1
|
Pineda SS, Lee H, Ulloa-Navas MJ, Linville RM, Garcia FJ, Galani K, Engelberg-Cook E, Castanedes MC, Fitzwalter BE, Pregent LJ, Gardashli ME, DeTure M, Vera-Garcia DV, Hucke ATS, Oskarsson BE, Murray ME, Dickson DW, Heiman M, Belzil VV, Kellis M. Single-cell dissection of the human motor and prefrontal cortices in ALS and FTLD. Cell 2024; 187:1971-1989.e16. [PMID: 38521060 PMCID: PMC11086986 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.031] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) share many clinical, pathological, and genetic features, but a detailed understanding of their associated transcriptional alterations across vulnerable cortical cell types is lacking. Here, we report a high-resolution, comparative single-cell molecular atlas of the human primary motor and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices and their transcriptional alterations in sporadic and familial ALS and FTLD. By integrating transcriptional and genetic information, we identify known and previously unidentified vulnerable populations in cortical layer 5 and show that ALS- and FTLD-implicated motor and spindle neurons possess a virtually indistinguishable molecular identity. We implicate potential disease mechanisms affecting these cell types as well as non-neuronal drivers of pathogenesis. Finally, we show that neuron loss in cortical layer 5 tracks more closely with transcriptional identity rather than cellular morphology and extends beyond previously reported vulnerable cell types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Sebastian Pineda
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Hyeseung Lee
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Raleigh M Linville
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Francisco J Garcia
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kyriakitsa Galani
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | | | | | - Brent E Fitzwalter
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Luc J Pregent
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Michael DeTure
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Andre T S Hucke
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Melissa E Murray
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Myriam Heiman
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | | | - Manolis Kellis
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Funk AT, Hassan AAO, Waugh JL. In humans, insulo-striate structural connectivity is largely biased toward either striosome-like or matrix-like striatal compartments. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.07.588409. [PMID: 38645229 PMCID: PMC11030402 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.07.588409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The insula is an integral component of sensory, motor, limbic, and executive functions, and insular dysfunction is associated with numerous human neuropsychiatric disorders. Insular afferents project widely, but insulo-striate projections are especially numerous. The targets of these insulo-striate projections are organized into tissue compartments, the striosome and matrix. These striatal compartments have distinct embryologic origins, afferent and efferent connectivity, dopamine pharmacology, and susceptibility to injury. Striosome and matrix appear to occupy separate sets of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loops, so a bias in insulo-striate projections towards one compartment may also embed an insular subregion in distinct regulatory and functional networks. Compartment-specific mapping of insulo-striate structural connectivity is sparse; the insular subregions are largely unmapped for compartment-specific projections. In 100 healthy adults, we utilized probabilistic diffusion tractography to map and quantify structural connectivity between 19 structurally-defined insular subregions and each striatal compartment. Insulo-striate streamlines that reached striosome-like and matrix-like voxels were concentrated in distinct insular zones (striosome: rostro- and caudoventral; matrix: caudodorsal) and followed different paths to reach the striatum. Though tractography was generated independently in each hemisphere, the spatial distribution and relative bias of striosome-like and matrix-like streamlines were highly similar in the left and right insula. 16 insular subregions were significantly biased towards one compartment: seven toward striosome-like voxels and nine toward matrix-like voxels. Striosome-favoring bundles had significantly higher streamline density, especially from rostroventral insular subregions. The biases in insulo-striate structural connectivity we identified mirrored the compartment-specific biases identified in prior studies that utilized injected tract tracers, cytoarchitecture, or functional MRI. Segregating insulo-striate structural connectivity through either striosome or matrix may be an anatomic substrate for functional specialization among the insular subregions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- AT Funk
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
| | - AAO Hassan
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Texas at Dallas
| | - JL Waugh
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ohm DT, Xie SX, Capp N, Arezoumandan S, Cousins KAQ, Rascovsky K, Wolk DA, Van Deerlin VM, Lee EB, McMillan CT, Irwin DJ. Cytoarchitectonic gradients of laminar degeneration in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.05.588259. [PMID: 38644997 PMCID: PMC11030243 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.05.588259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a clinical syndrome primarily caused by either tau (bvFTD-tau) or TDP-43 (bvFTD-TDP) proteinopathies. We previously found lower cortical layers and dorsolateral regions accumulate greater tau than TDP-43 pathology; however, patterns of laminar neurodegeneration across diverse cytoarchitecture in bvFTD is understudied. We hypothesized that bvFTD-tau and bvFTD-TDP have distinct laminar distributions of pyramidal neurodegeneration along cortical gradients, a topologic order of cytoarchitectonic subregions based on increasing pyramidal density and laminar differentiation. Here, we tested this hypothesis in a frontal cortical gradient consisting of five cytoarchitectonic types (i.e., periallocortex, agranular mesocortex, dysgranular mesocortex, eulaminate-I isocortex, eulaminate-II isocortex) spanning anterior cingulate, paracingulate, orbitofrontal, and mid-frontal gyri in bvFTD-tau (n=27), bvFTD-TDP (n=47), and healthy controls (HC; n=32). We immunostained all tissue for total neurons (NeuN; neuronal-nuclear protein) and pyramidal neurons (SMI32; non-phosphorylated neurofilament) and digitally quantified NeuN-immunoreactivity (ir) and SMI32-ir in supragranular II-III, infragranular V-VI, and all I-VI layers in each cytoarchitectonic type. We used linear mixed-effects models adjusted for demographic and biologic variables to compare SMI32-ir between groups and examine relationships with the cortical gradient, long-range pathways, and clinical symptoms. We found regional and laminar distributions of SMI32-ir expected for HC, validating our measures within the cortical gradient framework. While SMI32-ir loss was not related to the cortical gradient in bvFTD-TDP, SMI32-ir progressively decreased along the cortical gradient of bvFTD-tau and included greater SMI32-ir loss in supragranular eulaminate-II isocortex in bvFTD-tau vs bvFTD-TDP ( p =0.039). In a structural model for long-range laminar connectivity between infragranular mesocortex and supragranular isocortex, we found a larger laminar ratio of mesocortex-to-isocortex SMI32-ir in bvFTD-tau vs bvFTD-TDP ( p =0.019), suggesting select long-projecting pathways may contribute to isocortical-predominant degeneration in bvFTD-tau. In cytoarchitectonic types with the highest NeuN-ir, we found lower SMI32-ir in bvFTD-tau vs bvFTD-TDP ( p =0.047), suggesting pyramidal neurodegeneration may occur earlier in bvFTD-tau. Lastly, we found that reduced SMI32-ir related to behavioral severity and frontal-mediated letter fluency, not temporal-mediated confrontation naming, demonstrating the clinical relevance and specificity of frontal pyramidal neurodegeneration to bvFTD-related symptoms. Our data suggest loss of neurofilament-rich pyramidal neurons is a clinically relevant feature of bvFTD that selectively worsens along a frontal cortical gradient in bvFTD-tau, not bvFTD-TDP. Therefore, tau-mediated degeneration may preferentially involve pyramidal-rich layers that connect more distant cytoarchitectonic types. Moreover, the hierarchical arrangement of cytoarchitecture along cortical gradients may be an important neuroanatomical framework for identifying which types of cells and pathways are differentially involved between proteinopathies.
