Upregulation of Integrin beta-3 in astrocytes upon Alzheimer's disease progression in the 5xFAD mouse model.

Integrins are receptors that have been linked to various brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. While Integrin beta-3 (ITGB3) is known to participate in multiple cellular processes such as adhesion, migration, and signaling, its specific role in AD remains poorly understood, particularly in astrocytes, the main glial cell type in the brain. In this study, we investigated alterations in ITGB3 gene and protein expression during aging in different brain regions of the 5xFAD mouse model of AD and assessed the interplay between ITGB3 and astrocytes. Primary cultures from adult mouse brains were used to gain further insight into the connection between ITGB3 and amyloid beta (Aß) in astrocytes. In vivo studies showed a correlation between ITGB3 and the astrocytic marker GFAP in the 5xFAD brains, indicating its association with reactive astrocytes. In vitro studies revealed increased gene expression of ITGB3 upon Aß treatment. Our findings underscore the potential significance of ITGB3 in astrocyte reactivity in the context of Alzheimer's disease.

Human-derived air-liquid interface cultures decipher Alzheimer's disease-SARS-CoV-2 crosstalk in the olfactory mucosa.

BACKGROUND: The neurological effects of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) raise concerns about potential long-term consequences, such as an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroinflammation and other AD-associated pathologies are also suggested to increase the risk of serious SARS-CoV-2 infection. Anosmia is a common neurological symptom reported in COVID-19 and in early AD. The olfactory mucosa (OM) is important for the perception of smell and a proposed site of viral entry to the brain. However, little is known about SARS-CoV-2 infection at the OM of individuals with AD. METHODS: To address this gap, we established a 3D in vitro model of the OM from primary cells derived from cognitively healthy and AD individuals. We cultured the cells at the air-liquid interface (ALI) to study SARS-CoV-2 infection under controlled experimental conditions. Primary OM cells in ALI expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), and several other known SARS-CoV-2 receptor and were highly vulnerable to infection. Infection was determined by secreted viral RNA content and confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) in the infected cells by immunocytochemistry. Differential responses of healthy and AD individuals-derived OM cells to SARS-CoV-2 were determined by RNA sequencing. RESULTS: Results indicate that cells derived from cognitively healthy donors and individuals with AD do not differ in susceptibility to infection with the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, transcriptomic signatures in cells from individuals with AD are highly distinct. Specifically, the cells from AD patients that were infected with the virus showed increased levels of oxidative stress, desensitized inflammation and immune responses, and alterations to genes associated with olfaction. These results imply that individuals with AD may be at a greater risk of experiencing severe outcomes from the infection, potentially driven by pre-existing neuroinflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The study sheds light on the interplay between AD pathology and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Altered transcriptomic signatures in AD cells may contribute to unique symptoms and a more severe disease course, with a notable involvement of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to enhance outcomes for AD patients with viral infection. The study is crucial to better comprehend the relationship between AD, COVID-19, and anosmia. It highlights the importance of ongoing research to develop more effective treatments for those at high risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Neuron-astrocyte transmitophagy is altered in Alzheimer's disease.

Under physiological conditions in vivo astrocytes internalize and degrade neuronal mitochondria in a process called transmitophagy. Mitophagy is widely reported to be impaired in neurodegeneration but it is unknown whether and how transmitophagy is altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we report that the internalization of neuronal mitochondria is significantly increased in astrocytes isolated from AD mouse brains. We also demonstrate that the degradation of neuronal mitochondria by astrocytes is increased in AD mice at the age of 6 months onwards. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time a similar phenomenon between human neurons and AD astrocytes, and in murine hippocampi in vivo. The results suggest the involvement of S100a4 in impaired mitochondrial transfer between neurons and AD astrocytes together with significant increases in the mitophagy regulator and reactive oxygen species in aged AD astrocytes. These findings demonstrate altered neuron-supporting functions of AD astrocytes and provide a starting point for studying the molecular mechanisms of transmitophagy in AD.

Urban air particulate matter induces mitochondrial dysfunction in human olfactory mucosal cells.

