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Yan S, Wang L, Samsom JN, Ujic D, Liu F. PolyI:C Maternal Immune Activation on E9.5 Causes the Deregulation of Microglia and the Complement System in Mice, Leading to Decreased Synaptic Spine Density. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5480. [PMID: 38791517 PMCID: PMC11121703 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105480] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders; however, animal models developed to explore MIA mechanisms are sensitive to experimental factors, which has led to complexity in previous reports of the MIA phenotype. We sought to characterize an MIA protocol throughout development to understand how prenatal immune insult alters the trajectory of important neurodevelopmental processes, including the microglial regulation of synaptic spines and complement signaling. We used polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) to induce MIA on gestational day 9.5 in CD-1 mice, and measured their synaptic spine density, microglial synaptic pruning, and complement protein expression. We found reduced dendritic spine density in the somatosensory cortex starting at 3-weeks-of-age with requisite increases in microglial synaptic pruning and phagocytosis, suggesting spine density loss was caused by increased microglial synaptic pruning. Additionally, we showed dysregulation in complement protein expression persisting into adulthood. Our findings highlight disruptions in the prenatal environment leading to alterations in multiple dynamic processes through to postnatal development. This could potentially suggest developmental time points during which synaptic processes could be measured as risk factors or targeted with therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxin Yan
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Le Wang
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
- Institute of Mental Health and Drug Discovery, Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision, and Brain Health), School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Ouhai District, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - James Nicholas Samsom
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Daniel Ujic
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
- Institutes of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir., Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Fang Liu
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
- Institutes of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir., Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir., Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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2
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Hartmann SM, Heider J, Wüst R, Fallgatter AJ, Volkmer H. Microglia-neuron interactions in schizophrenia. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1345349. [PMID: 38510107 PMCID: PMC10950997 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1345349] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence implicate increased neuroinflammation mediated by glial cells to play a key role in neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia. Microglia, which are the primary innate immune cells of the brain, are crucial for the refinement of the synaptic circuitry during early brain development by synaptic pruning and the regulation of synaptic plasticity during adulthood. Schizophrenia risk factors as genetics or environmental influences may further be linked to increased activation of microglia, an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and activation of the inflammasome resulting in an overall elevated neuroinflammatory state in patients. Synaptic loss, one of the central pathological hallmarks of schizophrenia, is believed to be due to excess removal of synapses by activated microglia, primarily affecting glutamatergic neurons. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate microglia-neuron interactions, which has been done by multiple studies focusing on post-mortem brain tissues, brain imaging, animal models and patient iPSC-derived 2D culture systems. In this review, we summarize the major findings in patients and in vivo and in vitro models in the context of neuron-microglia interactions in schizophrenia and secondly discuss the potential of anti-inflammatory treatments for the alleviation of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia-Marie Hartmann
- Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Pharma and Biotech, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Johanna Heider
- Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Pharma and Biotech, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Richard Wüst
- Department of Psychiatry, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas J. Fallgatter
- Department of Psychiatry, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hansjürgen Volkmer
- Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Pharma and Biotech, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
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3
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Bobotis BC, Halvorson T, Carrier M, Tremblay MÈ. Established and emerging techniques for the study of microglia: visualization, depletion, and fate mapping. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1317125. [PMID: 38425429 PMCID: PMC10902073 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1317125] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is an essential hub for neuronal communication. As a major component of the CNS, glial cells are vital in the maintenance and regulation of neuronal network dynamics. Research on microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the CNS, has advanced considerably in recent years, and our understanding of their diverse functions continues to grow. Microglia play critical roles in the formation and regulation of neuronal synapses, myelination, responses to injury, neurogenesis, inflammation, and many other physiological processes. In parallel with advances in microglial biology, cutting-edge techniques for the characterization of microglial properties have emerged with increasing depth and precision. Labeling tools and reporter models are important for the study of microglial morphology, ultrastructure, and dynamics, but also for microglial isolation, which is required to glean key phenotypic information through single-cell transcriptomics and other emerging approaches. Strategies for selective microglial depletion and modulation can provide novel insights into microglia-targeted treatment strategies in models of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and autoimmunity. Finally, fate mapping has emerged as an important tool to answer fundamental questions about microglial biology, including their origin, migration, and proliferation throughout the lifetime of an organism. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of these established and emerging techniques, with applications to the study of microglia in development, homeostasis, and CNS pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Caroline Bobotis
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Torin Halvorson
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, 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
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
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4
