In most neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), specific proteins that are normally soluble, aggregate in either the intra- or extracellular space of the brain. In AD, the aggregation of amyloid-? (A?) appears to initiate disease pathogenesis and the aggregation of tau in specific brain regions is associated with neurodegeneration. Understanding factors that lead to protein aggregation and their spread through specific neural networks will likely provide important insights for development of new treatments. One factor that influences the likelihood that A? or tau will aggregate is concentration. Prior to and over the first 4 years of this PPG, project 1, working with the other PPG investigators, has produced strong evidence that something associated with the sleep wake cycle regulates interstitial fluid (ISF) A? levels at least in part via influencing synaptic activity. Further, manipulations that influence the sleep wake cycle that are linked with increasing or decreasing ISF A? acutely also increase or decrease A? deposition chronically if such changes occur over longer periods of time. While tau is a predominantly a cytosolic protein, we also found that it is present in the ISF and that its levels there can be regulated by excitatory synaptic activity. A key concept that has emerged in neurodegenerative diseases is that certain proteins that aggregate, such as A? and tau, appear to spread within the brain. Once aggregation occurs in one region, protein aggregates will often next appear in another brain region that is in a synaptically connected network. There is strong evidence in AD and in animal models that A? aggregation in some way drives the progression and spread of tauopathy within brain networks. This spread of protein aggregates may occur via a prion-like mechanism. In prior studies of the sleep/wake cycle, we performed manipulations that affect more than just sleep (e.g. stress) and did not specifically affect slow wave sleep. Some important questions remain. Does direct neural manipulation of wakefulness and slow wave sleep have the same effects we have previously seen in regard to A?? Is ISF tau, tau pathology, and tau spreading acutely and chronically affected by the sleep/wake cycle? How does A? influence ISF tau, tau pathology, and tau spreading in the context of changes in the sleep/wake cycle? We hypothesize that ISF A? and A? pathology is strongly affected by the sleep wake cycle and that the ability of A? to drive tauopathy occurs in part via effects of the sleep wake cycle influencing trans synaptic spread of tau aggregates. This hypothesis will be tested in these aims.
Aim 1 : To directly manipulate slow wave sleep and wakefulness via Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) and determine the acute effects on ISF A? and tau.
Aim 2 : To determine the effects of modulating the sleep/wake cycle chronically via DREADDs and other methods on A? pathology, tau pathology synaptic integrity, network function, sleep, and behavior in APP/PS1?E9 mice +/- human tau.
Aim 3 : To determine the effects of modulating the sleep/wake cycle via DREADDs and other methods in a tau spreading model in the presence and absence of A?.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01NS074969-09
Application #
10006907
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1)
Project Start
2012-09-15
Project End
2022-08-31
Budget Start
2020-09-01
Budget End
2021-08-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Type
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Zhao, Na; Liu, Chia-Chen; Qiao, Wenhui et al. (2018) Apolipoprotein E, Receptors, and Modulation of Alzheimer's Disease. Biol Psychiatry 83:347-357
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
Ogaki, Kotaro; Martens, Yuka A; Heckman, Michael G et al. (2018) Multiple system atrophy and apolipoprotein E. Mov Disord 33:647-650
Liao, Fan; Li, Aimin; Xiong, Monica et al. (2018) Targeting of nonlipidated, aggregated apoE with antibodies inhibits amyloid accumulation. J Clin Invest 128:2144-2155
Kang, S S; Ren, Y; Liu, C-C et al. (2018) Lipocalin-2 protects the brain during inflammatory conditions. Mol Psychiatry 23:344-350
Hettinger, Jane C; Lee, Hyo; Bu, Guojun et al. (2018) AMPA-ergic regulation of amyloid-? levels in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Mol Neurodegener 13:22
Yuede, Carla M; Timson, Benjamin F; Hettinger, Jane C et al. (2018) Interactions between stress and physical activity on Alzheimer's disease pathology. Neurobiol Stress 8:158-171
Holth, Jerrah K; Mahan, Thomas E; Robinson, Grace O et al. (2017) Altered sleep and EEG power in the P301S Tau transgenic mouse model. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 4:180-190
Nielsen, Henrietta M; Chen, Kewei; Lee, Wendy et al. (2017) Peripheral apoE isoform levels in cognitively normal APOE ?3/?4 individuals are associated with regional gray matter volume and cerebral glucose metabolism. Alzheimers Res Ther 9:5

Showing the most recent 10 out of 85 publications