Neuroinflammation affects the pathobiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Notably, beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition induces microglial activation and the subsequent production of pro-inflammatory neurotoxic factors. In maintaining brain homeostasis, microglia plasticity also enables phenotypic transition between toxic and trophic activation states. One important control for such cell activation is through the CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and its receptor, the CC-chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2). Both affect microglia and peripheral macrophage immune responses and for the latter, cell ingress across the blood brain barrier. However, how CCL2-CCR2 signaling contributes to AD pathogenesis is not well understood. To this end, we report that CCL2 deficiency influences behavioral abnormalities and disease progression in Aβ precursor protein/presenilin-1 double-transgenic mice. Here, increased cortical and hippocampal Aβ deposition is coincident with the formulation of Aβ oligomers. Deficits in peripheral Aβ clearance and in scavenger, neuroprogenitor and microglial cell functions are linked to deficient Aβ uptake. All can serve to accelerate memory dysfunction. Taken together, these data support a role of CCL2 in innate immune functions relevant to AD pathogenesis.

Long-acting nanoformulated antiretroviral therapy (nanoART) that target monocyte-macrophage could improve the drug’s half-life and protein binding capacities while facilitating cell and tissue depots. To this end, ART nanoparticles that target the folic acid (FA) receptor and permit cell-based drug depots were examined using pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PD) tests. FA receptor-targeted poloxamer 407 nanocrystals, containing ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r), significantly affected several therapeutic factors: drug bioavailability increased as much as 5 times and PD activity improved as much as 100 times. Drug particles administered to human peripheral blood lymphocyte reconstituted NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ mice and infected with HIV-1ADA at a tissue culture infective dose50 of 104 infectious viral particles/ml led to ATV/r drug concentrations that paralleled FA receptor beta staining in both the macrophage-rich parafollicular areas of spleen and lymph nodes. Drug levels were higher in these tissues than what could be achieved by either native drug or untargeted nanoART particles. The data also mirrored potent reductions in viral loads, tissue viral RNA and numbers of HIV-1p24+ cells in infected and treated animals. We conclude that FA-P407 coating of ART nanoparticles readily facilitate drug carriage and facilitate antiretroviral responses.

Limitations of antiretroviral therapy (ART) include poor patient adherence, drug toxicities, viral resistance, and failure to penetrate viral reservoirs. Recent developments in nanoformulated ART (nanoART) could overcome such limitations. To this end, we now report a novel effect of nanoART that facilitates drug depots within intracellular compartments at or adjacent to the sites of the viral replication cycle. Poloxamer 407-coated nanocrystals containing the protease inhibitor atazanavir (ATV) were prepared by high-pressure homogenization. These drug particles readily accumulated in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). NanoATV concentrations were ϳ1,000 times higher in cells than those that could be achieved by the native drug. ATV particles in late and recycling endosome compartments were seen following pulldown by immunoaffinity chromatography with Rab-specific antibodies conjugated to magnetic beads. Confocal microscopy provided cross validation by immunofluorescent staining of the compartments. Mathematical modeling validated drug-endosomal interactions. Measures of reverse transcriptase activity and HIV-1 p24 levels in culture media and cells showed that such endosomal drug concentrations enhanced antiviral responses up to 1,000-fold. We conclude that late and recycling endosomes can serve as depots for nanoATV. The colocalization of nano-ATV at endosomal sites of viral assembly and its slow release sped antiretroviral activities. Long-acting nanoART can serve as a drug carrier in both cells and subcellular compartments and, as such, can facilitate viral clearance. IMPORTANCEThe need for long-acting ART is significant and highlighted by limitations in drug access, toxicity, adherence, and reservoir penetrance. We propose that targeting nanoformulated drugs to infected tissues, cells, and subcellular sites of viral replication may improve clinical outcomes. Endosomes are sites for human immunodeficiency virus assembly, and increasing ART concentrations in such sites enhances viral clearance. The current work uncovers a new mechanism by which nanoART can enhance viral clearance over native drug formulations.

BackgroundThe mixed lineage kinase type 3 inhibitor URMC-099 facilitates amyloid-beta (Aβ) clearance and degradation in cultured murine microglia. One putative mechanism is an effect of URMC-099 on Aβ uptake and degradation. As URMC-099 promotes endolysosomal protein trafficking and reduces Aβ microglial pro-inflammatory activities, we assessed whether these responses affect Aβ pathobiogenesis. To this end, URMC-099’s therapeutic potential, in Aβ precursor protein/presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic mice, was investigated in this model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).MethodsFour-month-old APP/PS1 mice were administered intraperitoneal URMC-099 injections at 10 mg/kg daily for 3 weeks. Brain tissues were examined by biochemical, molecular and immunohistochemical tests.ResultsURMC-099 inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/4-mediated activation and attenuated β-amyloidosis. Microglial nitric oxide synthase-2 and arginase-1 were co-localized with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (Lamp1) and Aβ. Importatly, URMC-099 restored synaptic integrity and hippocampal neurogenesis in APP/PS1 mice.ConclusionsURMC-099 facilitates Aβ clearance in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. The multifaceted immune modulatory and neuroprotective roles of URMC-099 make it an attractive candidate for ameliorating the course of AD. This is buttressed by removal of pathologic Aβ species and restoration of the brain’s microenvironment during disease.