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Carrier M, Hui CW, Watters V, Šimončičová E, Picard K, González Ibáñez F, Vernoux N, Droit A, Desjardins M, Tremblay MÈ. Behavioral as well as hippocampal transcriptomic and microglial responses differ across sexes in adult mouse offspring exposed to a dual genetic and environmental challenge. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 116:126-139. [PMID: 38016491 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.025] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A wide range of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms compose the clinical presentation of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disorder in which genetic and environmental risk factors interact for a full emergence of the disorder. Infectious challenges during pregnancy are a well-known environmental risk factor for schizophrenia. Also, genetic variants affecting the function of fractalkine signaling between neurons and microglia were linked to schizophrenia. Translational animal models recapitulating these complex gene-environment associations have a great potential to untangle schizophrenia neurobiology and propose new therapeutic strategies. METHODS Given that genetic variants affecting the function of fractalkine signaling between neurons and microglia were linked to schizophrenia, we compared the outcomes of a well-characterized model of maternal immune activation induced using the viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) in wild-type versus fractalkine receptor knockout mice. Possible behavioral and immune alterations were assessed in male and female offspring during adulthood. Considering the role of the hippocampus in schizophrenia, microglial analyses and bulk RNA sequencing were performed within this region to assess the neuroimmune dynamics at play. Males and females were examined separately. RESULTS Offspring exposed to the dual challenge paradigm exhibited symptoms relevant to schizophrenia and unpredictably to mood disorders. Males displayed social and cognitive deficits related to schizophrenia, while females mainly presented anxiety-like behaviors related to mood disorders. Hippocampal microglia in females exposed to the dual challenge were hypertrophic, indicative of an increased surveillance, whereas those in males showed on the other end of the spectrum blunted morphologies with a reduced phagocytosis. Hippocampal bulk-RNA sequencing further revealed a downregulation in females of genes related to GABAergic transmission, which represents one of the main proposed causes of mood disorders. CONCLUSIONS Building on previous results, we identified in the current study distinctive behavioral phenotypes in female mice exposed to a dual genetic and environmental challenge, thus proposing a new model of neurodevelopmentally-associated mood and affective symptoms. This paves the way to future sex-specific investigations into the susceptibility to developmental challenges using animal models based on genetic and immune vulnerability as presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaël Carrier
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Chin W Hui
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Valérie Watters
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Eva Šimončičová
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Katherine Picard
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Fernando González Ibáñez
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Nathalie Vernoux
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Arnaud Droit
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, 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
- 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.
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5
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Bobotis BC, Braniff O, Gargus M, Akinluyi ET, Awogbindin IO, Tremblay MÈ. Sex differences of microglia in the healthy brain from embryonic development to adulthood and across lifestyle influences. Brain Res Bull 2023; 202:110752. [PMID: 37652267 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Microglia, the central nervous system innate immune cells, play a critical role in maintaining a homeostatic environment in the brain throughout life. These cells exhibit an impressive range of functions and characteristics that help to ensure proper functioning of the brain. Notably, microglia can present differences in their genetic and physical traits, which can be influenced by a range of factors, including age, environmental exposures, disease, and sex. Remarkably, microglia have been found to express receptors for sex hormones, suggesting that these hormones may play a role in modulating microglial behavior and potentially contribute to sex differences. Additionally, sex-chromosomal factors were shown to impact microglial genetics and functioning. In this review, we will examine how microglial responses in homeostasis are impacted by their interaction with sex hormones and sex chromosomes. Specifically, our investigation will focus on examining this interaction from embryonic development to adulthood, and the influence of lifestyle elements on various microglial features, including density and distribution, morphology, transcriptome, and proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Braniff
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Makenna Gargus
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Toyin Akinluyi
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Ifeoluwa Oluleke Awogbindin
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Neuroimmunology Group, Molecular Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Neurosciences Axis, 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, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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6
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Woods R, Lorusso J, Fletcher J, ElTaher H, McEwan F, Harris I, Kowash H, D'Souza SW, Harte M, Hager R, Glazier JD. Maternal immune activation and role of placenta in the prenatal programming of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuronal Signal 2023; 7:NS20220064. [PMID: 37332846 PMCID: PMC10273029 DOI: 10.1042/ns20220064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy, leading to maternal immune activation (mIA) and cytokine release, increases the offspring risk of developing a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including schizophrenia. Animal models have provided evidence to support these mechanistic links, with placental inflammatory responses and dysregulation of placental function implicated. This leads to changes in fetal brain cytokine balance and altered epigenetic regulation of key neurodevelopmental pathways. The prenatal timing of such mIA-evoked changes, and the accompanying fetal developmental responses to an altered in utero environment, will determine the scope of the impacts on neurodevelopmental processes. Such dysregulation can impart enduring neuropathological changes, which manifest subsequently in the postnatal period as altered neurodevelopmental behaviours in the offspring. Hence, elucidation of the functional changes that occur at the molecular level in the placenta is vital in improving our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of NDDs. This has notable relevance to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, where inflammatory responses in the placenta to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and NDDs in early childhood have been reported. This review presents an integrated overview of these collective topics and describes the possible contribution of prenatal programming through placental effects as an underlying mechanism that links to NDD risk, underpinned by altered epigenetic regulation of neurodevelopmental pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Woods
