1
|
Liang N, Nho K, Newman JW, Arnold M, Huynh K, Meikle PJ, Borkowski K, Kaddurah-Daouk R. Peripheral inflammation is associated with brain atrophy and cognitive decline linked to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17423. [PMID: 39075118 PMCID: PMC11286782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67177-5] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is an important factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). An NMR measurement in plasma, glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), captures the overall level of protein production and glycosylation implicated in systemic inflammation. With its additional advantage of reducing biological variability, GlycA might be useful in monitoring the relationship between peripheral inflammation and brain changes relevant to AD. However, the associations between GlycA and these brain changes have not been fully evaluated. Here, we performed Spearman's correlation analyses to evaluate these associations cross-sectionally and determined whether GlycA can inform AD-relevant longitudinal measurements among participants in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (n = 1506), with additional linear models and stratification analyses to evaluate the influences of sex or diagnosis status and confirm findings from Spearman's correlation analyses. We found that GlycA was elevated in AD patients compared to cognitively normal participants. GlycA correlated negatively with multiple concurrent regional brain volumes in females diagnosed with late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI) or AD. Baseline GlycA level was associated with executive function decline at 3-9 year follow-up in participants diagnosed with LMCI at baseline, with similar but not identical trends observed in the future decline of memory and entorhinal cortex volume. Results here indicated that GlycA is an inflammatory biomarker relevant to AD pathogenesis and that the stage of LMCI might be relevant to inflammation-related intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuanyi Liang
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Kwangsik Nho
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - John W Newman
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Western Human Nutrition Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Matthias Arnold
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Kevin Huynh
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiovascular Research, Translation and Implementation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Peter J Meikle
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiovascular Research, Translation and Implementation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Kamil Borkowski
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Rima Kaddurah-Daouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Duke Institute of Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Knapskog AB, Edwin TH, Ueland PM, Ulvik A, Fang EF, Eldholm RS, Halaas NB, Giil LM, Saltvedt I, Watne LO, Aksnes M. Sex-specific associations of kynurenic acid with neopterin in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:167. [PMID: 39068471 PMCID: PMC11282793 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01531-7] [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: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences in neuroinflammation could contribute to women's increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), providing rationale for exploring sex-specific AD biomarkers. In AD, dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) contributes to neuroinflammation and there is some evidence of sex differences in KP metabolism. However, the sex-specific associations between KP metabolism and biomarkers of AD and neuroinflammation need to be explored further. METHODS Here we investigate sex differences in cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of seven KP metabolites and sex-specific associations with established AD biomarkers and neopterin, an indicator of neuroinflammation. This study included 311 patients with symptomatic AD and 105 age-matched cognitively unimpaired (CU) controls, followed for up to 5 years. RESULTS We found sex differences in KP metabolites in the AD group, with higher levels of most metabolites in men, while there were no sex differences in the CU group. In line with this, more KP metabolites were significantly altered in AD men compared to CU men, and there was a trend in the same direction in AD women. Furthermore, we found sex-specific associations between kynurenic acid and the kynurenic acid/quinolinic acid ratio with neopterin, but no sex differences in the associations between KP metabolites and clinical progression. DISCUSSION In our cohort, sex differences in KP metabolites were restricted to AD patients. Our results suggest that dysregulation of the KP due to increased inflammation could contribute to higher AD risk in women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Brita Knapskog
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0450, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trine Holt Edwin
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0450, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Evandro Fei Fang
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
- The Norwegian Centre On Healthy Ageing (NO-Age), Oslo, Norway
| | - Rannveig Sakshaug Eldholm
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, 7006, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nathalie Bodd Halaas
- Oslo Delirium Research Group, Oslo University Hospital, 0450, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oslo, 0315, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lasse M Giil
- Neuro-SysMed, Department of Internal Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, 5892, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ingvild Saltvedt
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, 7006, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Leiv Otto Watne
- Oslo Delirium Research Group, Oslo University Hospital, 0450, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Mari Aksnes
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oslo, 0315, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Saha P, Sisodia SS. Role of the gut microbiome in mediating sex-specific differences in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. Neurotherapeutics 2024:e00426. [PMID: 39054179 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents distinct pathophysiological features influenced by biological sex, with women disproportionately affected due to sex-specific genetic, hormonal, and epigenetic factors. This review delves into three critical areas of sex differences in AD: First, we explore how genetic predisposition and hormonal changes, particularly those involving sex-specific modifications, influence susceptibility and progression of the disease. Second, we examine the neuroimmune dynamics in AD, emphasizing variations in microglial activity between sexes during crucial developmental stages and the effects of hormonal interventions on disease outcomes. Crucially, this review highlights the significant role of gut microbiome perturbations in shaping AD pathophysiology in a sex-specific manner, suggesting that these alterations can further influence microglial activity and overall disease trajectory. Third, we provide a viewpoint that advocates for personalized therapeutic strategies that integrate the understanding of hormonal fluctuations and microbiome dynamics into treatment plans in order to optimize patient outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piyali Saha
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Sangram S Sisodia
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Codocedo JF, Mera-Reina C, Bor-Chian Lin P, Fallen PB, Puntambekar SS, Casali BT, Jury-Garfe N, Martinez P, Lasagna-Reeves CA, Landreth GE. Therapeutic targeting of immunometabolism reveals a critical reliance on hexokinase 2 dosage for microglial activation and Alzheimer's progression. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114488. [PMID: 39002124 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a prominent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Activated microglia undergo a reprogramming of cellular metabolism necessary to power their cellular activities during disease. Thus, selective targeting of microglial immunometabolism might be of therapeutic benefit for treating AD. In the AD brain, the levels of microglial hexokinase 2 (HK2), an enzyme that supports inflammatory responses by promoting glycolysis, are significantly increased. In addition, HK2 displays non-metabolic activities that extend its inflammatory role beyond glycolysis. The antagonism of HK2 affects microglial phenotypes and disease progression in a gene-dose-dependent manner. HK2 complete loss fails to improve pathology by exacerbating inflammation, while its haploinsufficiency reduces pathology in 5xFAD mice. We propose that the partial antagonism of HK2 is effective in slowing disease progression by modulating NF-κB signaling through its cytosolic target, IKBα. The complete loss of HK2 affects additional inflammatory mechanisms related to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Codocedo
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Claudia Mera-Reina
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Peter Bor-Chian Lin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Paul B Fallen
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Shweta S Puntambekar
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Brad T Casali
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Nur Jury-Garfe
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Pablo Martinez
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Cristian A Lasagna-Reeves
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Gary E Landreth
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Robertson KV, Rodriguez AS, Cartailler JP, Shrestha S, Schroeder KR, Valenti AM, Harrison FE, Hasty AH. Knockdown of microglial iron import gene, DMT1, worsens cognitive function and alters microglial transcriptional landscape in a sex-specific manner in the APP/PS1 model of Alzheimer's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4559940. [PMID: 38978579 PMCID: PMC11230470 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4559940/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Background Microglial cell iron load and inflammatory activation are significant hallmarks of late-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). In vitro, microglia preferentially upregulate the iron importer, divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1, gene name Slc11a2) in response to inflammatory stimuli, and excess iron can augment cellular inflammation, suggesting a feed-forward loop between iron import mechanisms and inflammatory signaling. However, it is not understood whether microglial iron import mechanisms directly contribute to inflammatory signaling and chronic disease in vivo. These studies determined the effects of microglial-specific knockdown of Slc11a2 on AD-related cognitive decline and microglial transcriptional phenotype. Methods In vitro experiments and RT-qPCR were used to assess a role for DMT1 in amyloid-β-associated inflammation. To determine the effects of microglial Slc11a2 knockdown on AD-related phenotypes in vivo, triple-transgenic Cx3cr1 Cre - ERT2 ;Slc11a2 flfl;APP/PS1 + or - mice were generated and administered corn oil or tamoxifen to induce knockdown at 5-6 months of age. Both sexes underwent behavioral analyses to assess cognition and memory (12-15 months of age). Hippocampal CD11b + microglia were magnetically isolated from female mice (15-17 months) and bulk RNA-sequencing analysis was conducted. Results DMT1 inhibition in vitro robustly decreased Aβ-induced inflammatory gene expression and cellular iron levels in conditions of excess iron. In vivo, Slc11a2 KD APP/PS1 female, but not male, mice displayed a significant worsening of memory function in Morris water maze and a fear conditioning assay, along with significant hyperactivity compared to control WT and APP/PS1 mice. Hippocampal microglia from Slc11a2 KD APP/PS1 females displayed significant increases in Enpp2, Ttr, and the iron-export gene, Slc40a1, compared to control APP/PS1 cells. Slc11a2 KD cells from APP/PS1 females also exhibited decreased expression of markers associated with disease-associated microglia (DAMs), such as Apoe, Ctsb, Csf1, and Hif1α. Conclusions This work suggests a sex-specific role for microglial iron import gene Slc11a2 in propagating behavioral and cognitive phenotypes in the APP/PS1 model of AD. These data also highlight an association between loss of a DAM-like phenotype in microglia and cognitive deficits in Slc11a2 KD APP/PS1 female mice. Overall, this work illuminates an iron-related pathway in microglia that may serve a protective role during disease and offers insight into mechanisms behind disease-related sex differences.
