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Yang J, Dong J, Li H, Gong Z, Wang B, Du K, Zhang C, Bi H, Wang J, Tian X, Chen L. Circular RNA HIPK2 Promotes A1 Astrocyte Activation after Spinal Cord Injury through Autophagy and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by Modulating miR-124-3p-Mediated Smad2 Repression. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:781-797. [PMID: 38222662 PMCID: PMC10785321 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Glial scarring formed by reactive astrocytes after spinal cord injury (SCI) is the primary obstacle to neuronal regeneration within the central nervous system, making them a promising target for SCI treatment. Our previous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of miR-124-3p on neuronal repair, but it remains unclear how miR-124-3p is involved in autophagy or ER stress in astrocyte activation. To answer this question, the expression of A1 astrocyte-related markers at the transcriptional and protein levels after SCI was checked in RNA-sequencing data and verified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting in vitro and in vivo. The potential interactions among circHIPK2, miR-124-3p, and Smad2 were analyzed and confirmed by bioinformatics analyses and a luciferase reporter assay. In the end, the role of miR-124-3p in autophagy, ER stress, and SCI was investigated by using Western blotting to measure key biomarkers (C3, LC3, and Chop) in the absence or presence of corresponding selective inhibitors (siRNA, 4-PBA, TG). As a result, SCI caused the increase of A1 astrocyte markers, in which the upregulated circHIPK2 directly targeted miR-124-3p, and the direct downregulating effect of Smad2 by miR-124-3p was abolished, while Agomir-124 treatment reversed this effect. Injury caused a significant change of markers for ER stress and autophagy through the circHIPK2/miR-124-3p/Smad2 pathway, which might activate the A1 phenotype, and ER stress might promote autophagy in astrocytes. In conclusion, circHIPK2 may play a functional role in sequestering miR-124-3p and facilitating the activation of A1 astrocytes through regulating Smad2-mediated downstream autophagy and ER stress pathways, providing a new perspective on potential targets for functional recovery after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Haotian Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhiqiang Gong
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Kaili Du
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Chunqiang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Hangchuan Bi
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Junfei Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Xinpeng Tian
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Lingqiang Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
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2
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Su C, Miao J, Guo J. The relationship between TGF-β1 and cognitive function in the brain. Brain Res Bull 2023; 205:110820. [PMID: 37979810 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a multifunctional cytokine, plays a pivotal role in synaptic formation, plasticity, and neurovascular unit regulation. This review highlights TGF-β1's potential impact on cognitive function, particularly in the context of neurodegenerative disorders. However, despite the growing body of evidence, a comprehensive understanding of TGF-β1's precise role remains elusive. Further research is essential to unravel the complex mechanisms through which TGF-β1 influences cognitive function and to explore therapeutic avenues for targeting TGF-β1 in neurodegenerative conditions. This investigation sheds light on TGF-β1's contribution to cognitive function and offers prospects for innovative treatments and interventions. This review delves into the intricate relationship between TGF-β1 and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Su
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province 030000, China
| | - Jie Miao
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province 030000, China
| | - Junhong Guo
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province 030000, China.
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3
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Gamache J, Gingerich D, Shwab EK, Barrera J, Garrett ME, Hume C, Crawford GE, Ashley-Koch AE, Chiba-Falek O. Integrative single-nucleus multi-omics analysis prioritizes candidate cis and trans regulatory networks and their target genes in Alzheimer's disease brains. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:185. [PMID: 37789374 PMCID: PMC10546724 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01120-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genetic underpinnings of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) are yet to be fully elucidated. Although numerous LOAD-associated loci have been discovered, the causal variants and their target genes remain largely unknown. Since the brain is composed of heterogenous cell subtypes, it is imperative to study the brain on a cell subtype specific level to explore the biological processes underlying LOAD. METHODS Here, we present the largest parallel single-nucleus (sn) multi-omics study to simultaneously profile gene expression (snRNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility (snATAC-seq) to date, using nuclei from 12 normal and 12 LOAD brains. We identified cell subtype clusters based on gene expression and chromatin accessibility profiles and characterized cell subtype-specific LOAD-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially accessible peaks (DAPs) and cis co-accessibility networks (CCANs). RESULTS Integrative analysis defined disease-relevant CCANs in multiple cell subtypes and discovered LOAD-associated cell subtype-specific candidate cis regulatory elements (cCREs), their candidate target genes, and trans-interacting transcription factors (TFs), some of which, including ELK1, JUN, and SMAD4 in excitatory neurons, were also LOAD-DEGs. Finally, we focused on a subset of cell subtype-specific CCANs that overlap known LOAD-GWAS regions and catalogued putative functional SNPs changing the affinities of TF motifs within LOAD-cCREs linked to LOAD-DEGs, including APOE and MYO1E in a specific subtype of microglia and BIN1 in a subpopulation of oligodendrocytes. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study represents the most comprehensive systematic interrogation to date of regulatory networks and the impact of genetic variants on gene dysregulation in LOAD at a cell subtype resolution. Our findings reveal crosstalk between epigenetic, genomic, and transcriptomic determinants of LOAD pathogenesis and define catalogues of candidate genes, cCREs, and variants involved in LOAD genetic etiology and the cell subtypes in which they act to exert their pathogenic effects. Overall, these results suggest that cell subtype-specific cis-trans interactions between regulatory elements and TFs, and the genes dysregulated by these networks contribute to the development of LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Gamache
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Daniel Gingerich
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - E Keats Shwab
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Julio Barrera
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Melanie E Garrett
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 104775, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Cordelia Hume
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Gregory E Crawford
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3382, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Allison E Ashley-Koch
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 104775, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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4
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Patani R, Hardingham GE, Liddelow SA. Functional roles of reactive astrocytes in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:395-409. [PMID: 37308616 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00822-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in uncovering the mechanisms that underlie neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease, therapies that prevent neuronal loss remain elusive. Targeting of disease-defining markers in conditions such as Alzheimer disease (amyloid-β and tau) or Parkinson disease (α-synuclein) has been met with limited success, suggesting that these proteins do not act in isolation but form part of a pathological network. This network could involve phenotypic alteration of multiple cell types in the CNS, including astrocytes, which have a major neurosupportive, homeostatic role in the healthy CNS but adopt reactive states under acute or chronic adverse conditions. Transcriptomic studies in human patients and disease models have revealed the co-existence of many putative reactive sub-states of astrocytes. Inter-disease and even intra-disease heterogeneity of reactive astrocytic sub-states are well established, but the extent to which specific sub-states are shared across different diseases is unclear. In this Review, we highlight how single-cell and single-nuclei RNA sequencing and other 'omics' technologies can enable the functional characterization of defined reactive astrocyte states in various pathological scenarios. We provide an integrated perspective, advocating cross-modal validation of key findings to define functionally important sub-states of astrocytes and their triggers as tractable therapeutic targets with cross-disease relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rickie Patani
- Department of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, Human Stem Cells and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, London, UK
| | - Giles E Hardingham
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Kapoor M, Chinnathambi S. TGF-β1 signalling in Alzheimer's pathology and cytoskeletal reorganization: a specialized Tau perspective. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:72. [PMID: 36915196 PMCID: PMC10012507 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02751-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein, Tau has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease for its detachment from microtubules and formation of insoluble intracellular aggregates within the neurons. Recent findings have suggested the expulsion of Tau seeds in the extracellular domain and their prion-like propagation between neurons. Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a ubiquitously occurring cytokine reported to carry out immunomodulation and neuroprotection in the brain. TGF-β-mediated regulation occurs at the level of neuronal survival and differentiation, glial activation (astrocyte and microglia), amyloid production-distribution-clearance and neurofibrillary tangle formation, all of which contributes to Alzheimer's pathophysiology. Its role in the reorganization of cytoskeletal architecture and remodelling of extracellular matrix to facilitate cellular migration has been well-documented. Microglia are the resident immune sentinels of the brain responsible for surveying the local microenvironment, migrating towards the beacon of pertinent damage and phagocytosing the cellular debris or patho-protein deposits at the site of insult. Channelizing microglia to target extracellular Tau could be a good strategy to combat the prion-like transmission and seeding problem in Alzheimer's disease. The current review focuses on reaffirming the role of TGF-β1 signalling in Alzheimer's pathology and cytoskeletal reorganization and considers utilizing the approach of TGF-β-triggered microglia-mediated targeting of extracellular patho-protein, Tau, as a possible potential strategy to combat Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahima Kapoor
- Neurobiology Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi
- Neurobiology Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India. .,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India. .,Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Institute of National Importance, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, Karnataka, India.
