Project description:Purpose: investigate the impact of neuronal Bin1 Loss on surrounding microglia transcriptome. Methods: mRNA profile of microglia cells FACS-sorted from brains of mice homozygous and heterozygous conditional knock-out for Bin1 in excitatory neurons (B6.129S6-Bin1tm2Gcp/J (Bin1flox/flox), <FVB/N-Tg(Thy1-cre)1Vln/J> (Thy1-Cre) ) and Bin1-expressing littermates at 3 month of age had been generated from 10ng of total RNA using SMARTer Ultra Low Input RNA kit v4 (Clontech). The cDNA was amplified by 8 PCR cycles, followed by QC analysis on BioAnalyzer 2100 (Agilent). Sequence libraries were produced from 150pg of cDNA using Nextera XT DNA library kit (Illumina), cleaned up with AMPure XP beads, and QC checked with Caliper LabChip GX. Single-end sequencing data were generated on an Illumina Illumina HiSeq 2500, at a depth of 30 million reads per sample, with read length 50bp.The reads were aligned with the OmicSoft OSA4 to the mouse genome (mm10) and the Ensembl.R84 gene model. Gene counts were estimated using RSEM. Two samples were removed (one sample from WT_Female cohort and one samples from Heterozygote_Male cohort) due to low fraction of uniquely mapped single reads and higher than expected duplication. Of note, these samples with poor technical QC metrics were also clear outliers in PCA. Normalization and differential expression analysis were carried out with the Bioconductor package DESeq2. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were defined as having adjpval < 0.05, and |FC| > 1.5. Results: Microglia from homozygous Bin1-cKO mice showed 265 (|FC| > 1.5, FDR <0.05) statistically significant Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) in comparison to WT mice. Interestingly, microglia from heterozygous Bin1-cKO mice showed no statistically significant (FDR <0.05) DEGs in comparison to WT mice. Conclusion: neuronal disfunction resulting from Bin1 loss alters gene expression of the surrounding microglia.
Project description:BIN1 is the most important risk locus for Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD), after ApoE. BIN1 AD-associated SNPs correlate with Tau deposition as well as with brain atrophy. Furthermore, the level of neuronal-specific BIN1 isoform 1 protein is decreased in sporadic AD cases in parallel with neuronal loss, despite an overall increase in BIN1 total mRNA. To address the relationship between reduction of BIN1 and neuronal cell loss in the context of Tau pathology, we knocked-down endogenous murine Bin1 via stereotaxic injection of AAV-Bin1 shRNA in the hippocampus of mice expressing Tau P301S (PS19). We observed a statistically significant reduction in the number of neurons in the hippocampus of mice injected with AAV-Bin1 shRNA in comparison with mice injected with AAV control. To investigate whether neuronal loss is due to deletion of Bin1 selectively in neurons in presence Tau P301S, we bred Bin1flox/flox with Thy1-Cre and subsequently with PS19 mice. Mice lacking neuronal Bin1 and expressing Tau P301S showed increased mortality, without increased neuropathology, when compared to neuronal Bin1 and Tau P301S-expressing mice. The loss of Bin1 isoform 1 resulted in reduced excitability in primary neurons in vitro, reduced neuronal c-fos expression as well as in altered microglia transcriptome in vivo. Taken together, our data suggest that the contribution of genetic variation in BIN1 locus to AD risk could result from a cell-autonomous reduction of neuronal excitability due to Bin1 decrease, exacerbated by the presence of aggregated Tau, coupled with a non-cell autonomous microglia activation.
