Aging is the single most important risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), which represents ~97% of all cases of AD dementia. We have recently shown that normal aging of the brain is characterized by a progressive switch from the TrkA to the p75NTR receptor system that leads to activation of the second messenger ceramide and increased production of amyloid 2-peptide (A2). These effects can be blocked by genetic disruption of p75NTR and biochemical inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase), the enzyme that activates ceramide. In the Preliminary Studies section we show that activation of IGF1-R signaling up- regulates p75NTR while down-regulating TrkA. The signaling cascade downstream of IGF1-R requires IRS2, PI3K, PIP3, Egr-1, HIPK2, and is under the inhibitory control of PTEN and p44. We also show that IGF1-R acts up-stream of p75NTR/TrkA in the regulation of A2 generation. In addition, hyperactivation of IGF1-R signaling in p44+/+ transgenic mice leads to an accelerated form of aging, early TrkA to p75NTR switch, and increased production of A2. Finally, p44+/+, APP695/swe double-transgenic mice develop an early and severe form of neurodegeneration that results in death by the 3rd month of life. The above events were all linked to overproduction of ceramide and molecular stabilization of BACE1. Therefore, our studies have uncovered a novel molecular link between aging and AD, and are leading the field toward new directions that, if successful, will have direct impact on the prevention of a disease that is projected to affect ~15 million Americans by the year 2050. The long-term objective of this application is to analyze the role of IGF1-R signaling in the pathogenesis of AD and to assess whether it can serve as a novel target for the prevention of late-onset AD.
Specific Aim 1 will analyze the role of the signaling molecules that act down-stream of IGF1-R. We have described several biochemical and genetic studies in both primary neurons and neuronal cell lines. The biochemical approach includes in vitro-assays and pharmacologic inhibitors, whereas the genetic approach includes siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, and dominant mutants of the targeted signaling molecules. We will also use organotypic brain cultures and animal models of aging, including normally-fed (normal aging) and caloric-restricted (delayed aging) wild-type mice, and p44+/+ mice (accelerated aging).
Specific Aim 2 will analyze the role of IGF1-R signaling on AD pathology in a our newly developed p44+/+, APP695/swe mouse model. For this purpose, we have described biochemical, histological, and cognitive approaches. In addition, we will also treat p44+/+, APP695/swe mice with manumycin A (which inhibits the production of ceramide) to assess whether we can block/delay the pathology. Finally, the coordination between Aim 1, where we plan to identify biochemical targets, and Aim 2, where we plan to characterize the first AD mouse model that is under the control of a hyperactive aging program, will allow us to test novel pharmacological strategies to prevent the AD-risk associated with aging.

Public Health Relevance

Aging is the single most important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), which represents the most common cause of dementia in the World. Because of the increase in life expectancy that we are experiencing, AD is predicted to affect 45 million individuals worldwide by the year 2050. During the last three years we have identified a novel molecular pathway that links aging to AD neuropathology. We have also developed the first mouse model that allows to study the effect of aging on AD. Given the role that these events play in the pathogenesis of AD, our results have profound implications for the neurobiology of the disease and for the prevention of the AD-risk associated with aging. The long-term objective of this proposal is to expand upon our findings and fully characterize the molecular pathway that we have identified. This will allow us to design new pharmacologic approaches for the prevention of AD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG028569-05
Application #
8234969
Study Section
Aging Systems and Geriatrics Study Section (ASG)
Program Officer
Petanceska, Suzana
Project Start
2008-03-01
Project End
2014-02-28
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$286,660
Indirect Cost
$91,584
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Mak, Anthony B; Pehar, Mariana; Nixon, Allison M L et al. (2014) Post-translational regulation of CD133 by ATase1/ATase2-mediated lysine acetylation. J Mol Biol 426:2175-82
Pehar, Mariana; Ko, Mi Hee; Li, Mi et al. (2014) P44, the 'longevity-assurance' isoform of P53, regulates tau phosphorylation and is activated in an age-dependent fashion. Aging Cell 13:449-56
Pehar, Mariana; Puglielli, Luigi (2013) Lysine acetylation in the lumen of the ER: a novel and essential function under the control of the UPR. Biochim Biophys Acta 1833:686-97
Sridharan, Aadhavi; Pehar, Mariana; Salamat, M Shahriar et al. (2013) Calorie restriction attenuates astrogliosis but not amyloid plaque load in aged rhesus macaques: a preliminary quantitative imaging study. Brain Res 1508:1-8
Pehar, Mariana; Jonas, Mary Cabell; Hare, Theresa M et al. (2012) SLC33A1/AT-1 protein regulates the induction of autophagy downstream of IRE1/XBP1 pathway. J Biol Chem 287:29921-30
Ding, Yun; Ko, Mi Hee; Pehar, Mariana et al. (2012) Biochemical inhibition of the acetyltransferases ATase1 and ATase2 reduces ?-secretase (BACE1) levels and A? generation. J Biol Chem 287:8424-33
Pehar, Mariana; Lehnus, Massimiliano; Karst, Anna et al. (2012) Proteomic assessment shows that many endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident proteins are targeted by N(epsilon)-lysine acetylation in the lumen of the organelle and predicts broad biological impact. J Biol Chem 287:22436-40
Pehar, Mariana; O'Riordan, Kenneth J; Burns-Cusato, Melissa et al. (2010) Altered longevity-assurance activity of p53:p44 in the mouse causes memory loss, neurodegeneration and premature death. Aging Cell 9:174-90
Jonas, Mary Cabell; Pehar, Mariana; Puglielli, Luigi (2010) AT-1 is the ER membrane acetyl-CoA transporter and is essential for cell viability. J Cell Sci 123:3378-88
Li, Hui; Costantini, Claudio; Scrable, Heidi et al. (2009) Egr-1 and Hipk2 are required for the TrkA to p75(NTR) switch that occurs downstream of IGF1-R. Neurobiol Aging 30:2010-20

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