Browsing by Author "Foley, Kate E."
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Item Acute Communication Between Microglia and Nonparenchymal Immune Cells in the Anti-Aβ Antibody-Injected Cortex(Society for Neuroscience, 2025-01-29) Foley, Kate E.; Weekman, Erica M.; Krick, Katelynn E.; Johnson, Sherika N.; Sudduth, Tiffany L.; Wilcock, Donna M.; Neurology, School of MedicineAnti-Aβ immunotherapy use to treat Alzheimer's disease is on the rise. While anti-Aβ antibodies provide hope in targeting Aβ plaques in the brain, there still remains a lack of understanding regarding the cellular responses to these antibodies in the brain. In this study, we sought to identify the acute effects of anti-Aβ antibodies on immune responses. To determine cellular changes due to anti-Aβ antibody exposure, we intracranially injected 14 mo APP male and female mice with anti-Aβ IgG1 (6E10) or control IgG1 into the cortex. After 24 h or 3 d, we harvested the cortex and performed a glial cell-enriched preparation for single-cell sequencing. Cell types, proportions, and cell-to-cell signaling were evaluated between the two injection conditions and two acute timepoints. We identified 23 unique cell clusters including microglia, astrocytes, endothelial cells, neurons, oligos/OPCs, immune cells, and unknown. The anti-Aβ antibody-injected cortices revealed more ligand-receptor (L-R) communications between cell types, as well as stronger communications at only 24 h. At 3 d, while there were more L-R communications for the anti-Aβ antibody condition, the strength of these connections was stronger in the control IgG condition. We also found evidence of an initial and strong communication emphasis in microglia-to-nonparenchymal immune cells at 24 h, specifically in the TGFβ signaling pathway. We identify several pathways that are specific to anti-Aβ antibody exposure at acute timepoints. These data lay the groundwork for understanding the brain's unique response to anti-Aβ antibodies.Item Acute communication between microglia and other immune cells in the anti‐Aβ antibody injected cortex(Wiley, 2025-01-03) Foley, Kate E.; Krick, Katelynn E.; Weekman, Erica M.; Wilcock, Donna M.; Neurology, School of MedicineBackground: Anti‐Aβ immunotherapy use to treat Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise. While anti‐Aβ antibodies provide hope in targeting Aβ plaques in the brain, a major side effect of amyloid‐related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) persists with no known cause. As severe ARIA is typically seen within the first few infusions in human clinical trials, we sought to identify acute effects of anti‐Aβ antibody on brain. Method: To determine cellular changes due to anti‐Aβ antibody exposure, we intracranially injected 14mo APP male and female mice with anti‐Aβ IgG1 (6E10) or control IgG1 into the cortex. After 24hrs or 3days, we harvested the cortex and performed a glial cell enriched preparation for single cell sequencing. Cell types, proportions, and cell‐to‐cell signaling was evaluated between the two injection conditions and two acute timepoints. Result: We identified 23 unique cell clusters including microglia, astrocytes, endothelial cells, neurons, oligos/OPCs, immune cells, and unknown. The anti‐Aβ antibody injected cortices revealed more ligand‐receptor communications between cell types, as well as stronger communications at 24hrs. At 3days, while there were more L‐R communications for the anti‐Aβ antibody condition, the strength of these connections was stronger in the control IgG condition. Specific pathways such as CD48 and PD‐L1 were enriched in the anti‐Aβ antibody condition, but not the control IgG condition in microglia‐to‐microglia communication. We also found evidence of an initial and strong communication emphasis in microglia‐to‐peripheral immune cells at 24hrs, specifically in the TGFβ signaling pathway. Additionally, we found that peripheral immune cells that were exposed to anti‐Aβ antibody