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6
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Gottschalk WK, Mahon S, Hodgson D, Barrera J, Hill D, Wei A, Kumar M, Dai K, Anderson L, Mihovilovic M, Lutz MW, Chiba-Falek O. The APOE-TOMM40 Humanized Mouse Model: Characterization of Age, Sex, and PolyT Variant Effects on Gene Expression. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:1563-1576. [PMID: 37458041 PMCID: PMC10733864 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human chromosome 19q13.32 is a gene rich region and has been associated with multiple phenotypes, including late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and other age-related conditions. OBJECTIVE Here we developed the first humanized mouse model that contains the entire TOMM40 and APOE genes with all intronic and intergenic sequences including the upstream and downstream regions. Thus, the mouse model carries the human TOMM40 and APOE genes and their intact regulatory sequences. METHODS We generated the APOE-TOMM40 humanized mouse model in which the entire mouse region was replaced with the human (h)APOE-TOMM40 loci including their upstream and downstream flanking regulatory sequences using recombineering technologies. We then measured the expression of the human TOMM40 and APOE genes in the mice brain, liver, and spleen tissues using TaqMan based mRNA expression assays. RESULTS We investigated the effects of the '523' polyT genotype (S/S or VL/VL), sex, and age on the human TOMM40- and APOE-mRNAs expression levels using our new humanized mouse model. The analysis revealed tissue specific and shared effects of the '523' polyT genotype, sex, and age on the regulation of the human TOMM40 and APOE genes. Noteworthy, the regulatory effect of the '523' polyT genotype was observed for all studied organs. CONCLUSION The model offers new opportunities for basic science, translational, and preclinical drug discovery studies focused on the APOE genomic region in relation to LOAD and other conditions in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- William K. Gottschalk
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott Mahon
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dellila Hodgson
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Julio Barrera
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Delaney Hill
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Angela Wei
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Manish Kumar
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kathy Dai
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren Anderson
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mirta Mihovilovic
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael W. Lutz
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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7
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Brandebura AN, Paumier A, Onur TS, Allen NJ. Astrocyte contribution to dysfunction, risk and progression in neurodegenerative disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:23-39. [PMID: 36316501 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 96.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing appreciation that non-neuronal cells contribute to the initiation, progression and pathology of diverse neurodegenerative disorders. This Review focuses on the role of astrocytes in disorders including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The important roles astrocytes have in supporting neuronal function in the healthy brain are considered, along with studies that have demonstrated how the physiological properties of astrocytes are altered in neurodegenerative disorders and may explain their contribution to neurodegeneration. Further, the question of whether in neurodegenerative disorders with specific genetic mutations these mutations directly impact on astrocyte function, and may suggest a driving role for astrocytes in disease initiation, is discussed. A summary of how astrocyte transcriptomic and proteomic signatures are altered during the progression of neurodegenerative disorders and may relate to functional changes is provided. Given the central role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders, potential strategies to target these cells for future therapeutic avenues are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Brandebura
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Adrien Paumier
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tarik S Onur
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicola J Allen
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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8
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Raulin AC, Doss SV, Trottier ZA, Ikezu TC, Bu G, Liu CC. ApoE in Alzheimer’s disease: pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:72. [PMID: 36348357 PMCID: PMC9644639 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00574-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing due to extended lifespans. Among the increasing number of genetic risk factors identified, the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene remains the strongest and most prevalent, impacting more than half of all AD cases. While the ε4 allele of the APOE gene significantly increases AD risk, the ε2 allele is protective relative to the common ε3 allele. These gene alleles encode three apoE protein isoforms that differ at two amino acid positions. The primary physiological function of apoE is to mediate lipid transport in the brain and periphery; however, additional functions of apoE in diverse biological functions have been recognized. Pathogenically, apoE seeds amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in the brain with apoE4 driving earlier and more abundant amyloids. ApoE isoforms also have differential effects on multiple Aβ-related or Aβ-independent pathways. The complexity of apoE biology and pathobiology presents challenges to designing effective apoE-targeted therapeutic strategies. This review examines the key pathobiological pathways of apoE and related targeting strategies with a specific focus on the latest technological advances and tools.
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9
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Biomarker Genes Discovery of Alzheimer’s Disease by Multi-Omics-Based Gene Regulatory Network Construction of Microglia. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091196. [PMID: 36138932 PMCID: PMC9496783 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the major immune cells in the brain, mediate neuroinflammation, increased oxidative stress, and impaired neurotransmission in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in which most AD risk genes are highly expressed. In microglia, due to the limitations of current single-omics data analysis, risk genes, the regulatory mechanisms, the mechanisms of action of immune responses and the exploration of drug targets for AD immunotherapy are still unclear. Therefore, we proposed a method to integrate multi-omics data based on the construction of gene regulatory networks (GRN), by combining weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) with single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering (SCENIC). This enables snRNA-seq data and bulkRNA-seq data to obtain data on the deeper intermolecular regulatory relationships, related genes, and the molecular mechanisms of immune-cell action. In our approach, not only were central transcription factors (TF) STAT3, CEBPB, SPI1, and regulatory mechanisms identified more accurately than with single-omics but also immunotherapy targeting central TFs to drugs was found to be significantly different between patients. Thus, in addition to providing new insights into the potential regulatory mechanisms and pathogenic genes of AD microglia, this approach can assist clinicians in making the most rational treatment plans for patients with different risks; it also has significant implications for identifying AD immunotherapy targets and targeting microglia-associated immune drugs.
