No description available.

En accordance avec son haut prévalence dans le monde, parmi tous les cas de démence, la maladie d'Alzheimer (MA) est considérée comme la principal pathologie affectant les personnes plus âgées que 65 ans. Depuis son première description en 1907, de la recherche important et des observations innovants ont été faites concernant des aspects histopathologiques et moléculaires la neurodégénération associée à la maladie. Cependant, les mécanismes moléculaires de la pathogenèse et de la progression de la MA restent toujours partiellement compris. Outre, des stratégies thérapeutiques efficaces soit pour la prévention, soit pour l'arrêt de la progression de la maladie ne sont pas encore développées. Il semble donc crucial le développement de la recherche dans des domaines émergeants, nés à partir des concepts innovants et basés sur des approches mécanistiques novateurs à fin de découvrir des aspects dans la physiopathologie de la neurodégénérescence qui puissent conduire à des stratégies thérapeutiques pour soigner ces maladies.Les études présentées ici sont centrées dans le rôle des héparanes sulfates (HS), un membre particulier de la famille des glycosaminoglycannes, dans la physiopathologie des troubles neurodégénératifs, tels que la MA et démences associées, nommées taupathies. Ce travail de recherche, basé sur plusieurs observations isolées suggérant une association entre la pathologie de tau caractéristique des taupathies et les HS, explore par des moyens de études moléculaires, cellulaires et animaux les implications pathologiques de telle interaction. Comme résultat, je montre ici des évidences suggérant une participation clé des HS dans les évènements pathologiques de tau, tels que la phosphorylation anormale, la formation des inclusions intracellulaires, et la propagation des amas de tau.Globalement, le travail présenté ici dévoile une implication importante des HS hautement sulfatés dans la pathologie de tau associée à la MA, et au même temps ouvre une gamme de voies de recherche novatrices pour approfondir dans la caractérisation de l'interaction tau/HS et ses consequences physiopathologiques. De plus, ceci suggère des cibles pharmacologiques alternatives qui puisèrent donner d'espoir pour trouver un traitement effectif pour la MA. / According to its higher prevalence worldwide among all dementia cases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is placed as the first pathology affecting people aged of more than 65 years old. Since it first description in 1907, profound research and groundbreaking observations have been made concerning the histopathological and molecular aspects of its associated neurodegeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms of AD pathogenesis and progression remain still poorly understood. In addition, an efficient therapeutic approach to either prevent or stop the disease progression has not yet been developed. It becomes hence crucial to develop research in emerging areas raising from groundbreaking concepts and supported by new mechanistic approaches in order to unveil novel aspects of the physiopathology of neurodegeneration and therefore design new therapeutic approaches to treat these pathologies.The present study is focused on the role of heparan sulfate (HS), a particular member of the glycosaminoglycan family, in the physiopathology of neurodegenerative disorders, such as AD and related dementias, termed tauopathies. Based on numerous separate observations suggesting an association between tau pathology characteristic of tauopathies and HS, this research explores the pathological implications of such interaction by the means of molecular, cellular, and animal studies. As a result, I hereby present evidence suggesting a crucial involvement of HS in tau pathological events, such as abnormal phosphorylation, inclusion formation, and assembly propagation.Globally, the present work unveils a strong implication of highly sulfated HS in tau pathology associated to AD and related tauopathies, and opens a wide array of novel research pathways to deepen into the characterization of tau /HS interplay and its pathophysiologic consequences. In addition, it suggests alternative pharmacological targets that could bring some hope in finding an effective treatment for AD.

