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Vacharasin JM, Ward JA, McCord MM, Cox K, Imitola J, Lizarraga SB. Neuroimmune mechanisms in autism etiology - untangling a complex problem using human cellular models. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 3:kvae003. [PMID: 38665176 PMCID: PMC11044813 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 36 people and is more often diagnosed in males than in females. Core features of ASD are impaired social interactions, repetitive behaviors and deficits in verbal communication. ASD is a highly heterogeneous and heritable disorder, yet its underlying genetic causes account only for up to 80% of the cases. Hence, a subset of ASD cases could be influenced by environmental risk factors. Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a response to inflammation during pregnancy, which can lead to increased inflammatory signals to the fetus. Inflammatory signals can cross the placenta and blood brain barriers affecting fetal brain development. Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that MIA could contribute to ASD etiology. However, human mechanistic studies have been hindered by a lack of experimental systems that could replicate the impact of MIA during fetal development. Therefore, mechanisms altered by inflammation during human pre-natal brain development, and that could underlie ASD pathogenesis have been largely understudied. The advent of human cellular models with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and organoid technology is closing this gap in knowledge by providing both access to molecular manipulations and culturing capability of tissue that would be otherwise inaccessible. We present an overview of multiple levels of evidence from clinical, epidemiological, and cellular studies that provide a potential link between higher ASD risk and inflammation. More importantly, we discuss how stem cell-derived models may constitute an ideal experimental system to mechanistically interrogate the effect of inflammation during the early stages of brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janay M Vacharasin
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Francis Marion University, 4822 East Palmetto Street, Florence, S.C. 29506, USA
| | - Joseph A Ward
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute of Brain Science, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Mikayla M McCord
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Kaitlin Cox
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jaime Imitola
- Laboratory of Neural Stem Cells and Functional Neurogenetics, UConn Health, Departments of Neuroscience, Neurology, Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-5357, USA
| | - Sofia B Lizarraga
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute of Brain Science, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
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Quan H, Zhang R. Microglia dynamic response and phenotype heterogeneity in neural regeneration following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1320271. [PMID: 38094292 PMCID: PMC10716326 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1320271] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury poses a significant threat to the neural niche within the central nervous system. In response to this pathological process, microglia, as innate immune cells in the central nervous system, undergo rapid morphological, molecular and functional changes. Here, we comprehensively review these dynamic changes in microglial response to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury under pathological conditions, including stroke, chronic intermittent hypoxia and neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. We focus on the regulation of signaling pathways under hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and further describe the process of microenvironment remodeling and neural tissue regeneration mediated by microglia after hypoxic-ischemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Runrui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Minchev D, Kazakova M, Sarafian V. Neuroinflammation and Autophagy in Parkinson's Disease-Novel Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314997. [PMID: 36499325 PMCID: PMC9735607 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. It is characterized by the accumulation of α-Synuclein aggregates and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra in the midbrain. Although the exact mechanisms of neuronal degeneration in PD remain largely elusive, various pathogenic factors, such as α-Synuclein cytotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory factors, may significantly impair normal neuronal function and promote apoptosis. In this context, neuroinflammation and autophagy have emerged as crucial processes in PD that contribute to neuronal loss and disease development. They are regulated in a complex interconnected manner involving most of the known PD-associated genes. This review summarizes evidence of the implication of neuroinflammation and autophagy in PD and delineates the role of inflammatory factors and autophagy-related proteins in this complex condition. It also illustrates the particular significance of plasma and serum immune markers in PD and their potential to provide a personalized approach to diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danail Minchev
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Correspondence:
| | - Maria Kazakova
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Victoria Sarafian
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute at Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Lilienberg J, Apáti Á, Réthelyi JM, Homolya L. Microglia modulate proliferation, neurite generation and differentiation of human neural progenitor cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:997028. [PMID: 36313581 PMCID: PMC9606406 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.997028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the primary immune cells of the brain, significantly influence the fate of neurons after neural damage. Depending on the local environment, they exhibit a wide range of phenotypes, including patrolling (naïve), proinflammatory, and anti-inflammatory characteristics, which greatly affects neurotoxicity. Despite the fact that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and hippocampal neurons represent cell populations, which play pivotal role in neural regeneration, interaction between microglia and these cell types is poorly studied. In the present work, we investigated how microglial cells affect the proliferation and neurite outgrowth of human stem cell-derived NPCs, and how microglia stimulation with proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory agents modulates this interaction. We found that naïve microglia slightly diminish NPC proliferation and have no effect on neurite outgrowth. In contrast, proinflammatory stimulated microglia promote both proliferation and neurite generation, whereas microglia stimulated with anti-inflammatory cytokines augment neurite outgrowth leaving NPC proliferation unaffected. We also studied how microglia influence neurite development and differentiation of hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cells differentiated from NPCs. We found that proinflammatory stimulated microglia inhibit axonal development but facilitate dendrite generation in these differentiating neurons. Our results elucidate a fine-tuned modulatory effect of microglial cells on cell types crucial for neural regeneration, opening perspectives for novel regenerative therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianna Lilienberg
