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Marangon D, Castro e Silva JH, Cerrato V, Boda E, Lecca D. Oligodendrocyte Progenitors in Glial Scar: A Bet on Remyelination. Cells 2024; 13:1024. [PMID: 38920654 PMCID: PMC11202012 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121024] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) represent a subtype of glia, giving rise to oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS). While OPCs are highly proliferative during development, they become relatively quiescent during adulthood, when their fate is strictly influenced by the extracellular context. In traumatic injuries and chronic neurodegenerative conditions, including those of autoimmune origin, oligodendrocytes undergo apoptosis, and demyelination starts. Adult OPCs become immediately activated; they migrate at the lesion site and proliferate to replenish the damaged area, but their efficiency is hampered by the presence of a glial scar-a barrier mainly formed by reactive astrocytes, microglia and the deposition of inhibitory extracellular matrix components. If, on the one hand, a glial scar limits the lesion spreading, it also blocks tissue regeneration. Therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing astrocyte or microglia activation and shifting them toward a neuroprotective phenotype have been proposed, whereas the role of OPCs has been largely overlooked. In this review, we have considered the glial scar from the perspective of OPCs, analysing their behaviour when lesions originate and exploring the potential therapies aimed at sustaining OPCs to efficiently differentiate and promote remyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Marangon
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (D.M.); (J.H.C.e.S.)
| | - Juliana Helena Castro e Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (D.M.); (J.H.C.e.S.)
| | - Valentina Cerrato
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Enrica Boda
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Davide Lecca
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (D.M.); (J.H.C.e.S.)
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Gau YTA, Hsu ET, Cha RJ, Pak RW, Looger LL, Kang JU, Bergles DE. Multicore fiber optic imaging reveals that astrocyte calcium activity in the mouse cerebral cortex is modulated by internal motivational state. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3039. [PMID: 38589390 PMCID: PMC11002016 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47345-x] [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: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are a direct target of neuromodulators and can influence neuronal activity on broad spatial and temporal scales in response to a rise in cytosolic calcium. However, our knowledge about how astrocytes are recruited during different animal behaviors remains limited. To measure astrocyte activity calcium in vivo during normative behaviors, we utilize a high-resolution, long working distance multicore fiber optic imaging system that allows visualization of individual astrocyte calcium transients in the cerebral cortex of freely moving mice. We define the spatiotemporal dynamics of astrocyte calcium changes during diverse behaviors, ranging from sleep-wake cycles to the exploration of novel objects, showing that their activity is more variable and less synchronous than apparent in head-immobilized imaging conditions. In accordance with their molecular diversity, individual astrocytes often exhibit distinct thresholds and activity patterns during explorative behaviors, allowing temporal encoding across the astrocyte network. Astrocyte calcium events were induced by noradrenergic and cholinergic systems and modulated by internal state. The distinct activity patterns exhibited by astrocytes provides a means to vary their neuromodulatory influence in different behavioral contexts and internal states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Tian A Gau
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Eric T Hsu
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard J Cha
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca W Pak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Loren L Looger
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jin U Kang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Dwight E Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Kozlenkov A, Vadukapuram R, Zhou P, Fam P, Wegner M, Dracheva S. Novel method of isolating nuclei of human oligodendrocyte precursor cells reveals substantial developmental changes in gene expression and H3K27ac histone modification. Glia 2024; 72:69-89. [PMID: 37712493 PMCID: PMC10697634 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24462] [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: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) generate differentiated mature oligodendrocytes (MOs) during development. In adult brain, OPCs replenish MOs in adaptive plasticity, neurodegenerative disorders, and after trauma. The ability of OPCs to differentiate to MOs decreases with age and is compromised in disease. Here we explored the cell specific and age-dependent differences in gene expression and H3K27ac histone mark in these two cell types. H3K27ac is indicative of active promoters and enhancers. We developed a novel flow-cytometry-based approach to isolate OPC and MO nuclei from human postmortem brain and profiled gene expression and H3K27ac in adult and infant OPCs and MOs genome-wide. In adult brain, we detected extensive H3K27ac differences between the two cell types with high concordance between gene expression and epigenetic changes. Notably, the expression of genes that distinguish MOs from OPCs appears to be under a strong regulatory control by the H3K27ac modification in MOs but not in OPCs. Comparison of gene expression and H3K27ac between infants and adults uncovered numerous developmental changes in each cell type, which were linked to several biological processes, including cell proliferation and glutamate signaling. A striking example was a subset of histone genes that were highly active in infant samples but fully lost activity in adult brain. Our findings demonstrate a considerable rearrangement of the H3K27ac landscape that occurs during the differentiation of OPCs to MOs and during postnatal development of these cell types, which aligned with changes in gene expression. The uncovered regulatory changes justify further in-depth epigenetic studies of OPCs and MOs in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Kozlenkov
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ramu Vadukapuram
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ping Zhou
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter Fam
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Michael Wegner
- Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stella Dracheva
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Lavekar SS, Patel MD, Montalvo-Parra MD, Krencik R. Asteroid impact: the potential of astrocytes to modulate human neural networks within organoids. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1305921. [PMID: 38075269 PMCID: PMC10702564 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1305921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are a vital cellular component of the central nervous system that impact neuronal function in both healthy and pathological states. This includes intercellular signals to neurons and non-neuronal cells during development, maturation, and aging that can modulate neural network formation, plasticity, and maintenance. Recently, human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural aggregate cultures, known as neurospheres or organoids, have emerged as improved experimental platforms for basic and pre-clinical neuroscience compared to traditional approaches. Here, we summarize the potential capability of using organoids to further understand the mechanistic role of astrocytes upon neural networks, including the production of extracellular matrix components and reactive signaling cues. Additionally, we discuss the application of organoid models to investigate the astrocyte-dependent aspects of neuropathological diseases and to test astrocyte-inspired technologies. We examine the shortcomings of organoid-based experimental platforms and plausible improvements made possible by cutting-edge neuroengineering technologies. These advancements are expected to enable the development of improved diagnostic strategies and high-throughput translational applications regarding neuroregeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - R. Krencik
