Modulation of Amyloid-β Aggregation by Surface Proteins from Pathogens Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. Despite substantial research efforts, our understanding of its pathogenesis remains incomplete, limiting the development of effective treatments and preventive strategies. The potential role of microbial pathogens in AD etiology has gained increasing attention. Various human microbial pathogens have been identified in the brains of AD patients, leading to the pathogen hypothesis, which posits that these microorganisms may disrupt the brain’s immune regulation and homeostasis. In this study, we examine the effects of proteins from three pathogens, Borrelia burgdorferi, HSV-1, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, on the aggregation of antimicrobial peptide amyloid-β (Aβ). Three of the four studied proteins were found to attenuate the aggregation of Aβ42 by interacting with its soluble form and inhibiting primary and secondary pathways. These in vitro findings were further supported by experiments using mature neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells, which showed an increased accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) aggregates upon infection with HSV-1 or exposure to the OspA surface protein from B. burgdorferi. Together, our results provide mechanistic insights into how pathogen-associated proteins modulate Aβ42 aggregation, contributing to an understanding of their potential role in AD pathogenesis.