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Dubal DB, Elser HC. β-Amyloid in Cognitively Unimpaired Individuals-Blame Mom? JAMA Neurol 2024; 81:795-797. [PMID: 38885009 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.1748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Dena B Dubal
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute of Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco
- Associate Editor, JAMA Neurology
| | - Holly C Elser
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Editorial Fellow, JAMA Neurology
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2
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Seto M, Hohman TJ, Mormino EC, Papp KV, Amariglio RE, Rentz DM, Johnson KA, Schultz AP, Sperling RA, Buckley RF, Yang HS. Parental History of Memory Impairment and β-Amyloid in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults. JAMA Neurol 2024; 81:798-804. [PMID: 38884955 PMCID: PMC11184498 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.1763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Importance Studies have suggested that maternal history of late-onset Alzheimer disease, but not paternal, predisposes individuals to higher brain β-amyloid (Aβ) burden, reduced brain metabolism, and lower gray matter volumes. Objective To characterize maternal vs paternal history of memory impairment in terms of brain Aβ-positron emission tomography (Aβ-PET) and baseline cognition among a large sample of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study leveraged data from 4413 individuals who were screened for the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer (A4) study, a randomized clinical trial conducted across 67 sites in the US, Australia, Canada, and Japan aimed at Alzheimer disease prevention. Data were collected between April 2014 and December 2017 and analyzed from December 2022 to June 2023. Participants were cognitively unimpaired adults (Clinical Dementia Rating = 0 and/or Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥25) between the ages of 65 and 85 years who underwent PET imaging to assess cortical Aβ levels for trial eligibility. A total of 4492 participants were screened, and 79 missing data were excluded. Main Outcomes and Measures Demographic characteristics (eg, age, sex, education), apolipoprotein E genotyping, participant-reported parental history of memory impairment and parental age at symptom onset were collected as variables. Parental history was assessed in terms of continuous neocortical 18F-florbetapir Aβ-PET and the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite. Results Of 4413 individuals (mean [SD] age, 71.27 [4.66] years, 2617 women [59.3%]), mean Aβ-PET was elevated in individuals with history of memory impairment in both parents (n = 455; mean [SD] standardized uptake value ratio [SUVR] = 1.12 [0.19]; Wilcoxon P = 1.1 × 10-5) and in those with only maternal history (n = 1772; mean [SD] SUVR = 1.10 [0.19]; Wilcoxon P = 2.70 × 10-5) compared with those with only paternal history (n = 632; mean [SD] SUVR = 1.08 [0.18]; Wilcoxon P = 1.1 × 10-5) or no family history (n = 1554; mean [SD] SUVR = 1.08 [0.19]; Wilcoxon P = 1.1 × 10-5). Paternal history of early-onset memory impairment (age <65 years) but not late-onset (age ≥65 years) was associated with elevated participant Aβ-PET (mean [SD] SUVR = 1.19 [0.21]; P = 3.00 × 10-6) in comparison with no paternal history (mean [SD] SUVR = 1.09 [0.19]) whereas maternal history was associated with elevated Aβ in both early-onset and late-onset groups. There was no association with cognition. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, maternal history (at any age) and paternal history of early-onset memory impairment were associated with Aβ burden among asymptomatic older individuals. Sex-specific parental history may help inform clinicians on likelihood of Aβ burden in offspring and help identify high-risk individuals at the earliest stages of disease for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel Seto
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Timothy J. Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Elizabeth C. Mormino
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Kathryn V. Papp
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rebecca E. Amariglio
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dorene M. Rentz
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keith A. Johnson
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Aaron P. Schultz
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown
| | - Reisa A. Sperling
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rachel F. Buckley
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hyun-Sik Yang
- Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Arenaza-Urquijo EM, Boyle R, Casaletto K, Anstey KJ, Vila-Castelar C, Colverson A, Palpatzis E, Eissman JM, Kheng Siang Ng T, Raghavan S, Akinci M, Vonk JMJ, Machado LS, Zanwar PP, Shrestha HL, Wagner M, Tamburin S, Sohrabi HR, Loi S, Bartrés-Faz D, Dubal DB, Prashanthi V, Okonkwo O, Hohman TJ, Ewers M, Buckley RF. Sex and gender differences in cognitive resilience to aging and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 38967222 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13844] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Sex and gender-biological and social constructs-significantly impact the prevalence of protective and risk factors, influencing the burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD; amyloid beta and tau) and other pathologies (e.g., cerebrovascular disease) which ultimately shape cognitive trajectories. Understanding the interplay of these factors is central to understanding resilience and resistance mechanisms explaining maintained cognitive function and reduced pathology accumulation in aging and AD. In this narrative review, the ADDRESS! Special Interest Group (Alzheimer's Association) adopted a multidisciplinary approach to provide the foundations and recommendations for future research into sex- and gender-specific drivers of resilience, including a sex/gender-oriented review of risk factors, genetics, AD and non-AD pathologies, brain structure and function, and animal research. We urge the field to adopt a sex/gender-aware approach to resilience to advance our understanding of the intricate interplay of biological and social determinants and consider sex/gender-specific resilience throughout disease stages. HIGHLIGHTS: Sex differences in resilience to cognitive decline vary by age and cognitive status. Initial evidence supports sex-specific distinctions in brain pathology. Findings suggest sex differences in the impact of pathology on cognition. There is a sex-specific change in resilience in the transition to clinical stages. Gender and sex factors warrant study: modifiable, immune, inflammatory, and vascular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eider M Arenaza-Urquijo
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rory Boyle
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kaitlin Casaletto
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kaarin J Anstey
- University of New South Wales Ageing Futures Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sidney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Clara Vila-Castelar
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aaron Colverson
- University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine Interdisciplinary Research Lab, University of Florida, Center of Arts in Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Eleni Palpatzis
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaclyn M Eissman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ted Kheng Siang Ng
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging and Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Muge Akinci
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jet M J Vonk
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Luiza S Machado
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Farroupilha, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Preeti P Zanwar
- Jefferson College of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Network on Life Course and Health Dynamics and Disparities, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Maude Wagner
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Stefano Tamburin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Hamid R Sohrabi
- Centre for Healthy Ageing, Health Future Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Samantha Loi
- Neuropsychiatry Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Bartrés-Faz
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences & Institut de Neurociències, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dena B Dubal
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute of Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Biomedical and Neurosciences Graduate Programs, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ozioma Okonkwo
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy J Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael Ewers
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig Maximilians Universität (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE, Munich), Munich, Germany
| | - Rachel F Buckley
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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4
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Burmistrov DE, Gudkov SV, Franceschi C, Vedunova MV. Sex as a Determinant of Age-Related Changes in the Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7122. [PMID: 39000227 PMCID: PMC11241365 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The notion of notable anatomical, biochemical, and behavioral distinctions within male and female brains has been a contentious topic of interest within the scientific community over several decades. Advancements in neuroimaging and molecular biological techniques have increasingly elucidated common mechanisms characterizing brain aging while also revealing disparities between sexes in these processes. Variations in cognitive functions; susceptibility to and progression of neurodegenerative conditions, notably Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases; and notable disparities in life expectancy between sexes, underscore the significance of evaluating aging within the framework of gender differences. This comprehensive review surveys contemporary literature on the restructuring of brain structures and fundamental processes unfolding in the aging brain at cellular and molecular levels, with a focus on gender distinctions. Additionally, the review delves into age-related cognitive alterations, exploring factors influencing the acceleration or deceleration of aging, with particular attention to estrogen's hormonal support of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitriy E. Burmistrov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilova St., 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Sergey V. Gudkov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilova St., 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Maria V. Vedunova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
