Progression of Microglia Aging in the Hippocampus Involves Intermediate States that Drive Inflammatory Activation and Cognitive Decline

Concetti Chiave

Microglia in the aging hippocampus advance through intermediate transcriptional states that precede inflammatory activation, with functional implications for age-related cognitive decline.

Sintesi

The study investigates the progression of microglia aging in the hippocampus, a brain region responsible for learning and memory that is susceptible to age-related cognitive decline. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) across the adult lifespan, the authors identify intermediate transcriptional states of microglial aging that emerge during the aging process.
Key highlights:

Microglia in the adult mouse hippocampus exhibit progressive age-related transcriptional changes, transitioning from a homeostatic state in younger mice to an activated inflammatory state in old mice.
Pseudotime trajectory analysis reveals that microglia advance through intermediate states, such as activation of stress response pathways and TGFβ signaling, which act as checkpoints on further age-related activation.
Disrupting the age-related increase in microglia-derived TGFβ1 in mature adult mice promotes advancement along the aging-associated inflammatory trajectory and impairs hippocampal-dependent cognitive function.
Exposure to an aged systemic environment or Alzheimer's disease pathology drives adult microglia advancement along the aging-associated inflammatory trajectory.
In vitro, pharmacological modulation of the intermediate stress response and translational states can alter the progression of microglia towards inflammatory activation.
The findings suggest that microglia aging in the hippocampus involves a series of intermediate transcriptional states that precede inflammatory activation, with functional implications for age-related cognitive decline. Targeting these intermediate states may provide a means to delay age-related microglial dysfunction and maintain cognitive function.

Statistiche

Microglia isolated from 6-month-old mice exhibit higher expression of homeostatic genes like Cx3cr1 compared to 24-month-old mice.
Microglia isolated from 24-month-old mice exhibit higher expression of inflammatory genes like B2m, Apoe, Cd48, and Lyz2 compared to 6-month-old mice.
Microglia isolated from 12-month-old mice exhibit transient increases in expression of immediate early genes like Jun, Klf2, and Fos, as well as the purinergic receptor gene P2ry12.
Microglia isolated from 24-month-old mice exhibit higher expression of complement genes C1q and C3 compared to 6-month-old mice.

Citazioni

"Microglia exhibit several hallmarks of aging that potentially contribute to their age-related dysfunction, such as shortened telomeres, altered intercellular communication, molecular alterations, and a loss of proteostasis."
"Interestingly, the microglial response to aging shows regional variation, as white matter-rich regions induce an interferon signature in aged microglia."
"Alternatively, in the aged brain microglia exhibit dystrophic phenotypes, aggravating perceived insults rather than responding productively to environmental signals."

Approfondimenti chiave tratti da

Microglia aging in the hippocampus advances through intermediate states that drive inflammatory activation and cognitive decline

by Shea,J. M., ... alle www.biorxiv.org 04-09-2024

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.09.588665v1

Domande più approfondite

How do the identified intermediate states of microglial aging relate to other age-related changes in the brain, such as alterations in neuronal function, synaptic connectivity, and the extracellular environment

The identified intermediate states of microglial aging play a crucial role in the broader context of age-related changes in the brain. As microglia advance through these intermediate states towards inflammatory activation, they interact with various components of the brain microenvironment, including neurons, synapses, and the extracellular matrix.

Neuronal Function: Microglia are known to modulate neuronal function through the release of various signaling molecules. As they progress through intermediate states towards inflammation, microglia may release pro-inflammatory cytokines that can directly impact neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity. This dysregulated communication between microglia and neurons can contribute to age-related cognitive decline.

Synaptic Connectivity: Microglia play a crucial role in synaptic pruning and maintenance. During aging, as microglia transition through intermediate states towards inflammatory activation, their ability to support synaptic connectivity may be compromised. This can lead to synaptic dysfunction, impaired neural circuitry, and ultimately cognitive deficits commonly observed in aging brains.

Extracellular Environment: In the aging brain, the extracellular environment undergoes significant changes, including increased neuroinflammation and altered levels of cytokines and chemokines. Microglia, as the primary immune cells in the brain, respond to these changes by transitioning through intermediate states towards an inflammatory phenotype. This altered microglial activation state can further exacerbate neuroinflammation and disrupt the delicate balance of the extracellular environment, contributing to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative processes.

Overall, the identified intermediate states of microglial aging are intricately linked to age-related alterations in neuronal function, synaptic connectivity, and the extracellular environment, highlighting the complex interplay between microglia and the brain microenvironment during the aging process.

What are the potential mechanisms by which loss of microglia-derived TGFβ1 leads to hippocampal-dependent cognitive impairments

The loss of microglia-derived TGFβ1 can lead to hippocampal-dependent cognitive impairments through several potential mechanisms:

Disruption of Homeostasis: TGFβ1 is essential for maintaining microglial homeostasis and regulating their response to environmental stimuli. Loss of TGFβ1 signaling in microglia can disrupt the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, leading to chronic neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction.

Increased Inflammatory Activation: TGFβ1 acts as a key regulator of microglial activation, promoting an anti-inflammatory phenotype. In the absence of TGFβ1, microglia may shift towards a pro-inflammatory state, releasing cytokines and chemokines that contribute to neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction.

Impaired Neuroprotection: TGFβ1 is known to have neuroprotective effects in the brain, promoting neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. Loss of microglia-derived TGFβ1 may compromise these neuroprotective functions, making the hippocampus more vulnerable to age-related damage and cognitive decline.

Altered Immune Response: TGFβ1 plays a crucial role in modulating the immune response in the brain. Its absence in microglia can lead to dysregulated immune activation, exacerbating neuroinflammation and impairing cognitive function.

In summary, the mechanisms by which loss of microglia-derived TGFβ1 leads to hippocampal-dependent cognitive impairments involve disruptions in homeostasis, increased inflammatory activation, impaired neuroprotection, and altered immune responses, collectively contributing to cognitive decline in the aging brain.

Could interventions that target the intermediate states of microglial aging, such as modulation of stress response pathways or translational capacity, have broader implications for promoting healthy brain aging beyond just cognitive function

Interventions that target the intermediate states of microglial aging, such as modulation of stress response pathways or translational capacity, have the potential to have broader implications for promoting healthy brain aging beyond just cognitive function.

Neuroprotection: By targeting stress response pathways in microglia, interventions can help mitigate the detrimental effects of chronic stress and inflammation on neuronal health. This can lead to improved neuroprotection, reduced neuroinflammation, and enhanced synaptic plasticity, promoting overall brain health during aging.

Synaptic Plasticity: Modulating translational capacity in microglia can impact their ability to support synaptic connectivity and plasticity. Interventions that enhance translational processes in microglia may promote synaptic maintenance, improve neural circuitry, and preserve cognitive function in aging brains.

Immune Regulation: Targeting intermediate states of microglial aging can help regulate the immune response in the brain, maintaining a balanced inflammatory environment. This immune modulation can have far-reaching effects on overall brain health, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline associated with aging.

Anti-Aging Effects: By intervening at critical checkpoints in the aging process of microglia, these interventions may have anti-aging effects beyond cognitive function. They can potentially slow down the progression of age-related neuroinflammation, preserve neuronal integrity, and promote healthy brain aging overall.

In conclusion, interventions that target the intermediate states of microglial aging have the potential to promote healthy brain aging by enhancing neuroprotection, synaptic plasticity, immune regulation, and anti-aging effects, offering a comprehensive approach to maintaining brain health in the elderly population.