression biomarkers to monitoring of the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid-β Impairs Vesicular Secretion in Neuronal and Astrocyte Peptidergic Transmission

Regulated secretion of neuropeptides and neurotrophic factors critically modulates function and plasticity of synapses and circuitries. It is believed that rising amyloid-β (Aβ) concentrations, synaptic dysfunction and network disorganization underlie early phases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we analyze the impact of soluble Aβ1–42 assemblies on peptidergic secretion in cortical neurons and astrocytes. We show that neurons and astrocytes differentially produce and release carboxypeptidase E (CPE) and secretogranin III (SgIII), two dense-core vesicle (DCV) markers belonging to the regulated secretory pathway. Importantly, Aβ1–42, but not scrambled Aβ1–42, dramatically impairs basal and Ca2+-regulated secretions of endogenously produced CPE and SgIII in cultured neurons and astrocytes. Additionally, KCl-evoked secretion of the DCV cargo brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is lowered by Aβ1–42 administration, whereas glutamate release from synaptic vesicle (SVs) remains unchanged. In agreement with cell culture results, Aβ1–42 effects on CPE and SgIII secretion are faithfully recapitulated in acute adult brain slices. These results demonstrate that neuronal and astrocyte secretion of DCV cargos is impaired by Aβ in vitro and in situ. Furthermore, Aβ-induced dysregulated peptidergic transmission could have an important role in the pathogenesis of AD and DCV cargos are possible candidates as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers

Cyclic AMP signaling restricts activation and promotes maturation and antioxidant defenses in astrocytes

BACKGROUND: cAMP signaling produces dramatic changes in astrocyte morphology and physiology. However, its involvement in phenotype acquisition and the transcriptionally mediated mechanisms of action are largely unknown. RESULTS: Here we analyzed the global transcriptome of cultured astroglial cells incubated with activators of cAMP pathways. A bulk of astroglial transcripts, 6221 annotated genes, were differentially regulated by cAMP signaling. cAMP analogs strongly upregulated genes involved in typical functions of mature astrocytes, such as homeostatic control, metabolic and structural support to neurons, antioxidant defense and communication, whereas they downregulated a considerable number of proliferating and immaturity-related transcripts. Moreover, numerous genes typically activated in reactive cells, such as scar components and immunological mediators, were repressed by cAMP. GSEA analysis contrasting gene expression profiles with transcriptome signatures of acutely isolated astrocytes and in situ evaluation of protein levels in these cells showed that cAMP signaling conferred mature and in vivo-like transcriptional features to cultured astrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that cAMP signaling is a key pathway promoting astrocyte maturation and restricting their developmental and activation features. Therefore, a positive modulation of cAMP signaling may promote the normal state of differentiated astrocytes and favor the protection and function of neuronal networks

Cyclic AMP signaling restricts activation and promotes maturation and antioxidant defenses in astrocytes

Abstract Background: cAMP signaling produces dramatic changes in astrocyte morphology and physiology. However, its involvement in phenotype acquisition and the transcriptionally mediated mechanisms of action are largely unknown. Results: Here we analyzed the global transcriptome of cultured astroglial cells incubated with activators of cAMP pathways. A bulk of astroglial transcripts, 6221 annotated genes, were differentially regulated by cAMP signaling. cAMP analogs strongly upregulated genes involved in typical functions of mature astrocytes, such as homeostatic control, metabolic and structural support to neurons, antioxidant defense and communication, whereas they downregulated a considerable number of proliferating and immaturity-related transcripts. Moreover, numerous genes typically activated in reactive cells, such as scar components and immunological mediators, were repressed by cAMP. GSEA analysis contrasting gene expression profiles with transcriptome signatures of acutely isolated astrocytes and in situ evaluation of protein levels in these cells showed that cAMP signaling conferred mature and in vivo-like transcriptional features to cultured astrocytes. Conclusions: These results indicate that cAMP signaling is a key pathway promoting astrocyte maturation and restricting their developmental and activation features. Therefore, a positive modulation of cAMP signaling may promote the normal state of differentiated astrocytes and favor the protection and function of neuronal networks. Keywords: Antioxidant defense, Astrocytes, cAMP, Differentiation, Reactive glia, Transcriptomic, Brain, NR2

Impact of wall potential on the fluid-wall interaction in a cylindrical capillary and a generalized Kelvin equation

In the present work a generalized Kelvin equation for a fluid confined in thick-walled cylindrical capillary is developed. This has been accomplished by including the potential energy function for interaction between a solid wall of a capillary and a confined fluid into the Kelvin equation. Using the Lennard-Jones 12-6 potential, an explicit form of the potential energy functions as expressed by hypergeometrical functions have been derived firstly, for the interaction between a solid wall and a test atom placed at an arbitrary point in a long open-end capillary, and thereafter for the body-body interaction between the solid wall and a confined Lennard-Jones fluid. Further, this generalized Kelvin equation has been applied to detailed description hysteresis phenomena in such capillaries. All numerical calculations have been carried out for the model argon-graphite system at 90 K

Additional file 3: Tables S2–S8. of Cyclic AMP signaling restricts activation and promotes maturation and antioxidant defenses in astrocytes

Lists of genes regulated in cAMP-treated cells and present in published astrocyte signatures. Genes that are regulated in cAMP-treated cells (genes within the “core enrichment” as defined by GSEA analysis), and that are reported to be regulated in previously published astrocyte signatures: developing (Table S2), mature (Table S3), cytokine-treated (Table S4), LPS (Table S5), MCAO (Table S6), in vivo (Table S7) and in vitro (Table S8) astrocytes. The lists represent the respective intersections in the Venn diagrams of Figure 4C. In GSEA analysis, genes were ranked on the basis of signal-to-noise ratio within the microarray data, starting with strongly upregulated and ending with strongly downregulated genes. The third column of the tables indicate the rank of the respective gene, i.e. low rank values indicate strong upregulation and high ones close to the maximal value of 21,492 indicate strong downregulation. (XLS 108 kb

Circadian control of brain glymphatic and lymphatic fluid flow

Glymphatic function is increased during the rest phase while more cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drains directly to the lymphatic system during the active phase. The water channel aquaporin-4 supports these endogenous, circadian rhythms in CSF distribution