1
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Qin H, Zhou L, Haque FT, Martin-Jimenez C, Trang A, Benveniste EN, Wang Q. Diverse signaling mechanisms and heterogeneity of astrocyte reactivity in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2024; 168:3536-3557. [PMID: 37932959 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects various brain cell types, including astrocytes, which are the most abundant cell types in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes not only provide homeostatic support to neurons but also actively regulate synaptic signaling and functions and become reactive in response to CNS insults through diverse signaling pathways including the JAK/STAT, NF-κB, and GPCR-elicited pathways. The advent of new technology for transcriptomic profiling at the single-cell level has led to increasing recognition of the highly versatile nature of reactive astrocytes and the context-dependent specificity of astrocyte reactivity. In AD, reactive astrocytes have long been observed in senile plaques and have recently been suggested to play a role in AD pathogenesis and progression. However, the precise contributions of reactive astrocytes to AD remain elusive, and targeting this complex cell population for AD treatment poses significant challenges. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of astrocyte reactivity and its role in AD, with a particular focus on the signaling pathways that promote astrocyte reactivity and the heterogeneity of reactive astrocytes. Furthermore, we explore potential implications for the development of therapeutics for AD. Our objective is to shed light on the complex involvement of astrocytes in AD and offer insights into potential therapeutic targets and strategies for treating and managing this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Qin
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Lianna Zhou
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Faris T Haque
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Cynthia Martin-Jimenez
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amy Trang
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Etty N Benveniste
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
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2
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Arndt H, Bachurski M, Yuanxiang P, Franke K, Wessjohann LA, Kreutz MR, Grochowska KM. A Screen of Plant-Based Natural Products Revealed That Quercetin Prevents Pyroglutamylated Amyloid-β (Aβ3(pE)-42) Uptake in Astrocytes As Well As Resulting Astrogliosis and Synaptic Dysfunction. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04509-6. [PMID: 39317890 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04509-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Two connected histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are chronic neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction. The accumulation of the most prevalent posttranslationally modified form of Aβ1-42, pyroglutamylated amyloid-β (Aβ3(pE)-42) in astrocytes is directly linked to glial activation and the release of proinflammatory cytokines that in turn contribute to early synaptic dysfunction in AD. At present, the mechanisms of Aβ3(pE)-42 uptake to astrocytes are unknown and pharmacological interventions that interfere with this process are not available. Here we developed a simple screening assay to identify substances from a plant extract library that prevent astroglial Aβ3(pE)-42 uptake. We first show that this approach yields valid and reproducible results. Second, we show endocytosis of Aβ3(pE)-42 oligomers by astrocytes and that quercetin, a plant flavonol, is effective to specifically block astrocytic buildup of oligomeric Aβ3(pE)-42. Importantly, quercetin does not induce a general impairment of endocytosis. However, it efficiently protects against early synaptic dysfunction following exogenous Aβ3(pE)-42 application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Arndt
- Research Group Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mark Bachurski
- Research Group Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - PingAn Yuanxiang
- Research Group Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Franke
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06108, Halle, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ludger A Wessjohann
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06108, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institut Für Chemie, Chair of Natural Products Chemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Michael R Kreutz
- Research Group Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Leibniz Group 'Dendritic Organelles and Synaptic Function', Center for Molecular Neurobiology, ZMNH, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto Von Guericke University, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Katarzyna M Grochowska
- Research Group Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Leibniz Group 'Dendritic Organelles and Synaptic Function', Center for Molecular Neurobiology, ZMNH, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.
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3
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Soraci L, Corsonello A, Paparazzo E, Montesanto A, Piacenza F, Olivieri F, Gambuzza ME, Savedra EV, Marino S, Lattanzio F, Biscetti L. Neuroinflammaging: A Tight Line Between Normal Aging and Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders. Aging Dis 2024; 15:1726-1747. [PMID: 38300639 PMCID: PMC11272206 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.1001] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging in the healthy brain is characterized by a low-grade, chronic, and sterile inflammatory process known as neuroinflammaging. This condition, mainly consisting in an up-regulation of the inflammatory response at the brain level, contributes to the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Development of this proinflammatory state involves the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, able to induce age-related epigenetic modifications. Indeed, the exposure to environmental compounds, drugs, and infections, can contribute to epigenetic modifications of DNA methylome, histone fold proteins, and nucleosome positioning, leading to epigenetic modulation of neuroinflammatory responses. Furthermore, some epigenetic modifiers, which combine and interact during the life course, can contribute to modeling of epigenome dynamics to sustain, or dampen the neuroinflammatory phenotype. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge about neuroinflammaging with a particular focus on epigenetic mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of neuroinflammatory cascades in the central nervous system; furthermore, we describe some diagnostic biomarkers that may contribute to increase diagnostic accuracy and help tailor therapeutic strategies in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Soraci
- Unit of Geriatric Medicine, Italian National Research Center of Aging (IRCCS INRCA), Cosenza, Italy.
| | - Andrea Corsonello
- Unit of Geriatric Medicine, Italian National Research Center of Aging (IRCCS INRCA), Cosenza, Italy.
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy.
| | - Ersilia Paparazzo
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy.
| | - Alberto Montesanto
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy.
| | - Francesco Piacenza
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Italian National Research Center of Aging (IRCCS INRCA), IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, Italian National Research Center of Aging (IRCCS INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
| | | | | | - Silvia Marino
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo”, Messina, Italy.
