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Search indexed bioRxiv preprints in genomics, neuroscience, cell biology and bioinformatics. Read source abstracts and check manuscript versions; preprints are not peer reviewed.

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bioRxiv2026

Explainable machine learning relates histological to genomic pathology

Background & AimsHaematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining remains the diagnostic gold standard for solid cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, and is increasingly complemented by genomic profiling for precision medicine. Inferring genomic alterations directly from H&E images could streamline testing, but heterogeneity and biases in human training data limit interpretation of genotype-phenotype associations. Here, we aimed to relate histologic to genomic pathology to provide biological explainability for mutation prediction models and assess the impact of germline variation on model performance. MethodsWe analysed 597 murine liver tumours with matched whole-genome sequencing and histopathology (163,835 image tiles; 22.9 million nuclei). Our controlled in vivo design accounted for germline variation, biological sex, and causal mutagen (N-diethylnitrosamine), removing confounding factors present in human cohorts. We trained and evaluated deep learning and supervised machine learning models to predict germline variation and cancer driver alterations from H&E. ResultsModelling accurately predicted germline and somatic alterations from histology, at both locus-specific and genome-wide scales. Quantitative image analysis revealed an unexpected association between Egfr driver mutations and hepatic steatosis, linking genotype to an interpretable morphological phenotype. While model performance declined when applied to tumours from unrepresented genetic backgrounds, this limitation was biologically informative, revealing strain-dependent differences in tumour evolution, notably the prevalence of whole-genome duplication. ConclusionsMachine learning integration of histological and genomic pathology enables accurate, interpretable inference of genetic alterations from H&E, potentially reducing reliance on costly ancillary molecular assays. Our predictions are supported by human-interpretable biological features, addressing concerns around "black-box" technologies. However, caution is required when applying such methods to samples with a genetic background that, even if closely related, is beyond the genetic horizon of training data.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2026

Pathological musculoskeletal characterisation of a new model of spontaneous OA in CD1 mice.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a whole joint disease involving pathological changes in cartilage, synovium, ligaments, menisci and periarticular muscle. This study provides a comprehensive musculoskeletal characterisation of spontaneous OA in male CD1 mice to evaluate their suitability as a model of naturally occurring disease. Knee joints from 3-4 and 6-8 month old mice were analysed histologically, OARSI scoring and immunohistochemistry for markers of chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification. Quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles were examined for fibre cross sectional area. CD1 mice displayed mild OA at 3-4 months, progressing to moderate to severe disease by 6-8 months. Cartilage loss, synovial hyperplasia and fibrosis increased across compartments. Anterior cruciate and collateral ligaments, and medial meniscus exhibited marked pathological remodelling, including proteoglycan rich rounded cell regions and evidence of endochondral ossification with increased COL2, SOX9, RUNX2 and ASPN expression. Gastrocnemius muscle showed significant atrophy at 6-8 months, correlating with OA severity, whereas quadriceps atrophy was not significant. These findings establish CD1 mice as a robust spontaneous OA model that recapitulates the multi-tissue complexity of human disease. Because CD1 mice are globally available, cost-effective, genetically diverse and frequently, this model offers a practical and translationally relevant platform for investigating whole-joint organ mechanisms of OA progression and for evaluating therapies aimed at modifying disease across the entire joint.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2026

Digital pathological classification of peripheral neuroblastic tumors across multi-continent cohorts

Peripheral neuroblastic tumors (pNTs) are embryonal tumors of neural crest origin with highly variable clinical behaviors, ranging from spontaneous regression to aggressive and fatal disease. The International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC) defines four diagnostic categories and stratifies tumors into Favorable Histology (FH) or Unfavorable Histology (UH) group based on age-linked assessment of tumor differentiation/maturation and the Mitosis-Karyorrhexis Index (MKI). Prognostic distinction according to INPC offers significant prediction of clinical outcomes, with patients harboring FH tumors demonstrating longer overall and event-free survival than those with UH tumor. Here, we assembled the largest multi-continental whole-slide histology imaging dataset of pNTs to date, comprising 2,030 tumors from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Japan. Using this dataset, we developed NB-PathAssist, a computational pathology framework for automated INPC-based classification from digitized whole-slide images. NB-PathAssist integrates foundation-model-based feature extraction with an archetype-guided SummaryMixing architecture that compresses whole-slide morphology into representative histologic tokens for tumor-level classification. To automate MKI assessment, we manually annotated 14,049 nuclei, classifying them as mitotic-karyorrhectic (MK) tumor cells, non-MK tumor cells, or non-tumor cells. The resulting model was applied to phenotype cells in whole-slide images across 1,649 tissue sections. Across geographically and institutionally diverse cohorts, NB-PathAssist reproducibly assessed key diagnostic features and generated prognostic classifications concordant with reference INPC annotations. The average balanced accuracy for classifying tumor categories, grade of neuroblastic differentiation, MKI and prognostic groups achieved 0.84, 0.86, 0.89 and 0.96, respectively. We packaged the NB-PathAssist algorithms into an end-to-end online platform for scalable and standardized AI-assisted assessment of pNTs.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2016

