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Takahashi A. Associations of the immune system in aggression traits and the role of microglia as mediators. Neuropharmacology 2024; 256:110021. [PMID: 38825308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110021] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
There is an important relationship between the immune system and aggressive behavior. Aggressive encounters acutely increase the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and there are positive correlations between aggressive traits and peripheral proinflammatory cytokines. Endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, which results in peripheral immune activation, decreases aggressive behavior as one of the sickness behavioral symptoms. In contrast, certain brain infections and chronic interferon treatment are associated with increased aggression. Indeed, the effects of proinflammatory cytokines on the brain in aggressive behavior are bidirectional, depending on the type and dose of cytokine, target brain region, and type of aggression. Some studies have suggested that microglial activation and neuroinflammation influence intermale aggression in rodent models. In addition, pathological conditions as well as physiological levels of cytokines produced by microglia play an important role in social and aggressive behavior in adult animals. Furthermore, microglial function in early development is necessary for the establishment of the social brain and the expression of juvenile social behaviors, including play fighting. Overall, this review discusses the important link between the immune system and aggressive traits and the role of microglia as mediators of this link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Takahashi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
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2
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Yao X, Yang C, Jia X, Yu Z, Wang C, Zhao J, Chen Y, Xie B, Zhuang H, Sun C, Li Q, Kang X, Xiao Y, Liu L. High-fat diet consumption promotes adolescent neurobehavioral abnormalities and hippocampal structural alterations via microglial overactivation accompanied by an elevated serum free fatty acid concentration. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:236-250. [PMID: 38604269 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that high-fat diet (HFD) consumption increases the risk for depression, but the neurophysiological mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that HFD feeding of C57BL/6J mice during the adolescent period (from 4 to 8 weeks of age) resulted in increased depression- and anxiety-like behaviors concurrent with changes in neuronal and myelin structure in the hippocampus. Additionally, we showed that hippocampal microglia in HFD-fed mice assumed a hyperactive state concomitant with increased PSD95-positive and myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive inclusions, implicating microglia in hippocampal structural alterations induced by HFD consumption. Along with increased levels of serum free fatty acids (FFAs), abnormal deposition of lipid droplets and increased levels of HIF-1α protein (a transcription factor that has been reported to facilitate cellular lipid accumulation) within hippocampal microglia were observed in HFD-fed mice. The use of minocycline, a pharmacological suppressor of microglial overactivation, effectively attenuated neurobehavioral abnormalities and hippocampal structural alterations but barely altered lipid droplet accumulation in the hippocampal microglia of HFD-fed mice. Coadministration of triacsin C abolished the increases in lipid droplet formation, phagocytic activity, and ROS levels in primary microglia treated with serum from HFD-fed mice. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that the adverse influence of early-life HFD consumption on behavior and hippocampal structure is attributed at least in part to microglial overactivation that is accompanied by an elevated serum FFA concentration and microglial aberrations represent a potential preventive and therapeutic target for HFD-related emotional disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuting Yao
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Chenxi Yang
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xirui Jia
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhehao Yu
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Conghui Wang
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jingyi Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Bingjie Xie
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hong Zhuang
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Congli Sun
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qian Li
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaomin Kang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lijie Liu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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3
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Magni G, Riboldi B, Ceruti S. Human Glial Cells as Innovative Targets for the Therapy of Central Nervous System Pathologies. Cells 2024; 13:606. [PMID: 38607045 PMCID: PMC11011741 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In vitro and preclinical in vivo research in the last 35 years has clearly highlighted the crucial physiopathological role of glial cells, namely astrocytes/microglia/oligodendrocytes and satellite glial cells/Schwann cells in the central and peripheral nervous system, respectively. Several possible pharmacological targets to various neurodegenerative disorders and painful conditions have therefore been successfully identified, including receptors and enzymes, and mediators of neuroinflammation. However, the translation of these promising data to a clinical setting is often hampered by both technical and biological difficulties, making it necessary to perform experiments on human cells and models of the various diseases. In this review we will, therefore, summarize the most relevant data on the contribution of glial cells to human pathologies and on their possible pharmacological modulation based on data obtained in post-mortem tissues and in iPSC-derived human brain cells and organoids. The possibility of an in vivo visualization of glia reaction to neuroinflammation in patients will be also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefania Ceruti
- Laboratory of Pain Therapy and Neuroimmunology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (B.R.)
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4
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Greuel BK, Da Silva DE, Robert-Gostlin VN, Klegeris A. Natural Compounds Oridonin and Shikonin Exhibit Potentially Beneficial Regulatory Effects on Select Functions of Microglia. Brain Sci 2024; 14:328. [PMID: 38671980 PMCID: PMC11048017 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040328] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that the adverse neuroimmune activation of microglia, brain immunocytes that support neurons, contributes to a range of neuroinflammatory disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Correcting the abnormal functions of microglia is a potential therapeutic strategy for these diseases. Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor (NLRP) 3 inflammasomes are implicated in adverse microglial activation and their inhibitors, such as the natural compounds oridonin and shikonin, reduce microglial immune responses. We hypothesized that some of the beneficial effects of oridonin and shikonin on microglia are independent of their suppression of NLRP3 inflammasomes. Murine and human microglia-like cells were stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) only, which did not induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation or the resulting secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, allowing for the identification of other anti-inflammatory effects. Under these experimental conditions, both oridonin and shikonin reduced nitric oxide (NO) secretion and the cytotoxicity of BV-2 murine microglia towards HT-22 murine neuronal cells, but upregulated BV-2 cell phagocytic activity. Only oridonin inhibited the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by stimulated BV-2 microglia, while only shikonin suppressed the respiratory burst response of human HL-60 microglia-like cells. This observed discrepancy indicates that these natural compounds may have different molecular targets in microglia. Overall, our results suggest that oridonin and shikonin should be further investigated as pharmacological agents capable of correcting dysfunctional microglia, supporting their potential use in neuroinflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andis Klegeris
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada (V.N.R.-G.)
