Thalamic atrophy already occurs in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) and continues progressively throughout the disease. Demyelination is one of the main pathological hallmarks of MS and yet, thalamic demyelination does not correlate well with thalamic atrophy. By combining post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging with immunohistochemistry of thalami from 13 control and 13 MS donors, we investigated the underlying pathological contributors of thalamic atrophy and pathology. We first assessed the volumes of four thalamic nuclei groups (anterior, lateral, medial and posterior). Then, diffusion weighted imaging was used to assess the microstructural integrity of white matter tracts connecting each thalamic nuclei group. In addition, we studied myelination, inflammation, neurodegeneration and microglial activation by immunohistochemistry. We uncovered that medial and posterior thalamic nuclei were more atrophic compared to the anterior and lateral nuclei. Bilateral posterior nuclei and the right medial and anterior nuclei showed reduced fractional anisotropy in connected white matter tracks. We further show that microglial cells in the mediodorsal nuclei have an increased density and morphological complexity in MS compared to control donors. Microglia show signs of phagocytosis of pre-synapses, although we did not observe an overall synaptic loss in the thalamus of MS donors. These microglial changes within mediodorsal nuclei correlated with lower medial thalamic volume. Taken together, this study provides evidence that thalamic (subnuclear) atrophy relates tostructural thalamic network disconnection and within-thalamic microglial changes, but not thalamic demyelination. These findings could impact future treatment strategies aimed at thalamic neuroprotection.

Bioactive lipid mediators (LMs) derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are key molecules in both the initiation and resolution of inflammatory responses. Previous findings suggest that a dysregulated LM balance, especially within the arachidonic acid (AA) pathway, may contribute to an impaired resolution response and subsequent chronic neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, to date, the local biosynthesis and signaling of LMs within the brain of people with MS (PwMS) remains unexplored. In this study, we, therefore, mapped the distribution of AA and its key downstream LM prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in white matter MS brain tissue and of non-neurological controls (NNCs) for the first time using mass spectrometry imaging. We found that AA levels are lower in MS cases compared to NNCs and reduced in MS lesions compared to peri-lesional tissue. Furthermore, the PGE2/AA ratio, indicating the PGE2 synthesis from the AA substrate, was increased in lesion areas compared to fully myelinated regions in MS. In line with that, the expression of prostaglandin synthesizing enzymes as measured by RT-qPCR was partially increased in MS tissue compared to NNCs. In addition, the expression of prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4) decreased, while prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (EP2) showed increased expression levels in MS lesions compared to NNCs and localized specifically to microglia. We also found that PGE2 addition to pro-inflammatory human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia resulted in enhanced cytokine signaling pathways, but also the upregulation of its synthase PTGES and homeostatic/resolving signaling, the latter of which might mainly occur through EP2 signaling. Collectively, our results provide detailed information about the region-specific levels of AA and PGE2 in MS lesions and we propose enhanced PGE2-EP2 signaling in inflamed microglia in MS.

Aging of the brain vasculature plays a key role in the development of neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, thereby contributing to cognitive impairment. Among other factors, DNA damage strongly promotes cellular aging, however, the role of genomic instability in brain endothelial cells (EC) and its potential effect on brain homeostasis is still largely unclear. We here investigated how endothelial aging impacts blood-brain barrier (BBB) function by using excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1)-deficient human brain ECs and an EC-specific Ercc1 knock out (EC-KO) mouse model. In vitro, ERCC1-deficient brain ECs displayed increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype expression, reduced BBB integrity, and higher sprouting capacities due to an underlying dysregulation of the Dll4-Notch pathway. In line, EC-KO mice showed more P21+ cells, augmented expression of angiogenic markers, and a concomitant increase in the number of brain ECs and pericytes. Moreover, EC-KO mice displayed BBB leakage and enhanced cell adhesion molecule expression accompanied by peripheral immune cell infiltration into the brain. These findings were confined to the white matter, suggesting a regional susceptibility. Collectively, our results underline the role of endothelial aging as a driver of impaired BBB function, endothelial sprouting, and increased immune cell migration into the brain, thereby contributing to impaired brain homeostasis as observed during the aging process.

BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. Recent evidence suggests the involvement of peripheral immune cells in the disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS:We comprehensively mapped peripheral immune changes in AD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia compared to controls, using cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF). RESULTS:We found an adaptive immune signature in AD, and specifically highlight the accumulation of PD1+ CD57+ CD8+ T effector memory cells re-expressing CD45RA in the MCI stage of AD. In addition, several innate and adaptive immune cell subsets correlated to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of AD neuropathology and measures for cognitive decline. Intriguingly, subsets of memory T and B cells were negatively associated with CSF biomarkers for tau pathology, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in AD patients. Lastly, we established the influence of the APOE ε4 allele on peripheral immunity. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings illustrate significant peripheral immune alterations associated with both early and late clinical stages of AD, emphasizing the necessity for further investigation into how these changes influence underlying brain pathology.

