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Ortiz C, Pearson A, McCartan R, Roche S, Carothers N, Browning M, Perez S, He B, Ginsberg SD, Mullan M, Mufson EJ, Crawford F, Ojo J. Overexpression of pathogenic tau in astrocytes causes a reduction in AQP4 and GLT1, an immunosuppressed phenotype and unique transcriptional responses to repetitive mild TBI without appreciable changes in tauopathy. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:130. [PMID: 38750510 PMCID: PMC11096096 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03117-4] [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: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have unveiled a robust link between exposure to repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (r-mTBI) and elevated susceptibility to develop neurodegenerative disorders, notably chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The pathogenic lesion in CTE cases is characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons around small cerebral blood vessels which can be accompanied by astrocytes that contain phosphorylated tau, the latter termed tau astrogliopathy. However, the contribution of tau astrogliopathy to the pathobiology and functional consequences of r-mTBI/CTE or whether it is merely a consequence of aging remains unclear. We addressed these pivotal questions by utilizing a mouse model harboring tau-bearing astrocytes, GFAPP301L mice, subjected to our r-mTBI paradigm. Despite the fact that r-mTBI did not exacerbate tau astrogliopathy or general tauopathy, it increased phosphorylated tau in the area underneath the impact site. Additionally, gene ontology analysis of tau-bearing astrocytes following r-mTBI revealed profound alterations in key biological processes including immunological and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Moreover, gene array analysis of microdissected astrocytes accrued from stage IV CTE human brains revealed an immunosuppressed astroglial phenotype similar to tau-bearing astrocytes in the GFAPP301L model. Additionally, hippocampal reduction of proteins involved in water transport (AQP4) and glutamate homeostasis (GLT1) was found in the mouse model of tau astrogliopathy. Collectively, these findings reveal the importance of understanding tau astrogliopathy and its role in astroglial pathobiology under normal circumstances and following r-mTBI. The identified mechanisms using this GFAPP301L model may suggest targets for therapeutic interventions in r-mTBI pathogenesis in the context of CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Ortiz
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA.
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
| | - Andrew Pearson
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bin He
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiology, and NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Fiona Crawford
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Joseph Ojo
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
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2
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Cadiz MP, Gibson KA, Todd KT, Nascari DG, Massa N, Lilley MT, Olney KC, Al-Amin MM, Jiang H, Holtzman DM, Fryer JD. Aducanumab anti-amyloid immunotherapy induces sustained microglial and immune alterations. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20231363. [PMID: 38226975 PMCID: PMC10791560 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231363] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aducanumab, an anti-amyloid immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease, efficiently reduces Aβ, though its plaque clearance mechanisms, long-term effects, and effects of discontinuation are not fully understood. We assessed the effect of aducanumab treatment and withdrawal on Aβ, neuritic dystrophy, astrocytes, and microglia in the APP/PS1 amyloid mouse model. We found that reductions in amyloid and neuritic dystrophy during acute treatment were accompanied by microglial and astrocytic activation, and microglial recruitment to plaques and adoption of an aducanumab-specific pro-phagocytic and pro-degradation transcriptomic signature, indicating a role for microglia in aducanumab-mediated Aβ clearance. Reductions in Aβ and dystrophy were sustained 15 but not 30 wk after discontinuation, and reaccumulation of plaques coincided with loss of the microglial aducanumab signature and failure of microglia to reactivate. This suggests that despite the initial benefit from treatment, microglia are unable to respond later to restrain plaque reaccumulation, making further studies on the effect of amyloid-directed immunotherapy withdrawal crucial for assessing long-term safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika P. Cadiz
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | | | - Kennedi T. Todd
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - David G. Nascari
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- MD/PhD Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Nashali Massa
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Meredith T. Lilley
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | | | - Md Mamun Al-Amin
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - David M. Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John D. Fryer
