TDP-43 pathology links innate and adaptive immunity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the most common fatal motor neuron disease. Approximately 90% of ALS patients exhibit pathology of the master RNA regulator, Transactive Response DNA Binding protein (TDP-43). Despite the prevalence TDP-43 pathology in ALS motor neurons, recent findings suggest immune dysfunction is a determinant of disease progression in patients. Whether TDP-43 pathology elicits disease-modifying immune responses in ALS remains underexplored. In this study, we demonstrate that TDP-43 pathology is internalized by antigen presenting cells, causes vesicle rupture, and leads to innate and adaptive immune cell activation. Using a multiplex imaging platform, we observed interactions between innate and adaptive immune cells near TDP-43 pathological lesions in ALS brain. We used a mass cytometry-based whole-blood stimulation assay to provide evidence that ALS patient peripheral immune cells exhibit responses to TDP-43 aggregates. Taken together, this study provides a novel link between TDP-43 pathology and ALS immune dysfunction, and further highlights the translational and diagnostic implications of monitoring and manipulating the ALS immune response.

Vascular alterations in PDAPP mice after anti-Aß immunotherapy: Implications for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies of ß-amyloid (Aß) immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have demonstrated reduction of central Aß plaque by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and the appearance of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). To better understand the relationship between ARIA and the pathophysiology of AD, we undertook a series of studies in PDAPP mice evaluating vascular alterations in the context of central Aß pathology and after anti-Aß immunotherapy. METHODS: We analyzed PDAPP mice treated with either 3 mg/kg/week of 3D6, the murine form of bapineuzumab, or isotype control antibodies for periods ranging from 1 to 36 weeks and evaluated the vascular alterations in the context of Aß pathology and after anti-Aß immunotherapy. The number of mice in each treatment group ranged from 26 to 39 and a total of 345 animals were analyzed. RESULTS: The central vasculature displayed morphological abnormalities associated with vascular Aß deposits. Treatment with 3D6 antibody induced clearance of vascular Aß that was spatially and temporally associated with a transient increase in microhemorrhage and in capillary Aß deposition. Microhemorrhage resolved over a time period that was associated with a recovery of vascular morphology and a decrease in capillary Aß accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that vascular leakage events, such as microhemorrhage, may be related to the removal of vascular Aß. With continued treatment, this initial susceptibility period is followed by restoration of vascular morphology and reduced vulnerability to further vascular leakage events. The data collectively suggested a vascular amyloid clearance model of ARIA, which accounts for the currently known risk factors for the incidence of ARIA in clinical studies.

Immunotherapy reduces vascular amyloid-beta in PDAPP mice.

In addition to parenchymal amyloid-beta (Abeta) plaques, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by Abeta in the cerebral vasculature [cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)] in the majority of patients. Recent studies investigating vascular Abeta (VAbeta) in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice have suggested that passive immunization with anti-Abeta antibodies may clear parenchymal amyloid but increase VAbeta and the incidence of microhemorrhage. However, the influences of antibody specificity and exposure levels on VAbeta and microhemorrhage rates have not been well established, nor has any clear causal relationship been identified. This report examines the effects of chronic, passive immunization on VAbeta and microhemorrhage in PDAPP mice by comparing antibodies with different Abeta epitopes (3D6, Abeta(1-5); 266, Abeta(16-23)) and performing a 3D6 dose-response study. VAbeta and microhemorrhage were assessed using concomitant Abeta immunohistochemistry and hemosiderin detection. 3D6 prevented or cleared VAbeta in a dose-dependent manner, whereas 266 was without effect. Essentially complete absence of VAbeta was observed at the highest 3D6 dose, whereas altered morphology suggestive of ongoing clearance was seen at lower doses. The incidence of microhemorrhage was increased in the high-dose 3D6 group and limited to focal, perivascular sites. These colocalized with Abeta deposits having altered morphology and apparent clearance in the lower-dose 3D6 group. Our results suggest that passive immunization can reduce VAbeta levels, and modulating antibody dose can significantly mitigate the incidence of microhemorrhage while still preventing or reducing VAbeta. These observations raise the possibility that Abeta immunotherapy can potentially slow or halt the course of CAA development in AD that is implicated in vascular dysfunction.