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5
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Chaves-Filho A, Eyres C, Blöbaum L, Landwehr A, Tremblay MÈ. The emerging neuroimmune hypothesis of bipolar disorder: An updated overview of neuroimmune and microglial findings. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38504593 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16098] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and multifactorial disease, with onset usually in young adulthood, which follows a progressive course throughout life. Replicated epidemiological studies have suggested inflammatory mechanisms and neuroimmune risk factors as primary contributors to the onset and development of BD. While not all patients display overt markers of inflammation, significant evidence suggests that aberrant immune signaling contributes to all stages of the disease and seems to be mood phase dependent, likely explaining the heterogeneity of findings observed in this population. As the brain's immune cells, microglia orchestrate the brain's immune response and play a critical role in maintaining the brain's health across the lifespan. Microglia are also highly sensitive to environmental changes and respond to physiological and pathological events by adapting their functions, structure, and molecular expression. Recently, it has been highlighted that instead of a single population of cells, microglia comprise a heterogeneous community with specialized states adjusted according to the local molecular cues and intercellular interactions. Early evidence has highlighted the contribution of microglia to BD neuropathology, notably for severe outcomes, such as suicidality. However, the roles and diversity of microglial states in this disease are still largely undermined. This review brings an updated overview of current literature on the contribution of neuroimmune risk factors for the onset and progression of BD, the most prominent neuroimmune abnormalities (including biomarker, neuroimaging, ex vivo studies) and the most recent findings of microglial involvement in BD neuropathology. Combining these different shreds of evidence, we aim to propose a unifying hypothesis for BD pathophysiology centered on neuroimmune abnormalities and microglia. Also, we highlight the urgent need to apply novel multi-system biology approaches to characterize the diversity of microglial states and functions involved in this enigmatic disorder, which can open bright perspectives for novel biomarkers and therapeutic discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Chaves-Filho
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Women Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Brain Health Cluster at the Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health (IALH), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Capri Eyres
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Leonie Blöbaum
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Antonia Landwehr
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Women Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Brain Health Cluster at the Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health (IALH), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Quebec, Canada
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6
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González-González MA, Conde SV, Latorre R, Thébault SC, Pratelli M, Spitzer NC, Verkhratsky A, Tremblay MÈ, Akcora CG, Hernández-Reynoso AG, Ecker M, Coates J, Vincent KL, Ma B. Bioelectronic Medicine: a multidisciplinary roadmap from biophysics to precision therapies. Front Integr Neurosci 2024; 18:1321872. [PMID: 38440417 PMCID: PMC10911101 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1321872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioelectronic Medicine stands as an emerging field that rapidly evolves and offers distinctive clinical benefits, alongside unique challenges. It consists of the modulation of the nervous system by precise delivery of electrical current for the treatment of clinical conditions, such as post-stroke movement recovery or drug-resistant disorders. The unquestionable clinical impact of Bioelectronic Medicine is underscored by the successful translation to humans in the last decades, and the long list of preclinical studies. Given the emergency of accelerating the progress in new neuromodulation treatments (i.e., drug-resistant hypertension, autoimmune and degenerative diseases), collaboration between multiple fields is imperative. This work intends to foster multidisciplinary work and bring together different fields to provide the fundamental basis underlying Bioelectronic Medicine. In this review we will go from the biophysics of the cell membrane, which we consider the inner core of neuromodulation, to patient care. We will discuss the recently discovered mechanism of neurotransmission switching and how it will impact neuromodulation design, and we will provide an update on neuronal and glial basis in health and disease. The advances in biomedical technology have facilitated the collection of large amounts of data, thereby introducing new challenges in data analysis. We will discuss the current approaches and challenges in high throughput data analysis, encompassing big data, networks, artificial intelligence, and internet of things. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the electrochemical properties of neural interfaces, along with the integration of biocompatible and reliable materials and compliance with biomedical regulations for translational applications. Preclinical validation is foundational to the translational process, and we will discuss the critical aspects of such animal studies. Finally, we will focus on the patient point-of-care and challenges in neuromodulation as the ultimate goal of bioelectronic medicine. This review is a call to scientists from different fields to work together with a common endeavor: accelerate the decoding and modulation of the nervous system in a new era of therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Alejandra González-González
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Silvia V. Conde
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ramon Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Stéphanie C. Thébault
- Laboratorio de Investigación Traslacional en salud visual (D-13), Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Marta Pratelli
- Neurobiology Department, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Nicholas C. Spitzer
- Neurobiology Department, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- International Collaborative Center on Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signaling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cuneyt G. Akcora
- Department of Computer Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | | | - Melanie Ecker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
| | | | - Kathleen L. Vincent
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Brandy Ma
- Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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7
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McRae SA, Richards CM, Da Silva DE, Riar I, Yang SS, Zurfluh NE, Gibon J, Klegeris A. Pro-neuroinflammatory and neurotoxic potential of extracellular histones H1 and H3. Neurosci Res 2024:S0168-0102(24)00008-7. [PMID: 38278218 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2024.01.004] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Histones organize DNA within cellular nuclei, but they can be released from damaged cells. In peripheral tissues extracellular histones act as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) inducing pro-inflammatory activation of immune cells. Limited studies have considered DAMP-like activity of histones in the central nervous system (CNS); therefore, we studied the effects of extracellular histones on microglia, the CNS immunocytes, and on neuronal cells. Both the linker histone H1 and the core histone H3 induced pro-inflammatory activation of microglia-like cells by upregulating their secretion of NO and cytokines, including interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF). The selective inhibitors MMG-11 and TAK-242 were used to demonstrate involvement of toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4, respectively, in H1-induced NO secretion by BV-2 microglia. H1, but not H3, downregulated the phagocytic activity of BV-2 microglia. H1 was also directly toxic to all neuronal cell types studied. We conclude that H1, and to a lesser extent H3, when released extracellularly, have the potential to act as a CNS DAMPs. Inhibition of the DAMP-like effects of extracellular histones on microglia and their neurotoxic activity represents a potential strategy for combating neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by the adverse activation of microglia and neuronal death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seamus A McRae
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Christy M Richards
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Dylan E Da Silva
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Ishvin Riar
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Sijie Shirley Yang
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Noah E Zurfluh
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Julien Gibon
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Andis Klegeris
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.
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8
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Qin C, Chen M, Dong MH, Yang S, Zhang H, You YF, Zhou LQ, Chu YH, Tang Y, Pang XW, Wu LJ, Tian DS, Wang W. Soluble TREM2 triggers microglial dysfunction in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Brain 2024; 147:163-176. [PMID: 37740498 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad321] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation contributes to acute demyelination in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) in the CSF has been associated with microglial activation in several neurodegenerative diseases. However, the basis for this immune-mediated attack and the pathophysiological role of sTREM2 in NMOSD remain to be elucidated. Here, we performed Mendelian randomization analysis and identified a genetic association between increased CSF sTREM2 and NMOSD risk. CSF sTREM2 was elevated in patients with NMOSD and was positively correlated with neural injury and other neuroinflammation markers. Single-cell RNA sequencing of human macrophage/microglia-like cells in CSF, a proxy for microglia, showed that increased CSF sTREM2 was positively associated with microglial dysfunction in patients with NMOSD. Furthermore, we demonstrated that sTREM2 is a reliable biomarker of microglial activation in a mouse model of NMOSD. Using unbiased transcriptomic and lipidomic screens, we identified that excessive activation, overwhelmed phagocytosis of myelin debris, suppressed lipid metabolism and enhanced glycolysis underlie sTREM2-mediated microglial dysfunction, possibly through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway. These molecular and cellular findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the genetic association between CSF sTREM2 and NMOSD risk and indicate that sTREM2 could be a potential biomarker of NMOSD progression and a therapeutic target for microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Qin
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Man Chen
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ming-Hao Dong
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Sheng Yang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yun-Fan You
