Project description:Neuroinflammation and activation of innate immunity are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In contrast, very few studies have examined the impact of the adaptive immune system in AD pathogenesis. In this study, we find that genetic deletion of peripheral immune populations significantly accelerates amyloid pathogenesis, worsens neuroinflammation, and alters microglial activation state. We used microarray analysis to profile gene expression underlying genotype related changes at the cellular level in the context of AD .
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains one of the grand challenges facing human society. Much controversy exists around the complex and multifaceted pathogenesis of this prevalent disease. Given strong human genetic evidence, there is little doubt, however, that microglia play an important role in preventing degeneration of neurons. E.g., loss-of-function of the microglial gene Trem2 render microglia dysfunctional and causes an early-onset neurodegenerative syndrome and Trem2 variants are among the strongest genetic risk factors for AD. Thus, restoring microglial function represents a rational therapeutic approach. Here we show that systemic hematopoietic cell transplantation followed by enhancement of microglia replacement restores microglial function in a Trem2 mutant model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Project description:Microglial endolysosomal dysfunction is strongly implicated in neurodegeneration. Transcriptomic studies show that a microglial state characterised by a set of genes involved in endolysosomal function is induced in both mouse Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) models and in human AD brain, and that the onset of this state is emphasised in females. Cst7 (Cystatin F) is among the most highly unregulated genes in these microglia. However, the sex-specific function of Cst7 in neurodegenerative disease is not understood. Here, we crossed Cst7 -/- mice with the App NL-G-F mouse to test the role of Cst7 in a model of amyloid-driven AD.
Project description:An imbalance in thyroid hormones (THs) is associated with reversible dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Whether hypothyroidism occurs in AD brains and how it affects AD pathology remain largely unknown. Here, we find that reduced conversion of thyroxine (T4) to tri-iodothyronine (T3) in the brain by decreased iodothyronine deiodinase 2 (DIO2) leads to hippocampal hypothyroidism in early AD model mice prior to TH changes in the blood. A TH deficiency causes immune tolerance with decreased phagocytic activity in microglia, thereby aggravating AD pathology. We demonstrate that microglial ecto-5’-nucleotidase (CD73) is reduced in the hypothyroid state and that its inhibition contributes to immune tolerance in microglia. Thus, our data define a molecular mechanism through which decreased conversion of T4 to T3 in the early AD brain, and consequent brain hypothyroidism causes microglial dysfunction and exacerbates AD pathology.
Project description:An imbalance in thyroid hormones (THs) is associated with reversible dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Whether hypothyroidism occurs in AD brains and how it affects AD pathology remain largely unknown. Here, we find that reduced conversion of thyroxine (T4) to tri-iodothyronine (T3) in the brain by decreased iodothyronine deiodinase 2 (DIO2) leads to hippocampal hypothyroidism in early AD model mice prior to TH changes in the blood. A TH deficiency causes immune tolerance with decreased phagocytic activity in microglia, thereby aggravating AD pathology. We demonstrate that microglial ecto-5’-nucleotidase (CD73) is reduced in the hypothyroid state and that its inhibition contributes to immune tolerance in microglia. Thus, our data define a molecular mechanism through which decreased conversion of T4 to T3 in the early AD brain, and consequent brain hypothyroidism causes microglial dysfunction and exacerbates AD pathology.
Project description:Dysregulation of microglial function contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Several genetic and transcriptome studies have revealed microglia specific genetic risk factors, and changes in microglia expression profiles in AD pathogenesis, viz. the human-Alzheimer’s microglia/myeloid (HAM) profile in AD patients and the disease-associated microglia profile (DAM) in AD mouse models. The transcriptional changes involve genes in immune and inflammatory pathways, and in pathways associated with Aβ clearance. Aβ oligomers have been suggested to be the initial trigger of microglia activation in AD. To study the direct response to Aβ oligomers exposure, we assessed changes in gene expression in an in vitro model for microglia, the human monocyte-derived microglial-like (MDMi) cells. We confirmed the initiation of an inflammatory profile following LPS stimulation, based on increased expression of IL1B, IL6, and TNFα. In contrast, the Ab1-42 oligomers did not induce an inflammatory profile or a classical HAM or DAM profile. Interestingly, we observed a specific increase in the expression of metallothioneins in the Aβ1-42 oligomer treated MDMi cells. Metallothioneins are involved in metal ion regulation, protection against reactive oxygen species, and have anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, our data suggests that Aβ1-42 oligomers may trigger a protective response both in vitro and in vivo.
Project description:SORL1 is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through genetic studies. To interrogate the role(s) of SORL1 in human brain cells, SORL1 null iPSCs are differentiated to neuron, astrocyte, microglial, and endothelial cell fates. Loss of SORL1 leads to alterations in both overlapping and distinct pathways across cell types, with the greatest effects in neurons and astrocytes. SORL1 loss induces a neuron-specific reduction in APOE and CLU and altered lipid profiles. Enhancement of retromer-mediated trafficking rescues tau phenotypes observed in SORL1 null neurons but does not rescue APOE levels. Pathway analyses implicate TGF-β/SMAD signaling in SORL1 function, and modulating SMAD signaling in neurons alters APOE RNA levels in a SORL1-dependent manner. Analyses of iPSCs derived from a large cohort reveal a neuron-specific association between SORL1, APOE, and CLU levels, a finding validated in post-mortem brain. These studies provide a mechanistic link between strong genetic risk factors for AD.
Project description:With the aging population, there is a growing focus on dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The molecular basis underlying the pathogenesis of AD is gradually being elucidated. Increasing evidence has shown that the immunological function of leukocytes plays a crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. However, there have been few studies among the Taiwanese population. The aim of this study was to investigate potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease from blood leukocytes. Experiment Overall Design: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) transcriptomes from 5 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 4 AD, as well as 4 normal controls (NC), were analyzed by microarray analysis.
Project description:Carrying premature termination codons in one allele of the ABCA7 gene is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While the primary function of ABCA7 is to regulate the transport of phospholipids and cholesterol, ABCA7 is also involved in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. Since inflammatory pathways causatively or consequently participate in AD pathogenesis, we studied the effects of Abca7 haplodeficiency in mice on brain immune responses under acute or chronic conditions. When the acute inflammation was induced through peripheral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in control or heterozygous Abca7 knockout mice, partial ABCA7 deficiency diminished pro-inflammatory responses by impairing CD14 expression in the brain.
Project description:Although significant progress in recent years has been made in defining key innate immune receptors involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), our knowledge of the specific intracellular signaling molecules that coordinate immune responses in AD remains poorly defined. In these studies, we have identified a previously undescribed role for the innate immune signaling molecule CARD9 in an amyloid beta (Ab)-mediated mouse model of AD. We specifically demonstrate that CARD9 deletion in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD leads to impaired control of Ab, worsened cognitive decline, and aberrant microglial activation. We further show that pharmacological activation of CARD9 provides a strategy to boost Ab clearance from the hippocampus. Collectively, these findings uncover a previously uncharacterized molecular signaling molecule used by the innate immune system in Ab-mediated neurological disease, and help to establish CARD9 as a novel molecular player that can be targeted in AD.