Microstructural Associations Between Locus Coeruleus, Cortical, and Subcortical Regions Are Modulated by Astrocyte Reactivity: a 7T MRI Adult Lifespan Study

Overview

Journal Cereb Cortex

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Jun 21

PMID 38904081

Authors

Elise Beckers

Maxime Van Egroo

Nicholas J Ashton

Kaj Blennow

Gilles Vandewalle

Henrik Zetterberg

Benedikt A Poser

Heidi I L Jacobs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system plays a key role in supporting brain health along the lifespan, notably through its modulatory effects on neuroinflammation. Using ultra-high field diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, we examined whether microstructural properties (neurite density index and orientation dispersion index) in the locus coeruleus were related to those in cortical and subcortical regions, and whether this was modulated by plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein levels, as a proxy of astrocyte reactivity. In our cohort of 60 healthy individuals (30 to 85 yr, 50% female), higher glial fibrillary acidic protein correlated with lower neurite density index in frontal cortical regions, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. Furthermore, under higher levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (above ~ 150 pg/mL for cortical and ~ 145 pg/mL for subcortical regions), lower locus coeruleus orientation dispersion index was associated with lower orientation dispersion index in frontotemporal cortical regions and in subcortical regions. Interestingly, individuals with higher locus coeruleus orientation dispersion index exhibited higher orientation dispersion index in these (sub)cortical regions, despite having higher glial fibrillary acidic protein levels. Together, these results suggest that the interaction between locus coeruleus-norepinephrine cells and astrocytes can signal a detrimental or neuroprotective pathway for brain integrity and support the importance of maintaining locus coeruleus neuronal health in aging and in the prevention of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

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