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Gros A, Furlan FM, Rouglan V, Favereaux A, Bontempi B, Morel JL. Physical exercise restores adult neurogenesis deficits induced by simulated microgravity. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:69. [PMID: 38906877 PMCID: PMC11192769 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00411-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairments have been reported in astronauts during spaceflights and documented in ground-based models of simulated microgravity (SMG) in animals. However, the neuronal causes of these behavioral effects remain largely unknown. We explored whether adult neurogenesis, known to be a crucial plasticity mechanism supporting memory processes, is altered by SMG. Adult male Long-Evans rats were submitted to the hindlimb unloading model of SMG. We studied the proliferation, survival and maturation of newborn cells in the following neurogenic niches: the subventricular zone (SVZ)/olfactory bulb (OB) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, at different delays following various periods of SMG. SMG exposure for 7 days, but not shorter periods of 6 or 24 h, resulted in a decrease of newborn cell proliferation restricted to the DG. SMG also induced a decrease in short-term (7 days), but not long-term (21 days), survival of newborn cells in the SVZ/OB and DG. Physical exercise, used as a countermeasure, was able to reverse the decrease in newborn cell survival observed in the SVZ and DG. In addition, depending on the duration of SMG periods, transcriptomic analysis revealed modifications in gene expression involved in neurogenesis. These findings highlight the sensitivity of adult neurogenesis to gravitational environmental factors during a transient period, suggesting that there is a period of adaptation of physiological systems to this new environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Gros
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, F-75001, Paris, France
| | - Fandilla Marie Furlan
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Genetics & Evolution, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Rouglan
- CNRS, IINS, UMR 5297, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Bruno Bontempi
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Luc Morel
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
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Li Z, Wu J, Zhao T, Wei Y, Xu Y, Liu Z, Li X, Chen X. Microglial activation in spaceflight and microgravity: potential risk of cognitive dysfunction and poor neural health. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1296205. [PMID: 38425432 PMCID: PMC10902453 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1296205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the increased crewed spaceflights in recent years, it is vital to understand how the space environment affects human health. A lack of gravitational force is known to risk multiple physiological functions of astronauts, particularly damage to the central nervous system (CNS). As innate immune cells of the CNS, microglia can transition from a quiescent state to a pathological state, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to neuroinflammation. There are reports indicating that microglia can be activated by simulating microgravity or exposure to galactic cosmic rays (GCR). Consequently, microglia may play a role in the development of neuroinflammation during spaceflight. Prolonged spaceflight sessions raise concerns about the chronic activation of microglia, which could give rise to various neurological disorders, posing concealed risks to the neural health of astronauts. This review summarizes the risks associated with neural health owing to microglial activation and explores the stressors that trigger microglial activation in the space environment. These stressors include GCR, microgravity, and exposure to isolation and stress. Of particular focus is the activation of microglia under microgravity conditions, along with the proposal of a potential mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Li
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiarui Wu
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyuan Zhao
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yiyun Wei
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yajing Xu
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zongjian Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xuechai Chen
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
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Mitochondria-Targeted Human Catalase in the Mouse Longevity MCAT Model Mitigates Head-Tilt Bedrest-Induced Neuro-Inflammation in the Hippocampus. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12111838. [DOI: 10.3390/life12111838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Microgravity (modeled by head-tilt bedrest and hind-limb unloading), experienced during prolonged spaceflight, results in neurological consequences, central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, and potentially impairment during the performance of critical tasks. Similar pathologies are observed in bedrest, sedentary lifestyle, and muscle disuse on Earth. In our previous study, we saw that head-tilt bedrest together with social isolation upregulated the milieu of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus and plasma. These changes were mitigated in a MCAT mouse model overexpressing human catalase in the mitochondria, pointing out the importance of ROS signaling in this stress response. Here, we used a head-tilt model in socially housed mice to tease out the effects of head-tilt bedrest without isolation. In order to find the underlying molecular mechanisms that provoked the cytokine response, we measured CD68, an indicator of microglial activation in the hippocampus, as well as changes in normal in-cage behavior. We hypothesized that hindlimb unloading (HU) will elicit microglial hippocampal activations, which will be mitigated in the MCAT ROS-quenching mice model. Indeed, we saw an elevation of the activated microglia CD68 marker following HU in the hippocampus, and this pathology was mitigated in MCAT mice. Additionally, we identified cytokines in the hippocampus, which had significant positive correlations with CD68 and negative correlations with exploratory behaviors, indicating a link between neuroinflammation and behavioral consequences. Unveiling a correlation between molecular and behavioral changes could reveal a biomarker indicative of these responses and could also result in a potential target for the treatment and prevention of cognitive changes following long space missions and/or muscle disuse on Earth.
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Guo J, Song C, Liu Y, Wu X, Dong W, Zhu H, Xiang Z, Qin C. Characteristics of gut microbiota in representative mice strains: Implications for biological research. Animal Model Exp Med 2022; 5:337-349. [PMID: 35892142 PMCID: PMC9434578 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Experimental animals are used to study physiological phenomena, pathological mechanisms, and disease prevention. The gut microbiome is known as a potential confounding factor for inconsistent data from preclinical studies. Although many gut microbiome studies have been conducted in recent decades, few have focused on gut microbiota fluctuation among representative mouse strains. Methods A range of frequently used mouse strains were selected from 34 isolation packages representing disease‐related animal (DRA), immunity defect animal (IDA), or gene‐editing animal (GEA) from the BALB/c and C57BL/6J backgrounds together with normal mice, and their microbial genomic DNA were isolated from mouse feces to sequence for the exploration of gut microbiota. Results Mouse background strain, classification, introduced source, introduced year, and reproduction type significantly affected the gut microbiota structure (p < 0.001 for all parameters), with background strain contributing the greatest influence (R2 = 0.237). In normal groups, distinct gut microbiota types existed in different mouse strains. Sixty‐four core operational taxonomic units were obtained from normal mice, and 12 belonged to Lactobacillus. Interestingly, the gut microbiota in C57BL/6J was more stable than that in BALB/c mice. Furthermore, the gut microbiota in the IDA, GEA, and DRA groups significantly differed from that in normal groups (p < 0.001 for all). Compared with the normal group, there was a significantly higher Chao1 and Shannon index (p < 0.001 for all) in the IDA, GEA, and DRA groups. Markedly changed classes occurred with Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The abundances of Helicobacter, Blautia, Enterobacter, Bacillus, Clostridioides, Paenibacillus, and Clostridiales all significantly decreased in the IDA, GEA, and DRA groups, whereas those of Saccharimonas, Rikenella, and Odoribacter all significantly increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Guo
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chenchen Song
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yunbo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xuying Wu
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiguang Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan Qin
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Health, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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