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Liu D, Hsueh SC, Tweedie D, Price N, Glotfelty E, Lecca D, Telljohann R, deCabo R, Hoffer BJ, Greig NH. Chronic inflammation with microglia senescence at basal forebrain: impact on cholinergic deficit in Alzheimer's brain haemodynamics. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae204. [PMID: 38978722 PMCID: PMC11228546 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae204] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic innervation in the brain is involved in modulating neurovascular function including cerebral blood flow haemodynamics in response to neuronal activity. Cholinergic deficit is associated with pathophysiology in Alzheimer's disease, albeit the aetiology remains to be clarified. In the current study, neocortex cerebral blood flow response to acetylcholine was evaluated by Laser-Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) in 3xTgAD Alzheimer's disease model) and wild-type mice of two age groups. The peak of cerebral blood flow to acetylcholine (i.v.) from baseline levels (% ΔrCBF) was higher in young 3xTgAD versus in wild-type mice (48.35; 95% CI:27.03-69.67 versus 22.70; CI:15.5-29.91, P < 0.05); this was reversed in old 3xTgAD mice (21.44; CI:2.52-40.35 versus 23.25; CI:23.25-39). Choline acetyltransferase protein was reduced in neocortex, while cerebrovascular reactivity to acetylcholine was preserved in young 3×TgAD mice. This suggests endogenous acetylcholine deficit and possible cholinergic denervation from selected cholinergic nuclei within the basal forebrain. The early deposition of tauopathy moieties (mutant hTau and pTau181) and its coincidence in cholinergic cell clusters (occasionaly), were observed at the basal forebrain of 3xTgAD mice including substantia innominate, nucleus Basalis of Meynert and nucleus of horizontal limb diagonal band of Broca. A prominent feature was microglia interacting tauopathy and demonstrated a variety of morphology changes particularly when located in proximity to tauopathy. The microglia ramified phenotype was reduced as evaluated by the ramification index and Fractal analysis. Increased microglia senescence, identified as SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype), was colocalization with p16Ink4ɑ, a marker of irreversible cell-cycle arrest in old 3xTgAD versus wild-type mice (P = 0.001). The p16Ink4ɑ was also observed in neuronal cells bearing tauopathy within the basal forebrain of 3xTgAD mice. TNF-ɑ, the pro-inflammatory cytokine elevated persistently in microglia (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.62) and the loss of cholinergic cells in vulnerable basal forebrain environment, was indicated by image analysis in 3xTgAD mice, which linked to the cholinergic deficits in neocortex rCBF haemodynamics. Our study revealed the early change of CBF haemodynamics to acetylcholine in 3xTgAD model. As a major effector of brain innate immune activation, microglia SASP with age-related disease progression is indicative of immune cell senescence, which contributes to chronic inflammation and cholinergic deficits at the basal forebrain. Targeting neuroinflammation and senescence may mitigate cholinergic pathophysiology in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Shih Chang Hsueh
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University Vagelos Physicians & Surgeons College of Medicine, New York City, NY 10032, USA
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Nate Price
- Experimental Gerontology Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Elliot Glotfelty
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
- Cellular Stress and Inflammation Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Daniela Lecca
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Shock, Trauma & Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Richard Telljohann
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Rafael deCabo
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University Vagelos Physicians & Surgeons College of Medicine, New York City, NY 10032, USA
| | - Barry J Hoffer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Su J, Huang F, Tian Y, Tian R, Qianqian G, Bello ST, Zeng D, Jendrichovsky P, Lau CG, Xiong W, Yu D, Tortorella M, Chen X, He J. Entorhinohippocampal cholecystokinin modulates spatial learning by facilitating neuroplasticity of hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113467. [PMID: 37979171 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is broadly impacted by neuromodulations. However, how neuropeptides shape the function of the hippocampus and the related spatial learning and memory remains unclear. Here, we discover the crucial role of cholecystokinin (CCK) in heterosynaptic neuromodulation from the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) to the hippocampus. Systematic knockout of the CCK gene impairs CA3-CA1 LTP and space-related performance. The MEC provides most of the CCK-positive neurons projecting to the hippocampal region, which potentiates CA3-CA1 long-term plasticity heterosynaptically in a frequency- and NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent manner. Selective inhibition of MEC CCKergic neurons or downregulation of their CCK mRNA levels also impairs CA3-CA1 LTP formation and animals' performance in the water maze. This excitatory extrahippocampal projection releases CCK upon high-frequency excitation and is active during animal exploration. Our results reveal the critical role of entorhinal CCKergic projections in bridging intra- and extrahippocampal circuitry at electrophysiological and behavioral levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Su
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Fengwen Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China.
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Ran Tian
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Gao Qianqian
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Stephen Temitayo Bello
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Dingxaun Zeng
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Peter Jendrichovsky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - C Geoffrey Lau
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Wenjun Xiong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Daiguan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Micky Tortorella
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, P.R. China.
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, P.R. China.