Project description:Huntington's Disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an extended polyglutamine repeat in the N-terminus of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. Reactive microglia and elevated cytokine levels are observed in the brains of HD patients, but the extent to which neuroinflammation results from extrinsic or cell-autonomous mechanisms is unknown. Furthermore, the impact of microglia activation on the pathogenesis of HD remains to be established. Using genome-wide approaches, we show that expression of mutant Htt in microglia promotes cell-autonomous pro-inflammatory transcriptional activation within microglia by increasing the expression and transcriptional activities of the myeloid lineage-determining factors PU.1 and C/EBPs. Elevated levels of PU.1 and its target genes are observed in the brains of mouse models and HD individuals. Moreover, mutant Htt expressing microglia exhibit an increased capacity to induce neuronal death ex vivo and in vivo in the presence of sterile inflammation. These findings suggest that expression of mutant Htt in microglia may contribute to neuronal pathology in Huntingtin disease. RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq for PU.1, C/EBP, and H3K4me2 in BV2 cells and RNA-Seq in primary microglia and macrophages
Project description:Huntington’s disease (HD), caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, is characterized by abnormal protein aggregates and motor and cognitive dysfunction. Htt protein is ubiquitously expressed, but the striatal medium spiny neuron (MSN) is most susceptible to neuronal dysfunction and death. Abnormal gene expression represents a core pathogenic feature of HD, but the relative roles of cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous effects on transcription remain unclear. To determine the extent of cell-autonomous dysregulation in the striatum in vivo, we examined genome-wide RNA expression in symptomatic D9-N171-98Q (a.k.a. DE5) transgenic mice in which the forebrain expression of the first 171 amino acids of human Htt with a 98Q repeat expansion is limited to MSNs. Microarray data generated from these mice were compared to those generated on the identical array platform from a pan-neuronal HD mouse model, R6/2, carrying two different CAG repeat lengths, and a relatively high degree of overlap of changes in gene expression was revealed. We further focused on known canonical pathways associated with excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, dopamine signaling and trophic support, among others. While genes related to excitotoxicity, dopamine signaling and trophic support, were altered in both DE5 and R6/2 transgenic mice, which may be either cell-autonomous or non-cell-autonomous,, genes related to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor are primarily affected in DE5 transgenic mice, indicating cell autonomous mechanisms Overall, our results demonstrate that HD-induced dysregulation of the striatal transcriptome can be largely attributed to intrinsic effects of mutant Htt,,such that mutant Htt-induced effects in cortical neurons is not necessary for striatal dysfunction/degeneration. Striatum from DE5 transgenic mice vs. wt littermate controls
Project description:Circadian rhythm dysfunction is a hallmark of Parkinson Disease (PD), and diminished expression of the core clock gene Bmal1 has been described in PD patients. BMAL1 is required for core circadian clock function, but also serves non-rhythmic functions. Germline Bmal1 deletion can cause brain oxidative stress and synapse loss in mice, and can exacerbate dopaminergic neurodegeneration in response to MPTP. Here we examined the impact of cell type-specific Bmal1 deletion on dopaminergic neuron viability in vivo. We observed that global, post-natal deletion of Bmal1 caused spontaneous loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). This was not due to disruption of behavioral circadian rhythms, and was not induced by astrocyte- or microglia-specific Bmal1 deletion. However, either pan-neuronal or TH neuron-specific Bmal1 deletion caused cell-autonomous loss of TH+ neurons in the SNpc. Finally, global Bmal1 deletion exacerbated TH+ neuron loss following injection of alpha-synclein fibrils. Transcriptomic analysis of neuron-specific Bmal1 KO brain revealed dysregulation of pathways involved in oxidative phosphorylation and Parkinson Disease.
Project description:Skeletal muscle aging results in a gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle function and decreased regenerative capacity, which can lead to sarcopenia and increased mortality. While the mechanisms underlying sarcopenia remain unclear, the skeletal muscle stem cell, or satellite cell, is required for muscle regeneration. Therefore, identification of signaling pathways affecting satellite cell function during aging may provide insights into therapeutic targets for combating sarcopenia. Here, we show that a cell-autonomous loss in self-renewal occurs via novel alterations in FGF and p38αβ MAPK signaling in old satellite cells. We further demonstrate that pharmacological manipulation of these pathways can ameliorate age-associated self-renewal defects. Thus, our data highlight an age-associated deregulation of a satellite cell homeostatic network and reveals potential therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of progressive muscle wasting. Satellite cells were isolated from young (3-6mo) and aged (20-25mo) adult mice; individual date files represent 2 independent pools of RNA from 4-8 mice at each timepoint.
Project description:Huntington's Disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an extended polyglutamine repeat in the N-terminus of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. Reactive microglia and elevated cytokine levels are observed in the brains of HD patients, but the extent to which neuroinflammation results from extrinsic or cell-autonomous mechanisms is unknown. Furthermore, the impact of microglia activation on the pathogenesis of HD remains to be established. Using genome-wide approaches, we show that expression of mutant Htt in microglia promotes cell-autonomous pro-inflammatory transcriptional activation within microglia by increasing the expression and transcriptional activities of the myeloid lineage-determining factors PU.1 and C/EBPs. Elevated levels of PU.1 and its target genes are observed in the brains of mouse models and HD individuals. Moreover, mutant Htt expressing microglia exhibit an increased capacity to induce neuronal death ex vivo and in vivo in the presence of sterile inflammation. These findings suggest that expression of mutant Htt in microglia may contribute to neuronal pathology in Huntingtin disease.
