Project description:Abnormal accumulation of aggregated proteins and sustained microglial activation are important contributors of neurodegenerative process in neurological diseases. Recent studies have shown that aggregation-prone proteins, such as a-synuclein, the protein implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD), are released from neuronal cells and thus present in the extracellular fluid, pointing to the possible paracrine effects of these proteins on microglial immune responses. However, the mechanism underlying the disease-associated microglial activation and the role of neuronal proteins in this process remain unknown. Here, we show that extracellular a-synuclein released from neuronal cells is an endogenous ligand of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and activates microglia, which in turn induces neurodegeneration. Interaction between neuron-released a-synuclein and TLR2 and subsequent activation of the TLR2 signaling were demonstrated comprehensively by using computational modeling of signaling network and by the experimental validation in TLR2-deficient microglia both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast to the neuron-released a-synuclein, recombinant a-synuclein proteins, including monomer, oligomer, fibril, or nitrated forms, were not able to interact or activate TLR2, suggesting that neuronal cells have a mechanism of enriching specific forms of a-synuclein capable of activating TLR2 during the process of releasing this protein. Taken together, the results suggest that both neuron-released extracellular a-synuclein and TLR2 might be novel therapeutic targets for modifying neuroinflammation in PD and related neurodegenerative diseases. We collected culture media from differentiated SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing either human a-synuclein (alpha-SCM) or beta-galactosidase (LZCM) and treat these media to primary rat microglia at the concentration of a-synuclein of 1.1M. Transcriptome analyses with microglial cells treated with either aSCM or LZCM at two different time points, 6 h and 24 h.
Project description:Abnormal accumulation of aggregated proteins and sustained microglial activation are important contributors of neurodegenerative process in neurological diseases. Recent studies have shown that aggregation-prone proteins, such as a-synuclein, the protein implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD), are released from neuronal cells and thus present in the extracellular fluid, pointing to the possible paracrine effects of these proteins on microglial immune responses. However, the mechanism underlying the disease-associated microglial activation and the role of neuronal proteins in this process remain unknown. Here, we show that extracellular a-synuclein released from neuronal cells is an endogenous ligand of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and activates microglia, which in turn induces neurodegeneration. Interaction between neuron-released a-synuclein and TLR2 and subsequent activation of the TLR2 signaling were demonstrated comprehensively by using computational modeling of signaling network and by the experimental validation in TLR2-deficient microglia both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast to the neuron-released a-synuclein, recombinant a-synuclein proteins, including monomer, oligomer, fibril, or nitrated forms, were not able to interact or activate TLR2, suggesting that neuronal cells have a mechanism of enriching specific forms of a-synuclein capable of activating TLR2 during the process of releasing this protein. Taken together, the results suggest that both neuron-released extracellular a-synuclein and TLR2 might be novel therapeutic targets for modifying neuroinflammation in PD and related neurodegenerative diseases.
Project description:We report the exchange of alpha-synuclein aggregates from one cell to another and examined transcriptomic changes following protein exchange. Differential expression (DE) analysis comparing alpha-synuclein-treated with untreated microglia identified alpha-synuclein induceable genes which were linked to inflammation, apoptosis, ER stress and intracellular protein targeting, while downregulated genes included categories related to mitosis, cytoskeleton and vesicle mediated transport. Co-culturing alpha-synuclein treated with untreated microglia largely suppressed the inflammatory and apoptotic phenotype of microglia thereby rescuing cells from cell death. Most importantly, these transprictomic changes were prevented by co-culturing the cells without direct cell-cell contact (transwell).
Project description:We report the exchange of alpha-synuclein aggregates from one cell to another and examined transcriptomic changes following protein exchange. By obtaining 12,461 genes from isolated RNA samples, we performed differential expression analysis and generated gene ontology enrichment and network analysis. Differential expression (DE) analysis comparing alpha-synuclein-treated with untreated microglia identified 687 upregulated and 1502 downregulated genes. Upregulated genes were linked to inflammation, apoptosis, ER stress and intracellular protein targeting, while downregulated genes included categories related to mitosis, cytoskeleton and vesicle mediated transport. Co-culturing alpha-synuclein treated with untreated microglia largely suppressed the inflammatory and apoptotic phenotype of microglia thereby rescuing cells from cell death.
Project description:Neuroinflammatory processes are a prominent contributor to the pathology of Parkinson’s disease (PD), characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and deposits of α-synuclein aggregates. MLKL-mediated cell necroptosis might occur in the onset of PD and lead to neuronal dopaminergic degeneration. However, the link between α-synuclein, neuroinflammatory processes, and neurodegeneration in PD remains unclear. Here, our in vitro study indicated that inhibition of MLKL exerted a protective effect against 6-OHDA- and TNF-α-induced neuronal cell death. Furthermore, we created a mouse model (Tg-Mlkl-/-) with typical progressive Parkinson traits by crossbreeding SNCA A53T transgenic mice with MLKL knockout mice. Tg-Mlkl-/ mice displayed dramatically improved motor symptoms and reduced hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein expression. More data suggested that MLKL deficiency protected dopaminergic neurons, blocked neuronal cell death, and attenuated neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of the microglia and astrocytes. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis revealed reduced microglial cells and damped neuron death in the SN of the Tg-Mlkl-/- mice. Subcluster analysis identified a unique cell type-specific transcriptome profiling in the MLKL deficiency mice. Thus, MLKL represents a critical therapeutic target for reducing neuroinflammation and preventing dopaminergic neuron degeneration.
