Pulsatile stretch as a novel modulator of amyloid precursor protein processing and associated inflammatory markers in human cerebral endothelial cells.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Gangoda SVS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5786097 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Rationalethe exact etiology of sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD) is unclear, but it is interesting that several cardiovascular risk factors are associated with higher incidence of AD. The link between these risk factors and AD has yet to be identified; however, a common feature is endothelial dysfunction, specifically, decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO).Objectiveto determine the relationship between endothelial derived NO and the expression and processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP).Methods and resultswe used human brain microvascular endothelial cells to examine the role of NO in modulating APP expression and processing in vitro. Inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with the specific NOS inhibitor L-NAME (N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) led to increased APP and BACE1 (β-site APP-cleaving enzyme1) protein levels, as well as increased secretion of the amyloidogenic peptide amyloid β (Aβ) (control 10.93 ± 0.70 pg/mL; L-NAME 168.21 ± 27.38 pg/mL; P<0.001). To examine the role of NO in modulation of APP expression and processing in vivo, we used brain and cerebral microvessels from eNOS-deficient (eNOS(-/-)) mice. Brain tissue from eNOS(-/-) mice had statistically higher APP and BACE1 protein levels, as well as increased BACE1 enzyme activity and Aβ (Aβ(1)(-)(42) wild-type control, 0.737 pg/mg; eNOS(-/-), 1.475 pg/mg; P<0.05), compared with wild-type controls (n=6 to 8 animals per background). Brain microvessels from eNOS(-/-) mice also showed statistically higher BACE1 protein levels as compared with wild-type control.Conclusionsour data suggest that endothelial NO plays an important role in modulating APP expression and processing within the brain and cerebrovasculature. The NO/cGMP pathway may be an important therapeutic target in preventing and treating mild cognitive impairment, as well as AD.
| S-EPMC3064266 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The present study was designed to determine the effects of senescence and angiotensin II (Ang II) on expression and processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Senescence caused a decrease in APP expression thereby resulting in reduced secretion of soluble APP? (sAPP?). In contrast, ?-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1) expression and production of amyloid ? (A?)40 were increased in senescent endothelium. Importantly, in senescent human BMECs, treatment with BACE1 inhibitor IV inhibited A? generation and increased sAPP? production by enhancing a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM)10 expression. Furthermore, Ang II impaired expression of ADAM10 and significantly reduced generation of sAPP? in senescent human BMECs. This inhibitory effect of Ang II was prevented by treatment with BACE1 inhibitor IV. Our results suggest that impairment of ?-processing and shift to amyloidogenic pathway of APP contribute to endothelial dysfunction induced by senescence. Loss of sAPP? in senescent cells treated with Ang II exacerbates detrimental effects of senescence on APP processing. Notably, inhibition of BACE1 has beneficial effects on senescence induced endothelial dysfunction. Reported findings may help to explain contributions of senescent cerebral microvascular endothelium to development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology.
| S-EPMC5811245 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The exact physiological function of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) in endothelial cells is unknown. Endothelium-specific APP-deficient (eAPP-/-) mice were created to gain new insights into the role of APP in the control of vascular endothelial function. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine were significantly impaired in basilar arteries of global APP knockout (APP-/-) and eAPP-/- mice ( P < 0.05). In contrast, endothelium-independent relaxations to nitric oxide (NO)-donor diethylamine-NONOate were unchanged. Western blot analysis revealed that protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was significantly downregulated in large cerebral arteries of APP-/- mice and eAPP-/- mice as compared to respective wild-type littermates ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, basal levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were also significantly reduced in large cerebral arteries of APP-deficient mice ( P < 0.05). In contrast, protein expression of prostacyclin synthase as well as levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was not affected by genetic inactivation of APP in endothelial cells. By using siRNA to knockdown APP in cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells we also found a significant downregulation of eNOS mRNA and protein expressions in APP-deficient endothelium ( P < 0.05). These findings indicate that under physiological conditions, expression of APP in cerebral vascular endothelium plays an important protective function by maintaining constitutive expression of eNOS .
