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Astrocytic CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein δ Regulates Neuronal Viability and Spatial Learning Ability via miR-135a.

ABSTRACT: The progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been associated with astrocytes-induced neuroinflammation. However, the detailed mechanism of astrocytes associated with learning impairments and neuronal loss in AD is poorly defined. Here, we provide novel evidences that astrocytic miR-135a is critical for neuronal viability and spatial learning ability in vivo. The AppTg/Cebpd (-/-) mice showed a spatial learning improvement compared with the APPswe/PS1/E9 bigenic (AppTg) mice. miR-135a was found to be a CCAAT/enhancer binding protein δ (CEBPD) responsive miRNA and can repress the transcription of thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) / Thbs1 (mouse) via its 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR). We used different experimental approaches to attenuate the expression of CEBPD/Cebpd (mouse) or miR-135a in astrocytes and found the following results: increase in THBS1/Thbs1 expression, decrease in neuronal apoptosis, and increase in growth of neurites. Importantly, injection of miR-135a antagonist (AM135a) into the brain of AppTg mice was found to prevent neuronal apoptosis and improved the spatial learning ability. Together, our findings demonstrate a critical function for the astrocytic CEBPD, and point to miR-135a antagonist as an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

SUBMITTER: Chu YY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4937099 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:α-Synuclein is the main component of Lewy bodies, the intracellular protein aggregates representing the histological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Elevated α-synuclein levels and mutations in SNCA gene are associated with increased risk for Parkinson's disease. Despite this, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating SNCA transcription. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) β and δ are b-zip transcription factors that play distinct roles in neurons and glial cells. C/EBPβ overexpression increases SNCA expression in neuroblastoma cells and putative C/EBPβ and δ binding sites are present in the SNCA genomic region suggesting that these proteins could regulate SNCA transcription. Based on these premises, the goal of this study was to determine if C/EBPβ and δ regulate the expression of SNCA. We first observed that α-synuclein CNS expression was not affected by C/EBPβ deficiency but it was markedly increased in C/EBPδ-deficient mice. This prompted us to characterize further the role of C/EBPδ in SNCA transcription. C/EBPδ absence led to the in vivo increase of α-synuclein in all brain regions analyzed, both at mRNA and protein level, and in primary neuronal cultures. In agreement with this, CEBPD overexpression in neuroblastoma cells and in primary neuronal cultures markedly reduced SNCA expression. ChIP experiments demonstrated C/EBPδ binding to the SNCA genomic region of mice and humans and luciferase experiments showed decreased expression of a reporter gene attributable to C/EBPδ binding to the SNCA promoter. Finally, decreased CEBPD expression was observed in the substantia nigra and in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons from Parkinson patients resulting in a significant negative correlation between SNCA and CEBPD levels. This study points to C/EBPδ as an important repressor of SNCA transcription and suggests that reduced C/EBPδ neuronal levels could be a pathogenic factor in Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies and C/EBPδ activity a potential pharmacological target for these neurological disorders.

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Astrocytic CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein δ Regulates Neuronal Viability and Spatial Learning Ability via miR-135a.

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