1
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Cullen PF, Gammerdinger WJ, Sui SJH, Mazumder AG, Sun D. Transcriptional profiling of retinal astrocytes identifies a specific marker and points to functional specialization. Glia 2024; 72:1604-1628. [PMID: 38785355 PMCID: PMC11262981 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Astrocyte heterogeneity is an increasingly prominent research topic, and studies in the brain have demonstrated substantial variation in astrocyte form and function, both between and within regions. In contrast, retinal astrocytes are not well understood and remain incompletely characterized. Along with optic nerve astrocytes, they are responsible for supporting retinal ganglion cell axons and an improved understanding of their role is required. We have used a combination of microdissection and Ribotag immunoprecipitation to isolate ribosome-associated mRNA from retinal astrocytes and investigate their transcriptome, which we also compared to astrocyte populations in the optic nerve. Astrocytes from these regions are transcriptionally distinct, and we identified retina-specific astrocyte genes and pathways. Moreover, although they share much of the "classical" gene expression patterns of astrocytes, we uncovered unexpected variation, including in genes related to core astrocyte functions. We additionally identified the transcription factor Pax8 as a highly specific marker of retinal astrocytes and demonstrated that these astrocytes populate not only the retinal surface, but also the prelaminar region at the optic nerve head. These findings are likely to contribute to a revised understanding of the role of astrocytes in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Cullen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - William J Gammerdinger
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shannan J Ho Sui
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Arpan G Mazumder
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Daniel Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
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2
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Sagredo GT, Tanglay O, Shahdadpuri S, Fu Y, Halliday GM. ⍺-Synuclein levels in Parkinson's disease - Cell types and forms that contribute to pathogenesis. Exp Neurol 2024; 379:114887. [PMID: 39009177 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) has two main pathological hallmarks, the loss of nigral dopamine neurons and the proteinaceous aggregations of ⍺-synuclein (⍺Syn) in neuronal Lewy pathology. These two co-existing features suggest a causative association between ⍺Syn aggregation and the underpinning mechanism of neuronal degeneration in PD. Both increased levels and post-translational modifications of ⍺Syn can contribute to the formation of pathological aggregations of ⍺Syn in neurons. Recent studies have shown that the protein is also expressed by multiple types of non-neuronal cells in the brain and peripheral tissues, suggesting additional roles of the protein and potential diversity in non-neuronal pathogenic triggers. It is important to determine (1) the threshold levels triggering ⍺Syn to convert from a biological to a pathologic form in different brain cells in PD; (2) the dominant form of pathologic ⍺Syn and the associated post-translational modification of the protein in each cell type involved in PD; and (3) the cell type associated biological processes impacted by pathologic ⍺Syn in PD. This review integrates these aspects and speculates on potential pathological mechanisms and their impact on neuronal and non-neuronal ⍺Syn in the brains of patients with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle Tatiana Sagredo
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre & Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States of America
| | - Onur Tanglay
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre & Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shrey Shahdadpuri
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre & Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - YuHong Fu
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre & Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States of America
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre & Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States of America.
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3
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Fu YW, Jin SY, Li JT, Li XW, Gao TM, Yang JM. Mature astrocytes as source for astrocyte repopulation after deletion in the medial prefrontal cortex: Implications for depression. Glia 2024; 72:1646-1662. [PMID: 38801194 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The adult brain retains a high repopulation capacity of astrocytes after deletion, and both mature astrocytes in the neocortex and neural stem cells in neurogenic regions possess the potential to generate astrocytes. However, the origin and the repopulation dynamics of the repopulating astrocytes after deletion remain largely unclear. The number of astrocytes is reduced in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of patients with depression, and selective elimination of mPFC astrocytes is sufficient to induce depression-like behaviors in rodents. However, whether astrocyte repopulation capacity is impaired in depression is unknown. In this study, we used different transgenic mouse lines to genetically label different cell types and demonstrated that in the mPFC of normal adult mice of both sexes, mature astrocytes were a major source of the repopulating astrocytes after acute deletion induced by an astrocyte-specific toxin, L-alpha-aminoadipic acid (L-AAA), and astrocyte regeneration was accomplished within two weeks accompanied by reversal of depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, re-ablation of mPFC astrocytes post repopulation led to reappearance of depression-like behaviors. In adult male mice subjected to 14-day chronic restraint stress, a well-validated mouse model of depression, the number of mPFC astrocytes was reduced; however, the ability of mPFC astrocytes to repopulate after L-AAA-induced deletion was largely unaltered. Our study highlights a potentially beneficial role for repopulating astrocytes in depression and provides novel therapeutic insights into enhancing local mature astrocyte generation in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Wen Fu
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Yang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Ting Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tian-Ming Gao
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Ming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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4
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Ayala DA, Matarazzo A, Seaberg BL, Patel M, Tijerina E, Matthews C, Bizi G, Brown A, Ta A, Rimer M, Srinivasan R. Heterogeneous brain region-specific responses to astrocytic mitochondrial DNA damage in mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18586. [PMID: 39127716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69499-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes display context-specific diversity in their functions and respond to noxious stimuli between brain regions. Astrocytic mitochondria have emerged as key players in governing astrocytic functional heterogeneity, given their ability to dynamically adapt their morphology to regional demands on ATP generation and Ca2+ buffering functions. Although there is reciprocal regulation between mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling in astrocytes, the extent of this regulation in astrocytes from different brain regions remains unexplored. Brain-wide, experimentally induced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) loss in astrocytes showed that mtDNA integrity is critical for astrocyte function, however, possible diverse responses to this noxious stimulus between brain areas were not reported in these experiments. To selectively damage mtDNA in astrocytes in a brain-region-specific manner, we developed a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based tool, Mito-PstI expressing the restriction enzyme PstI, specifically in astrocytic mitochondria. Here, we applied Mito-PstI to two brain regions, the dorsolateral striatum and dentate gyrus, and we show that Mito-PstI induces astrocytic mtDNA loss in vivo, but with remarkable brain-region-dependent differences on mitochondrial dynamics, Ca2+ fluxes, and astrocytic and microglial reactivity. Thus, AAV-Mito-PstI is a novel tool to explore the relationship between astrocytic mitochondrial network dynamics and astrocytic mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling in a brain-region-selective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela A Ayala
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Anthony Matarazzo
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Bonnie L Seaberg
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Misha Patel
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Eliana Tijerina
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Camryn Matthews
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Gabriel Bizi
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Ashton Brown
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Alan Ta
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Mendell Rimer
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA.
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA.
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Rahul Srinivasan
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA.
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA.
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77843, USA.
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5
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Yang J, Feng J, Lv J, Chu X, Wei Y, Zhang Y, Li J, Sun Y, Li G, Jiang T, Huang J, Fan X. PTBP1-mediated repression of neuron-specific CDC42 splicing constitutes a genomic alteration-independent, developmentally conserved vulnerability in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:135. [PMID: 39117866 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01412-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Gene co-expression networks may encode hitherto inadequately recognized vulnerabilities for adult gliomas. By identifying evolutionally conserved gene co-expression modules around EGFR (EM) or PDGFRA (PM), we recently proposed an EM/PM classification scheme, which assigns IDH-wildtype glioblastomas (GBM) into the EM subtype committed in neural stem cell compartment, IDH-mutant astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas into the PM subtype committed in early oligodendrocyte lineage. Here, we report the identification of EM/PM subtype-specific gene co-expression networks and the characterization of hub gene polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) as a genomic alteration-independent vulnerability in IDH-wildtype GBM. Supervised by the EM/PM classification scheme, we applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify subtype-specific global gene co-expression modules. These gene co-expression modules were characterized for their clinical relevance, cellular origin and conserved expression pattern during brain development. Using lentiviral vector-mediated constitutive or inducible knockdown, we characterized the effects of PTBP1 on the survival of IDH-wildtype GBM cells, which was complemented with the analysis of PTBP1-depedent splicing pattern and overexpression of splicing target neuron-specific CDC42 (CDC42-N) isoform. Transcriptomes of adult gliomas can be robustly assigned into 4 large gene co-expression modules that are prognostically relevant and are derived from either malignant cells of the EM/PM subtypes or tumor microenvironment. The EM subtype is associated with a malignant cell-intrinsic gene module involved in pre-mRNA splicing, DNA replication and damage response, and chromosome segregation, and a microenvironment-derived gene module predominantly involved in extracellular matrix organization and infiltrating immune cells. The PM subtype is associated with two malignant cell-intrinsic gene modules predominantly involved in transcriptional regulation and mRNA translation, respectively. Expression levels of these gene modules are independent prognostic factors and malignant cell-intrinsic gene modules are conserved during brain development. Focusing on the EM subtype, we identified PTBP1 as the most significant hub for the malignant cell-intrinsic gene module. PTBP1 is not altered in most glioma genomes. PTBP1 represses the conserved splicing of CDC42-N. PTBP1 knockdown or CDC42-N overexpression disrupts actin cytoskeleton dynamics, causing accumulation of reactive oxygen species and cell apoptosis. PTBP1-mediated repression of CDC42-N splicing represents a potential genomic alteration-independent, developmentally conserved vulnerability in IDH-wildtype GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Yang
- Department of Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, and Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences , Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Feng
- Department of Pathology, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jing Lv
- Department of Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, and Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences , Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Chu
- Department of Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, and Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences , Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfei Wei
- Department of Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, and Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences , Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunqiu Zhang
- Center of Growth Metabolism & Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Jiuyi Li
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610101, China
| | - Yingyu Sun
- Department of Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, and Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences , Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Guanzhang Li
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, 100070, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, 100070, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Jinyan Huang
- Biomedical Big Data Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaolong Fan
- Department of Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, and Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences , Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
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6
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Wang L, Guo Q, Acharya S, Zheng X, Huynh V, Whitmore B, Yimit A, Malhotra M, Chatterji S, Rosin N, Labit E, Chipak C, Gorzo K, Haidey J, Elliott DA, Ram T, Zhang Q, Kuipers H, Gordon G, Biernaskie J, Guo J. Primary cilia signaling in astrocytes mediates development and regional-specific functional specification. Nat Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41593-024-01726-z. [PMID: 39103557 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01726-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Astrocyte diversity is greatly influenced by local environmental modulation. Here we report that the majority of astrocytes across the mouse brain possess a singular primary cilium localized to the cell soma. Comparative single-cell transcriptomics reveals that primary cilia mediate canonical SHH signaling to modulate astrocyte subtype-specific core features in synaptic regulation, intracellular transport, energy and metabolism. Independent of canonical SHH signaling, primary cilia are important regulators of astrocyte morphology and intracellular signaling balance. Dendritic spine analysis and transcriptomics reveal that perturbation of astrocytic cilia leads to disruption of neuronal development and global intercellular connectomes in the brain. Mice with primary ciliary-deficient astrocytes show behavioral deficits in sensorimotor function, sociability, learning and memory. Our results uncover a critical role for primary cilia in transmitting local cues that drive the region-specific diversification of astrocytes within the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizheng Wang
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Qianqian Guo
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandesh Acharya
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Vanessa Huynh
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brandon Whitmore
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Askar Yimit
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mehr Malhotra
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Siddharth Chatterji
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole Rosin
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elodie Labit
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Colten Chipak
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kelsea Gorzo
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jordan Haidey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - David A Elliott
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tina Ram
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Qingrun Zhang
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hedwich Kuipers
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Grant Gordon
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeff Biernaskie
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jiami Guo
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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7
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Endo F. Deciphering the spectrum of astrocyte diversity: Insights into molecular, morphological, and functional dimensions in health and neurodegenerative diseases. Neurosci Res 2024:S0168-0102(24)00098-1. [PMID: 39098767 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2024.07.008] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes are the most abundant and morphologically complex glial cells that play active roles in the central nervous system (CNS). Recent research has identified shared and region-specific astrocytic genes and functions, elucidated the cellular origins of their regional diversity, and uncovered the molecular networks for astrocyte morphology, which are essential for their functional complexity. Reactive astrocytes exhibit a wide range of functional diversity in a context-specific manner in CNS disorders. This review discusses recent advances in understanding the molecular and morphological diversity of astrocytes in healthy individuals and those with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumito Endo
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University.
