27-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J mice
Abstract Background Cognitive impairment is associated with dysregulated immune responses. Emerging evidence indicates that Th17 cells and their characteristic cytokine-IL-17 are receiving growing interest in the pathogenesis of cognitive decline. Here, we focus on the involvement of Th17 cells in m...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Neuroinflammation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-023-02986-5 |
| _version_ | 1827399390461952000 |
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| author | Tao Wang Wenjing Feng Mengwei Ju Huiyan Yu Zhiting Guo Xuejing Sun Kexin Yang Miao Liu Rong Xiao |
| author_facet | Tao Wang Wenjing Feng Mengwei Ju Huiyan Yu Zhiting Guo Xuejing Sun Kexin Yang Miao Liu Rong Xiao |
| author_sort | Tao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cognitive impairment is associated with dysregulated immune responses. Emerging evidence indicates that Th17 cells and their characteristic cytokine-IL-17 are receiving growing interest in the pathogenesis of cognitive decline. Here, we focus on the involvement of Th17 cells in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the possible mechanism of cholesterol metabolite-27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC). Methods 100 individuals were recruited into the nested case–control study who completed cognition assessment and the detection of oxysterols and Th17-related cytokines in serum. In addition, mice were treated with 27-OHC and inhibitors of RORγt and Foxp3 (Th17 and Treg transcription factors), and the factors involved in Th17/Treg balance and amyloidosis were detected. Results Our results showed there was enhanced 27-OHC level in serum of MCI individuals. The Th17-related cytokines homeostasis was altered, manifested as increased IL-17A, IL-12p70, IL-23, GM-CSF, MIP-3α and TNF-α but decreased IL-13, IL-28A and TGF-β1. Further, in vivo experiments showed that 27-OHC induced higher immunogenicity, which increased Th17 proportion but decreased Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); Th17 proportions in hippocampus, and IL-17A level in serum and brain were also higher than control mice. The fluorescence intensity of amyloid-β (Aβ) and the precursor of amyloid A amyloidosis–serum amyloid A (SAA) was increased in the brain of 27-OHC-treated mice, and worse learning and memory performance was supported by water maze test results. While by inhibiting RORγt in 27-OHC-loaded mice, Th17 proportions in both PBMCs and hippocampus were reduced, and expressions of IL-17A and TGF-β1 were down- and up-regulated, respectively, along with a decreased amyloidosis in brain and improved learning and memory decline. Conclusions Altogether, our results demonstrate that excessive 27-OHC aggravates the amyloidosis and leads to cognitive deficits by regulating RORγt and disturbing Th17/Treg balance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:45:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42305e7046864971bf1208361f74712d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-2094 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:45:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Neuroinflammation |
| spelling | doaj.art-42305e7046864971bf1208361f74712d2023-12-24T12:25:04ZengBMCJournal of Neuroinflammation1742-20942023-12-0120111710.1186/s12974-023-02986-527-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J miceTao Wang0Wenjing Feng1Mengwei Ju2Huiyan Yu3Zhiting Guo4Xuejing Sun5Kexin Yang6Miao Liu7Rong Xiao8School of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract Background Cognitive impairment is associated with dysregulated immune responses. Emerging evidence indicates that Th17 cells and their characteristic cytokine-IL-17 are receiving growing interest in the pathogenesis of cognitive decline. Here, we focus on the involvement of Th17 cells in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the possible mechanism of cholesterol metabolite-27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC). Methods 100 individuals were recruited into the nested case–control study who completed cognition assessment and the detection of oxysterols and Th17-related cytokines in serum. In addition, mice were treated with 27-OHC and inhibitors of RORγt and Foxp3 (Th17 and Treg transcription factors), and the factors involved in Th17/Treg balance and amyloidosis were detected. Results Our results showed there was enhanced 27-OHC level in serum of MCI individuals. The Th17-related cytokines homeostasis was altered, manifested as increased IL-17A, IL-12p70, IL-23, GM-CSF, MIP-3α and TNF-α but decreased IL-13, IL-28A and TGF-β1. Further, in vivo experiments showed that 27-OHC induced higher immunogenicity, which increased Th17 proportion but decreased Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); Th17 proportions in hippocampus, and IL-17A level in serum and brain were also higher than control mice. The fluorescence intensity of amyloid-β (Aβ) and the precursor of amyloid A amyloidosis–serum amyloid A (SAA) was increased in the brain of 27-OHC-treated mice, and worse learning and memory performance was supported by water maze test results. While by inhibiting RORγt in 27-OHC-loaded mice, Th17 proportions in both PBMCs and hippocampus were reduced, and expressions of IL-17A and TGF-β1 were down- and up-regulated, respectively, along with a decreased amyloidosis in brain and improved learning and memory decline. Conclusions Altogether, our results demonstrate that excessive 27-OHC aggravates the amyloidosis and leads to cognitive deficits by regulating RORγt and disturbing Th17/Treg balance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-023-02986-527-hydroxycholesterolTh17/Treg balanceRORγtAmyloidosisCognitive decline |
| spellingShingle | Tao Wang Wenjing Feng Mengwei Ju Huiyan Yu Zhiting Guo Xuejing Sun Kexin Yang Miao Liu Rong Xiao 27-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J mice Journal of Neuroinflammation 27-hydroxycholesterol Th17/Treg balance RORγt Amyloidosis Cognitive decline |
| title | 27-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J mice |
| title_full | 27-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J mice |
| title_fullStr | 27-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | 27-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J mice |
| title_short | 27-hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing Th17/Treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and C57BL/6J mice |
| title_sort | 27 hydroxycholesterol causes cognitive deficits by disturbing th17 treg balance and the related immune responses in mild cognitive impairment patients and c57bl 6j mice |
| topic | 27-hydroxycholesterol Th17/Treg balance RORγt Amyloidosis Cognitive decline |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-023-02986-5 |
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