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Gómez-Pascual A, Glikman DM, Ng HX, Tomkins JE, Lu L, Xu Y, Ashbrook DG, Kaczorowski C, Kempermann G, Killmar J, Mozhui K, Ohlenschläger O, Aebersold R, Ingram DK, Williams EG, Williams RW, Overall RW, Jucker M, de Bakker DEM. The Pgb1 locus controls glycogen aggregation in astrocytes of the aged hippocampus without impacting cognitive function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.22.567373. [PMID: 38045339 PMCID: PMC10690248 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.567373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In aged humans and mice, aggregates of hypobranched glycogen molecules called polyglucosan bodies (PGBs) accumulate in hippocampal astrocytes. PGBs are known to drive cognitive decline in neurological diseases but remain largely unstudied in the context of typical brain aging. Here, we show that PGBs arise in autophagy-dysregulated astrocytes of the aged C57BL/6J mouse hippocampus. To map the genetic cause of age-related PGB accumulation, we quantified PGB burden in 32 fully sequenced BXD-recombinant inbred mouse strains, which display a 400-fold variation in hippocampal PGB burden at 16-18 months of age. A major modifier locus was mapped to chromosome 1 at 72-75 Mb, which we defined as the Pgb1 locus. To evaluate candidate genes and downstream mechanisms by which Pgb1 controls the aggregation of glycogen, extensive hippocampal transcriptomic and proteomic datasets were produced for aged mice of the BXD family. We utilized these datasets to identify Smarcal1 and Usp37 as potential regulators of PGB accumulation. To assess the effect of PGB burden on age-related cognitive decline, we performed phenome-wide association scans, transcriptomic analyses as well as conditioned fear memory and Y-maze testing. Importantly, we did not find any evidence suggesting a negative impact of PGBs on cognition. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the Pgb1 locus controls glycogen aggregation in astrocytes of the aged hippocampus without affecting age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gómez-Pascual
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - H X Ng
- Department of Cognitive Science University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - J E Tomkins
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| | - L Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Y Xu
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - D G Ashbrook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - G Kempermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - J Killmar
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - K Mozhui
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - O Ohlenschläger
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - R Aebersold
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich. Zurich, Switzerland
| | - D K Ingram
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - E G Williams
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg
| | - R W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - R W Overall
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Jucker
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - D E M de Bakker
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
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2
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Liu C, Guo Y, Deng S, Zhou S, Wu S, Chen T, Shi X, Mamtilahun M, Xu T, Liu Z, Li H, Zhang Z, Tian H, Chung WS, Wang J, Yang GY, Tang Y. Hemorrhagic stroke-induced subtype of inflammatory reactive astrocytes disrupts blood-brain barrier. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2024; 44:1102-1116. [PMID: 38388375 PMCID: PMC11179611 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x241235008] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes undergo disease-specific transcriptomic changes upon brain injury. However, phenotypic changes of astrocytes and their functions remain unclear after hemorrhagic stroke. Here we reported hemorrhagic stroke induced a group of inflammatory reactive astrocytes with high expression of Gfap and Vimentin, as well as inflammation-related genes lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), Complement component 3 (C3), and Serpina3n. In addition, we demonstrated that depletion of microglia but not macrophages inhibited the expression of inflammation-related genes in inflammatory reactive astrocytes. RNA sequencing showed that blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption-related gene matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) was highly upregulated in inflammatory reactive astrocytes. Pharmacological inhibition of MMP3 in astrocytes or specific deletion of astrocytic MMP3 reduced BBB disruption and improved neurological outcomes of hemorrhagic stroke mice. Our study demonstrated that hemorrhagic stroke induced a group of inflammatory reactive astrocytes that were actively involved in disrupting BBB through MMP3, highlighting a specific group of inflammatory reactive astrocytes as a critical driver for BBB disruption in neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiyan Guo
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiyu Deng
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiyi Zhou
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengju Wu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Shi
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Muyassar Mamtilahun
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongtong Xu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze Liu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanlai Li
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hengli Tian
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Won-Suk Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jixian Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Yuan Yang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaohui Tang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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3