Reg-1α est une protéine essentielle du système digestif impliquée dans des fonctions de prolifération, différenciation et régénération. Elle est exprimée et sécrétée par les neurones du système nerveux central où elle stimule la croissance neuritique et régule la différenciation et la migration des cellules précurseurs neurales via son récepteur EXTL3 et la voie GSK-3β. Par ailleurs, Reg-1α est surexprimée dans les cerveaux de patients Alzheimer et nos études préliminaires montrent qu’elle est associée à Tau hyperphosphorylée. Nous avons étudié dans ce contexte (1) le rôle de Reg-1α dans les processus neurodégénératifs liés à Tau et les voies de signalisation impliquées et (2) sa localisation dans le cerveau de souris transgéniques exprimant Tau mutée P301L/R406W. Nous avons montré que la surexpression de Reg-1α dans des neurones différenciés ne modifie pas significativement la voie Akt/GSK-3β/P-Tau mais induit la formation d’amas de Tau anormalement phosphorylée et une perturbation modérée du transport axonal. Par contre, sur des neurones surexprimant TauP301L, Reg-1α stimule la phosphorylation de Tau via Akt/GSK-3β entrainant la formation accentuée de renflements neuritiques et la perturbation sévère du transport axonal. In vivo, Reg-1α augmente avec l’âge dans le cerveau des souris contrôles et son expression est plus importante dès 5 mois chez les souris PLB2 Tau comparée aux souris sauvages. De plus, Reg-1α est associée à l’accumulation de Tau phosphorylée en S202 chez les souris transgéniques. Reg-1α est une protéine pouvant moduler l’hyperphosphorylation de Tau et le transport axonal et donc pourrait jouer un rôle dans le développement des tauopathies. / Reg-1α is an essential protein of the digestive system involved in proliferation, differentiation and regeneration functions. It is also expressed and secreted by neurons of the central nervous system where it stimulates neurite outgrowth and regulates differentiation and migration of neural precursor cells via its receptor EXTL3 and GSK-3β pathway. Moreover, Reg-1α is overexpressed in the brain of Alzheimer's patients and our preliminary studies show that it is associated with hyperphosphorylated Tau. We studied in this context (1) the role of Reg-1α in neurodegenerative processes associated with Tau and the involved signaling pathways and (2) its location in the brain of transgenic mice expressing mutated Tau P301L/R406W (PLB2 mice). We showed that overexpression of Reg-1α in differentiated neurons does not significantly modify the Akt/GSK-3β/P-tau pathway. However it induces the formation of neuritic swellings associated with abnormal phosphorylated Tau and leads to the disruption of axonal transport. Furthermore, in neurons overexpressing TauP301L, Reg-1α overexpression stimulates Tau phosphorylation via Akt/GSK-3β regulation and results in the increase of neuritic bulges and severe disruption of axonal transport. In vivo, Reg-1α expression increases with age in brains of control mice and is already higher in 5 month-old PLB2 Tau mice compared with age-matched controls. Cellular localization showed that Reg-1α is associated with the accumulation of phosphorylated Tau S202 in PLB2 mice. Finally, Reg-1α can regulate Tau hyperphosphorylation and axonal transport and consequentely could be involved in Tauopathy development.

No description available.

No description available.

