1
|
Xu L, Xu H, Tang C. Aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: progress of experimental models based on disease pathogenesis. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:354-365. [PMID: 38819039 PMCID: PMC11317952 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01325] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are neuroinflammatory demyelinating disorders that lead to permanent visual loss and motor dysfunction. To date, no effective treatment exists as the exact causative mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, experimental models of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are essential for exploring its pathogenesis and in screening for therapeutic targets. Since most patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are seropositive for IgG autoantibodies against aquaporin-4, which is highly expressed on the membrane of astrocyte endfeet, most current experimental models are based on aquaporin-4-IgG that initially targets astrocytes. These experimental models have successfully simulated many pathological features of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, such as aquaporin-4 loss, astrocytopathy, granulocyte and macrophage infiltration, complement activation, demyelination, and neuronal loss; however, they do not fully capture the pathological process of human neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. In this review, we summarize the currently known pathogenic mechanisms and the development of associated experimental models in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, suggest potential pathogenic mechanisms for further investigation, and provide guidance on experimental model choices. In addition, this review summarizes the latest information on pathologies and therapies for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders based on experimental models of aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, offering further therapeutic targets and a theoretical basis for clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huiming Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Changyong Tang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li X, Zhang J, Zhang S, Shi S, Lu Y, Leng Y, Li C. Biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica: a visual analysis of emerging research trends. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2735-2749. [PMID: 38595291 PMCID: PMC11168523 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-24-00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that differs from multiple sclerosis. Over the past 20 years, the search for biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica has been ongoing. Here, we used a bibliometric approach to analyze the main research focus in the field of biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica. Research in this area is consistently increasing, with China and the United States leading the way on the number of studies conducted. The Mayo Clinic is a highly reputable institution in the United States, and was identified as the most authoritative institution in this field. Furthermore, Professor Wingerchuk from the Mayo Clinic was the most authoritative expert in this field. Keyword analysis revealed that the terms "neuromyelitis optica" (261 times), "multiple sclerosis" (220 times), "neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder" (132 times), "aquaporin 4" (99 times), and "optical neuritis" (87 times) were the most frequently used keywords in literature related to this field. Comprehensive analysis of the classical literature showed that the majority of publications provide conclusive research evidence supporting the use of aquaporin-4-IgG and neuromyelitis optica-IgG to effectively diagnose and differentiate neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, aquaporin-4-IgG has emerged as a highly specific diagnostic biomarker for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG is a diagnostic biomarker for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease. Recent biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica include cerebrospinal fluid immunological biomarkers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein, serum astrocyte damage biomarkers like FAM19A5, serum albumin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. The latest prospective clinical trials are exploring the potential of these biomarkers. Preliminary results indicate that glial fibrillary acidic protein is emerging as a promising candidate biomarker for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. The ultimate goal of future research is to identify non-invasive biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, and safety for the accurate diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jiandong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changchun Bright Eye Hospital, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin, Jilin Province, China
| | - Shengling Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yi’an Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changchun Bright Eye Hospital, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ying Leng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin, Jilin Province, China
| | - Chunyan Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin, Jilin Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Friske MM, Torrico EC, Haas MJW, Borruto AM, Giannone F, Hade AC, Yu Y, Gao L, Sutherland GT, Hitzemann R, Philips MA, Fei SS, Sommer WH, Mayfield RD, Spanagel R. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the transcriptomic signatures in alcohol use disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02719-x. [PMID: 39242950 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02719-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Currently available clinical treatments on alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit limited efficacy and new druggable targets are required. One promising approach to discover new molecular treatment targets involves the transcriptomic profiling of brain regions within the addiction neurocircuitry, utilizing animal models and postmortem brain tissue from deceased patients with AUD. Unfortunately, such studies suffer from large heterogeneity and small sample sizes. To address these limitations, we conducted a cross-species meta-analysis on transcriptome-wide data obtained from brain tissue of patients with AUD and animal models. We integrated 36 cross-species transcriptome-wide RNA-expression datasets with an