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Zimmer TS, Orr AL, Orr AG. Astrocytes in selective vulnerability to neurodegenerative disease. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:289-302. [PMID: 38521710 PMCID: PMC11006581 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Selective vulnerability of specific brain regions and cell populations is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders. Mechanisms of selective vulnerability involve neuronal heterogeneity, functional specializations, and differential sensitivities to stressors and pathogenic factors. In this review we discuss the growing body of literature suggesting that, like neurons, astrocytes are heterogeneous and specialized, respond to and integrate diverse inputs, and induce selective effects on brain function. In disease, astrocytes undergo specific, context-dependent changes that promote different pathogenic trajectories and functional outcomes. We propose that astrocytes contribute to selective vulnerability through maladaptive transitions to context-divergent phenotypes that impair specific brain regions and functions. Further studies on the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in disease may provide new therapeutic approaches to enhance resilience against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till S Zimmer
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam L Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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4
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Schneider Y, Gauer C, Andert M, Hoffmann A, Riemenschneider MJ, Krebs W, Chalmers N, Lötzsch C, Naumann UJ, Xiang W, Rothhammer V, Beckervordersandforth R, Schlachetzki JCM, Winkler J. Distinct forebrain regions define a dichotomous astrocytic profile in multiple system atrophy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:1. [PMID: 38167307 PMCID: PMC10759635 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01699-3] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The growing recognition of a dichotomous role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative processes has heightened the need for unraveling distinct astrocytic subtypes in neurological disorders. In multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare, rapidly progressing atypical Parkinsonian disease characterized by increased astrocyte reactivity. However the specific contribution of astrocyte subtypes to neuropathology remains elusive. Hence, we first set out to profile glial fibrillary acidic protein levels in astrocytes across the human post mortem motor cortex, putamen, and substantia nigra of MSA patients and observed an overall profound astrocytic response. Matching the post mortem human findings, a similar astrocytic phenotype was present in a transgenic MSA mouse model. Notably, MSA mice exhibited a decreased expression of the glutamate transporter 1 and glutamate aspartate transporter in the basal ganglia, but not the motor cortex. We developed an optimized astrocyte isolation protocol based on magnetic-activated cell sorting via ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit beta 2 and profiled the transcriptomic landscape of striatal and cortical astrocytes in transgenic MSA mice. The gene expression profile of astrocytes in the motor cortex displayed an anti-inflammatory signature with increased oligodendroglial and pro-myelinogenic expression pattern. In contrast, striatal astrocytes were defined by elevated pro-inflammatory transcripts accompanied by dysregulated genes involved in homeostatic functions for lipid and calcium metabolism. These findings provide new insights into a region-dependent, dichotomous astrocytic response-potentially beneficial in the cortex and harmful in the striatum-in MSA suggesting a differential role of astrocytes in MSA-related neurodegenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Schneider
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - C Gauer
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - M Andert
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - A Hoffmann
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M J Riemenschneider
- Department of Neuropathology, Regensburg University Hospital, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - W Krebs
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Data Integration and Analysis (CUBiDA), University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - N Chalmers
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - C Lötzsch
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - U J Naumann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - W Xiang
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - V Rothhammer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - R Beckervordersandforth
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - J C M Schlachetzki
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - J Winkler
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
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5
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Barnett D, Bohmbach K, Grelot V, Charlet A, Dallérac G, Ju YH, Nagai J, Orr AG. Astrocytes as Drivers and Disruptors of Behavior: New Advances in Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targeting. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7463-7471. [PMID: 37940585 PMCID: PMC10634555 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1376-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are emerging as key regulators of cognitive function and behavior. This review highlights some of the latest advances in the understanding of astrocyte roles in different behavioral domains across lifespan and in disease. We address specific molecular and circuit mechanisms by which astrocytes modulate behavior, discuss their functional diversity and versatility, and highlight emerging astrocyte-targeted treatment strategies that might alleviate behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in pathologic conditions. Converging evidence across different model systems and manipulations is revealing that astrocytes regulate behavioral processes in a precise and context-dependent manner. Improved understanding of these astrocytic functions may generate new therapeutic strategies for various conditions with cognitive and behavioral impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Barnett