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8
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Guillén-Yunta M, García-Aldea Á, Valcárcel-Hernández V, Sanz-Bógalo A, Muñoz-Moreno E, Matheus MG, Grijota-Martínez C, Montero-Pedrazuela A, Guadaño-Ferraz A, Bárez-López S. Defective thyroid hormone transport to the brain leads to astroglial alterations. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106621. [PMID: 39097035 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106621] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) is a rare X-linked disorder that causes severe neurological damage, for which there is no effective treatment. AHDS is due to inactivating mutations in the thyroid hormone transporter MCT8 that impair the entry of thyroid hormones into the brain, resulting in cerebral hypothyroidism. However, the pathophysiology of AHDS is still not fully understood and this is essential to develop therapeutic strategies. Based on evidence suggesting that thyroid hormone deficit leads to alterations in astroglial cells, including gliosis, in this work, we have evaluated astroglial impairments in MCT8 deficiency by means of magnetic resonance imaging, histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical techniques, and by mining available RNA sequencing outputs. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging values obtained from magnetic resonance imaging showed changes indicative of alterations in brain cytoarchitecture in MCT8-deficient patients (n = 11) compared to control subjects (n = 11). Astroglial alterations were confirmed by immunohistochemistry against astroglial markers in autopsy brain samples of an 11-year-old and a 30th gestational week MCT8-deficient subjects in comparison to brain samples from control subjects at similar ages. These findings were validated and further explored in a mouse model of AHDS. Our findings confirm changes in all the astroglial populations of the cerebral cortex in MCT8 deficiency that impact astrocytic metabolic and mitochondrial cellular respiration functions. These impairments arise early in brain development and persist at adult stages, revealing an abnormal distribution, density, morphology of cortical astrocytes, along with altered transcriptome, compatible with an astrogliosis-like phenotype at adult stages. We conclude that astrocytes are potential novel therapeutic targets in AHDS, and we propose ADC imaging as a tool to monitor the progression of neurological impairments and potential effects of treatments in MCT8 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Guillén-Yunta
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel García-Aldea
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Valcárcel-Hernández
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ainara Sanz-Bógalo
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Emma Muñoz-Moreno
- Magnetic Imaging Resonance Core Facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Gisele Matheus
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Carmen Grijota-Martínez
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Montero-Pedrazuela
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ana Guadaño-Ferraz
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Soledad Bárez-López
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.
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9
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Ye K, Chang W, Xu J, Guo Y, Qin Q, Dang K, Han X, Zhu X, Ge Q, Cui Q, Xu Y, Zhao X. Spatial transcriptomic profiling of isolated microregions in tissue sections utilizing laser-induced forward transfer. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305977. [PMID: 39052564 PMCID: PMC11271912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Profiling gene expression while preserving cell locations aids in the comprehensive understanding of cell fates in multicellular organisms. However, simple and flexible isolation of microregions of interest (mROIs) for spatial transcriptomics is still challenging. We present a laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT)-based method combined with a full-length mRNA-sequencing protocol (LIFT-seq) for profiling region-specific tissues. LIFT-seq demonstrated that mROIs from two adjacent sections could reliably and sensitively detect and display gene expression. In addition, LIFT-seq can identify region-specific mROIs in the mouse cortex and hippocampus. Finally, LIFT-seq identified marker genes in different layers of the cortex with very similar expression patterns. These genes were then validated using in situ hybridization (ISH) results. Therefore, LIFT-seq will be a valuable and efficient technique for profiling the spatial transcriptome in various tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiqiang Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wanqing Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jitao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunxia Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingyang Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kaitong Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaofeng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaolei Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qinyu Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiannan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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10
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Loganathan N, Lieu CV, Belsham DD. Immortalization and Characterization of GFAP-expressing Glial Cells from the Adult Mouse Hypothalamus, Cortex, and Brain Stem. Neuroscience 2024; 551:43-54. [PMID: 38788830 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.05.022] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The generation of astrocyte cell lines from the hypothalamus is key to study glial involvement in hypothalamic physiology, including energy homeostasis. As such, we immortalized astrocytes from the hypothalamus of an adult male CD-1 mouse using SV40 T-antigen to generate the mHypoA-Ast1 cell line. A comparative approach was taken with two other murine GFAP-expressing cell lines that were also generated in this study: a mixed glial cell line from the cortex (mCortA-G1) and an oligodendrocyte cell line from the brainstem (mBstA-Olig1), as well as an established microglial cell line (IMG). mHypoA-Ast1 cells express GFAP, alongside other astrocytic markers such as Aldh1l1, Aqp4, Glt1 and S100b, and express low levels of microglial, ependymal and oligodendrocyte markers. 100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elevated mRNA levels of Il6, Il1b, Tnfα and Cxcl5 in mHypoA-Ast1 cells after 4 h, while 50 μM palmitate increased Il6 and Chop mRNA, demonstrating the ability of these cells to respond to inflammatory and nutrient signals. Interestingly, co-culture of mHypoA-Ast1 cells with mHypoE-N46 hypothalamic neuronal cells prevented the palmitate-mediated increase in orexigenic neuropeptide Agrp mRNA in mHypoE-N46 cells, suggesting that this cell line can alter neuronal responses to nutrients. In conclusion, we report mHypoA-Ast1 cells representing a functional astrocyte cell line from the adult mouse brain that can be used to study the complex interactions of hypothalamic cells, as well as dysregulation that may occur in disease states, providing a key tool for neuroendocrine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neruja Loganathan
- Departments of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Calvin V Lieu
- Departments of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Denise D Belsham
- Departments of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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11
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Zhang AY, Elias E, Manners MT. Sex-dependent astrocyte reactivity: Unveiling chronic stress-induced morphological changes across multiple brain regions. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106610. [PMID: 39032799 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106610] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress is a major precursor to various neuropsychiatric disorders and is linked with increased inflammation in the brain. However, the bidirectional association between inflammation and chronic stress has yet to be fully understood. Astrocytes are one of the key inflammatory regulators in the brain, and the morphological change in reactive astrocytes serves as an important indicator of inflammation. In this study, we evaluated the sex-specific astrocyte response to chronic stress or systemic inflammation in key brain regions associated with mood disorders. We conducted the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) paradigm to model chronic stress, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection to model systemic inflammation. To evaluate stress-induced morphological changes in astrocyte complexity, we measured GFAP fluorescent intensity for astrocyte expression, branch bifurcation by quantifying branch points and terminal points, branch arborization by conducting Sholl analysis, and calculated the ramification index. Our analysis indicated that chronic stress-induced morphological changes in astrocytes in all brain regions investigated. The effects of chronic stress were region and sex specific. Notably, females had greater stress or inflammation-induced astrocyte activation in the hypothalamus (HYPO), CA1, CA3, and amygdala (AMY) than males. These findings indicate that chronic stress induces astrocyte activation that may drive sex and region-specific effects in females, potentially contributing to sex-dependent mechanisms of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Y Zhang
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
| | - Elias Elias
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
| | - Melissa T Manners
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
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12
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Lai W, Huang S, Liu J, Zhou B, Yu Z, Brown J, Hong G. Toll-like receptor 4-dependent innate immune responses are mediated by intracrine corticosteroids and activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β in astrocytes. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23781. [PMID: 38941212 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301923rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Reactive astrocytes are important pathophysiologically and synthesize neurosteroids. We observed that LPS increased immunoreactive TLR4 and key steroidogenic enzymes in cortical astrocytes of rats and investigated whether corticosteroids are produced and mediate astrocytic TLR4-dependent innate immune responses. We found that LPS increased steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and StAR-dependent aldosterone production in purified astrocytes. Both increases were blocked by the TLR4 antagonist TAK242. LPS also increased 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) and corticosterone production, and both were prevented by TAK242 and by siRNAs against 11β-HSD1, StAR, or aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2). Knockdown of 11β-HSD1, StAR, or CYP11B2 or blocking either mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) or glucocorticoid receptors (GR) prevented dephosphorylation of p-Ser9GSK-3β, activation of NF-κB, and the GSK-3β-dependent increases of C3, IL-1β, and TNF-α caused by LPS. Exogenous aldosterone mimicked the MR- and GSK-3β-dependent pro-inflammatory effects of LPS in astrocytes, but corticosterone did not. Supernatants from astrocytes treated with LPS reduced MAP2 and viability of cultured neurons except when astrocytic StAR or MR was inhibited. In adrenalectomized rats, intracerebroventricular injection of LPS increased astrocytic TLR4, StAR, CYP11B2, and 11β-HSD1, NF-κB, C3 and IL-1β, decreased astrocytic p-Ser9GSK-3β in the cortex and was neurotoxic, except when spironolactone was co-injected, consistent with the in vitro results. LPS also activated NF-κB in some NeuN+ and CD11b+ cells in the cortex, and these effects were prevented by spironolactone. We conclude that intracrine aldosterone may be involved in the TLR4-dependent innate immune responses of astrocytes and can trigger paracrine effects by activating astrocytic MR/GSK-3β/NF-κB signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfang Lai
- College of Pharmacology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, China
| | - Siying Huang
- College of Pharmacology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, China
| | - Junjie Liu
- College of Pharmacology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, China
| | - Binbin Zhou
- College of Pharmacology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhengshuang Yu
- College of Pharmacology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, China
| | - John Brown
- College of Pharmacology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guizhu Hong
- College of Pharmacology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, China
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13
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Lorin C, Guiet R, Chiaruttini N, Ambrosini G, Boci E, Abdellah M, Markram H, Keller D. Structural and molecular characterization of astrocyte and vasculature connectivity in the mouse hippocampus and cortex. Glia 2024. [PMID: 39007459 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The relation of astrocytic endfeet to the vasculature plays a key functional role in the neuro-glia-vasculature unit. We characterize the spatial organization of astrocytes and the structural aspects that facilitate their involvement in molecular exchanges. Using double transgenic mice, we performed co-immunostaining, confocal microscopy, and three-dimensional digital segmentation to investigate the biophysical and molecular organization of astrocytes and their intricate endfoot network at the micrometer level in the isocortex and hippocampus. The results showed that hippocampal astrocytes had smaller territories, reduced endfoot dimensions, and fewer contacts with blood vessels compared with those in the isocortex. Additionally, we found that both connexins 43 and 30 have a higher density in the endfoot and the former is overexpressed relative to the latter. However, due to the limitations of the method, further studies are needed to determine the exact localization on the endfoot. The quantitative information obtained in this study will be useful for modeling the interactions of astrocytes with the vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Lorin
