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Amyloid fibril formation in gelsolin-derived amyloidosis. Definition of the amyloidogenic region and evidence of accelerated amyloid formation of mutant Asn-187 and Tyr-187 gelsolin peptides.

BACKGROUND: We have recently shown that the actin-modulating cytoskeletal and plasma protein gelsolin is involved in the pathogenesis of familial amyloidosis of Finnish type. To define the amyloidogenic region(s) in gelsolin and clarify the mechanisms involved in amyloid formation, we tested the amyloidogenicity of synthetic gelsolin peptide analogues. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The in vitro amyloid fibril formation was studied using 22 synthetic peptides 7 to 30 residues long having sequence homology with wild-type or mutant gelsolins. Amyloid formation was monitored by Congo-red staining and polarization microscopy of the peptide aggregates, by negative staining electron microscopy, and by quantitative fluorometry with thioflavine T. RESULTS: Ultrastructurally, amyloid-like fibrils were formed from the mutant Asn-187 and Tyr-187 gelsolin peptides corresponding to the naturally occurring missense mutations found in familial gelsolin amyloidosis syndromes, as well as from a gelsolin peptide having a Val-187 substitution. The shortest peptide tested that was capable of forming amyloid-like fibrils was 9-residue mutant Asn-187 peptide. The corresponding wild-type peptide did not form amyloid. Quantitative fluorometry at the emission maximum 482 nm revealed highly accelerated amyloid fibril formation of the mutant Asn-187, Tyr-187 and Val-187 peptides as compared with the corresponding wild-type peptides. CONCLUSIONS: We have defined the amyloidogenic region of gelsolin to a 9-residue sequence in the highly conserved repetitive motif B and showed that residue 187 represents a critical site where a substitution of an amino acid with a charged side chain (Asp) with an amino acid with an uncharged (Asn) or hydrophobic side chain (Tyr, Val) creates a conformation that is highly amyloidogenic thus providing an explanation for the amyloidogenicity of the Asn-187 and Tyr-187 gelsolin variants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Alzheimer beta-amyloid peptides: structures of amyloid fibrils and alternate aggregation products.

The amyloidoses are a heterogeneous group of diseases, which are characterized by the local or systemic deposition of amyloid. At the root of these diseases are changes in protein conformation where normal innocuous proteins transform into insoluble amyloid fibrils and deposit in tissues. The amyloid fibrils of Alzheimer's disease are composed of the Abeta peptide and deposit in the form of senile plaques. Neurodegeneration surrounds the amyloid deposits, indicating that neurotoxic substances are produced during the deposition process. Whether the neurotoxic species is the amyloid fibril or a fibril precursor is a current area of active research. This review focuses on advancements made in elucidating the molecular structures of the Abeta amyloid fibril and alternate aggregation products of the Abeta peptide formed during fibrillogenesis.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Molecular dynamics studies of hexamers of amyloid-beta peptide (16-35) and its mutants: influence of charge states on amyloid formation.

To study the early stage of amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) aggregation, hexamers of the wild-type (WT) Abeta(16-35) and its mutants with amyloid-like conformations have been studied by molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water for a total time of 1.7 micros. We found that the amyloid-like structures in the WT oligomers are destabilized by the solvation of ionic D23/K28 residues, which are buried in the fibrils. This means that the desolvation of D23/K28 residues may contribute to the kinetic barrier of aggregation in the early stage. In the E22Q/D23N, D23N/K28Q, and E22Q/D23N/K28Q mutants, hydration becomes much less significant because the mutated residues have neutral amide side-chains. These amide side-chains can form linear cross-strand hydrogen bond chains, or "polar zippers", if dehydrated. These "polar zippers" increase the stability of the amyloid-like conformation, reducing the barrier for the early-stage oligomerization. This is in accord with experimental observations that both the D23/K28 lactamization and the E22Q/D23N mutation promote aggregation. We also found that the E22Q/D23N mutant prefers an amyloid-like conformation that differs from the one found for WT Abeta. This suggests that different amyloid structures may be formed under different conditions.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Soluble amyloid beta-protein is a marker of Alzheimer amyloid in brain but not in cerebrospinal fluid.

