Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare and severe neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). While the exact disease mechanism remains unknown, previous studies suggest that mutant GFAP influences many cellular processes, including cytoskeleton stability, mechanosensing, metabolism, and proteasome function. While most studies have primarily focused on GFAP-expressing astrocytes, GFAP is also expressed by radial glia and neural progenitor cells, prompting questions about the impact of GFAP mutations on central nervous system (CNS) development. In this study, we observed impaired differentiation of astrocytes and neurons in co-cultures of astrocytes and neurons, as well as in neural organoids, both generated from AxD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells with a GFAPR239C mutation. Leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we identified distinct cell populations and transcriptomic differences between the mutant GFAP cultures and a corrected isogenic control. These findings were supported by results obtained with immunocytochemistry and proteomics. In co-cultures, the GFAPR239C mutation resulted in an increased abundance of immature cells, while in unguided neural organoids and cortical organoids, we observed altered lineage commitment and reduced abundance of astrocytes. Gene expression analysis revealed increased stress susceptibility, cytoskeletal abnormalities, and altered extracellular matrix and cell-cell communication patterns in the AxD cultures, which also exhibited higher cell death after stress. Overall, our results point to altered cell differentiation in AxD patient-derived iPS-cell models, opening new avenues for AxD research.
- MeSH
- Alexanderova nemoc * genetika patologie metabolismus MeSH
- astrocyty * metabolismus patologie MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace * fyziologie MeSH
- gliový fibrilární kyselý protein * metabolismus genetika MeSH
- indukované pluripotentní kmenové buňky * metabolismus MeSH
- kokultivační techniky MeSH
- kultivované buňky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- nervové kmenové buňky metabolismus MeSH
- neurony metabolismus patologie MeSH
- organoidy metabolismus patologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Although there is growing evidence of the association between gender and early diagnosis of preclinical Alzheimer's disease, little attention has been given to the enrolment ratio of men and women in clinical trials and data reporting. METHODS: This study aims to analyze gender differences in sociodemographic factors associated with the willingness to participate in clinical trials and undergo specific procedures in the context of an Alzheimer's disease prevention research cohort. 2544 cognitively unimpaired participants from the ALFA parent cohort (age 45-75 years) of the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center were contacted through a structured phone call to determine their willingness to participate in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials and undergo trial-related procedures (magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture, positron emission tomography, and cognitive assessment). Sociodemographic data on education, occupational attainment, civil and caregiver status were gathered. Stepwise logistic regression models were performed in order to study the interaction between gender and sociodemographic factors in the willingness to participate in clinical trials and to undergo clinical trial-related procedures. RESULTS: 1,606 out of the 2,544 participants were women (63.1%). Women were significantly younger and had lower educational attainment compared with men. In addition, women were more likely to be caregivers, single and unemployed. Women showed a significantly lower willingness than men to participate in a clinical trial (p = 0.003) and to undergo a lumbar puncture (p < 0.001). Single women were less willing to participate in clinical trials than single men (p = 0.041). Regarding clinical trial-related procedures, women with higher years of education were significantly less willing to undergo a lumbar puncture (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: We found gender differences regarding the sociodemographic factors that predict the willingness to participate in clinical trials and to undergo clinical trial-related procedures. Our results highlight the urgent need to design recruitment strategies accounting for gender-related factors, particularly those related to marital status and education.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * psychologie MeSH
- klinické zkoušky jako téma * psychologie MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pohlavní dimorfismus MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- sexuální faktory MeSH
- stupeň vzdělání MeSH
- výběr pacientů MeSH
- zapojení pacienta psychologie statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are promising gene therapy vectors, but challenges arise when treating patients with preexisting neutralizing antibodies. Worldwide seroprevalence studies provide snapshots of existing immunity in diverse populations. Owing to the uniqueness of the Basque socio-geographical landscape, we investigated the seroprevalence of eight AAV serotypes in residents of the Basque Country. We found the highest seroprevalence of AAV3, and the lowest seroprevalence of AAV9. Additionally, less than 50% of the Basque population has neutralizing antibodies against AAV4, AAV6, and AAV9. Our findings provide insight into AAV infections in the Basque region, public health, and the development of AAV-based therapeutics.
- MeSH
- Dependovirus * genetika imunologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- infekce viry z čeledi Parvoviridae epidemiologie imunologie virologie MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- neutralizující protilátky * krev imunologie MeSH
- protilátky virové * krev imunologie MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- séroskupina MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Španělsko MeSH