Modelling avoidance in pathologically anxious humans using reinforcement-learning

Serious and debilitating symptoms of anxiety are the most common mental health problem worldwide, accounting for around 5% of all adult years lived with disability in the developed world. Avoidance behaviour -avoiding social situations for fear of embarrassment, for instance-is a core feature of such anxiety. However, as for many other psychiatric symptoms, the biological mechanisms underlying avoidance remain unclear. Reinforcement-learning models provide formal and testable characterizations of the mechanisms of decision-making; here, we examine avoidance in these terms. One hundred and one healthy and pathologically anxious individuals completed an approach-avoidance go/no-go task under stress induced by threat of unpredictable shock. We show an increased reliance in the anxious group on a parameter of our reinforcement-learning model that characterizes a prepotent (Pavlovian) bias to withhold responding in the face of negative outcomes. This was particularly the case when the anxious individuals were under stress. This formal description of avoidance within the reinforcement-learning framework provides a new means of linking clinical symptoms with biophysically plausible models of neural circuitry and, as such, takes us closer to a mechanistic understanding of pathological anxiety.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2017

Mice lacking NF-κB1 exhibit marked DNA damage responses and more severe gastric pathology in response to parenteral tamoxifen administration.

BackgroundTamoxifen (TAM) has recently been shown to cause acute gastric atrophy and metaplasia in mice. We have previously demonstrated that the outcome of Helicobacter felis infection, which induces similar gastric lesions in mice, is altered by deletion of specific NF-{kappa}B subunits. Nfkb1-/- mice developed more severe gastric atrophy than wild-type (WT) mice 6 weeks after H. felis infection. In contrast, Nfkb2-/- mice were protected from this pathology. We therefore hypothesized that gastric lesions induced by TAM may be similarly regulated by signaling via NF-{kappa}B subunits.\n\nMethodsGroups of 5 female C57BL/6 (WT), Nfkb1-/-, Nfkb2-/- and c-Rel-/- mice were administered 150mg/kg TAM by IP injection. 72 hours later, gastric corpus tissues were taken for quantitative histological assessment. In addition, groups of 6 female WT and Nfkb1-/- mice were exposed to 12Gy {gamma}-irradiation. Gastric epithelial apoptosis was quantified 6 and 48 hours after irradiation.\n\nResultsTAM induced gastric epithelial lesions in all strains of mice, but this was more severe in Nfkb1-/- mice than WT mice. Nfkb1-/- mice exhibited more severe parietal cell loss than WT mice, had increased gastric epithelial expression of Ki67 and had an exaggerated gastric epithelial DNA damage response as quantified by {gamma}H2AX. To determine investigate whether the difference in gastric epithelial DNA damage response of Nfkb1-/- mice was unique to TAM induced DNA damage, or a generic consequence of DNA damage, we also assessed gastric epithelial apoptosis following {gamma}-irradiation. 6 hours after {gamma}-irradiation, gastric epithelial apoptosis was increased in the gastric corpus and antrum of Nfkb1-/- mice.\n\nConclusionsNF-{kappa}B1 mediated signaling regulates the development of gastric mucosal pathology following TAM administration. This is associated with an exaggerated gastric epithelial DNA damage response. This aberrant response appears to reflect a more generic sensitization of the gastric mucosa of Nfkb1-/- mice to DNA damage.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2017

