1
|
Kang M, Yao Y. Oligodendrocyte-derived laminin-γ1 regulates the blood-brain barrier and CNS myelination in mice. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114123. [PMID: 38635399 PMCID: PMC11154164 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114123] [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: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Although oligodendrocytes (OLs) synthesize laminin-γ1, the most widely used γ subunit, its functional significance in the CNS remains unknown. To answer this important question, we generated a conditional knockout mouse line with laminin-γ1 deficiency in OL lineage cells (γ1-OKO). γ1-OKO mice exhibit weakness/paralysis and die by post-natal day 33. Additionally, they develop blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in the cortex and striatum. Subsequent studies reveal decreased major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2a expression and increased endothelial caveolae vesicles, but unaltered tight junction protein expression and tight junction ultrastructure, indicating a transcellular, rather than a paracellular, mechanism of BBB breakdown. Furthermore, significantly reduced OL lineage cells, OL precursor cells (OPCs), proliferating OPCs, and mature OLs are observed in γ1-OKO brains in a region-specific manner. Consistent with this finding, various defects in myelination are detected in γ1-OKO brains at biochemical and ultrastructural levels. Overall, these results highlight important roles of OL-derived laminin-γ1 in BBB maintenance and OL biology (proliferation, differentiation, and myelination).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minkyung Kang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Yao Yao
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Meadows SM, Palaguachi F, Jang MW, Licht-Murava A, Barnett D, Zimmer TS, Zhou C, McDonough SR, Orr AL, Orr AG. Hippocampal astrocytes induce sex-dimorphic effects on memory. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114278. [PMID: 38795347 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114278] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytic receptors influence cognitive function and can promote behavioral deficits in disease. These effects may vary based on variables such as biological sex, but it is not known if the effects of astrocytic receptors are dependent on sex. We leveraged in vivo gene editing and chemogenetics to examine the roles of astrocytic receptors in spatial memory and other processes. We show that reductions in metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 (mGluR3), the main astrocytic glutamate receptor in adults, impair memory in females but enhance memory in males. Similarly, increases in astrocytic mGluR3 levels have sex-dependent effects and enhance memory in females. mGluR3 manipulations also alter spatial search strategies during recall in a sex-specific manner. In addition, acute chemogenetic stimulation of Gi/o-coupled or Gs-coupled receptors in hippocampal astrocytes induces bidirectional and sex-dimorphic effects on memory. Thus, astrocytes are sex-dependent modulators of cognitive function and may promote sex differences in aging and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Meadows
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Fernando Palaguachi
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Minwoo Wendy Jang
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Avital Licht-Murava
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Daniel Barnett
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Till S Zimmer
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Constance Zhou
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Samantha R McDonough
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Adam L Orr
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Anna G Orr
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bollinger JL, Johnsamuel S, Vollmer LL, Kuhn AM, Wohleb ES. Stress-induced dysfunction of neurovascular astrocytes contributes to sex-specific behavioral deficits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.14.594147. [PMID: 38798398 PMCID: PMC11118421 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.14.594147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes form an integral component of the neurovascular unit, ensheathing brain blood vessels with projections high in aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression. These AQP4-rich projections facilitate interaction between the vascular endothelium, astrocytes, and neurons, and help stabilize vascular morphology. Studies using preclinical models of psychological stress and post-mortem tissue from patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have reported reductions in AQP4, loss of astrocytic structures, and vascular impairment in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Though compelling, the role of AQP4 in mediating stress-induced alterations in blood vessel function and behavior remains unclear. Here, we address this, alongside potential sex differences in chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) effects on astrocyte phenotype, blood-brain barrier integrity, and behavior. CUS led to pronounced shifts in stress-coping behavior and working memory deficits in male -but not female- mice. Following behavioral testing, astrocytes from the frontal cortex were isolated for gene expression analyses. We found that CUS increased various transcripts associated with blood vessel maintenance in astrocytes from males, but either had no effect on- or decreased- these genes in females. Furthermore, CUS caused a reduction in vascular-localized AQP4 and elevated extravasation of a small molecule fluorescent reporter (Dextran) in the PFC in males but not females. Studies showed that knockdown of AQP4 in the PFC in males is sufficient to disrupt astrocyte phenotype and increase behavioral susceptibility to a sub-chronic stressor. Collectively, these findings provide initial evidence that sex-specific alterations in astrocyte phenotype and neurovascular integrity in the PFC contribute to behavioral and cognitive consequences following chronic stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin L Bollinger
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Shobha Johnsamuel
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Lauren L Vollmer
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Alexander M Kuhn
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Eric S Wohleb
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Van Steenwinckel J, Bokobza C, Laforge M, Shearer IK, Miron VE, Rua R, Matta SM, Hill‐Yardin EL, Fleiss B, Gressens P. Key roles of glial cells in the encephalopathy of prematurity. Glia 2024; 72:475-503. [PMID: 37909340 PMCID: PMC10952406 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24474] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Across the globe, approximately one in 10 babies are born preterm, that is, before 37 weeks of a typical 40 weeks of gestation. Up to 50% of preterm born infants develop brain injury, encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP), that substantially increases their risk for developing lifelong defects in motor skills and domains of learning, memory, emotional regulation, and cognition. We are still severely limited in our abilities to prevent or predict preterm birth. No longer just the "support cells," we now clearly understand that during development glia are key for building a healthy brain. Glial dysfunction is a hallmark of EoP, notably, microgliosis, astrogliosis, and oligodendrocyte injury. Our knowledge of glial biology during development is exponentially expanding but hasn't developed sufficiently for development of effective neuroregenerative therapies. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge for the roles of glia in infants with EoP and its animal models, and a description of known glial-cell interactions in the context of EoP, such as the roles for border-associated macrophages. The field of perinatal medicine is relatively small but has worked passionately to improve our understanding of the etiology of EoP coupled with detailed mechanistic studies of pre-clinical and human cohorts. A primary finding from this review is that expanding our collaborations with computational biologists, working together to understand the complexity of glial subtypes, glial maturation, and the impacts of EoP in the short and long term will be key to the design of therapies that improve outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cindy Bokobza
