Stable Size Distribution of Amyloid Plaques Over the Course of Alzheimer Disease

Authors

Serrano-Pozo, Alberto MD; Mielke, Matthew L. BS; Muzitansky, Alona; Gómez-Isla, Teresa MD, PhD; Growdon, John H. MD; Bacskai, Brian J. PhD; Betensky, Rebecca A. PhD, MPH; Frosch, Matthew P. MD, PhD; Hyman, Bradley T. MD, PhD

Abstract

Amyloid β plaques are a key pathologic feature of Alzheimer disease (AD), but whether plaque sizes increase or stabilize over thecourse of AD is unknown. We measured the size distribution of total immunoreactive (10D5-positive) and dense-core (Thioflavin S-positive) plaques in the temporal neocortex of a large group of subjects with AD and age-matched plaque-bearing subjects without dementia to test the hypothesis that amyloid plaques continue to grow along with the progression of the disease. The size of amyloid β (10D5)-positive plaques did not differ between groups, whereas dense-core plaques from the group with AD were slightly larger than those from the group without dementia (∼25%-30%, p = 0.01). Within the group with AD, dense-core plaque size did not independently correlate with duration of clinical disease (from 4 to 21 years, p = 0.68), whereas 10D5-positive plaque size correlated negatively with disease duration (p = 0.01). By contrast, an earlier age of symptom onset strongly predicted a larger postmortem plaque size; this effect was independent of disease duration and the presence of the APOE[Latin Small Letter Open E]4 allele (p = 0.0001). We conclude that plaques vary in size among patients, with larger size distributions correlating with an earlier age of onset, but plaques do not substantially increase in size over the clinical course of the disease.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NEN.0b013e31825e77de

Stimulation of Host Bone Marrow Stromal Cells by Sympathetic Nerves Promotes Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis in Mice

Authors

J. Preston Campbell, Matthew R. Karolak, Yun Ma,Daniel S. Perrien, S. Kathryn Masood-Campbell, Niki L. Penner, Steve A. Munoz, Andries Zijlstra, Xiangli Yang, Julie A. Sterling, Florent Elefteriou

Abstract

Bone and lung metastases are responsible for the majority of deaths in patients with breast cancer. Following treatment of the primary cancer, emotional and psychosocial factors within this population precipitate time to recurrence and death, however the underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. Using a mouse model of bone metastasis, we provide experimental evidence that activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is one of many pathophysiological consequences of severe stress and depression, promotes MDA-231 breast cancer cell colonization of bone via a neurohormonal effect on the host bone marrow stroma. We demonstrate that induction of RANKL expression in bone marrow osteoblasts, following β2AR stimulation, increases the migration of metastatic MDA-231 cells in vitro, independently of SDF1-CXCR4 signaling. We also show that the stimulatory effect of endogenous (chronic stress) or pharmacologic sympathetic activation on breast cancer bone metastasis in vivo can be blocked with the β-blocker propranolol, and by knockdown of RANK expression in MDA-231 cells. These findings indicate that RANKL promotes breast cancer cell metastasis to bone via its pro-migratory effect on breast cancer cells, independently of its effect on bone turnover. The emerging clinical implication, supported by recent epidemiological studies, is that βAR-blockers and drugs interfering with RANKL signaling, such as Denosumab, could increase patient survival if used as adjuvant therapy to inhibit both the early colonization of bone by metastatic breast cancer cells and the initiation of the “vicious cycle” of bone destruction induced by these cells.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001363

Evaluation of BMP-2 tethered polyelectrolyte coatings on hydroxyapatite scaffolds in vivo

Authors

Stefanie Shiels, Sunho Oh, Chunsik Bae, Teja Guda, Brian Singleton, David D. Dean, Joseph C. Wenke, Mark R. Appleford, Joo L. Ong

Abstract

The goal of this in vivo study was to evaluate the osteoinductive and angio-inductive properties of a porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) scaffold with immobilized recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on the surface. It was hypothesized in this study that the use of a rhBMP-2 incorporated polyelectrolyte coating on the HAp scaffold would allow for controlled exposure of rhBMP-2 into the tissue and would provide a sound platform for tissue growth. The scaffolds were characterized for porosity and interconnectivity using pycnometry, scanning electron microscopy and micro-ct. These scaffolds were then divided into the following four groups: (a) HAp scaffold (n-HAp group), (b) rhBMP-2 physically adsorbed on HAp scaffold (HAp-BMP-2 Group), (c) polyelectrolyte coating on HAp scaffold without rhBMP-2 (HAp-PEI Scaffold Group), and (d) polyelectrolyte coating tethered with rhBMP-2 on HAp scaffold (HAp-PEI-BMP-2 Scaffold Group). Using 18 skeletally matured New Zealand white rabbits, these scaffolds were evaluated in a nonload bearing femoral condyle plug model. The negative controls for this study have defects that were left untreated and the positive controls have defects that were filled with autologous bone graft harvested from epsilateral iliac crest. Bone induction, vessel growth, and scaffold-bone contact were analyzed after 8-week implantation using micro-CT and histomorphometry. It was concluded from this study that the use of scaffold with an attached rhBMP-2 increased the vascularization around the implant when compared with the uncoated n-HAp scaffold, a necessary step of bone regeneration. The open-pore HAp scaffold was also concluded to provide a platform for tissue growth, drug loading, and tissue interaction.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.32745

