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Horvath S, Lacunza E, Mallat MC, Portiansky EL, Gallardo MD, Brooke RT, Chiavellini P, Pasquini DC, Girard M, Lehmann M, Yan Q, Lu AT, Haghani A, Gordevicius J, Abba M, Goya RG. Cognitive rejuvenation in old rats by hippocampal OSKM gene therapy. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01269-y. [PMID: 39037528 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01269-y] [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: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Several studies have indicated that interrupted epigenetic reprogramming using Yamanaka transcription factors (OSKM) can rejuvenate cells from old laboratory animals and humans. However, the potential of OSKM-induced rejuvenation in brain tissue has been less explored. Here, we aimed to restore cognitive performance in 25.3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats using OSKM gene therapy for 39 days. Their progress was then compared with the cognitive performance of untreated 3.5-month-old rats as well as old control rats treated with a placebo adenovector. The Barnes maze test, used to assess cognitive performance, demonstrated enhanced cognitive abilities in old rats treated with OSKM compared to old control animals. In the treated old rats, there was a noticeable trend towards improved spatial memory relative to the old controls. Further, OSKM gene expression did not lead to any pathological alterations within the 39 days. Analysis of DNA methylation following OSKM treatment yielded three insights. First, epigenetic clocks for rats suggested a marginally significant epigenetic rejuvenation. Second, chromatin state analysis revealed that OSKM treatment rejuvenated the methylome of the hippocampus. Third, an epigenome-wide association analysis indicated that OSKM expression in the hippocampus of old rats partially reversed the age-related increase in methylation. In summary, the administration of Yamanaka genes via viral vectors rejuvenates the functional capabilities and the epigenetic landscape of the rat hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Horvath
- Altos Labs, San Diego, USA.
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Epigenetic Clock Development Foundation, Torrance, CA, USA.
| | | | - Martina Canatelli Mallat
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Enrique L Portiansky
- Image Analysis Lab (LAI), School of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Maria D Gallardo
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | | | - Priscila Chiavellini
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Diana C Pasquini
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mauricio Girard
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Marianne Lehmann
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Qi Yan
- Altos Labs, San Diego, USA
| | | | | | | | - Martin Abba
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo G Goya
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Vitality in Aging Research Group (VIA), Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
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2
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Gómez-Pascual A, Glikman DM, Ng HX, Tomkins JE, Lu L, Xu Y, Ashbrook DG, Kaczorowski C, Kempermann G, Killmar J, Mozhui K, Ohlenschläger O, Aebersold R, Ingram DK, Williams EG, Williams RW, Overall RW, Jucker M, de Bakker DEM. The Pgb1 locus controls glycogen aggregation in astrocytes of the aged hippocampus without impacting cognitive function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.22.567373. [PMID: 38045339 PMCID: PMC10690248 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.567373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In aged humans and mice, aggregates of hypobranched glycogen molecules called polyglucosan bodies (PGBs) accumulate in hippocampal astrocytes. PGBs are known to drive cognitive decline in neurological diseases but remain largely unstudied in the context of typical brain aging. Here, we show that PGBs arise in autophagy-dysregulated astrocytes of the aged C57BL/6J mouse hippocampus. To map the genetic cause of age-related PGB accumulation, we quantified PGB burden in 32 fully sequenced BXD-recombinant inbred mouse strains, which display a 400-fold variation in hippocampal PGB burden at 16-18 months of age. A major modifier locus was mapped to chromosome 1 at 72-75 Mb, which we defined as the Pgb1 locus. To evaluate candidate genes and downstream mechanisms by which Pgb1 controls the aggregation of glycogen, extensive hippocampal transcriptomic and proteomic datasets were produced for aged mice of the BXD family. We utilized these datasets to identify Smarcal1 and Usp37 as potential regulators of PGB accumulation. To assess the effect of PGB burden on age-related cognitive decline, we performed phenome-wide association scans, transcriptomic analyses as well as conditioned fear memory and Y-maze testing. Importantly, we did not find any evidence suggesting a negative impact of PGBs on cognition. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the Pgb1 locus controls glycogen aggregation in astrocytes of the aged hippocampus without affecting age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gómez-Pascual
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - H X Ng
- Department of Cognitive Science University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - J E Tomkins
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| | - L Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Y Xu
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - D G Ashbrook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - G Kempermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - J Killmar
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - K Mozhui
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - O Ohlenschläger
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - R Aebersold
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich. Zurich, Switzerland
| | - D K Ingram
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - E G Williams
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg
| | - R W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - R W Overall
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Jucker
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - D E M de Bakker
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
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3
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Banerjee D, Sultana S, Banerjee S. Gas5 regulates early-life stress-induced anxiety and spatial memory. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38960403 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16167] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Early-life stress (ES) induced by maternal separation (MS) remains a proven causality of anxiety and memory deficits at later stages of life. Emerging studies have shown that MS-induced gene expression in the hippocampus is operated at the level of transcription. However, the extent of involvement of non-coding RNAs in MS-induced behavioural deficits remains unexplored. Here, we have investigated the role of synapse-enriched long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in anxiety and memory upon MS. We observed that MS led to an enhancement of expression of the lncRNA growth arrest specific 5 (Gas5) in the hippocampus; accompanied by increased levels of anxiety and deficits in spatial memory. Gas5 knockdown in early life was able to reduce anxiety and partially rescue the spatial memory deficits of maternally separated adult mice. However, the reversal of MS-induced anxiety and memory deficits is not attributed to Gas5 activity during neuronal development as Gas5 RNAi did not influence spine development. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that Gas5 exerts its function by regulating RNA metabolism and translation. Our study highlights the importance of MS-regulated lncRNA in anxiety and spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sania Sultana
- National Brain Research Centre, Gurugram, Haryana, India
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Huang H, van Waardenberg AJ, Graham ME, Anggono V, Widagdo J. Global quantitative proteomic analysis of aged mouse hippocampus. Proteomics 2024; 24:e2300276. [PMID: 38115172 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202300276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular changes associated with the aged brain forms the basis for developing potential strategies for slowing cognitive decline associated with normal aging. Focusing on the hippocampus, a critical brain region involved in learning and memory, we employed tandem mass tag methodology to investigate global proteomic changes that occur in advanced-aged (20-month) versus young (3-month) C57BL/6 male mice. Our analysis revealed the upregulation of 236 proteins in the old hippocampal proteome, including those enriched within several age-related processes, such as the adaptive immune response and molecular metabolic pathways, whereas downregulated proteins (88 in total) are mainly involved in axonogenesis and growth cone-related processes. Categorizing proteins by cell-type enrichment in the brain identified a general upregulation of proteins preferentially expressed in microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In contrast, proteins with neuron-specific expression displayed an overall age-related downregulation. By integrating our proteomic with our previously published transcriptomic data, we discovered a mild but significant positive correlation between mRNA and protein expression changes in the aged hippocampus. Therefore, this proteomic data is a valuable additional resource for further understanding age-related molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Huang
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | | | - Mark E Graham
- Synapse Proteomics, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Victor Anggono
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Widagdo
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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5
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Mei H, Simino J, Li L, Jiang F, Bis JC, Davies G, Hill WD, Xia C, Gudnason V, Yang Q, Lahti J, Smith JA, Kirin M, De Jager P, Armstrong NJ, Ghanbari M, Kolcic I, Moran C, Teumer A, Sargurupremraj M, Mahmud S, Fornage M, Zhao W, Satizabal CL, Polasek O, Räikkönen K, Liewald DC, Homuth G, Callisaya M, Mather KA, Windham BG, Zemunik T, Palotie A, Pattie A, van der Auwera S, Thalamuthu A, Knopman DS, Rudan I, Starr JM, Wittfeld K, Kochan NA, Griswold ME, Vitart V, Brodaty H, Gottesman R, Cox SR, Psaty BM, Boerwinkle E, Chasman DI, Grodstein F, Sachdev PS, Srikanth V, Hayward C, Wilson JF, Eriksson JG, Kardia SLR, Grabe HJ, Bennett DA, Ikram MA, Deary IJ, van Duijn CM, Launer L, Fitzpatrick AL, Seshadri S, Bressler J, Debette S, Mosley TH. Multi-omics and pathway analyses of genome-wide associations implicate regulation and immunity in verbal declarative memory performance. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:14. [PMID: 38245754 PMCID: PMC10799499 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncovering the functional relevance underlying verbal declarative memory (VDM) genome-wide association study (GWAS) results may facilitate the development of interventions to reduce age-related memory decline and dementia. METHODS We performed multi-omics and pathway enrichment analyses of paragraph (PAR-dr) and word list (WL-dr) delayed recall GWAS from 29,076 older non-demented individuals of European descent. We assessed the relationship between single-variant associations and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in 44 tissues and methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTLs) in the hippocampus. We determined the relationship between gene associations and transcript levels in 53 tissues, annotation as immune genes, and regulation by transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs. To identify significant pathways, gene set enrichment was tested in each cohort and meta-analyzed across cohorts. Analyses of differential expression in brain tissues were conducted for pathway component genes. RESULTS The single-variant associations of VDM showed significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) with eQTLs across all tissues and meQTLs within the hippocampus. Stronger WL-dr gene associations correlated with reduced expression in four brain tissues, including the hippocampus. More robust PAR-dr and/or WL-dr gene associations were intricately linked with immunity and were influenced by 31 TFs and 2 microRNAs. Six pathways, including type I diabetes, exhibited significant associations with both PAR-dr and WL-dr. These pathways included fifteen MHC genes intricately linked to VDM performance, showing diverse expression patterns based on cognitive status in brain tissues. CONCLUSIONS VDM genetic associations influence expression regulation via eQTLs and meQTLs. The involvement of TFs, microRNAs, MHC genes, and immune-related pathways contributes to VDM performance in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Mei
- Department of Data Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
| | - Jeannette Simino
- Department of Data Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
| | - Lianna Li
- Department of Biology, Tougaloo College, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Fan Jiang
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Joshua C Bis
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gail Davies
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - W David Hill
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Charley Xia
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Vilmundur Gudnason
- Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Qiong Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Jari Lahti
- Turku Institute for Advanced Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jennifer A Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mirna Kirin
- Work completed while at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Philip De Jager
- Taub Institute for Research On Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia Irving University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuro-Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Mohsen Ghanbari
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ivana Kolcic
- School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Christopher Moran
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Frankston Hospital, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Murali Sargurupremraj
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Team VINTAGE, UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Shamsed Mahmud
- Department of Data Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Myriam Fornage
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Claudia L Satizabal
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ozren Polasek
- School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
- Algebra University College, Ilica 242, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Katri Räikkönen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David C Liewald
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Georg Homuth
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michele Callisaya
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Karen A Mather
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - B Gwen Windham
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Aarno Palotie
