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Mhatre-Winters I, Eid A, Han Y, Tieu K, Richardson JR. Sex and APOE Genotype Alter the Basal and Induced Inflammatory States of Primary Astrocytes from Humanized Targeted Replacement Mice. ASN Neuro 2023; 15:17590914221144549. [PMID: 36604975 PMCID: PMC9982390 DOI: 10.1177/17590914221144549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype and sex are significant risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with females demonstrating increased risk modulated by APOE genotype. APOE is predominantly expressed in astrocytes, however, there is a lack of comprehensive assessments of sex differences in astrocytes stratified by APOE genotype. Here, we examined the response of mixed-sex and sex-specific neonatal APOE3 and APOE4 primary mouse astrocytes (PMA) to a cytokine mix of IL1b, TNFa, and IFNg. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles were assessed by qRT-PCR and Meso Scale Discovery multiplex assay. Mixed-sex APOE4 PMA were found to have higher basal messenger RNA expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines including Il6, Tnfa, Il1b, Mcp1, Mip1a, and Nos2 compared to APOE3 PMA, which was accompanied by increased levels of these secreted cytokines. In sex-specific cultures, basal expression of Il1b, Il6, and Nos2 was 1.5 to 2.5 fold higher in APOE4 female PMA compared to APOE4 males, with both being higher than APOE3 PMA. Similar results were found for secreted levels of these cytokines. Together, these findings indicate that APOE4 genotype and female sex, contribute to a greater inflammatory response in primary astrocytes and these data may provide a framework for investigating the mechanisms contributing to genotype and sex differences in AD-related neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Mhatre-Winters
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College
of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International
University, Miami, FL, USA,Department of Neurosciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent
State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Aseel Eid
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College
of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International
University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Yoonhee Han
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College
of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International
University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Kim Tieu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College
of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International
University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jason R. Richardson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College
of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International
University, Miami, FL, USA,Jason R. Richardson, Department of
Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and
Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199-2156, USA.
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52
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Galea E, Graeber MB. Neuroinflammation: The Abused Concept. ASN Neuro 2023; 15:17590914231197523. [PMID: 37647500 PMCID: PMC10469255 DOI: 10.1177/17590914231197523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Scientific progress requires the relentless correction of errors and refinement of hypotheses. Clarity of terminology is essential for clarity of thought and proper experimental interrogation of nature. Therefore, the application of the same scientific term to different and even conflicting phenomena and concepts is not useful and must be corrected. Such abuse of terminology has happened and is still increasing in the case of "neuroinflammation," a term that until the 1990s meant classical inflammation affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and thereon was progressively used to mostly denote microglia activation. The resulting confusion is very wasteful and detrimental not only for scientists but also for patients, given the numerous failed clinical trials in acute and chronic CNS diseases over the last decade with "anti-inflammatory" drugs. Despite this failure, reassessments of the "neuroinflammation" concept are rare, especially considering the number of articles still using the term. This undesirable situation motivates this article. We review the origins and evolution of the term "neuroinflammation," discuss the unique tissue defense and repair strategies in the CNS, define CNS immunity, and emphasize the notion of gliopathies to help readdress, if not bury, the term "neuroinflammation" as it stands in the way of scientific progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Galea
- Departament de Bioquímica, Unitat de Bioquímica, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel B. Graeber
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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53
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Tiberi A, Carucci NM, Testa G, Rizzi C, Pacifico P, Borgonovo G, Arisi I, D’Onofrio M, Brandi R, Gan WB, Capsoni S, Cattaneo A. Reduced levels of NGF shift astrocytes toward a neurotoxic phenotype. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1165125. [PMID: 37143894 PMCID: PMC10151754 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1165125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is critical for neuronal physiology during development and adulthood. Despite the well-recognized effect of NGF on neurons, less is known about whether NGF can actually affect other cell types in the central nervous system (CNS). In this work, we show that astrocytes are susceptible to changes in ambient levels of NGF. First, we observe that interfering with NGF signaling in vivo via the constitutive expression of an antiNGF antibody induces astrocytic atrophy. A similar asthenic phenotype is encountered in an uncleavable proNGF transgenic mouse model (TgproNGF#72), effectively increasing the brain proNGF levels. To examine whether this effect on astrocytes is cell-autonomous, we cultured wild-type primary astrocytes in the presence of antiNGF antibodies, uncovering that a short incubation period is sufficient to potently and rapidly trigger calcium oscillations. Acute induction of calcium oscillations by antiNGF antibodies is followed by progressive morphological changes similar to those observed in antiNGF AD11 mice. Conversely, incubation with mature NGF has no effect on either calcium activity nor on astrocytic morphology. At longer timescales, transcriptomic analysis revealed that NGF-deprived astrocytes acquire a proinflammatory profile. In particular, antiNGF-treated astrocytes show upregulation of neurotoxic transcripts and downregulation of neuroprotective mRNAs. Consistent with that data, culturing wild-type neurons in the presence of NGF-deprived astrocytes leads to neuronal cell death. Finally, we report that in both awake and anesthetized mice, astrocytes in layer I of the motor cortex respond with an increase in calcium activity to acute NGF inhibition using either NGF-neutralizing antibodies or a TrkA-Fc NGF scavenger. Moreover, in vivo calcium imaging in the cortex of the 5xFAD neurodegeneration mouse model shows an increased level of spontaneous calcium activity in astrocytes, which is significantly reduced after acute administration of NGF. In conclusion, we unveil a novel neurotoxic mechanism driven by astrocytes, triggered by their sensing and reacting to changes in the levels of ambient NGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Tiberi
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ivan Arisi
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara D’Onofrio
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Brandi
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Wen-Biao Gan
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Simona Capsoni
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Antonino Cattaneo,
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Kater MSJ, Huffels CFM, Oshima T, Renckens NS, Middeldorp J, Boddeke EWGM, Smit AB, Eggen BJL, Hol EM, Verheijen MHG. Prevention of microgliosis halts early memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:225-241. [PMID: 36270437 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, the neuropathological formation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The best cellular correlates of the early cognitive deficits in AD patients are synapse loss and gliosis. In particular, it is unclear whether the activation of microglia (microgliosis) has a neuroprotective or pathological role early in AD. Here we report that microgliosis is an early mediator of synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice, a mouse model of increased amyloidosis. We found that the appearance of microgliosis, synaptic dysfunction and behavioral impairment coincided with increased soluble Aβ42 levels, and occurred well before the presence of Aβ plaques. Inhibition of microglial activity by treatment with minocycline (MC) reduced gliosis, synaptic deficits and cognitive impairments at early pathological stages and was most effective when provided preventive, i.e., before the onset of microgliosis. Interestingly, soluble Aβ levels or Aβ plaques deposition were not affected by preventive MC treatment at an early pathological stage (4 months) whereas these were reduced upon treatment at a later stage (6 months). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of early-stage prevention of microgliosis on the development of cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice, which might be clinically relevant in preventing memory loss and delaying AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy S J Kater
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan F M Huffels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Takuya Oshima
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Niek S Renckens
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Neurobiology & Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Erik W G M Boddeke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Center for Healthy Ageing, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - August B Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J L Eggen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mark H G Verheijen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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55
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Brandebura AN, Paumier A, Onur TS, Allen NJ. Astrocyte contribution to dysfunction, risk and progression in neurodegenerative disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:23-39. [PMID: 36316501 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 105.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing appreciation that non-neuronal cells contribute to the initiation, progression and pathology of diverse neurodegenerative disorders. This Review focuses on the role of astrocytes in disorders including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The important roles astrocytes have in supporting neuronal function in the healthy brain are considered, along with studies that have demonstrated how the physiological properties of astrocytes are altered in neurodegenerative disorders and may explain their contribution to neurodegeneration. Further, the question of whether in neurodegenerative disorders with specific genetic mutations these mutations directly impact on astrocyte function, and may suggest a driving role for astrocytes in disease initiation, is discussed. A summary of how astrocyte transcriptomic and proteomic signatures are altered during the progression of neurodegenerative disorders and may relate to functional changes is provided. Given the central role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders, potential strategies to target these cells for future therapeutic avenues are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Brandebura
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Adrien Paumier
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tarik S Onur
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicola J Allen
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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56
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Ceyzériat K, Zilli T, Millet P, Koutsouvelis N, Dipasquale G, Fossey C, Cailly T, Fabis F, Frisoni GB, Garibotto V, Tournier BB. Low-dose brain irradiation normalizes TSPO and CLUSTERIN levels and promotes the non-amyloidogenic pathway in pre-symptomatic TgF344-AD rats. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:311. [PMID: 36550510 PMCID: PMC9783748 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02673-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies have recently evaluated the impact of low-dose brain radiation therapy (LD-RT) in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) showing anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory effects of this treatment. Its effectiveness varied, however, depending on the LD-RT protocol used and the stage when the treatment was applied. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of 10 Gy delivered in five daily fractions of 2 Gy (a protocol previously shown to induce an improvement of cognitive performances) in 9-month-old TgF344-AD rats, modeling at a pre-symptomatic stage of the disease. We showed that at an early stage, LD-RT was able to lower levels of the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO)-mediated neuroinflammation to normal ranges in addition to the secreted CLUSTERIN, another inflammatory protein also involved in Aβ aggregation. In addition, we demonstrated that LD-RT reduces all amyloid forms (~ - 60 to - 80%, P < 0.01; soluble and aggregated forms of Aβ40, Aβ42, and Aβoligomers). Interestingly, we showed for the first time that sAPPα levels were improved by the treatment, showing a higher activation of the non-amyloidogenic pathway, that could favor neuronal survival. The current evidence confirms the capacity of LD-RT to successfully modulate two pathological hallmarks of AD, namely amyloid and neuroinflammation, when applied before symptoms onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Ceyzériat
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University, Avenue de La Roseraie 64, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland ,grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals, and NimtLab, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland ,grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988CIBM Center for BioMedical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Zilli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, EOC, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland ,grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland ,grid.150338.c0000 0001 0721 9812Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Millet
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University, Avenue de La Roseraie 64, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaos Koutsouvelis
- grid.150338.c0000 0001 0721 9812Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Dipasquale
- grid.150338.c0000 0001 0721 9812Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christine Fossey
- grid.412043.00000 0001 2186 4076Centre d’Études et de Recherche Sur le Médicament de Normandie (CERMN), Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, 1400 Caen, France
| | - Thomas Cailly
- grid.412043.00000 0001 2186 4076Centre d’Études et de Recherche Sur le Médicament de Normandie (CERMN), Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, 1400 Caen, France ,grid.411149.80000 0004 0472 0160Department of Nuclear Medicine, CHU Cote de Nacre, 1400 Caen, France ,grid.412043.00000 0001 2186 4076Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, IMOGERE, 1400 Caen, France ,Institut Blood and Brain @Caen-Normandie (BB@C), Boulevard Henri Becquerel, 14074 Caen, France
| | - Frédéric Fabis
- grid.412043.00000 0001 2186 4076Centre d’Études et de Recherche Sur le Médicament de Normandie (CERMN), Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, 1400 Caen, France
| | - Giovanni B. Frisoni
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals, and NimtLab, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Garibotto
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals, and NimtLab, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland ,grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988CIBM Center for BioMedical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin B. Tournier
