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Kang S, Ko EY, Andrews AE, Shin JE, Nance KJ, Barman PK, Heeger PS, Freeman WM, Benayoun BA, Goodridge HS. Microglia undergo sex-dimorphic transcriptional and metabolic rewiring during aging. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:150. [PMID: 38840206 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03130-7] [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: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the brain's resident macrophages, maintain brain homeostasis and respond to injury and infection. During aging they undergo functional changes, but the underlying mechanisms and their contributions to neuroprotection versus neurodegeneration are unclear. Previous studies suggested that microglia are sex dimorphic, so we compared microglial aging in mice of both sexes. RNA-sequencing of hippocampal microglia revealed more aging-associated changes in female microglia than male microglia, and more sex differences in old microglia than young microglia. Pathway analyses and subsequent validation assays revealed a stronger AKT-mTOR-HIF1α-driven shift to glycolysis among old female microglia and indicated that C3a production and detection was elevated in old microglia, especially in females. Recombinant C3a induced AKT-mTOR-HIF1α signaling and increased the glycolytic and phagocytic activity of young microglia. Single cell analyses attributed the aging-associated sex dimorphism to more abundant disease-associated microglia (DAM) in old female mice than old male mice, and evaluation of an Alzheimer's Disease mouse model revealed that the metabolic and complement changes are also apparent in the context of neurodegenerative disease and are strongest in the neuroprotective DAM2 subset. Collectively, our data implicate autocrine C3a-C3aR signaling in metabolic reprogramming of microglia to neuroprotective DAM during aging, especially in females, and also in Alzheimer's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seokjo Kang
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Emily Y Ko
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Amelia E Andrews
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Juliana E Shin
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Karina J Nance
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Pijus K Barman
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Peter S Heeger
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Willard M Freeman
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Bérénice A Benayoun
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Molecular and Computational Biology Department, Arts and Sciences, USC Dornsife College of Letters, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Department, USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Helen S Goodridge
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- Research Division of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
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2
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Qiu NZ, Hou HM, Guo TY, Lv YL, Zhou Y, Zhang FF, Zhang F, Wang XD, Chen W, Gao YF, Chen MH, Zhang XH, Zhang HT, Wang H. Phosphodiesterase 8 (PDE8): Distribution and Cellular Expression and Association with Alzheimer's Disease. Neurochem Res 2024:10.1007/s11064-024-04156-2. [PMID: 38782837 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-024-04156-2] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Phosphodiesterase 8 (PDE8), as a member of PDE superfamily, specifically promotes the hydrolysis and degradation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which may be associated with pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is currently known about potential role in the central nervous system (CNS). Here we investigated the distribution and expression of PDE8 in brain of mouse, which we believe can provide evidence for studying the role of PDE8 in CNS and the relationship between PDE8 and AD. Here, C57BL/6J mice were used to observe the distribution patterns of two subtypes of PDE8, PDE8A and PDE8B, in different sexes in vivo by western blot (WB). Meanwhile, C57BL/6J mice were also used to demonstrate the distribution pattern of PDE8 in selected brain regions and localization in neural cells by WB and multiplex immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, the triple transgenic (3×Tg-AD) mice and wild type (WT) mice of different ages were used to investigate the changes of PDE8 expression in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex during the progression of AD. PDE8 was found to be widely expressed in multiple tissues and organs including heart, kidney, stomach, brain, and liver, spleen, intestines, and uterus, with differences in expression levels between the two subtypes of PDE8A and PDE8B, as well as two sexes. Meanwhile, PDE8 was widely distributed in the brain, especially in areas closely related to cognitive function such as cerebellum, striatum, amygdala, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus, without differences between sexes. Furthermore, PDE8A was found to be expressed in neuronal cells, microglia and astrocytes, while PDE8B is only expressed in neuronal cells and microglia. PDE8A expression in the hippocampus of both female and male 3×Tg-AD mice was gradually increased with ages and PDE8B expression was upregulated only in cerebral cortex of female 3×Tg-AD mice with ages. However, the expression of PDE8A and PDE8B was apparently increased in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus in both female and male 10-month-old 3×Tg-AD mice compared WT mice. These results suggest that PDE8 may be associated with the progression of AD and is a potential target for its prevention and treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian-Zhuang Qiu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Hui-Mei Hou
- Development Planning and Discipline Construction Department, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Tian-Yang Guo
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Yu-Li Lv
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Fang-Fang Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Yong-Feng Gao
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Mei-Hua Chen
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China
| | - Xue-Hui Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China.
| | - Han-Ting Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, Qingdao University School of Pharmacy, Qingdao, 266073, Shandong, China.
| | - Hao Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, 271016, Shandong, China.