Collapse
|
4
|
Zimmer TS, Orr AL, Orr AG. Astrocytes in selective vulnerability to neurodegenerative disease. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:289-302. [PMID: 38521710 PMCID: PMC11006581 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Selective vulnerability of specific brain regions and cell populations is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders. Mechanisms of selective vulnerability involve neuronal heterogeneity, functional specializations, and differential sensitivities to stressors and pathogenic factors. In this review we discuss the growing body of literature suggesting that, like neurons, astrocytes are heterogeneous and specialized, respond to and integrate diverse inputs, and induce selective effects on brain function. In disease, astrocytes undergo specific, context-dependent changes that promote different pathogenic trajectories and functional outcomes. We propose that astrocytes contribute to selective vulnerability through maladaptive transitions to context-divergent phenotypes that impair specific brain regions and functions. Further studies on the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in disease may provide new therapeutic approaches to enhance resilience against neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Till S Zimmer
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam L Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna G Orr
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Levy R. The prefrontal cortex: from monkey to man. Brain 2024; 147:794-815. [PMID: 37972282 PMCID: PMC10907097 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad389] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex is so important to human beings that, if deprived of it, our behaviour is reduced to action-reactions and automatisms, with no ability to make deliberate decisions. Why does the prefrontal cortex hold such importance in humans? In answer, this review draws on the proximity between humans and other primates, which enables us, through comparative anatomical-functional analysis, to understand the cognitive functions we have in common and specify those that distinguish humans from their closest cousins. First, a focus on the lateral region of the prefrontal cortex illustrates the existence of a continuum between rhesus monkeys (the most studied primates in neuroscience) and humans for most of the major cognitive functions in which this region of the brain plays a central role. This continuum involves the presence of elementary mental operations in the rhesus monkey (e.g. working memory or response inhibition) that are constitutive of 'macro-functions' such as planning, problem-solving and even language production. Second, the human prefrontal cortex has developed dramatically compared to that of other primates. This increase seems to concern the most anterior part (the frontopolar cortex). In humans, the development of the most anterior prefrontal cortex is associated with three major and interrelated cognitive changes: (i) a greater working memory capacity, allowing for greater integration of past experiences and prospective futures; (ii) a greater capacity to link discontinuous or distant data, whether temporal or semantic; and (iii) a greater capacity for abstraction, allowing humans to classify knowledge in different ways, to engage in analogical reasoning or to acquire abstract values that give rise to our beliefs and morals. Together, these new skills enable us, among other things, to develop highly sophisticated social interactions based on language, enabling us to conceive beliefs and moral judgements and to conceptualize, create and extend our vision of our environment beyond what we can physically grasp. Finally, a model of the transition of prefrontal functions between humans and non-human primates concludes this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Levy
- AP–HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Department of Neurology, Sorbonne Université, Institute of Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease, 75013 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1127, CNRS 7225, Paris Brain Institute- ICM, 75013 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sfera A, Andronescu L, Britt WG, Himsl K, Klein C, Rahman L, Kozlakidis Z. Receptor-Independent Therapies for Forensic Detainees with Schizophrenia-Dementia Comorbidity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15797. [PMID: 37958780 PMCID: PMC10647468 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115797] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Forensic institutions throughout the world house patients with severe psychiatric illness and history of criminal violations. Improved medical care, hygiene, psychiatric treatment, and nutrition led to an unmatched longevity in this population, which previously lived, on average, 15 to 20 years shorter than the public at large. On the other hand, longevity has contributed to increased prevalence of age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, which complicate clinical management, increasing healthcare expenditures. Forensic institutions, originally intended for the treatment of younger individuals, are ill-equipped for the growing number of older offenders. Moreover, as antipsychotic drugs became available in 1950s and 1960s, we are observing the first generation of forensic detainees who have aged on dopamine-blocking agents. Although the consequences of long-term treatment with these agents are unclear, schizophrenia-associated gray matter loss may contribute to the development of early dementia. Taken together, increased lifespan and the subsequent cognitive deficit observed in long-term forensic institutions raise questions and dilemmas unencountered by the previous generations of clinicians. These include: does the presence of neurocognitive dysfunction justify antipsychotic dose reduction or discontinuation despite a lifelong history of schizophrenia and violent behavior? Should neurolipidomic interventions become the standard of care in elderly individuals with lifelong schizophrenia and dementia? Can patients with schizophrenia and dementia meet the Dusky standard to stand trial? Should neurocognitive disorders in the elderly with lifelong schizophrenia be treated differently than age-related neurodegeneration? In this article, we hypothesize that gray matter loss is the core symptom of schizophrenia which leads to dementia. We hypothesize further that strategies to delay or stop gray matter depletion would not only improve the schizophrenia sustained recovery, but also avert the development of major neurocognitive disorders in people living with schizophrenia. Based on this hypothesis, we suggest utilization of both receptor-dependent and independent therapeutics for chronic psychosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adonis Sfera
- Paton State Hospital, 3102 Highland Ave, Patton, CA 92369, USA; (L.A.); (K.H.)
- School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, 11139 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Riverside 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Luminita Andronescu
- Paton State Hospital, 3102 Highland Ave, Patton, CA 92369, USA; (L.A.); (K.H.)
| | - William G. Britt
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA;
| | - Kiera Himsl
- Paton State Hospital, 3102 Highland Ave, Patton, CA 92369, USA; (L.A.); (K.H.)
| | - Carolina Klein
- California Department of State Hospitals, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA;
| | - Leah Rahman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1585 E 13th Ave, Eugene, OR 97403, USA;
| | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, 69366 Lyon Cedex, France;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Diaz-Torres S, Ogonowski N, García-Marín LM, Bonham LW, Duran-Aniotz C, Yokoyama JS, Rentería ME. Genetic overlap between cortical brain morphometry and frontotemporal dementia risk. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:7428-7435. [PMID: 36813468 PMCID: PMC10267623 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has a complex genetic etiology, where the precise mechanisms underlying the selective vulnerability of brain regions remain unknown. We leveraged summary-based data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and performed LD score regression to estimate pairwise genetic correlations between FTD risk and cortical brain imaging. Then, we isolated specific genomic loci with a shared etiology between FTD and brain structure. We also performed functional annotation, summary-data-based Mendelian randomization for eQTL using human peripheral blood and brain tissue data, and evaluated the gene expression in mice targeted brain regions to better understand the dynamics of the FTD candidate genes. Pairwise genetic correlation estimates between FTD and brain morphology measures were high but not statistically significant. We identified 5 brain regions with a strong genetic correlation (rg > 0.45) with FTD risk. Functional annotation identified 8 protein-coding genes. Building upon these findings, we show in a mouse model of FTD that cortical N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) expression decreases with age. Our results highlight the molecular and genetic overlap between brain morphology and higher risk for FTD, specifically for the right inferior parietal surface area and right medial orbitofrontal cortical thickness. In addition, our findings implicate NSF gene expression in the etiology of FTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Diaz-Torres
- Mental Health & Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalia Ogonowski
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis M García-Marín
- Mental Health & Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke W Bonham
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Claudia Duran-Aniotz
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jennifer S Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute of Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Miguel E Rentería
- Mental Health & Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
A subset of the neurodegenerative disease frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is caused by mutations in the progranulin (GRN) gene. In this issue of the JCI, Marsan and colleagues demonstrate disease-specific transcriptional profiles in multiple glial cell lineages - astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendroglia - that are highly conserved between patients with FTLD-GRN and the widely used Grn-/- mouse model. Additionally, the authors show that Grn-/- astrocytes fail to adequately maintain synapses in both mouse and human models. This study presents a compelling argument for a central role for glia in neurodegeneration and creates a rich resource for extending mechanistic insight into pathophysiology, identifying potential biomarkers, and developing therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sami J. Barmada
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Brasso C, Stanziano M, Bosco FM, Morese R, Valentini MC, Vercelli A, Rocca P. Alteration of the Functional Connectivity of the Cortical Areas Characterized by the Presence of Von Economo Neurons in Schizophrenia, a Pilot Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12041377. [PMID: 36835913 PMCID: PMC9962963 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12041377] [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: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Von Economo neurons (VENs) are rod, stick, or corkscrew cells mostly located in layer V of the frontoinsular and anterior cingulate cortices. VENs are projection neurons related to human-like social cognitive abilities. Post-mortem histological studies found VEN alterations in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SZ). This pilot study aimed to evaluate the role of VEN-containing areas in shaping patterns of resting-state brain activation in patients with SZ (n = 20) compared to healthy controls (HCs; n = 20). We performed a functional connectivity analysis seeded in the cortical areas with the highest density of VENs followed by fuzzy clustering. The alterations found in the SZ group were correlated with psychopathological, cognitive, and functioning variables. We found a frontotemporal network that was shared by four clusters overlapping with the salience, superior-frontal, orbitofrontal, and central executive networks. Differences between the HC and SZ groups emerged only in the salience network. The functional connectivity of the right anterior insula and ventral tegmental area within this network were negatively correlated with experiential negative symptoms and positively correlated with functioning. This study provides some evidence to show that in vivo, VEN-enriched cortical areas are associated with an altered resting-state brain activity in people with SZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Brasso
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Struttura Complessa di Psichiatria Universitaria, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino”, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-011-670-7720
