This a Letter to the Editor focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia on a global scale, which is still in search of reliable animal models faithfully recapitulating its key neuropathological features, i.e. amyloid ß (Aß) deposition and neurofibrillary tau protein tangles, in diseased human brains. In this respect, while the demonstration of Aß dimer-induced glutamergic neuron dysfunction recently described in murine models is noteworthy, it should be also emphasized that Aß and tau aggregates have been simultaneously detected in the brain of stranded bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Furthermore, Aß plaque-associated cerebral pathology has been recently documented in bottlenose dolphins stranded along the Atlantic USA coastline, with their brain tissue also harbouring high concentrations of β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a cyanobacterial neurotoxin. Can these findings, that are totally unprecedented in cetaceans and, more in general, in any wild animal species, “candidate” dolphins as valuable models for the comparative neuropathological and neuropathogenetic study of AD in mankind? This question should be preceded by an even more crucial one: are dolphins prone to develop AD, or any AD-like neuropathy? The answer is blowing in the wind! Indeed, besides the fact this could impact the health and conservation of our incresingly threatened cetaceans worldwide, it should be additionally underlined that the host’s cellular prion protein (PrPC) acts as a pivotal neuron cell receptor for Aß, with PrPC-Aß interaction mediating the synaptic dysfunction(s) commonly seen in AD-affected individuals. Should similar PrPC-Aß relationships occur also in the brain tissue from striped and/or bottlenose dolphins, this would candidate them as potentially reliable models for the study of human AD and AD-like conditions. Nevertheless, despite their undeniable interest, such studies may be hampered by the compromised post mortem preservation degree in which stranded cetaceans are often found.

Alzheimer's and dolphins (Letter to the Editor)

Di Guardo G
2019-01-01

Abstract

This a Letter to the Editor focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia on a global scale, which is still in search of reliable animal models faithfully recapitulating its key neuropathological features, i.e. amyloid ß (Aß) deposition and neurofibrillary tau protein tangles, in diseased human brains. In this respect, while the demonstration of Aß dimer-induced glutamergic neuron dysfunction recently described in murine models is noteworthy, it should be also emphasized that Aß and tau aggregates have been simultaneously detected in the brain of stranded bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Furthermore, Aß plaque-associated cerebral pathology has been recently documented in bottlenose dolphins stranded along the Atlantic USA coastline, with their brain tissue also harbouring high concentrations of β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a cyanobacterial neurotoxin. Can these findings, that are totally unprecedented in cetaceans and, more in general, in any wild animal species, “candidate” dolphins as valuable models for the comparative neuropathological and neuropathogenetic study of AD in mankind? This question should be preceded by an even more crucial one: are dolphins prone to develop AD, or any AD-like neuropathy? The answer is blowing in the wind! Indeed, besides the fact this could impact the health and conservation of our incresingly threatened cetaceans worldwide, it should be additionally underlined that the host’s cellular prion protein (PrPC) acts as a pivotal neuron cell receptor for Aß, with PrPC-Aß interaction mediating the synaptic dysfunction(s) commonly seen in AD-affected individuals. Should similar PrPC-Aß relationships occur also in the brain tissue from striped and/or bottlenose dolphins, this would candidate them as potentially reliable models for the study of human AD and AD-like conditions. Nevertheless, despite their undeniable interest, such studies may be hampered by the compromised post mortem preservation degree in which stranded cetaceans are often found.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11575/105453
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