- Blue Brain Project, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Romain Guiet
- Bioimaging and Optics Platform, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Chiaruttini
- Bioimaging and Optics Platform, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Ambrosini
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elvis Boci
- Blue Brain Project, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marwan Abdellah
- Blue Brain Project, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Henry Markram
- Blue Brain Project, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Keller
- Blue Brain Project, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
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14
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Di Bella DJ, Domínguez-Iturza N, Brown JR, Arlotta P. Making Ramón y Cajal proud: Development of cell identity and diversity in the cerebral cortex. Neuron 2024; 112:2091-2111. [PMID: 38754415 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Since the beautiful images of Santiago Ramón y Cajal provided a first glimpse into the immense diversity and complexity of cell types found in the cerebral cortex, neuroscience has been challenged and inspired to understand how these diverse cells are generated and how they interact with each other to orchestrate the development of this remarkable tissue. Some fundamental questions drive the field's quest to understand cortical development: what are the mechanistic principles that govern the emergence of neuronal diversity? How do extrinsic and intrinsic signals integrate with physical forces and activity to shape cell identity? How do the diverse populations of neurons and glia influence each other during development to guarantee proper integration and function? The advent of powerful new technologies to profile and perturb cortical development at unprecedented resolution and across a variety of modalities has offered a new opportunity to integrate past knowledge with brand new data. Here, we review some of this progress using cortical excitatory projection neurons as a system to draw out general principles of cell diversification and the role of cell-cell interactions during cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela J Di Bella
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Nuria Domínguez-Iturza
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Juliana R Brown
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Paola Arlotta
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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15
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Liddelow SA, Olsen ML, Sofroniew MV. Reactive Astrocytes and Emerging Roles in Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2024; 16:a041356. [PMID: 38316554 PMCID: PMC11216178 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
In addition to their many functions in the healthy central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes respond to CNS damage and disease through a process called "reactivity." Recent evidence reveals that astrocyte reactivity is a heterogeneous spectrum of potential changes that occur in a context-specific manner. These changes are determined by diverse signaling events and vary not only with the nature and severity of different CNS insults but also with location in the CNS, genetic predispositions, age, and potentially also with "molecular memory" of previous reactivity events. Astrocyte reactivity can be associated with both essential beneficial functions as well as with harmful effects. The available information is rapidly expanding and much has been learned about molecular diversity of astrocyte reactivity. Emerging functional associations point toward central roles for astrocyte reactivity in determining the outcome in CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Michelle L Olsen
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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16
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Dause TJ, Denninger JK, Osap R, Walters AE, Rieskamp JD, Kirby ED. Autocrine VEGF drives neural stem cell proximity to the adult hippocampus vascular niche. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402659. [PMID: 38631901 PMCID: PMC11024344 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The vasculature is a key component of adult brain neural stem cell (NSC) niches. In the adult mammalian hippocampus, NSCs reside in close contact with a dense capillary network. How this niche is maintained is unclear. We recently found that adult hippocampal NSCs express VEGF, a soluble factor with chemoattractive properties for vascular endothelia. Here, we show that global and NSC-specific VEGF loss led to dissociation of NSCs and their intermediate progenitor daughter cells from local vasculature. Surprisingly, though, we found no changes in local vascular density. Instead, we found that NSC-derived VEGF supports maintenance of gene expression programs in NSCs and their progeny related to cell migration and adhesion. In vitro assays revealed that blockade of VEGF receptor 2 impaired NSC motility and adhesion. Our findings suggest that NSCs maintain their own proximity to vasculature via self-stimulated VEGF signaling that supports their motility towards and/or adhesion to local blood vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Dause
- https://ror.org/00rs6vg23 Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jiyeon K Denninger
- https://ror.org/00rs6vg23 Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Robert Osap
- https://ror.org/00rs6vg23 Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ashley E Walters
- https://ror.org/00rs6vg23 Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joshua D Rieskamp
- https://ror.org/00rs6vg23 Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Elizabeth D Kirby
- https://ror.org/00rs6vg23 Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- https://ror.org/00rs6vg23 Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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17
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Alhadidi QM, Bahader GA, Arvola O, Kitchen P, Shah ZA, Salman MM. Astrocytes in functional recovery following central nervous system injuries. J Physiol 2024; 602:3069-3096. [PMID: 37702572 DOI: 10.1113/jp284197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are increasingly recognised as partaking in complex homeostatic mechanisms critical for regulating neuronal plasticity following central nervous system (CNS) insults. Ischaemic stroke and traumatic brain injury are associated with high rates of disability and mortality. Depending on the context and type of injury, reactive astrocytes respond with diverse morphological, proliferative and functional changes collectively known as astrogliosis, which results in both pathogenic and protective effects. There is a large body of research on the negative consequences of astrogliosis following brain injuries. There is also growing interest in how astrogliosis might in some contexts be protective and help to limit the spread of the injury. However, little is known about how astrocytes contribute to the chronic functional recovery phase following traumatic and ischaemic brain insults. In this review, we explore the protective functions of astrocytes in various aspects of secondary brain injury such as oedema, inflammation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. We also discuss the current knowledge on astrocyte contribution to tissue regeneration, including angiogenesis, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, dendrogenesis and axogenesis. Finally, we discuss diverse astrocyte-related factors that, if selectively targeted, could form the basis of astrocyte-targeted therapeutic strategies to better address currently untreatable CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qasim M Alhadidi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Al-Yarmok University College, Diyala, Iraq
| | - Ghaith A Bahader
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Oiva Arvola
- Division of Anaesthesiology, Jorvi Hospital, Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Philip Kitchen
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zahoor A Shah
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Mootaz M Salman
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for NanoScience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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18
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Holden JM, Wareham LK, Calkins DJ. Morphological and electrophysiological characterization of a novel displaced astrocyte in the mouse retina. Glia 2024; 72:1356-1370. [PMID: 38591270 PMCID: PMC11081821 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes throughout the central nervous system are heterogeneous in both structure and function. This diversity leads to tissue-specific specialization where morphology is adapted to the surrounding neuronal circuitry, as seen in Bergman glia of the cerebellum and Müller glia of the retina. Because morphology can be a differentiating factor for cellular classification, we recently developed a mouse where glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-expressing cells stochastically label for full membranous morphology. Here we utilize this tool to investigate whether morphological and electrophysiological features separate types of mouse retinal astrocytes. In this work, we report on a novel glial population found in the inner plexiform layer and ganglion cell layer which expresses the canonical astrocyte markers GFAP, S100β, connexin-43, Sox2 and Sox9. Apart from their retinal layer localization, these cells are unique in their radial distribution. They are notably absent from the mid-retina but are heavily concentrated near the optic nerve head, and to a lesser degree the peripheral retina. Additionally, their morphology is distinct from both nerve fiber layer astrocytes and Müller glia, appearing more similar to amacrine cells. Despite this structural similarity, these cells lack protein expression of common neuronal markers. Additionally, they do not exhibit action potentials, but rather resemble astrocytes and Müller glia in their small amplitude, graded depolarization to both light onset and offset. Their structure, protein expression, physiology, and intercellular connections suggest that these cells are astrocytic, displaced from their counterparts in the nerve fiber layer. As such, we refer to these cells as displaced retinal astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Matthew Holden
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212
- Vanderbilt Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212
| | - Lauren Katie Wareham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212
| | - David John Calkins
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212
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19
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Schröder S, Fuchs U, Gisa V, Pena T, Krüger DM, Hempel N, Burkhardt S, Salinas G, Schütz AL, Delalle I, Sananbenesi F, Fischer A. PRDM16-DT: A Brain and Astrocyte-Specific lncRNA Implicated in Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.27.600964. [PMID: 39005272 PMCID: PMC11244882 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.27.600964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes provide crucial support for neurons, contributing to synaptogenesis, synaptic maintenance, and neurotransmitter recycling. Under pathological conditions, deregulation of astrocytes contributes to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), highlighting the growing interest in targeting astrocyte function to address early phases of AD pathogenesis. While most research in this field has focused on protein-coding genes, non-coding RNAs, particularly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have emerged as significant regulatory molecules. In this study, we identified the lncRNA PRDM16-DT as highly enriched in the human brain, where it is almost exclusively expressed in astrocytes. PRDM16-DT and its murine homolog, Prdm16os, are downregulated in the brains of AD patients and in AD models. In line with this, knockdown of PRDM16-DT and Prdm16os revealed its critical role in maintaining astrocyte homeostasis and supporting neuronal function by regulating genes essential for glutamate uptake, lactate release, and neuronal spine density through interactions with the RE1-Silencing Transcription factor (Rest) and Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). Notably, CRISPR-mediated overexpression of Prdm16os mitigated functional deficits in astrocytes induced by stimuli linked to AD pathogenesis. These findings underscore the importance of PRDM16-DT in astrocyte function and its potential as a novel therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders characterized by astrocyte dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Schröder
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Fuchs
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Verena Gisa
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tonatiuh Pena
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Bioinformatics Unit, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dennis M Krüger
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Bioinformatics Unit, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nina Hempel
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Burkhardt
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas
- NGS- Integrative Genomics Core Unit, Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Schütz
- Research Group for Genome Dynamics in Brain Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ivana Delalle