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University, Avenue de La Roseraie 64, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
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57
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Hajjo R, Sabbah DA, Abusara OH, Al Bawab AQ. A Review of the Recent Advances in Alzheimer's Disease Research and the Utilization of Network Biology Approaches for Prioritizing Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12122975. [PMID: 36552984 PMCID: PMC9777434 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12122975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a polygenic multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that, after decades of research and development, is still without a cure. There are some symptomatic treatments to manage the psychological symptoms but none of these drugs can halt disease progression. Additionally, over the last few years, many anti-AD drugs failed in late stages of clinical trials and many hypotheses surfaced to explain these failures, including the lack of clear understanding of disease pathways and processes. Recently, different epigenetic factors have been implicated in AD pathogenesis; thus, they could serve as promising AD diagnostic biomarkers. Additionally, network biology approaches have been suggested as effective tools to study AD on the systems level and discover multi-target-directed ligands as novel treatments for AD. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review on Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology to provide a better understanding of disease pathogenesis hypotheses and decipher the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in disease development and progression. We also provide an overview of disease biomarkers and drug targets and suggest network biology approaches as new tools for identifying novel biomarkers and drugs. We also posit that the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to mining Alzheimer's disease multi-omics data will facilitate drug and biomarker discovery efforts and lead to effective individualized anti-Alzheimer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Hajjo
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carlina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- National Center for Epidemics and Communicable Disease Control, Amman 11118, Jordan
- Correspondence:
| | - Dima A. Sabbah
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Osama H. Abusara
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
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58
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Monzón-Sandoval J, Burlacu E, Agarwal D, Handel AE, Wei L, Davis J, Cowley SA, Cader MZ, Webber C. Lipopolysaccharide distinctively alters human microglia transcriptomes to resemble microglia from Alzheimer's disease mouse models. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:277958. [PMID: 36254682 PMCID: PMC9612871 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and risk-influencing genetics implicates microglia and neuroimmunity in the pathogenesis of AD. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia (iPSC-microglia) are increasingly used as a model of AD, but the relevance of historical immune stimuli to model AD is unclear. We performed a detailed cross-comparison over time on the effects of combinatory stimulation of iPSC-microglia, and in particular their relevance to AD. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to measure the transcriptional response of iPSC-microglia after 24 h and 48 h of stimulation with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+interferon gamma (IFN-γ), either alone or in combination with ATPγS. We observed a shared core transcriptional response of iPSC-microglia to ATPγS and to LPS+IFN-γ, suggestive of a convergent mechanism of action. Across all conditions, we observed a significant overlap, although directional inconsistency to genes that change their expression levels in human microglia from AD patients. Using a data-led approach, we identify a common axis of transcriptomic change across AD genetic mouse models of microglia and show that only LPS provokes a transcriptional response along this axis in mouse microglia and LPS+IFN-γ in human iPSC-microglia. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Burlacu
- John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Devika Agarwal
- Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Adam E Handel
- John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Liting Wei
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - John Davis
- Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Sally A Cowley
- Translational Molecular Neuroscience Group, New Biochemistry Building, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - M Zameel Cader
- John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.,James Martin Stem Cell Facility, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Caleb Webber
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
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59
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Hemonnot-Girard AL, Meersseman C, Pastore M, Garcia V, Linck N, Rey C, Chebbi A, Jeanneteau F, Ginsberg SD, Lachuer J, Reynes C, Rassendren F, Hirbec H. Comparative analysis of transcriptome remodeling in plaque-associated and plaque-distant microglia during amyloid-β pathology progression in mice. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:234. [PMID: 36153535 PMCID: PMC9508749 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02581-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research in recent years firmly established that microglial cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In parallel, a series of studies showed that, under both homeostatic and pathological conditions, microglia are a heterogeneous cell population. In AD, amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque-associated microglia (PAM) display a clearly distinct phenotype compared to plaque-distant microglia (PCM), suggesting that these two microglia subtypes likely differently contribute to disease progression. So far, molecular characterization of PAM was performed indirectly using single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) approaches or based on markers that are supposedly up-regulated in this microglia subpopulation. Methods In this study based on a well-characterized AD mouse model, we combined cell-specific laser capture microdissection and RNA-seq analysis to i) identify, without preconceived notions of the molecular and/or functional changes that would affect these cells, the genes and gene networks that are dysregulated in PAM or PCM at three critical stages of the disease, and ii) to investigate the potential contribution of both plaque-associated and plaque-distant microglia. Results First, we established that our approach allows selective isolation of microglia, while preserving spatial information and preventing transcriptome changes induced by classical purification approaches. Then, we identified, in PAM and PCM subpopulations, networks of co-deregulated genes and analyzed their potential functional roles in AD. Finally, we investigated the dynamics of microglia transcriptomic remodeling at early, intermediate and late stages of the disease and validated select findings in postmortem human AD brain. Conclusions Our comprehensive study provides useful transcriptomic information regarding the respective contribution of PAM and PCM across the Aβ pathology progression. It highlights specific pathways that would require further study to decipher their roles across disease progression. It demonstrates that the proximity of microglia to Aβ-plaques dramatically alters the microglial transcriptome and reveals that these changes can have both positive and negative impacts on the surrounding cells. These opposing effects may be driven by local microglia heterogeneity also demonstrated by this study. Our approach leads to molecularly define the less well studied plaque-distant microglia. We show that plaque-distant microglia are not bystanders of the disease, although the transcriptomic changes are far less striking compared to what is observed in plaque-associated microglia. In particular, our results suggest they may be involved in Aβ oligomer detection and in Aβ-plaque initiation, with increased contribution as the disease progresses.
Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-022-02581-0.
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60
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Zhang Y, Guo K, Zhang P, Zhang M, Li X, Zhou S, Sun H, Wang W, Wang H, Hu Y. Exploring the mechanism of YangXue QingNao Wan based on network pharmacology in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Genet 2022; 13:942203. [PMID: 36105078 PMCID: PMC9465410 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.942203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is clinical reported that YangXue QingNao Wan (YXQNW) combined with donepezil can significantly improve the cognitive function of AD patients. However, the mechanism is not clear. A network pharmacology approach was employed to predict the protein targets and affected pathways of YXQNW in the treatment of AD. Based on random walk evaluation, the correlation between YXQNW and AD was calculated; while a variety of AD clinical approved Western drugs were compared. The targets of YXQNW were enriched and analyzed by using the TSEA platform and MetaCore. We proved that the overall correlation between YXQNW and AD is equivalent to clinical Western drugs, but the mechanism of action is very different. Firstly, YXQNW may promote cerebral blood flow velocity by regulating platelet aggregation and the vasoconstriction/relaxation signal pathway, which has been verified by clinical meta-analysis. Secondly, YXQNW may promote Aβ degradation in the liver by modulating the abnormal glucose and lipid metabolisms via the adiponectin-dependent pathway, RXR/PPAR-dependent lipid metabolism signal pathway, and fatty acid synthase activity signal pathway. We also verified whether YXQNW indeed promoted Aβ degradation in hepatic stellate cells. This work provides a novel scientific basis for the mechanism of YXQNW in the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Zhang
- Cloudphar Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaimin Guo
- Cloudphar Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Tianjin Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Evaluation and Inspection Center, Tianjin, China
| | | | - Xiaoqiang Li
- Cloudphar Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuiping Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Core Technology in Innovative Chinese Medicine, Tasly Academy, Tasly Holding Group Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China
| | - He Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of Core Technology in Innovative Chinese Medicine, Tasly Academy, Tasly Holding Group Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China
| | - Wenjia Wang
- Cloudphar Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Wang, ; Yunhui Hu,
| | - Yunhui Hu
- Cloudphar Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Wang, ; Yunhui Hu,
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St-Pierre MK, VanderZwaag J, Loewen S, Tremblay MÈ. All roads lead to heterogeneity: The complex involvement of astrocytes and microglia in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:932572. [PMID: 36035256 PMCID: PMC9413962 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.932572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, glial cells have been acknowledged as key players in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition in which an accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular fibrillar amyloid beta is notably observed in the central nervous system. Genome-wide association studies have shown, both in microglia and astrocytes, an increase in gene variants associated with a higher risk of developing late-onset AD. Microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the brain, and astrocytes, glial cells crucial for vascular integrity and neuronal support, both agglomerate near amyloid beta plaques and dystrophic neurites where they participate in the elimination of these harmful parenchymal elements. However, their role in AD pathogenesis has been challenging to resolve due to the highly heterogeneous nature of these cell populations, i.e., their molecular, morphological, and ultrastructural diversity, together with their ever-changing responsiveness and functions throughout the pathological course of AD. With the recent expansions in the field of glial heterogeneity through innovative advances in state-of-the-art microscopy and -omics techniques, novel concepts and questions arose, notably pertaining to how the diverse microglial and astrocytic states interact with each other and with the AD hallmarks, and how their concerted efforts/actions impact the progression of the disease. In this review, we discuss the recent advances and findings on the topic of glial heterogeneity, particularly focusing on the relationships of these cells with AD hallmarks (e.g., amyloid beta plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, and dystrophic neurites) in murine models of AD pathology and post-mortem brain samples of patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Jared VanderZwaag
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sophia Loewen
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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Mai M, Guo X, Huang Y, Zhang W, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Bai X, Wu J, Zu H. DHCR24 Knockdown Induces Tau Hyperphosphorylation at Thr181, Ser199, Ser262, and Ser396 Sites via Activation of the Lipid Raft-Dependent Ras/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway in C8D1A Astrocytes. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:5856-5873. [PMID: 35804281 PMCID: PMC9395500 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02945-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The synthetase 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ24 reductase (DHCR24) is a key regulator involved in cholesterol synthesis and homeostasis. A growing body of evidence indicates that DHCR24 is downregulated in the brain of various models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), such as astrocytes isolated from AD mice. For the past decades, astrocytic tau pathology has been found in AD patients, while the origin of phosphorylated tau in astrocytes remains unknown. A previous study suggests that downregulation of DHCR24 is associated with neuronal tau hyperphosphorylation. Herein, the present study is to explore whether DHCR24 deficiency can also affect tau phosphorylation in astrocytes. Here, we showed that DHCR24 knockdown could induce tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr181, Ser199, Thr231, Ser262, and Ser396 sites in C8D1A astrocytes. Meanwhile, we found that DHCR24-silencing cells had reduced the level of free cholesterol in the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles, as well as cholesterol esters. Furthermore, reduced cellular cholesterol level caused a decreased level of the caveolae-associated protein, cavin1, which disrupted lipid rafts/caveolae and activated rafts/caveolae-dependent Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. In contrast, overexpression of DHCR24 prevented the overactivation of Ras/MEK/ERK signaling by increasing cellular cholesterol content, therefore decreasing tau hyperphosphorylation in C8D1A astrocytes. Herein, we firstly found that DHCR24 knockdown can lead to tau hyperphosphorylation in the astrocyte itself by activating lipid raft-dependent Ras/MEK/ERK signaling, which might contribute to the pathogenesis of AD and other degenerative tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiting Mai
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Xiaorou Guo
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Yue Huang
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Wenbin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Yixuan Xu
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Xiaojing Bai
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Junfeng Wu
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China.
| | - Hengbing Zu
- Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, No.1508 Long-hang Road, Jinshan district, Shanghai, 201508, China.
