Microglia mediate synaptic plasticity induced by 10 Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that is widely used in clinical practice for therapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that mediate its therapeutic effects remain poorly understood. Recent work implicates that microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, have a defined role in the regulation of physiological brain function, e.g. the expression of synaptic plasticity. Despite this observation, no evidence exists for a role of microglia in excitatory synaptic plasticity induced by rTMS. Here, we used repetitive magnetic stimulation of organotypic entorhino-hippocampal tissue cultures to test for the role of microglia in synaptic plasticity induced by 10 Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS). For this purpose, we performed PLX3397 (Pexidartinib) treatment to deplete microglia from tissue culture preparations. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, live-cell microscopy, immunohistochemistry and transcriptome analysis, we assessed structural and functional properties of both CA1 pyramidal neurons and microglia to correlate the microglia phenotype to synaptic plasticity. PLX3397 treatment over 18 days reliably depletes microglia in tissue cultures, without affecting structural and functional properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Microglia-depleted cultures display defects in the ability of CA1 pyramidal neurons to express plasticity of excitatory synapses upon rMS. Notably, rMS induces a moderate release of proinflammatory and plasticity-promoting factors, while microglial morphology stays unaltered. We conclude that microglia play a crucial role in rMS-induced excitatory synaptic plasticity.

Interleukin 10 Restores Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Alterations in Synaptic Plasticity Probed by Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation

Systemic inflammation is associated with alterations in complex brain functions such as learning and memory. However, diagnostic approaches to functionally assess and quantify inflammation-associated alterations in synaptic plasticity are not well-established. In previous work, we demonstrated that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation alters the ability of hippocampal neurons to express synaptic plasticity, i.e., the long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory neurotransmission. Here, we tested whether synaptic plasticity induced by repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used in clinical practice, is affected by LPS-induced inflammation. Specifically, we explored brain tissue cultures to learn more about the direct effects of LPS on neural tissue, and we tested for the plasticity-restoring effects of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL10). As shown previously, 10 Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) of organotypic entorhino-hippocampal tissue cultures induced a robust increase in excitatory neurotransmission onto CA1 pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, LPS-treated tissue cultures did not express rMS-induced synaptic plasticity. Live-cell microscopy in tissue cultures prepared from a novel transgenic reporter mouse line [C57BL/6-Tg(TNFa-eGFP)] confirms that ex vivo LPS administration triggers microglial tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) expression, which is ameliorated in the presence of IL10. Consistent with this observation, IL10 hampers the LPS-induced increase in TNFα, IL6, IL1β, and IFNγ and restores the ability of neurons to express rMS-induced synaptic plasticity in the presence of LPS. These findings establish organotypic tissue cultures as a suitable model for studying inflammation-induced alterations in synaptic plasticity, thus providing a biological basis for the diagnostic use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the context of brain inflammation.

Neural inflammation alters synaptic plasticity probed by 10 Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation

ABSTRACTSystemic inflammation is associated with alterations in complex brain functions such as learning and memory. However, diagnostic approaches to functionally assess and quantify inflammation-associated alterations in synaptic plasticity are not well-established. In previous work, we demonstrated that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation alters the ability of hippocampal neurons to express synaptic plasticity, i.e., the long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory neurotransmission. Here, we tested whether synaptic plasticity induced by repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used in clinical practice, is affected by LPS-induced inflammation. Specifically, we explored brain tissue cultures to learn more about the direct effects of LPS on neural tissue, and we tested for the plasticity-restoring effects of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL10). As shown previously, 10 Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) of organotypic entorhino-hippocampal tissue cultures induced a robust increase in excitatory neurotransmission onto CA1 pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, LPS-treated tissue cultures did not express rMS-induced synaptic plasticity. Live-cell microscopy in tissue cultures prepared from a novel transgenic reporter mouse line [C57BL6-Tg(TNFa-eGFP)] confirms that ex vivo LPS administration triggers microglial tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) expression, which is ameliorated in the presence of IL10. Consistent with this observation, IL10 hampers the LPS-induced increase in TNFα, IL6, IL1β, and IFNγ and restores the ability of neurons to express rMS-induced synaptic plasticity in the presence of LPS. These findings establish organotypic tissue cultures as a suitable model for studying inflammation-induced alterations in synaptic plasticity, thus providing a biological basis for the diagnostic use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the context of brain inflammation.