| | | | - Leonardo Biscetti
- Section of Neurology, Italian National Research Center on Aging (IRCCS INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
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4
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Chandra S, Vassar R. The role of the gut microbiome in the regulation of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease. Neurotherapeutics 2024:e00425. [PMID: 39054180 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00425] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common cause of dementia. AD is characterized pathologically by proteinaceous aggregates composed of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau as well as progressive neurodegeneration. Concurrently with the buildup of protein aggregates, a strong neuroinflammatory response, in the form of reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis, occurs in the AD brain. It has recently been shown that the gut microbiome (GMB), composed of trillions of bacteria in the human intestine, can regulate both reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis in the context of both amyloidosis and tauopathy. Many studies have implicated microglia in these processes. However, growing evidence suggests that interactions between the GMB and astrocytes have a much larger role than previously thought. In this review, we summarize evidence regarding the gut microbiome in the control of reactive astrocytosis in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidhanth Chandra
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Robert Vassar
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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5
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Liddelow SA, Olsen ML, Sofroniew MV. Reactive Astrocytes and Emerging Roles in Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2024; 16:a041356. [PMID: 38316554 PMCID: PMC11216178 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
In addition to their many functions in the healthy central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes respond to CNS damage and disease through a process called "reactivity." Recent evidence reveals that astrocyte reactivity is a heterogeneous spectrum of potential changes that occur in a context-specific manner. These changes are determined by diverse signaling events and vary not only with the nature and severity of different CNS insults but also with location in the CNS, genetic predispositions, age, and potentially also with "molecular memory" of previous reactivity events. Astrocyte reactivity can be associated with both essential beneficial functions as well as with harmful effects. The available information is rapidly expanding and much has been learned about molecular diversity of astrocyte reactivity. Emerging functional associations point toward central roles for astrocyte reactivity in determining the outcome in CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Michelle L Olsen
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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6
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Lalo U, Pankratov Y. Astrocyte ryanodine receptors facilitate gliotransmission and astroglial modulation of synaptic plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1382010. [PMID: 38812795 PMCID: PMC11135129 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1382010] [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: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracellular Ca2+-signaling in astrocytes is instrumental for their brain "housekeeping" role and astroglial control of synaptic plasticity. An important source for elevating the cytosolic Ca2+ level in astrocytes is a release from endoplasmic reticulum which can be triggered via two fundamental pathways: IP3 receptors and calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) mediated by Ca2+-sensitive ryanodine receptors (RyRs). While the physiological role for glial IP3 became a focus of intensive research and debate, ryanodine receptors received much less attention. We explored the role for ryanodine receptors in the modulation of cytosolic Ca2+-signaling in the cortical and hippocampal astrocytes, astrocyte-neuron communication and astroglia modulation of synaptic plasticity. Our data show that RyR-mediated Ca2+-induced Ca2+-release from ER brings substantial contribution into signaling in the functional microdomains hippocampal and neocortical astrocytes. Furthermore, RyR-mediated CICR activated the release of ATP and glutamate from hippocampal and neocortical astrocytes which, in turn, elicited transient purinergic and tonic glutamatergic currents in the neighboring pyramidal neurons. The CICR-facilitated release of ATP and glutamate was inhibited after intracellular perfusion of astrocytes with ryanodine and BAPTA and in the transgenic dnSNARE mice with impaired astroglial exocytosis. We also found out that RyR-mediated amplification of astrocytic Ca2+-signaling enhanced the long-term synaptic potentiation in the hippocampus and neocortex of aged mice. Combined, our data demonstrate that ryanodine receptors are essential for astrocytic Ca2+-signaling and efficient astrocyte-neuron communications. The RyR-mediated CICR contributes to astrocytic control of synaptic plasticity and can underlie, at least partially, neuroprotective and cognitive effects of caffein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuriy Pankratov
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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7
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Li Z, Jiang YY, Long C, Peng X, Tao J, Pu Y, Yue R. Bridging metabolic syndrome and cognitive dysfunction: role of astrocytes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1393253. [PMID: 38800473 PMCID: PMC11116704 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1393253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive dysfunction pose significant challenges to global health and the economy. Systemic inflammation, endocrine disruption, and autoregulatory impairment drive neurodegeneration and microcirculatory damage in MetS. Due to their unique anatomy and function, astrocytes sense and integrate multiple metabolic signals, including peripheral endocrine hormones and nutrients. Astrocytes and synapses engage in a complex dialogue of energetic and immunological interactions. Astrocytes act as a bridge between MetS and cognitive dysfunction, undergoing diverse activation in response to metabolic dysfunction. This article summarizes the alterations in astrocyte phenotypic characteristics across multiple pathological factors in MetS. It also discusses the clinical value of astrocytes as a critical pathologic diagnostic marker and potential therapeutic target for MetS-associated cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ya-yi Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Caiyi Long
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xi Peng
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiajing Tao
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yueheng Pu
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Rensong Yue
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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8
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Dempsey S, Argus F, Maso Talou GD, Safaei S. An interaction graph approach to gain new insights into mechanisms that modulate cerebrovascular tone. Commun Biol 2024; 7:404. [PMID: 38570584 PMCID: PMC10991376 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06064-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms to modulate cerebrovascular tone are numerous, interconnected, and spatially dependent, increasing the complexity of experimental study design, interpretation of action-effect pathways, and mechanistic modelling. This difficulty is exacerbated when there is an incomplete understanding of these pathways. We propose interaction graphs to break down this complexity, while still maintaining a holistic view of mechanisms to modulate cerebrovascular tone. These graphs highlight the competing processes of neurovascular coupling, cerebral autoregulation, and cerebral reactivity. Subsequent analysis of these interaction graphs provides new insights and suggest potential directions for research on neurovascular coupling, modelling, and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Dempsey
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Level 6/70 Symonds Street, Grafton, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
| | - Finbar Argus
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Level 6/70 Symonds Street, Grafton, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Gonzalo Daniel Maso Talou
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Level 6/70 Symonds Street, Grafton, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Soroush Safaei
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Level 6/70 Symonds Street, Grafton, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
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9
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Edison P. Astroglial activation: Current concepts and future directions. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3034-3053. [PMID: 38305570 PMCID: PMC11032537 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13678] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes are abundantly and ubiquitously expressed cell types with diverse functions throughout the central nervous system. Astrocytes show remarkable plasticity and exhibit morphological, molecular, and functional remodeling in response to injury, disease, or infection of the central nervous system, as evident in neurodegenerative diseases. Astroglial mediated inflammation plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. This review focus on the role of astrocytes as essential players in neuroinflammation and discuss their morphological and functional heterogeneity in the normal central nervous system and explore the spatial and temporal variations in astroglial phenotypes observed under different disease conditions. This review discusses the intimate relationship of astrocytes to pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, this review considers the putative therapeutic strategies that can be deployed to modulate the astroglial functions in neurodegenerative diseases. HIGHLIGHTS: Astroglia mediated neuroinflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Activated astrocytes exhibit diverse phenotypes in a region-specific manner in brain and interact with β-amyloid, tau, and α-synuclein species as well as with microglia and neuronal circuits. Activated astrocytes are likely to influence the trajectory of disease progression of neurodegenerative diseases, as determined by the stage of disease, individual susceptibility, and state of astroglial priming. Modulation of astroglial activation may be a therapeutic strategy at various stages in the trajectory of neurodegenerative diseases to modify the disease course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Edison
- Division of NeurologyDepartment of Brain SciencesFaculty of Medicine, Imperial College LondonLondonUK
- Division of Psychological medicine and clinical neurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Cardiff UniversityWalesUK
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10