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Needham H, Torpey G, Flores CC, Davis CJ, Vanderheyden WM, Gerstner JR. A Dichotomous Role for FABP7 in Sleep and Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis: A Hypothesis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:798994. [PMID: 35844236 PMCID: PMC9280343 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.798994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are a family of intracellular lipid chaperone proteins known to play critical roles in the regulation of fatty acid uptake and transport as well as gene expression. Brain-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP7) is enriched in astrocytes and has been implicated in sleep/wake regulation and neurodegenerative diseases; however, the precise mechanisms underlying the role of FABP7 in these biological processes remain unclear. FABP7 binds to both arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), resulting in discrete physiological responses. Here, we propose a dichotomous role for FABP7 in which ligand type determines the subcellular translocation of fatty acids, either promoting wakefulness aligned with Alzheimer's pathogenesis or promoting sleep with concomitant activation of anti-inflammatory pathways and neuroprotection. We hypothesize that FABP7-mediated translocation of AA to the endoplasmic reticulum of astrocytes increases astrogliosis, impedes glutamatergic uptake, and enhances wakefulness and inflammatory pathways via COX-2 dependent generation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Conversely, we propose that FABP7-mediated translocation of DHA to the nucleus stabilizes astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle dynamics, preserves glutamatergic uptake, and promotes sleep by activating anti-inflammatory pathways through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ transcriptional cascade. Importantly, this model generates several testable hypotheses applicable to other neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hope Needham
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Grace Torpey
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Carlos C. Flores
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Davis
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - William M. Vanderheyden
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Jason R. Gerstner
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
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64
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Proteomics for comprehensive characterization of extracellular vesicles in neurodegenerative disease. Exp Neurol 2022; 355:114149. [PMID: 35732219 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small lipid bilayer particles ubiquitously released by almost every cell type. A specific and selective constituents of EVs loaded with variety of proteins, lipids, small noncoding RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs are reflective of cellular events, type, and physiologic/pathophysiologic status of the cell of origin. Moreover, these molecular contents carry information from the cell of origin to recipient cells, modulating intercellular communication. Recent studies demonstrated that EVs not only play a neuroprotective role by mediating the removal of toxic proteins, but also emerge as an important player in various neurodegenerative disease onset and progression through facilitating of misfolded proteins propagation. For this reason, neurodegenerative disease-associated differences in EV proteome relative to normal EVs can be used to fulfil diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic purposes. Nonetheless, characterizing EV proteome obtained from biological samples (brain tissue and body fluids, including urea, blood, saliva, and CSF) is a challenging task. Herein, we review the status of EV proteome profiling and the updated discovery of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease with an emphasis on the integration of high-throughput advanced mass spectrometry (MS) technologies for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of EVs in different clinical tissue/body fluid samples in past five years.
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65
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Hulshof LA, van Nuijs D, Hol EM, Middeldorp J. The Role of Astrocytes in Synapse Loss in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:899251. [PMID: 35783099 PMCID: PMC9244621 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.899251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting 35 million people worldwide. One pathological feature of progressing AD is the loss of synapses. This is the strongest correlate of cognitive decline. Astrocytes, as an essential part of the tripartite synapse, play a role in synapse formation, maintenance, and elimination. During AD, astrocytes get a reactive phenotype with an altered gene expression profile and changed function compared to healthy astrocytes. This process likely affects their interaction with synapses. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the scientific literature including information on how astrocytes affect synapse formation and elimination in the brain of AD patients and in animal models of the disease. We review molecular and cellular changes in AD astrocytes and conclude that these predominantly result in lower synapse numbers, indicative of decreased synapse support or even synaptotoxicity, or increased elimination, resulting in synapse loss, and consequential cognitive decline, as associated with AD. Preventing AD induced changes in astrocytes might therefore be a potential therapeutic target for dementia. Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=148278, identifier [CRD148278].
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne A. Hulshof
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Danny van Nuijs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department Neurobiology and Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Jinte Middeldorp
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Thomas J, Martinez-Reza MF, Thorwirth M, Zarb Y, Conzelmann KK, Hauck SM, Grade S, Götz M. Excessive local host-graft connectivity in aging and amyloid-loaded brain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabg9287. [PMID: 35687689 PMCID: PMC9187230 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg9287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Transplantation is a clinically relevant approach for brain repair, but much remains to be understood about influences of the disease environment on transplant connectivity. To explore the effect of amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and aging, we examined graft connectivity using monosynaptic rabies virus tracing in APP/PS1 mice and in 16- to 18-month-old wild-type (WT) mice. Transplanted neurons differentiated within 4 weeks and integrated well into the host visual cortex, receiving input from the appropriate brain regions for this area. Unexpectedly, we found a prominent several-fold increase in local inputs, in both amyloid-loaded and aged environments. State-of-the-art deep proteome analysis using mass spectrometry highlights complement system activation as a common denominator of environments promoting excessive local input connectivity. These data therefore reveal the key role of the host pathology in shaping the input connectome, calling for caution in extrapolating results from one pathological condition to another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Thomas
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Maria Fernanda Martinez-Reza
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Manja Thorwirth
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yvette Zarb
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Karl-Klaus Conzelmann
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty and Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-81377 Muenchen, Germany
| | - Stefanie M. Hauck
- Research Unit Protein Science and Metabolomics and Proteomics Core, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sofia Grade
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- SYNERGY, Excellence Cluster for Systems Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, D-82152 Planegg, Germany
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67
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Uddin MS, Lim LW. Glial cells in Alzheimer's disease: From neuropathological changes to therapeutic implications. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 78:101622. [PMID: 35427810 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that usually develops slowly and progressively worsens over time. Although there has been increasing research interest in AD, its pathogenesis is still not well understood. Although most studies primarily focus on neurons, recent research findings suggest that glial cells (especially microglia and astrocytes) are associated with AD pathogenesis and might provide various possible therapeutic targets. Growing evidence suggests that microglia can provide protection against AD pathogenesis, as microglia with weakened functions and impaired responses to Aβ proteins are linked with elevated AD risk. Interestingly, numerous findings also suggest that microglial activation can be detrimental to neurons. Indeed, microglia can induce synapse loss via the engulfment of synapses, possibly through a complement-dependent process. Furthermore, they can worsen tau pathology and release inflammatory factors that cause neuronal damage directly or through the activation of neurotoxic astrocytes. Astrocytes play a significant role in various cerebral activities. Their impairment can mediate neurodegeneration and ultimately the retraction of synapses, resulting in AD-related cognitive deficits. Deposition of Aβ can result in astrocyte reactivity, which can further lead to neurotoxic effects and elevated secretion of inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Moreover, glial-induced inflammation in AD can exert both beneficial and harmful effects. Understanding the activities of astrocytes and microglia in the regulation of AD pathogenesis would facilitate the development of novel therapies. In this article, we address the implications of microglia and astrocytes in AD pathogenesis. We also discuss the mechanisms of therapeutic agents that exhibit anti-inflammatory effects against AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sahab Uddin
- Neuromodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lee Wei Lim
- Neuromodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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68
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TGF-β as a Key Modulator of Astrocyte Reactivity: Disease Relevance and Therapeutic Implications. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051206. [PMID: 35625943 PMCID: PMC9138510 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are essential for normal brain development and functioning. They respond to brain injury and disease through a process referred to as reactive astrogliosis, where the reactivity is highly heterogenous and context-dependent. Reactive astrocytes are active contributors to brain pathology and can exert beneficial, detrimental, or mixed effects following brain insults. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been identified as one of the key factors regulating astrocyte reactivity. The genetic and pharmacological manipulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway in animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injury and disease alters pathological and functional outcomes. This review aims to provide recent understanding regarding astrocyte reactivity and TGF-β signaling in brain injury, aging, and neurodegeneration. Further, it explores how TGF-β signaling modulates astrocyte reactivity and function in the context of CNS disease and injury.