- NeuroDiderot, INSERMUniversité Paris CitéParisFrance
| | | | - Isabelle K. Shearer
- School of Health and Biomedical SciencesSTEM College, RMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | - Veronique E. Miron
- Barlo Multiple Sclerosis CentreSt. Michael's HospitalTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of ImmunologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- College of Medicine and Veterinary MedicineThe Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Rejane Rua
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille‐Luminy (CIML), Turing Centre for Living SystemsAix‐Marseille UniversityMarseilleFrance
| | - Samantha M. Matta
- School of Health and Biomedical SciencesSTEM College, RMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | - Elisa L. Hill‐Yardin
- School of Health and Biomedical SciencesSTEM College, RMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | - Bobbi Fleiss
- NeuroDiderot, INSERMUniversité Paris CitéParisFrance
- School of Health and Biomedical SciencesSTEM College, RMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pietrobon D, Conti F. Astrocytic Na +, K + ATPases in physiology and pathophysiology. Cell Calcium 2024; 118:102851. [PMID: 38308916 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The Na+, K+ ATPases play a fundamental role in the homeostatic functions of astrocytes. After a brief historic prologue and discussion of the subunit composition and localization of the astrocytic Na+, K+ ATPases, the review focuses on the role of the astrocytic Na+, K+ pumps in extracellular K+ and glutamate homeostasis, intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling, regulation of synaptic transmission and neurometabolic coupling between astrocytes and neurons. Loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the astrocytic α2 Na+, K+ ATPase cause a rare monogenic form of migraine with aura (familial hemiplegic migraine type 2). On the other hand, the α2 Na+, K+ ATPase is upregulated in spinal cord and brain samples from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer disease patients, respectively. In the last part, the review focuses on i) the migraine relevant phenotypes shown by familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 knock-in mice with 50 % reduced expression of the astrocytic α2 Na+, K+ ATPase and the insights into the pathophysiology of migraine obtained from these genetic mouse models, and ii) the evidence that upregulation of the astrocytic α2 Na+, K+ ATPase in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer disease promotes neuroinflammation and contributes to progressive neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Pietrobon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy.
| | - Fiorenzo Conti
- Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Center for Neurobiology of Aging, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zubillaga M, Tau J, Rosa D, Bellini MJ, Arnal N. Sex-dependent effect of sublethal copper concentrations on de novo cholesterol synthesis in astrocytes and their possible links to variations in cholesterol and amyloid precursor protein levels in neuronal membranes. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:4. [PMID: 38191520 PMCID: PMC10775608 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00578-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholesterol (Cho) is an essential lipophilic molecule in cells; however, both its decrease and its increase may favor the development of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although copper (Cu) is an essential trace metal for cells, the increased plasma concentration of its free form has been linked with AD development and severity. AD affects aged people, but its prevalence and severity are higher in women than in men. We have previously shown that Cu promotes Cho de novo synthesis in immature neurons as well as increased Cho in membrane rafts and Aβ levels in culture medium, but there are no results yet regarding sex differences in the effects of sublethal Cu exposure on Cho de novo synthesis. METHODS We examined the potential sex-specific impact of sublethal Cu concentrations on de novo Cho synthesis in primary cultures of male and female astrocytes. We also explored whether this had any correlation with variations in Cho and APP levels within neuronal membrane rafts. RESULTS Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that Cu treatment leads to a greater increase in ROS levels in female astrocytes than in males. Furthermore, through RT-PCR analysis, we observed an upregulation of SREBP-2 and HMGCR. Consistently, we observed an increase in de novo Cho synthesis. Finally, western blot analysis indicated that the levels of ABCA1 increase after Cu treatment, accompanied by a higher release of radiolabeled Cho and an elevation in Cho and APP levels in neuronal membrane rafts. Importantly, all these results were significantly more pronounced in female astrocytes than in males. CONCLUSIONS Our findings confirm that Cu stimulates Cho synthesis in astrocytes, both in a ROS-dependent and -independent manner. Moreover, female astrocytes displayed elevated levels of HMGCR, and de novo Cho synthesis compared to males following TBH and Cu treatments. This corresponds with higher levels of Cho released into the culture medium and a more significant Cho and APP rise within neuronal rafts. We consider that the increased risk of AD in females partly arises from sex-specific responses to metals and/or exogenous substances, impacting key enzyme regulation in various biochemical pathways, including HMGCR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Zubillaga
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Calle 60 y 120, CP 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Julia Tau
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Calle 60 y 120, CP 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Diana Rosa
- Laboratorio de Nutrición Mineral, Fac. Cs Veterinarias, UNLP (Universidad Nacional de La Plata), Calle 60, CP 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - M José Bellini
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología y Cognición en el Envejecimiento y Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Calle 60 y 120, CP 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Nathalie Arnal
