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Thapa R, Ahmad Bhat A, Shahwan M, Ali H, PadmaPriya G, Bansal P, Rajotiya S, Barwal A, Siva Prasad GV, Pramanik A, Khan A, Hing Goh B, Dureja H, Kumar Singh S, Dua K, Gupta G. Proteostasis disruption and senescence in Alzheimer's disease pathways to neurodegeneration. Brain Res 2024; 1845:149202. [PMID: 39216694 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disease associated with behavioral abnormalities, memory loss, and cognitive impairment that cause major causes of dementia in the elderly. The pathogenetic processes cause complex effects on brain function and AD progression. The proper protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, is critical for cell health. AD causes the buildup of misfolded proteins, particularly tau and amyloid-beta, to break down proteostasis, such aggregates are toxic to neurons and play a critical role in AD pathogenesis. The rise of cellular senescence is accompanied by aging, marked by irreversible cell cycle arrest and the release of pro-inflammatory proteins. Senescent cell build-up in the brains of AD patients exacerbates neuroinflammation and neuronal degeneration. These cells senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) also disturbs the brain environment. When proteostasis failure and cellular senescence coalesce, a cycle is generated that compounds each other. While senescent cells contribute to proteostasis breakdown through inflammatory and degradative processes, misfolded proteins induce cellular stress and senescence. The principal aspects of the neurodegenerative processes in AD are the interaction of cellular senescence and proteostasis failure. This review explores the interconnected roles of proteostasis disruption and cellular senescence in the pathways leading to neurodegeneration in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riya Thapa
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Asif Ahmad Bhat
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Moyad Shahwan
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE
| | - Haider Ali
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, India; Department of Pharmacology, Kyrgyz State Medical College, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
| | - G PadmaPriya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Pooja Bansal
- Department of Allied Healthcare and Sciences, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan-303012, India
| | - Sumit Rajotiya
- NIMS Institute of Pharmacy, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
| | - Amit Barwal
- Chandigarh Pharmacy College, Chandigarh Group of College, Jhanjeri, Mohali - 140307, Punjab, India
| | - G V Siva Prasad
- Department of Chemistry, Raghu Engineering College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh-531162, India
| | - Atreyi Pramanik
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Division of Research and Innovation, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Abida Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Sunway Biofunctional Molecules Discovery Centre (SBMDC), School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway, Malaysia; Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia; Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory Research Group (BMEX), School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 47500, Malaysia
| | - Harish Dureja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001, India
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India; Faculty of Health, Australian Research Center in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Kamal Dua
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Center in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE; Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab 140401, India.
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2
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Pan J, Fores-Martos J, Delpirou Nouh C, Jensen TD, Vallejo K, Cayrol R, Ahmadian S, Ashley EA, Greicius MD, Cobos I. Deciphering glial contributions to CSF1R-related disorder via single-nuclear transcriptomic profiling: a case study. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:139. [PMID: 39217398 PMCID: PMC11365264 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01853-5] [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: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
CSF1R-related disorder (CSF1R-RD) is a neurodegenerative condition that predominantly affects white matter due to genetic alterations in the CSF1R gene, which is expressed by microglia. We studied an elderly man with a hereditary, progressive dementing disorder of unclear etiology. Standard genetic testing for leukodystrophy and other neurodegenerative conditions was negative. Brain autopsy revealed classic features of adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP), including confluent white matter degeneration with axonal spheroids and pigmented glial cells in the affected white matter, consistent with CSF1R-RD. Subsequent long-read sequencing identified a novel deletion in CSF1R that was not detectable with short-read exome sequencing. To gain insight into potential mechanisms underlying white matter degeneration in CSF1R-RD, we studied multiple brain regions exhibiting varying degrees of white matter pathology. We found decreased CSF1R transcript and protein across brain regions, including intact white matter. Single nuclear RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) identified two disease-associated microglial cell states: lipid-laden microglia (expressing GPNMB, ATG7, LGALS1, LGALS3) and inflammatory microglia (expressing IL2RA, ATP2C1, FCGBP, VSIR, SESN3), along with a small population of CD44+ peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages exhibiting migratory and phagocytic signatures. GPNMB+ lipid-laden microglia with ameboid morphology represented the end-stage disease microglia state. Disease-associated oligodendrocytes exhibited cell stress signatures and dysregulated apoptosis-related genes. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) displayed a failure in their differentiation into mature myelin-forming oligodendrocytes, as evidenced by upregulated LRP1, PDGFRA, SOX5, NFIA, and downregulated NKX2-2, NKX6.2, SOX4, SOX8, TCF7L2, YY1, ZNF488. Overall, our findings highlight microglia-oligodendroglia crosstalk in demyelination, with CSF1R dysfunction promoting phagocytic and inflammatory microglia states, an arrest in OPC differentiation, and oligodendrocyte depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Pan
