Venous-plexus-associated lymphoid hubs support meningeal humoral immunity.

There is increasing interest in how immune cells in the meninges-the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord-contribute to homeostasis and disease in the central nervous system1,2. The outer layer of the meninges, the dura mater, has recently been described to contain both innate and adaptive immune cells, and functions as a site for B cell development3-6. Here we identify organized lymphoid structures that protect fenestrated vasculature in the dura mater. The most elaborate of these dural-associated lymphoid tissues (DALT) surrounded the rostral-rhinal confluence of the sinuses and included lymphatic vessels. We termed this structure, which interfaces with the skull bone marrow and a comparable venous plexus at the skull base, the rostral-rhinal venolymphatic hub. Immune aggregates were present in DALT during homeostasis and expanded with age or after challenge with systemic or nasal antigens. DALT contain germinal centre B cells and support the generation of somatically mutated, antibody-producing cells in response to a nasal pathogen challenge. Inhibition of lymphocyte entry into the rostral-rhinal hub at the time of nasal viral challenge abrogated the generation of germinal centre B cells and class-switched plasma cells, as did perturbation of B-T cell interactions. These data demonstrate a lymphoid structure around vasculature in the dura mater that can sample antigens and rapidly support humoral immune responses after local pathogen challenge.

CD300f immune receptor contributes to healthy aging by regulating inflammaging, metabolism, and cognitive decline.

Emerging evidence suggests that immune receptors may participate in many aging-related processes such as energy metabolism, inflammation, and cognitive decline. CD300f, a TREM2-like lipid-sensing immune receptor, is an exceptional receptor as it integrates activating and inhibitory cell-signaling pathways that modulate inflammation, efferocytosis, and microglial metabolic fitness. We hypothesize that CD300f can regulate systemic aging-related processes and ultimately healthy lifespan. We closely followed several cohorts of two strains of CD300f-/- and WT mice of both sexes for 30 months and observed an important reduction in lifespan and healthspan in knockout mice. This was associated with systemic inflammaging, increased cognitive decline, reduced brain glucose uptake observed by 18FDG PET scans, enrichment in microglial aging/neurodegeneration phenotypes, proteostasis alterations, senescence, increased frailty, and sex-dependent systemic metabolic changes. Moreover, the absence of CD300f altered macrophage immunometabolic phenotype. Taken together, we provide strong evidence suggesting that myeloid cell CD300f immune receptor contributes to healthy aging.

Gut-educated IgA plasma cells defend the meningeal venous sinuses.

The central nervous system has historically been viewed as an immune-privileged site, but recent data have shown that the meninges-the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord-contain a diverse population of immune cells1. So far, studies have focused on macrophages and T cells, but have not included a detailed analysis of meningeal humoral immunity. Here we show that, during homeostasis, the mouse and human meninges contain IgA-secreting plasma cells. These cells are positioned adjacent to dural venous sinuses: regions of slow blood flow with fenestrations that can potentially permit blood-borne pathogens to access the brain2. Peri-sinus IgA plasma cells increased with age and following a breach of the intestinal barrier. Conversely, they were scarce in germ-free mice, but their presence was restored by gut re-colonization. B cell receptor sequencing confirmed that meningeal IgA+ cells originated in the intestine. Specific depletion of meningeal plasma cells or IgA deficiency resulted in reduced fungal entrapment in the peri-sinus region and increased spread into the brain following intravenous challenge, showing that meningeal IgA is essential for defending the central nervous system at this vulnerable venous barrier surface.

CD300f immunoreceptor is associated with major depressive disorder and decreased microglial metabolic fitness.

