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Carrier M, Robert MÈ, St-Pierre MK, Ibáñez FG, Gonçalves de Andrade E, Laroche A, Picard K, Vecchiarelli HA, Savage JC, Boilard É, Desjardins M, Tremblay MÈ. Bone marrow-derived myeloid cells transiently colonize the brain during postnatal development and interact with glutamatergic synapses. iScience 2024; 27:110037. [PMID: 39021809 PMCID: PMC11253522 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the roles of embryonic yolk sac-derived, resident microglia in neurodevelopment were extensively studied, the possible involvement of bone marrow-derived cells remains elusive. In this work, we used a fate-mapping strategy to selectively label bone marrow-derived cells and their progeny in the brain (FLT3+IBA1+). FLT3+IBA1+ cells were confirmed to be transiently present in the healthy brain during early postnatal development. FLT3+IBA1+ cells have a distinct morphology index at postnatal day(P)0, P7, and P14 compared with neighboring microglia. FLT3+IBA1+ cells also express the microglial markers P2RY12 and TMEM119 and interact with VGLUT1 synapses at P14. Scanning electron microscopy indeed showed that FLT3+ cells contact and engulf pre-synaptic elements. Our findings suggest FLT3+IBA1+ cells might assist microglia in their physiological functions in the developing brain including synaptic pruning which is performed using their purinergic sensors. Our findings stimulate further investigation on the involvement of peripheral macrophages during homeostatic and pathological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaël Carrier
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Département de psychiatrie et de neurosciences, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 3E6, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Robert
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 3E6, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Fernando González Ibáñez
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 3E6, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | | | - Audrée Laroche
- Département de microbiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Katherine Picard
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 3E6, Canada
| | | | - Julie C. Savage
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Éric Boilard
- Département de microbiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Michèle Desjardins
- Department of Physics, Physical Engineering and Optics, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Oncology Division, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 3E6, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4 Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
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Bobotis BC, Halvorson T, Carrier M, Tremblay MÈ. Established and emerging techniques for the study of microglia: visualization, depletion, and fate mapping. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1317125. [PMID: 38425429 PMCID: PMC10902073 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1317125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is an essential hub for neuronal communication. As a major component of the CNS, glial cells are vital in the maintenance and regulation of neuronal network dynamics. Research on microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the CNS, has advanced considerably in recent years, and our understanding of their diverse functions continues to grow. Microglia play critical roles in the formation and regulation of neuronal synapses, myelination, responses to injury, neurogenesis, inflammation, and many other physiological processes. In parallel with advances in microglial biology, cutting-edge techniques for the characterization of microglial properties have emerged with increasing depth and precision. Labeling tools and reporter models are important for the study of microglial morphology, ultrastructure, and dynamics, but also for microglial isolation, which is required to glean key phenotypic information through single-cell transcriptomics and other emerging approaches. Strategies for selective microglial depletion and modulation can provide novel insights into microglia-targeted treatment strategies in models of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and autoimmunity. Finally, fate mapping has emerged as an important tool to answer fundamental questions about microglial biology, including their origin, migration, and proliferation throughout the lifetime of an organism. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of these established and emerging techniques, with applications to the study of microglia in development, homeostasis, and CNS pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Caroline Bobotis
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Torin Halvorson
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
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Grewal S, Gonçalves de Andrade E, Kofoed RH, Matthews PM, Aubert I, Tremblay MÈ, Morse SV. Using focused ultrasound to modulate microglial structure and function. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1290628. [PMID: 38164436 PMCID: PMC10757935 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1290628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) has the unique ability to target regions of the brain with high spatial precision, in a minimally invasive manner. Neuromodulation studies have shown that FUS can excite or inhibit neuronal activity, demonstrating its tremendous potential to improve the outcome of neurological diseases. Recent evidence has also shed light on the emerging promise that FUS has, with and without the use of intravenously injected microbubbles, in modulating the blood-brain barrier and the immune cells of the brain. As the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, microglia are at the forefront of the brain's maintenance and immune defense. Notably, microglia are highly dynamic and continuously survey the brain parenchyma by extending and retracting their processes. This surveillance activity aids microglia in performing key physiological functions required for brain activity and plasticity. In response to stressors, microglia rapidly alter their cellular and molecular profile to help facilitate a return to homeostasis. While the underlying mechanisms by which both FUS and FUS + microbubbles modify microglial structure and function remain largely unknown, several studies in adult mice have reported changes in the expression of the microglia/macrophage marker ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1, and in their phagocytosis, notably of protein aggregates, such as amyloid beta. In this review, we discuss the demonstrated and putative biological effects of FUS and FUS + microbubbles in modulating microglial activities, with an emphasis on the key cellular and molecular changes observed in vitro and in vivo across models of brain health and disease. Understanding how this innovative technology can modulate microglia paves the way for future therapeutic strategies aimed to promote beneficial physiological microglial roles, and prevent or treat maladaptive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Grewal
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Gonçalves de Andrade
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Rikke Hahn Kofoed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Center for Experimental Neuroscience-CENSE, Department of Neurosurgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul M. Matthews
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sophie V. Morse