The amyloid beta protein (A beta), a 4 kD fragment of the beta amyloid precursor protein, is deposited as insoluble amyloid in the brain of Alzheimer disease (AD) subjects. Soluble A beta is a normal metabolic product and is present in cerebrospinal fluid. We identified soluble A beta forms of 4kD, 3kD and 3.7kD in AD but not in control brains free of amyloid deposits. All three forms of soluble A beta extend beyond residue 40. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from the same subjects confirmed the presence of only 4kD A beta in comparable amounts in AD and controls. The presence of soluble A beta only in brain regions with amyloid suggests they are related. The undetectability of soluble A beta in control brains indicates that it is normally removed or bound to other proteins. Failure of this protective mechanism might cause amyloid formation in AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Cardiac amyloid in patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy consists of abundant wild-type transthyretin.

Patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) are now cured by liver transplantation, but cardiac amyloidosis would further progress even after liver transplantation in some patients. To clarify the pathological mechanism of the progress of cardiac amyloidosis in FAP, we investigated cardiac tissues obtained from 6 FAP patients with 3 different types of TTR mutations. One of them had undergone liver transplantation and one year later died of cardiac amyloidosis. We determined clinical severity of cardiac involvement of those patients and characterized amyloid fibril proteins depositing in their cardiac muscles by immunohistochemistry, mass spectrometry and isoelectric focusing. All the patients had cardiac dysfunction and increased cardiac weight. Diffuse deposition of TTR-related amyloid was seen in their myocardium on microscopic examination. Amyloid fibrils of the heart were composed of wild-type TTR as well as variant TTR at a ratio of about 1:1 in 5 patients without liver transplantation. In the patient with a transplanted liver, about 80% of the cardiac amyloid consisted of wild-type TTR. Wild-type TTR contributes greatly to the development of amyloid deposition in the heart of FAP patients regardless of the types of TTR mutations.

Adult↗

Senile plaques in cerebral amyloid angiopathy show accumulation of amyloid precursor protein without cytoskeletal abnormalities.

The abnormal neurites that surround beta-amyloid in senile plaques (SP) in Alzheimer disease contain beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) or abnormal filaments which react with antibodies to tau. Occasionally, beta APP and abnormal filaments are present in the same neurite. Whether both types of abnormal neurites are reactive to the presence of beta-amyloid or they are instead independent from each other is unknown. To begin to clarify this issue, we comparatively studied beta APP and tau-epitopes in SP from cases of classical Alzheimer disease and cases of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, with SP but without neurofibrillary pathology. In subjects with cerebral amyloid angiopathy, about one-third of SP, the same percentage as in Alzheimer disease, were beta APP reactive in the absence of tau-reactivity. beta APP epitopes were ultrastructurally localized in dense bodies of probable lysosomal origin, adjacent to the core of SP. These results demonstrate that beta APP and tau-reactive cytoskeletal alterations occur independently in the neurites of SP. The presence of beta APP in dystrophic neurites of SP and the localization of beta APP in lysosomes suggest that beta APP containing dystrophic neurites may play a role in the extracellular deposition of amyloid.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and pancreatic islet amyloid deposition in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Twenty pancreata of non-diabetic patients and 17 pancreata of diabetic patients, including two patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, were immunohistochemically studied using antiserum against human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). The islet beta cells in non-diabetic patients were immunoreactive for both IAPP and insulin. Amyloid deposition immunoreactive for IAPP was detected in six of 20 pancreata of non-diabetic patients. The plasma glucose level of three of these six patients was elevated to more than 200 mg/dl, and that of the other three ranged from 143 to 162 mg/dl; all six were receiving intravenous hyper-alimentation and had no history of diabetes prior to treatment. Amyloid deposition was present in all patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The deposition was absent in the pancreata of two secondary diabetic patients, one of whom had received steroid hormone for bronchial asthma and the other of whom had liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma; deposition was also absent in the pancreas of a patient with impaired glucose tolerance diagnosed on a 75-g oral glucose load. Heterogeneous expression of immunoreactivities of beta cells for insulin and for IAPP was present, suggesting independently regulated production and secretion of the peptides. Immunoreactivity of beta cells was more sensitively decreased for IAPP than for insulin in the islets of NIDDM patients. The decreased immunoreactivity for IAPP suggested an initial stage of disturbed beta-cell function, even if the immunoreactivity for insulin was apparently intact or the amyloid deposition in the islets was insignificant. The degree of amyloid deposition immunoreactivity for IAPP did not necessarily reflect the severity of diabetes mellitus. Amyloid deposits were seen at the narrow spaces beneath the insular capsule of connective tissues and the perivascular region or, in some cases, occupying the whole of the islet. The diabetogenic role of IAPP is unclear, but the deposition might be an accelerating factor which disturbs beta-cell function.