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Luo-Qi Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yun-Hui Chu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yue Tang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Pang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY 14600, USA
| | - Dai-Shi Tian
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
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9
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Grewal S, Gonçalves de Andrade E, Kofoed RH, Matthews PM, Aubert I, Tremblay MÈ, Morse SV. Using focused ultrasound to modulate microglial structure and function. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1290628. [PMID: 38164436 PMCID: PMC10757935 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1290628] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) has the unique ability to target regions of the brain with high spatial precision, in a minimally invasive manner. Neuromodulation studies have shown that FUS can excite or inhibit neuronal activity, demonstrating its tremendous potential to improve the outcome of neurological diseases. Recent evidence has also shed light on the emerging promise that FUS has, with and without the use of intravenously injected microbubbles, in modulating the blood-brain barrier and the immune cells of the brain. As the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, microglia are at the forefront of the brain's maintenance and immune defense. Notably, microglia are highly dynamic and continuously survey the brain parenchyma by extending and retracting their processes. This surveillance activity aids microglia in performing key physiological functions required for brain activity and plasticity. In response to stressors, microglia rapidly alter their cellular and molecular profile to help facilitate a return to homeostasis. While the underlying mechanisms by which both FUS and FUS + microbubbles modify microglial structure and function remain largely unknown, several studies in adult mice have reported changes in the expression of the microglia/macrophage marker ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1, and in their phagocytosis, notably of protein aggregates, such as amyloid beta. In this review, we discuss the demonstrated and putative biological effects of FUS and FUS + microbubbles in modulating microglial activities, with an emphasis on the key cellular and molecular changes observed in vitro and in vivo across models of brain health and disease. Understanding how this innovative technology can modulate microglia paves the way for future therapeutic strategies aimed to promote beneficial physiological microglial roles, and prevent or treat maladaptive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Grewal
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Gonçalves de Andrade
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Rikke Hahn Kofoed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Center for Experimental Neuroscience-CENSE, Department of Neurosurgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul M. Matthews
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sophie V. Morse
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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He H, Xie X, Kang X, Zhang J, Wang L, Hu N, Xie L, Peng C, You Z. Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates depressive-like behavior by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice exposed to chronic stress. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176120. [PMID: 37863415 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176120] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Microglia-mediated inflammatory process is recognized as a target in the treatment of depression. Ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1), the active ingredient of traditional ginseng, regulates microglial phenotypes to resist stress-induced inflammatory responses. Here we used a mouse model of stress-induced depression to investigate the involvement of microglial Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in the antidepressant effects of GRg1. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) for three weeks, followed by intraperitoneal injection of GRg1 (20 mg/kg) or the antidepressant imipramine (20 mg/kg) for another three weeks. Depressive-like behaviors were assessed by sucrose preference test, forced swimming test, and tail suspension test. Microglial phenotypes were assessed in terms of morphological features and cytokine profiles; inflammasome activity, in terms of levels of complexes containing NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) and caspase-1; and neurogenesis, in terms of numbers of proliferating, differentiating, and mature neurons identified by immunostaining. GRg1 reduced abnormal animal behaviors caused by CMS, such as anhedonia and desperate behaviors, without affecting locomotor behaviors. GRg1 also reduced the number of ASC-specks, implying inhibition of inflammasome activation, which was associated with weaker activation of pro-inflammatory microglia. At the same time, GRg1 rescued impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo and in vitro, which correlated with modulation of microglial phenotypes. GRg1 exert antidepressant effects by preventing stress from activating the NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia, promoting a proneurogenic phenotype and allowing adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui He
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China; Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Xiaofang Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xixi Kang
- Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Jinqiang Zhang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Lu Wang
- The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Mental Health Center of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610036, China
| | - Nan Hu
- Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Lei Xie
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China; Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Zili You
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China; Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.
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11
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Vecchiarelli HA, Tremblay MÈ. Microglial Transcriptional Signatures in the Central Nervous System: Toward A Future of Unraveling Their Function in Health and Disease. Annu Rev Genet 2023; 57:65-86. [PMID: 37384734 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-022223-093643] [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] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are primarily derived from the embryonic yolk sac and make their way to the CNS during early development. They play key physiological and immunological roles across the life span, throughout health, injury, and disease. Recent transcriptomic studies have identified gene transcript signatures expressed by microglia that may provide the foundation for unprecedented insights into their functions. Microglial gene expression signatures can help distinguish them from macrophage cell types to a reasonable degree of certainty, depending on the context. Microglial expression patterns further suggest a heterogeneous population comprised of many states that vary according to the spatiotemporal context. Microglial diversity is most pronounced during development, when extensive CNS remodeling takes place, and following disease or injury. A next step of importance for the field will be to identify the functional roles performed by these various microglial states, with the perspective of targeting them therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley A Vecchiarelli
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; ,
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; ,
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology and Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire and Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
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12
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Tylek K, Trojan E, Leśkiewicz M, Ghafir El Idrissi I, Lacivita E, Leopoldo M, Basta-Kaim A. Microglia Depletion Attenuates the Pro-Resolving Activity of the Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 Agonist AMS21 Related to Inhibition of Inflammasome NLRP3 Signalling Pathway: A Study of Organotypic Hippocampal Cultures. Cells 2023; 12:2570. [PMID: 37947648 PMCID: PMC10648897 DOI: 10.3390/cells12212570] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglial cells have been demonstrated to be significant resident immune cells that maintain homeostasis under physiological conditions. However, prolonged or excessive microglial activation leads to disturbances in the resolution of inflammation (RoI). Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) is a crucial player in the RoI, interacting with various ligands to induce distinct conformational changes and, consequently, diverse biological effects. Due to the poor pharmacokinetic properties of endogenous FPR2 ligands, the aim of our study was to evaluate the pro-resolving effects of a new ureidopropanamide agonist, compound AMS21, in hippocampal organotypic cultures (OHCs) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Moreover, to assess whether AMS21 exerts its action via FPR2 specifically located on microglial cells, we conducted a set of experiments in OHCs depleted of microglial cells using clodronate. We demonstrated that the protective and anti-inflammatory activity of AMS21 manifested as decreased levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), nitric oxide (NO), and proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 release evoked by LPS in OHCs. Moreover, in LPS-stimulated OHCs, AMS21 treatment downregulated NLRP3 inflammasome-related factors (CASP1, NLRP3, PYCARD) and this effect was mediated through FPR2 because it was blocked by the FPR2 antagonist WRW4 pre-treatment. Importantly this beneficial effect of AMS21 was only observed in the presence of microglial FPR2, and absent in OHCs depleted with microglial cells using clodronate. Our results strongly suggest that the compound AMS21 exerts, at nanomolar doses, protective and anti-inflammatory properties and an FPR2 receptor located specifically on microglial cells mediates the anti-inflammatory response of AMS21. Therefore, microglial FPR2 represents a promising target for the enhancement of RoI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Tylek
- Laboratory of Immunoendocrinology, Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna St., 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.T.); (E.T.); (M.L.)
| | - Ewa Trojan
- Laboratory of Immunoendocrinology, Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna St., 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.T.); (E.T.); (M.L.)
| | - Monika Leśkiewicz
- Laboratory of Immunoendocrinology, Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna St., 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.T.); (E.T.); (M.L.)
| | - Imane Ghafir El Idrissi
- Department of Pharmacy—Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.G.E.I.); (E.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Enza Lacivita
- Department of Pharmacy—Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.G.E.I.); (E.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Marcello Leopoldo
- Department of Pharmacy—Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.G.E.I.); (E.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Agnieszka Basta-Kaim
- Laboratory of Immunoendocrinology, Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna St., 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.T.); (E.T.); (M.L.)