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jaume Fores-Martos
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Claire Delpirou Nouh
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tanner D Jensen
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kristen Vallejo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Romain Cayrol
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Saman Ahmadian
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Euan A Ashley
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael D Greicius
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Inma Cobos
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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3
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O'Shea TM, Ao Y, Wang S, Ren Y, Cheng AL, Kawaguchi R, Shi Z, Swarup V, Sofroniew MV. Derivation and transcriptional reprogramming of border-forming wound repair astrocytes after spinal cord injury or stroke in mice. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1505-1521. [PMID: 38907165 PMCID: PMC11303254 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01684-6] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) lesions become surrounded by neuroprotective borders of newly proliferated reactive astrocytes; however, fundamental features of these cells are poorly understood. Here we show that following spinal cord injury or stroke, 90% and 10% of border-forming astrocytes derive, respectively, from proliferating local astrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in adult mice of both sexes. Temporal transcriptome analysis, single-nucleus RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry show that after focal CNS injury, local mature astrocytes dedifferentiate, proliferate and become transcriptionally reprogrammed to permanently altered new states, with persisting downregulation of molecules associated with astrocyte-neuron interactions and upregulation of molecules associated with wound healing, microbial defense and interactions with stromal and immune cells. These wound repair astrocytes share morphologic and transcriptional features with perimeningeal limitans astrocytes and are the predominant source of neuroprotective borders that re-establish CNS integrity around lesions by separating neural parenchyma from stromal and immune cells as occurs throughout the healthy CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M O'Shea
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yan Ao
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shinong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yilong Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Amy L Cheng
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zechuan Shi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Zhao Z, Liu A, Citu C, Enduru N, Chen X, Manuel A, Sinha T, Gorski D, Fernandes B, Yu M, Schulz P, Simon L, Soto C. Single-nucleus multiomics reveals the disrupted regulatory programs in three brain regions of sporadic early-onset Alzheimer's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4622123. [PMID: 39149497 PMCID: PMC11326379 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4622123/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Sporadic early-onset Alzheimer's disease (sEOAD) represents a significant but less-studied subtype of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we generated a single-nucleus multiome atlas derived from the postmortem prefrontal cortex, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus of nine individuals with or without sEOAD. Comprehensive analyses were conducted to delineate cell type-specific transcriptomic changes and linked candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) across brain regions. We prioritized seven conservative transcription factors in glial cells in multiple brain regions, including RFX4 in astrocytes and IKZF1 in microglia, which are implicated in regulating sEOAD-associated genes. Moreover, we identified the top 25 altered intercellular signaling between glial cells and neurons, highlighting their regulatory potential on gene expression in receiver cells. We reported 38 cCREs linked to sEOAD-associated genes overlapped with late-onset AD risk loci, and sEOAD cCREs enriched in neuropsychiatric disorder risk loci. This atlas helps dissect transcriptional and chromatin dynamics in sEOAD, providing a key resource for AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andi Liu
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Citu Citu
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
| | - Nitesh Enduru
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xian Chen
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
| | - Astrid Manuel
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
| | - Tirthankar Sinha
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Damian Gorski
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Brisa Fernandes
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
| | - Meifang Yu
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
| | - Paul Schulz
- Department of Neurology, McGovern School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lukas Simon
- Therapeutic Innovation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Claudio Soto
