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Diz-Chaves Y, Maastor Z, Spuch C, Lamas JA, González-Matías LC, Mallo F. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor activation: anti-inflammatory effects in the brain. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1671-1677. [PMID: 38103230 PMCID: PMC10960307 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.389626] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The glucagon-like peptide 1 is a pleiotropic hormone that has potent insulinotropic effects and is key in treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Glucagon-like peptide 1 exerts its effects by activating a membrane receptor identified in many tissues, including different brain regions. Glucagon-like peptide 1 activates several signaling pathways related to neuroprotection, like the support of cell growth/survival, enhancement promotion of synapse formation, autophagy, and inhibition of the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, microglial activation, and apoptosis during neural morphogenesis. The glial cells, including astrocytes and microglia, maintain metabolic homeostasis and defense against pathogens in the central nervous system. After brain insult, microglia are the first cells to respond, followed by reactive astrocytosis. These activated cells produce proinflammatory mediators like cytokines or chemokines to react to the insult. Furthermore, under these circumstances, microglia can become chronically inflammatory by losing their homeostatic molecular signature and, consequently, their functions during many diseases. Several processes promote the development of neurological disorders and influence their pathological evolution: like the formation of protein aggregates, the accumulation of abnormally modified cellular constituents, the formation and release by injured neurons or synapses of molecules that can dampen neural function, and, of critical importance, the dysregulation of inflammatory control mechanisms. The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist emerges as a critical tool in treating brain-related inflammatory pathologies, restoring brain cell homeostasis under inflammatory conditions, modulating microglia activity, and decreasing the inflammatory response. This review summarizes recent advances linked to the anti-inflammatory properties of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor activation in the brain related to multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, or chronic migraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Diz-Chaves
- Biomedical Research Centre (CINBIO), Laboratory of Endocrinology, University of Vigo, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Vigo, Spain
| | - Zainab Maastor
- Biomedical Research Centre (CINBIO), Laboratory of Endocrinology, University of Vigo, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Vigo, Spain
| | - Carlos Spuch
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, CIBERSAM, Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, Sala Investigación, Estrada Clara Campoamor, Vigo, Spain
| | - José Antonio Lamas
- Biomedical Research Centre (CINBIO), Laboratory of Neuroscience, University of Vigo, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Vigo, Spain
| | - Lucas C. González-Matías
- Biomedical Research Centre (CINBIO), Laboratory of Endocrinology, University of Vigo, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Vigo, Spain
| | - Federico Mallo
- Biomedical Research Centre (CINBIO), Laboratory of Endocrinology, University of Vigo, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Vigo, Spain
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Collado-Perez R, Chamoso-Sánchez D, García A, Fernández-Alfonso MS, Jiménez-Hernáiz M, Canelles S, Argente J, Frago LM, Chowen JA. The differential effects of palmitic acid and oleic acid on the metabolic response of hypothalamic astrocytes from male and female mice. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25339. [PMID: 38741550 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25339] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Diets rich in saturated fats are more detrimental to health than those containing mono- or unsaturated fats. Fatty acids are an important source of energy, but they also relay information regarding nutritional status to hypothalamic metabolic circuits and when in excess can be detrimental to these circuits. Astrocytes are the main site of central fatty acid β-oxidation, and hypothalamic astrocytes participate in energy homeostasis, in part by modulating hormonal and nutritional signals reaching metabolic neurons, as well as in the inflammatory response to high-fat diets. Thus, we hypothesized that how hypothalamic astrocytes process-specific fatty acids participates in determining the differential metabolic response and that this is sex dependent as males and females respond differently to high-fat diets. Male and female primary hypothalamic astrocyte cultures were treated with oleic acid (OA) or palmitic acid (PA) for 24 h, and an untargeted metabolomics study was performed. A clear predictive model for PA exposure was obtained, while the metabolome after OA exposure was not different from controls. The observed modifications in metabolites, as well as the expression levels of key metabolic enzymes, indicate a reduction in the activity of the Krebs and glutamate/glutamine cycles in response to PA. In addition, there were specific differences between the response of astrocytes from male and female mice, as well as between hypothalamic and cerebral cortical astrocytes. Thus, the response of hypothalamic astrocytes to specific fatty acids could result in differential impacts on surrounding metabolic neurons and resulting in varied systemic metabolic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Collado-Perez
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación La Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Chamoso-Sánchez
- Center for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad San Pablo CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonia García
- Center for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad San Pablo CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Maria Jiménez-Hernáiz
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación La Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Canelles
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación La Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Argente
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación La Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA Food Institute, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura M Frago
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación La Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julie A Chowen
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación La Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA Food Institute, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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3
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Zamani A, Thomas E, Wright DK. Sex biology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 95:102228. [PMID: 38354985 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102228] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Although sex differences in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have not been studied systematically, numerous clinical and preclinical studies have shown sex to be influential in disease prognosis. Moreover, with the development of advanced imaging tools, the difference between male and female brain in structure and function and their response to neurodegeneration are more definitive. As discussed in this review, ALS patients exhibit a sex bias pertaining to the features of the disease, and their clinical, pathological, (and pathophysiological) phenotypes. Several epidemiological studies have indicated that this sex disparity stems from various aetiologies, including sex-specific brain structure and neural functioning, genetic predisposition, age, gonadal hormones, susceptibility to traumatic brain injury (TBI)/head trauma and lifestyle factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akram Zamani
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
| | - Emma Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - David K Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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Findley C, McFadden S, Hill T, Peck M, Quinn K, Hascup K, Hascup E. Altered Hippocampal Glutamatergic Neurotransmission and Cognitive Impairment in APP Knock-In Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.05.570100. [PMID: 38106074 PMCID: PMC10723272 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.570100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that glutamatergic neurotransmission plays an essential role in learning and memory. Previous studies indicate that glutamate dynamics shift with Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression, contributing to negative cognitive outcomes. In this study, we characterized hippocampal glutamatergic signaling with age and disease progression in a knock-in mouse model of AD (APPNL-F/NL-F). At 2-4 and 18+ months old, male and female APPNL/NL, APPNL-F/NL-F, and C57BL/6 mice underwent cognitive assessment using Morris water maze (MWM) and Novel Object Recognition (NOR). Then, basal and 70 mM KCl stimulus-evoked glutamate release was measured in the dentate gyrus (DG), CA3, and CA1 regions of the hippocampus using a glutamate-selective microelectrode in anesthetized mice. Glutamate recordings support elevated stimulus-evoked glutamate release in the DG and CA3 of young APPNL-F/NL-F male mice that declined with age compared to age-matched control mice. Young female APPNL-F/NL-F mice exhibited increased glutamate clearance in the CA1 that slowed with age compared to age-matched control mice. Male and female APPNL-F/NL-F mice exhibited decreased CA1 basal glutamate levels, while males also showed depletion in the CA3. Cognitive assessment demonstrated impaired spatial cognition in aged male and female APPNL-F/NL-F mice, but only aged females displayed recognition memory deficits compared to age-matched control mice. These findings confirm a sex-dependent hyper-to-hypoactivation glutamatergic paradigm in APPNL-F/NL-F mice. Further, data illustrate a sexually dimorphic biological aging process resulting in a more severe cognitive phenotype for female APPNL-F/NL-F mice than their male counterparts. Research outcomes mirror that of human AD pathology and provide further evidence of divergent AD pathogenesis between sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C.A. Findley
