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8 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 8

Abstract

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Authors: Ruoqing Feng, Lena Spieth, Lu Liu, Stefan Berghoff, Jonas Franz, Qian Liu, Zhen Wang, Vini Tiwari, Simona Vitale, Simon Frerich, Sergi Florensa, Niklas Junker, Ludwig Huber, Marco Keller, Christoph Müller, Franz Bracher, Xiaoke Ge, Patrick C.N. Rensen, Gijs Kooij, Leon Hosang, Serhii Chornyi, Martin Dichgans, Ozgun Gokce, Gesine Saher, Christine Stadelmann, Martin Giera, Janos Groh, Mikael Simons

Date Published: 1st Dec 2025

Publication Type: Journal Article

Abstract (Expand)

AbstractOligodendrocytes extend numerous cellular processes that wrap multiple times around axons to generate lipid-rich myelin sheaths. Myelin biogenesis requires an enormously productive biosynthetic machinery for generating and delivering these large amounts of newly synthesized lipids. Yet, a complete understanding of this process remains elusive. Utilizing volume electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the oligodendroglial endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is enriched in developing myelin, extending into and making contact with the innermost myelin layer where growth occurs. We explore the possibility of transfer of lipids from the ER to myelin, and find that the glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP), implicated in nonvesicular lipid transport, is highly enriched in the growing myelin sheath. Mice with a specific knockout of Gltp in oligodendrocytes exhibit ER pathology, hypomyelination and a decrease in myelin glycolipid content. In summary, our results demonstrate a role for nonvesicular lipid transport in CNS myelin growth, revealing a cellular pathway in developmental myelination.

Authors: Jianping Wu, Georg Kislinger, Jerome Duschek, Ayşe Damla Durmaz, Benedikt Wefers, Ruoqing Feng, Karsten Nalbach, Wolfgang Wurst, Christian Behrends, Martina Schifferer, Mikael Simons

Date Published: 11th Nov 2024

Publication Type: Journal Article

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AbstractAge-related myelin damage induces inflammatory responses, yet its involvement in Alzheimer’s disease remains uncertain, despite age being a major risk factor. Using a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, we found that amyloidosis itself triggers age-related oligodendrocyte and myelin damage. Mechanistically, CD8+ T cells promote the progressive accumulation of abnormally interferon-activated microglia that display myelin-damaging activity. Thus, our data suggest that immune responses against myelinating oligodendrocytes may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases with amyloidosis.

Authors: Shreeya Kedia, Hao Ji, Ruoqing Feng, Peter Androvic, Lena Spieth, Lu Liu, Jonas Franz, Hanna Zdiarstek, Katrin Perez Anderson, Cem Kaboglu, Qian Liu, Nicola Mattugini, Fatma Cherif, Danilo Prtvar, Ludovico Cantuti-Castelvetri, Arthur Liesz, Martina Schifferer, Christine Stadelmann, Sabina Tahirovic, Ozgun Gokce, Mikael Simons

Date Published: 27th Jun 2024

Publication Type: Journal Article

Abstract (Expand)

Abstract Understanding the complexity of cellular function within a tissue necessitates the combination of multiple phenotypic readouts. Here, we developed a method that links spatially-resolved geneally-resolved gene expression of single cells with their ultrastructural morphology by integrating multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) and large area volume electron microscopy (EM) on adjacent tissue sections. Using this method, we characterized in situ ultrastructural and transcriptional responses of glial cells and infiltrating T-cells after demyelinating brain injury in male mice. We identified a population of lipid-loaded “foamy” microglia located in the center of remyelinating lesion, as well as rare interferon-responsive microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes that co-localized with T-cells. We validated our findings using immunocytochemistry and lipid staining-coupled single-cell RNA sequencing. Finally, by integrating these datasets, we detected correlations between full-transcriptome gene expression and ultrastructural features of microglia. Our results offer an integrative view of the spatial, ultrastructural, and transcriptional reorganization of single cells after demyelinating brain injury.