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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Gau YTA, Hsu E, Cha J, Pak RW, Looger LL, Kang JU, Bergles DE. Multicore fiber optic imaging reveals that astrocyte calcium activity in the cerebral cortex is modulated by internal motivational state. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.18.541390. [PMID: 37292710 PMCID: PMC10245653 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.18.541390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are a direct target of neuromodulators and can influence neuronal activity on broad spatial and temporal scales through their close proximity to synapses. However, our knowledge about how astrocytes are functionally recruited during different animal behaviors and their diverse effects on the CNS remains limited. To enable measurement of astrocyte activity patterns in vivo during normative behaviors, we developed a high-resolution, long working distance, multi-core fiber optic imaging platform that allows visualization of cortical astrocyte calcium transients through a cranial window in freely moving mice. Using this platform, we defined the spatiotemporal dynamics of astrocytes during diverse behaviors, ranging from circadian fluctuations to novelty exploration, showing that astrocyte activity patterns are more variable and less synchronous than apparent in head-immobilized imaging conditions. Although the activity of astrocytes in visual cortex was highly synchronized during quiescence to arousal transitions, individual astrocytes often exhibited distinct thresholds and activity patterns during explorative behaviors, in accordance with their molecular diversity, allowing temporal sequencing across the astrocyte network. Imaging astrocyte activity during self-initiated behaviors revealed that noradrenergic and cholinergic systems act synergistically to recruit astrocytes during state transitions associated with arousal and attention, which was profoundly modulated by internal state. The distinct activity patterns exhibited by astrocytes in the cerebral cortex may provide a means to vary their neuromodulatory influence in response to different behaviors and internal states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Tian A. Gau
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Eric Hsu
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Jaepyeong Cha
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Rebecca W. Pak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Loren L. Looger
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Jin U. Kang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Dwight E. Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
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Akram MA, Wei Q, Ascoli GA. Machine learning classification reveals robust morphometric biomarker of glial and neuronal arbors. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:112-129. [PMID: 36196621 PMCID: PMC9828050 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurons and glia are the two main cell classes in the nervous systems of most animals. Although functionally distinct, neurons and glia are both characterized by multiple branching arbors stemming from the cell bodies. Glial processes are generally known to form smaller trees than neuronal dendrites. However, the full extent of morphological differences between neurons and glia in multiple species and brain regions has not yet been characterized, nor is it known whether these cells can be reliably distinguished based on geometric features alone. Here, we show that multiple supervised learning algorithms deployed on a large database of morphological reconstructions can systematically classify neuronal and glial arbors with nearly perfect accuracy and precision. Moreover, we report multiple morphometric properties, both size related and size independent, that differ substantially between these cell types. In particular, we newly identify an individual morphometric measurement, Average Branch Euclidean Length that can robustly separate neurons from glia across multiple animal models, a broad diversity of experimental conditions, and anatomical areas, with the notable exception of the cerebellum. We discuss the practical utility and physiological interpretation of this discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masood A. Akram
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures & PlasticityKrasnow Institute for Advanced StudyCollege of Engineering and ComputingGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVirginiaUSA
- Department of BioengineeringVolgenau School of EngineeringGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVirginiaUSA
| | - Qi Wei
- Department of BioengineeringVolgenau School of EngineeringGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVirginiaUSA
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures & PlasticityKrasnow Institute for Advanced StudyCollege of Engineering and ComputingGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVirginiaUSA
- Department of BioengineeringVolgenau School of EngineeringGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVirginiaUSA
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Kawabe Y, Tanaka T, Isonishi A, Nakahara K, Tatsumi K, Wanaka A. Characterization of Glial Populations in the Aging and Remyelinating Mouse Corpus Callosum. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:2826-2838. [PMID: 35859078 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03676-z] [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: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cells in the white matter of the adult brain have a characteristic distribution pattern in which several cells are contiguously connected to each other, making a linear array (LA) resembling pearls-on-a-string parallel to the axon axis. We have been interested in how this pattern of cell distribution changes during aging and remyelination after demyelination. In the present study, with a multiplex staining method, semi-quantitative analysis of the localization of oligodendrocyte lineage cells (oligodendrocyte progenitors, premyelinating oligodendrocytes, and mature oligodendrocytes), astrocytes, and microglia in 8-week-old (young adult) and 32-week-old (aged) corpus callosum showed that young adult cells still include immature oligodendrocytes and that LAs contain a higher proportion of microglia than isolated cells. In aged mice, premyelinating oligodendrocytes were decreased, but microglia continued to be present in the LAs. These results suggest that the presence of microglia is important for the characteristic cell localization pattern of LAs. In a cuprizone-induced demyelination model, we observed re-formation of LAs after completion of cuprizone treatment, concurrent with remyelination. These re-formed LAs again contained more microglia than the isolated cells. This finding supports the hypothesis that microglia contribute to the formation and maintenance of LAs. In addition, regardless of the distribution of cells (LAs or isolated cells), astrocytes were found to be more abundant than in the normal corpus callosum at 24 weeks after cuprizone treatment when remyelination is completed. This suggests that astrocytes are involved in maintaining the functions of remyelinated white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Kawabe
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nara Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Tatsuhide Tanaka
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nara Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Ayami Isonishi
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nara Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kazuki Nakahara
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nara Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kouko Tatsumi
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nara Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan.
| | - Akio Wanaka
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nara Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
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