Astrocyte-specific and region-specific transcriptomes in control and EAE mice
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Changes in gene expression that occur across the entire central nervous system (CNS) during disease do not take into account variability from one CNS region to another and can be confounded by alterations in cellular composition during disease. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by cell proliferation, migration and damage in various cell types in different CNS regions and causes disabilities related to distinct neurological pathways, such as walking, vision and cognition. Here, a cell-specific and region-specific transcriptomic approach was used to determine changes in gene expression in astrocytes derived from spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus in the preclinical MS model, chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis showed that changes in gene expression pathways in astrocytes differed between neuroanatomic regions. Further, while astrocytes from spinal cord showed increased expression of immune pathway genes during EAE, cholesterol biosynthesis pathway genes were decreased. Translating these findings from the preclinical model to humans, optic nerve from EAE and optic chiasm from MS each showed a significant decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Finally, a treatment targeting cholesterol homeostasis in astrocytes was protective in EAE, suggesting a novel neuroprotective strategy for MS. Using a cell-specific and region-specific gene expression approach can provide therapeutically relevant insights into mechanisms underlying specific disabilities in complex multifocal neurological diseases.
Project description:Changes in gene expression that occur across the entire central nervous system (CNS) during disease do not take into account variability from one CNS region to another and can be confounded by alterations in cellular composition during disease. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by cell proliferation, migration and damage in various cell types in different CNS regions and causes disabilities related to distinct neurological pathways, such as walking, vision and cognition. Here, a cell-specific and region-specific transcriptomic approach was used to determine changes in gene expression in astrocytes derived from spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus in the preclinical MS model, chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis showed that changes in gene expression pathways in astrocytes differed between neuroanatomic regions. Further, while astrocytes from spinal cord showed increased expression of immune pathway genes during EAE, cholesterol biosynthesis pathway genes were decreased. Translating these findings from the preclinical model to humans, optic nerve from EAE and optic chiasm from MS each showed a significant decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Finally, a treatment targeting cholesterol homeostasis in astrocytes was protective in EAE, suggesting a novel neuroprotective strategy for MS. Using a cell-specific and region-specific gene expression approach can provide therapeutically relevant insights into mechanisms underlying specific disabilities in complex multifocal neurological diseases.
Project description:Changes in gene expression that occur across the entire central nervous system (CNS) during disease do not take into account variability from one CNS region to another and can be confounded by alterations in cellular composition during disease. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by cell proliferation, migration and damage in various cell types in different CNS regions and causes disabilities related to distinct neurological pathways, such as walking, vision and cognition. Here, a cell-specific and region-specific transcriptomic approach was used to determine changes in gene expression in astrocytes derived from spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus in the preclinical MS model, chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis showed that changes in gene expression pathways in astrocytes differed between neuroanatomic regions. Further, while astrocytes from spinal cord showed increased expression of immune pathway genes during EAE, cholesterol biosynthesis pathway genes were decreased. Translating these findings from the preclinical model to humans, optic nerve from EAE and optic chiasm from MS each showed a significant decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Finally, a treatment targeting cholesterol homeostasis in astrocytes was protective in EAE, suggesting a novel neuroprotective strategy for MS. Using a cell-specific and region-specific gene expression approach can provide therapeutically relevant insights into mechanisms underlying specific disabilities in complex multifocal neurological diseases.
Project description:Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by cell proliferation, migration and damage in various cell types in different CNS regions and causes disabilities related to distinct neurological pathways, such as walking, vision and cognition. Here, region-specific transcriptomic approach was used to determine changes in gene expression in five different CNS regions (hippocampus, frontal cortex, internal capsule, corpus callosum, and parietal cortex) in MS.
Project description:We identify pathways regulated in astrocytes across EAE by CNS region. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurologic disease leading to demyelination and neurologic dysfunction controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition to CNS-infiltrating immune cells, CNS-resident cells, such as astrocytes, are thought to play an important role in MS pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which gene expression is disrupted in astrocytes is not known. Here, we implement single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo genetic perturbations, cell-specific RNA profiling by Ribotag, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing of human MS patient samples to identify a transcriptional regulatory network in astrocytes that controls the pathogenesis of EAE and potentially, MS. We defined an astrocyte subpopulation characterized by expression of the small Maf protein, MAFG, which represses NRF2-driven antioxidant mechanisms and promotes EAE pathogenesis. Mechanistically, MAFG suppresses NRF2-dependent antioxidant genetic programs by cooperating with its cofactor, MAT2a, to promote DNA methylation in the context of CNS inflammation, which in turn increases pathogenic signaling processes in astrocytes. MAFG/MAT2a astrocytes are controlled by GM-CSF signaling, which drives EAE pathogenesis and MAFG expression. MAFG is activated in astrocytes derived from MS patients, which are characterized by DNA methylation programs, pro-inflammatory signaling processes including GM-CSF signaling, and repressed NRF2 activation. Together, these data create a transcriptional and epigenetic framework to analyze CNS inflammation in MS and may provide new therapeutic targets.
