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Biffi A. Hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy to halt neurodegeneration. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00440. [PMID: 39276677 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia play fundamental roles in multiple pathological primary and secondary processes affecting the central nervous system that ultimately result in neurodegeneration and for this reason they are considered as a key therapeutic target in several neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia-targeted therapies are directed at either restoring or modulating microglia function, to redirect their functional features toward neuroprotection. Among these strategies, hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy have proven to be endowed with a unique potential for replacing diseased microglia with engineered, transplant progeny cells that can integrate and exert relevant beneficial effects in the central nervous system of patients affected by inherited and acquired neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Biffi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Women and Child's Health, University of Padova and Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy.
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Ji Y, McLean JL, Xu R. Emerging Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Human-Animal Brain Chimeras for Advancing Disease Modeling and Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:1315-1332. [PMID: 38466557 PMCID: PMC11365908 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01189-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) models provide unprecedented opportunities to study human neurological disorders by recapitulating human-specific disease mechanisms. In particular, hPSC-based human-animal brain chimeras enable the study of human cell pathophysiology in vivo. In chimeric brains, human neural and immune cells can maintain human-specific features, undergo maturation, and functionally integrate into host brains, allowing scientists to study how human cells impact neural circuits and animal behaviors. The emerging human-animal brain chimeras hold promise for modeling human brain cells and their interactions in health and disease, elucidating the disease mechanism from molecular and cellular to circuit and behavioral levels, and testing the efficacy of cell therapy interventions. Here, we discuss recent advances in the generation and applications of using human-animal chimeric brain models for the study of neurological disorders, including disease modeling and cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Ji
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jenna Lillie McLean
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ranjie Xu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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Pan J, Fores-Martos J, Delpirou Nouh C, Jensen TD, Vallejo K, Cayrol R, Ahmadian S, Ashley EA, Greicius MD, Cobos I. Deciphering glial contributions to CSF1R-related disorder via single-nuclear transcriptomic profiling: a case study. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:139. [PMID: 39217398 PMCID: PMC11365264 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01853-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
CSF1R-related disorder (CSF1R-RD) is a neurodegenerative condition that predominantly affects white matter due to genetic alterations in the CSF1R gene, which is expressed by microglia. We studied an elderly man with a hereditary, progressive dementing disorder of unclear etiology. Standard genetic testing for leukodystrophy and other neurodegenerative conditions was negative. Brain autopsy revealed classic features of adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP), including confluent white matter degeneration with axonal spheroids and pigmented glial cells in the affected white matter, consistent with CSF1R-RD. Subsequent long-read sequencing identified a novel deletion in CSF1R that was not detectable with short-read exome sequencing. To gain insight into potential mechanisms underlying white matter degeneration in CSF1R-RD, we studied multiple brain regions exhibiting varying degrees of white matter pathology. We found decreased CSF1R transcript and protein across brain regions, including intact white matter. Single nuclear RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) identified two disease-associated microglial cell states: lipid-laden microglia (expressing GPNMB, ATG7, LGALS1, LGALS3) and inflammatory microglia (expressing IL2RA, ATP2C1, FCGBP, VSIR, SESN3), along with a small population of CD44+ peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages exhibiting migratory and phagocytic signatures. GPNMB+ lipid-laden microglia with ameboid morphology represented the end-stage disease microglia state. Disease-associated oligodendrocytes exhibited cell stress signatures and dysregulated apoptosis-related genes. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) displayed a failure in their differentiation into mature myelin-forming oligodendrocytes, as evidenced by upregulated LRP1, PDGFRA, SOX5, NFIA, and downregulated NKX2-2, NKX6.2, SOX4, SOX8, TCF7L2, YY1, ZNF488. Overall, our findings highlight microglia-oligodendroglia crosstalk in demyelination, with CSF1R dysfunction promoting phagocytic and inflammatory microglia states, an arrest in OPC differentiation, and oligodendrocyte depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Pan
