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Chiotis K, Johansson C, Rodriguez-Vieitez E, Ashton NJ, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Graff C, Nordberg A. Tracking reactive astrogliosis in autosomal dominant and sporadic Alzheimer's disease with multi-modal PET and plasma GFAP. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:60. [PMID: 37697307 PMCID: PMC10496408 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00647-y] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasma assays for the detection of Alzheimer's disease neuropathological changes are receiving ever increasing interest. The concentration of plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) has been suggested as a potential marker of astrocytes or recently, amyloid-β burden, although this hypothesis remains unproven. We compared plasma GFAP levels with the astrocyte tracer 11C-Deuterium-L-Deprenyl (11C-DED) in a multi-modal PET design in participants with sporadic and Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's disease. METHODS Twenty-four individuals from families with known Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease mutations (mutation carriers = 10; non-carriers = 14) and fifteen patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease were included. The individuals underwent PET imaging with 11C-DED, 11C-PIB and 18F-FDG, as markers of reactive astrogliosis, amyloid-β deposition, and glucose metabolism, respectively, and plasma sampling for measuring GFAP concentrations. Twenty-one participants from the Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease group underwent follow-up plasma sampling and ten of these participants underwent follow-up PET imaging. RESULTS In mutation carriers, plasma GFAP levels and 11C-PIB binding increased, while 11C-DED binding and 18F-FDG uptake significantly decreased across the estimated years to symptom onset. Cross-sectionally, plasma GFAP demonstrated a negative correlation with 11C-DED binding in both mutation carriers and patients with sporadic disease. Plasma GFAP indicated cross-sectionally a significant positive correlation with 11C-PIB binding and a significant negative correlation with 18F-FDG in the whole sample. The longitudinal levels of 11C-DED binding showed a significant negative correlation with longitudinal plasma GFAP concentrations over the follow-up interval. CONCLUSIONS Plasma GFAP concentration and astrocyte 11C-DED brain binding levels followed divergent trajectories and may reflect different underlying processes. The strong negative association between plasma GFAP and 11C-DED binding in Autosomal Dominant and sporadic Alzheimer's disease brains may indicate that if both are markers of reactive astrogliosis, they may detect different states or subtypes of astrogliosis. Increased 11C-DED brain binding seems to be an earlier phenomenon in Alzheimer's disease progression than increased plasma GFAP concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Chiotis
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Johansson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elena Rodriguez-Vieitez
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicholas J Ashton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Age-Related Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health & Biomedical Research Unit for Dementia at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Caroline Graff
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit for Hereditary Dementia, Karolinska University Hospital-Solna, Solna, Sweden
| | - Agneta Nordberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Grabarczyk M, Ksiazek-Winiarek D, Glabinski A, Szpakowski P. Dietary Polyphenols Decrease Chemokine Release by Human Primary Astrocytes Responding to Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2294. [PMID: 37765263 PMCID: PMC10537369 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are considered to be the dominant cell fraction of the central nervous system. They play a supportive and protective role towards neurons, and regulate inflammatory processes; they thus make suitable targets for drugs and supplements, such as polyphenolic compounds. However, due to their wide range, knowledge of their anti-inflammatory potential remains relatively incomplete. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether myricetin and chrysin are able to decrease chemokine release in reactive astrocytes. To assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of polyphenols, human primary astrocytes were cultured in the presence of a reactive and neurotoxic astrocyte-inducing cytokine mixture (TNF-α, IL-1a, C1q), either alone or in the presence of myricetin or chrysin. The examined polyphenols were able to modify the secretion of chemokines by human cortical astrocytes, especially CCL5 (chrysin), CCL1 (myricetin) and CCL2 (both), while cell viability was not affected. Surprisingly, the compounds did not demonstrate any antioxidant properties in the astrocyte cultures.
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53
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Keuthan CJ, Schaub JA, Wei M, Fang W, Quillen S, Kimball E, Johnson TV, Ji H, Zack DJ, Quigley HA. Regional Gene Expression in the Retina, Optic Nerve Head, and Optic Nerve of Mice with Optic Nerve Crush and Experimental Glaucoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13719. [PMID: 37762022 PMCID: PMC10531004 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A major risk factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy is the level of intraocular pressure (IOP), which can lead to retinal ganglion cell axon injury and cell death. The optic nerve has a rostral unmyelinated portion at the optic nerve head followed by a caudal myelinated region. The unmyelinated region is differentially susceptible to IOP-induced damage in rodent models and human glaucoma. While several studies have analyzed gene expression changes in the mouse optic nerve following optic nerve injury, few were designed to consider the regional gene expression differences that exist between these distinct areas. We performed bulk RNA-sequencing on the retina and separately micro-dissected unmyelinated and myelinated optic nerve regions from naïve C57BL/6 mice, mice after optic nerve crush, and mice with microbead-induced experimental glaucoma (total = 36). Gene expression patterns in the naïve unmyelinated optic nerve showed significant enrichment of the Wnt, Hippo, PI3K-Akt, and transforming growth factor β pathways, as well as extracellular matrix-receptor and cell membrane signaling pathways, compared to the myelinated optic nerve and retina. Gene expression changes induced by both injuries were more extensive in the myelinated optic nerve than the unmyelinated region, and greater after nerve crush than glaucoma. Changes present three and fourteen days after injury largely subsided by six weeks. Gene markers of reactive astrocytes did not consistently differ between injury states. Overall, the transcriptomic phenotype of the mouse unmyelinated optic nerve was significantly different from immediately adjacent tissues, likely dominated by expression in astrocytes, whose junctional complexes are inherently important in responding to IOP elevation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey J. Keuthan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (C.J.K.)
| | - Julie A. Schaub
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (C.J.K.)
| | - Meihan Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Weixiang Fang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Sarah Quillen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (C.J.K.)
| | - Elizabeth Kimball
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (C.J.K.)
| | - Thomas V. Johnson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (C.J.K.)
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (C.J.K.)
- Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Harry A. Quigley
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (C.J.K.)
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Lana D, Magni G, Landucci E, Wenk GL, Pellegrini-Giampietro DE, Giovannini MG. Phenomic Microglia Diversity as a Druggable Target in the Hippocampus in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13668. [PMID: 37761971 PMCID: PMC10531074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813668] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenomics, the complexity of microglia phenotypes and their related functions compels the continuous study of microglia in disease animal models to find druggable targets for neurodegenerative disorders. Activation of microglia was long considered detrimental for neuron survival, but more recently it has become apparent that the real scenario of microglia morphofunctional diversity is far more complex. In this review, we discuss the recent literature on the alterations in microglia phenomics in the hippocampus of animal models of normal brain aging, acute neuroinflammation, ischemia, and neurodegenerative disorders, such as AD. Microglia undergo phenomic changes consisting of transcriptional, functional, and morphological changes that transform them into cells with different properties and functions. The classical subdivision of microglia into M1 and M2, two different, all-or-nothing states is too simplistic, and does not correspond to the variety of phenotypes recently discovered in the brain. We will discuss the phenomic modifications of microglia focusing not only on the differences in microglia reactivity in the diverse models of neurodegenerative disorders, but also among different areas of the brain. For instance, in contiguous and highly interconnected regions of the rat hippocampus, microglia show a differential, finely regulated, and region-specific reactivity, demonstrating that microglia responses are not uniform, but vary significantly from area to area in response to insults. It is of great interest to verify whether the differences in microglia reactivity may explain the differential susceptibility of different brain areas to insults, and particularly the higher sensitivity of CA1 pyramidal neurons to inflammatory stimuli. Understanding the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of microglia phenomics in health and disease is of paramount importance to find new druggable targets for the development of novel microglia-targeted therapies in different CNS disorders. This will allow interventions in three different ways: (i) by suppressing the pro-inflammatory properties of microglia to limit the deleterious effect of their activation; (ii) by modulating microglia phenotypic change to favor anti-inflammatory properties; (iii) by influencing microglia priming early in the disease process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Lana
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.L.); (D.E.P.-G.); (M.G.G.)
| | - Giada Magni
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council (IFAC-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Florence, Italy;
| | - Elisa Landucci
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.L.); (D.E.P.-G.); (M.G.G.)
| | - Gary L. Wenk
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Domenico Edoardo Pellegrini-Giampietro
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.L.); (D.E.P.-G.); (M.G.G.)
| | - Maria Grazia Giovannini
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.L.); (D.E.P.-G.); (M.G.G.)
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55
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Phi NT, Yu X, Hong W. Control of social hierarchy beyond neurons. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1485-1486. [PMID: 37563297 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01392-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen T Phi
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xinzhu Yu
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Weizhe Hong
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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56
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Makarava N, Mychko O, Molesworth K, Chang JCY, Henry RJ, Tsymbalyuk N, Gerzanich V, Simard JM, Loane DJ, Baskakov IV. Region-Specific Homeostatic Identity of Astrocytes Is Essential for Defining Their Response to Pathological Insults. Cells 2023; 12:2172. [PMID: 37681904 PMCID: PMC10486627 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The transformation of astrocytes into reactive states constitutes a biological response of the central nervous system under a variety of pathological insults. Astrocytes display diverse homeostatic identities that are developmentally predetermined and regionally specified. Upon transformation into reactive states associated with neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological disorders, astrocytes acquire diverse reactive phenotypes. However, it is not clear whether their reactive phenotypes are dictated by region-specific homeostatic identity or by the nature of an insult. To address this question, region-specific gene expression profiling was performed for four brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and hypothalamus) in mice using a custom NanoString panel consisting of selected sets of genes associated with astrocyte functions and their reactivity for five conditions: prion disease, traumatic brain injury, brain ischemia, 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease model and normal aging. Upon transformation into reactive states, genes that are predominantly associated with astrocytes were found to respond to insults in a region-specific manner. Regardless of the nature of the insult or the insult-specificity of astrocyte response, strong correlations between undirected GSA (gene set analysis) scores reporting on astrocyte reactivity and on their homeostatic functions were observed within each individual brain region. The insult-specific gene expression signatures did not separate well from each other and instead partially overlapped, forming continuums. The current study demonstrates that region-specific homeostatic identities of astrocytes are important for defining their response to pathological insults. Within region-specific populations, reactive astrocytes show continuums of gene expression signatures, partially overlapping between individual insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Olga Mychko
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jennifer Chen-Yu Chang
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Rebecca J. Henry
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA (D.J.L.)
| | - Natalya Tsymbalyuk
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Volodymyr Gerzanich
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - J. Marc Simard
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - David J. Loane
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA (D.J.L.)