Collapse
|
6
|
Barber AJ, Del Genio CL, Swain AB, Pizzi EM, Watson SC, Tapiavala VN, Zanazzi GJ, Gaur AB. Age, sex and Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal study of 3xTg-AD mice reveals sex-specific disease trajectories and inflammatory responses mirrored in postmortem brains from Alzheimer's patients. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:134. [PMID: 38909241 PMCID: PMC11193202 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01492-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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging and sex are major risk factors for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Compared to men, women experience worse neuropathological burden and cognitive decline despite living longer with the disease. Similarly, male 3xTg-AD mice, developed to model Alzheimer's disease, no longer consistently exhibit standard Alzheimer's neuropathology yet experience higher rates of mortality - providing a unique opportunity to further elucidate this dichotomy. We hypothesized that sex differences in the biological aging process yield distinct pathological and molecular Alzheimer's disease signatures in males and females, which could be harnessed for therapeutic and biomarker development. METHODS We aged male and female, 3xTg-AD and B6129 control mice across their respective lifespans (n = 3-8 mice per sex, strain, and age group) and longitudinally assessed neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, markers of hepatic inflammation, splenic mass and morphology, as well as plasma cytokine levels. We conducted RNA sequencing analysis on bulk brain tissue and examined differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 3xTg-AD and B6129 samples and across ages in each sex. We also examined DEGs between clinical Alzheimer's and control parahippocampal gyrus brain tissue samples from the Mount Sinai Brain Bank study in each sex. RESULTS 3xTg-AD females significantly outlived 3xTg-AD males and exhibited progressive Alzheimer's neuropathology, while 3xTg-AD males demonstrated progressive hepatic inflammation, splenomegaly, circulating inflammatory proteins, and minimal Alzheimer's neuropathological hallmarks. Instead, 3xTg-AD males experienced an accelerated upregulation of immune-related gene expression in the brain relative to females. Our clinical investigations revealed that individuals with Alzheimer's disease develop similar sex-specific alterations in neuronal and immune function. In diseased males of both species, we observed greater upregulation of complement-related gene expression, and lipopolysaccharide was predicted as the top upstream regulator of DEGs. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that chronic inflammation and complement activation are associated with increased mortality, indicating that age-related changes in immune response contribute to sex differences in Alzheimer's disease trajectories. We provide evidence that aging and transgene-driven disease progression trigger a widespread inflammatory response in 3xTg-AD males, which mimics the impact of lipopolysaccharide stimulation despite the absence of infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia J Barber
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Carmen L Del Genio
- Department of Neurology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth M Pizzi
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - George J Zanazzi
- Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Arti B Gaur
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
- Integrative Neuroscience at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen YH, Wang ZB, Liu XP, Xu JP, Mao ZQ. Sex differences in the relationship between depression and Alzheimer's disease-mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutic opportunities. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1301854. [PMID: 38903903 PMCID: PMC11188317 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1301854] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders with intriguing epidemiological overlaps. Their interrelation has recently garnered widespread attention. Empirical evidence indicates that depressive disorders significantly contribute to AD risk, and approximately a quarter of AD patients have comorbid major depressive disorder, which underscores the bidirectional link between AD and depression. A growing body of evidence substantiates pervasive sex differences in both AD and depression: both conditions exhibit a higher incidence among women than among men. However, the available literature on this topic is somewhat fragmented, with no comprehensive review that delineates sex disparities in the depression-AD correlation. In this review, we bridge these gaps by summarizing recent progress in understanding sex-based differences in mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutic prospects for depression and AD. Additionally, we outline key challenges in the field, holding potential for improving treatment precision and efficacy tailored to male and female patients' distinct needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Han Chen
- The First Clinical Medical School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Zhi-Bo Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Xi-Peng Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Jun-Peng Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Qi Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kang S, Ko EY, Andrews AE, Shin JE, Nance KJ, Barman PK, Heeger PS, Freeman WM, Benayoun BA, Goodridge HS. Microglia undergo sex-dimorphic transcriptional and metabolic rewiring during aging. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:150. [PMID: 38840206 PMCID: PMC11155174 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03130-7] [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: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the brain's resident macrophages, maintain brain homeostasis and respond to injury and infection. During aging they undergo functional changes, but the underlying mechanisms and their contributions to neuroprotection versus neurodegeneration are unclear. Previous studies suggested that microglia are sex dimorphic, so we compared microglial aging in mice of both sexes. RNA-sequencing of hippocampal microglia revealed more aging-associated changes in female microglia than male microglia, and more sex differences in old microglia than young microglia. Pathway analyses and subsequent validation assays revealed a stronger AKT-mTOR-HIF1α-driven shift to glycolysis among old female microglia and indicated that C3a production and detection was elevated in old microglia, especially in females. Recombinant C3a induced AKT-mTOR-HIF1α signaling and increased the glycolytic and phagocytic activity of young microglia. Single cell analyses attributed the aging-associated sex dimorphism to more abundant disease-associated microglia (DAM) in old female mice than old male mice, and evaluation of an Alzheimer's Disease mouse model revealed that the metabolic and complement changes are also apparent in the context of neurodegenerative disease and are strongest in the neuroprotective DAM2 subset. Collectively, our data implicate autocrine C3a-C3aR signaling in metabolic reprogramming of microglia to neuroprotective DAM during aging, especially in females, and also in Alzheimer's Disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seokjo Kang
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Emily Y Ko
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Amelia E Andrews
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Juliana E Shin
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Karina J Nance
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Pijus K Barman
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Peter S Heeger
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Willard M Freeman
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Bérénice A Benayoun
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Molecular and Computational Biology Department, Arts and Sciences, USC Dornsife College of Letters, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Department, USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Helen S Goodridge
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tran N, Mills EL. Redox regulation of macrophages. Redox Biol 2024; 72:103123. [PMID: 38615489 PMCID: PMC11026845 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103123] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Redox signaling, a mode of signal transduction that involves the transfer of electrons from a nucleophilic to electrophilic molecule, has emerged as an essential regulator of inflammatory macrophages. Redox reactions are driven by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) and redox-sensitive metabolites such as fumarate and itaconate, which can post-translationally modify specific cysteine residues in target proteins. In the past decade our understanding of how ROS, RNS, and redox-sensitive metabolites control macrophage function has expanded dramatically. In this review, we discuss the latest evidence of how ROS, RNS, and metabolites regulate macrophage function and how this is dysregulated with disease. We highlight the key tools to assess redox signaling and important questions that remain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nhien Tran
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evanna L Mills
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lepiarz-Raba I, Hidayat T, Hannan AJ, Jawaid A. Potential Alzheimer's disease drug targets identified through microglial biology research. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:587-602. [PMID: 38590098 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2335210] [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: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Microglia, the primary immune cells in the brain, play multifaceted roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia can potentially mitigate the pathological progression of AD by clearing amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain and through neurotrophic support. In contrast, disproportionate activation of microglial pro-inflammatory pathways, as well as excessive elimination of healthy synapses, can exacerbate neurodegeneration in AD. The challenge, therefore, lies in discerning the precise regulation of the contrasting microglial properties to harness their therapeutic potential in AD. AREAS COVERED This review examines the evidence relevant to the disease-modifying effects of microglial manipulators in AD preclinical models. The deleterious pro-inflammatory effects of microglia in AD can be ameliorated via direct suppression or indirectly through metabolic manipulation, epigenetic targeting, and modulation of the gut-brain axis. Furthermore, microglial clearance of Aβ deposits in AD can be enhanced via strategically targeting microglial membrane receptors, lysosomal functions, and metabolism. EXPERT OPINION Given the intricate and diverse nature of microglial responses throughout the course of AD, therapeutic interventions directed at microglia warrant a tactical approach. This could entail employing therapeutic regimens, which concomitantly suppress pro-inflammatory microglial responses while selectively enhancing Aβ phagocytosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Lepiarz-Raba
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Exposures and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TREND), Braincity: Center of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Taufik Hidayat
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Exposures and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TREND), Braincity: Center of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ali Jawaid
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Exposures and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TREND), Braincity: Center of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lopez-Lee C, Torres ERS, Carling G, Gan L. Mechanisms of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. Neuron 2024; 112:1208-1221. [PMID: 38402606 PMCID: PMC11076015 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.024] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the mechanisms underlying its etiology and progression are complex and multifactorial. The higher AD risk in women may serve as a clue to better understand these complicated processes. In this review, we examine aspects of AD that demonstrate sex-dependent effects and delve into the potential biological mechanisms responsible, compiling findings from advanced technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, metabolomics, and multi-omics analyses. We review evidence that sex hormones and sex chromosomes interact with various disease mechanisms during aging, encompassing inflammation, metabolism, and autophagy, leading to unique characteristics in disease progression between men and women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Lopez-Lee
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eileen Ruth S Torres
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gillian Carling
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cleland NRW, Potter GJ, Buck C, Quang D, Oldham D, Neal M, Saviola A, Niemeyer CS, Dobrinskikh E, Bruce KD. Altered metabolism and DAM-signatures in female brains and microglia with aging. Brain Res 2024; 1829:148772. [PMID: 38244754 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148772] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Despite Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affecting women, the mechanisms remain elusive. In AD, microglia undergo 'metabolic reprogramming', which contributes to microglial dysfunction and AD pathology. However, how sex and age contribute to metabolic reprogramming in microglia is understudied. Here, we use metabolic imaging, transcriptomics, and metabolic assays to probe age- and sex-associated changes in brain and microglial metabolism. Glycolytic and oxidative metabolism in the whole brain was determined using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM). Young female brains appeared less glycolytic than male brains, but with aging, the female brain became 'male-like.' Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of disease-associated microglia (DAM) genes (e.g., ApoE, Trem2, LPL), and genes involved in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism in microglia from aged females compared to males. To determine whether estrogen can alter the expression of these genes, BV-2 microglia-like cell lines, which abundantly express DAM genes, were supplemented with 17β-estradiol (E2). E2 supplementation resulted in reduced expression of DAM genes, reduced lipid and cholesterol transport, and substrate-dependent changes in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism. Consistent with the notion that E2 may suppress DAM-associated factors, LPL activity was elevated in the brains of aged female mice. Similarly, DAM gene and protein expression was higher in monocyte-derived microglia-like (MDMi) cells derived from middle-aged females compared to age-matched males and was responsive to E2 supplementation. FLIM analysis of MDMi from young and middle-aged females revealed reduced oxidative metabolism and FAD+ with age. Overall, our findings show that altered metabolism defines age-associated changes in female microglia and suggest that estrogen may inhibit the expression and activity of DAM-associated factors, which may contribute to increased AD risk, especially in post-menopausal women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R W Cleland
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Garrett J Potter
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Courtney Buck
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Daphne Quang
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dean Oldham
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mikaela Neal
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Anthony Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christy S Niemeyer
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Evgenia Dobrinskikh
- Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA
| | - Kimberley D Bruce
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ghosh M, Lee J, Burke AN, Strong TA, Sagen J, Pearse DD. Sex Dependent Disparities in the Central Innate Immune Response after Moderate Spinal Cord Contusion in Rat. Cells 2024; 13:645. [PMID: 38607084 PMCID: PMC11011714 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070645] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Subacute spinal cord injury (SCI) displays a complex pathophysiology associated with pro-inflammation and ensuing tissue damage. Microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the CNS, in concert with infiltrating macrophages, are the primary contributors to SCI-induced inflammation. However, subpopulations of activated microglia can also possess immunomodulatory activities that are essential for tissue remodeling and repair, including the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors that are vital for SCI recovery. Recently, reports have provided convincing evidence that sex-dependent differences exist in how microglia function during CNS pathologies and the extent to which these cells contribute to neurorepair and endogenous recovery. Herein we employed flow cytometry and immunohistochemical methods to characterize the phenotype and population dynamics of activated innate immune cells within the injured spinal cord of age-matched male and female rats within the first week (7 days) following thoracic SCI contusion. This assessment included the analysis of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers, as well as the expression of critical immunomodulatory kinases, including P38 MAPK, and transcription factors, such as NFκB, which play pivotal roles in injury-induced inflammation. We demonstrate that activated microglia from the injured spinal cord of female rats exhibited a significantly diminutive pro-inflammatory response, but enhanced anti-inflammatory activity compared to males. These changes included lower levels of iNOS and TLR4 expression but increased levels of ARG-1 and CD68 in females after SCI. The altered expression of these markers is indicative of a disparate secretome between the microglia of males and females after SCI and that the female microglia possesses higher phagocytic capabilities (increased CD68). The examination of immunoregulatory kinases and transcription factors revealed that female microglia had higher levels of phosphorylated P38Thr180/Tyr182 MAPK and nuclear NFκB pp50Ser337 but lower amounts of nuclear NFκB pp65Ser536, suggestive of an attenuated pro-inflammatory phenotype in females compared to males after SCI. Collectively, this work provides novel insight into some of the sex disparities that exist in the innate immune response after SCI and indicates that sex is an important variable when designing and testing new therapeutic interventions or interpretating positive or negative responses to an intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mousumi Ghosh
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.L.); (A.N.B.); (T.A.S.); (J.S.); (D.D.P.)