Authors: Peter Androvic, Martina Schifferer, Katrin Perez Anderson, Ludovico Cantuti-Castelvetri, Hanyi Jiang, Hao Ji, Lu Liu, Garyfallia Gouna, Stefan A. Berghoff, Simon Besson-Girard, Johanna Knoferle, Mikael Simons, Ozgun Gokce

Date Published: 11th Jul 2023

Publication Type: Journal Article

Abstract (Expand)

Abstract The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, increases rapidly with age, but why age constitutes the main risk factor is still poorly understood. Brain ageings still poorly understood. Brain ageing affects oligodendrocytes and the structural integrity of myelin sheaths 1 , the latter of which is associated with secondary neuroinflammation 2,3 . As oligodendrocytes support axonal energy metabolism and neuronal health 4–7 , we hypothesized that loss of myelin integrity could be an upstream risk factor for neuronal amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition, the central neuropathological hallmark of AD. Here we identify genetic pathways of myelin dysfunction and demyelinating injuries as potent drivers of amyloid deposition in mouse models of AD. Mechanistically, myelin dysfunction causes the accumulation of the Aβ-producing machinery within axonal swellings and increases the cleavage of cortical amyloid precursor protein. Suprisingly, AD mice with dysfunctional myelin lack plaque-corralling microglia despite an overall increase in their numbers. Bulk and single-cell transcriptomics of AD mouse models with myelin defects show that there is a concomitant induction of highly similar but distinct disease-associated microglia signatures specific to myelin damage and amyloid plaques, respectively. Despite successful induction, amyloid disease-associated microglia (DAM) that usually clear amyloid plaques are apparently distracted to nearby myelin damage. Our data suggest a working model whereby age-dependent structural defects of myelin promote Aβ plaque formation directly and indirectly and are therefore an upstream AD risk factor. Improving oligodendrocyte health and myelin integrity could be a promising target to delay development and slow progression of AD.

Authors: Constanze Depp, Ting Sun, Andrew Octavian Sasmita, Lena Spieth, Stefan A. Berghoff, Taisiia Nazarenko, Katharina Overhoff, Agnes A. Steixner-Kumar, Swati Subramanian, Sahab Arinrad, Torben Ruhwedel, Wiebke Möbius, Sandra Göbbels, Gesine Saher, Hauke B. Werner, Alkmini Damkou, Silvia Zampar, Oliver Wirths, Maik Thalmann, Mikael Simons, Takashi Saito, Takaomi Saido, Dilja Krueger-Burg, Riki Kawaguchi, Michael Willem, Christian Haass, Daniel Geschwind, Hannelore Ehrenreich, Ruth Stassart, Klaus-Armin Nave

Date Published: 31st May 2023

Publication Type: Journal Article

Abstract (Expand)

AbstractA hallmark of nervous system aging is a decline of white matter volume and function, but the underlying mechanisms leading to white matter pathology are unknown. In the present study, we found age-related alterations of oligodendrocyte cell state with a reduction in total oligodendrocyte density in aging murine white matter. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing, we identified interferon (IFN)-responsive oligodendrocytes, which localize in proximity to CD8+ T cells in aging white matter. Absence of functional lymphocytes decreased the number of IFN-responsive oligodendrocytes and rescued oligodendrocyte loss, whereas T-cell checkpoint inhibition worsened the aging response. In addition, we identified a subpopulation of lymphocyte-dependent, IFN-responsive microglia in the vicinity of the CD8+ T cells in aging white matter. In summary, we provide evidence that CD8+ T-cell-induced, IFN-responsive oligodendrocytes and microglia are important modifiers of white matter aging.

Authors: Tuğberk Kaya, Nicola Mattugini, Lu Liu, Hao Ji, Ludovico Cantuti-Castelvetri, Jianping Wu, Martina Schifferer, Janos Groh, Rudolf Martini, Simon Besson-Girard, Seiji Kaji, Arthur Liesz, Ozgun Gokce, Mikael Simons

Date Published: 24th Oct 2022

Publication Type: Journal Article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Horst Penkert, Alix Bertrand, Vini Tiwari, Stephan Breimann, Stephan A. Müller, Paul M. Jordan, Mathias J. Gerl, Christian Klose, Ludovico Cantuti-Castelvetri, Mar Bosch-Queralt, Ilya Levental, Stefan F. Lichtenthaler, Oliver Werz, Mikael Simons

Date Published: 1st Oct 2021

Publication Type: Journal Article

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