Single-cell transcriptomics reveals colonic immune perturbations during amyloid-ß driven Alzheimer's disease in mice.

The "gut-brain axis" is emerging as an important target in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, immunological mechanisms underlying this axis remain poorly understood. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of the colon immune compartment in the 5XFAD amyloid-ß (Aß) mouse model, we uncovered AD-associated changes in ribosomal activity, oxidative stress, and BCR/plasma cell activity. Strikingly, levels of colon CXCR4 + antibody secreting cells (ASCs) were significantly reduced. This corresponded with accumulating CXCR4 + B cells and gut-specific IgA + cells in the brain and dura mater, respectively. Consistently, a chemokine ligand for CXCR4, CXCL12, was expressed at higher levels in 5XFAD glial cells and in in silico analyzed human brain studies, supporting altered neuroimmune trafficking. An inulin prebiotic fiber diet attenuated AD markers including Aß plaques and overall frailty. These changes corresponded to an expansion of gut IgA + cells and rescued peripheral T regs levels. Our study points to a key glia-gut axis and potential targets against AD. Study Highlights: AD is associated with altered immune parameters in the gut of 5XFAD mice. 5 XFAD colon has reduced ASCs, including CXCR4 + cells with a migratory gene signature. 5XFAD brain gliosis includes increased CXCL12 expression. CXCR4 + B cells and gut-specific IgA + ASCs accumulate in the 5XFAD brain and/or dura mater. Inulin diet attenuates AD disease parameters while boosting IgA + cell and T reg levels.

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response regulates hippocampal neural stem cell aging.

Aging results in a decline in neural stem cells (NSCs), neurogenesis, and cognitive function, and evidence is emerging to demonstrate disrupted adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus of patients with several neurodegenerative disorders. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing of the dentate gyrus of young and old mice shows that the mitochondrial protein folding stress is prominent in activated NSCs/neural progenitors (NPCs) among the neurogenic niche, and it increases with aging accompanying dysregulated cell cycle and mitochondrial activity in activated NSCs/NPCs in the dentate gyrus. Increasing mitochondrial protein folding stress results in compromised NSC maintenance and reduced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, neural hyperactivity, and impaired cognitive function. Reducing mitochondrial protein folding stress in the dentate gyrus of old mice improves neurogenesis and cognitive function. These results establish the mitochondrial protein folding stress as a driver of NSC aging and suggest approaches to improve aging-associated cognitive decline.

TET3 plays a critical role in white adipose development and diet-induced remodeling.

Maintaining healthy adipose tissue is crucial for metabolic health, requiring a deeper understanding of adipocyte development and response to high-calorie diets. This study highlights the importance of TET3 during white adipose tissue (WAT) development and expansion. Selective depletion of Tet3 in adipose precursor cells (APCs) reduces adipogenesis, protects against diet-induced adipose expansion, and enhances whole-body metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis of wild-type and Tet3 knockout (KO) APCs unveiled TET3 target genes, including Pparg and several genes linked to the extracellular matrix, pivotal for adipogenesis and remodeling. DNA methylation profiling and functional studies underscore the importance of DNA demethylation in gene regulation. Remarkably, targeted DNA demethylation at the Pparg promoter restored its transcription. In conclusion, TET3 significantly governs adipogenesis and diet-induced adipose expansion by regulating key target genes in APCs.

The hepatic integrated stress response suppresses the somatotroph axis to control liver damage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be ameliorated by calorie restriction, which leads to the suppressed somatotroph axis. Paradoxically, the suppressed somatotroph axis is associated with patients with NAFLD and is correlated with the severity of fibrosis. How the somatotroph axis becomes dysregulated and whether the repressed somatotroph axis impacts liver damage during the progression of NAFLD are unclear. Here, we identify a regulatory branch of the hepatic integrated stress response (ISR), which represses the somatotroph axis in hepatocytes through ATF3, resulting in enhanced cell survival and reduced cell proliferation. In mouse models of NAFLD, the ISR represses the somatotroph axis, leading to reduced apoptosis and inflammation but decreased hepatocyte proliferation and exacerbated fibrosis in the liver. NAD+ repletion reduces the ISR, rescues the dysregulated somatotroph axis, and alleviates NAFLD. These results establish that the hepatic ISR suppresses the somatotroph axis to control cell fate decisions and liver damage in NAFLD.

The mitochondrial metabolic checkpoint in stem cell aging and rejuvenation.

Stem cell aging contributes to aging-associated tissue degeneration and dysfunction. Recent studies reveal a mitochondrial metabolic checkpoint that regulates stem cell quiescence and maintenance, and dysregulation of the checkpoint leads to functional deterioration of aged stem cells. Here, we present the evidence supporting the mitochondrial metabolic checkpoint regulating stem cell aging and demonstrating the feasibility to target this checkpoint to reverse stem cell aging. We discuss the mechanisms by which mitochondrial stress leads to stem cell deterioration. We speculate the therapeutic potential of targeting the mitochondrial metabolic checkpoint for rejuvenating aged stem cells and improving aging tissue functions.

An Acetylation Switch of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Regulates Aging-Associated Chronic Inflammation and Insulin Resistance.

It is well documented that the rate of aging can be slowed, but it remains unclear to which extent aging-associated conditions can be reversed. How the interface of immunity and metabolism impinges upon the diabetes pandemic is largely unknown. Here, we show that NLRP3, a pattern recognition receptor, is modified by acetylation in macrophages and is deacetylated by SIRT2, an NAD+-dependent deacetylase and a metabolic sensor. We have developed a cell-based system that models aging-associated inflammation, a defined co-culture system that simulates the effects of inflammatory milieu on insulin resistance in metabolic tissues during aging, and aging mouse models; and demonstrate that SIRT2 and NLRP3 deacetylation prevent, and can be targeted to reverse, aging-associated inflammation and insulin resistance. These results establish the dysregulation of the acetylation switch of the NLRP3 inflammasome as an origin of aging-associated chronic inflammation and highlight the reversibility of aging-associated chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.

Mitochondrial Stress-Initiated Aberrant Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Regulates the Functional Deterioration of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging.

Aging-associated defects in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can manifest in their progeny, leading to aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages and affecting distant tissues and organismal health span. Whether the NLRP3 inflammasome is aberrantly activated in HSCs during physiological aging is unknown. We show here that SIRT2, a cytosolic NAD+-dependent deacetylase, is required for HSC maintenance and regenerative capacity at an old age by repressing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in HSCs cell autonomously. With age, reduced SIRT2 expression and increased mitochondrial stress lead to aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in HSCs. SIRT2 overexpression, NLRP3 inactivation, or caspase 1 inactivation improves the maintenance and regenerative capacity of aged HSCs. These results suggest that mitochondrial stress-initiated aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a reversible driver of the functional decline of HSC aging and highlight the importance of inflammatory signaling in regulating HSC aging.

Long-Term Effects of Dietary Protein and Branched-Chain Amino Acids on Metabolism and Inflammation in Mice.

Aging is the main factor involved in the onset of degenerative diseases. Dietary protein restriction has been shown to increase the lifespan of rodents and improve metabolic phenotype. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) can act as nutrient signals that increase the lifespan of mice after prolonged supplementation. It remains unclear whether the combination of protein restriction and BCAA supplementation improves metabolic and immunological profiles during aging. Here, we investigated how dietary protein levels and BCAA supplementation impact metabolism and immune profile during a 12-month intervention in adult male C57BL/6J mice. We found that protein restriction improved insulin tolerance and increased hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 mRNA, circulating interleukin (IL)-5 concentration, and thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 in subcutaneous white fat. Surprisingly, BCAA supplementation conditionally increased body weight, lean mass, and fat mass, and deteriorated insulin intolerance during protein restriction, but not during protein sufficiency. BCAA also induced pro-inflammatory gene expression in visceral adipose tissue under both normal and low protein conditions. These results suggest that dietary protein levels and BCAA supplementation coordinate a complex regulation of metabolism and tissue inflammation during prolonged feeding.