1
|
Fan X, Chen H, He W, Zhang J. Emerging microglial biology highlights potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 101:102471. [PMID: 39218078 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system, which primarily affects elderly people and accounts for 70-80 % of dementia cases. The current prevailing amyloid cascade hypothesis suggests that Alzheimer's disease begins with the deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain. Major therapeutic strategies target Aβ production, aggregation, and clearance, although many clinical trials have shown that these therapeutic strategies are not sufficient to completely improve cognitive deficits in AD patients. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified that multiple important regulators are the most significant genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, especially in the innate immune pathways. These genetic risk factors suggest a critical role for microglia, highlighting their therapeutic potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss how these recently documented AD risk genes affect microglial function and AD pathology and how they can be further targeted to regulate microglial states and slow AD progression, especially the highly anticipated APOE and TREM2 targets. We focused on recent findings that modulation of innate and adaptive neuroimmune microenvironment crosstalk reverses cognitive deficits in AD patients. We also considered novel strategies for microglia in AD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Fan
- Department of Immunology, CAMS Key laboratory T cell and Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Beijing 100005, China; Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Immunology, CAMS Key laboratory T cell and Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Beijing 100005, China.
| | - Wei He
- Department of Immunology, CAMS Key laboratory T cell and Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Beijing 100005, China.
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Department of Immunology, CAMS Key laboratory T cell and Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Beijing 100005, China; Changzhou Xitaihu Institute for Frontier Technology of Cell Therapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Saternos H, Hamlett ED, Guzman S, Head E, Granholm AC, Ledreux A. Unique Pathology in the Locus Coeruleus of Individuals with Down Syndrome. J Alzheimers Dis 2024:JAD240043. [PMID: 39213062 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most commonly occurring chromosomal conditions. Most individuals with DS develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) by 50 years of age. Recent evidence suggests that AD pathology in the locus coeruleus (LC) is an early event in sporadic AD. It is likely that the widespread axonal network of LC neurons contributes to the spread of tau pathology in the AD brain, although this has not been investigated in DS-AD. Objective The main purpose of this study was to profile AD pathology and neuroinflammation in the LC, comparing AD and DS-AD in postmortem human tissues. Methods We utilized immunofluorescence and semi-quantitative analyses of pTau (4 different forms), amyloid-β (Aβ), glial, and neuronal markers in the LC across 36 cases (control, DS-AD, and AD) to compare the different pathological profiles. Results Oligomeric tau was highly elevated in DS-AD cases compared to LOAD or EOAD cases. The distribution of staining for pT231 was elevated in DS-AD and EOAD compared to the LOAD group. The DS-AD group exhibited increased Aβ immunostaining compared to AD cases. The number of tau-bearing neurons was also significantly different between the EOAD and DS-AD cases compared to the LOAD cases. Conclusions While inflammation, pTau, and Aβ are all involved in AD pathology, their contribution to disease progression may differ depending on the diagnosis. Our results suggest that DS-AD and EOAD may be more similar in pathology than LOAD. Our study highlights unique avenues to further our understanding of the mechanisms governing AD neuropathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Saternos
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Eric D Hamlett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Samuel Guzman
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ann-Charlotte Granholm
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Aurélie Ledreux
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schartz ND, Liang HY, Carvalho K, Chu SH, Mendoza-Arvilla A, Petrisko TJ, Gomez-Arboledas A, Mortazavi A, Tenner AJ. C5aR1 antagonism suppresses inflammatory glial responses and alters cellular signaling in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7028. [PMID: 39147742 PMCID: PMC11327341 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51163-6] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, and the need for effective, sustainable therapeutic targets is imperative. The complement pathway has been proposed as a therapeutic target. C5aR1 inhibition reduces plaque load, gliosis, and memory deficits in animal models, however, the cellular bases underlying this neuroprotection were unclear. Here, we show that the C5aR1 antagonist PMX205 improves outcomes in the Arctic48 mouse model of AD. A combination of single cell and single nucleus RNA-seq analysis of hippocampi derived from males and females identified neurotoxic disease-associated microglia clusters in Arctic mice that are C5aR1-dependent, while microglial genes associated with synapse organization and transmission and learning were overrepresented in PMX205-treated mice. PMX205 also reduced neurotoxic astrocyte gene expression, but clusters associated with protective responses to injury were unchanged. C5aR1 inhibition promoted mRNA-predicted signaling pathways between brain cell types associated with cell growth and repair, while suppressing inflammatory pathways. Finally, although hippocampal plaque load was unaffected, PMX205 prevented deficits in short-term memory in female Arctic mice. In conclusion, C5aR1 inhibition prevents cognitive loss, limits detrimental glial polarization while permitting neuroprotective responses, as well as leaving most protective functions of complement intact, making C5aR1 antagonism an attractive therapeutic strategy for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D Schartz
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Heidi Y Liang
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Klebea Carvalho
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Shu-Hui Chu
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Adrian Mendoza-Arvilla
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tiffany J Petrisko
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Angela Gomez-Arboledas
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Andrea J Tenner
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen X, Huang Y, Huang L, Huang Z, Hao ZZ, Xu L, Xu N, Li Z, Mou Y, Ye M, You R, Zhang X, Liu S, Miao Z. A brain cell atlas integrating single-cell transcriptomes across human brain regions. Nat Med 2024:10.1038/s41591-024-03150-z. [PMID: 39095595 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03150-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
While single-cell technologies have greatly advanced our comprehension of human brain cell types and functions, studies including large numbers of donors and multiple brain regions are needed to extend our understanding of brain cell heterogeneity. Integrating atlas-level single-cell data presents a chance to reveal rare cell types and cellular heterogeneity across brain regions. Here we present the Brain Cell Atlas, a comprehensive reference atlas of brain cells, by assembling single-cell data from 70 human and 103 mouse studies of the brain throughout major developmental stages across brain regions, covering over 26.3 million cells or nuclei from both healthy and diseased tissues. Using machine-learning based algorithms, the Brain Cell Atlas provides a consensus cell type annotation, and it showcases the identification of putative neural progenitor cells and a cell subpopulation of PCDH9high microglia in the human brain. We demonstrate the gene regulatory difference of PCDH9high microglia between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and elucidate the cell-cell communication network. The Brain Cell Atlas presents an atlas-level integrative resource for comparing brain cells in different environments and conditions within the Human Cell Atlas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Chen
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yin Huang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liangfeng Huang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziliang Huang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhao-Zhe Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lahong Xu
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nana Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yonggao Mou
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingli Ye
- Tsinghua Fuzhou Institute for Data Technology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Renke You
- Tsinghua Fuzhou Institute for Data Technology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuegong Zhang
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Division of BNRIST and Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhichao Miao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China.
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Robertson KV, Rodriguez AS, Cartailler JP, Shrestha S, Schroeder KR, Valenti AM, Harrison FE, Hasty AH. Knockdown of microglial iron import gene, DMT1, worsens cognitive function and alters microglial transcriptional landscape in a sex-specific manner in the APP/PS1 model of Alzheimer's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4559940. [PMID: 38978579 PMCID: PMC11230470 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4559940/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Background Microglial cell iron load and inflammatory activation are significant hallmarks of late-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). In vitro, microglia preferentially upregulate the iron importer, divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1, gene name Slc11a2) in response to inflammatory stimuli, and excess iron can augment cellular inflammation, suggesting a feed-forward loop between iron import mechanisms and inflammatory signaling. However, it is not understood whether microglial iron import mechanisms directly contribute to inflammatory signaling and chronic disease in vivo. These studies determined the effects of microglial-specific knockdown of Slc11a2 on AD-related cognitive decline and microglial transcriptional phenotype. Methods In vitro experiments and RT-qPCR were used to assess a role for DMT1 in amyloid-β-associated inflammation. To determine the effects of microglial Slc11a2 knockdown on AD-related phenotypes in vivo, triple-transgenic Cx3cr1 Cre - ERT2 ;Slc11a2 flfl;APP/PS1 + or - mice were generated and administered corn oil or tamoxifen to induce knockdown at 5-6 months of age. Both sexes underwent behavioral analyses to assess cognition and memory (12-15 months of age). Hippocampal CD11b + microglia were magnetically isolated from female mice (15-17 months) and bulk RNA-sequencing analysis was conducted. Results DMT1 inhibition in vitro robustly decreased Aβ-induced inflammatory gene expression and cellular iron levels in conditions of excess iron. In vivo, Slc11a2 KD APP/PS1 female, but not male, mice displayed a significant worsening of memory function in Morris water maze and a fear conditioning assay, along with significant hyperactivity compared to control WT and APP/PS1 mice. Hippocampal microglia from Slc11a2 KD APP/PS1 females displayed significant increases in Enpp2, Ttr, and the iron-export gene, Slc40a1, compared to control APP/PS1 cells. Slc11a2 KD cells from APP/PS1 females also exhibited decreased expression of markers associated with disease-associated microglia (DAMs), such as Apoe, Ctsb, Csf1, and Hif1α. Conclusions This work suggests a sex-specific role for microglial iron import gene Slc11a2 in propagating behavioral and cognitive phenotypes in the APP/PS1 model of AD. These data also highlight an association between loss of a DAM-like phenotype in microglia and cognitive deficits in Slc11a2 KD APP/PS1 female mice. Overall, this work illuminates an iron-related pathway in microglia that may serve a protective role during disease and offers insight into mechanisms behind disease-related sex differences.