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69
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Galea E, Weinstock LD, Larramona-Arcas R, Pybus AF, Giménez-Llort L, Escartin C, Wood LB. Multi-transcriptomic analysis points to early organelle dysfunction in human astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 166:105655. [PMID: 35143967 PMCID: PMC9504227 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotypic transformation of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still not well understood. Recent analyses based on single-nucleus RNA sequencing of postmortem Alzheimer's disease (AD) samples are limited by the low number of sequenced astrocytes, small cohort sizes, and low number of differentially expressed genes detected. To optimize the detection of astrocytic genes, we employed a novel strategy consisting of the localization of pre-determined astrocyte and neuronal gene clusters in publicly available whole-brain transcriptomes. Specifically, we used cortical transcriptomes from 766 individuals, including cognitively normal subjects (Controls), and people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia due to AD. Samples came from three independent cohorts organized by the Mount Sinai Hospital, the Mayo Clinic, and the Religious Order Study/Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP). Astrocyte- and neuron-specific gene clusters were generated from human brain cell-type specific RNAseq data using hierarchical clustering and cell-type enrichment scoring. Genes from each cluster were manually annotated according to cell-type specific functional Categories. Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used to establish changes in these functional categories among clinical cohorts. We highlight three novel findings of the study. First, individuals with the same clinical diagnosis were molecularly heterogeneous. Particularly in the Mayo Clinic and ROSMAP cohorts, over 50% of Controls presented down-regulation of genes encoding synaptic proteins typical of AD, whereas 30% of patients diagnosed with dementia due to AD presented Control-like transcriptomic profiles. Second, down-regulation of neuronal genes related to synaptic proteins coincided, in astrocytes, with up-regulation of genes related to perisynaptic astrocytic processes (PAP) and down-regulation of genes encoding endolysosomal and mitochondrial proteins. Third, down-regulation of astrocytic mitochondrial genes inversely correlated with the disease stages defined by Braak and CERAD scoring. Finally, we interpreted these changes as maladaptive or adaptive from the point of view of astrocyte biology in a model of the phenotypical transformation of astrocytes in AD. The main prediction is that early malfunction of the astrocytic endolysosomal system, associated with progressive mitochondrial dysfunction, contribute to Alzheimer's disease. If this prediction is correct, therapies preventing organelle dysfunction in astrocytes may be beneficial in preclinical and clinical AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Galea
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Bioquímica, Unitat de Bioquímica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Laura D Weinstock
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta 30332, USA
| | - Raquel Larramona-Arcas
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Bioquímica, Unitat de Bioquímica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alyssa F Pybus
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta 30332, USA
| | - Lydia Giménez-Llort
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Forense, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carole Escartin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, MIRCen, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Levi B Wood
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta 30332, USA; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta 30332, USA.
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70
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Watson N, Bonsack F, Sukumari-Ramesh S. Intracerebral Hemorrhage: The Effects of Aging on Brain Injury. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:859067. [PMID: 35547620 PMCID: PMC9082316 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.859067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating subtype of stroke with high rates of mortality and morbidity. ICH patients often suffer devastating and debilitating neurological impairments, from which the majority of victims are unable to fully recover to functional independence. Unfortunately, there is no established medical therapy for ICH, which is partly attributed to the lack of understanding of the complex pathology of the disorder. Despite advanced age being a major risk factor of ICH, most preclinical studies on ICH employed young animal subjects. Due to this discrepancy, the molecular level changes in the aging brain after ICH are largely unknown, limiting the translation of preclinical studies into potential human treatments. The purpose of this review is to highlight the effects of advanced age on ICH- induced brain injury and recovery and to draw attention to current knowledge gaps, which warrant further investigation.
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Microglial NF-κB drives tau spreading and toxicity in a mouse model of tauopathy. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1969. [PMID: 35413950 PMCID: PMC9005658 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29552-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of microglia is a prominent pathological feature in tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. How microglia activation contributes to tau toxicity remains largely unknown. Here we show that nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling, activated by tau, drives microglial-mediated tau propagation and toxicity. Constitutive activation of microglial NF-κB exacerbated, while inactivation diminished, tau seeding and spreading in young PS19 mice. Inhibition of NF-κB activation enhanced the retention while reduced the release of internalized pathogenic tau fibrils from primary microglia and rescued microglial autophagy deficits. Inhibition of microglial NF-κB in aged PS19 mice rescued tau-mediated learning and memory deficits, restored overall transcriptomic changes while increasing neuronal tau inclusions. Single cell RNA-seq revealed that tau-associated disease states in microglia were diminished by NF-κB inactivation and further transformed by constitutive NF-κB activation. Our study establishes a role for microglial NF-κB signaling in mediating tau spreading and toxicity in tauopathy.
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72
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Cadiz MP, Jensen TD, Sens JP, Zhu K, Song WM, Zhang B, Ebbert M, Chang R, Fryer JD. Culture shock: microglial heterogeneity, activation, and disrupted single-cell microglial networks in vitro. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:26. [PMID: 35346293 PMCID: PMC8962153 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00531-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, play a critical role in numerous diseases, but are a minority cell type and difficult to genetically manipulate in vivo with viral vectors and other approaches. Primary cultures allow a more controlled setting to investigate these cells, but morphological and transcriptional changes upon removal from their normal brain environment raise many caveats from in vitro studies. METHODS To investigate whether cultured microglia recapitulate in vivo microglial signatures, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) to compare microglia freshly isolated from the brain to primary microglial cultures. We performed cell population discovery, differential expression analysis, and gene co-expression module analysis to compare signatures between in vitro and in vivo microglia. We constructed causal predictive network models of transcriptional regulators from the scRNAseq data and identified a set of potential key drivers of the cultured phenotype. To validate this network analysis, we knocked down two of these key drivers, C1qc and Prdx1, in primary cultured microglia and quantified changes in microglial activation markers. RESULTS We found that, although often assumed to be a relatively homogenous population of cells in culture, in vitro microglia are a highly heterogeneous population consisting of distinct subpopulations of cells with transcriptional profiles reminiscent of macrophages and monocytes, and are marked by transcriptional programs active in neurodegeneration and other disease states. We found that microglia in vitro presented transcriptional activation of a set of "culture shock genes" not found in freshly isolated microglia, characterized by strong upregulation of disease-associated genes including Apoe, Lyz2, and Spp1, and downregulation of homeostatic microglial markers, including Cx3cr1, P2ry12, and Tmem119. Finally, we found that cultured microglia prominently alter their transcriptional machinery modulated by key drivers from the homeostatic to activated phenotype. Knockdown of one of these drivers, C1qc, resulted in downregulation of microglial activation genes Lpl, Lyz2, and Ccl4. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data suggest that when removed from their in vivo home environment, microglia suffer a severe case of "culture shock", drastically modulating their transcriptional regulatory network state from homeostatic to activated through upregulation of modules of culture-specific genes. Consequently, cultured microglia behave as a disparate cell type that does not recapitulate the homeostatic signatures of microglia in vivo. Finally, our predictive network model discovered potential key drivers that may convert activated microglia back to their homeostatic state, allowing for more accurate representation of in vivo states in culture. Knockdown of key driver C1qc partially attenuated microglial activation in vitro, despite C1qc being only weakly upregulated in culture. This suggests that even genes that are not strongly differentially expressed across treatments or preparations may drive downstream transcriptional changes in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika P. Cadiz
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
| | - Tanner D. Jensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
| | - Jonathon P. Sens
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
| | - Kuixi Zhu
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
| | - Won-Min Song
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Mark Ebbert
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Biomedical Informatics, and Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536 USA
| | - Rui Chang
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
| | - John D. Fryer
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
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73
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Huffels CFM, Osborn LM, Cappaert NLM, Hol EM. Calcium signaling in individual APP/PS1 mouse dentate gyrus astrocytes increases ex vivo with Aβ pathology and age without affecting astrocyte network activity. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1281-1295. [PMID: 35293016 PMCID: PMC9314019 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are critical for healthy brain function. In Alzheimer's disease, astrocytes become reactive, which affects their signaling properties. Here, we measured spontaneous calcium transients ex vivo in hippocampal astrocytes in brain slices containing the dentate gyrus of 6- (6M) and 9-month-old (9M) APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice. We investigated the frequency and duration of calcium transients in relation to aging, amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology, and the proximity of the astrocyte to Aβ plaques. The 6M APP/PS1 astrocytes showed no change in spontaneous calcium-transient properties compared to wild-type (WT) astrocytes. 9M APP/PS1 astrocytes, however, showed more hyperactivity compared to WT, characterized by increased spontaneous calcium transients that were longer in duration. Our data also revealed an effect of aging, as 9M astrocytes overall showed an increase in calcium activity compared to 6M astrocytes. Subsequent calcium-wave analysis showed an increase in sequential calcium transients (i.e., calcium waves) in 9M astrocytes, suggesting increased network activity ex vivo. Further analysis using null models revealed that this network effect is caused by chance, due to the increased number of spontaneous transients. Our findings show that alterations in calcium signaling in individual hippocampal astrocytes of APP/PS1 mice are subject to both aging and Aβ pathology but these do not lead to a change in astrocyte network activity. These alterations in calcium dynamics of astrocytes may help to understand changes in neuronal physiology leading to cognitive decline and ultimately dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan F M Huffels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lana M Osborn
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, Cellular and Computational Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natalie L M Cappaert
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, Cellular and Computational Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Bai X, Mai M, Yao K, Zhang M, Huang Y, Zhang W, Guo X, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Qurban A, Duan L, Bu J, Zhang J, Wu J, Zhao Y, Yuan X, Zu H. The role of DHCR24 in the pathogenesis of AD: re-cognition of the relationship between cholesterol and AD pathogenesis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:35. [PMID: 35296367 PMCID: PMC8925223 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01338-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies show that 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ24 reductase (DHCR24) has a remarked decline in the brain of AD patients. In brain cholesterol synthetic metabolism, DHCR24 is known as the heavily key synthetase in cholesterol synthesis. Moreover, mutations of DHCR24 gene result in inhibition of the enzymatic activity of DHCR24, causing brain cholesterol deficiency and desmosterol accumulation. Furthermore, in vitro studies also demonstrated that DHCR24 knockdown lead to the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, and the decrease of plasma membrane cholesterol and intracellular cholesterol level. Obviously, DHCR24 could play a crucial role in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis via the control of cholesterol synthesis. Over the past two decades, accumulating data suggests that DHCR24 activity is downregulated by major risk factors for AD, suggesting a potential link between DHCR24 downregulation and AD pathogenesis. Thus, the brain cholesterol loss seems to be induced by the major risk factors for AD, suggesting a possible causative link between brain cholesterol loss and AD. According to previous data and our study, we further found that the reduced cholesterol level in plasma membrane and intracellular compartments by the deficiency of DHCR24 activity obviously was involved in β-amyloid generation, tau hyperphosphorylation, apoptosis. Importantly, increasing evidences reveal that the brain cholesterol loss and lipid raft disorganization are obviously linked to neuropathological impairments which are associated with AD pathogenesis. Therefore, based on previous data and research on DHCR24, we suppose that the brain cholesterol deficiency/loss might be involved in the pathogenesis of AD.
