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ObjectiveAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by loss of smell and olfactory system pathology that precedes the diagnosis of dementia. Understanding these early processes can potentially identify diagnostic and therapeutic targets to slow AD progression. Here we analyzed differential gene and protein expression in the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory tract (OT) of familial AD (FAD) individuals carrying the autosomal dominant presenilin 1 E280A paisa mutation and age-matched controls.MethodsFormalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections containing both the OB and OT from 6 FAD individuals and 6 age-matched controls were obtained. Tissue morphology and composition were characterized by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against the myelin marker proteolipid protein (PLP), amyloid-beta (Aβ), and microglia/macrophage markers Iba1 and CD68, respectively. OB and OT were analyzed separately by targeted RNA sequencing of the whole human transcriptome (BioSpyder TempO-Seq); ingenuity pathway analysis and R-computational program were used to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways between groups. The nanoString spatial proteomics assay for 88 proteins, including markers for AD and immune responses, was used to complement gene expression findings.ResultsCompared to control OT, FAD OT had significantly increased immunostaining for Aβ and CD68 in the high and low myelinated regions, as well as increased immunostaining for Iba1 in the high myelinated region only; both control and FAD OT samples had similar total area of high and low myelinated regions. In FAD samples, RNA sequencing showed a transcription profile consistent with: (1) viral infection in the OB; (2) inflammation in the OT that carries information via entorhinal cortex from the OB to hippocampus, a brain region essential for learning and memory; and (3) decreased oligodendrocyte deconvolved transcripts, indicating dysregulation of myelination. Interestingly, spatial proteomic analysis confirmed altered myelination in the OT of FAD individuals, implying dysfunction of communication between the OB and hippocampus.ConclusionsThese findings raise the possibility that viral infection and associated inflammation and dysregulation of myelination of the olfactory system may disrupt downstream hippocampal function, contributing to acceleration of FAD progression.

The axon initial segment (AIS), nodes of Ranvier, and the oligodendrocyte-derived myelin sheath have significant influence on the firing patterns of neurons and the faithful, coordinated transmission of action potentials (APs) to downstream brain regions. In the olfactory bulb (OB), olfactory discrimination tasks lead to adaptive changes in cell firing patterns, and the output signals must reliably travel large distances to other brain regions along highly myelinated tracts. Whether myelinated axons adapt to facilitate olfactory sensory processing is unknown. Here, we investigate the morphology and physiology of mitral cell (MC) axons in the olfactory system of adult male and female mice and show that unilateral sensory deprivation causes system-wide adaptations in axonal morphology and myelin thickness. MC spiking patterns and APs also adapted to sensory deprivation. Strikingly, myelination and MC physiology were altered on both the deprived and nondeprived sides, indicating system level adaptations to reduced sensory input. Our work demonstrates a previously unstudied mechanism of plasticity in the olfactory system.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSuccessful transmission of information from the olfactory bulb (OB) to piriform cortex through the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) relies on synchronized arrival of action potentials (APs). The coincident arrival of APs is dependent on reliable generation of APs in the axon initial segment (AIS) and fast conduction mediated by axon myelination. Here, we studied changes in mitral cell (MC) firing and AIS structure as well as changes in myelination of the LOT on unilateral olfactory deprivation in the adult mouse. Strikingly, myelination and MC physiology were altered on both the deprived and nondeprived sides, indicating system level adaptations to reduced sensory input. Our work demonstrates a previously unstudied mechanism of plasticity in the olfactory system.

Background Understanding viral infection of the olfactory epithelium is essential because the olfactory nerve is an important route of entry for viruses to the central nervous system. Specialized chemosensory epithelial cells that express the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 5 (TRPM5) are found throughout the airways and intestinal epithelium and are involved in responses to viral infection. Results Herein we performed deep transcriptional profiling of olfactory epithelial cells sorted by flow cytometry based on the expression of mCherry as a marker for olfactory sensory neurons and for eGFP in OMP-H2B::mCherry/TRPM5-eGFP transgenic mice (Mus musculus). We find profuse expression of transcripts involved in inflammation, immunity and viral infection in TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells compared to olfactory sensory neurons. Conclusion Our study provides new insights into a potential role for TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells in viral infection of the olfactory epithelium. We find that, as found for solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) and brush cells in the airway epithelium, and for tuft cells in the intestine, the transcriptome of TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells indicates that they are likely involved in the inflammatory response elicited by viral infection of the olfactory epithelium.