- Department of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry, Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research and Program in Medical and Population Genetics, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alison Pattie
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Sandra van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anbupalam Thalamuthu
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Igor Rudan
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - John M Starr
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Katharina Wittfeld
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael E Griswold
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Veronique Vitart
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca Gottesman
- Stroke, Cognition, and Neuroepidemiology (SCAN) Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Simon R Cox
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Bruce M Psaty
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel I Chasman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francine Grodstein
- Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Velandai Srikanth
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Frankston Hospital, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Caroline Hayward
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James F Wilson
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Johan G Eriksson
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Centre, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sharon L R Kardia
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ian J Deary
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Cornelia M van Duijn
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lenore Launer
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute On Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Annette L Fitzpatrick
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stephanie Debette
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Team VINTAGE, UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas H Mosley
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
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6
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Munkhzul C, Yi SS, Kim J, Lee S, Kim H, Moon JS, Lee M. The microRNA-mediated gene regulatory network in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of the aging mouse. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291943. [PMID: 37943864 PMCID: PMC10635555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging leads to time-dependent functional decline of all major organs. In particular, the aging brain is prone to cognitive decline and several neurodegenerative diseases. Various studies have attempted to understand the aging process and underlying molecular mechanisms by monitoring changes in gene expression in the aging mouse brain using high-throughput sequencing techniques. However, the effect of microRNA (miRNA) on the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression has not yet been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we performed global analysis of mRNA and miRNA expression simultaneously in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of young and aged mice. We identified aging-dependent differentially expressed genes, most of which were specific either to the hypothalamus or hippocampus. However, genes related to immune response-related pathways were enriched in upregulated differentially expressed genes, whereas genes related to metabolism-related pathways were enriched in downregulated differentially expressed genes in both regions of the aging brain. Furthermore, we identified many differentially expressed miRNAs, including three that were upregulated and three that were downregulated in both the hypothalamus and hippocampus. The two downregulated miRNAs, miR-322-3p, miR-542-3p, and the upregulated protein-encoding coding gene C4b form a regulatory network involved in complement and coagulation cascade pathways in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of the aging brain. These results advance our understanding of the miRNA-mediated gene regulatory network and its influence on signaling pathways in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of the aging mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choijamts Munkhzul
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bio Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
| | - Sun Shin Yi
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Korea
| | - Junhyung Kim
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bio Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
| | - Seongsoo Lee
- Gwangju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Gwangju, Korea
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Korea
| | - Hyuntae Kim
- Gwangju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jong-Seok Moon
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bio Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
| | - Mihye Lee
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bio Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea
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7
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Iqbal J, Bibi M, Huang GD, Xue YX, Khatttak JZK, Yang M, Jia XJ. Differential regulation of hippocampal transcriptome by circulating estrogen. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:309. [PMID: 37735249 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01234-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen (E2) modulates the synaptic structure and plasticity in the hippocampus. Previous studies showed that E2 fluctuations during various phases of the menstrual cycle produce subtle neurosynaptic changes that impact women's behavior, emotion, and cognitive functions. In this study, we explored the transcriptome of the hippocampus via RNA-seq (RNA-sequencing) between proestrus (PE) and diestrus (DE) stages in young female rats to determine the effect of E2 of PE and DE stages on hippocampal gene expression. We identified 238 genes (at 1.5-fold-change selection criteria, FDR adjusted p-value < 0.05) as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that responded to E2 between PE and DE stages. Functional analysis based on Gene Ontology (GO) revealed that a higher E2 level corresponded to an increase in gene transcription among most of the DEGs, suggesting biological mechanisms operating differentially in the hippocampus of female rats between PE and DE stages in the estrus cycle; while analysis with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database (KEGG) found that the DEGs involving neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, antigen processing, cell adhesion molecules, and presentation were upregulated in PE stage, whereas DEGs in pathways relating to bile secretion, coagulation cascades, osteoclast differentiation, cysteine and methionine metabolism were upregulated in DE stage of the estrus cycle. The high-fold expression of DEGs was confirmed by a follow-up quantitative real-time PCR. Our findings in this current study have provided fundamental information for further dissection of neuro-molecular mechanisms in the hippocampus in response to E2 fluctuation and its relationship with disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed Iqbal
- Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No.77 Zhenbi Road, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, 518118, Guangdong, China
| | - Maryam Bibi
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Geng-Di Huang
- Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No.77 Zhenbi Road, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, 518118, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan-Xue Xue
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Mei Yang
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No.77 Zhenbi Road, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, 518118, Guangdong, China.
- Clinical College of Mental Health, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China.
- Affiliated Mental Health Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xiao-Jian Jia
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Precision Psychiatric Technology, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No.77 Zhenbi Road, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, 518118, Guangdong, China.
- Clinical College of Mental Health, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China.
- Affiliated Mental Health Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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8
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Conserved reduction of m 6A RNA modifications during aging and neurodegeneration is linked to changes in synaptic transcripts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2204933120. [PMID: 36812208 PMCID: PMC9992849 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204933120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulates mRNA metabolism. While it has been implicated in the development of the mammalian brain and in cognition, the role of m6A in synaptic plasticity, especially during cognitive decline, is not fully understood. In this study, we employed methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing to obtain the m6A epitranscriptome of the hippocampal subregions CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in young and aged mice. We observed a decrease in m6A levels in aged animals. Comparative analysis of cingulate cortex (CC) brain tissue from cognitively intact human subjects and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients showed decreased m6A RNA methylation in AD patients. m6A changes common to brains of aged mice and AD patients were found in transcripts linked to synaptic function including calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2 (CAMKII) and AMPA-selective glutamate receptor 1 (Glua1). We used proximity ligation assays to show that reduced m6A levels result in decreased synaptic protein synthesis as exemplified by CAMKII and GLUA1. Moreover, reduced m6A levels impaired synaptic function. Our results suggest that m6A RNA methylation controls synaptic protein synthesis and may play a role in cognitive decline associated with aging and AD.
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9
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Patel RS, Lui A, Hudson C, Moss L, Sparks RP, Hill SE, Shi Y, Cai J, Blair LJ, Bickford PC, Patel NA. Small molecule targeting long noncoding RNA GAS5 administered intranasally improves neuronal insulin signaling and decreases neuroinflammation in an aged mouse model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:317. [PMID: 36609440 PMCID: PMC9822944 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27126-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Shifts in normal aging set stage for neurodegeneration and dementia affecting 1 in 10 adults. The study demonstrates that lncRNA GAS5 is decreased in aged and Alzheimer's disease brain. The role and targets of lncRNA GAS5 in the aging brain were elucidated using a GAS5-targeting small molecule NPC86, a frontier in lncRNA-targeting therapeutic. Robust techniques such as molecular dynamics simulation of NPC86 binding to GAS5, in vitro functional assays demonstrating that GAS5 regulates insulin signaling, neuronal survival, phosphorylation of tau, and neuroinflammation via toll-like receptors support the role of GAS5 in maintaining healthy neurons. The study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of intranasal NPC86 treatment in aged mice to improve cellular functions with transcriptomic analysis in response to NPC86. In summary, the study demonstrates that GAS5 contributes to pathways associated with neurodegeneration and NPC86 has tremendous therapeutic potential to prevent the advent of neurodegenerative diseases and dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha S. Patel
- grid.281075.90000 0001 0624 9286James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Research Service, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Ashley Lui
- grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Charles Hudson
- grid.281075.90000 0001 0624 9286James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Research Service, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Lauren Moss
- grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Robert P. Sparks
- Present Address: UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655 USA
| | - Shannon E. Hill
- grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA ,grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XUSF Health Byrd Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Yan Shi
- grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Laura J. Blair
- grid.281075.90000 0001 0624 9286James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Research Service, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612 USA ,grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA ,grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XUSF Health Byrd Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Paula C. Bickford
- grid.281075.90000 0001 0624 9286James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Research Service, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612 USA ,grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
| | - Niketa A. Patel
- grid.281075.90000 0001 0624 9286James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Research Service, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612 USA ,grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
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Winsky-Sommerer R, King HA, Iadevaia V, Möller-Levet C, Gerber AP. A post-transcriptional regulatory landscape of aging in the female mouse hippocampus. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1119873. [PMID: 37122377 PMCID: PMC10135431 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1119873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with substantial physiological changes and constitutes a major risk factor for neurological disorders including dementia. Alterations in gene expression upon aging have been extensively studied; however, an in-depth characterization of post-transcriptional regulatory events remains elusive. Here, we profiled the age-related changes of the transcriptome and translatome in the female mouse hippocampus by RNA sequencing of total RNA and polysome preparations at four ages (3-, 6-, 12-, 20-month-old); and we implemented a variety of bioinformatics approaches to unravel alterations in transcript abundance, alternative splicing, and polyadenylation site selection. We observed mostly well-coordinated transcriptome and translatome expression signatures across age including upregulation of transcripts related to immune system processes and neuroinflammation, though transcripts encoding ribonucleoproteins or associated with mitochondrial functions, calcium signaling and the cell-cycle displayed substantial discordant profiles, suggesting translational control associated with age-related deficits in hippocampal-dependent behavior. By contrast, alternative splicing was less preserved, increased with age and was associated with distinct functionally-related transcripts encoding proteins acting at synapses/dendrites, RNA-binding proteins; thereby predicting regulatory roles for RBM3 and CIRBP. Only minor changes in polyadenylation site selection were identified, indicating pivotal 3'-end selection in young adults compared to older groups. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive resource of age-associated post-transcriptional regulatory events in the mouse hippocampus, enabling further examination of the molecular features underlying age-associated neurological diseases.
