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Schaefer 2017 Thesis

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Publications in the MiPMap
Schaefer P (2017) Metabolic imaging in Alzheimer´s disease using NADH autofluorescence. Dissertation p93.

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Schaefer P (2017) Dissertation

Abstract: Mitochondrial alterations are a major hallmark of all neurodegenerative diseases and are thought to be one underlying cause of neuronal death in Alzheimer´s disease. Amyloid β as well as the amyloid precursor protein are said to have a toxic effect on the electron transport system, thereby impairing mitochondrial respiration especially in neurons of the hippocampus. This high selective vulnerability of different cells and mitochondrial populations to toxic stimuli in neurodegeneration is still not understood at all. The aim of my thesis was to clarify the role of the subcellular localization of Aβ and APP on the selective vulnerability of mitochondria and to develop a novel approach to visualize mitochondrial respiration microscopically. I could demonstrate that reduced mitochondrial respiration is mainly conferred by intracellular, most likely intramitochondrial Aβ. This direct effect underlines the rational for a selective vulnerability of mitochondrial populations due to cell-specific transport differences of APP and Aβ. Consequently, I established an imaging approach based on NADH autofluorescence to visualize mitochondrial respiration on the subcellular level. By thorough correlations of NADH autofluorescence lifetime to high-resolution respirometry I could determine confounding factors, first and formost the pH. Parallel imaging of NADH and pH allowed a revolution in using NADH autofluorescence for quantifying even subtle changes in mitochondrial respiration on the subcellular level. To sum up, I could identify a potential underlying cause of the selective mitochondrial vulnerability in Alzheimer´s disease by highlighting the importance of Aβ localization in conferring mitochondrial toxicity. In addition, I provide a novel, functional imaging approach to shed light onto metabolic alterations of specific mitochondrial pools, cell types or brain regions. This will allow to clarify mitochondrial dysfunction not only in Alzheimer´s disease but it will provide a ubiquitous tool for multiple metabolic diseases. Keywords: N2a mouse neuroblastoma cells Bioblast editor: Kandolf G


Labels: MiParea: Respiration, Genetic knockout;overexpression  Pathology: Alzheimer's, Neurodegenerative 

Organism: Human  Tissue;cell: Other cell lines, HEK  Preparation: Intact cells 


Coupling state: LEAK, ROUTINE, ET  Pathway: CIV, ROX  HRR: Oxygraph-2k 

2018-03