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10
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TGF-β as a Key Modulator of Astrocyte Reactivity: Disease Relevance and Therapeutic Implications. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051206. [PMID: 35625943 PMCID: PMC9138510 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are essential for normal brain development and functioning. They respond to brain injury and disease through a process referred to as reactive astrogliosis, where the reactivity is highly heterogenous and context-dependent. Reactive astrocytes are active contributors to brain pathology and can exert beneficial, detrimental, or mixed effects following brain insults. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been identified as one of the key factors regulating astrocyte reactivity. The genetic and pharmacological manipulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway in animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injury and disease alters pathological and functional outcomes. This review aims to provide recent understanding regarding astrocyte reactivity and TGF-β signaling in brain injury, aging, and neurodegeneration. Further, it explores how TGF-β signaling modulates astrocyte reactivity and function in the context of CNS disease and injury.
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Sanchez-Varo R, Mejias-Ortega M, Fernandez-Valenzuela JJ, Nuñez-Diaz C, Caceres-Palomo L, Vegas-Gomez L, Sanchez-Mejias E, Trujillo-Estrada L, Garcia-Leon JA, Moreno-Gonzalez I, Vizuete M, Vitorica J, Baglietto-Vargas D, Gutierrez A. Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease: An Integrative Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5404. [PMID: 35628216 PMCID: PMC9142061 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) constitutes the most prominent form of dementia among elderly individuals worldwide. Disease modeling using murine transgenic mice was first initiated thanks to the discovery of heritable mutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilins (PS) genes. However, due to the repeated failure of translational applications from animal models to human patients, along with the recent advances in genetic susceptibility and our current understanding on disease biology, these models have evolved over time in an attempt to better reproduce the complexity of this devastating disease and improve their applicability. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview about the major pathological elements of human AD (plaques, tauopathy, synaptic damage, neuronal death, neuroinflammation and glial dysfunction), discussing the knowledge that available mouse models have provided about the mechanisms underlying human disease. Moreover, we highlight the pros and cons of current models, and the revolution offered by the concomitant use of transgenic mice and omics technologies that may lead to a more rapid improvement of the present modeling battery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Sanchez-Varo
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Departamento Fisiologia Humana, Histologia Humana, Anatomia Patologica y Educacion Fisica y Deportiva, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Marina Mejias-Ortega
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Juan Jose Fernandez-Valenzuela
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Cristina Nuñez-Diaz
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Laura Caceres-Palomo
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Laura Vegas-Gomez
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Elisabeth Sanchez-Mejias
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Laura Trujillo-Estrada
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Juan Antonio Garcia-Leon
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Ines Moreno-Gonzalez
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marisa Vizuete
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Departamento Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS)-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio/CSIC, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Javier Vitorica
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Departamento Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS)-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio/CSIC, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - David Baglietto-Vargas
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Antonia Gutierrez
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
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12
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Sandau US, McFarland TJ, Smith SJ, Galasko DR, Quinn JF, Saugstad JA. Differential Effects of APOE Genotype on MicroRNA Cargo of Cerebrospinal Fluid Extracellular Vesicles in Females With Alzheimer's Disease Compared to Males. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:864022. [PMID: 35573689 PMCID: PMC9092217 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.864022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple biological factors, including age, sex, and genetics, influence Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Of the 6.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer's dementia in 2021, 3.8 million are women and 2.4 million are men. The strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic AD is apolipoprotein E-e4 (APOE-e4). Female APOE-e4 carriers develop AD more frequently than age-matched males and have more brain atrophy and memory loss. Consequently, biomarkers that are sensitive to biological risk factors may improve AD diagnostics and may provide insight into underlying mechanistic changes that could drive disease progression. Here, we have assessed the effects of sex and APOE-e4 on the miRNA cargo of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) extracellular vesicles (EVs) in AD. We used ultrafiltration (UF) combined with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to enrich CSF EVs (e.g., Flotillin+). CSF EVs were isolated from female and male AD or controls (CTLs) that were either APOE-e3,4 or -e3,3 positive (n = 7/group, 56 total). MiRNA expression levels were quantified using a custom TaqMan™ array that assayed 190 miRNAs previously found in CSF, including 25 miRNAs that we previously validated as candidate AD biomarkers. We identified changes in the EV miRNA cargo that were affected by both AD and sex. In total, four miRNAs (miR-16-5p, -331-3p, -409-3p, and -454-3p) were significantly increased in AD vs. CTL, independent of sex and APOE-e4 status. Pathway analysis of the predicted gene targets of these four miRNAs with identified pathways was highly relevant to neurodegeneration (e.g., senescence and autophagy). There were also three miRNAs (miR-146b-5p, -150-5p, and -342-3p) that were significantly increased in females vs. males, independent of disease state and APOE-e4 status. We then performed a statistical analysis to assess the effect of APOE genotype in AD within each sex and found that APOE-e4 status affects different subsets of CSF EV miRNAs in females vs. males. Together, this study demonstrates the complexity of the biological factors associated with AD risk and the impact on EV miRNAs, which may contribute to AD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula S. Sandau
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Trevor J. McFarland
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Sierra J. Smith
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Douglas R. Galasko
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Joseph F. Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Parkinson Center and Movement Disorders Program, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Portland VAMC Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Julie A. Saugstad
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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13