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11
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Chiavellini P, Lehmann M, Canatelli Mallat M, Zoller JA, Herenu CB, Morel GR, Horvath S, Goya RG. Hippocampal DNA Methylation, Epigenetic Age, and Spatial Memory Performance in Young and Old Rats. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022; 77:2387-2394. [PMID: 35917578 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans and rats, aging is associated with a progressive deterioration of spatial learning and memory. These functional alterations are correlated with morphological and molecular changes in the hippocampus. Here, we assessed age-related changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) landscape in the rat hippocampus and the correlation of spatial memory with hippocampal DNAm age in 2.6- and 26.6-month-old rats. Spatial memory performance was assessed with the Barnes maze test. To evaluate learning ability and spatial memory retention, we assessed the time spent by animals in goal sector 1 (GS1) and 3 (GS3) when the escape box was removed. The rat pan-tissue clock was applied to DNAm data from hippocampal tissue. An enrichment pathway analysis revealed that neuron fate commitment, brain development, and central nervous system development were processes whose underlying genes were enriched in hypermethylated CpGs in the old rats. In the old rat hippocampi, the methylation levels of CpG proximal to transcription factors associated with genes Pax5, Lbx1, Nr2f2, Hnf1b, Zic1, Zic4, Hoxd9; Hoxd10, Gli3, Gsx1 and Lmx1b, and Nipbl showed a significant regression with spatial memory performance. Regression analysis of different memory performance indices with hippocampal DNAm age was significant. These results suggest that age-related hypermethylation of transcription factors related to certain gene families, such as Zic and Gli, may play a causal role in the decline in spatial memory in old rats. Hippocampal DNAm age seems to be a reliable index of spatial memory performance in young and old rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Chiavellini
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Marianne Lehmann
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Martina Canatelli Mallat
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Joseph A Zoller
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Claudia B Herenu
- Institute for Experimental Pharmacology (IFEC), School of Chemical Sciences, National University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
| | - Gustavo R Morel
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rodolfo G Goya
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Critical Care Research (CCR), Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA
- Vitality in Aging Research Group (VIA), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
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12
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Bui TA, Jickling GC, Winship IR. Neutrophil dynamics and inflammaging in acute ischemic stroke: A transcriptomic review. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1041333. [PMID: 36620775 PMCID: PMC9813499 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1041333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Restoring blood flow through recanalization is currently the only acute treatment for cerebral ischemia. Unfortunately, many patients that achieve a complete recanalization fail to regain functional independence. Recent studies indicate that activation of peripheral immune cells, particularly neutrophils, may contribute to microcirculatory failure and futile recanalization. Stroke primarily affects the elderly population, and mortality after endovascular therapies is associated with advanced age. Previous analyses of differential gene expression across injury status and age identify ischemic stroke as a complex age-related disease. It also suggests robust interactions between stroke injury, aging, and inflammation on a cellular and molecular level. Understanding such interactions is crucial in developing effective protective treatments. The global stroke burden will continue to increase with a rapidly aging human population. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of age-dependent vulnerability are poorly defined. In this review, we will discuss how neutrophil-specific gene expression patterns may contribute to poor treatment responses in stroke patients. We will also discuss age-related transcriptional changes that may contribute to poor clinical outcomes and greater susceptibility to cerebrovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truong An Bui
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Glen C. Jickling
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ian R. Winship
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,*Correspondence: Ian R. Winship,
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13
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Huang H, Song R, Wong JJ, Anggono V, Widagdo J. The N6-methyladenosine RNA landscape in the aged mouse hippocampus. Aging Cell 2022; 22:e13755. [PMID: 36495001 PMCID: PMC9835576 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The aged brain is associated with an inevitable decline in cognitive function and increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders. Multiple molecular hallmarks have been associated with the aging nervous system through transcriptomics and proteomic studies. Recently, epitranscriptomic analysis has highlighted the role of RNA chemical modification in various biological processes. In particular, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic mRNAs, has been functionally linked to multiple aspects of RNA metabolism with the roles of m6A in processes such as learning and memory, leading to our current investigation of how the m6A-transcriptomic landscape is shaped during aging. Using the inbred C57BL/6 line, we compared the m6A-transcriptomic profiles from the hippocampi of young (3-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) mice. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)-sequencing analysis revealed hyper- and hypomethylation in 426 and 102 genes, respectively, in the aged hippocampus (fold change >1.5, false discovery rate <0.05). By correlating the methylation changes to their steady-state transcript levels in the RNA-Seq data, we found a significant concordance between m6A and transcript levels in both directions. Notably, the myelin regulator gene Gpr17 was downregulated in the aged hippocampus concomitant with reduced m6A levels in its 3'UTR. Using reporter constructs and mutagenesis analysis, we demonstrated that the putative m6A sites in the 3'UTR of Gpr17 are important for mRNA translation but not for regulating transcript stability. Overall, the positive correlation between m6A and the transcript expression levels indicates a co-transcriptional regulation of m6A with gene expression changes that occur in the aged mouse hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Huang
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia ResearchQueensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Renhua Song
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary InstituteThe University of SydneyCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia,The University of SydneyFaculty of Medicine and HealthCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Justin J.‐L. Wong
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary InstituteThe University of SydneyCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia,The University of SydneyFaculty of Medicine and HealthCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Victor Anggono
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia ResearchQueensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Jocelyn Widagdo
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia ResearchQueensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
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14
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Restoring Age-Related Cognitive Decline through Environmental Enrichment: A Transcriptomic Approach. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233864. [PMID: 36497123 PMCID: PMC9736066 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive decline is one of the greatest health threats of old age and the maintenance of optimal brain function across a lifespan remains a big challenge. The hippocampus is considered particularly vulnerable but there is cross-species consensus that its functional integrity benefits from the early and continuous exercise of demanding physical, social and mental activities, also referred to as environmental enrichment (EE). Here, we investigated the extent to which late-onset EE can improve the already-impaired cognitive abilities of lifelong deprived C57BL/6 mice and how it affects gene expression in the hippocampus. To this end, 5- and 24-month-old mice housed in standard cages (5mSC and 24mSC) and 24-month-old mice exposed to EE in the last 2 months of their life (24mEE) were subjected to a Barnes maze task followed by next-generation RNA sequencing of the hippocampal tissue. Our analyses showed that late-onset EE was able to restore deficits in spatial learning and short-term memory in 24-month-old mice. These positive cognitive effects were reflected by specific changes in the hippocampal transcriptome, where late-onset EE affected transcription much more than age (24mSC vs. 24mEE: 1311 DEGs, 24mSC vs. 5mSC: 860 DEGs). Remarkably, a small intersection of 72 age-related DEGs was counter-regulated by late-onset EE. Of these, Bcl3, Cttnbp2, Diexf, Esr2, Grb10, Il4ra, Inhba, Rras2, Rps6ka1 and Socs3 appear to be particularly relevant as key regulators involved in dendritic spine plasticity and in age-relevant molecular signaling cascades mediating senescence, insulin resistance, apoptosis and tissue regeneration. In summary, our observations suggest that the brains of aged mice in standard cage housing preserve a considerable degree of plasticity. Switching them to EE proved to be a promising and non-pharmacological intervention against cognitive decline.
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15
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Chen X, Ren G, Li Y, Chao W, Chen S, Li X, Xue S. Level of LncRNA GAS5 and Hippocampal Volume are Associated with the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Clin Interv Aging 2022; 17:745-753. [PMID: 35592641 PMCID: PMC9112342 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s363116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose We evaluated the diagnostic value of long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) and its relationship with hippocampal volume in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Patients and Methods One hundred and eight patients with AD and 83 healthy controls were included, and demographic data, biochemical parameters, GAS5 levels, and hippocampal volume were recorded. Chi-squared tests or independent sample t-tests were used to compare the baseline characteristics, relative expression of GAS5, and hippocampal volume. Correlations between variables were determined using Spearman’s rank correlation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to compare the diagnostic value of GAS5 and total hippocampal volume in AD. Results The levels of GAS5 were significantly upregulated in patients with AD compared with those in controls and were negatively correlated with MMSE score. There were differences in left hippocampal volume, right hippocampal volume, and total hippocampal volume between the two groups. Total hippocampal volume was positively correlated with MMSE score and negatively correlated with GAS5 expression in patients with AD. The area under the curve (AUC) of for GAS5 expression was 0.831, the sensitivity was 61.1%, and the specificity was 95.2%. The AUC of the combined total hippocampal volume was 0.891, the sensitivity was 74.1%, and the specificity was 92.8%. Conclusion The results suggested that GAS5 may be an excellent indicator of AD progression alone or in combination with hippocampal volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Neurology, the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guoqiang Ren
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Neurology, the Taixing People’s Hospital, Taixing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wa Chao
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Siyuan Chen
- Department of Neurology, the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuezhong Li
- Department of Neurology, the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shouru Xue
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Shouru Xue, Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188 Shizi Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215006, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-18962133036, Fax +86-512-65223637, Email
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16
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Boche D, Gordon MN. Diversity of transcriptomic microglial phenotypes in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:360-376. [PMID: 34223696 PMCID: PMC9059230 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The morphological plasticity of microglia has fascinated neuroscientists for 100 years. Attempts to classify functional phenotypes are hampered by similarities between endogenous brain microglia and peripheral myeloid cells that can enter the brain under pathological conditions. Recent advances in single-cell -omic methodologies have led to an explosion of data regarding gene expression in microglia. Herein, we review the diversity of microglial phenotypes in healthy brains, aging, and Alzheimer's disease (AD); identify knowledge gaps in the body of evidence; and suggest areas in which new knowledge would be useful. Data from human samples and mouse models are compared and contrasted. Understanding the molecular complexity of the microglial response repertoire will suggest new avenues for therapeutic treatments in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Marcia N. Gordon
- Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA,corresponding author: Marcia N. Gordon, PhD, Michigan State University GRRC, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 USA, , Telephone: (616) 234-2837
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17
