The goal of this mentored Career Development Award is to facilitate the primary investigator's transition to independence as a physician-scientist studying the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration. The proposed research, which will be conducted under the mentorship of Dr. David Holtzman, will examine the potential role of circadian clock genes as master regulators of neuronal oxidative stress and metabolism, and examine the role of the circadian clock in neurodegeneration. Circadian dysfunction is a prominent symptom of many age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. However, the impact of circadian dysfunction on neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, if any, is unknown. On a molecular level, circadian rhythms are generated by conserved transcriptional machinery (the core circadian clock) that is present in most cells in the body, including neurons and glia, and oscillates with a 24 hour periodicity. In many tissues, circadian clocks serve as master regulators of metabolism, aging, and oxidative stress, though this has not been demonstrated in the brain. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that circadian clock dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease. In order to test this hypothesis, the effect of genetic deletionof the master circadian clock gene Bmal1 on brain function and pathology will be examined through the following aims: 1) Elucidation of neuropathology changes in Bmal1 knockout mice, and identification of specific signaling abnormalities in clock-regulated pathways which mediate these changes. 2) Examination of the effect of Bmal1 deletion on neuronal metabolism, oxidative stress, and amyloid-beta regulation in living mice using in vivo micro dialysis. 3) Determination of the impact of brain-specific Bmal1 deletion on disease pathogenesis, oxidative stress, and amyloid-beta dynamics in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The proposed experiments are designed to illuminate a possible novel link between circadian clock dysfunction and neurodegeneration, with the ultimate goal of indentifying novel therapeutic targets for age-related neurodegenerative conditions. This training grant will provide the primary investigator with research training which will parallels his clinical focus in dementia, and will ultimately provide a skill set for translation of basic science discoveries into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Public Health Relevance

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, afflict tens of millions of people worldwide and are increasingly critical public health problems. Circadian rhythm abnormalities are important symptoms of many of these diseases, but the impact of abnormal circadian function on the occurrence and progression of these diseases in unknown. An understanding of how abnormal circadian rhythms may predispose the brain to neurodegenerative illnesses could lead to new therapies for these devastating diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
1K08NS079405-01
Application #
8352277
Study Section
NST-2 Subcommittee (NST)
Program Officer
Corriveau, Roderick A
Project Start
2012-07-01
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$168,793
Indirect Cost
$12,503
Name
Washington University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Lananna, Brian V; Nadarajah, Collin J; Izumo, Mariko et al. (2018) Cell-Autonomous Regulation of Astrocyte Activation by the Circadian Clock Protein BMAL1. Cell Rep 25:1-9.e5
Musiek, Erik S; Bhimasani, Meghana; Zangrilli, Margaret A et al. (2018) Circadian Rest-Activity Pattern Changes in Aging and Preclinical Alzheimer Disease. JAMA Neurol 75:582-590
Kress, Geraldine J; Liao, Fan; Dimitry, Julie et al. (2018) Regulation of amyloid-? dynamics and pathology by the circadian clock. J Exp Med 215:1059-1068
Musiek, Erik S (2017) Circadian Rhythms in AD pathogenesis: A Critical Appraisal. Curr Sleep Med Rep 3:85-92
Musiek, Erik S; Holtzman, David M (2016) Mechanisms linking circadian clocks, sleep, and neurodegeneration. Science 354:1004-1008
Day, Gregory S; Musiek, Erik S; Roe, Catherine M et al. (2016) Phenotypic Similarities Between Late-Onset Autosomal Dominant and Sporadic Alzheimer Disease: A Single-Family Case-Control Study. JAMA Neurol 73:1125-32
Musiek, Erik S; Xiong, David D; Patel, Tirth et al. (2016) Nmnat1 protects neuronal function without altering phospho-tau pathology in a mouse model of tauopathy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 3:434-42
Yang, Guangrui; Chen, Lihong; Grant, Gregory R et al. (2016) Timing of expression of the core clock gene Bmal1 influences its effects on aging and survival. Sci Transl Med 8:324ra16
Musiek, Erik S; Holtzman, David M (2015) Three dimensions of the amyloid hypothesis: time, space and 'wingmen'. Nat Neurosci 18:800-6
Musiek, Erik S (2015) Circadian clock disruption in neurodegenerative diseases: cause and effect? Front Pharmacol 6:29

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