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 670 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Farahnaz Sananbenesi
- Research Group for Genome Dynamics in Brain Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andre Fischer
- Department for Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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20
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Liu D, Liao P, Li H, Tong S, Wang B, Lu Y, Gao Y, Huang Y, Zhou H, Shi L, Papadimitriou J, Zong Y, Yuan J, Chen P, Chen Z, Ding P, Zheng Y, Zhang C, Zheng M, Gao J. Regulation of blood-brain barrier integrity by Dmp1-expressing astrocytes through mitochondrial transfer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk2913. [PMID: 38941455 PMCID: PMC11212732 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk2913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) acts as the crucial physical filtration structure in the central nervous system. Here, we investigate the role of a specific subset of astrocytes in the regulation of BBB integrity. We showed that Dmp1-expressing astrocytes transfer mitochondria to endothelial cells via their endfeet for maintaining BBB integrity. Deletion of the Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) gene in Dmp1-expressing astrocytes inhibited the mitochondrial transfer and caused BBB leakage. In addition, the decrease of MFN2 in astrocytes contributes to the age-associated reduction of mitochondrial transfer efficiency and thus compromises the integrity of BBB. Together, we describe a mechanism in which astrocytes regulate BBB integrity through mitochondrial transfer. Our findings provide innnovative insights into the cellular framework that underpins the progressive breakdown of BBB associated with aging and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delin Liu
- Centre for Orthopaedic Research, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Peng Liao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Sihan Tong
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Bingqi Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yafei Lu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Youshui Gao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yigang Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310009, China
| | - Linjing Shi
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310009, China
| | - John Papadimitriou
- Centre for Orthopaedic Research, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Department of Pathology, Pathwest, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Yao Zong
- Centre for Orthopaedic Research, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jun Yuan
- Centre for Orthopaedic Research, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Peilin Chen
- Centre for Orthopaedic Research, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Ziming Chen
- Centre for Orthopaedic Research, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Peng Ding
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yongqiang Zheng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Jinjiang Municipal Hospital, Jinjiang, Fujian Province, 362200, China
| | - Changqing Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Minghao Zheng
- Centre for Orthopaedic Research, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Junjie Gao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, Jinjiang Municipal Hospital, Jinjiang, Fujian Province, 362200, China
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21
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Jimenez-Cyrus D, Adusumilli VS, Stempel MH, Maday S, Ming GL, Song H, Bond AM. Molecular cascade reveals sequential milestones underlying hippocampal neural stem cell development into an adult state. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114339. [PMID: 38852158 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114339] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Quiescent adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in the mammalian brain arise from proliferating NSCs during development. Beyond acquisition of quiescence, an adult NSC hallmark, little is known about the process, milestones, and mechanisms underlying the transition of developmental NSCs to an adult NSC state. Here, we performed targeted single-cell RNA-seq analysis to reveal the molecular cascade underlying NSC development in the early postnatal mouse dentate gyrus. We identified two sequential steps, first a transition to quiescence followed by further maturation, each of which involved distinct changes in metabolic gene expression. Direct metabolic analysis uncovered distinct milestones, including an autophagy burst before NSC quiescence acquisition and cellular reactive oxygen species level elevation along NSC maturation. Functionally, autophagy is important for the NSC transition to quiescence during early postnatal development. Together, our study reveals a multi-step process with defined milestones underlying establishment of the adult NSC pool in the mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennisse Jimenez-Cyrus
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Vijay S Adusumilli
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Max H Stempel
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sandra Maday
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Allison M Bond
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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22
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Mallach A, Zielonka M, van Lieshout V, An Y, Khoo JH, Vanheusden M, Chen WT, Moechars D, Arancibia-Carcamo IL, Fiers M, De Strooper B. Microglia-astrocyte crosstalk in the amyloid plaque niche of an Alzheimer's disease mouse model, as revealed by spatial transcriptomics. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114216. [PMID: 38819990 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114216] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The amyloid plaque niche is a pivotal hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we employ two high-resolution spatial transcriptomics (ST) platforms, CosMx and Spatial Enhanced Resolution Omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), to characterize the transcriptomic alterations, cellular compositions, and signaling perturbations in the amyloid plaque niche in an AD mouse model. We discover heterogeneity in the cellular composition of plaque niches, marked by an increase in microglial accumulation. We profile the transcriptomic alterations of glial cells in the vicinity of plaques and conclude that the microglial response to plaques is consistent across different brain regions, while the astrocytic response is more heterogeneous. Meanwhile, as the microglial density of plaque niches increases, astrocytes acquire a more neurotoxic phenotype and play a key role in inducing GABAergic signaling and decreasing glutamatergic signaling in hippocampal neurons. We thus show that the accumulation of microglia around hippocampal plaques disrupts astrocytic signaling, in turn inducing an imbalance in neuronal synaptic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mallach
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Magdalena Zielonka
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle van Lieshout
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yanru An
- BGI Research, 49276 Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Marisa Vanheusden
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Discovery Biology, Muna Therapeutics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wei-Ting Chen
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Discovery Biology, Muna Therapeutics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daan Moechars
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - I Lorena Arancibia-Carcamo
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mark Fiers
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bart De Strooper
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
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23
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Mallick K, Paul S, Banerjee S, Banerjee S. Lipid Droplets and Neurodegeneration. Neuroscience 2024; 549:13-23. [PMID: 38718916 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.04.014] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
Energy metabolism in the brain has been considered one of the critical research areas of neuroscience for ages. One of the most vital parts of brain metabolism cascades is lipid metabolism, and fatty acid plays a crucial role in this process. The fatty acid breakdown process in mitochondria undergoes through a conserved pathway known as β-oxidation where acetyl-CoA and shorter fatty acid chains are produced along with a significant amount of energy molecule. Further, the complete breakdown of fatty acids occurs when they enter the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Cells store energy as neutral lipids in organelles known as Lipid Droplets (LDs) to prepare for variations in the availability of nutrients. Fatty acids are liberated by lipid droplets and are transported to various cellular compartments for membrane biogenesis or as an energy source. Current research shows that LDs are important in inflammation, metabolic illness, and cellular communication. Lipid droplet biology in peripheral organs like the liver and heart has been well investigated, while the brain's LDs have received less attention. Recently, there has been increased awareness of the existence and role of these dynamic organelles in the central nervous system, mainly connected to neurodegeneration. In this review, we discussed the role of beta-oxidation and lipid droplet formation in the oxidative phosphorylation process, which directly affects neurodegeneration through various pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keya Mallick
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.
| | - Shuchismita Paul
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.
| | - Sayani Banerjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.
| | - Sugato Banerjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.
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24
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Bielefeld P, Martirosyan A, Martín-Suárez S, Apresyan A, Meerhoff GF, Pestana F, Poovathingal S, Reijner N, Koning W, Clement RA, Van der Veen I, Toledo EM, Polzer O, Durá I, Hovhannisyan S, Nilges BS, Bogdoll A, Kashikar ND, Lucassen PJ, Belgard TG, Encinas JM, Holt MG, Fitzsimons CP. Traumatic brain injury promotes neurogenesis at the cost of astrogliogenesis in the adult hippocampus of male mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5222. [PMID: 38890340 PMCID: PMC11189490 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49299-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in long-lasting changes in hippocampal function. The changes induced by TBI on the hippocampus contribute to cognitive deficits. The adult hippocampus harbors neural stem cells (NSCs) that generate neurons (neurogenesis), and astrocytes (astrogliogenesis). While deregulation of hippocampal NSCs and neurogenesis have been observed after TBI, it is not known how TBI may affect hippocampal astrogliogenesis. Using a controlled cortical impact model of TBI in male mice, single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we assessed how TBI affected hippocampal NSCs and the neuronal and astroglial lineages derived from them. We observe an increase in NSC-derived neuronal cells and a concomitant decrease in NSC-derived astrocytic cells, together with changes in gene expression and cell dysplasia within the dentate gyrus. Here, we show that TBI modifies NSC fate to promote neurogenesis at the cost of astrogliogenesis and identify specific cell populations as possible targets to counteract TBI-induced cellular changes in the adult hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Bielefeld
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Martirosyan
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Martín-Suárez
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Sede Bldg, Campus, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena S/N, Leioa, Spain
| | - A Apresyan
- Armenian Bioinformatics Institute, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - G F Meerhoff
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F Pestana
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Poovathingal
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Leuven, Belgium
| | - N Reijner
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W Koning
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R A Clement
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I Van der Veen
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E M Toledo
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - O Polzer
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I Durá
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Sede Bldg, Campus, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena S/N, Leioa, Spain
| | - S Hovhannisyan
- Department of Mathematics and Mechanics, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - B S Nilges
- Resolve Biosciences GmbH, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
- OMAPiX GmbH, Langenfeld (Rheinland), Langenfeld, Germany
| | - A Bogdoll
- Resolve Biosciences GmbH, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - N D Kashikar
- Resolve Biosciences GmbH, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
- OMAPiX GmbH, Langenfeld (Rheinland), Langenfeld, Germany
| | - P J Lucassen
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - J M Encinas
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Sede Bldg, Campus, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena S/N, Leioa, Spain
- Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Campus, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena S/N, Leioa, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, The Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, Bilbao, Spain
| | - M G Holt
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Leuven, Belgium.