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Cole JD, Sarabia del Castillo J, Gut G, Gonzalez-Bohorquez D, Pelkmans L, Jessberger S. Characterization of the neurogenic niche in the aging dentate gyrus using iterative immunofluorescence imaging. eLife 2022; 11:e68000. [PMID: 35089129 PMCID: PMC8798039 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancing age causes reduced hippocampal neurogenesis, associated with age-related cognitive decline. The spatial relationship of age-induced alterations in neural stem cells (NSCs) and surrounding cells within the hippocampal niche remains poorly understood due to limitations of antibody-based cellular phenotyping. We established iterative indirect immunofluorescence imaging (4i) in tissue sections, allowing for simultaneous detection of 18 proteins to characterize NSCs and surrounding cells in 2-, 6-, and 12-month-old mice. We show that reorganization of the dentate gyrus (DG) niche already occurs in middle-aged mice, paralleling the decline in neurogenesis. 4i-based tissue analysis of the DG identifies changes in cell-type contributions to the blood-brain barrier and microenvironments surrounding NSCs to play a pivotal role to preserve neurogenic permissiveness. The data provided represent a resource to characterize the principles causing alterations of stem cell-associated plasticity within the aging DG and provide a blueprint to analyze somatic stem cell niches across lifespan in complex tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Darby Cole
- Brain Research Institute, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Gabriele Gut
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Lucas Pelkmans
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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18
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Peng S, Zeng L, Haure-Mirande JV, Wang M, Huffman DM, Haroutunian V, Ehrlich ME, Zhang B, Tu Z. Transcriptomic Changes Highly Similar to Alzheimer's Disease Are Observed in a Subpopulation of Individuals During Normal Brain Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:711524. [PMID: 34924992 PMCID: PMC8675870 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.711524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). How aging contributes to the development of LOAD remains elusive. In this study, we examined multiple large-scale transcriptomic datasets from both normal aging and LOAD brains to understand the molecular interconnection between aging and LOAD. We found that shared gene expression changes between aging and LOAD are mostly seen in the hippocampal and several cortical regions. In the hippocampus, the expression of phosphoprotein, alternative splicing and cytoskeleton genes are commonly changed in both aging and AD, while synapse, ion transport, and synaptic vesicle genes are commonly down-regulated. Aging-specific changes are associated with acetylation and methylation, while LOAD-specific changes are more related to glycoprotein (both up- and down-regulations), inflammatory response (up-regulation), myelin sheath and lipoprotein (down-regulation). We also found that normal aging brain transcriptomes from relatively young donors (45–70 years old) clustered into several subgroups and some subgroups showed gene expression changes highly similar to those seen in LOAD brains. Using brain transcriptomic datasets from another cohort of older individuals (>70 years), we found that samples from cognitively normal older individuals clustered with the “healthy aging” subgroup while AD samples mainly clustered with the “AD similar” subgroups. This may imply that individuals in the healthy aging subgroup will likely remain cognitively normal when they become older and vice versa. In summary, our results suggest that on the transcriptome level, aging and LOAD have strong interconnections in some brain regions in a subpopulation of cognitively normal aging individuals. This supports the theory that the initiation of LOAD occurs decades earlier than the manifestation of clinical phenotype and it may be essential to closely study the “normal brain aging” to identify the very early molecular events that may lead to LOAD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouneng Peng
- Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Lu Zeng
- Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
| | | | - Minghui Wang
- Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Derek M Huffman
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States.,Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Vahram Haroutunian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Bin Zhang
- Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Zhidong Tu
- Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States.,Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
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19
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Ono R, Abe M, Koike N, Inokawa H, Tsuchiya Y, Umemura Y, Sasawaki Y, Yamamoto T, Wakisaka S, Kanamura N, Yagita K. Quantitative morphometric analysis of molar teeth and alveolar bone using micro-computed tomography in aged mice. J Oral Biosci 2021; 63:265-270. [PMID: 34358700 DOI: 10.1016/j.job.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Irreversible morphological regressions of the teeth or related structures in older people can diminish their overall health. However, research on human aging in dentistry is complicated by several confounding factors. In this study, we conducted a morphometric analysis of the mandibular second molars and surrounding alveolar bone in C57BL/6 mice to evaluate age-related changes in the oral cavity. METHODS The animals were divided into five groups based on their age: 4 weeks (juvenile mice; n=5); 20 weeks (n=7), 50 weeks (n=5), 77 weeks (n=7), and 100 weeks (n=5); changes were evaluated using micro-computed tomography. RESULTS The molars of juvenile mice had sharp and pointed cusps and presented maximum heights. With age and occlusal wear, the cusp heights demonstrated a significant decrease (up to 75%) until the last stage of life. Conversely, apparent lesions were not observed on the basal portion of the crown, even in the most heavily worn teeth. The roots of the molars continued to grow in length at 4 weeks of age. Alveolar bone resorption begins to occur in middle age and continues throughout life. The proportion of vertical bone loss reached approximately 40% of the entire root length, demonstrating a remarkable increase between weeks 77 and 100. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these morphological changes were similar to those observed in humans. Therefore, it might be appropriate to use aged mice as an experimental model for basic and clinical research in geriatric dentistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryutaro Ono
- Department of Dental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan; Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
| | - Makoto Abe
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, 1-8 Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Nobuya Koike
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Inokawa
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan; Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Contemporary Human Life Science, Chugoku Gakuen University, 83 Niwase, Kita-ku, Okayama, 701-0197, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Tsuchiya
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Umemura
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Yuh Sasawaki
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Toshiro Yamamoto
- Department of Dental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Satoshi Wakisaka
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, 1-8 Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Narisato Kanamura
- Department of Dental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Yagita
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
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20
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Radhakrishnan H, Ubele MF, Krumholz SM, Boaz K, Mefford JL, Jones ED, Meacham B, Smiley J, Puskás LG, Powell DK, Norris CM, Stark CEL, Head E. Tacrolimus Protects against Age-Associated Microstructural Changes in the Beagle Brain. J Neurosci 2021; 41:5124-5133. [PMID: 33952632 PMCID: PMC8197636 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0361-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The overexpression of calcineurin leads to astrocyte hyperactivation, neuronal death, and inflammation, which are characteristics often associated with pathologic aging and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, prevents age-associated microstructural atrophy, which we measured using higher-order diffusion MRI, in the middle-aged beagle brain (n = 30, male and female). We find that tacrolimus reduces hippocampal (p = 0.001) and parahippocampal (p = 0.002) neurite density index, as well as protects against an age-associated increase in the parahippocampal (p = 0.007) orientation dispersion index. Tacrolimus also protects against an age-related decrease in fractional anisotropy in the prefrontal cortex (p < 0.0001). We also show that these microstructural alterations precede cognitive decline and gross atrophy. These results support the idea that calcineurin inhibitors may have the potential to prevent aging-related pathology if administered at middle age.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Hyperactive calcineurin signaling causes neuroinflammation and other neurobiological changes often associated with pathologic aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Controlling the expression of calcineurin before gross cognitive deficits are observable might serve as a promising avenue for preventing AD pathology. In this study, we show that the administration of the calcineurin inhibitor, tacrolimus, over 1 year prevents age- and AD-associated microstructural changes in the hippocampus, parahippocampal cortex, and prefrontal cortex of the middle-aged beagle brain, with no noticeable adverse effects. Tacrolimus is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in humans to prevent solid organ transplant rejection, and our results bolster the promise of this drug to prevent AD and aging-related pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamsanandini Radhakrishnan
- Mathematical, Computational and Systems Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Margo F Ubele
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Stephanie M Krumholz
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Kathy Boaz
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Jennifer L Mefford
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Erin Denhart Jones
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Beverly Meacham
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Jeffrey Smiley
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | | | - David K Powell
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Christopher M Norris
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
| | - Craig E L Stark
- Mathematical, Computational and Systems Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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21
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Li Z, Chen X, Vong JSL, Zhao L, Huang J, Yan LYC, Ip B, Wing YK, Lai HM, Mok VCT, Ko H. Systemic GLP-1R agonist treatment reverses mouse glial and neurovascular cell transcriptomic aging signatures in a genome-wide manner. Commun Biol 2021; 4:656. [PMID: 34079050 PMCID: PMC8172568 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02208-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological reversal of brain aging is a long-sought yet challenging strategy for the prevention and treatment of age-related neurodegeneration, due to the diverse cell types and complex cellular pathways impacted by the aging process. Here, we report the genome-wide reversal of transcriptomic aging signatures in multiple major brain cell types, including glial and mural cells, by systemic glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist (GLP-1RA) treatment. The age-related expression changes reversed by GLP-1RA encompass both shared and cell type-specific functional pathways that are implicated in aging and neurodegeneration. Concomitantly, Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated transcriptomic signature in microglia that arises from aging is reduced. These results show the feasibility of reversing brain aging by pharmacological means, provide mechanistic insights into the neurological benefits of GLP-1RAs, and imply that GLP-1R agonism may be a generally applicable pharmacological intervention for patients at risk of age-related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqi Li
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Joaquim S L Vong
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Lei Zhao
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Junzhe Huang
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Leo Y C Yan
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Bonaventure Ip
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Yun Kwok Wing
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Hei-Ming Lai
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Vincent C T Mok
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
| | - Ho Ko
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Peter Hung Pain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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22
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Formation and integration of new neurons in the adult hippocampus. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:223-236. [PMID: 33633402 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00433-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) generate new neurons throughout life in the mammalian brain. Adult-born neurons shape brain function, and endogenous NSCs could potentially be harnessed for brain repair. In this Review, focused on hippocampal neurogenesis in rodents, we highlight recent advances in the field based on novel technologies (including single-cell RNA sequencing, intravital imaging and functional observation of newborn cells in behaving mice) and characterize the distinct developmental steps from stem cell activation to the integration of newborn neurons into pre-existing circuits. Further, we review current knowledge of how levels of neurogenesis are regulated, discuss findings regarding survival and maturation of adult-born cells and describe how newborn neurons affect brain function. The evidence arguing for (and against) lifelong neurogenesis in the human hippocampus is briefly summarized. Finally, we provide an outlook of what is needed to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and functional consequences of adult neurogenesis and how the field may move towards more translational relevance in the context of acute and chronic neural injury and stem cell-based brain repair.
