1
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Butler CA, Mendoza Arvilla A, Milinkeviciute G, Da Cunha C, Kawauchi S, Rezaie N, Liang HY, Javonillo D, Thach A, Wang S, Collins S, Walker A, Shi KX, Neumann J, Gomez-Arboledas A, Henningfield CM, Hohsfield LA, Mapstone M, Tenner AJ, LaFerla FM, Mortazavi A, MacGregor GR, Green KN. The Abca7 V1613M variant reduces Aβ generation, plaque load, and neuronal damage. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4914-4934. [PMID: 38506634 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13783] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variants in ABCA7, a member of the ABC transporter superfamily, have been associated with increased risk for developing late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). METHODS CRISPR-Cas9 was used to generate an Abca7V1613M variant in mice, modeling the homologous human ABCA7V1599M variant, and extensive characterization was performed. RESULTS Abca7V1613M microglia show differential gene expression profiles upon lipopolysaccharide challenge and increased phagocytic capacity. Homozygous Abca7V1613M mice display elevated circulating cholesterol and altered brain lipid composition. When crossed with 5xFAD mice, homozygous Abca7V1613M mice display fewer Thioflavin S-positive plaques, decreased amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, and altered amyloid precursor protein processing and trafficking. They also exhibit reduced Aβ-associated inflammation, gliosis, and neuronal damage. DISCUSSION Overall, homozygosity for the Abca7V1613M variant influences phagocytosis, response to inflammation, lipid metabolism, Aβ pathology, and neuronal damage in mice. This variant may confer a gain of function and offer a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease-related pathology. HIGHLIGHTS ABCA7 recognized as a top 10 risk gene for developing Alzheimer's disease. Loss of function mutations result in increased risk for LOAD. V1613M variant reduces amyloid beta plaque burden in 5xFAD mice. V1613M variant modulates APP processing and trafficking in 5xFAD mice. V1613M variant reduces amyloid beta-associated damage in 5xFAD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A Butler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Adrian Mendoza Arvilla
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Giedre Milinkeviciute
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Celia Da Cunha
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shimako Kawauchi
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Transgenic Mouse Facility, ULAR, Office of Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Narges Rezaie
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Heidi Y Liang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Dominic Javonillo
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Annie Thach
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shuling Wang
- Transgenic Mouse Facility, ULAR, Office of Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Sherilyn Collins
- Transgenic Mouse Facility, ULAR, Office of Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Amber Walker
- Transgenic Mouse Facility, ULAR, Office of Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kai-Xuan Shi
- Transgenic Mouse Facility, ULAR, Office of Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jonathan Neumann
- Transgenic Mouse Facility, ULAR, Office of Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Angela Gomez-Arboledas
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Caden M Henningfield
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Lindsay A Hohsfield
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Mark Mapstone
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Andrea J Tenner
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Frank M LaFerla
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Grant R MacGregor
- Transgenic Mouse Facility, ULAR, Office of Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kim N Green
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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Wood CA, Tran NM. Cell-type resolved transcriptomic approaches for dissecting selective vulnerability in neurodegeneration. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1411-1413. [PMID: 38051872 PMCID: PMC10883512 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Caleb A. Wood
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nicholas M. Tran
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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3
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Garcia Ratés S, García-Ayllón MS, Falgàs N, Brangman SA, Esiri MM, Coen CW, Greenfield SA. Evidence for a novel neuronal mechanism driving Alzheimer's disease, upstream of amyloid. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:5027-5034. [PMID: 38780014 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13869] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
This perspective offers an alternative to the amyloid hypothesis in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We review evidence for a novel signaling mechanism based on a little-known peptide, T14. T14 could drive neurodegeneration as an aberrantly activated process of plasticity selective to interconnecting subcortical nuclei, the isodendritic core, where cell loss starts at the pre-symptomatic stages of the disease. Each of these cell groups has the capacity to form T14, which can stimulate production of p-Tau and β-amyloid, suggestive of an upstream driver of neurodegeneration. Moreover, results in an animal AD model show that antagonism of T14 with a cyclated variant, NBP14, prevents formation of β-amyloid, and restores cognitive function to that of wild-type counterparts. Any diagnostic and/or therapeutic strategy based on T14-NBP14 awaits validation in clinical trials. However, an understanding of this novel signaling system could bring much-needed fresh insights into the progression of cell loss underlying AD. HIGHLIGHTS: The possible primary mechanism of neurodegeneration upstream of amyloid. Primary involvement of selectively vulnerable subcortical nuclei, isodendritic core. Bioactive peptide T14 trophic in development but toxic in context of mature brain. Potential for early-stage biomarker to detect Alzheimer's disease. Effective therapeutic halting neurodegeneration, validated already in 5XFAD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María-Salud García-Ayllón
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, FISABIO, Elche, Spain
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Neus Falgàs
- Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sharon A Brangman
- Department of Geriatrics, Upstate Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease, SUNY Upstate Medical University 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Margaret M Esiri
- Neuropathology Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, West Wing, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Clive W Coen
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
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4
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Chen R, Nie P, Wang J, Wang GZ. Deciphering brain cellular and behavioral mechanisms: Insights from single-cell and spatial RNA sequencing. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1865. [PMID: 38972934 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The brain is a complex computing system composed of a multitude of interacting neurons. The computational outputs of this system determine the behavior and perception of every individual. Each brain cell expresses thousands of genes that dictate the cell's function and physiological properties. Therefore, deciphering the molecular expression of each cell is of great significance for understanding its characteristics and role in brain function. Additionally, the positional information of each cell can provide crucial insights into their involvement in local brain circuits. In this review, we briefly overview the principles of single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, the potential issues and challenges in their data processing, and their applications in brain research. We further outline several promising directions in neuroscience that could be integrated with single-cell RNA sequencing, including neurodevelopment, the identification of novel brain microstructures, cognition and behavior, neuronal cell positioning, molecules and cells related to advanced brain functions, sleep-wake cycles/circadian rhythms, and computational modeling of brain function. We believe that the deep integration of these directions with single-cell and spatial RNA sequencing can contribute significantly to understanding the roles of individual cells or cell types in these specific functions, thereby making important contributions to addressing critical questions in those fields. This article is categorized under: RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renrui Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengxing Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Zhong Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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5
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Limone F, Mordes DA, Couto A, Joseph BJ, Mitchell JM, Therrien M, Ghosh SD, Meyer D, Zhang Y, Goldman M, Bortolin L, Cobos I, Stevens B, McCarroll SA, Kadiu I, Burberry A, Pietiläinen O, Eggan K. Single-nucleus sequencing reveals enriched expression of genetic risk factors in extratelencephalic neurons sensitive to degeneration in ALS. NATURE AGING 2024:10.1038/s43587-024-00640-0. [PMID: 38907103 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00640-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of motor function linked to degenerating extratelencephalic neurons/Betz cells (ETNs). The reasons why these neurons are selectively affected remain unclear. Here, to understand the unique molecular properties that may sensitize ETNs to ALS, we performed RNA sequencing of 79,169 single nuclei from cortices of patients and controls. In both patients and unaffected individuals, we found significantly higher expression of ALS risk genes in THY1+ ETNs, regardless of diagnosis. In patients, this was accompanied by the induction of genes involved in protein homeostasis and stress responses that were significantly induced in a wide collection of ETNs. Examination of oligodendroglial and microglial nuclei revealed patient-specific downregulation of myelinating genes in oligodendrocytes and upregulation of an endolysosomal reactive state in microglia. Our findings suggest that selective vulnerability of extratelencephalic neurons is partly connected to their intrinsic molecular properties sensitizing them to genetics and mechanisms of degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Limone
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Daniel A Mordes
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Couto
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brian J Joseph
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jana M Mitchell
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martine Therrien
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sulagna Dia Ghosh
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Meyer
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Melissa Goldman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura Bortolin
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Inma Cobos
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Beth Stevens
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steven A McCarroll
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Irena Kadiu
- Neuroinflammation Focus Area, UCB Pharma, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Aaron Burberry
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kevin Eggan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Adeoye T, Shah SI, Ullah G. Systematic Analysis of Biological Processes Reveals Gene Co-expression Modules Driving Pathway Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0429. [PMID: 38913039 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests as a complex systems pathology with intricate interplay among various genes and biological processes. Traditional differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, while commonly employed to characterize AD-driven perturbations, does not sufficiently capture the full spectrum of underlying biological processes. Utilizing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data from postmortem brain samples across key regions-middle temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex-we provide a comprehensive systematic analysis of disrupted processes in AD. We go beyond the DEG-centric analysis by integrating pathway activity analysis with weighted gene co-expression patterns to comprehensively map gene interconnectivity, identifying region- and cell-type-specific drivers of biological processes associated with AD. Our analysis reveals profound modular heterogeneity in neurons and glia as well as extensive AD-related functional disruptions. Co-expression networks highlighted the extended involvement of astrocytes and microglia in biological processes beyond neuroinflammation, such as calcium homeostasis, glutamate regulation, lipid metabolism, vesicle-mediated transport, and TOR signaling. We find limited representation of DEGs within dysregulated pathways across neurons and glial cells, suggesting that differential gene expression alone may not adequately represent the disease complexity. Further dissection of inferred gene modules revealed distinct dynamics of hub DEGs in neurons versus glia, suggesting that DEGs exert more impact on neurons compared to glial cells in driving modular dysregulations underlying perturbed biological processes. Interestingly, we observe an overall downregulation of astrocyte and microglia modules across all brain regions in AD, indicating a prevailing trend of functional repression in glial cells across these regions. Notable genes from the CALM and HSP90 families emerged as hub genes across neuronal modules in all brain regions, suggesting conserved roles as drivers of synaptic dysfunction in AD. Our findings demonstrate the importance of an integrated, systems-oriented approach combining pathway and network analysis to comprehensively understand the cell-type-specific roles of genes in AD-related biological processes.