Collapse
|
6
|
Bedolla A, Wegman E, Weed M, Stevens MK, Ware K, Paranjpe A, Alkhimovitch A, Ifergan I, Taranov A, Peter JD, Gonzalez RMS, Robinson JE, McClain L, Roskin KM, Greig NH, Luo Y. Adult microglial TGFβ1 is required for microglia homeostasis via an autocrine mechanism to maintain cognitive function in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5306. [PMID: 38906887 PMCID: PMC11192737 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49596-0] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
While TGF-β signaling is essential for microglial function, the cellular source of TGF-β1 ligand and its spatial regulation remains unclear in the adult CNS. Our data supports that microglia but not astrocytes or neurons are the primary producers of TGF-β1 ligands needed for microglial homeostasis. Microglia-Tgfb1 KO leads to the activation of microglia featuring a dyshomeostatic transcriptome that resembles disease-associated, injury-associated, and aged microglia, suggesting microglial self-produced TGF-β1 ligands are important in the adult CNS. Astrocytes in MG-Tgfb1 inducible (i)KO mice show a transcriptome profile that is closely aligned with an LPS-associated astrocyte profile. Additionally, using sparse mosaic single-cell microglia KO of TGF-β1 ligand we established an autocrine mechanism for signaling. Here we show that MG-Tgfb1 iKO mice present cognitive deficits, supporting that precise spatial regulation of TGF-β1 ligand derived from microglia is required for the maintenance of brain homeostasis and normal cognitive function in the adult brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Bedolla
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elliot Wegman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Max Weed
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Kierra Ware
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aditi Paranjpe
- Information Services for Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA
| | - Anastasia Alkhimovitch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Igal Ifergan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aleksandr Taranov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Joshua D Peter
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rosa Maria Salazar Gonzalez
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, US
| | - J Elliott Robinson
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, US
| | - Lucas McClain
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Krishna M Roskin
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, US
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Vandermeulen L, Geric I, Fumagalli L, Kreir M, Lu A, Nonneman A, Premereur J, Wolfs L, Policarpo R, Fattorelli N, De Bondt A, Van Den Wyngaert I, Asselbergh B, Fiers M, De Strooper B, d'Ydewalle C, Mancuso R. Regulation of human microglial gene expression and function via RNAase-H active antisense oligonucleotides in vivo in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:37. [PMID: 38654375 PMCID: PMC11040766 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00725-9] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microglia play important roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and neurodegeneration. The discovery of genetic variants in genes predominately or exclusively expressed in myeloid cells, such as Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), as the strongest risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) highlights the importance of microglial biology in the brain. The sequence, structure and function of several microglial proteins are poorly conserved across species, which has hampered the development of strategies aiming to modulate the expression of specific microglial genes. One way to target APOE and TREM2 is to modulate their expression using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). METHODS In this study, we identified, produced, and tested novel, selective and potent ASOs for human APOE and TREM2. We used a combination of in vitro iPSC-microglia models, as well as microglial xenotransplanted mice to provide proof of activity in human microglial in vivo. RESULTS We proved their efficacy in human iPSC microglia in vitro, as well as their pharmacological activity in vivo in a xenografted microglia model. We demonstrate ASOs targeting human microglia can modify their transcriptional profile and their response to amyloid-β plaques in vivo in a model of AD. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first proof-of-concept that human microglial can be modulated using ASOs in a dose-dependent manner to manipulate microglia phenotypes and response to neurodegeneration in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lina Vandermeulen
- Neuroscience Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Ivana Geric
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Laura Fumagalli
- MIND Lab, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mohamed Kreir
- Preclinical Development & Safety, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Ashley Lu
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Annelies Nonneman
- Neuroscience Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Jessie Premereur
- MIND Lab, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Leen Wolfs
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Rafaela Policarpo
- Neuroscience Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Nicola Fattorelli
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - An De Bondt
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Ilse Van Den Wyngaert
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Bob Asselbergh
- Neuromics Support Facility, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Neuromics Support Facility, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mark Fiers
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | - Constantin d'Ydewalle
- Neuroscience Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340, Beerse, Belgium.
| | - Renzo Mancuso
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
- MIND Lab, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Potru PS, Vidovic N, Wiemann S, Russ T, Trautmann M, Spittau B. A Custom Panel for Profiling Microglia Gene Expression. Cells 2024; 13:630. [PMID: 38607069 PMCID: PMC11012202 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite being immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), microglia contribute to CNS development, maturation, and homeostasis, and microglia dysfunction has been implicated in several neurological disorders. Recent advancements in single-cell studies have uncovered unique microglia-specific gene expression. However, there is a need for a simple yet elegant multiplexed approach to quantifying microglia gene expression. To address this, we have designed a NanoString nCounter technology-based murine microglia-specific custom codeset comprising 178 genes. We analyzed RNA extracted from ex vivo adult mouse microglia, primary mouse microglia, the BV2 microglia cell line, and mouse bone marrow monocytes using our custom panel. Our findings reveal a pattern where homeostatic genes exhibit heightened expression in adult microglia, followed by primary cells, and are absent in BV2 cells, while reactive markers are elevated in primary microglia and BV2 cells. Analysis of publicly available data sets for the genes present in the panel revealed that the panel could reliably reflect the changes in microglia gene expression in response to various factors. These findings highlight that the microglia panel used offers a swift and cost-effective means to assess microglial cells and can be used to study them in varying contexts, ranging from normal homeostasis to disease models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phani Sankar Potru
- Bielefeld University, Medical School OWL, Anatomy and Cell Biology, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (P.S.P.); (N.V.); (S.W.); (T.R.)
| | - Natascha Vidovic
- Bielefeld University, Medical School OWL, Anatomy and Cell Biology, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (P.S.P.); (N.V.); (S.W.); (T.R.)
| | - Susanne Wiemann
- Bielefeld University, Medical School OWL, Anatomy and Cell Biology, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (P.S.P.); (N.V.); (S.W.); (T.R.)
| | - Tamara Russ
- Bielefeld University, Medical School OWL, Anatomy and Cell Biology, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (P.S.P.); (N.V.); (S.W.); (T.R.)
| | - Marcel Trautmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Björn Spittau
- Bielefeld University, Medical School OWL, Anatomy and Cell Biology, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (P.S.P.); (N.V.); (S.W.); (T.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cai Y, Chen T, Cai Y, Liu J, Yu B, Fan Y, Su J, Zeng Y, Xiao X, Ren L, Tang Y. Surface protein profiling and subtyping of extracellular vesicles in body fluids reveals non-CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. J Extracell Vesicles 2024; 13:e12432. [PMID: 38602321 PMCID: PMC11007802 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12432] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive and effortless diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains challenging. Here we report the multiplexed profiling of extracellular vesicle (EV) surface proteins at the single EV level in five types of easily accessible body fluids using a proximity barcoding assay (PBA). A total of 183 surface proteins were detected on the EVs from body fluids collected from APP/PS1 transgenic mice and patients with AD. The AD-associated differentially expressed EV proteins could discriminate between the control and AD/AD model samples with high accuracy. Based on machine learning predictive models, urinary EV proteins exhibited the highest diagnostic potential compared to those on other biofluid EVs, both in mice and humans. Single EV analysis further revealed AD-associated EV subpopulations in the tested body fluids, and a urinary EV subpopulation with the signature proteins PLAU, ITGAX and ANXA1 could diagnose patients with AD in blinded datasets with 88% accuracy. Our results suggest that EVs and their subpopulations from noninvasive body fluids, particularly urine, are potential diagnostic biomarkers for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- You Cai
- Department of GeriatricsShenzhen Institute of Translational MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systemic Aging and InterventionHealth Science CenterShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Yanling Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Tumor, Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityShenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Jiabang Liu
- Department of GeriatricsShenzhen Institute of Translational MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systemic Aging and InterventionHealth Science CenterShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Bin Yu
- Department of GeriatricsShenzhen Institute of Translational MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systemic Aging and InterventionHealth Science CenterShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Yixian Fan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jun Su
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Yixuan Zeng
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Xiaohua Xiao
- Department of GeriatricsShenzhen Institute of Translational MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Lijie Ren
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Yizhe Tang
- Department of GeriatricsShenzhen Institute of Translational MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systemic Aging and InterventionHealth Science CenterShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
- Lead contact
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Funes S, Jung J, Gadd DH, Mosqueda M, Zhong J, Shankaracharya, Unger M, Stallworth K, Cameron D, Rotunno MS, Dawes P, Fowler-Magaw M, Keagle PJ, McDonough JA, Boopathy S, Sena-Esteves M, Nickerson JA, Lutz C, Skarnes WC, Lim ET, Schafer DP, Massi F, Landers JE, Bosco DA. Expression of ALS-PFN1 impairs vesicular degradation in iPSC-derived microglia. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2497. [PMID: 38509062 PMCID: PMC10954694 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46695-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: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia play a pivotal role in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying microglia dysfunction and toxicity remain to be elucidated. To investigate the effect of neurodegenerative disease-linked genes on the intrinsic properties of microglia, we studied microglia-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), termed iMGs, harboring mutations in profilin-1 (PFN1) that are causative for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS-PFN1 iMGs exhibited evidence of lipid dysmetabolism, autophagy dysregulation and deficient phagocytosis, a canonical microglia function. Mutant PFN1 also displayed enhanced binding affinity for PI3P, a critical signaling molecule involved in autophagic and endocytic processing. Our cumulative data implicate a gain-of-toxic function for mutant PFN1 within the autophagic and endo-lysosomal pathways, as administration of rapamycin rescued phagocytic dysfunction in ALS-PFN1 iMGs. These outcomes demonstrate the utility of iMGs for neurodegenerative disease research and implicate microglial vesicular degradation pathways in the pathogenesis of these disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salome Funes
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Translational Science Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan Jung
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Del Hayden Gadd
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Michelle Mosqueda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jianjun Zhong
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Shankaracharya
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Matthew Unger
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Karly Stallworth
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Debra Cameron
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Melissa S Rotunno
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Pepper Dawes
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Megan Fowler-Magaw
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Pamela J Keagle
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | | | - Sivakumar Boopathy
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Nickerson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Cathleen Lutz
- The Jackson Laboratory Center for Precision Genetics, Rare Disease Translational Center, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
| | - William C Skarnes
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Elaine T Lim
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Dorothy P Schafer
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Francesca Massi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Daryl A Bosco