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23
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Emanetci E, Çakır T. Network-Based Analysis of Cognitive Impairment and Memory Deficits from Transcriptome Data. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2415-2428. [PMID: 33713319 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01807-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable process that negatively affects all living organisms and their vital functions. The brain is one of the most important organs in living beings and is primarily impacted by aging. The molecular mechanisms of learning, memory and cognition are altered over time, and the impairment in these mechanisms can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Transcriptomics can be used to study these impairments to acquire more detailed information on the affected molecular mechanisms. Here we analyzed learning- and memory-related transcriptome data by mapping it on the organism-specific protein-protein interactome network. Subnetwork discovery algorithms were applied to discover highly dysregulated subnetworks, which were complemented with co-expression-based interactions. The functional analysis shows that the identified subnetworks are enriched with genes having roles in synaptic plasticity, gliogenesis, neurogenesis and cognition, which are reported to be related to memory and learning. With a detailed analysis, we show that the results from different subnetwork discovery algorithms or from different transcriptomic datasets can be successfully reconciled, leading to a memory-learning network that sheds light on the molecular mechanisms behind aging and memory-related impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Emanetci
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Tunahan Çakır
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
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24
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Stein D, Mizrahi A, Golova A, Saretzky A, Venzor AG, Slobodnik Z, Kaluski S, Einav M, Khrameeva E, Toiber D. Aging and pathological aging signatures of the brain: through the focusing lens of SIRT6. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:6420-6441. [PMID: 33690173 PMCID: PMC7993737 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Brain-specific SIRT6-KO mice present increased DNA damage, learning impairments, and neurodegenerative phenotypes, placing SIRT6 as a key protein in preventing neurodegeneration. In the aging brain, SIRT6 levels/activity decline, which is accentuated in Alzheimer's patients. To understand SIRT6 roles in transcript pattern changes, we analyzed transcriptomes of young WT, old WT and young SIRT6-KO mice brains, and found changes in gene expression related to healthy and pathological aging. In addition, we traced these differences in human and mouse samples of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, healthy aging and calorie restriction (CR). Our results define four gene expression categories that change with age in a pathological or non-pathological manner, which are either reversed or not by CR. We found that each of these gene expression categories is associated with specific transcription factors, thus serving as potential candidates for their category-specific regulation. One of these candidates is YY1, which we found to act together with SIRT6 regulating specific processes. We thus argue that SIRT6 has a pivotal role in preventing age-related transcriptional changes in brains. Therefore, reduced SIRT6 activity may drive pathological age-related gene expression signatures in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stein
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Amir Mizrahi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Anastasia Golova
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow 121205, Russia
| | - Adam Saretzky
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Alfredo Garcia Venzor
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Zeev Slobodnik
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Shai Kaluski
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Monica Einav
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ekaterina Khrameeva
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow 121205, Russia
| | - Debra Toiber
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
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25
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Frazier HN, Ghoweri AO, Sudkamp E, Johnson ES, Anderson KL, Fox G, Vatthanaphone K, Xia M, Lin RL, Hargis-Staggs KE, Porter NM, Pauly JR, Blalock EM, Thibault O. Long-Term Intranasal Insulin Aspart: A Profile of Gene Expression, Memory, and Insulin Receptors in Aged F344 Rats. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 75:1021-1030. [PMID: 31180116 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intranasal insulin is a safe and effective method for ameliorating memory deficits associated with pathological brain aging. However, the impact of different formulations and the duration of treatment on insulin's efficacy and the cellular processes targeted by the treatment remain unclear. Here, we tested whether intranasal insulin aspart, a short-acting insulin formulation, could alleviate memory decline associated with aging and whether long-term treatment affected regulation of insulin receptors and other potential targets. Outcome variables included measures of spatial learning and memory, autoradiography and immunohistochemistry of the insulin receptor, and hippocampal microarray analyses. Aged Fischer 344 rats receiving long-term (3 months) intranasal insulin did not show significant memory enhancement on the Morris water maze task. Autoradiography results showed that long-term treatment reduced insulin binding in the thalamus but not the hippocampus. Results from hippocampal immunofluorescence revealed age-related decreases in insulin immunoreactivity that were partially offset by intranasal administration. Microarray analyses highlighted numerous insulin-sensitive genes, suggesting insulin aspart was able to enter the brain and alter hippocampal RNA expression patterns including those associated with tumor suppression. Our work provides insights into potential mechanisms of intranasal insulin and insulin resistance, and highlights the importance of treatment duration and the brain regions targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emily Sudkamp
- The College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | | | | | - Grant Fox
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | | | - Mengfan Xia
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | | | | | | | - James R Pauly
- The College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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26
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Zhu J, Guo C, Lu P, Shao S, Tu B. Contribution of Growth Arrest-Specific 5/miR-674 to the Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal Axis Regulation Effect by Electroacupuncture following Trauma. Neuroimmunomodulation 2021; 28:137-149. [PMID: 34098562 DOI: 10.1159/000513385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electroacupuncture (EA) can improve trauma-induced hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) hyperactivity. However, the mechanism underlying the EA effect has not been fully understood. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN This study was undertaken to explore the role of hypothalamic growth arrest-specific 5 (Gas5) in the regulation of EA on HPA axis function post-surgery. Paraventricular nuclear Gas5 levels were upregulated in rats using an intracerebroventricular injection of pAAV-Gas5. Primary hypothalamic neurons and 293T cells were cultured for miRNA and siRNAs detection. Radioimmunoassay, PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used for HPA axis function evaluation. RESULTS The overexpression of Gas5 abolished the effect of EA on the regulation of trauma-induced HPA axis hyperactivity. Using a bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase assay, we determined that miRNA-674 was a target of Gas5. Additionally, miRNA-674 levels were found to have decreased in trauma rats, and this effect was reversed after EA intervention. TargetScan analysis showed that serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) were targets of miR-674. Moreover, we found that SGK1 protein levels increased in trauma rats and SGK1 expression inhibition alleviated HPA axis abnormality post-surgery. EA could improve the number of hypothalamus iba-1 positive cells and hypothalamic interleukin 1 beta protein expression. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated the involvement of the hypothalamic Gas5/miRNA-674/SGK1 signaling pathway in EA regulation of HPA axis function after trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunxia Guo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pingping Lu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuijin Shao
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Tu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
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27
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Liu W, Taso O, Wang R, Bayram S, Graham AC, Garcia-Reitboeck P, Mallach A, Andrews WD, Piers TM, Botia JA, Pocock JM, Cummings DM, Hardy J, Edwards FA, Salih DA. Trem2 promotes anti-inflammatory responses in microglia and is suppressed under pro-inflammatory conditions. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3224-3248. [PMID: 32959884 PMCID: PMC7689298 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have reported that, amongst other microglial genes, variants in TREM2 can profoundly increase the incidence of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have investigated the role of TREM2 in primary microglial cultures from wild type mice by using siRNA to decrease Trem2 expression, and in parallel from knock-in mice heterozygous or homozygous for the Trem2 R47H AD risk variant. The prevailing phenotype of Trem2 R47H knock-in mice was decreased expression levels of Trem2 in microglia, which resulted in decreased density of microglia in the hippocampus. Overall, primary microglia with reduced Trem2 expression, either by siRNA or from the R47H knock-in mice, displayed a similar phenotype. Comparison of the effects of decreased Trem2 expression under conditions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pro-inflammatory or IL-4 anti-inflammatory stimulation revealed the importance of Trem2 in driving a number of the genes up-regulated in the anti-inflammatory phenotype. RNA-seq analysis showed that IL-4 induced the expression of a program of genes including Arg1 and Ap1b1 in microglia, which showed an attenuated response to IL-4 when Trem2 expression was decreased. Genes showing a similar expression profile to Arg1 were enriched for STAT6 transcription factor recognition elements in their promoter, and Trem2 knockdown decreased levels of STAT6. LPS-induced pro-inflammatory stimulation suppressed Trem2 expression, thus preventing TREM2's anti-inflammatory drive. Given that anti-inflammatory signaling is associated with tissue repair, understanding the signaling mechanisms downstream of Trem2 in coordinating the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance of microglia, particularly mediating effects of the IL-4-regulated anti-inflammatory pathway, has important implications for fighting neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfei Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Orjona Taso
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | | | | | - Anna Mallach
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - William D Andrews
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Thomas M Piers
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Juan A Botia
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia E-30100, Spain
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Jennifer M Pocock
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Damian M Cummings
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - John Hardy
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Frances A Edwards
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Dervis A Salih
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Hamieh AM, Camperos E, Hernier AM, Castagné V. C57BL/6 mice as a preclinical model to study age-related cognitive deficits: Executive functions impairment and inter-individual differences. Brain Res 2020; 1751:147173. [PMID: 33148432 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterize age-related deficits of mice using different behavioral endpoints, with a focus on executive function and performance heterogeneity. METHODS 2 month-old and 18 month-old C57BL/6J mice were tested in the novelty-based spatial preference Y-maze test and in sequential tasks in the Morris water maze test (reference memory, reversal learning and working memory), before being evaluated for motor skills in the activity meter and accelerating rotarod tests. RESULTS Aged mice displayed an almost normal acquisition in the water maze test, however, difficulties were observed in ability to perform reversal learning and working memory tasks. A marked heterogeneity characterized the performances of aged mice in both Morris water maze and Y-maze tests. Good and poor performers were observed in aged mice although the number of these mice varied depending on the cognitive parameter considered. CONCLUSION Aged mice display deficits in executive function and working memory, with varying severity between individual subjects, something that is also observed in other older animals and humans. Taking into account the heterogeneity in aged subjects within the experimental design of studies evaluating pharmacological treatments represents a promising way to improve the translational value of preclinical studies. In future studies, preselection of poor performers administered with cognitive enhancers and use of good performers as controls is suggested so that all cohorts of aged mice show similar physical and motor characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Al Mahdy Hamieh
- Porsolt SAS, ZA de Glatigné, 53940 Le Genest-Saint-Isle, France.
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29
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Brito DVC, Gulmez Karaca K, Kupke J, Mudlaff F, Zeuch B, Gomes R, Lopes LV, Oliveira AMM. Modeling human age-associated increase in Gadd45γ expression leads to spatial recognition memory impairments in young adult mice. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 94:281-286. [PMID: 32711258 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Aging is associated with the progressive decay of cognitive function. Hippocampus-dependent processes, such as the formation of spatial memory, are particularly vulnerable to aging. Currently, the molecular mechanisms responsible for age-dependent cognitive decline are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the expression and function of the growth arrest DNA damage gamma (Gadd45γ) during aging and cognition. We report that Gadd45γ expression is increased in the hippocampus of aged humans and that Gadd45γ overexpression in the young adult mouse hippocampus compromises cognition. Moreover, Gadd45γ overexpression in hippocampal neurons disrupted cAMP response element-binding protein signaling and the expression of well-established activity-regulated genes. This work shows that Gadd45γ expression is tightly controlled in the hippocampus and its disruption may be a mechanism contributing to age-related cognitive impairments observed in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V C Brito
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kubra Gulmez Karaca
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Janina Kupke
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Mudlaff
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Zeuch
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Directors' Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rui Gomes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luísa V Lopes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana M M Oliveira
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Short AK, Baram TZ. Early-life adversity and neurological disease: age-old questions and novel answers. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 15:657-669. [PMID: 31530940 PMCID: PMC7261498 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0246-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurological illnesses, including cognitive impairment, memory decline and dementia, affect over 50 million people worldwide, imposing a substantial burden on individuals and society. These disorders arise from a combination of genetic, environmental and experiential factors, with the latter two factors having the greatest impact during sensitive periods in development. In this Review, we focus on the contribution of adverse early-life experiences to aberrant brain maturation, which might underlie vulnerability to cognitive brain disorders. Specifically, we draw on recent robust discoveries from diverse disciplines, encompassing human studies and experimental models. These discoveries suggest that early-life adversity, especially in the perinatal period, influences the maturation of brain circuits involved in cognition. Importantly, new findings suggest that fragmented and unpredictable environmental and parental signals comprise a novel potent type of adversity, which contributes to subsequent vulnerabilities to cognitive illnesses via mechanisms involving disordered maturation of brain 'wiring'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabel K Short
- Departments of Anatomy and Neruobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Departments of Anatomy and Neruobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Departments of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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31
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Chou MY, Chen YJ, Lin LH, Nakao Y, Lim AL, Wang MF, Yong SM. Protective Effects of Hydrolyzed Chicken Extract (Probeptigen®/Cmi-168) on Memory Retention and Brain Oxidative Stress in Senescence-Accelerated Mice. Nutrients 2019; 11:E1870. [PMID: 31408929 PMCID: PMC6722682 DOI: 10.3390/nu11081870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The senescence-accelerated prone (SAMP8) mouse model shows age-dependent deterioration in learning and memory and increased oxidative stress in the brain. We previously showed that healthy subjects on a six-week supplementation of a chicken meat hydrolysate (ProBeptigen®/CMI-168) demonstrated enhanced and sustained cognitive performance up until two weeks after the termination of supplementation. In this study, we investigate the effect of ProBeptigen on the progression of age-related cognitive decline. Three-month old SAMP8 mice were orally administered different doses of ProBeptigen (150,300 or 600 mg/kg/day) or saline daily for 13 weeks. Following ProBeptigen supplementation, mice showed lower scores of senescence and improved learning and memory in avoidance tasks. ProBeptigen treatment also increased antioxidant enzyme activity and dopamine level while reducing protein and lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial DNA damage in the brain. Microarray analysis of hippocampus revealed several processes that may be involved in the improvement of cognitive ability by ProBeptigen, including heme binding, insulin growth factor (IGF) regulation, carboxylic metabolic process, oxidation-reduction process and endopeptidase inhibition. Genes found to be significantly altered in both ProBeptigen treated male and female mice include Mup1, Mup17, Mup21, Ahsg and Alb. Taken together, these results suggest a potential anti-aging effect of ProBeptigen in alleviating cognitive deficits and promoting the antioxidant defense system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yu Chou
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Taichung 43301, Taiwan
- Quanzhou Preschool Education College, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Ying-Ju Chen
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Taichung 43301, Taiwan
| | - Liang-Hung Lin
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Taichung 43301, Taiwan
| | - Yoshihiro Nakao
- Scientific Research and Applications, BRAND'S Suntory Asia, Singapore 048423, Singapore
| | - Ai Lin Lim
- Scientific Research and Applications, BRAND'S Suntory Asia, Singapore 048423, Singapore
| | - Ming-Fu Wang
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Taichung 43301, Taiwan.
