Gamma frequency entrainment attenuates amyloid load and modifies microglia

Author:  ["Hannah F. Iaccarino","Annabelle C. Singer","Anthony J. Martorell","Andrii Rudenko","Fan Gao","Tyler Z. Gillingham","Hansruedi Mathys","Jinsoo Seo","Oleg Kritskiy","Fatema Abdurrob","Chinnakkaruppan Adaikkan","Rebecca G. Canter","Richard Rueda","Emery N. Brown","Edward S. Boyden","Li-Huei Tsai"]

Publication:  Nature

CITE.CC academic search helps you expand the influence of your papers.

Tags:  Cellular neuroscience   Molecular neuroscience   Mathematics

Abstract

Changes in gamma oscillations (20–50 Hz) have been observed in several neurological disorders. However, the relationship between gamma oscillations and cellular pathologies is unclear. Here we show reduced, behaviourally driven gamma oscillations before the onset of plaque formation or cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Optogenetically driving fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive (FS-PV)-interneurons at gamma (40 Hz), but not other frequencies, reduces levels of amyloid-β (Aβ)1–40 and Aβ 1–42 isoforms. Gene expression profiling revealed induction of genes associated with morphological transformation of microglia, and histological analysis confirmed increased microglia co-localization with Aβ. Subsequently, we designed a non-invasive 40 Hz light-flickering regime that reduced Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 levels in the visual cortex of pre-depositing mice and mitigated plaque load in aged, depositing mice. Our findings uncover a previously unappreciated function of gamma rhythms in recruiting both neuronal and glial responses to attenuate Alzheimer’s-disease-associated pathology. Mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease show reduced, behaviourally driven gamma oscillations before the onset of plaque formation or cognitive decline; driving neurons to oscillate at gamma frequency (40 Hz) reduces levels of amyloid-β peptides. Disrupted gamma rhythms—oscillations in the brain's neuronal circuits at around 20–50 Hz—are hallmarks of various neurological disorders and have been seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease and specific mouse models of the disease. Li-Huei Tsai and colleagues show that gamma oscillations are also disrupted in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, and find reduced gamma prior to plaque formation and cognitive decline. Remarkably, by training neurons to oscillate at gamma frequency (40 Hz) in multiple mouse models including APP/PS1 and wild-type mice, amyloid-β peptide levels could be reduced.

Cite this article

Iaccarino, H., Singer, A., Martorell, A. et al. Gamma frequency entrainment attenuates amyloid load and modifies microglia. Nature 540, 230–235 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature20587

View full text

>> Full Text:   Gamma frequency entrainment attenuates amyloid load and modifies microglia

A persistent and dynamic East Greenland Ice Sheet over the past 7.5 million years

Genome-wide changes in lncRNA, splicing, and regional gene expression patterns in autism