Abrogation of type-I interferon signalling alters the microglial response to Aβ1-42

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 21;10(1):3153. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59917-0.

Abstract

Neuroinflammation and accompanying microglial dysfunction are now appreciated to be involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Critical to the process of neuroinflammation are the type-I interferon (IFN) family of cytokines. Efforts to phenotypically characterize microglia within AD identify distinct populations associated with type-I IFN signalling, yet how this affects underlying microglial function is yet to be fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that Aβ1-42 exposure increases bioactive levels of type-I IFN produced by primary microglia alongside increased expression of type-I IFN related genes. Primary microglia isolated from brains of APPswePS1ΔE9 mice with ablated type-I IFN signalling show an increased phagocytic ability to uptake FITC-Aβ1-42. Correlative assessment of plaque sizes in aged APPswePS1ΔE9 mice with abrogated type-I IFN signalling show unchanged deposition levels. Microglia from these mice did however show alterations in morphology. This data further highlights the role of type-I IFN signalling within microglia and identifies a role in phagocytosis. As such, targeting both microglial and global type-I IFN signalling presents as a novel therapeutic strategy for AD management.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1 / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Genotype
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microglia / metabolism*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Phagocytosis
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1
  • Cx3cr1 protein, mouse
  • Cytokines
  • Interferon Type I
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • RNA