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jaume Fores-Martos
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Claire Delpirou Nouh
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tanner D Jensen
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kristen Vallejo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Romain Cayrol
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Saman Ahmadian
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Euan A Ashley
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael D Greicius
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Inma Cobos
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Sierra A, Miron VE, Paolicelli RC, Ransohoff RM. Microglia in Health and Diseases: Integrative Hubs of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2024; 16:a041366. [PMID: 38438189 PMCID: PMC11293550 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Microglia are usually referred to as "the innate immune cells of the brain," "the resident macrophages of the central nervous system" (CNS), or "CNS parenchymal macrophages." These labels allude to their inherent immune function, related to their macrophage lineage. However, beyond their classic innate immune responses, microglia also play physiological roles crucial for proper brain development and maintenance of adult brain homeostasis. Microglia sense both external and local stimuli through a variety of surface receptors. Thus, they might serve as integrative hubs at the interface between the external environment and the CNS, able to decode, filter, and buffer cues from outside, with the aim of preserving and maintaining brain homeostasis. In this perspective, we will cast a critical look at how these multiple microglial functions are acquired and coordinated, and we will speculate on their impact on human brain physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Sierra
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Science Park of UPV/EHU, E-48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country EHU/UPV, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Ikerbasque Foundation, Bilbao 48009, Spain
| | - Veronique E Miron
- BARLO Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto M5B 1T8, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa C Paolicelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Tong X, Qiao S, Dong Z, Zhao X, Du X, Niu W. Targeting CSF1R in myeloid-derived suppressor cells: insights into its immunomodulatory functions in colorectal cancer and therapeutic implications. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:409. [PMID: 38992688 PMCID: PMC11238447 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02584-4] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the critical role of MDSCs in CRC immune suppression, focusing on the CSF1R and JAK/STAT3 signaling axis. Additionally, it assessed the therapeutic efficacy of LNCs@CSF1R siRNA and anti-PD-1 in combination. METHODS Single-cell transcriptome sequencing data from CRC and adjacent normal tissues identified MDSC-related differentially expressed genes. RNA-seq analysis comprehensively profiled MDSC gene expression in murine CRC tumors. LNCs@CSF1R siRNA nanocarriers effectively targeted and inhibited CSF1R. Flow cytometry quantified changes in MDSC surface markers post-CSF1R inhibition. RNA-seq and pathway enrichment analyses revealed the impact of CSF1R on MDSC metabolism and signaling. The effect of CSF1R inhibition on the JAK/STAT3 signaling axis was validated using Colivelin and metabolic assessments. Glucose and fatty acid uptake were measured via fluorescence-based flow cytometry. The efficacy of LNCs@CSF1R siRNA and anti-PD-1, alone and in combination, was evaluated in a murine CRC model with extensive tumor section analyses. RESULTS CSF1R played a significant role in MDSC-mediated immune suppression. LNCs@CSF1R siRNA nanocarriers effectively targeted MDSCs and inhibited CSF1R. CSF1R regulated MDSC fatty acid metabolism and immune suppression through the JAK/STAT3 signaling axis. Inhibition of CSF1R reduced STAT3 activation and target gene expression, which was rescued by Colivelin. Combined treatment with LNCs@CSF1R siRNA and anti-PD-1 significantly slowed tumor growth and reduced MDSC abundance within CRC tumors. CONCLUSION CSF1R via the JAK/STAT3 axis critically regulates MDSCs, particularly in fatty acid metabolism and immune suppression. Combined therapy with LNCs@CSF1R siRNA and anti-PD-1 enhances therapeutic efficacy in a murine CRC model, providing a strong foundation for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Tong
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, P. R. China
| | - Shifeng Qiao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Dong
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, P. R. China
| | - Xiaxia Du
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, P. R. China
| | - Wei Niu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, No. 2, Section 5, Renmin Street, Guta District, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, 121000, P. R. China.
