1
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Gammie SC, Messing A, Hill MA, Kelm-Nelson CA, Hagemann TL. Large-scale gene expression changes in APP/PSEN1 and GFAP mutation models exhibit high congruence with Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0291995. [PMID: 38236817 PMCID: PMC10796008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with both genetic and non-genetic causes. Animal research models are available for a multitude of diseases and conditions affecting the central nervous system (CNS), and large-scale CNS gene expression data exist for many of these. Although there are several models specifically for AD, each recapitulates different aspects of the human disease. In this study we evaluate over 500 animal models to identify those with CNS gene expression patterns matching human AD datasets. Approaches included a hypergeometric based scoring system that rewards congruent gene expression patterns but penalizes discordant gene expression patterns. The top two models identified were APP/PS1 transgenic mice expressing mutant APP and PSEN1, and mice carrying a GFAP mutation that is causative of Alexander disease, a primary disorder of astrocytes in the CNS. The APP/PS1 and GFAP models both matched over 500 genes moving in the same direction as in human AD, and both had elevated GFAP expression and were highly congruent with one another. Also scoring highly were the 5XFAD model (with five mutations in APP and PSEN1) and mice carrying CK-p25, APP, and MAPT mutations. Animals with the APOE3 and 4 mutations combined with traumatic brain injury ranked highly. Bulbectomized rats scored high, suggesting anosmia could be causative of AD-like gene expression. Other matching models included the SOD1G93A strain and knockouts for SNORD116 (Prader-Willi mutation), GRID2, INSM1, XBP1, and CSTB. Many top models demonstrated increased expression of GFAP, and results were similar across multiple human AD datasets. Heatmap and Uniform Manifold Approximation Plot results were consistent with hypergeometric ranking. Finally, some gene manipulation models, including for TYROBP and ATG7, were identified with reversed AD patterns, suggesting possible neuroprotective effects. This study provides insight for the pathobiology of AD and the potential utility of available animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C. Gammie
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Albee Messing
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Mason A. Hill
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Tracy L. Hagemann
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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2
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Swanson MJ, Lewis KN, Carpenter R, Whetzel A, Bae NS. The human RAP1 and GFAPɛ proteins increase γ-secretase activity in a yeast model system. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad057. [PMID: 36929840 PMCID: PMC10411568 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related disorder that results in progressive cognitive impairment and memory loss. Deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides in senile plaques is a hallmark of AD. γ-secretase produces Aβ peptides, mostly as the soluble Aβ40 with fewer insoluble Aβ42 peptides. Rare, early-onset AD (EOAD) occurs in individuals under 60 years of age. Most EOAD cases are due to unknown genetic causes, but a subset is due to mutations in the genes encoding the amyloid precursor protein that is processed into Aβ peptides or the presenilins (PS1 and PS2) that process APP. PS1 interacts with the epsilon isoform of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAPɛ), a protein found in the subventricular zone of the brain. We have found that GFAPɛ interacts with the telomere protection factor RAP1 (TERF2IP). RAP1 can also interact with PS1 alone or with GFAPɛ in vitro. Our data show that the nuclear protein RAP1 has an extratelomeric role in the cytoplasm through its interactions with GFAPɛ and PS1. GFAPɛ coprecipitated with RAP1 from human cell extracts. RAP1, GFAPɛ, and PS1 all colocalized in human SH-SY5Y cells. Using a genetic model of the γ-secretase complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, RAP1 increased γ-secretase activity, and this was potentiated by GFAPɛ. Our studies are the first to connect RAP1 with an age-related disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Swanson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA
| | - Kelsey N Lewis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA
| | - Robert Carpenter
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA
| | - Alexis Whetzel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA
| | - Nancy S Bae
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA
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3
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Radu R, Petrescu GED, Gorgan RM, Brehar FM. GFAPδ: A Promising Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:859247. [PMID: 35372061 PMCID: PMC8971704 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.859247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
GFAPδ, the delta isoform of the glial fibrillary acidic protein, is mainly expressed in the subventricular zone of the brain, together with other neural stem cell markers like nestin. The authors of this paper were among the first that described in detail the expression of GFAPδ and its correlation with malignancy and invasiveness in cerebral astrocytoma. Later, several papers confirmed these findings, showing that the alternative splice variant GFAPδ is overexpressed in glioblastoma (CNS WHO grade 4) compared with lower grade gliomas. Other studies suggested that a high GFAPδ/α ratio is associated with a more malignant and invasive behavior of glioma cells. Moreover, the changing of GFAPδ/α ratio affects the expression of high-malignant genes. It is now suggested that discriminating between predominant GFAP isoforms, GFAPδ or GFAPα, is useful for assessing the malignancy state of astrocytoma, and may even contribute to the classification of gliomas. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the literature with emphasize on the role of GFAPδ as a potential biomarker, and as a possible therapeutic target in glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Radu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - George E. D. Petrescu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
- *Correspondence: George E. D. Petrescu,
| | - Radu M. Gorgan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Felix M. Brehar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
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4
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Kim H, Lee EJ, Lim YM, Kim KK. Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Blood as a Disease Biomarker of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders. Front Neurol 2022; 13:865730. [PMID: 35370870 PMCID: PMC8968934 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.865730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a type III intermediate filament protein found in astrocytes in the brain. Damaged astrocytes release GFAP into cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Thus, GFAP levels in these body fluids may reflect the disease state of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), which includes astrocytopathy, characterized by pathogenic antibodies against aquaporin 4 located on astrocytes. Recently, single-molecule array technology that can detect these synaptic proteins in blood, even in the subfemtomolar range, has been developed. Emerging evidence suggests that GFAP protein is a strong biomarker candidate for NMOSD. This mini-review provides basic information about GFAP protein and innovative clinical data that show the potential clinical value of blood GFAP levels as a biomarker for NMOSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Kim
- Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun-Jae Lee
- Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Medicine, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young-Min Lim
- Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kwang-Kuk Kim
- Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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5
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Uceda-Castro R, van Asperen JV, Vennin C, Sluijs JA, van Bodegraven EJ, Margarido AS, Robe PAJ, van Rheenen J, Hol EM. GFAP splice variants fine-tune glioma cell invasion and tumour dynamics by modulating migration persistence. Sci Rep 2022; 12:424. [PMID: 35013418 PMCID: PMC8748899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04127-5] [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: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma is the most common form of malignant primary brain tumours in adults. Their highly invasive nature makes the disease incurable to date, emphasizing the importance of better understanding the mechanisms driving glioma invasion. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein that is characteristic for astrocyte- and neural stem cell-derived gliomas. Glioma malignancy is associated with changes in GFAP alternative splicing, as the canonical isoform GFAPα is downregulated in higher-grade tumours, leading to increased dominance of the GFAPδ isoform in the network. In this study, we used intravital imaging and an ex vivo brain slice invasion model. We show that the GFAPδ and GFAPα isoforms differentially regulate the tumour dynamics of glioma cells. Depletion of either isoform increases the migratory capacity of glioma cells. Remarkably, GFAPδ-depleted cells migrate randomly through the brain tissue, whereas GFAPα-depleted cells show a directionally persistent invasion into the brain parenchyma. This study shows that distinct compositions of the GFAPnetwork lead to specific migratory dynamics and behaviours of gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Uceda-Castro
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Claire Vennin
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline A Sluijs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emma J van Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Andreia S Margarido
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A J Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacco van Rheenen
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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6
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van Asperen JV, Robe PA, Hol EM. GFAP Alternative Splicing and the Relevance for Disease – A Focus on Diffuse Gliomas. ASN Neuro 2022; 14:17590914221102065. [PMID: 35673702 PMCID: PMC9185002 DOI: 10.1177/17590914221102065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein that is
characteristic for astrocytes and neural stem cells, and their malignant analogues in
glioma. Since the discovery of the protein 50 years ago, multiple alternative splice
variants of the GFAP gene have been discovered, leading to different GFAP isoforms. In
this review, we will describe GFAP isoform expression from gene to protein to network,
taking the canonical isoforms GFAPα and the main alternative variant GFAPδ as the starting
point. We will discuss the relevance of studying GFAP and its isoforms in disease, with a
specific focus on diffuse gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy V. van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A.J.T. Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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7
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Abstract