alcohol-dependent phenotype vs. controls, following the PRISMA guidelines. In total, we meta-analyzed 964 samples - 502 samples from the prefrontal cortex (PFC), 282 nucleus accumbens (NAc) samples, and 180 from amygdala (AMY). The PFC had the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across rodents, monkeys, and humans. Commonly dysregulated DEGs suggest conserved cross-species mechanisms for chronic alcohol consumption/AUD comprising MAPKs as well as STAT, IRF7, and TNF. Furthermore, we identified numerous unique gene sets that might contribute individually to these conserved mechanisms and also suggest novel molecular aspects of AUD. Validation of the transcriptomic alterations on the protein level revealed interesting targets for further investigation. Finally, we identified a combination of DEGs that are commonly regulated across different brain tissues as potential biomarkers for AUD. In summary, we provide a compendium of genes that are assessable via a shiny app, and describe signaling pathways, and physiological and cellular processes that are altered in AUD that require future studies for functional validation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion M Friske
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research and the Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Eva C Torrico
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maximilian J W Haas
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna M Borruto
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Francesco Giannone
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas-Christian Hade
- Department of Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Forensic Medical Examination Department, Estonian Forensic Science Institute, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Yun Yu
- Bioinformatics & Biostatistics Core, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University West Campus, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lina Gao
- Bioinformatics & Biostatistics Core, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University West Campus, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Greg T Sutherland
- New South Wales Tissue Resource Center, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert Hitzemann
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mari-Anne Philips
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Suzanne S Fei
- Bioinformatics & Biostatistics Core, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University West Campus, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Wolfgang H Sommer
- Bethania Hospital for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Mannheim, Germany
| | - R Dayne Mayfield
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research and the Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Mannheim, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ni F, Liu X, Wang S. Impact of negative emotions and insomnia on sepsis: A mediation Mendelian randomization study. Comput Biol Med 2024; 180:108858. [PMID: 39067155 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108858] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Negative emotions and insomnia (NEI) can lead to inflammation, which is a characteristic of sepsis. However, the interaction among NEI and sepsis has not yet been proven. Therefore, Mendelian mediation was used to explore this relationship in this study. METHODS The genetic correlation NEI and sepsis was assessed by via linkage disequilibrium scores (LDSC). A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study design was performed to examine the causal association between NEI and sepsis using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. The reliability of the results was estimated by weighted median and MR-Egger methods, but heterogeneity was evaluated via Radial and Cochran's Q tests. Biases in gene polymorphisms were checked by MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO. Mendelian mediation analyses were applied to quantify the intermediary effect and proportional contribution. RESULTS A genetic link between sepsis and depression was determined via LDSC analysis. The relationship between depression and sepsis was revealed through MR analysis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.21, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.36, p = 1.07 × 10-3)]. The results were not influenced by heterogeneity or pleiotropy biases. Chitinase 3 Like 1 (CHI3L1) was a mediator with a mediation effect size of 0.12. The ratio of the intermediated effect to total effect was 10.31 %. CONCLUSION CHI3L1 is a key factor which mediates the interaction between NEI and sepsis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengming Ni
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xinmin Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Shaokun Wang
- Department of Emergency, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Villareal JAB, Bathe T, Hery GP, Phillips JL, Tsering W, Prokop S. Deterioration of neuroimmune homeostasis in Alzheimer's Disease patients who survive a COVID-19 infection. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:202. [PMID: 39154174 PMCID: PMC11330027 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03196-3] [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: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence has implicated systemic infection as a significant risk factor for the development and advancement of Alzheimer's disease (AD). With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the resultant pandemic, many individuals from the same aging population vulnerable to AD suffered a severe systemic infection with potentially unidentified long-term consequences for survivors. To study the impact of COVID-19 survival on the brain's intrinsic immune system in a population also suffering from AD, we profiled post-mortem brain tissue from patients in the UF Neuromedicine Human Brain and Tissue Bank with a diagnosis of AD who survived a COVID-19 infection (COVID-AD) and contrasted our findings with AD patients who did not experience a COVID-19 infection, including a group of brain donors who passed away before arrival of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States. We assessed disease-relevant protein pathology and microglial and astrocytic markers by quantitative immunohistochemistry and supplemented these data with whole tissue gene expression analysis performed on the NanoString nCounter® platform. COVID-AD patients showed slightly elevated Aβ burden in the entorhinal, fusiform, and inferior temporal cortices compared to non-COVID-AD patients, while tau pathology burden did not differ between groups. Analysis of microglia revealed a significant loss of microglial homeostasis as well as exacerbated microgliosis in COVID-AD patients compared to non-COVID-AD patients in a brain region-dependent manner. Furthermore, COVID-AD patients showed reduced cortical astrocyte numbers, independent of functional subtype. Transcriptomic analysis supported these histological findings and, in addition, identified a dysregulation of oligodendrocyte and myelination pathways in the hippocampus of COVID-AD patients. In summary, our data demonstrate a profound impact of COVID-19 infection on neuroimmune and glial pathways in AD patients persisting for months post-infection, highlighting the importance of peripheral to central neuroimmune crosstalk in neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A B Villareal
