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Cordeiro A, Gomes C, Bicker J, Fortuna A. Aging and cognitive resilience: Molecular mechanisms as new potential therapeutic targets. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104093. [PMID: 38992420 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
As the global population ages, the need to prolong lifespan and healthspan becomes increasingly imperative. Understanding the molecular determinants underlying cognitive resilience, together with changes during aging and the (epi)genetic factors that predispose an individual to decreased cognitive resilience, open avenues for researching novel therapies. This review provides a critical and timely appraisal of the molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive resilience, framed within a critical analysis of emerging therapeutic strategies to mitigate age-related cognitive decline. Significant insights from both animals and human subjects are discussed herein, directed either toward active pharmaceutical ingredients (drug repositioning or macromolecules), or, alternatively, advanced cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cordeiro
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Catarina Gomes
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Bicker
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Fortuna
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Zocher S. Targeting neuronal epigenomes for brain rejuvenation. EMBO J 2024; 43:3312-3326. [PMID: 39009672 PMCID: PMC11329789 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00148-8] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with a progressive decline of brain function, and the underlying causes and possible interventions to prevent this cognitive decline have been the focus of intense investigation. The maintenance of neuronal function over the lifespan requires proper epigenetic regulation, and accumulating evidence suggests that the deterioration of the neuronal epigenetic landscape contributes to brain dysfunction during aging. Epigenetic aging of neurons may, however, be malleable. Recent reports have shown age-related epigenetic changes in neurons to be reversible and targetable by rejuvenation strategies that can restore brain function during aging. This review discusses the current evidence that identifies neuronal epigenetic aging as a driver of cognitive decline and a promising target of brain rejuvenation strategies, and it highlights potential approaches for the specific manipulation of the aging neuronal epigenome to restore a youthful epigenetic state in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zocher
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tatzberg 41, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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Shulskaya MV, Semenova EI, Rudenok MM, Partevian SA, Lukashevich MV, Karabanov AV, Fedotova EY, Illarioshkin SN, Slominsky PA, Shadrina MI, Alieva AK. Analysis of LRRN3, MEF2C, SLC22A, and P2RY12 Gene Expression in the Peripheral Blood of Patients in the Early Stages of Parkinson's Disease. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1391. [PMID: 39061965 PMCID: PMC11273708 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common human neurodegenerative diseases. Belated diagnoses of PD and late treatment are caused by its elongated prodromal phase. Thus, searching for new candidate genes participating in the development of the pathological process in the early stages of the disease in patients who have not yet received therapy is relevant. Changes in mRNA and protein levels have been described both in the peripheral blood and in the brain of patients with PD. Thus, analysis of changes in the mRNA expression in peripheral blood is of great importance in studying the early stages of PD. This work aimed to analyze the changes in MEF2C, SLC22A4, P2RY12, and LRRN3 gene expression in the peripheral blood of patients in the early stages of PD. We found a statistically relevant and PD-specific change in the expression of the LRRN3 gene, indicating a disruption in the processes of neuronal regeneration and the functioning of synapses. The data obtained during the study indicate that this gene can be considered a potential biomarker of the early stages of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V Shulskaya
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
| | - Ekaterina I Semenova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
| | - Margarita M Rudenok
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
| | - Suzanna A Partevian
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
| | - Maria V Lukashevich
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
| | - Alexei V Karabanov
- Federal State Scientific Institution, Scientific Center of Neurology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Volokolamskoye sh., 80, Moscow 125367, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Yu Fedotova
- Federal State Scientific Institution, Scientific Center of Neurology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Volokolamskoye sh., 80, Moscow 125367, Russia
| | - Sergey N Illarioshkin
- Federal State Scientific Institution, Scientific Center of Neurology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Volokolamskoye sh., 80, Moscow 125367, Russia
| | - Petr A Slominsky
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
| | - Maria I Shadrina
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
| | - Anelya Kh Alieva
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatova pl., 2, Moscow 123082, Russia
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Roy ER, Li S, Saroukhani S, Wang Y, Cao W. Fate-mapping and functional dissection reveal perilous influence of type I interferon signaling in mouse brain aging. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:48. [PMID: 38886816 PMCID: PMC11184889 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00736-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging significantly elevates the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a universal hallmark of neurodegeneration as well as normal brain aging. Which branches of age-related neuroinflammation, and how they precondition the brain toward pathological progression, remain ill-understood. The presence of elevated type I interferon (IFN-I) has been documented in the aged brain, but its role in promoting degenerative processes, such as the loss of neurons in vulnerable regions, has not been studied in depth. METHODS To comprehend the scope of IFN-I activity in the aging brain, we surveyed IFN-I-responsive reporter mice at multiple ages. We also examined 5- and 24-month-old mice harboring selective ablation of Ifnar1 in microglia to observe the effects of manipulating this pathway during the aging process using bulk RNA sequencing and histological parameters. RESULTS We detected age-dependent IFN-I signal escalation in multiple brain cell types from various regions, especially in microglia. Selective ablation of Ifnar1 from microglia in aged mice significantly reduced overall brain IFN-I signature, dampened microglial reactivity, lessened neuronal loss, restored expression of key neuronal genes and pathways, and diminished the accumulation of lipofuscin, a core hallmark of cellular aging in the brain. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study demonstrates pervasive IFN-I activity during normal mouse brain aging and reveals a pathogenic, pro-degenerative role played by microglial IFN-I signaling in perpetuating neuroinflammation, neuronal dysfunction, and molecular aggregation. These findings extend the understanding of a principal axis of age-related inflammation in the brain, one likely shared with multiple neurological disorders, and provide a rationale to modulate aberrant immune activation to mitigate neurodegenerative process at all stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan R Roy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Sanming Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sepideh Saroukhani
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yanyu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Roy ER, Li S, Wang Y, Cao W. Fate-mapping and functional dissection reveal perilous influence of type I interferon signaling in mouse brain aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.20.595027. [PMID: 38826478 PMCID: PMC11142053 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.20.595027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Although aging significantly elevates the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, how age-related neuroinflammation preconditions the brain toward pathological progression is ill-understood. To comprehend the scope of type I interferon (IFN-I) activity in the aging brain, we surveyed IFN-I-responsive reporter mice and detected age-dependent signal escalation in multiple brain cell types from various regions. Selective ablation of Ifnar1 from microglia in aged mice significantly reduced overall brain IFN-I signature, dampened microglial reactivity, lessened neuronal loss, and diminished the accumulation of lipofuscin, a core hallmark of cellular aging in the brain. Overall, our study demonstrates pervasive IFN-I activity during normal mouse brain aging and reveals a pathogenic role played by microglial IFN-I signaling in perpetuating neuroinflammation, neuronal dysfunction, and molecular aggregation. These findings extend the understanding of a principal axis of age-related inflammation in the brain, and provide a rationale to modulate aberrant immune activation to mitigate neurodegenerative process at all stages.