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Mahan TE, Wang C, Bao X, Choudhury A, Ulrich JD, Holtzman DM. Selective reduction of astrocyte apoE3 and apoE4 strongly reduces Aβ accumulation and plaque-related pathology in a mouse model of amyloidosis. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:13. [PMID: 35109920 PMCID: PMC8811969 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00516-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background One of the key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD) is the accumulation of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into amyloid plaques. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset AD and has been shown to influence the accumulation of Aβ in the brain in an isoform-dependent manner. ApoE can be produced by different cell types in the brain, with astrocytes being the largest producer of apoE, although reactive microglia also express high levels of apoE. While studies have shown that altering apoE levels in the brain can influence the development of Aβ plaque pathology, it is not fully known how apoE produced by specific cell types, such as astrocytes, contributes to amyloid pathology. Methods We utilized APOE knock-in mice capable of having APOE selectively removed from astrocytes in a tamoxifen-inducible manner and crossed them with the APP/PS1-21 mouse model of amyloidosis. We analyzed the changes to Aβ plaque levels and assessed the impact on cellular responses to Aβ plaques when astrocytic APOE is removed. Results Tamoxifen administration was capable of strongly reducing apoE levels in the brain by markedly reducing astrocyte apoE, while microglial apoE expression remained. Reduction of astrocytic apoE3 and apoE4 led to a large decrease in Aβ plaque deposition and less compact plaques. While overall Iba1+ microglia were unchanged in the cortex after reducing astrocyte apoE, the expression of the disease-associated microglial markers Clec7a and apoE were lower around amyloid plaques, indicating decreased microglial activation. Additionally, astrocyte GFAP levels are unchanged around amyloid plaques, but overall GFAP levels are reduced in the cortex of female apoE4 mice after a reduction in astrocytic apoE. Finally, while the amount of neuritic dystrophy around remaining individual plaques was increased with the removal of astrocytic apoE, the overall amount of cortical amyloid-associated neuritic dystrophy was significantly decreased. Conclusion This study reveals an important role of astrocytic apoE3 and apoE4 on the deposition and accumulation of Aβ plaques as well as on certain Aβ-associated downstream effects. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13024-022-00516-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Mahan
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xin Bao
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ankit Choudhury
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jason D Ulrich
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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14
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Roberts JA, Varma VR, An Y, Varma S, Candia J, Fantoni G, Tiwari V, Anerillas C, Williamson A, Saito A, Loeffler T, Schilcher I, Moaddel R, Khadeer M, Lovett J, Tanaka T, Pletnikova O, Troncoso JC, Bennett DA, Albert MS, Yu K, Niu M, Haroutunian V, Zhang B, Peng J, Croteau DL, Resnick SM, Gorospe M, Bohr VA, Ferrucci L, Thambisetty M. A brain proteomic signature of incipient Alzheimer's disease in young APOE ε4 carriers identifies novel drug targets. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabi8178. [PMID: 34757788 PMCID: PMC8580310 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi8178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Aptamer-based proteomics revealed differentially abundant proteins in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and Religious Orders Study (mean age, 89 ± 9 years). A subset of these proteins was also differentially abundant in the brains of young APOE ε4 carriers relative to noncarriers (mean age, 39 ± 6 years). Several of these proteins represent targets of approved and experimental drugs for other indications and were validated using orthogonal methods in independent human brain tissue samples as well as in transgenic AD models. Using cell culture–based phenotypic assays, we showed that drugs targeting the cytokine transducer STAT3 and the Src family tyrosine kinases, YES1 and FYN, rescued molecular phenotypes relevant to AD pathogenesis. Our findings may accelerate the development of effective interventions targeting the earliest molecular triggers of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson A Roberts
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
| | - Vijay R Varma
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Yang An
- Brain Aging and Behavior Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | - Julián Candia
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Giovanna Fantoni
- Clinical Research Core, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Vinod Tiwari
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Carlos Anerillas
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Andrew Williamson
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Atsushi Saito
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tina Loeffler
- QPS Austria GmbH, Parkring 12, 8074 Grambach, Austria
| | | | - Ruin Moaddel
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Mohammed Khadeer
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jacqueline Lovett
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Toshiko Tanaka
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Olga Pletnikova
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Marilyn S Albert
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Kaiwen Yu
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mingming Niu
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Vahram Haroutunian
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Deborah L Croteau
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Susan M Resnick
- Brain Aging and Behavior Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Vilhelm A Bohr
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Madhav Thambisetty
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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15
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Mirzaei N, Davis N, Chau TW, Sastre M. Astrocyte Reactivity in Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Opportunities to Promote Repair. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 19:1-15. [PMID: 34719372 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666211029164106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are fast climbing the ladder of importance in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with the prominent presence of reactive astrocytes sur- rounding amyloid β- plaques, together with activated microglia. Reactive astrogliosis, implying morphological and molecular transformations in astrocytes, seems to precede neurodegeneration, suggesting a role in the development of the disease. Single-cell transcriptomics has recently demon- strated that astrocytes from AD brains are different from "normal" healthy astrocytes, showing dys- regulations in areas such as neurotransmitter recycling, including glutamate and GABA, and im- paired homeostatic functions. However, recent data suggest that the ablation of astrocytes in mouse models of amyloidosis results in an increase in amyloid pathology as well as in the inflammatory profile and reduced synaptic density, indicating that astrocytes mediate neuroprotective effects. The idea that interventions targeting astrocytes may have great potential for AD has therefore emerged, supported by a range of drugs and stem cell transplantation studies that have successfully shown a therapeutic effect in mouse models of AD. In this article, we review the latest reports on the role and profile of astrocytes in AD brains and how manipulation of astrocytes in animal mod- els has paved the way for the use of treatments enhancing astrocytic function as future therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048. United States
| | - Nicola Davis
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Tsz Wing Chau
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Sastre
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
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16
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Sinsky J, Pichlerova K, Hanes J. Tau Protein Interaction Partners and Their Roles in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9207. [PMID: 34502116 PMCID: PMC8431036 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein plays a critical role in the assembly, stabilization, and modulation of microtubules, which are important for the normal function of neurons and the brain. In diseased conditions, several pathological modifications of tau protein manifest. These changes lead to tau protein aggregation and the formation of paired helical filaments (PHF) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), which are common hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. The accumulation of PHFs and NFTs results in impairment of physiological functions, apoptosis, and neuronal loss, which is reflected as cognitive impairment, and in the late stages of the disease, leads to death. The causes of this pathological transformation of tau protein haven't been fully understood yet. In both physiological and pathological conditions, tau interacts with several proteins which maintain their proper function or can participate in their pathological modifications. Interaction partners of tau protein and associated molecular pathways can either initiate and drive the tau pathology or can act neuroprotective, by reducing pathological tau proteins or inflammation. In this review, we focus on the tau as a multifunctional protein and its known interacting partners active in regulations of different processes and the roles of these proteins in Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jozef Hanes
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.S.); (K.P.)