- The Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.L.); (A.N.B.); (T.A.S.); (J.S.); (D.D.P.)
| | - Ashley N. Burke
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.L.); (A.N.B.); (T.A.S.); (J.S.); (D.D.P.)
| | - Thomas A. Strong
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.L.); (A.N.B.); (T.A.S.); (J.S.); (D.D.P.)
| | - Jacqueline Sagen
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.L.); (A.N.B.); (T.A.S.); (J.S.); (D.D.P.)
- The Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- The Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Damien D. Pearse
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.L.); (A.N.B.); (T.A.S.); (J.S.); (D.D.P.)
- The Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- The Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Strohm AO, Johnston C, Hernady E, Marples B, O'Banion MK, Majewska AK. Cranial irradiation disrupts homeostatic microglial dynamic behavior. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:82. [PMID: 38570852 PMCID: PMC10993621 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03073-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cranial irradiation causes cognitive deficits that are in part mediated by microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain. Microglia are highly reactive, exhibiting changes in shape and morphology depending on the function they are performing. Additionally, microglia processes make dynamic, physical contacts with different components of their environment to monitor the functional state of the brain and promote plasticity. Though evidence suggests radiation perturbs homeostatic microglia functions, it is unknown how cranial irradiation impacts the dynamic behavior of microglia over time. Here, we paired in vivo two-photon microscopy with a transgenic mouse model that labels cortical microglia to follow these cells and determine how they change over time in cranial irradiated mice and their control littermates. We show that a single dose of 10 Gy cranial irradiation disrupts homeostatic cortical microglia dynamics during a 1-month time course. We found a lasting loss of microglial cells following cranial irradiation, coupled with a modest dysregulation of microglial soma displacement at earlier timepoints. The homogeneous distribution of microglia was maintained, suggesting microglia rearrange themselves to account for cell loss and maintain territorial organization following cranial irradiation. Furthermore, we found cranial irradiation reduced microglia coverage of the parenchyma and their surveillance capacity, without overtly changing morphology. Our results demonstrate that a single dose of radiation can induce changes in microglial behavior and function that could influence neurological health. These results set the foundation for future work examining how cranial irradiation impacts complex cellular dynamics in the brain which could contribute to the manifestation of cognitive deficits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra O Strohm
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Carl Johnston
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Eric Hernady
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Brian Marples
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - M Kerry O'Banion
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Ania K Majewska
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
- Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bobotis BC, Halvorson T, Carrier M, Tremblay MÈ. Established and emerging techniques for the study of microglia: visualization, depletion, and fate mapping. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1317125. [PMID: 38425429 PMCID: PMC10902073 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1317125] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is an essential hub for neuronal communication. As a major component of the CNS, glial cells are vital in the maintenance and regulation of neuronal network dynamics. Research on microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the CNS, has advanced considerably in recent years, and our understanding of their diverse functions continues to grow. Microglia play critical roles in the formation and regulation of neuronal synapses, myelination, responses to injury, neurogenesis, inflammation, and many other physiological processes. In parallel with advances in microglial biology, cutting-edge techniques for the characterization of microglial properties have emerged with increasing depth and precision. Labeling tools and reporter models are important for the study of microglial morphology, ultrastructure, and dynamics, but also for microglial isolation, which is required to glean key phenotypic information through single-cell transcriptomics and other emerging approaches. Strategies for selective microglial depletion and modulation can provide novel insights into microglia-targeted treatment strategies in models of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and autoimmunity. Finally, fate mapping has emerged as an important tool to answer fundamental questions about microglial biology, including their origin, migration, and proliferation throughout the lifetime of an organism. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of these established and emerging techniques, with applications to the study of microglia in development, homeostasis, and CNS pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Caroline Bobotis
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Torin Halvorson
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Liu J, Zaidi A, Pike CJ. Microglia/macrophage-specific deletion of TLR-4 protects against neural effects of diet-induced obesity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.13.580189. [PMID: 38405877 PMCID: PMC10888944 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.13.580189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Obesity is associated with numerous adverse neural effects, including reduced neurogenesis, cognitive impairment, and increased risks for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia. Obesity is also characterized by chronic, low-grade inflammation that is implicated in mediating negative consequences body-wide. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling from peripheral macrophages is implicated as an essential regulator of the systemic inflammatory effects of obesity. In the brain, obesity drives chronic neuroinflammation that involves microglial activation, however the contributions of microglia-derived TLR4 signaling to the consequences of obesity are poorly understood. To investigate this issue, we first generated mice that carry an inducible, microglia/macrophage-specific deletion of TLR4 that yields long-term TLR4 knockout only in brain indicating microglial specificity. Next, we analyzed the effects of microglial TLR4 deletion on systemic and neural effects of a 16-week of exposure to control versus obesogenic high-fat diets. In male mice, TLR4 deletion generally yielded limited effects on diet-induced systemic metabolic dysfunction but significantly reduced neuroinflammation and impairments in neurogenesis and cognitive performance. In female mice maintained on obesogenic diet, TLR4 deletion partially protected against weight gain, adiposity, and metabolic impairments. Compared to males, females showed milder diet-induced neural consequences, against which TLR4 deletion was protective. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a central role of microglial TLR4 signaling in mediating the neural effects of obesogenic diet and highlight sexual dimorphic responses to both diet and TLR4.
Collapse
|
17
|
Lynch MA. A case for seeking sex-specific treatments in Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1346621. [PMID: 38414633 PMCID: PMC10897030 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1346621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
There is no satisfactory explanation for the sex-related differences in the incidence of many diseases and this is also true of Alzheimer's disease (AD), where females have a higher lifetime risk of developing the disease and make up about two thirds of the AD patient population. The importance of understanding the cause(s) that account for this disproportionate distribution cannot be overestimated, and is likely to be a significant factor in the search for therapeutic strategies that will combat the disease and, furthermore, potentially point to a sex-targeted approach to treatment. This review considers the literature in the context of what is known about the impact of sex on processes targeted by drugs that are in clinical trial for AD, and existing knowledge on differing responses of males and females to these drugs. Current knowledge strongly supports the view that trials should make assessing sex-related difference in responses a priority with a focus on exploring the sex-stratified treatments.
Collapse
|
18
|
Di Benedetto MG, Landi P, Mencacci C, Cattaneo A. Depression in Women: Potential Biological and Sociocultural Factors Driving the Sex Effect. Neuropsychobiology 2024; 83:2-16. [PMID: 38272005 PMCID: PMC10871691 DOI: 10.1159/000531588] [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: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Important sex-related differences have been observed in the onset, prevalence, and clinical phenotype of depression, based on several epidemiological studies. Social, behavioural, and educational factors have a great role in underlying this bias; however, also several biological factors are extensively involved. Indeed, sexually dimorphic biological systems might represent the underlying ground for these disparities, including cerebral structures and neural correlates, reproductive hormones, stress response pathways, the immune system and inflammatory reaction, metabolism, and fat distribution. Furthermore, in this perspective, it is also important to consider and focus the attention on specific ages and life stages of individuals: indeed, women experience during their life specific periods of reproductive transitional phases, which are not found in men, that represent windows of particular psychological vulnerability. In addition to these, other biologically related risk factors, including the occurrence of sleep disturbances and the exposure to childhood trauma, which are found to differentially affect men and women, are also putative underlying mechanisms of the clinical bias of depression. Overall, by taking into account major differences which characterize men and women it might be possible to improve the diagnostic process, as well as treat more efficiently depressed individuals, based on a more personalized medicine and research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Di Benedetto
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy,
| | - Paola Landi
- Department of Neuroscience, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Mencacci
- Department of Neuroscience, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Wu D, Bi X, Chow KHM. Identification of female-enriched and disease-associated microglia (FDAMic) contributes to sexual dimorphism in late-onset Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:1. [PMID: 38178204 PMCID: PMC10765928 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02987-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is the most common form of dementia; it disproportionally affects women in terms of both incidence rates and severity of progression. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this clinical phenomenon remain elusive and ill-defined. METHODS In-depth analyses were performed with multiple human LOAD single-nucleus transcriptome datasets to thoroughly characterize cell populations in the cerebral cortex. ROSMAP bulk human brain tissue transcriptome and DNA methylome datasets were also included for validation. Detailed assessments of microglial cell subpopulations and their relevance to sex-biased changes at the tissue level were performed. Clinical trait associations, cell evolutionary trajectories, and transcription regulon analyses were conducted. RESULTS The relative numbers of functionally defective microglia were aberrantly increased uniquely among affected females. Substratification of the microglia into different subtypes according to their transcriptomic signatures identified a group of female-enriched and disease-associated microglia (FDAMic), the numbers of which were positively associated with disease severity. Phenotypically, these cells exhibit transcriptomic signatures that support active proliferation, MHC class II autoantigen presentation and amyloid-β binding, but they are also likely defective in phagocytosis. FDAMic are likely evolved from female activated response microglia (ARMic) with an APOE4 background and compromised estrogen receptor (ER) signaling that is deemed to be active among most subtypes of microglia. CONCLUSION This study offered important insights at both the cellular and molecular levels into how ER signaling affects microglial heterogeneity and function. FDAMic are associated with more advanced pathologies and severe trends of cognitive decline. Their emergence could, at least in part, explain the phenomenon of greater penetrance of the APOE4 genotype found in females. The biases of FDAMic emergence toward female sex and APOE4 status may also explain why hormone replacement therapy is more effective in APOE4 carriers. The pathologic nature of FDAMic suggests that selective modulations of these cells may help to regain brain neuroimmune homeostasis, serving as a new target for future drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deng Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Xiaoman Bi
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Kim Hei-Man Chow
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
- Nexus of Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Pait MC, Kaye SD, Su Y, Kumar A, Singh S, Gironda SC, Vincent S, Anwar M, Carroll CM, Snipes JA, Lee J, Furdui CM, Deep G, Macauley SL. Novel method for collecting hippocampal interstitial fluid extracellular vesicles (EV ISF ) reveals sex-dependent changes in microglial EV proteome in response to Aβ pathology. J Extracell Vesicles 2024; 13:e12398. [PMID: 38191961 PMCID: PMC10774707 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an active role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), relaying important physiological information about their host tissues. The internal cargo of EVs is protected from degradation, making EVs attractive AD biomarkers. However, it is unclear how circulating EVs relate to EVs isolated from disease-vulnerable brain regions. We developed a novel method for collecting EVs from the hippocampal interstitial fluid (ISF) of live mice. EVs (EVISF ) were isolated via ultracentrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, immunogold labelling, and flow cytometry. Mass spectrometry and proteomic analyses were performed on EVISF cargo. EVISF were 40-150 nm in size and expressed CD63, CD9, and CD81. Using a model of cerebral amyloidosis (e.g., APPswe, PSEN1dE9 mice), we found protein concentration increased but protein diversity decreased with Aβ deposition. Genotype, age, and Aβ deposition modulated proteostasis- and immunometabolic-related pathways. Changes in the microglial EVISF proteome were sexually dimorphic and associated with a differential response of plaque associated microglia. We found that female APP/PS1 mice have more amyloid plaques, less plaque associated microglia, and a less robust- and diverse- EVISF microglial proteome. Thus, in vivo microdialysis is a novel technique for collecting EVISF and offers a unique opportunity to explore the role of EVs in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan C. Pait