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Translational Science Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jagadeesan N, Roules GC, Chandrashekar DV, Yang J, Kolluru S, Sumbria RK. Modulation of hippocampal protein expression by a brain penetrant biologic TNF-α inhibitor in the 3xTg Alzheimer's disease mice. J Transl Med 2024; 22:291. [PMID: 38500108 PMCID: PMC10946165 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05008-x] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biologic TNF-α inhibitors (bTNFIs) can block cerebral TNF-α in Alzheimer's disease (AD) if these macromolecules can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Thus, a model bTNFI, the extracellular domain of type II TNF-α receptor (TNFR), which can bind to and sequester TNF-α, was fused with a mouse transferrin receptor antibody (TfRMAb) to enable brain delivery via BBB TfR-mediated transcytosis. Previously, we found TfRMAb-TNFR to be protective in a mouse model of amyloidosis (APP/PS1) and tauopathy (PS19), and herein we investigated its effects in mice that combine both amyloidosis and tauopathy (3xTg-AD). METHODS Eight-month-old female 3xTg-AD mice were injected intraperitoneally with saline (n = 11) or TfRMAb-TNFR (3 mg/kg; n = 11) three days per week for 12 weeks. Age-matched wild-type (WT) mice (n = 9) were treated similarly with saline. Brains were processed for immunostaining and high-resolution multiplex NanoString GeoMx spatial proteomics. RESULTS We observed regional differences in proteins relevant to Aβ, tau, and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice compared with WT mice. From 64 target proteins studied using spatial proteomics, a comparison of the Aβ-plaque bearing vs. plaque-free regions in the 3xTg-AD mice yielded 39 differentially expressed proteins (DEP) largely related to neuroinflammation (39% of DEP) and Aβ and tau pathology combined (31% of DEP). Hippocampal spatial proteomics revealed that the majority of the proteins modulated by TfRMAb-TNFR in the 3xTg-AD mice were relevant to microglial function (⁓ 33%). TfRMAb-TNFR significantly reduced mature Aβ plaques and increased Aβ-associated microglia around larger Aβ deposits in the 3xTg-AD mice. Further, TfRMAb-TNFR increased mature Aβ plaque-associated microglial TREM2 in 3xTg-AD mice. CONCLUSION Overall, despite the low visual Aβ load in the 11-month-old female 3xTg-AD mice, our results highlight region-specific AD-relevant DEP in the hippocampus of these mice. Chronic TfRMAb-TNFR dosing modulated several DEP involved in AD pathology and showed a largely microglia-centric mechanism of action in the 3xTg-AD mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nataraj Jagadeesan
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - G Chuli Roules
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Devaraj V Chandrashekar
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Joshua Yang
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Sanjana Kolluru
- Rancho Cucamonga High School, 11801 Lark Dr, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91701, USA
| | - Rachita K Sumbria
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rezaie N, Rebboah E, Williams BA, Liang HY, Reese F, Balderrama-Gutierrez G, Dionne LA, Reinholdt L, Trout D, Wold BJ, Mortazavi A. Identification of robust cellular programs using reproducible LDA that impact sex-specific disease progression in different genotypes of a mouse model of AD. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.26.582178. [PMID: 38464087 PMCID: PMC10925135 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.26.582178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The gene expression profiles of distinct cell types reflect complex genomic interactions among multiple simultaneous biological processes within each cell that can be altered by disease progression as well as genetic background. The identification of these active cellular programs is an open challenge in the analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) is a generative method used to identify recurring patterns in counts data, commonly referred to as topics that can be used to interpret the state of each cell. However, LDA's interpretability is hindered by several key factors including the hyperparameter selection of the number of topics as well as the variability in topic definitions due to random initialization. We developed Topyfic, a Reproducible LDA (rLDA) package, to accurately infer the identity and activity of cellular programs in single-cell data, providing insights into the relative contributions of each program in individual cells. We apply Topyfic to brain single-cell and single-nucleus datasets of two 5xFAD mouse models of Alzheimer's disease crossed with C57BL6/J or CAST/EiJ mice to identify distinct cell types and states in different cell types such as microglia. We find that 8-month 5xFAD/Cast F1 males show higher level of microglial activation than matching 5xFAD/BL6 F1 males, whereas female mice show similar levels of microglial activation. We show that regulatory genes such as TFs, microRNA host genes, and chromatin regulatory genes alone capture cell types and cell states. Our study highlights how topic modeling with a limited vocabulary of regulatory genes can identify gene expression programs in single-cell data in order to quantify similar and divergent cell states in distinct genotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Narges Rezaie
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elisabeth Rebboah
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Brian A Williams
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Heidi Yahan Liang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Fairlie Reese
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Gabriela Balderrama-Gutierrez
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Diane Trout
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Barbara J Wold
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fan H, Zhang M, Wen J, Wang S, Yuan M, Sun H, Shu L, Yang X, Pu Y, Cai Z. Microglia in brain aging: An overview of recent basic science and clinical research developments. J Biomed Res 2024; 38:122-136. [PMID: 38403286 PMCID: PMC11001587 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.37.20220220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is characterized by progressive degeneration of tissues and organs, and it is positively associated with an increased mortality rate. The brain, as one of the most significantly affected organs, experiences age-related changes, including abnormal neuronal activity, dysfunctional calcium homeostasis, dysregulated mitochondrial function, and increased levels of reactive oxygen species. These changes collectively contribute to cognitive deterioration. Aging is also a key risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. For many years, neurodegenerative disease investigations have primarily focused on neurons, with less attention given to microglial cells. However, recently, microglial homeostasis has emerged as an important mediator in neurological disease pathogenesis. Here, we provide an overview of brain aging from the perspective of the microglia. In doing so, we present the current knowledge on the correlation between brain aging and the microglia, summarize recent progress of investigations about the microglia in normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and then discuss the correlation between the senescent microglia and the brain, which will culminate with a presentation of the molecular complexity involved in the microglia in brain aging with suggestions for healthy aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Fan
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Minheng Zhang
- Department of Gerontology, the First People's Hospital of Jinzhong, Jinzhong, Shanxi 030009, China
| | - Jie Wen
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Shengyuan Wang
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Minghao Yuan
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Houchao Sun
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Liu Shu
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Xu Yang
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Yinshuang Pu
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| | - Zhiyou Cai
- Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 400013, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chongqing 400013, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
He Z, Chen Q, Wang K, Lin J, Peng Y, Zhang J, Yan X, Jie Y. Single-cell transcriptomics analysis of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:333-357. [PMID: 38221677 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16242] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell transcriptomics analysis is an advanced technology that can describe the intracellular transcriptome in complex tissues. It profiles and analyses datasets by single-cell RNA sequencing. Neurodegenerative diseases are identified by the abnormal apoptosis of neurons in the brain with few or no effective therapy strategies at present, which has been a growing healthcare concern and brought a great burden to society. The transcriptome of individual cells provides deep insights into previously unforeseen cellular heterogeneity and gene expression differences in neurodegenerative disorders. It detects multiple cell subsets and functional changes during pathological progression, which deepens the understanding of the molecular underpinnings and cellular basis of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis of immune cells shows the regulation of immune response. Different subtypes of immune cells and their interaction are found to contribute to disease progression. This finding enables the discovery of novel targets and biomarkers for early diagnosis. In this review, we emphasize the principles of the technology, and its recent progress in the study of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. The application of single-cell transcriptomics analysis in neurodegenerative disorders would help explore the pathogenesis of these diseases and develop novel therapeutic methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziping He
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kaiyue Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiang Lin
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yilin Peng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xisheng Yan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wuhan Third Hospital & Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Jie
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Beardmore R, Durkin M, Zayee-Mellick F, Lau LC, Nicoll JAR, Holmes C, Boche D. Changes in the locus coeruleus during the course of Alzheimer's disease and their relationship to cortical pathology. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2024; 50:e12965. [PMID: 38374720 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12965] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
AIMS In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the locus coeruleus (LC) undergoes early and extensive neuronal loss, preceded by abnormal intracellular tau aggregation, decades before the onset of clinical disease. Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI has been proposed as a method to image these changes during life. Surprisingly, human post-mortem studies have not examined how changes in LC during the course of the disease relate to cerebral pathology following the loss of the LC projection to the cortex. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to examine markers for 4G8 (pan-Aβ) and AT8 (ptau), LC integrity (neuromelanin, dopamine β-hydroxylase [DβH], tyrosine hydroxylase [TH]) and microglia (Iba1, CD68, HLA-DR) in the LC and related temporal lobe pathology of 59 post-mortem brains grouped by disease severity determined by Braak stage (0-II, III-IV and V-VI). The inflammatory environment was assessed using multiplex assays. RESULTS Changes in the LC with increasing Braak stage included increased neuronal loss (p < 0.001) and microglial Iba1 (p = 0.005) together with a reduction in neuromelanin (p < 0.001), DβH (p = 0.002) and TH (p = 0.041). Interestingly in LC, increased ptau and loss of neuromelanin were detected from Braak stage III-IV (p = 0.001). At Braak stage V/VI, the inflammatory environment was different in the LC vs TL, highlighting the anatomical heterogeneity of the inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS Here, we report the first quantification of neuromelanin during the course of AD and its relationship to AD pathology and neuroinflammation in the TL. Our findings of neuromelanin loss early in AD and before the neuroinflammatory reaction support the use of neuromelanin-MRI as a sensitive technique to identify early changes in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beardmore
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Moorgreen Hospital, Southern Health Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Matthew Durkin
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Faizan Zayee-Mellick
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Laurie C Lau
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - James A R Nicoll
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Clive Holmes
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Moorgreen Hospital, Southern Health Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Stoll AC, Kemp CJ, Patterson JR, Howe JW, Steece-Collier K, Luk KC, Sortwell CE, Benskey MJ. Neuroinflammatory gene expression profiles of reactive glia in the substantia nigra suggest a multidimensional immune response to alpha synuclein inclusions. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 191:106411. [PMID: 38228253 PMCID: PMC10869642 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106411] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology is characterized by alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates, degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and neuroinflammation. The presence of reactive glia correlates with deposition of pathological α-syn in early-stage PD. Thus, understanding the neuroinflammatory response of microglia and astrocytes to synucleinopathy may identify therapeutic targets. Here we characterized the neuroinflammatory gene expression profile of reactive microglia and astrocytes in the SNpc during early synucleinopathy in the rat α-syn pre-formed fibril (PFF) model. Rats received intrastriatal injection of α-syn PFFs and expression of immune genes was quantified with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), after which fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to localize gene expression to microglia or astrocytes in the SNpc. Genes previously associated with reactive microglia (Cd74, C1qa, Stat1, Axl, Casp1, Il18, Lyz2) and reactive astrocytes (C3, Gbp2, Serping1) were significantly upregulated in the SN of PFF injected rats. Localization of gene expression to SNpc microglia near α-syn aggregates identified a unique α-syn aggregate microglial gene expression profile characterized by upregulation of Cd74, Cxcl10, Rt-1a2, Grn, Csf1r, Tyrobp, C3, C1qa, Serping1 and Fcer1g. Importantly, significant microglial upregulation of Cd74 and C3 were only observed following injection of α-syn PFFs, not α-syn monomer, confirming specificity to α-syn aggregation. Serping1 expression also localized to astrocytes in the SNpc. Interestingly, C3 expression in the SNpc localized to microglia at 2- and 4-months post-PFF, but to astrocytes at 6-months post-PFF. We also observed expression of Rt1-a2 and Cxcl10 in SNpc dopamine neurons. Cumulatively our results identify a dynamic, yet reproducible gene expression profile of reactive microglia and astrocytes associated with early synucleinopathy in the rat SNpc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Stoll
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Christopher J Kemp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Joseph R Patterson
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jacob W Howe
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Kathy Steece-Collier