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17
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Hou TT, Han YD, Cong L, Liu CC, Liang XY, Xue FZ, Du YF. Apolipoprotein E Facilitates Amyloid-β Oligomer-Induced Tau Phosphorylation. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 74:521-534. [PMID: 32065788 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Hyperphosphorylated tau is one of the key characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and tau pathology correlates with cognitive impairment in AD better than amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology. Thus, a complete understanding of the relevant factors involved in tau phosphorylation is important for AD treatment. APOEɛ4, the strongest genetic risk factor for AD, was found to be involved in tau pathology in frontotemporal dementia. This result indicated that apolipoprotein E (ApoE) may also participate in tau phosphorylation in AD. In the present study, we injected Aβ oligomer (AβO) into the lateral ventricles of wild-type (WT) mice and apoE-/- mice to test the process of tau phosphorylation in the acute phase. We found that the phosphorylated tau and phosphokinase levels were higher in WT mice than in apoE-/- mice. These phenomena were also confirmed in vitro. ApoE ɛ4-treated apoE-/- neurons exhibited more phosphorylated tau than ApoE ɛ2- and ApoE ɛ3-treated neurons. We also found that AβO induced more serious inflammation in WT mice and in ApoE-positive cultured neurons. Anti-inflammatory treatment reduced the phosphorylated tau level induced by AβOs in ApoE-positive neurons. These results suggest that ApoE may facilitate the phosphorylation of tau induced by AβO via inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Hou
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yun-Dan Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shandong Police Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lin Cong
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Cui-Cui Liu
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Liang
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fu-Zhong Xue
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yi-Feng Du
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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18
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Tedeschi DV, da Cunha AF, Cominetti MR, Pedroso RV. Efficacy of Gene Therapy to Restore Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 21:246-257. [PMID: 33494678 DOI: 10.2174/1566523221666210120091146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia and it is a progressive neurogenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. There is currently no cure; however, some treatments are available to slow down the progression of the disease, including gene therapy, which has been investigated to have great potential for the treatment of AD. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to identify the efficacy of gene therapy to restore cognition in AD. METHODS A systematic review was carried out using papers published up to May 2020 and available in the Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline/PUBMED databases. Articles were considered for inclusion if they were original researches that investigated the effects of gene therapy on cognition in AD. The methodological quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Risk of Bias Tool for Animal Intervention Studies (SYRCLE's Rob tool) and the Jadad Scale. RESULTS Most preclinical studies obtained positive results in improving memory and learning in mice that underwent treatment with gene therapy. On the other hand, clinical studies have obtained inconclusive results related to the delivery methods of the viral vector used in gene therapy. CONCLUSION Gene therapy has shown a great potential for the treatment of AD in preclinical trials, but results should be interpreted with caution since preclinical studies presented limitations to predict the efficacy of the treatment outcome in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desyrre V Tedeschi
- Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 310 - 13565-905, Sao Carlos SP, Brazil
| | - Anderson F da Cunha
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 310 - 13565- 905, Sao Carlos SP, Brazil
| | - Márcia R Cominetti
- Department of Gerontology, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 310 - 13565-905, Sao Carlos SP, Brazil
| | - Renata Valle Pedroso
- Department of Gerontology, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 310 - 13565-905, Sao Carlos SP, Brazil
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19
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Yang A, Kantor B, Chiba-Falek O. APOE: The New Frontier in the Development of a Therapeutic Target towards Precision Medicine in Late-Onset Alzheimer's. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1244. [PMID: 33513969 PMCID: PMC7865856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a critical unmet medical need. The consensus around the amyloid cascade hypothesis has been guiding pre-clinical and clinical research to focus mainly on targeting beta-amyloid for treating AD. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the clinical trials have repeatedly failed, prompting the urgent need to refocus on other targets and shifting the paradigm of AD drug development towards precision medicine. One such emerging target is apolipoprotein E (APOE), identified nearly 30 years ago as one of the strongest and most reproduceable genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). An exploration of APOE as a new therapeutic culprit has produced some very encouraging results, proving that the protein holds promise in the context of LOAD therapies. Here, we review the strategies to target APOE based on state-of-the-art technologies such as antisense oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and gene/base editing. We discuss the potential of these initiatives in advancing the development of novel precision medicine therapies to LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Yang
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Boris Kantor
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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20
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Spanos F, Liddelow SA. An Overview of Astrocyte Responses in Genetically Induced Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Models. Cells 2020; 9:E2415. [PMID: 33158189 PMCID: PMC7694249 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Despite many years of intense research, there is currently still no effective treatment. Multiple cell types contribute to disease pathogenesis, with an increasing body of data pointing to the active participation of astrocytes. Astrocytes play a pivotal role in the physiology and metabolic functions of neurons and other cells in the central nervous system. Because of their interactions with other cell types, astrocyte functions must be understood in their biologic context, thus many studies have used mouse models, of which there are over 190 available for AD research. However, none appear able to fully recapitulate the many functional changes in astrocytes reported in human AD brains. Our review summarizes the observations of astrocyte biology noted in mouse models of familial and sporadic AD. The limitations of AD mouse models will be discussed and current attempts to overcome these disadvantages will be described. With increasing understanding of the non-neuronal contributions to disease, the development of new methods and models will provide further insights and address important questions regarding the roles of astrocytes and other non-neuronal cells in AD pathophysiology. The next decade will prove to be full of exciting opportunities to address this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fokion Spanos
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Shane A. Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA;
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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21
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Chen X, Dong GY, Wang LX. High-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation protects APP/PS1 mice against Alzheimer's disease progress by reducing APOE and enhancing autophagy. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01740. [PMID: 32592331 PMCID: PMC7428505 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has clinically wide application prospect of psychiatry and neuroscience, for its painless, noninvasive, and high efficiency. So far, rTMS has been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) but the underlying mechanism is not clear. METHODS AND RESULTS The APP/PS1 mice at 3-month-old were treated by 5 Hz high-frequency (HF) rTMS for two weeks. After rTMS treatment, the AD-like cognitive impairments of APP/PS1 mice were investigated subsequently, and molecular mechanisms underlying was further explored. The study showed that the 2-week rTMS at 5Hz frequency improved cognitive impairments and AD-like pathology (including a decrease in p-Tau, APP, Aβ, and PP2A expression) of APP/PS1 mice. Although BDNF-TrkB signaling was significantly enhanced, no differences of SYN, PSD95 and p-AKT were observed in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. On the contrary, the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio was elevated with a significant reduction of ApoE and p62 in mice. CONCLUSIONS rTMS exerts a potentially protective role in the prevention and treatment of AD by reducing ApoE expression and promoting autophagic flux, which provides a new insight into the mechanism of rTMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Chen
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Reproductive Medicine Centre, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Guo-Ying Dong
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Reproductive Medicine Centre, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Lin-Xiao Wang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Reproductive Medicine Centre, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
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22