failed to signal via the TNF pathway, which was strongly enriched in the control IgG condition at both timepoints. Conclusion: We identify several pathways that differ between anti‐Aβ antibody and control IgG injections at acute timepoints. These data lay the groundwork for understanding the brain’s unique response to anti‐Aβ antibody and its predisposition to ARIA.Item Advancements in Immunity and Dementia Research: Highlights from the 2023 AAIC Advancements: Immunity Conference(Wiley, 2025) Kloske, Courtney M.; Mahinrad, Simin; Barnum, Christopher J.; Batista, Andre F.; Bradshaw, Elizabeth M.; Butts, Brittany; Carrillo, Maria C.; Chakrabarty, Paramita; Chen, Xiaoying; Craft, Suzanne; Da Mesquita, Sandro; Dabin, Luke C.; Devanand, Davangere; Duran-Laforet, Violeta; Elyaman, Wassim; Evans, Elizabeth E.; Fitzgerald-Bocarsly, Patricia; Foley, Kate E.; Harms, Ashley S.; Heneka, Michael T.; Hong, Soyon; Huang, Yu-Wen A.; Jackvony, Stephanie; Lai, Laijun; Le Guen, Yann; Lemere, Cynthia A.; Liddelow, Shane A.; Martin-Peña, Alfonso; Orr, Anna G.; Quintana, Francisco J.; Ramey, Grace D.; Rexach, Jessica E.; Rizzo, Stacey J. S.; Sexton, Claire; Tang, Alice S.; Torrellas, Jose G.; Tsai, Andy P.; van Olst, Lynn; Walker, Keenan A.; Wharton, Whitney; Tansey, Malú Gámez; Wilcock, Donna M.; Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineThe immune system is a key player in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. While brain resident immune cell-mediated neuroinflammation and peripheral immune cell (eg, T cell) infiltration into the brain have been shown to significantly contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, the nature and extent of immune responses in the brain in the context of AD and related dementias (ADRD) remain unclear. Furthermore, the roles of the peripheral immune system in driving ADRD pathology remain incompletely elucidated. In March of 2023, the Alzheimer's Association convened the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), Advancements: Immunity, to discuss the roles of the immune system in ADRD. A wide range of topics were discussed, such as animal models that replicate human pathology, immune-related biomarkers and clinical trials, and lessons from other fields describing immune responses in neurodegeneration. This manuscript presents highlights from the conference and outlines avenues for future research on the roles of immunity in neurodegenerative disorders. HIGHLIGHTS: The immune system plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The immune system exerts numerous effects throughout the brain on amyloid-beta, tau, and other pathways. The 2023 AAIC, Advancements: Immunity, encouraged discussions and collaborations on understanding the role of the immune system.Item Alzheimer's disease and inflammatory biomarkers positively correlate in plasma in the UK‐ADRC cohort(Wiley, 2024) Foley, Kate E.; Winder, Zachary; Sudduth, Tiffany L.; Martin, Barbara J.; Nelson, Peter T.; Jicha, Gregory A.; Harp, Jordan P.; Weekman, Erica M.; Wilcock, Donna M.; Neurology, School of MedicineIntroduction: Protein-based plasma assays provide hope for improving accessibility and specificity of molecular diagnostics to diagnose dementia. Methods: Plasma was obtained from participants (N = 837) in our community-based University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center cohort. We evaluated six Alzheimer's disease (AD)- and neurodegeneration-related (Aβ40, Aβ42, Aβ42/40, p-tau181, total tau, and NfLight) and five inflammatory biomarkers (TNF𝛼, IL6, IL8, IL10, and GFAP) using the SIMOA-based protein assay platform. Statistics were performed to assess correlations. Results: Our large cohort reflects previous plasma biomarker findings. Relationships between biomarkers to understand AD-inflammatory biomarker correlations showed significant associations between AD and inflammatory biomarkers suggesting peripheral inflammatory interactions with increasing AD