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Bido S, Muggeo S, Massimino L, Marzi MJ, Giannelli SG, Melacini E, Nannoni M, Gambarè D, Bellini E, Ordazzo G, Rossi G, Maffezzini C, Iannelli A, Luoni M, Bacigaluppi M, Gregori S, Nicassio F, Broccoli V. Microglia-specific overexpression of α-synuclein leads to severe dopaminergic neurodegeneration by phagocytic exhaustion and oxidative toxicity. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6237. [PMID: 34716339 PMCID: PMC8556263 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26519-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent findings in human samples and animal models support the involvement of inflammation in the development of Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, it is currently unknown whether microglial activation constitutes a primary event in neurodegeneration. We generated a new mouse model by lentiviral-mediated selective α-synuclein (αSYN) accumulation in microglial cells. Surprisingly, these mice developed progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons without endogenous αSYN aggregation. Transcriptomics and functional assessment revealed that αSYN-accumulating microglial cells developed a strong reactive state with phagocytic exhaustion and excessive production of oxidative and proinflammatory molecules. This inflammatory state created a molecular feed-forward vicious cycle between microglia and IFNγ-secreting immune cells infiltrating the brain parenchyma. Pharmacological inhibition of oxidative and nitrosative molecule production was sufficient to attenuate neurodegeneration. These results suggest that αSYN accumulation in microglia induces selective DA neuronal degeneration by promoting phagocytic exhaustion, an excessively toxic environment and the selective recruitment of peripheral immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Bido
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Sharon Muggeo
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Massimino
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Jacopo Marzi
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Gea Giannelli
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Melacini
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Melania Nannoni
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Diana Gambarè
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Bellini
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ordazzo
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Greta Rossi
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Maffezzini
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Iannelli
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Bacigaluppi
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Gregori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Nicassio
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy.
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, 20129, Milan, Italy.
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