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Sheehan PW, Nadarajah CJ, Kanan MF, Patterson JN, Novotny B, Lawrence JH, King MW, Brase L, Inman CE, Yuede CM, Lee J, Patel TK, Harari O, Benitez BA, Davis AA, Musiek ES. An astrocyte BMAL1-BAG3 axis protects against alpha-synuclein and tau pathology. Neuron 2023; 111:2383-2398.e7. [PMID: 37315555 PMCID: PMC10524543 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The circadian clock protein BMAL1 modulates glial activation and amyloid-beta deposition in mice. However, the effects of BMAL1 on other aspects of neurodegenerative pathology are unknown. Here, we show that global post-natal deletion of Bmal1 in mouse tauopathy or alpha-synucleinopathy models unexpectedly suppresses both tau and alpha-synuclein (αSyn) aggregation and related pathology. Astrocyte-specific Bmal1 deletion is sufficient to prevent both αSyn and tau pathology in vivo and induces astrocyte activation and the expression of Bag3, a chaperone critical for macroautophagy. Astrocyte Bmal1 deletion enhances phagocytosis of αSyn and tau in a Bag3-dependent manner, and astrocyte Bag3 overexpression is sufficient to mitigate αSyn spreading in vivo. In humans, BAG3 is increased in patients with AD and is highly expressed in disease-associated astrocytes (DAAs). Our results suggest that early activation of astrocytes via Bmal1 deletion induces Bag3 to protect against tau and αSyn pathologies, providing new insights into astrocyte-specific therapies for neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Sheehan
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Collin J Nadarajah
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael F Kanan
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jessica N Patterson
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brenna Novotny
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jennifer H Lawrence
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Melvin W King
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Logan Brase
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Casey E Inman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carla M Yuede
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jiyeon Lee
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tirth K Patel
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Oscar Harari
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bruno A Benitez
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Albert A Davis
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Erik S Musiek
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center on Biological Rhythms and Sleep (COBRAS), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Zuo T, Gong B, Gao Y, Yuan L. An in vitro study on the stimulatory effects of extracellular glutamate on astrocytes. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:6611-6617. [PMID: 37344642 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08601-3] [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: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In our previous research, it was found that the cerebrospinal fluid had higher levels of glutamate, astrocytes were stimulated and released pro-inflammatory factors in a subarachnoid hemorrhage model. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter produced in abundance by excitatory neurons in the central nervous system, residual glutamate can cause neurotoxicity. Recent studies indicate that most glutamate is absorbed by astrocytes, to optimize neurological functions and prevent excitotoxicity. However, it is still unclear if astrocytes could be stimulated by glutamate, and the concentration range of glutamate transportable by astrocytes. Thus, further research is necessary. METHODS AND RESULTS This study aimed to clarify these scientific questions by stimulating primary astrocytes at different glutamate concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 µM) for 24 h. The results showed that glutamate induced an increased response in astrocytes, the protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were upregulated in treatment groups with 50 and 100 µM. Additionally, the protein expression of complement component 3 (C3) significantly increased following glutamate stimulation (50 and 100 µM) for 24 h. Furthermore, the supernatant of the 100 µM treatment group significantly decreased the viability of HT-22 (an immortalized mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line). CONCLUSIONS In summary, our results indicate that increased extracellular glutamate levels can activate astrocytes and promote pro-inflammatory factor production. Moreover, the concentration range of glutamate transported by astrocytes is approximately less than 50-100 µM. Therefore, our study suggests that experimental antagonization of glutamate excitotoxicity is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zuo
- School of Clinical Medicine and Basic Medical Science, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Bingzheng Gong
- School of Clinical Medicine and Basic Medical Science, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Yang Gao
- School of Clinical Medicine and Basic Medical Science, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Liangjie Yuan
- School of Clinical Medicine and Basic Medical Science, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China.
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Çarçak N, Onat F, Sitnikova E. Astrocytes as a target for therapeutic strategies in epilepsy: current insights. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1183775. [PMID: 37583518 PMCID: PMC10423940 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1183775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are specialized non-neuronal glial cells of the central nervous system, contributing to neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission (gliotransmission). Astrocytes play a key roles in epileptogenesis and seizure generation. Epilepsy, as a chronic disorder characterized by neuronal hyperexcitation and hypersynchronization, is accompanied by substantial disturbances of glial cells and impairment of astrocytic functions and neuronal signaling. Anti-seizure drugs that provide symptomatic control of seizures primarily target neural activity. In epileptic patients with inadequate control of seizures with available anti-seizure drugs, novel therapeutic candidates are needed. These candidates should treat epilepsy with anti-epileptogenic and disease-modifying effects. Evidence from human and animal studies shows that astrocytes have value for developing new anti-seizure and anti-epileptogenic drugs. In this review, we present the key functions of astrocytes contributing to neuronal hyperexcitability and synaptic activity following an etiology-based approach. We analyze the role of astrocytes in both development (epileptogenesis) and generation of seizures (ictogenesis). Several promising new strategies that attempted to modify astroglial functions for treating epilepsy are being developed: (1) selective targeting of glia-related molecular mechanisms of glutamate transport; (2) modulation of tonic GABA release from astrocytes; (3) gliotransmission; (4) targeting the astrocytic Kir4.1-BDNF system; (5) astrocytic Na+/K+/ATPase activity; (6) targeting DNA hypo- or hypermethylation of candidate genes in astrocytes; (7) targeting astrocytic gap junction regulators; (8) targeting astrocytic adenosine kinase (the major adenosine-metabolizing enzyme); and (9) targeting microglia-astrocyte communication and inflammatory pathways. Novel disease-modifying therapeutic strategies have now been developed, such as astroglia-targeted gene therapy with a broad spectrum of genetic constructs to target astroglial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nihan Çarçak
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Filiz Onat
- Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Evgenia Sitnikova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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60
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Cullen PF, Sun D. Astrocytes of the eye and optic nerve: heterogeneous populations with unique functions mediate axonal resilience and vulnerability to glaucoma. FRONTIERS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY 2023; 3:1217137. [PMID: 37829657 PMCID: PMC10569075 DOI: 10.3389/fopht.2023.1217137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The role of glia, particularly astrocytes, in mediating the central nervous system's response to injury and neurodegenerative disease is an increasingly well studied topic. These cells perform myriad support functions under physiological conditions but undergo behavioral changes - collectively referred to as 'reactivity' - in response to the disruption of neuronal homeostasis from insults, including glaucoma. However, much remains unknown about how reactivity alters disease progression - both beneficially and detrimentally - and whether these changes can be therapeutically modulated to improve outcomes. Historically, the heterogeneity of astrocyte behavior has been insufficiently addressed under both physiological and pathological conditions, resulting in a fragmented and often contradictory understanding of their contributions to health and disease. Thanks to increased focus in recent years, we now know this heterogeneity encompasses both intrinsic variation in physiological function and insult-specific changes that vary between pathologies. Although previous studies demonstrate astrocytic alterations in glaucoma, both in human disease and animal models, generally these findings do not conclusively link astrocytes to causative roles in neuroprotection or degeneration, rather than a subsequent response. Efforts to bolster our understanding by drawing on knowledge of brain astrocytes has been constrained by the primacy in the literature of findings from peri-synaptic 'gray matter' astrocytes, whereas much early degeneration in glaucoma occurs in axonal regions populated by fibrous 'white matter' astrocytes. However, by focusing on findings from astrocytes of the anterior visual pathway - those of the retina, unmyelinated optic nerve head, and myelinated optic nerve regions - we aim to highlight aspects of their behavior that may contribute to axonal vulnerability and glaucoma progression, including roles in mitochondrial turnover and energy provisioning. Furthermore, we posit that astrocytes of the retina, optic nerve head and myelinated optic nerve, although sharing developmental origins and linked by a network of gap junctions, may be best understood as distinct populations residing in markedly different niches with accompanying functional specializations. A closer investigation of their behavioral repertoires may elucidate not only their role in glaucoma, but also mechanisms to induce protective behaviors that can impede the progressive axonal damage and retinal ganglion cell death that drive vision loss in this devastating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F. Cullen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Daniel Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Pereira MJ, Ayana R, Holt MG, Arckens L. Chemogenetic manipulation of astrocyte activity at the synapse- a gateway to manage brain disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1193130. [PMID: 37534103 PMCID: PMC10393042 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1193130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are the major glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). Initially regarded as supportive cells, it is now recognized that this highly heterogeneous cell population is an indispensable modulator of brain development and function. Astrocytes secrete neuroactive molecules that regulate synapse formation and maturation. They also express hundreds of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that, once activated by neurotransmitters, trigger intracellular signalling pathways that can trigger the release of gliotransmitters which, in turn, modulate synaptic transmission and neuroplasticity. Considering this, it is not surprising that astrocytic dysfunction, leading to synaptic impairment, is consistently described as a factor in brain diseases, whether they emerge early or late in life due to genetic or environmental factors. Here, we provide an overview of the literature showing that activation of genetically engineered GPCRs, known as Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), to specifically modulate astrocyte activity partially mimics endogenous signalling pathways in astrocytes and improves neuronal function and behavior in normal animals and disease models. Therefore, we propose that expressing these genetically engineered GPCRs in astrocytes could be a promising strategy to explore (new) signalling pathways which can be used to manage brain disorders. The precise molecular, functional and behavioral effects of this type of manipulation, however, differ depending on the DREADD receptor used, targeted brain region and timing of the intervention, between healthy and disease conditions. This is likely a reflection of regional and disease/disease progression-associated astrocyte heterogeneity. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the effects of such astrocyte manipulation(s) must be conducted considering the specific cellular and molecular environment characteristic of each disease and disease stage before this has therapeutic applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Pereira
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rajagopal Ayana
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G. Holt
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Laboratory of Synapse Biology, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
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Frazel PW, Fricano-Kugler K, May-Zhang AA, O'Dea MR, Prakash P, Desmet NM, Lee H, Meltzer RH, Fontanez KM, Hettige P, Agam Y, Lithwick-Yanai G, Lipson D, Luikart BW, Dasen JD, Liddelow SA. Single-cell analysis of the nervous system at small and large scales with instant partitions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.14.549051. [PMID: 37503160 PMCID: PMC10370061 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.14.549051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing is a new frontier across all biology, particularly in neuroscience. While powerful for answering numerous neuroscience questions, limitations in sample input size, and initial capital outlay can exclude some researchers from its application. Here, we tested a recently introduced method for scRNAseq across diverse scales and neuroscience experiments. We benchmarked against a major current scRNAseq technology and found that PIPseq performed similarly, in line with earlier benchmarking data. Across dozens of samples, PIPseq recovered many brain cell types at small and large scales (1,000-100,000 cells/sample) and was able to detect differentially expressed genes in an inflammation paradigm. Similarly, PIPseq could detect expected and new differentially expressed genes in a brain single cell suspension from a knockout mouse model; it could also detect rare, virally-la-belled cells following lentiviral targeting and gene knockdown. Finally, we used PIPseq to investigate gene expression in a nontraditional model species, the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea). In total, PIPSeq was able to detect single-cell gene expression changes across models and species, with an added benefit of large scale capture and sequencing of each sample.