Adult↗

Islet amyloid polypeptide and its N-terminal and C-terminal flanking peptides' immunoreactivity in islet amyloid of diabetic patients.

We determined immunohistochemically whether the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)/amylin precursor is one component of islet amyloid, using polyclonal antibodies specific for human IAPP8-17 and amino (N)-terminal and carboxy (C)-terminal flanking peptides. To enhance immunostaining of the amyloid, we pretreated the pancreatic tissue sections with 100% formic acid. In three non-diabetic subjects, pancreatic islet cells were immunoreactive to anti-IAPP8-17 and anti-N-terminal and C-terminal flanking peptide antibodies and the reactivity was enhanced with formic acid pretreatment. In six type 2 diabetic subjects and a subject with type A insulin resistance, islet amyloid deposits were reactive to anti-IAPP8-17 antibody, but not to anti-N-terminal and C-terminal flanking peptide antibodies. Formic acid pretreatment markedly enhanced the reactivity to anti-IAPP8-17 antibody; however, it failed to show the reactivity to anti-N-terminal and C-terminal flanking peptide antibodies. Formic acid pretreatment of pancreatic tissue sections prepared for immunostaining is useful for visualization of buried epitopes of mature IAPP and its precursor molecules, either in islet amyloid deposits or in the islet cells. We conclude that the IAPP precursor and N-terminal and C-terminal flanking peptides are not constituents of human islet amyloid.

Adult↗

Alpha 1-antichymotrypsin is associated solely with amyloid deposits containing the beta-protein. Amyloid and cell localization of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin.

Our recent studies demonstrated that alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), a serine protease inhibitor, was associated with the beta-protein in the brain amyloid deposits of Alzheimer's disease, aged human controls and aged monkeys, suggesting a role for the inhibitor in the amyloid deposition. In the present study we used immunohistochemistry to test for the presence of ACT in the amyloid deposits which contain, as their major component, a protein different from the beta-protein. ACT was not found in the amyloid deposits in primary or secondary amyloidosis, familial and amyloidotic polyneuropathy or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (non-beta-protein amyloidoses), but was found (together with beta-protein) in Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, normal aging, and hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis of Dutch origin. These results suggest a specific association of ACT with beta-protein amyloid. We next examined the distribution of the inhibitor in normal human brain and in various human neuropathological states in order to identify cells that express this protein during brain degeneration. In addition to its association with amyloid, ACT immunoreactivity was also located in astrocytes near areas of neuronal or tissue loss, in a few neurons and pericytes and in the epithelium of the choroid plexus.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Imaging beta-amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer's disease: a critical analysis through simulation of amyloid fibril polymerization.