pathology. Biomarker associations parsed out by clinical diagnosis (normal, MCI, and dementia) reveal changes in strength of the correlations across the cognitive continuum. Discussion: Unique AD-inflammatory biomarker correlations in a community-based cohort reveal a new avenue for utilizing plasma-based biomarkers in the assessment of AD and related dementias. Highlights: Large community cohorts studying sex, age, and APOE genotype effects on biomarkers are few. It is unknown how biomarker-biomarker associations vary through aging and dementia. Six AD (Aβ40, Aβ42, Aβ42/40, p-tau181, total tau, and NfLight) and five inflammatory biomarkers (TNFα, IL6, IL8, IL10, and GFAP) were used to examine associations between biomarkers. Plasma biomarkers suggesting increasing cerebral AD pathology corresponded to increases in peripheral inflammatory markers, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. Strength of correlations, between pairs of classic AD and inflammatory plasma biomarker, changes throughout cognitive progression to dementia.Item Assessment of neurovascular uncoupling: APOE status is a key driver of early metabolic and vascular dysfunction(Wiley, 2024) Onos, Kristen D.; Lin, Peter B.; Pandey, Ravi S.; Persohn, Scott A.; Burton, Charles P.; Miner, Ethan W.; Eldridge, Kierra; Nyandu Kanyind, Jonathan; Foley, Kate E.; Carter, Gregory W.; Howell, Gareth R.; Territo, Paul R.; Neurology, School of MedicineBackground: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, with apolipoprotein Eε4 (APOEε4) being the strongest genetic risk factor. Current clinical diagnostic imaging focuses on amyloid and tau; however, new methods are needed for earlier detection. Methods: PET imaging was used to assess metabolism-perfusion in both sexes of aging C57BL/6J, and hAPOE mice, and were verified by transcriptomics, and immunopathology. Results: All hAPOE strains showed AD phenotype progression by 8 months, with females exhibiting the regional changes, which correlated with GO-term enrichments for glucose metabolism, perfusion, and immunity. Uncoupling analysis revealed APOEε4/ε4 exhibited significant Type-1 uncoupling (↓ glucose uptake, ↑ perfusion) at 8 and 12 months, while APOEε3/ε4 demonstrated Type-2 uncoupling (↑ glucose uptake, ↓ perfusion), while immunopathology confirmed cell specific contributions. Discussion: This work highlights APOEε4 status in AD progression manifests as neurovascular uncoupling driven by immunological activation, and may serve as an early diagnostic biomarker. Highlights: We developed a novel analytical method to analyze PET imaging of 18F-FDG and 64Cu-PTSM data in both sexes of aging C57BL/6J, and hAPOEε3/ε3, hAPOEε4/ε4, and hAPOEε3/ε4 mice to assess metabolism-perfusion profiles termed neurovascular uncoupling. This analysis revealed APOEε4/ε4 exhibited significant Type-1 uncoupling (decreased glucose uptake, increased perfusion) at 8 and 12 months, while APOEε3/ε4 demonstrated significant Type-2 uncoupling (increased glucose uptake, decreased perfusion) by 8 months which aligns with immunopathology and transcriptomic signatures. This work highlights that there may be different mechanisms underlying age related changes in APOEε4/ε4 compared with APOEε3/ε4. We predict that these changes may be driven by immunological activation and response, and may serve as an early diagnostic biomarker.Item Assessment of Neurovascular Uncoupling: APOE Status is a Key Driver of Early Metabolic and Vascular Dysfunction(bioRxiv, 2024-03-13) Onos, Kristen; Lin, Peter B.; Pandey, Ravi S.; Persohn, Scott A.; Burton, Charles P.; Miner, Ethan W.; Eldridge, Kierra; Nyandu Kanyinda, Jonathan; Foley, Kate E.; Carter, Gregory W.; Howell, Gareth R.; Territo, Paul R.; Neurology, School of MedicineBackground: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, with apolipoprotein ε4 (APOEε4) being the strongest genetic risk factor. Current clinical diagnostic imaging focuses on amyloid and tau; however, new methods are needed for