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63
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Keto L, Manninen T. CellRemorph: A Toolkit for Transforming, Selecting, and Slicing 3D Cell Structures on the Road to Morphologically Detailed Astrocyte Simulations. Neuroinformatics 2023; 21:483-500. [PMID: 37133688 PMCID: PMC10406679 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-023-09627-5] [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] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Understanding functions of astrocytes can be greatly enhanced by building and simulating computational models that capture their morphological details. Novel computational tools enable utilization of existing morphological data of astrocytes and building models that have appropriate level of details for specific simulation purposes. In addition to analyzing existing computational tools for constructing, transforming, and assessing astrocyte morphologies, we present here the CellRemorph toolkit implemented as an add-on for Blender, a 3D modeling platform increasingly recognized for its utility for manipulating 3D biological data. To our knowledge, CellRemorph is the first toolkit for transforming astrocyte morphologies from polygonal surface meshes into adjustable surface point clouds and vice versa, precisely selecting nanoprocesses, and slicing morphologies into segments with equal surface areas or volumes. CellRemorph is an open-source toolkit under the GNU General Public License and easily accessible via an intuitive graphical user interface. CellRemorph will be a valuable addition to other Blender add-ons, providing novel functionality that facilitates the creation of realistic astrocyte morphologies for different types of morphologically detailed simulations elucidating the role of astrocytes both in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Keto
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Tiina Manninen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
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Levy-Myers R, Daudelin D, Na CH, Sockanathan S. An independent regulator of global release pathways in astrocytes generates a subtype of extracellular vesicles required for postsynaptic function. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg2067. [PMID: 37352348 PMCID: PMC10289663 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg2067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are heterogeneous in size, composition, and function. We show that the six-transmembrane protein glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase 3 (GDE3) regulates actin remodeling, a global EV biogenic pathway, to release an EV subtype with distinct functions. GDE3 is necessary and sufficient for releasing EVs containing annexin A1 and GDE3 from the plasma membrane via Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 3 (WAVE3), a major regulator of actin dynamics. GDE3 is expressed in astrocytes but not neurons, yet mice lacking GDE3 [Gde3 knockout (KO)] have decreased miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) amplitudes in hippocampal CA1 neurons. EVs from cultured wild-type astrocytes restore mEPSC amplitudes in Gde3 KOs, while EVs from Gde3 KO astrocytes or astrocytes inhibited for WAVE3 actin branching activity do not. Thus, GDE3-WAVE3 is a nonredundant astrocytic pathway that remodels actin to release a functionally distinct EV subtype, supporting the concept that independent regulation of global EV release pathways differentially regulates EV signaling within the cellular EV landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben Levy-Myers
- The Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, PCTB1004, 725 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Daniel Daudelin
- The Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, PCTB1004, 725 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Chan Hyun Na
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MRB 706, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Shanthini Sockanathan
- The Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, PCTB1004, 725 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Sardar D, Cheng YT, Woo J, Choi DJ, Lee ZF, Kwon W, Chen HC, Lozzi B, Cervantes A, Rajendran K, Huang TW, Jain A, Arenkiel B, Maze I, Deneen B. Induction of astrocytic Slc22a3 regulates sensory processing through histone serotonylation. Science 2023; 380:eade0027. [PMID: 37319217 PMCID: PMC10874521 DOI: 10.1126/science.ade0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal activity drives alterations in gene expression within neurons, yet how it directs transcriptional and epigenomic changes in neighboring astrocytes in functioning circuits is unknown. We found that neuronal activity induces widespread transcriptional up-regulation and down-regulation in astrocytes, highlighted by the identification of Slc22a3 as an activity-inducible astrocyte gene that encodes neuromodulator transporter Slc22a3 and regulates sensory processing in the mouse olfactory bulb. Loss of astrocytic Slc22a3 reduced serotonin levels in astrocytes, leading to alterations in histone serotonylation. Inhibition of histone serotonylation in astrocytes reduced the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthetic genes and GABA release, culminating in olfactory deficits. Our study reveals that neuronal activity orchestrates transcriptional and epigenomic responses in astrocytes while illustrating new mechanisms for how astrocytes process neuromodulatory input to gate neurotransmitter release for sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debosmita Sardar
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Yi-Ting Cheng
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Dong-Joo Choi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Zhung-Fu Lee
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Program in Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Wookbong Kwon
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Hsiao-Chi Chen
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- The Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Brittney Lozzi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Alexis Cervantes
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Kavitha Rajendran
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Teng-Wei Huang
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Antrix Jain
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
| | - Benjamin Arenkiel
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston TX
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY 10029
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Program in Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
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66
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Mohamed W, Kumar J, Alghamdi BS, Soliman AH, Toshihide Y. Neurodegeneration and inflammation crosstalk: Therapeutic targets and perspectives. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2023; 14:95-110. [PMID: 37388502 PMCID: PMC10300452 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Glia, which was formerly considered to exist just to connect neurons, now plays a key function in a wide range of physiological events, including formation of memory, learning, neuroplasticity, synaptic plasticity, energy consumption, and homeostasis of ions. Glial cells regulate the brain's immune responses and confers nutritional and structural aid to neurons, making them an important player in a broad range of neurological disorders. Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and epilepsy are a few of the neurodegenerative diseases that have been linked to microglia and astroglia cells, in particular. Synapse growth is aided by glial cell activity, and this activity has an effect on neuronal signalling. Each glial malfunction in diverse neurodegenerative diseases is distinct, and we will discuss its significance in the progression of the illness, as well as its potential for future treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Mohamed
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan, Malaysia
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Menoufia Medical School, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Jaya Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, UKM Medical Centre (UKMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Rasmussen RN, Asiminas A, Carlsen EMM, Kjaerby C, Smith NA. Astrocytes: integrators of arousal state and sensory context. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:418-425. [PMID: 37003933 PMCID: PMC10192111 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
The integration of external information with the internal state of the body is central to the survival of virtually every multicellular organism. However, a complete picture of the mechanisms that govern this process is lacking. In this opinion article, we synthesize evidence demonstrating that astrocytes sense the momentary arousal state - through neuromodulator release - as well as the sensory inputs - through local synaptic activity - and respond to them with changes in calcium (Ca2+) signaling. We hypothesize that astrocytes integrate sensory signals with the internal state and that this process is necessary to secure optimal behavior. Finally, we argue that dysfunctional astrocytic Ca2+ signaling could be an underlying factor in disorders characterized by disrupted sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Nguyen Rasmussen
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Antonis Asiminas
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Celia Kjaerby
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nathan Anthony Smith
- Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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68
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Martinez-Fernandez de la Camara C, Storm T, Salman A, Burgoyne T, Rasmussen MQ, Orlans HO, Russell AJ, Davies SG, Barnard AR, MacLaren RE. Developmental Expression of the Cell Cycle Regulator p16 INK4a in Retinal Glial Cells: A Novel Marker for Immature Ocular Astrocytes? J Histochem Cytochem 2023; 71:301-320. [PMID: 37350564 PMCID: PMC10315990 DOI: 10.1369/00221554231184286] [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: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal astrocytes are vital for neuronal homeostasis in the retina. Together with Müller glia, they provide retinal cells with neurotrophic factors, antioxidative support, and defense mechanisms such as the formation of the blood-retinal barrier. Substantial heterogeneity of astrocyte morphology and function represents a challenge for identification of distinct subtypes which may be potential targets for therapeutic purposes. Hence, identification of novel markers of astrocyte subpopulations is highly relevant to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in retinal development, homeostasis, and pathology. In this study, we observed that the cell cycle regulator, p16INK4a, is expressed in immature astrocytes in the mouse retina. Immunohistochemical analysis showed p16INK4a expression in the optic nerve of wild-type mice from 3 days to 3 months of age and in the nerve fiber layer of the adult mouse retina. Colocalization of p16INK4a expression and glial fibrillary acidic protein (immature/mature astrocyte marker) tends to decrease with age. However, colocalization of p16INK4a expression and vimentin (immature astrocyte marker) remains high in the optic nerve from the early postnatal period to adulthood. The observations from this study provide a valuable tool for further investigations of ocular astrocytes in the developing retina as well as in degenerative retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Martinez-Fernandez de la Camara
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tina Storm
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmed Salman
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Burgoyne
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Centre, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Harry O. Orlans
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Angela J. Russell
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen G. Davies
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alun R. Barnard
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E. MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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69
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Wei H, Wu X, Withrow J, Cuevas-Diaz Duran R, Singh S, Chaboub LS, Rakshit J, Mejia J, Rolfe A, Herrera JJ, Horner PJ, Wu JQ. Glial progenitor heterogeneity and key regulators revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing provide insight to regeneration in spinal cord injury. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112486. [PMID: 37149868 PMCID: PMC10511029 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed the heterogeneous nature of astrocytes; however, how diverse constituents of astrocyte-lineage cells are regulated in adult spinal cord after injury and contribute to regeneration remains elusive. We perform single-cell RNA sequencing of GFAP-expressing cells from sub-chronic spinal cord injury models and identify and compare with the subpopulations in acute-stage data. We find subpopulations with distinct functional enrichment and their identities defined by subpopulation-specific transcription factors and regulons. Immunohistochemistry, RNAscope experiments, and quantification by stereology verify the molecular signature, location, and morphology of potential resident neural progenitors or neural stem cells in the adult spinal cord before and after injury and uncover the populations of the intermediate cells enriched in neuronal genes that could potentially transition into other subpopulations. This study has expanded the knowledge of the heterogeneity and cell state transition of glial progenitors in adult spinal cord before and after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichao Wei
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xizi Wu
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joseph Withrow
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Raquel Cuevas-Diaz Duran
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, Mexico
| | - Simranjit Singh
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lesley S Chaboub
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jyotirmoy Rakshit
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Julio Mejia
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrew Rolfe
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Juan J Herrera
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Philip J Horner
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Jia Qian Wu