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75
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Léger-Charnay E, Gambert S, Martine L, Dubus E, Maire MA, Buteau B, Morala T, Gigot V, Bron AM, Bretillon L, Masson EAY. Retinal cholesterol metabolism is perturbated in response to experimental glaucoma in the rat. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264787. [PMID: 35275950 PMCID: PMC8916636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations of cholesterol metabolism have been described for many neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease in the brain and age-related macular degeneration in the retina. Recent evidence suggests that glaucoma, which is characterized by the progressive death of retinal ganglion cells, could also be associated with disruption of cholesterol homeostasis. In the present study we characterized cholesterol metabolism in a rat model of laser-induced intraocular hypertension, the main risk factor for glaucoma. Sterol levels were measured using gas-chromatography and cholesterol-related gene expression using quantitative RT-PCR at various time-points. As early as 18 hours after the laser procedure, genes implicated in cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake were upregulated (+49% and +100% for HMG-CoA reductase and LDLR genes respectively, vs. naive eyes) while genes involved in efflux were downregulated (-26% and -37% for ApoE and CYP27A1 genes, respectively). Cholesterol and precursor levels were consecutively elevated 3 days post-laser (+14%, +40% and +194% for cholesterol, desmosterol and lathosterol, respectively). Interestingly, counter-regulatory mechanisms were transcriptionally activated following these initial dysregulations, which were associated with the restoration of retinal cholesterol homeostasis, favorable to ganglion cell viability, one month after the laser-induced ocular hypertension. In conclusion, we report here for the first time that ocular hypertension is associated with transient major dynamic changes in retinal cholesterol metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Léger-Charnay
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Ségolène Gambert
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale, Plateforme de Biologie Hospitalo-Universitaire, Dijon, France
| | - Lucy Martine
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Elisabeth Dubus
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Marie-Annick Maire
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Bénédicte Buteau
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Tristan Morala
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Vincent Gigot
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Alain M. Bron
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- Département d’Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Lionel Bretillon
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Elodie A. Y. Masson
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- * E-mail:
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Jiwaji Z, Hardingham GE. Good, bad, and neglectful: Astrocyte changes in neurodegenerative disease. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 182:93-99. [PMID: 35202786 PMCID: PMC8969603 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes play key roles in CNS development as well as well as neuro-supportive roles in the mature brain including ionic, bioenergetic and redox homeostasis. Astrocytes undergo rapid changes following acute CNS insults such as stroke or traumatic brain injury, but are also profoundly altered in chronic neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. While disease-altered astrocytes are often referred to as reactive, this does not represent a single cellular state or group of states, but a shift in astrocyte properties that is determined by the type of insult as well as spatio-temporal factors. Such changes can accelerate disease progression due to astrocytes neglecting their normal homeostatic neuro-supportive roles, as well as by gaining active neuro-toxic properties. However, other aspects of astrocytic responses to chronic disease can include the induction of adaptive-protective pathways. This is particularly the case when considering antioxidant defences, which can be up-regulated in many cell types, including astrocytes, in response to stresses, sometimes in concert with the activation of detoxification and proteostasis pathways. Protective responses, whilst potentially serving to mitigate neuronal dysfunction, may ultimately fail due to being insufficiently strong, or be offset by other deleterious changes to astrocytes occurring in parallel. Nevertheless, a greater understanding of early adaptive-protective responses of astrocytes to neurodegenerative disease pathology may point to ways in which these responses may be harnessed for therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoeb Jiwaji
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, Edinburgh Medical School, EH16 4SB, UK; Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Giles E Hardingham
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, Edinburgh Medical School, EH16 4SB, UK; Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.
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Smit T, Ormel PR, Sluijs JA, Hulshof LA, Middeldorp J, de Witte LD, Hol EM, Donega V. Transcriptomic and functional analysis of Aβ 1-42 oligomer-stimulated human monocyte-derived microglia-like cells. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 100:219-230. [PMID: 34896594 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of microglial function contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Several genetic and transcriptome studies have revealed microglia specific genetic risk factors, and changes in microglia expression profiles in AD pathogenesis, viz. the human-Alzheimer's microglia/myeloid (HAM) profile in AD patients and the disease-associated microglia profile (DAM) in AD mouse models. The transcriptional changes involve genes in immune and inflammatory pathways, and in pathways associated with Aβ clearance. Aβ oligomers have been suggested to be the initial trigger of microglia activation in AD. To study the direct response to Aβ oligomers exposure, we assessed changes in gene expression in an in vitro model for microglia, the human monocyte-derived microglial-like (MDMi) cells. We confirmed the initiation of an inflammatory profile following LPS stimulation, based on increased expression of IL1B, IL6, and TNFα. In contrast, the Aβ1-42 oligomers did not induce an inflammatory profile or a classical HAM profile. Interestingly, we observed a specific increase in the expression of metallothioneins in the Aβ1-42 oligomer treated MDMi cells. Metallothioneins are involved in metal ion regulation, protection against reactive oxygen species, and have anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, our data suggests that exposure to Aβ1-42 oligomers may initially trigger a protective response in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Smit
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul R Ormel
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline A Sluijs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lianne A Hulshof
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Lot D de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Vanessa Donega
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Boche D, Gordon MN. Diversity of transcriptomic microglial phenotypes in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:360-376. [PMID: 34223696 PMCID: PMC9059230 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The morphological plasticity of microglia has fascinated neuroscientists for 100 years. Attempts to classify functional phenotypes are hampered by similarities between endogenous brain microglia and peripheral myeloid cells that can enter the brain under pathological conditions. Recent advances in single-cell -omic methodologies have led to an explosion of data regarding gene expression in microglia. Herein, we review the diversity of microglial phenotypes in healthy brains, aging, and Alzheimer's disease (AD); identify knowledge gaps in the body of evidence; and suggest areas in which new knowledge would be useful. Data from human samples and mouse models are compared and contrasted. Understanding the molecular complexity of the microglial response repertoire will suggest new avenues for therapeutic treatments in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Marcia N. Gordon
- Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA,corresponding author: Marcia N. Gordon, PhD, Michigan State University GRRC, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 USA, , Telephone: (616) 234-2837
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79
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Profiling Microglia in a Mouse Model of Machado–Joseph Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020237. [PMID: 35203447 PMCID: PMC8869404 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia have been increasingly implicated in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), and specific disease associated microglia (DAM) profiles have been defined for several of these NDs. Yet, the microglial profile in Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) remains unexplored. Here, we characterized the profile of microglia in the CMVMJD135 mouse model of MJD. This characterization was performed using primary microglial cultures and microglial cells obtained from disease-relevant brain regions of neonatal and adult CMVMJD135 mice, respectively. Machine learning models were implemented to identify potential clusters of microglia based on their morphological features, and an RNA-sequencing analysis was performed to identify molecular perturbations and potential therapeutic targets. Our findings reveal morphological alterations that point to an increased activation state of microglia in CMVMJD135 mice and a disease-specific transcriptional profile of MJD microglia, encompassing a total of 101 differentially expressed genes, with enrichment in molecular pathways related to oxidative stress, immune response, cell proliferation, cell death, and lipid metabolism. Overall, these results allowed us to define the cellular and molecular profile of MJD-associated microglia and to identify genes and pathways that might represent potential therapeutic targets for this disorder.
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80
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Fang J, Zhang P, Wang Q, Chiang CW, Zhou Y, Hou Y, Xu J, Chen R, Zhang B, Lewis SJ, Leverenz JB, Pieper AA, Li B, Li L, Cummings J, Cheng F. Artificial intelligence framework identifies candidate targets for drug repurposing in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:7. [PMID: 35012639 PMCID: PMC8751379 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00951-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous susceptibility loci for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, utilizing GWAS and multi-omics data to identify high-confidence AD risk genes (ARGs) and druggable targets that can guide development of new therapeutics for patients suffering from AD has heretofore not been successful. METHODS To address this critical problem in the field, we have developed a network-based artificial intelligence framework that is capable of integrating multi-omics data along with human protein-protein interactome networks to accurately infer accurate drug targets impacted by GWAS-identified variants to identify new therapeutics. When applied to AD, this approach integrates GWAS findings, multi-omics data from brain samples of AD patients and AD transgenic animal models, drug-target networks, and the human protein-protein interactome, along with large-scale patient database validation and in vitro mechanistic observations in human microglia cells. RESULTS Through this approach, we identified 103 ARGs validated by various levels of pathobiological evidence in AD. Via network-based prediction and population-based validation, we then showed that three drugs (pioglitazone, febuxostat, and atenolol) are significantly associated with decreased risk of AD compared with matched control populations. Pioglitazone usage is significantly associated with decreased risk of AD (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.916, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.861-0.974, P = 0.005) in a retrospective case-control validation. Pioglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes, and propensity score matching cohort studies confirmed its association with reduced risk of AD in comparison to glipizide (HR = 0.921, 95% CI 0.862-0.984, P = 0.0159), an insulin secretagogue that is also used to treat type 2 diabetes. In vitro experiments showed that pioglitazone downregulated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK5) in human microglia cells, supporting a possible mechanism-of-action for its beneficial effect in AD. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we present an integrated, network-based artificial intelligence methodology to rapidly translate GWAS findings and multi-omics data to genotype-informed therapeutic discovery in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiansong Fang
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Pengyue Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Quan Wang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Chien-Wei Chiang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Yadi Zhou
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Yuan Hou
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jielin Xu
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Stephen J Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA
| | - James B Leverenz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Andrew A Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Geriatric Psychiatry, GRECC, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Bingshan Li
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
| | - Lang Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
| | - Feixiong Cheng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA.
