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Galbraith MD, Rachubinski AL, Smith KP, Araya P, Waugh KA, Enriquez-Estrada B, Worek K, Granrath RE, Kinning KT, Paul Eduthan N, Ludwig MP, Hsieh EW, Sullivan KD, Espinosa JM. Multidimensional definition of the interferonopathy of Down syndrome and its response to JAK inhibition. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg6218. [PMID: 37379383 PMCID: PMC10306300 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg6218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) display chronic hyperactivation of interferon signaling. However, the clinical impacts of interferon hyperactivity in DS are ill-defined. Here, we describe a multiomics investigation of interferon signaling in hundreds of individuals with DS. Using interferon scores derived from the whole blood transcriptome, we defined the proteomic, immune, metabolic, and clinical features associated with interferon hyperactivity in DS. Interferon hyperactivity associates with a distinct proinflammatory phenotype and dysregulation of major growth signaling and morphogenic pathways. Individuals with the highest interferon activity display the strongest remodeling of the peripheral immune system, including increased cytotoxic T cells, B cell depletion, and monocyte activation. Interferon hyperactivity accompanies key metabolic changes, most prominently dysregulated tryptophan catabolism. High interferon signaling stratifies a subpopulation with elevated rates of congenital heart disease and autoimmunity. Last, a longitudinal case study demonstrated that JAK inhibition normalizes interferon signatures with therapeutic benefit in DS. Together, these results justify the testing of immune-modulatory therapies in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Galbraith
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela L. Rachubinski
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Keith P. Smith
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Paula Araya
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Katherine A. Waugh
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Belinda Enriquez-Estrada
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kayleigh Worek
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ross E. Granrath
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kohl T. Kinning
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Neetha Paul Eduthan
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Michael P. Ludwig
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Elena W. Y. Hsieh
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy/Immunology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kelly D. Sullivan
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Joaquin M. Espinosa
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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2
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Roy ER, Cao W. Antiviral Immune Response in Alzheimer's Disease: Connecting the Dots. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:577744. [PMID: 33132831 PMCID: PMC7561672 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.577744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents an enormous public health challenge currently and with increasing urgency in the coming decades. Our understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of AD is rather incomplete, which is manifested in stagnated therapeutic developments. Apart from the well-established Amyloid Hypothesis of AD, gaining traction in recent years is the Pathogen Hypothesis, which postulates a causal role of infectious agents in the development of AD. Particularly, infection by viruses, among a diverse range of microorganisms, has been implicated. Recently, we described a prominent antiviral immune response in human AD brains as well as murine amyloid beta models, which has consequential effects on neuropathology. Such findings expectedly allude to the question about viral infections and AD. In this Perspective, we would like to discuss the molecular mechanism underlying the antiviral immune response, highlight how such pathway directly promotes AD pathogenesis, and depict a multilayered connection between antiviral immune response and other agents and factors relevant to AD. By tying together these threads of evidence, we provide a cohesive perspective on the uprising of antiviral immune response in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan R Roy
- Huffington Center on Aging and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Wei Cao
- Huffington Center on Aging and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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Lucas ED, Finlon JM, Burchill MA, McCarthy MK, Morrison TE, Colpitts TM, Tamburini BAJ. Type 1 IFN and PD-L1 Coordinate Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Expansion and Contraction during an Inflammatory Immune Response. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 201:1735-1747. [PMID: 30045970 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Lymph node (LN) expansion during an immune response is a complex process that involves the relaxation of the fibroblastic network, germinal center formation, and lymphatic vessel growth. These processes require the stromal cell network of the LN to act deliberately to accommodate the influx of immune cells to the LN. The molecular drivers of these processes are not well understood. Therefore, we asked whether the immediate cytokines type 1 IFN produced during viral infection influence the lymphatic network of the LN in mice. We found that following an IFN-inducing stimulus such as viral infection or polyI:C, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is dynamically upregulated on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). We found that reception of type 1 IFN by LECs is important for the upregulation of PD-L1 of mouse and human LECs and the inhibition of LEC expansion in the LN. Expression of PD-L1 by LECs is also important for the regulation of LN expansion and contraction after an IFN-inducing stimulus. We demonstrate a direct role for both type 1 IFN and PD-L1 in inhibiting LEC division and in promoting LEC survival. Together, these data reveal a novel mechanism for the coordination of type 1 IFN and PD-L1 in manipulating LEC expansion and survival during an inflammatory immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin D Lucas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Jeffrey M Finlon
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Matthew A Burchill
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Mary K McCarthy
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Thomas E Morrison
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Tonya M Colpitts
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118; and.,Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118
| | - Beth A Jirón Tamburini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045; .,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
