Lingjie Li

Neuronal apoptosis is an early and critical pathological hallmark of many chronic neurodegenerative diseases, often occurring silently long before the appearance of overt clinical symptoms. In this study, we engineered astrocytes utilizing a dual-biomarker recognition synNotch system (dual-synNotch). This system is designed to specifically identify neuronal apoptosis through the ‘AND Gate’ activation mechanism, which is triggered by the simultaneous sensing of the apoptotic signal phosphatidylserine (PS) and the neuronal signal ganglioside Gt1b. Upon detection of these neuronal apoptotic signals, the synNotch receptors are activated, inducing the expression of two key molecules: secreted Gaussia luciferase (GLuc), a highly detectable reporter that can cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neuroprotective molecule that promotes neuronal survival by inhibiting apoptosis and enhancing memory and cognitive function. This engineered system effectively converts and amplifies early, imperceptible neuronal apoptotic signals into detectable outputs, enabling convenient in vitro monitoring and diagnosis. Therefore, it represents a promising strategy for the early detection and intervention of neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuronal apoptosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, with limited effective treatments. Recently, the exploration of natural products has unveiled their potential in exerting neuroprotective effects, offering a promising avenue for ALS therapy. In this study, the therapeutic effects of rutin, a natural flavonoid glycoside with neuroprotective properties, were evaluated in a superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-G93A mouse model of ALS. We showed that rutin reduced the level of SOD1 aggregation and diminished glial cell activation in spinal cords and brainstems, resulting in significantly improved motor function and motor neuron restoration in SOD1-G93A mice. Our findings indicated that rutin’s multi-targeted approach to SOD1-related pathology makes it a promising candidate for the treatment of ALS.

Synapse loss is one of the most critical features in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and correlates with cognitive decline. Astrocytes mediate synapse elimination through multiple EGF-like domains 10 (MEGF10) pathways in the developing and adult brain to build the precise neural connectivity. However, whether and how astrocytes mediate synapse loss in AD remains unknown. We here find that the phagocytic receptor MEGF10 of astrocytes is significantly increased in vivo and in vitro, which results in excessive engulfment of synapses by astrocytes in APP/PS1 mice. We also observe that the astrocytic lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) is significantly elevated, colocalized with the engulfed synaptic puncta in APP/PS1 mice, and astrocytic lysosomes contain more engulfed synaptic puncta in APP/PS1 mice relative to wild type mice. Together, our data provide evidence that astrocytes excessively engulf synapses in APP/PS1 mice, which is mediated by increased MEGF10 and activated lysosomes. The approach targeting synapse engulfment pathway in astrocytes would be a potent therapy for AD.