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Cao W. In sickness and in health-Type I interferon and the brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1403142. [PMID: 38774266 PMCID: PMC11106474 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1403142] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFN-I) represent a group of pleiotropic cytokines renowned for their antiviral activity and immune regulatory functions. A multitude of studies have unveiled a critical role of IFN-I in the brain, influencing various neurological processes and diseases. In this mini-review, I highlight recent findings on IFN-I's effects on brain aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression, and central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis. The multifaceted influence of IFN-I on brain health and disease sheds light on the complex interplay between immune responses and neurological processes. Of particular interest is the cGAS-STING-IFN-I axis, which extensively participates in brain aging and various forms of neurodegeneration. Understanding the intricate role of IFN-I and its associated pathways in the CNS not only advances our comprehension of brain health and disease but also presents opportunities for developing interventions to modify the process of neurodegeneration and prevent age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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Dai X, Lin A, Zhuang L, Zeng Q, Cai L, Wei Y, Liang H, Gao W, Zhang J, Chen X. Targeting SIK3 to modulate hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive function by regulating the transcription of HDAC4 in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:942-952. [PMID: 38057370 PMCID: PMC11039747 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01775-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive deterioration and memory decline associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) primarily results from synaptic failure. However, current understanding of the upstream regulatory mechanisms controlling synaptic plasticity remains limited. Salt-inducible kinase 3 (SIK3) is central to the signal pathway and is involved in neuronal regulation of sleep duration in mice. We speculated that the SIK3 cascade signaling pathway might contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, the present study employed AD transgenic mouse models, Morris Water Maze, virus-mediated gene transfer, electrophysiology, co-immunoprecipitation, western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, ChIP-qPCR, Golgi-Cox staining and dendritic spine analysis to investigate this connection. Our results revealed that SIK3 mRNA/protein expression was significantly reduced in middle-aged AD transgenic mouse models and AD patients. Conditional deletion of SIK3 gene in dorsal hippocampal neurons of 5×FAD mice further accelerated cognitive deterioration and impaired synaptic plasticity. In hippocampal neuronal cultures, SIK3 formed a complex with HDAC4, directly phosphorylated HDAC4 and regulated its nuclear cytoplasmic shuttle. Overexpression of SIK3 could facilitate the expression of synaptic plasticity-related genes by directly repressing mef2c or involving the recruitment of histone deacetylase to promoter regions of target genes through regulation of p-HDAC4, and vice versa. Moreover, up-regulation of SLP-S, the truncated fragment of SIK3, in dorsal hippocampal neurons, restored the synaptic plasticity and alleviates the cognitive impairment in 5×FAD mice. Collectively, these findings revealed a novel and important role of SIK3-HDAC4 regulation of synaptic plasticity and propose a new target for therapeutic approaches of cognitive deficits associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoman Dai
- Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Anlan Lin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Lvping Zhuang
- Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Qingyong Zeng
- Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Lili Cai
- Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Yuanxiang Wei
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Hongjie Liang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Weijie Gao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.
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de Vries LE, Jongejan A, Monteiro Fortes J, Balesar R, Rozemuller AJM, Moerland PD, Huitinga I, Swaab DF, Verhaagen J. Gene-expression profiling of individuals resilient to Alzheimer's disease reveals higher expression of genes related to metallothionein and mitochondrial processes and no changes in the unfolded protein response. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:68. [PMID: 38664739 PMCID: PMC11046840 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01760-9] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Some individuals show a discrepancy between cognition and the amount of neuropathological changes characteristic for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This phenomenon has been referred to as 'resilience'. The molecular and cellular underpinnings of resilience remain poorly understood. To obtain an unbiased understanding of the molecular changes underlying resilience, we investigated global changes in gene expression in the superior frontal gyrus of a cohort of cognitively and pathologically well-defined AD patients, resilient individuals and age-matched controls (n = 11-12 per group). 897 genes were significantly altered between AD and control, 1121 between resilient and control and 6 between resilient and AD. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that the expression of metallothionein (MT) and of genes related to mitochondrial processes was higher in the resilient donors. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified gene modules related to the unfolded protein response, mitochondrial processes and synaptic signaling to be differentially associated with resilience or dementia. As changes in MT, mitochondria, heat shock proteins and the unfolded protein response (UPR) were the most pronounced changes in the GSEA and/or WGCNA, immunohistochemistry was used to further validate these processes. MT was significantly increased in astrocytes in resilient individuals. A higher proportion of the mitochondrial gene MT-CO1 was detected outside the cell body versus inside the cell body in the resilient compared to the control group and there were higher levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and X-box-binding protein 1 spliced (XBP1s), two proteins related to heat shock proteins and the UPR, in the AD donors. Finally, we show evidence for putative sex-specific alterations in resilience, including gene expression differences related to autophagy in females compared to males. Taken together, these results show possible mechanisms involving MTs, mitochondrial processes and the UPR by which individuals might maintain cognition despite the presence of AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luuk E de Vries
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Aldo Jongejan
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Epidemiology and Data Science, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Methodology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Monteiro Fortes
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rawien Balesar
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke J M Rozemuller
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC - Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Perry D Moerland
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Epidemiology and Data Science, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Methodology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Inge Huitinga
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick F Swaab
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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de Vries LE, Huitinga I, Kessels HW, Swaab DF, Verhaagen J. The concept of resilience to Alzheimer's Disease: current definitions and cellular and molecular mechanisms. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:33. [PMID: 38589893 PMCID: PMC11003087 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00719-7] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Some individuals are able to maintain their cognitive abilities despite the presence of significant Alzheimer's Disease (AD) neuropathological changes. This discrepancy between cognition and pathology has been labeled as resilience and has evolved into a widely debated concept. External factors such as cognitive stimulation are associated with resilience to AD, but the exact cellular and molecular underpinnings are not completely understood. In this review, we discuss the current definitions used in the field, highlight the translational approaches used to investigate resilience to AD and summarize the underlying cellular and molecular substrates of resilience that have been derived from human and animal studies, which have received more and more attention in the last few years. From these studies the picture emerges that resilient individuals are different from AD patients in terms of specific pathological species and their cellular reaction to AD pathology, which possibly helps to maintain cognition up to a certain tipping point. Studying these rare resilient individuals can be of great importance as it could pave the way to novel therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luuk E de Vries
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Inge Huitinga
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helmut W Kessels
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dick F Swaab
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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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.
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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.
