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Yu W, Li Y, Zhong F, Deng Z, Wu J, Yu W, Lü Y. Disease-Associated Neurotoxic Astrocyte Markers in Alzheimer Disease Based on Integrative Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2024; 44:20. [PMID: 38345650 PMCID: PMC10861702 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-024-01453-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease, and astrocytes play a key role in its onset and progression. The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of neurotoxic astrocytes and identify novel molecular targets for slowing down the progression of AD. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) data were analyzed from various AD cohorts comprising about 210,654 cells from 53 brain tissue. By integrating snRNA-seq data with bulk RNA-seq data, crucial astrocyte types and genes associated with the prognosis of patients with AD were identified. The expression of neurotoxic astrocyte markers was validated using 5 × FAD and wild-type (WT) mouse models, combined with experiments such as western blot, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence. A group of neurotoxic astrocytes closely related to AD pathology was identified, which were involved in inflammatory responses and pathways related to neuron survival. Combining snRNA and bulk tissue data, ZEP36L, AEBP1, WWTR1, PHYHD1, DST and RASL12 were identified as toxic astrocyte markers closely related to disease severity, significantly elevated in brain tissues of 5 × FAD mice and primary astrocytes treated with Aβ. Among them, WWTR1 was significantly increased in astrocytes of 5 × FAD mice, driving astrocyte inflammatory responses, and has been identified as an important marker of neurotoxic astrocytes. snRNA-seq analysis reveals the biological functions of neurotoxic astrocytes. Six genes related to AD pathology were identified and validated, among which WWTR1 may be a novel marker of neurotoxic astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuhan Yu
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yin Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Fuxin Zhong
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Zhangjing Deng
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jiani Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Weihua Yu
- Institutes of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yang Lü
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Liddell JR, Hilton JBW, Kysenius K, Billings JL, Nikseresht S, McInnes LE, Hare DJ, Paul B, Mercer SW, Belaidi AA, Ayton S, Roberts BR, Beckman JS, McLean CA, White AR, Donnelly PS, Bush AI, Crouch PJ. Microglial ferroptotic stress causes non-cell autonomous neuronal death. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:14. [PMID: 38317225 PMCID: PMC10840184 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00691-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death characterised by lipid peroxidation as the terminal endpoint and a requirement for iron. Although it protects against cancer and infection, ferroptosis is also implicated in causing neuronal death in degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The precise role for ferroptosis in causing neuronal death is yet to be fully resolved. METHODS To elucidate the role of ferroptosis in neuronal death we utilised co-culture and conditioned medium transfer experiments involving microglia, astrocytes and neurones. We ratified clinical significance of our cell culture findings via assessment of human CNS tissue from cases of the fatal, paralysing neurodegenerative condition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We utilised the SOD1G37R mouse model of ALS and a CNS-permeant ferroptosis inhibitor to verify pharmacological significance in vivo. RESULTS We found that sublethal ferroptotic stress selectively affecting microglia triggers an inflammatory cascade that results in non-cell autonomous neuronal death. Central to this cascade is the conversion of astrocytes to a neurotoxic state. We show that spinal cord tissue from human cases of ALS exhibits a signature of ferroptosis that encompasses atomic, molecular and biochemical features. Further, we show the molecular correlation between ferroptosis and neurotoxic astrocytes evident in human ALS-affected spinal cord is recapitulated in the SOD1G37R mouse model where treatment with a CNS-permeant ferroptosis inhibitor, CuII(atsm), ameliorated these markers and was neuroprotective. CONCLUSIONS By showing that microglia responding to sublethal ferroptotic stress culminates in non-cell autonomous neuronal death, our results implicate microglial ferroptotic stress as a rectifiable cause of neuronal death in neurodegenerative disease. As ferroptosis is currently primarily regarded as an intrinsic cell death phenomenon, these results introduce an entirely new pathophysiological role for ferroptosis in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Liddell
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - James B W Hilton
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kai Kysenius
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jessica L Billings
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Sara Nikseresht
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Lachlan E McInnes
- School of Chemistry and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Dominic J Hare
- Atomic Medicine Initiative, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Bence Paul
- School of Earth Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Stephen W Mercer
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Abdel A Belaidi
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Scott Ayton
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Blaine R Roberts
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Joseph S Beckman
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Catriona A McLean
- Anatomical Pathology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3005, Australia
| | - Anthony R White
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Paul S Donnelly