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Kelvin C Luk
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Caryl E Sortwell
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Matthew J Benskey
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Liu Y, Tan Y, Zhang Z, Yi M, Zhu L, Peng W. The interaction between ageing and Alzheimer's disease: insights from the hallmarks of ageing. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:7. [PMID: 38254235 PMCID: PMC10804662 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00397-x] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Ageing is a crucial risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is characterised by systemic changes in both intracellular and extracellular microenvironments that affect the entire body instead of a single organ. Understanding the specific mechanisms underlying the role of ageing in disease development can facilitate the treatment of ageing-related diseases, such as AD. Signs of brain ageing have been observed in both AD patients and animal models. Alleviating the pathological changes caused by brain ageing can dramatically ameliorate the amyloid beta- and tau-induced neuropathological and memory impairments, indicating that ageing plays a crucial role in the pathophysiological process of AD. In this review, we summarize the impact of several age-related factors on AD and propose that preventing pathological changes caused by brain ageing is a promising strategy for improving cognitive health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yejun Tan
- School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Zheyu Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Yi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Lemei Zhu
- Academician Workstation, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, 410219, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijun Peng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Liu Y. Alzheimer's disease, aging, and cannabidiol treatment: a promising path to promote brain health and delay aging. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:121. [PMID: 38227160 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09162-1] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline. Aging is one of the risk factors for AD. Although the mechanisms underlying aging and the incidence rate of AD are unclear, aging and AD share some hallmarks, such as oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa, has recently emerged as a potential candidate for delaying aging and a valuable therapeutic tool for the treatment of aging-related neurodegenerative diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties. This article reviews the relevant literature on AD, CBD treatment for AD, cellular senescence, aging, and CBD treatment for aging in recent years. By analyzing these published data, we attempt to explore the complex correlation between cellular senescence, aging, and Alzheimer's disease, clarify the positive feedback effect between the senescence of neurocytes and Alzheimer's disease, and summarize the role and possible molecular mechanisms of CBD in preventing aging and treating AD. These data may provide new ideas on how to effectively prevent and delay aging, and develop effective treatment strategies for age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Qingdao Huanghai University, Qingdao, 266427, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kent SA, Miron VE. Microglia regulation of central nervous system myelin health and regeneration. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:49-63. [PMID: 37452201 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00907-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are resident macrophages of the central nervous system that have key functions in its development, homeostasis and response to damage and infection. Although microglia have been increasingly implicated in contributing to the pathology that underpins neurological dysfunction and disease, they also have crucial roles in neurological homeostasis and regeneration. This includes regulation of the maintenance and regeneration of myelin, the membrane that surrounds neuronal axons, which is required for axonal health and function. Myelin is damaged with normal ageing and in several neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer disease. Given the lack of approved therapies targeting myelin maintenance or regeneration, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms by which microglia support and restore myelin health to identify potential therapeutic approaches. However, the mechanisms by which microglia regulate myelin loss or integrity are still being uncovered. In this Review, we discuss recent work that reveals the changes in white matter with ageing and neurodegenerative disease, how this relates to microglia dynamics during myelin damage and regeneration, and factors that influence the regenerative functions of microglia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Kent
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Veronique E Miron
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Centre, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chen Z, Ford K, Islam M, Iamsawat S, Davis B, Weiss C, Schwulst S. ANTI-CD49D ANTIBODY TREATMENT IMPROVES SURVIVAL AND ATTENUATES NEUROCOGNITIVE DEFICITS AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN AGED MICE. Shock 2024; 61:112-119. [PMID: 38010092 PMCID: PMC10841910 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000002256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Patients 65 years and older account for an increasing proportion of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Aged TBI patients experience increased morbidity and mortality compared with young TBI patients. We previously demonstrated a marked accumulation of CD8 + T-cells within the brains of aged TBI mice compared with young TBI mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that blocking peripheral T-cell infiltration into the injured brain would improve neurocognitive outcomes in aged mice after TBI. Young and aged male C57BL/6 mice underwent TBI via controlled cortical impact versus sham injury. Two hours after injuries, mice received an anti-CD49d antibody (aCD49d Ab) to block peripheral lymphocyte infiltration or its isotype control. Dosing was repeated every 2 weeks. Mortality was tracked. Neurocognitive testing for anxiety, associative learning, and memory was assessed. Motor function was evaluated. Plasma was collected for cytokine analysis. Flow cytometry was used to phenotype different immune cells within the brains. Consequently, aCD49d Ab treatment significantly improved post-TBI survival, anxiety level, associative learning, memory, and motor function in aged mice 2 months after TBI compared with isotype control treated mice. aCD49d Ab treatment augmented T H 2 response in the plasma of aged mice 2 months after TBI compared with isotype control-treated mice. Notably, aCD49d Ab treatment significantly reduced activated CD8 + cytotoxic T-cells within aged mouse brains after TBI. Contrastingly, no difference was detected in young mice after aCD49d Ab treatment. Collectively, aCD49 Ab treatment reduced T-cells in the injured brain, improved survival, and attenuated neurocognitive and gait deficits. Hence, aCD49d Ab may be a promising therapeutic intervention in aged TBI subjects-a population often excluded in TBI clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhangying Chen
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical
Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL, USA
- Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences, Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Kacie Ford
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical
Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Mecca Islam
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical
Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Supinya Iamsawat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Booker Davis
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical
Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Craig Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine,
Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Steven Schwulst
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical
Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Jin LW, Di Lucente J, Ruiz Mendiola U, Suthprasertporn N, Tomilov A, Cortopassi G, Kim K, Ramsey JJ, Maezawa I. The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate shifts microglial metabolism and suppresses amyloid-β oligomer-induced inflammation in human microglia. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23261. [PMID: 37878335 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301254r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Fatty acids are metabolized by β-oxidation within the "mitochondrial ketogenic pathway" (MKP) to generate β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone body. BHB can be generated by most cells but largely by hepatocytes following exercise, fasting, or ketogenic diet consumption. BHB has been shown to modulate systemic and brain inflammation; however, its direct effects on microglia have been little studied. We investigated the impact of BHB on Aβ oligomer (AβO)-stimulated human iPS-derived microglia (hiMG), a model relevant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). HiMG responded to AβO with proinflammatory activation, which was mitigated by BHB at physiological concentrations of 0.1-2 mM. AβO stimulated glycolytic transcripts, suppressed genes in the β-oxidation pathway, and induced over-expression of AD-relevant p46Shc, an endogenous inhibitor of thiolase, actions that are expected to suppress MKP. AβO also triggered mitochondrial Ca2+ increase, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, and activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. BHB potently ameliorated all the above mitochondrial changes and rectified the MKP, resulting in reduced inflammasome activation and recovery of the phagocytotic function impaired by AβO. These results indicate that microglia MKP can be induced to modulate microglia immunometabolism, and that BHB can remedy "keto-deficiency" resulting from MKP suppression and shift microglia away from proinflammatory mitochondrial metabolism. These effects of BHB may contribute to the beneficial effects of ketogenic diet intervention in aged mice and in human subjects with mild AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lee-Way Jin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jacopo Di Lucente
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Ulises Ruiz Mendiola
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Nopparat Suthprasertporn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Alexey Tomilov
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Gino Cortopassi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kyoungmi Kim
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jon J Ramsey
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Izumi Maezawa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
De Picker LJ, Morrens M, Branchi I, Haarman BCM, Terada T, Kang MS, Boche D, Tremblay ME, Leroy C, Bottlaender M, Ottoy J. TSPO PET brain inflammation imaging: A transdiagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis of 156 case-control studies. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:415-431. [PMID: 37543251 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is increasingly recognized as a molecular target for PET imaging of inflammatory responses in various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, the reported sensitivity and specificity of TSPO PET to identify brain inflammatory processes appears to vary greatly across disorders, disease stages, and applied quantification methods. To advance TSPO PET as a potential biomarker to evaluate brain inflammation and anti-inflammatory therapies, a better understanding of its applicability across disorders is needed. We conducted a transdiagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis of all in vivo human TSPO PET imaging case-control studies in the CNS. Specifically, we investigated the direction, strength, and heterogeneity associated with the TSPO PET signal across disorders in pre-specified brain regions, and explored the demographic and methodological sources of heterogeneity. METHODS We searched for English peer-reviewed articles that reported in vivo human case-control TSPO PET differences. We extracted the demographic details, TSPO PET outcomes, and technical variables of the PET procedure. A random-effects meta-analysis was applied to estimate case-control standardized mean differences (SMD) of the TSPO PET signal in the lobar/whole-brain cortical grey matter (cGM), thalamus, and cortico-limbic circuitry between different illness categories. Heterogeneity was evaluated with the I2 statistic and explored using subgroup and meta-regression analyses for radioligand generation, PET quantification method, age, sex, and publication year. Significance was set at the False Discovery Rate (FDR)-corrected P < 0.05. RESULTS 156 individual case-control studies were included in the systematic review, incorporating data for 2381 healthy controls and 2626 patients. 139 studies documented meta-analysable data and were grouped into 11 illness categories. Across all the illness categories, we observed a significantly higher TSPO PET signal in cases compared to controls for the cGM (n = 121 studies, SMD = 0.358, PFDR < 0.001, I2 = 68%), with a significant difference between the illness categories (P = 0.004). cGM increases were only significant for Alzheimer's disease (SMD = 0.693, PFDR < 0.001, I2 = 64%) and other neurodegenerative disorders (SMD = 0.929, PFDR < 0.001, I2 = 73%). Cortico-limbic increases (n = 97 studies, SMD = 0.541, P < 0.001, I2 = 67%) were most prominent for Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, other neurodegenerative disorders, mood disorders and multiple sclerosis. Thalamic involvement (n = 79 studies, SMD = 0.393, P < 0.001, I2 = 71%) was observed for Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain and functional disorders (all PFDR < 0.05). Main outcomes for systemic immunological disorders, viral infections, substance use disorders, schizophrenia and traumatic brain injury were not significant. We identified multiple sources of between-study variance to the TSPO PET signal including a strong transdiagnostic effect of the quantification method (explaining 25% of between-study variance; VT-based SMD = 0.000 versus reference tissue-based studies SMD = 0.630; F = 20.49, df = 1;103, P < 0.001), patient age (9% of variance), and radioligand generation (5% of variance). CONCLUSION This study is the first overarching transdiagnostic meta-analysis of case-control TSPO PET findings in humans across several brain regions. We observed robust increases in the TSPO signal for specific types of disorders, which were widespread or focal depending on illness category. We also found a large and transdiagnostic horizontal (positive) shift of the effect estimates of reference tissue-based compared to VT-based studies. Our results can support future studies to optimize experimental design and power calculations, by taking into account the type of disorder, brain region-of-interest, radioligand, and quantification method.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Livia J De Picker
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Scientific Initiative of Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Centre Campus Duffel, Duffel, Belgium.