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Keuthan CJ, Schaub J, Wei M, Fang W, Quillen S, Kimball E, Johnson TV, Ji H, Zack DJ, Quigley HA. Regional Gene Expression in the Retina, Optic Nerve Head, and Optic Nerve of Mice with Experimental Glaucoma and Optic Nerve Crush. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.21.529410. [PMID: 36993314 PMCID: PMC10054954 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.21.529410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A major risk factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy is the level of intraocular pressure (IOP), which can lead to retinal ganglion cell axon injury and cell death. The optic nerve has a rostral unmyelinated portion at the optic nerve head followed by a caudal myelinated region. The unmyelinated region is differentially susceptible to IOP-induced damage in rodent models and in human glaucoma. While several studies have analyzed gene expression changes in the mouse optic nerve following optic nerve injury, few were designed to consider the regional gene expression differences that exist between these distinct areas. We performed bulk RNA-sequencing on the retina and on separately micro-dissected unmyelinated and myelinated optic nerve regions from naïve C57BL/6 mice, mice after optic nerve crush, and mice with microbead-induced experimental glaucoma (total = 36). Gene expression patterns in the naïve unmyelinated optic nerve showed significant enrichment of the Wnt, Hippo, PI3K-Akt, and transforming growth factor β pathways, as well as extracellular matrix-receptor and cell membrane signaling pathways, compared to the myelinated optic nerve and retina. Gene expression changes induced by both injuries were more extensive in the myelinated optic nerve than the unmyelinated region, and greater after nerve crush than glaucoma. Changes three and fourteen days after injury largely subsided by six weeks. Gene markers of reactive astrocytes did not consistently differ between injury states. Overall, the transcriptomic phenotype of the mouse unmyelinated optic nerve was significantly different from immediately adjacent tissues, likely dominated by expression in astrocytes, whose junctional complexes are inherently important in responding to IOP elevation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey J. Keuthan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Julie Schaub
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Meihan Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Weixiang Fang
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sarah Quillen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Elizabeth Kimball
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Thomas V. Johnson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Harry A. Quigley
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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Shafqat A, Albalkhi I, Magableh HM, Saleh T, Alkattan K, Yaqinuddin A. Tackling the glial scar in spinal cord regeneration: new discoveries and future directions. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1180825. [PMID: 37293626 PMCID: PMC10244598 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1180825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal regeneration and functional recovery are poor after spinal cord injury (SCI), typified by the formation of an injury scar. While this scar was traditionally believed to be primarily responsible for axonal regeneration failure, current knowledge takes a more holistic approach that considers the intrinsic growth capacity of axons. Targeting the SCI scar has also not reproducibly yielded nearly the same efficacy in animal models compared to these neuron-directed approaches. These results suggest that the major reason behind central nervous system (CNS) regeneration failure is not the injury scar but a failure to stimulate axon growth adequately. These findings raise questions about whether targeting neuroinflammation and glial scarring still constitute viable translational avenues. We provide a comprehensive review of the dual role of neuroinflammation and scarring after SCI and how future research can produce therapeutic strategies targeting the hurdles to axonal regeneration posed by these processes without compromising neuroprotection.
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72
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Valori CF, Sulmona C, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Astrocytes: Dissecting Their Diverse Roles in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Cells 2023; 12:1450. [PMID: 37296571 PMCID: PMC10252425 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders often co-occurring in the same patient, a feature that suggests a common origin of the two diseases. Consistently, pathological inclusions of the same proteins as well as mutations in the same genes can be identified in both ALS/FTD. Although many studies have described several disrupted pathways within neurons, glial cells are also regarded as crucial pathogenetic contributors in ALS/FTD. Here, we focus our attention on astrocytes, a heterogenous population of glial cells that perform several functions for optimal central nervous system homeostasis. Firstly, we discuss how post-mortem material from ALS/FTD patients supports astrocyte dysfunction around three pillars: neuroinflammation, abnormal protein aggregation, and atrophy/degeneration. Furthermore, we summarize current attempts at monitoring astrocyte functions in living patients using either novel imaging strategies or soluble biomarkers. We then address how astrocyte pathology is recapitulated in animal and cellular models of ALS/FTD and how we used these models both to understand the molecular mechanisms driving glial dysfunction and as platforms for pre-clinical testing of therapeutics. Finally, we present the current clinical trials for ALS/FTD, restricting our discussion to treatments that modulate astrocyte functions, directly or indirectly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Valori
- Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72072 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Sulmona
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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73
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Ariyani W, Amano I, Koibuchi N. Isoflavones Mediate Dendritogenesis Mainly through Estrogen Receptor α. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24109011. [PMID: 37240356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24109011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) and G-protein-coupled ER (GPER1) play a crucial role during brain development and are involved in dendrite and spine growth as well as synapse formation. Soybean isoflavones, such as genistein, daidzein, and S-equol, a daidzein metabolite, exert their action through ER and GPER1. However, the mechanisms of action of isoflavones on brain development, particularly during dendritogenesis and neuritogenesis, have not yet been extensively studied. We evaluated the effects of isoflavones using mouse primary cerebellar culture, astrocyte-enriched culture, Neuro-2A clonal cells, and co-culture with neurons and astrocytes. Soybean isoflavone-augmented estradiol mediated dendrite arborization in Purkinje cells. Such augmentation was suppressed by co-exposure with ICI 182,780, an antagonist for ERs, or G15, a selective GPER1 antagonist. The knockdown of nuclear ERs or GPER1 also significantly reduced the arborization of dendrites. Particularly, the knockdown of ERα showed the greatest effect. To further examine the specific molecular mechanism, we used Neuro-2A clonal cells. Isoflavones also induced neurite outgrowth of Neuro-2A cells. The knockdown of ERα most strongly reduced isoflavone-induced neurite outgrowth compared with ERβ or GPER1 knockdown. The knockdown of ERα also reduced the mRNA levels of ER-responsive genes (i.e., Bdnf, Camk2b, Rbfox3, Tubb3, Syn1, Dlg4, and Syp). Furthermore, isoflavones increased ERα levels, but not ERβ or GPER1 levels, in Neuro-2A cells. The co-culture study of Neuro-2A cells and astrocytes also showed an increase in isoflavone-induced neurite growth, and co-exposure with ICI 182,780 or G15 significantly reduced the effects. In addition, isoflavones increased astrocyte proliferation via ER and GPER1. These results indicate that ERα plays an essential role in isoflavone-induced neuritogenesis. However, GPER1 signaling is also necessary for astrocyte proliferation and astrocyte-neuron communication, which may lead to isoflavone-induced neuritogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winda Ariyani
- Metabolic Signal Research Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi 371-8512, Japan
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi 371-8511, Japan
| | - Izuki Amano
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi 371-8511, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Koibuchi
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi 371-8511, Japan
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74
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Valles SL, Singh SK, Campos-Campos J, Colmena C, Campo-Palacio I, Alvarez-Gamez K, Caballero O, Jorda A. Functions of Astrocytes under Normal Conditions and after a Brain Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098434. [PMID: 37176144 PMCID: PMC10179527 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the central nervous system (CNS) there are a greater number of glial cells than neurons (between five and ten times more). Furthermore, they have a greater number of functions (more than eight functions). Glia comprises different types of cells, those of neural origin (astrocytes, radial glia, and oligodendroglia) and differentiated blood monocytes (microglia). During ontogeny, neurons develop earlier (at fetal day 15 in the rat) and astrocytes develop later (at fetal day 21 in the rat), which could indicate their important and crucial role in the CNS. Analysis of the phylogeny reveals that reptiles have a lower number of astrocytes compared to neurons and in humans this is reversed, as there have a greater number of astrocytes compared to neurons. These data perhaps imply that astrocytes are important and special cells, involved in many vital functions, including memory, and learning processes. In addition, astrocytes are involved in different mechanisms that protect the CNS through the production of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proteins and they clean the extracellular environment and help neurons to communicate correctly with each other. The production of inflammatory mediators is important to prevent changes in brain homeostasis. On the contrary, excessive, or continued production appears as a characteristic element in many diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and in neurodevelopmental diseases, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism. Furthermore, different drugs and techniques have been developed to reverse oxidative stress and/or excess of inflammation that occurs in many CNS diseases, but much remains to be investigated. This review attempts to highlight the functional relevance of astrocytes in normal and neuropathological conditions by showing the molecular and cellular mechanisms of their role in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya L Valles
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sandeep Kumar Singh
- Indian Scientific Education and Technology Foundation, Lucknow 226002, India
| | - Juan Campos-Campos
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Colmena
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ignacio Campo-Palacio
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Kenia Alvarez-Gamez
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Oscar Caballero
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Adrian Jorda
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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75
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Cheng YT, Luna-Figueroa E, Woo J, Chen HC, Lee ZF, Harmanci AS, Deneen B. Inhibitory input directs astrocyte morphogenesis through glial GABA BR. Nature 2023; 617:369-376. [PMID: 37100909 PMCID: PMC10733939 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06010-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Communication between neurons and glia has an important role in establishing and maintaining higher-order brain function1. Astrocytes are endowed with complex morphologies, placing their peripheral processes in close proximity to neuronal synapses and directly contributing to their regulation of brain circuits2-4. Recent studies have shown that excitatory neuronal activity promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation5-7; whether inhibitory neurotransmission regulates astrocyte morphogenesis during development is unclear. Here we show that inhibitory neuron activity is necessary and sufficient for astrocyte morphogenesis. We found that input from inhibitory neurons functions through astrocytic GABAB receptor (GABABR) and that its deletion in astrocytes results in a loss of morphological complexity across a host of brain regions and disruption of circuit function. Expression of GABABR in developing astrocytes is regulated in a region-specific manner by SOX9 or NFIA and deletion of these transcription factors results in region-specific defects in astrocyte morphogenesis, which is conferred by interactions with transcription factors exhibiting region-restricted patterns of expression. Together, our studies identify input from inhibitory neurons and astrocytic GABABR as universal regulators of morphogenesis, while further revealing a combinatorial code of region-specific transcriptional dependencies for astrocyte development that is intertwined with activity-dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Cheng
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Estefania Luna-Figueroa
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hsiao-Chi Chen
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Cancer Cell Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhung-Fu Lee
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Development, Disease, Models and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Akdes Serin Harmanci
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Cancer Cell Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Development, Disease, Models and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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76