P53 is not necessary for DUX4 pathology

AbstractsFSHD is a genetically dominant myopathy caused by mutations that cause expression of the normally silent DUX4 gene. This transcription factor has been shown to interfere with myogenesis when misexpressed at very low levels in myoblasts, and to cause cell death when overexpressed at high levels. A previous report using adeno-associated virus to deliver high levels of DUX4 to mouse skeletal muscle demonstrated severe pathology that was suppressed on a p53 knockout background, implying that DUX4 acted through the p53 pathway. Here, we investigate the p53-dependence of DUX4 using both in vitro cellular and the transgenic iDUX4[2.7] mouse models. We find that inhibiting p53 has no effect on the cytoxicity of DUX4 in vitro. When crossed onto the p53 null background, we find no suppression of the male-specific lethality or skin phenotypes of the DUX4 transgene, and find that primary myoblasts from this mouse are still killed by DUX4 expression. These data challenge the notion that the p53 pathway is central to the pathogenicity of DUX4.\n\nSummary StatementDUX4 is thought to mediate cytopathology through p53. Here, DUX4 is shown to kill primary myoblasts and promote pathological phenotypes in the iDUX4[2.7] mouse model on the p53-null background, calling into question this notion.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2017

A common neural network among state, trait, and pathological anxiety from whole-brain functional connectivity

Anxiety is one of the most common mental states of humans. Although it drives us to avoid frightening situations and to achieve our goals, it may also impose significant suffering and burden if it becomes extreme. Because we experience anxiety in a variety of forms, previous studies investigated neural substrates of anxiety in a variety of ways. These studies revealed that individuals with high state, trait, or pathological anxiety showed altered neural substrates. However, no studies have directly investigated whether the different dimensions of anxiety share a common neural substrate, despite its theoretical and practical importance. Here, we investigated a neural network of anxiety shared by different dimensions of anxiety in a unified analytical framework using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We analyzed different datasets in a single scale, which was defined by an anxiety-related neural network derived from whole brain. Through the fMRI task for provoking anxiety, we found a common neural network of state anxiety across participants (1,638 trials obtained from 10 participants). Then, using the resting-state fMRI in combination with the participants trait anxiety scale (879 participants from the Human Connectome Project), we demonstrated that trait anxiety also shared the same neural network as state anxiety. Furthermore, the common neural network between state and trait anxiety could detect patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is characterized by pathological anxiety-driven behaviors (174 participants from multi-site datasets). Our findings provide direct evidence that different dimensions of anxiety are not completely independent but have a substantial biological inter-relationship. Our results also provide a biologically defined dimension of anxiety, which may promote further investigation of various human characteristics, including psychiatric disorders, from the perspective of anxiety.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

High fat diet worsens pathology and impairment in an Alzheimers mouse model, but not by synergistically decreasing cerebral blood flow

Obesity is linked to increased risk for and severity of Alzheimers disease (AD). Cerebral blood flow (CBF) reductions are an early feature of AD and are also linked to obesity. We showed that non-flowing capillaries, caused by adhered neutrophils, underlie the CBF reduction in mouse models of AD. Because obesity could exacerbate the vascular inflammation likely underlying this neutrophil adhesion, we tested links between obesity and AD by feeding APP/PS1 mice a high fat diet (Hfd) and evaluating behavioral, physiological, and pathological changes. We found trends toward poorer memory performance in APP/PS1 mice fed a Hfd, impaired social interactions with either APP/PS1 genotype or a Hfd, and synergistic impairment of sensory-motor function in APP/PS1 mice fed a Hfd. The Hfd led to increases in amyloid-beta monomers and plaques in APP/PS1 mice, as well as increased brain inflammation. These results agree with previous reports showing obesity exacerbates AD-related pathology and symptoms in mice. We used a crowd-sourced, citizen science approach to analyze imaging data to determine the impact of the APP/PS1 genotype and a Hfd capillary stalling and CBF. Surprisingly, we did not see an increase in the number of non-flowing capillaries or a worsening of the CBF deficit in APP/PS1 mice fed a Hfd as compared to controls, suggesting capillary stalling is not a mechanistic link between a Hfd and increased severity of AD in mice. Reducing capillary stalling by blocking neutrophil adhesion improved CBF and short-term memory function in APP/PS1 mice, even when fed a Hfd. Significance statementObesity, especially in mid-life, has been linked to increased risk for and severity of Alzheimers disease. Here, we show that blocking adhesion of white blood cells leads to increases in brain blood flow that improve cognitive function, regardless of whether mice are obese or not.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Alzheimers disease-related dysregulation of protein synthesis causes key pathological features with ageing

