Stroke or cerebral vascular accident (CVA) is the 4th leading cause of mortality and the principle cause of long-term disability in the United States. Unfortunately, current reperfusion-based treatments (e.g. thrombolysis, tPA) cannot be administered to the majority of patients presenting with ischemic stroke. Accordingly, new treatments for ischemic stroke are desperately needed. Reactive astrocytes perform key roles in tissue repair and remodeling following stroke such as preservation and repair of the blood-brain barrier, modulation of immune cell invasion, glutamate uptake and neuroprotection, and glial scar formation. The proliferative subpopulation of reactive astrocytes found immediately adjacent to the infarct core after stroke (known as the peri-infarct area) is particularly important for protecting the brain parenchyma from ischemic damage and inflammation. Defining the signaling network that controls reactive astrocyte formation and function has potential to provide new treatment strategies for patients ineligible for reperfusion therapy. Notch1 signaling is required for the proliferation of peri-infarct reactive astrocytes after stroke. To identify downstream targets and potential functional effectors of Notch1 signaling in reactive astrocytes, we developed an ex vivo forward signaling screen. To generate large quantities of adult reactive astrocytes, we employed adult Reactive astrocyte-derived Neural Stem Cells (Rad-NSCs) isolated from the peri-infarct area of mice after stroke. Astrocytes re-differentiated from Rad-NSCs (AstroRad-NSC) were then exposed to immobilized Jagged-1, a Notch1 ligand. In response to Jagged-1, many genes involved in reactive astrocyte-mediated tissue protection, metabolic regulation, angiogenesis and glial scar formation were up-regulated. Of special interest, several genes for proteins that regulate with glutamate uptake and metabolism were increased by Jagged-1/Notch signaling, including the glial-specific GLutamate-ASpartate Transporter (GLAST). With loss-of-function experiments, we determined that deletion of Notch1 decreased GLAST transcript and protein levels in cultured AstroRad-NSC. Furthermore, we isolated reactive astrocytes directly from cerebral cortex after stroke and confirmed the effects of Notch1 on GLAST in vivo. Our results suggest that treatments designed to stimulate Notch1 signaling after stroke may promote glutamate uptake, thereby decreasing excitotoxicity and neuronal cell death. Binding of Endothelin peptides to the type B Endothelin receptor (ETBR) has been shown to alter cell proliferation. Investigating a possible relationship between Jagged-1/Notch1 and Endothelin signaling in reactive astrocytes, we determined that Notch1 signaling regulated ETBR indirectly, by activating STAT3, an unidentified transcriptional activator of ETBR. Using inducible transgenic astrocyte-specific conditional knockout (cKO) mice (GFAP-ETBR-cKO), we found that specific deletion of ETBR in reactive astrocytes phenocopied the defect in reactive astrocyte proliferation observed in our previous work with GFAP-Notch1-cKO mice. Notably, the Notch1-STAT3-ETBR axis we identified is likely to control reactive astrocyte proliferation in most, if not all, forms of CNS injury. The experimental results presented in this doctoral dissertation provide novel insight into signaling mechanisms that may someday be exploited to improve care for patients with stroke and other forms of CNS injury or disease.