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11
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Sun Q, Gao J, An R, Wang M, Wang Y. Probing molecular pathways: Illuminating the connection between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease through the endocannabinoid system dynamics. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29590. [PMID: 38619024 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29590] [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: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Our study investigates the molecular link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which COVID-19 may influence the onset or progression of AD. Using bioinformatic tools, we analyzed gene expression datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including GSE147507, GSE12685, and GSE26927. Intersection analysis was utilized to identify common differentially expressed genes (CDEGs) and their shared biological pathways. Consensus clustering was conducted to group AD patients based on gene expression, followed by an analysis of the immune microenvironment and variations in shared pathway activities between clusters. Additionally, we identified transcription factor-binding sites shared by CDEGs and genes in the common pathway. The activity of the pathway and the expression levels of the CDEGs were validated using GSE164805 and GSE48350 datasets. Six CDEGs (MAL2, NECAB1, SH3GL2, EPB41L3, MEF2C, and NRGN) were identified, along with a downregulated pathway, the endocannabinoid (ECS) signaling pathway, common to both AD and COVID-19. These CDEGs showed a significant correlation with ECS activity (p < 0.05) and immune functions. The ECS pathway was enriched in healthy individuals' brains and downregulated in AD patients. Validation using GSE164805 and GSE48350 datasets confirmed the differential expression of these genes in COVID-19 and AD tissues. Our findings reveal a potential pathogenetic link between COVID-19 and AD, mediated by CDEGs and the ECS pathway. However, further research and multicenter evidence are needed to translate these findings into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Sun
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinyang Gao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ran An
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Menggeer Wang
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yanqing Wang
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
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12
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Duffy BC, King KM, Nepal B, Nonnemacher MR, Kortagere S. Acute Administration of HIV-1 Tat Protein Drives Glutamatergic Alterations in a Rodent Model of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04113-8. [PMID: 38514527 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04113-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are a major comorbidity of HIV-1 infection, marked by impairment of executive function varying in severity. HAND affects nearly half of people living with HIV (PLWH), with mild forms predominating since the use of anti-retroviral therapies (ART). The HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein is found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients adherent to ART, and its administration or expression in animals causes cognitive symptoms. Studies of Tat interaction with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) suggest that glutamate toxicity contributes to Tat-induced impairments. To identify changes in regional glutamatergic circuitry underlying cognitive impairment, we injected recombinant Tat86 or saline to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were assessed with behavioral tasks that involve intact functioning of mPFC including the novel object recognition (NOR), spatial object recognition (SOR), and temporal order (TO) tasks at 1 and 2 postoperative weeks. Following testing, mPFC tissue was collected and analyzed by RT-PCR. Results showed Tat86 in mPFC-induced impairment in SOR, and upregulation of Grin1 and Grin2a transcripts. To further understand the mechanism of Tat toxicity, we assessed the effects of full-length Tat101 on gene expression in mPFC by RNA sequencing. The results of RNAseq suggest that glutamatergic effects of Tat86 are maintained with Tat101, as Grin2a was upregulated in Tat101-injected tissue, among other differentially expressed genes. Spatial learning and memory impairment and Grin2a upregulation suggest that exposure to Tat protein drives adaptation in mPFC, altering the function of circuitry supporting spatial learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna C Duffy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kirsten M King
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Binod Nepal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael R Nonnemacher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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13
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Jin M, Ma Z, Dang R, Zhang H, Kim R, Xue H, Pascual J, Finkbeiner S, Head E, Liu Y, Jiang P. A Trisomy 21-linked Hematopoietic Gene Variant in Microglia Confers Resilience in Human iPSC Models of Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.12.584646. [PMID: 38559257 PMCID: PMC10979994 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.12.584646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
While challenging, identifying individuals displaying resilience to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and understanding the underlying mechanism holds great promise for the development of new therapeutic interventions to effectively treat AD. Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, is the most common genetic cause of AD. Interestingly, some people with DS, despite developing AD neuropathology, show resilience to cognitive decline. Furthermore, DS individuals are at an increased risk of myeloid leukemia due to somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells. Recent studies indicate that somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells may lead to resilience to neurodegeneration. Microglia, derived from hematopoietic lineages, play a central role in AD etiology. We therefore hypothesize that microglia carrying the somatic mutations associated with DS myeloid leukemia may impart resilience to AD. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, we introduce a trisomy 21-linked hotspot CSF2RB A455D mutation into human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lines derived from both DS and healthy individuals. Employing hPSC-based in vitro microglia culture and in vivo human microglia chimeric mouse brain models, we show that in response to pathological tau, the CSF2RB A455D mutation suppresses microglial type-1 interferon signaling, independent of trisomy 21 genetic background. This mutation reduces neuroinflammation and enhances phagocytic and autophagic functions, thereby ameliorating senescent and dystrophic phenotypes in human microglia. Moreover, the CSF2RB A455D mutation promotes the development of a unique microglia subcluster with tissue repair properties. Importantly, human microglia carrying CSF2RB A455D provide protection to neuronal function, such as neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in chimeric mouse brains where human microglia largely repopulate the hippocampus. When co-transplanted into the same mouse brains, human microglia with CSF2RB A455D mutation phagocytize and replace human microglia carrying the wildtype CSF2RB gene following pathological tau treatment. Our findings suggest that hPSC-derived CSF2RB A455D microglia could be employed to develop effective microglial replacement therapy for AD and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases, even without the need to deplete endogenous diseased microglia prior to cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Jin
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ziyuan Ma
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Rui Dang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Haiwei Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Rachael Kim
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Haipeng Xue
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Jesse Pascual
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Steven Finkbeiner
- Ceter for Systems and Therapeutics and the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Gladstone Institutes; University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Peng Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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14
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Wang X, Tang X, Zhu P, Hua D, Xie Z, Guo M, Que M, Yan J, Li X, Xia Q, Luo X, Bi J, Zhao Y, Zhou Z, Li S, Luo A. CircAKT3 alleviates postoperative cognitive dysfunction by stabilizing the feedback cycle of miR-106a-5p/HDAC4/MEF2C axis in hippocampi of aged mice. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:138. [PMID: 38478029 PMCID: PMC10937803 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05156-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have garnered significant attention in the field of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's diseases due to their covalently closed loop structure. However, the involvement of circRNAs in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is still largely unexplored. To identify the genes differentially expressed between non-POCD (NPOCD) and POCD mice, we conducted the whole transcriptome sequencing initially in this study. According to the expression profiles, we observed that circAKT3 was associated with hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in POCD mice. Moreover, we found that circAKT3 overexpression reduced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and alleviated POCD. Subsequently, through bioinformatics analysis, our data showed that circAKT3 overexpression in vitro and in vivo elevated the abundance of miR-106a-5p significantly, resulting in a decrease of HDAC4 protein and an increase of MEF2C protein. Additionally, this effect of circAKT3 was blocked by miR-106a-5p inhibitor. Interestingly, MEF2C could activate the transcription of miR-106a-5p promoter and form a positive feedback loop. Therefore, our findings revealed more potential modulation ways between circRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA, providing different directions and targets for preclinical studies of POCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaole Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Pengfei Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Dongyu Hua
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zheng Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Mingke Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Mengxin Que
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xing Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Qian Xia
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Luo
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jiangjiang Bi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Shiyong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
| | - Ailin Luo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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15
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Sun MK, Alkon DL. Alzheimer's therapeutic development: shifting neurodegeneration to neuroregeneration. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:197-209. [PMID: 38360510 PMCID: PMC10939773 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.01.012] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), similar to AD-related dementias, is characterized by impaired/lost neuronal structures and functions due to a long progression of neurodegeneration. Derailed endogenous signal pathways and disease processes have critical roles in neurodegeneration and are pharmacological targets in inducing neuroregeneration. Pharmacologically switching/shifting the brain status from neurodegeneration to neuroregeneration is emerging as a new therapeutic concept, one that is not only achievable, but also essential for effective therapy for AD. The results of the pharmacological-induced shift from neurodegeneration to neuroregeneration are twofold: arresting cognitive deterioration (and directing the brain toward cognitive recovery) in established AD, and preventing neurodegeneration through building up cognitive resilience in patients with preclinical or probable AD. In this review, we discuss these new developments in AD pharmacology and relevant clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao-Kun Sun
- Synaptogenix, Inc., 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036, USA.
| | - Daniel L Alkon
- Synaptogenix, Inc., 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036, USA
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16
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Wu L, Liu B, Wei Y, Lu P. Association between MEF2 family gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Chinese population. Acta Neurol Belg 2024; 124:141-149. [PMID: 37572262 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-023-02357-0] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory demyelinating lesions in the white matter of the central nervous system. Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family genes play important roles in the immune response. This study focuses on the relationship between MEF2 family gene polymorphisms and MS. METHODS A total of 174 MS patients and 120 healthy controls were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to analyze the gene polymorphisms of MEF2D and MEF2C. In addition, peripheral blood was collected and leukocytes were isolated. The transcription level of MEF2D in the two groups of samples was detected with quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS We found that the C allele frequency and CC genotype frequency of rs2274316 in MEF2D were significantly higher in MS patients. The C allele and CT genotype distribution for rs3790455 were significantly more frequent in MS patients. Female patients showed higher CC genotype frequency of rs2274316. The genotype frequency distribution of rs2274316 and rs3790455 were not related to onset age and phenotype of MS patients. In addition, this study also proved that MEF2D was significantly overexpressed in the peripheral blood leukocytes of MS patients. The transcription level of MEF2D was significantly higher in patients with CC genotype of rs2274316. CONCLUSION These findings suggest rs2274316 and rs3790455 of MEF2D gene are potential genetic risk factors for MS in Chinese population. The transcription level of MEF2D is also associated with susceptibility to MS and MEF2D gene polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Yanbing Wei
- School of Statistics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100000, China.