| S-EPMC6168907 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in disrupted brain function following impact from an external force and is a risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although neurologic symptoms triggered by mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), the most common form of TBI, typically resolve rapidly, even an isolated mTBI event can increase the risk to develop AD. Aberrant accumulation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ), a cleaved fragment of amyloid precursor protein (APP), is a key pathologic outcome designating the progression of AD following mTBI and has also been linked to impaired axonal transport. However, relationships among mTBI, amyloidogenesis, and axonal transport remain unclear, in part because of the dearth of human models to study the neuronal response following mTBI. Here, we implemented a custom-microfabricated device to deform neurons derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, derived from a cognitively unimpaired male individual, to mimic the mild stretch experienced by neurons during mTBI. Although no cell lethality or cytoskeletal disruptions were observed, mild stretch was sufficient to stimulate rapid amyloidogenic processing of APP. This processing led to abrupt cessation of APP axonal transport and progressive formation of aberrant axonal accumulations that contained APP, its processing machinery, and amyloidogenic fragments. Consistent with this sequence of events, stretch-induced defects were abrogated by reducing amyloidogenesis either pharmacologically or genetically. In sum, we have uncovered a novel and manipulable stretch-induced amyloidogenic pathway directly responsible for APP axonal transport dysregulation. Our findings may help to understand and ultimately mitigate the risk of developing AD following mTBI.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Mild traumatic brain injury is a risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increased amyloid β peptide generation after injury may drive this risk. Here, by using a custom-built device to impose mild stretch to human neurons, we found that stretch triggers amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage, and thus amyloid β peptide generation, consequently disrupting APP axonal transport. Compellingly, protecting APP from cleavage was sufficient to spare axonal transport dysregulation and the consequent aberrant axonal accumulation of APP. Supporting such protective mechanism, the expression of the AD-protective APPA673T genetic variant conferred protection against stretch-induced APP axonal transport phenotypes. Our data reveal potential subcellular pathways contributing to the development of AD-associated phenotypes following mild traumatic brain injury, and putative strategies for intervening in these pathways.
| S-EPMC8660048 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We tested hypothesis that activation of the prostacyclin (PGI2) receptor (IP receptor) signaling pathway in cerebral microvessels plays an important role in the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein (APP). In human brain microvascular endothelial cells activation of IP receptor with the stable analogue of PGI2, iloprost, stimulated expression of amyloid precursor protein and a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10), resulting in an increased production of the neuroprotective and anticoagulant molecule, soluble APPα (sAPPα). Selective agonist of IP receptor, cicaprost, and adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin, also enhanced expression of amyloid precursor protein and ADAM10. Notably, in cerebral microvessels of IP receptor knockout mice, protein levels of APP and ADAM10 were reduced. In addition, iloprost increased protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. PPARδ-siRNA abolished iloprost-augmented protein expression of ADAM10. In contrast, GW501516 (a selective agonist of PPARδ) upregulated ADAM10 and increased production of sAPPα. Genetic deletion of endothelial PPARδ (ePPARδ-/-) in mice significantly reduced cerebral microvascular expression of ADAM10 and production of sAPPα. In vivo treatment with GW501516 increased sAPPα content in hippocampus of wild type mice but not in hippocampus of ePPARδ-/- mice. Our findings identified previously unrecognized role of IP-PPARδ signal transduction pathway in the production of sAPPα in cerebral microvasculature.
| S-EPMC5363732 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in blood vessels of the brain, known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), is observed in most patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compared with the pathology of CAA in humans, the pathology in most mouse models of AD is not as evident, making it difficult to examine the contribution of CAA to the pathogenesis of AD. On the basis of biochemical analyses that showed blood levels of soluble amyloid precursor protein (APP) in rats and mice were markedly lower than those measured in human samples, we hypothesized that endothelial APP expression would be markedly lower in rodents and subsequently generated mice that specifically express human WT APP (APP770) in endothelial cells (ECs). The resulting EC-APP770+ mice exhibited increased levels of serum Aβ and soluble APP, indicating that endothelial APP makes a critical contribution to blood Aβ levels. Even though aged EC-APP770+ mice did not exhibit Aβ deposition in the cortical blood vessels, crossing these animals with APP knock-in mice (AppNL-F/NL-F) led to an expanded CAA pathology, as evidenced by increased amounts of amyloid accumulated in the cortical blood vessels. These results highlight an overlooked interplay between neuronal and endothelial APP in brain vascular Aβ deposition. We propose that these EC-APP770+:AppNL-F/NL-F mice may be useful to study the basic molecular mechanisms behind the possible breakdown of the blood-brain barrier upon administration of anti-Aβ antibodies.