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4
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Andrews FH, Tong Q, Sullivan KD, Cornett EM, Zhang Y, Ali M, Ahn J, Pandey A, Guo AH, Strahl BD, Costello JC, Espinosa JM, Rothbart SB, Kutateladze TG. Multivalent Chromatin Engagement and Inter-domain Crosstalk Regulate MORC3 ATPase. Cell Rep 2018; 16:3195-3207. [PMID: 27653685 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
MORC3 is linked to inflammatory myopathies and cancer; however, the precise role of MORC3 in normal cell physiology and disease remains poorly understood. Here, we present detailed genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses of MORC3. We demonstrate that MORC3 is significantly upregulated in Down syndrome and that genetic abnormalities in MORC3 are associated with cancer. The CW domain of MORC3 binds to the methylated histone H3K4 tail, and this interaction is essential for recruitment of MORC3 to chromatin and accumulation in nuclear bodies. We show that MORC3 possesses intrinsic ATPase activity that requires DNA, but it is negatively regulated by the CW domain, which interacts with the ATPase domain. Natively linked CW impedes binding of the ATPase domain to DNA, resulting in a decrease in the DNA-stimulated enzymatic activity. Collectively, our studies provide a molecular framework detailing MORC3 functions and suggest that its modulation may contribute to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forest H Andrews
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Qiong Tong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kelly D Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Evan M Cornett
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Muzaffar Ali
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - JaeWoo Ahn
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ahway Pandey
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Angela H Guo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Brian D Strahl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - James C Costello
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Joaquin M Espinosa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Scott B Rothbart
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Tatiana G Kutateladze
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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5
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Hamlett ED, Ledreux A, Potter H, Chial HJ, Patterson D, Espinosa JM, Bettcher BM, Granholm AC. Exosomal biomarkers in Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Free Radic Biol Med 2018; 114:110-121. [PMID: 28882786 PMCID: PMC6135098 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Every person with Down syndrome (DS) has the characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology in their brain by the age of forty, and most go on to develop AD dementia. Since people with DS show highly variable levels of baseline function, it is often difficult to identify early signs of dementia in this population. The discovery of blood biomarkers predictive of dementia onset and/or progression in DS is critical for developing effective clinical diagnostics. Our recent studies show that neuron-derived exosomes, which are small extracellular vesicles secreted by most cells in the body, contain elevated levels of amyloid-beta peptides and phosphorylated-Tau that could indicate a preclinical AD phase in people with DS starting in childhood. We also found that the relative levels of these biomarkers were altered following dementia onset. Exosome release and signaling are dependent on cellular redox homeostasis as well as on inflammatory processes, and exosomes may be involved in the immune response, suggesting a dual role as both triggers of inflammation in the brain and propagators of inflammatory signals between brain regions. Based on recently reported connections between inflammatory processes and exosome release, the elevated neuroinflammatory state observed in people with DS may affect exosomal AD biomarkers. Herein, we discuss findings from studies of people with DS, people with DS and AD (DS-AD), and mouse models of DS showing new connections between neuroinflammatory pathways, oxidative stress, exosomes, and exosome-mediated signaling, which may inform future AD diagnostics, preventions, and treatments in the DS population as well as in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Hamlett
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Aurélie Ledreux
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Huntington Potter
- Rocky Mountain Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Heidi J Chial
- Rocky Mountain Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - David Patterson
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Joaquin M Espinosa
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Brianne M Bettcher
- Rocky Mountain Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ann-Charlotte Granholm
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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6
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Brain interference: Revisiting the role of IFNγ in the central nervous system. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 156:149-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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7
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Potential Role of JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway in the Neurogenic-to-Gliogenic Shift in Down Syndrome Brain. Neural Plast 2016; 2016:7434191. [PMID: 26881131 PMCID: PMC4737457 DOI: 10.1155/2016/7434191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 11/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Trisomy of human chromosome 21 in Down syndrome (DS) leads to several phenotypes, such as mild-to-severe intellectual disability, hypotonia, and craniofacial dysmorphisms. These are fundamental hallmarks of the disorder that affect the quality of life of most individuals with DS. Proper brain development involves meticulous regulation of various signaling pathways, and dysregulation may result in abnormal neurodevelopment. DS brain is characterized by an increased number of astrocytes with reduced number of neurons. In mouse models for DS, the pool of neural progenitor cells commits to glia rather than neuronal cell fate in the DS brain. However, the mechanism(s) and consequences of this slight neurogenic-to-gliogenic shift in DS brain are still poorly understood. To date, Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling has been proposed to be crucial in various developmental pathways, especially in promoting astrogliogenesis. Since both human and mouse models of DS brain exhibit less neurons and a higher percentage of cells with astrocytic phenotypes, understanding the role of JAK-STAT signaling in DS brain development will provide novel insight into its role in the pathogenesis of DS brain and may serve as a potential target for the development of effective therapy to improve DS cognition.