Tau protein hyperphosphorylation and aggregation are key pathological events in neurodegenerative tauopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, seasonal hibernators show extensive tau hyperphosphorylation during torpor, i.e., the hypothermic and hypometabolic state of hibernation, which is completely reversed during arousal. Torpor-associated mechanisms that reverse tau hyperphosphorylation may be of therapeutic relevance, however, it is currently not known to what extent they apply to human tau. Here we addressed this issue using daily torpor in wildtype mice that express mouse tau (mtau) and in mice that lack mtau expression and instead express human tau (htau). AT8, AT100 and Ser396 immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry were used to assess tau (hyper)phosphorylation at clinically relevant phosphorylation sites. We found that torpor robustly and reversibly increases the levels of phosphorylated tau in both mtau and htau mice. Immunohistochemistry revealed four brain areas that show prominent tau phosphorylation: the hippocampus, posterior parietal cortex, piriform cortex and cortical amygdala. Whereas wildtype mice primarily showed increased levels of diffusely organized hyperphosphorylated tau during torpor, htau mice contained clear somato-dendritic accumulations of AT8 reactivity resembling tau pre-tangles as observed in the Alzheimer brain. Interestingly, AT8-positive accumulations disappeared upon arousal, and tau phosphorylation levels at 24 h after arousal were lower than observed at baseline, suggesting a beneficial effect of torpor-arousal cycles on preexisting hyperphosphorylated tau. In conclusion, daily torpor in mice offers a quick and standardized method to study tau phosphorylation, accumulation and clearance in mouse models relevant for neurodegeneration, as well as opportunities to discover new targets for the treatment of human tauopathies.

Background Blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and immune cell migration into the central nervous system (CNS) are pathogenic drivers of multiple sclerosis (MS). Ways to reinstate BBB function and subsequently limit neuroinflammation present promising strategies to restrict disease progression. However, to date, the molecular players directing BBB impairment in MS remain poorly understood. One suggested candidate to impact BBB function is the transient receptor potential vanilloid-type 4 ion channel (TRPV4), but its specific role in MS pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of TRPV4 in BBB dysfunction in MS. Main text In human post-mortem MS brain tissue, we observed a region-specific increase in endothelial TRPV4 expression around mixed active/inactive lesions, which coincided with perivascular microglia enrichment in the same area. Using in vitro models, we identified that microglia-derived tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) induced brain endothelial TRPV4 expression. Also, we found that TRPV4 levels influenced brain endothelial barrier formation via expression of the brain endothelial tight junction molecule claudin-5. In contrast, during an inflammatory insult, TRPV4 promoted a pathological endothelial molecular signature, as evidenced by enhanced expression of inflammatory mediators and cell adhesion molecules. Moreover, TRPV4 activity mediated T cell extravasation across the brain endothelium. Conclusion Collectively, our findings suggest a novel role for endothelial TRPV4 in MS, in which enhanced expression contributes to MS pathogenesis by driving BBB dysfunction and immune cell migration.

Intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins (Igs) is a key hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS). B cells are known to accumulate in the leptomeninges of MS patients and associate with pathology in the underlying cortex and a more severe disease course. However, the role of locally produced antibodies in MS brain pathology is poorly understood. Here, we quantified the protein levels of IgA, IgM, IgG and albumin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 80 MS patients and 28 neurological controls to calculate Ig indices. In addition, we quantified presence of meningeal IgA+, IgM+ and IgG+ B cells in post-mortem brain tissue of 20 MS patients and 6 controls using immunostainings. IgM and IgG, but not IgA, indices were increased in CSF of MS patients compared to controls, with no observed differences between MS disease types. Both IgM and IgG indices correlated significantly with neurofilament light (NfL) levels in CSF, but not with clinical or radiological parameters of disease. Similarly, IgG+ and IgM+ B cells were increased in MS meninges compared to controls, whereas IgA+ B cells were not. Neuronal loss did not differ between sections with low or high IgA+, IgM+ and IgG+ B cells, but was increased in sections with high numbers of all CD19+ meningeal B cells. Similarly, high presence of CD19+ meningeal B cells and IgG+ meningeal B cells associated with increased microglial density in the underlying cortex. Taken together, intrathecal synthesis of IgG and IgM is elevated in MS, which corresponds to an increased number of IgG+ and IgM+ B cells in MS meninges. The significant correlation between intrathecal IgG and IgM production and NfL levels, and increased microglial activation in cortical areas adjacent to meningeal infiltrates with high levels of IgG+ B cells indicate a role for intrathecal IgM- and IgG-producing B cells in neuroinflammatory and degenerative processes in MS.