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Ren B, Burkovetskaya M, Jung Y, Bergdolt L, Totusek S, Martinez-Cerdeno V, Stauch K, Korade Z, Dunaevsky A. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism, aberrant excitability and altered cell cycle of astrocytes in fragile X syndrome. Glia 2023; 71:1176-1196. [PMID: 36594399 PMCID: PMC10023374 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most prevalent heritable form of intellectual disability, is caused by the transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene. While neuronal contribution to FXS has been extensively studied in both animal and human-based models of FXS, the roles of astrocytes, a type of glial cells in the brain, are largely unknown. Here, we generated a human-based FXS model via differentiation of astrocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and characterized their development, function, and proteomic profiles. We identified shortened cell cycle, enhanced Ca2+ signaling, impaired sterol biosynthesis, and pervasive alterations in the proteome of FXS astrocytes. Our work identified astrocytic impairments that could contribute to the pathogenesis of FXS and highlight astrocytes as a novel therapeutic target for FXS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiyan Ren
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Maria Burkovetskaya
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Yoosun Jung
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Lara Bergdolt
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Steven Totusek
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MIND Institute, and Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Kelly Stauch
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Zeljka Korade
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, CHRI, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Anna Dunaevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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77
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Munier J, Shen S, Rahal D, Hanna A, Marty V, O'Neill P, Fanselow M, Spigelman I. Chronic intermittent ethanol exposure disrupts stress-related tripartite communication to impact affect-related behavioral selection in male rats. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 24:100539. [PMID: 37131490 PMCID: PMC10149313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100539] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by loss of intake control, increased anxiety, and susceptibility to relapse inducing stressors. Both astrocytes and neurons contribute to behavioral and hormonal consequences of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure in animal models. Details on how CIE disrupts hypothalamic neuro-glial communication, which mediates stress responses are lacking. We conducted a behavioral battery (grooming, open field, reactivity to a single, uncued foot-shock, intermittent-access two-bottle choice ethanol drinking) followed by Ca2+ imaging in ex-vivo slices of paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) from male rats exposed to CIE vapor or air-exposed controls. Ca2+ signals were evaluated in response to norepinephrine (NE) with or without selective α-adrenergic receptor (αAR) or GluN2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, followed by dexamethasone (DEX) to mock a pharmacological stress response. Expectedly, CIE rats had altered anxiety-like, rearing, grooming, and drinking behaviors. Importantly, NE-mediated reductions in Ca2+ event frequency were blunted in both CIE neurons and astrocytes. Administration of the selective α1AR antagonist, prazosin, reversed this CIE-induced dysfunction in both cell types. Additionally, the pharmacological stress protocol reversed the altered basal Ca2+ signaling profile of CIE astrocytes. Signaling changes in astrocytes in response to NE were correlated with anxiety-like behaviors, such as the grooming:rearing ratio, suggesting tripartite synaptic function plays a role in switching between exploratory and stress-coping behavior. These data show how CIE exposure causes persistent changes to PVN neuro-glial function and provides the groundwork for how these physiological changes manifest in behavioral selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.J. Munier
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems & Function, School of Dentistry, UCLA, United States
- Corresponding author.
| | - S. Shen
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems & Function, School of Dentistry, UCLA, United States
| | - D. Rahal
- Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, United States
| | - A. Hanna
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems & Function, School of Dentistry, UCLA, United States
| | - V.N. Marty
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems & Function, School of Dentistry, UCLA, United States
| | - P.R. O'Neill
- Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, United States
| | - M.S. Fanselow
- Department of Psychology, College of Life Sciences, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, United States
| | - I. Spigelman
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems & Function, School of Dentistry, UCLA, United States
- Corresponding author. Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Section of Biosystems & Function, School of Dentistry, UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 63-078 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1668, United States.
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78
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Delgado L, Navarrete M. Shining the Light on Astrocytic Ensembles. Cells 2023; 12:1253. [PMID: 37174653 PMCID: PMC10177371 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091253] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
While neurons have traditionally been considered the primary players in information processing, the role of astrocytes in this mechanism has largely been overlooked due to experimental constraints. In this review, we propose that astrocytic ensembles are active working groups that contribute significantly to animal conduct and suggest that studying the maps of these ensembles in conjunction with neurons is crucial for a more comprehensive understanding of behavior. We also discuss available methods for studying astrocytes and argue that these ensembles, complementarily with neurons, code and integrate complex behaviors, potentially specializing in concrete functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Navarrete
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
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79
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Andersen J, Thom N, Shadrach JL, Chen X, Onesto MM, Amin ND, Yoon SJ, Li L, Greenleaf WJ, Müller F, Pașca AM, Kaltschmidt JA, Pașca SP. Single-cell transcriptomic landscape of the developing human spinal cord. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:902-914. [PMID: 37095394 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01311-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Understanding spinal cord assembly is essential to elucidate how motor behavior is controlled and how disorders arise. The human spinal cord is exquisitely organized, and this complex organization contributes to the diversity and intricacy of motor behavior and sensory processing. But how this complexity arises at the cellular level in the human spinal cord remains unknown. Here we transcriptomically profiled the midgestation human spinal cord with single-cell resolution and discovered remarkable heterogeneity across and within cell types. Glia displayed diversity related to positional identity along the dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal axes, while astrocytes with specialized transcriptional programs mapped into white and gray matter subtypes. Motor neurons clustered at this stage into groups suggestive of alpha and gamma neurons. We also integrated our data with multiple existing datasets of the developing human spinal cord spanning 22 weeks of gestation to investigate the cell diversity over time. Together with mapping of disease-related genes, this transcriptomic mapping of the developing human spinal cord opens new avenues for interrogating the cellular basis of motor control in humans and guides human stem cell-based models of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Andersen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas Thom
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Massimo Mario Onesto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Neal D Amin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Se-Jin Yoon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Li Li
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - William J Greenleaf
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Fabian Müller
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Anca M Pașca
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Sergiu P Pașca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.
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80
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Cheng YT, Woo J, Luna-Figueroa E, Maleki E, Harmanci AS, Deneen B. Social deprivation induces astrocytic TRPA1-GABA suppression of hippocampal circuits. Neuron 2023; 111:1301-1315.e5. [PMID: 36787749 PMCID: PMC10121837 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Social experience is essential for the development and maintenance of higher-order brain function. Social deprivation results in a host of cognitive deficits, and cellular studies have largely focused on associated neuronal dysregulation; how astrocyte function is impacted by social deprivation is unknown. Here, we show that hippocampal astrocytes from juvenile mice subjected to social isolation exhibit increased Ca2+ activity and global changes in gene expression. We found that the Ca2+ channel TRPA1 is upregulated in astrocytes after social deprivation and astrocyte-specific deletion of TRPA1 reverses the physiological and cognitive deficits associated with social deprivation. Mechanistically, TRPA1 inhibition of hippocampal circuits is mediated by a parallel increase of astrocytic production and release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA after social deprivation. Collectively, our studies reveal how astrocyte function is tuned to social experience and identifies a social-context-specific mechanism by which astrocytic TRPA1 and GABA coordinately suppress hippocampal circuit function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Cheng
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Estefania Luna-Figueroa
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ehson Maleki
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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81
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Hasel P, Cooper ML, Marchildon AE, Rufen-Blanchette UA, Kim RD, Ma TC, Kang UJ, Chao MV, Liddelow SA. Defining the molecular identity and morphology of glia limitans superficialis astrocytes in mouse and human. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.06.535893. [PMID: 37066303 PMCID: PMC10104130 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.06.535893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are a highly abundant glial cell type that perform critical homeostatic functions in the central nervous system. Like neurons, astrocytes have many discrete heterogenous subtypes. The subtype identity and functions are, at least in part, associated with their anatomical location and can be highly restricted to strategically important anatomical domains. Here, we report that astrocytes forming the glia limitans superficialis, the outermost border of brain and spinal cord, are a highly specialized astrocyte subtype and can be identified by a single marker: Myocilin (Myoc). We show that Myoc+ astrocytes cover the entire brain and spinal cord surface, exhibit an atypical morphology, and are evolutionarily conserved from rodents to humans. Identification of this highly specialized astrocyte subtype will advance our understanding of CNS homeostasis and potentially be targeted for therapeutic intervention to combat peripheral inflammatory effects on the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Hasel
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
| | - Melissa L Cooper
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
| | - Anne E Marchildon
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
| | | | - Rachel D Kim
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
| | - Thong C Ma
- Fresco Institute for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
| | - Un Jung Kang
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Fresco Institute for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
| | - Moses V Chao
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY., USA
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82
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Yang J, Chen J, Liu Y, Chen KH, Baraban JM, Qiu Z. Ventral tegmental area astrocytes modulate cocaine reward by tonically releasing GABA. Neuron 2023; 111:1104-1117.e6. [PMID: 36681074 PMCID: PMC10079641 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Addictive drugs increase ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neuron activity through distinct cellular mechanisms, one of which involves disinhibition of DA neurons by inhibiting local GABA neurons. How drugs regulate VTA GABA neuron activity and drive addictive behaviors remains poorly understood. Here, we show that astrocytes control VTA GABA neuron activity in cocaine reward via tonic inhibition in mice. Repeated cocaine exposure potentiates astrocytic tonic GABA release through volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) and augments tonic inhibition of VTA GABA neurons, thus downregulating their activities and disinhibiting nucleus accumbens (NAc) projecting DA neurons. Attenuation of tonic inhibition by either deleting Swell1 (Lrrc8a), the obligatory subunit of VRACs, in VTA astrocytes or disrupting δ subunit of GABAA receptors in VTA GABA neurons reduces cocaine-evoked changes in neuron activity, locomotion, and reward behaviors in mice. Together, our findings reveal the critical role of astrocytes in regulating the VTA local circuit and cocaine reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhua Yang
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jianan Chen
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yongqing Liu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kevin Hong Chen
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jay M Baraban
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zhaozhu Qiu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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83
