https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2014.00137/full
Vuoden 2014 käsitys aivojen sinkin tärkeydestä ja funktioista.. Kaavassa oli vielä kysymysmerkin kohtia.
REVIEW article
Front. Aging Neurosci., 25 June 2014
Sec. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Brain-aging
Volume 6 - 2014 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2014.00137
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Molecular Pathology of Cognitive Decline: Focus on MetalsView all 19 articles
Glia and zinc in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease: a mechanism for cognitive decline?
Normal ageing is characterized by
cognitive decline across a range of neurological functions, which are
further impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, alterations in
zinc (Zn) concentrations, particularly at the synapse, have emerged as a
potential mechanism underlying the cognitive changes that occur in both
ageing and AD. Zn is now accepted as a potent neuromodulator, affecting
a variety of signaling pathways at the synapse that are critical to
normal cognition. While the focus has principally been on the neuron: Zn
interaction, there is a growing literature suggesting that glia may
also play a modulatory role in maintaining both Zn ion homeostasis and
the normal function of the synapse. Indeed, zinc transporters (ZnT’s)
have been demonstrated in glial cells where Zn has also been shown to
have a role in signaling. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that
the pathogenesis of AD critically involves glial cells (such as
astrocytes), which have been reported to contribute to amyloid-beta (Aβ)
neurotoxicity. This review discusses the current evidence supporting a
complex interplay of glia, Zn dyshomeostasis and synaptic function in
ageing and AD.
Introduction
Ageing is an inevitable biological process wherein
physical and mental capabilities are diminished over time, often
resulting from a variety of factors such as cumulative oxidative stress
and altered cell metabolism. This functional decline then ultimately
results in a loss of synaptic plasticity. Ageing in itself does not
require a treatment per se, but maintaining cognitive function
into old age is a concept many aspire to. Currently, normal ageing is
considered to be associated with an overall decline in cognition
occurring via structural and functional brain changes over a period of
time (Meunier et al., 2014).
While we have a strong understanding of the physical decline that
occurs in peripheral organs and systems (e.g., muscle and bone); the
particular molecular and cellular changes that occur within the brain
and which ultimately underlie the progression of normal ageing are yet
to be fully determined. Despite the lack of consensus on the precise
neural alterations that occur, it is clear that there is a fine line
between healthy and pathological ageing.
Healthy Ageing vs. Alzheimer’s Disease
Currently, the mechanisms underlying ageing within the
brain remain poorly understood, and indeed one of the hallmarks of
ageing is its variability (Meunier et al., 2014),
with the preservation or loss of cognitive functions differing between
individuals. The functional memory decline that does occur, however, is
actually well characterized, with executive functioning, processing
speed and reasoning ability declining from middle age (Deary et al., 2009).
While the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this are yet to
be fully elucidated, it is important to note the potential intersection
with pathological ageing, as seen in conditions such as Alzheimer’s
disease (AD). Ageing is the greatest risk factor for the development of
AD, which is the most common form of age-related dementia (Mosconi et al., 2010; Reitz et al., 2011),
and it has been suggested that AD may simply be an acceleration of the
normal ageing process. Indeed, many of the cognitive impairments seen in
normal ageing are further exacerbated in AD. Symptomatically, AD is
characterized by marked deficiencies in episodic memory, attention,
perception and speech (Mesulam, 1999) as well as altered mood (Lopez et al., 2001).
Pathologically it is defined by the accumulation of intracellular
neurofibrillary tangles (comprised of abnormally phosphorylated tau
protein) and extracellular plaques (comprised of misfolded forms of the
amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide) within the brain. With regards to the potential
for a mechanistic overlap between ageing and AD, recent evidence points
to zinc (Zn) homeostasis as key player in both normal and pathological
ageing. Specifically, it has been demonstrated that there is a
modulation in brain Zn homeostasis in both ageing and AD (Religa et al., 2006; Haase and Rink, 2009)
that results in a neuronal Zn deficiency that may ultimately underlie
the onset and progression of cognitive deficits seen in both.
Zinc
Zn; an essential trace element and second in abundance in mammalian tissues (Wang et al., 2005; Paoletti et al., 2009), is critical for immunity, growth and development (Nolte et al., 2004), is a cofactor for more than 300 enzymes and is essential for the correct functioning of over 2000 transcription factors (Takeda, 2000; Levenson and Tassabehji, 2007; Jeong and Eide, 2013). The brain has the largest Zn content (Vasto et al., 2008),
the levels of which are tightly controlled by three main families of
proteins that have a distinct tissue and cell level pattern of
localization and expression (Hennigar and Kelleher, 2012).
These are; the metallothioneins (MT’s; that also coordinate a variety
of other metal ions), zinc transporters (ZnT’s) and Zn-regulated and
iron-regulated transporter proteins (ZIP’s; recent evidence has also
implicated the presenilin family as capable of influencing Zn
concentrations (Greenough et al., 2013)).
Currently there are four MT isoforms, 10 ZnT’s, 15 ZIP’s and two
presenilins. The ZnT’s coordinate intracellular Zn homeostasis while the
ZIP’s primary function is to regulate Zn uptake (Guerinot, 2000). The role of the MT’s is to control cytosolic concentrations through the binding and distribution of Zn (Mocchegiani et al., 2001). A number of studies have examined the effect of altered MT on brain metal levels, with mice deficient in both MT-I/II (Manso et al., 2011) and MT-III (Erickson et al., 1997),
for example, shown to have altered brain Zn levels. Cumulatively, these
proteins are responsible for the influx and efflux of Zn2+ in a variety of cellular compartments, including vesicles, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria (Figure 1).