Fifty years have passed since the discovery of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by Lawrence Eng and colleagues. Now recognized as a member of the intermediate filament family of proteins, it has become a subject for study in fields as diverse as structural biology, cell biology, gene expression, basic neuroscience, clinical genetics and gene therapy. This review covers each of these areas, presenting an overview of current understanding and controversies regarding GFAP with the goal of stimulating continued study of this fascinating protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albee Messing
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison.,Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Michael Brenner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham
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8
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Lin NH, Yang AW, Chang CH, Perng MD. Elevated GFAP isoform expression promotes protein aggregation and compromises astrocyte function. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21614. [PMID: 33908669 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100087r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) caused by mutations in the coding region of GFAP is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by astrocyte dysfunction, GFAP aggregation, and Rosenthal fiber accumulation. Although how GFAP mutations cause disease is not fully understood, Rosenthal fibers could be induced by forced overexpression of human GFAP and this could be lethal in mice implicate that an increase in GFAP levels is central to AxD pathogenesis. Our recent studies demonstrated that intronic GFAP mutations cause disease by altering GFAP splicing, suggesting that an increase in GFAP isoform expression could lead to protein aggregation and astrocyte dysfunction that typify AxD. Here we test this hypothesis by establishing primary astrocyte cultures from transgenic mice overexpressing human GFAP. We found that GFAP-δ and GFAP-κ were disproportionately increased in transgenic astrocytes and both were enriched in Rosenthal fibers of human AxD brains. In vitro assembly studies showed that while the major isoform GFAP-α self-assembled into typical 10-nm filaments, minor isoforms including GFAP-δ, -κ, and -λ were assembly-compromised and aggregation prone. Lentiviral transduction showed that expression of these minor GFAP isoforms decreased filament solubility and increased GFAP stability, leading to the formation of Rosenthal fibers-like aggregates that also disrupted the endogenous intermediate filament networks. The aggregate-bearing astrocytes lost their normal morphology and glutamate buffering capacity, which had a toxic effect on neighboring neurons. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that links elevated GFAP isoform expression with GFAP aggregation and impaired glutamate transport, and suggest a potential non-cell-autonomous mechanism underlying neurodegeneration through astrocyte dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni-Hsuan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ai-Wen Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsuan Chang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Der Perng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Science, College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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9
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Borodinova AA, Balaban PM, Bezprozvanny IB, Salmina AB, Vlasova OL. Genetic Constructs for the Control of Astrocytes' Activity. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071600. [PMID: 34202359 PMCID: PMC8306323 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current review, we aim to discuss the principles and the perspectives of using the genetic constructs based on AAV vectors to regulate astrocytes’ activity. Practical applications of optogenetic approaches utilizing different genetically encoded opsins to control astroglia activity were evaluated. The diversity of astrocytic cell-types complicates the rational design of an ideal viral vector for particular experimental goals. Therefore, efficient and sufficient targeting of astrocytes is a multiparametric process that requires a combination of specific AAV serotypes naturally predisposed to transduce astroglia with astrocyte-specific promoters in the AAV cassette. Inadequate combinations may result in off-target neuronal transduction to different degrees. Potentially, these constraints may be bypassed with the latest strategies of generating novel synthetic AAV serotypes with specified properties by rational engineering of AAV capsids or using directed evolution approach by searching within a more specific promoter or its replacement with the unique enhancer sequences characterized using modern molecular techniques (ChIP-seq, scATAC-seq, snATAC-seq) to drive the selective transgene expression in the target population of cells or desired brain regions. Realizing these strategies to restrict expression and to efficiently target astrocytic populations in specific brain regions or across the brain has great potential to enable future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia A. Borodinova
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology of Learning, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117485 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Pavel M. Balaban
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology of Learning, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117485 Moscow, Russia;
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.B.B.); (A.B.S.); (O.L.V.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ilya B. Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.B.B.); (A.B.S.); (O.L.V.)
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alla B. Salmina
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.B.B.); (A.B.S.); (O.L.V.)
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga L. Vlasova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.B.B.); (A.B.S.); (O.L.V.)
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10
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Bodegraven EJ, Sluijs JA, Tan AK, Robe PAJT, Hol EM. New GFAP splice isoform (GFAPµ) differentially expressed in glioma translates into 21 kDa N‐terminal GFAP protein. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21389. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001767r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma J. Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neurosciences University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline A. Sluijs
- Department of Translational Neurosciences University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - A. Katherine Tan
- Department of Translational Neurosciences University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A. J. T. Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neurosciences University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
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11
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Bozic I, Savic D, Lavrnja I. Astrocyte phenotypes: Emphasis on potential markers in neuroinflammation. Histol Histopathol 2020; 36:267-290. [PMID: 33226087 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), have numerous integral roles in all CNS functions. They are essential for synaptic transmission and support neurons by providing metabolic substrates, secreting growth factors and regulating extracellular concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters. Astrocytes respond to CNS insults through reactive astrogliosis, in which they go through many functional and molecular changes. In neuroinflammatory conditions reactive astrocytes exert both beneficial and detrimental functions, depending on the context and heterogeneity of astrocytic populations. In this review we profile astrocytic diversity in the context of neuroinflammation; with a specific focus on multiple sclerosis (MS) and its best-described animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We characterize two main subtypes, protoplasmic and fibrous astrocytes and describe the role of intermediate filaments in the physiology and pathology of these cells. Additionally, we outline a variety of markers that are emerging as important in investigating astrocytic biology in both physiological conditions and neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Bozic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Savic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Irena Lavrnja
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
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12
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Abstract
Leukodystrophies are genetically determined disorders affecting the white matter of the central nervous system. The combination of MRI pattern recognition and next-generation sequencing for the definition of novel disease entities has recently demonstrated that many leukodystrophies are due to the primary involvement and/or mutations in genes selectively expressed by cell types other than the oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells in the brain. This has led to a new definition of leukodystrophies as genetic white matter disorders resulting from the involvement of any white matter structural component. As a result, the research has shifted its main focus from oligodendrocytes to other types of neuroglia. Astrocytes are the housekeeping cells of the nervous system, responsible for maintaining homeostasis and normal brain physiology and to orchestrate repair upon injury. Several lines of evidence show that astrocytic interactions with the other white matter cellular constituents play a primary pathophysiologic role in many leukodystrophies. These are thus now classified as astrocytopathies. This chapter addresses how the crosstalk between astrocytes, other glial cells, axons and non-neural cells are essential for the integrity and maintenance of the white matter in health. It also addresses the current knowledge of the cellular pathomechanisms of astrocytic leukodystrophies, and specifically Alexander disease, vanishing white matter, megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts and Aicardi-Goutière Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Jorge
- Department of Pathology, Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Pathology, Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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13
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Cipriani S, Ferrer I, Aronica E, Kovacs GG, Verney C, Nardelli J, Khung S, Delezoide AL, Milenkovic I, Rasika S, Manivet P, Benifla JL, Deriot N, Gressens P, Adle-Biassette H. Hippocampal Radial Glial Subtypes and Their Neurogenic Potential in Human Fetuses and Healthy and Alzheimer's Disease Adults. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:2458-2478. [PMID: 29722804 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathological conditions might affect adult granulogenesis in the adult human dentate gyrus. However, radial glial cells (RGCs) have not been well characterized during human development and aging. We have previously described progenitor and neuronal layer establishment in the hippocampal pyramidal layer and dentate gyrus from embryonic life until mid-gestation. Here, we describe RGC subtypes in the hippocampus from 13 gestational weeks (GW) to mid-gestation and characterize their evolution and the dynamics of neurogenesis from mid-gestation to adulthood in normal and Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects. In the pyramidal ventricular zone (VZ), RGC density declined with neurogenesis from mid-gestation until the perinatal period. In the dentate area, morphologic and antigenic differences among RGCs were observed from early ages of development to adulthood. Density and proliferative capacity of dentate RGCs as well as neurogenesis were strongly reduced during childhood until 5 years, few DCX+ cells are seen in adults. The dentate gyrus of both control and AD individuals showed Nestin+ and/or GFAPδ+ cells displaying different morphologies. In conclusion, pools of morphologically, antigenically, and topographically diverse neural progenitor cells are present in the human hippocampus from early developmental stages until adulthood, including in AD patients, while their neurogenic potential seems negligible in the adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cipriani