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Tim Bathe
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Gabriela P Hery
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - Jennifer L Phillips
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Wangchen Tsering
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fan Y, Meng Y, Hu X, Liu J, Qin X. Uncovering novel mechanisms of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in driving inflammation-associated cancers. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:268. [PMID: 39068486 PMCID: PMC11282867 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03425-y] [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: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a secreted glycoprotein that is induced and regulated by multiple factors during inflammation in enteritis, pneumonia, asthma, arthritis, and other diseases. It is associated with the deterioration of the inflammatory environment in tissues with chronic inflammation caused by microbial infection or autoimmune diseases. The expression of CHI3L1 expression is upregulated in several malignant tumors, underscoring the crucial role of chronic inflammation in the initiation and progression of cancer. While the precise mechanism connecting inflammation and cancer is unclear, the involvement of CHI3L1 is involved in chronic inflammation, suggesting its role as a contributing factor to in the link between inflammation and cancer. CHI3L1 can aggravate DNA oxidative damage, induce the cancerous phenotype, promote the development of a tumor inflammatory environment and angiogenesis, inhibit immune cells, and promote cancer cell growth, invasion, and migration. Furthermore, it participates in the initiation of cancer progression and metastasis by binding with transmembrane receptors to mediate intracellular signal transduction. Based on the current research on CHI3L1, we explore introduce the receptors that interact with CHI3L1 along with the signaling pathways that may be triggered during chronic inflammation to enhance tumorigenesis and progression. In the last section of the article, we provide a brief overview of anti-inflammatory therapies that target CHI3L1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Fan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
- Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yuan Meng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
- Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xingwei Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
- Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jianhua Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
- Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiaosong Qin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China.
- Liaoning Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhu F, He P, Jiang W, Afridi SK, Xu H, Alahmad M, Alvin Huang YW, Qiu W, Wang G, Tang C. Astrocyte-secreted C3 signaling impairs neuronal development and cognition in autoimmune diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 240:102654. [PMID: 38945516 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102654] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) arises from primary astrocytopathy induced by autoantibodies targeting the astroglial protein aquaporin 4 (AQP4), leading to severe neurological sequelae such as vision loss, motor deficits, and cognitive decline. Mounting evidence has shown that dysregulated activation of complement components contributes to NMO pathogenesis. Complement C3 deficiency has been shown to protect against hippocampal neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, AD) and autoimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, MS). However, whether inhibiting the C3 signaling can ameliorate cognitive dysfunctions in NMO remains unclear. In this study, we found that the levels of C3a, a split product of C3, significantly correlate with cognitive impairment in our patient cohort. In response to the stimulation of AQP4 autoantibodies, astrocytes were activated to secrete complement C3, which inhibited the development of cultured neuronal dendritic arborization. NMO mouse models exhibited reduced adult hippocampal newborn neuronal dendritic and spine development, as well as impaired learning and memory functions, which could be rescued by decreasing C3 levels in astrocytes. Mechanistically, we found that C3a engaged with C3aR to impair neuronal development by dampening β-catenin signalling. Additionally, inhibition of the C3-C3aR-GSK3β/β-catenin cascade restored neuronal development and ameliorated cognitive impairments. Collectively, our results suggest a pivotal role of the activation of the C3-C3aR network in neuronal development and cognition through mediating astrocyte and adult-born neuron communication, which represents a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune-related cognitive impairment diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510630, China
| | - Pengyan He
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510630, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510630, China
| | - Shabbir Khan Afridi
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; China Graduate School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huiming Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510630, China
| | - Maali Alahmad
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Yu-Wen Alvin Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, United States
| | - Wei Qiu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510630, China