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Sarah D. Kaye
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Yixin Su
- Department of Cancer BiologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Department of Cancer BiologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Sangeeta Singh
- Department of Cancer BiologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Stephen C. Gironda
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Samantha Vincent
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Maria Anwar
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Caitlin M. Carroll
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - James Andy Snipes
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Jingyun Lee
- Department of Internal MedicineSection on Molecular MedicineWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared ResourceWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Cristina M. Furdui
- Department of Internal MedicineSection on Molecular MedicineWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared ResourceWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer CenterWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Gagan Deep
- Department of Cancer BiologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer CenterWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Center for Research on Substance Use and AddictionWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- J Paul Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's PreventionWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Shannon L. Macauley
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- J Paul Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's PreventionWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Internal MedicineWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Center for Diabetes and MetabolismWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Cardiovascular Sciences CenterWake Forest School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Barber AJ, del Genio CL, Swain AB, Pizzi EM, Watson SC, Tapiavala VN, Zanazzi GJ, Gaur AB. Age, Sex and Alzheimer's disease: A longitudinal study of 3xTg-AD mice reveals sex-specific disease trajectories and inflammatory responses mirrored in postmortem brains from Alzheimer's patients. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.23.573209. [PMID: 38187539 PMCID: PMC10769453 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.23.573209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Background Aging and sex are major risk factors for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Compared to men, women are not only nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's, but they also experience worse neuropathological burden and cognitive decline despite living longer with the disease. It remains unclear how and when sex differences in biological aging emerge and contribute to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. We hypothesized that these differences lead to distinct pathological and molecular Alzheimer's disease signatures in males and females, which could be harnessed for therapeutic and biomarker development. Methods We aged male and female, 3xTg-AD and B6129 (WT) control mice across their respective lifespans while longitudinally collecting brain, liver, spleen, and plasma samples (n=3-8 mice per sex, strain, and age group). We performed histological analyses on all tissues and assessed neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, markers of hepatic inflammation, as well as splenic mass and morphology. Additionally, we measured concentrations of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in the plasma. We conducted RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis on bulk brain tissue and examined differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 3xTg-AD and WT samples and across ages in each sex. We also examined DEGs between clinical Alzheimer's and control parahippocampal gyrus brain tissue samples from the Mount Sinai Brain Bank (MSBB) study in each sex. Results 3xTg-AD females significantly outlived 3xTg-AD males and exhibited progressive Alzheimer's neuropathology, while 3xTg-AD males demonstrated progressive hepatic inflammation, splenomegaly, circulating inflammatory proteins, and next to no Alzheimer's neuropathological hallmarks. Instead, 3xTg-AD males experienced an accelerated upregulation of immune-related gene expression in the brain relative to females, further suggesting distinct inflammatory disease trajectories between the sexes. Clinical investigations revealed that 3xTg-AD brain aging phenotypes are not an artifact of the animal model, and individuals with Alzheimer's disease develop similar sex-specific alterations in canonical pathways related to neuronal signaling and immune function. Interestingly, we observed greater upregulation of complement-related gene expression, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was predicted as the top upstream regulator of DEGs in diseased males of both species. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that chronic inflammation and complement activation are associated with increased mortality, revealing that age-related changes in immune response act as a primary driver of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease trajectories. We propose a model of disease pathogenesis in 3xTg-AD males in which aging and transgene-driven disease progression trigger an inflammatory response, mimicking the effects of LPS stimulation despite the absence of infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia J. Barber
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Integrative Neuroscience at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Carmen L. del Genio
- Department of Neurology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth M. Pizzi
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - George J. Zanazzi
- Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Arti B. Gaur
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Daniels MJD, Lefevre L, Szymkowiak S, Drake A, McCulloch L, Tzioras M, Barrington J, Dando OR, He X, Mohammad M, Sasaguri H, Saito T, Saido TC, Spires-Jones TL, McColl BW. Cystatin F ( Cst7) drives sex-dependent changes in microglia in an amyloid-driven model of Alzheimer's disease. eLife 2023; 12:e85279. [PMID: 38085657 PMCID: PMC10715728 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglial endolysosomal (dys)function is strongly implicated in neurodegenerative disease. Transcriptomic studies show that a microglial state characterised by a set of genes involved in endolysosomal function is induced in both mouse Alzheimer's disease (AD) models and human AD brain, and that the emergence of this state is emphasised in females. Cst7 (encoding cystatin F) is among the most highly upregulated genes in these microglia. However, despite such striking and robust upregulation, the function of Cst7 in neurodegenerative disease is not understood. Here, we crossed Cst7-/- mice with the AppNL-G-F mouse to test the role of Cst7 in a model of amyloid-driven AD. Surprisingly, we found that Cst7 plays a sexually dimorphic role regulating microglia in this model. In females, Cst7-/-AppNL-G-F microglia had greater endolysosomal gene expression, lysosomal burden, and amyloid beta (Aβ) burden in vivo and were more phagocytic in vitro. However, in males, Cst7-/-AppNL-G-F microglia were less inflammatory and had a reduction in lysosomal burden but had no change in Aβ burden. Overall, our study reveals functional roles for one of the most commonly upregulated genes in microglia across disease models, and the sex-specific profiles of Cst7-/--altered microglial disease phenotypes. More broadly, the findings raise important implications for AD including crucial questions on sexual dimorphism in neurodegenerative disease and the interplay between endolysosomal and inflammatory pathways in AD pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael JD Daniels
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Lucas Lefevre
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Stefan Szymkowiak
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Alice Drake
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura McCulloch
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Makis Tzioras
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Jack Barrington
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Owen R Dando
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Xin He
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Mehreen Mohammad
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Hiroki Sasaguri
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental UniversityTokyoJapan
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science InstituteWakoJapan
| | - Takashi Saito
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science InstituteWakoJapan
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Takaomi C Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science InstituteWakoJapan
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Barry W McColl
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Cleland NRW, Potter GJ, Buck C, Quang D, Oldham D, Neal M, Saviola A, Niemeyer CS, Dobrinskikh E, Bruce KD. Altered Metabolism and DAM-signatures in Female Brains and Microglia with Aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.28.569104. [PMID: 38076915 PMCID: PMC10705419 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.569104] [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: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affecting women, the mechanisms remain elusive. In AD, microglia undergo 'metabolic reprogramming', which contributes to microglial dysfunction and AD pathology. However, how sex and age contribute to metabolic reprogramming in microglia is understudied. Here, we use metabolic imaging, transcriptomics, and metabolic assays to probe age-and sex-associated changes in brain and microglial metabolism. Glycolytic and oxidative metabolism in the whole brain was determined using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM). Young female brains appeared less glycolytic than male brains, but with aging, the female brain became 'male-like.' Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of disease-associated microglia (DAM) genes (e.g., ApoE, Trem2, LPL), and genes involved in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism in microglia from aged females compared to males. To determine whether estrogen can alter the expression of these genes, BV-2 microglia-like cell lines, which abundantly express DAM genes, were supplemented with 17β-estradiol (E2). E2 supplementation resulted in reduced expression of DAM genes, reduced lipid and cholesterol transport, and substrate-dependent changes in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism. Consistent with the notion that E2 may suppress DAM-associated factors, LPL activity was elevated in the brains of aged female mice. Similarly, DAM gene and protein expression was higher in monocyte-derived microglia-like (MDMi) cells derived from middle-aged females compared to age-matched males and was responsive to E2 supplementation. FLIM analysis of MDMi from young and middle-aged females revealed reduced oxidative metabolism and FAD+ with age. Overall, our findings show that altered metabolism defines age-associated changes in female microglia and suggest that estrogen may inhibit the expression and activity of DAM-associated factors, which may contribute to increased AD risk, especially in post-menopausal women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R W Cleland
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Garrett J Potter
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Courtney Buck
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Daphne Quang
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Dean Oldham
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Mikaela Neal
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Anthony Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Christy S. Niemeyer
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Evgenia Dobrinskikh
- Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA
| | - Kimberley D. Bruce
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Hosseinzadeh S, Afshari S, Molaei S, Rezaei N, Dadkhah M. The role of genetics and gender specific differences in neurodegenerative disorders: Insights from molecular and immune landscape. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 384:578206. [PMID: 37813041 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578206] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are the most common neurological disorders with high prevalence and have significant socioeconomic implications. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with the immune system can be effective in disease etiology, leading to more effective therapeutic approaches for both females and males. The central nervous system (CNS) actively participates in immune responses, both within and outside the CNS. Immune system activation is a common feature in NDDs. Gender-specific factors play a significant role in the prevalence, progression, and manifestation of NDDs. Neuroinflammation, in both inflammatory neurological and neurodegenerative conditions, is defined by the triggering of microglia and astrocyte cell activation. This results in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Numerous studies have documented the role of neuroinflammation in neurological diseases, highlighting the involvement of immune signaling pathways in disease development. Converging evidence support immune system involvement during neurodegeneration in NDDs. In this review, we summarize emerging evidence that reveals gender-dependent differences in immune responses related to NDDs. Also, we highlight sex differences in immune responses and discuss how these sex-specific influences can increase the risk of NDDs. Understanding the role of gender-specific factors can aid in developing targeted therapeutic strategies and improving patient outcomes. Ultimately, the better understanding of these mechanisms contributed to sex-dependent immune response in NDDs, can be critically usful in targeting of immune signaling cascades in such disorders. In this regard, sex-related immune responses in NDDs may be promising and effective targets in therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shahnaz Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Salva Afshari