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Bellvitge Campus, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Centre for Networked Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Catherine Verney
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jeannette Nardelli
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Suonavy Khung
- APHP, Service de Biologie du Développement, Hôpital Robert-Debré, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Lise Delezoide
- APHP, Service de Biologie du Développement, Hôpital Robert-Debré, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Ivan Milenkovic
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Philippe Manivet
- APHP, Plateforme de Bio-Pathologie et de Technologies Innovantes en Santé, Centre de Ressources Biologiques BB-0033-00064, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Benifla
- APHP, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Lariboisère, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Deriot
- APHP, Plateforme de Bio-Pathologie et de Technologies Innovantes en Santé, Centre de Ressources Biologiques BB-0033-00064, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.,Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Hôpital Lariboisère, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Gressens
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Department of Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for the Developing Brain, King's College London, King's Health Partners, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
| | - Homa Adle-Biassette
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,APHP, Plateforme de Bio-Pathologie et de Technologies Innovantes en Santé, Centre de Ressources Biologiques BB-0033-00064, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.,Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Hôpital Lariboisère, Paris, France
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14
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Gómez-Pinedo U, Duran-Moreno M, Sirerol-Piquer S, Matias-Guiu J. Myelin changes in Alexander disease. NEUROLOGÍA (ENGLISH EDITION) 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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15
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Karp N, Lee D, Shickh S, Jenkins ME. c.1289G>A (p.Arg430His) variant in the epsilon isoform of the GFAP gene in a patient with adult onset Alexander disease. Eur J Med Genet 2018; 62:235-238. [PMID: 30048824 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease (AD) is a rare form of leukodystrophy caused by pathogenic variants in the GFAP gene. In young children the condition is fatal, while adults have variable neurological symptoms and prognosis. On magnetic resonance imaging, a pattern of atrophy of the medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord with a 'tadpole' appearance is highly suggestive of adult-onset Alexander disease (AOAD). GFAP gene sequencing is used to confirm the diagnosis. Pre-mRNA of this gene undergoes alternative splicing resulting in formation of at least 8 different protein isoforms. Most patients with AD described to date have a pathogenic variant in the coding sequence of the main and the most abundant gene isoform, the GFAPα. Recently, two half-siblings with neurological symptoms and radiological signs of AOAD were reported and were not found to have any pathogenic variants in the GFAPα gene while further genetic testing by next generation sequencing revealed a c.1289G>A (p.Arg430His) variant in the alternative exon 7A of the GFAPε isoform. Here we present a case of another patient with symptoms and brain MRI pattern suggestive of AOAD. Similarly to the previously described patients, this patient did not have any pathogenic variants in the main gene isoform and had the same c.1289G>A (p.Arg430His) variant in the GFAPε. This report contributes to evidence of pathogenicity of the c.1289G>A (p.Arg430His) variant in the GFAPε.
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16
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Garwood CJ, Ratcliffe LE, Simpson JE, Heath PR, Ince PG, Wharton SB. Review: Astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease and other age-associated dementias: a supporting player with a central role. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2018; 43:281-298. [PMID: 27442752 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes have essential roles in the central nervous system and are also implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. Forming non-overlapping domains, astrocytes are highly complex cells. Immunohistochemistry to a variety of proteins can be used to study astrocytes in tissue, labelling different cellular components and sub-populations, including glial fibrillary acidic protein, ALDH1L1, CD44, NDRG2 and amino acid transporters, but none of these labels the entire astrocyte population. Increasing heterogeneity is recognized in the astrocyte population, a complexity that is relevant both to their normal function and pathogenic roles. They are involved in neuronal support, as active components of the tripartite synapse and in cell interactions within the neurovascular unit (NVU), where they are essential for blood-brain barrier maintenance and neurovascular coupling. Astrocytes change with age, and their responses may modulate the cellular effects of neurodegenerative pathologies, which alone do not explain all of the variance in statistical models of neurodegenerative dementias. Astrocytes respond to both the neurofibrillary tangles and plaques of Alzheimer's disease, to hyperphosphorylated tau and Aβ, eliciting an effect which may be neuroprotective or deleterious. Not only astrocyte hypertrophy, in the form of gliosis, occurs, but also astrocyte injury and atrophy. Loss of normal astrocyte functions may contribute to reduced support for neurones and dysfunction of the NVU. Understanding how astrocytes contribute to dementia requires an understanding of the underlying heterogeneity of astrocyte populations, and the complexity of their responses to pathology. Enhancing the supportive and neuroprotective components of the astrocyte response has potential translational applications in therapeutic approaches to dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Garwood
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, UK
| | - L E Ratcliffe
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, UK
| | - J E Simpson
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, UK
| | - P R Heath
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, UK
| | - P G Ince
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, UK
| | - S B Wharton
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, UK
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17
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Isaac AR, da Silva EAN, de Matos RJB, Augusto RL, Moreno GMM, Mendonça IP, de Souza RF, Cabral-Filho PE, Rodrigues CG, Gonçalves-Pimentel C, Rodrigues MCA, da Silveira Andrade-da-Costa BL. Low omega-6/omega-3 ratio in a maternal protein-deficient diet promotes histone-3 changes in progeny neural cells and favors leukemia inhibitory factor genetranscription. J Nutr Biochem 2018; 55:229-242. [PMID: 29573696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids modulate epigenetic changes critical to genesis and differentiation of neural cells. Conversely, maternal protein-malnutrition can negatively modify these changes. This study investigated whether a low n-6/n-3 ratio in a maternal diet could favor histone-3 (H3) modifications, gene transcription and differentiation in the offspring neural cells even under protein-deficiency. Female rats fed a control (Ct), or 3 types of multideficient diets differing in protein levels or linoleic/alpha-linolenic fatty acid ratios (RBD, RBD-C, RBD-SO) from 30 days prior to mating and during pregnancy. Cerebral cortex tissue and cortical cultures of progeny embryonic neurons and postnatal astrocytes were analyzed. H3K9 acetylation and H3K27 or H3K4 di-methylation levels were assessed by flow cytometry and/or immunocytochemistry. In astrocyte cultures and cortical tissue, the GFAP protein levels were assessed. Glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) gene expression were evaluated in the cortical tissue. GFAP levels were similar in astrocytes of Ct, RBD and RBD-C, but 65% lower in RBD-SO group. Higher levels of H3K9Ac were found in the neurons and H3K4Me2 in the astrocytes of the RBD group. No intergroup difference in the cortical GDNF mRNA expression or the H3K27Me2 levels in astrocytes was detected. LIF mRNA levels were higher in the RDB (P=.002) or RBD-C (P=.004) groups than in the control. The findings indicate the importance of dietary n-3 availability for the brain, even under a protein-deficient condition, inducing Histone modifications and increasing LIF gene transcription, involved in neural cell differentiation and reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alinny Rosendo Isaac
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Emerson Alexandre Neves da Silva
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Ricielle Lopes Augusto
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Giselle Machado Magalhães Moreno
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Ingrid Prata Mendonça
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Raphael Fabrício de Souza
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Paulo Euzébio Cabral-Filho
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Gabriel Rodrigues
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Catarina Gonçalves-Pimentel
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Cairrão Araujo Rodrigues
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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18
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Musha A, Ogawa M, Yokoo S. Granular cell tumors of the tongue: fibroma or schwannoma. Head Face Med 2018; 14:1. [PMID: 29329562 PMCID: PMC5795288 DOI: 10.1186/s13005-017-0158-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Granular cell tumors are benign lesions that typically occur in the oral cavity, but can also be found in other sites. However, the characteristics of these tumors are unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the immunohistological characteristics of these tumors of the tongue. Methods Seven patients were treated for granular cell tumors of the tongue at our institution during 2003–2017. Paraffin-embedded specimens were available for all cases; thus, retrospective immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Results All cases exhibited cytoplasmic acidophilic granules in the muscle layer of the tumor. Both the normal nerve cells and tumor cells also stained positive for PGP9.5, NSE, calretinin, and GFAP. A nucleus of tumor cells was typically present in the margin. The PAS-positive granules were also positive for CD68 (a lysozyme glycoprotein marker). Various sizes of nerve fibers were observed in each tumor, and granular cells were observed in the nerve fibers of a representative case. Conclusions Based on our immunohistological findings, granular cell tumors may be derived from Schwann cells, and the presence of CD68 indicates that Wallerian degeneration after nerve injury may be a contributor to tumor formation. Thus, a safe surgical margin is needed to detect the infiltrative growth of granular cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Musha
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan.