| | - Mario Stanziano
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Marina Bosco
- Research Group on Inferential Processes in Social Interaction (GIPSI), Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Rosalba Morese
- Faculty of Communication Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Maria Consuelo Valentini
- Struttura Complessa di Neuroradiologia, Dipartimento Diagnostica per Immagini e Radiologia Interventistica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino”, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Paola Rocca
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Struttura Complessa di Psichiatria Universitaria, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino”, 10126 Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
López-Ojeda W, Hurley RA. Von Economo Neuron Involvement in Social Cognitive and Emotional Impairments in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 34:302-306. [PMID: 36239479 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20220136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo López-Ojeda
- Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and Research and Academic Affairs Service Line, W. G. Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salisbury, N.C. (López-Ojeda, Hurley); Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (López-Ojeda, Hurley) and Radiology (Hurley), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston (Hurley)
| | - Robin A Hurley
- Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and Research and Academic Affairs Service Line, W. G. Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salisbury, N.C. (López-Ojeda, Hurley); Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (López-Ojeda, Hurley) and Radiology (Hurley), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston (Hurley)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
González‐Acosta CA, Ortiz‐Muñoz D, Becerra‐Hernández LV, Casanova MF, Buriticá E. Von Economo neurons: Cellular specialization of human limbic cortices? J Anat 2022; 241:20-32. [PMID: 35178703 PMCID: PMC9178382 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Von Economo neurons (VENs) have been mentioned in the medical literature since the second half of the 19th century; however, it was not until the second decade of the 20th century that their cytomorphology was described in detail. To date, VENs have been found in limbic sectors of the frontal, temporal and insular lobes. In humans, their density seems to decrease in the caudo-rostral and ventro-dorsal direction; that is, from the anterior regions of the cingulate and insular cortices towards the frontal pole and the superior frontal gyrus. Several studies have provided similar descriptions of the shape of the VEN soma, but the size of the soma varies from one cortical region to another. There is consensus among different authors about the selective vulnerability of VENs in certain pathologies, in which a deterioration of the capacities involved in social behaviour is observed. In this review, we propose that the restriction of VENs towards the sectors linked to limbic information processing in Homo sapiens gives them a possible functional role in relation to the structures in which they are located. However, given the divergence in characteristics such as location, density, size and biochemical profile among VENs of different cortical sectors, the activities in which they participate could allow them to partake in a wide spectrum of neurological functions, including autonomic responses and executive functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Ortiz‐Muñoz
- Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de SaludUniversidad del ValleCaliColombia
| | | | - Manuel F. Casanova
- Center for Childhood NeurotherapeuticsUniversity of South Carolina School of Medicine GreenvilleGreenvilleSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Efraín Buriticá
- Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de SaludUniversidad del ValleCaliColombia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kamalian A, Khodadadifar T, Saberi A, Masoudi M, Camilleri JA, Eickhoff CR, Zarei M, Pasquini L, Laird AR, Fox PT, Eickhoff SB, Tahmasian M. Convergent regional brain abnormalities in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: A neuroimaging meta-analysis of 73 studies. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 14:e12318. [PMID: 35664889 PMCID: PMC9148620 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Numerous studies have reported brain alterations in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, they pointed to inconsistent findings. Methods We used a meta‐analytic approach to identify the convergent structural and functional brain abnormalities in bvFTD. Following current best‐practice neuroimaging meta‐analysis guidelines, we searched PubMed and Embase databases and performed reference tracking. Then, the coordinates of group comparisons between bvFTD and controls from 73 studies were extracted and tested for convergence using activation likelihood estimation. Results We identified convergent abnormalities in the anterior cingulate cortices, anterior insula, amygdala, paracingulate, striatum, and hippocampus. Task‐based and resting‐state functional connectivity pointed to the networks that are connected to the obtained consistent regions. Functional decoding analyses suggested associated dysfunction of emotional processing, interoception, reward processing, higher‐order cognitive functions, and olfactory and gustatory perceptions in bvFTD. Discussion Our findings highlighted the key role of the salience network and subcortical regions in the pathophysiology of bvFTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aida Kamalian
- School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Tina Khodadadifar
- School of Cognitive Sciences Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Amin Saberi
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Maryam Masoudi
- School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Julia A Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Claudia R Eickhoff
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Research Center Jülich Structural and Functional Organisation of the Brain (INM-1) Jülich Germany
| | - Mojtaba Zarei
- Institute of Medical Science and Technology Shahid Beheshti University Tehran Iran
| | - Lorenzo Pasquini
- Department of Neurology Memory and Aging Center University of California-San Francisco San Francisco California USA
| | - Angela R Laird
- Department of Physics Florida International University Miami Florida USA
| | - Peter T Fox
- Research Imaging Institute University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Texas USA.,South Texas Veterans Health Care System San Antonio Texas USA
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Masoud Tahmasian
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hasan R, Humphrey J, Bettencourt C, Newcombe J, Lashley T, Fratta P, Raj T. Transcriptomic analysis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology reveals cellular alterations across multiple brain regions. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:383-401. [PMID: 34961893 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02399-9/figures/4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders affecting the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Nuclear loss and cytoplasmic aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 represents the major FTLD pathology, known as FTLD-TDP. To date, there is no effective treatment for FTLD-TDP due to an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease development. Here we compared postmortem tissue RNA-seq transcriptomes from the frontal cortex, temporal cortex, and cerebellum between 28 controls and 30 FTLD-TDP patients to profile changes in cell-type composition, gene expression and transcript usage. We observed downregulation of neuronal markers in all three regions of the brain, accompanied by upregulation of microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, as well as endothelial cells and pericytes, suggesting shifts in both immune activation and within the vasculature. We validate our estimates of neuronal loss using neuropathological atrophy scores and show that neuronal loss in the cortex can be mainly attributed to excitatory neurons, and that increases in microglial and endothelial cell expression are highly correlated with neuronal loss. All our analyses identified a strong involvement of the cerebellum in the neurodegenerative process of FTLD-TDP. Altogether, our data provides a detailed landscape of gene expression alterations to help unravel relevant disease mechanisms in FTLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahat Hasan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Jia Newcombe
- NeuroResource, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Towfique Raj
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hasan R, Humphrey J, Bettencourt C, Newcombe J, Lashley T, Fratta P, Raj T. Transcriptomic analysis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology reveals cellular alterations across multiple brain regions. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:383-401. [PMID: 34961893 PMCID: PMC10725322 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02399-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders affecting the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Nuclear loss and cytoplasmic aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 represents the major FTLD pathology, known as FTLD-TDP. To date, there is no effective treatment for FTLD-TDP due to an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease development. Here we compared postmortem tissue RNA-seq transcriptomes from the frontal cortex, temporal cortex, and cerebellum between 28 controls and 30 FTLD-TDP patients to profile changes in cell-type composition, gene expression and transcript usage. We observed downregulation of neuronal markers in all three regions of the brain, accompanied by upregulation of microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, as well as endothelial cells and pericytes, suggesting shifts in both immune activation and within the vasculature. We validate our estimates of neuronal loss using neuropathological atrophy scores and show that neuronal loss in the cortex can be mainly attributed to excitatory neurons, and that increases in microglial and endothelial cell expression are highly correlated with neuronal loss. All our analyses identified a strong involvement of the cerebellum in the neurodegenerative process of FTLD-TDP. Altogether, our data provides a detailed landscape of gene expression alterations to help unravel relevant disease mechanisms in FTLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahat Hasan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Jia Newcombe
- NeuroResource, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Towfique Raj
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gami‐Patel P, Scarioni M, Bouwman FH, Boon BDC, Swieten JC, Rozemuller AJM, Smit AB, Pijnenburg YAL, Hoozemans JJM, Dijkstra AA. The severity of behavioural symptoms in FTD is linked to the loss of GABRQ‐expressing VENs and pyramidal neurons. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2022; 48:e12798. [PMID: 35152451 PMCID: PMC9306948 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Gami‐Patel
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Marta Scarioni
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical, location VUmc Centre Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Femke H. Bouwman
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical, location VUmc Centre Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Baayla D. C. Boon
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical, location VUmc Centre Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - John C. Swieten
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Erasmus MC Rotterdam The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke J. M. Rozemuller
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - August B. Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Centre for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience VU University Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Yolande A. L. Pijnenburg
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical, location VUmc Centre Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J. M. Hoozemans
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Anke A. Dijkstra