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Jarred M. Lorusso
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Jennifer Fletcher
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Heidi ElTaher
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Francesca McEwan
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Isabella Harris
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Hager M. Kowash
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, U.K
| | - Stephen W. D'Souza
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, U.K
| | - Michael Harte
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Jocelyn D. Glazier
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
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7
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Towriss M, MacVicar B, Ciernia AV. Modelling Microglial Innate Immune Memory In Vitro: Understanding the Role of Aerobic Glycolysis in Innate Immune Memory. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108967. [PMID: 37240311 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108967] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, play important roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and facilitating the brain's innate immune responses. Following immune challenges microglia also retain immune memories, which can alter responses to secondary inflammatory challenges. Microglia have two main memory states, training and tolerance, which are associated with increased and attenuated expression of inflammatory cytokines, respectively. However, the mechanisms differentiating these two distinct states are not well understood. We investigated mechanisms underlying training versus tolerance memory paradigms in vitro in BV2 cells using B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a priming stimulus followed by LPS as a second stimulus. BAFF followed by LPS showed enhanced responses indicative of priming, whereas LPS followed by LPS as the second stimulus caused reduced responses suggestive of tolerance. The main difference between the BAFF versus the LPS stimulus was the induction of aerobic glycolysis by LPS. Inhibiting aerobic glycolysis during the priming stimulus using sodium oxamate prevented the establishment of the tolerized memory state. In addition, tolerized microglia were unable to induce aerobic glycolysis upon LPS restimulus. Therefore, we conclude that aerobic glycolysis triggered by the first LPS stimulus was a critical step in the induction of innate immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Towriss
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brian MacVicar
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Annie Vogel Ciernia
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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8
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Shi L, Xia Z, Guo J, Wang L, Peng Z, Qiu D, Zhou Y, Zhou D, Kuang L, Qiu T. Maresin-1 improves LPS-induced depressive-like behavior by inhibiting hippocampal microglial activation. J Affect Disord 2023; 328:261-272. [PMID: 36813041 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.016] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Maresin-1 is an antiphlogistic agonist synthesized by macrophages from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It has both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory properties and has been found to enhance neuroprotection and cognitive function. However, there is limited knowledge of its effects on depression and the potential mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the effects of Maresin-1 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive symptoms and neuroinflammation were investigated in mice and the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms were further clarified. Maresin-1 treatment (5 μg/kg, i.p.) led to improved tail suspension times, as well as distances moved in an open-field test but it did not improve reductions in sugar-water consumption in mice with depressive-like behaviors induced by LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.); TSPO PETCT scanning showed that Maresin-1 reduced the standardized uptake value (SUV) of [18 F] DPA-714 in brain regions associated with depression (e.g., hippocampus and pre-frontal cortex), while immunofluorescence of hippocampal and indicated that Maresin-1 inhibited microglial activation reducing the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β and NLRP3. The RNA sequencing of mouse hippocampi showed that genes expressed differentially between Maresin-1-treated and LPS-treated tissue were associated with tight connections between cells and the stress-activated MAPK cascade negative regulatory pathways. Overall, this study demonstrates that peripheral application of Maresin-1 could partially relieve LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors and showed for the first time that this effect was related to its anti-inflammatory action on microglia, thus providing new clues for the pharmacological mechanism underlying the anti-depression properties of Maresin-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Zhu Xia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiamei Guo
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Lixia Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Zhiping Peng
- Department of Radiological Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dachuan Qiu
- Department of Radiological Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Dongdong Zhou
- Mental Health Center, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Kuang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Tian Qiu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
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9
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Mawson ER, Morris BJ. A consideration of the increased risk of schizophrenia due to prenatal maternal stress, and the possible role of microglia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 125:110773. [PMID: 37116354 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110773] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is caused by interaction of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Of the latter, prenatal exposure to maternal stress is reportedly associated with elevated disease risk. The main orchestrators of inflammatory processes within the brain are microglia, and aberrant microglial activation/function has been proposed to contribute to the aetiology of schizophrenia. Here, we evaluate the epidemiological and preclinical evidence connecting prenatal stress to schizophrenia risk, and consider the possible mediating role of microglia in the prenatal stress-schizophrenia relationship. Epidemiological findings are rather consistent in supporting the association, albeit they are mitigated by effects of sex and gestational timing, while the evidence for microglial activation is more variable. Rodent models of prenatal stress generally report lasting effects on offspring neurobiology. However, many uncertainties remain as to the mechanisms underlying the influence of maternal stress on the developing foetal brain. Future studies should aim to characterise the exact processes mediating this aspect of schizophrenia risk, as well as focussing on how prenatal stress may interact with other risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R Mawson
