Risk of meningomyelocele mediated by the common 22q11.2 deletion.

Meningomyelocele is one of the most severe forms of neural tube defects (NTDs) and the most frequent structural birth defect of the central nervous system. We assembled the Spina Bifida Sequencing Consortium to identify causes. Exome and genome sequencing of 715 parent-offspring trios identified six patients with chromosomal 22q11.2 deletions, suggesting a 23-fold increased risk compared with the general population. Furthermore, analysis of a separate 22q11.2 deletion cohort suggested a 12- to 15-fold increased NTD risk of meningomyelocele. The loss of Crkl, one of several neural tube-expressed genes within the minimal deletion interval, was sufficient to replicate NTDs in mice, where both penetrance and expressivity were exacerbated by maternal folate deficiency. Thus, the common 22q11.2 deletion confers substantial meningomyelocele risk, which is partially alleviated by folate supplementation.

Multivariate investigation of aging in mouse models expressing the Alzheimer's protective APOE2 allele: integrating cognitive metrics, brain imaging, and blood transcriptomics.

APOE allelic variation is critical in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The APOE2 allele associated with cognitive resilience and neuroprotection against AD remains understudied. We employed a multipronged approach to characterize the transition from middle to old age in mice with APOE2 allele, using behavioral assessments, image-derived morphometry and diffusion metrics, structural connectomics, and blood transcriptomics. We used sparse multiple canonical correlation analyses (SMCCA) for integrative modeling, and graph neural network predictions. Our results revealed brain sub-networks associated with biological traits, cognitive markers, and gene expression. The cingulate cortex emerged as a critical region, demonstrating age-associated atrophy and diffusion changes, with higher fractional anisotropy in males and middle-aged subjects. Somatosensory and olfactory regions were consistently highlighted, indicating age-related atrophy and sex differences. The hippocampus exhibited significant volumetric changes with age, with differences between males and females in CA3 and CA1 regions. SMCCA underscored changes in the cingulate cortex, somatosensory cortex, olfactory regions, and hippocampus in relation to cognition and blood-based gene expression. Our integrative modeling in aging APOE2 carriers revealed a central role for changes in gene pathways involved in localization and the negative regulation of cellular processes. Our results support an important role of the immune system and response to stress. This integrative approach offers novel insights into the complex interplay among brain connectivity, aging, and sex. Our study provides a foundation for understanding the impact of APOE2 allele on brain aging, the potential for detecting associated changes in blood markers, and revealing novel therapeutic intervention targets.

Polarized Desmosome and Hemidesmosome Shedding via Small Extracellular Vesicles is an Early Indicator of Outer Blood-Retina Barrier Dysfunction.

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) constitutes the outer blood-retinal barrier, enables photoreceptor function of the eye, and is constantly exposed to oxidative stress. As such, dysfunction of the RPE underlies pathology leading to development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly in industrialized nations. A major responsibility of the RPE is to process photoreceptor outer segments, which relies on the proper functioning of its endocytic pathways and endosomal trafficking. Exosomes and other extracellular vesicles (EVs) from RPE are an essential part of these pathways and may be early indicators of cellular stress. To test the role of small EVs (sEVs) including exosomes, that may underlie the early stages of AMD, we used a polarized primary RPE cell culture model under chronic subtoxic oxidative stress. Unbiased proteomic analyses of highly purified basolateral sEVs from oxidatively stressed RPE cultures revealed changes in proteins involved in epithelial barrier integrity. There were also significant changes in proteins accumulating in the basal-side sub-RPE extracellular matrix during oxidative stress, that could be prevented with an inhibitor of sEV release. Thus, chronic subtoxic oxidative stress in primary RPE cultures induces changes in sEV content, including basal-side specific desmosome and hemidesmosome shedding via sEVs. These findings provide novel biomarkers of early cellular dysfunction and opportunity for therapeutic intervention in age-related retinal diseases (e.g., AMD).

Polarized Desmosome and Hemidesmosome Shedding via Exosomes is an Early Indicator of Outer Blood-Retina Barrier Dysfunction.

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) constitutes the outer blood-retinal barrier, enables photoreceptor function of the eye, and is constantly exposed to oxidative stress. As such, dysfunction of the RPE underlies pathology leading to development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly in industrialized nations. A major responsibility of the RPE is to process photoreceptor outer segments, which relies on the proper functioning of its endocytic pathways and endosomal trafficking. Exosomes and other extracellular vesicles from RPE are an essential part of these pathways and may be early indicators of cellular stress. To test the role of exosomes that may underlie the early stages of AMD, we used a polarized primary RPE cell culture model under chronic subtoxic oxidative stress. Unbiased proteomic analyses of highly purified basolateral exosomes from oxidatively stressed RPE cultures revealed changes in proteins involved in epithelial barrier integrity. There were also significant changes in proteins accumulating in the basal-side sub-RPE extracellular matrix during oxidative stress, that could be prevented with an inhibitor of exosome release. Thus, chronic subtoxic oxidative stress in primary RPE cultures induces changes in exosome content, including basal-side specific desmosome and hemidesmosome shedding via exosomes. These findings provide novel biomarkers of early cellular dysfunction and opportunity for therapeutic intervention in age-related retinal diseases, (e.g., AMD) and broadly from blood-CNS barriers in other neurodegenerative diseases.

Legionnaires' Disease Mortality in Guinea Pigs Involves the p45 Mobile Genomic Element.

BACKGROUND: Legionella can cause Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia that occurs as sporadic epidemics. Not all strains display the same propensity to cause disease in humans. Because Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for >85% of infections, the majority of studies have examined this serogroup, but there are 3 commonly used laboratory strains: L pneumophila serogroup 1 Philadelphia (Phil-1)-derived strains JR32 and Lp01 and 130b-derived strain AA100. METHODS: We evaluated the ability of Phil-1, JR32, Lp01, and AA100 to cause disease in guinea pigs. RESULTS: We found that, although Phil-1, JR32, and AA100 cause an acute pneumonia and death by 4 days postinfection (100%), strain Lp01 does not cause mortality (0%). We also noted that Lp01 lacks a mobile element, designated p45, whose presence correlates with virulence. Transfer of p45 into Lp01 results in recovery of the ability of this strain to cause mortality, leads to more pronounced disease, and correlates with increased interferon-γ levels in the lungs and spleens before death. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest a mechanism of Legionnaires' disease pathogenesis due to the presence of type IVA secretion systems that cause higher mortality due to overinduction of a proinflammatory response in the host.

Legionella pneumophila p45 element influences host cell entry and sensitivity to sodium.

Legionella pneumophila are environmental bacteria found ubiquitously in both natural and man-made water reservoirs, sometimes as constituents of biofilm communities, but mostly intracellularly within protozoal hosts. In the event that Legionella become aerosolized in water droplets and inhaled by humans, they can cause a potentially fatal form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. Strains of L. pneumophila have highly plastic genomes that harbor numerous inter- and intra-genomic elements, enhancing their ability to live under diverse environmental conditions. One such mobile genomic element, p45 carries ~45 kbp of genes, including the Lvh (Legionella Vir homolog) type IVa secretion system. This element was evaluated for its contribution to L. pneumophila environmental resilience and virulence-related characteristics by comparing clinically isolated strain Philadelphia-1 that carries p45, Lp01 that lacks p45, and Lp01 with p45 reintroduced, Lp01+p45. We found that the p45 element impacts host cell entry and resistance to sodium, both virulence-related characteristics in Legionella species.