Aging coincides with major changes in brain immunity that aid in a decline in neuronal function. Here, we postulate that systemic, pro-aging factors contribute to immunological changes that occur within the brain during aging. To investigate this hypothesis, we comprehensively characterized the central and peripheral immune landscape of 20-month-old male mice using cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) and investigated the role of age-associated circulating factors. We found that CD8+ T cells expressing programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) and tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells accumulated in the aged brain while levels of memory T cells rose in the periphery. Injections of plasma derived from 20-month-old mice into 5-month-old receiving mice decreased the frequency of splenic and circulating naïve T cells, increased memory CD8+ T cells, and non-classical, patrolling monocytes in the spleen, and elevated levels of regulatory T cells and non-classical monocytes in the blood. Notably, CD8+ T cells accumulated within white matter areas of plasma-treated mice, which coincided with the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), a mediator of immune cell trafficking, on the brain vasculature. Taken together, we here describe age-related immune cell changes in the mouse brain and circulation and show that age-associated systemic factors induce the expansion of CD8+ T cells in the aged brain.

Background Recent studies suggest that extended interval dosing of ocrelizumab, an anti-B cell therapy, does not affect its clinical effectiveness in most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it remains to be established whether certain B cell subsets are differentially repopulated after different dosing intervals and whether these subsets relate to clinical efficacy. Methods We performed high-dimensional single-cell characterization of the peripheral immune landscape of patients with MS after standard (SID; n = 43) or extended interval dosing (EID; n = 37) of ocrelizumab and in non-ocrelizumab-treated (control group, CG; n = 28) patients with MS, using mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF). Results The first B cells that repopulate after both ocrelizumab dosing schemes were immature, transitional and regulatory CD1d + CD5 + B cells. In addition, we observed a higher percentage of transitional, naïve and regulatory B cells after EID in comparison with SID, but not of memory B cells or plasmablasts. The majority of repopulated B cell subsets showed an increased migratory phenotype, characterized by higher expression of CD49d, CD11a, CD54 and CD162. Interestingly, after EID, repopulated B cells expressed increased CD20 levels compared to B cells in CG and after SID, which was associated with a delayed repopulation of B cells after a subsequent ocrelizumab infusion. Finally, the number of/changes in B cell subsets after both dosing schemes did not correlate with any relapses nor progression of the disease. Conclusions Taken together, our data highlight that extending the dosing interval of ocrelizumab does not lead to increased repopulation of effector B cells. We show that the increase of CD20 expression on B cell subsets in EID might lead to longer depletion or less repopulation of B cells after the next infusion of ocrelizumab. Lastly, even though extending the ocrelizumab interval dosing alters B cell repopulation, it does not affect the clinical efficacy of ocrelizumab in our cohort of patients with MS.

Aging coincides with major changes in brain immunity that aid in a decline in neuronal function. Here, we postulate that systemic, pro-aging factors contribute to immunological changes that occur within the brain during aging. To investigate this hypothesis, we first characterized the immune landscape upon aging in 20-month-old mice using cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) and observed that memory T cells expanded in the circulation and that specifically effector CD8+ T cells expressing programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells accumulated in the aged brain. Injections of plasma derived from 20-month-old mice into 5-month-old receiving mice decreased the frequency of splenic and circulating naïve T cells, increased memory CD8+ T cells and non-classical, patrolling monocytes in the spleen, and elevated levels of regulatory T cells and non-classical monocytes in the blood. Finally, we found an accumulation of CD8+ T cells within the brain parenchyma of plasma-treated mice, which coincided with expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), a mediator of immune cell trafficking, on the brain vasculature and increased numbers of proliferating microglia. Taken together, our data highlight a role for CD8+ T cells in the aged brain and suggests involvement of age-associated systemic factors that mediate CD8+ T cell migration and expansion in the brain parenchyma.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) known for the manifestation of demyelinated lesions throughout the CNS, leading to neurodegeneration. To date, not all pathological mechanisms that drive disease progression are known, but the clinical benefits of anti-CD20 therapies have put B cells in the spotlight of MS research. Besides their pathological effects in the periphery in MS, B cells gain access to the CNS where they can contribute to disease pathogenesis. Specifically, B cells accumulate in perivascular infiltrates in the brain parenchyma and the subarachnoid spaces of the meninges, but are virtually absent from the choroid plexus. Hence, the possible migration of B cells over the blood–brain-, blood–meningeal-, and blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers appears to be a crucial step to understanding B cell-mediated pathology. To gain more insight into the molecular mechanisms that regulate B cell trafficking into the brain, we here provide a comprehensive overview of the different CNS barriers in health and in MS and how they translate into different routes for B cell migration. In addition, we review the mechanisms of action of diverse therapies that deplete peripheral B cells and/or block B cell migration into the CNS. Importantly, this review shows that studying the different routes of how B cells enter the inflamed CNS should be the next step to understanding this disease.