| | - Peng Lu
- Hangzhou Cred Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310000, China
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17
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Basu S, Ro EJ, Liu Z, Kim H, Bennett A, Kang S, Suh H. The Mef2c Gene Dose-Dependently Controls Hippocampal Neurogenesis and the Expression of Autism-Like Behaviors. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1058232023. [PMID: 38123360 PMCID: PMC10860657 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1058-23.2023] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the activity-dependent transcription factor MEF2C have been associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Among these, autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related behavioral deficits are manifested. Multiple animal models that harbor mutations in Mef2c have provided compelling evidence that Mef2c is indeed an ASD gene. However, studies in mice with germline or global brain knock-out of Mef2c are limited in their ability to identify the precise neural substrates and cell types that are required for the expression of Mef2c-mediated ASD behaviors. Given the role of hippocampal neurogenesis in cognitive and social behaviors, in this study we aimed to investigate the role of Mef2c in the structure and function of newly generated dentate granule cells (DGCs) in the postnatal hippocampus and to determine whether disrupted Mef2c function is responsible for manifesting ASD behaviors. Overexpression of Mef2c (Mef2cOE ) arrested the transition of neurogenesis at progenitor stages, as indicated by sustained expression of Sox2+ in Mef2cOE DGCs. Conditional knock-out of Mef2c (Mef2ccko ) allowed neuronal commitment of Mef2ccko cells; however, Mef2ccko impaired not only dendritic arborization and spine formation but also synaptic transmission onto Mef2ccko DGCs. Moreover, the abnormal structure and function of Mef2ccko DGCs led to deficits in social interaction and social novelty recognition, which are key characteristics of ASD behaviors. Thus, our study revealed a dose-dependent requirement of Mef2c in the control of distinct steps of neurogenesis, as well as a critical cell-autonomous function of Mef2c in newborn DGCs in the expression of proper social behavior in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreetama Basu
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
| | - Eun Jeoung Ro
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
| | - Zhi Liu
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
| | - Hyunjung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta 30912, Georgia
| | - Aubrey Bennett
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta 30912, Georgia
| | - Seungwoo Kang
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta 30912, Georgia
| | - Hoonkyo Suh
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
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18
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Wang W, Li Z, Yan Y, Wu S, Yao X, Gao C, Liu L, Yu Y. LIPUS-induced neurogenesis:A potential therapeutic strategy for cognitive dysfunction in traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2024; 371:114588. [PMID: 37907126 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) precipitates cellular membrane degeneration, phospholipid degradation, neuronal demise, impaired brain electrical activity, and compromised neuroplasticity, ultimately leading to acute and chronic brain dysfunction. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is an emerging brain therapy with the characteristics of non-invasive, high spatial resolution, and high stimulation depth. Herein, we established a controlled cortical impact model to investigate the potential reparative mechanisms of LIPUS in TBI, employing a multi-faceted research methodology encompassing behavioral assessments, immunofluorescence, neuroelectrophysiology, scratch detection of primary cortical neurons, metabolomics and transcriptomics. Our findings demonstrate that LIPUS promotes hippocampal neurogenesis following brain injury, accomplished through the elevation of phosphatidylcholine levels in the hippocampus of TBI mice. Consequently, LIPUS enhances neural electrical activity and augments neural plasticity within the CA1 subregion of the hippocampus, effectively restoring neuronal function and cognitive capabilities in TBI mice. These findings shed light on the promising role of LIPUS in TBI brain rehabilitation, offering new perspectives and theoretical foundations for future studies in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhu Wang
- China Rehabilitation Science Institute, China Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, PR China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zihan Li
- China Rehabilitation Science Institute, China Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, PR China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yitong Yan
- China Rehabilitation Science Institute, China Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, PR China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shuo Wu
- First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, PR China
| | - Xinyu Yao
- First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, PR China
| | - Chen Gao
- China Rehabilitation Science Institute, China Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, PR China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, PR China
| | - Lanxiang Liu
- First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, PR China.
| | - Yan Yu
- China Rehabilitation Science Institute, China Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, PR China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, PR China.
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19
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Huang Z. Evidence that Alzheimer's Disease Is a Disease of Competitive Synaptic Plasticity Gone Awry. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:447-470. [PMID: 38669548 PMCID: PMC11119021 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240042] [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] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that a physiological function of amyloid-β (Aβ) is to mediate neural activity-dependent homeostatic and competitive synaptic plasticity in the brain. I have previously summarized the lines of evidence supporting this hypothesis and highlighted the similarities between Aβ and anti-microbial peptides in mediating cell/synapse competition. In cell competition, anti-microbial peptides deploy a multitude of mechanisms to ensure both self-protection and competitor elimination. Here I review recent studies showing that similar mechanisms are at play in Aβ-mediated synapse competition and perturbations in these mechanisms underpin Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, I discuss evidence that Aβ and ApoE, two crucial players in AD, co-operate in the regulation of synapse competition. Glial ApoE promotes self-protection by increasing the production of trophic monomeric Aβ and inhibiting its assembly into toxic oligomers. Conversely, Aβ oligomers, once assembled, promote the elimination of competitor synapses via direct toxic activity and amplification of "eat-me" signals promoting the elimination of weak synapses. I further summarize evidence that neuronal ApoE may be part of a gene regulatory network that normally promotes competitive plasticity, explaining the selective vulnerability of ApoE expressing neurons in AD brains. Lastly, I discuss evidence that sleep may be key to Aβ-orchestrated plasticity, in which sleep is not only induced by Aβ but is also required for Aβ-mediated plasticity, underlining the link between sleep and AD. Together, these results strongly argue that AD is a disease of competitive synaptic plasticity gone awry, a novel perspective that may promote AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Huang
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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20
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Raju RM, Tsai LH. Dismantling silos: The case for an integrated approach to address childhood determinants of lifelong brain health. Neuron 2023; 111:3706-3709. [PMID: 37794591 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Early-life environments have an immense influence on long-term health outcomes. We have started to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association but have made little progress in reducing the disease burden of environmentally mediated neurological and psychiatric illness. Here, we highlight barriers to innovation and how they may be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravikiran M Raju
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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21
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Zegarra-Valdivia JA, Pignatelli J, Nuñez A, Torres Aleman I. The Role of Insulin-like Growth Factor I in Mechanisms of Resilience and Vulnerability to Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16440. [PMID: 38003628 PMCID: PMC10671249 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216440] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of intense research, disease-modifying therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are still very much needed. Apart from the extensively analyzed tau and amyloid pathological cascades, two promising avenues of research that may eventually identify new druggable targets for AD are based on a better understanding of the mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability to this condition. We argue that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) activity in the brain provides a common substrate for the mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability to AD. We postulate that preserved brain IGF-I activity contributes to resilience to AD pathology as this growth factor intervenes in all the major pathological cascades considered to be involved in AD, including metabolic impairment, altered proteostasis, and inflammation, to name the three that are considered to be the most important ones. Conversely, disturbed IGF-I activity is found in many AD risk factors, such as old age, type 2 diabetes, imbalanced diet, sedentary life, sociality, stroke, stress, and low education, whereas the Apolipoprotein (Apo) E4 genotype and traumatic brain injury may also be influenced by brain IGF-I activity. Accordingly, IGF-I activity should be taken into consideration when analyzing these processes, while its preservation will predictably help prevent the progress of AD pathology. Thus, we need to define IGF-I activity in all these conditions and develop a means to preserve it. However, defining brain IGF-I activity cannot be solely based on humoral or tissue levels of this neurotrophic factor, and new functionally based assessments need to be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A. Zegarra-Valdivia
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Spain;
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- School of Medicine, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo 14000, Peru
| | - Jaime Pignatelli
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Cajal Institute (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Angel Nuñez
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Ignacio Torres Aleman
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Spain;
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
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22