International audience; BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We recently showed that perinatal exposure to diets with unbalanced n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios affects the olfactory mucosa (OM) fatty acid composition. To assess the repercussions of these modifications, we investigated the impact of diets unbalanced in n-3 PUFAs on the molecular composition and functionality of the OM in young mice. METHODS: After mating, female mice were fed diets either deficient in α-linolenic acid (LOW diet) or supplemented with n-3 long-chain PUFAs (HIGH diet) during the perinatal period. Weaned male offspring were then fed ad libitum with the same experimental diets for 5 weeks. At 8 weeks of age, olfactory behavior tests were performed in young mice. The fatty acid composition of OM and olfactory cilia, as well as the expression of genes involved in different cellular pathways, were analyzed. The electroolfactograms induced by odorant stimuli were recorded to assess the impact of diets on OM functionality. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both diets significantly modified the fatty acid profiles of OM and olfactory cilia in young mice. They also induced changes in the expression of genes involved in olfactory signaling and in olfactory neuron maturation. The electroolfactogram amplitudes were reduced in mice fed the LOW diet. Nevertheless, the LOW diet and the HIGH diet did not affect mouse olfactory behavior. Our study demonstrated that consumption of diets deficient in or supplemented with n-3 PUFAs during the perinatal and postweaning periods caused significant changes in young mouse OM. However, these modifications did not impair their olfactory capacities.

The olfactory mucosa (OM) and the olfactory bulb (OB) are responsible for the detection and processing of olfactory signals. Like the brain and retina, they contain high levels of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are essential for the structure and function of neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Since the influence of the maternal diet on olfactory lipid profiles of the offspring has been poorly explored, we examined the effects of feeding mice during the perinatal period with diets containing an adequate linoleic acid level but either deficient in α-linolenic acid (ALA) or supplemented in n-3 long-chain PUFAs on the lipid composition of dams and weaning offspring olfactory tissues. In both the OM and OB, the low n-3 ALA diet led to a marked reduction in n-3 PUFAs with a concomitant increase in n-6 PUFAs, whereas consumption of the high n-3 PUFA diet reduced n-6 PUFAs and increased n-3 PUFAs. Structural analysis showed that the molecular species profiles of the main phospholipid classes of olfactory tissues from weaning pups were markedly affected by the maternal diets. This study demonstrates that the PUFA status of olfactory tissues is sensitive to diet composition from the early stages of development.

International audience; The influence of maternal diet on progeny’s metabolic health has been thoroughly investigated, but the impact on sensory systems remains unexplored. Neurons of the olfactory system start to develop during the embryonic life and carry on their maturation after birth. Besides, these neurons are under metabolic influences, and it has recently been shown that adult mice exposed to an obesogenic or diabetogenic diet display reduced olfactory abilities. However, whether or not Folfactory function is affected by the perinatal nutritional environment is unknown. Here we investigated the effect of a high fat high sucrose (HFHS) maternal diet (46% of total energy brought by lipids, 26.6% by sucrose) on progeny’s olfactory system in mice. In male offspring at weaning stage, maternal HFHS diet induced overweight and increased gonadal fat, associated with hyperleptinemia. The progeny of HFHS diet fed dams showed reduced sniffing behavior in the presence of low doses of phenylethanol (an attractive odorant for mice), compared to the progeny of standard diet fed dams. Furthermore, they exhibited increased time to retrieve a piece of breakfast cereals hidden beneath the bedding in a buried food test. Meanwhile, electroolfactogram recordings revealed no change in the sensitivity of olfactory mucosa. mRNA levels for elements of the olfactory transduction cascade were not affected either. Our results demonstrate that maternal HFHS diet during gestation and lactation strongly modulates olfactory perception in the offspring, without impairing odor detection by the olfactory epithelium. Maternal HFHS diet starting two months before gestation did not induce additional impairments in progeny.

For years, the relationship between cardiac and neurological ischemic events has been mainly attributed to overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms and common risk factors. However, acute stroke may induce dramatic alterations of cardiovascular function. The aim of this work was to evaluate how prior cerebrovascular lesions affect myocardial function in vivo and ex vivo , as well as myocardial vulnerability to ischemic injury. Cerebral embolization was performed in adult Wistar male rats by the injection of microspheres into the left internal carotid artery. Left ventricular function, investigated in vivo using echocardiography (1 hour, 24 hours and 7 days after the embolization), was not significantly impaired; however, the heart rate was significantly increased in the stroke group (+7.2%). Epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) plasma levels increased in rats from the stroke group (E: 47.3±2.1 vs. 24.3±8.7 and NE: 22.7±4.2 vs. 10.9±3.7). One hour after stroke or sham embolization, hearts were isolated and perfused ex vivo in the Langendorff mode. In hearts from the stroke group, the baseline left ventricular developed pressure was diminished (-11%); moreover, a greater myocardial vulnerability to ischemic injury was observed, with impaired coronary flow recovery after 40 minutes of total global normothermic ischemia. Our study provides original exciting data indicating that myocardial vulnerability to ischemia can be worsened by prior ischemic stroke, a situation that does not agree with the concept of remote preconditioning. The underlying molecular mechanisms of the stroke-induced myocardial alterations after cerebral embolization remain to be established, insofar as they may involve the sympathetic nervous system. The author hereby declares no conflict of interest