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8
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Liu W, Zhou H, Liu L, Zhao C, Deng Y, Chen L, Wu L, Mandrycky N, McNabb CT, Peng Y, Fuchs PN, Lu J, Sheen V, Qiu M, Mao M, Lu QR. Disruption of neurogenesis and cortical development in transgenic mice misexpressing Olig2, a gene in the Down syndrome critical region. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 77:106-16. [PMID: 25747816 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Olig2 is crucial for mammalian central nervous system development. Human ortholog OLIG2 is located in the Down syndrome critical region in trisomy 21. To investigate the effect of Olig2 misexpression on brain development, we generated a developmentally regulated Olig2-overexpressing transgenic line with a Cre/loxP system. The transgenic mice with Olig2 misexpression in cortical neural stem/progenitor cells exhibited microcephaly, cortical dyslamination, hippocampus malformation, and profound motor deficits. Ectopic misexpression of Olig2 impaired cortical progenitor proliferation and caused precocious cell cycle exit. Massive neuronal cell death was detected in the developing cortex of Olig2-misexpressing mice. In addition, Olig2 misexpression led to a significant downregulation of neuronal specification factors including Ngn1, Ngn2 and Pax6, and a defect in cortical neurogenesis. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation and sequencing (ChIP-Seq) analysis indicates that Olig2 directly targets the promoter and/or enhancer regions of Nfatc4, Dscr1/Rcan1 and Dyrk1a, the critical neurogenic genes that contribute to Down syndrome phenotypes, and inhibits their expression. Together, our study suggests that Olig2 misexpression in neural stem cells elicits neurogenesis defects and neuronal cell death, which may contribute to developmental disorders including Down syndrome, where OLIG2 is triplicated on chromosomal 21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China; Department of Pediatrics, Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 25229, USA; Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Chuntao Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 25229, USA
| | - Yaqi Deng
- Department of Pediatrics, Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 25229, USA
| | - Lina Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Laiman Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 25229, USA
| | - Nicole Mandrycky
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, TX 75390, USA
| | | | - Yuanbo Peng
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Perry N Fuchs
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Volney Sheen
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mengsheng Qiu
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310029, PR China; Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Meng Mao
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Q Richard Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 25229, USA; Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, PR China.