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Phongpreecha T, Godrich D, Berson E, Espinosa C, Kim Y, Cholerton B, Chang AL, Mataraso S, Bukhari SA, Perna A, Yakabi K, Montine KS, Poston KL, Mormino E, White L, Beecham G, Aghaeepour N, Montine TJ. Quantitative estimate of cognitive resilience and its medical and genetic associations. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:192. [PMID: 37926851 PMCID: PMC10626669 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01329-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have proposed that cognitive resilience (CR) counteracts brain damage from Alzheimer's disease (AD) or AD-related dementias such that older individuals who harbor neurodegenerative disease burden sufficient to cause dementia remain cognitively normal. However, CR traditionally is considered a binary trait, capturing only the most extreme examples, and is often inconsistently defined. METHODS This study addressed existing discrepancies and shortcomings of the current CR definition by proposing a framework for defining CR as a continuous variable for each neuropsychological test. The linear equations clarified CR's relationship to closely related terms, including cognitive function, reserve, compensation, and damage. Primarily, resilience is defined as a function of cognitive performance and damage from neuropathologic damage. As such, the study utilized data from 844 individuals (age = 79 ± 12, 44% female) in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center cohort that met our inclusion criteria of comprehensive lesion rankings for 17 neuropathologic features and complete neuropsychological test results. Machine learning models and GWAS then were used to identify medical and genetic factors that are associated with CR. RESULTS CR varied across five cognitive assessments and was greater in female participants, associated with longer survival, and weakly associated with educational attainment or APOE ε4 allele. In contrast, damage was strongly associated with APOE ε4 allele (P value < 0.0001). Major predictors of CR were cardiovascular health and social interactions, as well as the absence of behavioral symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our framework explicitly decoupled the effects of CR from neuropathologic damage. Characterizations and genetic association study of these two components suggest that the underlying CR mechanism has minimal overlap with the disease mechanism. Moreover, the identified medical features associated with CR suggest modifiable features to counteract clinical expression of damage and maintain cognitive function in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanaphong Phongpreecha
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L216, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Dana Godrich
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eloise Berson
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L216, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Camilo Espinosa
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L216, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yeasul Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L216, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Alan L Chang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L216, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Samson Mataraso
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L216, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Syed A Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Amalia Perna
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Koya Yakabi
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Kathleen L Poston
- Department of Neurology Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Mormino
- Department of Neurology Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lon White
- Pacific Health Research and Education Institute, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Gary Beecham
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Nima Aghaeepour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L216, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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23
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Li X, Li Y, Jin Y, Zhang Y, Wu J, Xu Z, Huang Y, Cai L, Gao S, Liu T, Zeng F, Wang Y, Wang W, Yuan TF, Tian H, Shu Y, Guo F, Lu W, Mao Y, Mei X, Rao Y, Peng B. Transcriptional and epigenetic decoding of the microglial aging process. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:1288-1311. [PMID: 37697166 PMCID: PMC10570141 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00479-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
As important immune cells, microglia undergo a series of alterations during aging that increase the susceptibility to brain dysfunctions. However, the longitudinal characteristics of microglia remain poorly understood. In this study, we mapped the transcriptional and epigenetic profiles of microglia from 3- to 24-month-old mice. We first discovered unexpected sex differences and identified age-dependent microglia (ADEM) genes during the aging process. We then compared the features of aging and reactivity in female microglia at single-cell resolution and epigenetic level. To dissect functions of aged microglia excluding the influence from other aged brain cells, we established an accelerated microglial turnover model without directly affecting other brain cells. By this model, we achieved aged-like microglia in non-aged brains and confirmed that aged-like microglia per se contribute to cognitive decline. Collectively, our work provides a comprehensive resource for decoding the aging process of microglia, shedding light on how microglia maintain brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxin Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxiao Jin
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Department of Laboratory Animal Science, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuheng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingchuan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Xu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yubin Huang
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Taohui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanzhuo Zeng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ti-Fei Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hengli Tian
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yousheng Shu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feifan Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xifan Mei
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Yanxia Rao
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Department of Laboratory Animal Science, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bo Peng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinshan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neurodegeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
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24
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Mathys H, Peng Z, Boix CA, Victor MB, Leary N, Babu S, Abdelhady G, Jiang X, Ng AP, Ghafari K, Kunisky AK, Mantero J, Galani K, Lohia VN, Fortier GE, Lotfi Y, Ivey J, Brown HP, Patel PR, Chakraborty N, Beaudway JI, Imhoff EJ, Keeler CF, McChesney MM, Patel HH, Patel SP, Thai MT, Bennett DA, Kellis M, Tsai LH. Single-cell atlas reveals correlates of high cognitive function, dementia, and resilience to Alzheimer's disease pathology. Cell 2023; 186:4365-4385.e27. [PMID: 37774677 PMCID: PMC10601493 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, but the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment remain poorly understood. To address this, we generated a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the aged human prefrontal cortex covering 2.3 million cells from postmortem human brain samples of 427 individuals with varying degrees of AD pathology and cognitive impairment. Our analyses identified AD-pathology-associated alterations shared between excitatory neuron subtypes, revealed a coordinated increase of the cohesin complex and DNA damage response factors in excitatory neurons and in oligodendrocytes, and uncovered genes and pathways associated with high cognitive function, dementia, and resilience to AD pathology. Furthermore, we identified selectively vulnerable somatostatin inhibitory neuron subtypes depleted in AD, discovered two distinct groups of inhibitory neurons that were more abundant in individuals with preserved high cognitive function late in life, and uncovered a link between inhibitory neurons and resilience to AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansruedi Mathys
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
| | - Zhuyu Peng
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Carles A Boix
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Matheus B Victor
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Noelle Leary
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sudhagar Babu
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Ghada Abdelhady
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Xueqiao Jiang
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ayesha P Ng
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kimia Ghafari
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Alexander K Kunisky
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Julio Mantero
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kyriaki Galani
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Vanshika N Lohia
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Gabrielle E Fortier
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yasmine Lotfi
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Jason Ivey
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Hannah P Brown
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Pratham R Patel
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Nehal Chakraborty
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Jacob I Beaudway
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Imhoff
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Cameron F Keeler
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Maren M McChesney
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Haishal H Patel
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Sahil P Patel
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Megan T Thai
- University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | | | - Manolis Kellis
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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25
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Shen X, Zhao X, He H, Zhao J, Wei Y, Chen Y, Han S, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Zhu Q, Yin H. Evolutionary conserved circular MEF2A RNAs regulate myogenic differentiation and skeletal muscle development. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010923. [PMID: 37676887 PMCID: PMC10508632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recognized as critical regulators of skeletal muscle development. Myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) is an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional factor that regulates myogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether MEF2A produces functional circRNAs. In this study, we identified two evolutionarily conserved circular MEF2A RNAs (circMEF2As), namely circMEF2A1 and circMEF2A2, in chicken and mouse muscle stem cells. Our findings revealed that circMEF2A1 promotes myogenesis by regulating the miR-30a-3p/PPP3CA/NFATC1 axis, whereas circMEF2A2 facilitates myogenic differentiation by targeting the miR-148a-5p/SLIT3/ROBO2/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that circMEF2As both promote skeletal muscle growth. We also discovered that the linear MEF2A mRNA-derived MEF2A protein binds to its own promoter region, accelerating the transcription of MEF2A and upregulating the expression of both linear MEF2A and circMEF2As, forming a MEF2A autoregulated positive feedback loop. Moreover, circMEF2As positively regulate the expression of linear MEF2A by adsorbing miR-30a-3p and miR-148a-5p, which directly contribute to the MEF2A autoregulated feedback loop. Importantly, we found that mouse circMEF2As are essential for the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells. Collectively, our results demonstrated the evolution, function, and underlying mechanisms of circMEF2As in animal myogenesis, which may provide novel insight for both the farm animal meat industry and human medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Shen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiyu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Haorong He