A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma patologia neurodegenerativa progressiva e a forma de demência mais prevalente no mundo. As alterações fisiopatológicas da DA têm sido associadas a dois marcadores neuropatológicos clássicos: a deposição de placas de β- amilóide e a formação de emaranhados neurofibrilares da proteína tau hiperfosforilada. Porém, devido a complexidade da DA, outros mecanismos têm sido propostos como coadjuvantes no processo neurodegenerativo, entre eles eventos neuroinflamatórios, a quebra da homeostasia de sistemas de neurotransmissão e disfunção sináptica. Esta pletora de eventos patológicos parece preceder a fase de demência por um longo período onde a doença age de forma silenciosa, ou seja, onde não existem evidências sintomatológicas. Na presente tese, avançamos no entendimento de vias de sinalização associadas com a hipersforforilação da proteína tau envolvendo a disfunção da proteína fosfatase 2A e neurotoxicidade do sistema glutamatérgico. Além disso, avaliamos os radiofármacos de tomografia de emissão de pósitrons (PET) disponíveis para visualização in vivo e não invasiva da fisiopatologia da DA. Finalmente, avaliamos um novo biomarcador de PET, o [11C]ABP688, para visualizar flutuações no sistema glutamatérgico e avançamos no entendimento do impacto das células gliais no sinal do PET [18F]FDG, o radiofármaco mais utilizado na clínica atualmente para visualizar metabolismo de glicose cerebral. O [11C]ABP688 pode ser diretamente incluído em estudos clínicos e a reconceptualização do [18F]FDG proposta nesta tese pode alterar a maneira atual como vemos o metabolismo de glicose na DA e em outras doenças neurodegenerativas. Finalmente, nesta tese, avançamos em termos de mecanismos, e no contexto da busca por um diagnóstico precoce e acurado da DA. / Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent cause of dementia worldwide. The AD pathophysiological features have been associated to two main classic neuropathological markers: depositon of β-amyloid plaques and formation of neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. Due to AD complexity, however, additional mechanisms have been proposed as contributors to the neurodegenerative process, such as neuroinflammatory changes, altered neurotransmission, and synaptic dysfunction. These pathological events seem to precede the dementia phase by many years, resulting in a long silent period, i.e., a preclinical phase. In this thesis, we advanced in the understanding of signaling pathways associated with tau hyperphosphorylation, which includes dysfunction of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and glutamatergic neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we underscored radiopharmaceuticals currently available for imaging AD pathophysiology in vivo and non-invasively with positron emission tomography (PET). Finally, we evaluated a new PET biomarker, [11C]ABP688, for visualizing glutamatergic fluctuations and advanced in the understating of how glial cells contribute to the [18F]FDG signal, the widely used radiopharmaceutical in clinical settings for visualizing cerebral glucose metabolism. Our findings have high translational value and direct impact in clinical settings, which can potentially alter the way we interpret glucose metabolism in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. In summary, in this thesis, we have advanced in terms of molecular mechanisms, and in the use of PET biomarkers toward an early and accurate diagnosis of AD.

A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma patologia neurodegenerativa progressiva e a forma de demência mais prevalente no mundo. As alterações fisiopatológicas da DA têm sido associadas a dois marcadores neuropatológicos clássicos: a deposição de placas de β- amilóide e a formação de emaranhados neurofibrilares da proteína tau hiperfosforilada. Porém, devido a complexidade da DA, outros mecanismos têm sido propostos como coadjuvantes no processo neurodegenerativo, entre eles eventos neuroinflamatórios, a quebra da homeostasia de sistemas de neurotransmissão e disfunção sináptica. Esta pletora de eventos patológicos parece preceder a fase de demência por um longo período onde a doença age de forma silenciosa, ou seja, onde não existem evidências sintomatológicas. Na presente tese, avançamos no entendimento de vias de sinalização associadas com a hipersforforilação da proteína tau envolvendo a disfunção da proteína fosfatase 2A e neurotoxicidade do sistema glutamatérgico. Além disso, avaliamos os radiofármacos de tomografia de emissão de pósitrons (PET) disponíveis para visualização in vivo e não invasiva da fisiopatologia da DA. Finalmente, avaliamos um novo biomarcador de PET, o [11C]ABP688, para visualizar flutuações no sistema glutamatérgico e avançamos no entendimento do impacto das células gliais no sinal do PET [18F]FDG, o radiofármaco mais utilizado na clínica atualmente para visualizar metabolismo de glicose cerebral. O [11C]ABP688 pode ser diretamente incluído em estudos clínicos e a reconceptualização do [18F]FDG proposta nesta tese pode alterar a maneira atual como vemos o metabolismo de glicose na DA e em outras doenças neurodegenerativas. Finalmente, nesta tese, avançamos em termos de mecanismos, e no contexto da busca por um diagnóstico precoce e acurado da DA. / Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent cause of dementia worldwide. The AD pathophysiological features have been associated to two main classic neuropathological markers: depositon of β-amyloid plaques and formation of neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. Due to AD complexity, however, additional mechanisms have been proposed as contributors to the neurodegenerative process, such as neuroinflammatory changes, altered neurotransmission, and synaptic dysfunction. These pathological events seem to precede the dementia phase by many years, resulting in a long silent period, i.e., a preclinical phase. In this thesis, we advanced in the understanding of signaling pathways associated with tau hyperphosphorylation, which includes dysfunction of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and glutamatergic neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we underscored radiopharmaceuticals currently available for imaging AD pathophysiology in vivo and non-invasively with positron emission tomography (PET). Finally, we evaluated a new PET biomarker, [11C]ABP688, for visualizing glutamatergic fluctuations and advanced in the understating of how glial cells contribute to the [18F]FDG signal, the widely used radiopharmaceutical in clinical settings for visualizing cerebral glucose metabolism. Our findings have high translational value and direct impact in clinical settings, which can potentially alter the way we interpret glucose metabolism in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. In summary, in this thesis, we have advanced in terms of molecular mechanisms, and in the use of PET biomarkers toward an early and accurate diagnosis of AD.