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Chandra S, Vassar R. The role of the gut microbiome in the regulation of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease. Neurotherapeutics 2024:e00425. [PMID: 39054180 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common cause of dementia. AD is characterized pathologically by proteinaceous aggregates composed of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau as well as progressive neurodegeneration. Concurrently with the buildup of protein aggregates, a strong neuroinflammatory response, in the form of reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis, occurs in the AD brain. It has recently been shown that the gut microbiome (GMB), composed of trillions of bacteria in the human intestine, can regulate both reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis in the context of both amyloidosis and tauopathy. Many studies have implicated microglia in these processes. However, growing evidence suggests that interactions between the GMB and astrocytes have a much larger role than previously thought. In this review, we summarize evidence regarding the gut microbiome in the control of reactive astrocytosis in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidhanth Chandra
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Robert Vassar
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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6
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Parra Bravo C, Naguib SA, Gan L. Cellular and pathological functions of tau. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9. [PMID: 39014245 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is involved in various cellular processes, including having a canonical role in binding and stabilization of microtubules in neurons. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases marked by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein aggregates in neurons, as seen, for example, in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Mutations in tau coding regions or that disrupt tau mRNA splicing, tau post-translational modifications and cellular stress factors (such as oxidative stress and inflammation) increase the tendency of tau to aggregate and interfere with its clearance. Pathological tau is strongly implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the propagation of tau aggregates is associated with disease severity. Recent technological advancements, including cryo-electron microscopy and disease models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, have increased our understanding of tau-related pathology in neurodegenerative conditions. Substantial progress has been made in deciphering tau aggregate structures and the molecular mechanisms that underlie protein aggregation and toxicity. In this Review, we discuss recent insights into the diverse cellular functions of tau and the pathology of tau inclusions and explore the potential for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah A Naguib
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Liu A, Citu C, Enduru N, Chen X, Manuel AM, Sinha T, Gorski D, Fernandes BS, Yu M, Schulz PE, Simon LM, Soto C, Zhao Z. Single-nucleus multiomics reveals the disrupted regulatory programs in three brain regions of sporadic early-onset Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.25.600720. [PMID: 38979371 PMCID: PMC11230393 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.25.600720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Sporadic early-onset Alzheimer's disease (sEOAD) represents a significant but less-studied subtype of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we generated a single-nucleus multiome atlas derived from the postmortem prefrontal cortex, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus of nine individuals with or without sEOAD. Comprehensive analyses were conducted to delineate cell type-specific transcriptomic changes and linked candidate cis- regulatory elements (cCREs) across brain regions. We prioritized seven conservative transcription factors in glial cells in multiple brain regions, including RFX4 in astrocytes and IKZF1 in microglia, which are implicated in regulating sEOAD-associated genes. Moreover, we identified the top 25 altered intercellular signaling between glial cells and neurons, highlighting their regulatory potential on gene expression in receiver cells. We reported 38 cCREs linked to sEOAD-associated genes overlapped with late-onset AD risk loci, and sEOAD cCREs enriched in neuropsychiatric disorder risk loci. This atlas helps dissect transcriptional and chromatin dynamics in sEOAD, providing a key resource for AD research.
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8
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Mallach A, Zielonka M, van Lieshout V, An Y, Khoo JH, Vanheusden M, Chen WT, Moechars D, Arancibia-Carcamo IL, Fiers M, De Strooper B. Microglia-astrocyte crosstalk in the amyloid plaque niche of an Alzheimer's disease mouse model, as revealed by spatial transcriptomics. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114216. [PMID: 38819990 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The amyloid plaque niche is a pivotal hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we employ two high-resolution spatial transcriptomics (ST) platforms, CosMx and Spatial Enhanced Resolution Omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), to characterize the transcriptomic alterations, cellular compositions, and signaling perturbations in the amyloid plaque niche in an AD mouse model. We discover heterogeneity in the cellular composition of plaque niches, marked by an increase in microglial accumulation. We profile the transcriptomic alterations of glial cells in the vicinity of plaques and conclude that the microglial response to plaques is consistent across different brain regions, while the astrocytic response is more heterogeneous. Meanwhile, as the microglial density of plaque niches increases, astrocytes acquire a more neurotoxic phenotype and play a key role in inducing GABAergic signaling and decreasing glutamatergic signaling in hippocampal neurons. We thus show that the accumulation of microglia around hippocampal plaques disrupts astrocytic signaling, in turn inducing an imbalance in neuronal synaptic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mallach