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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St-Pierre MK, González Ibáñez F, Kroner A, Tremblay MÈ. Microglia/macrophages are ultrastructurally altered by their proximity to spinal cord injury in adult female mice. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:273. [PMID: 37990235 PMCID: PMC10664529 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02953-0] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury can cause immediate physical damage to the spinal cord and result in severe neurological deficits. The primary, mechanical tissue damage triggers a variety of secondary damage mechanisms at the injury site which significantly contribute to a larger lesion size and increased functional damage. Inflammatory mechanisms which directly involve both microglia (MG) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) play important roles in the post-injury processes, including inflammation and debris clearing. In the current study, we investigated changes in the structure and function of MG/MDM in the injured spinal cord of adult female mice, 7 days after a thoracic contusion SCI. With the use of chip mapping scanning electron microscopy, which allows to image large samples at the nanoscale, we performed an ultrastructural comparison of MG/MDM located near the lesion vs adjacent regions to provide novel insights into the mechanisms at play post-injury. We found that MG/MDM located near the lesion had more mitochondria overall, including mitochondria with and without morphological alterations, and had a higher proportion of altered mitochondria. MG/MDM near the lesion also showed an increased number of phagosomes, including phagosomes containing myelin and partiallydigested materials. MG/MDM near the injury interacted differently with the spinal cord parenchyma, as shown by their reduced number of direct contacts with synaptic elements, axon terminals and dendritic spines. In this study, we characterized the ultrastructural changes of MG/MDM in response to spinal cord tissue damage in mice, uncovering changes in phagocytic activity, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and inter-cellular interactions within the spinal cord parenchyma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Fernando González Ibáñez
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Antje Kroner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
- Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 5000 W. National Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA.
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC) and Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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González Ibáñez F, Halvorson T, Sharma K, McKee CG, Carrier M, Picard K, Vernoux N, Bisht K, Deslauriers J, Lalowski M, Tremblay MÈ. Ketogenic diet changes microglial morphology and the hippocampal lipidomic profile differently in stress susceptible versus resistant male mice upon repeated social defeat. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:383-406. [PMID: 37689276 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychological stress confers an increased risk for several diseases including psychiatric conditions. The susceptibility to psychological stress is modulated by various factors, many of them being modifiable lifestyle choices. The ketogenic diet (KD) has emerged as a dietary regime that offers positive outcomes on mood and health status. Psychological stress and elevated inflammation are common features of neuropsychiatric disorders such as certain types of major depressive disorder. KD has been attributed anti-inflammatory properties that could underlie its beneficial consequences on the brain and behavior. Microglia are the main drivers of inflammation in the central nervous system. They are known to respond to both dietary changes and psychological stress, notably by modifying their production of cytokines and relationships among the brain parenchyma. To assess the interactions between KD and the stress response, including effects on microglia, we examined adult male mice on control diet (CD) versus KD that underwent 10 days of repeated social defeat (RSD) or remained non-stressed (controls; CTRLs). Through a social interaction test, stressed mice were classified as susceptible (SUS) or resistant (RES) to RSD. The mouse population fed a KD tended to have a higher proportion of individuals classified as RES following RSD. Microglial morphology and ultrastructure were then analyzed in the ventral hippocampus CA1, a brain region known to present structural alterations as a response to psychological stress. Distinct changes in microglial soma and arborization linked to the KD, SUS and RES phenotypes were revealed. Ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy showed a clear reduction of cellular stress markers in microglia from KD fed animals. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis showed that microglial contacts with synaptic elements were reduced in the SUS compared to the RES and CTRL groups. Hippocampal lipidomic analyses lastly identified a distinct lipid profile in SUS animals compared to CTRLs. These key differences, combined with the distinct microglial responses to diet and stress, indicate that unique metabolic changes may underlie the stress susceptibility phenotypes. Altogether, our results reveal novel mechanisms by which a KD might improve the resistance to psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando González Ibáñez
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Torin Halvorson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kaushik Sharma
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Chloe Grace McKee
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Katherine Picard
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nathalie Vernoux
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kanchan Bisht
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | | | - Maciej Lalowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland; Biochemistry/Developmental Biology and HiLIFE, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
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González Ibáñez F, Halvorson T, Sharma K, McKee C, Carrier M, Picard K, Vernoux N, Bisht K, Deslauriers J, Lalowski M, Tremblay MÈ. Ketogenic diet alters microglial morphology and changes the hippocampal lipidomic profile distinctively in stress susceptible versus resistant male mice upon repeated social defeat. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.28.555135. [PMID: 37693370 PMCID: PMC10491121 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.28.555135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Psychological stress confers an increased risk for several diseases including psychiatric conditions. The susceptibility to psychological stress is modulated by various factors, many of them being modifiable lifestyle choices. The ketogenic diet (KD) has emerged as a dietary regime that offers positive outcomes on mood and health status. Psychological stress and elevated inflammation are common features of neuropsychiatric disorders such as certain types of major depressive disorder. KD has been attributed anti-inflammatory properties that could underlie its beneficial consequences on the brain and behavior. Microglia are the main drivers of inflammation in the central nervous system. They are known to respond to both dietary changes and psychological stress, notably by modifying their production of cytokines and relationships among the brain parenchyma. To assess the interactions between KD and the stress response, including effects on microglia, we examined adult male mice on control diet (CD) versus KD that underwent 10 days of repeated social defeat (RSD) or remained non-stressed (controls; CTRLs). Through a social interaction test, stressed mice were classified as susceptible (SUS) or resistant (RES) to RSD. The mouse population fed a KD tended to have a higher proportion of individuals classified as RES following RSD. Microglial morphology and ultrastructure were then analyzed in the ventral hippocampus CA1, a brain region known to present structural alterations as a response to psychological stress. Distinct changes in microglial soma and arborization linked to the KD, SUS and RES phenotypes were revealed. Ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy showed a clear reduction of cellular stress markers in microglia from KD fed animals. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis showed that microglial contacts with synaptic elements were reduced in the SUS compared to the RES and CTRL groups. Hippocampal lipidomic analyses lastly identified a distinct lipid profile in SUS animals compared to CTRLs. These key differences, combined with the distinct microglial responses to diet and stress, indicate that unique metabolic changes may underlie the stress susceptibility phenotypes. Altogether, our results reveal novel mechanisms by which a KD might improve the resistance to psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando González Ibáñez
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Torin Halvorson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kaushik Sharma
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Chloe McKee
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Katherine Picard
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Nathalie Vernoux
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Kanchan Bisht
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | | | - Maciej Lalowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
- Biochemistry/Developmental Biology, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec 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, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, BC, Canada
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St-Pierre MK, Carrier M, González Ibáñez F, Khakpour M, Wallman MJ, Parent M, Tremblay MÈ. Astrocytes display ultrastructural alterations and heterogeneity in the hippocampus of aged APP-PS1 mice and human post-mortem brain samples. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:73. [PMID: 36918925 PMCID: PMC10015698 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02752-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed increasing evidence for a crucial role played by glial cells, notably astrocytes, in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To provide novel insights into the roles of astrocytes in the pathophysiology of AD, we performed a quantitative ultrastructural characterization of their intracellular contents and parenchymal interactions in an aged mouse model of AD pathology, as aging is considered the main risk factor for developing AD. We compared 20-month-old APP-PS1 and age-matched C57BL/6J male mice, among the ventral hippocampus CA1 strata lacunosum-moleculare and radiatum, two hippocampal layers severely affected by AD pathology. Astrocytes in both layers interacted more with synaptic elements and displayed more ultrastructural markers of increased phagolysosomal activity in APP-PS1 versus C57BL6/J mice. In addition, we investigated the ultrastructural heterogeneity of astrocytes, describing in the two examined layers a dark astrocytic state that we characterized in terms of distribution, interactions with AD hallmarks, and intracellular contents. This electron-dense astrocytic state, termed dark astrocytes, was observed throughout the hippocampal parenchyma, closely associated with the vasculature, and possessed several ultrastructural markers of cellular stress. A case study exploring the hippocampal head of an aged human post-mortem brain sample also revealed the presence of a similar electron-dense, dark astrocytic state. Overall, our study provides the first ultrastructural quantitative analysis of astrocytes among the hippocampus in aged AD pathology, as well as a thorough characterization of a dark astrocytic state conserved from mouse to human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Départment de Médecine Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Fernando González Ibáñez
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Départment de Médecine Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Mohammadparsa Khakpour
- Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Wallman
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Parent
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Départment de Médecine Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada. .,Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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St-Pierre MK, Carrier M, González Ibáñez F, Šimončičová E, Wallman MJ, Vallières L, Parent M, Tremblay MÈ. Ultrastructural characterization of dark microglia during aging in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease pathology and in human post-mortem brain samples. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:235. [PMID: 36167544 PMCID: PMC9513936 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02595-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A diverse heterogeneity of microglial cells was previously described in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, including dark microglia, a state characterized by ultrastructural markers of cellular stress. To provide novel insights into the roles of dark microglia during aging in the context of AD pathology, we performed a quantitative density and ultrastructural analysis of these cells using high-throughput scanning electron microscopy in the ventral hippocampus CA1 stratum lacunosum-moleculare of 20-month-old APP-PS1 vs C57BL/6J male mice. The density of dark microglia was significantly higher in APP-PS1 vs C57BL/6J mice, with these cells accounting for nearly half of all microglia observed near amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques. This dark microglial state interacted more with dystrophic neurites compared to other APP-PS1 microglia and possessed glycogen granules, associated with a metabolic shift toward glycolysis, which provides the first ultrastructural evidence of their presence in microglia. Dark microglia were further observed in aging human post-mortem brain samples showing similar ultrastructural features as in mouse. Overall, our results provide a quantitative ultrastructural characterization of a microglial state associated with cellular stress (i.e., dark microglia) that is primarily restricted near Aβ plaques and dystrophic neurites. The presence of this microglial state in the aging human post-mortem brain is further revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Fernando González Ibáñez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Eva Šimončičová
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Wallman
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Luc Vallières
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Parent
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada. .,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada. .,Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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