| | - Manuel Morrens
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Scientific Initiative of Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Centre Campus Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
| | - Igor Branchi
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Bartholomeus C M Haarman
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tatsuhiro Terada
- Department of Biofunctional Imaging, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Min Su Kang
- LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Unit, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
| | - Marie-Eve Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, BC, Canada; Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Claire Leroy
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CNRS, CEA, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale Multimodale Paris-Saclay (BioMaps), Orsay, France
| | - Michel Bottlaender
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CNRS, CEA, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale Multimodale Paris-Saclay (BioMaps), Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, UNIACT, Neurospin, CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Julie Ottoy
- LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Unit, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Li X, Li Y, Jin Y, Zhang Y, Wu J, Xu Z, Huang Y, Cai L, Gao S, Liu T, Zeng F, Wang Y, Wang W, Yuan TF, Tian H, Shu Y, Guo F, Lu W, Mao Y, Mei X, Rao Y, Peng B. Transcriptional and epigenetic decoding of the microglial aging process. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:1288-1311. [PMID: 37697166 PMCID: PMC10570141 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00479-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
As important immune cells, microglia undergo a series of alterations during aging that increase the susceptibility to brain dysfunctions. However, the longitudinal characteristics of microglia remain poorly understood. In this study, we mapped the transcriptional and epigenetic profiles of microglia from 3- to 24-month-old mice. We first discovered unexpected sex differences and identified age-dependent microglia (ADEM) genes during the aging process. We then compared the features of aging and reactivity in female microglia at single-cell resolution and epigenetic level. To dissect functions of aged microglia excluding the influence from other aged brain cells, we established an accelerated microglial turnover model without directly affecting other brain cells. By this model, we achieved aged-like microglia in non-aged brains and confirmed that aged-like microglia per se contribute to cognitive decline. Collectively, our work provides a comprehensive resource for decoding the aging process of microglia, shedding light on how microglia maintain brain functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxin Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxiao Jin
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Department of Laboratory Animal Science, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuheng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingchuan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Xu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yubin Huang
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Taohui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanzhuo Zeng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ti-Fei Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hengli Tian
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yousheng Shu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feifan Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xifan Mei
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Yanxia Rao
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Department of Laboratory Animal Science, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bo Peng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neurodegeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Schartz ND, Liang HY, Carvalho K, Chu SH, Mendoza-Arvilla A, Petrisko TJ, Gomez-Arboledas A, Mortazavi A, Tenner AJ. C5aR1 antagonism suppresses inflammatory glial gene expression and alters cellular signaling in an aggressive Alzheimer's model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.22.554306. [PMID: 37662399 PMCID: PMC10473603 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.22.554306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, and the need for effective, sustainable therapeutic targets is imperative. Pharmacologic inhibition of C5aR1 reduces plaque load, gliosis and memory deficits in animal models. However, the cellular basis underlying this neuroprotection and which processes were the consequence of amyloid reduction vs alteration of the response to amyloid were unclear. In the Arctic model, the C5aR1 antagonist PMX205 did not reduce plaque load, but deficits in short-term memory in female mice were prevented. Hippocampal single cell and single nucleus RNA-seq clusters revealed C5aR1 dependent and independent gene expression and cell-cell communication. Microglial clusters containing neurotoxic disease-associated microglial genes were robustly upregulated in Arctic mice and drastically reduced with PMX205 treatment, while genes in microglia clusters that were overrepresented in the Arctic-PMX205 vs Arctic group were associated with synapse organization and transmission and learning. PMX205 treatment also reduced some A-1 astrocyte genes. In spite of changes in transcript levels, overall protein levels of some reactive glial markers were relatively unchanged by C5aR1 antagonism, as were clusters associated with protective responses to injury. C5aR1 inhibition promoted signaling pathways associated with cell growth and repair, such as TGFβ and FGF, in Arctic mice, while suppressing inflammatory pathways including PROS, Pecam1, and EPHA. In conclusion, pharmacologic C5aR1 inhibition prevents cognitive loss, limits microglial polarization to a detrimental inflammatory state and permits neuroprotective responses, as well as leaving protective functions of complement intact, making C5aR1 antagonism an attractive therapeutic strategy for individuals with AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D. Schartz
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Heidi Y. Liang
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Klebea Carvalho
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Shu-Hui Chu
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Adrian Mendoza-Arvilla
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Tiffany J. Petrisko
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Angela Gomez-Arboledas
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Andrea J. Tenner
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Donato L, Mordà D, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, D'Angelo R, Sidoti A. How Many Alzheimer-Perusini's Atypical Forms Do We Still Have to Discover? Biomedicines 2023; 11:2035. [PMID: 37509674 PMCID: PMC10377159 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer-Perusini's (AD) disease represents the most spread dementia around the world and constitutes a serious problem for public health. It was first described by the two physicians from whom it took its name. Nowadays, we have extensively expanded our knowledge about this disease. Starting from a merely clinical and histopathologic description, we have now reached better molecular comprehension. For instance, we passed from an old conceptualization of the disease based on plaques and tangles to a more modern vision of mixed proteinopathy in a one-to-one relationship with an alteration of specific glial and neuronal phenotypes. However, no disease-modifying therapies are yet available. It is likely that the only way to find a few "magic bullets" is to deepen this aspect more and more until we are able to draw up specific molecular profiles for single AD cases. This review reports the most recent classifications of AD atypical variants in order to summarize all the clinical evidence using several discrimina (for example, post mortem neurofibrillary tangle density, cerebral atrophy, or FDG-PET studies). The better defined four atypical forms are posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (LvPPA), behavioral/dysexecutive variant and AD with corticobasal degeneration (CBS). Moreover, we discuss the usefulness of such classifications before outlining the molecular-genetic aspects focusing on microglial activity or, more generally, immune system control of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Domenico Mordà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosalia D'Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bedolla A, Wegman E, Weed M, Paranjpe A, Alkhimovitch A, Ifergan I, McClain L, Luo Y. Microglia-derived TGF-β1 ligand maintains microglia homeostasis via autocrine mechanism and is critical for normal cognitive function in adult mouse brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.05.547814. [PMID: 37461569 PMCID: PMC10349967 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.05.547814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
While TGF-β signaling is essential for microglial function, the cellular source of TGF-β ligand and its spatial regulation remains unclear in the adult CNS. Our data support that microglia, not astrocytes or neurons, are the primary producers of TGF-β1 ligands needed for microglial homeostasis. Microglia (MG)-Tgfb1 inducible knockout (iKO) leads to the activation of microglia featuring a dyshomeostatic transcriptomic profile that resembles disease-associated microglia (DAMs), injury-associated microglia, and aged microglia, suggesting that microglial self-produced TGF-β1 ligands are important in the adult CNS. Interestingly, astrocytes in MG-Tgfb1 iKO mice show a transcriptome profile that closely aligns with A1-like astrocytes. Additionally, using sparse mosaic single-cell microglia iKO of TGF-β1 ligand, we established an autocrine mechanism for TGF-β signaling. Importantly MG-Tgfb1 iKO mice show cognitive deficits, supporting that precise spatial regulation of TGF-β1 ligand derived from microglia is critical for the maintenance of brain homeostasis and normal cognitive function in the adult brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Bedolla
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Elliot Wegman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Max Weed
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Aditi Paranjpe
- Information Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Anastasia Alkhimovitch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Igal Ifergan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Lucas McClain