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Magdalena Zielonka
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle van Lieshout
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yanru An
- BGI Research, 49276 Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Marisa Vanheusden
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Discovery Biology, Muna Therapeutics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wei-Ting Chen
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Discovery Biology, Muna Therapeutics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daan Moechars
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - I Lorena Arancibia-Carcamo
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mark Fiers
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bart De Strooper
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
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9
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Adeoye T, Shah SI, Ullah G. Systematic Analysis of Biological Processes Reveals Gene Co-expression Modules Driving Pathway Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0429. [PMID: 38913039 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests as a complex systems pathology with intricate interplay among various genes and biological processes. Traditional differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, while commonly employed to characterize AD-driven perturbations, does not sufficiently capture the full spectrum of underlying biological processes. Utilizing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data from postmortem brain samples across key regions-middle temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex-we provide a comprehensive systematic analysis of disrupted processes in AD. We go beyond the DEG-centric analysis by integrating pathway activity analysis with weighted gene co-expression patterns to comprehensively map gene interconnectivity, identifying region- and cell-type-specific drivers of biological processes associated with AD. Our analysis reveals profound modular heterogeneity in neurons and glia as well as extensive AD-related functional disruptions. Co-expression networks highlighted the extended involvement of astrocytes and microglia in biological processes beyond neuroinflammation, such as calcium homeostasis, glutamate regulation, lipid metabolism, vesicle-mediated transport, and TOR signaling. We find limited representation of DEGs within dysregulated pathways across neurons and glial cells, suggesting that differential gene expression alone may not adequately represent the disease complexity. Further dissection of inferred gene modules revealed distinct dynamics of hub DEGs in neurons versus glia, suggesting that DEGs exert more impact on neurons compared to glial cells in driving modular dysregulations underlying perturbed biological processes. Interestingly, we observe an overall downregulation of astrocyte and microglia modules across all brain regions in AD, indicating a prevailing trend of functional repression in glial cells across these regions. Notable genes from the CALM and HSP90 families emerged as hub genes across neuronal modules in all brain regions, suggesting conserved roles as drivers of synaptic dysfunction in AD. Our findings demonstrate the importance of an integrated, systems-oriented approach combining pathway and network analysis to comprehensively understand the cell-type-specific roles of genes in AD-related biological processes.
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10
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Lorenzini L, Zanella L, Sannia M, Baldassarro VA, Moretti M, Cescatti M, Quadalti C, Baldi S, Bartolucci G, Di Gloria L, Ramazzotti M, Clavenzani P, Costanzini A, De Giorgio R, Amedei A, Calzà L, Giardino L. Experimental colitis in young Tg2576 mice accelerates the onset of an Alzheimer's-like clinical phenotype. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:116. [PMID: 38773640 PMCID: PMC11110243 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01471-2] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
Systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation affect the natural course of the sporadic form of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as supported by epidemiological and preclinical data, and several epidemiological studies indicate a higher prevalence of AD in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we explored whether colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in young, presymptomatic/preplaque mice worsens and/or anticipates age-dependent cognitive impairment in Tg2576, a widely used mouse model of AD. We demonstrated that DSS colitis induced in young Tg2576 mice anticipates the onset age of learning and memory deficit in the Morris water maze test. To explore potential mechanisms behind the acceleration of cognitive decline in Tg2576 mice by DSS colitis, we focused on gut microbiota, systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation markers. We observed a Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio change in Tg2576 DSS animals comparable to that of elderly Tg2576 mice, suggesting accelerated microbiota aging in Tg2576 DSS mice, a change not observed in C57BL6 DSS mice. We also observed substantial differences between Tg2576 and WT mice in several inflammation and neuroinflammation-related parameters as early as 3 months of age, well before plaque