The polymerization of beta-amyloid (A beta) peptides into fibrillary plaques is implicated, in part, in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. A beta molecular imaging probes (A beta-MIPs) have been introduced in an effort to quantify amyloid burden or load, in subjects afflicted with AD by invoking the classic PET receptor model for the quantitation of neuronal receptor density. In this communication, we explore conceptual differences between imaging the density of amyloid fibril polymers and neuronal receptors. We formulate a mathematical model for the polymerization of A beta with parameters that are mapped to biological modulators of fibrillogenesis and introduce a universal measure for amyloid load to accommodate various interactions of A beta-MIPs with fibrils. Subsequently, we hypothesize four A beta-MIPs and utilize the fibrillogenesis model to simulate PET tissue time activity curves (TACs). Given the unique nature of polymer growth and resulting PET TAC, the four probes report differing amyloid burdens for a given brain pathology, thus complicating the interpretation of PET images. In addition, we introduce the notion of an MIP's resolution, apparent maximal binding site concentration, optimal kinetic topology and its resolving power in characterizing the pathological progression of AD and the effectiveness of drug therapy. The concepts introduced in this work call for a new paradigm that goes beyond the classic parameters B(max) and K(D) to include binding characteristics to polymeric peptide aggregates such as amyloid fibrils, neurofibrillary tangles and prions.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Amyloid angiopathy and variability in amyloid beta deposition is determined by mutation position in presenilin-1-linked Alzheimer's disease.

The presenilins (PSs) are components of large molecular complexes that contain beta-catenin and function as gamma-secretase. We report here a striking correlation between amyloid angiopathy and the location of mutation in PS-1 linked Alzheimer's disease. The amount of amyloid beta protein, Abeta(42(43)), but not Abeta(40,) deposited in the frontal cortex of the brain is increased in 54 cases of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease, encompassing 25 mutations in the presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene, compared to sporadic Alzheimer's disease. The amount of Abeta(40) in PS-1 Alzheimer's disease varied according to the copy number of epsilon4 alleles of the Apolipoprotein E gene. Although the amounts of Abeta(40) and Abeta(42(43)) deposited did not correlate with the genetic location of the mutation in a strict linear sense, the histological profile did so vary. Cases with mutations between codon 1 and 200 showed, in frontal cortex, many diffuse plaques, few cored plaques, and mild or moderate amyloid angiopathy. Cases with mutations occurring after codon 200 also showed many diffuse plaques, but the number and size of cored plaques were increased (even when epsilon4 allele was not present) and these were often clustered around blood vessels severely affected by amyloid angiopathy. Similarly, diverging histological profiles, mainly according to the degree of amyloid angiopathy, were seen in the cerebellum. Mutations in the PS-1 gene may therefore alter the topology of the PS-1 protein so as to favor Abeta formation and deposition, generally, but also to facilitate amyloid angiopathy particularly in cases in which the mutation lies beyond codon 200. Finally we report that the amount of Abeta(42(43)) deposited in the brain correlated with the amount of this produced in culture by cells bearing the equivalent mutations.

Adult↗

The carboxy terminus of the beta amyloid protein is critical for the seeding of amyloid formation: implications for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Several variants of the beta amyloid protein, differing only at their carboxy terminus (beta 1-39, beta 1-40, beta 1-42, and beta 1-43), have been identified as the major components of the cerebral amyloid deposits which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Kinetic studies of aggregation by three naturally occurring beta protein variants (beta 1-39, beta 1-40, beta 1-42) and four model peptides (beta 26-39, beta 26-40, beta 26-42, beta 26-43) demonstrate that amyloid formation, like crystallization, is a nucleation-dependent phenomenon. This discovery has practical consequences for studies of the beta amyloid protein. The length of the C-terminus is a critical determinant of the rate of amyloid formation ("kinetic solubility") but has only a minor effect on the thermodynamic solubility. Amyloid formation by the kinetically soluble peptides (e.g., beta 1-39, beta 1-40, beta 26-39, beta 26-40) can be nucleated, or "seeded", by peptides which include the critical C-terminal residues (beta 1-42, beta 26-42, beta 26-43, beta 34-42). These results suggest that nucleation may be the rate-determining step of in vivo amyloidogenesis and that beta 1-42 and/or beta 1-43, rather than beta 1-40, may be the pathogenic protein(s) in AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Overexpression of amyloid precursor protein A4 (beta-amyloid) immunoreactivity in genetically transformed cells: implications for a cellular model of Alzheimer amyloidosis.

