Control (healthy) iPSC-derived astrocytes treated with: Media (control), TNFa 100ug/ml, Monomeric aSYN 10uM, or Fibril aSYN 10uM
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The overall goal was to identify changes in gene expression following treatment with TNFa, monomeric, or fibril aSYN compared to control (untreated). Alpha-synuclein (αSYN) protein has been observed in reactive astrocytes in PD patients’ brains, raising the question of how αSYN, neuroinflammation, and astrocytes interact in PD pathogenesis. Here, we examined the cellular changes triggered by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and different αSYN species in astrocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Human astrocytes treated with TNFα displayed a strong reactive pro-inflammatory phenotype with upregulation of pro-inflammatory gene networks, activation of the NF-kB pathway, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas those treated with high molecular weight αSYN fibrils acquired a reactive antigen (cross-)presenting phenotype with upregulation of MHC genes and increased HLA-DR/DQ/DP and HLA-F molecules at the cell surface. Surprisingly, cell surface location of MHC proteins was abrogated by larger F110 fibrils polymorph, despite the upregulation of MHC genes. A proteomics investigation further confirmed a direct interaction between astrocytic MHC proteins and αSYN fibril peptides. Interestingly, TNFα and αSYN fibrils competed to drive the astrocyte immune reactive response. The astrocyte immune responses were accompanied by an impaired ATP-generating mitochondrial respiration, which was exacerbated in PD astrocytes containing a PARK2-variant. Our data provide evidence for astrocytic involvement in PD pathogenesis and reveal their complex immune reactive responses to exogenous stressors.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE166768 | GEO | 2021/02/16
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA