RESUMO
Disease-associated astrocyte subsets contribute to the pathology of neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis1-8 (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.
Assuntos
Astrócitos , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental , Memória Epigenética , Esclerose Múltipla , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Acetilcoenzima A/metabolismo , Astrócitos/enzimologia , Astrócitos/metabolismo , Astrócitos/patologia , ATP Citrato (pro-S)-Liase/metabolismo , Cromatina/genética , Cromatina/metabolismo , Montagem e Desmontagem da Cromatina , Sequenciamento de Cromatina por Imunoprecipitação , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental/enzimologia , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental/genética , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental/metabolismo , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental/patologia , Inflamação/enzimologia , Inflamação/genética , Inflamação/metabolismo , Inflamação/patologia , Esclerose Múltipla/enzimologia , Esclerose Múltipla/genética , Esclerose Múltipla/metabolismo , Esclerose Múltipla/patologia , Análise da Expressão Gênica de Célula Única , Transposases/metabolismoRESUMO
Astrocytes play important roles in the central nervous system (CNS) physiology and pathology. Indeed, astrocyte subsets defined by specific transcriptional activation states contribute to the pathology of neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and its pre-clinical model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) 1-8 . However, little is known about the stability of these disease-associated astrocyte subsets, their regulation, and whether they integrate past stimulation events to respond to subsequent challenges. Here, we describe the identification of an epigenetically controlled memory astrocyte subset which exhibits exacerbated pro-inflammatory responses upon re-challenge. Specifically, using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation with sequencing (ChIP-seq), focused interrogation of cells by nucleic acid detection and sequencing (FIND-seq), 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) used by the histone acetyltransferase p300 to control chromatin accessibility. ACLY + p300 + memory astrocytes are increased in acute and chronic EAE models; the genetic targeting of ACLY + p300 + astrocytes using CRISPR/Cas9 ameliorated EAE. We also detected responses consistent with a pro-inflammatory memory phenotype in human astrocytes in vitro ; scRNA-seq and immunohistochemistry studies detected increased ACLY + p300 + astrocytes in chronic MS lesions. In summary, these studies define an epigenetically controlled memory astrocyte subset that promotes CNS pathology in EAE and, potentially, MS. These findings may guide novel therapeutic approaches for MS and other neurologic diseases.