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Singleton EH, Pijnenburg YAL, Gami-Patel P, Boon BDC, Bouwman F, Papma JM, Seelaar H, Scheltens P, Grinberg LT, Spina S, Nana AL, Rabinovici GD, Seeley WW, Ossenkoppele R, Dijkstra AA. The behavioral variant of Alzheimer's disease does not show a selective loss of Von Economo and phylogenetically related neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:11. [PMID: 35057846 PMCID: PMC8772094 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00947-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neurobiological origins of the early and predominant behavioral changes seen in the behavioral variant of Alzheimer's disease (bvAD) remain unclear. A selective loss of Von Economo neurons (VENs) and phylogenetically related neurons have been observed in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and several psychiatric diseases. Here, we assessed whether these specific neuronal populations show a selective loss in bvAD. METHODS VENs and GABA receptor subunit theta (GABRQ)-immunoreactive pyramidal neurons of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were quantified in post-mortem tissue of patients with bvAD (n = 9) and compared to typical AD (tAD, n = 6), bvFTD due to frontotemporal lobar degeneration based on TDP-43 pathology (FTLD, n = 18) and controls (n = 13) using ANCOVAs adjusted for age and Bonferroni corrected. In addition, ratios of VENs and GABRQ-immunoreactive (GABRQ-ir) pyramidal neurons over all Layer 5 neurons were compared between groups to correct for overall Layer 5 neuronal loss. RESULTS The number of VENs or GABRQ-ir neurons did not differ significantly between bvAD (VENs: 26.0 ± 15.3, GABRQ-ir pyramidal: 260.4 ± 87.1) and tAD (VENs: 32.0 ± 18.1, p = 1.00, GABRQ-ir pyramidal: 349.8 ± 109.6, p = 0.38) and controls (VENs: 33.5 ± 20.3, p = 1.00, GABRQ-ir pyramidal: 339.4 ± 95.9, p = 0.37). Compared to bvFTD, patients with bvAD showed significantly more GABRQ-ir pyramidal neurons (bvFTD: 140.5 ± 82.658, p = 0.01) and no significant differences in number of VENs (bvFTD: 10.9 ± 13.8, p = 0.13). Results were similar when assessing the number of VENs and GABRQ-ir relative to all neurons of Layer 5. DISCUSSION VENs and phylogenetically related neurons did not show a selective loss in the ACC in patients with bvAD. Our results suggest that, unlike in bvFTD, the clinical presentation in bvAD may not be related to the loss of VENs and related neurons in the ACC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E. H. Singleton
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Y. A. L. Pijnenburg
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P. Gami-Patel
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - B. D. C. Boon
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - F. Bouwman
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J. M. Papma
- grid.5645.2000000040459992XNeurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ,grid.5645.2000000040459992XRadiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H. Seelaar
- grid.5645.2000000040459992XNeurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P. Scheltens
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - L. T. Grinberg
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - S. Spina
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - A. L. Nana
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - G. D. Rabinovici
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - W. W. Seeley
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - R. Ossenkoppele
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands ,grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - A. A. Dijkstra
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Harper L, Lindberg O, Bocchetta M, Todd EG, Strandberg O, van Westen D, Stomrud E, Landqvist Waldö M, Wahlund LO, Hansson O, Rohrer JD, Santillo A. Prenatal Gyrification Pattern Affects Age at Onset in Frontotemporal Dementia. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:3937-3944. [PMID: 35034126 PMCID: PMC9476616 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The paracingulate sulcus is a tertiary sulcus formed during the third trimester. In healthy individuals paracingulate sulcation is more prevalent in the left hemisphere. The anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri are focal points of neurodegeneration in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). This study aims to determine the prevalence and impact of paracingulate sulcation in bvFTD. Structural magnetic resonance images of individuals with bvFTD (n = 105, mean age 66.9 years), Alzheimer's disease (n = 92, 73.3), and healthy controls (n = 110, 62.4) were evaluated using standard protocol for hemispheric paracingulate sulcal presence. No difference in left hemisphere paracingulate sulcal frequency was observed between groups; 0.72, 0.79, and 0.70, respectively, in the bvFTD, Alzheimer's disease, and healthy control groups, (P = 0.3). A significant impact of right (but not left) hemispheric paracingulate sulcation on age at disease onset was identified in bvFTD (mean 60.4 years where absent vs. 63.8 where present [P = 0.04, Cohen's d = 0.42]). This relationship was not observed in Alzheimer's disease. These findings demonstrate a relationship between prenatal neuronal development and the expression of a neurodegenerative disease providing a gross morphological example of brain reserve.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke Harper
- Address correspondence to Luke Harper, Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, Lund 22100, Sweden.
| | - Olof Lindberg
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 14183, Sweden
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Emily G Todd
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Olof Strandberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Danielle van Westen
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund 21185, Sweden
- Image and Function, Skåne University Hospital, Lund 22185, Sweden
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö 20502, Sweden
| | - Maria Landqvist Waldö
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Lars-Olof Wahlund
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 14183, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö 20502, Sweden
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Alexander Santillo
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Banovac I, Sedmak D, Judaš M, Petanjek Z. Von Economo Neurons - Primate-Specific or Commonplace in the Mammalian Brain? Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:714611. [PMID: 34539353 PMCID: PMC8440978 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.714611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The pioneering work by von Economo in 1925 on the cytoarchitectonics of the cerebral cortex revealed a specialized and unique cell type in the adult human fronto-insular (FI) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In modern studies, these neurons are termed von Economo neurons (VENs). In his work, von Economo described them as stick, rod or corkscrew cells because of their extremely elongated and relatively thin cell body clearly distinguishable from common oval or spindle-shaped infragranular principal neurons. Before von Economo, in 1899 Cajal depicted the unique somato-dendritic morphology of such cells with extremely elongated soma in the FI. However, although VENs are increasingly investigated, Cajal’s observation is still mainly being neglected. On Golgi staining in humans, VENs have a thick and long basal trunk with horizontally oriented terminal branching (basilar skirt) from where the axon arises. They are clearly distinguishable from a spectrum of modified pyramidal neurons found in infragranular layers, including oval or spindle-shaped principal neurons. Spindle-shaped cells with highly elongated cell body were also observed in the ACC of great apes, but despite similarities in soma shape, their dendritic and axonal morphology has still not been described in sufficient detail. Studies identifying VENs in non-human species are predominantly done on Nissl or anti-NeuN staining. In most of these studies, the dendritic and axonal morphology of the analyzed cells was not demonstrated and many of the cells found on Nissl or anti-NeuN staining had a cell body shape characteristic for common oval or spindle-shaped cells. Here we present an extensive literature overview on VENs, which demonstrates that human VENs are specialized elongated principal cells with unique somato-dendritic morphology found abundantly in the FI and ACC of the human brain. More research is needed to properly evaluate the presence of such specialized cells in other primates and non-primate species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Banovac
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Institute for Brain Research and Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dora Sedmak
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Institute for Brain Research and Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Miloš Judaš
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research and Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zdravko Petanjek
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Institute for Brain Research and Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Aladesuyi Arogundade O, Nguyen S, Leung R, Wainio D, Rodriguez M, Ravits J. Nucleolar stress in C9orf72 and sporadic ALS spinal motor neurons precedes TDP-43 mislocalization. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:26. [PMID: 33588953 PMCID: PMC7885352 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01125-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleolar stress has been implicated in the pathology and disease pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) from repeat expansions of GGGGCC in C9orf72 (C9-ALS/FTLD) but not in sporadic ALS (SALS). Previously we reported that antisense RNA transcripts are unique in C9-ALS because of their nucleolar localization in spinal motor neurons and correlation with TDP-43 mislocalization, the hallmark proteinopathy of ALS and FTLD. Here we report our further studies of 11 SALS, 11 C9-ALS and 11 control spinal cords. We find that nucleolar stress manifests specifically as shrinkage in nucleoli of C9-ALS spinal motor neurons. Nucleolar size reduction is greatest in similarly sized alpha motor neurons from C9-ALS cases and results are not skewed by the number of surviving neurons from each ALS spinal cord. Surprisingly, nucleolar shrinkage occurs before main pathological hallmarks-TDP-43 mislocalization or antisense RNA foci-appear and this suggest that nucleolar stress can precede pathology in C9-ALS, findings previously identified in C9-FTLD using sense RNA foci and dipeptide repeat proteins as pathological markers. Importantly, these observations are also seen in SALS motor neurons and thus nucleolar stress appears to be a significant and probably upstream problem in sporadic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Nguyen
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ringo Leung
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - John Ravits
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Dijkstra AA, Gami-Patel P, Rozemuller AJM, Bugiani M, Pijnenburg YAL, Smit GAB, Dols A, Hoozemans JJM. Reduction of GABA subunit theta-containing cortical neurons in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2021; 228:611-613. [PMID: 33243715 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anke A Dijkstra
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Priya Gami-Patel
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annemieke J M Rozemuller
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yolande A L Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Guus A B Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annemiek Dols
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Old Age Psychiatry, GGZinGeest and Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amstelveenseweg 589, 1081 JC Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J M Hoozemans
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Castelnovo V, Canu E, Calderaro D, Riva N, Poletti B, Basaia S, Solca F, Silani V, Filippi M, Agosta F. Progression of brain functional connectivity and frontal cognitive dysfunction in ALS. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 28:102509. [PMID: 33395998 PMCID: PMC7708866 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the progression of resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) changes in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their relationship with frontal cognitive alterations. METHODS This is a multicentre, observational and longitudinal study. At baseline and after six months, 25 ALS patients underwent 3D T1-weighted MRI, resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), and the computerized Test of Attentional Performance (TAP). Using independent component analysis, rs-FC changes of brain networks involving connections to frontal lobes and their relationship with baseline cognitive scores and cognitive changes over time were assessed. With a seed-based approach, rs-FC longitudinal changes of the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) were also explored. RESULTS After six months, ALS patients showed an increased rs-FC of the left anterior cingulate, left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and left superior frontal gyrus within the frontostriatal network, and of the left MFG, left supramarginal gyrus and right angular gyrus within the left frontoparietal network. Within the frontostriatal network, a worse baseline performance at TAP divided attention task was associated with an increased rs-FC over time in the left MFG and a worse baseline performance at the category fluency index was related with increased rs-FC over time in the left frontal superior gyrus. After six months, the seed-based rs-FC analysis of the MFG with the whole brain showed decreased rs-FC of the right MFG with frontoparietal regions in patients compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Rs-FC changes in ALS patients progressed over time within the frontostriatal and the frontoparietal networks and are related to frontal-executive dysfunction. The MFG seems a potential core region in the framework of a frontoparietal functional breakdown, which is typical of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. These findings offer new potential markers for monitoring extra-motor progression in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Castelnovo