deposition, a picture which evolved rapidly (between 3 and 5.5 months of age) in contrast to Tg2576 and WT littermates not treated with DSS. In detail, following induction of DSS colitis, WT and Tg2576 mice exhibited contrasting features in the expression level of inflammation-evoked astrocyte-associated genes in the hippocampus. No changes in microglial features occurred in the hippocampus between the experimental groups, whereas a reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity was observed in Tg2576 vs. WT mice. This finding may reflect an atrophic, "loss-of-function" profile, further exacerbated by DSS where a decreased of GFAP mRNA expression level was detected. In conclusion, we suggest that as-yet unidentified peripheral mediators evoked by DSS colitis and involving the gut-brain axis emphasize an astrocyte "loss-of-function" profile present in young Tg2576 mice, leading to impaired synaptic morphological and functional integrity as a very early sign of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zanella
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Marzia Moretti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Corinne Quadalti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Simone Baldi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gianluca Bartolucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Leandro Di Gloria
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Ramazzotti
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Clavenzani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Costanzini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto De Giorgio
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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11
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Bukhari H, Nithianandam V, Battaglia RA, Cicalo A, Sarkar S, Comjean A, Hu Y, Leventhal MJ, Dong X, Feany MB. Transcriptional programs mediating neuronal toxicity and altered glial-neuronal signaling in a Drosophila knock-in tauopathy model. Genome Res 2024; 34:590-605. [PMID: 38599684 PMCID: PMC11146598 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278576.123] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Missense mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein TAU (current and approved symbol is MAPT) cause autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia. Multiple models of frontotemporal dementia based on transgenic expression of human TAU in experimental model organisms, including Drosophila, have been described. These models replicate key features of the human disease but do not faithfully recreate the genetic context of the human disorder. Here we use CRISPR-Cas-mediated gene editing to model frontotemporal dementia caused by the TAU P301L mutation by creating the orthologous mutation, P251L, in the endogenous Drosophila tau gene. Flies heterozygous or homozygous for Tau P251L display age-dependent neurodegeneration, display metabolic defects, and accumulate DNA damage in affected neurons. To understand the molecular events promoting neuronal dysfunction and death in knock-in flies, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on approximately 130,000 cells from brains of Tau P251L mutant and control flies. We found that expression of disease-associated mutant tau altered gene expression cell autonomously in all neuronal cell types identified. Gene expression was also altered in glial cells, suggestive of non-cell-autonomous regulation. Cell signaling pathways, including glial-neuronal signaling, were broadly dysregulated as were brain region and cell type-specific protein interaction networks and gene regulatory programs. In summary, we present here a genetic model of tauopathy that faithfully recapitulates the genetic context and phenotypic features of the human disease, and use the results of comprehensive single-cell sequencing analysis to outline pathways of neurotoxicity and highlight the potential role of non-cell-autonomous changes in glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Vanitha Nithianandam
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Rachel A Battaglia
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Anthony Cicalo
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Souvarish Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Aram Comjean
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Yanhui Hu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Matthew J Leventhal
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Xianjun Dong
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
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12
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Eisenbaum M, Pearson A, Ortiz C, Koprivica M, Cembran A, Mullan M, Crawford F, Ojo J, Bachmeier C. Repetitive head trauma and apoE4 induce chronic cerebrovascular alterations that impair tau elimination from the brain. Exp Neurol 2024; 374:114702. [PMID: 38301863 PMCID: PMC10922621 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114702] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (r-mTBI) sustained in the military or contact sports have been associated with the accumulation of extracellular tau in the brain, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative tauopathies. The expression of the apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) isoform has been associated with higher levels of tau in the brain, and worse clinical outcomes after r-mTBI, though the influence of apoE genotype on extracellular tau dynamics in the brain is poorly understood. We recently demonstrated that extracellular tau can be eliminated across blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is progressively impaired following r-mTBI. The current studies investigated the influence of repetitive mild TBI (r-mTBI) and apoE genotype on the elimination of extracellular solutes from the brain. Following intracortical injection of biotin-labeled