| | - Masaru Ogawa
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yokoo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
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Abstract
Alexander disease is a rare and generally fatal disorder of the central nervous system, originally defined by the distinctive neuropathology consisting of abundant Rosenthal fibers within the cytoplasm and processes of astrocytes. More recently, mutations in GFAP, encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein, the major intermediate filament protein of astrocytes, have been identified in nearly all patients. No other genetic causes have yet been identified. The precise mechanisms by which mutations lead to disease are poorly understood. Despite the genetic homogeneity, there are a wide range of clinical phenotypes. The genetic issues and the approach to diagnosis are the prime consideration in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albee Messing
- Waisman Center and Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
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20
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GFAPδ/GFAPα ratio directs astrocytoma gene expression towards a more malignant profile. Oncotarget 2017; 8:88104-88121. [PMID: 29152145 PMCID: PMC5675697 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytomas are the most common malignant brain tumours and are to date incurable. It is unclear how astrocytomas progress into higher malignant grades. The intermediate filament cytoskeleton is emerging as an important regulator of malignancy in several tumours. The majority of the astrocytomas express the intermediate filament protein Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP). Several GFAP splice variants have been identified and the main variants expressed in human astrocytoma are the GFAPα and GFAPδ isoforms. Here we show a significant downregulation of GFAPα in grade IV astrocytoma compared to grade II and III, resulting in an increased GFAPδ/α ratio. Mimicking this increase in GFAPδ/α ratio in astrocytoma cell lines and comparing the subsequent transcriptomic changes with the changes in the patient tumours, we have identified a set of GFAPδ/α ratio-regulated high-malignant and low-malignant genes. These genes are involved in cell proliferation and protein phosphorylation, and their expression correlated with patient survival. We additionally show that changing the ratio of GFAPδ/α, by targeting GFAP expression, affected expression of high-malignant genes. Our data imply that regulating GFAP expression and splicing are novel therapeutic targets that need to be considered as a treatment for astrocytoma.
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Lin NH, Messing A, Perng MD. Characterization of a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing specific epitopes on GFAP. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180694. [PMID: 28700643 PMCID: PMC5503259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by heterozygous mutations in the GFAP gene, which encodes the major intermediate filament protein of astrocytes. This disease is characterized by the accumulation of cytoplasmic protein aggregates, known as Rosenthal fibers. Antibodies specific to GFAP could provide invaluable tools to facilitate studies of the normal biology of GFAP and to elucidate the pathologic role of this IF protein in disease. While a large number of antibodies to GFAP are available, few if any of them have defined epitopes. Here we described the characterization of a panel of commonly used anti-GFAP antibodies, which recognized epitopes at regions extending across the rod domain of GFAP. We show that all of the antibodies are useful for immunoblotting and immunostaining, and identify a subset that preferentially recognized human GFAP. Using these antibodies, we demonstrate the presence of biochemically modified forms of GFAP in brains of human AxD patients and mouse AxD models. These data suggest that this panel of anti-GFAP antibodies will be useful for studies of animal and cell-based models of AxD and related diseases in which cytoskeletal defects associated with GFAP modifications occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni-Hsuan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Albee Messing
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ming-Der Perng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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22
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Gómez-Pinedo U, Duran-Moreno M, Sirerol-Piquer S, Matias-Guiu J. Myelin changes in Alexander disease. Neurologia 2017; 33:526-533. [PMID: 28342553 DOI: 10.1016/j.nrl.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alexander disease (AxD) is a type of leukodystrophy. Its pathological basis, along with myelin loss, is the appearance of Rosenthal bodies, which are cytoplasmic inclusions in astrocytes. Mutations in the gene coding for GFAP have been identified as a genetic basis for AxD. However, the mechanism by which these variants produce the disease is not understood. DEVELOPMENT The most widespread hypothesis is that AxD develops when a gain of function mutation causes an increase in GFAP. However, this mechanism does not explain myelin loss, given that experimental models in which GFAP expression is normal or mutated do not exhibit myelin disorders. This review analyses other possibilities that may explain this alteration, such as epigenetic or inflammatory alterations, presence of NG2 (+) - GFAP (+) cells, or post-translational modifications in GFAP that are unrelated to increased expression. CONCLUSIONS The different hypotheses analysed here may explain the myelin alteration affecting these patients, and multiple mechanisms may coexist. These theories raise the possibility of designing therapies based on these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Gómez-Pinedo
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Servicio de Neurología, Instituto de Neurociencias, IdISSC, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
| | - M Duran-Moreno
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Comparada, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España
| | - S Sirerol-Piquer
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Comparada, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España
| | - J Matias-Guiu
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Servicio de Neurología, Instituto de Neurociencias, IdISSC, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
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Moody LR, Barrett-Wilt GA, Sussman MR, Messing A. Glial fibrillary acidic protein exhibits altered turnover kinetics in a mouse model of Alexander disease. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:5814-5824. [PMID: 28223355 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.772020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the astrocyte-specific intermediate filament glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) lead to the rare and fatal disorder, Alexander disease (AxD). A prominent feature of the disease is aberrant accumulation of GFAP. It has been proposed that this accumulation occurs because of an increase in gene transcription coupled with impaired proteasomal degradation, yet this hypothesis remains untested. We therefore sought to directly investigate GFAP turnover in a mouse model of AxD that is heterozygous for a disease-causing point mutation (GfapR236H/+) (and thus expresses both wild-type and mutant protein). Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture, using primary cortical astrocytes, indicated that the in vitro half-lives of total GFAP in astrocytes from wild-type and mutant mice were similar at ∼3-4 days. Surprisingly, results obtained with stable isotope labeling of mammals revealed that, in vivo, the half-life of GFAP in mutant mice (15.4 ± 0.5 days) was much shorter than that in wild-type mice (27.5 ± 1.6 days). These unexpected in vivo data are most consistent with a model in which synthesis and degradation are both increased. Our work reveals that an AxD-causing mutation alters GFAP turnover kinetics in vivo and provides an essential foundation for future studies aimed at preventing or reducing the accumulation of GFAP. In particular, these data suggest that elimination of GFAP might be possible and occurs more quickly than previously surmised.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Albee Messing
- From the Waisman Center, .,Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705
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Astrogliosis: An integral player in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2016; 144:121-41. [PMID: 26797041 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the main cause of dementia in the elderly and begins with a subtle decline in episodic memory followed by a more general decline in overall cognitive abilities. Though the exact trigger for this cascade of events remains unknown the presence of the misfolded amyloid-beta protein triggers reactive gliosis, a prominent neuropathological feature in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. The cytoskeletal and morphological changes of astrogliosis are its evident features, while changes in oxidative stress defense, cholesterol metabolism, and gene transcription programs are less manifest. However, these latter molecular changes may underlie a disruption in homeostatic regulation that keeps the brain environment balanced. Astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease show changes in glutamate and GABA signaling and recycling, potassium buffering, and in cholinergic, purinergic, and calcium signaling. Ultimately the dysregulation of homeostasis maintained by astrocytes can have grave consequences for the stability of microcircuits within key brain regions. Specifically, altered inhibition influenced by astrocytes can lead to local circuit imbalance with farther reaching consequences for the functioning of larger neuronal networks. Healthy astrocytes have a role in maintaining and modulating normal neuronal communication, synaptic physiology and energy metabolism, astrogliosis interferes with these functions. This review considers the molecular and functional changes occurring during astrogliosis in Alzheimer's disease, and proposes that astrocytes are key players in the development of dementia.