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Brian J Morris
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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10
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Niraula A, Fasnacht RD, Ness KM, Frey JM, Cuschieri SA, Dorfman MD, Thaler JP. Prostaglandin PGE2 Receptor EP4 Regulates Microglial Phagocytosis and Increases Susceptibility to Diet-Induced Obesity. Diabetes 2023; 72:233-244. [PMID: 36318114 PMCID: PMC10090268 DOI: 10.2337/db21-1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In rodents, susceptibility to diet-induced obesity requires microglial activation, but the molecular components of this pathway remain incompletely defined. Prostaglandin PGE2 levels increase in the mediobasal hypothalamus during high-fat-diet (HFD) feeding, and the PGE2 receptor EP4 regulates microglial activation state and phagocytic activity, suggesting a potential role for microglial EP4 signaling in obesity pathogenesis. To test the role of microglial EP4 in energy balance regulation, we analyzed the metabolic phenotype in a microglia-specific EP4 knockout (MG-EP4 KO) mouse model. Microglial EP4 deletion markedly reduced weight gain and food intake in response to HFD feeding. Corresponding with this lean phenotype, insulin sensitivity was also improved in HFD-fed MG-EP4 KO mice, though glucose tolerance remained surprisingly unaffected. Mechanistically, EP4-deficient microglia showed an attenuated phagocytic state marked by reduced CD68 expression and fewer contacts with pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuron processes. These cellular changes observed in the MG-EP4 KO mice corresponded with an increased density of POMC neurites extending into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). These findings reveal that microglial EP4 signaling promotes body weight gain and insulin resistance during HFD feeding. Furthermore, the data suggest that curbing microglial phagocytic function may preserve POMC cytoarchitecture and PVN input to limit overconsumption during diet-induced obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anzela Niraula
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Rachael D. Fasnacht
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Kelly M. Ness
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Jeremy M. Frey
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Sophia A. Cuschieri
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Mauricio D. Dorfman
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Joshua P. Thaler
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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11
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Zengeler KE, Shapiro DA, Bruch KR, Lammert CR, Ennerfelt H, Lukens JR. SSRI treatment modifies the effects of maternal inflammation on in utero physiology and offspring neurobiology. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 108:80-97. [PMID: 36343752 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbations to the in utero environment can dramatically change the trajectory of offspring neurodevelopment. Insults commonly encountered in modern human life such as infection, toxins, high-fat diet, prescription medications, and others are increasingly linked to behavioral alterations in prenatally-exposed offspring. While appreciation is expanding for the potential consequence that these triggers can have on embryo development, there is a paucity of information concerning how the crucial maternal-fetal interface (MFI) responds to these various insults and how it may relate to changes in offspring neurodevelopment. Here, we found that the MFI responds both to an inflammatory state and altered serotonergic tone in pregnant mice. Maternal immune activation (MIA) triggered an acute inflammatory response in the MFI dominated by interferon signaling that came at the expense of ordinary development-related transcriptional programs. The major MFI compartments, the decidua and the placenta, each responded in distinct manners to MIA. MFIs exposed to MIA were also found to have disrupted sex-specific gene expression and heightened serotonin levels. We found that offspring exposed to MIA had sex-biased behavioral changes and that microglia were not transcriptionally impacted. Moreover, the combination of maternal inflammation in the presence of pharmacologic inhibition of serotonin reuptake further transformed MFI physiology and offspring neurobiology, impacting immune and serotonin signaling pathways alike. In all, these findings highlight the complexities of evaluating diverse environmental impacts on placental physiology and neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine E Zengeler
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Training Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
| | - Daniel A Shapiro
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Katherine R Bruch
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Catherine R Lammert
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Hannah Ennerfelt
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Training Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - John R Lukens
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Training Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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12
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Li J, Wang Y, Yuan X, Kang Y, Song X. New insight in the cross-talk between microglia and schizophrenia: From the perspective of neurodevelopment. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1126632. [PMID: 36873215 PMCID: PMC9978517 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1126632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterized by psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, schizophrenia had a catastrophic effect on patients and their families. Multifaceted reliable evidence indicated that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Microglia, the immune cells in central nervous system, related to many neurodevelopmental diseases. Microglia could affect neuronal survival, neuronal death and synaptic plasticity during neurodevelopment. Anomalous microglia during neurodevelopment may be associated with schizophrenia. Therefore, a hypothesis proposes that the abnormal function of microglia leads to the occurrence of schizophrenia. Nowadays, accumulating experiments between microglia and schizophrenia could afford unparalleled probability to assess this hypothesis. Herein, this review summarizes the latest supporting evidence in order to shed light on the mystery of microglia in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of First Clinical, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiuxia Yuan
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yulin Kang
- Institute of Environmental Information, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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13