BACKGROUND:Synaptic and neuronal loss contribute to network dysfunction and disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is unknown whether excitatory or inhibitory synapses and neurons are more vulnerable and how their losses impact network functioning.OBJECTIVE:To quantify excitatory and inhibitory synapses and neurons and to investigate how synaptic loss affects network functioning through computational modeling.METHODS:Using immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy, densities of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses and neurons were compared between post-mortem MS and non-neurological control cases. Then, a corticothalamic biophysical model was employed to study how MS-induced excitatory and inhibitory synaptic loss affect network functioning.RESULTS:In layer VI of normal-appearing MS cortex, excitatory and inhibitory synaptic densities were significantly lower than controls (reductions up to 14.9%), but demyelinated cortex showed larger losses of inhibitory synapses (29%). In our computational model, reducing inhibitory synapses impacted the network most, leading to a disinhibitory increase in neuronal activity and connectivity.CONCLUSION:In MS, excitatory and inhibitory synaptic losses were observed, predominantly for inhibitory synapses in demyelinated cortex. Inhibitory synaptic loss affected network functioning most, leading to increased neuronal activity and connectivity. As network disinhibition relates to cognitive impairment, inhibitory synaptic loss seems particularly relevant in MS.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. Recent evidence suggests the involvement of peripheral immune cells in the disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We comprehensively mapped peripheral immune changes in AD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia compared to controls, using high-dimensional single-cell characterization. We found an adaptive immune signature in AD, and specifically highlight the accumulation of PD1 + CD57 + CD8 + T effector memory cells re-expressing CD45RA in the MCI stage of AD, which formed unique immune networks with subsets of CD4 + T cells. In addition, several innate and adaptive immune cell subsets correlated to CSF biomarkers of neuropathology and measures for cognitive decline. Specifically, subsets of memory B cells were negatively associated with CSF biomarkers for neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in AD patients. Together, we show substantial peripheral immune changes associated with AD, which signify the demand for a greater understanding of how these cells contribute to underlying brain pathology.

Meningeal inflammation strongly associates with demyelination and neuronal loss in the underlying cortex of progressive MS patients, thereby contributing significantly to clinical disability. However, the pathological mechanisms of meningeal inflammation-induced cortical pathology are still largely elusive. By extensive analysis of cortical microglia in post-mortem progressive MS tissue, we identified cortical areas with two MS-specific microglial populations, termed MS1 and MS2 cortex. The microglial population in MS1 cortex was characterized by a higher density and increased expression of the activation markers HLA class II and CD68, whereas microglia in MS2 cortex showed increased morphological complexity and loss of P2Y12 and TMEM119 expression. Interestingly, both populations associated with inflammation of the overlying meninges and were time-dependently replicated in an in vivo rat model for progressive MS-like chronic meningeal inflammation. In this recently developed animal model, cortical microglia at 1-month post-induction of experimental meningeal inflammation resembled microglia in MS1 cortex, and microglia at 2 months post-induction acquired a MS2-like phenotype. Furthermore, we observed that MS1 microglia in both MS cortex and the animal model were found closely apposing neuronal cell bodies and to mediate pre-synaptic displacement and phagocytosis, which coincided with a relative sparing of neurons. In contrast, microglia in MS2 cortex were not involved in these synaptic alterations, but instead associated with substantial neuronal loss. Taken together, our results show that in response to meningeal inflammation, microglia acquire two distinct phenotypes that differentially associate with neurodegeneration in the progressive MS cortex. Furthermore, our in vivo data suggests that microglia initially protect neurons from meningeal inflammation-induced cell death by removing pre-synapses from the neuronal soma, but eventually lose these protective properties contributing to neuronal loss.