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Xia Y, Ding L, Zhang C, Xu Q, Shi M, Gao T, Zhou FQ, Deng DYB. Inflammatory Factor IL1α Induces Aberrant Astrocyte Proliferation in Spinal Cord Injury Through the Grin2c/Ca 2+/CaMK2b Pathway. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:421-438. [PMID: 37864744 PMCID: PMC11003951 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01128-4] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating traumas, and the aberrant proliferation of astrocytes usually causes neurological deficits. However, the mechanism underlying astrocyte over-proliferation after SCI is unclear. Grin2c (glutamate ionotropic receptor type 2c) plays an essential role in cell proliferation. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that Grin2c and Ca2+ transport functions were inhibited in astrocytes after SCI. Suppression of Grin2c stimulated astrocyte proliferation by inhibiting the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2b (CaMK2b) pathway in vitro. By screening different inflammatory factors, interleukin 1α (IL1α) was further found to inhibit Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b and enhance astrocyte proliferation in an oxidative damage model. Blockade of IL1α using neutralizing antibody resulted in increased Grin2c expression and the inhibition of astrocyte proliferation post-SCI. Overall, this study suggests that IL1α promotes astrocyte proliferation by suppressing the Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b pathway after SCI, revealing a novel pathological mechanism of astrocyte proliferation, and may provide potential targets for SCI repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xia
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Lu Ding
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Changlin Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
- Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Qi Xu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Ming Shi
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Tianshun Gao
- Big Data Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - David Y B Deng
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
- Orthopaedic and Neurological Repair Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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11
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Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz M, Adamiak K, Strużyńska L. Astrocyte-Neuron Interaction via the Glutamate-Glutamine Cycle and Its Dysfunction in Tau-Dependent Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3050. [PMID: 38474295 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25053050] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Astroglia constitute the largest group of glial cells and are involved in numerous actions that are critical to neuronal development and functioning, such as maintaining the blood-brain barrier, forming synapses, supporting neurons with nutrients and trophic factors, and protecting them from injury. These properties are deeply affected in the course of many neurodegenerative diseases, including tauopathies, often before the onset of the disease. In this respect, the transfer of essential amino acids such as glutamate and glutamine between neurons and astrocytes in the glutamate-glutamine cycle (GGC) is one example. In this review, we focus on the GGC and the disruption of this cycle in tau-dependent neurodegeneration. A profound understanding of the complex functions of the GGC and, in the broader context, searching for dysfunctions in communication pathways between astrocytes and neurons via GGC in health and disease, is of critical significance for the development of novel mechanism-based therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz
- Laboratory of Pathoneurochemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Adamiak
- Laboratory of Pathoneurochemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lidia Strużyńska
- Laboratory of Pathoneurochemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Arend C, Grothaus IL, Waespy M, Ciacchi LC, Dringen R. Modulation of Multidrug Resistance Protein 1-mediated Transport Processes by the Antiviral Drug Ritonavir in Cultured Primary Astrocytes. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:66-84. [PMID: 37603214 PMCID: PMC10776481 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-04008-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The Multidrug Resistance Protein 1 (Mrp1) is an ATP-dependent efflux transporter and a major facilitator of drug resistance in mammalian cells during cancer and HIV therapy. In brain, Mrp1-mediated GSH export from astrocytes is the first step in the supply of GSH precursors to neurons. To reveal potential mechanisms underlying the drug-induced modulation of Mrp1-mediated transport processes, we investigated the effects of the antiviral drug ritonavir on cultured rat primary astrocytes. Ritonavir strongly stimulated the Mrp1-mediated export of glutathione (GSH) by decreasing the Km value from 200 nmol/mg to 28 nmol/mg. In contrast, ritonavir decreased the export of the other Mrp1 substrates glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and bimane-glutathione. To give explanation for these apparently contradictory observations, we performed in silico docking analysis and molecular dynamics simulations using a homology model of rat Mrp1 to predict the binding modes of ritonavir, GSH and GSSG to Mrp1. The results suggest that ritonavir binds to the hydrophilic part of the bipartite binding site of Mrp1 and thereby differently affects the binding and transport of the Mrp1 substrates. These new insights into the modulation of Mrp1-mediated export processes by ritonavir provide a new model to better understand GSH-dependent detoxification processes in brain cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Arend
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty 2 (Biology/Chemistry), University of Bremen, P.O. Box 330440, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
- Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Isabell L Grothaus
- Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Hybrid Materials Interfaces Group, Faculty of Production Engineering, Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science, MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, University of Bremen, Am Fallturm 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mario Waespy
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty 2 (Biology/Chemistry), University of Bremen, P.O. Box 330440, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Lucio Colombi Ciacchi
- Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Hybrid Materials Interfaces Group, Faculty of Production Engineering, Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science, MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, University of Bremen, Am Fallturm 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ralf Dringen
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty 2 (Biology/Chemistry), University of Bremen, P.O. Box 330440, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Barnett D, Bohmbach K, Grelot V, Charlet A, Dallérac G, Ju YH, Nagai J, Orr AG. Astrocytes as Drivers and Disruptors of Behavior: New Advances in Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targeting. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7463-7471. [PMID: 37940585 PMCID: PMC10634555 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1376-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are emerging as key regulators of cognitive function and behavior. This review highlights some of the latest advances in the understanding of astrocyte roles in different behavioral domains across lifespan and in disease. We address specific molecular and circuit mechanisms by which astrocytes modulate behavior, discuss their functional diversity and versatility, and highlight emerging astrocyte-targeted treatment strategies that might alleviate behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in pathologic conditions. Converging evidence across different model systems and manipulations is revealing that astrocytes regulate behavioral processes in a precise and context-dependent manner. Improved understanding of these astrocytic functions may generate new therapeutic strategies for various conditions with cognitive and behavioral impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Barnett
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Kirsten Bohmbach
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Valentin Grelot
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67000, France
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67000, France
| | - Glenn Dallérac
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Paris-Saclay University, Paris-Saclay Institute for Neurosciences, Paris, 91400, France
| | - Yeon Ha Ju
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Texas-Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Jun Nagai
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Laboratory for Glia-Neuron Circuit Dynamics, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
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14
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Thaker AA, McConnell BV, Rogers DM, Carlson NE, Coughlan C, Jensen AM, Lopez-Paniagua D, Holden SK, Pressman PS, Pelak VS, Filley CM, Potter H, Solano DA, Heffernan KS, Bettcher BM. Astrogliosis, neuritic microstructure, and sex effects: GFAP is an indicator of neuritic orientation in women. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:124-135. [PMID: 37394144 PMCID: PMC10584366 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data from human studies suggest that immune dysregulation is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and cognitive decline and that neurites may be affected early in the disease trajectory. Data from animal studies further indicate that dysfunction in astrocytes and inflammation may have a pivotal role in facilitating dendritic damage, which has been linked with negative cognitive outcomes. To elucidate these relationships further, we have examined the relationship between astrocyte and immune dysregulation, AD-related pathology, and neuritic microstructure in AD-vulnerable regions in late life. METHODS We evaluated panels of immune, vascular, and AD-related protein markers in blood and conducted in vivo multi-shell neuroimaging using Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) to assess indices of neuritic density (NDI) and dispersion (ODI) in brain regions vulnerable to AD in a cohort of older adults (n = 109). RESULTS When examining all markers in tandem, higher plasma GFAP levels were strongly related to lower neurite dispersion (ODI) in grey matter. No biomarker associations were found with higher neuritic density. Associations between GFAP and neuritic microstructure were not significantly impacted by symptom status, APOE status, or plasma Aβ42/40 ratio; however, there was a large sex effect observed for neurite dispersion, wherein negative associations between GFAP and ODI were only observed in females. DISCUSSION This study provides a comprehensive, concurrent appraisal of immune, vascular, and AD-related biomarkers in the context of advanced grey matter neurite orientation and dispersion methodology. Sex may be an important modifier of the complex associations between astrogliosis, immune dysregulation, and brain microstructure in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashesh A Thaker
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Brice V McConnell
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology Section, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dustin M Rogers
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nichole E Carlson
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christina Coughlan
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Alexandria M Jensen
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dan Lopez-Paniagua
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Samantha K Holden
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology Section, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Peter S Pressman