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- MD/PhD Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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Sobue A, Komine O, Yamanaka K. Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease: microglial signature and their relevance to disease. Inflamm Regen 2023; 43:26. [PMID: 37165437 PMCID: PMC10170691 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-023-00277-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, pathologically characterized by senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), resulting in neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation, defined as the activation of glial cells such as microglia and astrocytes, is observed surrounding senile plaques and affected neurons in AD. Recently conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) indicate that a large section of identified AD risk genes are involved in immune responses and are enriched in microglia. Microglia are innate immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS), which are involved in immune surveillance and maintenance of homeostasis in the CNS. Recently, a novel subpopulation of activated microglia named as disease-associated microglia (DAM), also known as activated response microglia (ARM) or microglial neurodegenerative phenotype (MGnD), was identified in AD model mice. These microglia closely associate with β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and exhibit characteristic gene expression profiles accompanied with reduced expressions of homeostatic microglial genes. However, it remains unclear whether decreased homeostatic microglia functions or increased DAM/ARM/MGnD functions correlate with the degree of neuronal loss in AD. To translate the results of rodent studies to human AD, precuneus, the brain region vulnerable to β-amyloid accumulation in preclinical AD, is of high interest, as it can provide novel insights into the mechanisms of microglia response to Aβ in early AD. In this study, we performed comparative analyses of gene expression profiles of microglia among three representative neurodegenerative mouse models and the human precunei with early AD pathology. We proceeded to evaluate the identified genes as potential therapeutic targets for AD. We believe that our findings will provide important resources to better understand the role of glial dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Sobue
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
- Medical Interactive Research and Academia Industry Collaboration Center, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Okiru Komine
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Koji Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
- Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan.
- Center for One Medicine Innovative Translational Research (COMIT), Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan.
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He DL, Fan YG, Wang ZY. Energy Crisis Links to Autophagy and Ferroptosis in Alzheimer's Disease: Current Evidence and Future Avenues. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:67-86. [PMID: 35980072 PMCID: PMC10193753 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220817140737] [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: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. The occult nature of the onset and the uncertainty of the etiology largely impede the development of therapeutic strategies for AD. Previous studies revealed that the disorder of energy metabolism in the brains of AD patients appears far earlier than the typical pathological features of AD, suggesting a tight association between energy crisis and the onset of AD. Energy crisis in the brain is known to be induced by the reductions in glucose uptake and utilization, which may be ascribed to the diminished expressions of cerebral glucose transporters (GLUTs), insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and lactate dysmetabolism. Notably, the energy sensors such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR), transcription factor EB (TFEB), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were shown to be the critical regulators of autophagy, which play important roles in regulating beta-amyloid (Aβ) metabolism, tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation, iron dynamics, as well as ferroptosis. In this study, we summarized the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in the energy dysmetabolism of AD and discussed the interplays existing between energy crisis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. In addition, we highlighted the potential network in which autophagy may serve as a bridge between energy crisis and ferroptosis in the progression of AD. A deeper understanding of the relationship between energy dysmetabolism and AD may provide new insight into developing strategies for treating AD; meanwhile, the energy crisis in the progression of AD should gain more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Long He
- Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, Health Sciences Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, Health Sciences Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Yong-Gang Fan
- Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, Health Sciences Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, Health Sciences Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Zhan-You Wang
- Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, Health Sciences Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, Health Sciences Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