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Fominykh V, Shadrin AA, Jaholkowski PP, Bahrami S, Athanasiu L, Wightman DP, Uffelmann E, Posthuma D, Selbæk G, Dale AM, Djurovic S, Frei O, Andreassen OA. Shared genetic loci between Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis: Crossroads between neurodegeneration and immune system. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106174. [PMID: 37286172 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroinflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including immune-linked genetic variants and molecular pathways, microglia and astrocytes. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease with genetic and environmental risk factors and neuropathological features. There are clinical and pathobiological similarities between AD and MS. Here, we investigated shared genetic susceptibility between AD and MS to identify putative pathological mechanisms shared between neurodegeneration and the immune system. METHODS We analysed GWAS data for late-onset AD (N cases = 64,549, N controls = 634,442) and MS (N cases = 14,802, N controls = 26,703). Gaussian causal mixture modelling (MiXeR) was applied to characterise the genetic architecture and overlap between AD and MS. Local genetic correlation was investigated with Local Analysis of [co]Variant Association (LAVA). The conjunctional false discovery rate (conjFDR) framework was used to identify the specific shared genetic loci, for which functional annotation was conducted with FUMA and Open Targets. RESULTS MiXeR analysis showed comparable polygenicities for AD and MS (approximately 1800 trait-influencing variants) and genetic overlap with 20% of shared trait-influencing variants despite negligible genetic correlation (rg = 0.03), suggesting mixed directions of genetic effects across shared variants. conjFDR analysis identified 16 shared genetic loci, with 8 having concordant direction of effects in AD and MS. Annotated genes in shared loci were enriched in molecular signalling pathways involved in inflammation and the structural organisation of neurons. CONCLUSIONS Despite low global genetic correlation, the current results provide evidence for polygenic overlap between AD and MS. The shared loci between AD and MS were enriched in pathways involved in inflammation and neurodegeneration, highlighting new opportunities for future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vera Fominykh
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Alexey A Shadrin
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Piotr P Jaholkowski
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Shahram Bahrami
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lavinia Athanasiu
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Douglas P Wightman
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Centre for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Emil Uffelmann
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Centre for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Danielle Posthuma
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Centre for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychology, Section Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Geir Selbæk
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Vestfold Hospital Trust, Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Tonsberg, Vestfold, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oleksandr Frei
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Informatics, Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Funes S, Gadd DH, Mosqueda M, Zhong J, Jung J, Shankaracharya, Unger M, Cameron D, Dawes P, Keagle PJ, McDonough JA, Boopathy S, Sena-Esteves M, Lutz C, Skarnes WC, Lim ET, Schafer DP, Massi F, Landers JE, Bosco DA. Expression of ALS-PFN1 impairs vesicular degradation in iPSC-derived microglia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.01.541136. [PMID: 37398081 PMCID: PMC10312575 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.01.541136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Microglia play a pivotal role in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying microglia dysfunction and toxicity remain to be fully elucidated. To investigate the effect of neurodegenerative disease-linked genes on the intrinsic properties of microglia, we studied microglia-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), termed iMGs, harboring mutations in profilin-1 (PFN1) that are causative for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS-PFN1 iMGs exhibited lipid dysmetabolism and deficits in phagocytosis, a critical microglia function. Our cumulative data implicate an effect of ALS-linked PFN1 on the autophagy pathway, including enhanced binding of mutant PFN1 to the autophagy signaling molecule PI3P, as an underlying cause of defective phagocytosis in ALS-PFN1 iMGs. Indeed, phagocytic processing was restored in ALS-PFN1 iMGs with Rapamycin, an inducer of autophagic flux. These outcomes demonstrate the utility of iMGs for neurodegenerative disease research and highlight microglia vesicular degradation pathways as potential therapeutic targets for these disorders.
Collapse
|
30
|
Kadlecova M, Freude K, Haukedal H. Complexity of Sex Differences and Their Impact on Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051261. [PMID: 37238932 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are present in brain morphology, sex hormones, aging processes and immune responses. These differences need to be considered for proper modelling of neurological diseases with clear sex differences. This is the case for Alzheimer's disease (AD), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with two-thirds of cases diagnosed in women. It is becoming clear that there is a complex interplay between the immune system, sex hormones and AD. Microglia are major players in the neuroinflammatory process occurring in AD and have been shown to be directly affected by sex hormones. However, many unanswered questions remain as the importance of including both sexes in research studies has only recently started receiving attention. In this review, we provide a summary of sex differences and their implications in AD, with a focus on microglia action. Furthermore, we discuss current available study models, including emerging complex microfluidic and 3D cellular models and their usefulness for studying hormonal effects in this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Kadlecova
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 C Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Kristine Freude
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 C Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Henriette Haukedal
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 C Frederiksberg, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Saura CA, Deprada A, Capilla-López MD, Parra-Damas A. Revealing cell vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease by single-cell transcriptomics. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 139:73-83. [PMID: 35623983 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that by affecting specific brain cell types and regions cause severe pathological and functional changes in memory neural circuits. A comprehensive knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD requires a deeper understanding of the cell-specific pathological responses through integrative molecular analyses. Recent application of high-throughput single-cell transcriptomics to postmortem tissue has proved powerful to unravel cell susceptibility and biological networks responding to amyloid and tau pathologies. Here, we review single-cell transcriptomic studies successfully applied to decipher cell-specific gene expression programs and pathways in the brain of AD patients. Transcriptional information reveals both specific and common gene signatures affecting the major cerebral cell types, including astrocytes, endothelial cells, microglia, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. Cell type-specific transcriptomes associated with AD pathology and clinical symptoms are related to common biological networks affecting, among others pathways, synaptic function, inflammation, proteostasis, cell death, oxidative stress, and myelination. The general picture that emerges from systems-level single-cell transcriptomics is a spatiotemporal pattern of cell diversity and biological pathways, and novel cell subpopulations affected in AD brain. We argue that broader implementation of cell transcriptomics in larger AD human cohorts using standardized protocols is fundamental for reliable assessment of temporal and regional cell-type gene profiling. The possibility of applying this methodology for personalized medicine in clinics is still challenging but opens new roads for future diagnosis and treatment in dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Saura
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain.
| | - Angel Deprada
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Maria Dolores Capilla-López
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Arnaldo Parra-Damas
- Institut de Neurociències, Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Inflammasome activation in traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease. Transl Res 2023; 254:1-12. [PMID: 36070840 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) represent 2 of the largest sources of death and disability in the United States. Recent studies have identified TBI as a potential risk factor for AD development, and numerous reports have shown that TBI is linked with AD associated protein expression during the acute phase of injury, suggesting an interplay between the 2 pathologies. The inflammasome is a multi-protein complex that plays a role in both TBI and AD pathologies, and is characterized by inflammatory cytokine release and pyroptotic cell death. Products of inflammasome signaling pathways activate microglia and astrocytes, which attempt to resolve pathological inflammation caused by inflammatory cytokine release and phagocytosis of cellular debris. Although the initial phase of the inflammatory response in the nervous system is beneficial, recent evidence has emerged that the heightened inflammatory response after trauma is self-perpetuating and results in additional damage in the central nervous system. Inflammasome-induced cytokines and inflammasome signaling proteins released from activated microglia interact with AD associated proteins and exacerbate AD pathological progression and cellular damage. Additionally, multiple genetic mutations associated with AD development alter microglia inflammatory activity, increasing and perpetuating inflammatory cell damage. In this review, we discuss the pathologies of TBI and AD and how they are impacted by and potentially interact through inflammasome activity and signaling proteins. We discuss current clinical trials that target the inflammasome to reduce heightened inflammation associated with these disorders.