BACKGROUND: The adverse effects of air pollutants including particulate matter (PM) on the central nervous system is increasingly reported by epidemiological, animal and post-mortem studies in the last decade. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key consequences of exposure to PM although little is known of the exact mechanism. The association of PM exposure with deteriorating brain health is speculated to be driven by PM entry via the olfactory system. How air pollutants affect this key entry site remains elusive. In this study, we investigated effects of urban size-segregated PM on a novel cellular model: primary human olfactory mucosal (hOM) cells. RESULTS: Metabolic activity was reduced following 24-h exposure to PM without evident signs of toxicity. Results from cytometric bead array suggested a mild inflammatory response to PM exposure. We observed increased oxidative stress and caspase-3/7 activity as well as perturbed mitochondrial membrane potential in PM-exposed cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction was further verified by a decrease in mitochondria-dependent respiration. Transient suppression of the mitochondria-targeted gene, neuronal pentraxin 1 (NPTX1), was carried out, after being identified to be up-regulated in PM2.5-1 treated cells via RNA sequencing. Suppression of NPTX1 in cells exposed to PM did not restore mitochondrial defects resulting from PM exposure. In contrast, PM-induced adverse effects were magnified in the absence of NPTX1, indicating a critical role of this protein in protection against PM effects in hOM cells. CONCLUSION: Key mitochondrial functions were perturbed by urban PM exposure in a physiologically relevant cellular model via a mechanism involving NPTX1. In addition, inflammatory response and early signs of apoptosis accompanied mitochondrial dysfunction during exposure to PM. Findings from this study contribute to increased understanding of harmful PM effects on human health and may provide information to support mitigation strategies targeted at air pollution.

Increased Expression of Transferrin Receptor 1 in the Brain Cortex of 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease Is Associated with Activation of HIF-1 Signaling Pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Despite intensive research efforts, there are currently no effective treatments to cure and prevent AD. There is growing evidence that dysregulation of iron homeostasis may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Given the important role of the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in regulating iron distribution in the brain, as well as in the drug delivery, we investigated its expression in the brain cortex and isolated brain microvessels from female 8-month-old 5xFAD mice mimicking advanced stage of AD. Moreover, we explored the association between the TfR1 expression and the activation of the HIF-1 signaling pathway, as well as oxidative stress and inflammation in 5xFAD mice. Finally, we studied the impact of Aß1-40 and Aß1-42 on TfR1 expression in the brain endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3. In the present study, we revealed that an increase in TfR1 protein levels observed in the brain cortex of 5xFAD mice was associated with activation of the HIF-1 signaling pathway as well as accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammation. Interestingly, incubation of Aß peptides in hCMEC/D3 cells did not affect the expression of TfR1, which supported our findings of unaltered TfR1 expression in the isolated brain microvessels in 5xFAD mice. In conclusion, the study provides important information about the expression of TfR1 in the 5xFAD mouse model and the potential role of HIF-1 signaling pathway in the regulation of TfR1 in AD, which could represent a promising strategy for the development of therapies for AD.

Sex-specific changes in protein expression of membrane transporters in the brain cortex of 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Membrane transporters playing an important role in the passage of drugs, metabolites and nutrients across the membranes of the brain cells have been shown to be involved in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about sex-specific changes in transporter protein expression at the brain in AD. Here, we investigated sex-specific alterations in protein expression of three ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and five solute carriers (SLC) transporters in the prefrontal cortex of a commonly used model of familial AD (FAD), 5xFAD mice. Sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based quantitative targeted absolute proteomic analysis was applied for absolute quantification of transporter protein expression. We compared the changes in transporter protein expressions in 7-month-old male and female 5xFAD mice versus sex-matched wild-type mice. The study revealed a significant sex-specific increase in protein expression of ABCC1 (p = 0.007) only in male 5xFAD mice as compared to sex-matched wild-type animals. In addition, the increased protein expression of glucose transporter 1 (p = 0.01), 4F2 cell-surface antigen heavy chain (p = 0.01) and long-chain fatty acid transport protein 1 (p = 0.02) were found only in female 5xFAD mice as compared to sex-matched wild-type animals. Finally, protein expression of alanine/serine/cysteine/threonine transporter 1 was upregulated in both male (p = 0.02) and female (p = 0.002) 5xFAD mice. The study provides important information about sex-specific changes in brain cortical transporter expression in 5xFAD mice, which will facilitate drug development of therapeutic strategies for AD targeting these transporters and drug delivery research.