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Calle 60 y 120, CP 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cantu A, Gutierrez MC, Dong X, Leek C, Anguera M, Lingappan K. Modulation of recovery from neonatal hyperoxic lung injury by sex as a biological variable. Redox Biol 2023; 68:102933. [PMID: 38661305 PMCID: PMC10628633 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Recovery from lung injury during the neonatal period requires the orchestration of many biological pathways. The modulation of such pathways can drive the developing lung towards proper repair or persistent maldevelopment that can lead to a disease phenotype. Sex as a biological variable can regulate these pathways differently in the male and female lung exposed to neonatal hyperoxia. In this study, we assessed the contribution of cellular diversity in the male and female neonatal lung following injury. Our objective was to investigate sex and cell-type specific transcriptional changes that drive repair or persistent injury in the neonatal lung and delineate the alterations in the immune-endothelial cell communication networks using single cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNAseq) in a murine model of hyperoxic injury. We generated transcriptional profiles of >55,000 cells isolated from the lungs of postnatal day 1 (PND 1; pre-exposure), PND 7, and PND 21neonatal male and female C57BL/6 mice exposed to 95 % FiO2 between PND 1-5 (saccular stage of lung development). We show the presence of sex-based differences in the transcriptional states of lung endothelial and immune cells at PND 1 and PND 21. Furthermore, we demonstrate that biological sex significantly influences the response to injury, with a greater number of differentially expressed genes showing sex-specific patterns than those shared between male and female lungs. Pseudotime trajectory analysis highlighted genes needed for lung development that were altered by hyperoxia. Finally, we show intercellular communication between endothelial and immune cells at saccular and alveolar stages of lung development with sex-based biases in the crosstalk and identify novel ligand-receptor pairs. Our findings provide valuable insights into the cell diversity, transcriptional state, developmental trajectory, and cell-cell communication underlying neonatal lung injury, with implications for understanding lung development and possible therapeutic interventions while highlighting the crucial role of sex as a biological variable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abiud Cantu
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Xiaoyu Dong
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Connor Leek
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Montserrat Anguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Krithika Lingappan
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rurak GM, Gahelrasoul A, Aguilar-Valles A, Salmaso N. Neonatal estrogen induces male-like expression of astroglial markers of maturation and plasticity in the neocortex of female mice. Brain Res 2023; 1818:148499. [PMID: 37499732 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Astroglia play a crucial role in various aspects of neurodevelopment including building, maintaining, and modulating neuronal circuits that underly complex behaviours in the neocortex. Telencephalic regions exhibit sex differences in neuronal networks that arise early in development. Astroglia express receptors for gonadal hormones responsible for the organization of sex differences, such as estrogen, placing them in a key position to modulate sex differences in the development of neuronal networks. Astroglial cells express specific proteins related to their morphology, function, and maturation. We have previously shown that P7-P14 is a key transition period for neocortical astroglial maturation and that males reach a mature phenotype earlier than females, at P7. In this study, we investigated whether administration of perinatal estradiol to female mice is sufficient to masculinize astroglial protein and gene expression related to maturation that we previously observed at P7. We found that canonical astroglial markers like glial fibrillary acidic protein and glutamine synthetase are not affected by perinatal estrogen, but markers of astroglial maturation, Vimentin, Aldh1a1, Dio2, and the number of actively dividing astroglia are masculinized by perinatal estradiol administration. These findings suggest that sex differences in neocortical astroglial maturation are at least in-part due to the role of perinatal estrogen. Given the higher prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in males compared to females and the involvement of astroglia in virtually all neurodevelopmental disorders, further research is needed to determine other contributions to sex differences in neocortical astroglial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G M Rurak
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - A Gahelrasoul
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - A Aguilar-Valles
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - N Salmaso
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Murphy-Royal C, Ching S, Papouin T. A conceptual framework for astrocyte function. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1848-1856. [PMID: 37857773 PMCID: PMC10990637 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01448-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The participation of astrocytes in brain computation was hypothesized in 1992, coinciding with the discovery that these cells display a form of intracellular Ca2+ signaling sensitive to neuroactive molecules. This finding fostered conceptual leaps crystalized around the idea that astrocytes, once thought to be passive, participate actively in brain signaling and outputs. A multitude of disparate roles of astrocytes has since emerged, but their meaningful integration has been muddied by the lack of consensus and models of how we conceive the functional position of these cells in brain circuitry. In this Perspective, we propose an intuitive, data-driven and transferable conceptual framework we coin 'contextual guidance'. It describes astrocytes as 'contextual gates' that shape neural circuitry in an adaptive, state-dependent fashion. This paradigm provides fresh perspectives on principles of astrocyte signaling and its relevance to brain function, which could spur new experimental avenues, including in computational space.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ciaran Murphy-Royal
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) & Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - ShiNung Ching
- Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Thomas Papouin
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fung W, Tan TM, Kolotuev I, Heiman MG. A sex-specific switch in a single glial cell patterns the apical extracellular matrix. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4174-4186.e7. [PMID: 37708887 PMCID: PMC10578079 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrix (aECM) constitutes the interface between every tissue and the outside world. It is patterned into diverse tissue-specific structures through unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that a male-specific genetic switch in a single C. elegans glial cell patterns the overlying aECM from a solid sheet to an ∼200 nm pore, thus allowing a male sensory neuron to access the environment. Using cell-specific genetic sex reversal, we find that this switch reflects an inherent sex difference in the glial cell that is independent of the sex identity of the surrounding neurons. Through candidate and unbiased genetic screens, we find that this glial sex difference is controlled by factors shared with neurons (mab-3, lep-2, and lep-5) as well as previously unidentified regulators whose effects may be glia specific (nfya-1, bed-3, and jmjd-3.1). The switch results in male-specific glial expression of a secreted Hedgehog-related protein, GRL-18, that we discover localizes to transient nanoscale rings at sites where aECM pores will form. Using electron microscopy, we find that blocking male-specific gene expression in glia prevents pore formation, whereas forcing male-specific glial gene expression induces an ectopic pore. Thus, a switch in gene expression in a single cell is necessary and sufficient to pattern aECM into a specific structure. Our results highlight that aECM is not a simple homogeneous meshwork, but instead is composed of discrete local features that reflect the identity of the underlying cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Fung