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Williams T, Borchelt DR, Chakrabarty P. Therapeutic approaches targeting Apolipoprotein E function in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:8. [PMID: 32005122 PMCID: PMC6995170 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-0358-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the primary genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the presence of the Ɛ4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE). APOE is a polymorphic lipoprotein that is a major cholesterol carrier in the brain. It is also involved in various cellular functions such as neuronal signaling, neuroinflammation and glucose metabolism. Humans predominantly possess three different allelic variants of APOE, termed E2, E3, and E4, with the E3 allele being the most common. The presence of the E4 allele is associated with increased risk of AD whereas E2 reduces the risk. To understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie APOE-related genetic risk, considerable effort has been devoted towards developing cellular and animal models. Data from these models indicate that APOE4 exacerbates amyloid β plaque burden in a dose-dependent manner. and may also enhance tau pathogenesis in an isoform-dependent manner. Other studies have suggested APOE4 increases the risk of AD by mechanisms that are distinct from modulation of Aβ or tau pathology. Further, whether plasma APOE, by influencing systemic metabolic pathways, can also possibly alter CNS function indirectly is not complete;y understood. Collectively, the available studies suggest that APOE may impact multiple signaling pathways and thus investigators have sought therapeutics that would disrupt pathological functions of APOE while preserving or enhancing beneficial functions. This review will highlight some of the therapeutic strategies that are currently being pursued to target APOE4 towards preventing or treating AD and we will discuss additional strategies that holds promise for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tosha Williams
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - David R Borchelt
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Paramita Chakrabarty
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. .,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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23
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Tao QQ, Chen YC, Wu ZY. The role of CD2AP in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Aging Dis 2019; 10:901-907. [PMID: 31440393 PMCID: PMC6675523 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2018.1025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by irreversible decline in cognition with unclear pathogenesis. Recently, accumulating evidence has revealed that CD2 associated protein (CD2AP), a scaffolding molecule regulates signal transduction and cytoskeletal molecules, is implicated in AD pathogenesis. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CD2AP gene are associated with higher risk for AD and mRNA levels of CD2AP are decreased in peripheral lymphocytes of sporadic AD patients. Furthermore, CD2AP loss of function is linked to enhanced Aβ production, Tau-induced neurotoxicity, abnormal neurite structure modulation and reduced blood-brain barrier integrity. This review is to summarize the recent discoveries about the genetics and known functions of CD2AP. The recent evidence concerning the roles of CD2AP in the AD pathogenesis is summarized and CD2AP can be a promising therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Qing Tao
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Chao Chen
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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24
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Priego N, Valiente M. The Potential of Astrocytes as Immune Modulators in Brain Tumors. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1314. [PMID: 31244853 PMCID: PMC6579886 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuro-immune axis has emerged as a key aspect to understand the normal function of the Central Nervous System (CNS) as well as the pathophysiology of many brain disorders. As such, it may represent a promising source for novel therapeutic targets. Glial cells, and in particular the extensively studied microglia, play important roles in brain disorders. Astrocytes, in their reactive state, have been shown to positively and negatively modulate the progression of multiple CNS disorders. These seemingly opposing effects, might stem from their underlying heterogeneity, an aspect that has recently come to light. In this article we will discuss the link between reactive astrocytes and the neuro-immune axis with a perspective on their potential importance in brain tumors. Based on the gained knowledge from studies in other CNS disorders, reactive astrocytes are undoubtfully emerging as a key component of the neuro-immune axis, with ability to modulate both the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system. Lastly, we will discuss how we can exploit our improved understanding of the basic biology of astrocytes to further enhance the efficacy of emerging immune-based therapies in primary brain tumors and brain metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neibla Priego
- Brain Metastasis Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Valiente
- Brain Metastasis Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
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25
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Yin W, Zhang W, Zhu Y, Ni H, Gong L, Fu M. miR-219-3p regulates the occurrence of hepatic fibrosis by targeting Smad2. Exp Ther Med 2019; 17:4635-4642. [PMID: 31086594 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7480] [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: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal expression of microRNA (miR)-219-3p has been widely identified in different tumors. However, whether miR-219-3p is involved in the progression of hepatic fibrosis (HF) has never been explored. The present study showed that compared with healthy controls, the levels of miR-291-3p in peripheral blood were decreased in patients with HF. Furthermore, much lower levels of miR-291-3p were identified in fibrotic liver tissues compared with that of normal liver tissues. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the levels of miR-291-3p in peripheral blood may screen patients with HF from healthy controls. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that overexpression of miR-291-3p significantly suppressed the mRNA levels of Snai1, vascular endothelial-specific cadherin (VE-cadherin), Vimentin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The protein levels of Snai1, VE-cadherin, Vimentin, TGF-β1, and GFAP were also decreased in hepatic stellate cells transfected with miR-291-3p mimics. Further study indicated that mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (Smad2) was a target gene of miR-291-3p. More importantly, silencing of Smad2 could abolish miR-291-3p inhibition-induced TGF-β1 signaling activation. In summary, reduced peripheral blood miR-291-3p may be involved in the progression of HF via targeting Smad2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Yin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
| | - Yanfang Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
| | - Huihui Ni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
| | - Li Gong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
| | - Maoying Fu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
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26
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Wang W, Hou TT, Jia LF, Wu QQ, Quan MN, Jia JP. Toxic amyloid-β oligomers induced self-replication in astrocytes triggering neuronal injury. EBioMedicine 2019; 42:174-187. [PMID: 30926423 PMCID: PMC6491655 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Soluble amyloid-β oligomer (AβO) induced deleterious cascades have recently been considered to be the initiating pathologic agents of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about the neurotoxicity and production of different AβOs. Understanding the production and spread of toxic AβOs within the brain is important to improving understanding of AD pathogenesis and treatment. Methods Here, PS1V97L transgenic mice, a useful tool for studying the role of AβOs in AD, were used to identify the specific AβO assembly that contributes to neuronal injury and cognitive deficits. Then, we investigated the production and spread of toxic Aβ assemblies in astrocyte and neuron cultures, and further tested the results following intracerebroventricular injection of AβOs in animal model. Findings The results showed that cognitive deficits were mainly caused by the accumulation of nonameric and dodecameric Aβ assemblies in the brains. In addition, we found that the toxic AβOs were duplicated in a time-dependent manner when BACE1 and apolipoprotein E were overexpressed, which were responsible for producing redundant Aβ and forming nonameric and dodecameric assemblies in astrocytes, but not in neurons. Interpretation Our results suggest that astrocytes may play a central role in the progression of AD by duplicating and spreading toxic AβOs, thus triggering neuronal injury. Fund This study was supported by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China; the National Key Scientific Instrument and Equipment Development Project; Beijing Scholars Program, and Beijing Brain Initiative from Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Inovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing 100053, PR China
| | - Ting-Ting Hou
- Inovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
| | - Long-Fei Jia
- Inovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing 100053, PR China; Clinical Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Memory Impairment, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
| | - Qiao-Qi Wu
- Inovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing 100053, PR China; Clinical Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Memory Impairment, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
| | - Mei-Na Quan
- Inovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
| | - Jian-Ping Jia
- Inovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing 100053, PR China; Clinical Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Memory Impairment, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China; Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing 100053, PR China; Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100053, PR China.