| | - Guangyou Wang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, and Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Changyong Tang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510630, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Deng J, Labarta-Bajo L, Brandebura AN, Kahn SB, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Allen NJ. Suppression of astrocyte BMP signaling improves fragile X syndrome molecular signatures and functional deficits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.19.599752. [PMID: 38979341 PMCID: PMC11230279 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a monogenic neurodevelopmental disorder with manifestations spanning molecular, neuroanatomical, and behavioral changes. Astrocytes contribute to FXS pathogenesis and show hundreds of dysregulated genes and proteins; targeting upstream pathways mediating astrocyte changes in FXS could therefore be a point of intervention. To address this, we focused on the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway, which is upregulated in FXS astrocytes. We generated a conditional KO (cKO) of Smad4 in astrocytes to suppress BMP signaling, and found this lessens audiogenic seizure severity in FXS mice. To ask how this occurs on a molecular level, we performed in vivo transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of cortical astrocytes, finding upregulation of metabolic pathways, and downregulation of secretory machinery and secreted proteins in FXS astrocytes, with these alterations no longer present when BMP signaling is suppressed. Functionally, astrocyte Smad4 cKO restores deficits in inhibitory synapses present in FXS auditory cortex. Thus, astrocytes contribute to FXS molecular and functional phenotypes, and targeting astrocytes can mitigate FXS symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Deng
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lara Labarta-Bajo
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ashley N Brandebura
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Samuel B Kahn
- Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Antonio F M Pinto
- Mass Spectrometry Core for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Mass Spectrometry Core for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicola J Allen
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Song Y, Jiang W, Afridi SK, Wang T, Zhu F, Xu H, Nazir FH, Liu C, Wang Y, Long Y, Huang YWA, Qiu W, Tang C. Astrocyte-derived CHI3L1 signaling impairs neurogenesis and cognition in the demyelinated hippocampus. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114226. [PMID: 38733586 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114226] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction is a feature in multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder. A notable aspect of MS brains is hippocampal demyelination, which is closely associated with cognitive decline. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Chitinase-3-like (CHI3L1), secreted by activated astrocytes, has been identified as a biomarker for MS progression. Our study investigates CHI3L1's function within the demyelinating hippocampus and demonstrates a correlation between CHI3L1 expression and cognitive impairment in patients with MS. Activated astrocytes release CHI3L1 in reaction to induced demyelination, which adversely affects the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells and impairs dendritic growth, complexity, and spine formation in neurons. Our findings indicate that the astrocytic deletion of CHI3L1 can mitigate neurogenic deficits and cognitive dysfunction. We showed that CHI3L1 interacts with CRTH2/receptor for advanced glycation end (RAGE) by attenuating β-catenin signaling. The reactivation of β-catenin signaling can revitalize neurogenesis, which holds promise for therapy of inflammatory demyelination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanna Song
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shabbir Khan Afridi
- State Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tongtong Wang
- Department of Clinical Immunology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Fan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huiming Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Faisal Hayat Nazir
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chunxin Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuge Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Youming Long
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China; Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurogenetics and Channelopathies, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu-Wen Alvin Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Wei Qiu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Changyong Tang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University; 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diabetology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ji X, Zhang J, Tang X, Chen HZ. What we talk about when we talk about spinal cord aging. Cell Metab 2024; 36:7-9. [PMID: 38171339 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord-associated disorders are common in the elderly population; however, the mechanisms underlying spinal aging remain elusive. In a recent Nature paper, Sun et al. systemically analyzed aged spines in nonhuman primates and identified a new cluster of CHIT1-positive microglia that drives motor neuron senescence and subsequent spine aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianhong Ji
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Jiajia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No.17 People's South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, No.17 People's South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Development and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No.17 People's South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Laboratory Animals and Safety Research, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Tang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No.17 People's South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, No.17 People's South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Development and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No.17 People's South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
| | - Hou-Zao Chen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing 100005, China; Medical Epigenetics Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing 100005, China.
| |
Collapse
|