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7
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İş Ö, Wang X, Reddy JS, Min Y, Yilmaz E, Bhattarai P, Patel T, Bergman J, Quicksall Z, Heckman MG, Tutor-New FQ, Can Demirdogen B, White L, Koga S, Krause V, Inoue Y, Kanekiyo T, Cosacak MI, Nelson N, Lee AJ, Vardarajan B, Mayeux R, Kouri N, Deniz K, Carnwath T, Oatman SR, Lewis-Tuffin LJ, Nguyen T, Carrasquillo MM, Graff-Radford J, Petersen RC, Jr Jack CR, Kantarci K, Murray ME, Nho K, Saykin AJ, Dickson DW, Kizil C, Allen M, Ertekin-Taner N. Gliovascular transcriptional perturbations in Alzheimer's disease reveal molecular mechanisms of blood brain barrier dysfunction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4758. [PMID: 38902234 PMCID: PMC11190273 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48926-6] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
To uncover molecular changes underlying blood-brain-barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, we performed single nucleus RNA sequencing in 24 Alzheimer's disease and control brains and focused on vascular and astrocyte clusters as main cell types of blood-brain-barrier gliovascular-unit. The majority of the vascular transcriptional changes were in pericytes. Of the vascular molecular targets predicted to interact with astrocytic ligands, SMAD3, upregulated in Alzheimer's disease pericytes, has the highest number of ligands including VEGFA, downregulated in Alzheimer's disease astrocytes. We validated these findings with external datasets comprising 4,730 pericyte and 150,664 astrocyte nuclei. Blood SMAD3 levels are associated with Alzheimer's disease-related neuroimaging outcomes. We determined inverse relationships between pericytic SMAD3 and astrocytic VEGFA in human iPSC and zebrafish models. Here, we detect vast transcriptome changes in Alzheimer's disease at the gliovascular-unit, prioritize perturbed pericytic SMAD3-astrocytic VEGFA interactions, and validate these in cross-species models to provide a molecular mechanism of blood-brain-barrier disintegrity in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özkan İş
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Joseph S Reddy
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Yuhao Min
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Elanur Yilmaz
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Prabesh Bhattarai
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tulsi Patel
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Zachary Quicksall
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Michael G Heckman
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Birsen Can Demirdogen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Launia White
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Shunsuke Koga
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Vincent Krause
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Yasuteru Inoue
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Mehmet Ilyas Cosacak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nastasia Nelson
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Annie J Lee
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Badri Vardarajan
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Mayeux
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Naomi Kouri
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Kaancan Deniz
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Troy Carnwath
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Laura J Lewis-Tuffin
- Mayo Clinic Florida Cytometry and Cell Imaging Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Thuy Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Ronald C Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Kejal Kantarci
- Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Kwangsik Nho
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Andrew J Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Caghan Kizil
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariet Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
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8
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Nguyen DPQ, Jallow AW, Lin YF, Lin YF. Exploring the Potential Role of Oligodendrocyte-Associated PIP4K2A in Alzheimer's Disease Complicated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus via Multi-Omic Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6640. [PMID: 38928345 PMCID: PMC11204139 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126640] [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: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are two common diseases that affect the elderly population worldwide. The identification of common genes associated with AD and T2DM holds promise for potential biomarkers and intriguing pathogenesis of these two complicated diseases. This study utilized a comprehensive approach by integrating transcriptome data from multiple cohorts, encompassing both AD and T2DM. The analysis incorporated various data types, including blood and tissue samples as well as single-cell datasets, allowing for a detailed assessment of gene expression patterns. From the brain region-specific single-cell analysis, PIP4K2A, which encodes phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinase type 2 alpha, was found to be expressed mainly in oligodendrocytes compared to other cell types. Elevated levels of PIP4K2A in AD and T2DM patients' blood were found to be associated with key cellular processes such as vesicle-mediated transport, negative regulation of autophagosome assembly, and cytosolic transport. The identification of PIP4K2A's potential roles in the cellular processes of AD and T2DM offers valuable insights into the development of biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy, especially in the complication of these two diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doan Phuong Quy Nguyen
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan; (D.P.Q.N.); (A.W.J.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City 49120, Vietnam
- Department of Medical Genetics, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City 49120, Vietnam
| | - Amadou Wurry Jallow
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan; (D.P.Q.N.); (A.W.J.)
| | - Yi-Fang Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Medical University—Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan;
| | - Yung-Feng Lin
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan; (D.P.Q.N.); (A.W.J.)
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei City 110, Taiwan
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9
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Balusu S, De Strooper B. The necroptosis cell death pathway drives neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:96. [PMID: 38852117 PMCID: PMC11162975 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02747-5] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Although apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis have been implicated in AD, none fully explains the extensive neuronal loss observed in AD brains. Recent evidence shows that necroptosis is abundant in AD, that necroptosis is closely linked to the appearance of Tau pathology, and that necroptosis markers accumulate in granulovacuolar neurodegeneration vesicles (GVD). We review here the neuron-specific activation of the granulovacuolar mediated neuronal-necroptosis pathway, the potential AD-relevant triggers upstream of this pathway, and the interaction of the necrosome with the endo-lysosomal pathway, possibly providing links to Tau pathology. In addition, we underscore the therapeutic potential of inhibiting necroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases such as AD, as this presents a novel avenue for drug development targeting neuronal loss to preserve cognitive abilities. Such an approach seems particularly relevant when combined with amyloid-lowering drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Balusu
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bart De Strooper
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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10
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Almeida MC, Eger SJ, He C, Audouard M, Nikitina A, Glasauer SMK, Han D, Mejía-Cupajita B, Acosta-Uribe J, Villalba-Moreno ND, Littau JL, Elcheikhali M, Rivera EK, Carrettiero DC, Villegas-Lanau CA, Sepulveda-Falla D, Lopera F, Kosik KS. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing demonstrates an autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease profile and possible mechanisms of disease protection. Neuron 2024; 112:1778-1794.e7. [PMID: 38417436 PMCID: PMC11156559 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.009] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Highly penetrant autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) comprises a distinct disease entity as compared to the far more prevalent form of AD in which common variants collectively contribute to risk. The downstream pathways that distinguish these AD forms in specific cell types have not been deeply explored. We compared single-nucleus transcriptomes among a set of 27 cases divided among PSEN1-E280A ADAD carriers, sporadic AD, and controls. Autophagy genes and chaperones clearly defined the PSEN1-E280A cases compared to sporadic AD. Spatial transcriptomics validated the activation of chaperone-mediated autophagy genes in PSEN1-E280A. The PSEN1-E280A case in which much of the brain was spared neurofibrillary pathology and harbored a homozygous APOE3-Christchurch variant revealed possible explanations for protection from AD pathology including overexpression of LRP1 in astrocytes, increased expression of FKBP1B, and decreased PSEN1 expression in neurons. The unique cellular responses in ADAD and sporadic AD require consideration when designing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Camila Almeida
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Center for Natural and Humans Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Sao Bernardo do Campo, SP 09608020, Brazil
| | - Sarah J Eger
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Caroline He
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Morgane Audouard
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Arina Nikitina
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Stella M K Glasauer
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Dasol Han
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Barbara Mejía-Cupajita
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Juliana Acosta-Uribe
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Nelson David Villalba-Moreno
- Molecular Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease, Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Lisa Littau
- Molecular Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease, Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Megan Elcheikhali
- Department of Statistics and Applied Probability, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Erica Keane Rivera
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Daniel Carneiro Carrettiero
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Center for Natural and Humans Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Sao Bernardo do Campo, SP 09608020, Brazil
| | | | - Diego Sepulveda-Falla
- Molecular Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease, Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Francisco Lopera
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia.
| | - Kenneth S Kosik
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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11
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Karimani F, Asgari Taei A, Abolghasemi-Dehaghani MR, Safari MS, Dargahi L. Impairment of entorhinal cortex network activity in Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1402573. [PMID: 38882526 PMCID: PMC11176617 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1402573] [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: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The entorhinal cortex (EC) stands out as a critical brain region affected in the early phases of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with some of the disease's pathological processes originating from this area, making it one of the most crucial brain regions in AD. Recent research highlights disruptions in the brain's network activity, characterized by heightened excitability and irregular oscillations, may contribute to cognitive impairment. These disruptions are proposed not only as potential therapeutic targets but also as early biomarkers for AD. In this paper, we will begin with a review of the anatomy and function of EC, highlighting its selective vulnerability in AD. Subsequently, we will discuss the disruption of EC network activity, exploring changes in excitability and neuronal oscillations in this region during AD and hypothesize that, considering the advancements in neuromodulation techniques, addressing the disturbances in the network activity of the EC could offer fresh insights for both the diagnosis and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Karimani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Asgari Taei
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mir-Shahram Safari
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Dargahi
- Neurobiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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12
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Xie J, Lan Y, Zou C, He J, Huang Q, Zeng J, Pan M, Mei Y, Luo J, Zou D. Single-nucleus analysis reveals microenvironment-specific neuron and glial cell enrichment in Alzheimer's disease. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:526. [PMID: 38807051 PMCID: PMC11134750 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10447-3] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complicated neurodegenerative disease. Neuron-glial cell interactions are an important but not fully understood process in the progression of AD. We used bioinformatic methods to analyze single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) data to investigate the cellular and molecular biological processes of AD. METHOD snRNA-seq data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and reprocessed to identify 240,804 single nuclei from healthy controls and patients with AD. The cellular composition of AD was further explored using Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP). Enrichment analysis for the functions of the DEGs was conducted and cell development trajectory analyses were used to reveal underlying cell fate decisions. iTALK was performed to identify ligand-receptor pairs among various cell types in the pathological ecological microenvironment of AD. RESULTS Six cell types and multiple subclusters were identified based on the snRNA-seq data. A subcluster of neuron and glial cells co-expressing lncRNA-SNHG14, myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTFA), and MRTFB was found to be more abundant in the AD group. This subcluster was enriched in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-, immune-, and apoptosis-related pathways. Through molecular docking, we found that lncRNA-SNHG14 may bind MRTFA and MRTFB, resulting in an interaction between neurons and glial cells. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study describe a regulatory relationship between lncRNA-SNHG14, MRTFA, and MRTFB in the six main cell types of AD. This relationship may contribute to microenvironment remodeling in AD and provide a theoretical basis for a more in-depth analysis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieqiong Xie
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China
| | - Yating Lan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuihua Zou
- Department of Quality Control, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingfeng He
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyi Zeng
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China
| | - Mika Pan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujia Mei
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiefeng Luo
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China.