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuanhang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuqi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shunshun Han
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yifeng Zhu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Huadong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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26
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Berson E, Sreenivas A, Phongpreecha T, Perna A, Grandi FC, Xue L, Ravindra NG, Payrovnaziri N, Mataraso S, Kim Y, Espinosa C, Chang AL, Becker M, Montine KS, Fox EJ, Chang HY, Corces MR, Aghaeepour N, Montine TJ. Whole genome deconvolution unveils Alzheimer's resilient epigenetic signature. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4947. [PMID: 37587197 PMCID: PMC10432546 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40611-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin by sequencing (ATAC-seq) accurately depicts the chromatin regulatory state and altered mechanisms guiding gene expression in disease. However, bulk sequencing entangles information from different cell types and obscures cellular heterogeneity. To address this, we developed Cellformer, a deep learning method that deconvolutes bulk ATAC-seq into cell type-specific expression across the whole genome. Cellformer enables cost-effective cell type-specific open chromatin profiling in large cohorts. Applied to 191 bulk samples from 3 brain regions, Cellformer identifies cell type-specific gene regulatory mechanisms involved in resilience to Alzheimer's disease, an uncommon group of cognitively healthy individuals that harbor a high pathological load of Alzheimer's disease. Cell type-resolved chromatin profiling unveils cell type-specific pathways and nominates potential epigenetic mediators underlying resilience that may illuminate therapeutic opportunities to limit the cognitive impact of the disease. Cellformer is freely available to facilitate future investigations using high-throughput bulk ATAC-seq data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Berson
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Anjali Sreenivas
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Thanaphong Phongpreecha
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Amalia Perna
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Fiorella C Grandi
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lei Xue
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Neal G Ravindra
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Neelufar Payrovnaziri
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Samson Mataraso
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yeasul Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Camilo Espinosa
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alan L Chang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Martin Becker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Edward J Fox
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - M Ryan Corces
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nima Aghaeepour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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27
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Abstract
Organismal aging exhibits wide-ranging hallmarks in divergent cell types across tissues, organs, and systems. The advancement of single-cell technologies and generation of rich datasets have afforded the scientific community the opportunity to decode these hallmarks of aging at an unprecedented scope and resolution. In this review, we describe the technological advancements and bioinformatic methodologies enabling data interpretation at the cellular level. Then, we outline the application of such technologies for decoding aging hallmarks and potential intervention targets and summarize common themes and context-specific molecular features in representative organ systems across the body. Finally, we provide a brief summary of available databases relevant for aging research and present an outlook on the opportunities in this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; ,
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Chi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China;
| | - Yusheng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; ,
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhejun Ji
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Si Wang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China;
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China;
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guang-Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; ,
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China;
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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28
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Wilkerson JR, Ifrim MF, Valdez-Sinon AN, Hahn P, Bowles JE, Molinaro G, Janusz-Kaminska A, Bassell GJ, Huber KM. FMRP phosphorylation and interactions with Cdh1 regulate association with dendritic RNA granules and MEF2-triggered synapse elimination. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 182:106136. [PMID: 37120096 PMCID: PMC10370323 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106136] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) is necessary for experience-dependent, developmental synapse elimination and the loss of this process may underlie the excess dendritic spines and hyperconnectivity of cortical neurons in Fragile X Syndrome, a common inherited form of intellectual disability and autism. Little is known of the signaling pathways that regulate synapse elimination and if or how FMRP is regulated during this process. We have characterized a model of synapse elimination in CA1 neurons of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures that is induced by expression of the active transcription factor Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 (MEF2) and relies on postsynaptic FMRP. MEF2-induced synapse elimination is deficient in Fmr1 KO CA1 neurons, and is rescued by acute (24 h), postsynaptic and cell autonomous reexpression of FMRP in CA1 neurons. FMRP is an RNA binding protein that suppresses mRNA translation. Derepression is induced by posttranslational mechanisms downstream of metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling. Dephosphorylation of FMRP at S499 triggers ubiquitination and degradation of FMRP which then relieves translation suppression and promotes synthesis of proteins encoded by target mRNAs. Whether this mechanism functions in synapse elimination is not known. Here we demonstrate that phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of FMRP at S499 are both necessary for synapse elimination as well as interaction of FMRP with its E3 ligase for FMRP, APC/Cdh1. Using a bimolecular ubiquitin-mediated fluorescence complementation (UbFC) assay, we demonstrate that MEF2 promotes ubiquitination of FMRP in CA1 neurons that relies on activity and interaction with APC/Cdh1. Our results suggest a model where MEF2 regulates posttranslational modifications of FMRP via APC/Cdh1 to regulate translation of proteins necessary for synapse elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Wilkerson
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Marius F Ifrim
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Patricia Hahn
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob E Bowles
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Gary J Bassell
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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29
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Udeochu JC, Amin S, Huang Y, Fan L, Torres ERS, Carling GK, Liu B, McGurran H, Coronas-Samano G, Kauwe G, Mousa GA, Wong MY, Ye P, Nagiri RK, Lo I, Holtzman J, Corona C, Yarahmady A, Gill MT, Raju RM, Mok SA, Gong S, Luo W, Zhao M, Tracy TE, Ratan RR, Tsai LH, Sinha SC, Gan L. Tau activation of microglial cGAS-IFN reduces MEF2C-mediated cognitive resilience. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:737-750. [PMID: 37095396 PMCID: PMC10166855 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01315-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) precede clinical symptoms by years, indicating a period of cognitive resilience before the onset of dementia. Here, we report that activation of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) diminishes cognitive resilience by decreasing the neuronal transcriptional network of myocyte enhancer factor 2c (MEF2C) through type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling. Pathogenic tau activates cGAS and IFN-I responses in microglia, in part mediated by cytosolic leakage of mitochondrial DNA. Genetic ablation of Cgas in mice with tauopathy diminished the microglial IFN-I response, preserved synapse integrity and plasticity and protected against cognitive impairment without affecting the pathogenic tau load. cGAS ablation increased, while activation of IFN-I decreased, the neuronal MEF2C expression network linked to cognitive resilience in AD. Pharmacological inhibition of cGAS in mice with tauopathy enhanced the neuronal MEF2C transcriptional network and restored synaptic integrity, plasticity and memory, supporting the therapeutic potential of targeting the cGAS-IFN-MEF2C axis to improve resilience against AD-related pathological insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe C Udeochu
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sadaf Amin
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Yige Huang
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Fan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eileen Ruth S Torres
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gillian K Carling
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bangyan Liu
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hugo McGurran
- The Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Guillermo Coronas-Samano
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Grant Kauwe
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Gergey Alzaem Mousa
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Man Ying Wong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pearly Ye
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ravi Kumar Nagiri
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iris Lo
- The Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Julia Holtzman
- The Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carlo Corona
- Burke Neurological Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Allan Yarahmady
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael T Gill
- The Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ravikiran M Raju
- The Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sue-Ann Mok
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shiaoching Gong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wenjie Luo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mingrui Zhao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tara E Tracy
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Rajiv R Ratan
- Burke Neurological Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- The Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Subhash C Sinha
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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30