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25
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Yang Z, Wang KKW. Glial fibrillary acidic protein: from intermediate filament assembly and gliosis to neurobiomarker. Trends Neurosci 2015; 38:364-74. [PMID: 25975510 PMCID: PMC4559283 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 533] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2015] [Revised: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament (IF) III protein uniquely found in astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS), non-myelinating Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and enteric glial cells. GFAP mRNA expression is regulated by several nuclear-receptor hormones, growth factors, and lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). GFAP is also subject to numerous post-translational modifications (PTMs), while GFAP mutations result in protein deposits known as Rosenthal fibers in Alexander disease. GFAP gene activation and protein induction appear to play a critical role in astroglial cell activation (astrogliosis) following CNS injuries and neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence also suggests that, following traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and stroke, GFAP and its breakdown products are rapidly released into biofluids, making them strong candidate biomarkers for such neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Yang
- Program for Neurotrauma, Neuroproteomics, and Biomarkers Research, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, L4-100, University of Florida, 1149 South Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kevin K W Wang
- Program for Neurotrauma, Neuroproteomics, and Biomarkers Research, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, L4-100, University of Florida, 1149 South Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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Inekci D, Jonesco DS, Kennard S, Karsdal MA, Henriksen K. The potential of pathological protein fragmentation in blood-based biomarker development for dementia - with emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurol 2015; 6:90. [PMID: 26029153 PMCID: PMC4426721 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of dementia is challenging and early stages are rarely detected limiting the possibilities for early intervention. Another challenge is the overlap in the clinical features across the different dementia types leading to difficulties in the differential diagnosis. Identifying biomarkers that can detect the pre-dementia stage and allow differential diagnosis could provide an opportunity for timely and optimal intervention strategies. Also, such biomarkers could help in selection and inclusion of the right patients in clinical trials of both Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia treatment candidates. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been the most investigated source of biomarkers and several candidate proteins have been identified. However, looking solely at protein levels is too simplistic to provide enough detailed information to differentiate between dementias, as there is a significant crossover between the proteins involved in the different types of dementia. Additionally, CSF sampling makes these biomarkers challenging for presymptomatic identification. We need to focus on disease-specific protein fragmentation to find a fragment pattern unique for each separate dementia type – a form of protein fragmentology. Targeting protein fragments generated by disease-specific combinations of proteins and proteases opposed to detecting the intact protein could reduce the overlap between diagnostic groups as the extent of processing as well as which proteins and proteases constitute the major hallmark of each dementia type differ. In addition, the fragments could be detectable in blood as they may be able to cross the blood–brain barrier due to their smaller size. In this review, the potential of the fragment-based biomarker discovery for dementia diagnosis and prognosis is discussed, especially highlighting how the knowledge from CSF protein biomarkers can be used to guide blood-based biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilek Inekci
- Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research , Herlev , Denmark ; Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark , Lyngby , Denmark
| | | | - Sophie Kennard
- Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research , Herlev , Denmark
| | | | - Kim Henriksen
- Nordic Bioscience, Biomarkers and Research , Herlev , Denmark
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Astrocitos en las enfermedades neurodegenerativas (I): función y caracterización molecular. Neurologia 2015; 30:119-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nrl.2012.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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Guillamón-Vivancos T, Gómez-Pinedo U, Matías-Guiu J. Astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases (I): function and molecular description. NEUROLOGÍA (ENGLISH EDITION) 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
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29
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van Strien ME, Sluijs JA, Reynolds BA, Steindler DA, Aronica E, Hol EM. Isolation of neural progenitor cells from the human adult subventricular zone based on expression of the cell surface marker CD271. Stem Cells Transl Med 2014; 3:470-80. [PMID: 24604282 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2013-0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the subventricular zone (SVZ) hold promise for future therapy for neurodegenerative disorders, because the stimulation of adult neurogenesis could potentially restore the function of degenerating neurons and glia. To obtain more knowledge on these NPCs, we developed a method to specifically isolate NPCs from postmortem adult human brains based on the expression of the specific human adult neural stem/progenitor cell marker glial fibrillary acidic protein δ (GFAPδ). An extensive immunophenotyping analysis for cell surface markers resulted in the observation that CD271 was limited to the SVZ-derived GFAPδ-positive cells. CD271(+) cells developed into neurospheres and could be differentiated into astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. We are the first to show that a pure population of NPCs can be isolated from the adult human SVZ, which is highly instrumental for developing future therapies based on stimulating endogenous SVZ neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam E van Strien
- Department of Astrocyte Biology and Neurodegeneration, The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Neurosurgery, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Department of Neuropathology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Kanski R, Sneeboer MAM, van Bodegraven EJ, Sluijs JA, Kropff W, Vermunt MW, Creyghton MP, De Filippis L, Vescovi A, Aronica E, van Tijn P, van Strien ME, Hol EM. Histone acetylation in astrocytes suppresses GFAP and stimulates a re-organization of the intermediate filament network. J Cell Sci 2014; 127:4368-80. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.145912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) is the main intermediate filament in astrocytes and is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms during development. We demonstrate that histone acetylation controls GFAP expression also in mature astrocytes. Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) with Trichostatin-A or Sodium-butyrate reduced GFAP expression in primary human astrocytes and astrocytoma cells. Since splicing occurs co-transcriptional, we investigated whether histone acetylation changes the ratio between the canonical isoform GFAPα and the alternative GFAPδ splice-variant. We observed that decreased transcription of GFAP enhanced alternative isoform expression, as HDAC inhibition increased the GFAPδ/α ratio favouring GFAPδ. Expression of GFAPδ was dependent on the presence and binding of the splicing factors of the SR protein family. Inhibition of HDAC activity also resulted in aggregation of the GFAP network, reminiscent to our earlier findings of a GFAPδ-induced network collapse. Together, our data demonstrate that HDAC inhibition results in changes in transcription, splicing, and organization of GFAP. These data imply that a tight regulation of histone acetylation in astrocytes is essential, since dysregulation of gene expression causes aggregation of GFAP, a hallmark of human diseases like Alexander's disease.