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Taralyn M Tan
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Irina Kolotuev
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maxwell G Heiman
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abdullatef S, Farina C. Publicly available ex vivo transcriptomics datasets to explore CNS physiology and neurodegeneration: state of the art and perspectives. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1211079. [PMID: 37680966 PMCID: PMC10481165 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1211079] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by an intricate composition of diverse cell types, including neurons and glia cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia), whose functions may differ along time, between sexes and upon pathology. The advancements in high-throughput transcriptomics are providing fundamental insights on cell phenotypes, so that molecular codes and instructions are ever more described for CNS physiology and neurodegeneration. To facilitate the search of relevant information, this review provides an overview of key CNS transcriptomics studies ranging from CNS development to ageing and from physiology to pathology as defined for five neurodegenerative disorders and their relative animal models, with a focus on molecular descriptions whose raw data were publicly available. Accurate phenotypic descriptions of cellular states correlate with functional changes and this knowledge may support research devoted to the development of therapeutic strategies supporting CNS repair and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Abdullatef
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinthia Farina
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Freitas-Andrade M, Comin CH, Van Dyken P, Ouellette J, Raman-Nair J, Blakeley N, Liu QY, Leclerc S, Pan Y, Liu Z, Carrier M, Thakur K, Savard A, Rurak GM, Tremblay MÈ, Salmaso N, da F Costa L, Coppola G, Lacoste B. Astroglial Hmgb1 regulates postnatal astrocyte morphogenesis and cerebrovascular maturation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4965. [PMID: 37587100 PMCID: PMC10432480 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40682-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are intimately linked with brain blood vessels, an essential relationship for neuronal function. However, astroglial factors driving these physical and functional associations during postnatal brain development have yet to be identified. By characterizing structural and transcriptional changes in mouse cortical astrocytes during the first two postnatal weeks, we find that high-mobility group box 1 (Hmgb1), normally upregulated with injury and involved in adult cerebrovascular repair, is highly expressed in astrocytes at birth and then decreases rapidly. Astrocyte-selective ablation of Hmgb1 at birth affects astrocyte morphology and endfoot placement, alters distribution of endfoot proteins connexin43 and aquaporin-4, induces transcriptional changes in astrocytes related to cytoskeleton remodeling, and profoundly disrupts endothelial ultrastructure. While lack of astroglial Hmgb1 does not affect the blood-brain barrier or angiogenesis postnatally, it impairs neurovascular coupling and behavior in adult mice. These findings identify astroglial Hmgb1 as an important player in postnatal gliovascular maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cesar H Comin
- Federal University of São Carlos, Department of Computer Science, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Peter Van Dyken
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Julie Ouellette
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Joanna Raman-Nair
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Blakeley
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Qing Yan Liu
- National Research Council of Canada, Human Health and Therapeutics, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sonia Leclerc
- National Research Council of Canada, Human Health and Therapeutics, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Youlian Pan
- Digital Technologies, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ziying Liu
- Digital Technologies, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Karan Thakur
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alexandre Savard
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Gareth M Rurak
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Natalina Salmaso
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Luciano da F Costa
- University of São Paulo, São Carlos Institute of Physics, FCM-USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Baptiste Lacoste
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cantu A, Gutierrez MC, Dong X, Leek C, Anguera M, Lingappan K. Modulation of Recovery from Neonatal Hyperoxic Lung Injury by Sex as a Biological Variable. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.09.552532. [PMID: 37609288 PMCID: PMC10441379 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.09.552532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Recovery from lung injury during the neonatal period requires the orchestration of many biological pathways. The modulation of such pathways can drive the developing lung towards proper repair or persistent maldevelopment that can lead to a disease phenotype. Sex as a biological variable can regulate these pathways differently in the male and female lung exposed to neonatal hyperoxia. In this study, we assessed the contribution of cellular diversity in the male and female neonatal lung following injury. Our objective was to investigate sex and cell-type specific transcriptional changes that drive repair or persistent injury in the neonatal lung and delineate the alterations in the immune-endothelial cell communication networks using single cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNAseq) in a murine model of hyperoxic injury. We generated transcriptional profiles of >55,000 cells isolated from the lungs of postnatal day 1 (PND 1) and postnatal day 21 (PND 21) neonatal male and female C57BL/6 mice exposed to 95% FiO 2 between PND 1-5 (saccular stage of lung development). We show the presence of sex-based differences in the transcriptional states of lung endothelial and immune cells at PND 1 and PND 21. Furthermore, we demonstrate that biological sex significantly influences the response to injury, with a greater number of differentially expressed genes showing sex-specific patterns than those shared between male and female lungs. Pseudotime trajectory analysis highlighted genes needed for lung development that were altered by hyperoxia. Finally, we show intercellular communication between endothelial and immune cells at saccular and alveolar stages of lung development with sex-based biases in the crosstalk and identify novel ligand-receptor pairs. Our findings provide valuable insights into the cell diversity, transcriptional state, developmental trajectory, and cell-cell communication underlying neonatal lung injury, with implications for understanding lung development and possible therapeutic interventions while highlighting the crucial role of sex as a biological variable.