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Tanglay O, Young IM, Dadario NB, Briggs RG, Fonseka RD, Dhanaraj V, Hormovas J, Lin YH, Sughrue ME. Anatomy and white-matter connections of the precuneus. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 16:574-586. [PMID: 34448064 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00529-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Advances in neuroimaging have provided an understanding of the precuneus'(PCu) involvement in functions such as visuospatial processing and cognition. While the PCu has been previously determined to be apart of a higher-order default mode network (DMN), recent studies suggest the presence of possible dissociations from this model in order to explain the diverse functions the PCu facilitates, such as in episodic memory. An improved structural model of the white-matter anatomy of the PCu can demonstrate its unique cerebral connections with adjacent regions which can provide additional clarity on its role in integrating information across higher-order cerebral networks like the DMN. Furthermore, this information can provide clinically actionable anatomic information that can support clinical decision making to improve neurologic outcomes such as during cerebral surgery. Here, we sought to derive the relationship between the precuneus and underlying major white-mater bundles by characterizing its macroscopic connectivity. Methods Structural tractography was performed on twenty healthy adult controls from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) utilizing previously demonstrated methodology. All precuneus connections were mapped in both cerebral hemispheres and inter-hemispheric differences in resultant tract volumes were compared with an unpaired, corrected Mann-Whitney U test and a laterality index (LI) was completed. Ten postmortem dissections were then performed to serve as ground truth by using a modified Klingler technique with careful preservation of relevant white matter bundles. Results The precuneus is a heterogenous cortical region with five major types of connections that were present bilaterally. (1) Short association fibers connect the gyri of the precuneus and connect the precuneus to the superior parietal lobule and the occipital cortex. (2) Four distinct parts of the cingulum bundle connect the precuneus to the frontal lobe and the temporal lobe. (3) The middle longitudinal fasciculus from the precuneus connects to the superior temporal gyrus and the dorsolateral temporal pole. (4) Parietopontine fibers travel as part of the corticopontine fibers to connect the precuneus to pontine regions. (5) An extensive commissural bundle connects the precuneus bilaterally. Conclusion We present a summary of the anatomic connections of the precuneus as part of an effort to understand the function of the precuneus and highlight key white-matter pathways to inform surgical decision-making. Our findings support recent models suggesting unique fiber connections integrating at the precuneus which may suggest finer subsystems of the DMN or unique networks, but further study is necessary to refine our model in greater quantitative detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Tanglay
- Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Suite 19, Level 7 Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | | | - Nicholas B Dadario
- Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Robert G Briggs
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - R Dineth Fonseka
- Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Suite 19, Level 7 Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Vukshitha Dhanaraj
- Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Suite 19, Level 7 Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Jorge Hormovas
- Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Suite 19, Level 7 Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Yueh-Hsin Lin
- Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Suite 19, Level 7 Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Michael E Sughrue
- Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Suite 19, Level 7 Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia.
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6
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Mahady LJ, He B, Malek-Ahmadi M, Mufson EJ. Telomeric alterations in the default mode network during the progression of Alzheimer's disease: Selective vulnerability of the precuneus. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2020; 47:428-440. [PMID: 33107640 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Although telomere length (TL) and telomere maintenance proteins (shelterins) are markers of cellular senescence and peripheral blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), little information is available on telomeric alterations during the prodromal stage (MCI) of AD. We investigated TL in the default mode network (DMN), which underlies episodic memory deficits in AD, as well as shelterin protein and mRNA levels in the precuneus (PreC). METHODS Telomere length was evaluated in DMN hubs and visual cortex using quantitative PCR (qPCR). In the PreC, western blotting and NanoString nCounter expression analyses evaluated shelterin protein and mRNA levels, respectively, in cases with an antemortem clinical diagnosis of no cognitive impairment (NCI), MCI and AD. RESULTS TL was significantly reduced in the PreC in MCI and AD compared to NCI, but stable in frontal, inferior temporal, posterior cingulate and visual cortex. PreC TL correlated significantly with performance on cognitive tests. NCI cases with high vs low Braak scores displayed significantly shorter TL in posterior cingulate and frontal cortex, which correlated significantly with neuritic and diffuse amyloid-β plaque counts. Shelterin protein levels (TIN2, TRF1, TRF2 and POT1) declined in MCI and AD compared to NCI. The PreC displayed stable expression of shelterins TERF1, TERF2, POT1, RAP1 and TPP1, while TINF2 mRNA significantly increased in AD compared to NCI. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate a selective vulnerability to telomere attrition within different nodes of the DMN in prodromal AD and in aged NCI individuals with high Braak scores highlighting a putative role in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Mahady
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Bin He
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Elliott J Mufson
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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