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology Section, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Victoria S Pelak
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology Section, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers University of Colorado Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christopher M Filley
- Behavioral Neurology Section, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, Marcus Institute for Brain Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Huntington Potter
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - D Adriana Solano
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kate S Heffernan
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurological Disorders, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brianne M Bettcher
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology Section, University of Colorado Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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15
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Stanca S, Rossetti M, Bongioanni P. Astrocytes as Neuroimmunocytes in Alzheimer's Disease: A Biochemical Tool in the Neuron-Glia Crosstalk along the Pathogenetic Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13880. [PMID: 37762184 PMCID: PMC10531177 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813880] [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: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This work aimed at assessing Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis through the investigation of the astrocytic role to transduce the load of amyloid-beta (Aβ) into neuronal death. The backbone of this review is focused on the deepening of the molecular pathways eliciting the activation of astrocytes crucial phenomena in the understanding of AD as an autoimmune pathology. The complex relations among astrocytes, Aβ and tau, together with the role played by the tripartite synapsis are discussed. A review of studies published from 1979 to 2023 on Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted. The selected papers focused not only on the morphological and metabolic characteristics of astrocytes, but also on the latest notions about their multifunctional involvement in AD pathogenesis. Astrocytes participate in crucial pathways, including pruning and sprouting, by which the AD neurodegeneration evolves from an aggregopathy to neuroinflammation, loss of synapses and neuronal death. A1 astrocytes stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory molecules which have been correlated with the progression of AD cognitive impairment. Further research is needed to "hold back" the A1 polarization and, thus, to slow the worsening of the disease. AD clinical expression is the result of dysfunctional neuronal interactions, but this is only the end of a process involving a plurality of protagonists. One of these is the astrocyte, whose importance this work intends to put under the spotlight in the AD scenario, reflecting the multifaceted nature of this disease in the functional versatility of this glial population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Stanca
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- NeuroCare Onlus, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Rossetti
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- NeuroCare Onlus, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Bongioanni
- NeuroCare Onlus, 56100 Pisa, Italy
- Medical Specialties Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56100 Pisa, Italy
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16
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Frazel PW, Fricano-Kugler K, May-Zhang AA, O'Dea MR, Prakash P, Desmet NM, Lee H, Meltzer RH, Fontanez KM, Hettige P, Agam Y, Lithwick-Yanai G, Lipson D, Luikart BW, Dasen JD, Liddelow SA. Single-cell analysis of the nervous system at small and large scales with instant partitions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.14.549051. [PMID: 37503160 PMCID: PMC10370061 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.14.549051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing is a new frontier across all biology, particularly in neuroscience. While powerful for answering numerous neuroscience questions, limitations in sample input size, and initial capital outlay can exclude some researchers from its application. Here, we tested a recently introduced method for scRNAseq across diverse scales and neuroscience experiments. We benchmarked against a major current scRNAseq technology and found that PIPseq performed similarly, in line with earlier benchmarking data. Across dozens of samples, PIPseq recovered many brain cell types at small and large scales (1,000-100,000 cells/sample) and was able to detect differentially expressed genes in an inflammation paradigm. Similarly, PIPseq could detect expected and new differentially expressed genes in a brain single cell suspension from a knockout mouse model; it could also detect rare, virally-la-belled cells following lentiviral targeting and gene knockdown. Finally, we used PIPseq to investigate gene expression in a nontraditional model species, the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea). In total, PIPSeq was able to detect single-cell gene expression changes across models and species, with an added benefit of large scale capture and sequencing of each sample.
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17
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Chandra S, Di Meco A, Dodiya HB, Popovic J, Cuddy LK, Weigle IQ, Zhang X, Sadleir K, Sisodia SS, Vassar R. The gut microbiome regulates astrocyte reaction to Aβ amyloidosis through microglial dependent and independent mechanisms. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:45. [PMID: 37415149 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00635-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies show that antibiotic-mediated (abx) alteration of the gut microbiome (GMB) results in a reduction of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and proinflammatory microglial phenotype in male APPPS1-21 mice. However, the effect of GMB perturbation on astrocyte phenotypes and microglial-astrocyte communication in the context of amyloidosis has not been examined. METHODS To study whether the GMB modulates astrocyte phenotype in the context of amyloidosis, APPPS1-21 male and female mice were treated with broad-spectrum abx leading to GMB perturbation. GFAP + astrocytes, plaque-associated astrocytes (PAA), PAA morphological parameters, and astrocyte complement component C3 levels were quantified using a combination of immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, widefield microscopy, and confocal microscopy. Furthermore, these same astrocyte phenotypes were assessed in abx-treated APPPS1-21 male mice that received either fecal matter transplant (FMT) from untreated APPPS1-21 male donors to restore their microbiome or vehicle control. To assess complete absence of the GMB on astrocyte phenotypes, the same astrocyte phenotypes were quantified in APPPS1-21 male mice raised in germ-free (GF) or specific-pathogen free conditions (SPF). Lastly, we assessed whether microglia are necessary for abx-induced astrocyte phenotypes by depleting microglia in APPPS1-21 male mice via treatment with a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor (PLX5622) and vehicle control or PLX5622 and abx. RESULTS Herein, we demonstrate that postnatal treatment of male APPPS1-21 mice with broad-spectrum abx leading to GMB perturbation reduces GFAP + reactive astrocytes and PAAs, suggesting that the GMB plays a role in regulating reactive astrocyte induction and recruitment to Aβ plaques. Additionally, we show that compared to controls, PAAs in abx-treated male APPPS1-21 mice exhibit an altered morphology with increased number and length of processes and reduced astrocytic complement C3, consistent with a homeostatic phenotype. GFAP + astrocyte reduction, PAA reduction, astrocyte morphological changes, and C3 levels are restored when abx-treated mice are subject to FMT from untreated APPPS1-21 male donor mice. Next, we found that APPPS1-21 male mice raised in GF conditions have similar astrocyte phenotypes as abx-treated male APPPS1-21 male mice. Correlational analysis revealed that pathogenic bacteria depleted by abx correlate with GFAP + astrocytosis, PAAs, and astrocyte morphological changes. Finally, we determined that abx-mediated reduction in GFAP + astrocytosis, PAAs, and astrocytic C3 expression is independent of microglia. However, abx-induced astrocyte morphological alterations are dependent on the presence of microglia, suggesting that there is both microglial independent and dependent GMB control of reactive astrocyte phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS We show for the first time, in the context of amyloidosis, that the GMB plays an important role in controlling reactive astrocyte induction, morphology, and astrocyte recruitment to Aβ plaques. GMB regulation of these astrocytic phenotypes is both independent and dependent on microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidhanth Chandra
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Antonio Di Meco
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Hemraj B Dodiya
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Jelena Popovic
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Leah K Cuddy
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Ian Q Weigle
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Xiaoqiong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Katherine Sadleir
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Sangram S Sisodia
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Robert Vassar
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Tarry Building Room 8-711, 300 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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18
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Dysregulation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and S1P receptor 1 signaling in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2023; 1799:148171. [PMID: 36410428 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipid-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling through the activation S1P receptors (S1PRs) plays critical roles in cellular events in the brain. Aberrant S1P metabolism has been identified in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Our recent studies have shown that treatment with fingolimod, an analog of sphingosine, provides neuroprotective effects in five familiar Alzheimer disease (5xFAD) transgenic mice, resulting in the reduction of amyloid-β (Aβ) neurotoxicity, inhibition of activation of microglia and astrocytes, increased hippocampal neurogenesis, and improved learning and memory. However, the pathways by which dysfunctional S1P and S1PR signaling may associate with the development of AD-like pathology remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the alteration of signaling of S1P/S1P receptor 1 (S1PR1), the most abundant S1PR subtype in the brain, in the cortex of 5xFAD transgenic mice at 3, 8, and 14 months of age. Compared to non-transgenic wildtype (WT) littermates, we found significant decreased levels of sphingosine kinases (SphKs), increased S1P lyase (S1PL), and increased S1PR1 in 8- and 14-month-old, but not in 3-month-old 5xFAD mice. Furthermore, we detected increased activation of the S1PR1 downstream pathway of Akt/mTor/Tau signaling in aging 5xFAD mice. Treatment with fingolimod from 1 to 8 months of age reversed the levels of SphKs, S1PL, and furthermore, those of S1PR1 and its downstream pathway of Akt/mTor/Tau signaling. Together the data reveal that dysregulation of S1P and S1PR signaling may associate with the development of AD-like pathology through Akt/mTor/Tau signaling.
