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Kushwaha R, Li Y, Makarava N, Pandit NP, Molesworth K, Birukov KG, Baskakov IV. Reactive astrocytes associated with prion disease impair the blood brain barrier. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 185:106264. [PMID: 37597815 PMCID: PMC10494928 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is considered to be a common feature among neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion diseases. In prion disease, increased BBB permeability was reported 40 years ago, yet the mechanisms behind the loss of BBB integrity have never been explored. Recently, we showed that reactive astrocytes associated with prion diseases are neurotoxic. The current work examines the potential link between astrocyte reactivity and BBB breakdown. RESULTS In prion-infected mice, the loss of BBB integrity and aberrant localization of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), a sign of retraction of astrocytic endfeet from blood vessels, were noticeable prior to disease onset. Gaps in cell-to-cell junctions along blood vessels, together with downregulation of Occludin, Claudin-5 and VE-cadherin, which constitute tight and adherens junctions, suggested that loss of BBB integrity is linked with degeneration of vascular endothelial cells. In contrast to cells isolated from non-infected adult mice, endothelial cells originating from prion-infected mice displayed disease-associated changes, including lower levels of Occludin, Claudin-5 and VE-cadherin expression, impaired tight and adherens junctions, and reduced trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Endothelial cells isolated from non-infected mice, when co-cultured with reactive astrocytes isolated from prion-infected animals or treated with media conditioned by the reactive astrocytes, developed the disease-associated phenotype observed in the endothelial cells from prion-infected mice. Reactive astrocytes were found to produce high levels of secreted IL-6, and treatment of endothelial monolayers originating from non-infected animals with recombinant IL-6 alone reduced their TEER. Remarkably, treatment with extracellular vesicles produced by normal astrocytes partially reversed the disease phenotype of endothelial cells isolated from prion-infected animals. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, the current work is the first to illustrate early BBB breakdown in prion disease and to document that reactive astrocytes associated with prion disease are detrimental to BBB integrity. Moreover, our findings suggest that the harmful effects are linked to proinflammatory factors secreted by reactive astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kushwaha
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America
| | - Yue Li
- Lung Biology Research Program and Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America
| | - Narayan P Pandit
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America
| | - Konstantin G Birukov
- Lung Biology Research Program and Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America
| | - Ilia V Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America.
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Makarava N, Mychko O, Molesworth K, Chang JCY, Henry RJ, Tsymbalyuk N, Gerzanich V, Simard JM, Loane DJ, Baskakov IV. Region-Specific Homeostatic Identity of Astrocytes Is Essential for Defining Their Response to Pathological Insults. Cells 2023; 12:2172. [PMID: 37681904 PMCID: PMC10486627 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The transformation of astrocytes into reactive states constitutes a biological response of the central nervous system under a variety of pathological insults. Astrocytes display diverse homeostatic identities that are developmentally predetermined and regionally specified. Upon transformation into reactive states associated with neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological disorders, astrocytes acquire diverse reactive phenotypes. However, it is not clear whether their reactive phenotypes are dictated by region-specific homeostatic identity or by the nature of an insult. To address this question, region-specific gene expression profiling was performed for four brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and hypothalamus) in mice using a custom NanoString panel consisting of selected sets of genes associated with astrocyte functions and their reactivity for five conditions: prion disease, traumatic brain injury, brain ischemia, 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease model and normal aging. Upon transformation into reactive states, genes that are predominantly associated with astrocytes were found to respond to insults in a region-specific manner. Regardless of the nature of the insult or the insult-specificity of astrocyte response, strong correlations between undirected GSA (gene set analysis) scores reporting on astrocyte reactivity and on their homeostatic functions were observed within each individual brain region. The insult-specific gene expression signatures did not separate well from each other and instead partially overlapped, forming continuums. The current study demonstrates that region-specific homeostatic identities of astrocytes are important for defining their response to pathological insults. Within region-specific populations, reactive astrocytes show continuums of gene expression signatures, partially overlapping between individual insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Olga Mychko
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jennifer Chen-Yu Chang
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Rebecca J. Henry
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA (D.J.L.)
| | - Natalya Tsymbalyuk
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Volodymyr Gerzanich
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - J. Marc Simard
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - David J. Loane
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA (D.J.L.)