E proteins regulate osteoclast maturation and survival

Authors

Courtney L. Long, William L. Berry, Ying Zhao, Xiao-Hong Sun, Mary Beth Humphrey

Abstract

Osteoclasts are bone specific polykarons derived from myeloid precursors under the stimulation of MCSF and RANKL. E proteins are basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that modulate lymphoid versus myeloid cell fate decisions. To study the role of E proteins in osteoclasts, myeloid specific E protein gain-of-function transgenic mice were generated. These mice have high bone mass due to decreased osteoclast numbers and increased osteoclast apoptosis leading to overall reductions in resorptive capacity. The molecular mechanism of decreased osteoclast numbers and resorption is due, in part, to elevated expression of CD38, a regulator of intracellular calcium pools with known anti-osteoclastogenic properties, which increases sensitivity to apoptosis. In vivo, exogenous RANKL stimulation can overcome this inhibition to drive osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. In vitro derived ET2 osteoclasts are more spread and more numerous with increases in RANK, TREM2, and NFATc1 compared to wild type. However, their resorptive capacity does not increase accordingly. Thus, E proteins participate in osteoclast maturation and survival in homeostatic bone remodeling.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.1707

HGFK1 inhibits bone metastasis in breast cancer through the TAK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Authors

Y Yao, Z-P Fang, H Chen, L Yue, D-l Min, L-N Tang, W-X Yu, H F Kung,M C Lin and Z Shen

Abstract

Breast cancer metastasis to bone represents a devastating complication of advanced breast cancer, frequently resulting in significant increases in morbidity and mortality. An understanding of the mechanisms that govern breast cancer metastasis at the molecular level should lead to more effective therapies. Recently, the kringle 1 domain of human hepatocyte growth factor (HGFK1) was identified as a candidate metastasis suppressor gene. Here, we investigated whether HGFK1 is a key regulator of breast cancer bone metastasis. Of the 193 human breast carcinoma tissue samples examined, HGFK1 expression was relative higher in 82 (42.4%) by western blot and in 84 (43.5%) by quantitative real-time PCR. The higher expression of HGFK1 was significantly associated with a better prognostic value (P<0.001) and inversely correlated with bone metastasis (P=0.003). The efficacy of adeno-associated virus carrying HGFK1 (AAV-HGFK1) in osteolytic bone metastasis was then evaluated using an in vivo bone metastasis model. AAV-HGFK1 significantly inhibited osteolytic bone metastasis and prolonged the survival of mice in this model (P<0.01). In vitro, HGFK1 expression resulted in significant anti-invasion effects, enhanced the phosphorylation of TAK1 (transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1), p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and MAPKAPK2 (MAPK-activated protein kinase 2) and decreased the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), which was abrogated by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. This study shows for the first time that HGFK1 significantly inhibits the metastasis of breast cancer to bone by activating the TAK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and inhibiting RANK expression. Thus, AAV-HGFK1 treatment represents a potential therapy for bone metastasis in breast cancer.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/cgt.2012.38

T-Lymphocytes Enable Osteoblast Maturation via IL-17F during the Early Phase of Fracture Repair

Authors

Diane Nam, Elaine Mau, Yufa Wang, David Wright, David Silkstone, Heather Whetstone, Cari Whyne, Benjamin Alman

Abstract

While it is well known that the presence of lymphocytes and cytokines are important for fracture healing, the exact role of the various cytokines expressed by cells of the immune system on osteoblast biology remains unclear. To study the role of inflammatory cytokines in fracture repair, we studied tibial bone healing in wild-type and Rag1−/− mice. Histological analysis, µCT stereology, biomechanical testing, calcein staining and quantitative RNA gene expression studies were performed on healing tibial fractures. These data provide support for Rag1−/− mice as a model of impaired fracture healing compared to wild-type. Moreover, the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-17F, was found to be a key mediator in the cellular response of the immune system in osteogenesis. In vitro studies showed that IL-17F alone stimulated osteoblast maturation. We propose a model in which the Th17 subset of T-lymphocytes produces IL-17F to stimulate bone healing. This is a pivotal link in advancing our current understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of fracture healing, which in turn may aid in optimizing fracture management and in the treatment of impaired bone healing.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040044