earlier detection. Methods: PET imaging was used to assess metabolism-perfusion in both sexes of aging C57BL/6J, and hAPOE mice, and were verified by transcriptomics, and immunopathology. Results: All hAPOE strains showed AD phenotype progression by 8 mo, with females exhibiting the regional changes, which correlated with GO-term enrichments for glucose metabolism, perfusion, and immunity. Uncoupling analysis revealed APOEε4/ε4 exhibited significant Type-1 uncoupling (↓ glucose uptake, ↑ perfusion) at 8 and 12 mo, while APOEε3/ε4 demonstrated Type-2 uncoupling (↑ glucose uptake, ↓ perfusion), while immunopathology confirmed cell specific contributions. Discussion: This work highlights APOEε4 status in AD progression manifest as neurovascular uncoupling driven by immunological activation, and may serve as an early diagnostic biomarker.Item Corrigendum: Uncovering Disease Mechanisms in a Novel Mouse Model Expressing Humanized APOEε4 and Trem2*R47H(Frontiers Media, 2022-02-07) Kotredes, Kevin P.; Oblak, Adrian; Pandey, Ravi S.; Lin, Peter Bor-Chian; Garceau, Dylan; Williams, Harriet; Uyar, Asli; O’Rourke, Rita; O’Rourke, Sarah; Ingraham, Cynthia; Bednarczyk, Daria; Belanger, Melisa; Cope, Zackary; Foley, Kate E.; Logsdon, Benjamin A.; Mangravite, Lara M.; Sukoff Rizzo, Stacey J.; Territo, Paul R.; Carter, Gregory W.; Sasner, Michael; Lamb, Bruce T.; Howell, Gareth R.; Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of MedicineAn author name was incorrectly spelled as “Daria Bednarycek”. The correct spelling is “Daria Bednarczyk”. The authors apologize for this error and state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The original article has been updated.Item Frontal Memory‐related Brainwaves Differentially Correlate with AD and Astrocyte Plasma Biomarkers(Wiley, 2025-01-09) Jiang, Yang; Wu, Xian; Katsumata, Yuriko; Clark, Maria F.; Foley, Kate E.; Wang, Baoxi; Sudduth, Tiffany L.; Wilcock, Donna M.; Jicha, Gregory A.; Norris, Christopher M.; Neurology, School of MedicineBackground: We currently lack in the dementia field accurate, noninvasive, quick, and affordable screening tools for brain dysfunctions associated with early subtle risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Our Kentucky aging cohort demonstrates that asymptomatic older individuals with MCI‐like frontal memory‐related brainwave patterns convert to MCI within a short 5‐year period, as opposed to individuals with NC‐like patterns (1) that remain normal 10 years later (2). Astrocyte reactivity influences amyloid‐β effects on tau pathology in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (3). Leveraging blood‐based AD and astrocyte biomarkers and the cognitive electroencephalogram (EEG) signatures (4), we test the hypothesis that predictive frontal memory‐related EEG changes correlate with preclinical and early AD plasma biomarkers. Method: 34 (19 women) older volunteers with or without MCI, average age 79 (SD 8.53) years old, from a longitudinal cohort followed by University of Kentucky ADRC participated. Each participant’s EEG was recorded (64‐ or 14‐channels) during a working memory (modified delayed match‐to‐sample) task. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on 64‐channel EEG data to create PC scores (PC1 & PC2). For multiple linear regression of EEG PC scores on multiple neurodegenerative plasma biomarkers including Aβ42/40, pTau181, total Tau, and GFAP (Astrocyte reactivity), we adjusted age, sex, education, and gap years between collection dates. Result: The 61% of variance in frontal signals can be explained by PC1 in normal cognition (NC) and MCI individuals, and PC2 counts for 35% of variance (Figure 1). The decreased brainwaves (MCI‐like) seen in left frontal sites significantly correlate with increased pTau181, GFAP, and PC2 (Figure 2). Curiously, right frontal EEG relations with pTau181, GFAP showed the opposite trend. Bilateral frontal signals showed negative correlations with Aβ42/40 and positive