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Modulation of astrocyte reactivity improves functional deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease
Open accessAbstract
Astrocyte reactivity and neuroinflammation are hallmarks of CNS pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the specific role of reactive astrocytes is still debated. This controversy may stem from the fact that most strategies used to modulate astrocyte reactivity and explore its contribution to disease outcomes have only limited specificity. Moreover, reactive astrocytes are now emerging as heterogeneous cells and all types of astrocyte reactivity may not be controlled efficiently by such strategies.Here, we used cell type-specific approaches in vivo and identified the JAK2-STAT3 pathway, as necessary and sufficient for the induction and maintenance of astrocyte reactivity. Modulation of this cascade by viral gene transfer in mouse astrocytes efficiently controlled several morphological and molecular features of reactivity. Inhibition of this pathway in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease improved three key pathological hallmarks by reducing amyloid deposition, improving spatial learning and restoring synaptic deficits.In conclusion, the JAK2-STAT3 cascade operates as a master regulator of astrocyte reactivity in vivo. Its inhibition offers new therapeutic opportunities for Alzheimer's disease.
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![Fig. 4 Inhibition of JAK2-STAT3-mediated astrocyte reactivity reduces amyloid load in APP mice without impacting microglial cells a, Representative images of BAM10+ amyloid plaques (white) automatically delineated in yellow in APP-GFP, APP-SOCS3 and APP-JAK2ca mice. b, The number of hippocampal BAM10+ plaques is significantly decreased by SOCS3 (N = 9–8) and increased by JAK2ca in APP mice (N = 6–6). SOCS3 and JAK2ca effects were measured in two independent cohorts. c, The average size of individual BAM10+ amyloid plaque is similar between groups. d, Dosage of Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptide concentrations in Triton-X100-soluble protein homogenates from the hippocampus of APP-GFP (N = 10 or 6), APP-SOCS3 (N = 8) and APP-JAK2ca mice (N = 6). Aβ40 and 42 levels are not significantly different between groups. e, IBA1+ microglial cells (red, arrowheads) in contact with a MXO4+ amyloid plaque (blue). f, The number of microglia per plaque is similar between APP-GFP and APP-SOCS3 mice. N = 10–8. g, Confocal images of MXO4+ material (blue) in IBA1+ microglial cells (red). Microglial cells in contact with plaques either display MXO4 staining (white arrowhead) at the membrane, in the cytosol or are MXO4−. h, The proportion of these three classes of microglial cells is not different between groups. N = 10–8. i, Experimental design to monitor Aβ phagocytosis. WT-GFP (N = 10), APP-GFP (N = 6) and APP-SOCS3 (N = 8) mice were injected with MXO4, 3 h before sacrifice. After staining, hippocampal CD11b+/CD45+ microglia and GFP+ astrocytes were analyzed by FACS. j, Representative gates to analyze MXO4+ amyloid uptake in astrocytes and microglia. There are 20% MXO4+ microglial cells in both APP-GFP and APP-SOCS3 groups and no MXO4+ astrocytes. k, No difference in the MXO4 median fluorescent intensity (MFI) is observed between APP-GFP and APP-SOCS3 microglial cells. l-m, RT-qPCR analysis on microglial cells acutely isolated from the hippocampus of 12 month-old WT-GFP, APP-GFP and APP-SOCS3 mice. l mRNA levels of Ctss and C1qb, two microglial homeostatic genes, is similar in all groups. m, Apoe and Trem2 mRNA levels are higher in phagocytic MXO4+ microglia than non-phagocytic MXO4− microglia, while Tmem119 levels are lower in MXO4+ microglia. This transcriptional profile is reminiscent of DAM microglia [34]. Astrocyte de-activation by SOCS3 does not impact the transcriptional profile of either type of microglia. N = 3–8/group. b, d, h, Student t test. c, f, k, Kruskall-Wallis test. l, m, One way ANOVA to compare the 3 groups within MXO4− cells and Student t test to compare two groups within MXO4+ cells. Mann-Whitney test to compare MXO4+ and MXO4− microglial cells within APP-GFP or APP-SOCS3 groups. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01](/paper-figures/12bfe15488c0444194e9158f25d2d12e/modulation-of-astrocyte-reactivity-improves-functional-deficits-in-mouse-models-figure-4.jpg)





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“Importantly, only a subset, often a mix of A1 and A2 or pan-reactive transcripts, are upregulated in astrocytes from brains of study participants with HD74 or AD75,76, or from several mouse models of acute injuries and chronic diseases of the CNS42,69,76,77.”
From Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [42]
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“Finally, interventional strategies such as classical pharmacology56,98, genetic manipulation42,56, and biomaterials99 are available tools to modify pathological signaling in reactive astrocytes for therapeutic purposes.”
From Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [42]
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“For example, the manipulation of reactive astrocytes has resulted in improved outcomes38,42,43, worse35 outcomes, and no change44 in mouse models of AD and MS40,45,46.”
From Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [42]
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“On the other hand, blocking astrocyte reactivity has demonstrated positive effects on pathology (Ceyzeriat et al., 2018; Reichenbach et al., 2019).”
From Inhibition of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in astrocytes reduces amyloid and tau accumulation in the 3xTgAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (2024) · cites this paper as Ceyzeriat et al., 2018
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Cites
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Neurotoxic reactive astrocytes are induced by activated microglia
Liddelow, S. A., Guttenplan, K. A., Clarke, L. E., Bennett, F. C., Bohlen, C. J., Schirmer, L., Bennett, M. L., Münch, A. E., Chung, W.-S., Peterson, T. C., et al. (2017) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature21029 · Cited by 7,971
Alzheimer's disease: the amyloid cascade hypothesis
Hardy, J. A., & Higgins, G. A. (1992) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1566067 · Cited by 7,484
Place navigation impaired in rats with hippocampal lesions
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Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease
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Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions
Escartin, C., Galea, E., Lakatos, A., O’Callaghan, J. P., Petzold, G. C., Serrano-Pozo, A., Steinhäuser, C., Volterra, A., Carmignoto, G., Agarwal, A., et al. (2021) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-020-00783-4 · Cited by 2,513
Self-citationAstrocyte Reactivity: Subtypes, States, and Functions in CNS Innate Immunity
Sofroniew, M. V. (2020) · Trends in Immunology · doi:10.1016/j.it.2020.07.004 · Cited by 721
Functional roles of reactive astrocytes in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration
Patani, R., Hardingham, G. E., & Liddelow, S. A. (2023) · Nature Reviews Neurology · doi:10.1038/s41582-023-00822-1 · Cited by 531
Astrocyte contribution to dysfunction, risk and progression in neurodegenerative disorders
Brandebura, A. N., Paumier, A., Onur, T. S., & Allen, N. J. (2023) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41583-022-00641-1 · Cited by 427
Astrocyte morphology: Diversity, plasticity, and role in neurological diseases
Zhou, B., Zuo, Y., & Jiang, R. (2019) · CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics · doi:10.1111/cns.13123 · Cited by 417
Metadata
- Authors
- Ceyzériat, K., Ben Haim, L., Denizot, A., Pommier, D., Matos, M., Guillemaud, O., Palomares, M.-A., Abjean, L., Petit, F., Gipchtein, P., Gaillard, M.-C., Guillermier, M., Bernier, S., Gaudin, M., Aurégan, G., Joséphine, C., Déchamps, N., Veran, J., Langlais, V., Cambon, K., Bemelmans, A. P., Baijer, J., Bonvento, G., Dhenain, M., Deleuze, J.-F., Oliet, S. H. R., Brouillet, E., Hantraye, P., Carrillo-de Sauvage, M.-A., Olaso, R., Panatier, A., & Escartin, C.
- Affiliations
- Université Paris-Sud (FR)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Escartin, Carole
- ORCID
- Venue
- Acta Neuropathologica Communications
- Published
- 2018-10-16
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 104-104
- ISSN
- 2051-5960 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6190663
- OpenAlex
- W2897601491
- Cited by
- 256
- References
- 86
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 11
- FWCI
- 9.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Acta Neuropathologica Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Fédération pour la Recherche sur le Cerveau
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (2010-JCJC-1402-1; 2011-BSV4-021-03; ANR-16-TERC-0016-01, 2011-INBS-0011)
- Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer (FR-15015)
- Association France Alzheimer and Fondation de France
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- astrocyte activation, Alzheimer's disease, JAK2/STAT3 signaling, neuroinflammation, viral gene delivery, amyloid deposition, spatial learning deficits, synaptic dysfunction, therapeutic target
- MeSH terms
- Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein, Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Apolipoproteins E, Astrocytes, Disease Models, Animal, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Hippocampus, Male, Mice, Transgenic, Mutation, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases, Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor, Maze Learning, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases, STAT1 Transcription Factor, Mice, Janus Kinase 2, Presenilin-1, Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
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