Every year millions of individuals suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) leading to permanent disabilities and even death. Mild TBI (mTBI) is the most common form of TBI comprising about 80-90% of all occurrences. Following a CNS insult like an mTBI, astrocytes can undergo activation resulting in the transformation into reactive astrocytes (RAs). RAs also play an important role in brain remodeling following an mTBI. Research on the mechanical complexity of the brain has important implications for understanding brain function and dysfunction, as well as for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for neurological disorders. This study aimed to develop and utilize an emph{in vitro} mTBI platform to investigate the intricate mechanical interplay between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and astrocytes following a simulated mTBI. Cellular mechanisms underlying mTBI and the contribution of mechanical forces that result in prolonged brain damage are yet to be comprehensively understood. Successfully devised mechanical characterization techniques for tissue-engineered models were developed utilizing atomic force microscopy and rheology. Astrocyte exposure to high-rate overpressure revealed altered mechanical properties of the surrounding matrix and decreased expression of laminin and collagen IV, which are critical for brain function and may contribute to pathologies associated with mTBI. The developed platform and methods provide new insights into the mechanistic complexity underlying ECM-astrocyte interactions following an mTBI. / Master of Science / Every year, millions of people suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can lead to permanent disabilities or even death. The most common form of TBI is mild TBI (mTBI), which accounts for 80-90% of all cases. After a mTBI, astrocytes, the most common cell type in the brain, can become activated and turn into reactive astrocytes (RAs). RAs play an important role in the brain's recovery following a mTBI. Understanding the mechanical complexity of the brain is crucial for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for neurological disorders. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical interplay between the modeled tissue and astrocytes following a simulated mTBI using an emph{in vitro} platform. Development of mechanical characterization techniques allowed for any alterations caused by the astrocytes to their environment to be detectable. The astrocyte exposure to the simulated mTBI revealed altered mechanical properties of the surrounding environment and decreased expression of proteins laminin and collagen IV, which are critical to brain function and may contribute to pathologies associated with mTBI. This study provides new insights into the mechanistic complexity underlying the interaction between astrocytes and their environment, which could lead to the development of new treatments.

Orientador: Cláudio Aparecido Casatti / Resumo: As teneurinas (Tens) são proteínas transmembrana do tipo II, constituídas de quatro membros homólogos (Ten-1-4). Estas proteínas são expressas principalmente durante a neurogênese do sistema nervoso central (SNC) e estão envolvidas primariamente no estabelecimento dos circuitos neuronais. Tens apresentam vários sítios de clivagens intracelular e extracelular que resultam em peptídeos bioativos, destacando-se os peptídeos associados aos terminais carboxila das teneurinas (Teneurin C-terminal-Associated Peptides, TCAPs). As latrofilinas (LPHN1-3) representam receptores associados à proteína G, sendo os principais receptores endógenos das Tens. A interação da Ten-2 com a LPHN-1 resulta na modulação nos níveis de cálcio intracelular, fato este que pode estar desbalanceado durante episódios epileptogênicos. O principal propósito deste estudo foi verificar possíveis alterações na imunorreatividade e na expressão gênica da Ten-2 no SNC em um modelo de epilepsia induzida por cloreto de lítio-cloridrato de pilocarpina em ratos adultos. Adicionalmente, as expressões gênicas do TCAP-2 e LPHN1 também foram analisadas, visto que são as principais proteínas correlacionadas à Ten-2. Para isto, ratos adultos (Rattus norvegicus; n=49) foram submetidos a indução de status epilepticus (SE) com cloreto de lítio (127 mg/kg) e cloridrato de pilocarpina (40 mg/kg) e divididos em grupos controles, grupos 2, 5 e 14 dias após SE e grupos epilepsia crônica (35 e 75 dias). Amostras do SNC destes animais... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Teneurins (Tens) are a type II transmembrane protein family composed of four homologous members (Ten-1-4). These proteins are primarily present in the central nervous system (CNS) during neurogenesis and exert an important role in the development and establishment of neuronal circuits. Tens have several intra- and extracellular cleavage sites, originating bioactive peptides, such as the carboxyl-terminal peptides named Teneurin C-terminal-Associated Peptides (TCAPs). Latrophilins (LPHN1-3) represent G protein-coupled receptors and are considered the main endogenous receptors for Tens. The Ten-2-LPHN-1interaction results in intracellular calcium modulation in neurons and this system can be changed during epilepsy induction. The main purpose of this study was to verify possible alterations in immunoreactivity and gene expression of Ten-2 in the CNS from an adult rat model of lithium chloridepilocarpine-induced epilepsy. In addition, TCAP-2 and LHPN1 gene expressions were also analyzed, as they are the main Ten-2 related proteins. For this, adult male (Rattus norvegicus; n = 49) were submitted to status epilepticus (SE) induced by intraperitoneal administration of lithium chloride (127 mg/kg) and pilocarpine hydrochloride (40 mg/kg). Subsequently, the animals were divided into control groups, 2-, 5- and 14-day groups after SE, as well as chronic epilepsy group (35-75 days). Samples were submitted to immunohistochemistry technique to identify Teneurin-2-like immunoreactive (Ten-2... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

No description available.