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19
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Shi JM, Liu H, Cai L, Guo YB, Ma H, Li YS, Li SD, Zhang ZY, Ma YD, Guo CH. Identification and functional comparison of primary astrocytes and microglia. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 383:109731. [PMID: 36283489 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Ming Shi
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China.
| | - Hang Liu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
| | - Long Cai
- Maternity and Children's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region 850000, China
| | - Yi-Bo Guo
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
| | - Yan-Song Li
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
| | - Sha-Di Li
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
| | - Ze-Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
| | - Yan-Dong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
| | - Cheng-Hui Guo
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xian Yang, Shaanxi Province 712082, China
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20
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Li N, Gao X, Zheng L, Huang Q, Zeng F, Chen H, Farag MA, Zhao C. Advances in fucoxanthin chemistry and management of neurodegenerative diseases. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 105:154352. [PMID: 35917771 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic, currently incurable, diseases of the elderly, which are characterized by protein misfolding and neuronal damage. Fucoxanthin, derived from marine brown algae, presents a promising candidate for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. HYPOTHESIS AND PURPOSE The relationship between neurodegenerative disease management and fucoxanthin has not yet been clarified. This study focuses on the fundamental mechanisms and targets of fucoxanthin in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease management, showing that communication between the brain and the gut contributes to neurodegenerative diseases and early diagnosis of ophthalmic diseases. This paper also presents, new insights for future therapeutic directions based on the integrated application of artificial intelligence. CONCLUSION Fucoxanthin primarily binds to amyloid fibrils with spreading properties such as Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein to reduce their accumulation levels, alleviate inflammatory factors, and restore mitochondrial membranes to prevent oxidative stress via Nrf2 and Akt signaling pathways, involving reduction of specific secretases. In addition, fucoxanthin may serve as a preventive diagnosis for neurodegenerative diseases through ophthalmic disorders. It can modulate gut microbes and has potential for the alleviation and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Lingjun Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qihui Huang
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Feng Zeng
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Hongbin Chen
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, China.
| | - Mohamed A Farag
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Chao Zhao
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, Institute of Oceanology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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21
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Sadick JS, O'Dea MR, Hasel P, Dykstra T, Faustin A, Liddelow SA. Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes undergo subtype-specific transcriptional changes in Alzheimer's disease. Neuron 2022; 110:1788-1805.e10. [PMID: 35381189 PMCID: PMC9167747 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Resolving glial contributions to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is necessary because changes in neuronal function, such as reduced synaptic density, altered electrophysiological properties, and degeneration, are not entirely cell autonomous. To improve understanding of transcriptomic heterogeneity in glia during AD, we used single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to characterize astrocytes and oligodendrocytes from apolipoprotein (APOE) Ɛ2/3 human AD and age- and genotype-matched non-symptomatic (NS) brains. We enriched astrocytes before sequencing and characterized pathology from the same location as the sequenced material. We characterized baseline heterogeneity in both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes and identified global and subtype-specific transcriptomic changes between AD and NS astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. We also took advantage of recent human and mouse spatial transcriptomics resources to localize heterogeneous astrocyte subtypes to specific regions in the healthy and inflamed brain. Finally, we integrated our data with published AD snRNA-seq datasets, highlighting the power of combining datasets to resolve previously unidentifiable astrocyte subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Sadick
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Michael R O'Dea
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Philip Hasel
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Taitea Dykstra
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Arline Faustin
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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22
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Luo J. TGF-β as a Key Modulator of Astrocyte Reactivity: Disease Relevance and Therapeutic Implications. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1206. [PMID: 35625943 PMCID: PMC9138510 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are essential for normal brain development and functioning. They respond to brain injury and disease through a process referred to as reactive astrogliosis, where the reactivity is highly heterogenous and context-dependent. Reactive astrocytes are active contributors to brain pathology and can exert beneficial, detrimental, or mixed effects following brain insults. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been identified as one of the key factors regulating astrocyte reactivity. The genetic and pharmacological manipulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway in animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injury and disease alters pathological and functional outcomes. This review aims to provide recent understanding regarding astrocyte reactivity and TGF-β signaling in brain injury, aging, and neurodegeneration. Further, it explores how TGF-β signaling modulates astrocyte reactivity and function in the context of CNS disease and injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Luo
- Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research, VAPAHCS, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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23
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Badia-Soteras A, de Vries J, Dykstra W, Broersen LM, Verkuyl JM, Smit AB, Verheijen MHG. High-Throughput Analysis of Astrocyte Cultures Shows Prevention of Reactive Astrogliosis by the Multi-Nutrient Combination Fortasyn Connect. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091428. [PMID: 35563732 PMCID: PMC9099974 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are specialized glial cells that tile the central nervous system (CNS) and perform numerous essential functions. Astrocytes react to various forms of CNS insults by altering their morphology and molecular profile, through a process known as reactive astrogliosis. Accordingly, astrocyte reactivity is apparent in many neurodegenerative diseases, among which one is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent clinical trials on early-stage AD have demonstrated that Fortasyn Connect (FC), a multi-nutrient combination providing specific precursors and cofactors for phospholipid synthesis, helps to maintain neuronal functional connectivity and cognitive performance of patients. Several studies have shown that FC may act through its effects on neuronal survival and synaptogenesis, leading to reduced astrocyte reactivity, but whether FC can directly counteract astrocyte reactivity remains to be elucidated. Hence, we developed an in vitro model of reactive astrogliosis using the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ together with an automated high-throughput assay (AstroScan) to quantify molecular and morphological changes that accompany reactive astrogliosis. Next, we showed that FC is potent in preventing cytokine-induced reactive astrogliosis, a finding that might be of high relevance to understand the beneficial effects of FC-based interventions in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aina Badia-Soteras
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.B.-S.); (J.d.V.); (W.D.); (A.B.S.)
| | - Janneke de Vries
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.B.-S.); (J.d.V.); (W.D.); (A.B.S.)
| | - Werner Dykstra
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.B.-S.); (J.d.V.); (W.D.); (A.B.S.)
| | - Laus M. Broersen
- Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands; (L.M.B.); (J.M.V.)
| | - Jan Martin Verkuyl
- Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands; (L.M.B.); (J.M.V.)
| | - August B. Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.B.-S.); (J.d.V.); (W.D.); (A.B.S.)
| | - Mark H. G. Verheijen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.B.-S.); (J.d.V.); (W.D.); (A.B.S.)
- Correspondence:
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24
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Staurenghi E, Giannelli S, Testa G, Sottero B, Leonarduzzi G, Gamba P. Cholesterol Dysmetabolism in Alzheimer's Disease: A Starring Role for Astrocytes? Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10121890. [PMID: 34943002 PMCID: PMC8750262 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10121890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, the impairment of cholesterol metabolism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been intensively investigated, and it has been recognized to affect amyloid β (Aβ) production and clearance, tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation and degeneration. In particular, the key role of cholesterol oxidation products, named oxysterols, has emerged. Brain cholesterol metabolism is independent from that of peripheral tissues and it must be preserved in order to guarantee cerebral functions. Among the cells that help maintain brain cholesterol homeostasis, astrocytes play a starring role since they deliver de novo synthesized cholesterol to neurons. In addition, other physiological roles of astrocytes are to modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity and support neurons providing energy. In the AD brain, astrocytes undergo significant morphological and functional changes that contribute to AD onset and development. However, the extent of this contribution and the role played by oxysterols are still unclear. Here we review the current understanding of the physiological role exerted by astrocytes in the brain and their contribution to AD pathogenesis. In particular, we focus on the impact of cholesterol dysmetabolism on astrocyte functions suggesting new potential approaches to develop therapeutic strategies aimed at counteracting AD development.
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25
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Liu L, Gao H, Zaikin A, Chen S. Unraveling Aβ-Mediated Multi-Pathway Calcium Dynamics in Astrocytes: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment From Simulations. Front Physiol 2021; 12:767892. [PMID: 34777023 PMCID: PMC8581622 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.767892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) in the brain is hypothesized to be the major factor driving Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Mounting evidence suggests that astrocytes are the primary target of Aβ neurotoxicity. Aβ is known to interfere with multiple calcium fluxes, thus disrupting the calcium homeostasis regulation of astrocytes, which are likely to produce calcium oscillations. Ca2+ dyshomeostasis has been observed to precede the appearance of clinical symptoms of AD; however, it is experimentally very difficult to investigate the interactions of many mechanisms. Given that Ca2+ disruption is ubiquitously involved in AD progression, it is likely that focusing on Ca2+ dysregulation may serve as a potential therapeutic approach to preventing or treating AD, while current hypotheses concerning AD have so far failed to yield curable therapies. For this purpose, we derive and investigate a concise mathematical model for Aβ-mediated multi-pathway astrocytic intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. This model accounts for how Aβ affects various fluxes contributions through voltage-gated calcium channels, Aβ-formed channels and ryanodine receptors. Bifurcation analysis of Aβ level, which reflected the corresponding progression of the disease, revealed that Aβ significantly induced the increasing [Ca2+] i and frequency of calcium oscillations. The influence of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production (IP3) is also investigated in the presence of Aβ as well as the impact of changes in resting membrane potential. In turn, the Ca2+ flux can be considerably changed by exerting specific interventions, such as ion channel blockers or receptor antagonists. By doing so, a "combination therapy" targeting multiple pathways simultaneously has finally been demonstrated to be more effective. This study helps to better understand the effect of Aβ, and our findings provide new insight into the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Langzhou Liu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huayi Gao
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Alexey Zaikin
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.,Institute for Women's Health and Department of Mathematics, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Shangbin Chen
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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26
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de Fraga LS, Tassinari ID, Jantsch J, Guedes RP, Bambini-Junior V. 'A picture is worth a thousand words': The use of microscopy for imaging neuroinflammation. Clin Exp Immunol 2021; 206:325-345. [PMID: 34596237 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first studies of the nervous system by the Nobel laureates Camillo Golgi and Santiago Ramon y Cajal using simple dyes and conventional light microscopes, microscopy has come a long way to the most recent techniques that make it possible to perform images in live cells and animals in health and disease. Many pathological conditions of the central nervous system have already been linked to inflammatory responses. In this scenario, several available markers and techniques can help imaging and unveil the neuroinflammatory process. Moreover, microscopy imaging techniques have become even more necessary to validate the large quantity of data generated in the era of 'omics'. This review aims to highlight how to assess neuroinflammation by using microscopy as a tool to provide specific details about the cell's architecture during neuroinflammatory conditions. First, we describe specific markers that have been used in light microscopy studies and that are widely applied to unravel and describe neuroinflammatory mechanisms in distinct conditions. Then, we discuss some important methodologies that facilitate the imaging of these markers, such as immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques. Emphasis will be given to studies using two-photon microscopy, an approach that revolutionized the real-time assessment of neuroinflammatory processes. Finally, some studies integrating omics with microscopy will be presented. The fusion of these techniques is developing, but the high amount of data generated from these applications will certainly improve comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Stürmer de Fraga
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Isadora D'Ávila Tassinari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jeferson Jantsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Renata Padilha Guedes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Victorio Bambini-Junior
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Preston, UK
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27
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Klegeris A. Targeting neuroprotective functions of astrocytes in neuroimmune diseases. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:237-241. [PMID: 33836642 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1915993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andis Klegeris
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
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28
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Wickstead ES, Irving MA, Getting SJ, McArthur S. Exploiting formyl peptide receptor 2 to promote microglial resolution: a new approach to Alzheimer's disease treatment. FEBS J 2021; 289:1801-1822. [PMID: 33811735 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease and dementia are among the most significant current healthcare challenges given the rapidly growing elderly population, and the almost total lack of effective therapeutic interventions. Alzheimer's disease pathology has long been considered in terms of accumulation of amyloid beta and hyperphosphorylated tau, but the importance of neuroinflammation in driving disease has taken greater precedence over the last 15-20 years. Inflammatory activation of the primary brain immune cells, the microglia, has been implicated in Alzheimer's pathogenesis through genetic, preclinical, imaging and postmortem human studies, and strategies to regulate microglial activity may hold great promise for disease modification. Neuroinflammation is necessary for defence of the brain against pathogen invasion or damage but is normally self-limiting due to the engagement of endogenous pro-resolving circuitry that terminates inflammatory activity, a process that appears to fail in Alzheimer's disease. Here, we discuss the potential for a major regulator and promoter of resolution, the receptor FPR2, to restrain pro-inflammatory microglial activity, and propose that it may serve as a valuable target for therapeutic investigation in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Murray A Irving
- Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, UK
| | - Stephen J Getting
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Simon McArthur
- Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, UK
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29
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Astrogliosis and episodic memory in late life: higher GFAP is related to worse memory and white matter microstructure in healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 103:68-77. [PMID: 33845398 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes play a formative role in memory consolidation during physiological conditions; when dysregulated, astrocytes release glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which has been linked with negative memory outcomes in animal studies. We examined the association between blood GFAP, memory, and white matter (WM) integrity, accounting for blood markers of AD pathology (i.e., Aβ42) and neurodegeneration (i.e., total tau; neurofilament light chain) in 114 older adults (asymptomatic, n = 69; MCI/AD dementia, n = 45). Higher levels of GFAP were associated with lower memory scores (p < 0.0001), such that for 1 SD increase in mean GFAP values, the memory composite score decreased on average by 0.49 (Standard error = 0.071). These results remained significant after controlling for diagnostic status and AD-related blood biomarkers. Higher GFAP was also related to lower WM integrity in regions vulnerable to AD pathology; however, WM integrity did not account for the association between GFAP and memory. Study findings suggest that higher blood levels of a marker of astrogliosis may reflect impoverished memory functions and white matter health, independent of markers of amyloid or neurodegeneration.
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30
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Sarkar S, Biswas SC. Astrocyte subtype-specific approach to Alzheimer's disease treatment. Neurochem Int 2021; 145:104956. [PMID: 33503465 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.104956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes respond to any pathological condition in the central nervous system (CNS) including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and this response is called astrocyte reactivity. Astrocyte reaction to a CNS insult is a highly heterogeneous phenomenon in which the astrocytes undergo a set of morphological, molecular and functional changes with a characteristic secretome profile. Such astrocytes are termed as 'reactive astrocytes'. Controversies regarding the reactive astrocytes abound. Recently, a continuum of reactive astrocyte profiles with distinct transcriptional states has been identified. Among them, disease-associated astrocytes (DAA) were uniquely present in AD mice and expressed a signature set of genes implicated in complement cascade, endocytosis and aging. Earlier, two stimulus-specific reactive astrocyte subtypes with their unique transcriptomic signatures were identified using mouse models of neuroinflammation and ischemia and termed as A1 astrocytes (detrimental) and A2 astrocytes (beneficial) respectively. Interestingly, although most of the A1 signature genes were also detected in DAA, as opposed to A2 astrocyte signatures, some of the A1 specific genes were expressed in other astrocyte subtypes, indicating that these nomenclature-based signatures are not very specific. In this review, we elaborate the disparate functions and cytokine profiles of reactive astrocyte subtypes in AD and tried to distinguish them by designating neurotoxic astrocytes as A1-like and neuroprotective ones as A2-like without directly referring to the A1/A2 original nomenclature. We have also focused on the dual nature from a functional perspective of some cytokines depending on AD-stage, highlighting a number of them as major candidates in AD therapy. Therefore, we suggest that promoting subtype-specific beneficial roles, inhibiting subtype-specific detrimental roles or targeting subtype-specific cytokines constitute a novel therapeutic approach to AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Sarkar
- Cell Biology and Physiology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata, 700 032, India
| | - Subhas C Biswas
- Cell Biology and Physiology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata, 700 032, India.