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Kirsten Bohmbach
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Valentin Grelot
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67000, France
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67000, France
| | - Glenn Dallérac
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Paris-Saclay University, Paris-Saclay Institute for Neurosciences, Paris, 91400, France
| | - Yeon Ha Ju
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Texas-Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Jun Nagai
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Laboratory for Glia-Neuron Circuit Dynamics, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
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6
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Xu L, Qu C, Liu Y, Liu H. The environmental enrichment ameliorates chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced cognitive impairment by activating autophagy signaling pathway and improving synaptic function in hippocampus. Brain Res Bull 2023; 204:110798. [PMID: 37890595 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is a frequently observed underlying pathology of both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD), which is a common consequence of cerebral blood flow (CBF) dysregulation. Synaptic damage has been proven as a crucial causative factor for CCH-related cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective impact of environmental enrichment (EE) intervention on CCH-induced synaptic destruction and the consequent cognitive impairment. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of this neuroprotective effect was explored to provide new insights into therapeutic interventions for individuals suffering from AD or VD. METHODS In this experiment, all rats were initially acclimatized to a standard environment (SE) for a period of one week. On the seventh day, rats underwent either bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) surgery or sham surgery (Sham) before being subjected to a four-week procedure of exposure to an EE, except for the control group. During the EE or SE procedure, intraperitoneal injection of chloroquine (CQ) into rats was performed once daily for four weeks. Following this, cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. The synapse ultrastructure was subsequently observed using transmission electron microscopy. Expression levels of autophagy-related proteins (LC3, LAMP1, and P62) and synapse-related proteins (Synapsin I and PSD-95) were detected through Western blotting. Finally, immunofluorescence was used to examine the expression levels of Synapsin I and PSD-95 and the colocalization of LAMP-1 and LC3 in the hippocampus. RESULTS After undergoing 2VO, rats exposed to SE exhibited cognitive impairment, autophagic dysfunction, and synapse damage. The synapse damage was evidenced by ultrastructural damage and degradation of synapse-related proteins. However, these effects were significantly mitigated by exposure to an EE intervention. Moreover, the intervention led to an improvement in autophagic dysfunction. CONCLUSION The study found that EE had a positive impact on CCH-induced synaptic damage. Specifically, EE was found to increase synaptic plasticity-associated proteins and postsynaptic density thickness, while decreasing synaptic space. This multifaceted effect resulted in an amelioration of CCH-induced cognitive impairment. It was shown that this beneficial outcome was mediated via the activation of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Overall, the findings suggest that EE may have a therapeutic potential for cognitive impairments associated with CCH through autophagy-mediated synaptic improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linling Xu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University & the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Road, Chengdu 610014, Sichuan, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Changhua Qu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Rheumatic Disease, Department of Neurology, Minda Hospital of Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, China
| | - Yan Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University & the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Road, Chengdu 610014, Sichuan, China
| | - Hua Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University & the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Road, Chengdu 610014, Sichuan, China.
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7
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Itoh N, Itoh Y, Meyer CE, Suen TT, Cortez-Delgado D, Rivera Lomeli M, Wendin S, Somepalli SS, Golden LC, MacKenzie-Graham A, Voskuhl RR. Estrogen receptor beta in astrocytes modulates cognitive function in mid-age female mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6044. [PMID: 37758709 PMCID: PMC10533869 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41723-7] [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: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Menopause is associated with cognitive deficits and brain atrophy, but the brain region and cell-specific mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we identify a sex hormone by age interaction whereby loss of ovarian hormones in female mice at midlife, but not young age, induced hippocampal-dependent cognitive impairment, dorsal hippocampal atrophy, and astrocyte and microglia activation with synaptic loss. Selective deletion of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in astrocytes, but not neurons, in gonadally intact female mice induced the same brain effects. RNA sequencing and pathway analyses of gene expression in hippocampal astrocytes from midlife female astrocyte-ERβ conditional knock out (cKO) mice revealed Gluconeogenesis I and Glycolysis I as the most differentially expressed pathways. Enolase 1 gene expression was increased in hippocampi from both astrocyte-ERβ cKO female mice at midlife and from postmenopausal women. Gain of function studies showed that ERβ ligand treatment of midlife female mice reversed dorsal hippocampal neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Itoh
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuichiro Itoh