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Hall MB, Willis DE, Rodriguez EL, Schwarz JM. Maternal immune activation as an epidemiological risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders: Considerations of timing, severity, individual differences, and sex in human and rodent studies. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1135559. [PMID: 37123361 PMCID: PMC10133487 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1135559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests that one's risk of being diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD)-such as autism, ADHD, or schizophrenia-increases significantly if their mother had a viral or bacterial infection during the first or second trimester of pregnancy. Despite this well-known data, little is known about how developing neural systems are perturbed by events such as early-life immune activation. One theory is that the maternal immune response disrupts neural processes important for typical fetal and postnatal development, which can subsequently result in specific and overlapping behavioral phenotypes in offspring, characteristic of NDDs. As such, rodent models of maternal immune activation (MIA) have been useful in elucidating neural mechanisms that may become dysregulated by MIA. This review will start with an up-to-date and in-depth, critical summary of epidemiological data in humans, examining the association between different types of MIA and NDD outcomes in offspring. Thereafter, we will summarize common rodent models of MIA and discuss their relevance to the human epidemiological data. Finally, we will highlight other factors that may interact with or impact MIA and its associated risk for NDDs, and emphasize the importance for researchers to consider these when designing future human and rodent studies. These points to consider include: the sex of the offspring, the developmental timing of the immune challenge, and other factors that may contribute to individual variability in neural and behavioral responses to MIA, such as genetics, parental age, the gut microbiome, prenatal stress, and placental buffering.
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14
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Voskuhl R, Itoh Y. The X factor in neurodegeneration. J Exp Med 2022; 219:e20211488. [PMID: 36331399 PMCID: PMC9641640 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20211488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the aging population, it is important to better understand neurodegeneration in aging healthy people and to address the increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. It is imperative to apply novel strategies to identify neuroprotective therapeutics. The study of sex differences in neurodegeneration can reveal new candidate treatment targets tailored for women and men. Sex chromosome effects on neurodegeneration remain understudied and represent a promising frontier for discovery. Here, we will review sex differences in neurodegeneration, focusing on the study of sex chromosome effects in the context of declining levels of sex hormones during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda Voskuhl
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yuichiro Itoh
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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15
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Rodrigues-Neves AC, Ambrósio AF, Gomes CA. Microglia sequelae: brain signature of innate immunity in schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:493. [PMID: 36443303 PMCID: PMC9705537 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02197-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with significant impact on individuals and society. The current pharmacologic treatment, which principally alleviates psychosis, is focused on neurotransmitters modulation, relying on drugs with severe side effects and ineffectiveness in a significant percentage of cases. Therefore, and due to difficulties inherent to diagnosis and treatment, it is vital to reassess alternative cellular and molecular drug targets. Distinct risk factors - genetic, developmental, epigenetic, and environmental - have been associated with disease onset and progression, giving rise to the proposal of different pathophysiological mechanisms and putative pharmacological targets. Immunity is involved and, particularly microglia - innate immune cells of the central nervous system, critically involved in brain development - have captured attention as cellular players. Microglia undergo marked morphologic and functional alterations in the human disease, as well as in animal models of schizophrenia, as reported in several original papers. We cluster the main findings of clinical studies by groups of patients: (1) at ultra-high risk of psychosis, (2) with a first episode of psychosis or recent-onset schizophrenia, and (3) with chronic schizophrenia; in translational studies, we highlight the time window of appearance of particular microglia alterations in the most well studied animal model in the field (maternal immune activation). The organization of clinical and translational findings based on schizophrenia-associated microglia changes in different phases of the disease course may help defining a temporal pattern of microglia changes and may drive the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Catarina Rodrigues-Neves
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António. F. Ambrósio
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Catarina A. Gomes
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Univ Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra, Portugal
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16
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Sheridan SD, Horng JE, Perlis RH. Patient-Derived In Vitro Models of Microglial Function and Synaptic Engulfment in Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:470-479. [PMID: 35232567 PMCID: PMC10039432 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence implicate dysregulated microglia-mediated synaptic pruning in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In vitro human cellular studies represent a promising means of pursuing this hypothesis, complementing efforts with animal models and postmortem human data while addressing their limitations. The challenges in culturing homogeneous populations of cells derived from postmortem or surgical biopsy brain material from patients, and their limited availability, has led to a focus on differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells. These methods too have limitations, in that they disrupt the epigenome and can demonstrate line-to-line variability due in part to extended time in culture, partial reprogramming, and/or residual epigenetic memory from the cell source, yielding large technical artifacts. Yet another strategy uses direct transdifferentiation of peripheral mononuclear blood cells, or umbilical cord blood cells, to microglia-like cells. Any of these approaches can be paired with patient-derived synaptosomes from differentiated neurons as a simpler alternative to co-culture. Patient-derived microglia models may facilitate identification of novel modulators of synaptic pruning and identification of biomarkers that may allow more targeted early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Sheridan
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joy E Horng
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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17
