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Paryani F, Kwon JS, Ng CW, Jakubiak K, Madden N, Ofori K, Tang A, Lu H, Xia S, Li J, Mahajan A, Davidson SM, Basile AO, McHugh C, Vonsattel JP, Hickman R, Zody MC, Housman DE, Goldman JE, Yoo AS, Menon V, Al-Dalahmah O. Multi-omic analysis of Huntington's disease reveals a compensatory astrocyte state. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6742. [PMID: 39112488 PMCID: PMC11306246 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50626-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the selective regional vulnerability to neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease (HD) have not been fully defined. To explore the role of astrocytes in this phenomenon, we used single-nucleus and bulk RNAseq, lipidomics, HTT gene CAG repeat-length measurements, and multiplexed immunofluorescence on HD and control post-mortem brains. We identified genes that correlated with CAG repeat length, which were enriched in astrocyte genes, and lipidomic signatures that implicated poly-unsaturated fatty acids in sensitizing neurons to cell death. Because astrocytes play essential roles in lipid metabolism, we explored the heterogeneity of astrocytic states in both protoplasmic and fibrous-like (CD44+) astrocytes. Significantly, one protoplasmic astrocyte state showed high levels of metallothioneins and was correlated with the selective vulnerability of distinct striatal neuronal populations. When modeled in vitro, this state improved the viability of HD-patient-derived spiny projection neurons. Our findings uncover key roles of astrocytic states in protecting against neurodegeneration in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Paryani
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ji-Sun Kwon
- Department of Developmental Biology Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Christopher W Ng
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kelly Jakubiak
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nacoya Madden
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kenneth Ofori
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alice Tang
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hong Lu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shengnan Xia
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Juncheng Li
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aayushi Mahajan
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shawn M Davidson
- Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Jean Paul Vonsattel
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Hickman
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - David E Housman
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James E Goldman
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Vilas Menon
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Osama Al-Dalahmah
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, New York, NY, USA.
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Paryani F, Kwon JS, Ng CW, Madden N, Ofori K, Tang A, Lu H, Li J, Mahajan A, Davidson SM, Basile A, McHugh C, Vonsattel JP, Hickman R, Zody M, Houseman DE, Goldman JE, Yoo AS, Menon V, Al-Dalahmah O. Multi-OMIC analysis of Huntington disease reveals a neuroprotective astrocyte state. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.08.556867. [PMID: 37745577 PMCID: PMC10515780 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.08.556867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuronal loss and astrogliosis. One hallmark of HD is the selective neuronal vulnerability of striatal medium spiny neurons. To date, the underlying mechanisms of this selective vulnerability have not been fully defined. Here, we employed a multi-omic approach including single nucleus RNAseq (snRNAseq), bulk RNAseq, lipidomics, HTT gene CAG repeat length measurements, and multiplexed immunofluorescence on post-mortem brain tissue from multiple brain regions of HD and control donors. We defined a signature of genes that is driven by CAG repeat length and found it enriched in astrocytic and microglial genes. Moreover, weighted gene correlation network analysis showed loss of connectivity of astrocytic and microglial modules in HD and identified modules that correlated with CAG-repeat length which further implicated inflammatory pathways and metabolism. We performed lipidomic analysis of HD and control brains and identified several lipid species that correlate with HD grade, including ceramides and very long chain fatty acids. Integration of lipidomics and bulk transcriptomics identified a consensus gene signature that correlates with HD grade and HD lipidomic abnormalities and implicated the unfolded protein response pathway. Because astrocytes are critical for brain lipid metabolism and play important roles in regulating inflammation, we analyzed our snRNAseq dataset with an emphasis on astrocyte pathology. We found two main astrocyte types that spanned multiple brain regions; these types correspond to protoplasmic astrocytes, and fibrous-like - CD44-positive, astrocytes. HD pathology was differentially associated with these cell types in a region-specific manner. One protoplasmic astrocyte cluster showed high expression of metallothionein genes, the depletion of this cluster positively correlated with the depletion of vulnerable medium spiny neurons in the caudate nucleus. We confirmed that metallothioneins were increased in cingulate HD astrocytes but were unchanged or even decreased in caudate astrocytes. We combined existing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with a GWA study conducted on HD patients from the original Venezuelan cohort and identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the metallothionein gene locus associated with delayed age of onset. Functional studies found that metallothionein overexpressing astrocytes are better able to buffer glutamate and were neuroprotective of patient-derived directly reprogrammed HD MSNs as well as against rotenone-induced neuronal death in vitro. Finally, we found that metallothionein-overexpressing astrocytes increased the phagocytic activity of microglia in vitro and increased the expression of genes involved in fatty acid binding. Together, we identified an astrocytic phenotype that is regionally-enriched in less vulnerable brain regions that can be leveraged to protect neurons in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Paryani
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Ji-Sun Kwon
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
| | - Chris W Ng
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering
| | - Nacoya Madden
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Kenneth Ofori
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Alice Tang
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Hong Lu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Juncheng Li
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Aayushi Mahajan
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Shawn M. Davidson
- Princeton University, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics
| | | | | | - Jean Paul Vonsattel
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Richard Hickman
