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Borreca A, Mantovani C, Desiato G, Corradini I, Filipello F, Elia CA, D'Autilia F, Santamaria G, Garlanda C, Morini R, Pozzi D, Matteoli M. Loss of interleukin 1 signaling causes impairment of microglia- mediated synapse elimination and autistic-like behaviour in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 117:493-509. [PMID: 38307446 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.01.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last years, the hypothesis that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental diseases has gained popularity. IL-1 is one of the main cytokines found to be elevated in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by defects in social communication and cognitive impairments. In this study, we demonstrate that mice lacking IL-1 signaling display autistic-like defects associated with an excessive number of synapses. We also show that microglia lacking IL-1 signaling at early neurodevelopmental stages are unable to properly perform the process of synapse engulfment and display excessive activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Notably, even the acute inhibition of IL-1R1 by IL-1Ra is sufficient to enhance mTOR signaling and reduce synaptosome phagocytosis in WT microglia. Finally, we demonstrate that rapamycin treatment rescues the defects in IL-1R deficient mice. These data unveil an exclusive role of microglial IL-1 in synapse refinement via mTOR signaling and indicate a novel mechanism possibly involved in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with defects in the IL-1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Borreca
- Institute of Neuroscience (IN-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Mantovani
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Genni Desiato
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Corradini
- Institute of Neuroscience (IN-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabia Filipello
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Adriana Elia
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca D'Autilia
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Santamaria
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Garlanda
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Morini
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Pozzi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy.
| | - Michela Matteoli
- Institute of Neuroscience (IN-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferon α (IFNα) is a cytokine whose production is increased endogenously in response to viral infection and in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An elevated IFNα signature has been associated with clinically observed neuro-behavioural deficits such as mild cognitive impairment, fatigue, depression and psychosis in these diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying these neuropsychiatric symptoms remain largely unknown, and it is as yet unclear how IFNα signalling might influence central nervous system (CNS) function. Aberrant microglia-mediated synaptic pruning and function has recently been implicated in several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, but whether and how IFNα modulates these functions are not well defined. METHODS Using a model of peripheral IFNα administration, we investigated gene expression changes due to IFNAR signalling in microglia. Bulk RNA sequencing on sorted microglia from wild type and microglia-specific Ifnar1 conditional knockout mice was performed to evaluate IFNα and IFNAR signalling-dependent changes in gene expression. Furthermore, the effects of IFNα on microglia morphology and synapse engulfment were assessed, via immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. RESULTS We found that IFNα exposure through the periphery induces a unique gene signature in microglia that includes the expected upregulation of multiple interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), as well as the complement component C4b. We additionally characterized several IFNα-dependent changes in microglial phenotype, including expression of CD45 and CD68, cellular morphology and presynaptic engulfment, that reveal subtle brain region-specific differences. Finally, by specifically knocking down expression of IFNAR1 on microglia, we show that these changes are largely attributable to direct IFNAR signalling on microglia and not from indirect signalling effects through other CNS parenchymal cell types which are capable of IFNα-IFNAR signal transduction. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral IFNα induces unique genetic and phenotypic changes in microglia that are largely dependent on direct signalling through microglial IFNAR. The IFNα-induced upregulation of C4b could play important roles in the context of aberrant synaptic pruning in neuropsychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest Aw
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Carroll
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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