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de Bartolomeis A, Barone A, Vellucci L, Mazza B, Austin MC, Iasevoli F, Ciccarelli M. Linking Inflammation, Aberrant Glutamate-Dopamine Interaction, and Post-synaptic Changes: Translational Relevance for Schizophrenia and Antipsychotic Treatment: a Systematic Review. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:6460-6501. [PMID: 35963926 PMCID: PMC9463235 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02976-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Evidence from clinical, preclinical, and post-mortem studies supports the inflammatory/immune hypothesis of schizophrenia pathogenesis. Less evident is the link between the inflammatory background and two well-recognized functional and structural findings of schizophrenia pathophysiology: the dopamine-glutamate aberrant interaction and the alteration of dendritic spines architecture, both believed to be the “quantal” elements of cortical-subcortical dysfunctional network. In this systematic review, we tried to capture the major findings linking inflammation, aberrant glutamate-dopamine interaction, and post-synaptic changes under a direct and inverse translational perspective, a paramount picture that at present is lacking. The inflammatory effects on dopaminergic function appear to be bidirectional: the inflammation influences dopamine release, and dopamine acts as a regulator of discrete inflammatory processes involved in schizophrenia such as dysregulated interleukin and kynurenine pathways. Furthermore, the link between inflammation and glutamate is strongly supported by clinical studies aimed at exploring overactive microglia in schizophrenia patients and maternal immune activation models, indicating impaired glutamate regulation and reduced N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) function. In addition, an inflammatory/immune-induced alteration of post-synaptic density scaffold proteins, crucial for downstream NMDAR signaling and synaptic efficacy, has been demonstrated. According to these findings, a significant increase in plasma inflammatory markers has been found in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls, associated with reduced cortical integrity and functional connectivity, relevant to the cognitive deficit of schizophrenia. Finally, the link between altered inflammatory/immune responses raises relevant questions regarding potential new therapeutic strategies specifically for those forms of schizophrenia that are resistant to canonical antipsychotics or unresponsive to clozapine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. .,Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Annarita Barone
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Licia Vellucci
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mazza
- Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mark C Austin
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Program, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University (ISU), Pocatello, ID, USA
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Ciccarelli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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18
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Westacott LJ, Wilkinson LS. Complement Dependent Synaptic Reorganisation During Critical Periods of Brain Development and Risk for Psychiatric Disorder. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:840266. [PMID: 35600620 PMCID: PMC9120629 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.840266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We now know that the immune system plays a major role in the complex processes underlying brain development throughout the lifespan, carrying out a number of important homeostatic functions under physiological conditions in the absence of pathological inflammation or infection. In particular, complement-mediated synaptic pruning during critical periods of early life may play a key role in shaping brain development and subsequent risk for psychopathology, including neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. However, these disorders vary greatly in their onset, disease course, and prevalence amongst sexes suggesting complex interactions between the immune system, sex and the unique developmental trajectories of circuitries underlying different brain functions which are yet to be fully understood. Perturbations of homeostatic neuroimmune interactions during different critical periods in which regional circuits mature may have a plethora of long-term consequences for psychiatric phenotypes, but at present there is a gap in our understanding of how these mechanisms may impact on the structural and functional changes occurring in the brain at different developmental stages. In this article we will consider the latest developments in the field of complement mediated synaptic pruning where our understanding is beginning to move beyond the visual system where this process was first described, to brain areas and developmental periods of potential relevance to psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Westacott
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetic and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Hodge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lawrence S. Wilkinson
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetic and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Hodge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Behavioural Genetics Group, Schools of Psychology and Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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19
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Abstract
In both acute and chronic diseases, functional differences in host immune responses arise from a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Two of the most important factors affecting the immune response are biological sex and aging. Ischemic stroke is a debilitating disease that predominately affects older individuals. Epidemiological studies have shown that older women have poorer functional outcomes compared with men, in part due to the older age at which they experience their first stroke and the increased comorbidities seen with aging. The immune response also differs in men and women, which could lead to altered inflammatory events that contribute to sex differences in poststroke recovery. Intrinsic factors including host genetics and chromosomal sex play a crucial role both in shaping the host immune system and in the neuroimmune response to brain injury. Ischemic stroke leads to altered intracellular communication between astrocytes, neurons, and resident immune cells in the central nervous system. Increased production of cytokines and chemokines orchestrate the infiltration of peripheral immune cells and promote neuroinflammation. To maintain immunosurveillance, the host immune and central nervous system are highly regulated by a diverse population of immune cells which are strategically distributed within the neurovascular unit and become activated with injury. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of sex-specific host immune responses in ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anik Banerjee
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.B., L.D.M.).,UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston (A.B.)
| | - Louise D McCullough
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.B., L.D.M.)