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5
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Chen YH, Wang ZB, Liu XP, Xu JP, Mao ZQ. Sex differences in the relationship between depression and Alzheimer's disease-mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutic opportunities. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1301854. [PMID: 38903903 PMCID: PMC11188317 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1301854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders with intriguing epidemiological overlaps. Their interrelation has recently garnered widespread attention. Empirical evidence indicates that depressive disorders significantly contribute to AD risk, and approximately a quarter of AD patients have comorbid major depressive disorder, which underscores the bidirectional link between AD and depression. A growing body of evidence substantiates pervasive sex differences in both AD and depression: both conditions exhibit a higher incidence among women than among men. However, the available literature on this topic is somewhat fragmented, with no comprehensive review that delineates sex disparities in the depression-AD correlation. In this review, we bridge these gaps by summarizing recent progress in understanding sex-based differences in mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutic prospects for depression and AD. Additionally, we outline key challenges in the field, holding potential for improving treatment precision and efficacy tailored to male and female patients' distinct needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Han Chen
- The First Clinical Medical School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Zhi-Bo Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Xi-Peng Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Jun-Peng Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Qi Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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6
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Miramontes S, Pereda Serras C, Woldemariam SR, Khan U, Li Y, Tang AS, Tsoy E, Oskotsky TT, Sirota M. Alzheimer's disease as a women's health challenge: a call for action on integrative precision medicine approaches. NPJ WOMEN'S HEALTH 2024; 2:17. [PMID: 38778871 PMCID: PMC11106001 DOI: 10.1038/s44294-024-00021-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is marked by pronounced sex differences in pathophysiology and progression. However, the field has yet to fully recognize AD as a women's health issue, delaying the development of targeted preventative strategies and treatments. This perspective explores the elements impacting AD in women, identifying sex specificity in risk factors, highlighting new diagnostic approaches with electronic health records, and reviewing key molecular studies to underscore the need for integrative precision medicine approaches. Established AD risk factors such as advancing age, the apolipoprotein E4 allele, and poorer cardiovascular health affect women differently. We also shed light on sociocultural risk factors, focusing on the gender disparities that may play a role in AD development. From a biological perspective, sex differences in AD are apparent in biomarkers and transcriptomics, further emphasizing the need for targeted diagnostics and treatments. The convergence of novel multiomics data and cutting-edge computational tools provides a unique opportunity to study the molecular underpinnings behind sex dimorphism in AD. Thus, precision medicine emerges as a promising framework for understanding AD pathogenesis through the integration of genetics, sex, environment, and lifestyle. By characterizing AD as a women's health challenge, we can catalyze a transformative shift in AD research and care, marked by improved diagnostic accuracy, targeted interventions, and ultimately, enhanced clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Miramontes
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - C. Pereda Serras
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - S. R. Woldemariam
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - U. Khan
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Y. Li
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - A. S. Tang
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - E. Tsoy
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - T. T. Oskotsky
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - M. Sirota
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
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7
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Song QH, Zhao KX, Huang S, Chen T, He L. Escape from X-chromosome inactivation and sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:341-354. [PMID: 38157427 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0108] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences exist in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Globally, women have a higher prevalence, while men with Alzheimer's disease experience earlier mortality and more pronounced cognitive decline than women. The cause of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests the potential role of X-linked genetic factors in the sex difference of Alzheimer's disease (AD). During embryogenesis, a remarkable process known as X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) occurs in females, leading to one of the X chromosomes undergoing transcriptional inactivation, which balances the effects of two X chromosomes in females. Nevertheless, certain genes exceptionally escape from XCI, which provides a basis for dual expression dosage of specific genes in females. Based on recent research findings, we explore key escape genes and their potential therapeutic use associated with Alzheimer's disease. Also, we discuss their possible role in driving the sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. This will provide new perspectives for precision medicine and gender-specific treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hua Song
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ke-Xuan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shuai Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ling He
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
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8
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Lopez-Lee C, Torres ERS, Carling G, Gan L. Mechanisms of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. Neuron 2024; 112:1208-1221. [PMID: 38402606 PMCID: PMC11076015 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the mechanisms underlying its etiology and progression are complex and multifactorial. The higher AD risk in women may serve as a clue to better understand these complicated processes. In this review, we examine aspects of AD that demonstrate sex-dependent effects and delve into the potential biological mechanisms responsible, compiling findings from advanced technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, metabolomics, and multi-omics analyses. We review evidence that sex hormones and sex chromosomes interact with various disease mechanisms during aging, encompassing inflammation, metabolism, and autophagy, leading to unique characteristics in disease progression between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Lopez-Lee
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eileen Ruth S Torres
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gillian Carling
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Tsamou M, Roggen EL. Sex-associated microRNAs potentially implicated in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). Brain Res 2024; 1829:148791. [PMID: 38307153 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148791] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The onset and pathology of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) seem to be affected by both sex and genetic mechanisms. Evidence supports that the high prevalence of sAD in women, worldwide, may be attributed to an interplay among aging, sex, and lifestyle, influenced by genetics, metabolic changes, and hormones. Interestingly, epigenetic mechanisms such as microRNAs (miRNAs), known as master regulators of gene expression, may contribute to this observed sexual dimorphism in sAD. OBJECTIVES To investigate the potential impact of sex-associated miRNAs on processes manifesting sAD pathology, as described by the Tau-driven Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) leading to memory loss. METHODS Using publicly available human miRNA datasets, sex-biased miRNAs, defined as differentially expressed by sex in tissues possibly affected by sAD pathology, were collected. In addition, sex hormone-related miRNAs were also retrieved from the literature. The compiled sex-biased and sex hormone-related miRNAs were further plugged into the dysregulated processes of the Tau-driven AOP for memory loss. RESULTS Several miRNAs, previously identified as sex-associated, were implicated in dysregulated processes associated with the manifestation of sAD pathology. Importantly, the described pathology processes were not confined to a particular sex. A mechanistic-based approach utilizing miRNAs was adopted in order to elucidate the link between sex and biological processes potentially involved in the development of memory loss. CONCLUSIONS The identification of sex-associated miRNAs involved in the early processes manifesting memory loss may shed light to the complex molecular mechanisms underlying sAD pathogenesis in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsamou
- ToxGenSolutions (TGS), Oxfordlaan 70, 6229EV Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Erwin L Roggen
- ToxGenSolutions (TGS), Oxfordlaan 70, 6229EV Maastricht, The Netherlands
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10