- Neuroscience Institute, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Depts of Neurology
- Pharmacology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - S.A. McFadden
- Neuroscience Institute, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Depts of Neurology
| | - T. Hill
- Neuroscience Institute, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Depts of Neurology
| | - M.R. Peck
- Neuroscience Institute, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Depts of Neurology
| | - K. Quinn
- Neuroscience Institute, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Depts of Neurology
| | - K.N. Hascup
- Neuroscience Institute, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Depts of Neurology
- Pharmacology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
- Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - E.R. Hascup
- Neuroscience Institute, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Depts of Neurology
- Pharmacology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
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5
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Labusek N, Ghari P, Mouloud Y, Köster C, Diesterbeck E, Hadamitzky M, Felderhoff-Müser U, Bendix I, Giebel B, Herz J. Hypothermia combined with extracellular vesicles from clonally expanded immortalized mesenchymal stromal cells improves neurodevelopmental impairment in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:280. [PMID: 38012640 PMCID: PMC10680187 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02961-0] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonatal encephalopathy following hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a leading cause of childhood death and morbidity. Hypothermia (HT), the only available but obligatory therapy is limited due to a short therapeutic window and limited efficacy. An adjuvant therapy overcoming limitations of HT is still missing. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown promising therapeutic effects in various brain injury models. Challenges associated with MSCs' heterogeneity and senescence can be mitigated by the use of EVs from clonally expanded immortalized MSCs (ciMSCs). In the present study, we hypothesized that intranasal ciMSC-EV delivery overcomes limitations of HT. METHODS Nine-day-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to HI by occlusion of the right common carotid artery followed by 1 h hypoxia (10% oxygen). HT was initiated immediately after insult for 4 h. Control animals were kept at physiological body core temperatures. ciMSC-EVs or vehicle were administered intranasally 1, 3 and 5 days post HI/HT. Neuronal cell loss, inflammatory and regenerative responses were assessed via immunohistochemistry, western blot and real-time PCR 7 days after insult. Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome was evaluated by analyses of cognitive function, activity and anxiety-related behavior 5 weeks after HI/HT. RESULTS In contrast to HT monotherapy, the additional intranasal therapy with ciMSC-EVs prevented HI-induced cognitive deficits, hyperactivity and alterations of anxiety-related behavior at adolescence. This was preceded by reduction of striatal neuronal loss, decreased endothelial, microglia and astrocyte activation; reduced expression of pro-inflammatory and increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the combination of HT with intranasal ciMSC-EV delivery promoted regenerative and neurodevelopmental processes, including endothelial proliferation, neurotrophic growth factor expression and oligodendrocyte maturation, which were not altered by HT monotherapy. CONCLUSION Intranasal delivery of ciMSC-EVs represents a novel adjunct therapy, overcoming limitations of acute HT thereby offering new possibilities for improving long-term outcomes in neonates with HI-induced brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Labusek
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neurosciences, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Parnian Ghari
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neurosciences, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yanis Mouloud
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Köster
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neurosciences, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Eva Diesterbeck
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neurosciences, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Martin Hadamitzky
- Institute for Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ursula Felderhoff-Müser
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neurosciences, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ivo Bendix
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neurosciences, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Giebel
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Josephine Herz
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neurosciences, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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6
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Platholi J, Marongiu R, Park L, Yu F, Sommer G, Weinberger R, Tower W, Milner TA, Glass MJ. Hippocampal glial inflammatory markers are differentially altered in a novel mouse model of perimenopausal cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1280218. [PMID: 38035277 PMCID: PMC10684955 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1280218] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dementia is often characterized by age-dependent cerebrovascular pathology, neuroinflammation, and cognitive deficits with notable sex differences in risk, disease onset, progression and severity. Women bear a disproportionate burden of dementia, and the onset of menopause (i.e., perimenopause) may be a critical period conferring increased susceptibility. However, the contribution of early ovarian decline to the neuroinflammatory processes associated with cerebrovascular dementia risks, particularly at the initial stages of pathology that may be more amenable to proactive intervention, is unknown. To better understand the influence of early ovarian failure on dementia-associated neuroinflammation we developed a model of perimenopausal cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), an important contributor to dementia. For this, accelerated ovarian failure (AOF) was induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) treatment to isolate early-stage ovarian failure comparable to human perimenopause (termed "peri-AOF") in transgenic SWDI mice expressing human vasculotropic mutant amyloid beta (Aβ) precursor protein, that were also tested at an early stage of amyloidosis. We found that peri-AOF SWDI mice showed increased astrocyte activation accompanied by elevated Aβ in select regions of the hippocampus, a brain system involved in learning and memory that is severely impacted during dementia. However, although SWDI mice showed signs of increased hippocampal microglial activation and impaired cognitive function, this was not further affected by peri-AOF. In sum, these results suggest that elevated dysfunction of key elements of the neurovascular unit in select hippocampal regions characterizes the brain pathology of mice at early stages of both CAA and AOF. However, neurovascular unit pathology may not yet have passed a threshold that leads to further behavioral compromise at these early periods of cerebral amyloidosis and ovarian failure. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the hormonal dysregulation associated with perimenopause onset represents a stage of emerging vulnerability to dementia-associated neuropathology, thus providing a selective window of opportunity for therapeutic intervention prior to the development of advanced pathology that has proven difficult to repair or reverse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimcy Platholi
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
- Anesthesiology Department, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberta Marongiu
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
- Neurological Surgery Department, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Genetic Medicine Department, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, United States
| | - Laibaik Park
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fangmin Yu
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Garrett Sommer
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rena Weinberger
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - William Tower
- Neurological Surgery Department, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Teresa A. Milner
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
- Harold and Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael J. Glass
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
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7
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Portman DS, Díaz-Balzac CA. Developmental biology: A hole in the matrix. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1016-R1018. [PMID: 37816322 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurons must access the environment to gather information, but this exposure must be carefully managed. New work finds that glial cells, the non-neuronal component of the nervous system, control environmental access by stage- and sex-specific patterning of the extracellular matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas S Portman
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Biology, University of Rochester, 402 Hutchison Hall, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
| | - Carlos A Díaz-Balzac
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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8
