Alzheimer & Parkinson

Reducing fibrous aggregates of the protein tau is a possible strategy for halting the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD)¹. Previously, we found that in vitro, the D-enantiomeric peptide (D-peptide) D-TLKIVWC disassembles ultra-stable tau fibrils extracted from the autopsied brains of individuals with AD (hereafter, these tau fibrils are referred to as AD-tau) into benign segments, with no energy source other than ambient thermal agitation². To consider D-peptide-mediated disassembly as a...

Plasma proteins derived from specific organs can estimate organ age and mortality, but their sensitivity to environmental factors and their robustness in forecasting onset of organ diseases and mortality remain unclear. To address this gap, we estimate the biological age of 11 organs using plasma proteomics data (2,916 proteins) from 44,498 individuals in the UK Biobank. Organ age estimates were sensitive to lifestyle factors and medications and were associated with future onset (within 17...

Monoclonal antibody immunotherapy targeting the clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) has shown promise in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, current antibody treatments trigger Fc receptors and induce proinflammatory responses, in turn exacerbating neuronal damage. Here, we report a synthetic efferocytic receptor (SER) integrating Aβ-targeting scFv, efferocytosis receptor backbone based on TIM4 and downstream signal for microglia (MG) reprogramming, which enabled selective elimination of Aβ without...

Parkinson's disease-associated α-synuclein impairs autophagy by hijacking the cell's acetylation machinery.

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Loss-of-function mutations in the PINK1 and PRKN genes are the most common cause of early-onset Parkinson disease (PD). The encoded enzymatic pair selectively identifies, labels, and targets damaged mitochondria for degradation via the macroautophagy/autophagy-lysosome system (mitophagy). This pathway is cytoprotective and efforts to activate mitophagy are pursued as therapeutic avenues to combat PD and other neurodegenerative disorders. When mitochondria are damaged, the ubiquitin kinase PINK1...

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Aberrant aggregates of the 42-residue form of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ(42)) are cytotoxic in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cost-effective and chronically safe disease-modifying therapeutics are needed to address the AD medical emergency worldwide. To increase our understanding of the mechanisms of Aβ(42)-induced cytotoxicity and to investigate clinically relevant aminosterols, we study the impact of claramine on the aggregation kinetics and properties of Aβ(42) aggregates, as well as the ability of...

Autophagic dysfunction is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease, leaving neurons vulnerable to the accumulation of damaged organelles and aggregated proteins. However, the late onset of diseases suggests that compensatory quality control mechanisms may be engaged to delay these deleterious effects. Neurons expressing common familial Parkinson's disease-associated mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) exhibit defective autophagy. Here, we demonstrate that both primary murine...

The gradual decline in physiological functions that comes with aging contributes to a range of chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and osteoarthritis. Significant advancements in human longevity due to socioeconomic development have resulted in a foreseeable and substantial strain on the global healthcare system. In fact, there is now a shift in research focus towards enhancing healthspan. As a result, the development of improved therapies for various chronic...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by dopaminergic neuronal loss, α-synuclein aggregation, and sustained neuroinflammation. Emerging evidence supports the gut-brain-microbiota axis as a pivotal player in the disease's pathogenesis. Dysbiosis, disruptions in the gut microbial composition, has been consistently observed in individuals with PD, with notable reductions in beneficial, short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria and elevations in pro-inflammatory...

There was increasing evidence that lipid metabolism disorders played a significant part in the maturation of Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose of the article was to investigate a significance of lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs) in the maturation of PD. The function of LMRGs in the etiology of PD was explored by analysing PD datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus. First, Based on the internal training set, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained. Then, using weighted gene...

While the etiology of Alzheimer's disease remains unknown, there is growing support for the amyloid-β antimicrobial hypothesis. Amyloid-β, the main component of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease, has been shown to be generated in the presence of microbes. Entrapment of microbes by aggregated amyloid-β may serve as an innate immune response to pathogenic infections. To understand the association of amyloid-β plaques and pathogenic infections in the central nervous system, we obtained viable...

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is associated with many age-related diseases, but its interaction with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. Here, we show that TET2-mutant CH is associated with a 47% reduced risk of late-onset AD (LOAD) in the UK Biobank, whereas other drivers of CH do not confer protection. In a mouse model of AD, transplantation of Tet2-mutant bone marrow reduced cognitive decline and β-amyloid plaque formation, effects not observed with Dnmt3a-mutant marrow. Bone-marrow-derived...

Aging is a multifactorial process characterized by cellular dysfunction and increased susceptibility to age-related diseases. The interplay between autophagy and inflammasome has emerged as a critical factor influencing the aging process. Autophagy, which is responsible for degrading damaged cellular components, declines with age, leading to the accumulation of dysfunctional organelles and misfolded proteins. At the same time, the inflammasome, a key mediator of inflammatory responses, becomes...

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Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral midbrain are critical for regulating movement, cognition, and emotion. Ventral midbrain organoids can be used to model both development and diseases of the dopaminergic system, especially Parkinson's disease. Here, we summarize recent advances and remaining challenges in developing such three-dimensional organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. We outline how ventral midbrain organoid systems have progressed from early three-dimensional culture models to...

In recent years, acquired brain injuries (ABIs) have been implicated in the development and pathogenesis of dementia; however, existing data is conflicting and often lacks precise classifications or comprehensive analyses. This review sought to synthesize available evidence to assess the association between four major ABI types-traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebral atherosclerosis (AS), intracranial hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke-and risk of subsequent all-cause dementia (ACD) and dementia...

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