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20
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Lynch MA. Exploring Sex-Related Differences in Microglia May Be a Game-Changer in Precision Medicine. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:868448. [PMID: 35431903 PMCID: PMC9009390 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.868448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One area of microglial biology that has been relatively neglected until recently is sex differences and this is in spite of the fact that sex is a risk factor in several diseases that are characterized by neuroinflammation and, by extension, microglial activation. Why these sex differences exist is not known but the panoply of differences extend to microglial number, genotype and phenotype. Significantly, several of these sex-related differences are also evident in health and change during life emphasizing the dynamic and plastic nature of microglia. This review will consider how age impacts on sex-related differences in microglia and ask whether the advancement of personalized medicine demands that a greater focus is placed on studying sex-related differences in microglia in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and models of inflammatory stress and trauma in order to make true progress in dealing with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A. Lynch
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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21
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Rahimian R, Belliveau C, Chen R, Mechawar N. Microglial Inflammatory-Metabolic Pathways and Their Potential Therapeutic Implication in Major Depressive Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:871997. [PMID: 35782423 PMCID: PMC9245023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.871997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence supports the notion that neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), at least in a subset of patients. By virtue of their capacity to transform into reactive states in response to inflammatory insults, microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, play a pivotal role in the induction of neuroinflammation. Experimental studies have demonstrated the ability of microglia to recognize pathogens or damaged cells, leading to the activation of a cytotoxic response that exacerbates damage to brain cells. However, microglia display a wide range of responses to injury and may also promote resolution stages of inflammation and tissue regeneration. MDD has been associated with chronic priming of microglia. Recent studies suggest that altered microglial morphology and function, caused either by intense inflammatory activation or by senescence, may contribute to depression and associated impairments in neuroplasticity. In this context, modifying microglia phenotype by tuning inflammatory pathways might have important translational relevance to harness neuroinflammation in MDD. Interestingly, it was recently shown that different microglial phenotypes are associated with distinct metabolic pathways and analysis of the underlying molecular mechanisms points to an instrumental role for energy metabolism in shaping microglial functions. Here, we review various canonical pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and metabolic pathways in microglia that may provide new therapeutic opportunities to control neuroinflammation in brain disorders, with a strong focus on MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Rahimian
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Claudia Belliveau
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Verdun, QC, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rebecca Chen
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Verdun, QC, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Verdun, QC, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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22
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Tastan B, Arioz BI, Tufekci KU, Tarakcioglu E, Gonul CP, Genc K, Genc S. Dimethyl Fumarate Alleviates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Microglia and Sickness Behavior in LPS-Challenged Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:737065. [PMID: 34858398 PMCID: PMC8631454 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.737065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
NLRP3 inflammasome activation contributes to several pathogenic conditions, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness behavior characterized by reduced mobility and depressive behaviors. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an immunomodulatory and anti-oxidative molecule commonly used for the symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis and psoriasis. In this study, we investigated the potential use of DMF against microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo. For in vitro studies, LPS- and ATP-stimulated N9 microglial cells were used to induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation. DMF’s effects on inflammasome markers, pyroptotic cell death, ROS formation, and Nrf2/NF-κB pathways were assessed. For in vivo studies, 12–14 weeks-old male BALB/c mice were treated with LPS, DMF + LPS and ML385 + DMF + LPS. Behavioral tests including open field, forced swim test, and tail suspension test were carried out to see changes in lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness behavior. Furthermore, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 expression in isolated microglia were determined by immunostaining. Here we demonstrated that DMF ameliorated LPS and ATP-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by reducing IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, and NLRP3 levels, reactive oxygen species formation and damage, and inhibiting pyroptotic cell death in N9 murine microglia via Nrf2/NF-κB pathways. DMF also improved LPS-induced sickness behavior in male mice and decreased caspase-1/NLRP3 levels via Nrf2 activation. Additionally, we showed that DMF pretreatment decreased miR-146a and miR-155 both in vivo and in vitro. Our results proved the effectiveness of DMF on the amelioration of microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation. We anticipate that this study will provide the foundation consideration for further studies aiming to suppress NLRP3 inflammasome activation associated with in many diseases and a better understanding of its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Tastan
- Genc Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Burak I Arioz
- Genc Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Kemal Ugur Tufekci
- Genc Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Department of Healthcare Services, Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir Democracy University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Emre Tarakcioglu