- Instituto de Investigaçāo e Inovaçāo em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - C P Fitzsimons
- Brain Plasticity Department, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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25
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Thomas CI, Ryan MA, McNabb MC, Kamasawa N, Scholl B. Astrocyte coverage of excitatory synapses correlates to measures of synapse structure and function in ferret primary visual cortex. Glia 2024. [PMID: 38856149 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Most excitatory synapses in the mammalian brain are contacted or ensheathed by astrocyte processes, forming tripartite synapses. Astrocytes are thought to be critical regulators of the structural and functional dynamics of synapses. While the degree of synaptic coverage by astrocytes is known to vary across brain regions and animal species, the reason for and implications of this variability remains unknown. Further, how astrocyte coverage of synapses relates to in vivo functional properties of individual synapses has not been investigated. Here, we characterized astrocyte coverage of synapses of pyramidal neurons in the ferret visual cortex and, using correlative light and electron microscopy, examined their relationship to synaptic strength and sensory-evoked Ca2+ activity. Nearly, all synapses were contacted by astrocytes, and most were contacted along the axon-spine interface. Structurally, we found that the degree of synaptic astrocyte coverage directly scaled with synapse size and postsynaptic density complexity. Functionally, we found that the amount of astrocyte coverage scaled with how selectively a synapse responds to a particular visual stimulus and, at least for the largest synapses, scaled with the reliability of visual stimuli to evoke postsynaptic Ca2+ events. Our study shows astrocyte coverage is highly correlated with structural metrics of synaptic strength of excitatory synapses in the visual cortex and demonstrates a previously unknown relationship between astrocyte coverage and reliable sensory activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connon I Thomas
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Melissa A Ryan
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Micaiah C McNabb
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Naomi Kamasawa
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Benjamin Scholl
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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26
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Milne SM, Lahiri A, Sanchez CL, Marshall MJ, Jahan I, Meares GP. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein reactive Th17 cells drive Janus Kinase 1 dependent transcriptional reprogramming in astrocytes and alter cell surface cytokine receptor profiles during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13146. [PMID: 38849434 PMCID: PMC11161502 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63877-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). T helper (Th) 17 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of MS and its animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by infiltrating the CNS and producing effector molecules that engage resident glial cells. Among these glial cells, astrocytes have a central role in coordinating inflammatory processes by responding to cytokines and chemokines released by Th17 cells. In this study, we examined the impact of pathogenic Th17 cells on astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. We identified that Th17 cells reprogram astrocytes by driving transcriptomic changes partly through a Janus Kinase (JAK)1-dependent mechanism, which included increased chemokines, interferon-inducible genes, and cytokine receptors. In vivo, we observed a region-specific heterogeneity in the expression of cell surface cytokine receptors on astrocytes, including those for IFN-γ, IL-1, TNF-α, IL-17, TGFβ, and IL-10. Additionally, these receptors were dynamically regulated during EAE induced by adoptive transfer of myelin-reactive Th17 cells. This study overall provides evidence of Th17 cell reprogramming of astrocytes, which may drive changes in the astrocytic responsiveness to cytokines during autoimmune neuroinflammation.
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MESH Headings
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/metabolism
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/immunology
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/pathology
- Animals
- Astrocytes/metabolism
- Th17 Cells/immunology
- Th17 Cells/metabolism
- Mice
- Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
- Receptors, Cytokine/metabolism
- Receptors, Cytokine/genetics
- Janus Kinase 1/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Cellular Reprogramming
- Female
- Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Milne
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Anirudhya Lahiri
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Cristina L Sanchez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Micah J Marshall
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, IBMR 415D, 460 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ishrat Jahan
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, IBMR 415D, 460 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Gordon P Meares
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, IBMR 415D, 460 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
- Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
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27
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Mak A, Abramian A, Driessens SLW, Boers-Escuder C, van der Loo RJ, Smit AB, van den Oever MC, Verheijen MHG. Activation of G s Signaling in Cortical Astrocytes Does Not Influence Formation of a Persistent Contextual Memory Engram. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0056-24.2024. [PMID: 38902023 PMCID: PMC11209656 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0056-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Formation and retrieval of remote contextual memory depends on cortical engram neurons that are defined during learning. Manipulation of astrocytic Gq and Gi associated G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling has been shown to affect memory processing, but little is known about the role of cortical astrocytic Gs-GPCR signaling in remote memory acquisition and the functioning of cortical engram neurons. We assessed this by chemogenetic manipulation of astrocytes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of male mice, during either encoding or consolidation of a contextual fear memory, while simultaneously labeling cortical engram neurons. We found that stimulation of astrocytic Gs signaling during memory encoding and consolidation did not alter remote memory expression. In line with this, the size of the mPFC engram population and the recall-induced reactivation of these neurons was unaffected. Hence, our data indicate that activation of Gs-GPCR signaling in cortical astrocytes is not sufficient to alter memory performance and functioning of cortical engram neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Mak
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Adlin Abramian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Stan L W Driessens
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Cristina Boers-Escuder
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Rolinka J van der Loo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - August B Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Michel C van den Oever
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Mark H G Verheijen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
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28
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Zhang W, Sun HS, Wang X, Dumont AS, Liu Q. Cellular senescence, DNA damage, and neuroinflammation in the aging brain. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:461-474. [PMID: 38729785 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.04.003] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Aging may lead to low-level chronic inflammation that increases the susceptibility to age-related conditions, including memory impairment and progressive loss of brain volume. As brain health is essential to promoting healthspan and lifespan, it is vital to understand age-related changes in the immune system and central nervous system (CNS) that drive normal brain aging. However, the relative importance, mechanistic interrelationships, and hierarchical order of such changes and their impact on normal brain aging remain to be clarified. Here, we synthesize accumulating evidence that age-related DNA damage and cellular senescence in the immune system and CNS contribute to the escalation of neuroinflammation and cognitive decline during normal brain aging. Targeting cellular senescence and immune modulation may provide a logical rationale for developing new treatment options to restore immune homeostasis and counteract age-related brain dysfunction and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Hong-Shuo Sun
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Aaron S Dumont
- Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
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29
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Ayala DA, Matarazzo A, Seaberg BL, Patel M, Tijerina E, Matthews C, Bizi G, Brown A, Ta A, Rimer M, Srinivasan R. Heterogeneous brain region-specific responses to astrocytic mitochondrial DNA damage in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596517. [PMID: 38853966 PMCID: PMC11160752 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes use Ca 2+ signals to regulate multiple aspects of normal and pathological brain function. Astrocytes display context-specific diversity in their functions, and in their response to noxious stimuli between brain regions. Indeed, astrocytic mitochondria have emerged as key players in governing astrocytic functional heterogeneity, given their ability to dynamically adapt their morphology to regional demands on their ATP generation and Ca 2+ buffering functions. Although there is reciprocal regulation between mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial Ca 2+ signaling in astrocytes, the extent of this regulation into the rich diversity of astrocytes in different brain regions remains largely unexplored. Brain-wide, experimentally induced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) loss in astrocytes showed that mtDNA integrity is critical for proper astrocyte function, however, few insights into possible diverse responses to this noxious stimulus from astrocytes in different brain areas were reported in these experiments. To selectively damage mtDNA in astrocytes in a brain-region-specific manner, we developed a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based tool, Mito-PstI, which expresses the restriction enzyme PstI, specifically in astrocytic mitochondria. Here, we applied Mito-PstI to two distinct brain regions, the dorsolateral striatum, and the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and we show that Mito-PstI can induce astrocytic mtDNA loss in vivo , but with remarkable brain-region-dependent differences on mitochondrial dynamics, spontaneous Ca 2+ fluxes and astrocytic as well as microglial reactivity. Thus, AAV-Mito-PstI is a novel tool to explore the relationship between astrocytic mitochondrial network dynamics and astrocytic mitochondrial Ca 2+ signaling in a brain-region-selective manner.
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30
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Kakinen A, Jiang Y, Davis TP, Teesalu T, Saarma M. Brain Targeting Nanomedicines: Pitfalls and Promise. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:4857-4875. [PMID: 38828195 PMCID: PMC11143448 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s454553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain diseases are the most devastating problem among the world's increasingly aging population, and the number of patients with neurological diseases is expected to increase in the future. Although methods for delivering drugs to the brain have advanced significantly, none of these approaches provide satisfactory results for the treatment of brain diseases. This remains a challenge due to the unique anatomy and physiology of the brain, including tight regulation and limited access of substances across the blood-brain barrier. Nanoparticles are considered an ideal drug delivery system to hard-to-reach organs such as the brain. The development of new drugs and new nanomaterial-based brain treatments has opened various opportunities for scientists to develop brain-specific delivery systems that could improve treatment outcomes for patients with brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke and brain tumors. In this review, we discuss noteworthy literature that examines recent developments in brain-targeted nanomedicines used in the treatment of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr Kakinen
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yuhao Jiang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Thomas Paul Davis
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Tambet Teesalu
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Mart Saarma
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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31
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Iwasaki R, Kohro Y, Tsuda M. A method for selective and efficient isolation of gray matter astrocytes from the spinal cord of adult mice. Mol Brain 2024; 17:25. [PMID: 38773624 PMCID: PMC11106874 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-024-01097-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates intra- and inter-regional heterogeneity of astrocytes in the brain. However, because of a lack of an efficient method for isolating astrocytes from the spinal cord, little is known about how much spinal cord astrocytes are heterogeneous in adult mice. In this study, we developed a new method for isolating spinal astrocytes from adult mice using a cold-active protease from Bacillus licheniformis with an astrocyte cell surface antigen-2 (ACSA-2) antibody. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, isolated spinal ACSA-2+ cells were divided into two distinct populations, ACSA-2high and ACSA-2low. By analyzing the expression of cell-type marker genes, the ACSA-2high and ACSA-2low populations were identified as astrocytes and ependymal cells, respectively. Furthermore, ACSA-2high cells had mRNAs encoding genes that were abundantly expressed in the gray matter (GM) but not white matter astrocytes. By optimizing enzymatic isolation procedures, the yield of GM astrocytes also increased. Therefore, our newly established method enabled the selective and efficient isolation of GM astrocytes from the spinal cord of adult mice and may be useful for bulk- or single-cell RNA-sequencing under physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoma Iwasaki
- Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuta Kohro
- Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Makoto Tsuda
- Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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32