Collapse
|
14
|
Hashimoto JG, Zhang X, Guizzetti M. Ethanol-induced transcriptional and translational changes in Aldh1l1-Egfp/Rpl10a cortical astrocyte cultures. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1193304. [PMID: 37415614 PMCID: PMC10320287 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1193304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The role astrocytes play in brain development and function has garnered greater attention as the diversity of roles they are involved in has become apparent. We have previously shown that ethanol-exposed astrocytes alter neuronal neurite outgrowth in an in vitro co-culture system and that ethanol alters the astrocyte-produced extracellular matrix (ECM) in vitro, with similar alterations in vivo. In this study, we utilized the translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) procedure in Aldh1l1-EGFP/Rpl10a transgenic mouse primary cortical astrocyte cultures to transcriptionally and translationally profile the astrocyte response to ethanol. We found a large number of differences between the total RNA pool and the translating RNA pool, indicating that the transcriptional state of astrocytes may not always reflect the translational state of astrocytes. In addition, there was a considerable overlap between ethanol-dysregulated genes in the total RNA pool and the translating RNA pool. Comparisons to published datasets indicate the in vitro model used here is most similar to PD1 or PD7 in vivo cortical astrocytes, and the ethanol-regulated genes showed a significant overlap with models of chronic ethanol exposure in astrocytes, a model of third-trimester ethanol exposure in the hippocampus and cerebellum, and an acute model of ethanol exposure in the hippocampus. These findings will further our understanding of the effects of ethanol on astrocyte gene expression and protein translation and how these changes may alter brain development and support the use of in vitro astrocyte cultures as models of neonatal astrocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joel G. Hashimoto
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Research Service, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Research Service, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Marina Guizzetti
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Research Service, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Paranjape N, Dean LE, Martinez A, Tjalkens RB, Lehmler HJ, Doorn JA. Structure-Activity Relationship of Lower Chlorinated Biphenyls and Their Human-Relevant Metabolites for Astrocyte Toxicity. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:971-981. [PMID: 37279407 PMCID: PMC10283044 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with developmental neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders; however, the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis are unknown. Existing literature has focused mainly on using neurons as a model system to study mechanisms of PCB-mediated neurotoxicity, overlooking the role of glial cells, such as astrocytes. As normal brain function is largely astrocyte-dependent, we hypothesize that astrocytes play an important role in PCB-mediated injury to neurons. We assessed the toxicity of two commercial PCB mixtures, Aroclor 1016 and Aroclor 1254, and a non-Aroclor PCB mixture found in residential air called the Cabinet mixture, all of which contain lower chlorinated PCBs (LC-PCBs) found in indoor and outdoor air. We further assessed the toxicity of five abundant airborne LC-PCBs and their corresponding human-relevant metabolites in vitro models of astrocytes, namely, the C6 cell line and primary astrocytes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. PCB52 and its human-relevant hydroxylated and sulfated metabolites were found to be the most toxic compounds. No significant sex-dependent cell viability differences were observed in rat primary astrocytes. Based on the equilibrium partitioning model, it was predicted that the partitioning of LC-PCBs and their corresponding metabolites in biotic and abiotic compartments of the cell culture system is structure-dependent and that the observed toxicity is consistent with this prediction. This study, for the first time, shows that astrocytes are sensitive targets of LC-PCBs and their human-relevant metabolites and that further research to identify mechanistic targets of PCB exposure in glial cells is necessary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Paranjape
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Experimental Therapeutics, College
of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Laura E. Dean
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Andres Martinez
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Ronald B. Tjalkens
- Department
of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary
Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado
State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, United States
| | - Hans-Joachim Lehmler
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Jonathan A. Doorn
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Experimental Therapeutics, College
of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Colombo E, De Angelis A, Bassani C, Ruffini F, Ottoboni L, Garzetti L, Finardi A, Martino G, Furlan R, Farina C. iAstrocytes do not restrain T cell proliferation in vitro. BMC Neurosci 2023; 24:33. [PMID: 37286983 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-023-00806-3] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The cross-talk between T cells and astrocytes occurring under physiological and, even more, neuroinflammatory conditions may profoundly impact the generation of adaptive immune responses in the nervous tissue. In this study, we used a standardized in vitro co-culture assay to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of astrocytes differing for age, sex, and species. Mouse neonatal astrocytes enhanced T cell vitality but suppressed T lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogenic stimuli or myelin antigens, regardless of the Th1, Th2 or Th17 T cell phenotype. Studies comparing glia cells from adult and neonatal animals showed that adult astrocytes were more efficient in inhibiting T lymphocyte activation than neonatal astrocytes, regardless of their sex. Differently from primary cultures, mouse and human astrocytes derived from reprogrammed fibroblasts did not interfere with T cell proliferation. Overall, we describe a standardized astrocyte-T cell interaction in vitro assay and demonstrate that primary astrocytes and iAstrocytes may differ in modulating T cell function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Colombo
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Anthea De Angelis
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Bassani
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Ruffini
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Ottoboni
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Livia Garzetti
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Finardi
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianvito Martino
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Furlan
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinthia Farina