| | - Donghua Zou
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Datta D, Yang S, Joyce MKP, Woo E, McCarroll SA, Gonzalez-Burgos G, Perone I, Uchendu S, Ling E, Goldman M, Berretta S, Murray J, Morozov Y, Arellano J, Duque A, Rakic P, O’Dell R, van Dyck CH, Lewis DA, Wang M, Krienen FM, Arnsten AFT. Key Roles of CACNA1C/Cav1.2 and CALB1/Calbindin in Prefrontal Neurons Altered in Cognitive Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry 2024:2818736. [PMID: 38776078 PMCID: PMC11112502 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.1112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Importance The risk of mental disorders is consistently associated with variants in CACNA1C (L-type calcium channel Cav1.2) but it is not known why these channels are critical to cognition, and whether they affect the layer III pyramidal cells in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that are especially vulnerable in cognitive disorders. Objective To examine the molecular mechanisms expressed in layer III pyramidal cells in primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. Design, Setting, and Participants The design included transcriptomic analyses from human and macaque dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and connectivity, protein expression, physiology, and cognitive behavior in macaques. The research was performed in academic laboratories at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Pittsburgh. As dorsolateral prefrontal cortex only exists in primates, the work evaluated humans and macaques. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcome measures included transcriptomic signatures of human and macaque pyramidal cells, protein expression and interactions in layer III macaque pyramidal cells using light and electron microscopy, changes in neuronal firing during spatial working memory, and working memory performance following pharmacological treatments. Results Layer III pyramidal cells in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex coexpress a constellation of calcium-related proteins, delineated by CALB1 (calbindin), and high levels of CACNA1C (Cav1.2), GRIN2B (NMDA receptor GluN2B), and KCNN3 (SK3 potassium channel), concentrated in dendritic spines near the calcium-storing smooth endoplasmic reticulum. L-type calcium channels influenced neuronal firing needed for working memory, where either blockade or increased drive by β1-adrenoceptors, reduced neuronal firing by a mean (SD) 37.3% (5.5%) or 40% (6.3%), respectively, the latter via SK potassium channel opening. An L-type calcium channel blocker or β1-adrenoceptor antagonist protected working memory from stress. Conclusions and Relevance The layer III pyramidal cells in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex especially vulnerable in cognitive disorders differentially express calbindin and a constellation of calcium-related proteins including L-type calcium channels Cav1.2 (CACNA1C), GluN2B-NMDA receptors (GRIN2B), and SK3 potassium channels (KCNN3), which influence memory-related neuronal firing. The finding that either inadequate or excessive L-type calcium channel activation reduced neuronal firing explains why either loss- or gain-of-function variants in CACNA1C were associated with increased risk of cognitive disorders. The selective expression of calbindin in these pyramidal cells highlights the importance of regulatory mechanisms in neurons with high calcium signaling, consistent with Alzheimer tau pathology emerging when calbindin is lost with age and/or inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibyadeep Datta
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Shengtao Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Mary Kate P. Joyce
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Elizabeth Woo
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Steven A. McCarroll
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Isabella Perone
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Stacy Uchendu
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Emi Ling
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Melissa Goldman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sabina Berretta
- Basic Neuroscience Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John Murray
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yury Morozov
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Jon Arellano
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Alvaro Duque
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Pasko Rakic
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ryan O’Dell
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Christopher H. van Dyck
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - David A. Lewis
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Fenna M. Krienen
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Amy F. T. Arnsten
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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14
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Wood OWG, Walby J, Yeung JH, Ke S, Palpagama TH, Turner C, Waldvogel HJ, Faull RLM, Kwakowsky A. Alzheimer's Disease-associated Region-specific Decrease of Vesicular Glutamate Transporter Immunoreactivity inthe Medial Temporal Lobe and Superior Temporal Gyrus. Neuroscience 2024; 546:75-87. [PMID: 38552733 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.03.027] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which there are very limited treatment options. Dysfunction of the excitatory neurotransmitter system is thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of this condition. Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) are key to controlling the quantal release of glutamate. Thus, expressional changes in disease can have implications for aberrant neuronal activity, raising the possibility of a therapeutic target. There is no information regarding the expression of VGLUTs in the human medial temporal lobe in AD, one of the earliest and most severely affected brain regions. This study aimed to quantify and compare the layer-specific expression of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 between control and AD cases in the hippocampus, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus. Free-floating fluorescent immunohistochemistry was used to label VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 in the hippocampus, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus. Sections were imaged using laser-scanning confocal microscopy and transporter densitometric analysis was performed. VGLUT1 density was not significantly different in AD tissue, except lower staining density observed in the dentate gyrus stratum moleculare (p = 0.0051). VGLUT2 expression was not altered in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of AD cases but was significantly lower in the subiculum (p = 0.015) and superior temporal gyrus (p = 0.0023). This study indicates a regionally specific vulnerability of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 expression in the medial temporal lobe and superior temporal gyrus in AD. However, the causes and functional consequences of these disturbances need to be further explored to assess VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 as viable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver W G Wood
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Josh Walby
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jason H Yeung
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stephen Ke
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thulani H Palpagama
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Clinton Turner
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, LabPlus, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand
| | - Henry J Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Kwakowsky
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Ireland.
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15
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Kampmann M. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of selective vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:351-371. [PMID: 38575768 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00806-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The selective vulnerability of specific neuronal subtypes is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. In this Review, I summarize our current understanding of the brain regions and cell types that are selectively vulnerable in different neurodegenerative diseases and describe the proposed underlying cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. I highlight how recent methodological innovations - including single-cell transcriptomics, CRISPR-based screens and human cell-based models of disease - are enabling new breakthroughs in our understanding of selective vulnerability. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms that determine selective vulnerability and resilience would shed light on the key processes that drive neurodegeneration and point to potential therapeutic strategies to protect vulnerable cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kampmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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16
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Gaur P, Bryois J, Calini D, Foo L, Hoozemans JJM, Malhotra D, Menon V. Single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomic profiling of human temporal cortex and white matter reveals novel associations with AD pathology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.23.590816. [PMID: 38712204 PMCID: PMC11071354 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.23.590816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with complex pathological manifestations and is the leading cause of cognitive decline and dementia in elderly individuals. A major goal in AD research is to identify new therapeutic pathways by studying the molecular and cellular changes in the disease, either downstream or upstream of the pathological hallmarks. In this study, we present a comprehensive investigation of cellular heterogeneity from the temporal cortex region of 40 individuals, comprising healthy donors and individuals with differing tau and amyloid burden. Using single-nucleus transcriptome analysis of 430,271 nuclei from both gray and white matter of these individuals, we identified cell type-specific subclusters in both neuronal and glial cell types with varying degrees of association with AD pathology. In particular, these associations are present in layer specific glutamatergic (excitatory) neuronal types, along with GABAergic (inhibitory) neurons and glial subtypes. These associations were observed in early as well as late pathological progression. We extended this analysis by performing multiplexed in situ hybridization using the CARTANA platform, capturing 155 genes in 13 individuals with varying levels of tau pathology. By modeling the spatial distribution of these genes and their associations with the pathology, we not only replicated key findings from our snRNA data analysis, but also identified a set of cell type-specific genes that show selective enrichment or depletion near pathological inclusions. Together, our findings allow us to prioritize specific cell types and pathways for targeted interventions at various stages of pathological progression in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Gaur
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NY, USA
| | - Julien Bryois
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Calini
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lynette Foo
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen J M Hoozemans
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dheeraj Malhotra
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland
- MS Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vilas Menon
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NY, USA
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17
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Jiao L, Kang H, Geng Y, Liu X, Wang M, Shu K. The role of the nucleus basalis of Meynert in neuromodulation therapy: a systematic review from the perspective of neural network oscillations. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1376764. [PMID: 38650866 PMCID: PMC11033491 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1376764] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
As a crucial component of the cerebral cholinergic system and the Papez circuit in the basal forebrain, dysfunction of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) is associated with various neurodegenerative disorders. However, no drugs, including existing cholinesterase inhibitors, have been shown to reverse this dysfunction. Due to advancements in neuromodulation technology, researchers are exploring the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy targeting the NBM (NBM-DBS) to treat mental and neurological disorders as well as the related mechanisms. Herein, we provided an update on the research progress on cognition-related neural network oscillations and complex anatomical and projective relationships between the NBM and other cognitive structures and circuits. Furthermore, we reviewed previous animal studies of NBM lesions, NBM-DBS models, and clinical case studies to summarize the important functions of the NBM in neuromodulation. In addition to elucidating the mechanism of the NBM neural network, future research should focus on to other types of neurons in the NBM, despite the fact that cholinergic neurons are still the key target for cell type-specific activation by DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwu Jiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huicong Kang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yumei Geng
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xuyang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mengying Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kai Shu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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18
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de Vries LE, Huitinga I, Kessels HW, Swaab DF, Verhaagen J. The concept of resilience to Alzheimer's Disease: current definitions and cellular and molecular mechanisms. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:33. [PMID: 38589893 PMCID: PMC11003087 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00719-7] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Some individuals are able to maintain their cognitive abilities despite the presence of significant Alzheimer's Disease (AD) neuropathological changes. This discrepancy between cognition and pathology has been labeled as resilience and has evolved into a widely debated concept. External factors such as cognitive stimulation are associated with resilience to AD, but the exact cellular and molecular underpinnings are not completely understood. In this review, we discuss the current definitions used in the field, highlight the translational approaches used to investigate resilience to AD and summarize the underlying cellular and molecular substrates of resilience that have been derived from human and animal studies, which have received more and more attention in the last few years. From these studies the picture emerges that resilient individuals are different from AD patients in terms of specific pathological species and their cellular reaction to AD pathology, which possibly helps to maintain cognition up to a certain tipping point. Studying these rare resilient individuals can be of great importance as it could pave the way to novel therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luuk E de Vries