- School of Chemistry and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Ashley I Bush
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Peter J Crouch
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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Lun J, Li Y, Gao X, Gong Z, Chen X, Zou J, Zhou C, Huang Y, Zhou B, Huang P, Cao H. Kynurenic acid blunts A1 astrocyte activation against neurodegeneration in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:87. [PMID: 36997969 PMCID: PMC10061717 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02771-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive astrocyte activation in patients suffering from HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), little is known about the contribution of astrocytes to HAND neuropathology. Here, we report that the robust activation of neurotoxic astrocytes (A1 astrocytes) in the CNS promotes neuron damage and cognitive deficits in HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice. Notably, knockout of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) blunted A1 astrocyte responses, ultimately facilitating neuronal and cognitive improvement in the gp120tg mice. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite with α7nAChR inhibitory properties, attenuates gp120-induced A1 astrocyte formation through the blockade of α7nAChR/JAK2/STAT3 signaling activation. Meanwhile, compared with gp120tg mice, mice fed with tryptophan showed dramatic improvement in cognitive performance, which was related to the inhibition of A1 astrocyte responses. These initial and determinant findings mark a turning point in our understanding of the role of α7nAChR in gp120-mediated A1 astrocyte activation, opening up new opportunities to control neurotoxic astrocyte generation through KYNA and tryptophan administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxian Lun
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Yubin Li
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Xuefeng Gao
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Zelong Gong
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Xiaoliang Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Jinhu Zou
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Chengxing Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Bingliang Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
| | - Hong Cao
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong China
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Lai X, Wang Y, Wang X, Liu B, Rong L. miR-146a-5p-modified hUCMSC-derived exosomes facilitate spinal cord function recovery by targeting neurotoxic astrocytes. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:487. [PMID: 36175984 PMCID: PMC9524140 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03116-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating result of neurological trauma with subsequent microenvironment dyshomeostasis that induces neurotoxic phenotype acquisition by astrocytes, exacerbating neurological function impairment. Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) have demonstrated essential therapeutic effects after central nervous system trauma. However, whether hUCMSC-derived exosomes exert therapeutic effects on neurotoxic astrocytes to facilitate SCI function recovery remains unclear. Additionally, the limited efficiency of single exosomes may restrict the optimization of exosomal biological functions.
Methods We first determined that exosomes reduce the deleterious effects of neurotoxic astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. Then, we identified critical functional microRNAs (miRNAs). miR-146a-5p was overexpressed in exosomes, and then, miR-146a-5p-modified exosomes were used to investigate the ability of exosomes to reduce neurotoxic astrocyte effects, preserve neurons and promote neurological function recovery in rats with SCI. Results Cell counting kit-8 and neurite length analyses revealed that exosomes partially reduced the negative effects of neurotoxic astrocytes on PC12 cell viability and neurites in vitro. The exosomes also attenuated inflammatory responses, reduced the number of neurotoxic astrocytes and preserved neural tissue in rats with SCI. Immunofluorescence assays suggested that the number of neurotoxic astrocytes was rapidly increased by injury, reaching a peak 5 days post-injury (dpi) and returning to the normal level 14dpi. Exosomal miR-146a-5p was identified as the critical functional miRNA. Overexpression of miR-146a-5p in exosomes strengthened the biological function of the exosomes. Therefore, the modified exosomes exerted more powerful therapeutic effects than the unmodified exosomes, reducing the deleterious effects of neurotoxic astrocytes both in vitro and in vivo and promoting locomotor function of the hindlimbs in the rats with SCI. Through a series of gain- and loss-of-function experiments, Traf6 and Irak1 were identified as targets of exosomal miR-146a-5p. Ultimately, we found that miR-146a-5p-modified exosomes exerted their function by targeting Traf6/Irak1/NFκB pathway in neurotoxic astrocytes. Conclusions In summary, miR-146a-5p-modified exosomes exerted a more powerful effect than unmodified exosomes to promote neurological function recovery in rats with SCI by targeting neurotoxic astrocytes. Therefore, miR-146a-5p-modified exosomes are promising therapeutics for SCI. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-03116-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunwei Lai
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Cell Products, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Cell Products, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaokang Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Cell Products, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Cell Products, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Limin Rong
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. .,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Cell Products, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
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