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Khakh BS, Goldman SA. Astrocytic contributions to Huntington's disease pathophysiology. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1522:42-59. [PMID: 36864567 PMCID: PMC10145027 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14977] [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] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal, monogenic, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine-encoding CAG expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene that results in mutant huntingtin proteins (mHTT) in cells throughout the body. Although large parts of the central nervous system (CNS) are affected, the striatum is especially vulnerable and undergoes marked atrophy. Astrocytes are abundant within the striatum and contain mHTT in HD, as well as in mouse models of the disease. We focus on striatal astrocytes and summarize how they participate in, and contribute to, molecular pathophysiology and disease-related phenotypes in HD model mice. Where possible, reference is made to pertinent astrocyte alterations in human HD. Astrocytic dysfunctions related to cellular morphology, extracellular ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis, and metabolic support all accompany the development and progression of HD, in both transgenic mouse and human cellular and chimeric models of HD. These findings reveal the potential for the therapeutic targeting of astrocytes so as to restore synaptic as well as tissue homeostasis in HD. Elucidation of the mechanisms by which astrocytes contribute to HD pathogenesis may inform a broader understanding of the role of glial pathology in neurodegenerative disorders and, by so doing, enable new strategies of glial-directed therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baljit S. Khakh
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Steven A. Goldman
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
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84
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Soto JS, Jami-Alahmadi Y, Chacon J, Moye SL, Diaz-Castro B, Wohlschlegel JA, Khakh BS. Astrocyte-neuron subproteomes and obsessive-compulsive disorder mechanisms. Nature 2023; 616:764-773. [PMID: 37046092 PMCID: PMC10132990 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05927-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes and neurons extensively interact in the brain. Identifying astrocyte and neuron proteomes is essential for elucidating the protein networks that dictate their respective contributions to physiology and disease. Here we used cell-specific and subcompartment-specific proximity-dependent biotinylation1 to study the proteomes of striatal astrocytes and neurons in vivo. We evaluated cytosolic and plasma membrane compartments for astrocytes and neurons to discover how these cells differ at the protein level in their signalling machinery. We also assessed subcellular compartments of astrocytes, including end feet and fine processes, to reveal their subproteomes and the molecular basis of essential astrocyte signalling and homeostatic functions. Notably, SAPAP3 (encoded by Dlgap3), which is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and repetitive behaviours2-8, was detected at high levels in striatal astrocytes and was enriched within specific astrocyte subcompartments where it regulated actin cytoskeleton organization. Furthermore, genetic rescue experiments combined with behavioural analyses and molecular assessments in a mouse model of OCD4 lacking SAPAP3 revealed distinct contributions of astrocytic and neuronal SAPAP3 to repetitive and anxiety-related OCD-like phenotypes. Our data define how astrocytes and neurons differ at the protein level and in their major signalling pathways. Moreover, they reveal how astrocyte subproteomes vary between physiological subcompartments and how both astrocyte and neuronal SAPAP3 mechanisms contribute to OCD phenotypes in mice. Our data indicate that therapeutic strategies that target both astrocytes and neurons may be useful to explore in OCD and potentially other brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joselyn S Soto
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yasaman Jami-Alahmadi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jakelyn Chacon
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stefanie L Moye
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Blanca Diaz-Castro
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James A Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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85
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Non-genomic Effect of Estradiol on the Neurovascular Unit and Possible Involvement in the Cerebral Vascular Accident. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1964-1985. [PMID: 36596967 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03178-7] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cerebrovascular diseases, such as ischemic cerebral vascular accident (CVA), are responsible for causing high rates of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the population. The neurovascular unit (NVU) during and after ischemic CVA plays crucial roles in cell regulation and preservation, the immune and inflammatory response, and cell and/or tissue survival and repair. Cellular responses to 17β-estradiol (E2) can be triggered by two mechanisms: one called classical or genomic, which is due to the activation of the "classical" nuclear estrogen receptors α (ERα) and β (ERβ), and the non-genomic or rapid mechanism, which is due to the activation of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) that is located in the plasma membrane and some in intracellular membranes, such as in the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Nuclear receptors can regulate gene expression and cellular functions. On the contrary, activating the GPER by E2 and/or its G-1 agonist triggers several rapid cell signaling pathways. Therefore, E2 or its G-1 agonist, by mediating GPER activation and/or expression, can influence several NVU cell types. Most studies argue that the activation of the GPER may be used as a potential therapeutic target in various pathologies, such as CVA. Thus, with this review, we aimed to summarize the existing literature on the role of GPER mediated by E2 and/or its agonist G-1 in the physiology and pathophysiology of NVU.
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86
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Eyal S. An Electric Light Orchestra in the Brain: Optogenetics for Controlling Seizures via Modulation of Astrocyte Activity. Epilepsy Curr 2023. [DOI: 10.1177/15357597231160600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
[Box: see text]
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87
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Markey KM, Saunders JC, Smuts J, von Reyn CR, Garcia ADR. Astrocyte development—More questions than answers. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1063843. [PMID: 37051466 PMCID: PMC10083403 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1063843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The past 15–20 years has seen a remarkable shift in our understanding of astrocyte contributions to central nervous system (CNS) function. Astrocytes have emerged from the shadows of neuroscience and are now recognized as key elements in a broad array of CNS functions. Astrocytes comprise a substantial fraction of cells in the human CNS. Nevertheless, fundamental questions surrounding their basic biology remain poorly understood. While recent studies have revealed a diversity of essential roles in CNS function, from synapse formation and function to blood brain barrier maintenance, fundamental mechanisms of astrocyte development, including their expansion, migration, and maturation, remain to be elucidated. The coincident development of astrocytes and synapses highlights the need to better understand astrocyte development and will facilitate novel strategies for addressing neurodevelopmental and neurological dysfunction. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of astrocyte development, focusing primarily on mammalian astrocytes and highlight outstanding questions that remain to be addressed. We also include an overview of Drosophila glial development, emphasizing astrocyte-like glia given their close anatomical and functional association with synapses. Drosophila offer an array of sophisticated molecular genetic tools and they remain a powerful model for elucidating fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms governing astrocyte development. Understanding the parallels and distinctions between astrocyte development in Drosophila and vertebrates will enable investigators to leverage the strengths of each model system to gain new insights into astrocyte function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Markey
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Jana Smuts
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Catherine R. von Reyn
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - A. Denise R. Garcia
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: A. Denise R. Garcia,
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88
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Moreno-Estellés M, Campos-Rodríguez Á, Rubio-Villena C, Kumarasinghe L, Garcia-Gimeno MA, Sanz P. Deciphering the Polyglucosan Accumulation Present in Lafora Disease Using an Astrocytic Cellular Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076020. [PMID: 37046993 PMCID: PMC10094345 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Lafora disease (LD) is a neurological disorder characterized by progressive myoclonus epilepsy. The hallmark of the disease is the presence of insoluble forms of glycogen (polyglucosan bodies, or PGBs) in the brain. The accumulation of PGBs is causative of the pathophysiological features of LD. However, despite the efforts made by different groups, the question of why PGBs accumulate in the brain is still unanswered. We have recently demonstrated that, in vivo, astrocytes accumulate most of the PGBs present in the brain, and this could lead to astrocyte dysfunction. To develop a deeper understanding of the defects present in LD astrocytes that lead to LD pathophysiology, we obtained pure primary cultures of astrocytes from LD mice from the postnatal stage under conditions that accumulate PGBs, the hallmark of LD. These cells serve as novel in vitro models for studying PGBs accumulation and related LD dysfunctions. In this sense, the metabolomics of LD astrocytes indicate that they accumulate metabolic intermediates of the upper part of the glycolytic pathway, probably as a consequence of enhanced glucose uptake. In addition, we also demonstrate the feasibility of using the model in the identification of different compounds that may reduce the accumulation of polyglucosan inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Moreno-Estellés
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángela Campos-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carla Rubio-Villena
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universitat de València (UV), Parc Científic, Cat. Agustín Escardino 9, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Lorena Kumarasinghe
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Adelaida Garcia-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica y del Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Universitat Politécnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pascual Sanz
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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89
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Hasel P, Aisenberg WH, Bennett FC, Liddelow SA. Molecular and metabolic heterogeneity of astrocytes and microglia. Cell Metab 2023; 35:555-570. [PMID: 36958329 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes and microglia are central players in a myriad of processes in the healthy and diseased brain, ranging from metabolism to immunity. The crosstalk between these two cell types contributes to pathology in many if not all neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent advancements in integrative multimodal sequencing techniques have begun to highlight how heterogeneous both cell types are and the importance of metabolism to their regulation. We discuss here the transcriptomic, metabolic, and functional heterogeneity of astrocytes and microglia and highlight their interaction in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Hasel
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - William H Aisenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - F Chris Bennett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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90
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Cheng YT, Luna-Figueroa E, Woo J, Chen HC, Lee ZF, Harmanci AS, Deneen B. Inhibitory input directs astrocyte morphogenesis through glial GABA B R. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532493. [PMID: 36993256 PMCID: PMC10054985 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Communication between neurons and glia plays an important role in establishing and maintaining higher order brain function. Astrocytes are endowed with complex morphologies which places their peripheral processes in close proximity to neuronal synapses and directly contributes to their regulation of brain circuits. Recent studies have shown that excitatory neuronal activity promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation; whether inhibitory neurotransmission regulates astrocyte morphogenesis during development is unknown. Here we show that inhibitory neuron activity is necessary and sufficient for astrocyte morphogenesis. We found that input from inhibitory neurons functions through astrocytic GABA B R and that its deletion in astrocytes results in a loss of morphological complexity across a host of brain regions and disruption of circuit function. Expression of GABA B R in developing astrocytes is regulated in a region-specific manner by SOX9 or NFIA and deletion of these transcription factors results in region-specific defects in astrocyte morphogenesis, which is conferred by interactions with transcription factors exhibiting region-restricted patterns of expression. Together our studies identify input from inhibitory neurons and astrocytic GABA B R as universal regulators of morphogenesis, while further revealing a combinatorial code of region-specific transcriptional dependencies for astrocyte development that is intertwined with activity-dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Cheng
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
| | - Estefania Luna-Figueroa
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
| | - Hsiao-Chi Chen
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Cancer Cell Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