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31
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Li L, Acioglu C, Heary RF, Elkabes S. Role of astroglial toll-like receptors (TLRs) in central nervous system infections, injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 91:740-755. [PMID: 33039660 PMCID: PMC7543714 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) innate immunity plays essential roles in infections, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain or spinal cord injuries. Astrocytes and microglia are the principal cells that mediate innate immunity in the CNS. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), expressed by astrocytes and microglia, sense pathogen-derived or endogenous ligands released by damaged cells and initiate the innate immune response. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a well-characterized family of PRRs. The contribution of microglial TLR signaling to CNS pathology has been extensively investigated. Even though astrocytes assume a wide variety of key functions, information about the role of astroglial TLRs in CNS disease and injuries is limited. Because astrocytes display heterogeneity and exhibit phenotypic plasticity depending on the effectors present in the local milieu, they can exert both detrimental and beneficial effects. TLRs are modulators of these paradoxical astroglial properties. The goal of the current review is to highlight the essential roles played by astroglial TLRs in CNS infections, injuries and diseases. We discuss the contribution of astroglial TLRs to host defense as well as the dissemination of viral and bacterial infections in the CNS. We examine the link between astroglial TLRs and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and present evidence showing the pivotal influence of astroglial TLR signaling on sterile inflammation in CNS injury. Finally, we define the research questions and areas that warrant further investigations in the context of astrocytes, TLRs, and CNS dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lun Li
- The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
| | - Cigdem Acioglu
- The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
| | - Robert F. Heary
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ 07110, United States
| | - Stella Elkabes
- The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, United States.
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32
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Sidoryk-Wegrzynowicz M, Strużyńska L. Dysfunctional glia: contributors to neurodegenerative disorders. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:218-222. [PMID: 32859767 PMCID: PMC7896233 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.290877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are integral components of the central nervous system, where they are involved in numerous functions critical for neuronal development and functioning, including maintenance of blood-brain barrier, formation of synapses, supporting neurons with nutrients and trophic factors, and protecting them from injury. These roles are markedly affected in the course of chronic neurodegenerative disorders, often before the onset of the disease. In this review, we summarize the recent findings supporting the hypothesis that astrocytes play a fundamental role in the processes contributing to neurodegeneration. We focus on α-synucleinopathies and tauopathies as the most common neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms implicated in the development and progression of these disorders appear not to be exclusively neuronal, but are often related to the astrocytic-neuronal integrity and the response of astrocytes to the altered microglial function. A profound understanding of the multifaceted functions of astrocytes and identification of their communication pathways with neurons and microglia in health and in the disease is of critical significance for the development of novel mechanism-based therapies against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sidoryk-Wegrzynowicz
- Laboratory of Pathoneurochemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lidia Strużyńska
- Laboratory of Pathoneurochemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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33
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Spanos F, Liddelow SA. An Overview of Astrocyte Responses in Genetically Induced Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Models. Cells 2020; 9:E2415. [PMID: 33158189 PMCID: PMC7694249 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Despite many years of intense research, there is currently still no effective treatment. Multiple cell types contribute to disease pathogenesis, with an increasing body of data pointing to the active participation of astrocytes. Astrocytes play a pivotal role in the physiology and metabolic functions of neurons and other cells in the central nervous system. Because of their interactions with other cell types, astrocyte functions must be understood in their biologic context, thus many studies have used mouse models, of which there are over 190 available for AD research. However, none appear able to fully recapitulate the many functional changes in astrocytes reported in human AD brains. Our review summarizes the observations of astrocyte biology noted in mouse models of familial and sporadic AD. The limitations of AD mouse models will be discussed and current attempts to overcome these disadvantages will be described. With increasing understanding of the non-neuronal contributions to disease, the development of new methods and models will provide further insights and address important questions regarding the roles of astrocytes and other non-neuronal cells in AD pathophysiology. The next decade will prove to be full of exciting opportunities to address this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fokion Spanos
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Shane A. Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA;
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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34
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Reid MJ, Beltran-Lobo P, Johnson L, Perez-Nievas BG, Noble W. Astrocytes in Tauopathies. Front Neurol 2020; 11:572850. [PMID: 33071951 PMCID: PMC7542303 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.572850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the progressive accumulation across the brain of hyperphosphorylated aggregates of the microtubule-associated protein tau that vary in isoform composition, structural conformation and localization. Tau aggregates are most commonly deposited within neurons but can show differential association with astrocytes, depending on the disease. Astrocytes, the most abundant neural cells in the brain, play a major role in synapse and neuronal function, and are a key component of the glymphatic system and blood brain barrier. However, their contribution to tauopathy progression is not fully understood. Here we present a brief overview of the association of tau with astrocytes in tauopathies. We discuss findings that support a role for astrocytes in the uptake and spread of pathological tau, and we describe how alterations to astrocyte phenotype in tauopathies may cause functional alterations that impedes their ability to support neurons and/or cause neurotoxicity. The research reviewed here further highlights the importance of considering non-neuronal cells in neurodegeneration and suggests that astrocyte-directed targets that may have utility for therapeutic intervention in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Reid
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Beltran-Lobo
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louisa Johnson
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz Gomez Perez-Nievas
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy Noble
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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35
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Nitric Oxide/Cyclic GMP-Dependent Calcium Signalling Mediates IL-6- and TNF-α-Induced Expression of Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 71:854-866. [PMID: 32964397 PMCID: PMC7969574 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01708-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Astrocyte activation is characterized by hypertrophy with increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), whose expression may involve pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, the effects of pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF-α and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 on nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and GFAP expression were investigated. In human glioblastoma astrocytoma U-373 MG cells, IL-6 and TNF-α, but not IL-4 or IL-10, increased iNOS, cGMP, [Ca2+]i and GFAP expression. The inhibitors of iNOS (1400 W), soluble guanylyl cyclase (ODQ) and IP3 receptors (ryanodine and 2-APB) reversed the increase in cGMP or [Ca2+]i, respectively, and prevented GFAP expression. In rat striatal slices, IL-6 and TNF-α, at variance with IL-4 and IL-10, promoted a concentration-dependent increase in Ca2+ efflux, an effect prevented by 1400 W, ODQ and RY/2APB. These data were confirmed by in vivo studies, where IL-6, TNF-α or the NO donor DETA/NO injected in the striatum of anaesthetised rats increased cGMP levels and increased GFAP expression. The present findings point to NO/cGMP-dependent calcium signalling as part of the mechanism mediating IL-6- and TNF-α-induced GFAP expression. As this process plays a fundamental role in driving neurotoxicity, targeting NO/cGMP-dependent calcium signalling may constitute a new approach for therapeutic interventions in neurological disorders.
