Myeloid cell interferon secretion restricts Zika flavivirus infection of developing and malignant human neural progenitor cells

Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect human developing brain (HDB) progenitors resulting in epidemic microcephaly, whereas analogous cellular tropism offers treatment potential for the adult brain cancer, glioblastoma (GBM). We compared productive ZIKV infection in HDB and GBM primary tissue explants that both contain SOX2+ neural progenitors. Strikingly, although the HDB proved uniformly vulnerable to ZIKV infection, GBM was more refractory, and this correlated with an innate immune expression signature. Indeed, GBM-derived CD11b+ microglia/macrophages were necessary and sufficient to protect progenitors against ZIKV infection in a non-cell autonomous manner. Using SOX2+ GBM cell lines, we found that CD11b+-conditioned medium containing type 1 interferon beta (IFNβ) promoted progenitor resistance to ZIKV, whereas inhibition of JAK1/2 signaling restored productive infection. Additionally, CD11b+ conditioned medium, and IFNβ treatment rendered HDB progenitor lines and explants refractory to ZIKV. These findings provide insight into neuroprotection for HDB progenitors as well as enhanced GBM oncolytic therapies.

Oligodendrocyte Death in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease Is Rescued by Iron Chelation

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is an X-linked leukodystrophy caused by mutations in Proteolipid Protein 1 (PLP1), encoding a major myelin protein, resulting in profound developmental delay and early lethality. Previous work showed involvement of unfolded protein response (UPR) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways, but poor PLP1 genotype-phenotype associations suggest additional pathogenetic mechanisms. Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and gene-correction, we show that patient-derived oligodendrocytes can develop to the pre-myelinating stage, but subsequently undergo cell death. Mutant oligodendrocytes demonstrated key hallmarks of ferroptosis including lipid peroxidation, abnormal iron metabolism, and hypersensitivity to free iron. Iron chelation rescued mutant oligodendrocyte apoptosis, survival, and differentiationin vitro, and post-transplantation in vivo. Finally, systemic treatment of Plp1 mutant Jimpy mice with deferiprone, a small molecule iron chelator, reduced oligodendrocyte apoptosis and enabled myelin formation. Thus, oligodendrocyte iron-induced cell death and myelination is rescued by iron chelation in PMD pre-clinical models.

Astrocyte layers in the mammalian cerebral cortex revealed by a single-cell in situ transcriptomic map

Although the cerebral cortex is organized into six excitatory neuronal layers, it is unclear whether glial cells show distinct layering. In the present study, we developed a high-content pipeline, the large-area spatial transcriptomic (LaST) map, which can quantify single-cell gene expression in situ. Screening 46 candidate genes for astrocyte diversity across the mouse cortex, we identified superficial, mid and deep astrocyte identities in gradient layer patterns that were distinct from those of neurons. Astrocyte layer features, established in the early postnatal cortex, mostly persisted in adult mouse and human cortex. Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial reconstruction analysis further confirmed the presence of astrocyte layers in the adult cortex. Satb2 and Reeler mutations that shifted neuronal post-mitotic development were sufficient to alter glial layering, indicating an instructive role for neuronal cues. Finally, astrocyte layer patterns diverged between mouse cortical regions. These findings indicate that excitatory neurons and astrocytes are organized into distinct lineage-associated laminae.

Sox2 Sustains Recruitment of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells following CNS Demyelination and Primes Them for Differentiation during Remyelination

The Sox family of transcription factors have been widely studied in the context of oligodendrocyte development. However, comparatively little is known about the role of Sox2, especially during CNS remyelination. Here we show that the expression of Sox2 occurs in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in rodent models during myelination and in activated adult OPCs responding to demyelination, and is also detected in multiple sclerosis lesions. In normal adult white matter of both mice and rats, it is neither expressed by adult OPCs nor by oligodendrocytes (although it is expressed by a subpopulation of adult astrocytes). Overexpression of Sox2 in rat OPCs in vitro maintains the cells in a proliferative state and inhibits differentiation, while Sox2 knockout results in decreased OPC proliferation and survival, suggesting that Sox2 contributes to the expansion of OPCs during the recruitment phase of remyelination. Loss of function in cultured mouse OPCs also results in an impaired ability to undergo normal differentiation in response to differentiation signals, suggesting that Sox2 expression in activated OPCs also primes these cells to eventually undergo differentiation. In vivo studies on remyelination following experimental toxin-induced demyelination in mice with inducible loss of Sox2 revealed impaired remyelination, which was largely due to a profound attenuation of OPC recruitment and likely also due to impaired differentiation. Our results reveal a key role of Sox2 expression in OPCs responding to demyelination, enabling them to effectively contribute to remyelination.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Understanding the mechanisms of CNS remyelination is central to developing effective means by which this process can be therapeutically enhanced in chronic demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In this study, we describe the role of Sox2, a transcription factor widely implicated in stem cell biology, in CNS myelination and remyelination. We show how Sox2 is expressed in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) preparing to undergo differentiation, allowing them to undergo proliferation and priming them for subsequent differentiation. Although Sox2 is unlikely to be a direct therapeutic target, these data nevertheless provide more information on how OPC differentiation is controlled and therefore enriches our understanding of this important CNS regenerative process.