- Genc Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ceren Perihan Gonul
- Genc Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Kursad Genc
- Department of Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sermin Genc
- Genc Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Department of Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
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23
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Disruption of Alternative Splicing in the Amygdala of Pigs Exposed to Maternal Immune Activation. IMMUNO 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/immuno1040035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory response of gestating females to infection or stress can disrupt gene expression in the offspring’s amygdala, resulting in lasting neurodevelopmental, physiological, and behavioral disorders. The effects of maternal immune activation (MIA) can be impacted by the offspring’s sex and exposure to additional stressors later in life. The objectives of this study were to investigate the disruption of alternative splicing patterns associated with MIA in the offspring’s amygdala and characterize this disruption in the context of the second stress of weaning and sex. Differential alternative splicing was tested on the RNA-seq profiles of a pig model of viral-induced MIA. Compared to controls, MIA was associated with the differential alternative splicing (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.1) of 292 and 240 genes in weaned females and males, respectively, whereas 132 and 176 genes were differentially spliced in control nursed female and male, respectively. The majority of the differentially spliced (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.001) genes (e.g., SHANK1, ZNF672, KCNA6) and many associated enriched pathways (e.g., Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cGMP-PKG signaling) have been reported in MIA-related disorders including autism and schizophrenia in humans. Differential alternative splicing associated with MIA was detected in the gene MAG across all sex-stress groups except for unstressed males and SLC2A11 across all groups except unstressed females. Precise understanding of the effect of MIA across second stressors and sexes necessitates the consideration of splicing isoform profiles.
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24
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Krukowski K, Grue K, Becker M, Elizarraras E, Frias ES, Halvorsen A, Koenig-Zanoff M, Frattini V, Nimmagadda H, Feng X, Jones T, Nelson G, Ferguson AR, Rosi S. The impact of deep space radiation on cognitive performance: From biological sex to biomarkers to countermeasures. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabg6702. [PMID: 34652936 PMCID: PMC8519563 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg6702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In the coming decade, astronauts will travel back to the moon in preparation for future Mars missions. Exposure to galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) is a major obstacle for deep space travel. Using multivariate principal components analysis, we found sex-dimorphic responses in mice exposed to accelerated charged particles to simulate GCR (GCRsim); males displayed impaired spatial learning, whereas females did not. Mechanistically, these GCRsim-induced learning impairments corresponded with chronic microglia activation and synaptic alterations in the hippocampus. Temporary microglia depletion shortly after GCRsim exposure mitigated GCRsim-induced deficits measured months after the radiation exposure. Furthermore, blood monocyte levels measured early after GCRsim exposure were predictive of the late learning deficits and microglia activation measured in the male mice. Our findings (i) advance our understanding of charged particle–induced cognitive challenges, (ii) provide evidence for early peripheral biomarkers for identifying late cognitive deficits, and (iii) offer potential therapeutic strategies for mitigating GCR-induced cognitive loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Krukowski
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katherine Grue
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - McKenna Becker
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Edward Elizarraras
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elma S. Frias
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aaron Halvorsen
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - McKensie Koenig-Zanoff
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Valentina Frattini
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hasitha Nimmagadda
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xi Feng
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tamako Jones
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Gregory Nelson
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Adam R. Ferguson
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susanna Rosi
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Kavli Institute of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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25
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Connecting the Neurobiology of Developmental Brain Injury: Neuronal Arborisation as a Regulator of Dysfunction and Potential Therapeutic Target. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158220. [PMID: 34360985 PMCID: PMC8348801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders can derive from a complex combination of genetic variation and environmental pressures on key developmental processes. Despite this complex aetiology, and the equally complex array of syndromes and conditions diagnosed under the heading of neurodevelopmental disorder, there are parallels in the neuropathology of these conditions that suggest overlapping mechanisms of cellular injury and dysfunction. Neuronal arborisation is a process of dendrite and axon extension that is essential for the connectivity between neurons that underlies normal brain function. Disrupted arborisation and synapse formation are commonly reported in neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we summarise the evidence for disrupted neuronal arborisation in these conditions, focusing primarily on the cortex and hippocampus. In addition, we explore the developmentally specific mechanisms by which neuronal arborisation is regulated. Finally, we discuss key regulators of neuronal arborisation that could link to neurodevelopmental disease and the potential for pharmacological modification of arborisation and the formation of synaptic connections that may provide therapeutic benefit in the future.
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