Alzheimers disease (AD) is characterised by A{beta} and tau pathology as well as synaptic degeneration. Recently, it was suggested that the development of these key disease features may at least in part be due to increased protein synthesis that is regulated by fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) and its binding partner CYFIP2. Using an unbiased screen, we show that exposure of primary neurons to A{beta} increases FMRP-regulated protein synthesis and involves a reduction of CYFIP2 levels. Modelling this CYFIP2 reduction in mice, we find A{beta} accumulation, development of pre-tangle tau pathology, gliosis, loss of synapses, and deficits in memory formation with ageing. We conclude that reducing endogenous CYFIP2 expression is sufficient to cause some key features of AD in mice. We therefore propose a central role for CYFIP2 in AD as a modulator of protein synthesis, highlighting a novel direction for therapeutic targeting.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Loss of function of the mitochondrial peptidase PITRM1 induces proteotoxic stress and Alzheimer's disease-like pathology in human cerebral organoids

Mutations in pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1), a mitochondrial protease involved in mitochondrial precursor processing and degradation, result in a slow-progressive syndrome, characterized by cerebellar ataxia, psychotic episodes and obsessive behavior as well as cognitive decline. To investigate the pathogenetic mechanisms of mitochondrial presequence processing, we employed cortical neurons and cerebral organoids generated from PITRM1 knockout human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). PITRM1 deficiency strongly induced mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and enhanced mitochondrial clearance in iPSC-derived neurons. Furthermore, we observed increased levels of amyloid precursor protein and amyloid {beta} in PITRM1 knockout neurons. However, neither cell death nor protein aggregates were observed in 2D iPSC-derived cortical neuronal cultures. On the contrary, cerebral organoids generated from PITRM1 knockout iPSCs spontaneously developed over time pathological features of Alzheimers disease (AD), including accumulation of protein aggregates, tau pathology, and neuronal cell death. Importantly, we provide evidence for a protective role of UPRmt and mitochondrial clearance against impaired mitochondrial presequence processing and proteotoxic stress. In summary, we propose a novel concept of PITRM1-linked neurological syndrome whereby defects of mitochondrial presequence processing induce an early activation of UPRmt that, in turn, modulates cytosolic quality control pathways. Thus our work supports a mechanistic link between mitochondrial function and common neurodegenerative proteinopathies.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Predicting molecular subtypes of breast cancer using pathological images by deep convolutional neural network from public dataset

Breast cancer is a heterogeneously complex disease. A number of molecular subtypes with distinct biological features lead to different treatment responses and clinical outcomes. Traditionally, breast cancer is classified into subtypes based on gene expression profiles; these subtypes include luminal A, luminal B, basal like, HER2-enriched, and normal-like breast cancer. This molecular taxonomy, however, could only be appraised through transcriptome analyses. Our study applies deep convolutional neural networks and transfer learning from three pre-trained models, namely ResNet50, InceptionV3 and VGG16, for classifying molecular subtypes of breast cancer using TCGA-BRCA dataset. We used 20 whole slide pathological images for each breast cancer subtype. The results showed that our scale training reached about 78% of accuracy for validation. This outcomes suggested that classification of molecular subtypes of breast cancer by pathological images are feasible and could provide reliable results

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2020

Cerebral Atrophy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Parallels the Pathological Distribution of TDP43

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a preferential involvement of both upper and lower motor neurons. Evidence from neuroimaging and post-mortem studies confirms additional involvement of brain regions extending beyond the motor cortex. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of cerebral disease in ALS cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and to compare the findings with a recently proposed disease-staging model of ALS pathology. Deformation-based morphometry (DBM) was used to identify the patterns of brain atrophy associated with ALS and to assess their relationship with clinical symptoms. Longitudinal T1-weighted MRI data and clinical measures were acquired at baseline, 4 months, and 8 months, from 66 ALS patients and 43 age-matched controls who participated in the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC) study. Whole brain voxel-wise mixed-effects modelling analysis showed extensive atrophy patterns differentiating ALS patients from the normal controls. Cerebral atrophy was present in the motor cortex and corticospinal tract, involving both GM and WM, and to a lesser extent in non-motor regions. More specifically, the results showed significant bilateral atrophy in the motor cortex, the corticospinal tract including the internal capsule and brainstem, with an overall pattern of ventricular enlargement; along with significant progressive longitudinal atrophy in the precentral gyrus, frontal and parietal white matter, accompanied by ventricular and sulcal enlargement. Atrophy in the precentral gyrus was significantly associated with greater disability as quantified with the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) (p<0.0001). The pattern of atrophy observed using DBM was consistent with the Brettschneiders four stage pathological model of the disease. Deformation based morphometry provides a sensitive indicator of atrophy in ALS, and has potential as a biomarker of disease burden, in both gray and white matter.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