| S-EPMC9144051 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Alzheimer�s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease and the primary cause of dementia, with no cure currently available. The pathogenesis of AD is believed to be primarily driven by Aβ, the principal component of senile plaques. Aβ is an ~4 kDa peptide generated from the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) through proteolytic secretases. Natural products, particularly those utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have a long history alleviating common clinical disorders, including dementia. However, the cell/molecular pathways mediated by these natural products are largely unknown until recently when the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disorders begin to be elucidated. Here, the mechanisms with which natural products modulate the pathogenesis of AD are discussed, in particular, by focusing on their roles in the processing of APP.
| S-EPMC3805747 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC5361499 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the ?- and ?-secretases releases the amyloid-? peptide (A?), which deposits in senile plaques and contributes to the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The ?-secretase cleaves APP in the A? peptide sequence to generate soluble APP? (sAPP?). Upregulation of ?-secretase activity through the 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5-HT4) receptor has been shown to reduce A? production, amyloid plaque load and to improve cognitive impairment in transgenic mouse models of AD. Consequently, activation of 5-HT4 receptors following agonist stimulation is considered to be a therapeutic strategy for AD treatment; however, the signaling cascade involved in 5-HT4 receptor-stimulated proteolysis of APP remains to be determined. Here we used chemical and siRNA inhibition to identify the proteins which mediate 5-HT4d receptor-stimulated ?-secretase activity in the SH-SY5Y human neuronal cell line. We show that G protein and Src dependent activation of phospholipase C are required for ?-secretase activity, while, unexpectedly, adenylyl cyclase and cAMP are not involved. Further elucidation of the signaling pathway indicates that inositol triphosphate phosphorylation and casein kinase 2 activation is also a prerequisite for ?-secretase activity. Our findings provide a novel route to explore the treatment of AD through 5-HT4 receptor-induced ?-secretase activation.
| S-EPMC3897773 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundA hallmark pathologic feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is accumulation of neuritic senile plaques in the brain parenchyma. Neurotoxic plaque cores are composed predominantly of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides of 40 and 42 amino acids in length, formed by sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-, and γ-secretases. There is a great interest in approaches to modulate Aβ peptide production and develop therapeutic interventions to reduce Aβ levels to halt or slow the progression of neurodegeneration.New methodWe characterized and present the BE(2)-M17 human neuroblastoma cell line as a novel in vitro model of the APP-cleavage cascade to support future (1) functional studies of molecular regulators in Aβ production, and (2) high-throughput screening assays of new pharmacotherapeutics.ResultsIn BE(2)-M17 cells, both RNA (i.e., RT-PCR, RNA sequencing) and protein analyses (i.e., Western blots, ELISA), show endogenous expression of critical components of the amyloidogenic pathway, APP-cleavage intermediates CTF83 and CTF99, and final cleavage products Aβ40 and Aβ42. We further report effects of retinoic acid-mediated differentiation on morphology and gene expression in this cell line.Comparison with existing method(s)In contrast to primary isolates or other cell lines reported in current literature, BE(2)-M17 not only sustains baseline expression of the full contingent of APP-processing components, but also remains stably adherent during culture, facilitating experimental manipulations.ConclusionsOur evidence supports the use of BE(2)-M17 as a novel, human, cell-based model of the APP processing pathway that offers a potential streamlined approach to dissect molecular functions of endogenous regulatory pathways, and perform mechanistic studies to identify modulators of Aβ production.
| S-EPMC3931259 | biostudies-literature