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81
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Huffels CFM, Osborn LM, Hulshof LA, Kooijman L, Henning L, Steinhäuser C, Hol EM. Amyloid-β plaques affect astrocyte Kir4.1 protein expression but not function in the dentate gyrus of APP/PS1 mice. Glia 2022; 70:748-767. [PMID: 34981861 PMCID: PMC9306581 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer pathology is accompanied by astrogliosis. Reactive astrocytes surrounding amyloid plaques may directly affect neuronal communication, and one of the mechanisms by which astrocytes impact neuronal function is by affecting K+ homeostasis. Here we studied, using hippocampal slices from 9‐month‐old Alzheimer mice (APP/PS1) and wild‐type littermates, whether astrocyte function is changed by analyzing Kir4.1 expression and function and astrocyte coupling in astrocytes surrounding amyloid‐β plaques. Immunohistochemical analysis of Kir4.1 protein in the dentate gyrus revealed localized increases in astrocytes surrounding amyloid‐β plaque deposits. We subsequently focused on changes in astrocyte function by using patch‐clamp slice electrophysiology on both plaque‐ and non‐plaque associated astrocytes to characterize general membrane properties. We found that Ba2+‐sensitive Kir4.1 conductance in astrocytes surrounding plaques was not affected by changes in Kir4.1 protein expression. Additional analysis of astrocyte gap junction coupling efficiency in the dentate gyrus revealed no apparent changes. Quantification of basic features of glutamatergic transmission to granule cells did not indicate disturbed neuronal communication in the dentate gyrus of APP/PS1 mice. Together, these results suggest that astrocytes in the dentate gyrus of APP/PS1 mice maintain their ability to buffer extracellular K+ and attempt to rectify imbalances in K+ concentration to maintain normal neuronal and synaptic function, possibly by localized increases in Kir4.1 protein expression. Our earlier transcriptomic data indicated that chronically activated astrocytes lose their neuronal support function. Here we show that, despite localized increased Kir4.1 protein expression, astrocyte Kir4.1 channel dysfunction is likely not involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan F. M. Huffels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Lana M. Osborn
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Lianne A. Hulshof
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Lieneke Kooijman
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Lukas Henning
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical FacultyUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | | | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
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82
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Hastings N, Kuan WL, Osborne A, Kotter MRN. Therapeutic Potential of Astrocyte Transplantation. Cell Transplant 2022; 31:9636897221105499. [PMID: 35770772 PMCID: PMC9251977 DOI: 10.1177/09636897221105499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell transplantation is an attractive treatment strategy for a variety of brain disorders, as it promises to replenish lost functions and rejuvenate the brain. In particular, transplantation of astrocytes has come into light recently as a therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); moreover, grafting of astrocytes also showed positive results in models of other conditions ranging from neurodegenerative diseases of older age to traumatic injury and stroke. Despite clear differences in etiology, disorders such as ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as traumatic injury and stroke, converge on a number of underlying astrocytic abnormalities, which include inflammatory changes, mitochondrial damage, calcium signaling disturbance, hemichannel opening, and loss of glutamate transporters. In this review, we examine these convergent pathways leading to astrocyte dysfunction, and explore the existing evidence for a therapeutic potential of transplantation of healthy astrocytes in various models. Existing literature presents a wide variety of methods to generate astrocytes, or relevant precursor cells, for subsequent transplantation, while described outcomes of this type of treatment also differ between studies. We take technical differences between methodologies into account to understand the variability of therapeutic benefits, or lack thereof, at a deeper level. We conclude by discussing some key requirements of an astrocyte graft that would be most suitable for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Hastings
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wei-Li Kuan
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew Osborne
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark R N Kotter
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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83
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Wang Y, Luo W, Wang X, Ma Y, Huang L, Wang Y. MAMDC2, a gene highly expressed in microglia in experimental models of Alzheimers Disease, positively regulates the innate antiviral response during neurotropic virus infection. J Infect 2021; 84:187-204. [PMID: 34902449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Microglia, as central nervous system (CNS)-resident macrophages, are the first line of defense against neurotropic virus infection, the immune response of which is implicated in numerous CNS diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Indeed, the infectious hypothesis for AD has long been recognized, of note herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the most common human neurotropic virus. However, the mechanism linking HSV-1 and AD remains obscure. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome data of microglia in AD mice. We found that MAM domain containing 2 (MAMDC2) is significantly upregulated in microglia isolated from both a series of AD mice established by numerous genetic strategies and mice with HSV-1 infection. Mamdc2-deficient (Mamdc2-/-) mice are susceptible to HSV-1 infection and show an impaired type I interferon (I-IFN)-based innate antiviral response upon neurotropic HSV-1 infection. The in vitro experiments suggest a similar result. Moreover, lentivirus-mediated overexpression of Mamdc2 in mouse brains enhances the innate antiviral response in microglia and ameliorates herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) symptoms. Mechanistically, MAMDC2 interacts with STING via its first MAM domain within and enhances the polymerization of STING, activating downstream TBK1-IRF3 signaling to facilitate the expression of I-IFNs. The sulfated glycosaminoglycan-mediated polymerization of STING also largely depends on MAMDC2. Our study uncovers the function of MAMDC2 in the innate antiviral response in microglia, revealing a potential mechanism linking HSV-1 and AD, especially the contribution of Mamdc2 overexpression to the upregulation of I-IFN in the AD brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiliang Wang
- Guangzhou Jinan Biomedicine Research and Development Center, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Virology of Guangdong Province, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Weisheng Luo
- Guangzhou Jinan Biomedicine Research and Development Center, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Virology of Guangdong Province, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Guangzhou Jinan Biomedicine Research and Development Center, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Virology of Guangdong Province, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuying Ma
- Guangzhou Jinan Biomedicine Research and Development Center, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lianzhou Huang
- Guangzhou Jinan Biomedicine Research and Development Center, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Guangzhou Jinan Biomedicine Research and Development Center, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Virology of Guangdong Province, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
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84
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Yoo TJ. Anti-Inflammatory Gene Therapy Improves Spatial Memory Performance in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 85:1001-1008. [PMID: 34897091 PMCID: PMC8925118 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The immune system plays a critical role in neurodegenerative processes involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, a gene-based immunotherapeutic method examined the effects of anti-inflammatory cellular immune response elements (CIREs) in the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) mouse model. Bi-monthly intramuscular administration, beginning at either 4 or 6 months, and examined at 7.5 through 16 months, with plasmids encoding Interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4, TGF-β polynucleotides, or a combination thereof, into AβPP mice improved spatial memory performance. This work demonstrates an efficient gene therapy strategy to downregulate neuroinflammation, and possibly prevent or delay cognitive decline in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai June Yoo
- Korea Allergy Clinic, KangNam Gu, Seoul, South Korea.,University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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85
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Staurenghi E, Giannelli S, Testa G, Sottero B, Leonarduzzi G, Gamba P. Cholesterol Dysmetabolism in Alzheimer's Disease: A Starring Role for Astrocytes? Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10121890. [PMID: 34943002 PMCID: PMC8750262 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10121890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, the impairment of cholesterol metabolism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been intensively investigated, and it has been recognized to affect amyloid β (Aβ) production and clearance, tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation and degeneration. In particular, the key role of cholesterol oxidation products, named oxysterols, has emerged. Brain cholesterol metabolism is independent from that of peripheral tissues and it must be preserved in order to guarantee cerebral functions. Among the cells that help maintain brain cholesterol homeostasis, astrocytes play a starring role since they deliver de novo synthesized cholesterol to neurons. In addition, other physiological roles of astrocytes are to modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity and support neurons providing energy. In the AD brain, astrocytes undergo significant morphological and functional changes that contribute to AD onset and development. However, the extent of this contribution and the role played by oxysterols are still unclear. Here we review the current understanding of the physiological role exerted by astrocytes in the brain and their contribution to AD pathogenesis. In particular, we focus on the impact of cholesterol dysmetabolism on astrocyte functions suggesting new potential approaches to develop therapeutic strategies aimed at counteracting AD development.
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86
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Liu H, Zhou YC, Song W. Involvement of IL-10R/STAT3 pathway in amyloid β clearance by microlgia in Alzheimer's disease. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108263. [PMID: 34710847 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Both the total amount and annual growth rate of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in China are much higher than in other regions in the world. This trend of rapid growth will be difficult to change in the next few decades, hence the prevention and treatment situation of AD patients in China is more severe. Maintaining the balance between the production and removal pathways of Aβ is an important guarantee for the body to maintain its normal physiological state. The dysfunction of Aβ clearance is an important factor of Aβ accumulation in brain tissue of AD patients causing neurotoxicity of synaptic damage and neuronal death. Based on the literature review, it introduced the important role of microglias in clearing Aβ deposits in the process of Alzheimer's disease. And most of these phagocytic cells were the specific phenotype of disease-related microglia (DAM-I/DAM-II) that induced microglial differentiation after activation. IL-10KO promoted the transformation of microglial phenotype DAM-II, and enhanced its phagocytosis for Aβ oligomers. There is a hypothesis that IL-10R/STAT3 negatively regulates microglial phagocytosis. It was learnt that blocking the IL-10R/STAT3 pathway promoted microglial activation and enhanced phagocytosis. The comprehensive review on the involvement of IL-10R/STAT3 pathway in the process of AD would open up new ideas and discover new targets for the development of new therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo University School of Medicine, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Yu-Cong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
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87
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Mirzaei N, Davis N, Chau TW, Sastre M. Astrocyte Reactivity in Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Opportunities to Promote Repair. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 19:1-15. [PMID: 34719372 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666211029164106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are fast climbing the ladder of importance in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with the prominent presence of reactive astrocytes sur- rounding amyloid β- plaques, together with activated microglia. Reactive astrogliosis, implying morphological and molecular transformations in astrocytes, seems to precede neurodegeneration, suggesting a role in the development of the disease. Single-cell transcriptomics has recently demon- strated that astrocytes from AD brains are different from "normal" healthy astrocytes, showing dys- regulations in areas such as neurotransmitter recycling, including glutamate and GABA, and im- paired homeostatic functions. However, recent data suggest that the ablation of astrocytes in mouse models of amyloidosis results in an increase in amyloid pathology as well as in the inflammatory profile and reduced synaptic density, indicating that astrocytes mediate neuroprotective effects. The idea that interventions targeting astrocytes may have great potential for AD has therefore emerged, supported by a range of drugs and stem cell transplantation studies that have successfully shown a therapeutic effect in mouse models of AD. In this article, we review the latest reports on the role and profile of astrocytes in AD brains and how manipulation of astrocytes in animal mod- els has paved the way for the use of treatments enhancing astrocytic function as future therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048. United States
| | - Nicola Davis
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Tsz Wing Chau
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Sastre
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
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88
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Tapella L, Dematteis G, Ruffinatti FA, Ponzoni L, Fiordaliso F, Corbelli A, Albanese E, Pistolato B, Pagano J, Barberis E, Marengo E, Balducci C, Forloni G, Verpelli C, Sala C, Distasi C, Sala M, Manfredi M, Genazzani AA, Lim D. Deletion of calcineurin from astrocytes reproduces proteome signature of Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy and predisposes to seizures. Cell Calcium 2021; 100:102480. [PMID: 34607180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin (CaN), acting downstream of intracellular calcium signals, orchestrates cellular remodeling in many cellular types. In astrocytes, major homeostatic players in the central nervous system (CNS), CaN is involved in neuroinflammation and gliosis, while its role in healthy CNS or in early neuro-pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we report that in mice with conditional deletion of CaN in GFAP-expressing astrocytes (astroglial calcineurin KO, ACN-KO), at 1 month of age, transcription was largely unchanged, while the proteome was deranged in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Gene ontology analysis revealed overrepresentation of annotations related to myelin sheath, mitochondria, ribosome and cytoskeleton. Over-represented pathways were related to protein synthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, mTOR and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and seizure disorder. Comparison with published proteomic datasets showed significant overlap with the proteome of a familial AD mouse model and of human subjects with drug-resistant seizures. ACN-KO mice showed no alterations of motor activity, equilibrium, anxiety or depressive state. However, in Barnes maze ACN-KO mice learned the task but adopted serial search strategy. Strikingly, beginning from about 5 months of age ACN-KO mice developed spontaneous tonic-clonic seizures with an inflammatory signature of epileptic brains. Altogether, our data suggest that the deletion of astroglial CaN produces features of neurological disorders and predisposes mice to seizures. We suggest that calcineurin in astrocytes may serve as a novel Ca2+-sensitive switch which regulates protein expression and homeostasis in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tapella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Giulia Dematteis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Federico Alessandro Ruffinatti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Luisa Ponzoni
- BIOMETRA, University of Milan and Fondazione Zardi-Gori, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fiordaliso
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Corbelli
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Albanese
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Beatrice Pistolato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Elettra Barberis
- Department of Sciences and Technological Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Alessandria, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Emilio Marengo
- Department of Sciences and Technological Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Claudia Balducci
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Sala
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Distasi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Marcello Manfredi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy; Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Armando A Genazzani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy.
| | - Dmitry Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy.