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Serrano PDL, Rodrigues TDPV, Pinto LD, Pereira IC, Farias IB, Cavalheiro RBR, Mendes PM, Peixoto KO, Barile JP, Seneor DD, Correa Silva EG, Oliveira ASB, Pinto WBVDR, Sgobbi P. Assessing Chitinases and Neurofilament Light Chain as Biomarkers for Adult-Onset Leukodystrophies. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:4309-4323. [PMID: 38785530 PMCID: PMC11120026 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46050262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Leukodystrophies represent a large and complex group of inherited disorders affecting the white matter of the central nervous system. Adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) is a rare leukodystrophy which still needs the proper identification of diagnostic, prognostic, and monitoring biomarkers. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of chitinases and neurofilament light chain as biomarkers for ALSP. A cross-sectional study was performed to analyze cerebrospinal fluid levels of chitinases (chitotriosidase and chitinase 3-like 2) and neurofilament light chain in five different groups: (i) normal health individuals; (ii) patients with definitive diagnosis of ALSP and genetic confirmation; (iii) asymptomatic patients with CSF1R variants; (iv) patients with other adult-onset leukodystrophies; and (v) patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (external control group). Chitinase levels showed a statistical correlation with clinical assessment parameters in ALSP patients. Chitinase levels were also distinct between ALSP and the other leukodystrophies. Significant differences were noted in the levels of chitinases and neurofilament light chain comparing symptomatic (ALSP) and asymptomatic individuals with CSF1R variants. This study is the first to establish chitinases as a potential biomarker for ALSP and confirms neurofilament light chain as a good biomarker for primary microgliopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo de Lima Serrano
- PSEG Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, São Paulo 04038-002, SP, Brazil; (P.d.L.S.); (T.d.P.V.R.); (L.D.P.); (I.C.P.); (E.G.C.S.)
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | | | - Leslyê Donato Pinto
- PSEG Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, São Paulo 04038-002, SP, Brazil; (P.d.L.S.); (T.d.P.V.R.); (L.D.P.); (I.C.P.); (E.G.C.S.)
| | - Indiara Correia Pereira
- PSEG Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, São Paulo 04038-002, SP, Brazil; (P.d.L.S.); (T.d.P.V.R.); (L.D.P.); (I.C.P.); (E.G.C.S.)
| | - Igor Braga Farias
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | - Renan Brandão Rambaldi Cavalheiro
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | - Patrícia Marques Mendes
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | - Kaliny Oliveira Peixoto
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | - João Paulo Barile
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | - Daniel Delgado Seneor
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | | | - Acary Souza Bulle Oliveira
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | - Wladimir Bocca Vieira de Rezende Pinto
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
| | - Paulo Sgobbi
- PSEG Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, São Paulo 04038-002, SP, Brazil; (P.d.L.S.); (T.d.P.V.R.); (L.D.P.); (I.C.P.); (E.G.C.S.)
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-060, SP, Brazil; (I.B.F.); (R.B.R.C.); (P.M.M.); (K.O.P.); (J.P.B.); (D.D.S.); (A.S.B.O.); (W.B.V.d.R.P.)
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Weyer MP, Strehle J, Schäfer MKE, Tegeder I. Repurposing of pexidartinib for microglia depletion and renewal. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 253:108565. [PMID: 38052308 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108565] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Pexidartinib (PLX3397) is a small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) with moderate selectivity over other members of the platelet derived growth factor receptor family. It is approved for treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumors (TGCT). CSF1R is highly expressed by microglia, which are macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS) that defend the CNS against injury and pathogens and contribute to synapse development and plasticity. Challenged by pathogens, apoptotic cells, debris, or inflammatory molecules they adopt a responsive state to propagate the inflammation and eventually return to a homeostatic state. The phenotypic switch may fail, and disease-associated microglia contribute to the pathophysiology in neurodegenerative or neuropsychiatric diseases or long-lasting detrimental brain inflammation after brain, spinal cord or nerve injury or ischemia/hemorrhage. Microglia also contribute to the growth permissive tumor microenvironment of glioblastoma (GBM). In rodents, continuous treatment for 1-2 weeks via pexidartinib food pellets leads to a depletion of microglia and subsequent repopulation from the remaining fraction, which is aided by peripheral monocytes that search empty niches for engraftment. The putative therapeutic benefit of such microglia depletion or forced renewal has been assessed in almost any rodent model of CNS disease or injury or GBM with heterogeneous outcomes, but a tendency of partial beneficial effects. So far, microglia monitoring e.g. via positron emission imaging is not standard of care for patients receiving Pexidartinib (e.g. for TGCT), so that the depletion and repopulation efficiency in humans is still largely unknown. Considering the virtuous functions of microglia, continuous depletion is likely no therapeutic option but short-lasting transient partial depletion to stimulate microglia renewal or replace microglia in genetic disease in combination with e.g. stem cell transplantation or as part of a multimodal concept in treatment of glioblastoma appears feasible. The present review provides an overview of the preclinical evidence pro and contra microglia depletion as a therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Philipp Weyer
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Faculty of Medicine, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jenny Strehle
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael K E Schäfer
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Faculty of Medicine, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Ramakrishnan S, Arshad F, BS K, Pon AG, Bosco S, Kumar S, Chidambaram H, Chinnathambi SCB, Kulanthaivelu K, Arunachal G, Alladi S. Primary Microgliopathy Presenting as Degenerative Dementias: A Case Series of Novel Gene Mutations from India. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra 2024; 14:14-28. [PMID: 38910897 PMCID: PMC11192518 DOI: 10.1159/000538145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Microglia exert a crucial role in homeostasis of white matter integrity, and several studies highlight the role of microglial dysfunctions in neurodegeneration. Primary microgliopathy is a disorder where the pathogenic abnormality of the microglia causes white matter disorder and leads to a neuropsychiatric disease. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM2), TYRO protein tyrosine kinase binding protein (TYROBP) and colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) are genes implicated in primary microgliopathy. The clinical manifestations of primary microgliopathy are myriad ranging from neuropsychiatric syndrome, motor disability, gait dysfunction, ataxia, pure dementia, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's dementia (AD), and so on. It becomes imperative to establish the diagnosis of microgliopathy masquerading as degenerative dementia, especially with promising therapies on horizon for the same. We aimed to describe a case series of subjects with dementia harbouring novel genes of primary microgliopathy, along with their clinical, neuropsychological, cognitive profile and radiological patterns. Methods The prospective study was conducted in a university referral hospital in South India, as a part of an ongoing clinico-genetic research on dementia subjects, and was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. All patients underwent detailed assessment including sociodemographic profile, clinical and cognitive assessment, pedigree analysis and comprehensive neurological examination. Subjects consenting for blood sampling underwent genetic testing by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Results A total of 100 patients with dementia underwent genetic analysis using WES and three pathogenic variants, one each of TREM2, TYROBP, and CSF1R and two variants of uncertain significance in CSF1R were identified as cause of primary microgliopathy. TREM2 and TYROBP presented as frontotemporal syndrome whereas CSF1R presented as frontotemporal syndrome and as AD. Conclusion WES has widened the spectrum of underlying neuropathology of degenerative dementias, and diagnosing primary microglial dysfunction with emerging therapeutic options is of paramount importance. The cases of primary microgliopathy due to novel mutations in TREM2, TYROBP, and CSF1R with the phenotype of degenerative dementia are being first time reported from Indian cohort. Our study enriches the spectrum of genetic variants implicated in degenerative dementia and provides the basis for exploring complex molecular mechanisms like microglial dysfunction, as underlying cause for neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subasree Ramakrishnan
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health, and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
| | - Faheem Arshad
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health, and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
| | - Keerthana BS
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health, and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
| | - Arun Gokul Pon
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health, and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
| | - Susan Bosco
- Department of Human Genetics, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health, and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
| | | | | | | | | | - Suvarna Alladi
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health, and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
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Shih HY, Raas Q, Bonkowsky JL. Progress in leukodystrophies with zebrafish. Dev Growth Differ 2024; 66:21-34. [PMID: 38239149 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Inherited leukodystrophies are genetic disorders characterized by abnormal white matter in the central nervous system. Although individually rare, there are more than 400 distinct types of leukodystrophies with a cumulative incidence of 1 in 4500 live births. The pathophysiology of most leukodystrophies is poorly understood, there are treatments for only a few, and there is significant morbidity and mortality, suggesting a critical need for improvements in this field. A variety of animal, cell, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models have been developed for leukodystrophies, but with significant limitations in all models. Many leukodystrophies lack animal models, and extant models often show no or mixed recapitulation of key phenotypes. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become increasingly used as disease models for studying leukodystrophies due to their early onset of disease phenotypes and conservation of molecular and neurobiological mechanisms. Here, we focus on reviewing new zebrafish disease models for leukodystrophy or models with recent progress. This includes discussion of leukodystrophy with vanishing white matter disease, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, Zellweger spectrum disorders and peroxisomal disorders, PSAP deficiency, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Krabbe disease, hypomyelinating leukodystrophy-8/4H leukodystrophy, Aicardi-Goutières syndrome, RNASET2-deficient cystic leukoencephalopathy, hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids-1 (CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy), and ultra-rare leukodystrophies. Zebrafish models offer important potentials for the leukodystrophy field, including testing of new variants in known genes; establishing causation of newly discovered genes; and early lead compound identification for therapies. There are also unrealized opportunities to use humanized zebrafish models which have been sparsely explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Yu Shih