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Pfau DR, Baribeau S, Brown F, Khetarpal N, Marc Breedlove S, Jordan CL. Loss of TRPC2 function in mice alters sex differences in brain regions regulating social behaviors. J Comp Neurol 2023; 531:1550-1561. [PMID: 37496437 PMCID: PMC10642801 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25528] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The transient receptor potential cation channel 2 (TRPC2) conveys pheromonal information from the vomeronasal organ (VNO) to the brain. Both male and female mice lacking this gene show altered sex-typical behavior as adults. We asked whether TRPC2, highly expressed in the VNO, normally participates in the development of VNO-recipient brain regions controlling mounting and aggression, two behaviors affected by TRPC2 loss. We now report significant effects of TRPC2 loss in both the posterodorsal aspect of the medial amygdala (MePD) and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) of male and female mice. In the MePD, a sex difference in neuron number was eliminated by the TRPC2 knockout (KO), but the effect was complex, with fewer neurons in the right MePD of females, and fewer neurons in the left MePD of males. In contrast, MePD astrocytes were unaffected by the KO. In the ventrolateral (vl) aspect of the VMH, KO females were like wildtype (WT) females, but TRPC2 loss had a dramatic effect in males, with fewer neurons than WT males and a smaller VMHvl overall. We also discovered a glial sex difference in VMHvl of WTs, with females having more astrocytes than males. Interestingly, TRPC2 loss increased astrocyte number in males in this region. We conclude that TRPC2 normally participates in the sexual differentiation of the mouse MePD and VMHvl. These changes in two key VNO-recipient regions may underlie the effects of the TRPC2 KO on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Pfau
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Sarah Baribeau
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Felix Brown
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Niki Khetarpal
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Cynthia L Jordan
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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9
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Rocha SM, Kirkley KS, Chatterjee D, Aboellail TA, Smeyne RJ, Tjalkens RB. Microglia-specific knock-out of NF-κB/IKK2 increases the accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein through the inhibition of p62/sequestosome-1-dependent autophagy in the rotenone model of Parkinson's disease. Glia 2023; 71:2154-2179. [PMID: 37199240 PMCID: PMC10330367 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder worldwide, with a greater prevalence in men than women. The etiology of PD is largely unknown, although environmental exposures and neuroinflammation are linked to protein misfolding and disease progression. Activated microglia are known to promote neuroinflammation in PD, but how environmental agents interact with specific innate immune signaling pathways in microglia to stimulate conversion to a neurotoxic phenotype is not well understood. To determine how nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling dynamics in microglia modulate neuroinflammation and dopaminergic neurodegeneration, we generated mice deficient in NF-κB activation in microglia (CX3CR1-Cre::IKK2fl/fl ) and exposed them to 2.5 mg/kg/day of rotenone for 14 days, followed by a 14-day post-lesioning incubation period. We postulated that inhibition of NF-κB signaling in microglia would reduce overall inflammatory injury in lesioned mice. Subsequent analysis indicated decreased expression of the NF-κB-regulated autophagy gene, sequestosome 1 (p62), in microglia, which is required for targeting ubiquitinated α-synuclein (α-syn) for lysosomal degradation. Knock-out animals had increased accumulation of misfolded α-syn within microglia, despite an overall reduction in neurodegeneration. Interestingly, this occurred more prominently in males. These data suggest that microglia play key biological roles in the degradation and clearance of misfolded α-syn and this process works in concert with the innate immune response associated with neuroinflammation. Importantly, the accumulation of misfolded α-syn protein aggregates alone did not increase neurodegeneration following exposure to rotenone but required the NF-κB-dependent inflammatory response in microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah M. Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Kelly S. Kirkley
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Debotri Chatterjee
- Jefferson Comprehensive Parkinson’s Center, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Tawfik A. Aboellail
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Richard J. Smeyne
- Jefferson Comprehensive Parkinson’s Center, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Ronald B. Tjalkens
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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10
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Chen P, Chen F, Lei J, Zhou B. Pomegranate polyphenol punicalagin improves learning memory deficits, redox homeostasis, and neuroinflammation in aging mice. Phytother Res 2023; 37:3655-3674. [PMID: 37092799 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7848] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder characterized by loss of memory and cognitive dysfunction in the aged. Despite remarkable advances in drug therapy, effective pharmacological interventions are rare. Punicalagin (PU) is an active antioxidant polyphenol found in pomegranates, raspberries, blueberries, and chestnuts that has attracted considerable attention owing to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study focused on the neuroprotective effect of PU on aging mice and its potential mechanisms. In this study, we first evaluated the protective effect of PU on neuro-2a (N2a) cell damage mediated by BV2 microglia-induced neuroinflammation. The in vivo D-galactose (D-gal)-induced brain aging model demonstrated that PU ameliorated deficits in learning and memory and prevented neuroinflammation, which was evident from the decrease in microglial activation and astrocytosis. Furthermore, PU reduced the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in both accelerated aging and naturally senescent mouse models. PU effectively improved neuroinflammation, learning and memory deficits, and redox homeostasis in aging mice, and it could be a potential therapeutic agent for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuchao Chen
- Sinopharm Dongfeng General Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiexin Lei
- Department of Endocrinology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Benhong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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11
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Abdullatef S, Farina C. Publicly available ex vivo transcriptomics datasets to explore CNS physiology and neurodegeneration: state of the art and perspectives. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1211079. [PMID: 37680966 PMCID: PMC10481165 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1211079] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by an intricate composition of diverse cell types, including neurons and glia cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia), whose functions may differ along time, between sexes and upon pathology. The advancements in high-throughput transcriptomics are providing fundamental insights on cell phenotypes, so that molecular codes and instructions are ever more described for CNS physiology and neurodegeneration. To facilitate the search of relevant information, this review provides an overview of key CNS transcriptomics studies ranging from CNS development to ageing and from physiology to pathology as defined for five neurodegenerative disorders and their relative animal models, with a focus on molecular descriptions whose raw data were publicly available. Accurate phenotypic descriptions of cellular states correlate with functional changes and this knowledge may support research devoted to the development of therapeutic strategies supporting CNS repair and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Abdullatef
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinthia Farina
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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12
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Calvo N, Einstein G. Steroid hormones: risk and resilience in women's Alzheimer disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1159435. [PMID: 37396653 PMCID: PMC10313425 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1159435] [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: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
More women have Alzheimer disease (AD) than men, but the reasons for this phenomenon are still unknown. Including women in clinical research and studying their biology is key to understand not just their increased risk but also their resilience against the disease. In this sense, women are more affected by AD than men, but their reserve or resilience mechanisms might delay symptom onset. The aim of this review was to explore what is known about mechanisms underlying women's risk and resilience in AD and identify emerging themes in this area that merit further research. We conducted a review of studies analyzing molecular mechanisms that may induce neuroplasticity in women, as well as cognitive and brain reserve. We also analyzed how the loss of steroid hormones in aging may be linked to AD. We included empirical studies with human and animal models, literature reviews as well as meta-analyses. Our search identified the importance of 17-b-estradiol (E2) as a mechanism driving cognitive and brain reserve in women. More broadly, our analysis revealed the following emerging perspectives: (1) the importance of steroid hormones and their effects on both neurons and glia for the study of risk and resilience in AD, (2) E2's crucial role in women's brain reserve, (3) women's verbal memory advantage as a cognitive reserve factor, and (4) E2's potential role in linguistic experiences such as multilingualism and hearing loss. Future directions for research include analyzing the reserve mechanisms of steroid hormones on neuronal and glial plasticity, as well as identifying the links between steroid hormone loss in aging and risk for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Calvo
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gillian Einstein
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tema Genus, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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13
