Project description:Protein coding gene expression requires two steps – transcription and translation – which can be regulated independently to allow nuanced, localized, and rapid responses to cellular stimuli. Neurons are known to respond transcriptionally and translationally to bursts of brain activity, and a transcriptional response to this activation has also been recently characterized in astrocytes. However, the extent to which astrocytes respond translationally is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that astrocytes also have a programmed translational response by characterizing the change in transcript ribosome occupancy in astrocytes using Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification subsequent to a robust induction of neuronal activity in vivo via acute seizure. We identified a reproducible change in transcripts on astrocyte ribosomes, highlighted by a rapid decrease in housekeeping transcripts, such as ribosomal and mitochondrial components, and a rapid increase in transcripts related to cytoskeleton, motor activity, ion transport, and cell communication. This indicates a dynamic response, some of which might be secondary to activation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase signaling. Using acute slices, we quantified the extent to which individual cues and sequela of neuronal activity can activate translation acutely in astrocytes. This identified both BDNF and KCl as contributors to translation induction, the latter with both action-potential sensitive and insensitive components. Finally, we show that this translational response requires the presence of neurons, indicating the response is acutely or chronically non-cell autonomous. Regulation of translation in astrocytes by neuronal activity suggests an additional mechanism by which astrocytes may dynamically modulate nervous system functioning.
Project description:Astrocytes regulate the functional maturation of neurons by providing trophic support, regulating membrane properties and coordinating synapse formation. However, it is unclear to what degree astrocytes use activity-dependent mechanisms in these intercellular signalling processes. Using an induced pluripotent stem cell system and long-term optogenetic stimulation of human astrocytes, we reveal that activity-dependent astrocytic signals enhance the functional maturation of human cortical neurons, through increases in synaptic connectivity and excitability. Transcriptomic analyses determine that this involves the activity-dependent up-regulation of cholesterol synthesis – a process ascribed to astrocytes, which regulates neuronal maturation. Up-regulated astrocyte genes encode enzymes and transcription factors that control the levels of cholesterol synthesis. Biochemical assays confirm an activity-dependent upregulation of cholesterol synthesis in astrocytes, which is required for the maturational effects upon neurons. Thus, we reveal a novel mechanism that may dynamically match astrocyte function to neuronal needs, and identify targets for modulating cholesterol synthesis in the CNS.
Project description:Identifying the proteins associated with the polyribosomes in astrocytes from the mouse brain to unveil translation regulation mechanisms in these cells.
Project description:Astrocytes are implicated in neuronal development, particularly excitatory synaptogenesis, but their genome-wide impact is unclear. Using cell-type specific RNA-seq we show that cortical astrocytes induce widespread transcriptomic changes in developing cortical neurons. Rat cortical neurons were maintained in the presence or absence of mouse astrocytes, RNA-seq performed, and mixed-species RNA-seq reads sorted according to species. Cultures were also treated with TTX to abolish neuronal firing activity, to investigate the effects of the presence or absence activity-dependent signalling.
Project description:Recent developments in genome sequencing have expanded the knowledge of genetic factors associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Among them, genetic variant e4 of the APOE gene (ApoE4) confers the greatest disease risk. Dysregulated glucose metabolism is an early pathological feature of AD. Using isogenic ApoE3 and ApoE4 astrocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, we find that ApoE4 increases glycolytic activity but impairs mitochondrial respiration in astrocytes. Ultrastructural and autophagic flux analyses show that ApoE4-induced cholesterol accumulation impairs lysosome-dependent removal of damaged mitochondria. Acute treatment with cholesterol-depleting agents restores autophagic activity, mitochondrial dynamics, and associated proteomes, and extended treatment rescues mitochondrial respiration in ApoE4 astrocytes. Taken together, our study provides a direct link between ApoE4-induced lysosomal cholesterol accumulation and abnormal oxidative phosphorylation.
Project description:Glycogen storage, conversion and utilization in astrocytes play important roles in brain energy metabolism. The conversion of glycogen to lactate through glycolysis occurs through the coordinated activities of various enzymes, and inhibition of this process can impair different brain processes including formation of long-lasting memories. To replenish depleted glycogen stores, astrocytes undergo glycogen synthesis, a cellular process that has been shown to require transcription and translation during specific stimulation paradigms. However, the detailed nuclear signaling mechanisms and transcriptional regulation during glycogen synthesis in astrocytes remain to be explored. In this report, we study the molecular details of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced glycogen synthesis in astrocytes. VIP is a potent neuropeptide that triggers glycogenolysis followed by glycogen synthesis in astrocytes. We show evidence that VIP-induced glycogen synthesis requires CREB-mediated transcription that is Protein Kinase C and calcium-dependent but is independent of Protein Kinase A. In parallel to CREB activation, we demonstrate that VIP also triggers nuclear accumulation of the CREB coactivator CRTC2 only in astrocytic nuclei that also requires Protein Kinase C activity. Transcriptome profiles of VIP-induced astrocytes identified robust CREB-dependent transcription of glycogenic genes including the upregulation of Ppp1r3c along with robust repression of Phkg1, the catalytic subunit of phosphorylase kinase. Overall, our data demonstrates the importance of CREB-mediated transcription in astrocytes during stimulus-driven glycogenesis.
Project description:Activity-dependent cholesterol biosynthesis in human-derived astrocytes regulates the functional maturation of human-derived cortical neurons