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Ma H, Shi Z, Kim M, Liu B, Smith PJ, Liu Y, Wu G. Disentangling sex-dependent effects of APOE on diverse trajectories of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Neuroimage 2024; 292:120609. [PMID: 38614371 PMCID: PMC11069285 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120609] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Current diagnostic systems for Alzheimer's disease (AD) rely upon clinical signs and symptoms, despite the fact that the multiplicity of clinical symptoms renders various neuropsychological assessments inadequate to reflect the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Since putative neuroimaging biomarkers play a crucial role in understanding the etiology of AD, we sought to stratify the diverse relationships between AD biomarkers and cognitive decline in the aging population and uncover risk factors contributing to the diversities in AD. To do so, we capitalized on a large amount of neuroimaging data from the ADNI study to examine the inflection points along the dynamic relationship between cognitive decline trajectories and whole-brain neuroimaging biomarkers, using a state-of-the-art statistical model of change point detection. Our findings indicated that the temporal relationship between AD biomarkers and cognitive decline may differ depending on the synergistic effect of genetic risk and biological sex. Specifically, tauopathy-PET biomarkers exhibit a more dynamic and age-dependent association with Mini-Mental State Examination scores (p<0.05), with inflection points at 72, 78, and 83 years old, compared with amyloid-PET and neurodegeneration (cortical thickness from MRI) biomarkers. In the landscape of health disparities in AD, our analysis indicated that biological sex moderates the rate of cognitive decline associated with APOE4 genotype. Meanwhile, we found that higher education levels may moderate the effect of APOE4, acting as a marker of cognitive reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixu Ma
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Zhuoyu Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Minjeong Kim
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, School of Management at Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, PR China
| | - Patrick J Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yufeng Liu
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Guorong Wu
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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11
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Tang AS, Rankin KP, Cerono G, Miramontes S, Mills H, Roger J, Zeng B, Nelson C, Soman K, Woldemariam S, Li Y, Lee A, Bove R, Glymour M, Aghaeepour N, Oskotsky TT, Miller Z, Allen IE, Sanders SJ, Baranzini S, Sirota M. Leveraging electronic health records and knowledge networks for Alzheimer's disease prediction and sex-specific biological insights. NATURE AGING 2024; 4:379-395. [PMID: 38383858 PMCID: PMC10950787 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00573-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Identification of Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset risk can facilitate interventions before irreversible disease progression. We demonstrate that electronic health records from the University of California, San Francisco, followed by knowledge networks (for example, SPOKE) allow for (1) prediction of AD onset and (2) prioritization of biological hypotheses, and (3) contextualization of sex dimorphism. We trained random forest models and predicted AD onset on a cohort of 749 individuals with AD and 250,545 controls with a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.72 (7 years prior) to 0.81 (1 day prior). We further harnessed matched cohort models to identify conditions with predictive power before AD onset. Knowledge networks highlight shared genes between multiple top predictors and AD (for example, APOE, ACTB, IL6 and INS). Genetic colocalization analysis supports AD association with hyperlipidemia at the APOE locus, as well as a stronger female AD association with osteoporosis at a locus near MS4A6A. We therefore show how clinical data can be utilized for early AD prediction and identification of personalized biological hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice S Tang
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco and Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Katherine P Rankin
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gabriel Cerono
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience. Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Silvia Miramontes
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hunter Mills
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Roger
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Billy Zeng
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Charlotte Nelson
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience. Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Karthik Soman
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience. Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Woldemariam
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yaqiao Li
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Albert Lee
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Riley Bove
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience. Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maria Glymour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Nima Aghaeepour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Tomiko T Oskotsky
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zachary Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Isabel E Allen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stephan J Sanders
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sergio Baranzini
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience. Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marina Sirota
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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12
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Papazoglou A, Henseler C, Weickhardt S, Teipelke J, Papazoglou P, Daubner J, Schiffer T, Krings D, Broich K, Hescheler J, Sachinidis A, Ehninger D, Scholl C, Haenisch B, Weiergräber M. Sex- and region-specific cortical and hippocampal whole genome transcriptome profiles from control and APP/PS1 Alzheimer's disease mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296959. [PMID: 38324617 PMCID: PMC10849391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
A variety of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models has been established and characterized within the last decades. To get an integrative view of the sophisticated etiopathogenesis of AD, whole genome transcriptome studies turned out to be indispensable. Here we carried out microarray data collection based on RNA extracted from the retrosplenial cortex and hippocampus of age-matched, eight months old male and female APP/PS1 AD mice and control animals to perform sex- and brain region specific analysis of transcriptome profiles. The results of our studies reveal novel, detailed insight into differentially expressed signature genes and related fold changes in the individual APP/PS1 subgroups. Gene ontology and Venn analysis unmasked that intersectional, upregulated genes were predominantly involved in, e.g., activation of microglial, astrocytic and neutrophilic cells, innate immune response/immune effector response, neuroinflammation, phagosome/proteasome activation, and synaptic transmission. The number of (intersectional) downregulated genes was substantially less in the different subgroups and related GO categories included, e.g., the synaptic vesicle docking/fusion machinery, synaptic transmission, rRNA processing, ubiquitination, proteasome degradation, histone modification and cellular senescence. Importantly, this is the first study to systematically unravel sex- and brain region-specific transcriptome fingerprints/signature genes in APP/PS1 mice. The latter will be of central relevance in future preclinical and clinical AD related studies, biomarker characterization and personalized medicinal approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Papazoglou
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Christina Henseler
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Weickhardt
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Jenni Teipelke
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Panagiota Papazoglou
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Johanna Daubner
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Teresa Schiffer
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Damian Krings
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Karl Broich
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dan Ehninger
- Translational Biogerontology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Catharina Scholl
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Britta Haenisch
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Center for Translational Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marco Weiergräber
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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13
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Tan X, Zhang J, Dong J, Huang M, Li Q, Wang H, Bai L, Cui M, Zhou Z, Yang S, Wang D. Whole-genome variants dataset of 209 local chickens from China. Sci Data 2024; 11:169. [PMID: 38316816 PMCID: PMC10844214 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-02995-w] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Compared to commercial chickens, local breeds exhibit better in meat quality and flavour, but the productivity (e.g., growth rate, body weight) of local chicken breeds is rather low. Genetic analysis based on whole-genome sequencing contributes to elucidating the genetic markers or putative candidate genes related to some economic traits, facilitating the improvement of production performance, the acceleration of breeding progress, and the conservation of genetic resources. Here, a total of 209 local chickens from 13 breeds were investigated, and the observation of approximately 91.4% high-quality sequences (Q30 > 90%) and a mapping rate over 99% for each individual indicated good results of this study, as confirmed by a genome coverage of 97.6%. Over 19 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 1.98 million insertion-deletions (InDels) were identified using the reference genome (GRCg7b), further contributing to the public database. This dataset provides valuable resources for studying genetic diversity and adaptation and for the cultivation of new chicken breeds/lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Tan
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Jie Dong
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Minjie Huang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Qinghai Li
- Animal Husbandry Institute, Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Huanhuan Wang
- Animal Husbandry Institute, Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Lijuan Bai
- Zhejiang Animal Husbandry Technology Extension and Breeding Livestock and Poultry Monitoring Station, Hangzhou, 310020, China
| | - Ming Cui
- Zhejiang Animal Husbandry Technology Extension and Breeding Livestock and Poultry Monitoring Station, Hangzhou, 310020, China
| | - Zhenzhen Zhou
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Shuyuan Yang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Deqian Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China.