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Colombo E, De Angelis A, Bassani C, Ruffini F, Ottoboni L, Garzetti L, Finardi A, Martino G, Furlan R, Farina C. iAstrocytes do not restrain T cell proliferation in vitro. BMC Neurosci 2023; 24:33. [PMID: 37286983 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-023-00806-3] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The cross-talk between T cells and astrocytes occurring under physiological and, even more, neuroinflammatory conditions may profoundly impact the generation of adaptive immune responses in the nervous tissue. In this study, we used a standardized in vitro co-culture assay to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of astrocytes differing for age, sex, and species. Mouse neonatal astrocytes enhanced T cell vitality but suppressed T lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogenic stimuli or myelin antigens, regardless of the Th1, Th2 or Th17 T cell phenotype. Studies comparing glia cells from adult and neonatal animals showed that adult astrocytes were more efficient in inhibiting T lymphocyte activation than neonatal astrocytes, regardless of their sex. Differently from primary cultures, mouse and human astrocytes derived from reprogrammed fibroblasts did not interfere with T cell proliferation. Overall, we describe a standardized astrocyte-T cell interaction in vitro assay and demonstrate that primary astrocytes and iAstrocytes may differ in modulating T cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Colombo
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Anthea De Angelis
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Bassani
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Ruffini
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Ottoboni
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Livia Garzetti
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Finardi
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianvito Martino
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Furlan
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinthia Farina
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
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14
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Terrin F, Tesoriere A, Plotegher N, Dalla Valle L. Sex and Brain: The Role of Sex Chromosomes and Hormones in Brain Development and Parkinson's Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1486. [PMID: 37296608 PMCID: PMC10252697 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones and genes on the sex chromosomes are not only key factors in the regulation of sexual differentiation and reproduction but they are also deeply involved in brain homeostasis. Their action is crucial for the development of the brain, which presents different characteristics depending on the sex of individuals. The role of these players in the brain is fundamental in the maintenance of brain function during adulthood as well, thus being important also with respect to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we explore the role of biological sex in the development of the brain and analyze its impact on the predisposition toward and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, we focus on Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has a higher incidence in the male population. We report how sex hormones and genes encoded by the sex chromosomes could protect from the disease or alternatively predispose toward its development. We finally underline the importance of considering sex when studying brain physiology and pathology in cellular and animal models in order to better understand disease etiology and develop novel tailored therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicoletta Plotegher
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
| | - Luisa Dalla Valle
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
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15
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Seeker LA, Bestard-Cuche N, Jäkel S, Kazakou NL, Bøstrand SMK, Wagstaff LJ, Cholewa-Waclaw J, Kilpatrick AM, Van Bruggen D, Kabbe M, Baldivia Pohl F, Moslehi Z, Henderson NC, Vallejos CA, La Manno G, Castelo-Branco G, Williams A. Brain matters: unveiling the distinct contributions of region, age, and sex to glia diversity and CNS function. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:84. [PMID: 37217978 PMCID: PMC10204264 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01568-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The myelinated white matter tracts of the central nervous system (CNS) are essential for fast transmission of electrical impulses and are often differentially affected in human neurodegenerative diseases across CNS region, age and sex. We hypothesize that this selective vulnerability is underpinned by physiological variation in white matter glia. Using single nucleus RNA sequencing of human post-mortem white matter samples from the brain, cerebellum and spinal cord and subsequent tissue-based validation we found substantial glial heterogeneity with tissue region: we identified region-specific oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) that retain developmental origin markers into adulthood, distinguishing them from mouse OPCs. Region-specific OPCs give rise to similar oligodendrocyte populations, however spinal cord oligodendrocytes exhibit markers such as SKAP2 which are associated with increased myelin production and we found a spinal cord selective population particularly equipped for producing long and thick myelin sheaths based on the expression of genes/proteins such as HCN2. Spinal cord microglia exhibit a more activated phenotype compared to brain microglia, suggesting that the spinal cord is a more pro-inflammatory environment, a difference that intensifies with age. Astrocyte gene expression correlates strongly with CNS region, however, astrocytes do not show a more activated state with region or age. Across all glia, sex differences are subtle but the consistent increased expression of protein-folding genes in male donors hints at pathways that may contribute to sex differences in disease susceptibility. These findings are essential to consider for understanding selective CNS pathologies and developing tailored therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise A Seeker
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Nadine Bestard-Cuche
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Sarah Jäkel
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum Der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Nina-Lydia Kazakou
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Sunniva M K Bøstrand
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Laura J Wagstaff
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Justyna Cholewa-Waclaw
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Alastair M Kilpatrick
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - David Van Bruggen
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mukund Kabbe
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fabio Baldivia Pohl
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zahra Moslehi
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Systems Biology, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, Western General Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Catalina A Vallejos
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, Western General Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Gioele La Manno
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Systems Biology, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Goncalo Castelo-Branco
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Node, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Williams
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
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16
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Bourque M, Morissette M, Soulet D, Di Paolo T. Impact of Sex on Neuroimmune contributions to Parkinson's disease. Brain Res Bull 2023:110668. [PMID: 37196734 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110668] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Inflammation has been observed in both the idiopathic and familial forms of PD. Importantly, PD is reported more often in men than in women, men having at least 1.5- fold higher risk to develop PD than women. This review summarizes the impact of biological sex and sex hormones on the neuroimmune contributions to PD and its investigation in animal models of PD. Innate and peripheral immune systems participate in the brain neuroinflammation of PD patients and is reproduced in neurotoxin, genetic and alpha-synuclein based models of PD. Microglia and astrocytes are the main cells of the innate immune system in the central nervous system and are the first to react to restore homeostasis in the brain. Analysis of serum immunoprofiles in female and male control and PD patients show that a great proportion of these markers differ between male and female. The relationship between CSF inflammatory markers and PD clinical characteristics or PD biomarkers shows sex differences. Conversely, in animal models of PD, sex differences in inflammation are well documented and the beneficial effects of endogenous and exogenous estrogenic modulation in inflammation have been reported. Targeting neuroinflammation in PD is an emerging therapeutic option but gonadal drugs have not yet been investigated in this respect, thus offering new opportunities for sex specific treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Bourque
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Québec, (Québec), G1V4G2, Canada.
| | - Marc Morissette
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Québec, (Québec), G1V4G2, Canada.
| | - Denis Soulet
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Québec, (Québec), G1V4G2, Canada; Faculté de Pharmacie, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Université Laval, Québec (Québec) G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Thérèse Di Paolo
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Axe Neurosciences, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Québec, (Québec), G1V4G2, Canada; Faculté de Pharmacie, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Université Laval, Québec (Québec) G1V 0A6, Canada.