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Inge Huitinga
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helmut W Kessels
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dick F Swaab
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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19
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Facal CL, Fernández Bessone I, Muñiz JA, Pereyra AE, Pedroncini O, Páez-Paz I, Clerici-Delville R, Arnaiz C, Urrutia L, Falasco G, Argañaraz CV, Saez T, Marin-Burgin A, Soiza-Reilly M, Falzone T, Avale ME. Tau reduction with artificial microRNAs modulates neuronal physiology and improves tauopathy phenotypes in mice. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1080-1095. [PMID: 38310353 PMCID: PMC11163272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal tau accumulation is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, named tauopathies. Strategies aimed at reducing tau in the brain are promising therapeutic interventions, yet more precise therapies would require targeting specific nuclei and neuronal subpopulations affected by disease while avoiding global reduction of physiological tau. Here, we developed artificial microRNAs directed against the human MAPT mRNA to dwindle tau protein by engaging the endogenous RNA interference pathway. In human differentiated neurons in culture, microRNA-mediated tau reduction diminished neuronal firing without affecting neuronal morphology or impairing axonal transport. In the htau mouse model of tauopathy, we locally expressed artificial microRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), an area particularly vulnerable to initiating tau pathology in this model. Tau knockdown prevented the accumulation of insoluble and hyperphosphorylated tau, modulated firing activity of putative pyramidal neurons, and improved glucose uptake in the PFC. Moreover, such tau reduction prevented cognitive decline in aged htau mice. Our results suggest target engagement of designed tau-microRNAs to effectively reduce tau pathology, providing a proof of concept for a potential therapeutic approach based on local tau knockdown to rescue tauopathy-related phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lucía Facal
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Iván Fernández Bessone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Andrés Muñiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Ezequiel Pereyra
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Olivia Pedroncini
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Indiana Páez-Paz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ramiro Clerici-Delville
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cayetana Arnaiz
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Urrutia
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Germán Falasco
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Verónica Argañaraz
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Trinidad Saez
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonia Marin-Burgin
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Falzone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Elena Avale
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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20
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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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21
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Shen Y, Shao M, Hao ZZ, Huang M, Xu N, Liu S. Multimodal Nature of the Single-cell Primate Brain Atlas: Morphology, Transcriptome, Electrophysiology, and Connectivity. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:517-532. [PMID: 38194157 PMCID: PMC11003949 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01160-4] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Primates exhibit complex brain structures that augment cognitive function. The neocortex fulfills high-cognitive functions through billions of connected neurons. These neurons have distinct transcriptomic, morphological, and electrophysiological properties, and their connectivity principles vary. These features endow the primate brain atlas with a multimodal nature. The recent integration of next-generation sequencing with modified patch-clamp techniques is revolutionizing the way to census the primate neocortex, enabling a multimodal neuronal atlas to be established in great detail: (1) single-cell/single-nucleus RNA-seq technology establishes high-throughput transcriptomic references, covering all major transcriptomic cell types; (2) patch-seq links the morphological and electrophysiological features to the transcriptomic reference; (3) multicell patch-clamp delineates the principles of local connectivity. Here, we review the applications of these technologies in the primate neocortex and discuss the current advances and tentative gaps for a comprehensive understanding of the primate neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Mingting Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Zhao-Zhe Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Mengyao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Nana Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Sheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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22
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Adewale Q, Khan AF, Bennett DA, Iturria-Medina Y. Single-nucleus RNA velocity reveals critical synaptic and cell-cycle dysregulations in neuropathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7269. [PMID: 38538816 PMCID: PMC10973452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57918-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Typical differential single-nucleus gene expression (snRNA-seq) analyses in Alzheimer's disease (AD) provide fixed snapshots of cellular alterations, making the accurate detection of temporal cell changes challenging. To characterize the dynamic cellular and transcriptomic differences in AD neuropathology, we apply the novel concept of RNA velocity to the study of single-nucleus RNA from the cortex of 60 subjects with varied levels of AD pathology. RNA velocity captures the rate of change of gene expression by comparing intronic and exonic sequence counts. We performed differential analyses to find the significant genes driving both cell type-specific RNA velocity and expression differences in AD, extensively compared these two transcriptomic metrics, and clarified their associations with multiple neuropathologic traits. The results were cross-validated in an independent dataset. Comparison of AD pathology-associated RNA velocity with parallel gene expression differences reveals sets of genes and molecular pathways that underlie the dynamic and static regimes of cell type-specific dysregulations underlying the disease. Differential RNA velocity and its linked progressive neuropathology point to significant dysregulations in synaptic organization and cell development across cell types. Notably, most of the genes underlying this synaptic dysregulation showed increased RNA velocity in AD subjects compared to controls. Accelerated cell changes were also observed in the AD subjects, suggesting that the precocious depletion of precursor cell pools might be associated with neurodegeneration. Overall, this study uncovers active molecular drivers of the spatiotemporal alterations in AD and offers novel insights towards gene- and cell-centric therapeutic strategies accounting for dynamic cell perturbations and synaptic disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quadri Adewale
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Y I-M, 3801 University Street, Room NW312, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ahmed F Khan
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Y I-M, 3801 University Street, Room NW312, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yasser Iturria-Medina
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Y I-M, 3801 University Street, Room NW312, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada.
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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23
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Morgan GR, Carlyle BC. Interrogation of the human cortical peptidome uncovers cell-type specific signatures of cognitive resilience against Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7161. [PMID: 38531951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57104-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by age-related cognitive decline. Brain accumulation of amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles is required for a neuropathological AD diagnosis, yet up to one-third of AD-pathology positive community-dwelling elderly adults experience no symptoms of cognitive decline during life. Conversely, some exhibit chronic cognitive impairment in absence of measurable neuropathology, prompting interest into cognitive resilience-retained cognition despite significant neuropathology-and cognitive frailty-impaired cognition despite low neuropathology. Synapse loss is widespread within the AD-dementia, but not AD-resilient, brain. Recent evidence points towards critical roles for synaptic proteins, such as neurosecretory VGF, in cognitive resilience. However, VGF and related proteins often signal as peptide derivatives. Here, nontryptic peptidomic mass spectrometry was performed on 102 post-mortem cortical samples from individuals across cognitive and neuropathological spectra. Neuropeptide signalling proteoforms derived from VGF, somatostatin (SST) and protachykinin-1 (TAC1) showed higher abundance in AD-resilient than AD-dementia brain, whereas signalling proteoforms of cholecystokinin (CCK) and chromogranin (CHG) A/B and multiple cytoskeletal molecules were enriched in frail vs control brain. Integrating our data with publicly available single nuclear RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) showed enrichment of cognition-related genes in defined cell-types with established links to cognitive resilience, including SST interneurons and excitatory intratelencephalic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- G R Morgan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - B C Carlyle
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
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24
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Saha O, Melo de Farias AR, Pelletier A, Siedlecki-Wullich D, Landeira BS, Gadaut J, Carrier A, Vreulx AC, Guyot K, Shen Y, Bonnefond A, Amouyel P, Tcw J, Kilinc D, Queiroz CM, Delahaye F, Lambert JC, Costa MR. The Alzheimer's disease risk gene BIN1 regulates activity-dependent gene expression in human-induced glutamatergic neurons. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02502-y. [PMID: 38514804 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02502-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Bridging Integrator 1 (BIN1) is the second most important Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk gene, but its physiological roles in neurons and its contribution to brain pathology remain largely elusive. In this work, we show that BIN1 plays a critical role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis, electrical activity, and gene expression of glutamatergic neurons. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing on cerebral organoids generated from isogenic BIN1 wild type (WT), heterozygous (HET) and homozygous knockout (KO) human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), we show that BIN1 is mainly expressed by oligodendrocytes and glutamatergic neurons, like in the human brain. Both BIN1 HET and KO cerebral organoids show specific transcriptional alterations, mainly associated with ion transport and synapses in glutamatergic neurons. We then demonstrate that BIN1 cell-autonomously regulates gene expression in glutamatergic neurons by using a novel protocol to generate pure culture of hiPSC-derived induced neurons (hiNs). Using this system, we also show that BIN1 plays a key role in the regulation of neuronal calcium transients and electrical activity via its interaction with the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel Cav1.2. BIN1 KO hiNs show reduced activity-dependent internalization and higher Cav1.2 expression compared to WT hiNs. Pharmacological blocking of this channel with clinically relevant doses of nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, partly rescues electrical and gene expression alterations in BIN1 KO glutamatergic neurons. Further, we show that transcriptional alterations in BIN1 KO hiNs that affect biological processes related to calcium homeostasis are also present in glutamatergic neurons of the human brain at late stages of AD pathology. Together, these findings suggest that BIN1-dependent alterations in neuronal properties could contribute to AD pathophysiology and that treatment with low doses of clinically approved calcium blockers should be considered as an option to slow disease-onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orthis Saha
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Ana Raquel Melo de Farias
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
- Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitário, Lagoa, Nova, 59078-970, Natal, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Pelletier
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1283-UMR 8199 EGID, Pôle Recherche, 1 Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille, Cedex, France
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Dolores Siedlecki-Wullich
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Bruna Soares Landeira
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Johanna Gadaut
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Arnaud Carrier
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1283-UMR 8199 EGID, Pôle Recherche, 1 Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille, Cedex, France
| | - Anaïs-Camille Vreulx
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Karine Guyot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Yun Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Amelie Bonnefond
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1283-UMR 8199 EGID, Pôle Recherche, 1 Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille, Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Amouyel
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Julia Tcw
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Devrim Kilinc
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Claudio Marcos Queiroz
- Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitário, Lagoa, Nova, 59078-970, Natal, Brazil
| | - Fabien Delahaye
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1283-UMR 8199 EGID, Pôle Recherche, 1 Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille, Cedex, France
| | - Jean-Charles Lambert
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France
| | - Marcos R Costa
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, DISTALZ, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, 59019, Lille, France.
- Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitário, Lagoa, Nova, 59078-970, Natal, Brazil.