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Canu
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Calderaro
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Basaia
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurophysiology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Tan RH, Yang Y, McCann H, Shepherd C, Halliday GM. Von Economo Neurons in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia with Underlying Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 69:963-967. [PMID: 31104018 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180900] [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: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The selective loss of von Economo neurons has been linked to the behavioral deficits in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) but whether these neurons are affected in bvFTD patients with underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) has yet to be established. The present study assesses the von Economo neurons in pathological AD cases clinically diagnosed with either AD or bvFTD. Our results demonstrate no significant loss of von Economo neurons in all pathological AD cases, irrespective of clinical diagnosis or co-existing Lewy body pathology. These results suggest that the behavioral deficits in patients with clinical bvFTD and underlying pathological AD are not driven by the loss of von Economo neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H Tan
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, and Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yue Yang
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Australia
| | - Heather McCann
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, and Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Claire Shepherd
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, and Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, and Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Banovac I, Sedmak D, Džaja D, Jalšovec D, Jovanov Milošević N, Rašin MR, Petanjek Z. Somato-dendritic morphology and axon origin site specify von Economo neurons as a subclass of modified pyramidal neurons in the human anterior cingulate cortex. J Anat 2020; 235:651-669. [PMID: 31435943 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Von Economo neurons (VENs) are modified pyramidal neurons characterized by an extremely elongated rod-shaped soma. They are abundant in layer V of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and fronto-insular cortex (FI) of the human brain, and have long been described as a human-specific neuron type. Recently, VENs have been reported in the ACC of apes and the FI of macaque monkeys. The first description of the somato-dendritic morphology of VENs in the FI by Cajal in 1899 (Textura del Sistema Nervioso del Hombre y de los Vertebrados, Tomo II. Madrid: Nicolas Moya) strongly suggested that they were a unique neuron subtype with specific morphological features. It is surprising that a clarification of this extremely important observation has not yet been attempted, especially as possible misidentification of other oval or fusiform cells as VENs has become relevant in many recently published studies. Here, we analyzed sections of Brodmann area 24 (ACC) stained with rapid Golgi and Golgi-Cox in five adult human specimens, and confirmed Cajal's observations. In addition, we established a comprehensive morphological description of VENs. VENs have a distinct somato-dendritic morphology that allows their clear distinction from other modified pyramidal neurons. We established that VENs have a perpendicularly oriented, stick-shaped core part consisting of the cell body and two thick extensions - an apical and basal stem. The perpendicular length of the core part was 150-250 μm and the thickness was 10-21 μm. The core part was characterized by a lack of clear demarcation between the cell body and the two extensions. Numerous thin, spiny and horizontally oriented side dendrites arose from the cell body. The basal extension of the core part typically ended by giving numerous smaller dendrites with a brush-like branching pattern. The apical extension had a topology typical for apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons. The dendrites arising from the core part had a high dendritic spine density. The most distinct feature of VENs was the distant origin site of the axon, which arose from the ending of the basal extension, often having a common origin with a dendrite. Quantitative analysis found that VENs could be divided into two groups based on total dendritic length - small VENs with a peak total dendritic length of 1500-2500 μm and large VENs with a peak total dendritic length of 5000-6000 μm. Comparative morphological analysis of VENs and other oval and fusiform modified pyramidal neurons showed that on Nissl sections small VENs might be difficult to identify, and that oval and fusiform neurons could be misidentified as VENs. Our analysis of Golgi slides of Brodmann area 9 from a total of 32 adult human subjects revealed only one cell resembling VEN morphology. Thus, our data show that the numerous recent reports on the presence of VENs in non-primates in other layers and regions of the cortex need further confirmation by showing the dendritic and axonal morphology of these cells. In conclusion, our study provides a foundation for further comprehensive morphological and functional studies on VENs between different species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Banovac
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dora Sedmak
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Domagoj Džaja
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dubravko Jalšovec
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nataša Jovanov Milošević
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mladen Roko Rašin
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Zdravko Petanjek
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Pasquini L, Nana AL, Toller G, Brown JA, Deng J, Staffaroni A, Kim EJ, Hwang JHL, Li L, Park Y, Gaus SE, Allen I, Sturm VE, Spina S, Grinberg LT, Rankin KP, Kramer JH, Rosen HJ, Miller BL, Seeley WW. Salience Network Atrophy Links Neuron Type-Specific Pathobiology to Loss of Empathy in Frontotemporal Dementia. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:5387-5399. [PMID: 32500143 PMCID: PMC7566683 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Each neurodegenerative syndrome reflects a stereotyped pattern of cellular, regional, and large-scale brain network degeneration. In behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), a disorder of social-emotional function, von Economo neurons (VENs), and fork cells are among the initial neuronal targets. These large layer 5 projection neurons are concentrated in the anterior cingulate and frontoinsular (FI) cortices, regions that anchor the salience network, a large-scale system linked to social-emotional function. Here, we studied patients with bvFTD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or both, given that these syndromes share common pathobiological and genetic factors. Our goal was to determine how neuron type-specific TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) pathobiology relates to atrophy in specific brain structures and to loss of emotional empathy, a cardinal feature of bvFTD. We combined questionnaire-based empathy assessments, in vivo structural MR imaging, and quantitative histopathological data from 16 patients across the bvFTD/ALS spectrum. We show that TDP-43 pathobiology within right FI VENs and fork cells is associated with salience network atrophy spanning insular, medial frontal, and thalamic regions. Gray matter degeneration within these structures mediated loss of emotional empathy, suggesting a chain of influence linking the cellular, regional/network, and behavioral levels in producing signature bvFTD clinical features.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pasquini
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Alissa L Nana
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Gianina Toller
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Jesse A Brown
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Jersey Deng
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Adam Staffaroni
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Eun-Joo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Ji-Hye L Hwang
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Libo Li
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Qiqihar Medical University, 333 Bukui N St, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Youngsoon Park
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Stephanie E Gaus
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Isabel Allen
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Virginia E Sturm
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Lea T Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Katherine P Rankin
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Joel H Kramer
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Howard J Rosen
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
André N, Audiffren M, Baumeister RF. An Integrative Model of Effortful Control. Front Syst Neurosci 2019; 13:79. [PMID: 31920573 PMCID: PMC6933500 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2019.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This article presents an integrative model of effortful control, a resource-limited top-down control mechanism involved in mental tasks and physical exercises. Based on recent findings in the fields of neuroscience, social psychology and cognitive psychology, this model posits the intrinsic costs related to a weakening of the connectivity of neural networks underpinning effortful control as the main cause of mental fatigue in long and high-demanding tasks. In this framework, effort reflects three different inter-related aspects of the same construct. First, effort is a mechanism comprising a limited number of interconnected processing units that integrate information regarding the task constraints and subject’s state. Second, effort is the main output of this mechanism, namely, the effort signal that modulates neuronal activity in brain regions involved in the current task to select pertinent information. Third, effort is a feeling that emerges in awareness during effortful tasks and reflects the costs associated with goal-directed behavior. Finally, the model opens new avenues for research investigating effortful control at the behavioral and neurophysiological levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie André
- Research Centre on Cognition and Learning, UMR CNRS 7295, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Michel Audiffren
- Research Centre on Cognition and Learning, UMR CNRS 7295, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Roy F Baumeister
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
The Salience Network: A Neural System for Perceiving and Responding to Homeostatic Demands. J Neurosci 2019; 39:9878-9882. [PMID: 31676604 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1138-17.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 353] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The term "salience network" refers to a suite of brain regions whose cortical hubs are the anterior cingulate and ventral anterior insular (i.e., frontoinsular) cortices. This network, which also includes nodes in the amygdala, hypothalamus, ventral striatum, thalamus, and specific brainstem nuclei, coactivates in response to diverse experimental tasks and conditions, suggesting a domain-general function. In the 12 years since its initial description, the salience network has been extensively studied, using diverse methods, concepts, and mammalian species, including healthy and diseased humans across the lifespan. Despite this large and growing body of research, the essential functions of the salience network remain uncertain. In this paper, which makes no attempt to comprehensively review this literature, I describe the circumstances surrounding the initial discovery, conceptualization, and naming of the salience network, highlighting aspects that may be unfamiliar to many readers. I then discuss some of the key advances provided by subsequent research and conclude by posing a few of the questions that remain to be explored.