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17
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Suarez LM, Diaz-Del Cerro E, Felix J, Gonzalez-Sanchez M, Ceprian N, Guerra-Perez N, G Novelle M, Martinez de Toda I, De la Fuente M. Sex differences in neuroimmunoendocrine communication. Involvement on longevity. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 211:111798. [PMID: 36907251 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine, nervous, and immune systems work coordinately to maintain the global homeostasis of the organism. They show sex differences in their functions that, in turn, contribute to sex differences beyond reproductive function. Females display a better control of the energetic metabolism and improved neuroprotection and have more antioxidant defenses and a better inflammatory status than males, which is associated with a more robust immune response than that of males. These differences are present from the early stages of life, being more relevant in adulthood and influencing the aging trajectory in each sex and may contribute to the different life lifespan between sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz M Suarez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Estefania Diaz-Del Cerro
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Judith Felix
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Monica Gonzalez-Sanchez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemi Ceprian
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Guerra-Perez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta G Novelle
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Martinez de Toda
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Monica De la Fuente
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain.
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18
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Veselkina ER, Trostnikov MV, Roshina NV, Pasyukova EG. The Effect of the Tau Protein on D. melanogaster Lifespan Depends on GSK3 Expression and Sex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2166. [PMID: 36768490 PMCID: PMC9916465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated conserved protein tau has attracted significant attention because of its essential role in the formation of pathological changes in the nervous system, which can reduce longevity. The study of the effects caused by tau dysfunction and the molecular mechanisms underlying them is complicated because different forms of tau exist in humans and model organisms, and the changes in protein expression can be multidirectional. In this article, we show that an increase in the expression of the main isoform of the Drosophila melanogaster tau protein in the nervous system has differing effects on lifespan depending on the sex of individuals but has no effect on the properties of the nervous system, in particular, the synaptic activity and distribution of another microtubule-associated protein, Futsch, in neuromuscular junctions. Reduced expression of tau in the nervous system does not affect the lifespan of wild-type flies, but it does increase the lifespan dramatically shortened by overexpression of the shaggy gene encoding the GSK3 (Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3) protein kinase, which is one of the key regulators of tau phosphorylation levels. This effect is accompanied by the normalization of the Futsch protein distribution impaired by shaggy overexpression. The results presented in this article demonstrate that multidirectional changes in tau expression can lead to effects that depend on the sex of individuals and the expression level of GSK3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina R. Veselkina
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail V. Trostnikov
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 121205 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V. Roshina
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena G. Pasyukova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia
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19
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Three-Dimensional Analysis of Sex- and Gonadal Status- Dependent Microglial Activation in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/ph16020152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. PD prevalence and incidence are higher in men than in women and modulation of gonadal hormones could have an impact on the disease course. This was investigated in male and female gonadectomized (GDX) and SHAM operated (SHAM) mice. Dutasteride (DUT), a 5α-reductase inhibitor, was administered to these mice for 10 days to modulate their gonadal sex hormones. On the fifth day of DUT treatment, mice received 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to model PD. We have previously shown in these mice the toxic effect of MPTP in SHAM and GDX males and in GDX females on dopamine markers and astrogliosis whereas SHAM females were protected by their female sex hormones. In SHAM males, DUT protected against MPTP toxicity. In the present study, microglial density and the number of doublets, representative of a microglial proliferation, were increased by the MPTP lesion only in male mice and prevented by DUT in SHAM males. A three-dimensional morphological microglial analysis showed that MPTP changed microglial morphology from quiescent to activated only in male mice and was not prevented by DUT. In conclusion, microgliosis can be modulated by sex hormone-dependent and independent factors in a mice model of PD.
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20
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Strefeler A, Jan M, Quadroni M, Teav T, Rosenberg N, Chatton JY, Guex N, Gallart-Ayala H, Ivanisevic J. Molecular insights into sex-specific metabolic alterations in Alzheimer's mouse brain using multi-omics approach. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:8. [PMID: 36624525 PMCID: PMC9827669 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01162-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by altered cellular metabolism in the brain. Several of these alterations have been found to be exacerbated in females, known to be disproportionately affected by AD. We aimed to unravel metabolic alterations in AD at the metabolic pathway level and evaluate whether they are sex-specific through integrative metabolomic, lipidomic, and proteomic analysis of mouse brain tissue. METHODS We analyzed male and female triple-transgenic mouse whole brain tissue by untargeted mass spectrometry-based methods to obtain a molecular signature consisting of polar metabolite, complex lipid, and protein data. These data were analyzed using multi-omics factor analysis. Pathway-level alterations were identified through joint pathway enrichment analysis or by separately evaluating lipid ontology and known proteins related to lipid metabolism. RESULTS Our analysis revealed significant AD-associated and in part sex-specific alterations across the molecular signature. Sex-dependent alterations were identified in GABA synthesis, arginine biosynthesis, and in alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. AD-associated alterations involving lipids were also found in the fatty acid elongation pathway and lysophospholipid metabolism, with a significant sex-specific effect for the latter. CONCLUSIONS Through multi-omics analysis, we report AD-associated and sex-specific metabolic alterations in the AD brain involving lysophospholipid and amino acid metabolism. These findings contribute to the characterization of the AD phenotype at the molecular level while considering the effect of sex, an overlooked yet determinant metabolic variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Strefeler
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Metabolomics Unit, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maxime Jan
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Bioinformatics Competence Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manfredo Quadroni
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Protein Analysis Facility, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tony Teav
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Metabolomics Unit, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Rosenberg
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Yves Chatton
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Guex
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Bioinformatics Competence Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hector Gallart-Ayala
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Metabolomics Unit, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julijana Ivanisevic
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Metabolomics Unit, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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21
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Casquero-Veiga M, Lamanna-Rama N, Romero-Miguel D, Rojas-Marquez H, Alcaide J, Beltran M, Nacher J, Desco M, Soto-Montenegro ML. The Poly I:C maternal immune stimulation model shows unique patterns of brain metabolism, morphometry, and plasticity in female rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:1022622. [PMID: 36733452 PMCID: PMC9888250 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1022622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Prenatal infections are associated with an increased risk of the onset of schizophrenia. Rodent models of maternal immune stimulation (MIS) have been extensively used in preclinical studies. However, many of these studies only include males, omitting pathophysiological features unique to females. The aim of this study is to characterize the MIS model in female rats using positron emission tomography (PET), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MR), and neuroplasticiy studies. Methods: In gestational day 15, Poly I:C (or Saline) was injected into pregnant Wistar rats to induce the MIS model. Imaging studies: [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-PET scans of female-offspring were acquired at post-natal day (PND) 35 and PND100. Furthermore, T2-MR brain images were acquired in adulthood. Differences in FDG uptake and morphometry between groups were assessed with SPM12 and Regions of Interest (ROI) analyses. Ex vivo study: The density of parvalbumin expressing interneurons (PV), perineuronal nets (PNN), and parvalbumin expressing interneurons surrounded by perineuronal nets (PV-PNN) were evaluated in the prelimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala using confocal microscopy. ROIs and neuroplasticity data were analyzed by 2-sample T-test and 2-way-ANOVA analyses, respectively. Results: A significant increase in brain metabolism was found in all animals at adulthood compared to adolescence. MIS hardly modified brain glucose metabolism in females, highlighting a significant hypometabolism in the thalamus at adulthood. In addition, MIS induced gray matter (GM) enlargements in the pituitary, hippocampus, substantia nigra, and cingulate cortex, and GM shrinkages in some thalamic nuclei, cerebelar areas, and brainstem. Moreover, MIS induced white matter shrinkages in the cerebellum, brainstem and corpus callosum, along with cerebrospinal fluid enlargements in the lateral and 4th ventricles. Finally, MIS reduced the density of PV, PNN, and PV-PNN in the basolateral amygdala. Conclusion: Our work showed in vivo the differential pattern of functional and morphometric affectation in the MIS model in females, as well as the deficits caused at the synaptic level according to sex. The differences obtained highlight the relevance of including both sexes in psychiatric research in order to consider their pathophysiological particularities and successfully extend the benefits obtained to the entire patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Casquero-Veiga
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Cardiovascular Imaging and Population Studies, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicolás Lamanna-Rama
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Romero-Miguel
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Henar Rojas-Marquez
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Julia Alcaide
- Neurobiology Unit, Cell Biology Departament, BIOTECMED Institute, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marc Beltran
- Neurobiology Unit, Cell Biology Departament, BIOTECMED Institute, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Juan Nacher
- Neurobiology Unit, Cell Biology Departament, BIOTECMED Institute, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Desco
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,Advanced Imaging Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Campus de Getafe, Madrid, Spain,*Correspondence: Manuel Desco Maria Luisa Soto-Montenegro
| | - Maria Luisa Soto-Montenegro
- Laboratorio de Imagen Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain,CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain,High Performance Research Group in Physiopathology and Pharmacology of the Digestive System (NeuGut), University Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Alcorcón, Spain,*Correspondence: Manuel Desco Maria Luisa Soto-Montenegro
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22
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Gudkov SV, Burmistrov DE, Kondakova EV, Sarimov RM, Yarkov RS, Franceschi C, Vedunova MV. An emerging role of astrocytes in aging/neuroinflammation and gut-brain axis with consequences on sleep and sleep disorders. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 83:101775. [PMID: 36334910 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the role of astrocytes in the central nervous system has changed dramatically over the last decade. The accumulating findings indicate that glial cells are involved not only in the maintenance of metabolic and ionic homeostasis and in the implementation of trophic functions but also in cognitive functions and information processing in the brain. Currently, there are some controversies regarding the role of astrocytes in complex processes such as aging of the nervous system and the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Many findings confirm the important functional role of astrocytes in age-related brain changes, including sleep disturbance and the development of neurodegenerative diseases and particularly Alzheimer's disease. Until recent years, neurobiological research has focused mainly on neuron-glial interactions, in which individual astrocytes locally modulate neuronal activity and communication between neurons. The review considers the role of astrocytes in the physiology of sleep and as an important "player" in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the features of the astrocytic network reorganization during aging are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V Gudkov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia; Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
| | - Dmitriy E Burmistrov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Elena V Kondakova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
| | - Ruslan M Sarimov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Roman S Yarkov
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
| | - Maria V Vedunova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
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23
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Rasia-Filho AA, Calcagnotto ME, von Bohlen Und Halbach O. Glial Cell Modulation of Dendritic Spine Structure and Synaptic Function. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:255-310. [PMID: 37962798 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Glia comprise a heterogeneous group of cells involved in the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous system. Glial cells are found from invertebrates to humans with morphological specializations related to the neural circuits in which they are embedded. Glial cells modulate neuronal functions, brain wiring and myelination, and information processing. For example, astrocytes send processes to the synaptic cleft, actively participate in the metabolism of neurotransmitters, and release gliotransmitters, whose multiple effects depend on the targeting cells. Human astrocytes are larger and more complex than their mice and rats counterparts. Astrocytes and microglia participate in the development and plasticity of neural circuits by modulating dendritic spines. Spines enhance neuronal connectivity, integrate most postsynaptic excitatory potentials, and balance the strength of each input. Not all central synapses are engulfed by astrocytic processes. When that relationship occurs, a different pattern for thin and large spines reflects an activity-dependent remodeling of motile astrocytic processes around presynaptic and postsynaptic elements. Microglia are equally relevant for synaptic processing, and both glial cells modulate the switch of neuroendocrine secretion and behavioral display needed for reproduction. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the structure, function, and plasticity of glial cells and relate them to synaptic maturation and modulation, also involving neurotrophic factors. Together, neurons and glia coordinate synaptic transmission in both normal and abnormal conditions. Neglected over decades, this exciting research field can unravel the complexity of species-specific neural cytoarchitecture as well as the dynamic region-specific functional interactions between diverse neurons and glial subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto A Rasia-Filho
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria Elisa Calcagnotto
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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24
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Fernandez N, Petit A, Pianos A, Haddad L, Schumacher M, Liere P, Guennoun R. Aging Is Associated With Lower Neuroactive Steroids and Worsened Outcomes Following Cerebral Ischemia in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2022; 164:6779564. [PMID: 36306407 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and death, and aging is the main nonmodifiable risk factor. Following ischemia, neuroactive steroids have been shown to play a key role in cerebroprotection. Thus, brain steroid concentrations at the time of injury as well as their regulation after stroke are key factors to consider. Here, we investigated the effects of age and cerebral ischemia on steroid levels, behavioral outcomes, and neuronal degeneration in 3- and 18-month-old C57BL/6JRj male mice. Ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 hour followed by reperfusion (MCAO/R) and analyses were performed at 6 hours after MCAO. Extended steroid profiles established by gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry revealed that (1) brain and plasma concentrations of the main 5α-reduced metabolites of progesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, and corticosterone were lower in old than in young mice; (2) after MCAO/R, brain concentrations of progesterone, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, and corticosterone increased in young mice; and (3) after MCAO/R, brain concentrations of 5α-reduced metabolites of progesterone, 3α5α-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone, and 3β5α-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were lower in old than in young mice. After ischemia, old mice showed increased sensori-motor deficits and more degenerating neurons in the striatum than young mice. Altogether, these findings strongly suggest that the decreased capacity of old mice to metabolize steroids toward the 5α-reduction pathway comparatively to young mice may contribute to the worsening of their stroke outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neïké Fernandez
- U1195 Inserm and University Paris-Saclay, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Anthony Petit
- U1195 Inserm and University Paris-Saclay, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Antoine Pianos
- U1195 Inserm and University Paris-Saclay, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Léna Haddad
- U1195 Inserm and University Paris-Saclay, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Michael Schumacher
- U1195 Inserm and University Paris-Saclay, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Philippe Liere
- U1195 Inserm and University Paris-Saclay, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Rachida Guennoun
- U1195 Inserm and University Paris-Saclay, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
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25
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Anti-Inflammatory Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Activation in the Brain in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179583. [PMID: 36076972 PMCID: PMC9455625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a pleiotropic hormone well known for its incretin effect in the glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion. However, GLP-1 is also produced in the brain and displays a critical role in neuroprotection and inflammation by activating the GLP-1 receptor signaling pathways. Several studies in vivo and in vitro using preclinical models of neurodegenerative diseases show that GLP-1R activation has anti-inflammatory properties. This review explores the molecular mechanistic action of GLP-1 RAS in relation to inflammation in the brain. These findings update our knowledge of the potential benefits of GLP-1RAS actions in reducing the inflammatory response. These molecules emerge as a potential therapeutic tool in treating neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammatory pathologies.
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26
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Freire-Regatillo A, Diaz-Pacheco S, Frago LM, Arévalo MÁ, Argente J, Garcia-Segura LM, de Ceballos ML, Chowen JA. Sex Differences in Hypothalamic Changes and the Metabolic Response of TgAPP Mice to a High Fat Diet. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:910477. [PMID: 35958733 PMCID: PMC9361789 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.910477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The propensity to develop neurodegenerative diseases is influenced by diverse factors including genetic background, sex, lifestyle, including dietary habits and being overweight, and age. Indeed, with aging, there is an increased incidence of obesity and neurodegenerative processes, both of which are associated with inflammatory responses, in a sex-specific manner. High fat diet (HFD) commonly leads to obesity and markedly affects metabolism, both peripherally and centrally. Here we analyzed the metabolic and inflammatory responses of middle-aged (11–12 months old) transgenic amyloid precursor protein (TgAPP) mice of both sexes to HFD for 18 weeks (starting at 7–8 months of age). We found clear sex differences with females gaining significantly more weight and fat mass than males, with a larger increase in circulating leptin levels and expression of inflammatory markers in visceral adipose tissue. Glycemia and insulin levels increased in HFD fed mice of both sexes, with TgAPP mice being more affected than wild type (WT) mice. In the hypothalamus, murine amyloid β (Aβ) levels were increased by HFD intake exclusively in males, reaching statistical significance in TgAPP males. On a low fat diet (LFD), TgAPP males had significantly lower mRNA levels of the anorexigenic neuropeptide proopiomelanocortin (POMC) than WT males, with HFD intake decreasing the expression of the orexigenic neuropeptides Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), especially in TgAPP mice. In females, HFD increased POMC mRNA levels but had no effect on AgRP or NPY mRNA levels, and with no effect on genotype. There was no effect of diet or genotype on the hypothalamic inflammatory markers analyzed or the astrogliosis marker glial acidic protein (GFAP); however, levels of the microglial marker Iba-1 increased selectively in male TgAPP mice. In summary, the response to HFD intake was significantly affected by sex, with fewer effects due to genotype. Hypothalamic inflammatory cytokine expression and astrogliosis were little affected by HFD in middle-aged mice, although in TgAPP males, which showed increased Aβ, there was microglial activation. Thus, excess intake of diets high in fat should be avoided because of its possible detrimental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Freire-Regatillo
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación la Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Universidad Aútonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Laura M. Frago
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación la Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Universidad Aútonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Ángeles Arévalo
- Cajal Institute, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Argente
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación la Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Universidad Aútonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA Food Institute, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis M. Garcia-Segura
- Cajal Institute, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Julie A. Chowen
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación la Princesa, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA Food Institute, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Julie A. Chowen
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27
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McShane A, Mole SE. Sex bias and omission exists in Batten disease research: Systematic review of the use of animal disease models. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166489. [PMID: 35840041 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Batten disease, also known as the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL), is a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders mainly affecting children. NCL are characterised by seizures, loss of vision, and progressive motor and cognitive decline, and are the most common form of childhood dementia. At least one type of Batten disease and three types of mouse disease models show sex differences in their severity and progression. Scientific research has a recognised prevalent omission of female animals when using model organisms for basic and preclinical research. Sex bias and omission in research using animal models of Batten disease may affect understanding and treatment development. We conducted a systematic review of research publications since the first identification of NCL genes in 1995, identifying those using animal models. We found that <10 % of these papers considered sex as a biological variable. There was consistent omission of female model organisms in studies. This varied over the period but is improving; one third of papers considered sex as a biological variable in the last decade, and there is a noticeable increase in the last 5 years. The wide-ranging reasons for this published sex bias are discussed, including misunderstanding regarding oestrogen, impact on sample size, and the underrepresentation of female scientists. Their implications for Batten disease and future research are considered. Recommendations going forward support requirements by funders for consideration of sex in all stages of experimental design and implementation, and a role for publishers, families and others with a particular interest in Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie McShane
- Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sara E Mole
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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28
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Matovu D, Cavalheiro EA. Differences in Evolution of Epileptic Seizures and Topographical Distribution of Tissue Damage in Selected Limbic Structures Between Male and Female Rats Submitted to the Pilocarpine Model. Front Neurol 2022; 13:802587. [PMID: 35449517 PMCID: PMC9017681 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.802587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence shows that clinical features and comorbidities in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) may have different manifestations depending on the sex of patients. However, little is known about how sex-related mechanisms can interfere with the processes underlying the epileptic phenomenon. The findings of this study show that male rats with epilepsy in the pilocarpine model have longer-lasting and more severe epileptic seizures, while female rats have a higher frequency of epileptic seizures and a greater number of seizure clusters. Significant sex-linked pathological changes were also observed: epileptic brains of male and female rats showed differences in mass reduction of 41.8% in the amygdala and 18.2% in the olfactory bulb, while loss of neuronal cells was present in the hippocampus (12.3%), amygdala (18.1%), and olfactory bulb (7.5%). Another important sex-related finding was the changes in non-neuronal cells with increments for the hippocampus (36.1%), amygdala (14.7%), and olfactory bulb (37%). Taken together, our study suggests that these neuropathological changes may underlie the differences in the clinical features of epileptic seizures observed in male and female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Matovu
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina/UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Esper A Cavalheiro
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina/UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
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29
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Wareham LK, Liddelow SA, Temple S, Benowitz LI, Di Polo A, Wellington C, Goldberg JL, He Z, Duan X, Bu G, Davis AA, Shekhar K, Torre AL, Chan DC, Canto-Soler MV, Flanagan JG, Subramanian P, Rossi S, Brunner T, Bovenkamp DE, Calkins DJ. Solving neurodegeneration: common mechanisms and strategies for new treatments. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:23. [PMID: 35313950 PMCID: PMC8935795 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00524-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Across neurodegenerative diseases, common mechanisms may reveal novel therapeutic targets based on neuronal protection, repair, or regeneration, independent of etiology or site of disease pathology. To address these mechanisms and discuss emerging treatments, in April, 2021, Glaucoma Research Foundation, BrightFocus Foundation, and the Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Foundation collaborated to bring together key opinion leaders and experts in the field of neurodegenerative disease for a virtual meeting titled "Solving Neurodegeneration". This "think-tank" style meeting focused on uncovering common mechanistic roots of neurodegenerative disease and promising targets for new treatments, catalyzed by the goal of finding new treatments for glaucoma, the world's leading cause of irreversible blindness and the common interest of the three hosting foundations. Glaucoma, which causes vision loss through degeneration of the optic nerve, likely shares early cellular and molecular events with other neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Here we discuss major areas of mechanistic overlap between neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system: neuroinflammation, bioenergetics and metabolism, genetic contributions, and neurovascular interactions. We summarize important discussion points with emphasis on the research areas that are most innovative and promising in the treatment of neurodegeneration yet require further development. The research that is highlighted provides unique opportunities for collaboration that will lead to efforts in preventing neurodegeneration and ultimately vision loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K Wareham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sally Temple