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25
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Adeoye T, Shah SI, Ullah G. Systematic Analysis of Biological Processes Reveals Gene Co-expression Modules Driving Pathway Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.15.585267. [PMID: 38559218 PMCID: PMC10980062 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests as a complex systems pathology with intricate interplay among various genes and biological processes. Traditional differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, while commonly employed to characterize AD-driven perturbations, does not sufficiently capture the full spectrum of underlying biological processes. Utilizing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data from postmortem brain samples across key regions-middle temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex-we provide a comprehensive systematic analysis of disrupted processes in AD. We go beyond the DEG-centric analysis by integrating pathway activity analysis with weighted gene co-expression patterns to comprehensively map gene interconnectivity, identifying region- and cell-type-specific drivers of biological processes associated with AD. Our analysis reveals profound modular heterogeneity in neurons and glia as well as extensive AD-related functional disruptions. Co-expression networks highlighted the extended involvement of astrocytes and microglia in biological processes beyond neuroinflammation, such as calcium homeostasis, glutamate regulation, lipid metabolism, vesicle-mediated transport, and TOR signaling. We find limited representation of DEGs within dysregulated pathways across neurons and glial cells, indicating that differential gene expression alone may not adequately represent the disease complexity. Further dissection of inferred gene modules revealed distinct dynamics of hub DEGs in neurons versus glia, highlighting the differential impact of DEGs on neurons compared to glial cells in driving modular dysregulations underlying perturbed biological processes. Interestingly, we note an overall downregulation of both astrocyte and microglia modules in AD across all brain regions, suggesting a prevailing trend of functional repression in glial cells across these regions. Notable genes, including those of the CALM and HSP90 family genes emerged as hub genes across neuronal modules in all brain regions, indicating conserved roles as drivers of synaptic dysfunction in AD. Our findings demonstrate the importance of an integrated, systems-oriented approach combining pathway and network analysis for a comprehensive understanding of the cell-type-specific roles of genes in AD-related biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Adeoye
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
| | - Syed I Shah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
| | - Ghanim Ullah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
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26
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Zou D, Huang X, Lan Y, Pan M, Xie J, Huang Q, Zeng J, Zou C, Pei Z, Zou C, Mao Y, Luo J. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveals that PTPRG activates the m 6A methyltransferase VIRMA to block mitophagy-mediated neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacol Res 2024; 201:107098. [PMID: 38325728 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal death is one of the key pathologies in Alzheimer's disease (AD). How neuronal death begins in AD is far from clear, so clarifying this process may help develop effective therapies. This study collected single-cell RNA sequencing data of 85 AD samples and 83 control samples, covering the prefrontal cortex, internal olfactory cortex, superior parietal lobe, superior frontal gyrus, caudal internal olfactory cortex, somatosensory cortex, hippocampus, superior frontal cortex and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Additionally, spatial transcriptomic data of coronal sections from 6 AppNL-G-F AD mice and 6 control C57Bl/6 J mice were acquired. The main single-cell and spatial transcriptomics results were experimentally validated in wild type and 5 × FAD mice. We found that the microglia subpopulation Mic_PTPRG can communicate with specific types of neurons (especially excitatory ExNeu_PRKN_VIRMA and inhibitory InNeu_PRKN_VIRMA neuronal subpopulations) and cause them to express PTPRG during AD progression. Within neurons, PTPRG binds and upregulates the m6A methyltransferase VIRMA, thus inhibiting translation of PRKN mRNA to prevent the clearance of damaged mitochondria in neurons through suppressing mitophagy. As the disease progresses, the energy and nutrient metabolic pathways in neurons are reprogrammed, leading to their death. Consistently, we determined that PTPTRG can physically interact with VIRMA in mouse brains and PRKN is significantly upregulated in 5 × FAD mouse brain. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that PTPRG activates the m6A methyltransferase VIRMA to block mitophagy-mediated neuronal death in AD, which is a potential pathway, through which microglia and neuronal PTPRG modify neuronal connections in the brain during AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghua Zou
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China.
| | - Xiaohua Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Yating Lan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China
| | - Mika Pan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China
| | - Jieqiong Xie
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China
| | - Jingyi Zeng
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China
| | - Chun Zou
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China
| | - Zifei Pei
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Cuihua Zou
- Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning 530022, Guangxi, China.
| | - Yingwei Mao
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Jiefeng Luo
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, Guangxi, China.
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Hu W, Foord C, Hsu J, Fan L, Corley MJ, Bhatia TN, Xu S, Belchikov N, He Y, Pang AP, Lanjewar SN, Jarroux J, Joglekar A, Milner TA, Ndhlovu LC, Zhang J, Butelman E, Sloan SA, Lee VM, Gan L, Tilgner HU. ScISOr-ATAC reveals convergent and divergent splicing and chromatin specificities between matched cell types across cortical regions, evolution, and in Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.24.581897. [PMID: 38464236 PMCID: PMC10925193 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.24.581897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Multimodal measurements have become widespread in genomics, however measuring open chromatin accessibility and splicing simultaneously in frozen brain tissues remains unconquered. Hence, we devised Single-Cell-ISOform-RNA sequencing coupled with the Assay-for-Transposase-Accessible-Chromatin (ScISOr-ATAC). We utilized ScISOr-ATAC to assess whether chromatin and splicing alterations in the brain convergently affect the same cell types or divergently different ones. We applied ScISOr-ATAC to three major conditions: comparing (i) the Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) prefrontal cortex (PFC) and visual cortex (VIS), (ii) cross species divergence of Rhesus macaque versus human PFC, as well as (iii) dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease in human PFC. We found that among cortical-layer biased excitatory neuron subtypes, splicing is highly brain-region specific for L3-5/L6 IT_RORB neurons, moderately specific in L2-3 IT_CUX2.RORB neurons and unspecific in L2-3 IT_CUX2 neurons. In contrast, at the chromatin level, L2-3 IT_CUX2.RORB neurons show the highest brain-region specificity compared to other subtypes. Likewise, when comparing human and macaque PFC, strong evolutionary divergence on one molecular modality does not necessarily imply strong such divergence on another molecular level in the same cell type. Finally, in Alzheimer's disease, oligodendrocytes show convergently high dysregulation in both chromatin and splicing. However, chromatin and splicing dysregulation most strongly affect distinct oligodendrocyte subtypes. Overall, these results indicate that chromatin and splicing can show convergent or divergent results depending on the performed comparison, justifying the need for their concurrent measurement to investigate complex systems. Taken together, ScISOr-ATAC allows for the characterization of single-cell splicing and chromatin patterns and the comparison of sample groups in frozen brain samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Hu
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Careen Foord
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justine Hsu
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Fan
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute
| | - Michael J Corley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tarun N Bhatia
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Siwei Xu
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Natan Belchikov
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yi He
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alina Ps Pang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samantha N Lanjewar
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Julien Jarroux
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anoushka Joglekar
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Teresa A Milner
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lishomwa C Ndhlovu
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Eduardo Butelman
- Neuropsychoimaging of Addiction and Related Conditions Research Program, Dept. of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steven A Sloan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Virginia My Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute
| | - Hagen U Tilgner
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neurogenetics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Chandrashekar H, Simandi Z, Choi H, Ryu HS, Waldman AJ, Nikish A, Muppidi SS, Gong W, Paquet D, Phillips-Cremins JE. A multi-looping chromatin signature predicts dysregulated gene expression in neurons with familial Alzheimer's disease mutations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.27.582395. [PMID: 38463966 PMCID: PMC10925341 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.27.582395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian genomes fold into tens of thousands of long-range loops, but their functional role and physiologic relevance remain poorly understood. Here, using human post-mitotic neurons with rare familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) mutations, we identify hundreds of reproducibly dysregulated genes and thousands of miswired loops prior to amyloid accumulation and tau phosphorylation. Single loops do not predict expression changes; however, the severity and direction of change in mRNA levels and single-cell burst frequency strongly correlate with the number of FAD-gained or -lost promoter-enhancer loops. Classic architectural proteins CTCF and cohesin do not change occupancy in FAD-mutant neurons. Instead, we unexpectedly find TAATTA motifs amenable to binding by DLX homeodomain transcription factors and changing noncoding RNAPolII signal at FAD-dynamic promoter-enhancer loops. DLX1/5/6 mRNA levels are strongly upregulated in FAD-mutant neurons coincident with a shift in excitatory-to-inhibitory gene expression and miswiring of multi-loops connecting enhancers to neural subtype genes. DLX1 overexpression is sufficient for loop miswiring in wildtype neurons, including lost and gained loops at enhancers with tandem TAATTA arrays and singular TAATTA motifs, respectively. Our data uncover a genome structure-function relationship between multi-loop miswiring and dysregulated excitatory and inhibitory transcriptional programs during lineage commitment of human neurons homozygously-engineered with rare FAD mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshini Chandrashekar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Zoltan Simandi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Heesun Choi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Han-Seul Ryu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Abraham J Waldman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Alexandria Nikish
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Srikar S Muppidi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Wanfeng Gong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Dominik Paquet
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Jennifer E Phillips-Cremins
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
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29
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Escalada P, Ezkurdia A, Ramírez MJ, Solas M. Essential Role of Astrocytes in Learning and Memory. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1899. [PMID: 38339177 PMCID: PMC10856373 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031899] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the most biologically relevant functions of astrocytes within the CNS is the regulation of synaptic transmission, i.e., the physiological basis for information transmission between neurons. Changes in the strength of synaptic connections are indeed thought to be the cellular basis of learning and memory. Importantly, astrocytes have been demonstrated to tightly regulate these processes via the release of several gliotransmitters linked to astrocytic calcium activity as well as astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling. Therefore, astrocytes seem to be integrators of and actors upon learning- and memory-relevant information. In this review, we focus on the role of astrocytes in learning and memory processes. We delineate the recognized inputs and outputs of astrocytes and explore the influence of manipulating astrocytes on behaviour across diverse learning paradigms. We conclude that astrocytes influence learning and memory in various manners. Appropriate astrocytic Ca2+ dynamics are being increasingly identified as central contributors to memory formation and retrieval. In addition, astrocytes regulate brain rhythms essential for cognition, and astrocyte-neuron metabolic cooperation is required for memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Escalada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (P.E.); (A.E.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Amaia Ezkurdia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (P.E.); (A.E.); (M.J.R.)
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María Javier Ramírez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (P.E.); (A.E.); (M.J.R.)
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite Solas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (P.E.); (A.E.); (M.J.R.)