Les astrocytes deviennent réactifs dans les maladies neurodégénératives (MND) comme la maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) et de Huntington (MH) mais les conséquences fonctionnelles de cette réactivité sont peu connues. Dans cette étude, nous avons évalué 1) les voies de signalisation impliquées dans la réactivité astrocytaire, 2) la contribution des astrocyte réactifs (AR) à la dysfonction neuronale dans des modèles de MND et 3) les caractéristiques fonctionnelles des AR.Nous avons montré que la voie JAK2/STAT3 est responsable de la réactivité astrocytaire dans des modèles murins de la MA et la MH. Nous avons développé de nouveaux vecteurs viraux ciblant cette voie dans les astrocytes, in vivo. Grâce à ces outils, nous avons étudié la contribution des AR à la dysfonction neuronale dans deux modèles murins de la MH. Nos résultats suggèrent que les AR ne jouent pas un rôle central dans ces modèles de pathologie. En ciblant la voie JAK2/STAT3, nous avons induit la réactivité astrocytaire chez la souris sauvage et avons montré que cette voie régule la transcription de gènes impliqués dans des fonctions cellulaires importantes. De plus, nous avons observé que l’activation des astrocytes conduit à une diminution de la plasticité synaptique dans le cerveau de souris.En conclusion, nous avons montré que la voie JAK2/STAT3 est une voie centrale dans les AR. Nous avons développé des vecteurs viraux innovants pour évaluer 1) la contribution des AR à la dysfonction neuronale dans des modèles de MND et 2) les propriétés fonctionnelles des AR in vivo. L’étude des AR permettra d’identifier de nouvelles cibles moléculaires pour manipuler ces cellules pléiotropes à des fins thérapeutiques. / Astrocyte reactivity is a hallmark of pathological conditions in the CNS including neurodegenerative diseases (ND) such as Alzheimer’s (AD) and Huntington’s (HD) diseases. Reactive astrocytes (RA) are identified by morphological changes but their functional features and influence on neurons are poorly understood, especially in ND. Therefore, we aimed at 1) identifying the signaling cascades involved in astrocyte reactivity in ND, 2) evaluating RA contribution to disease phenotype in ND models and 3) deciphering RA functional features. The JAK2/STAT3 pathway is a known trigger of astrocyte reactivity in CNS injuries. Here, we show that this pathway is a common inducer of astrocyte reactivity in AD and HD models. We developed new viral vectors to target this cascade in astrocytes and manipulate astrocyte reactivity in vivo. We used these vectors to determine the contribution of RA to neuronal dysfunction in HD mouse models. We found that RA do not primarily influence disease phenotype in HD. Last, we targeted the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in WT mice to characterize RA functional features in vivo. We show RA undergo transcriptional changes of numerous genes involved in metabolism, protein degradation pathways and immune response. Moreover, we show that astrocyte reactivity alters synaptic plasticity in the mouse hippocampus. Our results identify the JAK2/STAT3 pathway as a central cascade for astrocyte reactivity. The viral vectors developed in this project represent powerful tools to decipher the roles of RA in various ND models and to characterize RA functional features in vivo. Better understanding RA functions may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for ND.

