Hideki Hayashi

A Seed for Alzheimer Amyloid in the Brain

A fundamental question about the early pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease (AD) concerns how toxic aggregates of amyloid β protein (Aβ) are formed from its nontoxic soluble form. We hypothesized previously that GM1 ganglioside-bound Aβ (GAβ) is involved in the process. We now examined this possibility using a novel monoclonal antibody raised against GAβ purified from an AD brain. Here, we report that GAβ has a conformation distinct from that of soluble Aβ and initiates Aβ aggregation by acting as a seed. Furthermore, GAβ generation in the brain was validated by both immunohistochemical and immunoprecipitation studies. These results imply a mechanism underlying the onset of AD and suggest that an endogenous seed can be a target of therapeutic strategy.

Apolipoprotein E-Containing Lipoproteins Protect Neurons from Apoptosis via a Signaling Pathway Involving Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1

Apolipoprotein E (apoE)-containing lipoproteins (LPs) are secreted by glia and play important roles in lipid homeostasis in the CNS. Glia-derived LPs also promote synaptogenesis and stimulate axon growth of CNS neurons. Here, we provide evidence that glia-derived LPs protect CNS neurons from apoptosis by a receptor-mediated signaling pathway. The protective effect was greater for apolipoprotein E3 than for apolipoprotein E4, the expression of which is a risk factor for Alzheimers disease. The anti-apoptotic effect of LPs required the association of apolipoprotein E with lipids but did not require cholesterol. Apoptosis was not prevented by lipids alone or by apoA1- or apoJ-containing lipoproteins. The prevention of neuronal apoptosis was initiated after the binding of LPs to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), a multifunctional receptor of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family. We showed that inhibition of LRP activation, by treatment of neurons with receptor-associated protein or anti-LRP antibodies, or by LRP gene-silencing experiments, reduced the protective effect of LPs. Furthermore, another LRP ligand, α2-macroglobulin, also protected the neurons from apoptosis. After binding to LRP, LPs initiate a signaling pathway that involves activation of protein kinase Cδ and inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β. These findings indicate the potential for using glial lipoproteins or an activator of the LRP signaling pathway for treatment for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimers disease.

Formation and function of apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins in the nervous system.

The strongest known genetic risk factor for the development of late-onset Alzheimer disease is inheritance of the apolipoprotein (apo) E4 (epsilon4 allele) although the mechanisms underlying this connection are still not entirely clear. In this review, we shall discuss the role of apo E in the brain, particularly in relation to Alzheimer disease. Cholesterol transport and homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS) are separated from that in the peripheral circulation by the blood-brain barrier. However, the brain operates its own lipoprotein transport system that is mediated by high density lipoprotein-sized, apo E-containing lipoproteins that are synthesized and secreted by glial cells (primarily astrocytes). Several ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are expressed in the brain, including ABCA1 and ABCG1 which play important roles in the transfer of phospholipids and cholesterol to apo E. The astrocyte-derived apo E-containing lipoproteins can bind to, and be internalized by, receptors of the low density lipoprotein receptor superfamily that are located on the surface of neurons. In addition to these receptors serving as endocytosis receptors for lipoproteins, several of these receptors also act as signaling receptors in neurons and activate pathways involved in axonal growth, as well as neuronal survival. These beneficial pathways appear to be enhanced to a greater extent by apo E3 than by apo E4. Apo E has also been implicated in the deposition of amyloid plaques since apo E3, more readily than apo E4, forms a complex with Ass peptides, and mediates the degradation of amyloid deposits.

Cholesterol is increased in the exofacial leaflet of synaptic plasma membranes of human apolipoprotein E4 knock-in mice.

Inheritance of the apolipoprotein (apoE) ϵ4 allele is a risk factor for developing Alzheimers disease (AD). The purpose of the present study was to determine effects of apoE-isoforms on the transbilayer distribution of cholesterol in synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) using mice expressing human apoE3 and apoE4. Total SPM cholesterol levels did not differ among the wild-type and apoE3 and apoE4 knock-in mice. However, a striking difference was observed in the transbilayer distribution of SPM cholesterol. ApoE4 knock-in mice showed an ∼2-fold increase in exofacial leaflet cholesterol compared with apoE3 knock-in mice and wild-type mice. The results of this study suggest that pathogenic effects of apoE4 on AD development could be closely linked to alteration of cholesterol distribution in SPM.