- Students Research Committee, Pharmacy School, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Soheila Molaei
- Zoonoses Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1419733151, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Dadkhah
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Codocedo JF, Mera-Reina C, Lin PBC, Puntambekar SS, Casali BT, Jury N, Martinez P, Lasagna-Reeves CA, Landreth GE. Therapeutic targeting of immunometabolism in Alzheimer's disease reveals a critical reliance on Hexokinase 2 dosage on microglial activation and disease progression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.11.566270. [PMID: 38014106 PMCID: PMC10680613 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.11.566270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Microgliosis and neuroinflammation are prominent features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Disease-responsive microglia meet their increased energy demand by reprogramming metabolism, specifically, switching to favor glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, targeting of microglial immunometabolism might be of therapeutic benefit for treating AD, providing novel and often well understood immune pathways and their newly recognized actions in AD. We report that in the brains of 5xFAD mice and postmortem brains of AD patients, we found a significant increase in the levels of Hexokinase 2 (HK2), an enzyme that supports inflammatory responses by rapidly increasing glycolysis. Moreover, binding of HK2 to mitochondria has been reported to regulate inflammation by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting that its inflammatory role extends beyond its glycolytic activity. Here we report, that HK2 antagonism selectively affects microglial phenotypes and disease progression in a gene-dose dependent manner. Paradoxically, complete loss of HK2 fails to improve AD progression by exacerbating inflammasome activity while its haploinsufficiency results in reduced pathology and improved cognition in the 5XFAD mice. We propose that the partial antagonism of HK2, is effective in slowed disease progression and inflammation through a non-metabolic mechanism associated with the modulation of NFKβ signaling, through its cytosolic target IKBα. The complete loss of HK2 affects additional inflammatory mechanisms associated to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Codocedo
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Claudia Mera-Reina
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Peter Bor-Chian Lin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Shweta S Puntambekar
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Brad T Casali
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Nur Jury
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Pablo Martinez
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Cristian A Lasagna-Reeves
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Gary E Landreth
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ince LM, Darling JS, Sanchez K, Bell KS, Melbourne JK, Davis LK, Nixon K, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK. Sex differences in microglia function in aged rats underlie vulnerability to cognitive decline. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:438-452. [PMID: 37709153 PMCID: PMC10790303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with a significant shift in immune system reactivity ("inflammaging"), as basal inflammation increases but protective responses to infection are compromised. The immune system exhibits considerable sex differences, which may influence the process of inflammaging, including immune cell activation and behavioral consequences of immune signaling (i.e., impaired memory). Here, we test the hypothesis that sex differences in immune aging may mediate sex differences in cognitive decline. Aged male and female rats received peripheral immune stimulation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), then molecular, cellular, and behavioral outcomes were assessed. We observed that LPS-treated aged male rats showed cognitive impairment and increased neuroinflammatory responses relative to adult males. In contrast, aged female rats did not display these aging-related deficits. Using transcriptomic and flow cytometry analyses, we further observed significant age- and sex- dependent changes in immune cell populations in the brain parenchyma and meninges, indicating a broad shift in the neuroinflammatory environment that may potentiate these behavioral effects. Ovariectomized aged female rats were also resistant to inflammation-induced memory deficits, indicating that ovarian hormones are not required for the attenuated neuroinflammation in aged females. Overall, our results indicate that males have amplified inflammatory priming with age, which contributes to age-associated cognitive decline. Our findings highlight sexual dimorphism in mechanisms of aging, and suggest that sex is a crucial consideration for identifying therapies for aging and neuroinflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Ince
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Darling
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kevin Sanchez
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kiersten S Bell
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jennifer K Melbourne
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lourdes K Davis
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kimberly Nixon
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrew D Gaudet
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Laura K Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lepiarz-Raba I, Gbadamosi I, Florea R, Paolicelli RC, Jawaid A. Metabolic regulation of microglial phagocytosis: Implications for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:48. [PMID: 37908010 PMCID: PMC10617244 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00382-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are increasingly implicated in the regulation of brain health and disease. Microglia perform multiple functions in the central nervous system, including surveillance, phagocytosis and release of a variety of soluble factors. Importantly, a majority of their functions are closely related to changes in their metabolism. This natural inter-dependency between core microglial properties and metabolism offers a unique opportunity to modulate microglial activities via nutritional or metabolic interventions. In this review, we examine the existing scientific literature to synthesize the hypothesis that microglial phagocytosis of amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregates in Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be selectively enhanced via metabolic interventions. We first review the basics of microglial metabolism and the effects of common metabolites, such as glucose, lipids, ketone bodies, glutamine, pyruvate and lactate, on microglial inflammatory and phagocytic properties. Next, we examine the evidence for dysregulation of microglial metabolism in AD. This is followed by a review of in vivo studies on metabolic manipulation of microglial functions to ascertain their therapeutic potential in AD. Finally, we discuss the effects of metabolic factors on microglial phagocytosis of healthy synapses, a pathological process that also contributes to the progression of AD. We conclude by enlisting the current challenges that need to be addressed before strategies to harness microglial phagocytosis to clear pathological protein deposits in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders can be widely adopted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Lepiarz-Raba
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TREND), BRAINCITY: Center of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ismail Gbadamosi
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TREND), BRAINCITY: Center of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Roberta Florea
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Ali Jawaid
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TREND), BRAINCITY: Center of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Balu D, Valencia-Olvera AC, Islam Z, Mielczarek C, Hansen A, Perez Ramos TM, York J, LaDu MJ, Tai LM. APOE genotype and sex modulate Alzheimer's disease pathology in aged EFAD transgenic mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1279343. [PMID: 38020764 PMCID: PMC10644540 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1279343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence supports that age, APOE and sex interact to modulate Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk, however the underlying pathways are unclear. One way that AD risk factors may modulate cognition is by impacting amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation as plaques, and/or neuroinflammation Therefore, the goal of the present study was to evaluate the extent to which age, APOE and sex modulate Aβ pathology, neuroinflammation and behavior in vivo. To achieve this goal, we utilized the EFAD mice, which express human APOE3 or APOE4 and have five familial AD mutations (FAD) that result in Aβ42 overproduction. We assessed Aβ levels, reactive glia and Morris water maze performance in 6-, 10-, 14-, and 18-month-old EFAD mice. Female APOE4 mice had the highest Aβ deposition, fibrillar amyloid deposits and neuroinflammation as well as earlier behavior deficits. Interestingly, we found that female APOE3 mice and male APOE4 mice had similar levels of pathology. Collectively our data support that the combination of APOE4 and female sex is the most detrimental combination for AD, and that at older ages, female sex may be equivalent to APOE4 genotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deebika Balu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ana C. Valencia-Olvera
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Zarak Islam
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Clare Mielczarek
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Allison Hansen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Tamara M. Perez Ramos
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- School of Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada
| | - Jason York
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mary Jo LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Leon M. Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Balu D, Valencia-Olvera AC, Nguyen A, Patnam M, York J, Peri F, Neumann F, LaDu MJ, Tai LM. A small-molecule TLR4 antagonist reduced neuroinflammation in female E4FAD mice. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:181. [PMID: 37858252 PMCID: PMC10585767 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01330-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND APOE genotype is the greatest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). APOE4 increases AD risk up to 12-fold compared to APOE3, an effect that is greater in females. Evidence suggests that one-way APOE could modulate AD risk and progression through neuroinflammation. Indeed, APOE4 is associated with higher glial activation and cytokine levels in AD patients and mice. Therefore, identifying pathways that contribute to APOE4-associated neuroinflammation is an important approach for understanding and treating AD. Human and in vivo evidence suggests that TLR4, one of the key receptors involved in the innate immune system, could be involved in APOE-modulated neuroinflammation. Consistent with that idea, we previously demonstrated that the TLR4 antagonist IAXO-101 can reduce LPS- and Aβ-induced cytokine secretion in APOE4 glial cultures. Therefore, the goal of this study was to advance these findings and determine whether IAXO-101 can modulate neuroinflammation, Aβ pathology, and behavior in mice that express APOE4. METHODS We used mice that express five familial AD mutations and human APOE3 (E3FAD) or APOE4 (E4FAD). Female and male E4FAD mice and female E3FAD mice were treated with vehicle or IAXO-101 in two treatment paradigms: prevention from 4 to 6 months of age or reversal from 6 to 7 months of age. Learning and memory were assessed by modified Morris water maze. Aβ deposition, fibrillar amyloid deposition, astrogliosis, and microgliosis were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Soluble levels of Aβ and apoE, insoluble levels of apoE and Aβ, and IL-1β were measured by ELISA. RESULTS IAXO-101 treatment resulted in lower Iba-1 coverage, lower number of reactive microglia, and improved memory in female E4FAD mice in both prevention and reversal paradigms. IAXO-101-treated male E4FAD mice also had lower Iba-1 coverage and reactivity in the RVS paradigm, but there was no effect on behavior. There was also no effect of IAXO-101 treatment on neuroinflammation and behavior in female E3FAD mice. CONCLUSION Our data supports that TLR4 is a potential mechanistic therapeutic target for modulating neuroinflammation and cognition in APOE4 females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deebika Balu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Ana C Valencia-Olvera
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Austin Nguyen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Mehul Patnam
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Jason York
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Mary Jo LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Leon M Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Rahmani R, Rambarack N, Singh J, Constanti A, Ali AB. Age-Dependent Sex Differences in Perineuronal Nets in an APP Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease Are Brain Region-Specific. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14917. [PMID: 37834366 PMCID: PMC10574007 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914917] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which disproportionately affects women. AD symptoms include progressive memory loss associated with amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and dismantled synaptic mechanisms. Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are important components of the extracellular matrix with a critical role in synaptic stabilisation and have been shown to be influenced by microglia, which enter an activated state during AD. This study aimed to investigate whether sex differences affected the density of PNNs alongside the labelling of microglia and Aβ plaques density.We performed neurochemistry experiments using acute brain slices from both sexes of the APPNL-F/NL-F mouse model of AD, aged-matched (2-5 and 12-16 months) to wild-type mice, combined with a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) and hippocampal CA1, which are vulnerable during early AD pathology, were investigated and compared to the presubiculum (PRS), a region unscathed by AD pathology. The highest density of PNNs was found in the LEC and PRS regions of aged APPNL-F/NL-F mice with a region-specific sex differences. Analysis of the CA1 region using multiplex-fluorescent images from aged APPNL-F/NL-F mice showed regions of dense Aβ plaques near clusters of CD68, indicative of activated microglia and PNNs. This was consistent with the results of WGCNA performed on normalised data on microglial cells isolated from age-matched, late-stage male and female wild-type and APP knock-in mice, which revealed one microglial module that showed differential expression associated with tissue, age, genotype, and sex, which showed enrichment for fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that sex-related differences contribute to a disrupted interaction between PNNs and microglia in specific brain regions associated with AD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Afia B. Ali
