TDP-43 interacts with amyloid-β, inhibits fibrillization, and worsens pathology in a model of Alzheimer's disease

Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 23;11(1):5950. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19786-7.

Abstract

TDP-43 inclusions are found in many Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients presenting faster disease progression and greater brain atrophy. Previously, we showed full-length TDP-43 forms spherical oligomers and perturbs amyloid-β (Aβ) fibrillization. To elucidate the role of TDP-43 in AD, here, we examined the effect of TDP-43 in Aβ aggregation and the attributed toxicity in mouse models. We found TDP-43 inhibited Aβ fibrillization at initial and oligomeric stages. Aβ fibrillization was delayed specifically in the presence of N-terminal domain containing TDP-43 variants, while C-terminal TDP-43 was not essential for Aβ interaction. TDP-43 significantly enhanced Aβ's ability to impair long-term potentiation and, upon intrahippocampal injection, caused spatial memory deficit. Following injection to AD transgenic mice, TDP-43 induced inflammation, interacted with Aβ, and exacerbated AD-like pathology. TDP-43 oligomers mostly colocalized with intracellular Aβ in the brain of AD patients. We conclude that TDP-43 inhibits Aβ fibrillization through its interaction with Aβ and exacerbates AD pathology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Long-Term Potentiation
  • Memory Disorders / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological / pathology
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Domains

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • TDP-43 protein, mouse