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14
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Achiro JM, Tao Y, Gao F, Lin CH, Watanabe M, Neumann S, Coppola G, Black DL, Martin KC. Aging differentially alters the transcriptome and landscape of chromatin accessibility in the male and female mouse hippocampus. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1334862. [PMID: 38318533 PMCID: PMC10839115 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1334862] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging-related memory impairment and pathological memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease differ between males and females, and yet little is known about how aging-related changes in the transcriptome and chromatin environment differ between sexes in the hippocampus. To investigate this question, we compared the chromatin accessibility landscape and gene expression/alternative splicing pattern of young adult and aged mouse hippocampus in both males and females using ATAC-seq and RNA-seq. We detected significant aging-dependent changes in the expression of genes involved in immune response and synaptic function and aging-dependent changes in the alternative splicing of myelin sheath genes. We found significant sex-bias in the expression and alternative splicing of hundreds of genes, including aging-dependent female-biased expression of myelin sheath genes and aging-dependent male-biased expression of genes involved in synaptic function. Aging was associated with increased chromatin accessibility in both male and female hippocampus, especially in repetitive elements, and with an increase in LINE-1 transcription. We detected significant sex-bias in chromatin accessibility in both autosomes and the X chromosome, with male-biased accessibility enriched at promoters and CpG-rich regions. Sex differences in gene expression and chromatin accessibility were amplified with aging, findings that may shed light on sex differences in aging-related and pathological memory loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Achiro
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yang Tao
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Fuying Gao
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Chia-Ho Lin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Marika Watanabe
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sylvia Neumann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Douglas L. Black
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kelsey C. Martin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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15
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Saloner R, VandeVrede L, Asken BM, Paolillo EW, Gontrum EQ, Wolf A, Lario‐Lago A, Milà‐Alomà M, Triana‐Baltzer G, Kolb HC, Dubal DB, Rabinovici GD, Miller BL, Boxer AL, Casaletto KB, Kramer JH. Plasma phosphorylated tau-217 exhibits sex-specific prognostication of cognitive decline and brain atrophy in cognitively unimpaired adults. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:376-387. [PMID: 37639492 PMCID: PMC10843677 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13454] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Accumulating evidence indicates disproportionate tau burden and tau-related clinical progression in females. However, sex differences in plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 prediction of subclinical cognitive and brain changes are unknown. METHODS We measured baseline plasma p-tau217, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) in 163 participants (85 cognitively unimpaired [CU], 78 mild cognitive impairment [MCI]). In CU, linear mixed effects models examined sex differences in plasma biomarker prediction of longitudinal domain-specific cognitive decline and brain atrophy. Cognitive models were repeated in MCI. RESULTS In CU females, baseline plasma p-tau217 predicted verbal memory and medial temporal lobe trajectories such that trajectories significantly declined once p-tau217 concentrations surpassed 0.053 pg/ml, a threshold that corresponded to early levels of cortical amyloid aggregation in secondary amyloid positron emission tomography analyses. CU males exhibited similar rates of cognitive decline and brain atrophy, but these trajectories were not dependent on plasma p-tau217. Plasma GFAP and NfL exhibited similar female-specific prediction of medial temporal lobe atrophy in CU. Plasma p-tau217 exhibited comparable prediction of cognitive decline across sex in MCI. DISCUSSION Plasma p-tau217 may capture earlier Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive and brain atrophy hallmarks in females compared to males, possibly reflective of increased susceptibility to AD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Saloner
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lawren VandeVrede
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Breton M. Asken
- Department of Clinical and Health PsychologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Emily W. Paolillo
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eva Q. Gontrum
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Amy Wolf
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Argentina Lario‐Lago
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Marta Milà‐Alomà
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Hartmuth C. Kolb
- Neuroscience BiomarkersJanssen Research & Development, LLCSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dena B. Dubal
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Gil D. Rabinovici
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adam L. Boxer
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kaitlin B. Casaletto
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Joel H. Kramer
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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16
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Dalla C, Jaric I, Pavlidi P, Hodes GE, Kokras N, Bespalov A, Kas MJ, Steckler T, Kabbaj M, Würbel H, Marrocco J, Tollkuhn J, Shansky R, Bangasser D, Becker JB, McCarthy M, Ferland-Beckham C. Practical solutions for including sex as a biological variable (SABV) in preclinical neuropsychopharmacological research. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 401:110003. [PMID: 37918446 PMCID: PMC10842858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.110003] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Recently, many funding agencies have released guidelines on the importance of considering sex as a biological variable (SABV) as an experimental factor, aiming to address sex differences and avoid possible sex biases to enhance the reproducibility and translational relevance of preclinical research. In neuroscience and pharmacology, the female sex is often omitted from experimental designs, with researchers generalizing male-driven outcomes to both sexes, risking a biased or limited understanding of disease mechanisms and thus potentially ineffective therapeutics. Herein, we describe key methodological aspects that should be considered when sex is factored into in vitro and in vivo experiments and provide practical knowledge for researchers to incorporate SABV into preclinical research. Both age and sex significantly influence biological and behavioral processes due to critical changes at different timepoints of development for males and females and due to hormonal fluctuations across the rodent lifespan. We show that including both sexes does not require larger sample sizes, and even if sex is included as an independent variable in the study design, a moderate increase in sample size is sufficient. Moreover, the importance of tracking hormone levels in both sexes and the differentiation between sex differences and sex-related strategy in behaviors are explained. Finally, the lack of robust data on how biological sex influences the pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), or toxicological effects of various preclinically administered drugs to animals due to the exclusion of female animals is discussed, and methodological strategies to enhance the rigor and translational relevance of preclinical research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
| | - Ivana Jaric
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pavlina Pavlidi
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Anton Bespalov
- Partnership for Assessment and Accreditation of Scientific Practice (PAASP GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martien J Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Mohamed Kabbaj
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Neurosciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, USA
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jordan Marrocco
- Department of Biology, Touro University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Shansky
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02128, USA
| | - Debra Bangasser
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jill B Becker
- Department of Psychology and Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Baltimore MD, USA
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17
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Reed EG, Keller-Norrell PR. Minding the Gap: Exploring Neuroinflammatory and Microglial Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17377. [PMID: 38139206 PMCID: PMC10743742 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417377] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Research into Alzheimer's Disease (AD) describes a link between AD and the resident immune cells of the brain, the microglia. Further, this suspected link is thought to have underlying sex effects, although the mechanisms of these effects are only just beginning to be understood. Many of these insights are the result of policies put in place by funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) and the move towards precision medicine due to continued lackluster therapeutic options. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated assessment of the current research that summarizes sex differences and the research pertaining to microglia and their varied responses in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G. Reed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44242, USA