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3
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Wang R, Zhan Y, Zhu W, Yang Q, Pei J. Association of soluble TREM2 with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1407980. [PMID: 38841103 PMCID: PMC11150578 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1407980] [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: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) is a potential neuroinflammatory biomarker linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Previous studies have produced inconsistent results regarding sTREM2 levels in various clinical stages of AD. This study aims to establish the correlation between sTREM2 levels and AD progression through a meta-analysis of sTREM2 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Methods Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify observational studies reporting CSF and blood sTREM2 levels in AD patients, MCI patients, and healthy controls. A random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Thirty-six observational studies involving 3,016 AD patients, 3,533 MCI patients, and 4,510 healthy controls were included. CSF sTREM2 levels were significantly higher in both the AD [SMD = 0.28, 95% CI (0.15, 0.41)] and MCI groups [SMD = 0.30, 95% CI (0.13, 0.47)] compared to the healthy control group. However, no significant differences in expression were detected between the AD and MCI groups [SMD = 0.09, 95% CI (-0.09, 0.26)]. Furthermore, increased plasma sTREM2 levels were associated with a higher risk of AD [SMD = 0.42, 95% CI (0.01, 0.83)]. Conclusion CSF sTREM2 levels are positively associated with an increased risk of AD and MCI. Plasma sTREM2 levels were notably higher in the AD group than in the control group and may serve as a promising biomarker for diagnosing AD. However, sTREM2 levels are not effective for distinguishing between different disease stages of AD. Further investigations are needed to explore the longitudinal changes in sTREM2 levels, particularly plasma sTREM2 levels, during AD progression. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024514593.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jian Pei
- Department of Acupuncture, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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4
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Zhang W, Sun HS, Wang X, Dumont AS, Liu Q. Cellular senescence, DNA damage, and neuroinflammation in the aging brain. Trends Neurosci 2024:S0166-2236(24)00061-4. [PMID: 38729785 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.04.003] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Aging may lead to low-level chronic inflammation that increases the susceptibility to age-related conditions, including memory impairment and progressive loss of brain volume. As brain health is essential to promoting healthspan and lifespan, it is vital to understand age-related changes in the immune system and central nervous system (CNS) that drive normal brain aging. However, the relative importance, mechanistic interrelationships, and hierarchical order of such changes and their impact on normal brain aging remain to be clarified. Here, we synthesize accumulating evidence that age-related DNA damage and cellular senescence in the immune system and CNS contribute to the escalation of neuroinflammation and cognitive decline during normal brain aging. Targeting cellular senescence and immune modulation may provide a logical rationale for developing new treatment options to restore immune homeostasis and counteract age-related brain dysfunction and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Hong-Shuo Sun
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Aaron S Dumont
- Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
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5
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Cleland NRW, Potter GJ, Buck C, Quang D, Oldham D, Neal M, Saviola A, Niemeyer CS, Dobrinskikh E, Bruce KD. Altered metabolism and DAM-signatures in female brains and microglia with aging. Brain Res 2024; 1829:148772. [PMID: 38244754 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148772] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Despite Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affecting women, the mechanisms remain elusive. In AD, microglia undergo 'metabolic reprogramming', which contributes to microglial dysfunction and AD pathology. However, how sex and age contribute to metabolic reprogramming in microglia is understudied. Here, we use metabolic imaging, transcriptomics, and metabolic assays to probe age- and sex-associated changes in brain and microglial metabolism. Glycolytic and oxidative metabolism in the whole brain was determined using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM). Young female brains appeared less glycolytic than male brains, but with aging, the female brain became 'male-like.' Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of disease-associated microglia (DAM) genes (e.g., ApoE, Trem2, LPL), and genes involved in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism in microglia from aged females compared to males. To determine whether estrogen can alter the expression of these genes, BV-2 microglia-like cell lines, which abundantly express DAM genes, were supplemented with 17β-estradiol (E2). E2 supplementation resulted in reduced expression of DAM genes, reduced lipid and cholesterol transport, and substrate-dependent changes in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism. Consistent with the notion that E2 may suppress DAM-associated factors, LPL activity was elevated in the brains of aged female mice. Similarly, DAM gene and protein expression was higher in monocyte-derived microglia-like (MDMi) cells derived from middle-aged females compared to age-matched males and was responsive to E2 supplementation. FLIM analysis of MDMi from young and middle-aged females revealed reduced oxidative metabolism and FAD+ with age. Overall, our findings show that altered metabolism defines age-associated changes in female microglia and suggest that estrogen may inhibit the expression and activity of DAM-associated factors, which may contribute to increased AD risk, especially in post-menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R W Cleland