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Pao PC, Seo J, Lee A, Kritskiy O, Patnaik D, Penney J, Raju RM, Geigenmuller U, Silva MC, Lucente DE, Gusella JF, Dickerson BC, Loon A, Yu MX, Bula M, Yu M, Haggarty SJ, Tsai LH. A Cdk5-derived peptide inhibits Cdk5/p25 activity and improves neurodegenerative phenotypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217864120. [PMID: 37043533 PMCID: PMC10120002 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217864120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activity of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk5) has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. This deleterious effect is mediated by pathological cleavage of the Cdk5 activator p35 into the truncated product p25, leading to prolonged Cdk5 activation and altered substrate specificity. Elevated p25 levels have been reported in humans and rodents with neurodegeneration, and the benefit of genetically blocking p25 production has been demonstrated previously in rodent and human neurodegenerative models. Here, we report a 12-amino-acid-long peptide fragment derived from Cdk5 (Cdk5i) that is considerably smaller than existing peptide inhibitors of Cdk5 (P5 and CIP) but shows high binding affinity toward the Cdk5/p25 complex, disrupts the interaction of Cdk5 with p25, and lowers Cdk5/p25 kinase activity. When tagged with a fluorophore (FITC) and the cell-penetrating transactivator of transcription (TAT) sequence, the Cdk5i-FT peptide exhibits cell- and brain-penetrant properties and confers protection against neurodegenerative phenotypes associated with Cdk5 hyperactivity in cell and mouse models of neurodegeneration, highlighting Cdk5i's therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Chieh Pao
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Jinsoo Seo
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute for Science and Technology, Daegu42988, South Korea
| | - Audrey Lee
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Oleg Kritskiy
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Debasis Patnaik
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Jay Penney
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Ravikiran M. Raju
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Ute Geigenmuller
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - M. Catarina Silva
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Diane E. Lucente
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
- Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit, Gerontology Research Unit, and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA02129
| | - James F. Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Bradford C. Dickerson
- Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit, Gerontology Research Unit, and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA02129
| | - Anjanet Loon
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Margaret X. Yu
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Michael Bula
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Melody Yu
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Stephen J. Haggarty
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
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31
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Falkowska M, Ntamati NR, Nevian NE, Nevian T, Acuña MA. Environmental enrichment promotes resilience to neuropathic pain-induced depression and correlates with decreased excitability of the anterior cingulate cortex. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1139205. [PMID: 37008999 PMCID: PMC10060563 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1139205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is a common comorbidity of chronic pain with many patients being affected. However, efficient pharmacological treatment strategies are still lacking. Therefore, it is desirable to find additional alternative approaches. Environmental enrichment has been suggested as a method to alleviate pain-induced depression. However, the neuronal mechanisms of its beneficial effects are still elusive. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a central role in processing pain-related negative affect and chronic pain-induced plasticity in this region correlates with depressive symptoms. We studied the consequences of different durations of environmental enrichment on pain sensitivity and chronic pain-induced depression-like behaviors in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, we correlated the behavioral outcomes to the activity levels of pyramidal neurons in the ACC by analyzing their electrophysiological properties ex vivo. We found that early exposure to an enriched environment alone was not sufficient to cause resilience against pain-induced depression-like symptoms. However, extending the enrichment after the injury prevented the development of depression and reduced mechanical hypersensitivity. On the cellular level, increased neuronal excitability was associated with the depressive phenotype that was reversed by the enrichment. Therefore, neuronal excitability in the ACC was inversely correlated to the extended enrichment-induced resilience to depression. These results suggest that the improvement of environmental factors enhanced the resilience to developing chronic pain-related depression. Additionally, we confirmed the association between increased neuronal excitability in the ACC and depression-like states. Therefore, this non-pharmacological intervention could serve as a potential treatment strategy for comorbid symptoms of chronic pain.
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32
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The Role of MEF2 Transcription Factor Family in Neuronal Survival and Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043120. [PMID: 36834528 PMCID: PMC9963821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The family of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcription factors comprises four highly conserved members that play an important role in the nervous system. They appear in precisely defined time frames in the developing brain to turn on and turn off genes affecting growth, pruning and survival of neurons. MEF2s are known to dictate neuronal development, synaptic plasticity and restrict the number of synapses in the hippocampus, thus affecting learning and memory formation. In primary neurons, negative regulation of MEF2 activity by external stimuli or stress conditions is known to induce apoptosis, albeit the pro or antiapoptotic action of MEF2 depends on the neuronal maturation stage. By contrast, enhancement of MEF2 transcriptional activity protects neurons from apoptotic death both in vitro and in preclinical models of neurodegenerative diseases. A growing body of evidence places this transcription factor in the center of many neuropathologies associated with age-dependent neuronal dysfunctions or gradual but irreversible neuron loss. In this work, we discuss how the altered function of MEF2s during development and in adulthood affecting neuronal survival may be linked to neuropsychiatric disorders.
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33
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Murdock MH, Tsai LH. Insights into Alzheimer's disease from single-cell genomic approaches. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:181-195. [PMID: 36593328 PMCID: PMC10155598 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01222-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related disease pathologically defined by the deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain parenchyma. Single-cell profiling has shown that Alzheimer's dementia involves the complex interplay of virtually every major brain cell type. Here, we highlight cell-type-specific molecular perturbations in AD. We discuss how genomic information from single cells expands existing paradigms of AD pathogenesis and highlight new opportunities for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell H Murdock
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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34
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Boyle R, Connaughton M, McGlinchey E, Knight SP, De Looze C, Carey D, Stern Y, Robertson IH, Kenny RA, Whelan R. Connectome-based predictive modelling of cognitive reserve using task-based functional connectivity. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:490-510. [PMID: 36512321 PMCID: PMC10107737 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive reserve supports cognitive function in the presence of pathology or atrophy. Functional neuroimaging may enable direct and accurate measurement of cognitive reserve which could have considerable clinical potential. The present study aimed to develop and validate a measure of cognitive reserve using task-based fMRI data that could then be applied to independent resting-state data. Connectome-based predictive modelling with leave-one-out cross-validation was applied to predict a residual measure of cognitive reserve using task-based functional connectivity from the Cognitive Reserve/Reference Ability Neural Network studies (n = 220, mean age = 51.91 years, SD = 17.04 years). This model generated summary measures of connectivity strength that accurately predicted a residual measure of cognitive reserve in unseen participants. The theoretical validity of these measures was established via a positive correlation with a socio-behavioural proxy of cognitive reserve (verbal intelligence) and a positive correlation with global cognition, independent of brain structure. This fitted model was then applied to external test data: resting-state functional connectivity data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA, n = 294, mean age = 68.3 years, SD = 7.18 years). The network-strength predicted measures were not positively associated with a residual measure of cognitive reserve nor with measures of verbal intelligence and global cognition. The present study demonstrated that task-based functional connectivity data can be used to generate theoretically valid measures of cognitive reserve. Further work is needed to establish if, and how, measures of cognitive reserve derived from task-based functional connectivity can be applied to independent resting-state data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory Boyle
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Trinity College Institute of NeuroscienceTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Michael Connaughton
- Trinity College Institute of NeuroscienceTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Eimear McGlinchey
- School of Nursing and MidwiferyTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
- Global Brain Health InstituteTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Silvin P. Knight
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Céline De Looze
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Daniel Carey
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of NeurologyColumbia UniversityNew York CityNew YorkUSA
| | - Ian H. Robertson
- Global Brain Health InstituteTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Rose Anne Kenny
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
- Mercer's Institute for Successful AgeingSt. James's HospitalDublinIreland
| | - Robert Whelan
- Trinity College Institute of NeuroscienceTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
- Global Brain Health InstituteTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
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35
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Zhang Y, Yang X, Guo L, Xu X, Chen B, Ma X, Li Y. The association between leisure activity patterns and the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1080566. [PMID: 36710853 PMCID: PMC9880281 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1080566] [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: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The study aimed to identify leisure activity patterns among older adults and explore the differences in the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) of these patterns. Methods A total of 352 older adults aged ≥ 65 years in Shijiazhuang were enrolled in this study from June to September 2021. Their leisure activities and cognition were evaluated. Latent class analysis and logistic regression models were used for analysis. The manuscript was organized according to the STROBE guidelines. Results We identified three latent classes of leisure activities: multidomain activities (MDA) class (55%), self-improvement activities (SIA) class (21%), and family-centered activities (FCA) class (24%). Three latent classes significantly differed in general characteristics (gender, education, and body mass index) and the prevalence of MCI. The prevalence of MCI was 3.694 times higher in older adults in the FCA class than in older adults in the MDA class (OR = 3.694, P < 0.001) and 2.573 times higher in older adults in the SIA class (OR = 2.573, P = 0.036). Conclusion Patterns of low participation in intellectual activities were associated with MCI. Identifying the heterogeneity in leisure activity engagement in later life was critical for tailoring interventions and designing programs that can improve the cognitive function of older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zhang