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18
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Franzen S, Nuytemans K, Bourdage R, Caramelli P, Ellajosyula R, Finger E, Illán-Gala I, Loi SM, Morhardt D, Pijnenburg Y, Rascovsky K, Williams MM, Yokoyama J, Alladi S, Broce I, Castro-Suarez S, Coleman K, de Souza LC, Dacks PA, de Boer SCM, de Leon J, Dodge S, Grasso S, Gupta V, Gupta V, Ghoshal N, Kamath V, Kumfor F, Matias-Guiu JA, Narme P, Nielsen TR, Okhuevbie D, Piña-Escudero SD, Garcia RR, Scarioni M, Slachevsky A, Suarez-Gonzalez A, Tee BL, Tsoy E, Ulugut H, Babulal GM, Onyike CU. Gaps in clinical research in frontotemporal dementia: A call for diversity and disparities-focused research. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5817-5836. [PMID: 37270665 PMCID: PMC10693651 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13129] [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: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the leading causes of dementia before age 65 and often manifests as abnormal behavior (in behavioral variant FTD) or language impairment (in primary progressive aphasia). FTD's exact clinical presentation varies by culture, language, education, social norms, and other socioeconomic factors; current research and clinical practice, however, is mainly based on studies conducted in North America and Western Europe. Changes in diagnostic criteria and procedures as well as new or adapted cognitive tests are likely needed to take into consideration global diversity. This perspective paper by two professional interest areas of the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment examines how increasing global diversity impacts the clinical presentation, screening, assessment, and diagnosis of FTD and its treatment and care. It subsequently provides recommendations to address immediate needs to advance global FTD research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Franzen
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karen Nuytemans
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and Dr. John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Renelle Bourdage
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Laboratoire Mémoire Cerveau et Cognition (UR 7536), Institut de Psychologie, Université Paris Cité, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Paulo Caramelli
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Research Group, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Ratnavalli Ellajosyula
- Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore and Annasawmy Mudaliar Hospital, Bangalore, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), India
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Parkwood Institute Research, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ignacio Illán-Gala
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Red-Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Samantha M. Loi
- Neuropsychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville VIC Australia 3050
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC Australia 3052
| | - Darby Morhardt
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
| | - Yolande Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katya Rascovsky
- Department of Neurology and Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | | | - Jennifer Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Suvarna Alladi
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Iris Broce
- Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego
- Department of Neurology, UC San Francisco
| | - Sheila Castro-Suarez
- CBI en Demencias y Enfermedades Desmielinizantes del Sistema Nervioso, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru
- Atlantic Senior Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at the University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | | | - Leonardo Cruz de Souza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Sterre C. M. de Boer
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica de Leon
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shana Dodge
- The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
| | - Stephanie Grasso
- Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Veer Gupta
- IMPACT—The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Vivek Gupta
- Macquarie Medical school, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia
| | - Nupur Ghoshal
- Depts. of Neurology and Psychiatry, Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Vidyulata Kamath
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Fiona Kumfor
- The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre and the School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jordi A. Matias-Guiu
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, San Carlos Institute for Health Research (IdiSSC), Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pauline Narme
- Laboratoire Mémoire Cerveau et Cognition (UR 7536), Institut de Psychologie, Université Paris Cité, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - T. Rune Nielsen
- Danish Dementia Research Center, Department of Neurology, The Neuroscience Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Okhuevbie
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Nigeria
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Stefanie D. Piña-Escudero
- Global Brain Health Institute at the Memory and Aging Center. University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Ramiro Ruiz Garcia
- Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirurgía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico DF, Mexico
| | - Marta Scarioni
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopathology Department - Intitute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Neurocience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Center (CMYN), Memory Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Servicio de Neurología, Departamento de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Aida Suarez-Gonzalez
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Boon Lead Tee
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, United States
| | - Elena Tsoy
- Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco and Trinity College Dublin
| | - Hülya Ulugut
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ganesh M. Babulal
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Institute of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chiadi U. Onyike
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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19
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Peeters SB, Posynick BJ, Brown CJ. Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation. EPIGENOMES 2023; 7:29. [PMID: 38131901 PMCID: PMC10742877 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7040029] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The silencing of all but one X chromosome in mammalian cells is a remarkable epigenetic process leading to near dosage equivalence in X-linked gene products between the sexes. However, equally remarkable is the ability of a subset of genes to continue to be expressed from the otherwise inactive X chromosome-in some cases constitutively, while other genes are variable between individuals, tissues or cells. In this review we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the approaches that have been used to identify escapees. The identity of escapees provides important clues to mechanisms underlying escape from XCI, an arena of study now moving from correlation to functional studies. As most escapees show greater expression in females, the not-so-inactive X chromosome is a substantial contributor to sex differences in humans, and we highlight some examples of such impact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carolyn J. Brown
- Molecular Epigenetics Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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20
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Wang KW, Yuan YX, Zhu B, Zhang Y, Wei YF, Meng FS, Zhang S, Wang JX, Zhou JY. X chromosome-wide association study of quantitative biomarkers from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1277731. [PMID: 38035272 PMCID: PMC10682795 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1277731] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease with high heritability. Compared to autosomes, a higher proportion of disorder-associated genes on X chromosome are expressed in the brain. However, only a few studies focused on the identification of the susceptibility loci for AD on X chromosome. Methods Using the data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Study, we conducted an X chromosome-wide association study between 16 AD quantitative biomarkers and 19,692 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on both the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Results We identified 15 SNPs statistically significantly associated with different quantitative biomarkers of the AD. For the cross-sectional study, six SNPs (rs5927116, rs4596772, rs5929538, rs2213488, rs5920524, and rs5945306) are located in or near to six genes DMD, TBX22, LOC101928437, TENM1, SPANXN1, and ZFP92, which have been reported to be associated with schizophrenia or neuropsychiatric diseases in literature. For the longitudinal study, four SNPs (rs4829868, rs5931111, rs6540385, and rs763320) are included in or near to two genes RAC1P4 and AFF2, which have been demonstrated to be associated with brain development or intellectual disability in literature, while the functional annotations of other five novel SNPs (rs12157031, rs428303, rs5953487, rs10284107, and rs5955016) have not been found. Discussion 15 SNPs were found statistically significantly associated with the quantitative biomarkers of the AD. Follow-up study in molecular genetics is needed to verify whether they are indeed related to AD. The findings in this article expand our understanding of the role of the X chromosome in exploring disease susceptibility, introduce new insights into the molecular genetics behind the AD, and may provide a mechanistic clue to further AD-related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Xin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Fang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan-Shuo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Xuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ji-Yuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China