α-Synuclein strains that cause distinct pathologies differentially inhibit proteasome

Abnormal -synuclein aggregation has been implicated in several diseases and is known to spread in a prion-like manner. There is a relationship between protein aggregate structure (strain) and clinical phenotype in prion diseases, however, whether differences in the strains of -synuclein aggregates account for the different pathologies remained unclear. Here, we generated two types of -synuclein fibrils from identical monomer and investigated their seeding and propagation ability in mice and primary-cultured neurons. One -synuclein fibril induced marked accumulation of phosphorylated -synuclein and ubiquitinated protein aggregates, while the other did not, indicating the formation of -synuclein two strains. Notably, the former -synuclein strain inhibited proteasome activity and co-precipitated with 26S proteasome complex. Further examination indicated that structural differences in the C-terminal region of -synuclein strains lead to different effects on proteasome activity. These results provide a possible molecular mechanism to account for the different pathologies induced by different -synuclein strains.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Prostacyclin promotes degenerative pathology in a model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common cause of dementia in aged populations. A substantial amount of data demonstrates that chronic neuroinflammation can accelerate neurodegenerative pathologies, while epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that the use of anti-inflammatory agents may be neuroprotective. In AD, chronic neuroinflammation results in the upregulation of cyclooxygenase and increased production of prostaglandin H2, a precursor for many vasoactive prostanoids. While it is well-established that many prostaglandins can modulate the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the brain is poorly understood. We have conducted studies to assess the effect of elevated prostacyclin biosynthesis in a mouse model of AD. Upregulated prostacyclin expression significantly worsened multiple measures associated with amyloid disease pathologies. Mice overexpressing both amyloid and PGI2 exhibited impaired learning and memory and increased anxiety-like behavior compared with non-transgenic and PGI2 control mice. PGI2 overexpression accelerated the development of amyloid accumulation in the brain and selectively increased the production of soluble amyloid-{beta} 42. PGI2 damaged the microvasculature through alterations in vascular length and branching; amyloid expression exacerbated these effects. Our findings demonstrate that chronic prostacyclin expression plays a novel and unexpected role that hastens the development of the AD phenotype.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Functional brain age prediction suggests accelerated aging in preclinical familial Alzheimer's disease, irrespective of fibrillar amyloid-beta pathology

We aimed at developing a model able to predict brain aging from resting state functional connectivity (rs-fMRI) and assessing whether genetic risk/determinants of Alzheimers disease (AD) and amyloid (A{beta}) pathology contributes to accelerated brain aging. Using data collected in 1340 cognitively unimpaired participants from 18 to 94 years old selected across multi-site cohorts, we showed that chronological age can be predicted across the whole lifespan from topological properties of graphs constructed from rs-fMRI. We subsequently used the difference between the model-predicted age and the chronological age in pre-symptomatic autosomal dominant AD (ADAD) mutation carriers and asymptomatic individuals at risk of sporadic AD and assessed the influence of genetics and A{beta} pathology on brain age. Applying our predictive model in the context of preclinical AD revealed that the pre-symptomatic phase of ADAD is characterized by accelerated functional brain aging. This phenomenon is independent from, and might precede, detectable fibrillar A{beta} deposition.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

High-fat diet-induced activation of SGK1 contributes to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis by promoting tau pathology