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Andrade-Talavera Y, Pérez-Rodríguez M, Prius-Mengual J, Rodríguez-Moreno A. Neuronal and astrocyte determinants of critical periods of plasticity. Trends Neurosci 2023:S0166-2236(23)00105-4. [PMID: 37202300 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.04.005] [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: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Windows of plasticity allow environmental experiences to produce intense activity-dependent changes during postnatal development. The reordering and refinement of neural connections occurs during these periods, significantly influencing the formation of brain circuits and physiological processes in adults. Recent advances have shed light on factors that determine the onset and duration of sensitive and critical periods of plasticity. Although GABAergic inhibition has classically been implicated in closing windows of plasticity, astrocytes and adenosinergic inhibition have also emerged more recently as key determinants of the duration of these periods of plasticity. Here, we review novel aspects of the involvement of GABAergic inhibition, the possible role of presynaptic NMDARs, and the emerging roles of astrocytes and adenosinergic inhibition in determining the duration of windows of plasticity in different brain regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuniesky Andrade-Talavera
- Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Mikel Pérez-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-41013 Seville, Spain
| | - José Prius-Mengual
- Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Moreno
- Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-41013 Seville, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Garcia CP, Licht-Murava A, Orr AG. Effects of adenosine A 2A receptors on cognitive function in health and disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 170:121-154. [PMID: 37741689 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Adenosine A2A receptors have been studied extensively in the context of motor function and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. In addition to these roles, A2A receptors have also been increasingly implicated in cognitive function and cognitive impairments in diverse conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, acute brain injury, and stress. We review the roles of A2A receptors in cognitive processes in health and disease, focusing primarily on the effects of reducing or enhancing A2A expression levels or activities in animal models. Studies reveal that A2A receptors in neurons and astrocytes modulate multiple aspects of cognitive function, including memory and motivation. Converging evidence also indicates that A2A receptor levels and activities are aberrantly increased in aging, acute brain injury, and chronic disorders, and these increases contribute to neurocognitive impairments. Therapeutically targeting A2A receptors with selective modulators may alleviate cognitive deficits in diverse neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. Further research on the exact neural mechanisms of these effects as well as the efficacy of selective A2A modulators on cognitive alterations in humans are important areas for future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cinthia P Garcia
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Avital Licht-Murava
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Tariq MB, Lee J, McCullough LD. Sex differences in the inflammatory response to stroke. Semin Immunopathol 2023; 45:295-313. [PMID: 36355204 PMCID: PMC10924671 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-022-00969-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: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and disproportionally affects women, in part due to their higher longevity. Older women have poorer outcomes after stroke with high rates of cognitive deficits, depression, and reduced quality of life. Post-stroke inflammatory responses are also sexually dimorphic and drive differences in infarct size and recovery. Factors that influence sex-specific immune responses can be both intrinsic and extrinsic. Differences in gonadal hormone exposure, sex chromosome compliment, and environmental/social factors can drive changes in transcriptional and metabolic profiles. In addition, how these variables interact, changes across the lifespan. After the onset of ischemic injury, necrosis and apoptosis occur, which activate microglia and other glial cells within the central nervous system, promoting the release of cytokines and chemokines and neuroinflammation. Cells involved in innate and adaptive immune responses also have dual functions after stroke as they can enhance inflammation acutely, but also contribute to suppression of the inflammatory cascade and later repair. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature on sex-specific inflammatory responses to ischemic stroke. Understanding these differences is critical to identifying therapeutic options for both men and women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Bilal Tariq
- Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB7044B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Juneyoung Lee
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB7044B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Louise D McCullough
- Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB7044B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Guez-Barber D, Colon LM, Raphael D, Wragan MA, Yun S, Eisch AJ. Female and male microglia are not different in the dentate gyrus of postnatal day 10 mice. Neurosci Lett 2023; 803:137171. [PMID: 36898652 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137171] [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: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, support normal brain function and the brain's response to disease and injury. The hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) is important for microglial study due to its central role in many behavioral and cognitive functions. Interestingly, microglia and related cells are distinct in female vs. male rodents, even in early life. Indeed, postnatal day (P)-dependent sex differences in number, density, and morphology of microglia have been reported in certain hippocampal subregions at specific ages. However, sex differences in the DG have not yet been assessed at P10, a translationally relevant time point as the rodent neuroanatomical eqivalent of human term gestation. To address this knowledge gap, Iba1+ cells in the DG (which are enriched in the Hilus and Molecular Layer) in female and male C57BL/6J mice were analyzed for their number (via stereology) and density (via stereology and via sampling). Next, Iba1+ cells were classified into morphology categories previously established in the literature. Finally, the percent of Iba1+ cells in each morphology category was multiplied by total cell number to generate a total number of Iba1+ cells in each category. Results show no sex difference in Iba1+ cell number, density, or morphology in the P10 Hilus or Molecular Layer. The lack of sex difference in Iba1+ cells in P10 DG using commonly-employed methodologies (sampling, stereology, morphology classification) provides a baseline from which to interpret microglia changes seen after injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Guez-Barber
- Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lorianna M Colon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, CHOP Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dana Raphael
- School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Max A Wragan
- School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sanghee Yun
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, CHOP Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Amelia J Eisch
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, CHOP Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Koshko L, Scofield S, Debarba L, Stilgenbauer L, Fakhoury P, Jayarathne H, Perez-Mojica JE, Griggs E, Lempradl A, Sadagurski M. Prenatal benzene exposure in mice alters offspring hypothalamic development predisposing to metabolic disease in later life. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 330:138738. [PMID: 37084897 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Maternal exposure to environmental contaminants during pregnancy poses a significant threat to a developing fetus, as these substances can easily cross the placenta and disrupt the neurodevelopment of offspring. Specifically, the hypothalamus is essential in the regulation of metabolism, notably during critical windows of development. An abnormal hormonal and inflammatory milieu during development can trigger persistent changes in the function of hypothalamic circuits, leading to long-lasting effects on the body's energy homeostasis and metabolism. We recently demonstrated that gestational exposure to clinically relevant levels of benzene induces severe metabolic dysregulation in the offspring. Given the central role of the hypothalamus in metabolic control, we hypothesized that prenatal exposure to benzene impacts hypothalamic development, contributing to the adverse metabolic effects in the offspring. C57BL/6JB dams were exposed to benzene at 50 ppm in the inhalation chambers exclusively during pregnancy (from E0.5 to E19). Transcriptomic analysis of the exposed offspring at postnatal day 21 (P21) revealed hypothalamic changes in genes related to metabolic regulation, inflammation, and neurodevelopment exclusively in males. Moreover, the hypothalamus of prenatally benzene-exposed male offspring displayed alterations in orexigenic and anorexigenic projections, impairments in leptin signaling, and increased microgliosis. Additional exposure to benzene during lactation did not promote further microgliosis or astrogliosis in the offspring, while the high-fat diet (HFD) challenge in adulthood exacerbated glucose metabolism and hypothalamic inflammation in benzene-exposed offspring of both sexes. These findings reveal the persistent adverse effects of prenatal benzene exposure on hypothalamic circuits and neuroinflammation, predisposing the offspring to long-lasting metabolic health conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Koshko
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sydney Scofield
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lucas Debarba
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lukas Stilgenbauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Patrick Fakhoury
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Hashan Jayarathne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Ellen Griggs
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | | | - Marianna Sadagurski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Fung W, Tan TM, Kolotuev I, Heiman MG. A sex-specific switch in a single glial cell patterns the apical extracellular matrix. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.17.533199. [PMID: 36993293 PMCID: PMC10055199 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrix (aECM) constitutes the interface between every tissue and the outside world. It is patterned into diverse tissue-specific structures through unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that a male-specific genetic switch in a single C. elegans glial cell patterns the aECM into a ∼200 nm pore, allowing a male sensory neuron to access the environment. We find that this glial sex difference is controlled by factors shared with neurons ( mab-3, lep-2, lep-5 ) as well as previously unidentified regulators whose effects may be glia-specific ( nfya-1, bed-3, jmjd-3.1 ). The switch results in male-specific expression of a Hedgehog-related protein, GRL-18, that we discover localizes to transient nanoscale rings at sites of aECM pore formation. Blocking male-specific gene expression in glia prevents pore formation, whereas forcing male-specific expression induces an ectopic pore. Thus, a switch in gene expression in a single cell is necessary and sufficient to pattern aECM into a specific structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Fung
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Taralyn M. Tan
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Irina Kolotuev
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maxwell G. Heiman
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Hernandez VG, Lechtenberg KJ, Peterson TC, Zhu L, Lucas TA, Owah JO, Dorsey AI, Gentles AJ, Buckwalter MS. Translatome analysis reveals microglia and astrocytes to be distinct regulators of inflammation in the hyperacute and acute phases after stroke. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.14.520351. [PMID: 36824949 PMCID: PMC9949064 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.520351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of ischemic stroke, which is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. Understanding the exact cellular signaling pathways that initiate and propagate neuroinflammation after stroke will be critical for developing immunomodulatory stroke therapies. In particular, the precise mechanisms of inflammatory signaling in the clinically relevant hyperacute period, hours after stroke, have not been elucidated. We used the RiboTag technique to obtain astrocyte and microglia-derived mRNA transcripts in a hyperacute (4 hours) and acute (3 days) period after stroke, as these two cell types are key modulators of acute neuroinflammation. Microglia initiated a rapid response to stroke at 4 hours by adopting an inflammatory profile associated with the recruitment of immune cells. The hyperacute astrocyte profile was marked by stress response genes and transcription factors, such as Fos and Jun , involved in pro-inflammatory pathways such as TNF-α. By 3 days, microglia shift to a proliferative state and astrocytes strengthen their inflammatory response. The astrocyte pro-inflammatory response at 3 days is partially driven by the upregulation of the transcription factors C/EBPβ, Spi1 , and Rel , which comprise 25% of upregulated transcription factor-target interactions. Surprisingly, few sex differences across all groups were observed. Expression and log 2 fold data for all sequenced genes are available on a user-friendly website for researchers to examine gene changes and generate hypotheses for stroke targets. Taken together our data comprehensively describe the astrocyte and microglia-specific translatome response in the hyperacute and acute period after stroke and identify pathways critical for initiating neuroinflammation.