Neuregulin and BDNF induce a switch to NMDA receptor-dependent myelination by oligodendrocytes

Neuregulin switches oligodendrocytes between two modes of myelination: from a neuronal activity–independent mode to a myelin-increasing, neuronal activity–dependent, mechanism that involves glutamate release and NMDA receptor activation.

Myelination is essential for rapid impulse conduction in the CNS, but what determines whether an individual axon becomes myelinated remains unknown. Here we show, using a myelinating coculture system, that there are two distinct modes of myelination, one that is independent of neuronal activity and glutamate release and another that depends on neuronal action potentials releasing glutamate to activate NMDA receptors on oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Neuregulin switches oligodendrocytes from the activity-independent to the activity-dependent mode of myelination by increasing NMDA receptor currents in oligodendrocyte lineage cells 6-fold. With neuregulin present myelination is accelerated and increased, and NMDA receptor block reduces myelination to far below its level without neuregulin. Thus, a neuregulin-controlled switch enhances the myelination of active axons. In vivo, we demonstrate that remyelination after white matter damage is NMDA receptor-dependent. These data resolve controversies over the signalling regulating myelination and suggest novel roles for neuregulin in schizophrenia and in remyelination after white matter damage.

Myelination acts as an insulator for neurons and as such is essential for normal brain function, ensuring fast neuronal communication. Oligodendrocytes are the cells that wrap their membrane around nerve cell axons to form the myelin sheath that enables fast action potential propagation. However, what determines whether an individual axon becomes myelinated remains unknown. We show that there are two distinct modes of myelination: one that is independent of neuronal activity and the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate and another that depends on nerve cell action potentials releasing glutamate, which then activates a class of glutamate receptor (NMDA receptors) on oligodendrocyte lineage cells. We find that the protein neuregulin switches oligodendrocytes between these two modes of myelination; neuregulin increases oligodendrocyte lineage cells' sensitivity to glutamate by increasing the current flowing through their glutamate receptors. With neuregulin present, myelination is accelerated and increased. Blocking NMDA receptors reduces the amount of myelination to far below its level without neuregulin. Thus, a neuregulin-controlled switch enhances the myelination of active axons. We also demonstrate that remyelination after white matter damage (as occurs in diseases, such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis) is NMDA receptor-dependent. These data help us understand the signalling that regulates myelination and suggest the possible involvement of neuregulin in schizophrenia and in remyelination after white matter damage.

Understanding BACE1: essential protease for amyloid-beta production in Alzheimer's disease

The identification of the aspartic protease BACE1 (beta-secretase) was a defining event in research aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. This is because BACE1 catalyses the rate limiting step in the production of amyloid-beta (Abeta) the principal component of plaque pathology in AD, the excessive production of which is believed to be a primary cause of neurodegeneration, and cognitive dysfunction in AD. Subsequent discoveries showed that genetic deletion of BACE1 completely abolishes Abeta production and deposition in vivo, and that BACE1 activity is significantly increased in AD brain. In this review we present current knowledge on BACE1, discussing its structure, function and complex regulation with a view to understanding BACE1 function in the brain, and BACE1 as a target in blocking aberrant Abeta production in AD.

The proteins BACE1 and BACE2 and β-secretase activity in normal and Alzheimer's disease brain

The insidious progression of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is believed to be linked closely to the production, accumulation and aggregation of the ∼4.5 kDa protein fragment called Aβ (amyloid β-peptide). Aβ is produced by sequential cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein by two enzymes referred to as β- and γ-secretase. β-Secretase is of central importance, as it catalyses the rate-limiting step in the production of Aβ and was identified 7 years ago as BACE1 (β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1). Soon afterwards, its homologue BACE2 was discovered, and both proteins represent a new subclass of the aspartyl protease family. Studies examining the regulation and function of β-secretase in the normal and AD brain are central to the understanding of excessive production of Aβ in AD, and in targeting and normalizing this β-secretase process if it has gone awry in the disease. Several reports indicate this, showing increased β-secretase activity in AD, with recent findings by our group showing changes in β-secretase enzyme kinetics in AD brain caused by an increased Vmax. This article gives a brief review of studies which have examined BACE1 protein levels and β-secretase activity in control and AD brain, considering further the expression of BACE2 in the human brain.

Altered beta-secretase enzyme kinetics and levels of both BACE1 and BACE2 in the Alzheimer's disease brain

beta-Secretase is the rate limiting enzymatic activity in the production of amyloid-beta peptide, the primary component of senile plaque pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study performed the first comparative analysis of beta-secretase enzyme kinetics in AD and control brain tissue. Results found V(max) values for beta-secretase to be significantly increased, and K(m) values unchanged in AD temporal cortex compared to matched control temporal cortex. The increased V(max) in AD cases, did not correlate with levels of BACE1, and decreased BACE1 and BACE2 levels correlated with the severity of neurofibrillary pathology (I-VI), and synaptic loss in AD. These results indicate that increased V(max) for beta-secretase is a feature of AD pathogenesis and this increase does not correlate directly with levels of BACE1, the principal beta-secretase in brain.