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Koivumäki M, Ekblad L, Lantero-Rodriguez J, Ashton NJ, Karikari TK, Helin S, Parkkola R, Lötjönen J, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Rinne JO, Snellman A. Blood biomarkers of neurodegeneration associate differently with amyloid deposition, medial temporal atrophy, and cerebrovascular changes in APOE ε4-enriched cognitively unimpaired elderly. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:112. [PMID: 38762725 PMCID: PMC11102270 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01477-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tau tangles, and neurodegeneration in the brain parenchyma. Here, we aimed to (i) assess differences in blood and imaging biomarkers used to evaluate neurodegeneration among cognitively unimpaired APOE ε4 homozygotes, heterozygotes, and non-carriers with varying risk for sporadic AD, and (ii) to determine how different cerebral pathologies (i.e., Aβ deposition, medial temporal atrophy, and cerebrovascular pathology) contribute to blood biomarker concentrations in this sample. METHODS Sixty APOE ε4 homozygotes (n = 19), heterozygotes (n = 21), and non-carriers (n = 20) ranging from 60 to 75 years, were recruited in collaboration with Auria biobank (Turku, Finland). Participants underwent Aβ-PET ([11C]PiB), structural brain MRI including T1-weighted and T2-FLAIR sequences, and blood sampling for measuring serum neurofilament light chain (NfL), plasma total tau (t-tau), plasma N-terminal tau fragments (NTA-tau) and plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). [11C]PiB standardized uptake value ratio was calculated for regions typical for Aβ accumulation in AD. MRI images were analysed for regional volumes, atrophy scores, and volumes of white matter hyperintensities. Differences in biomarker levels and associations between blood and imaging biomarkers were tested using uni- and multivariable linear models (unadjusted and adjusted for age and sex). RESULTS Serum NfL concentration was increased in APOE ε4 homozygotes compared with non-carriers (mean 21.4 pg/ml (SD 9.5) vs. 15.5 pg/ml (3.8), p = 0.013), whereas other blood biomarkers did not differ between the groups (p > 0.077 for all). From imaging biomarkers, hippocampal volume was significantly decreased in APOE ε4 homozygotes compared with non-carriers (6.71 ml (0.86) vs. 7.2 ml (0.7), p = 0.029). In the whole sample, blood biomarker levels were differently predicted by the three measured cerebral pathologies; serum NfL concentration was associated with cerebrovascular pathology and medial temporal atrophy, while plasma NTA-tau associated with medial temporal atrophy. Plasma GFAP showed significant association with both medial temporal atrophy and Aβ pathology. Plasma t-tau concentration did not associate with any of the measured pathologies. CONCLUSIONS Only increased serum NfL concentrations and decreased hippocampal volume was observed in cognitively unimpaired APOEε4 homozygotes compared to non-carriers. In the whole population the concentrations of blood biomarkers were affected in distinct ways by different pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Koivumäki
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Laura Ekblad
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Juan Lantero-Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Nicholas J Ashton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Centre for Age-Related Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health & Biomedical Research Unit for Dementia at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
| | - Thomas K Karikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Semi Helin
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Riitta Parkkola
- Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Juha O Rinne
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Anniina Snellman
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
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33
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Ortiz C, Pearson A, McCartan R, Roche S, Carothers N, Browning M, Perez S, He B, Ginsberg SD, Mullan M, Mufson EJ, Crawford F, Ojo J. Overexpression of pathogenic tau in astrocytes causes a reduction in AQP4 and GLT1, an immunosuppressed phenotype and unique transcriptional responses to repetitive mild TBI without appreciable changes in tauopathy. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:130. [PMID: 38750510 PMCID: PMC11096096 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03117-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have unveiled a robust link between exposure to repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (r-mTBI) and elevated susceptibility to develop neurodegenerative disorders, notably chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The pathogenic lesion in CTE cases is characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons around small cerebral blood vessels which can be accompanied by astrocytes that contain phosphorylated tau, the latter termed tau astrogliopathy. However, the contribution of tau astrogliopathy to the pathobiology and functional consequences of r-mTBI/CTE or whether it is merely a consequence of aging remains unclear. We addressed these pivotal questions by utilizing a mouse model harboring tau-bearing astrocytes, GFAPP301L mice, subjected to our r-mTBI paradigm. Despite the fact that r-mTBI did not exacerbate tau astrogliopathy or general tauopathy, it increased phosphorylated tau in the area underneath the impact site. Additionally, gene ontology analysis of tau-bearing astrocytes following r-mTBI revealed profound alterations in key biological processes including immunological and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Moreover, gene array analysis of microdissected astrocytes accrued from stage IV CTE human brains revealed an immunosuppressed astroglial phenotype similar to tau-bearing astrocytes in the GFAPP301L model. Additionally, hippocampal reduction of proteins involved in water transport (AQP4) and glutamate homeostasis (GLT1) was found in the mouse model of tau astrogliopathy. Collectively, these findings reveal the importance of understanding tau astrogliopathy and its role in astroglial pathobiology under normal circumstances and following r-mTBI. The identified mechanisms using this GFAPP301L model may suggest targets for therapeutic interventions in r-mTBI pathogenesis in the context of CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Ortiz
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA.
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
| | - Andrew Pearson
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bin He
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiology, and NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Fiona Crawford
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Joseph Ojo
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
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34
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Huber RE, Babbitt C, Peyton SR. Heterogeneity of brain extracellular matrix and astrocyte activation. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25356. [PMID: 38773875 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
From the blood brain barrier to the synaptic space, astrocytes provide structural, metabolic, ionic, and extracellular matrix (ECM) support across the brain. Astrocytes include a vast array of subtypes, their phenotypes and functions varying both regionally and temporally. Astrocytes' metabolic and regulatory functions poise them to be quick and sensitive responders to injury and disease in the brain as revealed by single cell sequencing. Far less is known about the influence of the local healthy and aging microenvironments on these astrocyte activation states. In this forward-looking review, we describe the known relationship between astrocytes and their local microenvironment, the remodeling of the microenvironment during disease and injury, and postulate how they may drive astrocyte activation. We suggest technology development to better understand the dynamic diversity of astrocyte activation states, and how basal and activation states depend on the ECM microenvironment. A deeper understanding of astrocyte response to stimuli in ECM-specific contexts (brain region, age, and sex of individual), paves the way to revolutionize how the field considers astrocyte-ECM interactions in brain injury and disease and opens routes to return astrocytes to a healthy quiescent state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Huber
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Courtney Babbitt
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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35
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Zhang X, Zhu R, Yu D, Wang J, Yan Y, Xu K. Single-cell RNA sequencing to explore cancer-associated fibroblasts heterogeneity: "Single" vision for "heterogeneous" environment. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13592. [PMID: 38158643 PMCID: PMC11056715 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous stromal cell, are one of the most important components of the tumour microenvironment. Previous studies have consolidated it as a promising target against cancer. However, variable therapeutic efficacy-both protumor and antitumor effects have been observed not least owing to the strong heterogeneity of CAFs. Over the past 10 years, advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies had a dramatic effect on biomedical research, enabling the analysis of single cell transcriptomes with unprecedented resolution and throughput. Specifically, scRNA-seq facilitates our understanding of the complexity and heterogeneity of diverse CAF subtypes. In this review, we discuss the up-to-date knowledge about CAF heterogeneity with a focus on scRNA-seq perspective to investigate the emerging strategies for integrating multimodal single-cell platforms. Furthermore, we summarized the clinical application of scRNA-seq on CAF research. We believe that the comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of CAFs form different visions will generate innovative solutions to cancer therapy and achieve clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjian Zhang
- The Dingli Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiangChina
- Department of Surgical OncologyWenzhou Central HospitalWenzhouZhejiangChina
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai UniversityWenzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Ruiqiu Zhu
- Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative MedicinePutuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Die Yu
- Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative MedicinePutuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Juan Wang
- School of MedicineShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuxiang Yan
- The Dingli Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiangChina
- Department of Surgical OncologyWenzhou Central HospitalWenzhouZhejiangChina
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai UniversityWenzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Ke Xu
- Institute of Translational MedicineShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Organoid Research CenterShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Wenzhou Institute of Shanghai UniversityWenzhouChina
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36
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Holt LM, Nestler EJ. Astrocytic transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of drug addiction. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:409-424. [PMID: 37940687 PMCID: PMC11066772 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02716-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide and remains a challenge in current neuroscience research. Drug-induced lasting changes in gene expression are mediated by transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in the brain and are thought to underlie behavioral adaptations. Emerging evidence implicates astrocytes in regulating drug-seeking behaviors and demonstrates robust transcriptional response to several substances of abuse. This review focuses on the astrocytic transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of drug action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne M Holt
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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37
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Cahill MK, Collard M, Tse V, Reitman ME, Etchenique R, Kirst C, Poskanzer KE. Network-level encoding of local neurotransmitters in cortical astrocytes. Nature 2024; 629:146-153. [PMID: 38632406 PMCID: PMC11062919 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07311-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes, the most abundant non-neuronal cell type in the mammalian brain, are crucial circuit components that respond to and modulate neuronal activity through calcium (Ca2+) signalling1-7. Astrocyte Ca2+ activity is highly heterogeneous and occurs across multiple spatiotemporal scales-from fast, subcellular activity3,4 to slow, synchronized activity across connected astrocyte networks8-10-to influence many processes5,7,11. However, the inputs that drive astrocyte network dynamics remain unclear. Here we used ex vivo and in vivo two-photon astrocyte imaging while mimicking neuronal neurotransmitter inputs at multiple spatiotemporal scales. We find that brief, subcellular inputs of GABA and glutamate lead to widespread, long-lasting astrocyte Ca2+ responses beyond an individual stimulated cell. Further, we find that a key subset of Ca2+ activity-propagative activity-differentiates astrocyte network responses to these two main neurotransmitters, and may influence responses to future inputs. Together, our results demonstrate that local, transient neurotransmitter inputs are encoded by broad cortical astrocyte networks over a minutes-long time course, contributing to accumulating evidence that substantial astrocyte-neuron communication occurs across slow, network-level spatiotemporal scales12-14. These findings will enable future studies to investigate the link between specific astrocyte Ca2+ activity and specific functional outputs, which could build a consistent framework for astrocytic modulation of neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle K Cahill
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Max Collard
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Tse
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael E Reitman
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Roberto Etchenique
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Christoph Kirst
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kira E Poskanzer
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Aydin AG, Lemenze A, Bieszczad KM. Functional diversities within neurons and astrocytes in the adult rat auditory cortex revealed by single-nucleus RNA sequencing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.16.589831. [PMID: 38659766 PMCID: PMC11042262 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.16.589831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian cerebral cortex is composed of a rich diversity of cell types. Cortical cells are organized into networks that rely on their functional diversity to ultimately carry out a variety of sophisticated cognitive functions. To investigate the breadth of transcriptional diverse cell types in the sensory cortex, we have used single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) in the auditory cortex of the adult rat. A variety of unique excitatory and inhibitory neuron types were identified. In addition, we report for the first time a diversity of astrocytes in the auditory cortex that may represent functionally unique subtypes. Together, these results pave the way for building models of how neurons in the sensory cortex work in concert with astrocytes at synapses to fulfill high-cognitive functions like learning and memory.