Among the major obstacles to clarifying molecular mechanisms involved in amyloid metabolism in Alzheimer disease has been the unavailability of laboratory models for this uniquely human disorder. The present studies were aimed at establishing genetically engineered cell lines that overexpress amyloid immunoreactivity and that may be relevant to amyloid accumulation in the Alzheimer disease brain. We used cloned amyloid cDNA that contains a region encoding A4 (beta-polypeptide) amino acids along with recently developed tumor virus vectors derived from simian virus 40 to prepare transformed cells. After transient and permanent transfection, a variety of cell types overexpressed A4 immunoreactivity that was detected by highly specific monoclonal antibodies. We observed that the use of an amyloid subdomain containing the A4 region, but lacking the sequence of a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor found in amyloid precursor protein variants, was sufficient to obtain cells that overproduced an A4 epitope. The transformed cells were readily propagated in culture and may provide an experimental medium to elucidate aspects of the molecular pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. The cellular models may also serve as tools for deriving potentially useful therapeutic agents.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Ca(2+)-dependent binding of human serum amyloid P component to Alzheimer's beta-amyloid peptide.

Serum amyloid P component (SAP), a normal glycoprotein, is universally found in amyloid deposits, including cerebrovascular amyloid of Alzheimer's disease. This paper describes the Ca(2+)-dependent binding of human SAP to Alzheimer's beta-amyloid peptide (A beta). 125I-SAP binds to synthetic human A beta-(1-40) immobilized on microtiter plates at a dissociation constant of 6.0 x 10(-9) M in 0.01 M Tris-HCl, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.5, containing 2 mM Ca2+, 1% bovine serum albumin, and 0.05% Tween 20. Binding inhibition assay has shown that soluble A beta-(1-40) and A beta-(1-28) also bind to SAP. Since SAP is resistant to proteases in the presence of calcium, the Ca(2+)-dependent binding of SAP to soluble A beta and to beta-amyloid fibrils would give pathological effects on fibril formation and persistence of beta-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

Exchanging the extracellular domain of amyloid precursor protein for horseradish peroxidase does not interfere with alpha-secretase cleavage of the beta-amyloid region, but randomizes secretion in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Secretory processing and polarized sorting of horseradish peroxidase fused to the amyloid precursor protein transmembrane domain were compared with those of wild-type amyloid precursor protein in COS and polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The cellular and secreted forms of the chimeric protein were enzymatically active in colorimetric and cytochemical assays after reconstitution with hemin and Ca2+. The peroxidase enzyme was secreted by a proteolytic process, similar to the parent amyloid precursor protein. In polarized MDCK cells, amyloid precursor protein was secreted exclusively in the basolateral compartment, while the peroxidase chimeric protein was secreted in both compartments. The basolateral sorting determinant for secretion must therefore be located in the extracellular domain of amyloid precursor protein. On the other hand, cell surface-associated peroxidase chimeric protein was similar to cell surface-associated wild-type amyloid precursor protein, mainly expressed at the basolateral side. The basolateral cell-surface expression, in contrast to the basolateral secretion, is therefore controlled by determinants in the cytoplasmic domain. Methylamine inhibited and bafilomycin slightly increased the basolateral secretion of both proteins, but both drugs strongly increased apical secretion. The default secretory pathway of COS cells and the basolateral (but not the apical) secretory pathway of MDCK cells are therefore comparably sensitive to methylamine and not to bafilomycin.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗

Curcumin inhibits formation of amyloid beta oligomers and fibrils, binds plaques, and reduces amyloid in vivo.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid beta (Abeta) accumulation, oxidative damage, and inflammation, and risk is reduced with increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory consumption. The phenolic yellow curry pigment curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and can suppress oxidative damage, inflammation, cognitive deficits, and amyloid accumulation. Since the molecular structure of curcumin suggested potential Abeta binding, we investigated whether its efficacy in AD models could be explained by effects on Abeta aggregation. Under aggregating conditions in vitro, curcumin inhibited aggregation (IC(50) = 0.8 microM) as well as disaggregated fibrillar Abeta40 (IC(50) = 1 microM), indicating favorable stoichiometry for inhibition. Curcumin was a better Abeta40 aggregation inhibitor than ibuprofen and naproxen, and prevented Abeta42 oligomer formation and toxicity between 0.1 and 1.0 microM. Under EM, curcumin decreased dose dependently Abeta fibril formation beginning with 0.125 microM. The effects of curcumin did not depend on Abeta sequence but on fibril-related conformation. AD and Tg2576 mice brain sections incubated with curcumin revealed preferential labeling of amyloid plaques. In vivo studies showed that curcumin injected peripherally into aged Tg mice crossed the blood-brain barrier and bound plaques. When fed to aged Tg2576 mice with advanced amyloid accumulation, curcumin labeled plaques and reduced amyloid levels and plaque burden. Hence, curcumin directly binds small beta-amyloid species to block aggregation and fibril formation in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that low dose curcumin effectively disaggregates Abeta as well as prevents fibril and oligomer formation, supporting the rationale for curcumin use in clinical trials preventing or treating AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗

The neuronal adaptor protein X11beta reduces amyloid beta-protein levels and amyloid plaque formation in the brains of transgenic mice.

Accumulation of cerebral amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is believed to be part of the pathogenic process in Alzheimer's disease. Abeta is derived by proteolytic cleavage from a precursor protein, the amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP is a type-1 membrane-spanning protein, and its carboxyl-terminal intracellular domain binds to X11beta, a neuronal adaptor protein. X11beta has been shown to inhibit the production of Abeta in transfected non-neuronal cells in culture. However, whether this is also the case in vivo in the brain and whether X11beta can also inhibit the deposition of Abeta as amyloid plaques is not known. Here we show that transgenic overexpression of X11beta in neurons leads to a decrease in cerebral Abeta levels in transgenic APPswe Tg2576 mice that are a model of the amyloid pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, overexpression of X11beta retards amyloid plaque formation in these APPswe mice. Our findings suggest that modulation of X11beta function may represent a novel therapeutic approach for preventing the amyloid pathology of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗

High-resolution ultrastructure of amyloid fibrils in familial amyloid polyneuropathy.

The ultrastructure of amyloid fibrils in familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) was clearly demonstrated. Amyloid of three patients with FAP caused by the point mutation of the 30th amino acid of transthyretin (ATTR Val30Met) and one patient with FAP caused by two point mutations of the 30th and 104th amino acid of transthyretin (ATTR Val30Met/Arg104Cys) were partially isolated, stained negatively and examined with an electron microscope. Amyloid fibrils of both types were composed of two protofilaments and twisted at 180 degrees to the right and left alternately with a periodicity of 125-135 nm. This is the first report demonstrating such unique alternating twist structure of amyloid fibrils. There were no ultrastructural differences between the fibrils caused by the ATTR Val30Met and ATTR Val30Met/ Arg104His; therefore, it is suggested that the point mutation of the 30th amino acid of transthyretin might play an important role in the formation of amyloid fibrils. Further biochemical study on the mechanism of this alternating twist formation should be undertaken.

Amino Acid Substitution↗