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (N.M.); (J.C.-Y.C.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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3
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Bruno R, Riccardi G, Iacobone F, Chiarotti F, Pirisinu L, Vanni I, Marcon S, D'Agostino C, Giovannelli M, Parchi P, Agrimi U, Nonno R, Di Bari MA. Strain-Dependent Morphology of Reactive Astrocytes in Human- and Animal-Vole-Adapted Prions. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050757. [PMID: 37238627 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive astrogliosis is one of the pathological hallmarks of prion diseases. Recent studies highlighted the influence of several factors on the astrocyte phenotype in prion diseases, including the brain region involved, the genotype backgrounds of the host, and the prion strain. Elucidating the influence of prion strains on the astrocyte phenotype may provide crucial insights for developing therapeutic strategies. Here, we investigated the relationship between prion strains and astrocyte phenotype in six human- and animal-vole-adapted strains characterized by distinctive neuropathological features. In particular, we compared astrocyte morphology and astrocyte-associated PrPSc deposition among strains in the same brain region, the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDTN). Astrogliosis was detected to some extent in the MDTN of all analyzed voles. However, we observed variability in the morphological appearance of astrocytes depending on the strain. Astrocytes displayed variability in thickness and length of cellular processes and cellular body size, suggesting strain-specific phenotypes of reactive astrocytes. Remarkably, four out of six strains displayed astrocyte-associated PrPSc deposition, which correlated with the size of astrocytes. Overall, these data show that the heterogeneous reactivity of astrocytes in prion diseases depends at least in part on the infecting prion strains and their specific interaction with astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalia Bruno
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Geraldina Riccardi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Iacobone
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Chiarotti
- Reference Center for the Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pirisinu
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vanni
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Marcon
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia D'Agostino
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Giovannelli
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Umberto Agrimi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Angelo Di Bari
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Forrest SL, Kim JH, Crockford DR, Huynh K, Cheong R, Knott S, Kane MA, Ittner LM, Halliday GM, Kril JJ. Distribution Patterns of Astrocyte Populations in the Human Cortex. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1222-1232. [PMID: 35930103 PMCID: PMC10030423 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03700-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are a major class of glial cell in the central nervous system that have a diverse range of types and functions thought to be based on their anatomical location, morphology and cellular properties. Recent studies highlight that astrocyte dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of neurological conditions. However, few studies have described the pattern, distribution and density of astrocytes in the adult human cortex. This study mapped the distribution and density of astrocytes immunolabelled with a range of cytoskeletal and membrane markers in the human frontal cortex. Distinct and overlapping astrocyte populations were determined. The frontal cortex from ten normal control cases (75 ± 9 years) was immunostained with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 L1 (ALDH1L1), connexin-43 (Cx43), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), and glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1). All markers labelled populations of astrocytes in the grey and white matter, separate cortical layers, subpial and perivascular regions. All markers were informative for labelling different cellular properties and cellular compartments of astrocytes. ALDH1L1 labelled the largest population of astrocytes, and Cx43-immunopositive astrocytes were found in all cortical layers. AQP4 and GLT-1 labelled distal astrocytic process and end-feet in the same population of astrocytes (98% of GLT-1-immunopositive astrocytes contained AQP4). In contrast, GFAP, the most widely used marker, predominantly labelled astrocytes in superficial cortical layers. This study highlights the diversity of astrocytes in the human cortex, providing a reference map of the distribution of distinct and overlapping astrocyte populations which can be used for comparative purposes in various disease, inflammatory and injury states involving astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Forrest
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Jordan Hanxi Kim
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Daniel R Crockford
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katharine Huynh
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rosie Cheong
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Samantha Knott
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Madison A Kane
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- Dementia Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 13A Research Park Drive, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Makarava N, Baskakov IV. Role of sialylation of N-linked glycans in prion pathogenesis. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 392:201-214. [PMID: 35088180 PMCID: PMC9329487 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03584-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian prion or PrPSc is a proteinaceous infectious agent that consists of a misfolded, self-replicating state of the prion protein or PrPC. PrPC and PrPSc are posttranslationally modified with N-linked glycans, which are sialylated at the terminal positions. More than 30 years have passed since the first characterization of the composition and structural diversity of N-linked glycans associated with the prion protein, yet the role of carbohydrate groups that constitute N-glycans and, in particular, their terminal sialic acid residues in prion disease pathogenesis remains poorly understood. A number of recent studies shed a light on the role of sialylation in the biology of prion diseases. This review article discusses several mechanisms by which terminal sialylation dictates the spread of PrPSc across brain regions and the outcomes of prion infection in an organism. In particular, relationships between the sialylation status of PrPSc and important strain-specific features including lymphotropism, neurotropism, and neuroinflammation are discussed. Moreover, emerging evidence pointing out the roles of sialic acid residues in prion replication, cross-species transmission, strain competition, and strain adaptation are reviewed. A hypothesis according to which selective, strain-specified recruitment of PrPC sialoglycoforms dictates unique strain-specific disease phenotypes is examined. Finally, the current article proposes that prion strains evolve as a result of a delicate balance between recruiting highly sialylated glycoforms to avoid an "eat-me" response by glia and limiting heavily sialylated glycoforms for enabling rapid prion replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Ilia V Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Kushwaha R, Li Y, Makarava N, Pandit NP, Molesworth K, Birukov KG, Baskakov IV. Reactive astrocytes associated with prion disease impair the blood brain barrier. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.21.533684. [PMID: 36993690 PMCID: PMC10055297 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.21.533684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Background Impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is considered to be a common feature among neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion diseases. In prion disease, increased BBB permeability was reported 40 years ago, yet the mechanisms behind the loss of BBB integrity have never been explored. Recently, we showed that reactive astrocytes associated with prion diseases are neurotoxic. The current work examines the potential link between astrocyte reactivity and BBB breakdown. Results In prion-infected mice, the loss of BBB integrity and aberrant localization of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), a sign of retraction of astrocytic endfeet from blood vessels, were noticeable prior to disease onset. Gaps in cell-to-cell junctions along blood vessels, together with downregulation of Occludin, Claudin-5 and VE-cadherin, which constitute tight and adherens junctions, suggested that loss of BBB integrity is linked with degeneration of vascular endothelial cells. In contrast to cells isolated from non-infected adult mice, endothelial cells originating from prion-infected mice displayed disease-associated changes, including lower levels of Occludin, Claudin-5 and VE-cadherin expression, impaired tight and adherens junctions, and reduced trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Endothelial cells isolated from non-infected mice, when co-cultured with reactive astrocytes isolated from prion-infected animals or treated with media conditioned by the reactive astrocytes, developed the disease-associated phenotype observed in the endothelial cells from prion-infected mice. Reactive astrocytes were found to produce high levels of secreted IL-6, and treatment of endothelial monolayers originating from non-infected animals with recombinant IL-6 alone reduced their TEER. Remarkably, treatment with extracellular vesicles produced by normal astrocytes partially reversed the disease phenotype of endothelial cells isolated from prion-infected animals. Conclusions To our knowledge, the current work is the first to illustrate early BBB breakdown in prion disease and to document that reactive astrocytes associated with prion disease are detrimental to BBB integrity. Moreover, our findings suggest that the harmful effects are linked to proinflammatory factors secreted by reactive astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kushwaha
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
| | - Yue Li
- Lung Biology Research Program and Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
| | - Narayan P. Pandit
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
| | - Konstantin G. Birukov
- Lung Biology Research Program and Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
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Slota JA, Sajesh BV, Frost KF, Medina SJ, Booth SA. Dysregulation of neuroprotective astrocytes, a spectrum of microglial activation states, and altered hippocampal neurogenesis are revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing in prion disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:161. [PMID: 36352465 PMCID: PMC9647949 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01450-4] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders with long asymptomatic incubation periods, followed by a rapid progression of cognitive and functional decline culminating in death. The complexity of intercellular interactions in the brain is challenging to unravel and the basis of disease pathobiology remains poorly understood. In this study, we employed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) to produce an atlas of 147,536 single cell transcriptomes from cortex and hippocampus of mice infected with prions and showing clinical signs. We identified transcriptionally distinct populations and sub-populations of all the major brain cell-types. Disease-related transcription was highly specific to not only overarching cell-types, but also to sub-populations of glia and neurons. Most striking was an apparent decrease in relative frequency of astrocytes expressing genes that are required for brain homeostasis such as lipid synthesis, glutamate clearance, synaptic modulation and regulation of blood flow. Additionally, we described a spectrum of microglial activation states that suggest delineation of phagocytic and neuroinflammatory functions in different cell subsets. Differential responses of immature and mature neuron populations were also observed, alongside abnormal hippocampal neurogenesis. Our scRNAseq library provides a new layer of knowledge on single cell gene expression in prion disease, and is a basis for a more detailed understanding of cellular interplay that leads to neurodegeneration.
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Distinct and Dynamic Transcriptome Adaptations of iPSC-Generated Astrocytes after Cytokine Stimulation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172644. [PMID: 36078052 PMCID: PMC9455058 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172644] [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: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes (ACs) do not only play a role in normal neurogenesis and brain homeostasis, but also in inflammatory and neurodevelopmental disorders. We studied here the different patterns of inflammatory activation triggered by cytokines in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived ACs. An optimized differentiation protocol provided non-inflamed ACs. These cells reacted to TNFα with a rapid translocation of NFκB, while AC precursors showed little response. Transcriptome changes were quantified at seven time points (2–72 h) after stimulation with TNFα, IFNγ or TNFα plus IFNγ. TNFα triggered a strong response within 2 h. It peaked from 12–24 h and reverted towards the ground state after 72 h. Activation by IFNγ was also rapid, but the response pattern differed from that of TNFα. For instance, several chemokines up-regulated by TNFα were not affected by IFNγ. Instead, MHC-II-related antigen presentation was drastically enhanced. The combination of the two cytokines led to a stronger and more persistent response. For instance, TRIB3 up-regulation by the combination of TNFα plus IFNγ may have slowed NFκB inactivation. Additionally, highly synergistic regulation was observed for inflammation modifiers, such as CASP4, and for STAT1-controlled genes. The combination of the cytokines also increased oxidative stress markers (e.g., CHAC1), led to phenotypic changes in ACs and triggered markers related to cell death. In summary, these data demonstrate that there is a large bandwidth of pro-inflammatory AC states, and that single markers are not suitable to describe AC activation or their modulation in disease, development and therapy.