tau into humanized apoE-Tr mice, the levels of exogenous tau residing in the brain of apoE4 mice were elevated compared to other isoforms, indicating reduced tau elimination. Additionally, we found exposure to r-mTBI increased tau residence in apoE2 mice, similar to our observations in E2FAD animals. Each of these findings may be the result of diminished tau efflux via LRP1 at the BBB, as LRP1 inhibition significantly reduced tau uptake in endothelial cells and decreased tau transit across an in vitro model of the BBB (basolateral-to-apical). Notably, we showed that injury and apoE status, (particularly apoE4) resulted in chronic alterations in BBB integrity, pericyte coverage, and AQP4 polarization. These aberrations coincided with an atypical reactive astrocytic gene signature indicative of diminished CSF-ISF exchange. Our work found that CSF movement was reduced in the chronic phase following r-mTBI (>18 months post injury) across all apoE genotypes. In summary, we show that apoE genotype strongly influences cerebrovascular homeostasis, which can lead to age-dependent deficiencies in the elimination of toxic proteins from the brain, like tau, particularly in the aftermath of head trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Fiona Crawford
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Joseph Ojo
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Corbin Bachmeier
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, USA
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13
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Butler ML, Pervaiz N, Ypsilantis P, Wang Y, Cammasola Breda J, Mazzilli S, Nicks R, Spurlock E, Hefti MM, Huber BR, Alvarez VE, Stein TD, Campbell JD, McKee AC, Cherry JD. Repetitive head impacts induce neuronal loss and neuroinflammation in young athletes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.26.586815. [PMID: 38585925 PMCID: PMC10996668 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.26.586815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Repetitive head impacts (RHI) sustained from contact sports are the largest risk factor for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed after death and the multicellular cascade of events that trigger initial hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) deposition remain unclear. Further, the symptoms endorsed by young individuals with early disease are not fully explained by the extent of p-tau deposition, severely hampering development of therapeutic interventions. Here, we show that RHI exposure associates with a multicellular response in young individuals (<51 years old) prior to the onset of CTE p-tau pathology that correlates with number of years of RHI exposure. Leveraging single nucleus RNA sequencing of tissue from 8 control, 9 RHI-exposed, and 11 low stage CTE individuals, we identify SPP1+ inflammatory microglia, angiogenic and inflamed endothelial cell profiles, reactive astrocytes, and altered synaptic gene expression in excitatory and inhibitory neurons in all individuals with exposure to RHI. Surprisingly, we also observe a significant loss of cortical sulcus layer 2/3 neurons in contact sport athletes compared to controls independent of p-tau pathology. These results provide robust evidence that multiple years of RHI exposure is sufficient to induce lasting cellular alterations that may underlie p-tau deposition and help explain the early clinical symptoms observed in young former contact sport athletes. Furthermore, these data identify specific cellular responses to repetitive head impacts that may direct future identification of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane L.M.D. Butler
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
| | - Nida Pervaiz
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | | | - Yichen Wang
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Julia Cammasola Breda
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Sarah Mazzilli
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | | | | | - Marco M. Hefti
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City IA, USA
| | - Bertrand R. Huber
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Victor E. Alvarez
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Joshua D. Campbell
- Section of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Ann C. McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Cherry
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
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14
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Adeoye T, Shah SI, Ullah G. Systematic Analysis of Biological Processes Reveals Gene Co-expression Modules Driving Pathway Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.15.585267. [PMID: 38559218 PMCID: PMC10980062 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests as a complex systems pathology with intricate interplay among various genes and biological processes. Traditional differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, while commonly employed to characterize AD-driven perturbations, does not sufficiently capture the full spectrum of underlying biological processes. Utilizing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data from postmortem brain samples across key regions-middle temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex-we provide a comprehensive systematic analysis of disrupted processes in AD. We go beyond the DEG-centric analysis by integrating pathway activity analysis with weighted gene co-expression patterns to comprehensively map gene interconnectivity, identifying region- and cell-type-specific drivers of biological processes associated with AD. Our analysis reveals profound modular heterogeneity in neurons and glia as well as extensive AD-related functional disruptions. Co-expression networks highlighted the extended involvement of astrocytes and microglia in biological processes beyond neuroinflammation, such