Protection of Neurons from Apoptosis by Apolipoprotein E-containing Lipoproteins Does Not Require Lipoprotein Uptake and Involves Activation of Phospholipase Cγ1 and Inhibition of Calcineurin

Apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins (LpE) are generated in the central nervous system by glial cells, primarily astrocytes, and are recognized as key players in lipid metabolism and transport in the brain. We previously reported that LpE protect retinal ganglion neurons from apoptosis induced by withdrawal of trophic additives (Hayashi, H., Campenot, R. B., Vance, D. E., and Vance, J. E. (2007) J. Neurosci. 27, 1933–1941). LpE bind to low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 and initiate a signaling pathway that involves activation of protein kinase Cδ and inhibition of the pro-apoptotic glycogen synthase kinase-3β. We now show that uptake of LpE is not required for the neuroprotection. Experiments with inhibitors of phospholipase Cγ1 and RNAi knockdown studies demonstrate that activation of phospholipase Cγ1 is required for the anti-apoptotic signaling pathway induced by LpE. In addition, the protein phosphatase-2B, calcineurin, is involved in a neuronal death pathway induced by removal of trophic additives, and LpE inhibit calcineurin activation. LpE also attenuate neuronal death caused by oxidative stress. Moreover, physiologically relevant apoE3-containing lipoproteins generated by apoE3 knock-in mouse astrocytes more effectively protect neurons from apoptosis than do apoE4-containing lipoproteins. Because inheritance of the apoE4 allele is the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer disease, the reduced neuroprotection afforded by apoE4-containing LpE might contribute to the neurodegeneration characteristic of this disease.

Amyloid precursor protein in unique cholesterol-rich microdomains different from caveolae-like domains.

To determine the localization of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) on the cellular membrane, we performed membrane fractionation of cultured cells including that of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) and P19 cells transfected with human APP cDNA, non-transfected SH-SY5Y cells, and rat cerebral cortices. In MDCK cells, APP was exclusively present in abundance in the supernatant following solubilization of the plasma membranes using Triton X-100, and in high-density fractions of sucrose density gradient fractionation (SDGF) following Triton X-100 solubilization of whole cellular membranes. Caveolin-1 was not cofractionated with APP. In experiments using P19 cells and rat cerebral cortices, we detected two isoforms of APP. The APP with the apparently lower molecular weight (immature type) coexisted in abundance with integrin in the high-density fractions, whereas the APP with the apparently higher molecular weight (mature type) was recovered predominantly in the low-density fractions with cholesterol and GM1 gangliosides, the concentrations of which were higher than those in the bulk plasma membranes, but lower than those in caveolae-like domains (CLDs), following SDGF of Triton X-100-solubilized cellular membranes. The results of this study suggest the following; first, APP is not present in abundance in caveolae or CLDs, but is in unique cholesterol-rich microdomains; second, the targeting of APP to these unique microdomains may be linked to the maturation of APP in some cells.

Dock3 interaction with a glutamate-receptor NR2D subunit protects neurons from excitotoxicity

BackgroundN-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are critical for neuronal development and synaptic plasticity. Dysregulation of NMDARs is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. Native NMDARs are heteromultimeric protein complexes consisting of NR1 and NR2 subunits. NR2 subunits (NR2A–D) are the major determinants of the functional properties of NMDARs. Most research has focused on NR2A- and/or NR2B-containing receptors. A recent study demonstrated that NR2C- and/or NR2D-containing NMDARs are the primary targets of memantine, a drug that is widely prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Our laboratory demonstrated that memantine prevents the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in GLAST glutamate transporter knockout mice, a model of normal tension glaucoma (NTG), suggesting that NR2D-containing receptors may be involved in RGC loss in NTG.ResultsHere we demonstrate that NR2D deficiency attenuates RGC loss in GLAST-deficient mice. Furthermore, Dock3, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, binds to the NR2D C-terminal domain and reduces the surface expression of NR2D, thereby protecting RGCs from excitotoxicity.ConclusionsThese results suggest that NR2D is involved in the degeneration of RGCs induced by excitotoxicity, and that the interaction between NR2D and Dock3 may have a neuroprotective effect. These findings raise the possibility that NR2D and Dock3 might be potential therapeutic targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and NTG.