Protein Expression of Amino Acid Transporters Is Altered in Isolated Cerebral Microvessels of 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Membrane transporters such as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and solute carrier (SLC) transporters expressed at the neurovascular unit (NVU) play an important role in drug delivery to the brain and have been demonstrated to be involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, our knowledge of quantitative changes in transporter absolute protein expression and functionality in vivo in NVU in AD patients and animal models is limited. The study aim was to investigate alterations in protein expression of ABC and SLC transporters in the isolated brain microvessels and brain prefrontal cortices of a widely used model of familial AD, 5xFAD mice (8 months old), using a sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based quantitative targeted absolute proteomic approach. Moreover, we examined alterations in brain prefrontal cortical and plasmatic levels of transporter substrates in 5xFAD mice compared to age-matched wild-type (WT) controls. ASCT1 (encoded by Slc1a4) protein expression in the isolated brain microvessels and brain prefrontal cortices of 5xFAD mice was twice higher compared to WT controls (p = 0.01). Brain cortical levels of ASCT1 substrate, serine, were increased in 5xFAD mice compared to WT animals. LAT1 (encoded by Slc7a5) and 4F2hc (encoded by Slc3a2) protein expressions were significantly altered in the isolated brain microvessels of 5xFAD mice compared to WT controls (p = 0.008 and p = 0.05, respectively). Overall, the study provides important information, which is crucial for the optimal use of the 5xFAD mouse model in AD drug development and for investigating novel drug delivery approaches. In addition, the findings of the study shed light on the novel potential mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis.

Transcriptomic alterations in the olfactory bulb induced by exposure to air pollution: Identification of potential biomarkers and insights into olfactory system function.

This study evaluated how exposure to the ubiquitous air pollution component, ultrafine particles (UFPs), alters the olfactory bulb (OB) transcriptome. The study utilised a whole-body inhalation chamber to simulate real-life conditions and focused on UFPs due to their high translocation and deposition ability in OBs as well as their prevalence in ambient air. Female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to clean air or to freshly generated combustion derived UFPs for two weeks, after which OBs were dissected and mRNA transcripts were investigated using RNA sequencing analysis. For the first time, transcriptomics was applied to determine changes in mRNA expression levels occurring after subacute exposure to UFPs in the OBs. We found forty-five newly described mRNAs to be involved in air pollution-induced responses, including genes involved in odorant binding, synaptic regulation, and myelination signalling pathway, providing new gene candidates for future research. This study provides new insights for the environmental science and neuroscience fields and nominates future research directions.

Emissions from modern engines induce distinct effects in human olfactory mucosa cells, depending on fuel and aftertreatment.

Ultrafine particles (UFP) with a diameter of ≤0.1 µm, are contributors to ambient air pollution and derived mainly from traffic emissions, yet their health effects remain poorly characterized. The olfactory mucosa (OM) is located at the rooftop of the nasal cavity and directly exposed to both the environment and the brain. Mounting evidence suggests that pollutant particles affect the brain through the olfactory tract, however, the exact cellular mechanisms of how the OM responds to air pollutants remain poorly known. Here we show that the responses of primary human OM cells are altered upon exposure to UFPs and that different fuels and engines elicit different adverse effects. We used UFPs collected from exhausts of a heavy-duty-engine run with renewable diesel (A0) and fossil diesel (A20), and from a modern diesel vehicle run with renewable diesel (Euro6) and compared their health effects on the OM cells by assessing cellular processes on the functional and transcriptomic levels. Quantification revealed all samples as UFPs with the majority of particles being ≤0.1 µm by an aerodynamic diameter. Exposure to A0 and A20 induced substantial alterations in processes associated with inflammatory response, xenobiotic metabolism, olfactory signaling, and epithelial integrity. Euro6 caused only negligible changes, demonstrating the efficacy of aftertreatment devices. Furthermore, when compared to A20, A0 elicited less pronounced effects on OM cells, suggesting renewable diesel induces less adverse effects in OM cells. Prior studies and these results suggest that PAHs may disturb the inflammatory process and xenobiotic metabolism in the OM and that UFPs might mediate harmful effects on the brain through the olfactory route. This study provides important information on the adverse effects of UFPs in a human-based in vitro model, therefore providing new insight to form the basis for mitigation and preventive actions against the possible toxicological impairments caused by UFP exposure.

Subacute inhalation of ultrafine particulate matter triggers inflammation without altering amyloid beta load in 5xFAD mice.