Les astrocytes sont des éléments clés de la physiologie cérébrale. Dans les maladies neurodégénératives comme la maladie d’Alzheimer (MA), les astrocytes deviennent réactifs. Cette réactivité astrocytaire (RA) est essentiellement caractérisée par des changements morphologiques. En revanche, les effets de la réactivité sur les fonctions de support des astrocytes sont mal connus. De plus, les cascades de signalisation qui conduisent à la RA restent à déterminer. Les objectifs de ce projet étaient de : 1/ démontrer que la voie JAK2-STAT3 (Janus Kinase 2 - Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3) joue un rôle central dans le contrôle de la RA au cours des maladies neurodégénératives ; 2/ comprendre quelle est l’implication de la RA dans les altérations moléculaires, cellulaires et fonctionnelles observées dans la MA. Nous avons montré que la voie JAK2-STAT3 est une cascade de signalisation centrale dans la RA (Ben Haim et al., 2015). Dans ce projet, nous démontrons en utilisant de nouveaux outils moléculaires basés sur des vecteurs viraux, que cette voie est nécessaire et suffisante à la RA. Nos résultats montrent également que la modulation de la RA dans deux modèles murins de la MA (souris APP/PS1dE9 et 3xTg-AD) influence certains index pathologiques, mais de façon contexte-dépendante. L’ensemble de ce travail a permis de valider de nouveaux outils pour étudier les astrocytes réactifs in situ et souligne l’importance et la complexité de leur fonctions au cours des maladies neurodégénératives. / Astrocytes are emerging as key players in brain physiology. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), astrocytes become reactive. Astrocyte reactivity (AR) is essentially characterized by morphological changes. But how the normal supportive functions of astrocytes are changed by their reactive state is unclear. Moreover, signaling cascades leading to AR are not yet determined. In this study, we aim to: 1/ demonstrate the JAK2-STAT3 pathway (Janus Kinase 2 - Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3) is responsible for AR in neurodegenerative diseases ; 2/ understand the contribution of reactive astrocytes to molecular, cellular and functional alterations in AD. We already reported that the JAK2- STAT3 pathway is a central cascade for AR (Ben Haim et al., 2015). Here, we demonstrate, with new molecular tools based on viral vectors, that this pathway is necessary and sufficient to AR. Our results also show that the modulation of AR in two AD mouse models (APP/PS1dE9 and 3xTg-AD mice) influence several pathological hallmarks, but in a context-dependent manner. Overall, this work has generated new original tools to study reactive astrocytes in situ and it underlines the importance and complexity of their functions in neurodegenerative diseases.

No description available.