Collapse
|
24
|
Li Y, Liu L, Zhang L, Wei H, Wu S, Liu T, Shu Y, Yang Y, Yang Z, Wang S, Bao Z, Zhang L. Dynamic transcriptome analysis reveals the gene network of gonadal development from the early history life stages in dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:69. [PMID: 36461090 PMCID: PMC9716669 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonadal development is driven by a complex genetic cascade in vertebrates. However, related information remains limited in molluscs owing to the long generation time and the difficulty in maintaining whole life cycle in the lab. The dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis is considered an ideal bivalve model due to the short generation time and ease to breed in the lab. RESULTS To gain a comprehensive understanding of gonadal development in M. lateralis, we conducted a combined morphological and molecular analysis on the gonads of 30 to 60 dpf. Morphological analysis showed that gonad formation and sex differentiation occur at 35 and 40-45 dpf, respectively; then the gonads go through gametogenic cycle. Gene co-expression network analysis on 40 transcriptomes of 35-60 dpf gonads identifies seven gonadal development-related modules, including two gonad-forming modules (M6, M7), three sex-specific modules (M14, M12, M11), and two sexually shared modules (M15, M13). The modules participate in different biological processes, such as cell communication, glycan biosynthesis, cell cycle, and ribosome biogenesis. Several hub transcription factors including SOX2, FOXZ, HSFY, FOXL2 and HES1 are identified. The expression of top hub genes from sex-specific modules suggests molecular sex differentiation (35 dpf) occurs earlier than morphological sex differentiation (40-45 dpf). CONCLUSION This study provides a deep insight into the molecular basis of gonad formation, sex differentiation and gametogenesis in M. lateralis, which will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the reproductive regulation network in molluscs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Li
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Liangjie Liu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Lijing Zhang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Huilan Wei
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Shaoxuan Wu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Tian Liu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Ya Shu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Yaxin Yang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Zujing Yang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Shi Wang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China ,grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Zhenmin Bao
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China ,grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
McCombe PA, Greer JM. Effects of biological sex and pregnancy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: It's complicated. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1059833. [PMID: 36518769 PMCID: PMC9742606 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) can be induced in many animal strains by inoculation with central nervous system antigens and adjuvant or by the passive transfer of lymphocytes reactive with these antigens and is widely used as an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). There are reports that female sex and pregnancy affect EAE. Here we review the effects of biological sex and the effects of pregnancy on the clinical features (including disease susceptibility) and pathophysiology of EAE. We also review reports of the possible mechanisms underlying these differences. These include sex-related differences in the immune system and in the central nervous system, the effects of hormones and the sex chromosomes and molecules unique to pregnancy. We also review sex differences in the response to factors that can modify the course of EAE. Our conclusion is that the effects of biological sex in EAE vary amongst animal models and should not be widely extrapolated. In EAE, it is therefore essential that studies looking at the effects of biological sex or pregnancy give full information about the model that is used (i.e. animal strain, sex, the inducing antigen, timing of EAE induction in relation to pregnancy, etc.). In addition, it would be preferable if more than one EAE model were used, to show if any observed effects are generalizable. This is clearly a field that requires further work. However, understanding of the mechanisms of sex differences could lead to greater understanding of EAE, and suggest possible therapies for MS.
Collapse
|
26
|
Cleland NRW, Bruce KD. Fatty acid sensing in the brain: The role of glial-neuronal metabolic crosstalk and horizontal lipid flux. Biochimie 2022:S0300-9084(22)00216-4. [PMID: 35998849 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The central control of energy homeostasis is a regulatory axis that involves the sensing of nutrients, signaling molecules, adipokines, and neuropeptides by neurons in the metabolic centers of the hypothalamus. However, non-neuronal glial cells are also abundant in the hypothalamus and recent findings have underscored the importance of the metabolic crosstalk and horizontal lipid flux between glia and neurons to the downstream regulation of systemic metabolism. New transgenic models and high-resolution analyses of glial phenotype and function have revealed that glia sit at the nexus between lipid metabolism and neural function, and may markedly impact the brain's response to dietary lipids or the supply of brain-derived lipids. Glia comprise the main cellular compartment involved in lipid synthesis, lipoprotein production, and lipid processing in the brain. In brief, tanycytes provide an interface between peripheral lipids and neurons, astrocytes produce lipoproteins that transport lipids to neurons and other glia, oligodendrocytes use brain-derived and dietary lipids to myelinate axons and influence neuronal function, while microglia can remove unwanted lipids in the brain and contribute to lipid re-utilization through cholesterol efflux. Here, we review recent findings regarding glial-lipid transport and highlight the specific molecular factors necessary for lipid processing in the brain, and how dysregulation of glial-neuronal metabolic crosstalk contributes to imbalanced energy homeostasis. Furthering our understanding of glial lipid metabolism will guide the design of future studies that target horizontal lipid processing in the brain to ameliorate the risk of developing obesity and metabolic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R W Cleland
- Division of Endocrinology Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kimberley D Bruce
- Division of Endocrinology Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Winek K, Tzur Y, Soreq H. Biological underpinnings of sex differences in neurological disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 164:27-67. [PMID: 36038206 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The importance of sex differences in neurological disorders has been increasingly acknowledged in recent clinical and basic research studies, but the complex biology and genetics underlying sex-linked biological heterogeneity and its brain-to-body impact remained incompletely understood. Men and women differ substantially in their susceptibility to certain neurological diseases, in the severity of symptoms, prognosis as well as the nature and efficacy of their response to treatments. The detailed mechanisms underlying these differences, especially at the molecular level, are being addressed in many studies but leave a lot to be further revealed. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in our understanding of how sex differences in the brain and brain-body signaling contribute to neurological disorders and further present some future prospects entailed in terms of diagnostics and therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Winek
- The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yonat Tzur
- The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hermona Soreq
- The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Schober AL, Wicki-Stordeur LE, Murai KK, Swayne LA. Foundations and implications of astrocyte heterogeneity during brain development and disease. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:692-703. [PMID: 35879116 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes play crucial roles in regulating brain circuit formation and physiology. Recent technological advances have revealed unprecedented levels of astrocyte diversity encompassing molecular, morphological, and functional differences. This diversification is initiated during embryonic specification events and (in rodents) continues into the early postnatal period where it overlaps with peak synapse development and circuit refinement. In fact, several lines of evidence suggest astrocyte diversity both influences and is a consequence of molecular crosstalk among developing astrocytes and other cell types, notably neurons and their synapses. Neurological disease states exhibit additional layers of astrocyte heterogeneity, which could help shed light on these cells' key pathological roles. This review highlights recent advances in clarifying astrocyte heterogeneity and molecular/cellular crosstalk and identifies key outstanding questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Schober
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Keith K Murai
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada; Quantitative Life Sciences Graduate Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Leigh Anne Swayne
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|