| | - Zhung-Fu Lee
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Development, Disease, Models, and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Akdes Serin Harmanci
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Development, Disease, Models, and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Cancer Cell Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
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91
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Salmon CK, Syed TA, Kacerovsky JB, Alivodej N, Schober AL, Sloan TFW, Pratte MT, Rosen MP, Green M, Chirgwin-Dasgupta A, Mehta S, Jilani A, Wang Y, Vali H, Mandato CA, Siddiqi K, Murai KK. Organizing principles of astrocytic nanoarchitecture in the mouse cerebral cortex. Curr Biol 2023; 33:957-972.e5. [PMID: 36805126 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are increasingly understood to be important regulators of central nervous system (CNS) function in health and disease; yet, we have little quantitative understanding of their complex architecture. While broad categories of astrocytic structures are known, the discrete building blocks that compose them, along with their geometry and organizing principles, are poorly understood. Quantitative investigation of astrocytic complexity is impeded by the absence of high-resolution datasets and robust computational approaches to analyze these intricate cells. To address this, we produced four ultra-high-resolution datasets of mouse cerebral cortex using serial electron microscopy and developed astrocyte-tailored computer vision methods for accurate structural analysis. We unearthed specific anatomical building blocks, structural motifs, connectivity hubs, and hierarchical organizations of astrocytes. Furthermore, we found that astrocytes interact with discrete clusters of synapses and that astrocytic mitochondria are distributed to lie closer to larger clusters of synapses. Our findings provide a geometrically principled, quantitative understanding of astrocytic nanoarchitecture and point to an unexpected level of complexity in how astrocytes interact with CNS microanatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher K Salmon
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Tabish A Syed
- School of Computer Science and Centre for Intelligent Machines, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada; MILA - Québec AI Institute, 6666 Rue Saint-Urbain, Montreal, QC H2S 3H1, Canada
| | - J Benjamin Kacerovsky
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Nensi Alivodej
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Alexandra L Schober
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | | | - Michael T Pratte
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Michael P Rosen
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Miranda Green
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Adario Chirgwin-Dasgupta
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Shaurya Mehta
- School of Computer Science and Centre for Intelligent Machines, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
| | - Affan Jilani
- School of Computer Science and Centre for Intelligent Machines, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
| | - Yanan Wang
- School of Computer Science and Centre for Intelligent Machines, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
| | - Hojatollah Vali
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, McGill University, 3640 Rue University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Craig A Mandato
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, McGill University, 3640 Rue University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Kaleem Siddiqi
- School of Computer Science and Centre for Intelligent Machines, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada; MILA - Québec AI Institute, 6666 Rue Saint-Urbain, Montreal, QC H2S 3H1, Canada.
| | - Keith K Murai
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada.
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92
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Tao F, Kitamura K, Hanada S, Sugimoto K, Furihata T, Kojima N. Rapid and Stable Formation Method of Human Astrocyte Spheroid in a High Viscous Methylcellulose Medium and Its Functional Advantages. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10030349. [PMID: 36978740 PMCID: PMC10045153 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10030349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes, a type of glial cell in the brain, are thought to be functionally and morphologically diverse cells that regulate brain homeostasis. Cell immortalization is a promising technique for the propagation of primary human astrocytes. The immortalized cells retain their astrocytic marker mRNA expression at lower levels than the primary cells. Therefore, improvement of the differentiation status is required. The use of a 3D formation technique to mimic structural tissue is a good strategy for reflecting physiological cell–cell interactions. Previously, we developed a spheroid formation method using highly viscous methyl cellulose (MC) medium. In this study, we applied this formation method to the well-established immortalized human astrocyte cell line HASTR/ci35. Stable HASTR/ci35 spheroids were successfully formed in MC medium, and laminin deposition was detected inside of the spheroids. Their functional markers were enhanced compared to conventional spheroids formed in U-bottom plates. The inflammatory response was moderately sensitive, and the ability to support neurite growth was confirmed. The HASTR/ci35 spheroid in the MC medium demonstrated the differentiation phenotype and could serve as a potent in vitro model for matured astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiya Tao
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Keita Kitamura
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0355, Japan
| | - Sanshiro Hanada
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Sugimoto
- Yokogawa Electric Corp., 2-3, Hokuyodai, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0177, Japan
| | - Tomomi Furihata
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0355, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Kojima
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
- Correspondence:
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93
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Santo M, Rigoldi L, Falcone C, Tuccillo M, Calabrese M, Martínez-Cerdeño V, Mallamaci A. Spatial control of astrogenesis progression by cortical arealization genes. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:3107-3123. [PMID: 35818636 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sizes of neuronal, astroglial and oligodendroglial complements forming the neonatal cerebral cortex largely depend on rates at which pallial stem cells give rise to lineage-committed progenitors and the latter ones progress to mature cell types. Here, we investigated the spatial articulation of pallial stem cells' (SCs) commitment to astrogenesis as well as the progression of committed astroglial progenitors (APs) to differentiated astrocytes, by clonal and kinetic profiling of pallial precursors. We found that caudal-medial (CM) SCs are more prone to astrogenesis than rostro-lateral (RL) ones, while RL-committed APs are more keen to proliferate than CM ones. Next, we assessed the control of these phenomena by 2 key transcription factor genes mastering regionalization of the early cortical primordium, Emx2 and Foxg1, via lentiviral somatic transgenesis, epistasis assays, and ad hoc rescue assays. We demonstrated that preferential CM SCs progression to astrogenesis is promoted by Emx2, mainly via Couptf1, Nfia, and Sox9 upregulation, while Foxg1 antagonizes such progression to some extent, likely via repression of Zbtb20. Finally, we showed that Foxg1 and Emx2 may be implicated-asymmetrically and antithetically-in shaping distinctive proliferative/differentiative behaviors displayed by APs in hippocampus and neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Santo
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Department of Neuroscience, SISSA, via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Rigoldi
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Department of Neuroscience, SISSA, via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Carmen Falcone
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4400 V St, CA-95817 Sacramento, USA
| | - Mariacarmine Tuccillo
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Department of Neuroscience, SISSA, via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Michela Calabrese
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Department of Neuroscience, SISSA, via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine & MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4400 V St, CA-95817 Sacramento, USA
| | - Antonello Mallamaci
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Department of Neuroscience, SISSA, via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
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94
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Wheeler MA, Clark IC, Lee HG, Li Z, Linnerbauer M, Rone JM, Blain M, Akl CF, Piester G, Giovannoni F, Charabati M, Lee JH, Kye YC, Choi J, Sanmarco LM, Srun L, Chung EN, Flausino LE, Andersen BM, Rothhammer V, Yano H, Illouz T, Zandee SEJ, Daniel C, Artis D, Prinz M, Abate AR, Kuchroo VK, Antel JP, Prat A, Quintana FJ. Droplet-based forward genetic screening of astrocyte-microglia cross-talk. Science 2023; 379:1023-1030. [PMID: 36893254 PMCID: PMC10066924 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq4822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Cell-cell interactions in the central nervous system play important roles in neurologic diseases. However, little is known about the specific molecular pathways involved, and methods for their systematic identification are limited. Here, we developed a forward genetic screening platform that combines CRISPR-Cas9 perturbations, cell coculture in picoliter droplets, and microfluidic-based fluorescence-activated droplet sorting to identify mechanisms of cell-cell communication. We used SPEAC-seq (systematic perturbation of encapsulated associated cells followed by sequencing), in combination with in vivo genetic perturbations, to identify microglia-produced amphiregulin as a suppressor of disease-promoting astrocyte responses in multiple sclerosis preclinical models and clinical samples. Thus, SPEAC-seq enables the high-throughput systematic identification of cell-cell communication mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Wheeler
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Iain C. Clark
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Hong-Gyun Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhaorong Li
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mathias Linnerbauer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joseph M. Rone
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Manon Blain
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Camilo Faust Akl
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gavin Piester
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Federico Giovannoni
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marc Charabati
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joon-Hyuk Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yoon-Chul Kye
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joshua Choi
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Liliana M. Sanmarco
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lena Srun
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth N. Chung
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lucas E. Flausino
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Brian M. Andersen
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Jamaica Plain Veterans Affairs Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Veit Rothhammer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hiroshi Yano
- Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tomer Illouz
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stephanie E. J. Zandee
- Neuroimmunology Research Lab, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Carolin Daniel
- Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung, 85764 Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - David Artis
- Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Friedman Center for Nutrition and Inflammation, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Signaling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Adam R. Abate
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vijay K. Kuchroo
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jack P. Antel
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Alexandre Prat
- Neuroimmunology Research Lab, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Francisco J. Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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95
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Mitochondrial Ca2+ handling as a cell signaling hub: lessons from astrocyte function. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:63-75. [PMID: 36636961 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are a heterogenous population of macroglial cells spread throughout the central nervous system with diverse functions, expression signatures, and intricate morphologies. Their subcellular compartments contain a distinct range of mitochondria, with functional microdomains exhibiting widespread activities, such as controlling local metabolism and Ca2+ signaling. Ca2+ is an ion of utmost importance, both physiologically and pathologically, and participates in critical central nervous system processes, including synaptic plasticity, neuron-astrocyte integration, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial physiology and metabolism. The mitochondrial Ca2+ handling system is formed by the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter complex (MCUc), which mediates Ca2+ influx, and the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCLX), responsible for most mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux, as well as additional components, including the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mtPTP). Over the last decades, mitochondrial Ca2+ handling has been shown to be key for brain homeostasis, acting centrally in physiopathological processes such as astrogliosis, astrocyte-neuron activity integration, energy metabolism control, and neurodegeneration. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge regarding the mitochondrial Ca2+ handling system molecular composition, highlighting its impact on astrocytic homeostasis.