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | | | - David E. Houseman
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering
| | - James E. Goldman
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Andrew S. Yoo
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
| | - Vilas Menon
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Osama Al-Dalahmah
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
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Bayassi-Jakowicka M, Lietzau G, Czuba E, Patrone C, Kowiański P. More than Addiction—The Nucleus Accumbens Contribution to Development of Mental Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052618. [PMID: 35269761 PMCID: PMC8910774 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress and negative emotions evoked by social relationships and working conditions, frequently accompanied by the consumption of addictive substances, and metabolic and/or genetic predispositions, negatively affect brain function. One of the affected structures is nucleus accumbens (NAc). Although its function is commonly known to be associated with brain reword responses and addiction, a growing body of evidence also suggests its role in some mental disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, as well as neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s. This may result from disintegration of the extensive connections based on numerous neurotransmitter systems, as well as impairment of some neuroplasticity mechanisms in the NAc. The consequences of NAc lesions are both morphological and functional. They include changes in the NAc’s volume, cell number, modifications of the neuronal dendritic tree and dendritic spines, and changes in the number of synapses. Alterations in the synaptic plasticity affect the efficiency of synaptic transmission. Modification of the number and structure of the receptors affects signaling pathways, the content of neuromodulators (e.g., BDNF) and transcription factors (e.g., pCREB, DeltaFosB, NFκB), and gene expression. Interestingly, changes in the NAc often have a different character and intensity compared to the changes observed in the other parts of the basal ganglia, in particular the dorsal striatum. In this review, we highlight the role of the NAc in various pathological processes in the context of its structural and functional damage, impaired connections with the other brain areas cooperating within functional systems, and progression of the pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Bayassi-Jakowicka
- Division of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (M.B.-J.); (E.C.)
| | - Grazyna Lietzau
- Division of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (M.B.-J.); (E.C.)
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (P.K.); Tel.: +48-58-349-14-01 (G.L. & P.K.)
| | - Ewelina Czuba
- Division of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (M.B.-J.); (E.C.)
| | - Cesare Patrone
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Internal Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sjukhusbacken 17, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Przemysław Kowiański
- Division of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (M.B.-J.); (E.C.)
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (P.K.); Tel.: +48-58-349-14-01 (G.L. & P.K.)
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Kim A, Lalonde K, Truesdell A, Gomes Welter P, Brocardo PS, Rosenstock TR, Gil-Mohapel J. New Avenues for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168363. [PMID: 34445070 PMCID: PMC8394361 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the HD gene. The disease is characterized by neurodegeneration, particularly in the striatum and cortex. The first symptoms usually appear in mid-life and include cognitive deficits and motor disturbances that progress over time. Despite being a genetic disorder with a known cause, several mechanisms are thought to contribute to neurodegeneration in HD, and numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have been conducted and are currently underway to test the efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting some of these mechanisms with varying degrees of success. Although current clinical trials may lead to the identification or refinement of treatments that are likely to improve the quality of life of those living with HD, major efforts continue to be invested at the pre-clinical level, with numerous studies testing novel approaches that show promise as disease-modifying strategies. This review offers a detailed overview of the currently approved treatment options for HD and the clinical trials for this neurodegenerative disorder that are underway and concludes by discussing potential disease-modifying treatments that have shown promise in pre-clinical studies, including increasing neurotropic support, modulating autophagy, epigenetic and genetic manipulations, and the use of nanocarriers and stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Kim
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Kathryn Lalonde
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Aaron Truesdell
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Priscilla Gomes Welter
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Patricia S. Brocardo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Tatiana R. Rosenstock
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-250-472-4597; Fax: +1-250-472-5505
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Lebouc M, Richard Q, Garret M, Baufreton J. Striatal circuit development and its alterations in Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 145:105076. [PMID: 32898646 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder that usually starts during midlife with progressive alterations of motor and cognitive functions. The disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion within the huntingtin gene leading to severe striatal neurodegeneration. Recent studies conducted on pre-HD children highlight early striatal developmental alterations starting as soon as 6 years old, the earliest age assessed. These findings, in line with data from mouse models of HD, raise the questions of when during development do the first disease-related striatal alterations emerge and whether they contribute to the later appearance of the neurodegenerative features of the disease. In this review we will describe the different stages of striatal network development and then discuss recent evidence for its alterations in rodent models of the disease. We argue that a better understanding of the striatum's development should help in assessing aberrant neurodevelopmental processes linked to the HD mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Lebouc
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Quentin Richard
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Maurice Garret
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Neurosciences Cognitives et Intégratives d'Aquitaine, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Cognitives et Intégratives d'Aquitaine, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Jérôme Baufreton
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
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