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Mamber C, Kozareva DA, Kamphuis W, Hol EM. Shades of gray: The delineation of marker expression within the adult rodent subventricular zone. Prog Neurobiol 2013; 111:1-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Kamphuis W, Middeldorp J, Kooijman L, Sluijs JA, Kooi EJ, Moeton M, Freriks M, Mizee MR, Hol EM. Glial fibrillary acidic protein isoform expression in plaque related astrogliosis in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 35:492-510. [PMID: 24269023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid plaques are surrounded by reactive astrocytes with an increased expression of intermediate filaments including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Different GFAP isoforms have been identified that are differentially expressed by specific subpopulations of astrocytes and that impose different properties to the intermediate filament network. We studied transcript levels and protein expression patterns of all known GFAP isoforms in human hippocampal AD tissue at different stages of the disease. Ten different transcripts for GFAP isoforms were detected at different abundancies. Transcript levels of most isoforms increased with AD progression. GFAPδ-immunopositive astrocytes were observed in subgranular zone, hilus, and stratum-lacunosum-moleculare. GFAPδ-positive cells also stained for GFAPα. In AD donors, astrocytes near plaques displayed increased staining of both GFAPα and GFAPδ. The reading-frame-shifted isoform, GFAP(+1), staining was confined to a subset of astrocytes with long processes, and their number increased in the course of AD. In conclusion, the various GFAP isoforms show differential transcript levels and are upregulated in a concerted manner in AD. The GFAP(+1) isoform defines a unique subset of astrocytes, with numbers increasing with AD progression. These data indicate the need for future exploration of underlying mechanisms concerning the functions of GFAPδ and GFAP(+1) isoforms in astrocytes and their possible role in AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Kamphuis
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience-an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Department of Astrocyte Bology and Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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33
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Thomsen R, Pallesen J, Daugaard TF, Børglum AD, Nielsen AL. Genome wide assessment of mRNA in astrocyte protrusions by direct RNA sequencing reveals mRNA localization for the intermediate filament protein nestin. Glia 2013; 61:1922-37. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.22569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rune Thomsen
- Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
| | - Jonatan Pallesen
- Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
| | | | - Anders D. Børglum
- Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Center for Psychiatric Research; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
| | - Anders L. Nielsen
- Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
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Thomsen R, Daugaard TF, Holm IE, Nielsen AL. Alternative mRNA splicing from the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene generates isoforms with distinct subcellular mRNA localization patterns in astrocytes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72110. [PMID: 23991052 PMCID: PMC3753360 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The intermediate filament network of astrocytes includes Glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) as a major component. Gfap mRNA is alternatively spliced resulting in generation of different protein isoforms where Gfapα is the most predominant isoform. The Gfapδ isoform is expressed in proliferating neurogenic astrocytes of the developing human brain and in the adult human and mouse brain. Here we provide a characterization of mouse Gfapδ mRNA and Gfapδ protein. RT-qPCR analysis showed that Gfapδ mRNA and Gfapα mRNA expression is coordinately increased in the post-natal period. Immunohistochemical staining of developing mouse brain samples showed that Gfapδ is expressed in the sub-ventricular zones in accordance with the described localization in the developing and adult human brain. Immunofluorescence analysis verified incorporation of Gfapδ into the Gfap intermediate filament network and overlap in Gfapδ and Gfapα subcellular localization. Subcellular mRNA localization studies identified different localization patterns of Gfapδ and Gfapα mRNA in mouse primary astrocytes. A larger fraction of Gfapα mRNA showed mRNA localization to astrocyte protrusions compared to Gfapδ mRNA. The differential mRNA localization patterns were dependent on the different 3′-exon sequences included in Gfapδ and Gfapα mRNA. The presented results show that alternative Gfap mRNA splicing results in isoform-specific mRNA localization patterns with resulting different local mRNA concentration ratios which have potential to participate in subcellular region-specific intermediate filament dynamics during brain development, maintenance and in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Thomsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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van den Berge SA, van Strien ME, Hol EM. Resident adult neural stem cells in Parkinson's disease--the brain's own repair system? Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 719:117-127. [PMID: 23872414 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
One important pathological process in the brain of Parkinson disease (PD) patients is the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which leads to a decline in striatal dopamine levels and motor dysfunction. A major clinical problem is that this degenerative process currently cannot be stopped or reversed. Expectations from the restorative capacity of neural stem cells (NSCs) are high, as these cells can potentially replace the degenerating neurons. The discovery of the presence of NSCs in the adult human brain has instigated research into the potential of these cells as a resource to promote brain repair in neurodegenerative diseases. Neural stem and progenitor cells reside in the subventricular zone (SVZ), which is closely situated to the striatum, which is affected in PD. Therefore, restoring the dopamine levels in the striatum of PD patients through stimulating endogenous NSCs in the nearby SVZ to migrate into the striatum and differentiate into dopaminergic neurons might thus be an attractive future therapeutic approach. We will review the reported changes in NSCs in the SVZ of PD animal models and PD patients, which are due to a lack of striatal dopamine. Furthermore, we will summarise the reports that describe efforts to stimulate NSCs to replace dopaminergic cells in the SN and restore striatal dopamine levels. In our opinion, mobilizing the endogenous SVZ NSCs to replenish striatal dopamine is an attractive approach to alleviate the motor symptoms in PD patients, without the ethical and immunological challenges of transplantation of NSCs and foetal brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone A van den Berge
- Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam E van Strien
- Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Mamber C, Kamphuis W, Haring NL, Peprah N, Middeldorp J, Hol EM. GFAPδ expression in glia of the developmental and adolescent mouse brain. PLoS One 2012; 7:e52659. [PMID: 23285135 PMCID: PMC3528700 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the major intermediate filament (IF) protein in astrocytes. In the human brain, GFAP isoforms have unique expression patterns, which indicate that they play distinct functional roles. One isoform, GFAPδ, is expressed by proliferative radial glia in the developing human brain. In the adult human, GFAPδ is a marker for neural stem cells. However, it is unknown whether GFAPδ marks the same population of radial glia and astrocytes in the developing mouse brain as it does in the developing human brain. This study characterizes the expression pattern of GFAPδ throughout mouse embryogenesis and into adolescence. Gfapδ transcripts are expressed from E12, but immunohistochemistry shows GFAPδ staining only from E18. This finding suggests a translational uncoupling. GFAPδ expression increases from E18 to P5 and then decreases until its expression plateaus around P25. During development, GFAPδ is expressed by radial glia, as denoted by the co-expression of markers like vimentin and nestin. GFAPδ is also expressed in other astrocytic populations during development. A similar pattern is observed in the adolescent mouse, where GFAPδ marks both neural stem cells and mature astrocytes. Interestingly, the Gfapδ/Gfapα transcript ratio remains stable throughout development as well as in primary astrocyte and neurosphere cultures. These data suggest that all astroglia cells in the developing and adolescent mouse brain express GFAPδ, regardless of their neurogenic capabilities. GFAPδ may be an integral component of all mouse astrocytes, but it is not a specific neural stem cell marker in mice as it is in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlyn Mamber
- Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Kamphuis
- Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nina L. Haring
- Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nuzrat Peprah
- Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Castaño EM, Maarouf CL, Wu T, Leal MC, Whiteside CM, Lue LF, Kokjohn TA, Sabbagh MN, Beach TG, Roher AE. Alzheimer disease periventricular white matter lesions exhibit specific proteomic profile alterations. Neurochem Int 2012; 62:145-56. [PMID: 23231993 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Revised: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 12/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The white matter (WM) represents approximately half the cerebrum volume and is profoundly affected in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, both the WM responses to AD as well as potential influences of this compartment to dementia pathogenesis remain comparatively neglected. Neuroimaging studies have revealed WM alterations are commonly associated with AD and renewed interest in examining the pathologic basis and importance of these changes. In AD subjects, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy revealed changes in astrocyte morphology and myelin loss as well as up to 30% axonal loss in areas of WM rarefaction when measured against non-demented control (NDC) tissue. Comparative proteomic analyses were performed on pooled samples of periventricular WM (PVWM) obtained from AD (n=4) and NDC (n=5) subjects with both groups having a mean age of death of 86 years. All subjects had an apolipoprotein E ε3/3 genotype with the exception of one NDC subject who was ε2/3. Urea-detergent homogenates were analyzed using two different separation techniques: 2-dimensional isoelectric focusing/reverse-phase chromatography and 2-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Proteins with different expression levels between the 2 diagnostic groups were identified using MALDI-Tof/Tof mass spectrometry. In addition, Western blots were used to quantify proteins of interest in individual AD and NDC cases. Our proteomic studies revealed that when WM protein pools were loaded at equal amounts of total protein for comparative analyses, there were quantitative differences between the 2 groups. Molecules related to cytoskeleton maintenance, calcium metabolism and cellular survival such as glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, tropomyosin, collapsin response mediator protein-2, calmodulin, S100-P, annexin A1, α-internexin, α- and β-synuclein, α-B-crystalline, fascin-1, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase and thymosine were altered between AD and NDC pools. Our experiments suggest that WM activities become globally impaired during the course of AD with significant morphological, biochemical and functional consequential implications for gray matter function and cognitive deficits. These observations may endorse the hypothesis that WM dysfunction is not only a consequence of AD pathology, but that it may precipitate and/or potentiate AD dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo M Castaño
- Fundación Instituto Leloir and Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina.