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Casey C, Fullard JF, Sleator RD. Unravelling the genetic basis of Schizophrenia. Gene 2024; 902:148198. [PMID: 38266791 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148198] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal development is a highly regulated mechanism that is central to organismal function in animals. In humans, disruptions to this process can lead to a range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including Schizophrenia (SCZ). SCZ has a significant genetic component, whereby an individual with an SCZ affected family member is eight times more likely to develop the disease than someone with no family history of SCZ. By examining a combination of genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets, large-scale 'omics' studies aim to delineate the relationship between genetic variation and abnormal cellular activity in the SCZ brain. Herein, we provide a brief overview of some of the key omics methods currently being used in SCZ research, including RNA-seq, the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (3C) approaches (e.g., Hi-C), as well as single-cell/nuclei iterations of these methods. We also discuss how these techniques are being employed to further our understanding of the genetic basis of SCZ, and to identify associated molecular pathways, biomarkers, and candidate drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Casey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland; Center for Disease Neurogenomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - John F Fullard
- Center for Disease Neurogenomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Roy D Sleator
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
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Kakogiannis D, Kourla M, Dimitrakopoulos D, Kazanis I. Reversal of Postnatal Brain Astrocytes and Ependymal Cells towards a Progenitor Phenotype in Culture. Cells 2024; 13:668. [PMID: 38667283 PMCID: PMC11049274 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080668] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes and ependymal cells have been reported to be able to switch from a mature cell identity towards that of a neural stem/progenitor cell. Astrocytes are widely scattered in the brain where they exert multiple functions and are routinely targeted for in vitro and in vivo reprogramming. Ependymal cells serve more specialized functions, lining the ventricles and the central canal, and are multiciliated, epithelial-like cells that, in the spinal cord, act as bi-potent progenitors in response to injury. Here, we isolate or generate ependymal cells and post-mitotic astrocytes, respectively, from the lateral ventricles of the mouse brain and we investigate their capacity to reverse towards a progenitor-like identity in culture. Inhibition of the GSK3 and TGFβ pathways facilitates the switch of mature astrocytes to Sox2-expressing, mitotic cells that generate oligodendrocytes. Although this medium allows for the expansion of quiescent NSCs, isolated from live rats by "milking of the brain", it does not fully reverse astrocytes towards the bona fide NSC identity; this is a failure correlated with a concomitant lack of neurogenic activity. Ependymal cells could be induced to enter mitosis either via exposure to neuraminidase-dependent stress or by culturing them in the presence of FGF2 and EGF. Overall, our data confirm that astrocytes and ependymal cells retain a high capacity to reverse to a progenitor identity and set up a simple and highly controlled platform for the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that regulate this reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kakogiannis
- Lab of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (D.K.); (M.K.); (D.D.)
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Michaela Kourla
- Lab of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (D.K.); (M.K.); (D.D.)
- Biology-Biochemistry Lab, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Dimitrakopoulos
- Lab of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (D.K.); (M.K.); (D.D.)
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ilias Kazanis
- Lab of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (D.K.); (M.K.); (D.D.)
- School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK
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41
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Leal-Nazaré CG, Arrifano GP, Lopes-Araújo A, Santos-Sacramento L, Barthelemy JL, Soares-Silva I, Crespo-Lopez ME, Augusto-Oliveira M. Methylmercury neurotoxicity: Beyond the neurocentric view. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170939. [PMID: 38365040 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Mercury is a highly toxic metal widely used in human activities worldwide, therefore considered a global public health problem. Many cases of mercury intoxication have occurred in history and represent a huge challenge nowadays. Of particular importance is its methylated form, methylmercury (MeHg). This mercurial species induces damage to several organs in the human body, especially to the central nervous system. Neurological impairments such as executive, memory, motor and visual deficits are associated with MeHg neurotoxicity. Molecular mechanisms involved in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity include excitotoxicity due to glutamatergic imbalance, disturbance in calcium homeostasis and oxidative balance, failure in synaptic support, and inflammatory response. Although neurons are largely affected by MeHg intoxication, they only represent half of the brain cells. Glial cells represent roughly 50 % of the brain cells and are key elements in the functioning of the central nervous system. Particularly, astrocytes and microglia are deeply involved in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, resulting in distinct neurological outcomes depending on the context. In this review, we discuss the main findings on astroglial and microglial involvement as mediators of neuroprotective and neurotoxic responses to MeHg intoxication. The literature shows that these responses depend on chemical and morphophysiological features, thus, we present some insights for future investigations, considering the particularities of the context, including time and dose of exposure, brain region, and species of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio Gustavo Leal-Nazaré
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Gabriela P Arrifano
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Amanda Lopes-Araújo
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Leticia Santos-Sacramento
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Jean Ludger Barthelemy
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Isabela Soares-Silva
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria Elena Crespo-Lopez
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
| | - Marcus Augusto-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
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Tyagi R, Rosa BA, Swain A, Artyomov MN, Jasmer DP, Mitreva M. Intestinal cell diversity and treatment responses in a parasitic nematode at single cell resolution. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:341. [PMID: 38575858 PMCID: PMC10996262 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10203-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasitic nematodes, significant pathogens for humans, animals, and plants, depend on diverse organ systems for intra-host survival. Understanding the cellular diversity and molecular variations underlying these functions holds promise for developing novel therapeutics, with specific emphasis on the neuromuscular system's functional diversity. The nematode intestine, crucial for anthelmintic therapies, exhibits diverse cellular phenotypes, and unraveling this diversity at the single-cell level is essential for advancing knowledge in anthelmintic research across various organ systems. RESULTS Here, using novel single-cell transcriptomics datasets, we delineate cellular diversity within the intestine of adult female Ascaris suum, a parasitic nematode species that infects animals and people. Gene transcripts expressed in individual nuclei of untreated intestinal cells resolved three phenotypic clusters, while lower stringency resolved additional subclusters and more potential diversity. Clusters 1 and 3 phenotypes displayed variable congruence with scRNA phenotypes of C. elegans intestinal cells, whereas the A. suum cluster 2 phenotype was markedly unique. Distinct functional pathway enrichment characterized each A. suum intestinal cell cluster. Cluster 2 was distinctly enriched for Clade III-associated genes, suggesting it evolved within clade III nematodes. Clusters also demonstrated differential transcriptional responsiveness to nematode intestinal toxic treatments, with Cluster 2 displaying the least responses to short-term intra-pseudocoelomic nematode intestinal toxin treatments. CONCLUSIONS This investigation presents advances in knowledge related to biological differences among major cell populations of adult A. suum intestinal cells. For the first time, diverse nematode intestinal cell populations were characterized, and associated biological markers of these cells were identified to support tracking of constituent cells under experimental conditions. These advances will promote better understanding of this and other parasitic nematodes of global importance, and will help to guide future anthelmintic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Tyagi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bruce A Rosa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Amanda Swain
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Maxim N Artyomov
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Douglas P Jasmer
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St Louis, MO, USA.
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Zimmer TS, Orr AL, Orr AG. Astrocytes in selective vulnerability to neurodegenerative disease. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:289-302. [PMID: 38521710 PMCID: PMC11006581 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Selective vulnerability of specific brain regions and cell populations is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders. Mechanisms of selective vulnerability involve neuronal heterogeneity, functional specializations, and differential sensitivities to stressors and pathogenic factors. In this review we discuss the growing body of literature suggesting that, like neurons, astrocytes are heterogeneous and specialized, respond to and integrate diverse inputs, and induce selective effects on brain function. In disease, astrocytes undergo specific, context-dependent changes that promote different pathogenic trajectories and functional outcomes. We propose that astrocytes contribute to selective vulnerability through maladaptive transitions to context-divergent phenotypes that impair specific brain regions and functions. Further studies on the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in disease may provide new therapeutic approaches to enhance resilience against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till S Zimmer
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam L Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Horn MD, Forest SC, Saied AA, MacLean AG. Astrocyte expression of aging-associated markers positively correlates with neurodegeneration in the frontal lobe of the rhesus macaque brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1368517. [PMID: 38577492 PMCID: PMC10993697 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1368517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction As the population over the age of 65 increases, rates of neurodegenerative disorders and dementias will rise - necessitating further research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to brain aging. With the critical importance of astrocytes to neuronal health and functioning, we hypothesized that alterations in astrocyte expression of aging-associated markers p16INK4a (p16) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) with age would correlate with increased rates of neurodegeneration, as measured by FluoroJade C (FJC) staining. Methods To test this hypothesis, 19 rhesus macaques at the Tulane National Primate Research Center were selected based on the following criteria: archival FFPE CNS tissue available to use, no noted neuropathology, and an age range of 5-30 years. Tissues were cut at 5 μm and stained for GFAP, p16, SIRT1, and FJC, followed by whole-slide imaging and HALO® image analysis for percentage of marker-positive cells and relative intensity of each stain. Results We found the percentage of p16+ cells increases with age in total cells and astrocytes of the frontal (p = 0.0021, p = 0.0012 respectively) and temporal (p = 0.0226, p = 0.0203 respectively) lobes, as well as the relative intensity of p16 staining (frontal lobe: p = 0.0060; temporal lobe: p = 0.0269). For SIRT1, we found no correlation with age except for an increase in the relative intensity of SIRT1 in the temporal lobe (p = 0.0033). There was an increase in neurodegeneration, as measured by the percentage of FJC+ cells in the frontal lobe with age (p = 0.0057), as well as in the relative intensity of FJC staining in the frontal (p = 0.0030) and parietal (p = 0.0481) lobes. Importantly, increased p16 and SIRT1 expression in astrocytes correlated with increasing neurodegeneration in the frontal lobe (p = 0.0009, p = 0.0095 respectively). Discussion Together, these data suggest that age-associated alterations in astrocytes contribute to neurodegeneration and provide a target for mechanistic studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda D. Horn
- Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | | | - Ahmad A. Saied
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Andrew G. MacLean
- Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
- Tulane Center for Aging, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Sepulveda J, Kim JY, Binder J, Vicini S, Rebeck GW. APOE4 genotype and aging impair injury-induced microglial behavior in brain slices, including toward Aβ, through P2RY12. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:24. [PMID: 38468308 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00714-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia are highly dynamic cells that play a critical role in tissue homeostasis through the surveillance of brain parenchyma and response to cues associated with damage. Aging and APOE4 genotype are the strongest risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but how they affect microglial dynamics remains unclear. Using ex vivo confocal microscopy, we analyzed microglial dynamic behaviors in the entorhinal cortex (EC) and hippocampus CA1 of 6-, 12-, and 21-month-old mice APOE3 or APOE4 knock-in mice expressing GFP under the CX3CR1 promoter. To study microglia surveillance, we imaged microglia baseline motility for 20 min and measured the extension and retraction of processes. We found that APOE4 microglia exhibited significantly less brain surveillance (27%) compared to APOE3 microglia in 6-month-old mice; aging exacerbated this deficit. To measure microglia response to damage, we imaged process motility in response to ATP, an injury-associated signal, for 30 min. We found APOE4 microglia extended their processes significantly slower (0.9 µm/min, p < 0.005) than APOE3 microglia (1.1 μm/min) in 6-month-old animals. APOE-associated alterations in microglia motility were observed in 12- and 21-month-old animals, and this effect was exacerbated with aging in APOE4 microglia. We measured protein and mRNA levels of P2RY12, a core microglial receptor required for process movement in response to damage. We found that APOE4 microglia express significantly less P2RY12 receptors compared to APOE3 microglia despite no changes in P2RY12 transcripts. To examine if the effect of APOE4 on the microglial response to ATP also applied to amyloid β (Aβ), we infused locally Hi-Lyte Fluor 555-labeled Aβ in acute brain slices of 6-month-old mice and imaged microglia movement for 2 h. APOE4 microglia showed a significantly slower (p < 0.0001) process movement toward the Aβ, and less Aβ coverage at early time points after Aβ injection. To test whether P2RY12 is involved in process movement in response to Aβ, we treated acute brain slices with a P2RY12 antagonist before Aβ injection; microglial processes no longer migrated towards Aβ. These results provide mechanistic insights into the impact of APOE4 genotype and aging in dynamic microglial behaviors prior to gross Aβ pathology and could help explain how APOE4 brains are more susceptible to AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy Sepulveda
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA
| | - Jennifer Yejean Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA
| | - Joseph Binder
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA
| | - Stefano Vicini
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA
| | - G William Rebeck
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA.