A role for microglia in neuropsychiatric diseases, including major depressive disorder (MDD), has been postulated. Regulation of microglial phenotype by immune receptors has become a central topic in many neurological conditions. We explored preclinical and clinical evidence for the role of the CD300f immune receptor in the fine regulation of microglial phenotype and its contribution to MDD. We found that a prevalent nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (C/T, rs2034310) of the human CD300f receptor cytoplasmic tail inhibits the protein kinase C phosphorylation of a threonine and is associated with protection against MDD, mainly in women. Interestingly, CD300f-/- mice displayed several characteristic MDD traits such as augmented microglial numbers, increased interleukin 6 and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist messenger RNA, alterations in synaptic strength, and noradrenaline-dependent and persistent depressive-like and anhedonic behaviors in females. This behavioral phenotype could be potentiated inducing the lipopolysaccharide depression model. RNA sequencing and biochemical studies revealed an association with impaired microglial metabolic fitness. In conclusion, we report a clear association that links the function of the CD300f immune receptor with MDD in humans, depressive-like and anhedonic behaviors in female mice, and altered microglial metabolic reprogramming.

Safe and neuroprotective vectors for long-term traumatic brain injury gene therapy.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex and progressive brain injury with no approved treatments that needs both short- and long-term therapeutic strategies to cope with the variety of physiopathological mechanisms involved. In particular, neuroinflammation is a key process modulating TBI outcome, and the potentiation of these mechanisms by pro-inflammatory gene therapy vectors could contribute to the injury progression. Here, we evaluate in the controlled cortical impact model of TBI, the safety of integrative-deficient lentiviral vectors (IDLVs) or the non-viral HNRK recombinant modular protein/DNA nanovector. These two promising vectors display different tropisms, transduction efficiencies, short- or long-term transduction or inflammatory activation profile. We show that the brain intraparenchymal injection of these vectors overexpressing green fluorescent protein after a CCI is not neurotoxic, and interestingly, can decrease the short-term sensory neurological deficits, and diminish the brain tissue loss at 90 days post lesion (dpl). Moreover, only IDLVs were able to mitigate the memory deficits elicited by a CCI. These vectors did not alter the microglial or astroglial reactivity at 90 dpl, suggesting that they do not potentiate the on-going neuroinflammation. Taken together, these data suggest that both types of vectors could be interesting tools for the design of gene therapy strategies targeting immediate or long-term neuropathological mechanisms of TBI.

Thy1-YFP-H Mice and the Parallel Rod Floor Test to Evaluate Short- and Long-Term Progression of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability and is a risk factor for the later development of neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Many models of TBI have been developed, but their further refinement and a more detailed long-term follow-up is needed. We have used the Thy1-YFP-H transgenic mouse line and the parallel rod floor test to produce an unbiased and robust method for the evaluation of the multiple effects of a validated model of controlled cortical injury. This approach reveals short- and long-term progressive changes, including compromised biphasic motor function up to 85 days post-lesion, which correlates with neuronal atrophy, dendrite and spine loss, and long-term axonal pathology evidenced by axon spheroids and fragmentation. Here we present methods for inducing a controlled cortical injury in the Thy1-YFP-H transgenic mouse line and for evaluating the resulting deficits in the parallel rod floor test. This technique constitutes a new, unbiased, and robust method for the evaluation of motor and behavioral alterations after TBI. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Effect of Specific Mutations in Cd300 Complexes Formation; Potential Implication of Cd300f in Multiple Sclerosis.

Herein, we have used bioinformatics tools to predict five clusters defining ligand-binding sites on the extracellular domain of human CD300b receptor, presumably involved in the formation of both homodimers and heterodimers with other CD300 family members. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed residues glutamic acid 28 and glutamine 29 in cluster 5 to be necessary for the formation of CD300b complexes. Surprisingly, the disruption of cluster 2 and 4 reconstituted the binding capability lost by the mutation of residues glutamic acid 28 to alanine, glutamine 29 to alanine (E28A-Q29G). We identified a missense mutation arginine 33 to glutamine (R33Q) in CD300f by direct sequencing of exon 2 in peripheral blood samples from 50 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Levels of expression of CD300f were almost undetectable on monocytes from the patient bearing the R33Q mutation compared with healthy individuals. Whereas R33Q mutation had no effect in the formation of CD300f complexes, the inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide indicated that CD300f R33Q is less stable than native CD300f. Finally, we report that the levels of expression of CD300f on the surface of classical and intermediate monocytes from MS patients are significantly lower when compared to the same cell populations in healthy individuals.

CD300f immunoreceptor contributes to peripheral nerve regeneration by the modulation of macrophage inflammatory phenotype.