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Kamphuis W, Mamber C, Moeton M, Kooijman L, Sluijs JA, Jansen AHP, Verveer M, de Groot LR, Smith VD, Rangarajan S, Rodríguez JJ, Orre M, Hol EM. GFAP isoforms in adult mouse brain with a focus on neurogenic astrocytes and reactive astrogliosis in mouse models of Alzheimer disease. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 22912745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042823]] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the main astrocytic intermediate filament (IF). GFAP splice isoforms show differential expression patterns in the human brain. GFAPδ is preferentially expressed by neurogenic astrocytes in the subventricular zone (SVZ), whereas GFAP(+1) is found in a subset of astrocytes throughout the brain. In addition, the expression of these isoforms in human brain material of epilepsy, Alzheimer and glioma patients has been reported. Here, for the first time, we present a comprehensive study of GFAP isoform expression in both wild-type and Alzheimer Disease (AD) mouse models. In cortex, cerebellum, and striatum of wild-type mice, transcripts for Gfap-α, Gfap-β, Gfap-γ, Gfap-δ, Gfap-κ, and a newly identified isoform Gfap-ζ, were detected. Their relative expression levels were similar in all regions studied. GFAPα showed a widespread expression whilst GFAPδ distribution was prominent in the SVZ, rostral migratory stream (RMS), neurogenic astrocytes of the subgranular zone (SGZ), and subpial astrocytes. In contrast to the human SVZ, we could not establish an unambiguous GFAPδ localization in proliferating cells of the mouse SVZ. In APPswePS1dE9 and 3xTgAD mice, plaque-associated reactive astrocytes had increased transcript levels of all detectable GFAP isoforms and low levels of a new GFAP isoform, Gfap-ΔEx7. Reactive astrocytes in AD mice showed enhanced GFAPα and GFAPδ immunolabeling, less frequently increased vimentin and nestin, but no GFAPκ or GFAP(+1) staining. In conclusion, GFAPδ protein is present in SVZ, RMS, and neurogenic astrocytes of the SGZ, but also outside neurogenic niches. Furthermore, differential GFAP isoform expression is not linked with aging or reactive gliosis. This evidence points to the conclusion that differential regulation of GFAP isoforms is not involved in the reorganization of the IF network in reactive gliosis or in neurogenesis in the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Kamphuis
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Rai A, Maurya SK, Sharma R, Ali S. Down-regulated GFAPα: a major player in heavy metal induced astrocyte damage. Toxicol Mech Methods 2012; 23:99-107. [DOI: 10.3109/15376516.2012.721809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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40
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Kamphuis W, Mamber C, Moeton M, Kooijman L, Sluijs JA, Jansen AHP, Verveer M, de Groot LR, Smith VD, Rangarajan S, Rodríguez JJ, Orre M, Hol EM. GFAP isoforms in adult mouse brain with a focus on neurogenic astrocytes and reactive astrogliosis in mouse models of Alzheimer disease. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42823. [PMID: 22912745 PMCID: PMC3418292 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the main astrocytic intermediate filament (IF). GFAP splice isoforms show differential expression patterns in the human brain. GFAPδ is preferentially expressed by neurogenic astrocytes in the subventricular zone (SVZ), whereas GFAP(+1) is found in a subset of astrocytes throughout the brain. In addition, the expression of these isoforms in human brain material of epilepsy, Alzheimer and glioma patients has been reported. Here, for the first time, we present a comprehensive study of GFAP isoform expression in both wild-type and Alzheimer Disease (AD) mouse models. In cortex, cerebellum, and striatum of wild-type mice, transcripts for Gfap-α, Gfap-β, Gfap-γ, Gfap-δ, Gfap-κ, and a newly identified isoform Gfap-ζ, were detected. Their relative expression levels were similar in all regions studied. GFAPα showed a widespread expression whilst GFAPδ distribution was prominent in the SVZ, rostral migratory stream (RMS), neurogenic astrocytes of the subgranular zone (SGZ), and subpial astrocytes. In contrast to the human SVZ, we could not establish an unambiguous GFAPδ localization in proliferating cells of the mouse SVZ. In APPswePS1dE9 and 3xTgAD mice, plaque-associated reactive astrocytes had increased transcript levels of all detectable GFAP isoforms and low levels of a new GFAP isoform, Gfap-ΔEx7. Reactive astrocytes in AD mice showed enhanced GFAPα and GFAPδ immunolabeling, less frequently increased vimentin and nestin, but no GFAPκ or GFAP(+1) staining. In conclusion, GFAPδ protein is present in SVZ, RMS, and neurogenic astrocytes of the SGZ, but also outside neurogenic niches. Furthermore, differential GFAP isoform expression is not linked with aging or reactive gliosis. This evidence points to the conclusion that differential regulation of GFAP isoforms is not involved in the reorganization of the IF network in reactive gliosis or in neurogenesis in the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Kamphuis
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Boyd SE, Nair B, Ng SW, Keith JM, Orian JM. Computational characterization of 3' splice variants in the GFAP isoform family. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33565. [PMID: 22479412 PMCID: PMC3316583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament (IF) protein specific to central nervous system (CNS) astrocytes. It has been the subject of intense interest due to its association with neurodegenerative diseases, and because of growing evidence that IF proteins not only modulate cellular structure, but also cellular function. Moreover, GFAP has a family of splicing isoforms apparently more complex than that of other CNS IF proteins, consistent with it possessing a range of functional and structural roles. The gene consists of 9 exons, and to date all isoforms associated with 3' end splicing have been identified from modifications within intron 7, resulting in the generation of exon 7a (GFAPδ/ε) and 7b (GFAPκ). To better understand the nature and functional significance of variation in this region, we used a Bayesian multiple change-point approach to identify conserved regions. This is the first successful application of this method to a single gene--it has previously only been used in whole-genome analyses. We identified several highly or moderately conserved regions throughout the intron 7/7a/7b regions, including untranslated regions and regulatory features, consistent with the biology of GFAP. Several putative unconfirmed features were also identified, including a possible new isoform. We then integrated multiple computational analyses on both the DNA and protein sequences from the mouse, rat and human, showing that the major isoform, GFAPα, has highly conserved structure and features across the three species, whereas the minor isoforms GFAPδ/ε and GFAPκ have low conservation of structure and features at the distal 3' end, both relative to each other and relative to GFAPα. The overall picture suggests distinct and tightly regulated functions for the 3' end isoforms, consistent with complex astrocyte biology. The results illustrate a computational approach for characterising splicing isoform families, using both DNA and protein sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Boyd
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Betina Nair
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sze Woei Ng
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan M. Keith
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jacqueline M. Orian
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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Hyder CL, Isoniemi KO, Torvaldson ES, Eriksson JE. Insights into intermediate filament regulation from development to ageing. J Cell Sci 2011; 124:1363-72. [PMID: 21502133 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.041244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filament (IF) proteins comprise a large family with more than 70 members. Initially, IFs were assumed to provide only structural reinforcement for the cell. However, IFs are now known to be dynamic structures that are involved in a wide range of cellular processes during all stages of life, from development to ageing, and during homeostasis and stress. This Commentary discusses some lesser-known functional and regulatory aspects of IFs. We specifically address the emerging roles of nestin in myogenesis and cancer cell migration, and examine exciting evidence on the regulation of nestin and lamin A by the notch signalling pathway, which could have repercussions for our understanding of the roles of IF proteins in development and ageing. In addition, we discuss the modulation of the post-translational modifications of neuronally expressed IFs and their protein-protein interactions, as well as IF glycosylation, which not only has a role in stress and ageing, but might also regulate IFs during development. Although many of these recent findings are still preliminary, they nevertheless open new doors to explore the functionality of the IF family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Hyder
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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43
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Maltman DJ, Brand S, Belau E, Paape R, Suckau D, Przyborski SA. Top-down label-free LC-MALDI analysis of the peptidome during neural progenitor cell differentiation reveals complexity in cytoskeletal protein dynamics and identifies progenitor cell markers. Proteomics 2011; 11:3992-4006. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2011] [Revised: 05/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Abstract
Vanishing white matter (VWM) disease is a genetic leukoencephalopathy linked to mutations in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B. It is a disease of infants, children, and adults who experience a slowly progressive neurologic deterioration with episodes of rapid clinical worsening triggered by stress and eventually leading to death. Characteristic neuropathologic findings include cystic degeneration of the white matter with scarce reactive gliosis, dysmorphic astrocytes, and paucity of myelin despite an increase in oligodendrocytic density. To assess whether a defective maturation of macroglia may be responsible for the feeble gliosis and lack of myelin, weinvestigated the maturation status of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the brains of 8 VWM patients, 4 patients with other white matter disorders and 6 age-matched controls with a combination of immunocytochemistry, histochemistry, scratch-wound assays, Western blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We observed increased proliferation and a defect in the maturation of VWM astrocytes. They show an anomalous composition of their intermediate filament network with predominance of the δ-isoform of the glial fibrillary acidic protein and an increase in the heat shock protein αB-crystallin, supporting the possibility that a deficiency in astrocyte function may contribute to the loss of white matter in VWM. We also demonstrated a significant increase in numbers of premyelinating oligodendrocyte progenitors in VWM, which may explain the coexistence of oligodendrocytosis and myelin paucity in the patients' white matter.
