Biology subjects

Lauderdale, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Lauderdale, K..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Resilience to neuronal hyperactivity and restoration of the neuroimmune interactome by blocking fibrin-induced microglia activation in Alzheimers disease

Cerebrovascular pathology and neuronal network dysfunction are early features of Alzheimers disease (AD) associated with neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, but the vascular and immune triggers of neuronal hyperactivity remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the blood coagulation protein fibrin disrupts microglia-neuron interactions, promoting neuronal hyperactivity in an AD mouse model. Genetic elimination of the fibrin inflammatory domain reduced neuronal hyperactivity, restored dynamic microglial interactions with active neurons and protected from high-risk decision making in 5XFAD mice. Leveraging the transcriptional signatures of microglia and inhibitory and excitatory neurons, a ligand-receptor atlas revealed fibrin-dependent disruption of innate immune and glutamatergic signaling between microglia and neurons in AD mice. Patients with AD also showed a correlation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fibrinogen levels with biomarkers of inflammation, vascular and synaptic dysfunction. Thus, resilience to neuronal hyperactivity and restoration of the neuroimmune interactome by targeting fibrin may have therapeutic implications for Alzheimers disease and related conditions. There is a companion manuscript submitted to bioRxiv (Lauderdale et al., 2026) HighlightsO_LIVascular-microglia axis drives neuronal hyperactivity C_LIO_LIFibrin inflammatory activity disrupts the microglia-neuron interactome C_LIO_LIMicroglia activation by fibrin impairs decision-making in AD mice C_LIO_LISynaptic dysfunction and immune biomarkers correlate with CSF fibrinogen in AD patients C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Therapeutic targeting of fibrin-microglia interactions ameliorates Alzheimer disease-related hyperexcitability and brain network dysfunction

Brain network dysfunction--including hyperexcitability, altered oscillations, and sleep disruption--is prominent in Alzheimers disease (AD), but the contribution of vascular-neuroimmune processes to these alterations remains unclear. Here, we blocked the pro-inflammatory interaction of the blood protein fibrin with microglia using genetic (Fgg{gamma}390-396A mice) and antibody-based (5B8 and THN392) strategies to test its role in AD-related network dysfunction. The 5xFAD model of AD exhibited network hyperexcitability associated with oscillatory slowing, sleep states, and disrupted sleep-circadian rhythms. These deficits were largely attenuated by blocking fibrin-microglia interactions in 5xFAD;Fgg{gamma}390-396A mice. Notably, pharmacological interventions after disease onset with both anti-fibrin antibodies similarly attenuated these AD-related network deficits and behavioral abnormalities. We conclude that vascular-neuroimmune processes driven by fibrin-microglia interactions promote AD-related network dysfunction and that targeting the fibrin-microglia axis--currently under clinical evaluation with the humanized antibody THN391-- represents a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. There is a companion manuscript submitted to bioRxiv (Yan et al., 2026).110 HIGHLIGHTSO_LIFibrin promotes AD-related network hyperexcitability and oscillatory slowing in 5xFAD mice C_LIO_LIFibrin promotes AD-related disruption of sleep and circadian rhythms in 5xFAD mice C_LIO_LIGenetic blocking of fibrin-microglia interactions rescues AD-related brain network dysfunction C_LIO_LIAnti-fibrin antibodies (5B8 and THN392) show acute and chronic therapeutic benefit C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

cGAS-mediated IFN-I signaling contributes to disease progression in drug-refractory epilepsy

Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disease with a third of patients becoming non-responsive to antiepileptic drugs and developing drug-refractory epilepsy (DRE). Here we report that DRE disease progression is contributed by overactive cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), a double-stranded DNA sensor that induces type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling. In human DRE microglia, we observe a robust IFN-I signature and the activation of upstream cGAS-STING signaling. Further, in mouse models of Dravet syndrome, a genetic form of DRE, we observe the activation of the cGAS pathway. We show that microglial cGAS can be activated by DNA released from hyperexcitable neurons. Genetic reduction and pharmacological inhibition of cGAS reduces epileptic phenotypes, glial inflammatory signatures, and neuronal transcriptomic changes, underscoring the therapeutic potential of targeting cGAS for DRE treatment.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

APOE4-Aβ synergy drives brain network dysfunction and neuronal lysosomal-ER proteostasis dysregulation in preclinical Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid-{beta} (A{beta}) and APOE4 represent two of the strongest pathological and genetic risk factors for Alzheimers disease (AD), but how these co-pathogens interact during preclinical stages remains undefined. We addressed this question by developing a humanized knock-in model expressing physiological, endogenously regulated human A{beta} and APOE4. Aged AppNLF:APOE4 mice displayed incipient amyloidosis with subtle memory-related changes, consistent with preclinical AD. We found largely distinct, non-overlapping APOE4- and A{beta}-driven functional synaptic, sleep, and behavioral alterations. However, at the transcriptomic level, APOE4xA{beta} had a pronounced detrimental interaction in neuronal populations, whereas glial populations were primarily affected by either genotype. We found APOE4xA{beta} molecular interactions in neuronal populations, including excitatory and inhibitory cells, converged on a core lysosomal-ER proteostasis axis. We propose that APOE4xA{beta} interaction produces an early neuronal pathogenic signature, involving the lysosomal-ER proteostasis axis, preceding functional decline and driving disease progression. APOE4xA{beta}-KI models provide a physiologically relevant platform to study early pathogenesis. HighlightsO_LIEarly synergistic APOE4xA{beta} interaction emerges predominantly at the transcriptomic level in neurons, but not in glial cells. C_LIO_LIAPOE4 and A{beta} drive largely non-overlapping physiological changes in preclinical stages of disease, but converge at the level of network hyperexcitability. C_LIO_LIAPOE4xA{beta} neuronal synergy converges on a conserved lysosomal-ER proteostasis axis. C_LIO_LIHumanized APOE4xA{beta} KI mice provide a physiologically relevant model to dissect early AD pathogenesis in preclinical stages C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

Hypoosmolar dose-dependent swelling occurs in both pyramidal neurons and astrocytes in acute hippocampal slices

Normal nervous system function is critically dependent on the balance of water and ions in the extracellular space. Pathological reduction in brain interstitial osmolarity results in osmotically-driven flux of water into cells, causing cellular edema which reduces the extracellular space and increases neuronal excitability and risk of seizures. Astrocytes are widely considered to be particularly susceptible to cellular edema due to selective expression of the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4). The apparent resistance of pyramidal neurons to osmotic swelling has been attributed to lack of functional water channels. In this study we report rapid volume changes in CA1 pyramidal cells in hypoosmolar ACSF (hACSF) that are equivalent to volume changes in astrocytes across a variety of conditions. Astrocyte and neuronal swelling was significant within 1 minute of exposure to 17 or 40% hACSF, was rapidly reversible upon return to normosmolar ACSF, and repeatable upon re-exposure to hACSF. Neuronal swelling was not an artifact of patch clamp, occurred deep in tissue, was similar at physiological vs. room temperature, and occurred in both juvenile and adult hippocampal slices. Neuronal swelling was neither inhibited by TTX, nor by antagonists of NMDA or AMPA receptors, suggesting that it was not occurring as a result of excitotoxicity. Surprisingly, genetic deletion of AQP4 did not inhibit, but rather augmented, astrocyte swelling in severe hypoosmolar conditions. Taken together, our results indicate that neurons are not osmoresistant as previously reported, and that osmotic swelling is driven by an AQP4-independent mechanism.

neuroscience↗