Project description:Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurologic disease leading to demyelination and neurologic dysfunction controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition to CNS-infiltrating immune cells, CNS-resident cells, such as astrocytes, are thought to play an important role in MS pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which gene expression is disrupted in astrocytes is not known. Here, we implement single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo genetic perturbations, cell-specific RNA profiling by Ribotag, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing of human MS patient samples to identify a transcriptional regulatory network in astrocytes that controls the pathogenesis of EAE and potentially, MS. We defined an astrocyte subpopulation characterized by expression of the small Maf protein, MAFG, which represses NRF2-driven antioxidant mechanisms and promotes EAE pathogenesis. Mechanistically, MAFG suppresses NRF2-dependent antioxidant genetic programs by cooperating with its cofactor, MAT2a, to promote DNA methylation in the context of CNS inflammation, which in turn increases pathogenic signaling processes in astrocytes. MAFG/MAT2a astrocytes are controlled by GM-CSF signaling, which drives EAE pathogenesis and MAFG expression. MAFG is activated in astrocytes derived from MS patients, which are characterized by DNA methylation programs, pro-inflammatory signaling processes including GM-CSF signaling, and repressed NRF2 activation. Together, these data create a transcriptional and epigenetic framework to analyze CNS inflammation in MS and may provide new therapeutic targets. We report MAFG regulation of pathogenic activities in astrocytes during EAE.
Project description:We identify pathways regulated by Csf2rb in astrocytes during EAE Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurologic disease leading to demyelination and neurologic dysfunction controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition to CNS-infiltrating immune cells, CNS-resident cells, such as astrocytes, are thought to play an important role in MS pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which gene expression is disrupted in astrocytes is not known. Here, we implement single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo genetic perturbations, cell-specific RNA profiling by Ribotag, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing of human MS patient samples to identify a transcriptional regulatory network in astrocytes that controls the pathogenesis of EAE and potentially, MS. We defined an astrocyte subpopulation characterized by expression of the small Maf protein, MAFG, which represses NRF2-driven antioxidant mechanisms and promotes EAE pathogenesis. Mechanistically, MAFG suppresses NRF2-dependent antioxidant genetic programs by cooperating with its cofactor, MAT2a, to promote DNA methylation in the context of CNS inflammation, which in turn increases pathogenic signaling processes in astrocytes. MAFG/MAT2a astrocytes are controlled by GM-CSF signaling, which drives EAE pathogenesis and MAFG expression. MAFG is activated in astrocytes derived from MS patients, which are characterized by DNA methylation programs, pro-inflammatory signaling processes including GM-CSF signaling, and repressed NRF2 activation. Together, these data create a transcriptional and epigenetic framework to analyze CNS inflammation in MS and may provide new therapeutic targets.
Project description:We identify pathways regulated by Nfe2l2 in astrocytes during EAE Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurologic disease leading to demyelination and neurologic dysfunction controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition to CNS-infiltrating immune cells, CNS-resident cells, such as astrocytes, are thought to play an important role in MS pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which gene expression is disrupted in astrocytes is not known. Here, we implement single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo genetic perturbations, cell-specific RNA profiling by Ribotag, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing of human MS patient samples to identify a transcriptional regulatory network in astrocytes that controls the pathogenesis of EAE and potentially, MS. We defined an astrocyte subpopulation characterized by expression of the small Maf protein, MAFG, which represses NRF2-driven antioxidant mechanisms and promotes EAE pathogenesis. Mechanistically, MAFG suppresses NRF2-dependent antioxidant genetic programs by cooperating with its cofactor, MAT2a, to promote DNA methylation in the context of CNS inflammation, which in turn increases pathogenic signaling processes in astrocytes. MAFG/MAT2a astrocytes are controlled by GM-CSF signaling, which drives EAE pathogenesis and MAFG expression. MAFG is activated in astrocytes derived from MS patients, which are characterized by DNA methylation programs, pro-inflammatory signaling processes including GM-CSF signaling, and repressed NRF2 activation. Together, these data create a transcriptional and epigenetic framework to analyze CNS inflammation in MS and may provide new therapeutic targets.