Epidemiological studies reveal that air pollution exposure may exacerbate neurodegeneration. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are pollutants that remain unregulated in ambient air by environmental agencies. Due to their small size (<100 nm), UFPs have the most potential to cross the bodily barriers and thus impact the brain. However, little information exists about how UFPs affect brain function. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which has been linked to air pollutant exposure, yet limited information is available on the mechanistic connection between them. This study aims to decipher the effects of UFPs in the brain and periphery using the 5xFAD mouse model of AD. In our study design, AD mice and their wildtype littermates were subjected to 2-weeks inhalation exposure of UFPs in a whole-body chamber. That subacute exposure did not affect the amyloid-beta accumulation. However, when multiple cytokines were analyzed, we found increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the brain and periphery, with a predominant alteration of interferon-gamma in response to UFP exposure in both genotypes. Following exposure, mitochondrial superoxide dismutase was significantly upregulated only in the 5xFAD hippocampi, depicting oxidative stress induction in the exposed AD mouse group. These data demonstrate that short-term exposure to inhaled UFPs induces inflammation without affecting amyloid-beta load. This study provides a better understanding of adverse effects caused by short-term UFP exposure in the brain and periphery, also in the context of AD.

Air pollution exposure increases ABCB1 and ASCT1 transporter levels in mouse cortex.

Membrane transporters are important for maintaining brain homeostasis by regulating the passage of solutes into, out of, and within the brain. Growing evidence suggests neurotoxic effects of air pollution exposure and its contribution to neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet limited knowledge is available on the exact cellular impacts of exposure. This study investigates how exposure to ubiquitous solid components of air pollution, ultrafine particles (UFPs), influence brain homeostasis by affecting protein levels of membrane transporters. Membrane transporters were quantified and compared in brain cortical samples of wild-type and the 5xFAD mouse model of AD in response to subacute exposure to inhaled UFPs. The cortical ASCT1 and ABCB1 transporter levels were elevated in wild-type and 5xFAD mice subjected to a 2-week UFP exposure paradigm, suggesting impairment of brain homeostatic mechanisms. This study provides new insight on the molecular mechanisms underlying adverse effects of air pollution on the brain.

Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis of Olfactory Mucosal Cells of Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

Olfaction is orchestrated by olfactory mucosal cells located in the upper nasal cavity. Olfactory dysfunction manifests early in several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, however, disease-related alterations to the olfactory mucosal cells remain poorly described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the olfactory mucosa differences between cognitively healthy individuals and Alzheimer's disease patients. We report increased amyloid-beta secretion in Alzheimer's disease olfactory mucosal cells and detail cell-type-specific gene expression patterns, unveiling 240 differentially expressed disease-associated genes compared to the cognitively healthy controls, and five distinct cell populations. Overall, alterations of RNA and protein metabolism, inflammatory processes, and signal transduction were observed in multiple cell populations, suggesting their role in Alzheimer's disease-related olfactory mucosa pathophysiology. Furthermore, the single-cell RNA-sequencing proposed alterations in gene expression of mitochondrially located genes in AD OM cells, which were verified by functional assays, demonstrating altered mitochondrial respiration and a reduction of ATP production. Our results reveal disease-related changes of olfactory mucosal cells in Alzheimer's disease and demonstrate the utility of single-cell RNA sequencing data for investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with the disease.

Impairment of mitochondrial function by particulate matter: Implications for the brain.

Research efforts in the past decades have provided insight into the adverse health effects of air pollution exposure. Exposure to airborne particulate matter is known to impair the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and more recent investigations have provided evidence demonstrating harmful effects on the central nervous system. Investigations have primarily focused on the interconnected cellular pathways of inflammation and oxidative stress, which are induced by pollutant particle exposure both in peripheral tissues, and in the brain. Alterations to mitochondria, organelles important for cellular respiration and signaling, are often associated with increased cellular oxidative stress. This review focuses on the role of mitochondria in particulate matter-induced adverse effects on cellular health. More investigation to link air pollution and human health on the cellular and molecular level could in the future aid the development of more effective preventive and therapeutic options to combat pollutant particle-induced alterations.

Glial smog: Interplay between air pollution and astrocyte-microglia interactions.

Every second we inhale a danger in the air; many particles in the atmosphere can influence our lives. Outdoor air pollution, especially particulate matter is the largest environmental risk factor and has been associated with many cardiovascular and lung diseases. Importantly, air pollution has recently been discovered to also impact the brain. Here, we review the effects of air pollution on glial cells of the brain, astrocytes and microglia, and the tightly controlled interplay between these cell types. We focus on how traffic related air pollutants which include both gaseous and particulate emissions and their secondary products influence the intercellular communication of microglia and astrocytes. Finally, we place these air pollution and glial interactions in a larger context by discussing their impact on neurodegeneration.