Microglial-derived C1q integrates into neuronal ribonucleoprotein complexes and impacts protein homeostasis in the aging brain.

Neuroimmune interactions mediate intercellular communication and underlie critical brain functions. Microglia, CNS-resident macrophages, modulate the brain through direct physical interactions and the secretion of molecules. One such secreted factor, the complement protein C1q, contributes to complement-mediated synapse elimination in both developmental and disease models, yet brain C1q protein levels increase significantly throughout aging. Here, we report that C1q interacts with neuronal ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes in an age-dependent manner. Purified C1q protein undergoes RNA-dependent liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vitro, and the interaction of C1q with neuronal RNP complexes in vivo is dependent on RNA and endocytosis. Mice lacking C1q have age-specific alterations in neuronal protein synthesis in vivo and impaired fear memory extinction. Together, our findings reveal a biophysical property of C1q that underlies RNA- and age-dependent neuronal interactions and demonstrate a role of C1q in critical intracellular neuronal processes.

Lin28 enhances tissue repair by reprogramming cellular metabolism.

Regeneration capacity declines with age, but why juvenile organisms show enhanced tissue repair remains unexplained. Lin28a, a highly conserved RNA-binding protein expressed during embryogenesis, plays roles in development, pluripotency, and metabolism. To determine whether Lin28a might influence tissue repair in adults, we engineered the reactivation of Lin28a expression in several models of tissue injury. Lin28a reactivation improved hair regrowth by promoting anagen in hair follicles and accelerated regrowth of cartilage, bone, and mesenchyme after ear and digit injuries. Lin28a inhibits let-7 microRNA biogenesis; however, let-7 repression was necessary but insufficient to enhance repair. Lin28a bound to and enhanced the translation of mRNAs for several metabolic enzymes, thereby increasing glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). Lin28a-mediated enhancement of tissue repair was negated by OxPhos inhibition, whereas a pharmacologically induced increase in OxPhos enhanced repair. Thus, Lin28a enhances tissue repair in some adult tissues by reprogramming cellular bioenergetics. PAPERCLIP:

Redefining microglia states: Lessons and limits of human and mouse models to study microglia states in neurodegenerative diseases.

Microglia are resident macrophages of the brain parenchyma and play an essential role in various aspects of brain development, plasticity, and homeostasis. With recent advances in single-cell RNA-sequencing, heterogeneous microglia transcriptional states have been identified in both animal models of neurodegenerative disorders and patients. However, the functional roles of these microglia states remain unclear; specifically, the question of whether individual states or combinations of states are protective or detrimental (or both) in the context of disease progression. To attempt to answer this, the field has largely relied on studies employing mouse models, human in vitro and chimeric models, and human post-mortem tissue, all of which have their caveats, but used in combination can enable new biological insight and validation of candidate disease pathways and mechanisms. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of disease-associated microglia states and phenotypes in neurodegenerative disorders, discuss important considerations when comparing mouse and human microglia states and functions, and identify areas of microglia biology where species differences might limit our understanding of microglia state.