A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma patologia neurodegenerativa progressiva e a forma de demência mais prevalente no mundo. As alterações fisiopatológicas da DA têm sido associadas a dois marcadores neuropatológicos clássicos: a deposição de placas de β- amilóide e a formação de emaranhados neurofibrilares da proteína tau hiperfosforilada. Porém, devido a complexidade da DA, outros mecanismos têm sido propostos como coadjuvantes no processo neurodegenerativo, entre eles eventos neuroinflamatórios, a quebra da homeostasia de sistemas de neurotransmissão e disfunção sináptica. Esta pletora de eventos patológicos parece preceder a fase de demência por um longo período onde a doença age de forma silenciosa, ou seja, onde não existem evidências sintomatológicas. Na presente tese, avançamos no entendimento de vias de sinalização associadas com a hipersforforilação da proteína tau envolvendo a disfunção da proteína fosfatase 2A e neurotoxicidade do sistema glutamatérgico. Além disso, avaliamos os radiofármacos de tomografia de emissão de pósitrons (PET) disponíveis para visualização in vivo e não invasiva da fisiopatologia da DA. Finalmente, avaliamos um novo biomarcador de PET, o [11C]ABP688, para visualizar flutuações no sistema glutamatérgico e avançamos no entendimento do impacto das células gliais no sinal do PET [18F]FDG, o radiofármaco mais utilizado na clínica atualmente para visualizar metabolismo de glicose cerebral. O [11C]ABP688 pode ser diretamente incluído em estudos clínicos e a reconceptualização do [18F]FDG proposta nesta tese pode alterar a maneira atual como vemos o metabolismo de glicose na DA e em outras doenças neurodegenerativas. Finalmente, nesta tese, avançamos em termos de mecanismos, e no contexto da busca por um diagnóstico precoce e acurado da DA. / Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent cause of dementia worldwide. The AD pathophysiological features have been associated to two main classic neuropathological markers: depositon of β-amyloid plaques and formation of neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. Due to AD complexity, however, additional mechanisms have been proposed as contributors to the neurodegenerative process, such as neuroinflammatory changes, altered neurotransmission, and synaptic dysfunction. These pathological events seem to precede the dementia phase by many years, resulting in a long silent period, i.e., a preclinical phase. In this thesis, we advanced in the understanding of signaling pathways associated with tau hyperphosphorylation, which includes dysfunction of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and glutamatergic neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we underscored radiopharmaceuticals currently available for imaging AD pathophysiology in vivo and non-invasively with positron emission tomography (PET). Finally, we evaluated a new PET biomarker, [11C]ABP688, for visualizing glutamatergic fluctuations and advanced in the understating of how glial cells contribute to the [18F]FDG signal, the widely used radiopharmaceutical in clinical settings for visualizing cerebral glucose metabolism. Our findings have high translational value and direct impact in clinical settings, which can potentially alter the way we interpret glucose metabolism in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. In summary, in this thesis, we have advanced in terms of molecular mechanisms, and in the use of PET biomarkers toward an early and accurate diagnosis of AD.