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9
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Garcia O, Torres M, Helguera P, Coskun P, Busciglio J. A role for thrombospondin-1 deficits in astrocyte-mediated spine and synaptic pathology in Down's syndrome. PLoS One 2010; 5:e14200. [PMID: 21152035 PMCID: PMC2996288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Accepted: 11/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Down's syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of mental retardation. Reduced number and aberrant architecture of dendritic spines are common features of DS neuropathology. However, the mechanisms involved in DS spine alterations are not known. In addition to a relevant role in synapse formation and maintenance, astrocytes can regulate spine dynamics by releasing soluble factors or by physical contact with neurons. We have previously shown impaired mitochondrial function in DS astrocytes leading to metabolic alterations in protein processing and secretion. In this study, we investigated whether deficits in astrocyte function contribute to DS spine pathology. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using a human astrocyte/rat hippocampal neuron coculture, we found that DS astrocytes are directly involved in the development of spine malformations and reduced synaptic density. We also show that thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1), an astrocyte-secreted protein, possesses a potent modulatory effect on spine number and morphology, and that both DS brains and DS astrocytes exhibit marked deficits in TSP-1 protein expression. Depletion of TSP-1 from normal astrocytes resulted in dramatic changes in spine morphology, while restoration of TSP-1 levels prevented DS astrocyte-mediated spine and synaptic alterations. Astrocyte cultures derived from TSP-1 KO mice exhibited similar deficits to support spine formation and structure than DS astrocytes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These results indicate that human astrocytes promote spine and synapse formation, identify astrocyte dysfunction as a significant factor of spine and synaptic pathology in the DS brain, and provide a mechanistic rationale for the exploration of TSP-1-based therapies to treat spine and synaptic pathology in DS and other neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Garcia
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (iMIND), Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Maria Torres
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (iMIND), Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Pablo Helguera
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (iMIND), Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Pinar Coskun
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (iMIND), Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Jorge Busciglio
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (iMIND), Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
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10
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Wolvetang EJ, Bradfield OM, Hatzistavrou T, Crack PJ, Busciglio J, Kola I, Hertzog PJ. Overexpression of the chromosome 21 transcription factor Ets2 induces neuronal apoptosis. Neurobiol Dis 2003; 14:349-56. [PMID: 14678752 DOI: 10.1016/s0969-9961(03)00107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (trisomy 21) neurons display an increased rate of apoptosis in vitro. The genes on chromosome 21 that mediate this increased cell death remain to be elucidated. Here we show that the chromosome 21 transcription factor Ets2, a gene that is overexpressed in Down syndrome, is expressed in neurons, and that moderate overexpression of Ets2 leads to increased apoptosis of primary neuronal cultures from Ets2 tg mice that involves activation of caspase-3. Our data therefore suggest that overexpression of ETS2 may contribute to the increased rate of apoptosis of neurons in Down syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Wolvetang
- Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Monash Medical Center, 246 Clayton Road, 3168 Clayton, Australia.
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11
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Cairns NJ. Molecular neuropathology of transgenic mouse models of Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. SUPPLEMENTUM 2002:289-301. [PMID: 11771752 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-6262-0_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a complex, clinically heterogeneous disorder which shows both impairment of neurodevelopement and the neurodegenerative changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The phenotype of DS is caused by triplication of chromosome 21 and transgenic mouse models have been developed, and are being created, that carry single genes and chromosomal segments to excess. For example, transgenic mice containing additional copies of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene, have been useful in producing the Abeta deposition characteristic of AD and DS, but not the cytoskeletal changes that are the hallmarks of these human disorders. Such models are useful in replicating aspects of pathogenesis and allow for the testing of therapeutic agents to restore impaired function. Segmental trisomic mouse models, which survive to adulthood and possess three copies of multiple genes responsible for the DS phenotype, such as Ts1Cje and Ts65Dn, have been used to explore aspects of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. These animal models show some but not all the pathological, biochemical, and transcriptional changes seen in DS. They also have the advantage of allowing for the testing of therapeutic agents to restore impaired function. Analysis of the transcriptome and proteome of fetal and adult DS indicates that there is a complex relationship between gene dosage, gene and protein expression, and that data from animal models will need to be compared and evaluated in the light of data obtained from DS tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- N J Cairns
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, United Kingdom.
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12
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Abstract
The neurotrophin, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), exerts multiple effects on the development and maintenance of the nervous system, including regulating synaptic plasticity and promoting neuron survival. Here we report the selective failure of BDNF-dependent survival in cultured hippocampal neurons from the trisomy 16 (Ts16) mouse, an animal model of Down syndrome. This failure is accompanied by overexpression of a truncated, kinase-deficient isoform (T1) of the BDNF receptor tyrosine receptor kinase B (trkB). Adenovirus-mediated introduction of exogenous full-length trkB into Ts16 neurons fully restored BDNF-dependent survival, whereas exogenous truncated trkB expression in normal, euploid neurons reproduced the Ts16 BDNF signaling failure. Thus, the failure of Ts16 neurons to respond to BDNF is caused by dysregulation of trkB isoform expression. Such a neurotrophin signaling defect could contribute to developmental and degenerative disorders of the nervous system.