- Neural Stem Cell Institute, NY, 12144, Rensselaer, USA
| | - Larry I Benowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery and F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adriana Di Polo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cheryl Wellington
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, CA, Palo Alto, USA
| | - Zhigang He
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, Boston, USA
| | - Xin Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Guojun Bu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Albert A Davis
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Karthik Shekhar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anna La Torre
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - David C Chan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, CA, 91125, Pasadena, USA
| | - M Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - John G Flanagan
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - David J Calkins
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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30
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Seeker LA, Williams A. Oligodendroglia heterogeneity in the human central nervous system. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:143-157. [PMID: 34860266 PMCID: PMC8742806 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02390-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
It is the centenary of the discovery of oligodendrocytes and we are increasingly aware of their importance in the functioning of the brain in development, adult learning, normal ageing and in disease across the life course, even in those diseases classically thought of as neuronal. This has sparked more interest in oligodendroglia for potential therapeutics for many neurodegenerative/neurodevelopmental diseases due to their more tractable nature as a renewable cell in the central nervous system. However, oligodendroglia are not all the same. Even from the first description, differences in morphology were described between the cells. With advancing techniques to describe these differences in human tissue, the complexity of oligodendroglia is being discovered, indicating apparent functional differences which may be of critical importance in determining vulnerability and response to disease, and targeting of potential therapeutics. It is timely to review the progress we have made in discovering and understanding oligodendroglial heterogeneity in health and neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise A Seeker
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Anna Williams
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Paasila PJ, Aramideh JA, Sutherland GT, Graeber MB. Synapses, Microglia, and Lipids in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:778822. [PMID: 35095394 PMCID: PMC8789683 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.778822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by synaptic dysfunction accompanied by the microscopically visible accumulation of pathological protein deposits and cellular dystrophy involving both neurons and glia. Late-stage AD shows pronounced loss of synapses and neurons across several differentially affected brain regions. Recent studies of advanced AD using post-mortem brain samples have demonstrated the direct involvement of microglia in synaptic changes. Variants of the Apolipoprotein E and Triggering Receptors Expressed on Myeloid Cells gene represent important determinants of microglial activity but also of lipid metabolism in cells of the central nervous system. Here we review evidence that may help to explain how abnormal lipid metabolism, microglial activation, and synaptic pathophysiology are inter-related in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J. Paasila
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Jason A. Aramideh
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Greg T. Sutherland
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Manuel B. Graeber
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
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Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models for Studying Sex-Specific Differences in Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1387:57-88. [PMID: 34921676 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2021_683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is steadily increasing worldwide, and epidemiological studies strongly suggest that many of the diseases are sex-biased. It has long been suggested that biological sex differences are crucial for neurodegenerative diseases; however, how biological sex affects disease initiation, progression, and severity is not well-understood. Sex is a critical biological variable that should be taken into account in basic research, and this review aims to highlight the utility of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived models for studying sex-specific differences in neurodegenerative diseases, with advantages and limitations. In vitro systems utilizing species-specific, renewable, and physiologically relevant cell sources can provide powerful platforms for mechanistic studies, toxicity testings, and drug discovery. Matched healthy, patient-derived, and gene-corrected human iPSCs, from both sexes, can be utilized to generate neuronal and glial cell types affected by specific neurodegenerative diseases to study sex-specific differences in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) human culture systems. Such relatively simple and well-controlled systems can significantly contribute to the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying sex-specific differences, which can yield effective, and potentially sex-based strategies, against neurodegenerative diseases.
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Valori CF, Possenti A, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082019. [PMID: 34440788 PMCID: PMC8395029 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose incidence is likely to duplicate in the next 30 years along with the progressive aging of the western population. Non-cell-specific therapeutics or therapeutics designed to tackle aberrant pathways within neurons failed to slow down or halt neurodegeneration. Yet, in the last few years, our knowledge of the importance of glial cells to maintain the central nervous system homeostasis in health conditions has increased exponentially, along with our awareness of their fundamental and multifaced role in pathological conditions. Among glial cells, astrocytes emerge as promising therapeutic targets in various neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we present the latest evidence showing the astonishing level of specialization that astrocytes display to fulfill the demands of their neuronal partners as well as their plasticity upon injury. Then, we discuss the controversies that fuel the current debate on these cells. We tackle evidence of a potential beneficial effect of cell therapy, achieved by transplanting astrocytes or their precursors. Afterwards, we introduce the different strategies proposed to modulate astrocyte functions in neurodegeneration, ranging from lifestyle changes to environmental cues. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the recent advancements to develop astrocyte-specific delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Valori
- Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (C.F.V.); (D.R.); Tel.: +49-7071-9254-122 (C.F.V.); +39-0382-592064 (D.R.)
| | - Agostino Possenti
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
- Correspondence: (C.F.V.); (D.R.); Tel.: +49-7071-9254-122 (C.F.V.); +39-0382-592064 (D.R.)
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Role of Neuroglobin in the Neuroprotective Actions of Estradiol and Estrogenic Compounds. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081907. [PMID: 34440676 PMCID: PMC8391807 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol exerts neuroprotective actions that are mediated by the regulation of a variety of signaling pathways and homeostatic molecules. Among these is neuroglobin, which is upregulated by estradiol and translocated to the mitochondria to sustain neuronal and glial cell adaptation to injury. In this paper, we will discuss the role of neuroglobin in the neuroprotective mechanisms elicited by estradiol acting on neurons, astrocytes and microglia. We will also consider the role of neuroglobin in the neuroprotective actions of clinically relevant synthetic steroids, such as tibolone. Finally, the possible contribution of the estrogenic regulation of neuroglobin to the generation of sex differences in brain pathology and the potential application of neuroglobin as therapy against neurological diseases will be examined.
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