While transcripts of neuronal mitochondrial genes are strongly suppressed in central nervous system inflammation, it is unknown whether this results in mitochondrial dysfunction and whether an increase of mitochondrial function can rescue neurodegeneration. Here, we show that predominantly genes of the electron transport chain are suppressed in inflamed mouse neurons, resulting in impaired mitochondrial complex IV activity. This was associated with post-translational inactivation of the transcriptional co-regulator proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α). In mice, neuronal overexpression of Ppargc1a, which encodes for PGC-1α, led to increased numbers of mitochondria, complex IV activity, and maximum respiratory capacity. Moreover, Ppargc1a-overexpressing neurons showed a higher mitochondrial membrane potential that related to an improved calcium buffering capacity. Accordingly, neuronal deletion of Ppargc1a aggravated neurodegeneration during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, while neuronal overexpression of Ppargc1a ameliorated it. Our study provides systemic insights into mitochondrial dysfunction in neurons during inflammation and commends elevation of mitochondrial activity as a promising neuroprotective strategy.

Sustained exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines in the leptomeninges is thought to play a major role in the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS). Although the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in the grey matter remain unclear, several lines of evidence suggest a prominent role for tumour necrosis factor (TNF). Using cortical grey matter tissue blocks from post-mortem brains from 28 secondary progressive MS subjects and ten non-neurological controls, we describe an increase in expression of multiple steps in the TNF/TNF receptor 1 signaling pathway leading to necroptosis, including the key proteins TNFR1, FADD, RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL. Activation of this pathway was indicated by the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL and the formation of protein oligomers characteristic of necrosomes. In contrast, caspase-8 dependent apoptotic signaling was decreased. Upregulation of necroptotic signaling occurred predominantly in macroneurons in cortical layers II–III, with little expression in other cell types. The presence of activated necroptotic proteins in neurons was increased in MS cases with prominent meningeal inflammation, with a 30-fold increase in phosphoMLKL+ neurons in layers I–III. The density of phosphoMLKL+ neurons correlated inversely with age at death, age at progression and disease duration. In vivo induction of chronically elevated TNF and INFγ levels in the CSF in a rat model via lentiviral transduction in the meninges, triggered inflammation and neurodegeneration in the underlying cortical grey matter that was associated with increased neuronal expression of TNFR1 and activated necroptotic signaling proteins. Exposure of cultured primary rat cortical neurons to TNF induced necroptosis when apoptosis was inhibited. Our data suggest that neurons in the MS cortex are dying via TNF/TNFR1 stimulated necroptosis rather than apoptosis, possibly initiated in part by chronic meningeal inflammation. Neuronal necroptosis represents a pathogenetic mechanism that is amenable to therapeutic intervention at several points in the signaling pathway.

Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) drives neuro-axonal loss resulting in irreversible disability. While transcripts of mitochondrial genes are strongly suppressed in neurons during CNS inflammation, it is unknown whether this results in mitochondrial dysfunction and whether interventions that increase mitochondrial function can rescue neurodegeneration. Here we show that suppression of mitochondrial gene transcripts in inflamed neurons was predominantly affecting genes of the electron transport chain resulting in impaired mitochondrial complex IV activity. This was associated with posttranslational inactivation of the transcriptional co-regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-α (PGC-1α). Neuronal overexpression of Pgc-1α led to increased numbers of mitochondria, complex IV activity and elevated maximum respiratory capacity. Moreover, Pgc-1α- overexpressing neurons showed a higher mitochondrial membrane potential that related to an improved calcium buffering capacity. Accordingly, neuronal deletion of Pgc-1α aggravated neurodegeneration during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), while neuronal overexpression of Pgc-1α ameliorated EAE disease course and preserved neurons. Our study provides systemic insights into mitochondrial dysfunction in neurons during inflammation and commends elevation of mitochondrial activity as a promising neuroprotective strategy.

The original publication of this article [1] contained an incorrect author name. The correct and incorrect information is shown in this correction article. The original article has been updated.

Experimental evidence supports an intricate association between inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction as main contributors of neurological diseases. Inflammatory mediators produced by activated microglia and infiltrated immune cells trigger intracellular signalling cascades that can alter cellular mitochondrial metabolism. Cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor-alpha, impede mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and associated ATP production and instigate mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. This culminates in mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, altered mitochondrial dynamics and might ultimately result in cell death. When severely injured mitochondria are not appropriately removed by mitophagy they can release their contents into the cytosol and extracellular environment and thereby amplify the inflammatory process. Here we provide a comprehensive overview on how inflammatory mediators impair mitochondrial metabolism and discuss how defective mitochondria can elicit and potentiate an inflammatory response.