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK; (R.R.); (N.R.); (J.S.); (A.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Strogulski NR, Portela LV, Polster BM, Loane DJ. Fundamental Neurochemistry Review: Microglial immunometabolism in traumatic brain injury. J Neurochem 2023; 167:129-153. [PMID: 37759406 PMCID: PMC10655864 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15959] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating neurological disorder caused by a physical impact to the brain that promotes diffuse damage and chronic neurodegeneration. Key mechanisms believed to support secondary brain injury include mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic neuroinflammation. Microglia and brain-infiltrating macrophages are responsible for neuroinflammatory cytokine and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production after TBI. Their production is associated with loss of homeostatic microglial functions such as immunosurveillance, phagocytosis, and immune resolution. Beyond providing energy support, mitochondrial metabolic pathways reprogram the pro- and anti-inflammatory machinery in immune cells, providing a critical immunometabolic axis capable of regulating immunologic response to noxious stimuli. In the brain, the capacity to adapt to different environmental stimuli derives, in part, from microglia's ability to recognize and respond to changes in extracellular and intracellular metabolite levels. This capacity is met by an equally plastic metabolism, capable of altering immune function. Microglial pro-inflammatory activation is associated with decreased mitochondrial respiration, whereas anti-inflammatory microglial polarization is supported by increased oxidative metabolism. These metabolic adaptations contribute to neuroimmune responses, placing mitochondria as a central regulator of post-traumatic neuroinflammation. Although it is established that profound neurometabolic changes occur following TBI, key questions related to metabolic shifts in microglia remain unresolved. These include (a) the nature of microglial mitochondrial dysfunction after TBI, (b) the hierarchical positions of different metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, glutaminolysis, and lipid oxidation during secondary injury and recovery, and (c) how immunometabolism alters microglial phenotypes, culminating in chronic non-resolving neuroinflammation. In this basic neurochemistry review article, we describe the contributions of immunometabolism to TBI, detail primary evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic impairments in microglia and macrophages, discuss how major metabolic pathways contribute to post-traumatic neuroinflammation, and set out future directions toward advancing immunometabolic phenotyping in TBI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R. Strogulski
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Luis V. Portela
- Neurotrauma and Biomarkers Laboratory, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Brian M. Polster
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David J. Loane
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Bobotis BC, Braniff O, Gargus M, Akinluyi ET, Awogbindin IO, Tremblay MÈ. Sex differences of microglia in the healthy brain from embryonic development to adulthood and across lifestyle influences. Brain Res Bull 2023; 202:110752. [PMID: 37652267 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Microglia, the central nervous system innate immune cells, play a critical role in maintaining a homeostatic environment in the brain throughout life. These cells exhibit an impressive range of functions and characteristics that help to ensure proper functioning of the brain. Notably, microglia can present differences in their genetic and physical traits, which can be influenced by a range of factors, including age, environmental exposures, disease, and sex. Remarkably, microglia have been found to express receptors for sex hormones, suggesting that these hormones may play a role in modulating microglial behavior and potentially contribute to sex differences. Additionally, sex-chromosomal factors were shown to impact microglial genetics and functioning. In this review, we will examine how microglial responses in homeostasis are impacted by their interaction with sex hormones and sex chromosomes. Specifically, our investigation will focus on examining this interaction from embryonic development to adulthood, and the influence of lifestyle elements on various microglial features, including density and distribution, morphology, transcriptome, and proteome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Braniff
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Makenna Gargus
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Toyin Akinluyi
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Ifeoluwa Oluleke Awogbindin
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Neuroimmunology Group, Molecular Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Neurosciences Axis, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Naia L, Shimozawa M, Bereczki E, Li X, Liu J, Jiang R, Giraud R, Leal NS, Pinho CM, Berger E, Falk VL, Dentoni G, Ankarcrona M, Nilsson P. Mitochondrial hypermetabolism precedes impaired autophagy and synaptic disorganization in App knock-in Alzheimer mouse models. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3966-3981. [PMID: 37907591 PMCID: PMC10730401 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02289-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is a driver of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid precursor protein (App) knock-in mouse models recapitulate AD-associated Aβ pathology, allowing elucidation of downstream effects of Aβ accumulation and their temporal appearance upon disease progression. Here we have investigated the sequential onset of AD-like pathologies in AppNL-F and AppNL-G-F knock-in mice by time-course transcriptome analysis of hippocampus, a region severely affected in AD. Strikingly, energy metabolism emerged as one of the most significantly altered pathways already at an early stage of pathology. Functional experiments in isolated mitochondria from hippocampus of both AppNL-F and AppNL-G-F mice confirmed an upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation driven by the activity of mitochondrial complexes I, IV and V, associated with higher susceptibility to oxidative damage and Ca2+-overload. Upon increasing pathologies, the brain shifts to a state of hypometabolism with reduced abundancy of mitochondria in presynaptic terminals. These late-stage mice also displayed enlarged presynaptic areas associated with abnormal accumulation of synaptic vesicles and autophagosomes, the latter ultimately leading to local autophagy impairment in the synapses. In summary, we report that Aβ-induced pathways in App knock-in mouse models recapitulate key pathologies observed in AD brain, and our data herein adds a comprehensive understanding of the pathologies including dysregulated metabolism and synapses and their timewise appearance to find new therapeutic approaches for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luana Naia
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Makoto Shimozawa
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erika Bereczki
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research and National Pandemic Center, Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xidan Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jianping Liu
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Richeng Jiang
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Romain Giraud
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nuno Santos Leal
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catarina Moreira Pinho
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Berger
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Victoria Lim Falk
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giacomo Dentoni
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Ankarcrona
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Per Nilsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Makarava N, Mychko O, Molesworth K, Chang JCY, Henry RJ, Tsymbalyuk N, Gerzanich V, Simard JM, Loane DJ, Baskakov IV. Region-Specific Homeostatic Identity of Astrocytes Is Essential for Defining Their Response to Pathological Insults. Cells 2023; 12:2172. [PMID: 37681904 PMCID: PMC10486627 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The transformation of astrocytes into reactive states constitutes a biological response of the central nervous system under a variety of pathological insults. Astrocytes display diverse homeostatic identities that are developmentally predetermined and regionally specified. Upon transformation into reactive states associated with neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological disorders, astrocytes acquire diverse reactive phenotypes. However, it is not clear whether their reactive phenotypes are dictated by region-specific homeostatic identity or by the nature of an insult. To address this question, region-specific gene expression profiling was performed for four brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and hypothalamus) in mice using a custom NanoString panel consisting of selected sets of genes associated with astrocyte functions and their reactivity for five conditions: prion disease, traumatic brain injury, brain ischemia, 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease model and normal aging. Upon transformation into reactive states, genes that are predominantly associated with astrocytes were found to respond to insults in a region-specific manner. Regardless of the nature of the insult or the insult-specificity of astrocyte response, strong correlations between undirected GSA (gene set analysis) scores reporting on astrocyte reactivity and on their homeostatic functions were observed within each individual brain region. The insult-specific gene expression signatures did not separate well from each other and instead partially overlapped, forming continuums. The current study demonstrates that region-specific homeostatic identities of astrocytes are important for defining their response to pathological insults. Within region-specific populations, reactive astrocytes show continuums of gene expression signatures, partially overlapping between individual insults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Olga Mychko
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jennifer Chen-Yu Chang
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Rebecca J. Henry
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA (D.J.L.)
| | - Natalya Tsymbalyuk
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Volodymyr Gerzanich
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - J. Marc Simard
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - David J. Loane
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA (D.J.L.)
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kadlecova M, Freude K, Haukedal H. Complexity of Sex Differences and Their Impact on Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051261. [PMID: 37238932 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are present in brain morphology, sex hormones, aging processes and immune responses. These differences need to be considered for proper modelling of neurological diseases with clear sex differences. This is the case for Alzheimer's disease (AD), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with two-thirds of cases diagnosed in women. It is becoming clear that there is a complex interplay between the immune system, sex hormones and AD. Microglia are major players in the neuroinflammatory process occurring in AD and have been shown to be directly affected by sex hormones. However, many unanswered questions remain as the importance of including both sexes in research studies has only recently started receiving attention. In this review, we provide a summary of sex differences and their implications in AD, with a focus on microglia action. Furthermore, we discuss current available study models, including emerging complex microfluidic and 3D cellular models and their usefulness for studying hormonal effects in this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Kadlecova
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 C Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Kristine Freude
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 C Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Henriette Haukedal
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 C Frederiksberg, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Bianco A, Antonacci Y, Liguori M. Sex and Gender Differences in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Challenges for Therapeutic Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076354. [PMID: 37047320 PMCID: PMC10093984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The term “neurodegenerative diseases” (NDs) identifies a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by progressive loss of selectively vulnerable populations of neurons, which progressively deteriorates over time, leading to neuronal dysfunction. Protein aggregation and neuronal loss have been considered the most characteristic hallmarks of NDs, but growing evidence confirms that significant dysregulation of innate immune pathways plays a crucial role as well. NDs vary from multiple sclerosis, in which the autoimmune inflammatory component is predominant, to more “classical” NDs, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and spinal muscular atrophy. Of interest, many of the clinical differences reported in NDs seem to be closely linked to sex, which may be justified by the significant changes in immune mechanisms between affected females and males. In this review, we examined some of the most studied NDs by looking at their pathogenic and phenotypical features to highlight sex-related discrepancies, if any, with particular interest in the individuals’ responses to treatment. We believe that pointing out these differences in clinical practice may help achieve more successful precision and personalized care.
