Entorhinal cortex astrocytic atrophy in human frontotemporal dementia.

The pathophysiology of Fronto Temporal Dementia (FTD) remains poorly understood, specifically the role of astroglia. Our aim was to explore the hypothesis of astrocytic alterations as a component for FTD pathophysiology. We performed an in-depth tri-dimensional (3-D) anatomical and morphometric study of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive and glutamine synthetase (GS)-positive astrocytes in the human entorhinal cortex (EC) of FTD patients. The studies at this level in the different types of human dementia are scarce. We observed a prominent astrocyte atrophy of GFAP-positive astrocytes and co-expressing GFAP/GS astrocytes, characterised by a decrease in area and volume, whilst minor changes in GS-positive astrocytes in FTD compared to non-dementia controls (ND) samples. This study evidences the importance of astrocyte atrophy and dysfunction in human EC. We hypothesise that FTD is not only a neuropathological disease, but also a gliopathological disease having a major relevance in the understanding the astrocyte role in FTD pathological processes and development.

Astrocyte S100ß expression and selective differentiation to GFAP and GS in the entorhinal cortex during ageing in the 3xTg-Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

The study of astrocytes and its role in the development and evolution of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) is essential to fully understand their aetiology. The aim if this study is to deepen into the concept of the heterogeneity of astrocyte subpopulations in the EC and in particular the identification of differentially functioning astrocyte subpopulations that respond differently to AD progression. S100ß protein belongs to group of small calcium regulators of cell membrane channels and pumps that are expressed by astrocytes and is hypothesised to play and have a relevant role in AD development. We analysed the selective differentiation of S100ß-positive astrocytes into Glutamine synthetase (GS) and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive sub-groups in the entorhinal cortex (EC) of AD triple transgenic animal model (3xTg-AD). EC is the brain region earliest affected in humans AD but also in this closest animal model regarding their pathology and time course. We observed no changes in the number of S100ß-positive astrocytes between 1 and 18 months of age in the EC of 3xTg-AD mice. However, we identified relevant morphological changes in S100ß/GFAP positive astrocytes showing a significant reduction in their surface and volume whilst an increase in number and percentage. Furthermore, the percentage of S100ß/GS positive astrocyte population was also increased in 18 months old 3xTg-AD mice compared to the non-Tg mice. Our findings reveal the presence of differentially controlled astrocyte populations that respond differently to AD progression in the EC of 3xTg-AD mice. These results highpoints the major astrocytic role together with its early and marked affection in AD and arguing in favour of its importance in neurogenerative diseases and potential target for new therapeutic approaches.

Prominent and conspicuous astrocyte atrophy in human sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease.

Pathophysiology of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD) and familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) remains poorly known, including the exact role of neuroglia and specifically astroglia, in part because studies of astrocytes in human Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain samples are scarce. As far as we know, this is the first study of a 3-D immunohistochemical and microstructural analysis of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)- and glutamine synthetase (GS)-positive astrocytes performed in the entorhinal cortex (EC) of human SAD and FAD samples. In this study, we report prominent atrophic changes in GFAP and GS astrocytes in the EC of both SAD and FAD characterised by a decrease in area and volume when compared with non-demented control samples (ND). Furthermore, we did not find neither astrocytic loss nor astrocyte proliferation or hypertrophy (gliosis). In contrast with the astrogliosis classically accepted hypothesis, our results show a highly marked astrocyte atrophy that could have a major relevance in AD pathological processes being fundamental and key for AD mnesic and cognitive alterations equivalent in both SAD and FAD.

Neuroanatomical and morphometric study of S100ß positive astrocytes in the entorhinal cortex during ageing in the 3xTg-Alzehimer's disease mouse model.

Astrocytes contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we report the neuroanatomical and morphometric analysis of astrocytes in the entorhinal cortex (EC) of the aged wild type (WT) and triple transgenic (3xTg-AD) mouse model of AD. Using 3D confocal microscopy, we determined the surface area and volume of positive astrocytic profiles in male mice (WT and 3xTg-AD) from 1 to 18 months of age. We showed that S100ß-positive astrocytes were equally distributed throughout the entire EC in both animal types and showed no changes in Nv (number of cells/mm3) nor in their distribution at the different ages studied. These positive astrocytes, demonstrated an age-dependent gradual increase in their surface area and in their volume starting at 3 months of age, in both WT and 3xTg-AD mice. This last group demonstrated a large increase in both surface area and volume at 18 months of age when the burden of pathological hallmarks of AD is present (69.74% to 76.73% in the surface area and the volume, for WT and 3xTg-AD mice respectively). We observed that these changes were due to the enlargement of the cell processes and to less extend the somata. In fact, the volume of the cell body was increased by 35.82% in 18-month-old 3xTg-AD compared to WT. On the other hand, the increase on the astrocytic processes were detected as soon as 9 months of age where we found an increase of surface area and volume (36.56% and 43.73%, respectively) sustained till 18 month of age (93.6% and 113.78%, respectively) when compared age-matched non-Tg mice. Moreover, we demonstrated that these hypertrophic S100ß-positive astrocytes were mainly associated with Aß plaques. Our results show a severe atrophy in GFAP cytoskeleton in all cognitive areas; whilst within the EC astrocytes independent to this atrophy show no changes in GS and S100ß; which can play a key role in the memory impairment.