HESC-based human glial chimeric mice reveal glial differentiation defects in Huntington disease
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ABSTRACT: Huntington’s disease (HD) is characterized by hypomyelination as well as by neuronal loss. To assess the basis for white matter involution in HD, we generated bipotential glial progenitor cells (GPCs) from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), derived from either huntingtin (mHTT)-mutant embryos or normal controls, and performed RNA sequence analysis to assess mHTT-dependent changes in gene expression. In hGPCs derived from 3 distinct mHTT-expressing hESC lines, a set of transcription factors associated with glial differentiation and myelin synthesis was sharply down-regulated, relative to normal hESC GPCs. In particular, NKX2.2, OLIG2, SOX10 and MYRF were all suppressed, with the consequent diminution of myelinogenesis-associated transcription. Accordingly, when mHTT-expressing hGPCs were transplanted into hypomyelinated shiverer mice, the resultant mHTT glial chimeras were hypomyelinated. The mHTT hGPCs also manifested impaired astrocytic differentiation, and developed abnormal fiber domain architecture. These data suggest that white matter involution in HD is a product of a cell-autonomous mHTT-dependent suppression of both astrocytic and oligodendrocytic differentiation by affected GPCs.
Project description:Human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) are highly migratory, and glial replacement has the potential to treat those neurological disorders in which astrocytic and oligodendrocytic pathology are contributory. Yet it remains unknown whether allografted human glia can out compete diseased cells to achieve therapeutic replacement in the adult human brain.To that end, we engrafted healthy wild-type (WT) hGPCs into the striata of adult mice that had been earlier chimerized neonatally with mutant HTT-expressing hGPCs generated from Huntington disease (HD)-derived human embryonic stemcells. The WT hGPCs effectively out competed and ultimately eliminated their HD counterparts, repopulating the host striata with healthy humanglia. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that WT hGPCs actively assumed a dominant competitor phenotype upon interaction with their resident HD counter parts.The outcomes of clonal competition depended primarily upon the age difference between competing clones, in that adult-transplanted WT GPCs effectively out competed their isogenic WT counter parts that had been transplanted neonatally, and which were thus necessarily older.These data suggest that both aged and diseased human glia may be broadly replaced in the adult brain by younger and healthier human glial progenitor cells.
Project description:Genetic studies have suggested a role for glial pathology in the genesis of schizophrenia (SCZ). To assess the nature of SCZ-associated human glial dysfunction in vivo, we established human glial chimeric mice using glial progenitor cells (GPCs) produced from induced pluripotential cells (hiPSCs), derived from patients with juvenile-onset schizophrenia or healthy controls. To this end, hiPSC GPCs were implanted neonatally into either immunodeficient myelin wild-type mice, in which donor GPCs remained as progenitors or became astrocytes, or into myelin-deficient shiverer mice, in which the GPCs also gave rise to oligodendrocytes. When implanted into shiverers, the SCZ-derived GPCs exhibited less expansion in the white matter than did control GPCs, instead migrating prematurely into the cortex. The SCZ GPC-transplanted shiverers were consequently hypomyelinated relative to control GPC-engrafted mice. When established instead in myelin wild-type hosts, the SCZ hiPSC glial chimeras manifested markedly delayed and diminished astrocytic differentiation, which was associated with diminished prepulse inhibition and an aberrant behavioral phenotype across multiple modalities. Accordingly, RNA-seq revealed significant differences in both glial differentiation-associated and synaptic gene expression by SCZ GPCs. These data suggest a potent contribution of cell-autonomous glial dysfunction to the development of schizophrenia, and provide a model for the in vivo assessment of human glial pathology in this disorder.
Project description:Huntington’s disease (HD) and juvenile-onset schizophrenia (SCZ) have long been regarded as distinct disorders. However, both manifest cell-intrinsic abnormalities in glial differentiation, with resultant astrocytic dysfunction and hypomyelination. To assess whether a common mechanism might underlie the similar glial pathology of these otherwise disparate conditions, we utilized comparative correlation network approaches to analyze RNA-seq data from human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) produced from disease-derived pluripotent stem cells. We identified gene sets preserved between HD and SCZ hGPCs yet distinct from normal controls, that included 174 highly-connected genes in the shared disease-associated network, focused on genes involved in synaptic signaling. These synaptic genes were largely suppressed in both SCZ and HD hGPCs, and gene regulatory network analysis identified a core set of upstream regulators of this network, of which OLIG2 and TCF7L2 were prominent. Among their downstream targets, ADGRL3, a modulator of glutamatergic synapses, was notably suppressed in both SCZ and HD hGPCs. ChIP-seq confirmed that OLIG2 and TCF7L2 each bound to the regulatory region of ADGRL3, whose expression was then rescued by lentiviral overexpression of these transcription factors. These data suggest that the disease-associated suppression of OLIG2 and TCF7L2-dependent transcription of glutamate signaling regulators may impair glial receptivity to neuronal glutamate. The consequent loss of activity-dependent mobilization of hGPCs may yield deficient oligodendrocyte production, and hence the hypomyelination noted in these disorders, as well as the disrupted astrocytic differentiation and attendant synaptic dysfunction associated with each. Together, these data highlight the importance of convergent glial molecular pathology in both the pathogenesis and phenotypic similarities of two otherwise unrelated disorders, HD and SCZ.