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13
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Rathod SS, Agrawal YO, Nakhate KT, Meeran MFN, Ojha S, Goyal SN. Neuroinflammation in the Central Nervous System: Exploring the Evolving Influence of Endocannabinoid System. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2642. [PMID: 37893016 PMCID: PMC10604915 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102642] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a complex biological process that typically originates as a protective response in the brain. This inflammatory process is triggered by the release of pro-inflammatory substances like cytokines, prostaglandins, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species from stimulated endothelial and glial cells, including those with pro-inflammatory functions, in the outer regions. While neuronal inflammation is common in various central nervous system disorders, the specific inflammatory pathways linked with different immune-mediated cell types and the various factors influencing the blood-brain barrier significantly contribute to disease-specific characteristics. The endocannabinoid system consists of cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids, and enzymes responsible for synthesizing and metabolizing endocannabinoids. The primary cannabinoid receptor is CB1, predominantly found in specific brain regions such as the brainstem, cerebellum, hippocampus, and cortex. The presence of CB2 receptors in certain brain components, like cultured cerebellar granular cells, Purkinje fibers, and microglia, as well as in the areas like the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum is also evidenced by immunoblotting assays, radioligand binding, and autoradiography studies. Both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors exhibit noteworthy physiological responses and possess diverse neuromodulatory capabilities. This review primarily aims to outline the distribution of CB1 and CB2 receptors across different brain regions and explore their potential roles in regulating neuroinflammatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit S. Rathod
- Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal’s Institute of Pharmacy, Dhule 424001, Maharashtra, India; (S.S.R.); (Y.O.A.); (K.T.N.)
- Department of Pharmacy, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur 425405, Maharashtra, India
| | - Yogeeta O. Agrawal
- Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal’s Institute of Pharmacy, Dhule 424001, Maharashtra, India; (S.S.R.); (Y.O.A.); (K.T.N.)
| | - Kartik T. Nakhate
- Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal’s Institute of Pharmacy, Dhule 424001, Maharashtra, India; (S.S.R.); (Y.O.A.); (K.T.N.)
| | - M. F. Nagoor Meeran
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Shreesh Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Sameer N. Goyal
- Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal’s Institute of Pharmacy, Dhule 424001, Maharashtra, India; (S.S.R.); (Y.O.A.); (K.T.N.)
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14
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Chen Y, Liu Z, Gong Y. Neuron-immunity communication: mechanism of neuroprotective effects in EGCG. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2023:1-20. [PMID: 37216484 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2212069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a naturally occurring active ingredient unique to tea, has been shown to have neuroprotective potential. There is growing evidence of its potential advantages in the prevention and treatment of neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, and neurological damage. Neuroimmune communication is an important physiological mechanism in neurological diseases, including immune cell activation and response, cytokine delivery. EGCG shows great neuroprotective potential by modulating signals related to autoimmune response and improving communication between the nervous system and the immune system, effectively reducing the inflammatory state and neurological function. During neuroimmune communication, EGCG promotes the secretion of neurotrophic factors into the repair of damaged neurons, improves intestinal microenvironmental homeostasis, and ameliorates pathological phenotypes through molecular and cellular mechanisms related to the brain-gut axis. Here, we discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of inflammatory signaling exchange involving neuroimmune communication. We further emphasize that the neuroprotective role of EGCG is dependent on the modulatory role between immunity and neurology in neurologically related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Educatioxn, Changsha, China
- National Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, China
| | - Zhonghua Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Educatioxn, Changsha, China
- National Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Education Ministry for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Yushun Gong
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Educatioxn, Changsha, China
- National Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, China
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15
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Lucchi C, Codeluppi A, Filaferro M, Vitale G, Rustichelli C, Avallone R, Mandrioli J, Biagini G. Human Microglia Synthesize Neurosteroids to Cope with Rotenone-Induced Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12040963. [PMID: 37107338 PMCID: PMC10135967 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12040963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We obtained evidence that mouse BV2 microglia synthesize neurosteroids dynamically to modify neurosteroid levels in response to oxidative damage caused by rotenone. Here, we evaluated whether neurosteroids could be produced and altered in response to rotenone by the human microglial clone 3 (HMC3) cell line. To this aim, HMC3 cultures were exposed to rotenone (100 nM) and neurosteroids were measured in the culture medium by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Microglia reactivity was evaluated by measuring interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, whereas cell viability was monitored by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. After 24 h (h), rotenone increased IL-6 and reactive oxygen species levels by approximately +37% over the baseline, without affecting cell viability; however, microglia viability was significantly reduced at 48 h (p < 0.01). These changes were accompanied by the downregulation of several neurosteroids, including pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, and pregnanolone, except for allopregnanolone, which instead was remarkably increased (p < 0.05). Interestingly, treatment with exogenous allopregnanolone (1 nM) efficiently prevented the reduction in HMC3 cell viability. In conclusion, this is the first evidence that human microglia can produce allopregnanolone and that this neurosteroid is increasingly released in response to oxidative stress, to tentatively support the microglia's survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lucchi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Codeluppi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Monica Filaferro
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vitale
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Rustichelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Rossella Avallone
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Ospedale Civile di Baggiovara, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, 41126 Modena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Biagini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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16
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Xie ST, Fan WC, Zhao XS, Ma XY, Li ZL, Zhao YR, Yang F, Shi Y, Rong H, Cui ZS, Chen JY, Li HZ, Yan C, Zhang Q, Wang JJ, Zhang XY, Gu XP, Ma ZL, Zhu JN. Proinflammatory activation of microglia in the cerebellum hyperexcites Purkinje cells to trigger ataxia. Pharmacol Res 2023; 191:106773. [PMID: 37068531 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Specific medications to combat cerebellar ataxias, a group of debilitating movement disorders characterized by difficulty with walking, balance and coordination, are still lacking. Notably, cerebellar microglial activation appears to be a common feature in different types of ataxic patients and rodent models. However, direct evidence that cerebellar microglial activation in vivo is sufficient to induce ataxia is still lacking. Here, by employing chemogenetic approaches to manipulate cerebellar microglia selectively and directly, we found that specific chemogenetic activation of microglia in the cerebellar vermis directly leads to ataxia symptoms in wild-type mice and aggravated ataxic motor deficits in 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) mice, a classic mouse model of cerebellar ataxia. Mechanistically, cerebellar microglial proinflammatory activation induced by either chemogenetic M3D(Gq) stimulation or 3-AP modeling hyperexcites Purkinje cells (PCs), which consequently triggers ataxia. Blockade of microglia-derived TNF-α, one of the most important proinflammatory cytokines, attenuates the hyperactivity of PCs driven by microglia. Moreover, chemogenetic inhibition of cerebellar microglial activation or suppression of cerebellar microglial activation by PLX3397 and minocycline reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, to effectively restore the overactivation of PCs and alleviate motor deficits in 3-AP mice. These results suggest that cerebellar microglial activation may aggravate the neuroinflammatory response and subsequently induce dysfunction of PCs, which in turn triggers ataxic motor deficits. Our findings thus reveal a causal relationship between proinflammatory activation of cerebellar microglia and ataxic motor symptoms, which may offer novel evidence for therapeutic intervention for cerebellar ataxias by targeting microglia and microglia-derived inflammatory mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Tao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen-Chu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xian-Sen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ze-Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan-Ran Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi-San Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun-Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong-Zhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qipeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian-Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiao-Ping Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Zheng-Liang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jing-Ning Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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17