Les tauopathies sont des maladies neurodégénératives caractérisées par l’agrégation intracérébrale de protéines tau anormales. Cependant ces maladies sont très hétérogènes sur le plan clinique, anatomopathologique mais aussi biochimique avec l'agrégation de différentes isoformes de protéines tau. De nombreux axes de recherche existent à ce jour afin de mieux comprendre ces maladies incurables. Au cours de cette thèse d'université, nous avons étudié les modifications de l’épigénome qui constituent une piste nouvelle et très prometteuse dans la recherche sur les maladies neurodégénératives. L'épigénétique est un processus dynamique et réversible qui peut être modifié par de nombreux facteurs génétiques ou environnementaux et qui joue un rôle très important dans la régulation des gènes. De nombreuses études rapportent une association entre certaines marques épigénétiques et les maladies neurodégénératives. Par exemple, dans la maladie d’Alzheimer, il a été observé une hyperméthylation de l'ADN, au niveau du promoteur du gène MAPT qui code les protéines tau.Dans ce contexte, nos objectifs étaient de déterminer si des variations de l'épigénome impliquant le gène MAPT contribuent à l'expression différentielle des protéines tau qui est observée dans les différentes classes de tauopathies. Nous avons donc constitué et caractérisé une banque de prélèvements cérébraux de témoins et de patients atteints de différentes tauopathies. Puis nous avons analysé la méthylation de l'ADN dans 3 tauopathies : la maladie d'Alzheimer, la paralysie supranucléaire progressive et la DCB. Notre étude a permis de mettre en évidence chez les patients atteints de PSP une hypométhylation dans l’inton 0 du gène MAPT. Cette hypométhylation ne concernait que le cortex frontal, affecté par la pathologie tau, mais pas le cortex occipital qui est épargné par la pathologie tau. De plus, nous avons également mis en évidence dans le tissu cérébral des patients atteints de PSP une hyperexpression des ARNm de MAPT par rapport aux témoins. Nous démontrons avec ce travail que l’hypométhylation de l'ADN de l’intron 0 de MAPT constitue une signature épigénétique spécifique de la PSP. Cette première étude nous a conduits à suspecter l'existence d'un promoteur alternatif du gène MAPT situé dans cette région de l'intron 0. Nous avons donc testé in vitro l'activité de ce promoteur et cloné des transcrits issu de ce promoteur alternatif. Nous avons ensuite confirmé ces analyses par la mesure de l'expression des ARNm par qPCR. Au total, ces expériences prouvent l'existence et la fonctionnalité de ce promoteur alternatif dans le cerveau humain. De plus, l'activation de ce promoteur alternatif aboutit à la transcription d'ARNm plus courts codant pour de nouvelles protéines tau qui pourraient être impliquées dans la survenue des tauopathies. / Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by intracerebral aggregation of abnormal tau proteins. However, these diseases are heterogeneous clinically, pathologically but also biochemically with the aggregation of different isoforms of tau protein. Many lines of research exist to date to better understand these incurable diseases. During this university thesis, we studied the changes in the epigenome that constitute a new and very promising approach in research on neurodegenerative diseases. Epigenetics is a dynamic and reversible process which can be modified by numerous genetic or environmental factors and plays a very important role in gene regulation. Many studies report an association between some epigenetic marks and neurodegenerative diseases. For example, in Alzheimer\'s disease, it has been observed hypermethylation of DNA in the promoter of the MAPT gene which encodes the tau protein.In this context, our objective was to determine if changes in epigenomic involving MAPT gene contribute to the differential expression of tau protein which is observed in the different classes of tauopathies. So we have established and characterized a human brainbank of controls and patients with different tauopathies. Then we analyzed the DNA methylation in 3 tauopathies: Alzheimer\'s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and CBD. Our study highlighted in PSP patients hypomethylation in intron 0 of MAPT gene. This hypomethylation concerned only the frontal cortex, affected by the tau-pathology but not the occipital cortex which is spared by tau-pathology. In addition, we also shown in the brain tissue of patients with PSP an overexpression of mRNA of MAPT compared to controls. We demonstrate in this work that hypomethylation of DNA in intron 0 of MAPT is a specific epigenetic signature of PSP. This first study has led us to suspect the existence of an alternative promoter of the MAPT gene located in this region of intron 0. We tested the in vitro activity of this promoter and cloned transcripts derived from this alternative promoter. We then confirmed this analysis by measuring mRNA expression by qPCR. In total, these experiments prove the existence and the functionality of this alternative promoter in the human brain. Furthermore, activation of the alternative promoter results in shorter mRNA transcripts encoding novel tau proteins that might be involved in the onset of the tauopathies.

La maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) représente la cause la plus importante de la démence, pourtant la cause de la MA reste toujours inconnue. Des données récentes suggèrent que la protéine BMI1 joue un rôle protecteur contre la MA et un rôle essentiel dans l’intégrité de l’hétérochromatine constitutive (hét-c) – les régions génomiques inactives au niveau de la transcription. Les niveaux de BMI1 et d’hét-c sont diminués dans les cerveaux de patients atteints de la MA, et des modèles de déficience de BMI1 in vivo et in vitro reproduisent des phénotypes canoniques de la MA. Nous avançons l’hypothèse que la perturbation de l’hét-c, effectuée par l’inactivation de gènes impliqués dans son intégrité, induira trois phénotypes canoniques de la MA : l’amyloïdopathie, la tauopathie et l’apoptose. Les knock-out (KO) de ces gènes se réalisent individuellement via le système CRISPR-Cas9 dans des neurones humains in vitro. Huit des 38 conditions de KO manifestent une perturbation d’hét-c, analysée par Western Blot; six manifestent une amyloïdopathie, deux manifestent une tauopathie et quatre manifestent des niveaux élevés d’apoptose, analysés par microscopie confocale et immunofluorescence. Les conditions de KO de gènes impliqués dans les domaines associés à la lamine manifestent plusieurs ou tous ces phénotypes de la MA. Ces résultats peuvent suggérer une nouvelle théorie qui expliquerait la cause de la MA : la dérépression de ces domaines induit l’activation des long interspersed elements (LINEs) dont leur dérépression cause des dommages à l’ADN et une réponse immunitaire innée aboutissant à un état sénescent et pro-inflammatoire qui entraîne la neurodégénérescence. / Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) represents the number one cause of dementia, however the cause of AD remains unknown. Recent data suggest that the protein BMI1 plays a protective role against AD and an essential role in the integrity of constitutive heterochromatin (c-het) – transcriptionally inactive, genomic regions. The levels of BMI1 and c-het are diminished in brains of AD patients, and models of BMI1 deficiency in vivo and in vitro reproduce canonical phenotypes of AD. We hypothesize that the disruption of c-het, brought about by inactivating genes implicated in its integrity, will induce three canonical phenotypes of AD: amyloidopathy, tauopathy and apoptosis. These gene knock-outs (KO) are carried out individually via the CRISPR-Cas9 system in human neurons in vitro. Eight of the 38 KO conditions present a disruption of c-het, analysed by Western Blot; six present amyloidopathy, two present tauopathy and four present elevated levels of apoptosis, analysed by confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence. The KO conditions of genes implicated in lamina-associated domains present some or all these AD phenotypes. These results may suggest a novel theory that would explain the cause of Alzheimer’s Disease: the derepression of these domains induces the activity of long interspersed elements (LINEs) which causes DNA damage and an innate immune response, culminating in a pro-inflammatory state of cellular senescence which leads to neurodegeneration.