Project description:We report MAFG recruitment to ARE elements in astrocytes during EAE compared to naïve mice Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurologic disease leading to demyelination and neurologic dysfunction controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition to CNS-infiltrating immune cells, CNS-resident cells, such as astrocytes, are thought to play an important role in MS pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which gene expression is disrupted in astrocytes is not known. Here, we implement single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo genetic perturbations, cell-specific RNA profiling by Ribotag, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing of human MS patient samples to identify a transcriptional regulatory network in astrocytes that controls the pathogenesis of EAE and potentially, MS. We defined an astrocyte subpopulation characterized by expression of the small Maf protein, MAFG, which represses NRF2-driven antioxidant mechanisms and promotes EAE pathogenesis. Mechanistically, MAFG suppresses NRF2-dependent antioxidant genetic programs by cooperating with its cofactor, MAT2a, to promote DNA methylation in the context of CNS inflammation, which in turn increases pathogenic signaling processes in astrocytes. MAFG/MAT2a astrocytes are controlled by GM-CSF signaling, which drives EAE pathogenesis and MAFG expression. MAFG is activated in astrocytes derived from MS patients, which are characterized by DNA methylation programs, pro-inflammatory signaling processes including GM-CSF signaling, and repressed NRF2 activation. Together, these data create a transcriptional and epigenetic framework to analyze CNS inflammation in MS and may provide new therapeutic targets.
Project description:We report MAFG regulation of DNA methylation in astrocytes during EAE. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurologic disease leading to demyelination and neurologic dysfunction controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition to CNS-infiltrating immune cells, CNS-resident cells, such as astrocytes, are thought to play an important role in MS pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which gene expression is disrupted in astrocytes is not known. Here, we implement single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo genetic perturbations, cell-specific RNA profiling by Ribotag, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing of human MS patient samples to identify a transcriptional regulatory network in astrocytes that controls the pathogenesis of EAE and potentially, MS. We defined an astrocyte subpopulation characterized by expression of the small Maf protein, MAFG, which represses NRF2-driven antioxidant mechanisms and promotes EAE pathogenesis. Mechanistically, MAFG suppresses NRF2-dependent antioxidant genetic programs by cooperating with its cofactor, MAT2a, to promote DNA methylation in the context of CNS inflammation, which in turn increases pathogenic signaling processes in astrocytes. MAFG/MAT2a astrocytes are controlled by GM-CSF signaling, which drives EAE pathogenesis and MAFG expression. MAFG is activated in astrocytes derived from MS patients, which are characterized by DNA methylation programs, pro-inflammatory signaling processes including GM-CSF signaling, and repressed NRF2 activation. Together, these data create a transcriptional and epigenetic framework to analyze CNS inflammation in MS and may provide new therapeutic targets.
Project description:We identify cellular heterogeneity during EAE in B6 mice. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurologic disease leading to demyelination and neurologic dysfunction controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition to CNS-infiltrating immune cells, CNS-resident cells, such as astrocytes, are thought to play an important role in MS pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which gene expression is disrupted in astrocytes is not known. Here, we implement single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo genetic perturbations, cell-specific RNA profiling by Ribotag, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing of human MS patient samples to identify a transcriptional regulatory network in astrocytes that controls the pathogenesis of EAE and potentially, MS. We defined an astrocyte subpopulation characterized by expression of the small Maf protein, MAFG, which represses NRF2-driven antioxidant mechanisms and promotes EAE pathogenesis. Mechanistically, MAFG suppresses NRF2-dependent antioxidant genetic programs by cooperating with its cofactor, MAT2a, to promote DNA methylation in the context of CNS inflammation, which in turn increases pathogenic signaling processes in astrocytes. MAFG/MAT2a astrocytes are controlled by GM-CSF signaling, which drives EAE pathogenesis and MAFG expression. MAFG is activated in astrocytes derived from MS patients, which are characterized by DNA methylation programs, pro-inflammatory signaling processes including GM-CSF signaling, and repressed NRF2 activation. Together, these data create a transcriptional and epigenetic framework to analyze CNS inflammation in MS and may provide new therapeutic targets.