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Pham H, Doerrbecker J, Ramp AA, D'Souza CS, Gorasia DG, Purcell AW, Ayers MM, Orian JM. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) IN C57Bl/6 mice is not associated with astrogliosis. J Neuroimmunol 2010; 232:51-62. [PMID: 21056916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2009] [Revised: 09/15/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The C57Bl/6 mouse is the preferred host for the maintenance of gene deletion mutants and holds a unique place in investigations of cytokine/chemokine networks in neuroinflammation. It is also susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disease commonly used to assess potential MS therapies. Investigations of glial reactivity in EAE have revealed hitherto undescribed astroglial responses in this model, characterized by progressively diminishing glial fibrillary acidic protein and aquaporin-4 immunostaining, from early disease. These observations show that astrocyte responses vary with the EAE paradigm and are an important pathological criterion for disease mapping and therapy evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Pham
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Shinkai-Ouchi F, Yamakawa Y, Hara H, Tobiume M, Nishijima M, Hanada K, Hagiwara K. Identification and structural analysis of C-terminally truncated collapsin response mediator protein-2 in a murine model of prion diseases. Proteome Sci 2010; 8:53. [PMID: 20961402 PMCID: PMC2978134 DOI: 10.1186/1477-5956-8-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2010] [Accepted: 10/20/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders that accompany an accumulation of the disease-associated form(s) of prion protein (PrPSc) in the central nervous system. The neuropathological changes in the brain begin with focal deposits of PrPSc, followed by pathomorphological abnormalities of axon terminal degeneration, synaptic loss, atrophy of dendritic trees, and eventual neuronal cell death in the lesions. However, the underlying molecular basis for these neuropathogenic abnormalities is not fully understood. Results In a proteomic analysis of soluble proteins in the brains of mice challenged intracerebrally with scrapie prion (Obihiro I strain), we found that the amount of the full-length form of collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2; 61 kDa) decreased in the late stages of the disease, while the amount of its truncated form (56 kDa) increased to comparable levels observed for the full-length form. Detailed analysis by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry showed that the 56-kDa form (named CRMP-2-ΔC) lacked the sequence from serine518 to the C-terminus, including the C-terminal phosphorylation sites important for the regulation of axonal growth and axon-dendrite specification in developing neurons. The invariable size of the mRNA transcript in Northern blot analysis suggested that the truncation was due to post-translational proteolysis. By overexpression of CRMP-2-ΔC in primary cultured neurons, we observed the augmentation of the development of neurite branch tips to the same levels as for CRMP-2T514A/T555A, a non-phosphorylated mimic of the full-length protein. This suggests that the increased level of CRMP-2-ΔC in the brain modulates the integrity of neurons, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of the neuronal abnormalities observed in the late stages of the disease. Conclusions We identified the presence of CRMP-2-ΔC in the brain of a murine model of prion disease. Of note, C-terminal truncations of CRMP-2 have been recently observed in models for neurodegenerative disorders such as ischemia, traumatic brain injury, and Wallerian degeneration. While the structural identity of CRMP-2-ΔC in those models remains unknown, the present study should provide clues to the molecular pathology of degenerating neurons in prion diseases in connection with other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiko Shinkai-Ouchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
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The molecular cloning of glial fibrillary acidic protein in Gekko japonicus and its expression changes after spinal cord transection. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2010; 15:582-99. [PMID: 20711818 PMCID: PMC6275668 DOI: 10.2478/s11658-010-0029-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2010] [Accepted: 08/02/2010] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an astrocyte-specific member of the class III intermediate filament proteins. It is generally used as a specific marker of astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). We isolated a GFAP cDNA from the brain and spinal cord cDNA library of Gekko japonicus, and prepared polyclonal antibodies against gecko GFAP to provide useful tools for further immunochemistry studies. Both the real-time quantitative PCR and western blot results revealed that the expression of GFAP in the spinal cord after transection increased, reaching its maximum level after 3 days, and then gradually decreased over the rest of the 2 weeks of the experiment. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that the increase in GFAP-positive labeling was restricted to the white matter rather than the gray matter. In particular, a slight increase in the number of GFAP positive star-shaped astrocytes was detected in the ventral and lateral regions of the white matter. Our results indicate that reactive astrogliosis in the gecko spinal cord took place primarily in the white matter during a short time interval, suggesting that the specific astrogliosis evaluated by GFAP expression might be advantageous in spinal cord regeneration.
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Immunohistochemical characterization of the out-of frame splice variants GFAP Δ164/Δexon 6 in focal lesions associated with chronic epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 2010; 90:99-109. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2010.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2009] [Revised: 03/24/2010] [Accepted: 03/31/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Van Den Berge SA, Middeldorp J, Zhang CE, Curtis MA, Leonard BW, Mastroeni D, Voorn P, Van De Berg WDJ, Huitinga I, Hol EM. Longterm quiescent cells in the aged human subventricular neurogenic system specifically express GFAP-delta. Aging Cell 2010; 9:313-26. [PMID: 20121722 DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2010.00556.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A main neurogenic niche in the adult human brain is the subventricular zone (SVZ). Recent data suggest that the progenitors that are born in the human SVZ migrate via the rostral migratory stream (RMS) towards the olfactory bulb (OB), similar to what has been observed in other mammals. A subpopulation of astrocytes in the SVZ specifically expresses an assembly-compromised isoform of the intermediate filament protein glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP-delta). To further define the phenotype of these GFAP-delta expressing cells and to determine whether these cells are present throughout the human subventricular neurogenic system, we analysed SVZ, RMS and OB sections of 14 aged brain donors (ages 74-93). GFAP-delta was expressed in the SVZ along the ventricle, in the RMS and in the OB. The GFAP-delta cells in the SVZ co-expressed the neural stem cell (NSC) marker nestin and the cell proliferation markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Mcm2. Furthermore, BrdU retention was found in GFAP-delta positive cells in the SVZ. In the RMS, GFAP-delta was expressed in the glial net surrounding the neuroblasts. In the OB, GFAP-delta positive cells co-expressed PCNA. We also showed that GFAP-delta cells are present in neurosphere cultures that were derived from SVZ precursors, isolated postmortem from four brain donors (ages 63-91). Taken together, our findings show that GFAP-delta is expressed in an astrocytic subpopulation in the SVZ, the RMS and the OB. Importantly, we provide the first evidence that GFAP-delta is specifically expressed in longterm quiescent cells in the human SVZ, which are reminiscent of NSCs.
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Morphological changes in white matter astrocytes in response to hypoxia/ischemia in the neonatal pig. Brain Res 2010; 1319:164-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2009] [Revised: 01/05/2010] [Accepted: 01/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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