Dataset Information

An Overview of the Role of Lipofuscin in Age-Related Neurodegeneration.

ABSTRACT: Despite aging being by far the greatest risk factor for highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, the molecular underpinnings of age-related brain changes are still not well understood, particularly the transition from normal healthy brain aging to neuropathological aging. Aging is an extremely complex, multifactorial process involving the simultaneous interplay of several processes operating at many levels of the functional organization. The buildup of potentially toxic protein aggregates and their spreading through various brain regions has been identified as a major contributor to these pathologies. One of the most striking morphologic changes in neurons during normal aging is the accumulation of lipofuscin (LF) aggregates, as well as, neuromelanin pigments. LF is an autofluorescent lipopigment formed by lipids, metals and misfolded proteins, which is especially abundant in nerve cells, cardiac muscle cells and skin. Within the Central Nervous System (CNS), LF accumulates as aggregates, delineating a specific senescence pattern in both physiological and pathological states, altering neuronal cytoskeleton and cellular trafficking and metabolism, and being associated with neuronal loss, and glial proliferation and activation. Traditionally, the accumulation of LF in the CNS has been considered a secondary consequence of the aging process, being a mere bystander of the pathological buildup associated with different neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we discuss recent evidence suggesting the possibility that LF aggregates may have an active role in neurodegeneration. We argue that LF is a relevant effector of aging that represents a risk factor or driver for neurodegenerative disorders.

SUBMITTER: Moreno-Garcia A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6041410 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An Overview of the Role of Lipofuscin in Age-Related Neurodegeneration.

Moreno-García Alexandra A Kun Alejandra A Calero Olga O Medina Miguel M Calero Miguel M

Frontiers in neuroscience 20180705

Despite aging being by far the greatest risk factor for highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, the molecular underpinnings of age-related brain changes are still not well understood, particularly the transition from normal healthy brain aging to neuropathological aging. Aging is an extremely complex, multifactorial process involving the simultaneous interplay of several processes operating at many levels of the functional organization. The buildup of potentially toxic protein aggregates a ...[more]

PMID: 30026686

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Project description:Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central vision loss in the elderly. Degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a crucial causative factor responsible for the onset and progression of AMD. A2E, a major component of toxic lipofuscin implicated in AMD, is deposited in RPE cells with age. However, the mechanism whereby A2E may contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD remains unclear. We demonstrated that A2E was a danger signal of RPE cells, which induced autophagy and decreased cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Within 15 min after the treatment of RPE with 25 μM A2E, the induction of autophagosome was detected by transmission electron microscopy. After continuous incubating RPE cells with A2E, intense punctate staining of LC3 and increased expression of LC3-II and Beclin-1 were identified. Meanwhile, the levels of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), interleukin (IL)1β, IL2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-22, macrophage cationic peptide (MCP)-1, stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) were elevated. The autophagic inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and activator rapamycin were also used to verify the effect of autophagy on RPE cells against A2E. Our results revealed that 3-MA decreased the autophagosomes and LC3 puncta induced by A2E, increased inflammation-associated protein expression including ICAM, IL1β, IL2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-22, and SDF-1, and upregulated VEGFA expression. Whereas rapamycin augmented the A2E-mediated autophagy, attenuated protein expression of inflammation-associated and angiogenic factors, and blocked the Akt/mTOR pathway. Taken together, A2E induces autophagy in RPE cells at the early stage of incubation, and this autophagic response can be inhibited by 3-MA or augmented by rapamycin via the mTOR pathway. The enhancement of autophagy has a protective role in RPE cells against the adverse effects of A2E by reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and VEGFA.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Aging is the strongest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and extended age results in neuronal degeneration and functional decline in the visual system. Among many contributing factors to age-related deterioration of neurons is an insufficient activation of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in response to cellular stress. X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) is a major component of the UPR and is essential for maintaining protein homeostasis and reducing cellular stresses. Herein, we investigate the role of XBP1 in maintaining morphological and functional integrity in retinal neurons during adulthood and the early stages of aging. METHODS:The basal and induced levels of XBP1 activation in the retina were measured in young adult and aged mice. Conditional knockout (cKO) of XBP1 in retinal neurons was achieved by crossing XBP1 floxed mice with a retina specific Cre-recombinase line (Chx10-Cre). Retinal morphology, neuronal populations including photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), synaptic structure, and microglial activation were examined with immunohistochemistry and staining of retinal sections. Retinal function was evaluated with light-adapted (photopic) and dark adapted (scotopic) electroretinograms. Retinal mitochondrial function and metabolism was assessed by Seahorse XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. RESULTS:The retinas of aged wild type (WT) mice display a significantly reduced basal level of Xbp1s and compromised activation of ER stress response. In XBP1 cKO mice, significant structural degeneration of the retina, evidenced by thinning of retinal layers and a loss of RGCs, and functional defects indicated by diminished photopic and scotopic ERG b-waves are observed at the age of 12-14 months. Furthermore, discontinuous and disorganized synaptic laminae, colocalized with activated microglia, in the inner plexiform layer is found in the XBP1 cKO retinas. In addition, cKO mice demonstrate a significant increase in ectopic synapses between bipolar cells and photoreceptors, which is strikingly similar to WT mice at 20-24 months of age. These changes are associated with defective retinal glycolysis while mitochondrial respiratory function appears normal in the cKO retina. CONCLUSIONS:XBP1 cKO mice at 12-14 months of age show significant structural, functional, and metabolic deficits that closely resemble WT mice twice that age. Our findings suggest that the absence of XBP1, a critical component of the UPR, accelerates age-related retinal neurodegeneration.

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An Overview of the Role of Lipofuscin in Age-Related Neurodegeneration.

Publications

An Overview of the Role of Lipofuscin in Age-Related Neurodegeneration.

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