Collapse
|
33
|
Meyers EA, Sexton C, Snyder HM, Carrillo MC. Impact of Alzheimer's association support and engagement in the AD/ADRD research community through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Alzheimers Dement 2023. [PMID: 36872646 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The WHO estimates that 55 million people worldwide have dementia and this number is expected to increase to 139 million by 2050. Founded in 1980, the Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in AD/ADRD care, support and research. METHODS Alzheimer's Association-led funding opportunities and awards, conferences and other activities beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic were reviewed. RESULTS The Association remains committed to funding, convening, leading and implementing research studies that accelerate the global effort to eliminate Alzheimer's and all other dementia. DISCUSSION This manuscript describes funding, convening and other global initiatives, influenced in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, to strengthen and drive research forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Meyers
- Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Claire Sexton
- Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Heather M Snyder
- Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Maria C Carrillo
- Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Kara B, Gordon MN, Gifani M, Dorrance AM, Counts SE. Vascular and Nonvascular Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:109-122. [PMID: 36404024 PMCID: PMC10062062 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Aging, familial gene mutations, and genetic, environmental, and modifiable lifestyle risk factors predispose individuals to cognitive impairment or dementia by influencing the efficacy of multiple, often interdependent cellular and molecular homeostatic pathways mediating neuronal, glial, and vascular integrity and, ultimately, cognitive status. This review summarizes data from foundational and recent breakthrough studies to highlight common and differential vascular and nonvascular pathogenic mechanisms underlying the progression of Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betul Kara
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Avenue Northwest, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Marcia N Gordon
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Avenue Northwest, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Mahsa Gifani
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Avenue Northwest, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Anne M Dorrance
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Scott E Counts
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Avenue Northwest, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, 15 Michigan Street Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Hauenstein Neurosciences Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary's Medical Center, 20 Jefferson Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Qian J, Zhang Y, Betensky RA, Hyman BT, Serrano-Pozo A. Neuropathology-Independent Association Between APOE Genotype and Cognitive Decline Rate in the Normal Aging-Early Alzheimer Continuum. Neurol Genet 2023; 9:e200055. [PMID: 36698453 PMCID: PMC9869750 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000200055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives We previously found that the APOE genotype affects the rate of cognitive decline in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia independently of its effects on AD neuropathologic changes (ADNC) and copathologies. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the APOE alleles differentially affect the rate of cognitive decline at the normal aging-early AD continuum and that this association is independent of their effects on classical ADNC and copathologies. Methods We analyzed APOE associations with the cognitive trajectories (Clinical Dementia Rating scale Sum of Boxes [CDR-SOB] and Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) of more than 1,000 individuals from a national clinicopathologic sample who had either no, mild (sparse neuritic plaques and the Braak neurofibrillary tangle [NFT] stage I/II), or intermediate (moderate neuritic plaques and the Braak NFT stage III/IV) ADNC levels at autopsy via 2 latent classes reverse-time longitudinal modeling. Results Carrying the APOEε4 allele was associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline by both CDR-SOB and MMSE relative to APOEε3 homozygotes. This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for ADNC severity, comorbid pathologies, and the effects of ADNC on the slope of cognitive decline. Our modeling strategy identified 2 latent classes in which APOEε4 carriers declined faster than APOEε3 homozygotes, with latent class 1 members representing slow decliners (CDR-SOB: 76.7% of individuals, 0.195 vs 0.146 points/y in APOEε4 vs APOEε3/ε3; MMSE: 88.6% of individuals, -0.303 vs -0.153 points/y in APOEε4 vs APOEε3/ε3), whereas latent class 2 members were fast decliners (CDR-SOB: 23.3% of participants, 1.536 vs 1.487 points/y in APOEε4 vs APOEε3/ε3; MMSE: 11.4% of participants, -2.538 vs -2.387 points/y in APOEε4 vs APOEε3/ε3). Compared with slow decliners, fast decliners were more likely to carry the APOEε4 allele, younger at initial visit and death, more impaired at initial and last visits, and more likely to have intermediate (vs none or mild) ADNC levels, as well as concurrent Lewy bodies and hippocampal sclerosis at autopsy. Discussion In a large national sample selected to represent the normal aging-early AD continuum, the APOEε4 allele is associated with a modest but statistically significant acceleration of the cognitive decline rate even after controlling for its effects on ADNC and comorbid pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qian
- University of Massachusetts School of Public Health & Health Sciences (J.Q., Y.Z.), Amherst; Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center (J.Q.), Boston; New York University School of Global Public Health (R.A.B.); New York University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (R.A.B.); Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Department (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston; Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Charlestown; and Harvard Medical School (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston, MA
| | - Yiding Zhang
- University of Massachusetts School of Public Health & Health Sciences (J.Q., Y.Z.), Amherst; Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center (J.Q.), Boston; New York University School of Global Public Health (R.A.B.); New York University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (R.A.B.); Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Department (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston; Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Charlestown; and Harvard Medical School (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston, MA
| | - Rebecca A Betensky
- University of Massachusetts School of Public Health & Health Sciences (J.Q., Y.Z.), Amherst; Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center (J.Q.), Boston; New York University School of Global Public Health (R.A.B.); New York University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (R.A.B.); Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Department (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston; Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Charlestown; and Harvard Medical School (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston, MA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- University of Massachusetts School of Public Health & Health Sciences (J.Q., Y.Z.), Amherst; Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center (J.Q.), Boston; New York University School of Global Public Health (R.A.B.); New York University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (R.A.B.); Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Department (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston; Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Charlestown; and Harvard Medical School (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston, MA
| | - Alberto Serrano-Pozo
- University of Massachusetts School of Public Health & Health Sciences (J.Q., Y.Z.), Amherst; Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center (J.Q.), Boston; New York University School of Global Public Health (R.A.B.); New York University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (R.A.B.); Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Department (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston; Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Charlestown; and Harvard Medical School (B.T.H., A.S.-P.), Boston, MA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Maurya SK, Gupta S, Mishra R. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of microglia in maintenance of brain homeostasis and neurodegeneration. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1072046. [PMID: 36698776 PMCID: PMC9870594 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1072046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging role of microglia in brain homeostasis, neurodegeneration, and neurodevelopmental disorders has attracted considerable interest. In addition, recent developments in microglial functions and associated pathways have shed new light on their fundamental role in the immunological surveillance of the brain. Understanding the interconnections between microglia, neurons, and non-neuronal cells have opened up additional avenues for research in this evolving field. Furthermore, the study of microglia at the transcriptional and epigenetic levels has enhanced our knowledge of these native brain immune cells. Moreover, exploring various facets of microglia biology will facilitate the early detection, treatment, and management of neurological disorders. Consequently, the present review aimed to provide comprehensive insight on microglia biology and its influence on brain development, homeostasis, management of disease, and highlights microglia as potential therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shashank Kumar Maurya
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India,*Correspondence: Shashank Kumar Maurya, ;
| | - Suchi Gupta
- Tech Cell Innovations Private Limited, Centre for Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CMIE), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajnikant Mishra
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Liu G, Li T, Yang A, Zhang X, Qi S, Feng W. Knowledge domains and emerging trends of microglia research from 2002 to 2021: A bibliometric analysis and visualization study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 14:1057214. [PMID: 36688156 PMCID: PMC9849393 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1057214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Microglia have been identified for a century. In this period, their ontogeny and functions have come to light thanks to the tireless efforts of scientists. However, numerous documents are being produced, making it challenging for scholars, especially those new to the field, to understand them thoroughly. Therefore, having a reliable method for quickly grasping a field is crucial. Methods We searched and downloaded articles from the Web of Science Core Collection with "microglia" or "microglial" in the title from 2002 to 2021. Eventually, 12,813 articles were located and, using CiteSpace and VOSviewer, the fundamental data, knowledge domains, hot spots, and emerging trends, as well as the influential literature in the field of microglia research, were analyzed. Results Following 2011, microglia publications grew significantly. The two prominent journals are Glia and J Neuroinflamm. The United States and Germany dominated the microglia study. The primary research institutions are Harvard Univ and Univ Freiburg, and the leading authors are Prinz Marco and Kettenmann Helmut. The knowledge domains of microglia include eight directions, namely neuroinflammation, lipopolysaccharide, aging, neuropathic pain, macrophages, Alzheimer's disease, retina, and apoptosis. Microglial phenotype is the focus of research; while RNA-seq, exosome, and glycolysis are emerging topics, a microglial-specific marker is still a hard stone. We also identified 19 influential articles that contributed to the study of microglial origin (Mildner A 2007; Ginhoux F 2010), identity (Butovsky O 2014), homeostasis (Cardona AE 2006; Elmore MRP 2014); microglial function such as surveillance (Nimmerjahn A 2005), movement (Davalos D 2005; Haynes SE 2006), phagocytosis (Simard AR 2006), and synapse pruning (Wake H 2009; Paolicelli RC 2011; Schafer DP 2012; Parkhurst CN 2013); and microglial state/phenotype associated with disease (Keren-Shaul H 2017), as well as 5 review articles represented by Kettenmann H 2011. Conclusion Using bibliometrics, we have investigated the fundamental data, knowledge structure, and dynamic evolution of microglia research over the previous 20 years. We hope this study can provide some inspiration and a reference for researchers studying microglia in neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guangjie Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianhua Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,China International Neuroscience Institute (China-INI), Beijing, China
| | - Anming Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Songtao Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Songtao Qi, ✉
| | - Wenfeng Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Wenfeng Feng, ✉
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Emery DC, Davies M, Cerajewska TL, Taylor J, Hazell M, Paterson A, Allen-Birt SJ, West NX. High resolution 16S rRNA gene Next Generation Sequencing study of brain areas associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1026260. [PMID: 36570533 PMCID: PMC9780557 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1026260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are neurodegenerative conditions characterized by incremental deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) and α-synuclein in AD and PD brain, respectively, in relatively conserved patterns. Both are associated with neuroinflammation, with a proposed microbial component for disease initiation and/or progression. Notably, Aβ and α-synuclein have been shown to possess antimicrobial properties. There is evidence for bacterial presence within the brain, including the oral pathobiont Porphyromonas gingivalis, with cognitive impairment and brain pathology being linked to periodontal (gum) disease and gut dysbiosis. Methods Here, we use high resolution 16S rRNA PCR-based Next Generation Sequencing (16SNGS) to characterize bacterial composition in brain areas associated with the early, intermediate and late-stage of the diseases. Results and discussion This study reveals the widespread presence of bacteria in areas of the brain associated with AD and PD pathology, with distinctly different bacterial profiles in blood and brain. Brain area profiles were overall somewhat similar, predominantly oral, with some bacteria subgingival and oronasal in origin, and relatively comparable profiles in AD and PD brain. However, brain areas associated with early disease development, such as the locus coeruleus, were substantially different in bacterial DNA content compared to areas affected later in disease etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mae Hazell
- Translational Health Sciences, Learning and Research, Bristol Medical School, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Paterson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol Genomics Facility, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Shelley J. Allen-Birt
- Translational Health Sciences, Learning and Research, Bristol Medical School, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola X. West
- Bristol Dental School, Bristol, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Nicola X. West,
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Toledano-Díaz A, Álvarez MI, Toledano A. The relationships between neuroglial and neuronal changes in Alzheimer's disease, and the related controversies II: gliotherapies and multimodal therapy. J Cent Nerv Syst Dis 2022; 14:11795735221123896. [PMID: 36407561 PMCID: PMC9666878 DOI: 10.1177/11795735221123896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the original description of Alzheimer´s disease (AD), research into this condition has mainly focused on assessing the alterations to neurons associated with dementia, and those to the circuits in which they are involved. In most of the studies on human brains and in many models of AD, the glial cells accompanying these neurons undergo concomitant alterations that aggravate the course of neurodegeneration. As a result, these changes to neuroglial cells are now included in all the "pathogenic cascades" described in AD. Accordingly, astrogliosis and microgliosis, the main components of neuroinflammation, have been integrated into all the pathogenic theories of this disease, as discussed in this part of the two-part monograph that follows an accompanying article on gliopathogenesis and glioprotection. This initial reflection verified the implication of alterations to the neuroglia in AD, suggesting that these cells may also represent therapeutic targets to prevent neurodegeneration. In this second part of the monograph, we will analyze the possibilities of acting on glial cells to prevent or treat the neurodegeneration that is the hallmark of AD and other pathologies. Evidence of the potential of different pharmacological, non-pharmacological, cell and gene therapies (widely treated) to prevent or treat this disease is now forthcoming, in most cases as adjuncts to other therapies. A comprehensive AD multimodal therapy is proposed in which neuronal and neuroglial pharmacological treatments are jointly considered, as well as the use of new cell and gene therapies and non-pharmacological therapies that tend to slow down the progress of dementia.