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21
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Wiese CB, Avetisyan R, Reue K. The impact of chromosomal sex on cardiometabolic health and disease. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:652-665. [PMID: 37598068 PMCID: PMC11090013 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.07.003] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Many aspects of metabolism are sex-biased, from gene expression in metabolic tissues to the prevalence and presentation of cardiometabolic diseases. The influence of hormones produced by male and female gonads has been widely documented, but recent studies have begun to elucidate the impact of genetic sex (XX or XY chromosomes) on cellular and organismal metabolism. XX and XY cells have differential gene dosage conferred by specific genes that escape X chromosome inactivation or the presence of Y chromosome genes that are absent from XX cells. Studies in mouse models that dissociate chromosomal and gonadal sex have uncovered mechanisms for sex-biased epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in conditions such as obesity, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, autoimmune disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie B Wiese
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rozeta Avetisyan
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Karen Reue
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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22
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Cozachenco D, Zimmer ER, Lourenco MV. Emerging concepts towards a translational framework in Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105246. [PMID: 37236385 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, significant efforts have been made to understand the precise mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia. However, clinical trials targeting AD pathological hallmarks have consistently failed. Refinement of AD conceptualization, modeling, and assessment is key to developing successful therapies. Here, we review critical findings and discuss emerging ideas to integrate molecular mechanisms and clinical approaches in AD. We further propose a refined workflow for animal studies incorporating multimodal biomarkers used in clinical studies - delineating critical paths for drug discovery and translation. Addressing unresolved questions with the proposed conceptual and experimental framework may accelerate the development of effective disease-modifying strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Cozachenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eduardo R Zimmer
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry (PPGBioq), UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Pharmacology and Therapeutics (PPGFT), UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Mychael V Lourenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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23
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Li Y, Khan N, Ritzel RM, Lei Z, Allen S, Faden AI, Wu J. Sexually dimorphic extracellular vesicle responses after chronic spinal cord injury are associated with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the aged brain. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:197. [PMID: 37653491 PMCID: PMC10469550 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02881-z] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical advances have made it increasingly possible for spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors to survive decades after the insult. But how SCI affects aging changes and aging impacts the injury process have received limited attention. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized as critical mediators of neuroinflammation after CNS injury, including at a distance from the lesion site. We have previously shown that SCI in young male mice leads to robust changes in plasma EV count and microRNA (miR) content. Here, our goal was to investigate the impact of biological sex and aging on EVs and brain after SCI. METHODS Young adult age-matched male and female C57BL/6 mice were subjected to SCI. At 19 months post-injury, total plasma EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). EVs miR cargo was examined using the Fireplex® assay. The transcriptional changes in the brain were assessed by a NanoString nCounter Neuropathology panel and validated by Western blot (WB) and flow cytometry (FC). A battery of behavioral tests was performed for assessment of neurological function. RESULTS Transcriptomic changes showed a high number of changes between sham and those with SCI. Sex-specific changes were found in transcription networks related to disease association, activated microglia, and vesicle trafficking. FC showed higher microglia and myeloid counts in the injured tissue of SCI/Female compared to their male counterparts, along with higher microglial production of ROS in both injured site and the brain. In the latter, increased levels of TNF and mitochondrial membrane potential were seen in microglia from SCI/Female. WB and NTA revealed that EV markers are elevated in the plasma of SCI/Male. Particle concentration in the cortex increased after injury, with SCI/Female showing higher counts than SCI/Male. EVs cargo analysis revealed changes in miR content related to injury and sex. Behavioral testing confirmed impairment of cognition and depression at chronic time points after SCI in both sexes, without significant differences between males and females. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to show sexually dimorphic changes in brain after very long-term SCI and supports a potential sex-dependent EV-mediated mechanism that contributes to SCI-induced brain changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, MSTF, Room 6-034D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Niaz Khan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, MSTF, Room 6-034D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Rodney M Ritzel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, MSTF, Room 6-034D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Zhuofan Lei
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, MSTF, Room 6-034D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Samantha Allen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, MSTF, Room 6-034D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Alan I Faden
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, MSTF, Room 6-034D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Junfang Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, MSTF, Room 6-034D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Lutshumba J, Wilcock DM, Monson NL, Stowe AM. Sex-based differences in effector cells of the adaptive immune system during Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 184:106202. [PMID: 37330146 PMCID: PMC10481581 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) present with many challenges due to the heterogeneity of the related disease(s), making it difficult to develop effective treatments. Additionally, the progression of ADRD-related pathologies presents differently between men and women. With two-thirds of the population affected with ADRD being women, ADRD has presented itself with a bias toward the female population. However, studies of ADRD generally do not incorporate sex-based differences in investigating the development and progression of the disease, which is detrimental to understanding and treating dementia. Additionally, recent implications for the adaptive immune system in the development of ADRD bring in new factors to be considered as part of the disease, including sex-based differences in immune response(s) during ADRD development. Here, we review the sex-based differences of pathological hallmarks of ADRD presentation and progression, sex-based differences in the adaptive immune system and how it changes with ADRD, and the importance of precision medicine in the development of a more targeted and personalized treatment for this devastating and prevalent neurodegenerative condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Lutshumba
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Donna M Wilcock
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Nancy L Monson
- Department of Neurology and Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Ann M Stowe
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Center for Advanced Translational Stroke Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America.
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25
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Buckley RF, Gong J, Woodward M. A Call to Action to Address Sex Differences in Alzheimer Disease Clinical Trials. JAMA Neurol 2023; 80:769-770. [PMID: 37155156 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1059] [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] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
This Viewpoint calls for comprehensive investigations into sex differences associated with treatments in existing Alzheimer disease and integration into future Alzheimer disease and related dementia clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel F Buckley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jessica Gong
- George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Woodward
- George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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26
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Shaw C, Abdulai-Saiku S, Marino F, Wang D, Davis E, Panning B, Dubal D. X Chromosome Factor Kdm6a Enhances Cognition Independent of Its Demethylase Function in the Aging XY Male Brain. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:938-943. [PMID: 36617879 PMCID: PMC10235195 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Males exhibit shorter life span and more cognitive deficits, in the absence of dementia, in aging human populations. In mammals, the X chromosome is enriched for neural genes and is a major source of biologic sex difference, in part, because males show decreased expression of select X factors (XY). While each sex (XX and XY) harbors one active X due to X chromosome inactivation in females, some genes, such as Kdm6a, transcriptionally escape silencing in females-resulting in lower transcript levels in males. Kdm6a is a known histone demethylase (H3K27me2/3) with multiple functional domains that is linked with synaptic plasticity and cognition. Whether elevating Kdm6a could benefit the aged male brain and whether this requires its demethylase function remains unknown. We used lentiviral-mediated overexpression of the X factor in the hippocampus of aging male mice and tested their cognition and behavior in the Morris water-maze. We found that acutely increasing Kdm6a-in a form without demethylase function-selectively improved learning and memory, in the aging XY brain, without altering total activity or anxiety-like measures. Further understanding the demethylase-independent downstream mechanisms of Kdm6a may lead to novel therapies for treating age-induced cognitive deficits in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cayce K Shaw
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Samira Abdulai-Saiku
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Francesca Marino
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Emily J Davis
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Barbara Panning
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Dena B Dubal
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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27
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Castro-Aldrete L, Moser MV, Putignano G, Ferretti MT, Schumacher Dimech A, Santuccione Chadha A. Sex and gender considerations in Alzheimer’s disease: The Women’s Brain Project contribution. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1105620. [PMID: 37065460 PMCID: PMC10097993 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1105620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The global population is expected to have about 131.5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias by 2050, posing a severe health crisis. Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that gradually impairs physical and cognitive functions. Dementia has a variety of causes, symptoms, and heterogeneity concerning the influence of sex on prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes. The proportion of male-to-female prevalence varies based on the type of dementia. Despite some types of dementia being more common in men, women have a greater lifetime risk of developing dementia. AD is the most common form of dementia in which approximately two-thirds of the affected persons are women. Profound sex and gender differences in physiology and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions have increasingly been identified. As a result, new approaches to dementia diagnosis, care, and patient journeys should be considered. In the heart of a rapidly aging worldwide population, the Women’s Brain Project (WBP) was born from the necessity to address the sex and gender gap in AD. WBP is now a well-established international non-profit organization with a global multidisciplinary team of experts studying sex and gender determinants in the brain and mental health. WBP works with different stakeholders worldwide to help change perceptions and reduce sex biases in clinical and preclinical research and policy frameworks. With its strong female leadership, WBP is an example of the importance of female professionals’ work in the field of dementia research. WBP-led peer-reviewed papers, articles, books, lectures, and various initiatives in the policy and advocacy space have profoundly impacted the community and driven global discussion. WBP is now in the initial phases of establishing the world’s first Sex and Gender Precision Medicine Institute. This review highlights the contributions of the WBP team to the field of AD. This review aims to increase awareness of potentially important aspects of basic science, clinical outcomes, digital health, policy framework and provide the research community with potential challenges and research suggestions to leverage sex and gender differences. Finally, at the end of the review, we briefly touch upon our progress and contribution toward sex and gender inclusion beyond Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Castro-Aldrete
- Women’s Brain Project, Guntershausen bei Aadorf, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Laura Castro-Aldrete,
| | | | - Guido Putignano
- Women’s Brain Project, Guntershausen bei Aadorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Annemarie Schumacher Dimech
- Women’s Brain Project, Guntershausen bei Aadorf, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Bianco A, Antonacci Y, Liguori M. Sex and Gender Differences in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Challenges for Therapeutic Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076354. [PMID: 37047320 PMCID: PMC10093984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The term “neurodegenerative diseases” (NDs) identifies a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by progressive loss of selectively vulnerable populations of neurons, which progressively deteriorates over time, leading to neuronal dysfunction. Protein aggregation and neuronal loss have been considered the most characteristic hallmarks of NDs, but growing evidence confirms that significant dysregulation of innate immune pathways plays a crucial role as well. NDs vary from multiple sclerosis, in which the autoimmune inflammatory component is predominant, to more “classical” NDs, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and spinal muscular atrophy. Of interest, many of the clinical differences reported in NDs seem to be closely linked to sex, which may be justified by the significant changes in immune mechanisms between affected females and males. In this review, we examined some of the most studied NDs by looking at their pathogenic and phenotypical features to highlight sex-related discrepancies, if any, with particular interest in the individuals’ responses to treatment. We believe that pointing out these differences in clinical practice may help achieve more successful precision and personalized care.
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I F. The unique neuropathological vulnerability of the human brain to aging. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101916. [PMID: 36990284 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG), limbic predominant TDP-43 proteinopathy (LATE), and amygdala-predominant Lewy body disease (LBD) are proteinopathies that, together with hippocampal sclerosis, progressively appear in the elderly affecting from 50% to 99% of individuals aged 80 years, depending on the disease. These disorders usually converge on the same subject and associate with additive cognitive impairment. Abnormal Tau, TDP-43, and α-synuclein pathologies progress following a pattern consistent with an active cell-to-cell transmission and abnormal protein processing in the host cell. However, cell vulnerability and transmission pathways are specific for each disorder, albeit abnormal proteins may co-localize in particular neurons. All these alterations are unique or highly prevalent in humans. They all affect, at first, the archicortex and paleocortex to extend at later stages to the neocortex and other regions of the telencephalon. These observations show that the phylogenetically oldest areas of the human cerebral cortex and amygdala are not designed to cope with the lifespan of actual humans. New strategies aimed at reducing the functional overload of the human telencephalon, including optimization of dream repair mechanisms and implementation of artificial circuit devices to surrogate specific brain functions, appear promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferrer I
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Emeritus Researcher of the Bellvitge Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Network of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
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Sorond FA, Gorelick PB. Brain Reserve, Resilience, and Cognitive Stimulation Across the Lifespan: How Do These Factors Influence Risk of Cognitive Impairment and the Dementias? Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:151-160. [PMID: 36404028 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of effective treatments for dementia, maintaining cognitive health in old age is one of the major challenges facing aging societies. Interventions for cognitive health that are tailored to the person are more likely to bring the best benefits with a minimum burden. We review the existing literature on this topic and discuss the role of the primary care physician.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh A Sorond
- Department of Neurology, Division of Stroke, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 625 North Michigan Avenue, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Philip B Gorelick
- Department of Neurology, Division of Stroke, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 625 North Michigan Avenue, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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Santiago JA, Quinn JP, Potashkin JA. Sex-specific transcriptional rewiring in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1009368. [PMID: 36389068 PMCID: PMC9659968 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1009368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific differences may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) development. AD is more prevalent in women worldwide, and female sex has been suggested as a disease risk factor. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying sex-biased differences in AD remain poorly characterized. To this end, we analyzed the transcriptional changes in the entorhinal cortex of symptomatic and asymptomatic AD patients stratified by sex. Co-expression network analysis implemented by SWItchMiner software identified sex-specific signatures of switch genes responsible for drastic transcriptional changes in the brain of AD and asymptomatic AD individuals. Pathway analysis of the switch genes revealed that morphine addiction, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, and autophagy are associated with both females with AD (F-AD) and males with (M-AD). In contrast, nicotine addiction, cell adhesion molecules, oxytocin signaling, adipocytokine signaling, prolactin signaling, and alcoholism are uniquely associated with M-AD. Similarly, some of the unique pathways associated with F-AD switch genes are viral myocarditis, Hippo signaling pathway, endometrial cancer, insulin signaling, and PI3K-AKT signaling. Together these results reveal that there are many sex-specific pathways that may lead to AD. Approximately 20–30% of the elderly have an accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain, but show no cognitive deficit. Asymptomatic females (F-asymAD) and males (M-asymAD) both shared dysregulation of endocytosis. In contrast, pathways uniquely associated with F-asymAD switch genes are insulin secretion, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, axon guidance, renal cell carcinoma, and ErbB signaling pathway. Similarly, pathways uniquely associated with M-asymAD switch genes are fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, FcγR mediated phagocytosis, and proteoglycans in cancer. These results reveal for the first time unique pathways associated with either disease progression or cognitive resilience in asymptomatic individuals. Additionally, we identified numerous sex-specific transcription factors and potential neurotoxic chemicals that may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Together these results reveal likely molecular drivers of sex differences in the brain of AD patients. Future molecular studies dissecting the functional role of these switch genes in driving sex differences in AD are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Judith A. Potashkin
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Department, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutics, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Judith A. Potashkin,
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Pallier PN, Ferrara M, Romagnolo F, Ferretti MT, Soreq H, Cerase A. Chromosomal and environmental contributions to sex differences in the vulnerability to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders: Implications for therapeutic interventions. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 219:102353. [PMID: 36100191 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders affect men and women differently. Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorders, depression, meningiomas and late-onset schizophrenia affect women more frequently than men. By contrast, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum condition, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette's syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and early-onset schizophrenia are more prevalent in men. Women have been historically under-recruited or excluded from clinical trials, and most basic research uses male rodent cells or animals as disease models, rarely studying both sexes and factoring sex as a potential source of variation, resulting in a poor understanding of the underlying biological reasons for sex and gender differences in the development of such diseases. Putative pathophysiological contributors include hormones and epigenetics regulators but additional biological and non-biological influences may be at play. We review here the evidence for the underpinning role of the sex chromosome complement, X chromosome inactivation, and environmental and epigenetic regulators in sex differences in the vulnerability to brain disease. We conclude that there is a pressing need for a better understanding of the genetic, epigenetic and environmental mechanisms sustaining sex differences in such diseases, which is critical for developing a precision medicine approach based on sex-tailored prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Pallier
- Blizard Institute, Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK.
