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Pandya VA, Patani R. The role of glial cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 176:381-450. [PMID: 38802179 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has traditionally been considered a neuron-centric disease. This view is now outdated, with increasing recognition of cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous contributions of central and peripheral nervous system glia to ALS pathomechanisms. With glial research rapidly accelerating, we comprehensively interrogate the roles of astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, Schwann cells and satellite glia in nervous system physiology and ALS-associated pathology. Moreover, we highlight the inter-glial, glial-neuronal and inter-system polylogue which constitutes the healthy nervous system and destabilises in disease. We also propose classification based on function for complex glial reactive phenotypes and discuss the pre-requisite for integrative modelling to advance translation. Given the paucity of life-enhancing therapies currently available for ALS patients, we discuss the promising potential of harnessing glia in driving ALS therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virenkumar A Pandya
- University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom; The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Rickie Patani
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom; Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
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2
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Groh AMR, Caporicci-Dinucci N, Afanasiev E, Bigotte M, Lu B, Gertsvolf J, Smith MD, Garton T, Callahan-Martin L, Allot A, Hatrock DJ, Mamane V, Drake S, Tai H, Ding J, Fournier AE, Larochelle C, Calabresi PA, Stratton JA. Ependymal cells undergo astrocyte-like reactivity in response to neuroinflammation. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38702968 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Ependymal cells form a specialized brain-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interface and regulate local CSF microcirculation. It is becoming increasingly recognized that ependymal cells assume a reactive state in response to aging and disease, including conditions involving hypoxia, hydrocephalus, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation. Yet what transcriptional signatures govern these reactive states and whether this reactivity shares any similarities with classical descriptions of glial reactivity (i.e., in astrocytes) remain largely unexplored. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we interrogated this phenomenon by directly comparing the reactive ependymal cell transcriptome to the reactive astrocyte transcriptome using a well-established model of autoimmune-mediated neuroinflammation (MOG35-55 EAE). In doing so, we unveiled core glial reactivity-associated genes that defined the reactive ependymal cell and astrocyte response to MOG35-55 EAE. Interestingly, known reactive astrocyte genes from other CNS injury/disease contexts were also up-regulated by MOG35-55 EAE ependymal cells, suggesting that this state may be conserved in response to a variety of pathologies. We were also able to recapitulate features of the reactive ependymal cell state acutely using a classic neuroinflammatory cocktail (IFNγ/LPS) both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, by comparing reactive ependymal cells and astrocytes, we identified a conserved signature underlying glial reactivity that was present in several neuroinflammatory contexts. Future work will explore the mechanisms driving ependymal reactivity and assess downstream functional consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M R Groh
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nina Caporicci-Dinucci
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elia Afanasiev
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maxime Bigotte
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Brianna Lu
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joshua Gertsvolf
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthew D Smith
- Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas Garton
- Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Liam Callahan-Martin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alexis Allot
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dale J Hatrock
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Victoria Mamane
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sienna Drake
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Huilin Tai
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jun Ding
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alyson E Fournier
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine Larochelle
- Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter A Calabresi
- Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jo Anne Stratton
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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Li J, Luo W, Xiao C, Zhao J, Xiang C, Liu W, Gu R. Recent advances in endogenous neural stem/progenitor cell manipulation for spinal cord injury repair. Theranostics 2023; 13:3966-3987. [PMID: 37554275 PMCID: PMC10405838 DOI: 10.7150/thno.84133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause severe neurological impairments. Clinically available treatments are quite limited, with unsatisfactory remediation effects. Residing endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells (eNSPCs) tend to differentiate towards astrocytes, leaving only a small fraction towards oligodendrocytes and even fewer towards neurons; this has been suggested as one of the reasons for the failure of autonomous neuronal regeneration. Thus, finding ways to recruit and facilitate the differentiation of eNSPCs towards neurons has been considered a promising strategy for the noninvasive and immune-compatible treatment of SCI. The present manuscript first introduces the responses of eNSPCs after exogenous interventions to boost endogenous neurogenesis in various SCI models. Then, we focus on state-of-art manipulation approaches that enhance the intrinsic neurogenesis capacity and reconstruct the hostile microenvironment, mainly consisting of pharmacological treatments, stem cell-derived exosome administration, gene therapy, functional scaffold implantation, inflammation regulation, and inhibitory element delineation. Facing the extremely complex situation of SCI, combined treatments are also highlighted to provide more clues for future relevant investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincheng Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqi Luo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunsheng Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhui Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyu Xiang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanguo Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Gu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
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Rodriguez-Jimenez FJ, Jendelova P, Erceg S. The activation of dormant ependymal cells following spinal cord injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:175. [PMID: 37408068 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03395-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ependymal cells, a dormant population of ciliated progenitors found within the central canal of the spinal cord, undergo significant alterations after spinal cord injury (SCI). Understanding the molecular events that induce ependymal cell activation after SCI represents the first step toward controlling the response of the endogenous regenerative machinery in damaged tissues. This response involves the activation of specific signaling pathways in the spinal cord that promotes self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. We review our current understanding of the signaling pathways and molecular events that mediate the SCI-induced activation of ependymal cells by focusing on the roles of some cell adhesion molecules, cellular membrane receptors, ion channels (and their crosstalk), and transcription factors. An orchestrated response regulating the expression of receptors and ion channels fine-tunes and coordinates the activation of ependymal cells after SCI or cell transplantation. Understanding the major players in the activation of ependymal cells may help us to understand whether these cells represent a critical source of cells contributing to cellular replacement and tissue regeneration after SCI. A more complete understanding of the role and function of individual signaling pathways in endogenous spinal cord progenitors may foster the development of novel targeted therapies to induce the regeneration of the injured spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Jimenez
- Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Research Center "Principe Felipe", C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Pavla Jendelova
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Slaven Erceg
- Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Research Center "Principe Felipe", C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
- National Stem Cell Bank - Valencia Node, Research Center "Principe Felipe", C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Ma XY, Yang TT, Liu L, Peng XC, Qian F, Tang FR. Ependyma in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Radiation-Induced Brain Injury and as a Therapeutic Target for Neurotrophic Factors. Biomolecules 2023; 13:754. [PMID: 37238624 PMCID: PMC10216700 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050754] [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] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuron loss caused by the progressive damage to the nervous system is proposed to be the main pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Ependyma is a layer of ciliated ependymal cells that participates in the formation of the brain-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCB). It functions to promotes the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the material exchange between CSF and brain interstitial fluid. Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) shows obvious impairments of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the neuroinflammatory processes after acute brain injury, a large amount of complement proteins and infiltrated immune cells are circulated in the CSF to resist brain damage and promote substance exchange through the BCB. However, as the protective barrier lining the brain ventricles, the ependyma is extremely vulnerable to cytotoxic and cytolytic immune responses. When the ependyma is damaged, the integrity of BCB is destroyed, and the CSF flow and material exchange is affected, leading to brain microenvironment imbalance, which plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other neurotrophic factors promote the differentiation and maturation of ependymal cells to maintain the integrity of the ependyma and the activity of ependymal cilia, and may have therapeutic potential in restoring the homeostasis of the brain microenvironment after RIBI or during the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Ma
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Lian Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Feng Qian
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Feng-Ru Tang
- Radiation Physiology Laboratory, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138602, Singapore
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Rodrigo Albors A, Singer GA, Llorens-Bobadilla E, Frisén J, May AP, Ponting CP, Storey KG. An ependymal cell census identifies heterogeneous and ongoing cell maturation in the adult mouse spinal cord that changes dynamically on injury. Dev Cell 2023; 58:239-255.e10. [PMID: 36706756 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The adult spinal cord stem cell potential resides within the ependymal cell population and declines with age. Ependymal cells are, however, heterogeneous, and the biological diversity this represents and how it changes with age remain unknown. Here, we present a single-cell transcriptomic census of spinal cord ependymal cells from adult and aged mice, identifying not only all known ependymal cell subtypes but also immature as well as mature cell states. By comparing transcriptomes of spinal cord and brain ependymal cells, which lack stem cell abilities, we identify immature cells as potential spinal cord stem cells. Following spinal cord injury, these cells re-enter the cell cycle, which is accompanied by a short-lived reversal of ependymal cell maturation. We further analyze ependymal cells in the human spinal cord and identify widespread cell maturation and altered cell identities. This in-depth characterization of spinal cord ependymal cells provides insight into their biology and informs strategies for spinal cord repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Rodrigo Albors
- Division of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
| | - Gail A Singer
- Division of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | | | - Jonas Frisén
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrew P May
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Tornado Bio, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Chris P Ponting
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Kate G Storey
- Division of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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Zhao T, Liu C, Liu L, Wang X, Liu C. Aging-accelerated differential production and aggregation of STAT3 protein in neuronal cells and neural stem cells in the male mouse spinal cord. Biogerontology 2023; 24:137-148. [PMID: 36550376 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-022-10004-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: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Aging-affected cellular compositions of the spinal cord are diverse and region specific. Age leads to the accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates and dysregulation of proteostasis. Dysregulated proteostasis and protein aggregates result from dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of spinal cord aging is essential and important for scientists to discover new therapies for rejuvenation. We found age-related increases in STAT3 and decreases in Tuj1 in aging mouse spinal cords, which was characterized by increased expression of P16. Coaggregation of lysine-48 and lysine-63 ubiquitin with STAT3 was revealed in aging mouse spinal cords. STAT3-ubiquitin aggregates formed via lysine-48 and lysine-63 linkages were increased significantly in the aging spinal cords but not in central canal ependymal cells or neural stem cells in the spinal cord. These results highlight the increase in STAT3 and its region-specific aggregation and ubiquitin-conjugation during spinal cord aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Orthopedics and Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Lihua Liu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xinmeng Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Regulating Endogenous Neural Stem Cell Activation to Promote Spinal Cord Injury Repair. Cells 2022; 11:cells11050846. [PMID: 35269466 PMCID: PMC8909806 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects millions of individuals worldwide. Currently, there is no cure, and treatment options to promote neural recovery are limited. An innovative approach to improve outcomes following SCI involves the recruitment of endogenous populations of neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs can be isolated from the neuroaxis of the central nervous system (CNS), with brain and spinal cord populations sharing common characteristics (as well as regionally distinct phenotypes). Within the spinal cord, a number of NSC sub-populations have been identified which display unique protein expression profiles and proliferation kinetics. Collectively, the potential for NSCs to impact regenerative medicine strategies hinges on their cardinal properties, including self-renewal and multipotency (the ability to generate de novo neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes). Accordingly, endogenous NSCs could be harnessed to replace lost cells and promote structural repair following SCI. While studies exploring the efficacy of this approach continue to suggest its potential, many questions remain including those related to heterogeneity within the NSC pool, the interaction of NSCs with their environment, and the identification of factors that can enhance their response. We discuss the current state of knowledge regarding populations of endogenous spinal cord NSCs, their niche, and the factors that regulate their behavior. In an attempt to move towards the goal of enhancing neural repair, we highlight approaches that promote NSC activation following injury including the modulation of the microenvironment and parenchymal cells, pharmaceuticals, and applied electrical stimulation.
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