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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30
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Young AL, Oxtoby NP, Garbarino S, Fox NC, Barkhof F, Schott JM, Alexander DC. Data-driven modelling of neurodegenerative disease progression: thinking outside the black box. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:111-130. [PMID: 38191721 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00779-6] [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] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Data-driven disease progression models are an emerging set of computational tools that reconstruct disease timelines for long-term chronic diseases, providing unique insights into disease processes and their underlying mechanisms. Such methods combine a priori human knowledge and assumptions with large-scale data processing and parameter estimation to infer long-term disease trajectories from short-term data. In contrast to 'black box' machine learning tools, data-driven disease progression models typically require fewer data and are inherently interpretable, thereby aiding disease understanding in addition to enabling classification, prediction and stratification. In this Review, we place the current landscape of data-driven disease progression models in a general framework and discuss their enhanced utility for constructing a disease timeline compared with wider machine learning tools that construct static disease profiles. We review the insights they have enabled across multiple neurodegenerative diseases, notably Alzheimer disease, for applications such as determining temporal trajectories of disease biomarkers, testing hypotheses about disease mechanisms and uncovering disease subtypes. We outline key areas for technological development and translation to a broader range of neuroscience and non-neuroscience applications. Finally, we discuss potential pathways and barriers to integrating disease progression models into clinical practice and trial settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Young
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Neil P Oxtoby
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Sara Garbarino
- Life Science Computational Laboratory, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Nick C Fox
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel C Alexander
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
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31
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He Z, Chen Q, Wang K, Lin J, Peng Y, Zhang J, Yan X, Jie Y. Single-cell transcriptomics analysis of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:333-357. [PMID: 38221677 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16242] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell transcriptomics analysis is an advanced technology that can describe the intracellular transcriptome in complex tissues. It profiles and analyses datasets by single-cell RNA sequencing. Neurodegenerative diseases are identified by the abnormal apoptosis of neurons in the brain with few or no effective therapy strategies at present, which has been a growing healthcare concern and brought a great burden to society. The transcriptome of individual cells provides deep insights into previously unforeseen cellular heterogeneity and gene expression differences in neurodegenerative disorders. It detects multiple cell subsets and functional changes during pathological progression, which deepens the understanding of the molecular underpinnings and cellular basis of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis of immune cells shows the regulation of immune response. Different subtypes of immune cells and their interaction are found to contribute to disease progression. This finding enables the discovery of novel targets and biomarkers for early diagnosis. In this review, we emphasize the principles of the technology, and its recent progress in the study of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. The application of single-cell transcriptomics analysis in neurodegenerative disorders would help explore the pathogenesis of these diseases and develop novel therapeutic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziping He
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kaiyue Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiang Lin
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yilin Peng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xisheng Yan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wuhan Third Hospital & Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Jie
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
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32
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Liu Y, Tan Y, Zhang Z, Yi M, Zhu L, Peng W. The interaction between ageing and Alzheimer's disease: insights from the hallmarks of ageing. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:7. [PMID: 38254235 PMCID: PMC10804662 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00397-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Ageing is a crucial risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is characterised by systemic changes in both intracellular and extracellular microenvironments that affect the entire body instead of a single organ. Understanding the specific mechanisms underlying the role of ageing in disease development can facilitate the treatment of ageing-related diseases, such as AD. Signs of brain ageing have been observed in both AD patients and animal models. Alleviating the pathological changes caused by brain ageing can dramatically ameliorate the amyloid beta- and tau-induced neuropathological and memory impairments, indicating that ageing plays a crucial role in the pathophysiological process of AD. In this review, we summarize the impact of several age-related factors on AD and propose that preventing pathological changes caused by brain ageing is a promising strategy for improving cognitive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yejun Tan
- School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Zheyu Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Yi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Lemei Zhu
- Academician Workstation, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, 410219, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijun Peng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.
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Jackson WS, Bauer S, Kaczmarczyk L, Magadi SS. Selective Vulnerability to Neurodegenerative Disease: Insights from Cell Type-Specific Translatome Studies. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:67. [PMID: 38392286 PMCID: PMC10886597 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) manifest a wide variety of clinical symptoms depending on the affected brain regions. Gaining insights into why certain regions are resistant while others are susceptible is vital for advancing therapeutic strategies. While gene expression changes offer clues about disease responses across brain regions, the mixture of cell types therein obscures experimental results. In recent years, methods that analyze the transcriptomes of individual cells (e.g., single-cell RNA sequencing or scRNAseq) have been widely used and have provided invaluable insights into specific cell types. Concurrently, transgene-based techniques that dissect cell type-specific translatomes (CSTs) in model systems, like RiboTag and bacTRAP, offer unique advantages but have received less attention. This review juxtaposes the merits and drawbacks of both methodologies, focusing on the use of CSTs in understanding conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and specific prion diseases like fatal familial insomnia (FFI), genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD), and acquired prion disease. We conclude by discussing the emerging trends observed across multiple diseases and emerging methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walker S Jackson
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Susanne Bauer
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lech Kaczmarczyk
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Srivathsa S Magadi
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
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34
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Millet A, Ledo JH, Tavazoie SF. An exhausted-like microglial population accumulates in aged and APOE4 genotype Alzheimer's brains. Immunity 2024; 57:153-170.e6. [PMID: 38159571 PMCID: PMC10805152 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.12.001] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The dominant risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) are advanced age and the APOE4 genetic variant. To examine how these factors alter neuroimmune function, we generated an integrative, longitudinal single-cell atlas of brain immune cells in AD model mice bearing the three common human APOE alleles. Transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility analyses identified a reactive microglial population defined by the concomitant expression of inflammatory signals and cell-intrinsic stress markers whose frequency increased with age and APOE4 burden. An analogous population was detectable in the brains of human AD patients, including in the cortical tissue, using multiplexed spatial transcriptomics. This population, which we designate as terminally inflammatory microglia (TIM), exhibited defects in amyloid-β clearance and altered cell-cell communication during aducanumab treatment. TIM may represent an exhausted-like state for inflammatory microglia in the AD milieu that contributes to AD risk and pathology in APOE4 carriers and the elderly, thus presenting a potential therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alon Millet
- Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Tri-Institutional Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jose Henrique Ledo
- Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Sohail F Tavazoie
- Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Tri-Institutional Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Tayran H, Yilmaz E, Bhattarai P, Min Y, Wang X, Ma Y, Nelson N, Kassara N, Cosacak MI, Dogru RM, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Reddy JS, Qiao M, Flaherty D, Teich AF, Gunasekaran TI, Yang Z, Tosto G, Vardarajan BN, İş Ö, Ertekin-Taner N, Mayeux R, Kizil C. ABCA7-dependent Neuropeptide-Y signalling is a resilience mechanism required for synaptic integrity in Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.02.573893. [PMID: 38260408 PMCID: PMC10802315 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.02.573893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a complex challenge characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss. Genetic variations have emerged as crucial players in the etiology of AD, enabling hope for a better understanding of the disease mechanisms; yet the specific mechanism of action for those genetic variants remain uncertain. Animal models with reminiscent disease pathology could uncover previously uncharacterized roles of these genes. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we generated a knockout model for abca7, orthologous to human ABCA7 - an established AD-risk gene. The abca7 +/- zebrafish showed reduced astroglial proliferation, synaptic density, and microglial abundance in response to amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42). Single-cell transcriptomics revealed abca7 -dependent neuronal and glial cellular crosstalk through neuropeptide Y (NPY) signaling. The abca7 knockout reduced the expression of npy, bdnf and ngfra , which are required for synaptic integrity and astroglial proliferation. With clinical data in humans, we showed reduced NPY in AD correlates with elevated Braak stage, predicted regulatory interaction between NPY and BDNF , identified genetic variants in NPY associated with AD, found segregation of variants in ABCA7, BDNF and NGFR in AD families, and discovered epigenetic changes in the promoter regions of NPY, NGFR and BDNF in humans with specific single nucleotide polymorphisms in ABCA7 . These results suggest that ABCA7-dependent NPY signaling is required for synaptic integrity, the impairment of which generates a risk factor for AD through compromised brain resilience. Abstract Figure
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Kent SA, Miron VE. Microglia regulation of central nervous system myelin health and regeneration. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:49-63. [PMID: 37452201 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00907-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are resident macrophages of the central nervous system that have key functions in its development, homeostasis and response to damage and infection. Although microglia have been increasingly implicated in contributing to the pathology that underpins neurological dysfunction and disease, they also have crucial roles in neurological homeostasis and regeneration. This includes regulation of the maintenance and regeneration of myelin, the membrane that surrounds neuronal axons, which is required for axonal health and function. Myelin is damaged with normal ageing and in several neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer disease. Given the lack of approved therapies targeting myelin maintenance or regeneration, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms by which microglia support and restore myelin health to identify potential therapeutic approaches. However, the mechanisms by which microglia regulate myelin loss or integrity are still being uncovered. In this Review, we discuss recent work that reveals the changes in white matter with ageing and neurodegenerative disease, how this relates to microglia dynamics during myelin damage and regeneration, and factors that influence the regenerative functions of microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Kent
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Veronique E Miron
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Centre, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Noori A, Jayakumar R, Moturi V, Li Z, Liu R, Serrano-Pozo A, Hyman BT, Das S. Alzheimer DataLENS: An Open Data Analytics Portal for Alzheimer's Disease Research. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:S397-S407. [PMID: 38306039 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230884] [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] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Background Recent Alzheimer's disease (AD) discoveries are increasingly based on studies from a variety of omics technologies on large cohorts. Currently, there is no easily accessible resource for neuroscientists to browse, query, and visualize these complex datasets in a harmonized manner. Objective Create an online portal of public omics datasets for AD research. Methods We developed Alzheimer DataLENS, a web-based portal, using the R Shiny platform to query and visualize publicly available transcriptomics and genetics studies of AD on human cohorts. To ensure consistent representation of AD findings, all datasets were processed through a uniform bioinformatics pipeline. Results Alzheimer DataLENS currently houses 2 single-nucleus RNA sequencing datasets, over 30 bulk RNA sequencing datasets from 19 brain regions and 3 cohorts, and 2 genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Available visualizations for single-nucleus data include bubble plots, heatmaps, and UMAP plots; for bulk expression data include box plots and heatmaps; for pathways include protein-protein interaction network plots; and for GWAS results include Manhattan plots. Alzheimer DataLENS also links to two other knowledge resources: the AD Progression Atlas and the Astrocyte Atlas. Conclusions Alzheimer DataLENS is a valuable resource for investigators to quickly and systematically explore omics datasets and is freely accessible at https://alzdatalens.partners.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayush Noori
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Vaishnavi Moturi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhaozhi Li
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Rongxin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alberto Serrano-Pozo
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sudeshna Das
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Huang Z. Evidence that Alzheimer's Disease Is a Disease of Competitive Synaptic Plasticity Gone Awry. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:447-470. [PMID: 38669548 PMCID: PMC11119021 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that a physiological function of amyloid-β (Aβ) is to mediate neural activity-dependent homeostatic and competitive synaptic plasticity in the brain. I have previously summarized the lines of evidence supporting this hypothesis and highlighted the similarities between Aβ and anti-microbial peptides in mediating cell/synapse competition. In cell competition, anti-microbial peptides deploy a multitude of mechanisms to ensure both self-protection and competitor elimination. Here I review recent studies showing that similar mechanisms are at play in Aβ-mediated synapse competition and perturbations in these mechanisms underpin Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, I discuss evidence that Aβ and ApoE, two crucial players in AD, co-operate in the regulation of synapse competition. Glial ApoE promotes self-protection by increasing the production of trophic monomeric Aβ and inhibiting its assembly into toxic oligomers. Conversely, Aβ oligomers, once assembled, promote the elimination of competitor synapses via direct toxic activity and amplification of "eat-me" signals promoting the elimination of weak synapses. I further summarize evidence that neuronal ApoE may be part of a gene regulatory network that normally promotes competitive plasticity, explaining the selective vulnerability of ApoE expressing neurons in AD brains. Lastly, I discuss evidence that sleep may be key to Aβ-orchestrated plasticity, in which sleep is not only induced by Aβ but is also required for Aβ-mediated plasticity, underlining the link between sleep and AD. Together, these results strongly argue that AD is a disease of competitive synaptic plasticity gone awry, a novel perspective that may promote AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Huang
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Ding Y, Peng YY, Li S, Tang C, Gao J, Wang HY, Long ZY, Lu XM, Wang YT. Single-Cell Sequencing Technology and Its Application in the Study of Central Nervous System Diseases. Cell Biochem Biophys 2023:10.1007/s12013-023-01207-3. [PMID: 38133792 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian central nervous system consists of a large number of cells, which contain not only different types of neurons, but also a large number of glial cells, such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia. These cells are capable of performing highly refined electrophysiological activities and providing the brain with functions such as nutritional support, information transmission and pathogen defense. The diversity of cell types and individual differences between cells have brought inspiration to the study of the mechanism of central nervous system diseases. In order to explore the role of different cells, a new technology, single-cell sequencing technology has emerged to perform specific analysis of high-throughput cell populations, and has been continuously developed. Single-cell sequencing technology can accurately analyze single-cell expression in mixed-cell populations and collect cells from different spatial locations, time stages and types. By using single-cell sequencing technology to compare gene expression profiles of normal and diseased cells, it is possible to discover cell subsets associated with specific diseases and their associated genes. Therefore, scientists can understand the development process, related functions and disease state of the nervous system from an unprecedented depth. In conclusion, single-cell sequencing technology provides a powerful technology for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for central nervous system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Ding
- College of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Yu-Yuan Peng
- College of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, China
| | - Sen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Can Tang
- College of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, China
| | - Jie Gao
- College of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, China
| | - Hai-Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Zai-Yun Long
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Xiu-Min Lu
- College of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, China.