Collapse
|
27
|
Lin LC, Nana AL, Hepker M, Hwang JHL, Gaus SE, Spina S, Cosme CG, Gan L, Grinberg LT, Geschwind DH, Coppola G, Rosen HJ, Miller BL, Seeley WW. Preferential tau aggregation in von Economo neurons and fork cells in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with specific MAPT variants. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:159. [PMID: 31640778 PMCID: PMC6805408 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0809-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau aggregation is a hallmark feature in a subset of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Early and selective loss of von Economo neurons (VENs) and fork cells within the frontoinsular (FI) and anterior cingulate cortices (ACC) is observed in patients with sporadic behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) due to frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), including FTLD with tau inclusions (FTLD-tau). Recently, we further showed that these specialized neurons show preferential aggregation of TDP-43 in FTLD-TDP. Whether VENs and fork cells are prone to tau accumulation in FTLD-tau remains unclear, and no previous studies of these neurons have focused on patients with pathogenic variants in the gene encoding microtubule-associated protein tau (FTLD-tau/MAPT). Here, we examined regional profiles of tau aggregation and neurodegeneration in 40 brain regions in 8 patients with FTLD-tau/MAPT and 7 with Pick's disease (PiD), a sporadic form of FTLD-tau that often presents with bvFTD. We further qualitatively assessed the cellular patterns of frontoinsular tau aggregation in FTLD-tau/MAPT using antibodies specific for tau hyperphosphorylation, acetylation, or conformational change. ACC and mid-insula were among the regions most affected by neurodegeneration and tau aggregation in FTLD-tau/MAPT and PiD. In these two forms of FTLD-tau, severity of regional neurodegeneration and tau protein aggregation were highly correlated across regions. In FTLD-tau/MAPT, VENs and fork cells showed disproportionate tau protein aggregation in patients with V337 M, A152T, and IVS10 + 16 variants, but not in patients with the P301L variant. As seen in FTLD-TDP, our data suggest that VENs and fork cells represent preferentially vulnerable neuron types in most, but not all of the MAPT variants we studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Chun Lin
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Alissa L. Nana
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Mackenzie Hepker
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Ji-Hye Lee Hwang
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Stephanie E. Gaus
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Celica G. Cosme
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Li Gan
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Diseases, University of California, 1650 Owens St, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Daniel H. Geschwind
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Howard J. Rosen
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - William W. Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cobos SN, Bennett SA, Torrente MP. The impact of histone post-translational modifications in neurodegenerative diseases. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1865:1982-1991. [PMID: 30352259 PMCID: PMC6475498 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Every year, neurodegenerative disorders take more than 5000 lives in the US alone. Cures have not yet been found for many of the multitude of neuropathies. The majority of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) cases have no known genetic basis. Thus, it is evident that contemporary genetic approaches have failed to explain the etiology or etiologies of ALS/FTD and PD. Recent investigations have explored the potential role of epigenetic mechanisms in disease development. Epigenetics comprises heritable changes in gene utilization that are not derived from changes in the genome. A main epigenetic mechanism involves the post-translational modification of histones. Increased knowledge of the epigenomic landscape of neurodegenerative diseases would not only further our understanding of the disease pathologies, but also lead to the development of treatments able to halt their progress. Here, we review recent advances on the association of histone post-translational modifications with ALS, FTD, PD and several ataxias.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha N Cobos
- Chemistry Department of Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States; Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Seth A Bennett
- Chemistry Department of Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Mariana P Torrente
- Chemistry Department of Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States; Ph.D. Programs in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York 10016, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gami-Patel P, van Dijken I, van Swieten JC, Pijnenburg YAL, Rozemuller AJM, Hoozemans JJM, Dijkstra AA. Von Economo neurons are part of a larger neuronal population that are selectively vulnerable in C9orf72 frontotemporal dementia. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2019; 45:671-680. [PMID: 31066065 PMCID: PMC6915913 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia with a C9orf72 expansion (C9-bvFTD) is characterised by early changes in social-emotional cognition that are linked to the loss of von Economo neurons (VENs). Together with a subset of neighbouring pyramidal neurons, VENs express the GABA receptor subunit theta (GABRQ). It is not known if the selective vulnerability of VENs in C9-bvFTD also includes this GABRQ-expressing population. METHODS We quantified VENs and GABRQ immunopositive neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in C9-bvFTD (n = 16), controls (n = 12) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 7). Second, we assessed VENs and GABRQ-expressing populations in relation to the clinicopathological profiles. RESULTS We found the number of VENs and GABRQ-expressing neurons and their ratio over the total layer 5 neuronal population was lower in C9-bvFTD compared to control and AD. C9-bvFTD donors with underlying TDP43 type A pathology in the ACC showed the highest loss of GABRQ-expressing neurons. C9-bvFTD donors that did not present with motor neuron disease (MND) symptoms in the first half of their disease course showed a prominent loss of GABRQ-expressing neurons compared to controls. C9-bvFTD donors with no symptoms of psychosis showed a higher loss compared to controls. Across all donors, the number of VENs correlated strongly with the number of GABRQ-expressing neurons. CONCLUSION We show that VENs, together with GABRQ-expressing neurons, are selectively vulnerable in C9-bvFTD but are both spared in AD. This suggests they are related and that this GABRQ-expressing population of VENs and pyramidal neurons, is a key modulator of social-emotional functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Gami-Patel
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I van Dijken
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J C van Swieten
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Y A L Pijnenburg
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | -
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A J M Rozemuller
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J J M Hoozemans
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A A Dijkstra
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Insular networks and intercognition in the wild. Cortex 2019; 115:341-344. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2019.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
|
31
|
Vatsavayai SC, Nana AL, Yokoyama JS, Seeley WW. C9orf72-FTD/ALS pathogenesis: evidence from human neuropathological studies. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:1-26. [PMID: 30368547 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-1921-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
What are the most important and treatable pathogenic mechanisms in C9orf72-FTD/ALS? Model-based efforts to address this question are forging ahead at a blistering pace, often with conflicting results. But what does the human neuropathological literature reveal? Here, we provide a critical review of the human studies to date, seeking to highlight key gaps or uncertainties in our knowledge. First, we engage the C9orf72-specific mechanisms, including C9orf72 haploinsufficiency, repeat RNA foci, and dipeptide repeat protein inclusions. We then turn to some of the most prominent C9orf72-associated features, such as TDP-43 loss-of-function, TDP-43 aggregation, and nuclear transport defects. Finally, we review potential disease-modifying epigenetic and genetic factors and the natural history of the disease across the lifespan. Throughout, we emphasize the importance of anatomical precision when studying how candidate mechanisms relate to neuronal, regional, and behavioral findings. We further highlight methodological approaches that may help address lingering knowledge gaps and uncertainties, as well as other logical next steps for the field. We conclude that anatomically oriented human neuropathological studies have a critical role to play in guiding this fast-moving field toward effective new therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarat C Vatsavayai
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Alissa L Nana
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jennifer S Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, Box 1207, San Francisco, CA, 94143-1207, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Nana AL, Sidhu M, Gaus SE, Hwang JHL, Li L, Park Y, Kim EJ, Pasquini L, Allen IE, Rankin KP, Toller G, Kramer JH, Geschwind DH, Coppola G, Huang EJ, Grinberg LT, Miller BL, Seeley WW. Neurons selectively targeted in frontotemporal dementia reveal early stage TDP-43 pathobiology. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:27-46. [PMID: 30511086 PMCID: PMC6339592 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-1942-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregation is the most common pathological hallmark in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and characterizes nearly all patients with motor neuron disease (MND). The earliest stages of TDP-43 pathobiology are not well-characterized, and whether neurodegeneration results from TDP-43 loss-of-function or aggregation remains unclear. In the behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD), patients undergo selective dropout of von Economo neurons (VENs) and fork cells within the frontoinsular (FI) and anterior cingulate cortices. Here, we examined TDP-43 pathobiology within these vulnerable neurons in the FI across a clinical spectrum including 17 patients with sporadic bvFTD, MND, or both. In an exploratory analysis based on our initial observations, we further assessed ten patients with C9orf72-associated bvFTD/MND. VENs and fork cells showed early, disproportionate TDP-43 aggregation that correlated with anatomical and clinical severity, including loss of emotional empathy. The presence of a TDP-43 inclusion was associated with striking nuclear and somatodendritic atrophy. An intriguing minority of neurons lacked detectable nuclear TDP-43 despite the apparent absence of a cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusion. These cells showed neuronal atrophy comparable to inclusion-bearing neurons, suggesting that the loss of nuclear TDP-43 function promotes neurodegeneration, even when TDP-43 aggregation is inconspicuous or absent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alissa L Nana
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Manu Sidhu
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie E Gaus
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ji-Hye L Hwang
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Libo Li
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Youngsoon Park
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Eun-Joo Kim
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lorenzo Pasquini
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Isabel E Allen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katherine P Rankin
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gianina Toller
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joel H Kramer
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Neurogenetics Program, Department of Neurology and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eric J Huang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lea T Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
González-Acosta CA, Escobar MI, Casanova MF, Pimienta HJ, Buriticá E. Von Economo Neurons in the Human Medial Frontopolar Cortex. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:64. [PMID: 30127726 PMCID: PMC6087737 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The von Economo neurons (VEN) are characterized by a large soma, spindle-like soma, with little dendritic arborization at both, the basal and apical poles. In humans, VENs have been described in the entorhinal cortex, the hippocampal formation, the anterior cingulate cortex, the rostral portion of the insula and the dorsomedial Brodmann's area 9 (BA9). These cortical regions have been associated with cognitive functions such as social interactions, intuition and emotional processing. Previous studies that searched for the presence of these cells in the lateral frontal poles yielded negative results. The presence of VENs in other cortical areas on the medial surface of the human prefrontal cortex which share both a common functional network and similar laminar organization, led us to examine its presence in the medial portion of the frontal pole. In the present study, we used tissue samples from five postmortem subjects taken from the polar portion of BA10, on the medial surface of both hemispheres. We found VENs in the human medial BA10, although they are very scarce and dispersed. We also observed crests and walls of the gyrus to quantitatively assess: (A) interhemispheric asymmetries, (B) the VENs/pyramidal ratio, (C) the area of the soma of VENs and (D) the difference in soma area between VENs and pyramidal and fusiform cells. We found that VENs are at least seven times more abundant on the right hemisphere and at least 2.5 times more abundant in the crest than in the walls of the gyrus. The soma size of VENs in the medial frontopolar cortex is larger than that of pyramidal and fusiform cells of layer VI, and their size is larger in the walls than in the crests. Our finding might be a contribution to the understanding of the role of these neurons in the functional networks in which all the areas in which they have been found are linked. However, the particularities of VENs in the frontal pole, as their size and quantity, may also lead us to interpret the findings in the light of other positions such as van Essen's theory of tension-based brain morphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Martha Isabel Escobar
- Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Manuel Fernando Casanova
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC, United States
| | - Hernán J Pimienta
- Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Efraín Buriticá
- Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Armon C. From Snow to Hill to ALS: An epidemiological odyssey in search of ALS causation. J Neurol Sci 2018; 391:134-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
35
|
Li R, Zhang S, Yin S, Ren W, He R, Li J. The fronto-insular cortex causally mediates the default-mode and central-executive networks to contribute to individual cognitive performance in healthy elderly. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:4302-4311. [PMID: 29974584 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The triple network model that consists of the default-mode network (DMN), central-executive network (CEN), and salience network (SN) has been suggested as a powerful paradigm for investigation of network mechanisms underlying various cognitive functions and brain disorders. A crucial hypothesis in this model is that the fronto-insular cortex (FIC) in the SN plays centrally in mediating interactions between the networks. Using a machine learning approach based on independent component analysis and Bayesian network (BN), this study characterizes the directed connectivity architecture of the triple network and examines the role of FIC in connectivity of the model. Data-driven exploration shows that the FIC initiates influential connections to all other regions to globally control the functional dynamics of the triple network. Moreover, stronger BN connectivity between the FIC and regions of the DMN and the CEN, as well as the increased outflow connections from the FIC are found to predict individual performance in memory and executive tasks. In addition, the posterior cingulate cortex in the DMN was also confirmed as an inflow hub that integrates information converging from other areas. Collectively, the results highlight the central role of FIC in mediating the activity of large-scale networks, which is crucial for individual cognitive function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Li
- Center on Aging Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Shufei Yin
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weicong Ren
- Center on Aging Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Education, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Rongqiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Li
- Center on Aging Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Center, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Yang Y, Halliday GM, Hodges JR, Tan RH. von Economo Neuron Density and Thalamus Volumes in Behavioral Deficits in Frontotemporal Dementia Cases with and without a C9ORF72 Repeat Expansion. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 58:701-709. [PMID: 28482638 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The early and selective loss of von Economo neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex has been linked to behavioral deficits in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Importantly, whether these neurons are also targeted in patients with the C9ORF72 repeat expansion has yet to be established. This is of particular interest given the recent evidence highlighting the thalamus rather than anterior cingulate cortex as a region of significant degeneration in patients with the C9ORF72 repeat expansion. OBJECTIVE To assess the von Economo neuron density and thalamus volumes in behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) cases with the C9ORF72 repeat expansion, sporadic bvFTD, sporadic ALS, and controls. METHODS Volumetric and quantitative cell counting methods were employed to assess the von Economo neuron density and thalamus volumes in 37 pathologically-confirmed cases comprised of patients with bvFTD (n = 13) cases with the C9ORF72 repeat expansion (62% with psychosis), sporadic bvFTD (n = 8), sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 7) and controls (n = 9). RESULTS von Economo neuron density was significantly reduced in sporadic bvFTD cases only. Thalamus degeneration was identified only in bvFTD cases with the C9ORF72 repeat expansion, and to a similar extent in cases with and without psychosis. No significant difference in von Economo neuron density or thalamus degeneration was seen between bvFTD cases with or without the C9ORF72 repeat expansion. CONCLUSION The present histological findings converge with neuroimaging results to corroborate the anterior cingulate cortex as a core region involved in sporadic bvFTD, and the thalamus as a major region targeted in patients with the C9ORF72 expansion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yang
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rachel H Tan
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Gefen T, Papastefan ST, Rezvanian A, Bigio EH, Weintraub S, Rogalski E, Mesulam MM, Geula C. Von Economo neurons of the anterior cingulate across the lifespan and in Alzheimer's disease. Cortex 2018; 99:69-77. [PMID: 29175073 PMCID: PMC5801202 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Throughout the human aging lifespan, neurons acquire an unusually high burden of wear and tear; this is likely why age is considered the strongest risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Von Economo neurons (VENs) are rare, spindle-shaped cells mostly populated in anterior cingulate cortex. In a prior study, "SuperAgers" (individuals older than 80 years of age with outstanding memory ability) showed higher VEN densities compared to elderly controls with average memory, and those with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI). The intrinsic vulnerabilities of these neurons are unclear, and their contribution to neurodegeneration is unknown. The current study investigated the influence of age and the severity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) on VEN density. METHODS VEN and total neuronal densities were quantitated using unbiased stereological methods in the anterior cingulate cortex of postmortem samples from the following subject groups: younger controls (age 20-60), SuperAgers, cognitively average elderly controls (age 65+), individuals diagnosed antemortem with aMCI, and individuals diagnosed antemortem with dementia of AD (N = 5, per group). RESULTS The AD group showed significantly lower VEN density compared to younger and older controls (p < .05), but not compared to the aMCI group, and VENs bearing neurofibrillary tangles were discovered in AD cases. The aMCI group showed lower VEN density than elderly controls, but this was not significant. There was a significant negative correlation between VEN density and Braak stages of AD (p < .001). Consistent with prior findings, SuperAgers showed highest mean VEN density, even when compared to younger cases. CONCLUSIONS VENs in human anterior cingulate cortex are vulnerable to AD pathology, particularly in later stages of pathogenesis. Their densities do not change throughout aging in individuals with average cognition, and they are more numerous in SuperAgers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Gefen
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Steven T Papastefan
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Aras Rezvanian
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Eileen H Bigio
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Sandra Weintraub
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Emily Rogalski
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - M-Marsel Mesulam
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Changiz Geula
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Rey NL, Wesson DW, Brundin P. The olfactory bulb as the entry site for prion-like propagation in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 109:226-248. [PMID: 28011307 PMCID: PMC5972535 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Olfactory deficits are present in numerous neurodegenerative disorders and are accompanied by pathology in related brain regions. In several of these disorders, olfactory disturbances appear early and are considered as prodromal symptoms of the disease. In addition, pathological protein aggregates affect olfactory regions prior to other regions, suggesting that the olfactory system might be particularly vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. Exposed to the external environment, the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb allow pathogen and toxin penetration into the brain, a process that has been proposed to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases. Determining whether the olfactory bulb could be a starting point of pathology and of pathology spread is crucial to understanding how neurodegenerative diseases evolve. We argue that pathological changes following environmental insults contribute to the initiation of protein aggregation in the olfactory bulb, which then triggers the spread of the pathology within the brain by a templating mechanism in a prion-like manner. We review the evidence for the early involvement of olfactory structures in neurodegenerative diseases and the relationship between neuropathology and olfactory function. We discuss the vulnerability and putative underlying mechanisms by which pathology could be initiated in the olfactory bulb, from the entry of pathogens (promoted by increased permeability of the olfactory epithelium with aging or inflammation) to the sensitivity of the olfactory system to oxidative stress and inflammation. Finally, we review changes in protein expression and neural excitability triggered by pathogenic proteins that can promote pathogenesis in the olfactory bulb and beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nolwen L Rey
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
| | - Daniel W Wesson
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Patrik Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Braak H, Del Tredici K. Anterior Cingulate Cortex TDP-43 Pathology in Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2017; 77:74-83. [DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlx104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
|
40
|
Abstract
Brain networks have been of long-standing interest to neurodegeneration researchers, including but not limited to investigators focusing on conventional prion diseases, which are known to propagate along neural pathways. Tools for human network mapping, however, remained inadequate, limiting our understanding of human brain network architecture and preventing clinical research applications. Until recently, neuropathological studies were the only viable approach to mapping disease onset and progression in humans but required large autopsy cohorts and laborious methods for whole-brain sectioning and staining. Despite important advantages, postmortem studies cannot address in vivo, physiological, or longitudinal questions and have limited potential to explore early-stage disease except for the most common disorders. Emerging in vivo network-based neuroimaging strategies have begun to address these issues, providing data that complement the neuropathological tradition. Overall, findings to date highlight several fundamental principles of neurodegenerative disease anatomy and pathogenesis, as well as some enduring mysteries. These principles and mysteries provide a road map for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Departments of Neurology and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Krause M, Theiss C, Brüne M. Ultrastructural Alterations of Von Economo Neurons in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Schizophrenia. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2017; 300:2017-2024. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Krause
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy; Ruhr-University Bochum; Bochum 44780 Germany
| | - Carsten Theiss
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy; Ruhr-University Bochum; Bochum 44780 Germany
| | - Martin Brüne
- Division of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Psychiatric Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital Bochum; Ruhr-University Bochum; Bochum 44791 Germany
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Morphometric and histologic substrates of cingulate integrity in elders with exceptional memory capacity. J Neurosci 2015; 35:1781-91. [PMID: 25632151 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2998-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This human study is based on an established cohort of "SuperAgers," 80+-year-old individuals with episodic memory function at a level equal to, or better than, individuals 20-30 years younger. A preliminary investigation using structural brain imaging revealed a region of anterior cingulate cortex that was thicker in SuperAgers compared with healthy 50- to 65-year-olds. Here, we investigated the in vivo structural features of cingulate cortex in a larger sample of SuperAgers and conducted a histologic analysis of this region in postmortem specimens. A region-of-interest MRI structural analysis found cingulate cortex to be thinner in cognitively average 80+ year olds (n = 21) than in the healthy middle-aged group (n = 18). A region of the anterior cingulate cortex in the right hemisphere displayed greater thickness in SuperAgers (n = 31) compared with cognitively average 80+ year olds and also to the much younger healthy 50-60 year olds (p < 0.01). Postmortem investigations were conducted in the cingulate cortex in five SuperAgers, five cognitively average elderly individuals, and five individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Compared with other subject groups, SuperAgers showed a lower frequency of Alzheimer-type neurofibrillary tangles (p < 0.05). There were no differences in total neuronal size or count between subject groups. Interestingly, relative to total neuronal packing density, there was a higher density of von Economo neurons (p < 0.05), particularly in anterior cingulate regions of SuperAgers. These findings suggest that reduced vulnerability to the age-related emergence of Alzheimer pathology and higher von Economo neuron density in anterior cingulate cortex may represent biological correlates of high memory capacity in advanced old age.