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96
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Basurco L, Abellanas MA, Ayerra L, Conde E, Vinueza-Gavilanes R, Luquin E, Vales A, Vilas A, Martin-Uriz PS, Tamayo I, Alonso MM, Hernaez M, Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza G, Clavero P, Mengual E, Arrasate M, Hervás-Stubbs S, Aymerich MS. Microglia and astrocyte activation is region-dependent in the α-synuclein mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Glia 2023; 71:571-587. [PMID: 36353934 PMCID: PMC10100513 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation is a common feature in neurodegenerative diseases that contributes to neuronal loss. Previously, we demonstrated that the basal inflammatory tone differed between brain regions and, consequently, the reaction generated to a pro-inflammatory stimulus was different. In this study, we assessed the innate immune reaction in the midbrain and in the striatum using an experimental model of Parkinson's disease. An adeno-associated virus serotype 9 expressing the α-synuclein and mCherry genes or the mCherry gene was administered into the substantia nigra. Myeloid cells (CD11b+ ) and astrocytes (ACSA2+ ) were purified from the midbrain and striatum for bulk RNA sequencing. In the parkinsonian midbrain, CD11b+ cells presented a unique anti-inflammatory transcriptomic profile that differed from degenerative microglia signatures described in experimental models for other neurodegenerative conditions. By contrast, striatal CD11b+ cells showed a pro-inflammatory state and were similar to disease-associated microglia. In the midbrain, a prominent increase of infiltrated monocytes/macrophages was observed and, together with microglia, participated actively in the phagocytosis of dopaminergic neuronal bodies. Although striatal microglia presented a phagocytic transcriptomic profile, morphology and cell density was preserved and no active phagocytosis was detected. Interestingly, astrocytes presented a pro-inflammatory fingerprint in the midbrain and a low number of differentially displayed transcripts in the striatum. During α-synuclein-dependent degeneration, microglia and astrocytes experience context-dependent activation states with a different contribution to the inflammatory reaction. Our results point towards the relevance of selecting appropriate cell targets to design neuroprotective strategies aimed to modulate the innate immune system during the active phase of dopaminergic degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyre Basurco
- Departamentode Bioquímica y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Programa de Neurociencias, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Abellanas
- Departamentode Bioquímica y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Programa de Neurociencias, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leyre Ayerra
- Departamentode Bioquímica y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Programa de Neurociencias, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Enrique Conde
- Programa de Inmunología, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Esther Luquin
- Departamento de Patología, Anatomía y Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Africa Vales
- Programa de Terapia Génica, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Amaya Vilas
- Programa de Oncohematología, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Ibon Tamayo
- Programa de Biología Computacional, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta M Alonso
- Programa de Tumores Sólidos, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Neurociencias y Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Spain
| | - Mikel Hernaez
- Programa de Biología Computacional, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza
- Programa de Terapia Génica, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Neurociencias y Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Spain
| | - Pedro Clavero
- Servicio de Neurología, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elisa Mengual
- Departamento de Patología, Anatomía y Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Arrasate
- Programa de Neurociencias, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Neurociencias y Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Spain
| | - Sandra Hervás-Stubbs
- Programa de Inmunología, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Neurociencias y Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Spain
| | - Maria S Aymerich
- Departamentode Bioquímica y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Programa de Neurociencias, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Programa de Tumores Sólidos, CIMA-Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Neurociencias y Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Spain
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97
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Chierzi S, Kacerovsky JB, Fok AHK, Lahaie S, Shibi Rosen A, Farmer WT, Murai KK. Astrocytes Transplanted during Early Postnatal Development Integrate, Mature, and Survive Long Term in Mouse Cortex. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1509-1529. [PMID: 36669885 PMCID: PMC10008063 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0544-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have complex structural, molecular, and physiological properties and form specialized microenvironments that support circuit-specific functions in the CNS. To better understand how astrocytes acquire their unique features, we transplanted immature mouse cortical astrocytes into the developing cortex of male and female mice and assessed their integration, maturation, and survival. Within days, transplanted astrocytes developed morphologies and acquired territories and tiling behavior typical of cortical astrocytes. At 35-47 d post-transplantation, astrocytes appeared morphologically mature and expressed levels of EAAT2/GLT1 similar to nontransplanted astrocytes. Transplanted astrocytes also supported excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) presynaptic terminals within their territories, and displayed normal Ca2+ events. Transplanted astrocytes showed initially reduced expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) at endfeet and elevated expression of EAAT1/GLAST, with both proteins showing normalized expression by 110 d and one year post-transplantation, respectively. To understand how specific brain regions support astrocytic integration and maturation, we transplanted cortical astrocytes into the developing cerebellum. Cortical astrocytes interlaced with Bergmann glia (BG) in the cerebellar molecular layer to establish discrete territories. However, transplanted astrocytes retained many cortical astrocytic features including higher levels of EAAT2/GLT1, lower levels of EAAT1/GLAST, and the absence of expression of the AMPAR subunit GluA1. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that immature cortical astrocytes integrate, mature, and survive (more than one year) following transplantation and retain cortical astrocytic properties. Astrocytic transplantation can be useful for investigating cell-autonomous (intrinsic) and non-cell-autonomous (environmental) mechanisms contributing to astrocytic development/diversity, and for determining the optimal timing for transplanting astrocytes for cellular delivery or replacement in regenerative medicine.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The mechanisms that enable astrocytes to acquire diverse molecular and structural properties remain to be better understood. In this study, we systematically analyzed the properties of cortical astrocytes following their transplantation to the early postnatal brain. We found that immature cortical astrocytes transplanted into cerebral cortex during early postnatal mouse development integrate and establish normal astrocytic properties, and show long-term survival in vivo (more than one year). In contrast, transplanted cortical astrocytes display reduced or altered ability to integrate into the more mature cerebral cortex or developing cerebellum, respectively. This study demonstrates the developmental potential of transplanted cortical astrocytes and provides an approach to tease apart cell-autonomous (intrinsic) and non-cell-autonomous (environmental) mechanisms that determine the structural, molecular, and physiological phenotype of astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chierzi
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - J Benjamin Kacerovsky
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Albert H K Fok
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Sylvie Lahaie
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Arielle Shibi Rosen
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - W Todd Farmer
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Keith K Murai
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
- Quantitative Life Sciences Graduate Program, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada
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98
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Chen YH, Jin SY, Yang JM, Gao TM. The Memory Orchestra: Contribution of Astrocytes. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:409-424. [PMID: 36738435 PMCID: PMC10043126 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01024-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
For decades, memory research has centered on the role of neurons, which do not function in isolation. However, astrocytes play important roles in regulating neuronal recruitment and function at the local and network levels, forming the basis for information processing as well as memory formation and storage. In this review, we discuss the role of astrocytes in memory functions and their cellular underpinnings at multiple time points. We summarize important breakthroughs and controversies in the field as well as potential avenues to further illuminate the role of astrocytes in memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Shi-Yang Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jian-Ming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Tian-Ming Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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99
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Hyper-inflammation of astrocytes in patients of major depressive disorder: Evidence from serum astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 109:51-62. [PMID: 36587855 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (ADEs) allow the in vivo probing of the inflammatory status of astrocytes practical. Serum sample and ADEs were used to test the inflammatory hypothesis in 70 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 70 matched healthy controls (HCs). In serum, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-17A were significantly increased, where as IL-12p70 was significantly reduced in the MDD patients compared with HCs. In ADEs, all inflammatory markers (Interferon-γ, IL-12p70, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-17A) except IL-10 were significantly increased in the MDD patients, the Hedge's g values of elevated inflammatory markers varied from 0.48 to 1.07. However, there were no differences of all inflammatory markers whether in serum or ADEs between MDD-drug free and medicated subgroups. The association of inflammatory biomarkers between ADEs and serum did not reach statistically significance after multi-comparison correction neither in the HCs nor MDD patients. The spearman coefficients between inflammatory factors and clinical characteristics in the MDD patients, such as onset age, disease course, current episode duration, and severity of depression, were nonsignificant after multi-comparison correction. In the receiver operating characteristic curves analysis, the corrected partial area under the curve (pAUC) of each inflammatory markers in ADEs ranged from 0.522 to 0.696, and the combination of these inflammatory factors achieved a high pAUC (>0.9). Our findings support the inflammatory glial hypothesis of depression, and suggests that in human ADEs could be a useful tool to probe the in vivo astrocyte status.
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Prabhakar P, Pielot R, Landgraf P, Wissing J, Bayrhammer A, van Ham M, Gundelfinger ED, Jänsch L, Dieterich DC, Müller A. Monitoring regional astrocyte diversity by cell type-specific proteomic labeling in vivo. Glia 2023; 71:682-703. [PMID: 36401581 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24304] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes exhibit regional heterogeneity in morphology, function and molecular composition to support and modulate neuronal function and signaling in a region-specific manner. To characterize regional heterogeneity of astrocytic proteomes of different brain regions we established an inducible Aldh1l1-methionyl-tRNA-synthetaseL274G (MetRSL274G ) mouse line that allows astrocyte-specific metabolic labeling of newly synthesized proteins by azidonorleucine (ANL) in vivo and subsequent isolation of tagged proteins by click chemistry. We analyzed astrocytic proteins from four different brain regions by mass spectrometry. The induced expression of MetRSL274G is restricted to astrocytes and identified proteins show a high overlap with proteins compiled in "AstroProt," a newly established database for astrocytic proteins. Gene enrichment analysis reveals a high similarity among brain regions with subtle differences in enriched biological processes and in abundances of key astrocytic proteins for hippocampus, cortex and striatum. However, the cerebellar proteome stands out with proteins being highly associated with the calcium signaling pathway or with bipolar disorder. Subregional analysis of single astrocyte TAMRA intensities in hippocampal layers indicates distinct subregional heterogeneity of astrocytes and highlights the applicability of our toolbox to study differences of astrocytic proteomes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyadharshini Prabhakar
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Pielot
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Peter Landgraf
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Josef Wissing
- Cellular Proteome Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Anne Bayrhammer
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marco van Ham
- Cellular Proteome Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Eckart D Gundelfinger
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, RG Neuroplasticity, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lothar Jänsch
- Cellular Proteome Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Daniela C Dieterich
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anke Müller
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
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