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Garrett J Potter
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Courtney Buck
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Daphne Quang
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dean Oldham
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mikaela Neal
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Anthony Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christy S Niemeyer
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Evgenia Dobrinskikh
- Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA
| | - Kimberley D Bruce
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Martínez-Tazo P, Santos A, Selim MK, Espinós-Soler E, De Santis S. Sex matters: The MouseX DW-ALLEN Atlas for mice diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Neuroimage 2024; 292:120573. [PMID: 38521211 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120573] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Overcoming sex bias in preclinical research requires not only including animals of both sexes in the experiments, but also developing proper tools to handle such data. Recent work revealed sensitivity of diffusion-weighted MRI to glia morphological changes in response to inflammatory stimuli, opening up exciting possibilities to characterize inflammation in a variety of preclinical models of pathologies, the great majority of them available in mice. However, there are limited resources dedicated to mouse imaging, like those required for the data processing and analysis. To fill this gap, we build a mouse MRI template of both structural and diffusion contrasts, with anatomical annotation according to the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas, the most detailed public resource for mouse brain investigation. To achieve a standardized resource, we use a large cohort of animals in vivo, and include animals of both sexes. To prove the utility of this resource to integrate imaging and molecular data, we demonstrate significant association between the mean diffusivity from MRI and gene expression-based glia density. To demonstrate the need of equitable sex representation, we compared across sexes the warp fields needed to match a male-based template, and our template built with both sexes. Then, we use both templates for analysing mice imaging data obtained in animals of different ages, demonstrating that using a male-based template creates spurious significant sex effects, not present otherwise. All in all, our MouseX DW-ALLEN Atlas will be a widely useful resource getting us one step closer to equitable healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandra Santos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Mohamed Kotb Selim
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Elena Espinós-Soler
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Silvia De Santis
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Spain.
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7
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Lei Y, Zhang R, Cai F. Role of MARK2 in the nervous system and cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:497-506. [PMID: 38302729 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00737-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Microtubule-Affinity Regulating Kinase 2 (MARK2), a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family, phosphorylates microtubule-associated proteins, playing a crucial role in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This kinase regulates multiple signaling pathways, including the WNT, PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM), and NF-κB pathways, potentially linking it to cancer and the nervous system. As a crucial regulator of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, the loss of MARK2 inhibits the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. MARK2 is involved in the excessive phosphorylation of tau, thus influencing neurodegeneration. Therefore, MARK2 emerges as a promising drug target for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite its significance, the development of inhibitors for MARK2 remains limited. In this review, we aim to present detailed information on the structural features of MARK2 and its role in various signaling pathways associated with cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we further characterize the therapeutic potential of MARK2 in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, and hope to facilitate basic research on MARK2 and the development of inhibitors targeting MARK2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Lei
- School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China
| | - Ruyi Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China.
| | - Fei Cai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China.