| | - Shan May Yong
- Scientific Research and Applications, BRAND'S Suntory Asia, Singapore 048423, Singapore.
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32
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Turan ZG, Parvizi P, Dönertaş HM, Tung J, Khaitovich P, Somel M. Molecular footprint of Medawar's mutation accumulation process in mammalian aging. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12965. [PMID: 31062469 PMCID: PMC6612638 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Medawar's mutation accumulation hypothesis explains aging by the declining force of natural selection with age: Slightly deleterious germline mutations expressed in old age can drift to fixation and thereby lead to aging‐related phenotypes. Although widely cited, empirical evidence for this hypothesis has remained limited. Here, we test one of its predictions that genes relatively highly expressed in old adults should be under weaker purifying selection than genes relatively highly expressed in young adults. Combining 66 transcriptome datasets (including 16 tissues from five mammalian species) with sequence conservation estimates across mammals, here we report that the overall conservation level of expressed genes is lower at old age compared to young adulthood. This age‐related decrease in transcriptome conservation (ADICT) is systematically observed in diverse mammalian tissues, including the brain, liver, lung, and artery, but not in others, most notably in the muscle and heart. Where observed, ADICT is driven partly by poorly conserved genes being up‐regulated during aging. In general, the more often a gene is found up‐regulated with age among tissues and species, the lower its evolutionary conservation. Poorly conserved and up‐regulated genes have overlapping functional properties that include responses to age‐associated tissue damage, such as apoptosis and inflammation. Meanwhile, these genes do not appear to be under positive selection. Hence, genes contributing to old age phenotypes are found to harbor an excess of slightly deleterious alleles, at least in certain tissues. This supports the notion that genetic drift shapes aging in multicellular organisms, consistent with Medawar's mutation accumulation hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeliha Gözde Turan
- Department of Biological Sciences Middle East Technical University Ankara Turkey
| | - Poorya Parvizi
- Department of Biological Sciences Middle East Technical University Ankara Turkey
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Handan Melike Dönertaş
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute EMBL‐EBI Wellcome Trust Genome Campus Cambridge UK
| | - Jenny Tung
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology Duke University Durham North Carolina
- Department of Biology Duke University Durham North Carolina
- Duke Population Research Institute Duke University Durham North Carolina
| | - Philipp Khaitovich
- Center for Neurobiology and Brain Restoration Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Moscow Russia
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS‐MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China
| | - Mehmet Somel
- Department of Biological Sciences Middle East Technical University Ankara Turkey
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Trinchero MF, Herrero M, Monzón-Salinas MC, Schinder AF. Experience-Dependent Structural Plasticity of Adult-Born Neurons in the Aging Hippocampus. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:739. [PMID: 31379489 PMCID: PMC6651579 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic modification in cortical structures underlies the acquisition of novel information that results in learning and memory formation. In the adult dentate gyrus, circuit remodeling is boosted by the generation of new granule cells (GCs) that contribute to specific aspects of memory encoding. These forms of plasticity decrease in the aging brain, where both the rate of adult neurogenesis and the speed of morphological maturation of newly generated neurons decline. In the young-adult brain, a brief novel experience accelerates the integration of new neurons. The extent to which such degree of plasticity is preserved in the aging hippocampus remains unclear. In this work, we characterized the time course of functional integration of adult-born GCs in middle-aged mice. We performed whole-cell recordings in developing GCs from Ascl1CreERT2;CAGfloxStopTom mice and found a late onset of functional excitatory synaptogenesis, which occurred at 4 weeks (vs. 2 weeks in young-adult mice). Overall mature excitability and maximal glutamatergic connectivity were achieved at 10 weeks. In contrast, large mossy fiber boutons (MFBs) in CA3 displayed mature morphological features including filopodial extensions at 4 weeks, suggesting that efferent connectivity develops faster than afference. Notably, new GCs from middle-aged mice exposed to enriched environment for 7 days showed an advanced degree of maturity at 3 weeks, revealed by the high frequency of excitatory postsynaptic responses, complex dendritic trees, and large size of MFBs with filopodial extensions. These findings demonstrate that adult-born neurons act as sensors that transduce behavioral stimuli into major network remodeling in the aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alejandro F. Schinder
- Laboratorio de Plasticidad Neuronal, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Duggan MR, Joshi S, Tan YF, Slifker M, Ross EA, Wimmer M, Parikh V. Transcriptomic changes in the prefrontal cortex of rats as a function of age and cognitive engagement. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 163:107035. [PMID: 31185277 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Although changes in cognitive functions including attention are well documented in aging, the neurobiological basis for such alterations is not fully understood. Increasing evidence points towards the contribution of genetic factors in age-related cognitive decline. However, genetic studies have remained inconsistent in characterizing specific genes that could predict functional decline in aging. Here we utilized next generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify patterns of differentially expressed genes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region implicated in attention, of young and aged animals that were either cognitively trained or had limited cognitive engagement. Consistent with previous investigations, aging alone was associated with increased expression of genes involved in multiple facets of innate and adaptive immune responses. On the contrary, the expression of immunity-related transcripts was reduced by cognitive engagement. In addition, transcripts across a wide range of cellular processes, including those associated with neuronal remodeling and plasticity, were upregulated by this behavioral manipulation. Surprisingly, aged subjects accounted for higher mean counts of upregulated transcripts and lower mean counts for downregulated transcripts as compared to the young subjects. Because aged rats exhibited lower attentional capacities, it is plausible that transcriptional changes associated with performance in these animals were reflective of compensatory changes that occurred to cope with the declining integrity of PFC functioning. Interestingly, the effects of both aging and cognitive engagement resulted in an upregulation of transcripts linked to extracellular exosomes, suggesting such extracellular vesicles may moderate a reciprocal gene by environment interaction in order to facilitate the reorganization of PFC circuitry and maintain functionality. Taken together, these findings provide novel insights into the capacities of both cognitive engagement as well as aging to alter gene expression in the PFC, and how the effects of such dynamic factors relate to variation in age-related cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Duggan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Surbhi Joshi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Yin-Fei Tan
- Genetics Research Facilities, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, United States
| | - Michael Slifker
- Biostatisitics and Bionformatics Facilities, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, United States
| | - Eric A Ross
- Biostatisitics and Bionformatics Facilities, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, United States
| | - Mathieu Wimmer
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
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Kumari E, Shang Y, Cheng Z, Zhang T. U1 snRNA over-expression affects neural oscillations and short-term memory deficits in mice. Cogn Neurodyn 2019; 13:313-323. [PMID: 31354878 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-019-09528-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and other RNA spliceosomal components are involved in neurological and psychiatric disorders. U1 snRNA has recently been demonstrated to be altered in pathology in some neurodegenerative diseases, but whether it has a causative role is not clear. Here we have studied this by overexpressing U1 snRNA in mice and measured their hippocampal oscillatory patterns and brain functions. Novel object recognition test showed that the recognition index was significantly decreased in the U1 snRNA over-expression mice compared to that in the C57BL mice. U1 snRNA over-expression regulated not only the pattern of neural oscillations but also the expression of neuron excitatory and inhibitory proteins. Here we show that U1 snRNA over-expression contains the shrinkage distribution of theta-power, theta-phase lock synchronization, and theta and low-gamma cross-frequency coupling in the hippocampus. The alternations of neuron receptors by the U1 snRNA overexpression also modulated the decreasing of recognition index, the energy distribution of theta power spectrum with the reductions of theta phase synchronization and phase-amplitude coupling between theta and low-gamma. Linking these all together, our results suggest that U1 snRNA overexpression particularly causes a deficit in short-term memory. These findings make a bedrock of our research that U1 snRNA bridges the gap about the mechanism behind short-term memory based on the molecular and mesoscopic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Kumari
- 1College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, No. 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071 People's Republic of China
| | - Yingchun Shang
- 1College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, No. 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071 People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Cheng
- 1College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, No. 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071 People's Republic of China.,2State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Zhang
- 1College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, No. 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071 People's Republic of China
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Dienel GA. Does shuttling of glycogen-derived lactate from astrocytes to neurons take place during neurotransmission and memory consolidation? J Neurosci Res 2019; 97:863-882. [PMID: 30667077 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glycogen levels in resting brain and its utilization rates during brain activation are high, but the functions fulfilled by glycogenolysis in living brain are poorly understood. Studies in cultured astrocytes have identified glycogen as the preferred fuel to provide ATP for Na+ ,K+ -ATPase for the uptake of extracellular K+ and for Ca2+ -ATPase to pump Ca2+ into the endoplasmic reticulum. Studies in astrocyte-neuron co-cultures led to the suggestion that glycogen-derived lactate is shuttled to neurons as oxidative fuel to support glutamatergic neurotransmission. Furthermore, both knockout of brain glycogen synthase and inhibition of glycogenolysis prior to a memory-evoking event impair memory consolidation, and shuttling of glycogen-derived lactate as neuronal fuel was postulated to be required for memory. However, lactate shuttling has not been measured in any of these studies, and procedures to inhibit glycogenolysis and neuronal lactate uptake are not specific. Testable alternative mechanisms to explain the observed findings are proposed: (i) disruption of K+ and Ca2+ homeostasis, (ii) release of gliotransmitters, (iii) imposition of an energy crisis on astrocytes and neurons by inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate transport by compounds used to block neuronal monocarboxylic acid transporters, and (iv) inhibition of astrocytic filopodial movements that secondarily interfere with glutamate and K+ uptake from the synaptic cleft. Evidence that most pyruvate/lactate derived from glycogen is not oxidized and does not accumulate suggests predominant glycolytic metabolism of glycogen to support astrocytic energy demands. Sparing of blood-borne glucose for use by neurons is a reasonable explanation for the requirement for glycogenolysis in neurotransmission and memory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald A Dienel
- Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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37
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Altered hippocampal gene expression and structure in transgenic mice overexpressing neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) type I. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:229. [PMID: 30348978 PMCID: PMC6197224 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenic mice overexpressing the type I isoform of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1; NRG1) have alterations in hippocampal gamma oscillations and an age-emergent deficit in hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory. Here, we examined the molecular and morphological correlates of these findings. Microarrays showed over 100 hippocampal transcripts differentially expressed in Nrg1tg-type I mice, with enrichment of genes related to neuromodulation and, in older mice, of genes involved in inflammation and immunity. Nrg1tg-type I mice had an enlarged hippocampus with a widened dentate gyrus. The results show that Nrg1 type I impacts on hippocampal gene expression and structure in a multifaceted and partly age-related way, complementing the evidence implicating Nrg1 signaling in aspects of hippocampal function. The findings are also relevant to the possible role of NRG1 signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia or other disorders affecting this brain region.