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27
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Over the last decade over 40 loci have been associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, most studies have either focused on identifying risk loci or performing unbiased screens without a focus on protective variation in AD. Here, we provide a review of known protective variants in AD and their putative mechanisms of action. Additionally, we recommend strategies for finding new protective variants. RECENT FINDINGS Recent Genome-Wide Association Studies have identified both common and rare protective variants associated with AD. These include variants in or near APP, APOE, PLCG2, MS4A, MAPT-KANSL1, RAB10, ABCA1, CCL11, SORL1, NOCT, SCL24A4-RIN3, CASS4, EPHA1, SPPL2A, and NFIC. SUMMARY There are very few protective variants with functional evidence and a derived allele with a frequency below 20%. Additional fine mapping and multi-omic studies are needed to further validate and characterize known variants as well as specialized genome-wide scans to identify novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shea J Andrews
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Equal first author
| | - Brian Fulton-Howard
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Equal first author
| | - Alison Goate
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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28
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Hudry E, Klickstein J, Cannavo C, Jackson R, Muzikansky A, Gandhi S, Urick D, Sargent T, Wrobleski L, Roe AD, Hou SS, Kuchibhotla KV, Betensky RA, Spires-Jones T, Hyman BT. Opposing Roles of apolipoprotein E in aging and neurodegeneration. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/1/e201900325. [PMID: 30760557 PMCID: PMC6374993 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) effects on brain function remain controversial. Removal of APOE not only impairs cognitive functions but also reduces neuritic amyloid plaques in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Can APOE simultaneously protect and impair neural circuits? Here, we dissociated the role of APOE in AD versus aging to determine its effects on neuronal function and synaptic integrity. Using two-photon calcium imaging in awake mice to record visually evoked responses, we found that genetic removal of APOE improved neuronal responses in adult APP/PSEN1 mice (8-10 mo). These animals also exhibited fewer neuritic plaques with less surrounding synapse loss, fewer neuritic dystrophies, and reactive glia. Surprisingly, the lack of APOE in aged mice (18-20 mo), even in the absence of amyloid, disrupted visually evoked responses. These results suggest a dissociation in APOE's role in AD versus aging: APOE may be neurotoxic during early stages of amyloid deposition, although being neuroprotective in latter stages of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Hudry
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jacob Klickstein
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Claudia Cannavo
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, and Edinburgh Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rosemary Jackson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, and Edinburgh Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alona Muzikansky
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheetal Gandhi
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - David Urick
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Taylie Sargent
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Lauren Wrobleski
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Allyson D Roe
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Steven S Hou
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | | | - Rebecca A Betensky
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tara Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, and Edinburgh Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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29
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Tong XK, Trigiani LJ, Hamel E. High cholesterol triggers white matter alterations and cognitive deficits in a mouse model of cerebrovascular disease: benefits of simvastatin. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:89. [PMID: 30692517 PMCID: PMC6349936 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1199-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mice overexpressing transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF mice) display impaired cerebrovascular reactivity, cerebral hypoperfusion and neurovascular uncoupling, but no overt cognitive deficits until old age. Cardiovascular diseases are a major risk factor for vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). We investigated the impact of a high cholesterol diet (HCD) on cerebrovascular and cognitive function in adult (6 months) and aged (12 months) TGF mice, together with the potential benefit of simvastatin (SV), an anti-cholesterol drug with pleiotropic effects, in adult mice. HCD increased blood, but not brain, cholesterol levels in treated mice, which SV did not reduce. In WT mice, HCD induced small, albeit significant, impairment in endothelium-dependent dilatory function. In TGF mice, HCD worsened the established brain vessel dilatory dysfunction in an age-dependent manner and increased the number of string vessels in the white matter (WM), alterations respectively normalized and significantly countered by SV. HCD triggered cognitive decline only in TGF mice at both ages, a deficit prevented by SV. Concurrently, HCD upregulated galectin−3 immunoreactivity in WM microglial cells, a response significantly reduced in SV-treated TGF mice. Grey matter astrogliosis and microgliosis were not affected by HCD or SV. In the subventricular zone of adult HCD-treated TGF mice, SV promoted oligogenesis and migration of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. The results demonstrate that an underlying cerebrovascular pathology increases vulnerability to cognitive failure when combined to another risk factor for dementia, and that WM alterations are associated with this loss of function. The results further indicate that myelin repair mechanisms, as triggered by SV, may bear promise in preventing or delaying cognitive decline related to VCID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Kang Tong
- Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Research, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montréal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
| | - Lianne J Trigiani
- Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Research, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montréal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
| | - Edith Hamel
- Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Research, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montréal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada.
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30
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Astrocytes and the TGF-β1 Pathway in the Healthy and Diseased Brain: a Double-Edged Sword. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:4653-4679. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1396-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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31
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Specific deletion connexin43 in astrocyte ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice. Life Sci 2018; 208:175-191. [PMID: 30031059 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Emerging data indicate an important role for connexin43 (Cx43) in cognitive function, but there is a lack of direct evidence of the role of astroglial Cx43 in cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we evaluated the expression pattern of Cx43 in AD and found progressive upregulation of the mRNA and protein levels of Cx43. Subsequently, we generated an astroglial Cx43 knockout (KO) AD mouse model by crossbreeding Gfap (glial fibrillary acidic protein)-Cx43 KO mice with APP/PS1 mice. Then we assessed the cognitive function of 12-month-old APP (amyloid precursor protein)/PS1 (presenilin 1)/Gfap-Cx43 KO mice, which demonstrated that the deletion of astroglial Cx43 significantly ameliorated cognitive dysfunction. To further investigate the underlying mechanisms, we evaluated amyloid plaque formation, astrogliosis, and synaptic function. The number and area of amyloid plaques were not altered, but GFAP expression was significantly decreased and the number of synapses was markedly upregulated. These results suggest that deletion of astroglial Cx43 in APP/PS1 mice did not affect the formation of amyloid plaques but depressed astrogliosis and upregulated synaptic function. Moreover, levels of critical modulators of astroglial activation were also notably reduced, but those of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were not altered. Furthermore, Cx43 regulation of postsynaptic elements targets mainly NMDAR (N-methyl-d-aspartate). In addition, the prevention of AD pathology was reversed by Cx43 re-expression. In sum, specific deletion of astroglial Cx43 in APP/PS1 mice improved cognitive dysfunction by decreasing astrogliosis and increasing synaptic function without affecting amyloid plaque formation or the inflammatory response.