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cassandra E Meyer
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Timothy Takazo Suen
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Diego Cortez-Delgado
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Sophia Wendin
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sri Sanjana Somepalli
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa C Golden
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Allan MacKenzie-Graham
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rhonda R Voskuhl
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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8
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Byun YG, Kim NS, Kim G, Jeon YS, Choi JB, Park CW, Kim K, Jang H, Kim J, Kim E, Han YM, Yoon KJ, Lee SH, Chung WS. Stress induces behavioral abnormalities by increasing expression of phagocytic receptor MERTK in astrocytes to promote synapse phagocytosis. Immunity 2023; 56:2105-2120.e13. [PMID: 37527657 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Childhood neglect and/or abuse can induce mental health conditions with unknown mechanisms. Here, we identified stress hormones as strong inducers of astrocyte-mediated synapse phagocytosis. Using in vitro, in vivo, and human brain organoid experiments, we showed that stress hormones increased the expression of the Mertk phagocytic receptor in astrocytes through glucocorticoid receptor (GR). In post-natal mice, exposure to early social deprivation (ESD) specifically activated the GR-MERTK pathway in astrocytes, but not in microglia. The excitatory post-synaptic density in cortical regions was reduced in ESD mice, and there was an increase in the astrocytic engulfment of these synapses. The loss of excitatory synapses, abnormal neuronal network activities, and behavioral abnormalities in ESD mice were largely prevented by ablating GR or MERTK in astrocytes. Our work reveals the critical roles of astrocytic GR-MERTK activation in evoking stress-induced abnormal behaviors in mice, suggesting GR-MERTK signaling as a therapeutic target for stress-induced mental health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youkyeong Gloria Byun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Shik Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyuri Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yi-Seon Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Bin Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan-Woo Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungdeok Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunsoo Jang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinkyeong Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Mahn Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Jun Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hee Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Suk Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KAIST Stem Cell Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Park J, Chung WS. Astrocyte-dependent circuit remodeling by synapse phagocytosis. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 81:102732. [PMID: 37247606 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In the central nervous system, synaptic pruning, the removal of unnecessary synaptic contacts, is an essential process for proper circuit maturation in neurodevelopment as well as for synaptic homeostasis in the adult stage. Dysregulation of synaptic pruning can contribute to the initiation and progression of various mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression, as well as neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. In the past 15 years, pioneering works have demonstrated that different types of glial cells regulate the number of synapses by selectively eliminating them through phagocytic molecular machinery. Although a majority of findings have been focused on microglia, it is increasingly evident that astrocytes function as a critical player in activity-dependent synapse elimination in developing, adult, and diseased brains. In this review, we will discuss recent findings showing the mechanisms and physiological importance of astrocyte-mediated synapse elimination in controlling synapses and circuit homeostasis. We propose that astrocytes play dominant and non-redundant roles in eliminating synapses during the activity-dependent circuit remodeling processes that do not involve neuro-inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungjoo Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Won-Suk Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Carosi JM, Sargeant TJ. Rapamycin and Alzheimer disease: a hypothesis for the effective use of rapamycin for treatment of neurodegenerative disease. Autophagy 2023; 19:2386-2390. [PMID: 36727410 PMCID: PMC10351443 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2175569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2019 we summarized work relating to the potential use of rapamycin for treating Alzheimer disease (AD). We considered the commentary necessary because use of rapamycin in people with AD is a very real prospect and we wanted to present a balanced view of the likely consequences of MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase) inhibition in the AD brain. We concluded that use of rapamycin, an MTOR inhibitor that increases macroautophagy/autophagy, could hold promise for prevention of AD if used early enough. However, MTOR inhibition appeared ineffectual in resolving existing amyloid pathology in AD mouse models. In this View article, we update these observations with new studies that have used rapamycin in AD models and provide evidence both for and against its use in AD. We also discuss rapamycin in the light of new research that describes rapamycin-induced autophagic stress in the aging brain and autophagic stress as the origin of the amyloid plaque itself. We conclude that rapamycin will have complex effects on the brain in AD. Further, we hypothesize that lysosomal degradative capacity in the brain will likely determine how effective or detrimental rapamycin will be as a treatment of AD.Abbreviations: AD: Alzheimer disease; APP: amyloid beta precursor protein; MAPT/tau: microtubule associated protein tau; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; MTORC1: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian M Carosi