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Kotah JM, Kater MSJ, Brosens N, Lesuis SL, Tandari R, Blok TM, Marchetto L, Yusaf E, Koopmans FTW, Smit AB, Lucassen PJ, Krugers HJ, Verheijen MHG, Korosi A. Early-life stress and amyloidosis in mice share pathogenic pathways involving synaptic mitochondria and lipid metabolism. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:1637-1655. [PMID: 38055782 PMCID: PMC10984508 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early-life stress (ES) increases the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We and others have shown that ES aggravates amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology and promotes cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS We studied how ES affects the hippocampal synaptic proteome in wild-type (WT) and APP/PS1 mice at early and late pathological stages, and validated hits using electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. RESULTS The hippocampal synaptosomes of both ES-exposed WT and early-stage APP/PS1 mice showed a relative decrease in actin dynamics-related proteins and a relative increase in mitochondrial proteins. ES had minimal effects on older WT mice, while strongly affecting the synaptic proteome of advanced stage APP/PS1 mice, particularly the expression of astrocytic and mitochondrial proteins. DISCUSSION Our data show that ES and amyloidosis share pathogenic pathways involving synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid metabolism, which may underlie the observed impact of ES on the trajectory of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janssen M. Kotah
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Mandy S. J. Kater
- Department of Molecular and Cellular NeurobiologyCenter for Neurogenomics and Cognitive ResearchAmsterdam NeuroscienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Niek Brosens
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Sylvie L. Lesuis
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Roberta Tandari
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Thomas M. Blok
- Department of Molecular and Cellular NeurobiologyCenter for Neurogenomics and Cognitive ResearchAmsterdam NeuroscienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Luca Marchetto
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Ella Yusaf
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Frank T. W. Koopmans
- Department of Molecular and Cellular NeurobiologyCenter for Neurogenomics and Cognitive ResearchAmsterdam NeuroscienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - August B. Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular NeurobiologyCenter for Neurogenomics and Cognitive ResearchAmsterdam NeuroscienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Lucassen
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Harm J. Krugers
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Mark H. G. Verheijen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular NeurobiologyCenter for Neurogenomics and Cognitive ResearchAmsterdam NeuroscienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Aniko Korosi
- Brain Plasticity GroupSwammerdam Institute for Life Sciences – Center for NeuroscienceUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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Stefanakis N, Jiang J, Liang Y, Shaham S. LET-381/FoxF and its target UNC-30/Pitx2 specify and maintain the molecular identity of C. elegans mesodermal glia that regulate motor behavior. EMBO J 2024; 43:956-992. [PMID: 38360995 PMCID: PMC10943081 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00049-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
While most glial cell types in the central nervous system (CNS) arise from neuroectodermal progenitors, some, like microglia, are mesodermally derived. To understand mesodermal glia development and function, we investigated C. elegans GLR glia, which envelop the brain neuropil and separate it from the circulatory system cavity. Transcriptome analysis shows that GLR glia combine astrocytic and endothelial characteristics, which are relegated to separate cell types in vertebrates. Combined fate acquisition is orchestrated by LET-381/FoxF, a fate-specification/maintenance transcription factor also expressed in glia and endothelia of other animals. Among LET-381/FoxF targets, the UNC-30/Pitx2 transcription factor controls GLR glia morphology and represses alternative mesodermal fates. LET-381 and UNC-30 co-expression in naive cells is sufficient for GLR glia gene expression. GLR glia inactivation by ablation or let-381 mutation disrupts locomotory behavior and promotes salt-induced paralysis, suggesting brain-neuropil activity dysregulation. Our studies uncover mechanisms of mesodermal glia development and show that like neuronal differentiation, glia differentiation requires autoregulatory terminal selector genes that define and maintain the glial fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Stefanakis
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jessica Jiang
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yupu Liang
- Research Bioinformatics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Shai Shaham
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Kwok AJ, Lu J, Huang J, Ip BY, Mok VCT, Lai HM, Ko H. High-resolution omics of vascular ageing and inflammatory pathways in neurodegeneration. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 155:30-49. [PMID: 37380595 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution omics, particularly single-cell and spatial transcriptomic profiling, are rapidly enhancing our comprehension of the normal molecular diversity of gliovascular cells, as well as their age-related changes that contribute to neurodegeneration. With more omic profiling studies being conducted, it is becoming increasingly essential to synthesise valuable information from the rapidly accumulating findings. In this review, we present an overview of the molecular features of neurovascular and glial cells that have been recently discovered through omic profiling, with a focus on those that have potentially significant functional implications and/or show cross-species differences between human and mouse, and that are linked to vascular deficits and inflammatory pathways in ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, we highlight the translational applications of omic profiling, and discuss omic-based strategies to accelerate biomarker discovery and facilitate disease course-modifying therapeutics development for neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Kwok
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Chinese, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Jianning Lu
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Junzhe Huang
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Chinese, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bonaventure Y Ip
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Chinese, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vincent C T Mok
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Chinese, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hei Ming Lai
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Ho Ko
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Chinese, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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49
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Li M, Liu Z, Wu Y, Zheng N, Liu X, Cai A, Zheng D, Zhu J, Wu J, Xu L, Li X, Zhu LQ, Manyande A, Xu F, Wang J. In vivo imaging of astrocytes in the whole brain with engineered AAVs and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:545-552. [PMID: 35484244 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01580-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes constitute a major part of the central nervous system and the delineation of their activity patterns is conducive to a better understanding of brain network dynamics. This study aimed to develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based method in order to monitor the brain-wide or region-specific astrocytes in live animals. Adeno-associated virus (AAVs) vectors carrying the human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter driving the EGFP-AQP1 (Aquaporin-1, an MRI reporter) fusion gene were employed. The following steps were included: constructing recombinant AAV vectors for astrocyte-specific expression, detecting MRI reporters in cell culture, brain regions, or whole brain following cell transduction, stereotactic injection, or tail vein injection. The astrocytes were detected by both fluorescent imaging and Diffusion-weighted MRI. The novel AAV mutation (Site-directed mutagenesis of surface-exposed tyrosine (Y) residues on the AAV5 capsid) significantly increased fluorescence intensity (p < 0.01) compared with the AAV5 wild type. Transduction of the rAAV2/5 carrying AQP1 induced the titer-dependent changes in MRI contrast in cell cultures (p < 0.05) and caudate-putamen (CPu) in the brain (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the MRI revealed a good brain-wide alignment between AQP1 levels and ADC signals, which increased over time in most of the transduced brain regions. In addition, the rAAV2/PHP.eB serotype efficiently introduced AOP1 expression in the whole brain via tail vein injection. This study provides an MRI-based approach to detect dynamic changes in astrocytes in live animals. The novel in vivo tool could help us to understand the complexity of neuronal and glial networks in different pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhuang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China
| | - Yang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China
| | - Ning Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Peter Hung Pain Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Aoling Cai
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China
| | - Danhao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China
| | - Jinpiao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jinfeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
| | - Lingling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China
| | - Xihai Li
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Ling-Qiang Zhu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab of Neurological Disorder of Education Ministry, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Anne Manyande
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Middlesex, TW8 9GA, UK
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China.
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, PR China.
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 430071, Wuhan, PR of China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China.
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50
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Puvogel S, Alsema A, North HF, Webster MJ, Weickert CS, Eggen BJL. Single-Nucleus RNA-Seq Characterizes the Cell Types Along the Neuronal Lineage in the Adult Human Subependymal Zone and Reveals Reduced Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Abundance with Age. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0246-23.2024. [PMID: 38351133 PMCID: PMC10913050 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0246-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The subependymal zone (SEZ), also known as the subventricular zone (SVZ), constitutes a neurogenic niche that persists during postnatal life. In humans, the neurogenic potential of the SEZ declines after the first year of life. However, studies discovering markers of stem and progenitor cells highlight the neurogenic capacity of progenitors in the adult human SEZ, with increased neurogenic activity occurring under pathological conditions. In the present study, the complete cellular niche of the adult human SEZ was characterized by single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and compared between four youth (age 16-22) and four middle-aged adults (age 44-53). We identified 11 cellular clusters including clusters expressing marker genes for neural stem cells (NSCs), neuroblasts, immature neurons, and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. The relative abundance of NSC and neuroblast clusters did not differ between the two age groups, indicating that the pool of SEZ NSCs does not decline in this age range. The relative abundance of oligodendrocyte progenitors and microglia decreased in middle-age, indicating that the cellular composition of human SEZ is remodeled between youth and adulthood. The expression of genes related to nervous system development was higher across different cell types, including NSCs, in youth as compared with middle-age. These transcriptional changes suggest ongoing central nervous system plasticity in the SEZ in youth, which declined in middle-age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Puvogel
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700 AD, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid Alsema
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700 AD, The Netherlands
| | - Hayley F North
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Maree J Webster
- Laboratory of Brain Research, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Rockville 20850, Maryland
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13201
| | - Bart J L Eggen
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700 AD, The Netherlands
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