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Raffaele S, Thougaard E, Laursen CCH, Gao H, Andersen KM, Nielsen PV, Ortí-Casañ N, Blichfeldt-Eckhardt M, Koch S, Deb-Chatterji M, Magnus T, Stubbe J, Madsen K, Meyer M, Degn M, Eisel ULM, Wlodarczyk A, Fumagalli M, Clausen BH, Brambilla R, Lambertsen KL. Microglial TNFR2 signaling regulates the inflammatory response after CNS injury in a sex-specific fashion. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 116:269-285. [PMID: 38142915 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), play a major role in damage progression and tissue remodeling after acute CNS injury, including ischemic stroke (IS) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating microglial responses to injury may thus reveal novel therapeutic targets to promote CNS repair. Here, we investigated the role of microglial tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2), a transmembrane receptor previously associated with pro-survival and neuroprotective responses, in shaping the neuroinflammatory environment after CNS injury. By inducing experimental IS and SCI in Cx3cr1CreER:Tnfrsf1bfl/fl mice, selectively lacking TNFR2 in microglia, and corresponding Tnfrsf1bfl/fl littermate controls, we found that ablation of microglial TNFR2 significantly reduces lesion size and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and favors infiltration of leukocytes after injury. Interestingly, these effects were paralleled by opposite sex-specific modifications of microglial reactivity, which was found to be limited in female TNFR2-ablated mice compared to controls, whereas it was enhanced in males. In addition, we show that TNFR2 protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of human subjects affected by IS and SCI, as well as healthy donors, significantly correlate with disease stage and severity, representing a valuable tool to monitor the inflammatory response after acute CNS injury. Hence, these results advance our understanding of the mechanisms regulating microglia reactivity after acute CNS injury, aiding the development of sex- and microglia-specific, personalized neuroregenerative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Raffaele
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Estrid Thougaard
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Cathrine C H Laursen
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; BRIDGE-Brain Research Inter Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Han Gao
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 510630 Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, 510630 Guangzhou, China
| | - Katrine M Andersen
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Pernille V Nielsen
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Natalia Ortí-Casañ
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen 9713 AV, Netherlands
| | - Morten Blichfeldt-Eckhardt
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Vejle Hospital, 7100 Vejle, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Simon Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Milani Deb-Chatterji
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tim Magnus
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jane Stubbe
- Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Kirsten Madsen
- Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Morten Meyer
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; BRIDGE-Brain Research Inter Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | | | - Ulrich L M Eisel
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen 9713 AV, Netherlands
| | - Agnieszka Wlodarczyk
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; BRIDGE-Brain Research Inter Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Marta Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Bettina H Clausen
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; BRIDGE-Brain Research Inter Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Roberta Brambilla
- BRIDGE-Brain Research Inter Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL, USA.
| | - Kate L Lambertsen
- Department of Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; BRIDGE-Brain Research Inter Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
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Li H, Xiao C, Wang F, Guo X, Zhou Z, Jiang Y. Blueberry-Mulberry Extract Alleviates Cognitive Impairment, Regulates Gut Metabolites, and Inhibits Inflammation in Aged Mice. Foods 2023; 12:foods12040860. [PMID: 36832936 PMCID: PMC9956669 DOI: 10.3390/foods12040860] [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: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is associated with aging; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our previous study found that polyphenol-rich blueberry-mulberry extract (BME) had an antioxidant capability and effectively alleviated cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Thus, we hypothesized that BME would improve cognitive performance in naturally aging mice and assessed its effects on related signaling pathways. Eighteen-month-old C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with 300 mg/kg/d of BME for 6 weeks. Behavioral phenotypes, cytokine levels, tight junction protein levels, and the histopathology of the brain were assessed, and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and targeted metabolome analyses were used for gut microbiota and metabolite measurements. Our results showed that the cognitive performance of aged mice in the Morris water maze test was improved after BME treatment, neuronal loss was reduced, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the brain and intestine were decreased, and the levels of intestinal tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) were increased. Further, 16S sequencing showed that BME significantly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Lactococcus and decreased the relative abundance of Blautia, Lachnoclostridium, and Roseburia in the gut. A targeted metabolomic analysis showed that BME significantly increased the levels of 21 metabolites, including α-linolenic acid, vanillic acid, and N-acetylserotonin. In conclusion, BME alters the gut microbiota and regulates gut metabolites in aged mice, which may contribute to the alleviation of cognitive impairment and to inflammation inhibition in both the brain and the gut. Our results provide a basis for future research on natural antioxidant intervention as a treatment strategy for aging-related cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Changhao Xiao
- Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xuqi Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Zhongkai Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yugang Jiang
- Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-139-2077-0716
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Carvalho DZ, St. Louis EK, Przybelski SA, Morgenthaler TI, Machulda MM, Boeve BF, Petersen RC, Jack CR, Graff-Radford J, Vemuri P, Mielke MM. Sleepiness in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults Is Associated With CSF Biomarkers of Inflammation and Axonal Integrity. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:930315. [PMID: 35898322 PMCID: PMC9309557 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.930315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sleepiness has been associated with cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly. Older adults with excessive daytime sleepiness appear to be more vulnerable to longitudinal amyloid PET accumulation before the onset of the dementia. However, it remains unclear whether sleepiness is similarly associated with other biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), axonal integrity, and inflammation, which may also contribute to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Methods In this cross-sectional analysis, we identified 260 cognitively unimpaired adults (>60 years) from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, a population-based cohort from Olmsted County (MN), who underwent CSF quantification of AD biomarkers (Aβ42, p-tau, p-tau/Aβ42) in addition to at least one of the following biomarkers [neurofilament light chain (NfL) interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)]. We fit linear regression models to assess associations between sleepiness, as measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and CSF biomarkers, controlling for age, sex, APOε4 status, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and prior diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Results Higher ESS scores were associated with higher CSF IL-6 and NfL, but not with the other CSF biomarkers. For every ESS score point increase, there was a 0.009 ([95% CI 0.001-0.016], p = 0.033) increase in the log of IL-6 and 0.01 ([95% CI 0.002-0.018], p = 0.016) increase in the log of NfL. A sensitivity analysis showed an association between ESS scores and log of p-tau/Aβ42 only in participants with an abnormal ratio (>0.023), highly predictive of amyloid positivity. For every ESS score point increase, there was a 0.006 ([95% CI 0.001-0.012], p = 0.021) increase in the log of CSF p-tau/Aβ42. Conclusion Sleepiness was associated with greater CSF IL-6 and NfL levels, which could contribute to neurodegeneration or alternatively cause sleepiness. Higher NfL levels may result from sleep disruption and/or contribute to sleepiness via disturbed connectivity or damage to wake-promoting centers. Associations between sleepiness and p-tau/Aβ42 in participants with abnormal ratio suggest that amyloid positivity contributes to vulnerability to sleep disturbance, which may further amyloid accumulation in a feed-forward loop process. Prospective studies of these markers are needed to determine cause-effect relationships between these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Z. Carvalho
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Center for Sleep Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Erik K. St. Louis
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Center for Sleep Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Scott A. Przybelski
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Timothy I. Morgenthaler
- Center for Sleep Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Mary M. Machulda
- Department of Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Bradley F. Boeve
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Center for Sleep Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Ronald C. Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Clifford R. Jack
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | | | - Michelle M. Mielke
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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