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13
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Blasko I, Ransmayr G, Veerhuis R, Eikelenboom P, Grubeck-Loebenstein B. Does IFNgamma play a role in neurodegeneration? J Neuroimmunol 2001; 116:1-4. [PMID: 11311323 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(01)00279-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I Blasko
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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14
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Hallam DM, Capps NL, Travelstead AL, Brewer GJ, Maroun LE. Evidence for an interferon-related inflammatory reaction in the trisomy 16 mouse brain leading to caspase-1-mediated neuronal apoptosis. J Neuroimmunol 2000; 110:66-75. [PMID: 11024535 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(00)00289-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The trisomy of human chromosome 21 (Down syndrome) is the leading genetic cause of learning difficulties in children, and predisposes this population to the early onset of the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease. Down syndrome is associated with increased interferon (IFN) sensitivity resulting in unexpectedly high levels of IFN inducible gene products including Fas, complement factor C3, and neuronal HLA I which could result in a damaging inflammatory reaction in the brain. Consistent with this possibility, we report here that the trisomy 16 mouse fetus has significantly increased whole brain IFN-gamma and Fas receptor immunoreactivity and that cultured whole brain trisomy 16 mouse neurons have increased basal levels of caspase 1 activity and altered homeostasis of intracellular calcium and pH. The trisomic neurons also showed a heightened sensitivity to the increase in both Fas receptor levels and caspase 1 activity we observed when IFN-gamma was added to the neuron culture media. Because of the autoregulatory nature of IFN activity, and the IFN inducing capability of caspase-1-activated cytokine activity, our data argue in favor of the possibility of an interferon-mediated, self-perpetuating, inflammatory response in the trisomy brain that could subserve the loss of neuron viability seen in this trisomy 16 mouse model for Down syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Hallam
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 19626, Springfield, IL 62794-9626, USA
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15
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Abstract
Down's syndrome (DS), occurring in 0.8 out of 1,000 live births, is a genetic disorder in which an extra portion of chromosome 21 leads to several abnormalities. With respect to the nervous system, it causes mental retardation. It is conceived that abnormal neuronal cell death in development is involved, but there is no direct evidence yet. In addition to developmental brain abnormalities, almost all DS brains over 40 years old manifest a similar pathology to Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the presence of senile plaques (SP) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Although there was a debate to segregate dementia from underlying mental retardation, at least some portion of DS patients exhibit deteriorated mental status with aging. The mechanism underlying these abnormalities at the molecular level remains to be elucidated. Recently there have been several reports suggesting abnormalities reflecting increased risk to apoptosis in DS brains. Increased expression of several apoptosis-related genes (p53, fas, ratio of bax to bcl-2, GAPDH) in DS brains has been reported. Cultured neurons from both patients and model animals are reportedly more vulnerable to apoptosis. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species and its causative roles for increased apoptosis in DS tissues are suggested. One possible hypothesis is an increased susceptibility to apoptosis due to p53 overactivation in DS brains. A beta 42, a critical peptide for AD pathology from amyloid precursor protein (APP), can be detected in DS brains. A beta 42 is deposited in SP from an early stage, suggesting common molecular mechanisms in DS and AD. Animal models for DS are important in the search of molecular mechanisms. Several types of models are now available. Future DS studies are expected to integrate information from animal models and human tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sawa
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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16
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Abstract
Hippocampal neurons from the trisomy 16 (Ts16) mouse, a potential animal model of Down's syndrome (trisomy 21) and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), die at an accelerated rate in vitro. Here, we present evidence that the accelerated neuronal death in Ts16 occurs by apoptosis, as has been reported for neurons in AD. First, the nuclei of dying Ts16 neurons are pyknotic and undergo DNA fragmentation, as revealed by terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling. Second, the accelerated death of Ts16 neurons is prevented by inhibitors of the caspase family of proteases, which are thought to act at a late, obligatory step in the apoptosis pathway. In the presence of maximally effective concentrations of caspase inhibitors, Ts16 neuron survival was indistinguishable from that of control neurons. These results suggest that overexpression of one or more genes on mouse chromosome 16 leads to caspase-mediated apoptosis in Ts16 neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- L L Bambrick
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA
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