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Kim H, Lee E, Park M, Min K, Diep YN, Kim J, Ahn H, Lee E, Kim S, Kim Y, Kang YJ, Jung JH, Byun MS, Joo Y, Jeong C, Lee DY, Cho H, Park H, Kim T. Microbiome-derived indole-3-lactic acid reduces amyloidopathy through aryl-hydrocarbon receptor activation. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 122:568-582. [PMID: 39197546 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis has been associated with the gut microbiome and its metabolites, though the specific mechanisms have remained unclear. In our study, we used a multi-omics approach to identify specific microbial strains and metabolites that could potentially mitigate amyloidopathy in 5xFAD mice, a widely used model for AD research. Among the microbial strains tested, three showed promising results in reducing soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels. Plasma metabolomics analysis revealed an enrichment of tryptophan (Trp) and indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) in mice with reduced soluble Aβ levels, suggesting a potential preventative role. The administration of a combined treatment of Trp and ILA prevented both Aβ accumulation and cognitive impairment in the 5xFAD mice. Our investigation into the mechanism revealed that ILA's effect on reducing Aβ levels was mediated through the activation of microglia and astrocytes, facilitated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway. These mechanisms were verified through experiments in 5xFAD mice that included an additional group with the administration of ILA alone, as well as in vitro experiments using an AhR inhibitor. Clinical data analysis revealed a greater abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri in the gut of healthy individuals compared to those at early stages of Aβ accumulation or with mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, human post-mortem brain analyses showed an increased expression of genes associated with the AhR signaling pathway in individuals without AD, suggesting a protective effect against AD progression. Our results indicate that ILA from gut microbes could inhibit the progression of amyloidopathy in 5xFAD mice through activation of AhR signaling in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunkyung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Mincheol Park
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungchan Min
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yen N Diep
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea; Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeok Ahn
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Eulgi Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujeong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunjae Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - You Jung Kang
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea; Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Hyung Jung
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Soo Byun
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yanghyun Joo
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanyeong Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Young Lee
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Medical Research Center Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hansang Cho
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea; Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Hansoo Park
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Genome and Company, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tae Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
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Chen YH, Wang ZB, Liu XP, Xu JP, Mao ZQ. Sex differences in the relationship between depression and Alzheimer's disease-mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutic opportunities. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1301854. [PMID: 38903903 PMCID: PMC11188317 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1301854] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders with intriguing epidemiological overlaps. Their interrelation has recently garnered widespread attention. Empirical evidence indicates that depressive disorders significantly contribute to AD risk, and approximately a quarter of AD patients have comorbid major depressive disorder, which underscores the bidirectional link between AD and depression. A growing body of evidence substantiates pervasive sex differences in both AD and depression: both conditions exhibit a higher incidence among women than among men. However, the available literature on this topic is somewhat fragmented, with no comprehensive review that delineates sex disparities in the depression-AD correlation. In this review, we bridge these gaps by summarizing recent progress in understanding sex-based differences in mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutic prospects for depression and AD. Additionally, we outline key challenges in the field, holding potential for improving treatment precision and efficacy tailored to male and female patients' distinct needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Han Chen
- The First Clinical Medical School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Zhi-Bo Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Xi-Peng Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Jun-Peng Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Qi Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Reed EG, Keller-Norrell PR. Minding the Gap: Exploring Neuroinflammatory and Microglial Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17377. [PMID: 38139206 PMCID: PMC10743742 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Research into Alzheimer's Disease (AD) describes a link between AD and the resident immune cells of the brain, the microglia. Further, this suspected link is thought to have underlying sex effects, although the mechanisms of these effects are only just beginning to be understood. Many of these insights are the result of policies put in place by funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) and the move towards precision medicine due to continued lackluster therapeutic options. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated assessment of the current research that summarizes sex differences and the research pertaining to microglia and their varied responses in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G. Reed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44242, USA
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La Barbera L, D'Amelio M. Alzheimer's Disease and Sex-Dependent Alterations in the Striatum: A Lesson from a Mouse Model. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:1377-1380. [PMID: 37522213 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230681] [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] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
In the last years, many clinical studies highlighted sex-specific differences in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The recent paper published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease shows the influence of sex on amyloid-β plaque deposition, behavior, and dopaminergic signaling in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD, with worse alterations in female mice. This commentary focuses on the importance of recognizing sex as a key variable to consider for a more precise clinical practice, with the challenge to develop sex-specific therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia La Barbera
- Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Amelio
- Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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