La maladie de Huntington (MH) est une maladie neurodégénérative causée par une extension de répétitions du codon CAG dans le gène de la Huntingtine (Htt). Cette maladie est caractérisée par la mort des neurones striataux et la présence d’agrégats de Htt mutée (mHtt). De plus, au cours de la MH, les astrocytes, qui sont essentiels au bon fonctionnement neuronal, changent d’état et deviennent réactifs. La réactivité astrocytaire est caractérisée par des changements morphologiques et transcriptomiques mais l’impact fonctionnel de cette réactivité reste peu compris.Afin d’étudier le rôle des astrocytes réactifs dans la MH, nous avons utilisé des vecteurs viraux récemment développés par notre équipe, qui induisent ou bloquent la réactivité astrocytaire in vivo en ciblant la voie JAK2-STAT3. Nous avons montré que les astrocytes réactifs diminuent le nombre et la taille des agrégats de mHtt majoritairement présents dans les neurones. Ceci est associé à l’amélioration de plusieurs altérations neuronales observées dans ces modèles. Une analyse transcriptomique réalisée sur des astrocytes réactifs révèle des changements majeurs d’expression de gènes liés aux systèmes de protéostasie. De plus, l’activité du lysosome et du protéasome est augmentée dans les astrocytes réactifs de souris modèles de la MH. Nous montrons également que les astrocytes réactifs éliminent plus efficacement leurs propres agrégats de mHtt, suggérant qu’au cours de la MH, ces cellules pourraient dégrader plus efficacement la mHtt provenant des neurones. De plus, certaines protéines chaperonnes sont induites dans les astrocytes réactifs. En particulier, la co-chaperonne DNAJB1/Hsp40 est surexprimée dans les astrocytes réactifs et est retrouvée dans les exosomes isolés à partir de striata de souris MH. Des expériences de gain et perte de fonction suggèrent que cette chaperonne est impliquée dans les effets bénéfiques des astrocytes réactifs sur l’agrégation de la mHtt et l’état des neurones. Les astrocytes réactifs pourraient donc libérer des protéines anti-agrégantes qui favorise l’élimination de la mHtt dans les neurones.Notre étude montre que les astrocytes peuvent, en devenant réactifs au cours de la MH, acquérir des propriétés bénéfiques pour les neurones et favoriser, via un dialogue complexe avec les neurones, l’élimination des agrégats de mHtt. / Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by an expansion of CAG codons in the Huntingtin gene. It is characterized by the death of striatal neurons and the presence of mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) aggregates. In pathological conditions, as in HD, astrocytes change and become reactive. Astrocyte reactivity is characterized by morphological and significant transcriptomic changes. Astrocytes are essential for the proper functioning of neurons but the functional changes associated with reactivity are still unclear.To better understand the roles played by reactive astrocytes in HD, we took advantage of our recently developed viral vectors that infect selectively astrocytes in vivo and either block or induce reactivity, through manipulation of the JAK2-STAT3 pathway. We used these vectors in two complementary mouse models of HD and found that reactive astrocytes decrease the number and the size of mHtt aggregates that mainly form in neurons. Reduced mHtt aggregation was associated with improvement of neuronal alterations observed in our mouse models of HD. A genome-wide transcriptomic analysis was performed on acutely sorted reactive astrocytes and revealed an enrichment in genes linked to proteolysis. Lysosomal and proteosomal activities were also increased in reactive astrocytes in HD mice. Moreover, we show that reactive astrocytes degrade more efficiently their own mHtt aggregates, suggesting that these cells could siphon mHtt away from neurons. Alternatively, several chaperones were induced in reactive astrocytes. In particular, the co-chaperone DNAJB1/Hsp40 was upregulated in reactive astrocytes and was present in exosomal fraction from HD mouse striatum. Loss and gain of function experiments suggest that this chaperone is involved in the beneficial effects of reactive astrocytes on mHtt aggregation and neuronal status. Therefore, reactive astrocytes could release anti-aggregation proteins that could promote mHtt clearance in neurons.Overall, our data show that astrocytes, by becoming reactive in HD, develop a protective response that involves complex bidirectional signaling with neurons to reduce mHtt aggregation.

No description available.

The deposition of β-amyloid peptides and of α-synuclein proteins is a neuropathological hallmark in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) subjects, respectively. However, there is accumulative evidence that both proteins are not exclusive for their clinical entity but instead co-exist and interact with each other. Here, we investigated the presence of a newly identified, pyroglutamate79-modified α-synuclein variant (pGlu79-aSyn)—along with the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and glutaminyl cyclase (QC) implicated in its formation—in AD and in the transgenic Tg2576 AD mouse model. In the human brain, pGlu79-aSyn was detected in cortical pyramidal neurons, with more distinct labeling in AD compared to control brain tissue. Using immunohistochemical double and triple labelings and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we demonstrate an association of pGlu79-aSyn, MMP-3 and QC with β-amyloid plaques. In addition, pGlu79-aSyn and QC were present in amyloid plaque-associated reactive astrocytes that were also immunoreactive for the chaperone heat shock protein 27 (HSP27). Our data are consistent for the transgenic mouse model and the human clinical condition. We conclude that pGlu79-aSyn can be generated extracellularly or within reactive astrocytes, accumulates in proximity to β-amyloid plaques and induces an astrocytic protein unfolding mechanism involving HSP27.