- Lysosomal Health in Ageing, Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia
| | - Timothy J Sargeant
- Lysosomal Health in Ageing, Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia
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11
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Abstract
All mammalian cell membranes contain cholesterol to maintain membrane integrity. The transport of this hydrophobic lipid is mediated by lipoproteins. Cholesterol is especially enriched in the brain, particularly in synaptic and myelin membranes. Aging involves changes in sterol metabolism in peripheral organs and also in the brain. Some of those alterations have the potential to promote or to counteract the development of neurodegenerative diseases during aging. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of general principles of sterol metabolism in humans and mice, the most widely used model organism in biomedical research. We discuss changes in sterol metabolism that occur in the aged brain and highlight recent developments in cell type-specific cholesterol metabolism in the fast-growing research field of aging and age-related diseases, focusing on Alzheimer's disease. We propose that cell type-specific cholesterol handling and the interplay between cell types critically influence age-related disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gesine Saher
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany;
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12
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Purushotham SS, Buskila Y. Astrocytic modulation of neuronal signalling. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 3:1205544. [PMID: 37332623 PMCID: PMC10269688 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2023.1205544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal signalling is a key element in neuronal communication and is essential for the proper functioning of the CNS. Astrocytes, the most prominent glia in the brain play a key role in modulating neuronal signalling at the molecular, synaptic, cellular, and network levels. Over the past few decades, our knowledge about astrocytes and their functioning has evolved from considering them as merely a brain glue that provides structural support to neurons, to key communication elements. Astrocytes can regulate the activity of neurons by controlling the concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters in the extracellular milieu, as well as releasing chemicals and gliotransmitters that modulate neuronal activity. The aim of this review is to summarise the main processes through which astrocytes are modulating brain function. We will systematically distinguish between direct and indirect pathways in which astrocytes affect neuronal signalling at all levels. Lastly, we will summarize pathological conditions that arise once these signalling pathways are impaired focusing on neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yossi Buskila
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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13
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Gong C, Bonfili L, Zheng Y, Cecarini V, Cuccioloni M, Angeletti M, Dematteis G, Tapella L, Genazzani AA, Lim D, Eleuteri AM. Immortalized Alzheimer's Disease Astrocytes: Characterization of Their Proteolytic Systems. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2787-2800. [PMID: 36729287 PMCID: PMC10039838 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03231-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegeneration with dysfunctions in both the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Astroglia participation in AD is an attractive topic of research, but molecular patterns are partially defined and available in vitro models have technical limitations. Immortalized astrocytes from the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD and wild-type mice (3Tg-iAstro and WT-iAstro, respectively) have been obtained as an attempt to overcome primary cell line limitations and this study aims at characterizing their proteolytic systems, focusing on UPS and autophagy. Both 26S and 20S proteasomal activities were downregulated in 3Tg-iAstro, in which a shift in catalytic subunits from constitutive 20S proteasome to immunoproteasome occurred, with consequences on immune functions. In fact, immunoproteasome is the specific complex in charge of clearing damaged proteins under inflammatory conditions. Parallelly, augmented expression and activity of the lysosomal cathepsin B, enhanced levels of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1, beclin1, and LC3-II, together with an increased uptake of monodansylcadaverine in autophagic vacuoles, suggested autophagy activation in 3Tg-iAstro. The two proteolytic pathways were linked by p62 that accumulated in 3Tg-iAstro due to both increased synthesis and decreased degradation in the UPS defective astrocytes. Treatment with 4-phenylbutyric acid, a neuroprotective small chemical chaperone, partially restored proteasome and autophagy-mediated proteolysis in 3Tg-iAstro. Our data shed light on the impaired proteostasis in 3Tg-iAstro with proteasome inhibition and autophagic compensatory activation, providing additional validation of this AD in vitro model, and propose a new mechanism of action of 4-phenylbutyric acid in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Gong
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Laura Bonfili
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Yadong Zheng
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Valentina Cecarini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Cuccioloni
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Mauro Angeletti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Giulia Dematteis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Laura Tapella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Armando A Genazzani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Dmitry Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Bovio 6, 28100, Novara, Italy.
