Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: K48-linked ubiquitin chain (Ub-K48) is a crucial ubiquitin chain implicated in protein degradation within the ubiquitin-proteasome system. However, the precise function and molecular mechanism underlying the role of Ub-K48 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD...

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Main Authors: Qiang Li, Yiyuan Yuan, Shi Huang, Guangfu Di, Haoyuan Chen, Yani Zhuang, Wanzhen Fang, Yanjiao Huang, Yinan Tao, Jing Jiang, Zhiliang Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/23/12/10.31083/j.jin2312223
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author Qiang Li
Yiyuan Yuan
Shi Huang
Guangfu Di
Haoyuan Chen
Yani Zhuang
Wanzhen Fang
Yanjiao Huang
Yinan Tao
Jing Jiang
Zhiliang Xu
author_facet Qiang Li
Yiyuan Yuan
Shi Huang
Guangfu Di
Haoyuan Chen
Yani Zhuang
Wanzhen Fang
Yanjiao Huang
Yinan Tao
Jing Jiang
Zhiliang Xu
author_sort Qiang Li
collection DOAJ
description Background: K48-linked ubiquitin chain (Ub-K48) is a crucial ubiquitin chain implicated in protein degradation within the ubiquitin-proteasome system. However, the precise function and molecular mechanism underlying the role of Ub-K48 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and neuronal cell abnormalities remain unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the function of K48 ubiquitination in the etiology of AD, and its associated mechanism of neuronal apoptosis. Methods: A mouse model of AD was constructed, and behavioral phenotypic changes were detected using an open field test (OFT). The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an early marker of AD, was detected by western blotting (WB). Neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal region was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Nissl staining. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to observe the changes in Phosphorylated tubulin associated unit (p-Tau) and Ub-K48 colocalization in neurons of the hippocampal region of AD mice. WB was further applied to detect the degree of ubiquitylation of K48 and the expression of Tau, p-Tau, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) proteins in neuronal cells of the hippocampus and cortical regions of mice. Results: Mice with AD exhibited significantly longer resting times (p < 0.05) and shorter average speeds (p < 0.01), total distances travelled (p < 0.01), and distances travelled (p < 0.01) in the central region than those in the control group. This indicated cognitive impairment, which occurred concurrent with an increased expression of the AD marker GFAP protein (p < 0.001). The hippocampal region of AD mice showed abnormalities with sparsely and irregularly arranged cells, large gaps between cells, lighter staining, unclear boundaries of the cell membranes and nuclei, and agglutinated and condensed nuclei (p < 0.01). The neuronal cells of AD mice exhibited significantly elevated levels of p-Tau (p < 0.01) and Ub-K48 (p < 0.01), as well as a notable degree of co-localization within the cells. The intracellular pro-inflammatory protein Bax was significantly upregulated (p < 0.05), while the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05), thus inducing apoptosis in AD neuronal cells. Conclusion: Ub-K48 is strongly linked to the development of AD. p-Tau aggregate in neuronal cells in the hippocampal region of the AD brain and colocalize with Ub-K48, which in turn leads to cellular inflammation and the induction of apoptosis in neuronal cells.
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spelling doaj-art-1823f99bf6aa4d53b5e8f2d85a8d2d8c2025-08-20T02:51:15ZengIMR PressJournal of Integrative Neuroscience0219-63522024-12-01231222310.31083/j.jin2312223S0219-6352(24)00849-0Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s DiseaseQiang Li0Yiyuan Yuan1Shi Huang2Guangfu Di3Haoyuan Chen4Yani Zhuang5Wanzhen Fang6Yanjiao Huang7Yinan Tao8Jing Jiang9Zhiliang Xu10Human Anatomy Experimental Training Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaSchool of Clinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaSchool of Clinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery, Anhui Digital Brain Engineering Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, 241001 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaSchool of Clinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaHuman Anatomy Experimental Training Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaHuman Anatomy Experimental Training Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaHuman Anatomy Experimental Training Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, 241002 Wuhu, Anhui, ChinaBackground: K48-linked ubiquitin chain (Ub-K48) is a crucial ubiquitin chain implicated in protein degradation within the ubiquitin-proteasome system. However, the precise function and molecular mechanism underlying the role of Ub-K48 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and neuronal cell abnormalities remain unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the function of K48 ubiquitination in the etiology of AD, and its associated mechanism of neuronal apoptosis. Methods: A mouse model of AD was constructed, and behavioral phenotypic changes were detected using an open field test (OFT). The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an early marker of AD, was detected by western blotting (WB). Neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal region was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Nissl staining. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to observe the changes in Phosphorylated tubulin associated unit (p-Tau) and Ub-K48 colocalization in neurons of the hippocampal region of AD mice. WB was further applied to detect the degree of ubiquitylation of K48 and the expression of Tau, p-Tau, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) proteins in neuronal cells of the hippocampus and cortical regions of mice. Results: Mice with AD exhibited significantly longer resting times (p < 0.05) and shorter average speeds (p < 0.01), total distances travelled (p < 0.01), and distances travelled (p < 0.01) in the central region than those in the control group. This indicated cognitive impairment, which occurred concurrent with an increased expression of the AD marker GFAP protein (p < 0.001). The hippocampal region of AD mice showed abnormalities with sparsely and irregularly arranged cells, large gaps between cells, lighter staining, unclear boundaries of the cell membranes and nuclei, and agglutinated and condensed nuclei (p < 0.01). The neuronal cells of AD mice exhibited significantly elevated levels of p-Tau (p < 0.01) and Ub-K48 (p < 0.01), as well as a notable degree of co-localization within the cells. The intracellular pro-inflammatory protein Bax was significantly upregulated (p < 0.05), while the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05), thus inducing apoptosis in AD neuronal cells. Conclusion: Ub-K48 is strongly linked to the development of AD. p-Tau aggregate in neuronal cells in the hippocampal region of the AD brain and colocalize with Ub-K48, which in turn leads to cellular inflammation and the induction of apoptosis in neuronal cells.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/23/12/10.31083/j.jin2312223alzheimer’s diseaseub-k48p-tauapoptosis
spellingShingle Qiang Li
Yiyuan Yuan
Shi Huang
Guangfu Di
Haoyuan Chen
Yani Zhuang
Wanzhen Fang
Yanjiao Huang
Yinan Tao
Jing Jiang
Zhiliang Xu
Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease
Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
alzheimer’s disease
ub-k48
p-tau
apoptosis
title Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease
title_full Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease
title_fullStr Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease
title_full_unstemmed Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease
title_short Excess Ub-K48 Induces Neuronal Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease
title_sort excess ub k48 induces neuronal apoptosis in alzheimer s disease
topic alzheimer’s disease
ub-k48
p-tau
apoptosis
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/23/12/10.31083/j.jin2312223
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