Collapse
|
43
|
Ibegbu A, Umana U, Hamman O, Adamu S. Von Economo neurons: A review of the anatomy and functions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.4103/1596-2393.177023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
44
|
Abstract
The brain is constantly bombarded by stimuli, and the relative salience of these inputs determines which are more likely to capture attention. A brain system known as the 'salience network', with key nodes in the insular cortices, has a central role in the detection of behaviourally relevant stimuli and the coordination of neural resources. Emerging evidence suggests that atypical engagement of specific subdivisions of the insula within the salience network is a feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185-0751, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA, Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Santillo AF, Englund E. Greater loss of von Economo neurons than loss of layer II and III neurons in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE 2014; 3:64-71. [PMID: 25232511 PMCID: PMC4162587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown a selective reduction of von Economo neurons (VENs) in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, the alleged selectivity rests on the comparison between VENs and other neurons in cortical layer V, while it has been established that neurons in the superficial cortical layers (I-III) are particularly affected in bvFTD. The purpose of this study was to examine loss the loss of VENs in comparison with that of non-VEN-neurons of superficial cortical layers. VENs and non-VEN-neurons of cortical layer V and layers II+III were quantified in the anterior cingulate cortex in 16 cases of bvFTD, 12 non-demented controls and 10 cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In bvFTD VENs were more depleted than non-VEN-neurons of layers V and II+III. Also, non-VEN-neurons of layer II+III showed a greater density reduction than those of layer V in bvFTD. VEN density was also reduced in AD, albeit to a lesser extent than in bvFTD, and the differences between bvFTD and AD were only significant when relating VEN loss to that of layer V neurons. Our study strengthens the view of VENs as a particularly sensitive neuronal type of bvFTD, and appears to be on a continuum with the loss of other neurons both in bvFTD and between conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Santillo
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Lund University Lund, Sweden ; Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Lund University Lund, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Englund
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Lund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Tan RH, Wong S, Kril JJ, Piguet O, Hornberger M, Hodges JR, Halliday GM. Beyond the temporal pole: limbic memory circuit in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 137:2065-76. [PMID: 24844729 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite accruing evidence for relative preservation of episodic memory in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (previously semantic dementia), the neural basis for this remains unclear, particularly in light of their well-established hippocampal involvement. We recently investigated the Papez network of memory structures across pathological subtypes of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and demonstrated severe degeneration of all relay nodes, with the anterior thalamus in particular emerging as crucial for intact episodic memory. The present study investigated the status of key components of Papez circuit (hippocampus, mammillary bodies, anterior thalamus, cingulate cortex) and anterior temporal cortex using volumetric and quantitative cell counting methods in pathologically-confirmed cases with semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (n = 8; 61-83 years; three males), behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia with TDP pathology (n = 9; 53-82 years; six males) and healthy controls (n = 8, 50-86 years; four males). Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia cases with TDP pathology were selected because of the association between the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia and TDP pathology. Our findings revealed that the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia and behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia show similar degrees of anterior thalamic atrophy. The mammillary bodies and hippocampal body and tail were preserved in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia but were significantly atrophic in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. Importantly, atrophy in the anterior thalamus and mild progressive atrophy in the body of the hippocampus emerged as the main memory circuit regions correlated with increasing dementia severity in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia. Quantitation of neuronal populations in the cingulate cortices confirmed the selective loss of anterior cingulate von Economo neurons in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. We also show that by end-stage these neurons selectively degenerate in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia with preservation of neurons in the posterior cingulate cortex. Overall, our findings demonstrate for the first time, severe atrophy, although not necessarily neuronal loss, across all relay nodes of Papez circuit with the exception of the mammillary bodies and hippocampal body and tail in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia. Despite the longer disease course in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia compared with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, we suggest here that the neural preservation of crucial memory relays (hippocampal→mammillary bodies and posterior cingulate→hippocampus) likely reflects the conservation of specific episodic memory components observed in most patients with semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H Tan
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia
| | - Stephanie Wong
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- 3 Disciplines of Pathology and Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia4 ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Michael Hornberger
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia4 ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia4 ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Sfera A, Osorio C, Gradini R, Price A. Neurodegeneration behind bars: from molecules to jurisprudence. Front Psychiatry 2014; 5:115. [PMID: 25221525 PMCID: PMC4145577 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adonis Sfera
- Department of Psychiatry, Patton State Hospital , Patton, CA , USA
| | | | - Roberto Gradini
- Department of Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Amy Price
- Evidence Based Health Care, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Alcauter S, Lin W, Keith Smith J, Gilmore JH, Gao W. Consistent anterior-posterior segregation of the insula during the first 2 years of life. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 25:1176-87. [PMID: 24248433 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The human insula is a complex region characterized by heterogeneous cytoarchitecture, connectivity, and function. Subregional parcellation of the insula in adults has revealed an interesting anterior-posterior subdivision pattern that is highly consistent with its functional differentiation. However, the development of the insula's subregional segregation during the first 2 years of life remains unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that similar segregation of the insula exists during this critical time period based on the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study of a large cohort of infants (n = 143) with longitudinal scans. Our results confirmed a consistent anterior-posterior subdivision of the insula during the first 2 years of life with dissociable connectivity patterns associated with each cluster. Specifically, the anterior insula coupled more with frontal association areas, whereas the posterior insula integrated more with sensorimotor-related regions. More importantly, dramatic development of each subregion's functional network was observed, providing important neuronal correlates for the rapid advancement of its related functions during this time period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarael Alcauter
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center
| | - Weili Lin
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center
| | | | - John H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Cobos I, Seeley WW. Human von Economo neurons express transcription factors associated with Layer V subcerebral projection neurons. Cereb Cortex 2013; 25:213-20. [PMID: 23960210 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The von Economo neurons (VENs) are large bipolar Layer V projection neurons found chiefly in the anterior cingulate and frontoinsular cortices. Although VENs have been linked to prevalent illnesses such as frontotemporal dementia, autism, and schizophrenia, little is known about VEN identity, including their major projection targets. Here, we undertook a developmental transcription factor expression study, focusing on markers associated with specific classes of Layer V projection neurons. Using mRNA in situ hybridization, we found that VENs prominently express FEZF2 and CTIP2, transcription factors that regulate the fate and differentiation of subcerebral projection neurons, in humans aged 3 months to 65 years. In contrast, few VENs expressed markers associated with callosal or corticothalamic projections. These findings suggest that VENs may represent a specialized Layer V projection neuron for linking cortical autonomic control sites to brainstem or spinal cord regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inma Cobos
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA Current address: Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| |
Collapse
|