Collapse
|
40
|
Gao C, Shen X, Tan Y, Chen S. Pathogenesis, therapeutic strategies and biomarker development based on "omics" analysis related to microglia in Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:215. [PMID: 36058959 PMCID: PMC9441025 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02580-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. Among various pathophysiological aspects, microglia are considered to play important roles in the pathogenesis of AD. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) showed that the majority of AD risk genes are highly or exclusively expressed in microglia, underscoring the critical roles of microglia in AD pathogenesis. Recently, omics technologies have greatly advanced our knowledge of microglia biology in AD. Omics approaches, including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics/lipidomics, present remarkable opportunities to delineate the underlying mechanisms, discover novel diagnostic biomarkers, monitor disease progression, and shape therapeutic strategies for diseases. In this review, we summarized research based on microglial "omics" analysis in AD, especially the recent research advances in the identification of AD-associated microglial subsets. This review reinforces the important role of microglia in AD and advances our understanding of the mechanism of microglia in AD pathogenesis. Moreover, we proposed the value of microglia-based omics in the development of therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Gao
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xin Shen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yuyan Tan
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Shengdi Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Lab for Translational Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies (SIAIS), Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
St-Pierre MK, VanderZwaag J, Loewen S, Tremblay MÈ. All roads lead to heterogeneity: The complex involvement of astrocytes and microglia in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:932572. [PMID: 36035256 PMCID: PMC9413962 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.932572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, glial cells have been acknowledged as key players in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition in which an accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular fibrillar amyloid beta is notably observed in the central nervous system. Genome-wide association studies have shown, both in microglia and astrocytes, an increase in gene variants associated with a higher risk of developing late-onset AD. Microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the brain, and astrocytes, glial cells crucial for vascular integrity and neuronal support, both agglomerate near amyloid beta plaques and dystrophic neurites where they participate in the elimination of these harmful parenchymal elements. However, their role in AD pathogenesis has been challenging to resolve due to the highly heterogeneous nature of these cell populations, i.e., their molecular, morphological, and ultrastructural diversity, together with their ever-changing responsiveness and functions throughout the pathological course of AD. With the recent expansions in the field of glial heterogeneity through innovative advances in state-of-the-art microscopy and -omics techniques, novel concepts and questions arose, notably pertaining to how the diverse microglial and astrocytic states interact with each other and with the AD hallmarks, and how their concerted efforts/actions impact the progression of the disease. In this review, we discuss the recent advances and findings on the topic of glial heterogeneity, particularly focusing on the relationships of these cells with AD hallmarks (e.g., amyloid beta plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, and dystrophic neurites) in murine models of AD pathology and post-mortem brain samples of patients with AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Jared VanderZwaag
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sophia Loewen
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Nahalka J. 1-L Transcription in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:3533-3551. [PMID: 36005139 PMCID: PMC9406503 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44080243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a very complex disease and better explanations and models are needed to understand how neurons are affected and microglia are activated. A new model of Alzheimer's disease is presented here, the β-amyloid peptide is considered an important RNA recognition/binding peptide. 1-L transcription revealed compatible sequences with AAUAAA (PAS signal) and UUUC (class III ARE rich in U) in the Aβ peptide, supporting the peptide-RNA regulatory model. When a hypothetical model of fibril selection with the prionic character of amyloid assemblies is added to the peptide-RNA regulatory model, the downregulation of the PI3K-Akt pathway and the upregulation of the PLC-IP3 pathway are well explained. The model explains why neurons are less protected from inflammation and why microglia are activated; why mitochondria are destabilized; why the autophagic flux is destabilized; and why the post-transcriptional attenuation of the axonal signal "noise" is interrupted. For example, the model suggests that Aβ peptide may post-transcriptionally control ELAVL2 (ELAV-like RNA binding protein 2) and DCP2 (decapping mRNA protein 2), which are known to regulate RNA processing, transport, and stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jozef Nahalka
- Institute of Chemistry, Centre for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, SK-84538 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Institute of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for White-Green Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, SK-94976 Nitra, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Genetically modified mice for research on human diseases: A triumph for Biotechnology or a work in progress? THE EUROBIOTECH JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/ebtj-2022-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Genetically modified mice are engineered as models for human diseases. These mouse models include inbred strains, mutants, gene knockouts, gene knockins, and ‘humanized’ mice. Each mouse model is engineered to mimic a specific disease based on a theory of the genetic basis of that disease. For example, to test the amyloid theory of Alzheimer’s disease, mice with amyloid precursor protein genes are engineered, and to test the tau theory, mice with tau genes are engineered. This paper discusses the importance of mouse models in basic research, drug discovery, and translational research, and examines the question of how to define the “best” mouse model of a disease. The critiques of animal models and the caveats in translating the results from animal models to the treatment of human disease are discussed. Since many diseases are heritable, multigenic, age-related and experience-dependent, resulting from multiple gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, it will be essential to develop mouse models that reflect these genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors from a developmental perspective. Such models would provide further insight into disease emergence, progression and the ability to model two-hit and multi-hit theories of disease. The summary examines the biotechnology for creating genetically modified mice which reflect these factors and how they might be used to discover new treatments for complex human diseases such as cancers, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
44
|
Garland EF, Hartnell IJ, Boche D. Microglia and Astrocyte Function and Communication: What Do We Know in Humans? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:824888. [PMID: 35250459 PMCID: PMC8888691 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.824888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia and astrocytes play essential roles in the central nervous system contributing to many functions including homeostasis, immune response, blood-brain barrier maintenance and synaptic support. Evidence has emerged from experimental models of glial communication that microglia and astrocytes influence and coordinate each other and their effects on the brain environment. However, due to the difference in glial cells between humans and rodents, it is essential to confirm the relevance of these findings in human brains. Here, we aim to review the current knowledge on microglia-astrocyte crosstalk in humans, exploring novel methodological techniques used in health and disease conditions. This will include an in-depth look at cell culture and iPSCs, post-mortem studies, imaging and fluid biomarkers, genetics and transcriptomic data. In this review, we will discuss the advantages and limitations of these methods, highlighting the understanding these methods have brought the field on these cells communicative abilities, and the knowledge gaps that remain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Wang H. Microglia Heterogeneity in Alzheimer's Disease: Insights From Single-Cell Technologies. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2022; 13:773590. [PMID: 35002670 PMCID: PMC8735255 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.773590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system and play critical roles in brain immunity, development, and homeostasis. The pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) triggers activation of microglia. Microglia express many AD risk genes, suggesting that their response to AD pathology can affect disease progression. Microglia have long been considered a homogenous cell population. The diversity of microglia has gained great interest in recent years due to the emergence of novel single-cell technologies, such as single-cell/nucleus RNA sequencing and single-cell mass cytometry by time-of-flight. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the diversity/heterogeneity of microglia and distinct microglia states in the brain of both AD mouse models and patients, as revealed by single-cell technologies. It also discusses the future developments for application of single-cell technologies and the integration of these technologies with functional studies to further dissect microglia biology in AD. Defining the functional correlates of distinct microglia states will shed new light on the pathological roles of microglia and might uncover new relevant therapeutic targets for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hansen Wang
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
McFarland KN, Chakrabarty P. Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease: a Key Player in the Transition Between Homeostasis and Pathogenesis. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:186-208. [PMID: 35286658 PMCID: PMC9130399 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01179-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune activation accompanies the development of proteinopathy in the brains of Alzheimer's dementia patients. Evolving from the long-held viewpoint that immune activation triggers the pathological trajectory in Alzheimer's disease, there is accumulating evidence now that microglial activation is neither pro-amyloidogenic nor just a simple reactive process to the proteinopathy. Preclinical studies highlight an interesting aspect of immunity, i.e., spurring immune system activity may be beneficial under certain circumstances. Indeed, a dynamic evolving relationship between different activation states of the immune system and its neuronal neighbors is thought to regulate overall brain organ health in both healthy aging and progression of Alzheimer's dementia. A new premise evolving from genome, transcriptome, and proteome data is that there might be at least two major phases of immune activation that accompany the pathological trajectory in Alzheimer's disease. Though activation on a chronic scale will certainly lead to neurodegeneration, this emerging knowledge of a potential beneficial aspect of immune activation allows us to form holistic insights into when, where, and how much immune system activity would need to be tuned to impact the Alzheimer's neurodegenerative cascade. Even with the trove of recently emerging -omics data from patients and preclinical models, how microglial phenotypes are functionally related to the transition of a healthy aging brain towards progressive degenerative state remains unknown. A deeper understanding of the synergism between microglial functional states and brain organ health could help us discover newer interventions and therapies that enable us to address the current paucity of disease-modifying therapies in Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen N McFarland
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Paramita Chakrabarty
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Complement as a powerful "influencer" in the brain during development, adulthood and neurological disorders. Adv Immunol 2021; 152:157-222. [PMID: 34844709 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The complement system was long considered as only a powerful effector arm of the immune system that, while critically protective, could lead to inflammation and cell death if overactivated, even in the central nervous system (CNS). However, in the past decade it has been recognized as playing critical roles in key physiological processes in the CNS, including neurogenesis and synaptic remodeling in the developing and adult brain. Inherent in these processes are the interactions with cells in the brain, and the cascade of interactions and functional consequences that ensue. As a result, investigations of therapeutic approaches for both suppressing excessive complement driven neurotoxicity and aberrant sculpting of neuronal circuits, require broad (and deep) knowledge of the functional activities of multiple components of this highly evolved and regulated system to avoid unintended negative consequences in the clinic. Advances in basic science are beginning to provide a roadmap for translation to therapeutics, with both small molecule and biologics. Here, we present examples of the critical roles of proper complement function in the development and sculpting of the nervous system, and in enabling rapid protection from infection and clearance of dying cells. Microglia are highlighted as important command centers that integrate signals from the complement system and other innate sensors that are programed to provide support and protection, but that direct detrimental responses to aberrant activation and/or regulation of the system. Finally, we present promising research areas that may lead to effective and precision strategies for complement targeted interventions to promote neurological health.
Collapse
|