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Loera-Valencia R, Piras A, Ismail MAM, Manchanda S, Eyjolfsdottir H, Saido TC, Johansson J, Eriksdotter M, Winblad B, Nilsson P. Targeting Alzheimer's disease with gene and cell therapies. J Intern Med 2018; 284:2-36. [PMID: 29582495 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) causes dementia in both young and old people affecting more than 40 million people worldwide. The two neuropathological hallmarks of the disease, amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles consisting of protein tau are considered the major contributors to the disease. However, a more complete picture reveals significant neurodegeneration and decreased cell survival, neuroinflammation, changes in protein and energy homeostasis and alterations in lipid and cholesterol metabolism. In addition, gene and cell therapies for severe neurodegenerative disorders have recently improved technically in terms of safety and efficiency and have translated to the clinic showing encouraging results. Here, we review broadly current data within the field for potential targets that could modify AD through gene and cell therapy strategies. We envision that not only Aβ will be targeted in a disease-modifying treatment strategy but rather that a combination of treatments, possibly at different intervention times may prove beneficial in curing this devastating disease. These include decreased tau pathology, neuronal growth factors to support neurons and modulation of neuroinflammation for an appropriate immune response. Furthermore, cell based therapies may represent potential strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Loera-Valencia
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - A Piras
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - M A M Ismail
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Theme Neuro, Diseases of the Nervous System Patient Flow, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - S Manchanda
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - H Eyjolfsdottir
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - T C Saido
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - J Johansson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - M Eriksdotter
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - B Winblad
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - P Nilsson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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Gros A, Wang SH. Behavioral tagging and capture: long-term memory decline in middle-aged rats. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 67:31-41. [PMID: 29609080 PMCID: PMC5964067 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Decline in cognitive functions, including hippocampus-dependent spatial memory, is commonly observed at a later stage of aging (e.g., >20 months old in rodents) and typically studied after a discrete learning event. How normal aging, particularly at an early stage, affects the modulatory aspect of memory persistence is underinvestigated. Previous studies in young animals show that weak, fading memories can last longer if a modulating event, such as spatial novelty, is introduced around memory encoding. This is known as behavioral tagging and capture (BTC). Here, we investigated how early aging (10-13 months old) affects BTC in an appetitive delayed-matching-to-place task. We trained rats when they were young and middle aged and found that novelty facilitated long-term memory persistence in young but not in middle-aged rats. However, re-exposure to the encoded environment after learning improved memory persistence in middle-aged rats. BTC, combined with memory reactivation, facilitated memory persistence through reconsolidation. Our results point toward a weakened tagging and capture mechanism before reduction of plasticity-related proteins at an early stage of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Gros
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Szu-Han Wang
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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40
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Trinchero MF, Buttner KA, Sulkes Cuevas JN, Temprana SG, Fontanet PA, Monzón-Salinas MC, Ledda F, Paratcha G, Schinder AF. High Plasticity of New Granule Cells in the Aging Hippocampus. Cell Rep 2018; 21:1129-1139. [PMID: 29091753 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During aging, the brain undergoes changes that impair cognitive capacity and circuit plasticity, including a marked decrease in production of adult-born hippocampal neurons. It is unclear whether development and integration of those new neurons are also affected by age. Here, we show that adult-born granule cells (GCs) in aging mice are scarce and exhibit slow development, but they display a remarkable potential for structural plasticity. Retrovirally labeled 3-week-old GCs in middle-aged mice were small, underdeveloped, and disconnected. Neuronal development and integration were accelerated by voluntary exercise or environmental enrichment. Similar effects were observed via knockdown of Lrig1, an endogenous negative modulator of neurotrophin receptors. Consistently, blocking neurotrophin signaling by Lrig1 overexpression abolished the positive effects of exercise. These results demonstrate an unparalleled degree of plasticity in the aging brain mediated by neurotrophins, whereby new GCs remain immature until becoming rapidly recruited to the network by activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariela F Trinchero
- Laboratorio de Plasticidad Neuronal, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina
| | - Karina A Buttner
- Laboratorio de Plasticidad Neuronal, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina
| | - Jessica N Sulkes Cuevas
- Laboratorio de Plasticidad Neuronal, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina
| | - Silvio G Temprana
- Laboratorio de Plasticidad Neuronal, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina
| | - Paula A Fontanet
- División de Neurociencia Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN-CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Medicina, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, Argentina
| | - M Cristina Monzón-Salinas
- Laboratorio de Plasticidad Neuronal, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina
| | - Fernanda Ledda
- División de Neurociencia Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN-CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Medicina, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Paratcha
- División de Neurociencia Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN-CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Medicina, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, Argentina
| | - Alejandro F Schinder
- Laboratorio de Plasticidad Neuronal, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina.
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41
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Stefanelli G, Azam AB, Walters BJ, Brimble MA, Gettens CP, Bouchard-Cannon P, Cheng HYM, Davidoff AM, Narkaj K, Day JJ, Kennedy AJ, Zovkic IB. Learning and Age-Related Changes in Genome-wide H2A.Z Binding in the Mouse Hippocampus. Cell Rep 2018; 22:1124-1131. [PMID: 29386101 PMCID: PMC5820781 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone variants were recently discovered to regulate neural plasticity, with H2A.Z emerging as a memory suppressor. Using whole-genome sequencing of the mouse hippocampus, we show that basal H2A.Z occupancy is positively associated with steady-state transcription, whereas learning-induced H2A.Z removal is associated with learning-induced gene expression. AAV-mediated H2A.Z depletion enhanced fear memory and resulted in gene-specific alterations of learning-induced transcription, reinforcing the role of H2A.Z as a memory suppressor. H2A.Z accumulated with age, although it remained sensitive to learning-induced eviction. Learning-related H2A.Z removal occurred at largely distinct genes in young versus aged mice, suggesting that H2A.Z is subject to regulatory shifts in the aged brain despite similar memory performance. When combined with prior evidence of H3.3 accumulation in neurons, our data suggest that nucleosome composition in the brain is reorganized with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Stefanelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Amber B Azam
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
| | - Brandon J Walters
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G OA4, Canada
| | - Mark A Brimble
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Caroline P Gettens
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240, USA
| | | | - Hai-Ying M Cheng
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Klotilda Narkaj
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
| | - Jeremy J Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Andrew J Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240, USA.
| | - Iva B Zovkic
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada.
