Biology subjects

Behensky, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Behensky, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Histone H1.2 Dependent Translocation of Poly (ADP-ribose) Initiates Parthanatos

Toxic cellular insults activate the nuclear protein poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) to initiate parthanatos, a regulated cell death program. PAR acts as a death signal by translocating from the nucleus to the cytosol, where it activates the next steps in the parthanatic cell death cascade. How PAR translocates from the nucleus to the cytosol is not known. Here we show that PARylation and PAR binding to histone H1.2 enables it to act as a carrier, transporting PAR out of the nucleus to the cytosol. Knocking down the expression of histone H1.2 via CRISPR/Cas9 and knockout of histone H1.2 reduces the translocation of PAR to the cytosol after treatment of human cortical neurons with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The PAR-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase, Iduna (RNF146) ubiquitinates PARylated H1.2. Overexpression of Iduna reduces the expression levels of cytosolic histone H1.2, preventing the translocation of PAR following NMDA or OGD exposure, similar to inhibition of PAR formation by the PARP inhibitor, DPQ. Whereas, the catalytically null variant Iduna C60A, or the PAR binding mutant Iduna Y156A and R157A (YRAA) was ineffective in ubiquitinating histone H1.2 and preventing the reduction in cytosolic histone H1.2 levels and PAR translocation from the nucleus to the cytosol. Histone H1.2 heterozygote and homozygote knockout mice exhibited reduced infarct volume 24 hrs post middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and showed better recovery in motor deficits than wildtype littermates at day 3 and/or day 7 post MCAO. Collectively, these findings reveal histone H1.2 as the key carrier of PAR out of the nucleus to the cytosol where it participates in the next step of the parthanatic cell death cascade.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Pathological Tau transmission initiated by binding lymphocyte-activation gene 3

The spread of prion-like protein aggregates is believed to be a common driver of pathogenesis in many neurodegenerative diseases. Accumulated tangles of filamentous Tau protein are considered pathogenic lesions of Alzheimers disease (AD) and related Tauopathies, including progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. Tau pathologies in these illnesses exhibits a clear progressive and hierarchical spreading pattern that correlates with disease severity1, 2. Clinical observation combined with complementary experimental studies3, 4 have shown that Tau preformed fibrils (PFF) are prion-like seeds that propagate pathology by entering cells and templating misfolding and aggregation of endogenous Tau. While several receptors of Tau are known, they are not specific to the fibrillar form of Tau. Moreover, the underlying cellular mechanisms of Tau PFF spreading remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (Lag3) is a cell surface receptor that binds to PFF, but not monomer, of Tau. Deletion of Lag3 or inhibition of Lag3 in primary cortical neurons significantly reduces the internalization of Tau PFF and subsequent Tau propagation and neuron-to-neuron transmission. Propagation of Tau pathology and behavioral deficits induced by injection of Tau PFF in the hippocampus and overlying cortex are attenuated in mice lacking Lag3 selectively in neurons. Our results identify neuronal Lag3 as a receptor of pathologic Tau in the brain, and for AD and related Tauopathies a therapeutic target. One Sentence SummaryLag3 is a neuronal receptor specific for Tau PFF, and is required for uptake, propagation and transmission of Tau pathology.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Single-cell multiomic analysis reveals the involvement of Type I interferon-responsive CD8+ T cells in amyloid beta-associated memory loss

Alzheimers disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, but there are limited therapeutic options and no current cure. While the involvement of microglia in AD has been highly appreciated, the role of other innate and adaptive immune cells remains largely unknown, partly due to their scarcity and heterogeneity. This study aimed to study non-microglial immune cells in wild type and AD-transgenic mouse brains across different ages. Our results uncovered the presence of a unique CD8+ T cell population that were selectively increased in aging AD mouse brains, here referred to as "disease-associated T cells (DATs)". These DATs were found to express an elevated tissue-resident memory and Type I interferon-responsive gene signature. Further analysis of aged AD mouse brains showed that these CD8+ T cells were not present in peripheral or meningeal tissues. Preventing CD8+ T cell development in AD-transgenic mice via genetic deletion of beta-2 microglobulin (B2m) led to a reduction of amyloid-{beta} plaque formation in aged mice, and improved memory in AD-transgenic mice as early as four months of age. The integration of transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles at the single-cell level revealed potential transcription factors that reshape the regulomes of CD8+ T cells. These findings highlight a critical role for DATs in the progression of AD and provide a new avenue for treatment.

immunology↗