| | - Anna Maria Eleuteri
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
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14
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Coughlan ML, Maday S. Beyond housekeeping: autophagy regulates PKA signaling at synapses. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:167-169. [PMID: 36717297 PMCID: PMC9990591 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.01.002] [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: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy modulates synaptic function and plasticity, but the molecular basis for this process is largely unknown. A recent tour de force study by Overhoff and colleagues identifies a novel role for autophagy in regulating PKA signaling at synapses to modulate the organization of the postsynaptic proteome and neuronal excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maeve Louise Coughlan
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sandra Maday
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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15
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Matias I, Diniz LP, Araujo APB, Damico IV, de Moura P, Cabral-Miranda F, Diniz F, Parmeggiani B, de Mello Coelho V, Leite REP, Suemoto CK, Ferreira GC, Kubrusly RCC, Gomes FCA. Age-Associated Upregulation of Glutamate Transporters and Glutamine Synthetase in Senescent Astrocytes In Vitro and in the Mouse and Human Hippocampus. ASN Neuro 2023; 15:17590914231157974. [PMID: 36815213 PMCID: PMC9950616 DOI: 10.1177/17590914231157974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is marked by complex and progressive physiological changes, including in the glutamatergic system, that lead to a decline of brain function. Increased content of senescent cells in the brain, such as glial cells, has been reported to impact cognition both in animal models and human tissue during normal aging and in the context of neurodegenerative disease. Changes in the glutamatergic synaptic activity rely on the glutamate-glutamine cycle, in which astrocytes handle glutamate taken up from synapses and provide glutamine for neurons, thus maintaining excitatory neurotransmission. However, the mechanisms of glutamate homeostasis in brain aging are still poorly understood. Herein, we showed that mouse senescent astrocytes in vitro undergo upregulation of GLT-1, GLAST, and glutamine synthetase (GS), along with the increased enzymatic activity of GS and [3H]-D-aspartate uptake. Furthermore, we observed higher levels of GS and increased [3H]-D-aspartate uptake in the hippocampus of aged mice, although the activity of GS was similar between young and old mice. Analysis of a previously available RNAseq dataset of mice at different ages revealed upregulation of GLAST and GS mRNA levels in hippocampal astrocytes during aging. Corroborating these rodent data, we showed an increased number of GS + cells, and GS and GLT-1 levels/intensity in the hippocampus of elderly humans. Our data suggest that aged astrocytes undergo molecular and functional changes that control glutamate-glutamine homeostasis upon brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora Matias
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Isadora Matias, Instituto de Ciências
Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde,
Bloco F, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
| | - Luan Pereira Diniz
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Ana Paula Bergamo Araujo
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Isabella Vivarini Damico
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Pâmella de Moura
- Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal
Fluminense, Niterói, Brasil
| | - Felipe Cabral-Miranda
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Fabiola Diniz
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil,Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Belisa Parmeggiani
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Valeria de Mello Coelho
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Renata E. P. Leite
- Biobanco para Estudos em Envelhecimento, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil,Divisão de Geriatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São
Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Claudia K. Suemoto
- Divisão de Geriatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São
Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Gustavo Costa Ferreira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Flávia Carvalho Alcantara Gomes
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil,Flávia Carvalho Alcantara Gomes. Instituto
de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de
Ciências da Saúde, Bloco F, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
Brasil.