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VanderZwaag J, Halvorson T, Dolhan K, Šimončičová E, Ben-Azu B, Tremblay MÈ. The Missing Piece? A Case for Microglia's Prominent Role in the Therapeutic Action of Anesthetics, Ketamine, and Psychedelics. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1129-1166. [PMID: 36327017 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is much excitement surrounding recent research of promising, mechanistically novel psychotherapeutics - psychedelic, anesthetic, and dissociative agents - as they have demonstrated surprising efficacy in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as mood disorders and addiction. However, the mechanisms by which these drugs provide such profound psychological benefits are still to be fully elucidated. Microglia, the CNS's resident innate immune cells, are emerging as a cellular target for psychiatric disorders because of their critical role in regulating neuroplasticity and the inflammatory environment of the brain. The following paper is a review of recent literature surrounding these neuropharmacological therapies and their demonstrated or hypothesized interactions with microglia. Through investigating the mechanism of action of psychedelics, such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide, ketamine, and propofol, we demonstrate a largely under-investigated role for microglia in much of the emerging research surrounding these pharmacological agents. Among others, we detail sigma-1 receptors, serotonergic and γ-aminobutyric acid signalling, and tryptophan metabolism as pathways through which these agents modulate microglial phagocytic activity and inflammatory mediator release, inducing their therapeutic effects. The current review includes a discussion on future directions in the field of microglial pharmacology and covers bidirectional implications of microglia and these novel pharmacological agents in aging and age-related disease, glial cell heterogeneity, and state-of-the-art methodologies in microglial research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared VanderZwaag
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Torin Halvorson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kira Dolhan
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eva Šimončičová
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Benneth Ben-Azu
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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18
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Microglia secrete distinct sets of neurotoxins in a stimulus-dependent manner. Brain Res 2023; 1807:148315. [PMID: 36878343 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain which regulate both the innate and adaptive neuroimmune responses in health and disease. In response to specific endogenous and exogenous stimuli, microglia transition to one of their reactive states characterized by altered morphology and function, including their secretory profile. A component of the microglial secretome is cytotoxic molecules capable of causing damage and death to nearby host cells, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Indirect evidence from secretome studies and measurements of mRNA expression using diverse microglial cell types suggest different stimuli may induce microglia to secrete distinct subsets of cytotoxins. We demonstrate the accuracy of this hypothesis directly by challenging murine BV-2 microglia-like cells with eight different immune stimuli and assessing secretion of four potentially cytotoxic molecules, including nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), and glutamate. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a combination of interferon (IFN)-γ plus LPS induced secretion of all toxins studied. IFN-β, IFN-γ, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), and zymosan A upregulated secretion of subsets of these four cytotoxins. LPS and IFN-γ, alone or in combination, as well as IFN-β induced toxicity of BV-2 cells towards murine NSC-34 neuronal cells, while ATP, N-formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) did not affect any parameters studied. Our observations contribute to a growing body of knowledge on the regulation of the microglial secretome, which may inform future development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, where dysregulated microglia are key contributors to pathogenesis.
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Glimepiride Prevents 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine Induced Dopamine Neurons Degeneration Through Attenuation of Glia Activation and Oxidative Stress in Mice. Neurotox Res 2023; 41:212-223. [PMID: 36705862 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-023-00637-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that there is a link between type 2 diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease (PD) evidenced in faster progression and more severe phenotype in patients living with diabetes suggestive of shared cellular pathways; hence, antidiabetic drugs could be a possible treatment options for disease modification. This study evaluated the effect of glimepiride (GMP), a third generation sulphonylurea, on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD in mice. Sixty mice were divided randomly into six individual groups of 10 mice each and dose orally as follows: group 1: vehicle (10 ml/kg, p.o.); group 2: MPTP (20 mg/kg, i.p. × 4 at 2-h interval); groups 3-5: GMP (1, 2, or 4 mg/kg, p.o.) + MPTP (20 mg/kg, i.p. × 4 at 2-h interval); and group 6: GMP (4 mg/kg, p.o.). Effect of glimepiride on motor activities were appraised with the use of open-field test and rotarod performance while non-motor activity was evaluated using force swim test (FST; depression) and Y-maze test (working memory). MPTP induced significant decrease in latency to fall on rotarod, distance covered/rearing in open field, mean speed and climbing in FST, and percentage alternation behavior in Y-maze suggestive of motor and non-motor dysfunction. However, MPTP-induced motor and non-motor dysfunction were ameliorated with glimepiride post-treatment. In addition, MPTP-induced increase in oxidative stress parameters and cholinergic neurotransmission was attenuated by glimepiride. In addition, MPTP-induced nigral dopamine neuron loss (decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neuron (TH)) and neuroinflammation (activation of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (iba-1)) were ameliorated by GMP administration. This study showed that glimepiride ameliorates MPTP-induced PD motor and non-motor deficits through enhancement of antioxidant defense signaling and attenuation of neuroinflammatory markers. Thus, this could be useful as a disease-modifying therapy in the management of PD.
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Murray CJ, Vecchiarelli HA, Tremblay MÈ. Enhancing axonal myelination in seniors: A review exploring the potential impact cannabis has on myelination in the aged brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1119552. [PMID: 37032821 PMCID: PMC10073480 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1119552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumption of cannabis is on the rise as public opinion trends toward acceptance and its consequent legalization. Specifically, the senior population is one of the demographics increasing their use of cannabis the fastest, but research aimed at understanding cannabis' impact on the aged brain is still scarce. Aging is characterized by many brain changes that slowly alter cognitive ability. One process that is greatly impacted during aging is axonal myelination. The slow degradation and loss of myelin (i.e., demyelination) in the brain with age has been shown to associate with cognitive decline and, furthermore, is a common characteristic of numerous neurological diseases experienced in aging. It is currently not known what causes this age-dependent degradation, but it is likely due to numerous confounding factors (i.e., heightened inflammation, reduced blood flow, cellular senescence) that impact the many cells responsible for maintaining overall homeostasis and myelin integrity. Importantly, animal studies using non-human primates and rodents have also revealed demyelination with age, providing a reliable model for researchers to try and understand the cellular mechanisms at play. In rodents, cannabis was recently shown to modulate the myelination process. Furthermore, studies looking at the direct modulatory impact cannabis has on microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocyte lineage cells hint at potential mechanisms to prevent some of the more damaging activities performed by these cells that contribute to demyelination in aging. However, research focusing on how cannabis impacts myelination in the aged brain is lacking. Therefore, this review will explore the evidence thus far accumulated to show how cannabis impacts myelination and will extrapolate what this knowledge may mean for the aged brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J. Murray
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Colin J. Murray,
| | | | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Départment de Médicine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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McKee CG, Hoffos M, Vecchiarelli HA, Tremblay MÈ. Microglia: A pharmacological target for the treatment of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1125982. [PMID: 36969855 PMCID: PMC10034122 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1125982] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As individuals age, microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), become less effective at preserving brain circuits. Increases in microglial inflammatory activity are thought to contribute to age-related declines in cognitive functions and to transitions toward mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). As microglia possess receptors for communicating with the CNS environment, pharmacological therapies targeting these pathways hold potential for promoting homeostatic microglial functions within the aging CNS. Preclinical and early phase clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effects of pharmacological agents acting on microglia, including reactive oxygen species, TREM2, fractalkine signaling, the complement cascade, and the NLRP3 inflammasome, are currently underway; however, important questions remain unanswered. Current challenges include target selectivity, as many of the signaling pathways are expressed in other cell types. Furthermore, microglia are a heterogenous cell population with transcriptomic, proteomic, and microscopy studies revealing distinct microglial states, whose activities and abundance shift across the lifespan. For example, homeostatic microglia can transform into pathological states characterized by markers of oxidative stress. Selective pharmacological targeting aimed at limiting transitions to pathological states or promoting homeostatic or protective states, could help to avoid potentially harmful off-target effects on beneficial states or other cell types. In this mini-review we cover current microglial pathways of interest for the prevention and treatment of age-related cognitive decline and CNS disorders of aging focusing on MCI and AD. We also discuss the heterogeneity of microglia described in these conditions and how pharmacological agents could target specific microglial states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe G. McKee
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Madison Hoffos
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | | | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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22
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Picard K, Corsi G, Decoeur F, Di Castro MA, Bordeleau M, Persillet M, Layé S, Limatola C, Tremblay MÈ, Nadjar A. Microglial homeostasis disruption modulates non-rapid eye movement sleep duration and neuronal activity in adult female mice. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:153-164. [PMID: 36202169 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep is a natural physiological state, tightly regulated through several neuroanatomical and neurochemical systems, which is essential to maintain physical and mental health. Recent studies revealed that the functions of microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, differ along the sleep-wake cycle. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, mainly produced by microglia in the brain, are also well-known to promote sleep. However, the contributing role of microglia on sleep regulation remains largely elusive, even more so in females. Given the higher prevalence of various sleep disorders in women, we aimed to determine the role of microglia in regulating the sleep-wake cycle specifically in female mice. Microglia were depleted in adult female mice with inhibitors of the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) (PLX3397 or PLX5622), which is required for microglial population maintenance. This led to a 65-73% reduction of the microglial population, as confirmed by immunofluorescence staining against IBA1 (marker of microglia/macrophages) and TMEM119 (microglia-specific marker) in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus and primary motor cortex. The spontaneous sleep-wake cycle was evaluated at steady-state, during microglial homeostasis disruption and after complete microglial repopulation, upon cessation of treatment with the inhibitors of CSF1R, using electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG). We found that microglia-depleted female mice spent more time in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and had an increased number of NREM sleep episodes, which was partially restored after microglial total repopulation. To determine whether microglia could regulate sleep locally by modulating synaptic transmission, we used patch clamp to record spontaneous activity of pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex, which showed an increase of excitatory synaptic transmission during the dark phase. These changes in neuronal activity were modulated by microglial depletion in a phase-dependent manner. Altogether, our results indicate that microglia are involved in the sleep regulation of female mice, further strengthening their potential implication in the development and/or progression of sleep disorders. Furthermore, our findings indicate that microglial repopulation can contribute to normalizing sleep alterations caused by their partial depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Picard
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Giorgio Corsi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fanny Decoeur
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Maude Bordeleau
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marine Persillet
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Sophie Layé
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Cristina Limatola
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Department of Neurophysiology, Neuropharmacology, Inflammaging, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
| | - Agnès Nadjar
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), France.
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23
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Vecchiarelli HA, Joers V, Tansey MG, Starowicz K. Editorial: Cannabinoids in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and pain: Focus on non-neuronal cells. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1114775. [PMID: 36605549 PMCID: PMC9808392 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1114775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Haley A. Vecchiarelli
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada,*Correspondence: Haley A. Vecchiarelli ✉
| | - Valerie Joers
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States,Valerie Joers ✉
| | - Malú Gámez Tansey
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States,Department of Neurology, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida Health, Gainesville, FL, United States,Malú Gámez Tansey ✉
| | - Katarzyna Starowicz
- Department of Neurochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology PAS, Kraków, Poland,Katarzyna Starowicz ✉
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24
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De Felice E, Gonçalves de Andrade E, Golia MT, González Ibáñez F, Khakpour M, Di Castro MA, Garofalo S, Di Pietro E, Benatti C, Brunello N, Tascedda F, Kaminska B, Limatola C, Ragozzino D, Tremblay ME, Alboni S, Maggi L. Microglial diversity along the hippocampal longitudinal axis impacts synaptic plasticity in adult male mice under homeostatic conditions. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:292. [PMID: 36482444 PMCID: PMC9730634 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02655-z] [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: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is a plastic brain area that shows functional segregation along its longitudinal axis, reflected by a higher level of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus (DH) compared to the ventral hippocampus (VH), but the mechanisms underlying this difference remain elusive. Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of microglia-neuronal communication in modulating synaptic transmission and hippocampal plasticity, although its role in physiological contexts is still largely unknown. We characterized in depth the features of microglia in the two hippocampal poles and investigated their contribution to CA1 plasticity under physiological conditions. We unveiled the influence of microglia in differentially modulating the amplitude of LTP in the DH and VH, showing that minocycline or PLX5622 treatment reduced LTP amplitude in the DH, while increasing it in the VH. This was recapitulated in Cx3cr1 knockout mice, indicating that microglia have a key role in setting the conditions for plasticity processes in a region-specific manner, and that the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 pathway is a key element in determining the basal level of CA1 LTP in the two regions. The observed LTP differences at the two poles were associated with transcriptional changes in the expression of genes encoding for Il-1, Tnf-α, Il-6, and Bdnf, essential players of neuronal plasticity. Furthermore, microglia in the CA1 SR region showed an increase in soma and a more extensive arborization, an increased prevalence of immature lysosomes accompanied by an elevation in mRNA expression of phagocytic markers Mertk and Cd68 and a surge in the expression of microglial outward K+ currents in the VH compared to DH, suggesting a distinct basal phenotypic state of microglia across the two hippocampal poles. Overall, we characterized the molecular, morphological, ultrastructural, and functional profile of microglia at the two poles, suggesting that modifications in hippocampal subregions related to different microglial statuses can contribute to dissect the phenotypical aspects of many diseases in which microglia are known to be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. De Felice
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - E. Gonçalves de Andrade
- grid.143640.40000 0004 1936 9465Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - M. T. Golia
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - F. González Ibáñez
- grid.143640.40000 0004 1936 9465Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada ,grid.411081.d0000 0000 9471 1794Faculté de Médecine and Centre de Recherche, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - M. Khakpour
- grid.143640.40000 0004 1936 9465Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - M. A. Di Castro
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - S. Garofalo
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - E. Di Pietro
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - C. Benatti
- grid.7548.e0000000121697570Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy ,grid.7548.e0000000121697570Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - N. Brunello
- grid.7548.e0000000121697570Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - F. Tascedda
- grid.7548.e0000000121697570Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy ,grid.7548.e0000000121697570Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - B. Kaminska
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - C. Limatola
- grid.419543.e0000 0004 1760 3561IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy ,grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - D. Ragozzino
