Open AccessExtracellular GAPDH Promotes Alzheimer Disease Progression by Enhancing Amyloid-β Aggregation and Cytotoxicity
Author(s) -
Vladimir F. Lazarev,
Magda Tsolaki,
Elena R. Mikhaylova,
Konstantin A. Benken,
Maxim Shevtsov,
Alina D. Nikotina,
Mirna Lechpammer,
Vladimir A. Mitkevich,
Alexander А. Makarov,
Alexey Moskalev,
С.А. Козин,
Boris A. Margulis,
Irina V. Guzhova,
Evgeny Nudler
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aging and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.808
H-Index - 54
ISSN - 2152-5250
DOI - 10.14336/ad.2020.1230
Subject(s) - glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase , neurodegeneration , microbiology and biotechnology , amyloid (mycology) , alzheimer's disease , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , medicine , pathology , disease , enzyme , dehydrogenase
Neuronal cell death at late stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) causes the release of cytosolic proteins. One of the most abundant such proteins, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), forms stable aggregates with extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ). We detect these aggregates in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from AD patients at levels directly proportional to the progressive stages of AD. We found that GAPDH forms a covalent bond with Q15 of Aβ that is mediated by transglutaminase (tTG). The Q15A substitution weakens the interaction between Aβ and GAPDH and reduces Aβ-GAPDH cytotoxicity. Lentivirus-driven GAPDH overexpression in two AD animal models increased the level of apoptosis of hippocampal cells, neural degeneration, and cognitive dysfunction. In contrast, in vivo knockdown of GAPDH reversed these pathogenic abnormalities suggesting a pivotal role of GAPDH in Aβ-stimulated neurodegeneration. CSF from animals with enhanced GAPDH expression demonstrates increased cytotoxicity in vitro . Furthermore, RX-624, a specific GAPDH small molecular ligand reduced accumulation of Aβ aggregates and reversed memory deficit in AD transgenic mice. These findings argue that extracellular GAPDH compromises Aβ clearance and accelerates neurodegeneration, and, thus, is a promising pharmacological target for AD.