| | - Yong-Tang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
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Torok J, Maia PD, Anand C, Raj A. Cellular underpinnings of the selective vulnerability to tauopathic insults in Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.06.548027. [PMID: 38076913 PMCID: PMC10705232 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.06.548027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit pathological changes in the brain that proceed in a stereotyped and regionally specific fashion, but the cellular and molecular underpinnings of regional vulnerability are currently poorly understood. Recent work has identified certain subpopulations of neurons in a few focal regions of interest, such as the entorhinal cortex, that are selectively vulnerable to tau pathology in AD. However, the cellular underpinnings of regional susceptibility to tau pathology are currently unknown, primarily because whole-brain maps of a comprehensive collection of cell types have been inaccessible. Here, we deployed a recent cell-type mapping pipeline, Matrix Inversion and Subset Selection (MISS), to determine the brain-wide distributions of pan-hippocampal and neocortical neuronal and non-neuronal cells in the mouse using recently available single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data. We then performed a robust set of analyses to identify general principles of cell-type-based selective vulnerability using these cell-type distributions, utilizing 5 transgenic mouse studies that quantified regional tau in 12 distinct PS19 mouse models. Using our approach, which constitutes the broadest exploration of whole-brain selective vulnerability to date, we were able to discover cell types and cell-type classes that conferred vulnerability and resilience to tau pathology. Hippocampal glutamatergic neurons as a whole were strongly positively associated with regional tau deposition, suggesting vulnerability, while cortical glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons were negatively associated. Among glia, we identified oligodendrocytes as the single-most strongly negatively associated cell type, whereas microglia were consistently positively correlated. Strikingly, we found that there was no association between the gene expression relationships between cell types and their vulnerability or resilience to tau pathology. When we looked at the explanatory power of cell types versus GWAS-identified AD risk genes, cell type distributions were consistently more predictive of end-timepoint tau pathology than regional gene expression. To understand the functional enrichment patterns of the genes that were markers of the identified vulnerable or resilient cell types, we performed gene ontology analysis. We found that the genes that are directly correlated to tau pathology are functionally distinct from those that constitutively embody the vulnerable cells. In short, we have demonstrated that regional cell-type composition is a compelling explanation for the selective vulnerability observed in tauopathic diseases at a whole-brain level and is distinct from that conferred by risk genes. These findings may have implications in identifying cell-type-based therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Torok
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Radiology, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States
| | - Pedro D. Maia
- University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Mathematics, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States
| | - Chaitali Anand
- University of California, San Francisco, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States
| | - Ashish Raj
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Radiology, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States
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Li P, Wei J, Zhu Y. CellGO: a novel deep learning-based framework and webserver for cell-type-specific gene function interpretation. Brief Bioinform 2023; 25:bbad417. [PMID: 37995133 PMCID: PMC10790717 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad417] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Interpreting the function of genes and gene sets identified from omics experiments remains a challenge, as current pathway analysis tools often fail to consider the critical biological context, such as tissue or cell-type specificity. To address this limitation, we introduced CellGO. CellGO tackles this challenge by leveraging the visible neural network (VNN) and single-cell gene expressions to mimic cell-type-specific signaling propagation along the Gene Ontology tree within a cell. This design enables a novel scoring system to calculate the cell-type-specific gene-pathway paired active scores, based on which, CellGO is able to identify cell-type-specific active pathways associated with single genes. In addition, by aggregating the activities of single genes, CellGO extends its capability to identify cell-type-specific active pathways for a given gene set. To enhance biological interpretation, CellGO offers additional features, including the identification of significantly active cell types and driver genes and community analysis of pathways. To validate its performance, CellGO was assessed using a gene set comprising mixed cell-type markers, confirming its ability to discern active pathways across distinct cell types. Subsequent benchmarking analyses demonstrated CellGO's superiority in effectively identifying cell types and their corresponding cell-type-specific pathways affected by gene knockouts, using either single genes or sets of genes differentially expressed between knockout and control samples. Moreover, CellGO demonstrated its ability to infer cell-type-specific pathogenesis for disease risk genes. Accessible as a Python package, CellGO also provides a user-friendly web interface, making it a versatile and accessible tool for researchers in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Junfeng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Whitney K, Song WM, Sharma A, Dangoor DK, Farrell K, Krassner MM, Ressler HW, Christie TD, Walker RH, Nirenberg MJ, Zhang B, Frucht SJ, Riboldi GM, Crary JF, Pereira AC. Single-cell transcriptomic and neuropathologic analysis reveals dysregulation of the integrated stress response in progressive supranuclear palsy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.17.567587. [PMID: 38014079 PMCID: PMC10680842 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.17.567587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a sporadic neurodegenerative tauopathy variably affecting brainstem and cortical structures and characterized by tau inclusions in neurons and glia. The precise mechanism whereby these protein aggregates lead to cell death remains unclear. To investigate the contribution of these different cellular abnormalities to PSP pathogenesis, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing and analyzed 45,559 high quality nuclei targeting the subthalamic nucleus and adjacent structures from human post-mortem PSP brains with varying degrees of pathology compared to controls. Cell-type specific differential expression and pathway analysis identified both common and discrete changes in numerous pathways previously implicated in PSP and other neurodegenerative disorders. This included EIF2 signaling, an adaptive pathway activated in response to diverse stressors, which was the top activated pathway in vulnerable cell types. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that activated eIF2α was positively correlated with tau pathology burden in vulnerable brain regions. Multiplex immunofluorescence localized activated eIF2α positivity to hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) positive neurons and ALDH1L1-positive astrocytes, supporting the increased transcriptomic EIF2 activation observed in these vulnerable cell types. In conclusion, these data provide insights into cell-type-specific pathological changes in PSP and support the hypothesis that failure of adaptive stress pathways play a mechanistic role in the pathogenesis and progression of PSP.
