Project description:Disease-associated astrocyte subsets contribute to the pathology of neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 (EAE), an experimental model for multiple sclerosis. However, little is known about the stability of these astrocyte subsets and their ability to integrate past stimulation events. Here we report the identification of an epigenetically controlled memory astrocyte subset that exhibits exacerbated pro-inflammatory responses upon rechallenge. Specifically, using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation with sequencing, focused interrogation of cells by nucleic acid detection and sequencing, and cell-specific in vivo CRISPR–Cas9-based genetic perturbation studies we established that astrocyte memory is controlled by the metabolic enzyme ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY), which produces acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) that is used by histone acetyltransferase p300 to control chromatin accessibility. The number of ACLY+p300+ memory astrocytes is increased in acute and chronic EAE models, and their genetic inactivation ameliorated EAE. We also detected the pro-inflammatory memory phenotype in human astrocytes in vitro; single-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry studies detected increased numbers of ACLY+p300+ astrocytes in chronic multiple sclerosis lesions. In summary, these studies define an epigenetically controlled memory astrocyte subset that promotes CNS pathology in EAE and, potentially, multiple sclerosis. These findings may guide novel therapeutic approaches for multiple sclerosis and other neurologic diseases.
Project description:Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk, but its functions are not fully understood. Here, we found that medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) injection with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) to remodel ECM reverses short-term memory loss and reduces Aβ deposition in 5xFAD mice. ECM remodeling also reactivates astrocytes, untangles aggrecan’s entanglement with amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, and encourages astrocyte recruitment to the surrounding plaques. ECM remodeling promotes astrocyte phagocytosis of Aβ plaque by activating the astrocyte phagocytosis receptor mertk and astrocytic vesicle circulation. Importantly, ECM remodeling enhances the autophagy-lysosome pathway in astrocytes to mediate Aβ clearance and alleviate AD pathology. Our work thus discovers a cellular mechanism to remodel the ECM to active astrocyte autophagic lysosomal pathway alleviation AD pathology. It may represent a potential therapeutic strategy and serve as a hallmark for treating AD.
Project description:Central nervous system (CNS) resident cells such as microglia, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes are gaining increasing attention in respect to their contribution to CNS pathologies including Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Several studies have demonstrated the involvement of pro- inflammatory glial subsets in the pathogenesis and propagation of inflammatory events in MS and its animal models. However, it has only recently become clear that the underlying heterogeneity of astrocytes and microglia can not only drive inflammation, but also lead to its resolution through direct and indirect mechanisms. Failure of these tissue-protective mechanisms may potentiate disease and increase the risk of conversion to progressive stages of MS, for which currently available therapies are limited. Using proteomic analyses of cerebrospinal fluid specimens from MS patients in combination with experimental studies, we here identify Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) as a central mediator of tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory effects important for the recovery from acute inflammatory lesions in CNS autoimmunity. Hypoxic conditions drive the rapid upregulation of HB-EGF by astrocytes during early CNS inflammation, while pro-inflammatory conditions suppress trophic HB-EGF signaling through epigenetic modifications. Finally, we demonstrate both anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective effects of HB-EGF in a broad variety of cell types in vitro and use intranasal administration of HB-EGF in acute and post-acute stages of neuroinflammation to attenuate disease in a preclinical mouse model of MS. Altogether, we identify astrocyte-derived HB-EGF and its epigenetic regulation as a novel modulator of autoimmune CNS inflammation and potential therapeutic target in MS.