Increased mitochondrial calcium levels associated with neuronal death in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Open Access
- 1 May 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature Communications
- Vol. 11 (1), 1-17
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16074-2
Abstract
Mitochondria contribute to shape intraneuronal Ca2+ signals. Excessive Ca2+ taken up by mitochondria could lead to cell death. Amyloid beta (A beta) causes cytosolic Ca2+ overload, but the effects of A beta on mitochondrial Ca2+ levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear. Using a ratiometric Ca2+ indicator targeted to neuronal mitochondria and intravital multiphoton microscopy, we find increased mitochondrial Ca2+ levels associated with plaque deposition and neuronal death in a transgenic mouse model of cerebral beta -amyloidosis. Naturally secreted soluble A beta applied onto the healthy brain increases Ca2+ concentration in mitochondria, which is prevented by blockage of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter. RNA-sequencing from post-mortem AD human brains shows downregulation in the expression of mitochondrial influx Ca2+ transporter genes, but upregulation in the genes related to mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux pathways, suggesting a counteracting effect to avoid Ca2+ overload. We propose lowering neuronal mitochondrial Ca2+ by inhibiting the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter as a novel potential therapeutic target against AD. Calvo-Rodriguez et al. show elevated calcium levels in neuronal mitochondria in a mouse model of cerebral beta -amyloidosis after plaque deposition, which precede rare neuron death events in this model. The mechanism involves toxic extracellular A beta oligomers and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter.Funding Information
- BrightFocus Foundation (A2019488F)
- Alzheimer's Association (AACF-17-524184)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS R25NS065743)
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