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16
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Lee S, Williams HC, Gorman AA, Devanney NA, Harrison DA, Walsh AE, Goulding DS, Tuck T, Schwartz JL, Zajac DJ, Macauley SL, Estus S, Julia TCW, Johnson LA, Morganti JM. APOE4 drives transcriptional heterogeneity and maladaptive immunometabolic responses of astrocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.06.527204. [PMID: 36798317 PMCID: PMC9934552 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.06.527204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) is the strongest risk allele associated with the development of late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Across the CNS, astrocytes are the predominant expressor of APOE while also being critical mediators of neuroinflammation and cerebral metabolism. APOE4 has been consistently linked with dysfunctional inflammation and metabolic processes, yet insights into the molecular constituents driving these responses remain unclear. Utilizing complementary approaches across humanized APOE mice and isogenic human iPSC astrocytes, we demonstrate that ApoE4 alters the astrocyte immunometabolic response to pro-inflammatory stimuli. Our findings show that ApoE4-expressing astrocytes acquire distinct transcriptional repertoires at single-cell and spatially-resolved domains, which are driven in-part by preferential utilization of the cRel transcription factor. Further, inhibiting cRel translocation in ApoE4 astrocytes abrogates inflammatory-induced glycolytic shifts and in tandem mitigates production of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines. Altogether, our findings elucidate novel cellular underpinnings by which ApoE4 drives maladaptive immunometabolic responses of astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangderk Lee
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | - Holden C. Williams
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | - Amy A. Gorman
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | - Nicholas A. Devanney
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, KY
| | | | - Adeline E. Walsh
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, KY
| | - Danielle S. Goulding
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | - Tony Tuck
- Boston University, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - James L. Schwartz
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | - Diana J. Zajac
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, KY
| | - Shannon L. Macauley
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Steven Estus
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, KY
| | - TCW Julia
- Boston University, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Lance A. Johnson
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, KY
| | - Josh M. Morganti
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
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17
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Matoba K, Dohi E, Choi EY, Kano SI. Glutathione S-transferases Control astrocyte activation and neuronal health during neuroinflammation. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 9:1080140. [PMID: 36685285 PMCID: PMC9853189 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1080140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutathione S-transferases (GST) are phase II detoxification enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism and readily expressed in the brain. Nevertheless, the current knowledge about their roles in the brain is limited. We have recently discovered that GSTM1 promotes the production of pro-inflammatory mediators by astrocytes and enhances microglial activation during acute brain inflammation. Here we report that GSTM1 significantly affects TNF-α-dependent transcriptional program in astrocytes and modulates neuronal activities and stress during brain inflammation. We have found that a reduced expression of GSTM1 in astrocytes downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes while upregulating the expression of genes involved in interferon responses and fatty acid metabolism. Our data also revealed that GSTM1 reduction in astrocytes increased neuronal stress levels, attenuating neuronal activities during LPS-induced brain inflammation. Furthermore, we found that GSTM1 expression increased in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of aging mice. Thus, this study has further advanced our understanding of the role of Glutathione S-transferases in astrocytes during brain inflammation and paved the way for future studies to determine the critical role of GSTM1 in reactive astrocyte responses in inflammation and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Matoba
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Eisuke Dohi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Eric Y. Choi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shin-ichi Kano
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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18
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Cvetanovic M, Gray M. Contribution of Glial Cells to Polyglutamine Diseases: Observations from Patients and Mouse Models. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:48-66. [PMID: 37020152 PMCID: PMC10119372 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01357-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are broadly characterized neuropathologically by the degeneration of vulnerable neuronal cell types in a specific brain region. The degeneration of specific cell types has informed on the various phenotypes/clinical presentations in someone suffering from these diseases. Prominent neurodegeneration of specific neurons is seen in polyglutamine expansion diseases including Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). The clinical manifestations observed in these diseases could be as varied as the abnormalities in motor function observed in those who have Huntington's disease (HD) as demonstrated by a chorea with substantial degeneration of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) or those with various forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) with an ataxic motor presentation primarily due to degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Due to the very significant nature of the degeneration of MSNs in HD and Purkinje cells in SCAs, much of the research has centered around understanding the cell autonomous mechanisms dysregulated in these neuronal cell types. However, an increasing number of studies have revealed that dysfunction in non-neuronal glial cell types contributes to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Here we explore these non-neuronal glial cell types with a focus on how each may contribute to the pathogenesis of HD and SCA and the tools used to evaluate glial cells in the context of these diseases. Understanding the regulation of supportive and harmful phenotypes of glia in disease could lead to development of novel glia-focused neurotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Michelle Gray
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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19
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Baumert R, Brose N, Eroglu C. Astrocytic traffic jams in the aging brain. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:681-683. [PMID: 37118132 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00270-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Baumert
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nicholas Brose
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cagla Eroglu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS), Durham, NC, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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