| | - Maria Ferrara
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Women's Brain Project (WBP), Switzerland
| | - Francesca Romagnolo
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Hermona Soreq
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Andrea Cerase
- EMBL-Rome, Via Ramarini 32, 00015 Monterotondo, RM, Italy; Blizard Institute, Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; Department of Biology, University of Pisa, SS12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
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Buckley R. Sex differences in Alzheimer's disease risk: are immune responses the key? Brain 2022; 145:3341-3342. [PMID: 36052679 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Buckley
- Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Contador J, Pérez-Millan A, Guillen N, Sarto J, Tort-Merino A, Balasa M, Falgàs N, Castellví M, Borrego-Écija S, Juncà-Parella J, Bosch B, Fernández-Villullas G, Ramos-Campoy O, Antonell A, Bargalló N, Sanchez-Valle R, Sala Llonch R, Lladó A. Sex differences in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurol 2022; 29:3623-3632. [PMID: 36005384 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sex is believed to drive heterogeneity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), although evidence in early-onset AD (<65 years, EOAD) is scarce. METHODS We included 62 EOAD patients and 44 healthy controls (HC) with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD's core biomarkers and neurofilament light chain levels, neuropsychological assessment, and 3T-MRI. We measured cortical thickness (CTh) and hippocampal subfield volumes (HpS) using Freesurfer. Adjusted linear models were used to analyze sex-differences and the relationship between atrophy and cognition. RESULTS Compared to same-sex HC, female-EOAD showed greater cognitive impairment and broader atrophy burden than male-EOAD. In a direct female-EOAD and male-EOAD comparison, there were slight differences in temporal CTh, with no differences in cognition or HpS. CSF tau levels were higher in female-EOAD than in male-EOAD. Greater atrophy was associated with worse cognition in female-EOAD. CONCLUSIONS At diagnosis, there are sex-differences in the pattern of cognitive impairment, atrophy burden and CSF tau in EOAD, suggesting there is an influence of sex on pathology spreading and susceptibility to the disease in EOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Contador
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Agnès Pérez-Millan
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences. Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Guillen
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Sarto
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrià Tort-Merino
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mircea Balasa
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Global Brain Heath Institute
| | - Neus Falgàs
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Global Brain Heath Institute
| | - Magdalena Castellví
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Borrego-Écija
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Juncà-Parella
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Bosch
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Fernández-Villullas
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oscar Ramos-Campoy
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Antonell
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Bargalló
- Image Diagnostic Centre Radiology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Magnetic Resonance Image Core facility Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental. CIBERSAM., Spain
| | - Raquel Sanchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Sala Llonch
- Institute of Neurosciences. Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Biomedical Imaging Group, Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Lladó
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Winek K, Tzur Y, Soreq H. Biological underpinnings of sex differences in neurological disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 164:27-67. [PMID: 36038206 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The importance of sex differences in neurological disorders has been increasingly acknowledged in recent clinical and basic research studies, but the complex biology and genetics underlying sex-linked biological heterogeneity and its brain-to-body impact remained incompletely understood. Men and women differ substantially in their susceptibility to certain neurological diseases, in the severity of symptoms, prognosis as well as the nature and efficacy of their response to treatments. The detailed mechanisms underlying these differences, especially at the molecular level, are being addressed in many studies but leave a lot to be further revealed. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in our understanding of how sex differences in the brain and brain-body signaling contribute to neurological disorders and further present some future prospects entailed in terms of diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Winek
- The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yonat Tzur
- The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hermona Soreq
- The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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36
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Tang AS, Oskotsky T, Havaldar S, Mantyh WG, Bicak M, Solsberg CW, Woldemariam S, Zeng B, Hu Z, Oskotsky B, Dubal D, Allen IE, Glicksberg BS, Sirota M. Deep phenotyping of Alzheimer's disease leveraging electronic medical records identifies sex-specific clinical associations. Nat Commun 2022; 13:675. [PMID: 35115528 PMCID: PMC8814236 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28273-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is still not fully understood. Sex modifies AD vulnerability, but the reasons for this are largely unknown. We utilize two independent electronic medical record (EMR) systems across 44,288 patients to perform deep clinical phenotyping and network analysis to gain insight into clinical characteristics and sex-specific clinical associations in AD. Embeddings and network representation of patient diagnoses demonstrate greater comorbidity interactions in AD in comparison to matched controls. Enrichment analysis identifies multiple known and new diagnostic, medication, and lab result associations across the whole cohort and in a sex-stratified analysis. With this data-driven method of phenotyping, we can represent AD complexity and generate hypotheses of clinical factors that can be followed-up for further diagnostic and predictive analyses, mechanistic understanding, or drug repurposing and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice S Tang
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- School of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Tomiko Oskotsky
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shreyas Havaldar
- Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - William G Mantyh
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mesude Bicak
- Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Caroline Warly Solsberg
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Woldemariam
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Billy Zeng
- School of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zicheng Hu
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Boris Oskotsky
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dena Dubal
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Isabel E Allen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin S Glicksberg
- Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marina Sirota
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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