Antibody capture of soluble Abeta does not reduce cortical Abeta amyloidosis in the PDAPP mouse.

BACKGROUND: In vivo administration of antibodies against the amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide has been shown to reduce and reverse the progressive amyloidosis that develops in a variety of mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This work has been extended to clinical trials where subsequent autopsy cases of AD subjects immunized against Abeta showed similar reductions in parenchymal amyloid plaques, suggesting this approach to reduce neuropathology in man is feasible. OBJECTIVE: Multiple hypotheses have been advanced to explain how anti-Abeta antibodies may lower amyloid burden. In this report, we compare approaches utilizing either plaque-binding or peptide-capturing anti-Abeta antibodies for effectiveness in reducing amyloidosis in a mouse model of AD. METHODS: A plaque-binding monoclonal antibody (3D6) and an Abeta peptide-capturing monoclonal antibody (266) were compared in chronic treatment and prevention paradigms using a transgenic mouse model of AD. The effects of antibody therapy on plaque burden and plasma clearance of Abeta were investigated by quantitative imaging and clearance studies of intravenously injected (125)I-Abeta. RESULTS: The plaque-binding antibody 3D6 was highly effective in either treatment or prevention of amyloidosis. In these studies, the peptide-capture antibody 266 showed no reduction in amyloidosis in either paradigm and showed trends towards increasing amyloidosis. Antibody 266 was also found to greatly prolong (>180-fold) the normally rapid peripheral clearance of Abeta, in contrast to that found with 3D6 (>24-fold). CONCLUSION: Reversing and preventing Alzheimer's type amyloidosis is most effectively accomplished with anti-amyloid antibodies that avidly bind plaque.

NPT088 reduces both amyloid-ß and tau pathologies in transgenic mice.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by appearance of both extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, comprised of aggregates of misfolded amyloid-ß (Aß) and hyper-phosphorylated tau, respectively. In a previous study, we demonstrated that g3p, a capsid protein from bacteriophage M13, binds to and remodels misfolded aggregates of proteins that assume an amyloid conformation. We engineered a fusion protein ("NPT088") consisting of the active fragment of g3p and human-IgG1-Fc. METHODS: Aged Tg2576 mice or rTg4510 mice received NPT088 weekly via IP injection. Cognitive and/or functional motor endpoints were monitored during dosing. Pathology was quantified biochemically and immunohistochemically. RESULTS: NPT088-lowered Aß plaque and improved cognitive performance of aged Tg2576 mice. Moreover, NPT088 reduced phospho-tau pathology, reduced brain atrophy, and improved cognition in rTg4510 mice. DISCUSSION: These observations establish NPT088 as a novel therapeutic approach and potential drug class that targets both Aß and tau, the hallmark pathologies of AD.

A regulated interaction of syntaxin 1A with the antidepressant-sensitive norepinephrine transporter establishes catecholamine clearance capacity.

Norepinephrine (NE) transporters (NETs) terminate noradrenergic synaptic transmission and represent a major therapeutic target for antidepressant medications. NETs and related transporters are under intrinsic regulation by receptor and kinase-linked pathways, and clarification of these pathways may suggest candidates for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Syntaxin 1A, a presynaptic soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein, interacts with NET and modulates NET intrinsic activity. NETs colocalize with and bind to syntaxin 1A in both native preparations and heterologous systems. Protein kinase C activation disrupts surface NET/syntaxin 1A interactions and downregulates NET activity in a syntaxin-dependent manner. Syntaxin 1A binds the NH(2) terminal domain of NET, and a deletion of this domain both eliminates NET/syntaxin 1A associations and prevents phorbol ester-triggered NET downregulation. Whereas syntaxin 1A supports the surface trafficking of NET proteins, its direct interaction with NET limits transporter catalytic function. These two contradictory roles of syntaxin 1A on NET appear to be linked and reveal a dynamic cycle of interactions that allow for the coordinated control between NE release and reuptake.