Project description:Huntington’s disease (HD) and juvenile-onset schizophrenia (SCZ) have long been regarded as distinct disorders. However, both manifest cell-intrinsic abnormalities in glial differentiation, with resultant astrocytic dysfunction and hypomyelination. To assess whether a common mechanism might underlie the similar glial pathology of these otherwise disparate conditions, we utilized comparative correlation network approaches to analyze RNA-seq data from human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) produced from disease-derived pluripotent stem cells. We identified gene sets preserved between HD and SCZ hGPCs yet distinct from normal controls, that included 174 highly-connected genes in the shared disease-associated network, focused on genes involved in synaptic signaling. These synaptic genes were largely suppressed in both SCZ and HD hGPCs, and gene regulatory network analysis identified a core set of upstream regulators of this network, of which OLIG2 and TCF7L2 were prominent. Among their downstream targets, ADGRL3, a modulator of glutamatergic synapses, was notably suppressed in both SCZ and HD hGPCs. ChIP-seq confirmed that OLIG2 and TCF7L2 each bound to the regulatory region of ADGRL3, whose expression was then rescued by lentiviral overexpression of these transcription factors. These data suggest that the disease-associated suppression of OLIG2 and TCF7L2-dependent transcription of glutamate signaling regulators may impair glial receptivity to neuronal glutamate. The consequent loss of activity-dependent mobilization of hGPCs may yield deficient oligodendrocyte production, and hence the hypomyelination noted in these disorders, as well as the disrupted astrocytic differentiation and attendant synaptic dysfunction associated with each. Together, these data highlight the importance of convergent glial molecular pathology in both the pathogenesis and phenotypic similarities of two otherwise unrelated disorders, HD and SCZ.
Project description:Huntington’s disease (HD) and juvenile-onset schizophrenia (SCZ) have long been regarded as distinct disorders. However, both manifest cell-intrinsic abnormalities in glial differentiation, with resultant astrocytic dysfunction and hypomyelination. To assess whether a common mechanism might underlie the similar glial pathology of these otherwise disparate conditions, we utilized comparative correlation network approaches to analyze RNA-seq data from human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) produced from disease-derived pluripotent stem cells. We identified gene sets preserved between HD and SCZ hGPCs yet distinct from normal controls, that included 174 highly-connected genes in the shared disease-associated network, focused on genes involved in synaptic signaling. These synaptic genes were largely suppressed in both SCZ and HD hGPCs, and gene regulatory network analysis identified a core set of upstream regulators of this network, of which OLIG2 and TCF7L2 were prominent. Among their downstream targets, ADGRL3, a modulator of glutamatergic synapses, was notably suppressed in both SCZ and HD hGPCs. ChIP-seq confirmed that OLIG2 and TCF7L2 each bound to the regulatory region of ADGRL3, whose expression was then rescued by lentiviral overexpression of these transcription factors. These data suggest that the disease-associated suppression of OLIG2 and TCF7L2-dependent transcription of glutamate signaling regulators may impair glial receptivity to neuronal glutamate. The consequent loss of activity-dependent mobilization of hGPCs may yield deficient oligodendrocyte production, and hence the hypomyelination noted in these disorders, as well as the disrupted astrocytic differentiation and attendant synaptic dysfunction associated with each. Together, these data highlight the importance of convergent glial molecular pathology in both the pathogenesis and phenotypic similarities of two otherwise unrelated disorders, HD and SCZ.