correlations with total Tau. Conclusion: Our results indicate that GFAP & pTau181 trend in similar asymmetry ways with frontal cognitive brainwaves, but Aβ42/40 & total Tau correlate to a different component of frontal EEG. That is, distinct cognitive brainwaves correlate with astrocyte reactivity differentially that influence pathologies of beta‐amyloid accumulations and Tau development. Cognitive pathophysiological signatures and AD–Astrocyte plasma biomarkers have great potential for predicting subtle cognitive decline and specific dementia risk in healthy normal individuals.Item Mechanisms of ARIA: is it time to focus on the unique immune environment of the neurovascular unit?(BMC, 2023-10-20) Foley, Kate E.; Weekman, Erica M.; Wilcock, Donna M.; Neurology, School of MedicineItem Uncovering Disease Mechanisms in a Novel Mouse Model Expressing Humanized APOEε4 and Trem2*R47H(Frontiers Media, 2021-10-11) Kotredes, Kevin P.; Oblak, Adrian; Pandey, Ravi S.; Lin, Peter Bor-Chian; Garceau, Dylan; Williams, Harriet; Uyar, Asli; O’Rourke, Rita; O’Rourke, Sarah; Ingraham, Cynthia; Bednarczyk, Daria; Belanger, Melisa; Cope, Zackary; Foley, Kate E.; Logsdon, Benjamin A.; Mangravite, Lara M.; Sukoff Rizzo, Stacey J.; Territo, Paul R.; Carter, Gregory W.; Sasner, Michael; Lamb, Bruce T.; Howell, Gareth R.; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of MedicineLate-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD; LOAD) is the most common human neurodegenerative disease, however, the availability and efficacy of disease-modifying interventions is severely lacking. Despite exceptional efforts to understand disease progression via legacy amyloidogenic transgene mouse models, focus on disease translation with innovative mouse strains that better model the complexity of human AD is required to accelerate the development of future treatment modalities. LOAD within the human population is a polygenic and environmentally influenced disease with many risk factors acting in concert to produce disease processes parallel to those often muted by the early and aggressive aggregate formation in popular mouse strains. In addition to extracellular deposits of amyloid plaques and inclusions of the microtubule-associated protein tau, AD is also defined by synaptic/neuronal loss, vascular deficits, and neuroinflammation. These underlying processes need to be better defined, how the disease progresses with age, and compared to human-relevant outcomes. To create more translatable mouse models, MODEL-AD (Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-onset AD) groups are identifying and integrating disease-relevant, humanized gene sequences from public databases beginning with APOEε4 and Trem2*R47H, two of the most powerful risk factors present in human LOAD populations. Mice expressing endogenous, humanized APOEε4 and Trem2*R47H gene sequences were extensively aged and assayed using a multi-disciplined phenotyping approach associated with and relative to human AD pathology. Robust analytical pipelines measured behavioral, transcriptomic, metabolic, and neuropathological phenotypes in cross-sectional cohorts for progression of disease hallmarks at all life stages. In vivo PET/MRI neuroimaging revealed regional alterations in glycolytic metabolism and vascular perfusion. Transcriptional profiling by RNA-Seq of brain hemispheres identified sex and age as the main sources of variation between genotypes including age-specific enrichment of AD-related processes. Similarly, age was the strongest determinant of behavioral change. In the absence of mouse amyloid plaque formation, many of the hallmarks of AD were not observed in this strain. However, as a sensitized baseline model with many additional alleles and environmental modifications already appended, the dataset from this initial MODEL-AD strain serves an important role in establishing the individual effects and interaction between two strong genetic risk factors for LOAD in a mouse host.