Ultrastructural localization of the norepinephrine transporter in superficial and deep layers of the rat prelimbic prefrontal cortex and its spatial relationship to probable dopamine terminals.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a likely site of action for the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressants that inhibit norepinephrine (NE) reuptake. Moreover, drugs that block the NE transporter (NET) increase extracellular levels of both NE and dopamine (DA), an interaction that may contribute to their therapeutic properties. To examine the subcellular localization of NET and to investigate the spatial relationships between presumed NE and DA axons within the rat prelimbic PFC, we combined immunogold-silver localization of NET with immunoperoxidase staining for the catecholamine synthetic enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). An additional aim was to quantify the proportion of profiles dually labeled for NET and TH to test the common observation that TH immunolabeling is relatively selective for DA axons. NET-immunoreactive (NET-ir) axonal profiles were typically unmyelinated and occasionally were observed to form symmetric axodendritic synapses. The majority of immunogold NET labeling was unexpectedly observed in the cytoplasm rather than on the plasma membrane. Furthermore, in tissue dually labeled for both NET and TH, only 8-10% of profiles contained both markers. Unlike observations for singly labeled profiles, gold-silver particles for NET in dually labeled axons were localized primarily to the plasmalemma. A systematic survey of terminals labeled only for TH revealed that they were typically separated by at least 1.2 mum from NET-ir varicosities, and the two profile types were not seen to contact common targets. These results suggest that, in the rat PFC, NE axons (1) contain predominantly cytoplasmic NET, (2) infrequently contain TH immunolabeling, and (3) may interact with probable DA afferents by means of extrasynaptic mechanisms.

Anti-metastatic properties of RGD-peptidomimetic agents S137 and S247.

Integrins expressed on endothelial cells modulate cell migration and survival during angiogenesis. Integrins expressed on carcinoma cells potentiate metastasis by facilitating invasion and movement across blood vessels. We describe the activities of two synthetic low-molecular-weight peptidomimetics of the ligand amino acid sequence arg-gly-asp (RGD) in integrin-based functional assays in vitro. We also evaluate efficacy and potential mechanisms of action in models of both spontaneous and experimental metastasis. Broad-spectrum potency against the family of alpha v subunit-containing integrins was observed, with significantly less potency against alpha5beta1 and alpha(IIb)beta3. Both endothelial and tumor cell migration mediated by alpha(v)beta3 was inhibited, whereas proliferation of endothelial cells but not tumor cells was diminished. Continuous infusion of compound by minipumps or oral administration twice daily significantly reduced metastatic tumor burden in the lungs of mice despite no reduction in growth of 435/HAL primary tumors, and only a slight reduction in tumor cells detected in circulating blood. Delaying treatment in this model until after extensive dissemination of tumor cells to the lungs had occurred, and after primary tumor resection, still produced significant efficacy. Conversely, administration of the agent for only the first 18 h after tumor-cell inoculation into the tail vein also resulted in decreased metastases observed after several weeks. These data suggest these compounds or their relatives have potential to interfere with both early and late steps of metastasis involving tumor and endothelial cell functions. Furthermore, the metastatic process can be effectively inhibited independently of primary tumor growth using integrin antagonists.

Targeting cell surface receptors with ligand-conjugated nanocrystals.

To explore the potential for use of ligand-conjugated nanocrystals to target cell surface receptors, ion channels, and transporters, we explored the ability of serotonin-labeled CdSe nanocrystals (SNACs) to interact with antidepressant-sensitive, human and Drosophila serotonin transporters (hSERT, dSERT) expressed in HeLa and HEK-293 cells. Unlike unconjugated nanocrystals, SNACs were found to dose-dependently inhibit transport of radiolabeled serotonin by hSERT and dSERT, with an estimated half-maximal activity (EC(50)) of 33 (dSERT) and 99 microM (hSERT). When serotonin was conjugated to the nanocrystal through a linker arm (LSNACs), the EC(50) for hSERT was determined to be 115 microM. Electrophysiology measurements indicated that LSNACs did not elicit currents from the serotonin-3 (5HT(3)) receptor but did produce currents when exposed to the transporter, which are similar to those elicited by antagonists. Moreover, fluorescent LSNACs were found to label SERT-transfected cells but did not label either nontransfected cells or transfected cells coincubated with the high-affinity SERT antagonist paroxetine. These findings support further consideration of ligand-conjugated nanocrystals as versatile probes of membrane proteins in living cells.