Affiliation:
1. Department of Endocrinology Endocrinology Research Center Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha Hunan 410008 China
2. National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders Xiangya Hospital Changsha Hunan 410008 China
Abstract
AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is an age‐related degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), whereas the role of bone marrow immune cells in the pathogenesis of AD remains unclear. Here, the study reveals that compared to matched healthy individuals, AD patients have higher circulating grancalcin (GCA) levels, which negatively correlate with cognitive function. Bone marrow‐derived GCA+ immune cells, which secret abundant GCA and increase during aging, preferentially invaded the hippocampus and cortex of AD mouse model in a C‐C Motif Chemokine Receptor 10 (CCR10)‐dependent manner. Transplanting GCA+ immune cells or direct stereotaxic injection of recombinant GCA protein intensified amyloid plaque load and aggravated cognitive and memory impairments. In contrast, genetic ablation of GCA in the hematopoietic compartment improves cognitive and memory function. Mechanistically, GCA competitively binds to the low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 1 (LRP1) in microglia, thus inhibiting phagocytosis and clearance of Aβ and potentiating neuropathological changes. Importantly, GCA‐neutralizing antibody treatment rejuvenated cognitive and memory function and constrained AD progression. Together, the study demonstrates a pathological role of GCA+ immune cells instigating cognitive and memory decline, suggesting that GCA+ immune cells can be a potential target for innovative therapeutic strategies in AD.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Engineering,Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous),General Materials Science,General Chemical Engineering,Medicine (miscellaneous)