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Utah Tech University, Saint George, Utah, USA
- Center for Precision & Functional Genomics, Utah Tech University, Saint George, Utah, USA
| | - Quentin Raas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Laboratory of Translational Research for Neurological Disorders, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Joshua L Bonkowsky
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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George J. TREM2 as an evolving therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:2680-2681. [PMID: 37449620 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.371360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob George
- Cognyxx Pharmaceuticals, Tel Aviv Israel and Kaplan Heart Center, Rehovot, Israel
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Filipello F, You SF, Mirfakhar FS, Mahali S, Bollman B, Acquarone M, Korvatska O, Marsh JA, Sivaraman A, Martinez R, Cantoni C, De Feo L, Ghezzi L, Minaya MA, Renganathan A, Cashikar AG, Satoh JI, Beatty W, Iyer AK, Cella M, Raskind WH, Piccio L, Karch CM. Defects in lysosomal function and lipid metabolism in human microglia harboring a TREM2 loss of function mutation. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:749-772. [PMID: 37115208 PMCID: PMC10175346 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02568-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
TREM2 is an innate immune receptor expressed by microglia in the adult brain. Genetic variation in the TREM2 gene has been implicated in risk for Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, while homozygous TREM2 mutations cause a rare leukodystrophy, Nasu-Hakola disease (NHD). Despite extensive investigation, the role of TREM2 in NHD pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the mechanisms by which a homozygous stop-gain TREM2 mutation (p.Q33X) contributes to NHD. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia (iMGLs) were generated from two NHD families: three homozygous TREM2 p.Q33X mutation carriers (termed NHD), two heterozygous mutation carriers, one related non-carrier, and two unrelated non-carriers. Transcriptomic and biochemical analyses revealed that iMGLs from NHD patients exhibited lysosomal dysfunction, downregulation of cholesterol genes, and reduced lipid droplets compared to controls. Also, NHD iMGLs displayed defective activation and HLA antigen presentation. This defective activation and lipid droplet content were restored by enhancing lysosomal biogenesis through mTOR-dependent and independent pathways. Alteration in lysosomal gene expression, such as decreased expression of genes implicated in lysosomal acidification (ATP6AP2) and chaperone mediated autophagy (LAMP2), together with reduction in lipid droplets were also observed in post-mortem brain tissues from NHD patients, thus closely recapitulating in vivo the phenotype observed in iMGLs in vitro. Our study provides the first cellular and molecular evidence that the TREM2 p.Q33X mutation in microglia leads to defects in lysosomal function and that compounds targeting lysosomal biogenesis restore a number of NHD microglial defects. A better understanding of how microglial lipid metabolism and lysosomal machinery are altered in NHD and how these defects impact microglia activation may provide new insights into mechanisms underlying NHD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabia Filipello
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shih-Feng You
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Sidhartha Mahali
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bryan Bollman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mariana Acquarone
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Olena Korvatska
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacob A Marsh
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anirudh Sivaraman
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rita Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Claudia Cantoni
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Luca De Feo
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Laura Ghezzi
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Miguel A Minaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Arun Renganathan
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anil G Cashikar
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jun-Ichi Satoh
- Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Neuropathology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wandy Beatty
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Abhirami K Iyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marina Cella
- Department Of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Wendy H Raskind
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Laura Piccio
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
- Charles Perkins Centre and Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- School of Medical Sciences, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 94 Mallett St, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
| | - Celeste M Karch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
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Temple S. Advancing cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:512-529. [PMID: 37084729 PMCID: PMC10201979 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies are being developed for various neurodegenerative diseases that affect the central nervous system (CNS). Concomitantly, the roles of individual cell types in neurodegenerative pathology are being uncovered by genetic and single-cell studies. With a greater understanding of cellular contributions to health and disease and with the arrival of promising approaches to modulate them, effective therapeutic cell products are now emerging. This review examines how the ability to generate diverse CNS cell types from stem cells, along with a deeper understanding of cell-type-specific functions and pathology, is advancing preclinical development of cell products for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Temple
- Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
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