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36
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Wilckens KA, Chahine LM. Sleep and circadian rhythms in the treatment, trajectory, and prevention of neurodegenerative disease. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 145:105075. [PMID: 32890772 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristine A Wilckens
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lana M Chahine
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Gonzalez-Fernandez E, Staursky D, Lucas K, Nguyen BV, Li M, Liu Y, Washington C, Coolen LM, Fan F, Roman RJ. 20-HETE Enzymes and Receptors in the Neurovascular Unit: Implications in Cerebrovascular Disease. Front Neurol 2020; 11:983. [PMID: 33013649 PMCID: PMC7499024 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
20-HETE is a potent vasoconstrictor that is implicated in the regulation of blood pressure, cerebral blood flow and neuronal death following ischemia. Numerous human genetic studies have shown that inactivating variants in the cytochrome P450 enzymes that produce 20-HETE are associated with hypertension, stroke and cerebrovascular disease. However, little is known about the expression and cellular distribution of the cytochrome P450A enzymes (CYP4A) that produce 20-HETE or the newly discovered 20-HETE receptor (GPR75) in the brain. The present study examined the cell types and regions in the rat forebrain that express CYP4A and GPR75. Brain tissue slices from Sprague Dawley (SD), Dahl Salt-Sensitive (SS) and CYP4A1 transgenic rat strains, as well as cultured human cerebral pericytes and cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells, were analyzed by fluorescent immunostaining. Tissue homogenates from these strains and cultured cells were examined by Western blot. In the cerebral vasculature, CYP4A and GPR75 were expressed in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and the glial limiting membrane of pial arteries and penetrating arterioles but not in the endothelium of capillaries. CYP4A, but not GPR75, was expressed in astrocytes. CYP4A and GPR75 were both expressed in a subpopulation of pericytes on capillaries. The diameters of capillaries were significantly decreased at the sites of first and second-order pericytes that expressed CYP4A. Capillary diameters were unaffected at the sites of other pericytes that did not express CYP4A. These findings implicate 20-HETE as a paracrine mediator in various components of the neurovascular unit and are consistent with 20-HETE's emerging role in the regulation of cerebral blood flow, blood-brain barrier integrity, the pathogenesis of stroke and the vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. Moreover, this study highlights GPR75 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of these devastating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezekiel Gonzalez-Fernandez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Daniel Staursky
- William and Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Kathryn Lucas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Bond V. Nguyen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Man Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Yedan Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Chad Washington
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Lique M. Coolen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Fan Fan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Richard J. Roman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
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Khoury R, Grossberg GT. Deciphering Alzheimer's disease: predicting new therapeutic strategies via improved understanding of biology and pathogenesis. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:859-868. [PMID: 32603232 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1790530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD). One explanation may pertain to the need to intervene as early as possible upstream from the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and tau tangles. AREAS COVERED A PUBMED literature search was completed to review the biological or pathological changes at the basis of disease initiation; this includes neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, microbiome changes and glymphatic system dysfunction. Innovative therapeutic strategies based on these mechanisms are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that underly AD would assist in the identification of drug targets for clinical trials. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies are key for the characterization of the properties of disease-modifying drugs and the improvement of their penetration of the blood-brain barrier. Drug targets can be examined at different stages of the disease, hence the importance of selecting and recruiting the appropriate participants, preferably at the earliest stage of AD. New trial designs should be established which primarily involve combination therapies that can work synergistically on common pathways. Going forward, innovative treatment strategies involving nanotechnology, young blood products transfusion and photobiomodulation also offer promise for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Khoury
- Saint George Hospital University Medical Center-SGHUMC, University of Balamand School of Medicine , Beirut, Lebanon
| | - George T Grossberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine , Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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Westergard T, Rothstein JD. Astrocyte Diversity: Current Insights and Future Directions. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:1298-1305. [PMID: 32006215 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-020-02959-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes make up 20-40% of glial cells within the central nervous system (CNS) and provide several crucial functions, ranging from metabolic and structural support to regulation of synaptogenesis and synaptic transmission. Although these cells are morphologically and functionally complex, astrocytes have been historically regarded as homogenous cell populations and studied as one population of cells. Fortunately, recent evidence in RNA profiling and imaging data has begun to refute this view. These studies suggest heterogeneity of astrocytes across brain regions, differing in many aspects such as morphology, function, physiological properties, developmental origins, and response to disease. Increased understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity is critical for investigations into the function of astrocytes in the brain and neuro-glia interactions. Furthermore, insights into astrocyte heterogeneity can help better understand their role in neurological disorders and potentially produce novel approaches to treating these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Westergard
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Genomic deletion of TLR2 induces aggravated white matter damage and deteriorated neurobehavioral functions in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:7257-7273. [PMID: 31509519 PMCID: PMC6756907 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2), a member of the TLR family, plays an important role in the initiation and regulation of immune/inflammation response, which is a critical mechanism underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To clarify the role of TLR2 in the pathological process of AD, in the present study, TLR2 knockout plus APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic mice (AD-TLR2KO) were generated. Neurobehavioral tests and brain MRI scan were conducted on mice at the age of 12 months. Additionally, neuron loss was evaluated using NeuN staining. Amyloid β protein (Aβ), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), endogenous ligands for TLR2, and the activation of downstream signaling of TLR2 in mouse brains were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blots. The results demonstrated that TLR2 deficit induced learning disabilities, decreased spontaneous activity, increased anxiety and depression, and led to white matter damage (WMD), brain atrophy, loss of neurons, and glial activation. Moreover, TLR2 deficit aggravated impaired neurobehavioral functions and WMD in AD mice, but did not affect the Aβ deposition in mouse brains. Our data indicate that the genomic deletion of TLR2 impairs neurobehavioral functions, induces WMD and brain atrophy, and increases the activation of astrocytes, which in turn aggravate the symptoms of AD through a non-Aβ mechanism.
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Duce J, Zhu X, Jacobson L, Beart P. Therapeutics for dementia and Alzheimer's disease: New directions for precision medicine. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:3409-3412. [PMID: 31468515 PMCID: PMC6715617 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Therapeutics for Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: New Directions for Precision Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.18/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.A. Duce
- The ALBORADA Drug Discovery InstituteUniversity of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeUK
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
| | - X. Zhu
- Department of PathologyCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhio
| | - L.H. Jacobson
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
| | - P.M. Beart
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
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Sadick JS, Liddelow SA. Don't forget astrocytes when targeting Alzheimer's disease. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:3585-3598. [PMID: 30636042 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are essential for CNS health, regulating homeostasis, metabolism, and synaptic transmission. In addition to these and many other physiological roles, the pathological impact of astrocytes ("reactive astrocytes") in acute trauma and chronic disease like Alzheimer's disease (AD) is well established. Growing evidence supports a fundamental and active role of astrocytes in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. With a growing interest in normal astrocyte biology, and countless studies on changes in astrocyte function in the context of disease, it may be a surprise that no therapies exist incorporating astrocytes as key targets. Here, we examine unintentional effects of current AD therapies on astrocyte function and theorize how astrocytes may be intentionally targeted for more efficacious therapeutic outcomes. Given their integral role in normal neuronal functioning, incorporating astrocytes as key criteria for AD drug development can only lead to more effective therapies for the millions of AD sufferers worldwide. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on Therapeutics for Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: New Directions for Precision Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.18/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Sadick
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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