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42
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Wang J, Li Q, Kong Y, Zhou F, Li J, Li W, Wang K, Wu T, Guan Y, Xie J, Wen T. Biosystems Study of the Molecular Networks Underlying Hippocampal Aging Progression and Anti-aging Treatment in Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 9:393. [PMID: 29311893 PMCID: PMC5735351 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging progression is a process that an individual encounters as they become older, and usually results from a series of normal physiological changes over time. The hippocampus, which contributes to the loss of spatial and episodic memory and learning in older people, is closely related to the detrimental effects of aging at the morphological and molecular levels. However, age-related genetic changes in hippocampal molecular mechanisms are not yet well-established. To provide additional insight into the aging process, differentially-expressed genes of 3- versus 24- and 29-month old mice were re-analyzed. The results revealed that a large number of immune and inflammatory response-related genes were up-regulated in the aged hippocampus, and membrane receptor-associated genes were down-regulated. The down-regulation of transmembrane receptors may indicate the weaker perception of environmental exposure in older people, since many transmembrane proteins participate in signal transduction. In addition, molecular interaction analysis of the up-regulated immune genes indicated that the hub gene, Ywhae, may play essential roles in immune and inflammatory responses during aging progression, as well as during hippocampal development. Our biological experiments confirmed the conserved roles of Ywhae and its partners between human and mouse. Furthermore, comparison of microarray data between advanced-age mice treated with human umbilical cord blood plasma protein and the phosphate-buffered saline control showed that the genes that contribute to the revitalization of advanced-age mice are different from the genes induced by aging. These results implied that the revitalization of advanced-age mice is not a simple reverse process of normal aging progression. Our data assigned novel roles of genes during aging progression and provided further theoretic evidence for future studies exploring the underlying mechanisms of aging and anti-aging-related disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanyan Kong
- Position Emission Computed Tomography Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangfang Zhou
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihao Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Wu
- Shanghai Stem Cell Group, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihui Guan
- Position Emission Computed Tomography Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiang Xie
- School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tieqiao Wen
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
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43
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Ianov L, Riva A, Kumar A, Foster TC. DNA Methylation of Synaptic Genes in the Prefrontal Cortex Is Associated with Aging and Age-Related Cognitive Impairment. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:249. [PMID: 28824413 PMCID: PMC5539085 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study investigates DNA methylation as a possible epigenetic regulator of transcription associated with aging and cognitive function. Young and aged male Fischer 344 rats were behaviorally characterized on a set shifting task, and whole genome bisulfite sequencing was employed to profile the DNA methylome of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). DNA methylation was also compared to RNA expression in the mPFC from the same animals. Variability in methylation was mainly observed for CpG sites as opposed to CHG and CHH sites. Gene bodies, specifically introns, contain the highest levels of methylation. During aging, hypermethylation was observed for genes linked to synaptic function and GTPase activity. Furthermore, impaired cognitive flexibility during aging was associated with hypermethylation of genes linked to postsynaptic density, dendrites, the axon terminus, and Ca2+ channels. Finally, comparison with RNA expression confirmed that hypermethylation was correlated with decreased expression of synaptic genes. The results indicate that DNA methylation over the lifespan contributes to synaptic modification observed in brain aging and age-related cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Ianov
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States.,Genetics and Genomics Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
| | - Alberto Riva
- Bioinformatics Core, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States.,Genetics and Genomics Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
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44
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Buscher N, van Dorsselaer P, Steckler T, Talpos JC. Evaluating aged mice in three touchscreen tests that differ in visual demands: Impaired cognitive function and impaired visual abilities. Behav Brain Res 2017; 333:142-149. [PMID: 28690184 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Normal aging is often accompanied by reductions in cognitive abilities as well as impairments in visual acuity in men and mice. In preclinical models of human cognition this concomitance can make it difficult to assess the relative contributions of declined vision and cognitive ability on behavioral measures of cognition. To assess the influence of age on cognition and the impact of visual decline on the performance of touchscreen-based behavioral paradigms in mice, aged (11, 12, 16, 17, 19 and 21 months old) male C57BL/6J mice were compared to young (3 or 4 months old) male C57BL/6J mice using three tests of cognition as well as an assessment of visual acuity. Performance of a Visual Discrimination, Spatial Reversal, and an Automated Search Task were all affected by age. However, there was no relationship between reduced visual acuity and the observed performance impairments. Moreover, the visual acuity of animals with profound cognitive impairments overlapped with those showing normal cognitive ability. Despite the potential confound of impaired visual ability, it appears that the touchscreen approach might be particularly effective in studying age-related cognitive decline. This approach will increase the utility of aged mice as a model of decreased cognitive flexibility and may be particularly important for the study of age-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Buscher
- Janssen Research & Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium; University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Thomas Steckler
- Janssen Research & Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - John C Talpos
- Janssen Research & Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
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45
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Pardo J, Abba MC, Lacunza E, Ogundele OM, Paiva I, Morel GR, Outeiro TF, Goya RG. IGF-I Gene Therapy in Aging Rats Modulates Hippocampal Genes Relevant to Memory Function. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Pardo
- INIBIOLP-Histology B-Pathology B, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Martin C Abba
- CINIBA, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Lacunza
- CINIBA, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Olalekan M Ogundele
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
| | - Isabel Paiva
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gustavo R Morel
- INIBIOLP-Histology B-Pathology B, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rodolfo G Goya
- INIBIOLP-Histology B-Pathology B, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
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46
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Gano A, Doremus-Fitzwater TL, Deak T. A cross-sectional comparison of ethanol-related cytokine expression in the hippocampus of young and aged Fischer 344 rats. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 54:40-53. [PMID: 28319836 PMCID: PMC5401774 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Our work in Sprague Dawley rats has shown rapid alterations in neuroimmune gene expression (RANGE) in the hippocampus and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). These manifest as increased interleukin (IL)-6 and IκBα, and suppressed IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha during acute ethanol intoxication. The present studies tested these effects across the lifespan (young adulthood at 2-3 months; senescence at 18 and 24 months), as well as across strain (Fischer 344) and sex. The hippocampus revealed age-dependent shifts in cytokine expression (IL-6, IL-1β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1), but no changes were observed in the PVN at baseline or following ethanol. RANGE in adults was similar across sex and comparable with effects seen in Sprague Dawley rats. Plasma corticosterone levels increased with age, whereas the blood ethanol concentrations and loss of righting reflex were similar in all groups older than 2 months. These findings indicate that the RANGE effect is largely conserved across strain and is durable across age, even in the face of a shifting neuroimmune profile that emerges during immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anny Gano
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | | | - Terrence Deak
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA.
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47
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Tau interactome mapping based identification of Otub1 as Tau deubiquitinase involved in accumulation of pathological Tau forms in vitro and in vivo. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:731-749. [PMID: 28083634 PMCID: PMC5390007 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1663-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulated proteostasis is a key feature of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), progression of symptoms closely correlates with spatiotemporal progression of Tau aggregation, with “early” oligomeric Tau forms rather than mature neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) considered to be pathogenetic culprits. The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) controls degradation of soluble normal and abnormally folded cytosolic proteins. The UPS is affected in AD and is identified by genomewide association study (GWAS) as a risk pathway for AD. The UPS is determined by balanced regulation of ubiquitination and deubiquitination. In this work, we performed isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based Tau interactome mapping to gain unbiased insight into Tau pathophysiology and to identify novel Tau-directed therapeutic targets. Focusing on Tau deubiquitination, we here identify Otub1 as a Tau-deubiquitinating enzyme. Otub1 directly affected Lys48-linked Tau deubiquitination, impairing Tau degradation, dependent on its catalytically active cysteine, but independent of its noncanonical pathway modulated by its N-terminal domain in primary neurons. Otub1 strongly increased AT8-positive Tau and oligomeric Tau forms and increased Tau-seeded Tau aggregation in primary neurons. Finally, we demonstrated that expression of Otub1 but not its catalytically inactive form induced pathological Tau forms after 2 months in Tau transgenic mice in vivo, including AT8-positive Tau and oligomeric Tau forms. Taken together, we here identified Otub1 as a Tau deubiquitinase in vitro and in vivo, involved in formation of pathological Tau forms, including small soluble oligomeric forms. Otub1 and particularly Otub1 inhibitors, currently under development for cancer therapies, may therefore yield interesting novel therapeutic avenues for Tauopathies and AD.
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48
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Castellano JM, Mosher KI, Abbey RJ, McBride AA, James ML, Berdnik D, Shen JC, Zou B, Xie XS, Tingle M, Hinkson IV, Angst MS, Wyss-Coray T. Human umbilical cord plasma proteins revitalize hippocampal function in aged mice. Nature 2017; 544:488-492. [PMID: 28424512 DOI: 10.1038/nature22067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 278] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Ageing drives changes in neuronal and cognitive function, the decline of which is a major feature of many neurological disorders. The hippocampus, a brain region subserving roles of spatial and episodic memory and learning, is sensitive to the detrimental effects of ageing at morphological and molecular levels. With advancing age, synapses in various hippocampal subfields exhibit impaired long-term potentiation, an electrophysiological correlate of learning and memory. At the molecular level, immediate early genes are among the synaptic plasticity genes that are both induced by long-term potentiation and downregulated in the aged brain. In addition to revitalizing other aged tissues, exposure to factors in young blood counteracts age-related changes in these central nervous system parameters, although the identities of specific cognition-promoting factors or whether such activity exists in human plasma remains unknown. We hypothesized that plasma of an early developmental stage, namely umbilical cord plasma, provides a reservoir of such plasticity-promoting proteins. Here we show that human cord plasma treatment revitalizes the hippocampus and improves cognitive function in aged mice. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2), a blood-borne factor enriched in human cord plasma, young mouse plasma, and young mouse hippocampi, appears in the brain after systemic administration and increases synaptic plasticity and hippocampal-dependent cognition in aged mice. Depletion experiments in aged mice revealed TIMP2 to be necessary for the cognitive benefits conferred by cord plasma. We find that systemic pools of TIMP2 are necessary for spatial memory in young mice, while treatment of brain slices with TIMP2 antibody prevents long-term potentiation, arguing for previously unknown roles for TIMP2 in normal hippocampal function. Our findings reveal that human cord plasma contains plasticity-enhancing proteins of high translational value for targeting ageing- or disease-associated hippocampal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Castellano
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Kira I Mosher
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Rachelle J Abbey
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, V.A. Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Alisha A McBride
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, V.A. Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Michelle L James
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Daniela Berdnik
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, V.A. Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Jadon C Shen
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, V.A. Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Bende Zou
- AfaSci Research Laboratories, Redwood City, California 94063, USA
| | - Xinmin S Xie
- AfaSci Research Laboratories, Redwood City, California 94063, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Martha Tingle
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Izumi V Hinkson
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, V.A. Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Martin S Angst
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Tony Wyss-Coray
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, V.A. Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
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49
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Pardo J, Abba MC, Lacunza E, Francelle L, Morel GR, Outeiro TF, Goya RG. Identification of a conserved gene signature associated with an exacerbated inflammatory environment in the hippocampus of aging rats. Hippocampus 2017; 27:435-449. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Pardo
- INIBIOLP, Histology B–Pathology B, School of Medicine, UNLPLa Plata Argentina
| | | | | | - Laetitia Francelle
- Department of Neurodegeneration and Restorative ResearchUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingen Germany
| | - Gustavo R. Morel
- INIBIOLP, Histology B–Pathology B, School of Medicine, UNLPLa Plata Argentina
| | - Tiago F. Outeiro
- Department of Neurodegeneration and Restorative ResearchUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingen Germany
| | - Rodolfo G. Goya
- INIBIOLP, Histology B–Pathology B, School of Medicine, UNLPLa Plata Argentina
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50
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Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a newly appreciated class of RNAs expressed across diverse phyla. These enigmatic transcripts are most commonly generated by back-splicing events from exons of protein-coding genes. This results in highly stable RNAs due to the lack of free 5′ and 3′ ends. CircRNAs are enriched in neural tissues, suggesting that they might have neural functions. Here, we sought to determine whether circRNA accumulation occurs during aging in mice. Total RNA-seq profiling of young (1 month old) and aged (22 month old) cortex, hippocampus and heart samples was performed. This led to the confident detection of 6,791 distinct circRNAs across these samples, including 675 novel circRNAs. Analysis uncovered a strong bias for circRNA upregulation during aging in neural tissues. These age-accumulation trends were verified for individual circRNAs by RT-qPCR and Northern analysis. In contrast, comparison of aged versus young hearts failed to reveal a global trend for circRNA upregulation. Age-accumulation of circRNAs in brain tissues was found to be largely independent from linear RNA expression of host genes. These findings suggest that circRNAs might play biological roles relevant to the aging nervous system.
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