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89
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Preman P, TCW J, Calafate S, Snellinx A, Alfonso-Triguero M, Corthout N, Munck S, Thal DR, Goate AM, De Strooper B, Arranz AM. Human iPSC-derived astrocytes transplanted into the mouse brain undergo morphological changes in response to amyloid-β plaques. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:68. [PMID: 34563212 PMCID: PMC8467145 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00487-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence for a direct contribution of astrocytes to neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes causing Alzheimer's disease comes from molecular and functional studies in rodent models. However, these models may not fully recapitulate human disease as human and rodent astrocytes differ considerably in morphology, functionality, and gene expression. RESULTS To address these challenges, we established an approach to study human astrocytes within the mouse brain by transplanting human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocyte progenitors into neonatal brains. Xenografted hiPSC-derived astrocyte progenitors differentiated into astrocytes that integrated functionally within the mouse host brain and matured in a cell-autonomous way retaining human-specific morphologies, unique features, and physiological properties. In Alzheimer´s chimeric brains, transplanted hiPSC-derived astrocytes responded to the presence of amyloid plaques undergoing morphological changes that seemed independent of the APOE allelic background. CONCLUSIONS In sum, we describe here a promising approach that consist of transplanting patient-derived and genetically modified astrocytes into the mouse brain to study human astrocyte pathophysiology in the context of Alzheimer´s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Preman
- grid.511015.1VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Julia TCW
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Sara Calafate
- grid.511015.1VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Snellinx
- grid.511015.1VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Alfonso-Triguero
- grid.427629.cAchucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain ,grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Neurosciences, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Nikky Corthout
- grid.511015.1VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium ,VIB Bio Imaging Core, Campus Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastian Munck
- grid.511015.1VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium ,VIB Bio Imaging Core, Campus Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Department of Pathology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alison M Goate
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Bart De Strooper
- grid.511015.1VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium ,grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amaia M Arranz
- grid.511015.1VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium ,grid.427629.cAchucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain ,grid.424810.b0000 0004 0467 2314Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
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90
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Reid JK, Kuipers HF. She Doesn't Even Go Here: The Role of Inflammatory Astrocytes in CNS Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:704884. [PMID: 34539348 PMCID: PMC8446364 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.704884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocyte heterogeneity is a rapidly evolving field driven by innovative techniques. Inflammatory astrocytes, one of the first described subtypes of reactive astrocytes, are present in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and may play a role in their pathogenesis. Moreover, genetic and therapeutic targeting of these astrocytes ameliorates disease in several models, providing support for advancing the development of astrocyte-specific disease modifying therapies. This review aims to explore the methods and challenges of identifying inflammatory astrocytes, the role these astrocytes play in neurological disorders, and future directions in the field of astrocyte heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Kelsey Reid
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Hedwich Fardau Kuipers
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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91
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Monterey MD, Wei H, Wu X, Wu JQ. The Many Faces of Astrocytes in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurol 2021; 12:619626. [PMID: 34531807 PMCID: PMC8438135 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.619626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and is the most common cause of dementia in an aging population. The majority of research effort has focused on the role of neurons in neurodegeneration and current therapies have limited ability to slow disease progression. Recently more attention has been given to the role of astrocytes in the process of neurodegeneration. Specifically, reactive astrocytes have both advantageous and adverse effects during neurodegeneration. The ability to isolate and depict astrocyte phenotype has been challenging. However, with the recent development of single-cell sequencing technologies researchers are provided with the resource to delineate specific biomarkers associated with reactive astrocytes in AD. In this review, we will focus on the role of astrocytes in normal conditions and the pathological development of AD. We will further review recent developments in the understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity and associated biomarkers. A better understanding of astrocyte contributions and phenotypic changes in AD can ultimately lead to more effective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Monterey
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Haichao Wei
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Xizi Wu
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jia Qian Wu
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
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92
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Tournier BB, Tsartsalis S, Ceyzériat K, Fraser BH, Grégoire MC, Kövari E, Millet P. Astrocytic TSPO Upregulation Appears Before Microglial TSPO in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 77:1043-1056. [PMID: 32804124 PMCID: PMC7683091 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: In vivo PET/SPECT imaging of neuroinflammation is primarily based on the estimation of the 18 kDa-translocator-protein (TSPO). However, TSPO is expressed by different cell types which complicates the interpretation. Objective: The present study evaluates the cellular origin of TSPO alterations in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: The TSPO cell origin was evaluated by combining radioactive imaging approaches using the TSPO radiotracer [125I]CLINDE and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, in a rat model of AD (TgF344-AD) and in AD subjects. Results: In the hippocampus of TgF344-AD rats, TSPO overexpression not only concerns glial cells but the increase is visible at 12 and 24 months in astrocytes and only at 24 months in microglia. In the temporal cortex of AD subjects, TSPO upregulation involved only glial cells. However, the mechanism of this upregulation appears different with an increase in the number of TSPO binding sites per cell without cell proliferation in the rat, and a microglial cell population expansion with a constant number of binding sites per cell in human AD. Conclusion: These data indicate an earlier astrocyte intervention than microglia and that TSPO in AD probably is an exclusive marker of glial activity without interference from other TSPO-expressing cells. This observation indicates that the interpretation of TSPO imaging depends on the stage of the pathology, and highlights the particular role of astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin B Tournier
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stergios Tsartsalis
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Ceyzériat
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Nuclear medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ben H Fraser
- ANSTO LifeSciences, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marie-Claude Grégoire
- ANSTO LifeSciences, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Enikö Kövari
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Millet
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Switzerland
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93
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Association Between Adenosine A 2A Receptors and Connexin 43 Regulates Hemichannels Activity and ATP Release in Astrocytes Exposed to Amyloid-β Peptides. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:6232-6248. [PMID: 34476674 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02538-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence implicates astrocytes and the associated purinergic modulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by cognitive deficits involving the extracellular amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) accumulation. Aβ can affect astrocytic gliotransmitters release, namely ATP, which is rapidly metabolized into adenosine by ecto-5'-nucleotidase, CD73, resulting in adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) activation that bolsters neurodegeneration. AD's brains exhibit an upregulation of A2AR and of connexin 43 (Cx43), which in astrocytes forms hemichannels that can mediate ATP release. However, a coupling between astrocytic A2AR and Cx43 remains to be established. This was now investigated using astrocytic primary cultures exposed to Aβ1-42 peptides. Aβ triggered ATP release through Cx43 hemichannels, a process blocked by A2AR antagonists and mimicked by selective A2AR activation. A2AR directly regulated hemichannels activity and prevented Cx43 upregulation and phosphorylation observed in Aβ1-42-exposed astrocytes. Moreover, a proximity ligand assay revealed a physical association between astrocytic A2AR and Cx43. Finally, the blockade of CD73-mediated extracellular formation of ATP-derived adenosine prevented the Aβ-induced increase of Cx43 hemichannel activity and of ATP release. Overall, the data identify a feed-forward loop involving astrocytic A2AR and Cx43 hemichannels, whereby A2AR increase Cx43 hemichannel activity leading to increased ATP release, which is converted into adenosine by CD73, sustaining the increased astrocytic A2AR activity in AD-like conditions.
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94
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Blood-Based Biomarkers of Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease: A Central Role for Periphery? Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11091525. [PMID: 34573867 PMCID: PMC8464786 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11091525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation represents a central feature in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The resident innate immune cells of the brain are the principal players in neuroinflammation, and their activation leads to a defensive response aimed at promoting β-amyloid (Aβ) clearance. However, it is now widely accepted that the peripheral immune system—by virtue of a dysfunctional blood–brain barrier (BBB)—is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of AD; microglial and astrocytic activation leads to the release of chemokines able to recruit peripheral immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS); at the same time, cytokines released by peripheral cells are able to cross the BBB and act upon glial cells, modifying their phenotype. To successfully fight this neurodegenerative disorder, accurate and sensitive biomarkers are required to be used for implementing an early diagnosis, monitoring the disease progression and treatment effectiveness. Interestingly, as a result of the bidirectional communication between the brain and the periphery, the blood compartment ends up reflecting several pathological changes occurring in the AD brain and can represent an accessible source for such biomarkers. In this review, we provide an overview on some of the most promising peripheral biomarkers of neuroinflammation, discussing their pathogenic role in AD.