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágota Apáti
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János M. Réthelyi
- Molecular Psychiatry and in vitro Disease Modelling Research Group, National Brain Research Project, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Homolya
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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Xu B, Li M, Cheng T, Xia J, Deng X, Hou J. Resolvin D1 protects against sepsis-associated encephalopathy in mice by inhibiting neuro-inflammation induced by microglia. Am J Transl Res 2022; 14:6737-6750. [PMID: 36247289 PMCID: PMC9556482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neuro-inflammation induced by microglia is crucial in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). The endogenous lipid mediator, Resolvin D1 (RvD1), which is synthesized from docosahexaenoic acid, has been extensively reported to attenuate inflammation in various diseases by its anti-inflammation and pro-resolving functions. However, the effect of RvD1 on SAE remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to ex the function and mechanism of RvD1 on SAE mice. METHODS In our study, the SAE mice model was established by the method of cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups: the Sham group, the CLP group and the CLP+RvD1 group. Cognitive impairment of the mice was assessed by Morris water maze. Iba1 immunohistochemistry was conducted to observe the activation of microglia in hippocampus of the mice from different groups. The production of cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, and their mRNA levels were evaluated by ELISA and Q-PCR. The expression of the molecules from inflammatory signaling pathways was assessed by Western blot. RESULTS xaRvD1 treatment significantly improved the learning and cognitive ability of SAE mice. The activation of microglia and the production of inflammatory cytokines in hippocampal tissues were inhibited in CLP+RvD1 group. We also found that the inflammation of microglia was attenuated by RvD1 treatment both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the activation of NF-κB, MAPK and STAT signaling pathways were inhibited by RvD1 treatment, which partly explained the anti-inflammation function of RvD1 on SAE mice. CONCLUSIONS RvD1 could improve the learning and cognitive ability of SAE mice by inhibiting the systemic and local inflammation. It could attenuate the inflammation in microglia by inhibiting the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways and then decreasing the production of cytokines. These findings are helpful to better understand the pathophysiology of SAE, which also provide a novel therapeutic method in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai 200433, China
| | - Mi Li
- School of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai 200433, China
| | - Tingting Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200025, China
| | - Jun Xia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaoming Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai 200433, China
| | - Jiong Hou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai 200433, China
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Zhang Y, Cui D. Evolving Models and Tools for Microglial Studies in the Central Nervous System. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1218-1233. [PMID: 34106404 PMCID: PMC8353053 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00706-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia play multiple roles in such processes as brain development, homeostasis, and pathology. Due to their diverse mechanisms of functions, the complex sub-classifications, and the large differences between different species, especially compared with humans, very different or even opposite conclusions can be drawn from studies with different research models. The choice of appropriate research models and the associated tools are thus key ingredients of studies on microglia. Mice are the most commonly used animal models. In this review, we summarize in vitro and in vivo models of mouse and human-derived microglial research models, including microglial cell lines, primary microglia, induced microglia-like cells, transgenic mice, human-mouse chimeric models, and microglial replacement models. We also summarize recent developments in novel single-cell and in vivo imaging technologies. We hope our review can serve as an efficient reference for the future study of microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, 201108, China
| | - Donghong Cui
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, 201108, China.
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Venugopal D, Vishwakarma S, Kaur I, Samavedi S. Electrospun meshes intrinsically promote M2 polarization of microglia under hypoxia and offer protection from hypoxia-driven cell death. Biomed Mater 2021; 16. [PMID: 34116516 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ac0a91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we offer new insights into the contrasting effects of electrospun fiber orientation on microglial polarization under normoxia and hypoxia, and establish for the first time, the intrinsically protective roles of electrospun meshes against hypoxia-induced microglial responses. First, resting microglia were cultured under normoxia on poly(caprolactone) fibers possessing two distinctly different fiber orientations. Matrix-guided differences in cell shape/orientation and differentially expressed Rho GTPases (RhoA, Rac1, Cdc42) were well-correlated with the randomly oriented fibers inducing a pro-inflammatory phenotype and the aligned fibers sustaining a resting phenotype. Upon subsequent hypoxia induction, both sets of meshes offered protection from hypoxia-induced damage by promoting a radical phenotypic switch and beneficially altering the M2/M1 ratio to different extents. Compared to 2D hypoxic controls, meshes significantly suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α) and induced drastically higher expression of anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10, VEGF-189) and neuroprotective (Nrf-2) markers. Consistent with this M2 polarization, the expression of Rho GTPases was significantly lower in the mesh groups under hypoxia compared to normoxic culture. Moreover, meshes-particularly with aligned fibers-promoted higher cell viability, suppressed caspase 3/8 and LC-3 expression and promoted LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 expression, which suggested the mitigation of apoptotic/autophagic cell death via a lysosomal membrane-stabilization mechanism. Notably, all protective effects under hypoxia were observed in the absence of additional soluble cues. Our results offer promise for leveraging the intrinsic therapeutic potential of electrospun meshes in degenerative diseases where microglial dysfunction, hypoxia and inflammation are implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhivya Venugopal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sushma Vishwakarma
- Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Inderjeet Kaur
- Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | - Satyavrata Samavedi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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