CD4-independent human immunodeficiency virus infection involves participation of endocytosis and cathepsin B.

During a comparison of the infectivity of mNDK, a CD4-independent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strain, to various cell lines, we found that HeLa cells were much less susceptible than 293T and TE671 cells. Hybridoma cells between HeLa and 293T cells were as susceptible as 293T cells, suggesting that cellular factors enhance the mNDK infection in 293T cells. By screening a cDNA expression library in HeLa cells, cystatin C was isolated as an enhancer of the mNDK infection. Because cathepsin B protease, a natural ligand of cystatin C, was upregulated in HeLa cells, we speculated that the high levels of cathepsin B activities were inhibitory to the CD4-independent infection and that cystatin C enhanced the infection by impairing the excessive cathepsin B activity. Consistent with this idea, pretreatment of HeLa cells with 125 µM of CA-074Me, a cathepsin B inhibitor, resulted in an 8-fold enhancement of the mNDK infectivity. Because cathepsin B is activated by low pH in acidic endosomes, we further examined the potential roles of endosomes in the CD4-independent infection. Suppression of endosome acidification or endocytosis by inhibitors or by an Eps15 dominant negative mutant reduced the infectivity of mNDK in which CD4-dependent infections were not significantly impaired. Taken together, these results suggest that endocytosis, endosomal acidification, and cathepsin B activity are involved in the CD4-independent entry of HIV-1.

Expression of the mRNA for two isoforms of neural plakophilin-related arm-repeat protein/δ-catenin in rodent neurons and glial cells

Neural plakophilin-related arm-repeat protein (NPRAP) is a mammalian brain protein of the armadillo family. Here, in an attempt to elucidate its function, we determined the mouse brain regions and cell types expressing the mRNAs for two NPRAP isoforms (the longer and the shorter isoforms), and examined the regulation of expression of the NPRAP mRNAs during the differentiation of P19 cells into neurons. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that both variants were expressed in various mouse brain regions, but the mRNA for the short isoform was predominant in most regions. Primary cultures of both neurons and glial cells exhibited high expression levels of both the mRNAs, indicating that NPRAP mRNA expression is not neuron-specific. The expression of the two NPRAP mRNA variants was dramatically induced even prior to the terminal neuronal and glial differentiation of P19 cells after retinoic acid treatment. These data suggest that the two NPRAP isoforms function not only in neurons and glial cells in the brain, but also play a role in the differentiation of precursor cells into neurons and glial cells.

A Potential Neuroprotective Role of Apolipoprotein E-containing Lipoproteins through Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 1 in Normal Tension Glaucoma

Background: No effective treatment exists for normal tension glaucoma (NTG), which induces a significant loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Results: Apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins (E-LPs) blocked Ca2+-dependent apoptosis induced by glutamate in RGCs. Conclusion: Administration of E-LPs protects RGCs from glutamate-induced degeneration in vitro and in vivo. Significance: Protection from neuron death by E-LPs provides a novel strategy of treatment for NTG. Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy and the second major cause of blindness worldwide next to cataracts. The protection from retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, one of the main characteristics of glaucoma, would be a straightforward treatment for this disorder. However, the clinical application of neuroprotection has not, so far, been successful. Here, we report that apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins (E-LPs) protect primary cultured RGCs from Ca2+-dependent, and mitochondrion-mediated, apoptosis induced by glutamate. Binding of E-LPs to the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 recruited the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, blocked intracellular Ca2+ elevation, and inactivated glycogen synthase kinase 3β, thereby inhibiting apoptosis. When compared with contralateral eyes treated with phosphate-buffered saline, intravitreal administration of E-LPs protected against RGC loss in glutamate aspartate transporter-deficient mice, a model of normal tension glaucoma that causes glaucomatous optic neuropathy without elevation of intraocular pressure. Although the presence of α2-macroglobulin, another ligand of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1, interfered with the neuroprotective effect of E-LPs against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity, the addition of E-LPs overcame the inhibitory effect of α2-macroglobulin. These findings may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for normal tension glaucoma by an LRP1-mediated pathway.