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy ,grid.417778.a0000 0001 0692 3437Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy
| | - M. E. Tremblay
- grid.143640.40000 0004 1936 9465Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada ,grid.411081.d0000 0000 9471 1794Faculté de Médecine and Centre de Recherche, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - S. Alboni
- grid.7548.e0000000121697570Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy ,grid.7548.e0000000121697570Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - L. Maggi
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Traetta ME, Tremblay MÈ. Prenatal inflammation shapes microglial immune response into adulthood. Trends Immunol 2022; 43:953-955. [PMID: 36357264 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hayes and collaborators recently unraveled that maternal immune activation in mice led to a long-lasting decrease in microglial immune reactivity. Thus, microglia exhibited a reduced immune response to a second proinflammatory stressor in adulthood. This altered microglial response impacted both astrocytic reactivity and neuronal circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianela E Traetta
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia 'Prof. E. De Robertis' (IBCN), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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26
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Carrier M, Dolhan K, Bobotis BC, Desjardins M, Tremblay MÈ. The implication of a diversity of non-neuronal cells in disorders affecting brain networks. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1015556. [PMID: 36439206 PMCID: PMC9693782 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1015556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the central nervous system (CNS) neurons are classically considered the functional unit of the brain. Analysis of the physical connections and co-activation of neurons, referred to as structural and functional connectivity, respectively, is a metric used to understand their interplay at a higher level. A myriad of glial cell types throughout the brain composed of microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are key players in the maintenance and regulation of neuronal network dynamics. Microglia are the central immune cells of the CNS, able to affect neuronal populations in number and connectivity, allowing for maturation and plasticity of the CNS. Microglia and astrocytes are part of the neurovascular unit, and together they are essential to protect and supply nutrients to the CNS. Oligodendrocytes are known for their canonical role in axonal myelination, but also contribute, with microglia and astrocytes, to CNS energy metabolism. Glial cells can achieve this variety of roles because of their heterogeneous populations comprised of different states. The neuroglial relationship can be compromised in various manners in case of pathologies affecting development and plasticity of the CNS, but also consciousness and mood. This review covers structural and functional connectivity alterations in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and disorder of consciousness, as well as their correlation with vascular connectivity. These networks are further explored at the cellular scale by integrating the role of glial cell diversity across the CNS to explain how these networks are affected in pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaël Carrier
- Neurosciences Axis, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Kira Dolhan
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | | | - Michèle Desjardins
- Department of Physics, Physical Engineering and Optics, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Oncology Axis, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Neurosciences Axis, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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Tremblay MÈ, Almsherqi ZA, Deng Y. Plasmalogens and platelet-activating factor roles in chronic inflammatory diseases. Biofactors 2022; 48:1203-1216. [PMID: 36370412 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1916] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Fatty acids and phospholipid molecules are essential for determining the structure and function of cell membranes, and they hence participate in many biological processes. Platelet activating factor (PAF) and its precursor plasmalogen, which represent two subclasses of ether phospholipids, have attracted increasing research attention recently due to their association with multiple chronic inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disorders. These pathophysiological conditions commonly involve inflammatory processes linked to an excess presence of PAF and/or decreased levels of plasmalogens. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of plasmalogens in inflammation have remained largely elusive. While anti-inflammatory responses most likely involve the plasmalogen signal pathway; pro-inflammatory responses recruit arachidonic acid, a precursor of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators which is released from membrane phospholipids, notably derived from the hydrolysis of plasmalogens. Plasmalogens per se are vital membrane phospholipids in humans. Changes in their homeostatic levels may alter cell membrane properties, thus affecting key signaling pathways that mediate inflammatory cascades and immune responses. The plasmalogen analogs of PAF are also potentially important, considering that anti-PAF activity has strong anti-inflammatory effects. Plasmalogen replacement therapy was further identified as a promising anti-inflammatory strategy allowing for the relief of pathological hallmarks in patients affected by chronic diseases with an inflammatory component. The aim of this Short Review is to highlight the emerging roles and implications of plasmalogens in chronic inflammatory disorders, along with the promising outcomes of plasmalogen replacement therapy for the treatment of various PAF-related chronic inflammatory pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université de Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zakaria A Almsherqi
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yuru Deng
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, China
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28
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Zhang Z, Li X, Zhou H, Zhou J. NG2-glia crosstalk with microglia in health and disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 28:1663-1674. [PMID: 36000202 PMCID: PMC9532922 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly becoming a global problem. However, the pathological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases are not fully understood. NG2‐glia abnormalities and microglia activation are involved in the development and/or progression of neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebrovascular diseases. In this review, we summarize the present understanding of the interaction between NG2‐glia and microglia in physiological and pathological states and discuss unsolved questions concerning their fate and potential fate. First, we introduce the NG2‐glia and microglia in health and disease. Second, we formulate the interaction between NG2‐glia and microglia. NG2‐glia proliferation, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis are influenced by factors released from the microglia. On the other hand, NG2‐glia also regulate microglia actions. We conclude that NG2‐glia and microglia are important immunomodulatory cells in the brain. Understanding the interaction between NG2‐glia and microglia will help provide a novel method to modulate myelination and treat neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuo Zhang
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongli Zhou
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiyin Zhou
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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29
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Yousefizadeh A, Piccioni G, Saidi A, Triaca V, Mango D, Nisticò R. Pharmacological targeting of microglia dynamics in Alzheimer's disease: Preclinical and clinical evidence. Pharmacol Res 2022; 184:106404. [PMID: 35988869 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Numerous clinical trials of anti-amyloid agents for Alzheimer's disease (AD) were so far unsuccessful thereby challenging the validity of the amyloid hypothesis. This lack of progress has encouraged researchers to investigate alternative mechanisms in non-neuronal cells, among which microglia represent nowadays an attractive target. Microglia play a key role in the developing brain and contribute to synaptic remodeling in the mature brain. On the other hand, the intimate relationship between microglia and synapses led to the so-called synaptic stripping hypothesis, a process in which microglia selectively remove synapses from injured neurons. Synaptic stripping, along with the induction of a microglia-mediated chronic neuroinflammatory environment, promote the progressive synaptic degeneration in AD. Therefore, targeting microglia may pave the way for a new disease modifying approach. This review provides an overview of the pathophysiological roles of the microglia cells in AD and describes putative targets for pharmacological intervention. It also provides evidence for microglia-targeted strategies in preclinical AD studies and in early clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atrin Yousefizadeh
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Gaia Piccioni
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V.Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Laboratory Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, European Brain Research (EBRI) Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Amira Saidi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V.Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Laboratory Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, European Brain Research (EBRI) Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Triaca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Dalila Mango
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy; Laboratory Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, European Brain Research (EBRI) Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Robert Nisticò
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy; Laboratory Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, European Brain Research (EBRI) Institute, Rome, Italy.
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30
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St-Pierre MK, VanderZwaag J, Loewen S, Tremblay MÈ. All roads lead to heterogeneity: The complex involvement of astrocytes and microglia in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:932572. [PMID: 36035256 PMCID: PMC9413962 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.932572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, glial cells have been acknowledged as key players in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition in which an accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular fibrillar amyloid beta is notably observed in the central nervous system. Genome-wide association studies have shown, both in microglia and astrocytes, an increase in gene variants associated with a higher risk of developing late-onset AD. Microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the brain, and astrocytes, glial cells crucial for vascular integrity and neuronal support, both agglomerate near amyloid beta plaques and dystrophic neurites where they participate in the elimination of these harmful parenchymal elements. However, their role in AD pathogenesis has been challenging to resolve due to the highly heterogeneous nature of these cell populations, i.e., their molecular, morphological, and ultrastructural diversity, together with their ever-changing responsiveness and functions throughout the pathological course of AD. With the recent expansions in the field of glial heterogeneity through innovative advances in state-of-the-art microscopy and -omics techniques, novel concepts and questions arose, notably pertaining to how the diverse microglial and astrocytic states interact with each other and with the AD hallmarks, and how their concerted efforts/actions impact the progression of the disease. In this review, we discuss the recent advances and findings on the topic of glial heterogeneity, particularly focusing on the relationships of these cells with AD hallmarks (e.g., amyloid beta plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, and dystrophic neurites) in murine models of AD pathology and post-mortem brain samples of patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Jared VanderZwaag
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sophia Loewen
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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31
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Khakpour M, Ibáñez FG, Bordeleau M, Picard K, Mckee-Reid L, Ben-Azu B, Maggi L, Tremblay MÈ. Manual versus automatic analysis of microglial density and distribution: a comparison in the hippocampus of healthy and lipopolysaccharide-challenged mature male mice. Micron 2022; 161:103334. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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32
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Madukwe J. Promising neuroimmune targets and drugs for CNS diseases. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:609-610. [PMID: 35753844 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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33
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Gonçalves de Andrade E, González Ibáñez F, Tremblay MÈ. Microglia as a Hub for Suicide Neuropathology: Future Investigation and Prevention Targets. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:839396. [PMID: 35663424 PMCID: PMC9158339 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.839396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicide is a complex public health challenge associated worldwide with one death every 40 s. Research advances in the neuropathology of suicidal behaviors (SB) have defined discrete brain changes which may hold the key to suicide prevention. Physiological differences in microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are present in post-mortem tissue samples of individuals who died by suicide. Furthermore, microglia are mechanistically implicated in the outcomes of important risk factors for SB, including early-life adversity, stressful life events, and psychiatric disorders. SB risk factors result in inflammatory and oxidative stress activities which could converge to microglial synaptic remodeling affecting susceptibility or resistance to SB. To push further this perspective, in this Review we summarize current areas of opportunity that could untangle the functional participation of microglia in the context of suicide. Our discussion centers around microglial state diversity in respect to morphology, gene and protein expression, as well as function, depending on various factors, namely brain region, age, and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Gonçalves de Andrade
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Fernando González Ibáñez
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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34
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Renz-Polster H, Tremblay ME, Bienzle D, Fischer JE. The Pathobiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Case for Neuroglial Failure. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:888232. [PMID: 35614970 PMCID: PMC9124899 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.888232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has a specific and distinctive profile of clinical features, the disease remains an enigma because causal explanation of the pathobiological matrix is lacking. Several potential disease mechanisms have been identified, including immune abnormalities, inflammatory activation, mitochondrial alterations, endothelial and muscular disturbances, cardiovascular anomalies, and dysfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Yet, it remains unclear whether and how these pathways may be related and orchestrated. Here we explore the hypothesis that a common denominator of the pathobiological processes in ME/CFS may be central nervous system dysfunction due to impaired or pathologically reactive neuroglia (astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes). We will test this hypothesis by reviewing, in reference to the current literature, the two most salient and widely accepted features of ME/CFS, and by investigating how these might be linked to dysfunctional neuroglia. From this review we conclude that the multifaceted pathobiology of ME/CFS may be attributable in a unifying manner to neuroglial dysfunction. Because the two key features - post exertional malaise and decreased cerebral blood flow - are also recognized in a subset of patients with post-acute sequelae COVID, we suggest that our findings may also be pertinent to this entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert Renz-Polster
- Division of General Medicine, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPD-BW), University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marie-Eve Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dorothee Bienzle
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Joachim E. Fischer
- Division of General Medicine, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPD-BW), University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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35
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Rosmus DD, Lange C, Ludwig F, Ajami B, Wieghofer P. The Role of Osteopontin in Microglia Biology: Current Concepts and Future Perspectives. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040840. [PMID: 35453590 PMCID: PMC9027630 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immune landscape of the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and the retina, consists of different myeloid cell populations with distinct tasks to fulfill. Whereas the CNS borders harbor extraparenchymal CNS-associated macrophages whose main duty is to build up a defense against invading pathogens and other damaging factors from the periphery, the resident immune cells of the CNS parenchyma and the retina, microglia, are highly dynamic cells with a plethora of functions during homeostasis and disease. Therefore, microglia are constantly sensing their environment and closely interacting with surrounding cells, which is in part mediated by soluble factors. One of these factors is Osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional protein that is produced by different cell types in the CNS, including microglia, and is upregulated in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions. In this review, we discuss the current literature about the interaction between microglia and OPN in homeostasis and several disease entities, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s and cerebrovascular diseases (AD, CVD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), in the context of the molecular pathways involved in OPN signaling shaping the function of microglia. As nearly all CNS diseases are characterized by pathological alterations in microglial cells, accompanied by the disturbance of the homeostatic microglia phenotype, the emergence of disease-associated microglia (DAM) states and their interplay with factors shaping the DAM-signature, such as OPN, is of great interest for therapeutical interventions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Freiburg Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (C.L.); (F.L.)
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, 48145 Muenster, Germany
| | - Franziska Ludwig
- Eye Center, Freiburg Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (C.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Bahareh Ajami
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Peter Wieghofer
- Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
- Cellular Neuroanatomy, Institute of Theoretical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Augsburg University, 86159 Augsburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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36
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Wolf J, Boneva S, Rosmus DD, Agostini H, Schlunck G, Wieghofer P, Schlecht A, Lange C. In-Depth Molecular Profiling Specifies Human Retinal Microglia Identity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:863158. [PMID: 35371110 PMCID: PMC8971200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the tissue-resident macrophages of the retina and brain, being critically involved in organ development, tissue homeostasis, and response to cellular damage. Until now, little is known about the molecular signature of human retinal microglia and how it differs from the one of brain microglia and peripheral monocytes. In addition, it is not yet clear to what extent murine retinal microglia resemble those of humans, which represents an important prerequisite for translational research. The present study applies fluorescence-activated cell sorting to isolate human retinal microglia from enucleated eyes and compares their transcriptional profile with the one of whole retinal tissue, human brain microglia as well as classical, intermediate and non-classical monocytes. Finally, human retinal microglia are compared to murine retinal microglia, isolated from Cx3cr1GFP/+ mice. Whereas human retinal microglia exhibited a high grade of similarity in comparison to their counterparts in the brain, several enriched genes were identified in retinal microglia when compared to whole retinal tissue, as well as classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes. In relation to whole retina sequencing, several risk genes associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) were preferentially expressed in retinal microglia, indicating their potential pathophysiological involvement. Although a high degree of similarity was observed between human and murine retinal microglia, several species-specific genes were identified, which should be kept in mind when employing mouse models to investigate retinal microglia biology. In summary, this study provides detailed insights into the molecular profile of human retinal microglia, identifies a plethora of tissue-specific and species-specific genes in comparison to human brain microglia and murine retinal microglia, and thus highlights the significance of retinal microglia in human retinal diseases and for translational research approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefaniya Boneva
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Hansjürgen Agostini
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Wieghofer
- Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Cellular Neuroanatomy, Institute of Theoretical Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Anja Schlecht
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology at St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Germany
- *Correspondence: Clemens Lange,
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