Project description:The endoribonuclease, Dicer, is indispensible for generating the majority of mature microRNAs (miRNAs), which are posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression involved in a wide range of developmental and pathological processes in mammalian central nervous system. While functions of Dicer-dependent miRNA pathways in neurons and oligodendrocytes have been extensively investigated, little is known about the role of Dicer in astrocytes. Here we report the effect of Cre-loxP mediated conditional deletion of Dicer selectively from postnatal astroglia on brain development. Dicer-deficient mice exhibited normal motor development and neurological morphology prior to postnatal week 5. Thereafter mutant mice invariably developed a rapidly fulminant neurological decline characterized by ataxia, severe progressive cerebellar degeneration, seizures, uncontrollable movements and premature death by postnatal week 9-10. Integrated transcription profiling, histological and functional analyses of cerebella showed that deletion of Dicer in cerebellar astrocytes altered the transcriptome of astrocytes to be more similar to an immature or reactive-like state prior to the onset of neurological symptoms or morphological changes. As a result, critical and mature astrocytic functions including glutamate uptake and antioxidant pathways were substantially impaired, leading to massive apoptosis of cerebellar granule cells and degeneration of Purkinje cells. Collectively, our study demonstrates the critical involvement of Dicer in normal astrocyte maturation and maintenance. Our findings also reveal non-cell autonomous roles of astrocytic Dicer-dependent pathways in regulating proper neuronal functions and implicate that loss of or dysregulation of astrocytic Dicer-dependent pathways may be involved in neurodegeneration and other neurological disorders. Four replicate experiments using samples derived from biologically independent pairs of control (mGfap-Cre; Dicer +/flox) and Dicer mutant (mGfap-Cre; Dicer flox/flox) littermate mice (postnatal day 30) were performed with a dye-swap experimental design.
Project description:Huntington’s disease (HD), caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, is characterized by abnormal protein aggregates and motor and cognitive dysfunction. Htt protein is ubiquitously expressed, but the striatal medium spiny neuron (MSN) is most susceptible to neuronal dysfunction and death. Abnormal gene expression represents a core pathogenic feature of HD, but the relative roles of cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous effects on transcription remain unclear. To determine the extent of cell-autonomous dysregulation in the striatum in vivo, we examined genome-wide RNA expression in symptomatic D9-N171-98Q (a.k.a. DE5) transgenic mice in which the forebrain expression of the first 171 amino acids of human Htt with a 98Q repeat expansion is limited to MSNs. Microarray data generated from these mice were compared to those generated on the identical array platform from a pan-neuronal HD mouse model, R6/2, carrying two different CAG repeat lengths, and a relatively high degree of overlap of changes in gene expression was revealed. We further focused on known canonical pathways associated with excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, dopamine signaling and trophic support, among others. While genes related to excitotoxicity, dopamine signaling and trophic support, were altered in both DE5 and R6/2 transgenic mice, which may be either cell-autonomous or non-cell-autonomous,, genes related to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor are primarily affected in DE5 transgenic mice, indicating cell autonomous mechanisms Overall, our results demonstrate that HD-induced dysregulation of the striatal transcriptome can be largely attributed to intrinsic effects of mutant Htt,,such that mutant Htt-induced effects in cortical neurons is not necessary for striatal dysfunction/degeneration.
Project description:Astrocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS); however, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of astrocytic responses remain unknown. Here we report an exhaustive molecular and functional characterization of astrocyte reactivity following exposure to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from MS patients classified according to the degree of inflammatory activity. We showed that mouse astrocytes exposed to CSF from patients with high inflammatory activity (MS-High) exhibited a specific pro-inflammatory reactive state that was characterized by enhanced NF-kB signalling. This reactive astrocyte state conferred a dysfunctional response through an altered pro-inflammatory secretome that drove neuronal dysfunction and impaired synaptic plasticity. SerpinE1 was identified as a potential downstream mediator of the non-cell-autonomous toxic effect on neuronal function based on its significant up-regulation in secretomes from astrocytes exposed to CSF from MS-high patients. Further, we identified chitinase 3-like 1 as a potential upstream modulator of astrocyte reactivity via activation of NF-kB signalling based on its significantly increased levels in the CSF from MS-High patients. Taken together our findings indicate that the inflammatory microenvironment in the central nervous system of MS patients can induce specific reactive astrocyte states that trigger neuronal degeneration and may ultimately contribute to disease progression.