Collapse
|
37
|
Cui SS, Jiang QW, Chen SD. Sex difference in biological change and mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease: from macro- to micro-landscape. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101918. [PMID: 36967089 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and numerous studies reported a higher prevalence and incidence of AD among women. Although women have longer lifetime, longevity does not wholly explain the higher frequency and lifetime risk in women. It is important to understand sex differences in AD pathophysiology and pathogenesis, which could provide foundation for future clinical AD research. Here, we reviewed the most recent and relevant literature on sex differences in biological change of AD from macroscopical neuroimaging to microscopical pathologic change (neuronal degeneration, synaptic dysfunction, amyloid-beta and tau accumulation). We also discussed sex differences in cellular mechanisms related to AD (neuroinflammation, mitochondria dysfunction, oxygen stress, apoptosis, autophagy, blood-brain-barrier dysfunction, gut microbiome alteration, bulk and single cell/nucleus omics) and possible causes underlying these differences including sex-chromosome, sex hormone and hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Shuang Cui
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qian-Wen Jiang
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Sheng-Di Chen
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Mela V, Gaban AS, Shatz PM, Guillot-Sestier MV, Lynch MA. Acute Stress, Induced by IFNγ + Aβ, and Chronic Stress, Induced by Age, Affect Microglia in a Sex-Specific Manner. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3044-3053. [PMID: 36781739 PMCID: PMC10122617 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03235-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Microglial phenotype changes in the aged brain, and also in neurodegenerative diseases, and it is generally accepted that these changes at least contribute to the inflammation that can have detrimental effects on brain health. Accumulating data have determined that there are multiple microglial activation states with consistent findings indicating that with stressors including age, a switch towards an inflammatory phenotype occurs. Among the changes that accompany this is a change in metabolism, whereby glycolysis is increased in microglia. Here, we asked whether sex impacted on the response of microglia to two stressors, interferon-γ + amyloid-β (IFNγ + Aβ) and age. The data show that IFNγ + Aβ triggered cells from female mice to adopt a glycolytic phenotype. Metabolism was also altered with age; microglia from aged male mice responded by increasing oxidative phosphorylation, and microglial motility was preserved, contrasting with microglia from female mice where motility was compromised. We conclude that sex is a significant variable in the responses of microglia to stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Mela
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,Department of Medicine and Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaga, Malaga, 29010, Spain.
| | - Aline Sayd Gaban
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Paul Marie Shatz
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Marie-Victoire Guillot-Sestier
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.,School of Medicine and Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marina A Lynch
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
de Sousa DMB, Benedetti A, Altendorfer B, Mrowetz H, Unger MS, Schallmoser K, Aigner L, Kniewallner KM. Immune-mediated platelet depletion augments Alzheimer's disease neuropathological hallmarks in APP-PS1 mice. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:630-649. [PMID: 36734880 PMCID: PMC9970308 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204502] [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: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), platelets become dysfunctional and might contribute to amyloid beta deposition. Here, we depleted platelets in one-year-old APP Swedish PS1 dE9 (APP-PS1) transgenic mice for five days, using intraperitoneal injections of an anti-CD42b antibody, and assessed changes in cerebral amyloidosis, plaque-associated neuritic dystrophy and gliosis. In APP-PS1 female mice, platelet depletion shifted amyloid plaque size distribution towards bigger plaques and increased neuritic dystrophy in the hippocampus. In platelet-depleted females, plaque-associated Iba1+ microglia had lower amounts of fibrillar amyloid beta cargo and GFAP+ astrocytic processes showed a higher overlap with thioflavin S+ amyloid plaques. In contrast to the popular hypothesis that platelets foster plaque pathology, our data suggest that platelets might limit plaque growth and attenuate plaque-related neuritic dystrophy at advanced stages of amyloid plaque pathology in APP-PS1 female mice. Whether the changes in amyloid plaque pathology are due to a direct effect on amyloid beta deposition or are a consequence of altered glial function needs to be further elucidated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana M. Bessa de Sousa
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ariane Benedetti
- Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Institute of Experimental Neuroregeneration, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Barbara Altendorfer
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Heike Mrowetz
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Michael S. Unger
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Katharina Schallmoser
- Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ludwig Aigner
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kathrin Maria Kniewallner
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Shirokova O, Zaborskaya O, Pchelin P, Kozliaeva E, Pershin V, Mukhina I. Genetic and Epigenetic Sexual Dimorphism of Brain Cells during Aging. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020195. [PMID: 36831738 PMCID: PMC9954625 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020195] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, much of the attention paid to theoretical and applied biomedicine, as well as neurobiology, has been drawn to various aspects of sexual dimorphism due to the differences that male and female brain cells demonstrate during aging: (a) a dimorphic pattern of response to therapy for neurodegenerative disorders, (b) different age of onset and different degrees of the prevalence of such disorders, and (c) differences in their symptomatic manifestations in men and women. The purpose of this review is to outline the genetic and epigenetic differences in brain cells during aging in males and females. As a result, we hereby show that the presence of brain aging patterns in males and females is due to a complex of factors associated with the effects of sex chromosomes, which subsequently entails a change in signal cascades in somatic cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Shirokova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Olga Zaborskaya
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - Pavel Pchelin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603002, Russia
| | - Elizaveta Kozliaeva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - Vladimir Pershin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603002, Russia
| | - Irina Mukhina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603002, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
McKee CG, Hoffos M, Vecchiarelli HA, Tremblay MÈ. Microglia: A pharmacological target for the treatment of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1125982. [PMID: 36969855 PMCID: PMC10034122 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1125982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As individuals age, microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), become less effective at preserving brain circuits. Increases in microglial inflammatory activity are thought to contribute to age-related declines in cognitive functions and to transitions toward mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). As microglia possess receptors for communicating with the CNS environment, pharmacological therapies targeting these pathways hold potential for promoting homeostatic microglial functions within the aging CNS. Preclinical and early phase clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effects of pharmacological agents acting on microglia, including reactive oxygen species, TREM2, fractalkine signaling, the complement cascade, and the NLRP3 inflammasome, are currently underway; however, important questions remain unanswered. Current challenges include target selectivity, as many of the signaling pathways are expressed in other cell types. Furthermore, microglia are a heterogenous cell population with transcriptomic, proteomic, and microscopy studies revealing distinct microglial states, whose activities and abundance shift across the lifespan. For example, homeostatic microglia can transform into pathological states characterized by markers of oxidative stress. Selective pharmacological targeting aimed at limiting transitions to pathological states or promoting homeostatic or protective states, could help to avoid potentially harmful off-target effects on beneficial states or other cell types. In this mini-review we cover current microglial pathways of interest for the prevention and treatment of age-related cognitive decline and CNS disorders of aging focusing on MCI and AD. We also discuss the heterogeneity of microglia described in these conditions and how pharmacological agents could target specific microglial states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe G. McKee
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Madison Hoffos
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | | | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Alvarez-Sanchez N, Dunn SE. Potential biological contributers to the sex difference in multiple sclerosis progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1175874. [PMID: 37122747 PMCID: PMC10140530 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1175874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease that targets the myelin sheath of central nervous system (CNS) neurons leading to axon injury, neuronal death, and neurological progression. Though women are more highly susceptible to developing MS, men that develop this disease exhibit greater cognitive impairment and accumulate disability more rapidly than women. Magnetic resonance imaging and pathology studies have revealed that the greater neurological progression seen in males correlates with chronic immune activation and increased iron accumulation at the rims of chronic white matter lesions as well as more intensive whole brain and grey matter atrophy and axon loss. Studies in humans and in animal models of MS suggest that male aged microglia do not have a higher propensity for inflammation, but may become more re-active at the rim of white matter lesions as a result of the presence of pro-inflammatory T cells, greater astrocyte activation or iron release from oligodendrocytes in the males. There is also evidence that remyelination is more efficient in aged female than aged male rodents and that male neurons are more susceptible to oxidative and nitrosative stress. Both sex chromosome complement and sex hormones contribute to these sex differences in biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Alvarez-Sanchez
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shannon E. Dunn
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Shannon E. Dunn,
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Bartolo ND, Mortimer N, Manter MA, Sanchez N, Riley M, O'Malley TT, Hooker JM. Identification and Prioritization of PET Neuroimaging Targets for Microglial Phenotypes Associated with Microglial Activity in Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3641-3660. [PMID: 36473177 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of microglial cells accompanies the progression of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Development of molecular imaging tools specific to microglia can help elucidate the mechanism through which microglia contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Through analysis of published genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data sets, we identified 19 genes with microglia-specific expression that we then ranked based on association with the AD characteristics, change in expression, and potential druggability of the target. We believe that the process we used to identify and rank microglia-specific genes is broadly applicable to the identification and evaluation of targets in other disease areas and for applications beyond molecular imaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D Bartolo
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, United States
| | - Niall Mortimer
- Human Biology and Data Science, Eisai Center for Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery, 35 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Mariah A Manter
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, United States
| | - Nicholas Sanchez
- Human Biology and Data Science, Eisai Center for Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery, 35 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Misha Riley
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, United States
| | - Tiernan T O'Malley
- Human Biology and Data Science, Eisai Center for Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery, 35 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Jacob M Hooker
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, United States
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sanfilippo C, Castrogiovanni P, Imbesi R, Musumeci G, Vecchio M, Li Volti G, Tibullo D, Broggi G, Caltabiano R, Ulivieri M, Kazakova M, Parenti R, Vicario N, Fazio F, Di Rosa M. Sex-dependent neuro-deconvolution analysis of Alzheimer's disease brain transcriptomes according to CHI3L1 expression levels. J Neuroimmunol 2022; 373:577977. [PMID: 36228382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Glial activation and related neuroinflammatory processes play a key role in the aging and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). CHI3L1/ YKL40 is a widely investigated chitinase in neurodegenerative diseases and recent studies have shown its involvement in aging and AD. Nevertheless, the biological function of CHI3L1 in AD is still unknown. Here, we collected microarray datasets from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) brain samples of not demented healthy controls (NDHC) who died from causes not attributable to neurodegenerative disorders (n = 460), and of deceased patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 697). The NDHC and AD patients were stratified according to CHI3L1 expression levels as a cut-off. We identified two groups both males and females, subsequently used for our statistical comparisons: the high CHI3L1 expression group (HCEG) and the low CHI3L1 expression group (LCEG). Comparing HCEG to LCEG, we attained four signatures according to the sex of patients, in order to identify the healthy and AD brain cellular architecture, performing a genomic deconvolution analysis. We used neurological signatures (NS) belonging to six neurological cells populations and nine signatures that included the main physiological neurological processes. We discovered that, in the brains of NDHC the high expression levels of CHI3L1 were associated with astrocyte activation profile, while in AD males and females we showed an inflammatory profile microglia-mediated. The low CHI3L1 brain expression levels in NDHC and AD patients highlighted a neuronal activation profile. Furthermore, using drugs opposing CHI3L1 transcriptomic signatures, we found a specific drug profile for AD males and females characterized by high levels of CHI3L1 composed of fostamatinib, rucaparib, cephaeline, prednisolone, and dinoprostone. Brain levels of CHI3L1 in AD patients represent a biological signature that allows distinguishing between males and females and their likely cellular brain architecture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sanfilippo
- Neurologic Unit, AOU "Policlinico-San Marco", Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, GF, Ingrassia, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia n.78, 95100 Catania, Sicily, Italy
| | - Paola Castrogiovanni
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Rosa Imbesi
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Musumeci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Michele Vecchio
- Rehabilitation Unit, "AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele", Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Giovanni Li Volti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Daniele Tibullo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Broggi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G. F. Ingrassia", Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosario Caltabiano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G. F. Ingrassia", Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Martina Ulivieri
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, Health Science, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maria Kazakova
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University, Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Research Institute, Medical University-, Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Rosalba Parenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Nunzio Vicario
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Fazio
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, Health Science, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michelino Di Rosa
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Pan AL, Audrain M, Sakakibara E, Joshi R, Zhu X, Wang Q, Wang M, Beckmann ND, Schadt EE, Gandy S, Zhang B, Ehrlich ME, Salton SR. Dual-Specificity Protein Phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) Overexpression Improves Learning Behavior Selectively in Female 5xFAD Mice, and Reduces β-Amyloid Load in Males and Females. Cells 2022; 11:3880. [PMID: 36497141 PMCID: PMC9737364 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent multiscale network analyses of banked brains from subjects who died of late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease converged on VGF (non-acronymic) as a key hub or driver. Within this computational VGF network, we identified the dual-specificity protein phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) [also known as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 2] as an important node. Importantly, DUSP4 gene expression, like that of VGF, is downregulated in postmortem Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. We investigated the roles that this VGF/DUSP4 network plays in the development of learning behavior impairment and neuropathology in the 5xFAD amyloidopathy mouse model. We found reductions in DUSP4 expression in the hippocampi of male AD subjects, correlating with increased CDR scores, and in 4-month-old female and 12-18-month-old male 5xFAD hippocampi. Adeno-associated virus (AAV5)-mediated overexpression of DUSP4 in 5xFAD mouse dorsal hippocampi (dHc) rescued impaired Barnes maze performance in females but not in males, while amyloid loads were reduced in both females and males. Bulk RNA sequencing of the dHc from 5-month-old mice overexpressing DUSP4, and Ingenuity Pathway and Enrichr analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), revealed that DUSP4 reduced gene expression in female 5xFAD mice in neuroinflammatory, interferon-gamma (IFNγ), programmed cell death protein-ligand 1/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1/PD-1), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/MAPK pathways, via which DUSP4 may modulate AD phenotype with gender-specificity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allen L. Pan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Mickael Audrain
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Emmy Sakakibara
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Rajeev Joshi
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Xiaodong Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Noam D. Beckmann
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Eric E. Schadt
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michelle E. Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Stephen R. Salton
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Fonken LK, Gaudet AD. Neuroimmunology of healthy brain aging. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 77:102649. [PMID: 36368270 PMCID: PMC9826730 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Aging involves progressive deterioration away from homeostasis. Whereas the healthy adult brain maintains neuroimmune cells in a surveillant and homeostatic state, aged glial cells have a hyperreactive phenotype. These age-related pro-inflammatory biases are driven in part by cell-intrinsic factors, including increased cell priming and pro-inflammatory cell states. In addition, the aged inflammatory milieu is shaped by an altered environment, such as amplified danger signals and cytokines and dysregulated glymphatic function. These cell-instrinsic and environmental factors conspire to heighten the age-related risk for neuroimmune activation and associated pathology. In this review, we discuss cellular and molecular neuroimmune shifts with "healthy" aging; how these age-related changes affect physiology and behavior; and how recent research has revealed neuroimmune pathways and targets for improving health span.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura K Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Andrew D Gaudet
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. https://twitter.com/Gaudet_91
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Casaletto KB, Nichols E, Aslanyan V, Simone SM, Rabin JS, La Joie R, Brickman AM, Dams-O’Connor K, Palta P, Kumar RG, George KM, Satizabal CL, Schneider J, Pa J. Sex-specific effects of microglial activation on Alzheimer's disease proteinopathy in older adults. Brain 2022; 145:3536-3545. [PMID: 35869598 PMCID: PMC10233295 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Females show a disproportionate burden of Alzheimer's disease pathology and higher Alzheimer's disease dementia prevalences compared to males, yet the mechanisms driving these vulnerabilities are unknown. There is sexual dimorphism in immunological functioning, and neuroimmune processes are implicated in Alzheimer's disease genesis. Using neuropathology indicators from human brain tissue, we examined the mediational role of microglial activation on the relationship between amyloid and tau and how it differs by sex. 187 decedents (64% female; 89 mean age at death; 62% non-demented) from the Rush Memory and Aging Project completed neuropathological evaluations with brain tissue quantified for microglial activation, amyloid-β and tau. Proportion of morphologically activated microglia was determined via immunohistochemistry (HLA-DP-DQ-DR) and morphological staging (stage I, II or III). Amyloid-β and tau burden were quantified via immunohistochemistry (M00872 or AT8, respectively). Using causal counterfactual modelling, we estimated the mediational effect of microglial activation on the amyloid-β to tau relationship in the whole sample and stratified by sex (amyloid-β → microglial activation → tau). Alternative models tested the role of microglia activation as the precipitating event (microglial activation → amyloid-β → tau). Microglial activation significantly mediated 33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10-67] of the relationship between amyloid-β and tau in the whole sample; stratified analyses suggested this effect was stronger and only statistically significant in females. 57% (95% CI 22-100) of the effect of amyloid-β on tau was mediated through microglial activation in females, compared to 19% (95% CI 0-64) in males. Regional analyses suggested that mediational effects were driven by greater cortical versus subcortical microglial activation. Relationships were independent of cerebrovascular disease indices. Alternative models suggested that in females, microglial activation was a significant exposure both preceding the amyloid-β to tau relationship (mediational effect: 50%, 95% CI 23-90) and directly related to tau burden (microglia direct effect: 50%, 95% CI 10-77). By contrast, in males, only the direct effect of microglial activation to tau reached significance (74%, 95% CI 32-100) (mediational effect: 26%, 95% CI 0-68). Our models suggest a reciprocal, bidirectional relationship between amyloid-β and microglial activation that significantly accounts for tau burden in females. By contrast, in males, direct independent (non-mediational) relationships between microglial activation or amyloid-β with tau were observed. Microglial activation may be disproportionately important for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis in females. Determining sex-specific vulnerabilities to Alzheimer's disease development both inform fundamental pathophysiology and support precision health approaches for this heterogeneous disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin B Casaletto
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emma Nichols
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vahan Aslanyan
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer S Rabin
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Renaud La Joie
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam M Brickman
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristen Dams-O’Connor
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Priya Palta
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raj G Kumar
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristen M George
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Claudia L Satizabal
- Department of Population Health Science and Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julie Schneider
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Judy Pa
- Department of Neurosciences, Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Coales I, Tsartsalis S, Fancy N, Weinert M, Clode D, Owen D, Matthews PM. Alzheimer's disease-related transcriptional sex differences in myeloid cells. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:247. [PMID: 36199077 PMCID: PMC9535846 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02604-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences have been identified in many diseases associated with dysregulated immune responses, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), for which approximately two-thirds of patients are women. An accumulating body of research indicates that microglia may play a causal role in the pathogenesis of this disease. We hypothesised that sex differences in the transcriptome of human myeloid cells may contribute to the sex difference observed in AD prevalence. To explore this, we assessed bulk and single-nuclear RNA sequencing data sets generated from four human derived myeloid cell populations: post-mortem microglial nuclei, peripheral monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and induced pluripotent stem cell derived microglial-like cells (MGLs). We found that expression of AD risk genes, gene signatures associated with the inflammatory response in AD, and genes related to proinflammatory immune responses were enriched in microglial nuclei isolated from aged female donors without ante-mortem neurological disease, relative to those from males. In addition, these inflammation-associated gene sets were found to be enriched in peripheral monocytes isolated from postmenopausal women and in MDMs obtained from premenopausal individuals relative to age-matched males. Expression of these gene sets did not differ in MDMs derived from women whose blood was sampled across the menstrual cycle or in MGLs cultured with 17β-oestradiol. This suggests that the observed gene set enrichments in myeloid cells from women were not being driven by acute hormonal influences. Together, these data support the hypothesis that the increased prevalence of AD in women may be partly explained by a myeloid cell phenotype biased towards expression of biological processes relevant to AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Coales
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Stergios Tsartsalis
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nurun Fancy
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Weinert
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel Clode
- UK Dementia Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David Owen
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Clinical Research Facility, Hammersmith Hospital, ICTM Building, DuCane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
| | - Paul M Matthews
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- UK Dementia Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Hammersmith Hospital, E502, Burlington Danes Building, DuCane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Metabolic adaptation to viral infections critically determines the course and manifestations of disease. At the systemic level, a significant feature of viral infection and inflammation that ensues is the metabolic shift from anabolic towards catabolic metabolism. Systemic metabolic sequelae such as insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia represent long-term health consequences of many infections such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The long-held presumption that peripheral and tissue-specific 'immune responses' are the chief line of defence and thus regulate viral control is incomplete. This Review focuses on the emerging paradigm shift proposing that metabolic engagements and metabolic reconfiguration of immune and non-immune cells following virus recognition modulate the natural course of viral infections. Early metabolic footprints are likely to influence longer-term disease manifestations of infection. A greater appreciation and understanding of how local biochemical adjustments in the periphery and tissues influence immunity will ultimately lead to interventions that curtail disease progression and identify new and improved prognostic biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clovis S Palmer
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
St-Pierre MK, Carrier M, González Ibáñez F, Šimončičová E, Wallman MJ, Vallières L, Parent M, Tremblay MÈ. Ultrastructural characterization of dark microglia during aging in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease pathology and in human post-mortem brain samples. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:235. [PMID: 36167544 PMCID: PMC9513936 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02595-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A diverse heterogeneity of microglial cells was previously described in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, including dark microglia, a state characterized by ultrastructural markers of cellular stress. To provide novel insights into the roles of dark microglia during aging in the context of AD pathology, we performed a quantitative density and ultrastructural analysis of these cells using high-throughput scanning electron microscopy in the ventral hippocampus CA1 stratum lacunosum-moleculare of 20-month-old APP-PS1 vs C57BL/6J male mice. The density of dark microglia was significantly higher in APP-PS1 vs C57BL/6J mice, with these cells accounting for nearly half of all microglia observed near amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques. This dark microglial state interacted more with dystrophic neurites compared to other APP-PS1 microglia and possessed glycogen granules, associated with a metabolic shift toward glycolysis, which provides the first ultrastructural evidence of their presence in microglia. Dark microglia were further observed in aging human post-mortem brain samples showing similar ultrastructural features as in mouse. Overall, our results provide a quantitative ultrastructural characterization of a microglial state associated with cellular stress (i.e., dark microglia) that is primarily restricted near Aβ plaques and dystrophic neurites. The presence of this microglial state in the aging human post-mortem brain is further revealed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Fernando González Ibáñez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Eva Šimončičová
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Wallman
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Luc Vallières
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Parent
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada. .,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada. .,Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|