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Zheng J, Zhu H, Zhao Z, Du M, Wang Z, Lan L, Zhang J. Vesicular acetylcholine transporter in the basal forebrain improves cognitive impairment in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats by modulating theta oscillations in the hippocampus. Neurosci Lett 2023; 807:137281. [PMID: 37120008 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137281] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The cholinergic transmission in the medial septum and ventral limb of the diagonal band of broca (MS/VDB)-hippocampal circuit and its associated theta oscillations play a crucial role in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH)-related cognitive impairment. However, the contribution and mechanism of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), a vital protein that regulates acetylcholine (ACh) release, in CCH-related cognitive impairment are not well understood. To investigate this, we established a rat model of CCH by performing 2-vessel occlusion (2-VO) and overexpressed VAChT in the MS/VDB via stereotaxic injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV). We evaluated the cognitive function of the rats using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Novel Object Recognition Test (NOR). We employed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot (WB), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess hippocampal cholinergic levels. We also conducted in vivo local field potentials (LFPs) recording experiments to evaluate changes in hippocampal theta oscillations and synchrony. Our findings showed that VAChT overexpression shortened the escape latency in the hidden platform test, increased swimming time in the platform quadrant in probe trains, and increased the recognition index (RI) in NOR. Moreover, VAChT overexpression increased hippocampal cholinergic levels, improved theta oscillations, and improved the synchrony of theta oscillations between CA1 and CA3 in CCH rats. These results suggest that VAChT plays a protective role in CCH-induced cognitive deficits by regulating cholinergic transmission in the MS/VDB-hippocampal circuit and promoting hippocampal theta oscillations. Therefore, VAChT could be a promising therapeutic target for treating CCH-related cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Miaoyu Du
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Zhitian Wang
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Liuyi Lan
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Junjian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No.169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China.
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Cao W, Lin J, Xiang W, Liu J, Wang B, Liao W, Jiang T. Physical Exercise-Induced Astrocytic Neuroprotection and Cognitive Improvement Through Primary Cilia and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Pathway in Rats With Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:866336. [PMID: 35721009 PMCID: PMC9198634 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.866336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is closely related to vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The neuroinflammation involving astrocytes is an important pathogenic mechanism. Along with the advancement of the concept and technology of astrocytic biology, the astrocytes have been increasingly regarded as the key contributors to neurological diseases. It is well known that physical exercise can improve cognitive function. As a safe and effective non-drug treatment, physical exercise has attracted continuous interests in neurological research. In this study, we explored the effects of physical exercise on the response of reactive astrocytes, and its role and mechanism in CCH-induced cognitive impairment. A rat CCH model was established by 2 vessel occlusion (2VO) and the wheel running exercise was used as the intervention. The cognitive function of rats was evaluated by morris water maze and novel object recognition test. The phenotypic polarization and the primary cilia expression of astrocytes were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The activation of MAPKs cascades, including ERK, JNK, and P38 signaling pathways, were detected by western blot. The results showed that physical exercise improved cognitive function of rats 2 months after 2VO, reduced the number of C3/GFAP-positive neurotoxic astrocytes, promoted the expression of S100A10/GFAP-positive neuroprotective astrocytes, and enhanced primary ciliogenesis. Additionally, physical exercise also alleviated the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK proteins induced by CCH. These results indicate that physical exercise can improve the cognitive function of rats with CCH possible by promoting primary ciliogenesis and neuroprotective function of astrocytes. The MAPKs signaling cascade, especially ERK and JNK signaling pathways may be involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyue Cao
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junbin Lin
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingying Liu
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Biru Wang
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weijing Liao
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Weijing Liao,
| | - Ting Jiang
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Ting Jiang,
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Yan N, Xu Z, Qu C, Zhang J. Dimethyl fumarate improves cognitive deficits in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats by alleviating inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis via NRF2/ARE/NF-κB signal pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 98:107844. [PMID: 34153667 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cerebrovascular disease and its risk factors cause persistent decrease of cerebral blood flow, chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is the major foundation of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). The hippocampus is extremely vulnerable to cerebral ischemia and hypoxia. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation injury are important pathophysiological mechanisms of this process, which is closely related to hippocampal neurons damage and loss. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an FDA-approved therapeutic for multiple sclerosis (MS), plays a protective role in multiple neurological disorders. Studies have shown that DMF exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects via the NRF2/ARE/NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of DMF in the CCH rat model. Ferroptosis, a novel defined iron-dependent cell death form, were found to be strongly associated with the pathophysiology of CCH. Emerging evidences have shown that inhibition of ferroptosis by targeting NRF2 exerted neuroprotective effect in neurodegeneration diseases. We also investigated whether DMF can alleviate cognitive deficits through inhibition of ferroptosis by the NRF2 signaling pathway in this study. DMF was intragastric for consecutive five weeks (100 mg/kg/day). Then behavior test and histological, molecular, and biochemical analysis were performed. We found that DMF treatment significantly improved cognitive deficits and partially reversed hippocampus neuronal damage and loss caused by CCH. And DMF treatment decreased hippocampus IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines concentration, and mediated the NF-κB signaling pathway. And DMF also alleviated hippocampus oxidative stress through reducing MDA, and increasing GSH and SOD levels, which are also closely associated with ferroptosis. Besides, DMF treatment reduced the expression of PTGS2, and increased the expression of FTH1 and xCT, and the iron content is also reduced, which were the important features related to ferroptosis. Furthermore, DMF activated the NRF2/ARE signaling pathway and upregulated the expression of HO-1, NQO1 and GPX4. These outcomes indicated that DMF can improve cognitive impairment in rats with CCH, possibly through alleviating neuroinflammation, oxidative stress damage and inhibiting ferroptosis of hippocampal neurons. Overall, our results provide new evidence for the neuroprotective role of DMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nao Yan
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Hubei Clinical Research Center for Dementias and Cognitive Impairments, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Zhipeng Xu
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Hubei Clinical Research Center for Dementias and Cognitive Impairments, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Changhua Qu
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Hubei Clinical Research Center for Dementias and Cognitive Impairments, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - JunJian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Hubei Clinical Research Center for Dementias and Cognitive Impairments, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China.
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