Cited by 131Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsPrion Diseases and Protein MisfoldingAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research

Intercellular Spread of Protein Aggregates in Neurodegenerative Disease

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Davis, Albert A., Leyns, Cheryl E.G., Holtzman, David M.·2018·Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology

Abstract

Most neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates, some of which are toxic to cells. Mounting evidence demonstrates that in several diseases, protein aggregates can pass from neuron to neuron along connected networks, although the role of this spreading phenomenon in disease pathogenesis is not completely understood. Here we briefly review the molecular and histopathological features of protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disease, we summarize the evidence for release of proteins from donor cells into the extracellular space, and we highlight some other mechanisms by which protein aggregates might be transmitted to recipient cells. We also discuss the evidence that supports a role for spreading of protein aggregates in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis and some limitations of this model. Finally, we consider potential therapeutic strategies to target spreading of protein aggregates in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100617-062636

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  • Proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases may normally be intracellular or extracellular, but all are present in the extracellular space.

    “while proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases may normally be either intracellular or extracellular in nature, all are present in the extracellular space.”

    From Glymphatic failure as a final common pathway to dementia (2020) · cites this paper as [76]

  • Sampling of CSF and extracellular fluid has documented that amyloid-β, tau, and α-synuclein are present outside the cytosol.

    “Sampling of CSF and extracellular fluid have documented that amyloid-ß, tau and a-synuclein are all present outside the cytosol.”

    From Glymphatic failure as a final common pathway to dementia (2020) · cites this paper as [76]

  • These proteins lack N-terminal signal sequences, so unconventional mechanisms must be responsible for their release.

    “These proteins all lack N-terminal signal sequences, so that unconventional mechanisms must be responsible for their release (76).”

    From Glymphatic failure as a final common pathway to dementia (2020) · cites this paper as [76]

  • One curious feature of the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases is the apparent spread of cellular abnormalities to anatomically connected brain regions.

    “While seemingly a cell-intrinsic phenomenon, one of the curious features of the pathology of these diseases is the apparent spread of the cellular abnormalities to anatomically connected brain regions.”

    From Asynchronous, contagious and digital aging (2021) · cites this paper as [59]

  • Cell-to-cell spreading of cellular dysfunction is increasingly recognized in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

    “The notion of cell-to-cell spreading of cellular dysfunction is of course not limited to the biology of senescence. This is becoming an increasingly recognized phenomenon in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.59”

    From Asynchronous, contagious and digital aging (2021) · cites this paper as [59]

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Authors
Davis, A. A., Leyns, C. E. G., & Holtzman, D. M.
Affiliations
Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Venue
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
Published
2018-10-06
Volume
34
Issue
1
Pages
545-568
ISSN
  • 1081-0706 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-8995
OpenAlex
W2883506729
Cited by
131
References
174
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 2
FWCI
1.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K08NS101118)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Prion Diseases and Protein Misfolding
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
Keywords
protein aggregates, neurodegenerative diseases, intercellular spread, prion-like propagation, extracellular protein release, treatment options, neurodegeneration
MeSH terms
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Alzheimer Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Humans, Huntington Disease, Neurons, Parkinson Disease, Prion Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Frontotemporal Dementia, Protein Aggregation, Pathological, Protein Aggregates

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