Tau pathology epigenetically remodels the neuron-glial cross-talk in Alzheimer's disease

Sci Adv. 2023 Apr 21;9(16):eabq7105. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abq7105. Epub 2023 Apr 21.

Abstract

The neuron-glia cross-talk is critical to brain homeostasis and is particularly affected by neurodegenerative diseases. How neurons manipulate the neuron-astrocyte interaction under pathological conditions, such as hyperphosphorylated tau, a pathological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD), remains elusive. In this study, we identified excessively elevated neuronal expression of adenosine receptor 1 (Adora1 or A1R) in 3×Tg mice, MAPT P301L (rTg4510) mice, patients with AD, and patient-derived neurons. The up-regulation of A1R was found to be tau pathology dependent and posttranscriptionally regulated by Mef2c via miR-133a-3p. Rebuilding the miR-133a-3p/A1R signal effectively rescued synaptic and memory impairments in AD mice. Furthermore, neuronal A1R promoted the release of lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) and resulted in astrocyte activation. Last, silencing neuronal Lcn2 in AD mice ameliorated astrocyte activation and restored synaptic plasticity and learning/memory. Our findings reveal that the tau pathology remodels neuron-glial cross-talk and promotes neurodegenerative progression. Approaches targeting A1R and modulating this signaling pathway might be a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • tau Proteins / genetics
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • tau Proteins