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Astrocyte calcium dysfunction causes early network hyperactivity in Alzheimer's disease.
Disha Shah1, Willy Gsell2, Jérôme Wahis3
1Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Cell Reports
|August 24, 2022
Summary
Astrocytes dysfunction causes early Alzheimer's disease (AD) network hyperactivity and connectivity issues years before amyloid plaques form. Restoring astrocyte activity reverses these brain changes and related symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Astrocyte Biology
Background:
- Network activity and functional connectivity (FC) dysfunctions are early indicators in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- The role of astrocytes, which regulate neuronal activity, in early AD network hyperactivity is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of astrocytes in early network hyperactivity and functional connectivity disruptions in Alzheimer's disease.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying early AD pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of functional connectivity (FC) in the human cingulate cortex.
- Utilizing AppNL-F mouse models to study neuronal hyperactivity and astrocyte calcium signaling.
- Investigating the effects of restoring astrocyte calcium activity on network function and behavior.
Main Results:
- Increased FC in the human cingulate cortex predates amyloid deposition by several years.
- AppNL-F mice exhibit early cingulate FC disruption and neuronal hyperactivity.
- Decreased astrocyte calcium signaling correlates with network disruptions; restoring it normalizes hyperactivity, FC, and behavioral deficits.
Conclusions:
- Astrocytes play a critical role in mediating early features of Alzheimer's disease.
- Astrocyte calcium signaling dysfunction contributes to neuronal hyperactivity and network disruptions in AD.
- Targeting astrocyte activity may offer a therapeutic strategy for early AD intervention.
Keywords:
App miceBOLD rsfMRICP: Neuroscienceamyloid pathologyastrocytescalcium signalingneuronal hyperactivityMore Related Videos
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