Shared inflammatory glial cell signature after stab wound injury, revealed by spatial, temporal, and cell-type-specific profiling of the murine cerebral cortex.

Traumatic brain injury leads to a highly orchestrated immune- and glial cell response partially responsible for long-lasting disability and the development of secondary neurodegenerative diseases. A holistic understanding of the mechanisms controlling the responses of specific cell types and their crosstalk is required to develop an efficient strategy for better regeneration. Here, we combine spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to chart the transcriptomic signature of the injured male murine cerebral cortex, and identify specific states of different glial cells contributing to this signature. Interestingly, distinct glial cells share a large fraction of injury-regulated genes, including inflammatory programs downstream of the innate immune-associated pathways Cxcr3 and Tlr1/2. Systemic manipulation of these pathways decreases the reactivity state of glial cells associated with poor regeneration. The functional relevance of the discovered shared signature of glial cells highlights the importance of our resource enabling comprehensive analysis of early events after brain injury.

Primary Aldosteronism: Spatial Multiomics Mapping of Genotype-Dependent Heterogeneity and Tumor Expansion of Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Primary aldosteronism is frequently caused by an adrenocortical aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) carrying a somatic mutation that drives aldosterone overproduction. APAs with a mutation in KCNJ5 (APA-KCNJ5MUT) are characterized by heterogeneous CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) expression, a particular cellular composition and larger tumor diameter than those with wild-type KCNJ5 (APA-KCNJ5WT). We exploited these differences to decipher the roles of transcriptome and metabolome reprogramming in tumor pathogenesis. METHODS: Consecutive adrenal cryosections (7 APAs and 7 paired adjacent adrenal cortex) were analyzed by spatial transcriptomics (10x Genomics platform) and metabolomics (in situ matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging) co-integrated with CYP11B2 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We identified intratumoral transcriptional heterogeneity that delineated functionally distinct biological pathways. Common transcriptomic signatures were established across all APA specimens which encompassed 2 distinct transcriptional profiles in CYP11B2-immunopositive regions (CYP11B2-type 1 or 2). The CYP11B2-type 1 signature was characterized by zona glomerulosa gene markers and was detected in both APA-KCNJ5MUT and APA-KCNJ5WT. The CYP11B2-type 2 signature displayed markers of the zona fasciculata or reticularis and predominated in APA-KCNJ5MUT. Metabolites that promote oxidative stress and cell death accumulated in APA-KCNJ5WT. In contrast, antioxidant metabolites were abundant in APA-KCNJ5MUT. Finally, APA-like cell subpopulations-negative for CYP11B2 gene expression-were identified in adrenocortical tissue adjacent to APAs suggesting the existence of tumor precursor states. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide insight into intra- and intertumoral transcriptional heterogeneity and support a role for prooxidant versus antioxidant systems in APA pathogenesis highlighting genotype-dependent capacities for tumor expansion.

In the mouse cortex, oligodendrocytes regain a plastic capacity, transforming into astrocytes after acute injury.

Acute brain injuries evoke various response cascades directing the formation of the glial scar. Here, we report that acute lesions associated with hemorrhagic injuries trigger a re-programming of oligodendrocytes. Single-cell RNA sequencing highlighted a subpopulation of oligodendrocytes activating astroglial genes after acute brain injuries. By using PLP-DsRed1/GFAP-EGFP and PLP-EGFPmem/GFAP-mRFP1 transgenic mice, we visualized this population of oligodendrocytes that we termed AO cells based on their concomitant activity of astro- and oligodendroglial genes. By fate mapping using PLP- and GFAP-split Cre complementation and repeated chronic in vivo imaging with two-photon laser-scanning microscopy, we observed the conversion of oligodendrocytes into astrocytes via the AO cell stage. Such conversion was promoted by local injection of IL-6 and was diminished by IL-6 receptor-neutralizing antibody as well as by inhibiting microglial activation with minocycline. In summary, our findings highlight the plastic potential of oligodendrocytes in acute brain trauma due to microglia-derived IL-6.

The Molecular Signature of Human Testicular Peritubular Cells Revealed by Single-Cell Analysis.

Peritubular cells of the human testis form a small compartment surrounding the seminiferous tubules. They are crucial for sperm transport, and they emerge as contributors to the spermatogonial stem cell niche. They are among the least known cell types of the human body. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing of cultured human testicular peritubular cells (HTPCs), which had been isolated from testicular samples of donors with normal spermatogenesis. The significant overlap between our results and recently published ex vivo data indicates that HTPCs are a highly adequate cellular model to define and study these cells. Thus, based on the expression of several markers, HTPCs can be classified as testicular smooth muscle cells. Small differences between the in vivo/in vitro expressed genes may be due to cellular plasticity. Plasticity was also shown upon addition of FCS to the culture medium. Based on transcriptome similarities, four cellular states were identified. Further analyses confirmed the presence of known stem cell niche-relevant factors (e.g., GDNF) and identified unknown functions, e.g., the ability to produce retinoic acid. Therefore, HTPCs allow us to define the signature(s) and delineate the functions of human testicular peritubular cells. The data may also serve as a resource for future studies to better understand male (in)fertility.

Innate Immune Pathways Promote Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Recruitment to the Injury Site in Adult Zebrafish Brain.

The oligodendrocyte progenitors (OPCs) are at the front of the glial reaction to the traumatic brain injury. However, regulatory pathways steering the OPC reaction as well as the role of reactive OPCs remain largely unknown. Here, we compared a long-lasting, exacerbated reaction of OPCs to the adult zebrafish brain injury with a timely restricted OPC activation to identify the specific molecular mechanisms regulating OPC reactivity and their contribution to regeneration. We demonstrated that the influx of the cerebrospinal fluid into the brain parenchyma after injury simultaneously activates the toll-like receptor 2 (Tlr2) and the chemokine receptor 3 (Cxcr3) innate immunity pathways, leading to increased OPC proliferation and thereby exacerbated glial reactivity. These pathways were critical for long-lasting OPC accumulation even after the ablation of microglia and infiltrating monocytes. Importantly, interference with the Tlr1/2 and Cxcr3 pathways after injury alleviated reactive gliosis, increased new neuron recruitment, and improved tissue restoration.

Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa-reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons.

Direct reprogramming based on genetic factors resembles a promising strategy to replace lost cells in degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. For this, we developed a knock-in mouse line carrying a dual dCas9 transactivator system (dCAM) allowing the conditional in vivo activation of endogenous genes. To enable a translational application, we additionally established an AAV-based strategy carrying intein-split-dCas9 in combination with activators (AAV-dCAS). Both approaches were successful in reprogramming striatal astrocytes into induced GABAergic neurons confirmed by single-cell transcriptome analysis of reprogrammed neurons in vivo. These GABAergic neurons functionally integrate into striatal circuits, alleviating voluntary motor behavior aspects in a 6-OHDA Parkinson's disease model. Our results suggest a novel intervention strategy beyond the restoration of dopamine levels. Thus, the AAV-dCAS approach might enable an alternative route for clinical therapies of Parkinson's disease.

TDP-43 condensates and lipid droplets regulate the reactivity of microglia and regeneration after traumatic brain injury.

Decreasing the activation of pathology-activated microglia is crucial to prevent chronic inflammation and tissue scarring. In this study, we used a stab wound injury model in zebrafish and identified an injury-induced microglial state characterized by the accumulation of lipid droplets and TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43)+ condensates. Granulin-mediated clearance of both lipid droplets and TDP-43+ condensates was necessary and sufficient to promote the return of microglia back to the basal state and achieve scarless regeneration. Moreover, in postmortem cortical brain tissues from patients with traumatic brain injury, the extent of microglial activation correlated with the accumulation of lipid droplets and TDP-43+ condensates. Together, our results reveal a mechanism required for restoring microglia to a nonactivated state after injury, which has potential for new therapeutic applications in humans.

Effects of an early life experience on rat brain cannabinoid receptors in adolescence and adulthood.

Neonatal handling is an experimental model of early life experience associated with resilience in later life challenges, altering the ability of animals to respond to stress. The endocannabinoid system of the brain modulates the neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of stress, while this system is also capable of being modulated by stress exposure itself. The present study has addressed the question of whether neonatal handling in rats could affect cannabinoid receptors, in an age- and sex-dependent manner, using in situ hybridization and receptor binding techniques. Different effects of neonatal handling were observed in adolescent and adult brain on CB1 receptor mRNA and [3H]CP55,940 binding levels, which in some cases were sexually dimorphic. Neonatal handling interfered in the developmental trajectories of CB1 receptor mRNA levels in striatum and amygdaloid nuclei, as well as of [3H]CP55,940 binding levels in almost all regions studied. Adult handled rats showed reduced [3H]CP55,940 binding levels in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens and basolateral amygdala, while binding levels in prefrontal cortex of adolescent handled rats were increased. Finally, handling resulted in decreases in female [3H]CP55,940 binding levels in the striatum, nucleus accumbens, CA3 and DG of dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala. Our results suggest that a brief and repeated maternal separation during the neonatal period induces changes on cannabinoid receptors differently manifested between adolescence and adulthood, male and female brain, which could be correlated to their stress response.