as calcium homeostasis, glutamate regulation, lipid metabolism, vesicle-mediated transport, and TOR signaling. We find limited representation of DEGs within dysregulated pathways across neurons and glial cells, indicating that differential gene expression alone may not adequately represent the disease complexity. Further dissection of inferred gene modules revealed distinct dynamics of hub DEGs in neurons versus glia, highlighting the differential impact of DEGs on neurons compared to glial cells in driving modular dysregulations underlying perturbed biological processes. Interestingly, we note an overall downregulation of both astrocyte and microglia modules in AD across all brain regions, suggesting a prevailing trend of functional repression in glial cells across these regions. Notable genes, including those of the CALM and HSP90 family genes emerged as hub genes across neuronal modules in all brain regions, indicating conserved roles as drivers of synaptic dysfunction in AD. Our findings demonstrate the importance of an integrated, systems-oriented approach combining pathway and network analysis for a comprehensive understanding of the cell-type-specific roles of genes in AD-related biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Adeoye
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
| | - Syed I Shah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
| | - Ghanim Ullah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
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15
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Bukhari H, Nithianandam V, Battaglia RA, Cicalo A, Sarkar S, Comjean A, Hu Y, Leventhal MJ, Dong X, Feany MB. Transcriptional programs mediating neuronal toxicity and altered glial-neuronal signaling in a Drosophila knock-in tauopathy model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.02.578624. [PMID: 38352559 PMCID: PMC10862891 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.02.578624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Missense mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein tau cause autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia. Multiple models of frontotemporal dementia based on transgenic expression of human tau in experimental model organisms, including Drosophila, have been described. These models replicate key features of the human disease, but do not faithfully recreate the genetic context of the human disorder. Here we use CRISPR-Cas mediated gene editing to model frontotemporal dementia caused by the tau P301L mutation by creating the orthologous mutation, P251L, in the endogenous Drosophila tau gene. Flies heterozygous or homozygous for tau P251L display age-dependent neurodegeneration, metabolic defects and accumulate DNA damage in affected neurons. To understand the molecular events promoting neuronal dysfunction and death in knock-in flies we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on approximately 130,000 cells from brains of tau P251L mutant and control flies. We found that expression of disease-associated mutant tau altered gene expression cell autonomously in all neuronal cell types identified and non-cell autonomously in glial cells. Cell signaling pathways, including glial-neuronal signaling, were broadly dysregulated as were brain region and cell-type specific protein interaction networks and gene regulatory programs. In summary, we present here a genetic model of tauopathy, which faithfully recapitulates the genetic context and phenotypic features of the human disease and use the results of comprehensive single cell sequencing analysis to outline pathways of neurotoxicity and highlight the role of non-cell autonomous changes in glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
| | - Vanitha Nithianandam
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
| | - Rachel A. Battaglia
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
| | - Anthony Cicalo
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Souvarish Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Aram Comjean
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Yanhui Hu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Matthew J. Leventhal
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Xianjun Dong
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Mel B. Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
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16
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Kim J, Yoo ID, Lim J, Moon JS. Pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:95-99. [PMID: 38172603 PMCID: PMC10834520 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01148-0] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are involved in various processes in the central nervous system (CNS). As the most abundant cell type in the CNS, astrocytes play an essential role in neuronal maintenance and support, synaptic activity, neuronal metabolism, and amyloid-beta (Aβ) clearance. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral impairment. The transformation of astrocytes is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. Since astrocytes have functional diversity and morphological and physiological heterogeneity in the CNS, AD-related astrocytes might show various pathological phenotypes during AD. Astrocytes developing pathological phenotypes could contribute to AD progression. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in the context of AD, highlighting recent findings in human and mouse AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyung Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
| | - Ik Dong Yoo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Cheonan, Cheonan, 31151, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
| | - Jaejoon Lim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Yatap-dong 59, Seongnam, 13496, South Korea.
| | - Jong-Seok Moon
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.