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Kellogg CM, Pham K, Ko S, Cox JE, Machalinski AH, Stout MB, Sharpe AL, Beckstead MJ, Chucair-Elliott AJ, Ocañas SR, Freeman WM. Specificity and efficiency of tamoxifen-mediated Cre induction is equivalent regardless of age. iScience 2023; 26:108413. [PMID: 38058312 PMCID: PMC10696116 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporally controlling Cre recombination through tamoxifen (Tam) induction has many advantages for biomedical research. Most studies report early post-natal/juvenile (<2 m.o.) Tam induction, but age-related neurodegeneration and aging studies can require Cre induction in older mice (>12 m.o.). While anecdotally reported as problematic, there are no published comparisons of Tam-mediated Cre induction at early and late ages. Here, microglial-specific Cx3cr1creERT2 mice were crossed to a floxed NuTRAP reporter to compare Cre induction at early (3-6 m.o.) and late (20 m.o.) ages. Specificity and efficiency of microglial labeling at 21-22 m.o. were identical in mice induced with Tam at early and late ages. Age-related microglial translatomic changes were also similar regardless of Tam induction age. Each Cre and flox mouse line should be independently validated, however, these findings demonstrate that Tam-mediated Cre induction can be performed even into older mouse ages and should be generalizable to other inducible Cre models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collyn M. Kellogg
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kevin Pham
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sunghwan Ko
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jillian E.J. Cox
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Adeline H. Machalinski
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Michael B. Stout
- Aging & Metabolism Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Amanda L. Sharpe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Michael J. Beckstead
- Aging & Metabolism Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ana J. Chucair-Elliott
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sarah R. Ocañas
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Willard M. Freeman
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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9
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Reed EG, Keller-Norrell PR. Minding the Gap: Exploring Neuroinflammatory and Microglial Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17377. [PMID: 38139206 PMCID: PMC10743742 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Research into Alzheimer's Disease (AD) describes a link between AD and the resident immune cells of the brain, the microglia. Further, this suspected link is thought to have underlying sex effects, although the mechanisms of these effects are only just beginning to be understood. Many of these insights are the result of policies put in place by funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) and the move towards precision medicine due to continued lackluster therapeutic options. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated assessment of the current research that summarizes sex differences and the research pertaining to microglia and their varied responses in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G. Reed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44242, USA
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10
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Cleland NRW, Potter GJ, Buck C, Quang D, Oldham D, Neal M, Saviola A, Niemeyer CS, Dobrinskikh E, Bruce KD. Altered Metabolism and DAM-signatures in Female Brains and Microglia with Aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.28.569104. [PMID: 38076915 PMCID: PMC10705419 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.569104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affecting women, the mechanisms remain elusive. In AD, microglia undergo 'metabolic reprogramming', which contributes to microglial dysfunction and AD pathology. However, how sex and age contribute to metabolic reprogramming in microglia is understudied. Here, we use metabolic imaging, transcriptomics, and metabolic assays to probe age-and sex-associated changes in brain and microglial metabolism. Glycolytic and oxidative metabolism in the whole brain was determined using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM). Young female brains appeared less glycolytic than male brains, but with aging, the female brain became 'male-like.' Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of disease-associated microglia (DAM) genes (e.g., ApoE, Trem2, LPL), and genes involved in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism in microglia from aged females compared to males. To determine whether estrogen can alter the expression of these genes, BV-2 microglia-like cell lines, which abundantly express DAM genes, were supplemented with 17β-estradiol (E2). E2 supplementation resulted in reduced expression of DAM genes, reduced lipid and cholesterol transport, and substrate-dependent changes in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism. Consistent with the notion that E2 may suppress DAM-associated factors, LPL activity was elevated in the brains of aged female mice. Similarly, DAM gene and protein expression was higher in monocyte-derived microglia-like (MDMi) cells derived from middle-aged females compared to age-matched males and was responsive to E2 supplementation. FLIM analysis of MDMi from young and middle-aged females revealed reduced oxidative metabolism and FAD+ with age. Overall, our findings show that altered metabolism defines age-associated changes in female microglia and suggest that estrogen may inhibit the expression and activity of DAM-associated factors, which may contribute to increased AD risk, especially in post-menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R W Cleland
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Garrett J Potter
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Courtney Buck
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Daphne Quang
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Dean Oldham
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Mikaela Neal
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Anthony Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Christy S. Niemeyer
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Evgenia Dobrinskikh
- Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA
| | - Kimberley D. Bruce
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA
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Kellogg CM, Pham K, Ko S, Cox JEJ, Machalinski AH, Stout MB, Sharpe AL, Beckstead MJ, Chucair-Elliott AJ, Ocañas SR, Freeman WM. Consistent specificity and efficiency of tamoxifen-mediated cre induction across ages. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.19.558482. [PMID: 37781585 PMCID: PMC10541132 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.19.558482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Temporally controlling cre recombination through tamoxifen (Tam) induction has many advantages for biomedical research. Most studies report Tam induction at early post-natal/juvenile (<2 m.o.) mouse ages, but age-related neurodegeneration and aging studies can require cre induction in older mice (>12 m.o.). While anecdotally reported as problematic, there are no published comparisons of Tam mediated cre induction at early and late ages. Here, microglial-specific Cx3cr1 creERT 2 mice were crossed to a floxed NuTRAP reporter to compare cre induction at early (3-6 m.o.) and late (20 m.o.) ages. Specificity and efficiency of microglial labeling at 21-22 m.o. were identical in mice induced with Tam at 3-6 m.o. or 20 m.o. of age. Age-related microglial translatomic changes were also similar regardless of Tam induction age. Each cre and flox mouse line should be validated independently, however, these findings demonstrate that Tam-mediated cre induction can be performed even into older mouse ages.
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