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Lee HG, Lee JH, Flausino LE, Quintana FJ. Neuroinflammation: An astrocyte perspective. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi7828. [PMID: 37939162 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi7828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that play active roles in health and disease. Recent technologies have uncovered the functional heterogeneity of astrocytes and their extensive interactions with other cell types in the CNS. In this Review, we highlight the intricate interactions between astrocytes, other CNS-resident cells, and CNS-infiltrating cells as well as their potential therapeutic value in the context of inflammation and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Gyun Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joon-Hyuk Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lucas E Flausino
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Valdes P, Henry KW, Fitzgerald MQ, Muralidharan K, Caldwell AB, Ramachandran S, Goldstein LSB, Mobley WC, Galasko DR, Subramaniam S. Limitations of the human iPSC-derived neuron model for early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Mol Brain 2023; 16:75. [PMID: 37924159 PMCID: PMC10623777 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01063-5] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) occurring before 65 years of age is commonly referred to as early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and constitutes ~ 5-6% of all AD cases (Mendez et al. in Continuum 25:34-51, 2019). While EOAD exhibits the same clinicopathological changes such as amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), brain atrophy, and cognitive decline (Sirkis et al. in Mol Psychiatry 27:2674-88, 2022; Caldwell et al. in Mol Brain 15:83, 2022) as observed in the more prevalent late-onset AD (LOAD), EOAD patients tend to have more severe cognitive deficits, including visuospatial, language, and executive dysfunction (Sirkis et al. in Mol Psychiatry 27:2674-88, 2022). Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been used to model and study penetrative, familial AD (FAD) mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 (Valdes et al. in Research Square 1-30, 2022; Caldwell et al. in Sci Adv 6:1-16, 2020) but have been seldom used for sporadic forms of AD that display more heterogeneous disease mechanisms. In this study, we sought to characterize iPSC-derived neurons from EOAD patients via RNA sequencing. A modest difference in expression profiles between EOAD patients and non-demented control (NDC) subjects resulted in a limited number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Based on this analysis, we provide evidence that iPSC-derived neuron model systems, likely due to the loss of EOAD-associated epigenetic signatures arising from iPSC reprogramming, may not be ideal models for studying sporadic AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Valdes
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth W Henry
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael Q Fitzgerald
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Koushik Muralidharan
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Andrew B Caldwell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Lawrence S B Goldstein
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - William C Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Douglas R Galasko
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Shankar Subramaniam
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Dann E, Cujba AM, Oliver AJ, Meyer KB, Teichmann SA, Marioni JC. Precise identification of cell states altered in disease using healthy single-cell references. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1998-2008. [PMID: 37828140 PMCID: PMC10632138 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01523-7] [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: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Joint analysis of single-cell genomics data from diseased tissues and a healthy reference can reveal altered cell states. We investigate whether integrated collections of data from healthy individuals (cell atlases) are suitable references for disease-state identification and whether matched control samples are needed to minimize false discoveries. We demonstrate that using a reference atlas for latent space learning followed by differential analysis against matched controls leads to improved identification of disease-associated cells, especially with multiple perturbed cell types. Additionally, when an atlas is available, reducing control sample numbers does not increase false discovery rates. Jointly analyzing data from a COVID-19 cohort and a blood cell atlas, we improve detection of infection-related cell states linked to distinct clinical severities. Similarly, we studied disease states in pulmonary fibrosis using a healthy lung atlas, characterizing two distinct aberrant basal states. Our analysis provides guidelines for designing disease cohort studies and optimizing cell atlas use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Dann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ana-Maria Cujba
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Amanda J Oliver
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kerstin B Meyer
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Theory of Condensed Matter Group, The Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - John C Marioni
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
- Genentech, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Dave BP, Shah YB, Maheshwari KG, Mansuri KA, Prajapati BS, Postwala HI, Chorawala MR. Pathophysiological Aspects and Therapeutic Armamentarium of Alzheimer's Disease: Recent Trends and Future Development. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:3847-3884. [PMID: 37725199 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01408-7] [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: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the primary cause of dementia and is characterized by the death of brain cells due to the accumulation of insoluble amyloid plaques, hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles within the cells. AD is also associated with other pathologies such as neuroinflammation, dysfunction of synaptic connections and circuits, disorders in mitochondrial function and energy production, epigenetic changes, and abnormalities in the vascular system. Despite extensive research conducted over the last hundred years, little is established about what causes AD or how to effectively treat it. Given the severity of the disease and the increasing number of affected individuals, there is a critical need to discover effective medications for AD. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several new drug molecules for AD management since 2003, but these drugs only provide temporary relief of symptoms and do not address the underlying causes of the disease. Currently, available medications focus on correcting the neurotransmitter disruption observed in AD, including cholinesterase inhibitors and an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which temporarily alleviates the signs of dementia but does not prevent or reverse the course of AD. Research towards disease-modifying AD treatments is currently underway, including gene therapy, lipid nanoparticles, and dendrimer-based therapy. These innovative approaches aim to target the underlying pathological processes of AD rather than just managing the symptoms. This review discusses the novel aspects of pathogenesis involved in the causation of AD of AD and in recent developments in the therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of AD such as gene therapy, lipid nanoparticles, and dendrimer-based therapy, and many more.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavarth P Dave
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Practice, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Opp. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Yesha B Shah
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Practice, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Opp. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Kunal G Maheshwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Practice, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Opp. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Kaif A Mansuri
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Practice, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Opp. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Bhadrawati S Prajapati
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Practice, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Opp. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Humzah I Postwala
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Practice, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Opp. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Mehul R Chorawala
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Practice, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Opp. Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India.
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Grinberg LT. Synaptic Oligomers and Glial Cells in Alzheimer Disease. JAMA Neurol 2023; 80:1136-1137. [PMID: 37812438 PMCID: PMC10903969 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.3539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lea Tenenholz Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco
- Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo Medical School, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Gamache J, Gingerich D, Shwab EK, Barrera J, Garrett ME, Hume C, Crawford GE, Ashley-Koch AE, Chiba-Falek O. Integrative single-nucleus multi-omics analysis prioritizes candidate cis and trans regulatory networks and their target genes in Alzheimer's disease brains. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:185. [PMID: 37789374 PMCID: PMC10546724 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01120-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genetic underpinnings of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) are yet to be fully elucidated. Although numerous LOAD-associated loci have been discovered, the causal variants and their target genes remain largely unknown. Since the brain is composed of heterogenous cell subtypes, it is imperative to study the brain on a cell subtype specific level to explore the biological processes underlying LOAD. METHODS Here, we present the largest parallel single-nucleus (sn) multi-omics study to simultaneously profile gene expression (snRNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility (snATAC-seq) to date, using nuclei from 12 normal and 12 LOAD brains. We identified cell subtype clusters based on gene expression and chromatin accessibility profiles and characterized cell subtype-specific LOAD-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially accessible peaks (DAPs) and cis co-accessibility networks (CCANs). RESULTS Integrative analysis defined disease-relevant CCANs in multiple cell subtypes and discovered LOAD-associated cell subtype-specific candidate cis regulatory elements (cCREs), their candidate target genes, and trans-interacting transcription factors (TFs), some of which, including ELK1, JUN, and SMAD4 in excitatory neurons, were also LOAD-DEGs. Finally, we focused on a subset of cell subtype-specific CCANs that overlap known LOAD-GWAS regions and catalogued putative functional SNPs changing the affinities of TF motifs within LOAD-cCREs linked to LOAD-DEGs, including APOE and MYO1E in a specific subtype of microglia and BIN1 in a subpopulation of oligodendrocytes. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study represents the most comprehensive systematic interrogation to date of regulatory networks and the impact of genetic variants on gene dysregulation in LOAD at a cell subtype resolution. Our findings reveal crosstalk between epigenetic, genomic, and transcriptomic determinants of LOAD pathogenesis and define catalogues of candidate genes, cCREs, and variants involved in LOAD genetic etiology and the cell subtypes in which they act to exert their pathogenic effects. Overall, these results suggest that cell subtype-specific cis-trans interactions between regulatory elements and TFs, and the genes dysregulated by these networks contribute to the development of LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Gamache
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Daniel Gingerich
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - E Keats Shwab
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Julio Barrera
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Melanie E Garrett
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 104775, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Cordelia Hume
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Gregory E Crawford
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3382, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Allison E Ashley-Koch
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 104775, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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Signal B, Pérez Suárez TG, Taberlay PC, Woodhouse A. Cellular specificity is key to deciphering epigenetic changes underlying Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 186:106284. [PMID: 37683959 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106284] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Different cell types in the brain play distinct roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Late onset AD (LOAD) is a complex disease, with a large genetic component, but many risk loci fall in non-coding genome regions. Epigenetics implicates the non-coding genome with control of gene expression. The epigenome is highly cell-type specific and dynamically responds to the environment. Therefore, epigenetic mechanisms are well placed to explain genetic and environmental factors that are associated with AD. However, given this cellular specificity, purified cell populations or single cells need to be profiled to avoid effect masking. Here we review the current state of cell-type specific genome-wide profiling in LOAD, covering DNA methylation (CpG, CpH, and hydroxymethylation), histone modifications, and chromatin changes. To date, these data reveal that distinct cell types contribute and react differently to AD progression through epigenetic alterations. This review addresses the current gap in prior bulk-tissue derived work by spotlighting cell-specific changes that govern the complex interplay of cells throughout disease progression and are critical in understanding and developing effective treatments for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Signal
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
| | | | - Phillippa C Taberlay
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Adele Woodhouse
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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Lehrer S, Rheinstein PH. RORB, an Alzheimer's disease susceptibility gene, is associated with viral encephalitis, an Alzheimer's disease risk factor. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2023; 233:107984. [PMID: 37734269 PMCID: PMC10591837 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.107984] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viral encephalitis increases later-life risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by a factor of 31. METHODS To further evaluate this finding, we examined the relationship of West Nile virus (WNV) to Alzheimer's disease in 50 US states. In addition, we performed a genome wide association study (GWAS) of viral encephalitis cases in UK Biobank (UKBB) to see if encephalitis genes might be related to AD. RESULTS WNV was significantly associated with deaths from Alzheimer's disease in 50 US states (r = 0.806, p < 0.001). One gene, RORB-AS1, was most significantly related on GWAS to viral encephalitis. RORB-AS1 (RORB Antisense RNA 1) is an RNA gene. Diseases associated with RORB-AS1 include childhood epilepsy and idiopathic generalized epilepsy. The closely related RORB (Related Orphan Receptor B) is a marker of selectively AD vulnerable excitatory neurons in the entorhinal cortex; these neurons are depleted and susceptible to neurofibrillary inclusions during AD progression. RORB variants significantly decreased the risk of AD, independent of the significant effects of epilepsy, age, and years of education. The total effect size of variant RORB on AD prevalence is small, 0.19%, probably the reason RORB has not turned up on genome wide association studies of AD. But the decrease in effect size on AD, no variant versus varian is larger 0.20-0.16%. To produce the 31-fold increase in AD risk associated with viral encephalitis, non-variant RORB may need to interact with encephalitis virus. LIMITATIONS A weakness in our correlative analysis is possible confounding by the ecological fallacy (or ecological inference fallacy), a logical fallacy in the interpretation of statistical data where inferences about the nature of individuals are derived from inference for the group to which those individuals belong. In this case, inferences about individuals are being drawn from the characteristics of U.S. states where they reside, rather than from the individuals themselves. A weakness in our GWAS is that UK Biobank had only 18 cases of viral encephalitis and none of these had AD. CONCLUSION data presented here confirm the association of viral encephalitis with AD and suggest that WNV infection is a significant AD risk factor. In addition, GWAS suggests that the gene RORB, an AD vulnerability factor, is significantly related to viral encephalitis. FUTURE PROSPECTS A human WNV vaccine could reduce Alzheimer's disease morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Lehrer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
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