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17
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Schneider Y, Gauer C, Andert M, Hoffmann A, Riemenschneider MJ, Krebs W, Chalmers N, Lötzsch C, Naumann UJ, Xiang W, Rothhammer V, Beckervordersandforth R, Schlachetzki JCM, Winkler J. Distinct forebrain regions define a dichotomous astrocytic profile in multiple system atrophy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:1. [PMID: 38167307 PMCID: PMC10759635 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01699-3] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The growing recognition of a dichotomous role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative processes has heightened the need for unraveling distinct astrocytic subtypes in neurological disorders. In multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare, rapidly progressing atypical Parkinsonian disease characterized by increased astrocyte reactivity. However the specific contribution of astrocyte subtypes to neuropathology remains elusive. Hence, we first set out to profile glial fibrillary acidic protein levels in astrocytes across the human post mortem motor cortex, putamen, and substantia nigra of MSA patients and observed an overall profound astrocytic response. Matching the post mortem human findings, a similar astrocytic phenotype was present in a transgenic MSA mouse model. Notably, MSA mice exhibited a decreased expression of the glutamate transporter 1 and glutamate aspartate transporter in the basal ganglia, but not the motor cortex. We developed an optimized astrocyte isolation protocol based on magnetic-activated cell sorting via ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit beta 2 and profiled the transcriptomic landscape of striatal and cortical astrocytes in transgenic MSA mice. The gene expression profile of astrocytes in the motor cortex displayed an anti-inflammatory signature with increased oligodendroglial and pro-myelinogenic expression pattern. In contrast, striatal astrocytes were defined by elevated pro-inflammatory transcripts accompanied by dysregulated genes involved in homeostatic functions for lipid and calcium metabolism. These findings provide new insights into a region-dependent, dichotomous astrocytic response-potentially beneficial in the cortex and harmful in the striatum-in MSA suggesting a differential role of astrocytes in MSA-related neurodegenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Schneider
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - C Gauer
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - M Andert
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - A Hoffmann
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M J Riemenschneider
- Department of Neuropathology, Regensburg University Hospital, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - W Krebs
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Data Integration and Analysis (CUBiDA), University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - N Chalmers
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - C Lötzsch
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - U J Naumann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - W Xiang
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - V Rothhammer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - R Beckervordersandforth
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - J C M Schlachetzki
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - J Winkler
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
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Muñoz-Castro C, Serrano-Pozo A. Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions in Alzheimer's Disease. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 39:345-382. [PMID: 39190082 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-64839-7_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Besides its two defining misfolded proteinopathies-Aβ plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles-Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an exemplar of a neurodegenerative disease with prominent reactive astrogliosis, defined as the set of morphological, molecular, and functional changes that astrocytes suffer as the result of a toxic exposure. Reactive astrocytes can be observed in the vicinity of plaques and tangles, and the relationship between astrocytes and these AD neuropathological lesions is bidirectional so that each AD neuropathological hallmark causes specific changes in astrocytes, and astrocytes modulate the severity of each neuropathological feature in a specific manner. Here, we will review both how astrocytes change as a result of their chronic exposure to AD neuropathology and how those astrocytic changes impact each AD neuropathological feature. We will emphasize the repercussions that AD-associated reactive astrogliosis has for the astrocyte-neuron interaction and highlight areas of uncertainty and priorities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Muñoz-Castro
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Alberto Serrano-Pozo
- Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Department, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Ramezani M, Fernando M, Eslick S, Asih PR, Shadfar S, Bandara EMS, Hillebrandt H, Meghwar S, Shahriari M, Chatterjee P, Thota R, Dias CB, Garg ML, Martins RN. Ketone bodies mediate alterations in brain energy metabolism and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1297984. [PMID: 38033541 PMCID: PMC10687427 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1297984] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive dysfunction, including learning and memory deficits, and behavioral changes. Neuropathology hallmarks of AD such as amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles containing the neuron-specific protein tau is associated with changes in fluid biomarkers including Aβ, phosphorylated tau (p-tau)-181, p-tau 231, p-tau 217, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NFL). Another pathological feature of AD is neural damage and hyperactivation of astrocytes, that can cause increased pro-inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress. In addition, reduced brain glucose metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction appears up to 15 years before the onset of clinical AD symptoms. As glucose utilization is compromised in the brain of patients with AD, ketone bodies (KBs) may serve as an alternative source of energy. KBs are generated from the β-oxidation of fatty acids, which are enhanced following consumption of ketogenic diets with high fat, moderate protein, and low carbohydrate. KBs have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier to improve brain energy metabolism. This review comprehensively summarizes the current literature on how increasing KBs support brain energy metabolism. In addition, for the first time, this review discusses the effects of ketogenic diet on the putative AD biomarkers such as Aβ, tau (mainly p-tau 181), GFAP, and NFL, and discusses the role of KBs on neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matin Ramezani
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Malika Fernando
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Shaun Eslick
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Prita R. Asih
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Heidi Hillebrandt
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Silochna Meghwar
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Maryam Shahriari
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Pratishtha Chatterjee
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Rohith Thota
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Cintia B. Dias
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Manohar L. Garg
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Ralph N. Martins
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
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