Project description:Although α-synucleinis implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, it remains unclear whether specific conformations or levels of α-synuclein assemblies are toxic and how they cause progressive loss of human dopaminergic neurons. To address this issue, we used iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons with a-synuclein triplication or controls where endogenous α-synuclein was imprinted into synthetic or disease-relevant conformations. We used α-synuclein fibrils generated de novo or amplified from homogenates of brains affected with Parkinson’s disease (n=3) .We found that a 2.5-fold increase in α-synuclein levels in α-synuclein gene triplication neurons promoted seeded aggregation in a dose and time-dependent fashion, which was associated with a further increase in α-synuclein gene expression.Transcriptomic analysis and isogenic correction of α-synuclein triplication revealed that intraneuronal α-synuclein levels solely and sufficiently explained vulnerability to cell death.
Project description:The etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains elusive, and the limited availability of suitable animal models hampers research on pathogenesis and drug development. We report the development of a cynomolgus monkey model of PD that combines AAV-mediated overexpression of α-synuclein into the substantia nigra with injection of Poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) into the striatum. Our results show that pathological processes were accelerated, including dopaminergic neuron degeneration, Lewy Bodies aggregation, and hallmarks of inflammation in microglia and astrocytes. Behavioral phenotypes, dopamine transporter imaging and transcriptomic profiling further demonstrate consistencies between the model and PD patients. This model can help to determine mechanisms underlying PD impacted by α-synuclein and PAR and aid in accelerated development of therapeutic strategies for PD.
Project description:Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the aggregation of α-synuclein into Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in the brain. Microglia-driven neuroinflammation may contribute to neuronal death in PD, however the exact role of microglia remains unclear and has been understudied. The A53T mutation in the gene coding for α-synuclein has been linked to early-onset PD, and exposure to A53T-mutant human α-synuclein increases the potential for inflammation of murine microglia. To date, its effect has not been studied in human microglia. We aimed to study the impact of the A53T mutation on human microglia developed in a physiologically relevant context Here, we used 2-dimensional cultures of human iPSC-derived microglia and transplantation of these cells into the mouse brain to assess the effects of the A53T mutation on human microglia. We found that A53T-mutant human microglia had an intrinsically increased propensity towards pro-inflammatory activation upon inflammatory stimulus. Additionally, A53T mutant microglia showed increased oxidative stress, with a strong decrease in catalase expression in non-inflammatory conditions. Together, these results indicate that A53T mutant human microglia display cell-autonomous phenotypes that may worsen neuronal damage in early-onset PD.
Project description:Inflammation is a common feature in neurodegenerative diseases that participates in the process of neuronal loss. Here, we questioned whether the inflammatory reaction generated in Parkinson´s disease (PD) by dopaminergic neuron degeneration would trigger specific inflammatory reactions in the midbrain and in the striatum that could modify the course of neuronal death. Experimental parkinsonism was induced by overexpressing α-synuclein in the substantia nigra with a viral vector. Bulk RNA sequencing of purified midbrain microglia/myeloid cells showed a phagocytic and anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, while midbrain astrocytes presented a pro-inflammatory state. In the striatum, microglia but not astrocytes presented a pro-inflammatory state.
Project description:Background: Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of pathological aggregation of the protein -synuclein and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. There is evidence that misfolding and propagation of -synuclein aggregates through networks of interconnected neurons is responsible for the pathological spread and progressive neuron loss. However, in vivo models demonstrating such pathological progression remain elusive. Results: This study utilizes a zebrafish model in order to interrogate the mechanisms of -synuclein toxicity and spread. We describe the development of a zebrafish model of neuronal human -synuclein overexpression that causes, in young fish, behavioral and neuronal changes as well as microglia activation. In aged fish, -synuclein expression induces a slow but progressive pathological phenotype manifesting in neuron loss within the gut and the CNS. This model is further utilized to seed gut pathology by incorporating a novel method of feeding human -synuclein preformed fibrils in order to initiate protein misfolding at an early age. The combination of neuronal expression of -synuclein and the exogenous addition of misfolded protein facilitates the development of brain pathology and subsequent neuron loss in the CNS. In addition to the pathological alterations induced with the fibril feeding model, genetic changes were identified by single cell RNA sequencing. These transcriptomic changes resulted in pathway alteration that implicate neurodegenerative disease processes. Conclusion: This model of -synuclein pathology is useful for understanding mechanisms underlying disease initiation and can replicate the progressive development of pathological synuclein accumulation. It has the potential to induce neuron to neuron spread and also offers a way to explore what interventions may prevent such pathological progression.