BACKGROUND: It has recently become evident that activating/inhibitory cell surface immune receptors play a critical role in regulating immune and inflammatory processes in the central nervous system (CNS). The immunoreceptor CD300f expressed on monocytes, neutrophils, and mast cells modulates inflammation, phagocytosis, and outcome in models of autoimmune demyelination, allergy, and systemic lupus erythematosus. On the other hand, a finely regulated inflammatory response is essential to induce regeneration after injury to peripheral nerves since hematogenous macrophages, together with resident macrophages and de-differentiated Schwann cells, phagocyte distal axonal and myelin debris in a well-orchestrated inflammatory response. The possible roles and expression of CD300f and its ligands have not been reported under these conditions. METHODS: By using quantitative PCR (QPCR) and CD300f-IgG2a fusion protein, we show the expression of CD300f and its ligands in the normal and crush injured sciatic nerve. The putative role of CD300f in peripheral nerve regeneration was analyzed by blocking receptor-ligand interaction with the same CD300f-IgG2a soluble receptor fusion protein in sciatic nerves of Thy1-YFP-H mice injected at the time of injury. Macrophage M1/M2 polarization phenotype was also analyzed by CD206 and iNOS expression. RESULTS: We found an upregulation of CD300f mRNA and protein expression after injury. Moreover, the ligands are present in restricted membrane patches of Schwann cells, which remain stable after the lesion. The lesioned sciatic nerves of Thy1-YFP-H mice injected with a single dose of CD300f-IgG2a show long lasting effects on nerve regeneration characterized by a lower number of YFP-positive fibres growing into the tibial nerve after 10 days post lesion (dpl) and a delayed functional recovery when compared to PBS- or IgG2a-administered control groups. Animals treated with CD300f-IgG2a show at 10 dpl higher numbers of macrophages and CD206-positive cells and lower levels of iNOS expression than both control groups. At later time points (28 dpl), increased numbers of macrophages and iNOS expression occur. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results show that the pair CD300f ligand is implicated in Wallerian degeneration and nerve regeneration by modulating both the influx and phenotype of macrophages.

BBB-targeting, protein-based nanomedicines for drug and nucleic acid delivery to the CNS.

The increasing incidence of diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) demands the urgent development of efficient drugs. While many of these medicines are already available, the Blood Brain Barrier and to a lesser extent, the Blood Spinal Cord Barrier pose physical and biological limitations to their diffusion to reach target tissues. Therefore, efforts are needed not only to address drug development but specially to design suitable vehicles for delivery into the CNS through systemic administration. In the context of the functional and structural versatility of proteins, recent advances in their biological fabrication and a better comprehension of the physiology of the CNS offer a plethora of opportunities for the construction and tailoring of plain nanoconjugates and of more complex nanosized vehicles able to cross these barriers. We revise here how the engineering of functional proteins offers drug delivery tools for specific CNS diseases and more transversally, how proteins can be engineered into smart nanoparticles or 'artificial viruses' to afford therapeutic requirements through alternative administration routes.

Comparative analysis of lentiviral vectors and modular protein nanovectors for traumatic brain injury gene therapy.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide and there are no effective treatments currently available. Gene therapy applications have emerged as important alternatives for the treatment of diverse nervous system injuries. New strategies are evolving with the notion that each particular pathological condition may require a specific vector. Moreover, the lack of detailed comparative studies between different vectors under similar conditions hampers the selection of an ideal vector for a given pathological condition. The potential use of lentiviral vectors versus several modular protein-based nanovectors was compared using a controlled cortical impact model of TBI under the same gene therapy conditions. We show that variables such as protein/DNA ratio, incubation volume, and presence of serum or chloroquine in the transfection medium impact on both nanovector formation and transfection efficiency in vitro. While lentiviral vectors showed GFP protein 1 day after TBI and increased expression at 14 days, nanovectors showed stable and lower GFP transgene expression from 1 to 14 days. No toxicity after TBI by any of the vectors was observed as determined by resulting levels of IL-1ß or using neurological sticky tape test. In fact, both vector types induced functional improvement per se.