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Abstract
Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) produces deleterious ocular aging and has protean systemic manifestations. Local ocular production of TGFβ1 is of central importance in XFS. TGFβ1 appears to induce the expression of LOXL1 and the production of other extracellular matrix components which are known to be present in exfoliation material. Furthermore, results from several studies find that the aqueous humor of exfoliation glaucoma patients exhibits a decreased antioxidant defense and increased oxidative stress systems. Finally, studies show that the levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in the aqueous humor of XFS patients were 3-fold higher than in controls. Overall TGFβ1, as well as a prooxidative and proinflammatory environment seems to play an important role in XFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Borrás
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
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Muñoz Y, Paula-Lima AC, Núñez MT. Reactive oxygen species released from astrocytes treated with amyloid beta oligomers elicit neuronal calcium signals that decrease phospho-Ser727-STAT3 nuclear content. Free Radic Biol Med 2018; 117:132-144. [PMID: 29309895 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor STAT3 has a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the nervous system. In this work, we treated astrocytes with oligomers of the amyloid beta peptide (AβOs), which display potent synaptotoxic activity, and studied the effects of mediators released by AβOs-treated astrocytes on the nuclear location of neuronal serine-727-phosphorylated STAT3 (pSerSTAT3). Treatment of mixed neuron-astrocyte cultures with 0.5µMAβOs induced in neurons a significant decrease of nuclear pSerSTAT3, but not of phosphotyrosine-705 STAT3, the other form of STAT3 phosphorylation. This decrease did not occur in astrocyte-poor neuronal cultures revealing a pivotal role for astrocytes in this response. To test if mediators released by astrocytes in response to AβOs induce pSerSTAT3 nuclear depletion, we used conditioned medium derived from AβOs-treated astrocyte cultures. Treatment of astrocyte-poor neuronal cultures with this medium caused pSerSTAT3 nuclear depletion but did not modify overall STAT3 levels. Extracellular catalase prevented the pSerSTAT3 nuclear depletion caused by astrocyte-conditioned medium, indicating that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate this response. This conditioned medium also increased neuronal oxidative tone, leading to a ryanodine-sensitive intracellular calcium signal that proved to be essential for pSerSTAT3 nuclear depletion. In addition, this depletion decreased BCL2 and Survivin transcription and significantly increased BAX/BCL2 ratio. This is the first description that ROS generated by AβOs-treated astrocytes and neuronal calcium signals jointly regulate pSerSTAT3 nuclear distribution in neurons. We propose that astrocytes release ROS in response to AβOs, which by increasing neuronal oxidative tone, generate calcium signals that cause pSerSTAT3 nuclear depletion and loss of STAT3 protective transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorka Muñoz
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences,Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea C Paula-Lima
- Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Marco T Núñez
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences,Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Xu Y, Chen P, Wang X, Yao J, Zhuang S. miR-34a deficiency in APP/PS1 mice promotes cognitive function by increasing synaptic plasticity via AMPA and NMDA receptors. Neurosci Lett 2018; 670:94-104. [PMID: 29378298 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA (miR)-34a was recently determined to contribute to the pathological development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). miR-34a deficiency significantly attenuates cognitive deficits in amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) mice; however, its role in early AD pathology and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we confirmed that the increase of miR-34a expression in APP/PS1 mice was earlier than the relevant AD pathological characteristics, such as amyloid-β production, amyloid plaque deposition, and cognitive deficits. Furthermore, because predicted miR-34a target genes were broadly linked to α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, we evaluated synaptic plasticity by investigating high-frequency conditioning tetanus-induced excitatory postsynaptic potential, which revealed that synaptic plasticity was promoted in miR-34a knockout/APP/PS1 mice. Therefore, we assessed the expression of the presynaptic components synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and found that synaptophysin and PSD95 were not altered by miR-34a deficiency. Additionally, the synaptic strength (vesicular fusion, vesicular docking, and transporting) was either not significantly changed. We also evaluated the levels of AMPA and NMDA receptors, which showed that the expression of AMPA and NMDA receptors was markedly upregulated in APP/PS1 mice with miR-34a deficiency. We conclude that miR-34a is involved in synaptic deficits in AD pathological development, which was, at least in part, due to the inhibition of NMDA (by miR-34a-5p) and AMPA (by miR-34a-3p) receptor expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelong Xu
- Department of Neurology, Linyi Central Hospital, No. 17 Jiankang Road, Linyi, Shandong, 276400, PR China
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Medical College, No. 80 Jintan Road, Linyi, Shandong, 276000, PR China
| | - Xianjun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Linyi People's Hospital, No. 49 Yizhou Road, Linyi, Shandong, 276000, PR China
| | - Jinguo Yao
- Department of Neurology, Linyi Central Hospital, No. 17 Jiankang Road, Linyi, Shandong, 276400, PR China
| | - Sujing Zhuang
- Department of Neurology, Linyi Central Hospital, No. 17 Jiankang Road, Linyi, Shandong, 276400, PR China.
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Jha MK, Kim JH, Song GJ, Lee WH, Lee IK, Lee HW, An SSA, Kim S, Suk K. Functional dissection of astrocyte-secreted proteins: Implications in brain health and diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 162:37-69. [PMID: 29247683 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes, which are homeostatic cells of the central nervous system (CNS), display remarkable heterogeneity in their morphology and function. Besides their physical and metabolic support to neurons, astrocytes modulate the blood-brain barrier, regulate CNS synaptogenesis, guide axon pathfinding, maintain brain homeostasis, affect neuronal development and plasticity, and contribute to diverse neuropathologies via secreted proteins. The identification of astrocytic proteome and secretome profiles has provided new insights into the maintenance of neuronal health and survival, the pathogenesis of brain injury, and neurodegeneration. Recent advances in proteomics research have provided an excellent catalog of astrocyte-secreted proteins. This review categorizes astrocyte-secreted proteins and discusses evidence that astrocytes play a crucial role in neuronal activity and brain function. An in-depth understanding of astrocyte-secreted proteins and their pathways is pivotal for the development of novel strategies for restoring brain homeostasis, limiting brain injury/inflammation, counteracting neurodegeneration, and obtaining functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithilesh Kumar Jha
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jong-Heon Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyun Jee Song
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Ha Lee
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Kyu Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Won Lee
- Department of Neurology, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Soo A An
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - SangYun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungho Suk
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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Cai Z, Wan CQ, Liu Z. Astrocyte and Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol 2017; 264:2068-2074. [PMID: 28821953 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-017-8593-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The past several decades have given rise to more insights into the role of astrocytes in normal brain function and diseases. Astrocytes elicit an effect which may be neuroprotective or deleterious in the process of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Impairments in astrocytes and their other functions, as well as physiological reactions of astrocytes to external injury, can trigger or exacerbate hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathologies, leading to the formation of both amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), as well as neuronal dysfunction. This review addresses the involvement of astrocytes in the Aβ pathology, where the main mechanisms include the generation and clearance of Aβ, and the formation of NFTs. It is also discussed that metabolic dysfunction from astrocytes acts as an initiating factor in the pathogenesis of AD and a contributor to the onset and development of clinical presentation in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyou Cai
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, No. 312 Zhongshan First Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400013, People's Republic of China.
| | - Cheng-Qun Wan
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing General Hospital, No. 312 Zhongshan First Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400013, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhou Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.,Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
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