Type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has long been considered a risk factor for Alzheimers disease (AD). However, the molecular links between T2DM and AD remain obscure. Here, we reported that serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase1 (SGK1) is activated by administering a chronic high-fat diet (HFD), which increases the risk of T2DM, and thus promotes Tau pathology via the phosphorylation of tau at Ser214 and the activation of a key tau kinase, namely, GSK-3{beta}, forming SGK1-GSK-3{beta}-tau complex. SGK1 was activated under conditions of elevated glucocorticoid and hyperglycemia associated with HFD, but not of fatty acid-mediated insulin resistance. Elevated expression of SGK1 in the mouse hippocampus led to neurodegeneration and impairments in learning and memory. Upregulation and activation of SGK1, SGK1-GSK-3{beta}-tau complex were also observed in the hippocampi of AD cases. Our results suggest that SGK1 is a key modifier of tau pathology in AD, linking AD to corticosteroid effects and T2DM.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Inhibition of Angiotensin II Dependent AT1a Receptor Stimulation Attenuates Thoracic Aortic Pathology in Fibrillin-1C1041G/+ Mice

Graphic Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=157 SRC="FIGDIR/small/127670v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (36K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8e7c32org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7bf57aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@312d3forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@9198bd_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG ObjectiveA cardinal feature of Marfan syndrome is thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). The contribution of ligand-dependent stimulation of angiotensin II receptor type 1a (AT1aR) to TAA progression remains controversial because the beneficial effects of angiotensin receptor blockers have been ascribed to off-target effects. This study used genetic and pharmacologic modes of attenuating angiotensin receptor and ligand, respectively, to determine their roles on TAA in mice with fibrillin-1 haploinsufficiency (Fbn1C1041G/+). Approach and ResultsTAA in Fbn1C1041G/+ mice were determined in both sexes and found to be strikingly sexual dimorphic. Males displayed progressive dilation over 12 months while ascending aortic dilation in Fbn1C1041G/+ females did not differ significantly from wild type mice. To determine the role of AT1aR, Fbn1C1041G/+ mice that were either +/+ or -/- for AT1aR were generated. AT1aR deletion reduced progressive expansion of ascending aorta and aortic root diameter from 1 to 12 months of age in males. Medial thickening and elastin fragmentation were attenuated. An antisense oligonucleotide against angiotensinogen (AGT-ASO) was administered to male Fbn1C1041G/+ mice to determine the effects of angiotensin II depletion. AGT-ASO administration, at doses that markedly reduced plasma AGT concentrations, attenuated progressive dilation of the ascending aorta and aortic root. AGT-ASO also reduced medial thickening and elastin fragmentation. ConclusionsGenetic approaches to delete AT1aR and deplete AngII production exerted similar effects in attenuating pathology in the proximal thoracic aorta of male Fbn1C1041G/+ mice. These data are consistent with ligand (AngII) dependent stimulation of AT1aR being responsible for aortic disease progression. HighlightsO_LIProfound sexual dimorphism of aortic disease occurs in Fbn1C1041G/+ mice, with female mice being more resistant and male mice being more susceptible. C_LIO_LIInhibition of the AngII-AT1aR axis attenuates aortic pathology in male Fbn1C1041G/+ mice. C_LIO_LIAntisense oligonucleotides targeting angiotensinogen deplete plasma angiotensinogen and attenuate thoracic aortic aneurysms. C_LI

physiology↗

bioRxiv2020

The coupling of global brain activity and cerebrospinal fluid inflow is correlated with Alzheimer's disease related pathology

The glymphatic system plays an important role in clearing the amyloid-{beta} and tau proteins that are closely linked to Alzheimers disease (AD) pathology. Glymphatic clearance, as well as amyloid-{beta} accumulation, is highly dependent on sleep, but the sleep-dependent driving forces behind cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movements essential to the glymphatic flux remain largely unclear. Recent studies have reported that widespread, high-amplitude spontaneous brain activations in the drowsy state and during sleep, which are shown as large global signal peaks in resting-state fMRI, is coupled with the CSF movements, suggesting their potential link to the glymphatic flux and metabolite clearance. By analyzing multimodal data from the Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative project, here we showed that the coupling between the global fMRI signal and CSF influx is correlated with AD-related pathology, including various risk factors for AD, the severity of AD-related diseases, the cortical amyloid-{beta} level, and the cognitive decline over a two-year follow-up. These results provide critical initial evidence for involvement of sleep-dependent global brain activity, as well as the associated physiological modulations, in the clearance of AD-related brain waste.

neuroscience↗