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xinxin Yang
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Linlin Guo
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xinyi Xu
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Bingyu Chen
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Department of Neurology, Hebei Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yan Li
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China,*Correspondence: Yan Li ✉
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36
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Lissek T. Activity-Dependent Induction of Younger Biological Phenotypes. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2200119. [PMID: 35976161 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In several mammalian species, including humans, complex stimulation patterns such as cognitive and physical exercise lead to improvements in organ function, organism health and performance, as well as possibly longer lifespans. A framework is introduced here in which activity-dependent transcriptional programs, induced by these environmental stimuli, move somatic cells such as neurons and muscle cells toward a state that resembles younger cells to allow remodeling and adaptation of the organism. This cellular adaptation program targets several process classes that are heavily implicated in aging, such as mitochondrial metabolism, cell-cell communication, and epigenetic information processing, and leads to functional improvements in these areas. The activity-dependent gene program (ADGP) can be seen as a natural, endogenous cellular reprogramming mechanism that provides deep insight into the principles of inducible improvements in cell and organism function and can guide the development of therapeutic approaches for longevity. Here, these ADGPs are analyzed, exemplary critical molecular nexus points such as cAMP response element-binding protein, myocyte enhancer factor 2, serum response factor, and c-Fos are identified, and it is explored how one may leverage them to prevent, attenuate, and reverse human aging-related decline of body function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Lissek
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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37
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Nuthikattu S, Milenkovic D, Norman JE, Rutledge J, Villablanca A. The Brain’s Microvascular Response to High Glycemia and to the Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Is Sexually Dimorphic. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14173451. [PMID: 36079709 PMCID: PMC9460226 DOI: 10.3390/nu14173451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological sex and a high glycemic diet (HGD) contribute to dementia, yet little is known about the operative molecular mechanisms. Our goal was to understand the differences between males and females in the multi-genomic response of the hippocampal microvasculature to the HGD, and whether there was vasculoprotection via the inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEHI). Adult wild type mice fed high or low glycemic diets for 12 weeks, with or without an sEHI inhibitor (t-AUCB), had hippocampal microvessels isolated by laser-capture microdissection. Differential gene expression was determined by microarray and integrated multi-omic bioinformatic analyses. The HGD induced opposite effects in males and females: the HGD-upregulated genes were involved in neurodegeneration or neuroinflammation in males, whereas in females they downregulated the same pathways, favoring neuroprotection. In males, the HGD was associated with a greater number of clinical diseases than in females, the sEHI downregulated genes involved in neurodegenerative diseases to a greater extent with the HGD and compared to females. In females, the sEHI downregulated genes involved in endothelial cell functions to a greater extent with the LGD and compared to males. Our work has potentially important implications for sex-specific therapeutic targets for vascular dementia and cardiovascular diseases in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dragan Milenkovic
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Norman
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - John Rutledge
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Amparo Villablanca
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Correspondence: mail:; Tel.: +1-530-752-0718; Fax: +1-530-752-3264
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38
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Single Cell/Nucleus Transcriptomics Comparison in Zebrafish and Humans Reveals Common and Distinct Molecular Responses to Alzheimer’s Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111807. [PMID: 35681503 PMCID: PMC9180693 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis is significantly reduced in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is a potential therapeutic target. Contrary to humans, a zebrafish can regenerate its diseased brain, and thus is ideal for studying neurogenesis. To compare the AD-related molecular pathways between humans and zebrafish, we compared single cell or nuclear transcriptomic data from a zebrafish amyloid toxicity model and its controls (N = 12) with the datasets of two human adult brains (N = 10 and N = 48 (Microglia)), and one fetal brain (N = 10). Approximately 95.4% of the human and zebrafish cells co-clustered. Within each cell type, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), enriched KEGG pathways, and gene ontology terms. We studied synergistic and non-synergistic DEGs to point at either common or uniquely altered mechanisms across species. Using the top DEGs, a high concordance in gene expression changes between species was observed in neuronal clusters. On the other hand, the molecular pathways affected by AD in zebrafish astroglia differed from humans in favor of the neurogenic pathways. The integration of zebrafish and human transcriptomes shows that the zebrafish can be used as a tool to study the cellular response to amyloid proteinopathies. Uniquely altered pathways in zebrafish could highlight the specific mechanisms underlying neurogenesis, which are absent in humans, and could serve as potential candidates for therapeutic developments.
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39
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Neuner SM, Telpoukhovskaia M, Menon V, O'Connell KMS, Hohman TJ, Kaczorowski CC. Translational approaches to understanding resilience to Alzheimer's disease. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:369-383. [PMID: 35307206 PMCID: PMC9035083 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Individuals who maintain cognitive function despite high levels of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated pathology are said to be 'resilient' to AD. Identifying mechanisms underlying resilience represents an exciting therapeutic opportunity. Human studies have identified a number of molecular and genetic factors associated with resilience, but the complexity of these cohorts prohibits a complete understanding of which factors are causal or simply correlated with resilience. Genetically and phenotypically diverse mouse models of AD provide new and translationally relevant opportunities to identify and prioritize new resilience mechanisms for further cross-species investigation. This review will discuss insights into resilience gained from both human and animal studies and highlight future approaches that may help translate these insights into therapeutics designed to prevent or delay AD-related dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Neuner
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | | | - Vilas Menon
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kristen M S O'Connell
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; Tufts University, School of Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA; The University of Maine, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Timothy J Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Catherine C Kaczorowski
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; Tufts University, School of Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA; The University of Maine, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
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40
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Liu B, Ou WC, Fang L, Tian CW, Xiong Y. Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2A Plays a Central Role in the Regulatory Networks of Cellular Physiopathology. Aging Dis 2022; 14:331-349. [PMID: 37008050 PMCID: PMC10017154 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.0825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell regulatory networks are the determinants of cellular homeostasis. Any alteration to these networks results in the disturbance of cellular homeostasis and induces cells towards different fates. Myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) is one of four members of the MEF2 family of transcription factors (MEF2A-D). MEF2A is highly expressed in all tissues and is involved in many cell regulatory networks including growth, differentiation, survival and death. It is also necessary for heart development, myogenesis, neuronal development and differentiation. In addition, many other important functions of MEF2A have been reported. Recent studies have shown that MEF2A can regulate different, and sometimes even mutually exclusive cellular events. How MEF2A regulates opposing cellular life processes is an interesting topic and worthy of further exploration. Here, we reviewed almost all MEF2A research papers published in English and summarized them into three main sections: 1) the association of genetic variants in MEF2A with cardiovascular disease, 2) the physiopathological functions of MEF2A, and 3) the regulation of MEF2A activity and its regulatory targets. In summary, multiple regulatory patterns for MEF2A activity and a variety of co-factors cause its transcriptional activity to switch to different target genes, thereby regulating opposing cell life processes. The association of MEF2A with numerous signaling molecules establishes a central role for MEF2A in the regulatory network of cellular physiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benrong Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Vascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Benrong Liu, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong, China. E-mail: ; or Yujuan Xiong, Panyu Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, China. .
| | - Wen-Chao Ou
- Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Vascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lei Fang
- Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Vascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Chao-Wei Tian
- General Practice, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yujuan Xiong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Panyu Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Benrong Liu, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong, China. E-mail: ; or Yujuan Xiong, Panyu Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, China. .
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