Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
Protein Cell. 2024 Apr 1;15(4):261-284. doi: 10.1093/procel/pwad056.
Sporadic or late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) accounts for more than 95% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases without any family history. Although genome-wide association studies have identified associated risk genes and loci for LOAD, numerous studies suggest that many adverse environmental factors, such as social isolation, are associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, the underlying mechanisms of social isolation in AD progression remain elusive. In the current study, we found that 7 days of social isolation could trigger pattern separation impairments and presynaptic abnormalities of the mossy fibre-CA3 circuit in AD mice. We also revealed that social isolation disrupted histone acetylation and resulted in the downregulation of 2 dentate gyrus (DG)-enriched miRNAs, which simultaneously target reticulon 3 (RTN3), an endoplasmic reticulum protein that aggregates in presynaptic regions to disturb the formation of functional mossy fibre boutons (MFBs) by recruiting multiple mitochondrial and vesicle-related proteins. Interestingly, the aggregation of RTN3 also recruits the PP2A B subunits to suppress PP2A activity and induce tau hyperphosphorylation, which, in turn, further elevates RTN3 and forms a vicious cycle. Finally, using an artificial intelligence-assisted molecular docking approach, we determined that senktide, a selective agonist of neurokinin3 receptors (NK3R), could reduce the binding of RTN3 with its partners. Moreover, application of senktide in vivo effectively restored DG circuit disorders in socially isolated AD mice. Taken together, our findings not only demonstrate the epigenetic regulatory mechanism underlying mossy fibre synaptic disorders orchestrated by social isolation and tau pathology but also reveal a novel potential therapeutic strategy for AD.
散发性或迟发性阿尔茨海默病(LOAD)占无家族史阿尔茨海默病(AD)病例的 95%以上。尽管全基因组关联研究已经确定了与 LOAD 相关的风险基因和基因座,但许多研究表明,许多不良环境因素,如社会隔离,与痴呆风险增加有关。然而,社会隔离在 AD 进展中的潜在机制仍不清楚。在本研究中,我们发现 7 天的社会隔离可引发 AD 小鼠的模式分离损伤和苔藓纤维-CA3 回路的突触前异常。我们还揭示了社会隔离破坏组蛋白乙酰化,并导致 2 个齿状回(DG)丰富的 miRNA 下调,这些 miRNA 同时靶向内质网蛋白 reticulon 3(RTN3),RTN3 在突触前区聚集,通过招募多种与线粒体和囊泡相关的蛋白质,干扰功能性苔藓纤维末梢(MFB)的形成。有趣的是,RTN3 的聚集还招募了蛋白磷酸酶 2A(PP2A)B 亚基,以抑制 PP2A 活性并诱导 tau 过度磷酸化,这反过来又进一步升高 RTN3 并形成恶性循环。最后,我们使用人工智能辅助的分子对接方法确定了 senktide,神经激肽 3 受体(NK3R)的选择性激动剂,可减少 RTN3 与其伴侣的结合。此外,senktide 在体内的应用可有效恢复社会隔离 AD 小鼠的 DG 回路障碍。总之,我们的研究结果不仅证明了社会隔离和 tau 病理学介导的苔藓纤维突触障碍的表观遗传调控机制,还揭示了 AD 的一种新的潜在治疗策略。
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