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Huang W, Lin M, Yang C, Wang F, Zhang M, Gao J, Yu X. Rat Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Loaded with miR-494 Promoting Neurofilament Regeneration and Behavioral Function Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:1634917. [PMID: 34635862 PMCID: PMC8501401 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1634917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes (Exo) exhibit numerous advantages (e.g., good encapsulation, high targeting efficiency, and easy to penetrate the blood-brain barrier to the central nervous system). Exosomes are recognized as prominent carriers of mRNAs, siRNAs, miRNAs, proteins, and other bioactive molecules. As confirmed by existing studies, miR-494 is important to regulate the occurrence, progression, and repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). We constructed miR-494-modified exosomes (Exo-miR-494). As indicated from related research in vitro and vivo, Exo-miR-494 is capable of effectively inhibiting the inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis in the injured area, as well as upregulating various anti-inflammatory factors and miR-494 to protect neurons. Moreover, it can promote the regeneration of the neurofilament and improve the recovery of behavioral function of SCI rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, Dongguan Tungwah Hospital, Dongguan 523000, China
| | - Miaoman Lin
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Cunheng Yang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Fumin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Junxiao Gao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Xiaobing Yu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
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Sinha A, Kushwaha R, Molesworth K, Mychko O, Makarava N, Baskakov IV. Phagocytic Activities of Reactive Microglia and Astrocytes Associated with Prion Diseases Are Dysregulated in Opposite Directions. Cells 2021; 10:1728. [PMID: 34359897 PMCID: PMC8304827 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis is one of the most important physiological functions of the glia directed at maintaining a healthy, homeostatic environment in the brain. Under a homeostatic environment, the phagocytic activities of astrocytes and microglia are tightly coordinated in time and space. In neurodegenerative diseases, both microglia and astrocytes contribute to neuroinflammation and disease pathogenesis, however, whether their phagocytic activities are up- or downregulated in reactive states is not known. To address this question, this current study isolated microglia and astrocytes from C57BL/6J mice infected with prions and tested their phagocytic activities in live-cell imaging assays that used synaptosomes and myelin debris as substrates. The phagocytic uptake by the reactive microglia was found to be significantly upregulated, whereas that of the reactive astrocytes was strongly downregulated. The up- and downregulation of phagocytosis by the two cell types were observed irrespective of whether disease-associated synaptosomes, normal synaptosomes, or myelin debris were used in the assays, indicating that dysregulations are dictated by cell reactive states, not substrates. Analysis of gene expression confirmed dysregulation of phagocytic functions in both cell types. Immunostaining of animal brains infected with prions revealed that at the terminal stage of disease, neuronal cell bodies were subject to engulfment by reactive microglia. This study suggests that imbalance in the phagocytic activities of the reactive microglia and astrocytes, which are dysregulated in opposite directions, is likely to lead to excessive microglia-mediated neuronal death on the one hand, and the inability of astrocytes to clear cell debris on the other hand, contributing to the neurotoxic effects of glia as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshuman Sinha
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.S.); (R.K.); (K.M.); (O.M.); (N.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Rajesh Kushwaha
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.S.); (R.K.); (K.M.); (O.M.); (N.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.S.); (R.K.); (K.M.); (O.M.); (N.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Olga Mychko
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.S.); (R.K.); (K.M.); (O.M.); (N.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.S.); (R.K.); (K.M.); (O.M.); (N.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.S.); (R.K.); (K.M.); (O.M.); (N.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Gradišnik L, Bošnjak R, Maver T, Velnar T. Advanced Bio-Based Polymers for Astrocyte Cell Models. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 14:3664. [PMID: 34209194 PMCID: PMC8269866 DOI: 10.3390/ma14133664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The development of in vitro neural tissue analogs is of great interest for many biomedical engineering applications, including the tissue engineering of neural interfaces, treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and in vitro evaluation of cell-material interactions. Since astrocytes play a crucial role in the regenerative processes of the central nervous system, the development of biomaterials that interact favorably with astrocytes is of great research interest. The sources of human astrocytes, suitable natural biomaterials, guidance scaffolds, and ligand patterned surfaces are discussed in the article. New findings in this field are essential for the future treatment of spinal cord and brain injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidija Gradišnik
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska Ulica 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
- AMEU-ECM, Slovenska 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Roman Bošnjak
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Tina Maver
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska Ulica 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska Ulica 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Velnar
- AMEU-ECM, Slovenska 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
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