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95
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Smit T, Deshayes NAC, Borchelt DR, Kamphuis W, Middeldorp J, Hol EM. Reactive astrocytes as treatment targets in Alzheimer's disease-Systematic review of studies using the APPswePS1dE9 mouse model. Glia 2021; 69:1852-1881. [PMID: 33634529 PMCID: PMC8247905 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes regulate synaptic communication and are essential for proper brain functioning. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) astrocytes become reactive, which is characterized by an increased expression of intermediate filament proteins and cellular hypertrophy. Reactive astrocytes are found in close association with amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposits. Synaptic communication and neuronal network function could be directly modulated by reactive astrocytes, potentially contributing to cognitive decline in AD. In this review, we focus on reactive astrocytes as treatment targets in AD in the APPswePS1dE9 AD mouse model, a widely used model to study amyloidosis and gliosis. We first give an overview of the model; that is, how it was generated, which cells express the transgenes, and the effect of its genetic background on Aβ pathology. Subsequently, to determine whether modifying reactive astrocytes in AD could influence pathogenesis and cognition, we review studies using this mouse model in which interventions were directly targeted at reactive astrocytes or had an indirect effect on reactive astrocytes. Overall, studies specifically targeting astrocytes to reduce astrogliosis showed beneficial effects on cognition, which indicates that targeting astrocytes should be included in developing novel therapies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Smit
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Swammerdam Institute for Life SciencesCenter for Neuroscience, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Natasja A. C. Deshayes
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Swammerdam Institute for Life SciencesCenter for Neuroscience, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - David R. Borchelt
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Willem Kamphuis
- Netherlands Institute for NeuroscienceAn Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Department of ImmunobiologyBiomedical Primate Research CentreRijswijkThe Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
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96
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Viejo L, Noori A, Merrill E, Das S, Hyman BT, Serrano-Pozo A. Systematic review of human post-mortem immunohistochemical studies and bioinformatics analyses unveil the complexity of astrocyte reaction in Alzheimer's disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 48:e12753. [PMID: 34297416 PMCID: PMC8766893 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Reactive astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have traditionally been demonstrated by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity; however, astrocyte reaction is a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon involving multiple astrocyte functions beyond cytoskeletal remodelling. To better understand astrocyte reaction in AD, we conducted a systematic review of astrocyte immunohistochemical studies in post-mortem AD brains followed by bioinformatics analyses on the extracted reactive astrocyte markers. METHODS NCBI PubMed, APA PsycInfo and WoS-SCIE databases were interrogated for original English research articles with the search terms 'Alzheimer's disease' AND 'astrocytes.' Bioinformatics analyses included protein-protein interaction network analysis, pathway enrichment, and transcription factor enrichment, as well as comparison with public human -omics datasets. RESULTS A total of 306 articles meeting eligibility criteria rendered 196 proteins, most of which were reported to be upregulated in AD vs control brains. Besides cytoskeletal remodelling (e.g., GFAP), bioinformatics analyses revealed a wide range of functional alterations including neuroinflammation (e.g., IL6, MAPK1/3/8 and TNF), oxidative stress and antioxidant defence (e.g., MT1A/2A, NFE2L2, NOS1/2/3, PRDX6 and SOD1/2), lipid metabolism (e.g., APOE, CLU and LRP1), proteostasis (e.g., cathepsins, CRYAB and HSPB1/2/6/8), extracellular matrix organisation (e.g., CD44, MMP1/3 and SERPINA3), and neurotransmission (e.g., CHRNA7, GABA, GLUL, GRM5, MAOB and SLC1A2), among others. CTCF and ESR1 emerged as potential transcription factors driving these changes. Comparison with published -omics datasets validated our results, demonstrating a significant overlap with reported transcriptomic and proteomic changes in AD brains and/or CSF. CONCLUSIONS Our systematic review of the neuropathological literature reveals the complexity of AD reactive astrogliosis. We have shared these findings as an online resource available at www.astrocyteatlas.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Viejo
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND), Charlestown, MA, USA.,Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ayush Noori
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND), Charlestown, MA, USA.,Harvard College, Cambridge, MA, USA.,MIND Data Science Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Emily Merrill
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND), Charlestown, MA, USA.,MIND Data Science Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sudeshna Das
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND), Charlestown, MA, USA.,MIND Data Science Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND), Charlestown, MA, USA.,Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alberto Serrano-Pozo
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND), Charlestown, MA, USA.,Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
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97
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Li Q, Wen S, Ye W, Zhao S, Liu X. The potential roles of m 6A modification in regulating the inflammatory response in microglia. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:149. [PMID: 34225746 PMCID: PMC8259013 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02205-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microglia are key regulators of the inflammatory response in the brain. Adenosine in RNAs can be converted to m6A (N6-methyladenosine), which regulates RNA metabolism and functions as a key epitranscriptomic modification. The m6A modification pattern and m6A-related signatures under pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory conditions of microglia remain unclear. METHODS Primary rat microglia were differentiated into pro-inflammatory M1-like (M1-L), anti-inflammatory M2-like (M2-L), and resting, unstimulated (M0-L) phenotypes. m6A mRNA and lncRNA epitranscriptomic microarray analyses were performed, and pathway analysis was conducted to understand the functional implications of m6A methylation in mRNAs and lncRNAs. The m6A methylation level and gene expression of mRNAs and lncRNAs were subsequently verified by m6A Me-RIP and qRT-PCR. RESULTS A total of 1588 mRNAs and 340 lncRNAs, 315 mRNAs and 38 lncRNAs, and 521 mRNAs and 244 lncRNAs were differentially m6A methylated between M1-L and M0-L (M1-L/M0-L), M2-L and M0-L (M2-L/M0-L), M2-L and M1-L (M2-L/M1-L), respectively. Furthermore, 4902 mRNAs, 4676 mRNAs, and 5095 mRNAs were identified distinctively expressed in M1-L/M0-L, M2-L/M0-L, and M2-L/M1-L, respectively. Pathway analysis of differentially m6A methylated mRNAs and lncRNAs in M1-L/M0-L identified immune system, signal transduction, and protein degradation processes. In contrast, the distinct m6A methylated mRNAs in M2-L/M0-L were involved in genetic information processing, metabolism, cellular processes, and neurodegenerative disease-related pathways. We validated m6A methylation and the expression levels of five mRNAs and five lncRNAs, which were involved in upregulated pathways in M1-L/M0-L, and five mRNAs involved in upregulated pathways in M2-L/M0-L. CONCLUSIONS These findings identify a distinct m6A epitranscriptome in microglia, and which may serve as novel and useful regulator during pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response of microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaohong Wen
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China
| | - Weizhen Ye
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China
| | - Shunying Zhao
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangrong Liu
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China.
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98
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Saito K, Shigetomi E, Koizumi S. [Alexander disease: diversity of cell population and interactions between neuron and glia]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2021; 156:239-243. [PMID: 34193704 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.21028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by the mutations in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene. Rosenthal fiber formations in astrocytes are the pathological hallmarks of AxD. Astrocyte dysfunction in the AxD brain is considered to be involved in its pathogenesis. We have previously reported that in AxD model mice aberrant Ca2+ signals in astrocytes were associated with the upregulation of reactive phenotype. Reactive astrocytes are conditions that lead to morphological, functional, and molecular changes by responding to various pathological insults (trauma, inflammation, ischemia), and environmental stimuli. Recent technological advances in single-cell gene expression analysis have revealed that astrocytes have heterogeneity by indicating that they form sub population with different characteristics depending on the brain region, the growth development, aging stage, and the pathological condition. AxD astrocytes are also thought to constitute a heterogeneous population with diverse properties and functions. Moreover, it is presumed that AxD pathogenesis occur due to interactions with neurons and other glial cells, as well as the microenvironment in tissues. Research strategies based on these perspectives will help us understand AxD pathology better and may lead to the elucidation of disease modifiers and clinical diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kozo Saito
- Department of Neuropharmcology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Eiji Shigetomi
- Department of Neuropharmcology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Schuichi Koizumi
- Department of Neuropharmcology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine
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99
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Snijders GJLJ, Sneeboer MAM, Fernández-Andreu A, Udine E, Boks MP, Ormel PR, van Berlekom AB, van Mierlo HC, Bӧttcher C, Priller J, Raj T, Hol EM, Kahn RS, de Witte LD. Distinct non-inflammatory signature of microglia in post-mortem brain tissue of patients with major depressive disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3336-3349. [PMID: 33028963 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00896-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Findings from epidemiological studies, biomarker measurements and animal experiments suggest a role for aberrant immune processes in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are likely to play a key role in these processes. Previous post-mortem studies reported conflicting findings regarding microglial activation and an in-depth profiling of those cells in MDD is lacking. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the phenotype and function of microglia in MDD. We isolated microglia from post-mortem brain tissue of patients with MDD (n = 13-19) and control donors (n = 12-25). Using flow cytometry and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), we measured protein and mRNA levels of a panel of microglial markers across four different brain regions (medial frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, and subventricular zone). In MDD cases, we found a significant upregulation of CX3CR1 and TMEM119 mRNA expression and a downregulation of CD163 mRNA expression and CD14 protein expression across the four brain regions. Expression levels of microglial activation markers, such as HLA-DRA, IL6, and IL1β, as well as the inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide and dexamethasone were unchanged. Our findings suggest that microglia enhance homeostatic functions in MDD but are not immune activated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gijsje J L J Snijders
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Marjolein A M Sneeboer
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alba Fernández-Andreu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Evan Udine
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Marco P Boks
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul R Ormel
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Amber Berdenis van Berlekom
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans C van Mierlo
- Department of Psychiatry, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Koekoekslaan 1, 3430, EM, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Chotima Bӧttcher
- Department of Neuropsychiatry and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Priller
- Department of Neuropsychiatry and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,DZNE and BIH, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,University of Edinburgh and UK DRI, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Towfique Raj
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the royal academy of arts and sciences, 1105, BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Mental Illness Research Education Clinical, Centers of Excellence, VA, Mental Health, Veterans, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Lot D de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Mental Illness Research Education Clinical, Centers of Excellence, VA, Mental Health, Veterans, Bronx, NY, USA
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100
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Gene Expression Profile in Different Age Groups and Its Association with Cognitive Function in Healthy Malay Adults in Malaysia. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071611. [PMID: 34199148 PMCID: PMC8304476 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of cognitive aging at the molecular level is complex and not well understood. Growing evidence suggests that cognitive differences might also be caused by ethnicity. Thus, this study aims to determine the gene expression changes associated with age-related cognitive decline among Malay adults in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 healthy Malay subjects, aged between 28 and 79, and recruited around Selangor and Klang Valley, Malaysia. Gene expression analysis was performed using a HumanHT-12v4.0 Expression BeadChip microarray kit. The top 20 differentially expressed genes at p < 0.05 and fold change (FC) = 1.2 showed that PAFAH1B3, HIST1H1E, KCNA3, TM7SF2, RGS1, and TGFBRAP1 were regulated with increased age. The gene set analysis suggests that the Malay adult's susceptibility to developing age-related cognitive decline might be due to the changes in gene expression patterns associated with inflammation, signal transduction, and metabolic pathway in the genetic network. It may, perhaps, have important implications for finding a biomarker for cognitive decline and offer molecular targets to achieve successful aging, mainly in the Malay population in Malaysia.
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