Project description:Human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) exhibit diminished expansion competence with age, as well as after recurrent demyelination. Using RNA-sequencing to compare the gene expression of fetal and adult hGPCs, we identify age-related changes in transcription consistent with the repression of genes enabling mitotic expansion, concurrent with the onset of aging-associated transcriptional programs. Adult hGPCs develop a repressive transcription factor network centered on MYC, and regulated by ZNF274, MAX, IKZF3, and E2F6. Individual over-expression of these factors in iPSC-derived hGPCs lead to a loss of proliferative gene expression and an induction of mitotic senescence, replicating the transcriptional changes incurred during glial aging. miRNA profiling identifies the appearance of an adult-selective miRNA signature, imposing further constraints on the expansion competence of aged GPCs. hGPC aging is thus associated with acquisition of a MYC-repressive environment, suggesting that suppression of these repressors of glial expansion may permit the rejuvenation of aged hGPCs.
Project description:Glial progenitor cells comprise the most abundant population of progenitor cells in the adult human brain. They are responsible for CNS remyelination, and likely contribute to the astrogliotic response to brain injury and degeneration as well. Adult human GPCs are biased to differentiate as oligodendrocytes and elaborate new myelin, and yet they retain multilineage plasticity, and can give rise to neurons as well as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes once removed from the adult parenchymal environment. GPCs retain strong mechanisms for cell-autonomous self-renewal, and yet both their phenotype and fate may be dictated by their microenvironment. Using the transcriptional profiles of acutely isolated GPCs, we have begun to understand the operative ligand-receptor interactions involved in these processes, and have identified several key signaling pathways by which adult human GPCs may be reliably instructed to either oligodendrocytic or astrocytic fate. In addition, we have noted significant differences between the expressed genes and dominant signaling pathways of fetal and adult human GPCs, as well as between rodent and human GPCs. The latter data in particular call into question therapeutic strategies predicated solely upon data obtained using rodents, while perhaps highlighting the extent to which evolution has been attended by the phylogenetic modification of glial phenotype and function. Human adult brain dissociates were sorted for one of three markers, either GLT1 (astrocyte, n =3), CD11b (microglia, n=4) or A2B5 (glial progenitor cell, n=7). In addition to positively selected, the negative fraction and unsorted dissociates were collected as matched controls for each sort.
Project description:Glial progenitor cells (GPCs) pervade the human brain. These cells express gangliosides recognized by MAb A2B5, and some but not all can generate oligodendrocytes. Since some A2B5+ GPCs express PDGFa receptor (PDGFRa), which is critical to oligodendrocyte development, we asked if PDGFRa-directed sorting might isolate oligodendrocyte-competent progenitors. We used FACS to sort PDGFRa+ cells from the second trimester fetal human forebrain, based on expression of the PDGFRa epitope CD140a. CD140a+ cells could be maintained as mitotic progenitors that could be instructed to either oligodendrocyte or astrocyte phenotype. Transplanted CD140a+ cells robustly myelinated the hypomyelinated shiverer mouse brain. Microarray confirmed that CD140a+ cells differentially expressed PDGFRA, NG2, OLIG1/2, NKX2.2 and SOX2. Some expressed CD9, thereby defining a CD140a+/CD9+ fraction of oligodendrocyte-biased progenitors. CD140a+ cells differentially expressed genes of the PTN-PTPRZ1, wnt, notch and BMP pathways, suggesting the interaction of self-renewal and fate-restricting pathways in these cells, while identifying targets for their mobilization and instruction. 10 samples, 5 CD140a+, and 5 CD140a- sorted samples for individual fetal human brain
Project description:Glial progenitor cells comprise the most abundant population of progenitor cells in the adult human brain. They are responsible for CNS remyelination, and likely contribute to the astrogliotic response to brain injury and degeneration as well. Adult human GPCs are biased to differentiate as oligodendrocytes and elaborate new myelin, and yet they retain multilineage plasticity, and can give rise to neurons as well as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes once removed from the adult parenchymal environment. GPCs retain strong mechanisms for cell-autonomous self-renewal, and yet both their phenotype and fate may be dictated by their microenvironment. Using the transcriptional profiles of acutely isolated GPCs, we have begun to understand the operative ligand-receptor interactions involved in these processes, and have identified several key signaling pathways by which adult human GPCs may be reliably instructed to either oligodendrocytic or astrocytic fate. In addition, we have noted significant differences between the expressed genes and dominant signaling pathways of fetal and adult human GPCs, as well as between rodent and human GPCs. The latter data in particular call into question therapeutic strategies predicated solely upon data obtained using rodents, while perhaps highlighting the extent to which evolution has been attended by the phylogenetic modification of glial phenotype and function.
Project description:We used cell-specific zinc finger protein (ZFP) transcriptional repressors to lower mHTT and experimentally evaluated the consequences of neuronal and astrocytic mHTT lowering on HD pathophysiology using cell-type specific RNA-seq