Recent evidence indicates synaptic dysfunction as an early mechanism affected in neuroinflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, which are characterized by chronic microglia activation. However, the mode(s) of action of reactive microglia in causing synaptic defects are not fully understood. In this study, we show that inflammatory microglia produce extracellular vesicles (EVs) which are enriched in a set of miRNAs that regulate the expression of key synaptic proteins. Among them, miR-146a-5p, a microglia-specific miRNA not present in hippocampal neurons, controls the expression of presynaptic synaptotagmin1 (Syt1) and postsynaptic neuroligin1 (Nlg1), an adhesion protein which play a crucial role in dendritic spine formation and synaptic stability. Using a Renilla-based sensor, we provide formal proof that inflammatory EVs transfer their miR-146a-5p cargo to neuron. By western blot and immunofluorescence analysis we show that vesicular miR-146a-5p suppresses Syt1 and Nlg1 expression in receiving neurons. Microglia-to-neuron miR-146a-5p transfer and Syt1 and Nlg1 downregulation do not occur when EV–neuron contact is inhibited by cloaking vesicular phosphatidylserine residues and when neurons are exposed to EVs either depleted of miR-146a-5p, produced by pro-regenerative microglia, or storing inactive miR-146a-5p, produced by cells transfected with an anti-miR-146a-5p. Morphological analysis reveals that prolonged exposure to inflammatory EVs leads to significant decrease in dendritic spine density in hippocampal neurons in vivo and in primary culture, which is rescued in vitro by transfection of a miR-insensitive Nlg1 form. Dendritic spine loss is accompanied by a decrease in the density and strength of excitatory synapses, as indicated by reduced mEPSC frequency and amplitude. These findings link inflammatory microglia and enhanced EV production to loss of excitatory synapses, uncovering a previously unrecognized role for microglia-enriched miRNAs, released in association to EVs, in silencing of key synaptic genes.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00401-017-1803-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

IL-10 is a potent anti-inflammatory molecule that, in phagocytes, negatively targets cytokine expression at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Posttranscriptional checkpoints also represent the specific target of a recently discovered, evolutionary conserved class of small silencing RNAs known as "microRNAs" (miRNAs), which display the peculiar function of negatively regulating mRNA processing, stability, and translation. In this study, we report that activation of primary human monocytes up-regulates the expression of miR-187 both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, we identify miR-187 as an IL-10-dependent miRNA playing a role in IL-10-mediated suppression of TNF-α, IL-6, and the p40 subunit of IL-12 (IL12p40) produced by primary human monocytes following activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Ectopic expression of miR-187 consistently and selectively reduces TNFα, IL-6, and IL-12p40 produced by LPS-activated monocytes. Conversely, the production of LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p40 is increased significantly when miR-187 expression is silenced. Our data demonstrate that miR-187 directly targets TNF-α mRNA stability and translation and indirectly decreases IL-6 and IL-12p40 expression via down-modulation of IκBζ, a master regulator of the transcription of these latter two cytokines. These results uncover an miRNA-mediated pathway controlling cytokine expression and demonstrate a central role of miR-187 in the physiological regulation of IL-10-driven anti-inflammatory responses.

TLR3 recognizes dsRNA and activates antiviral immune responses through the production of inflammatory cytokines and type I IFNs. Genetic association studies have provided evidence concerning the role of a polymorphism in TLR3 (rs3775291, Leu412Phe) in viral infection susceptibility. We genotyped rs3775291 in a population of Spanish HIV-1–exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals who remain HIV seronegative despite repeated exposure through i.v. injection drug use (IDU-HESN individuals) as witnessed by their hepatitis C virus seropositivity. The frequency of individuals carrying at least one 412Phe allele was significantly higher in IDU-HESN individuals compared with that of a matched control sample (odds ratio for a dominant model = 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–3.34; p = 0.023). To replicate this finding, we analyzed a cohort of Italian, sexually HESN individuals. Similar results were obtained: the frequency of individuals carrying at least one 412Phe allele was significantly higher compared with that of a matched control sample (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–3.08; p = 0.029). In vitro infection assays showed that in PBMCs carrying the 412Phe allele, HIV-1Ba-L replication was significantly reduced (p = 0.025) compared with that of Leu/Leu homozygous samples and was associated with a higher expression of factors suggestive of a state of immune activation (IL-6, CCL3, CD69). Similarly, stimulation of PBMCs with a TLR3 agonist indicated that the presence of the 412Phe allele results in a significantly increased expression of CD69 and higher production of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and CCL3. The data of this study indicate that a common TLR3 allele confers immunologically mediated protection from HIV-1 and suggest the potential use of TLR3 triggering in HIV-1 immunotherapy.

Retention of intracellular Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) in the endoplasmic reticulum prevents their activation under basal conditions. TLR9 is activated by sensing ligands in specific endosomal/lysosomal compartments. Here, we describe the identification of insulin responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP) endosomes as major cellular compartments for the early steps of TLR9 activation in dendritic cells (DCs). Both TLR9 and its ligand CpG were found as cargo in IRAP endosomes. In the absence of IRAP, CpG and TLR9 trafficking to lysosomes and TLR9 signaling were enhanced in DCs and in mice following bacterial infection. IRAP stabilized CpG-containing endosomes by interacting with the actin nucleation factor FHOD4, slowing down TLR9 trafficking towards lysosomes. Thus, endosome retention of TLR9 via IRAP interaction with the actin cytoskeleton is a mechanism that prevents TLR9hyper-activation in DCs. discriminate between different classes of microbial products and initiate specific signaling cascades. While microbial products with no equivalent in mammalian cells, such as the components of the bacterial wall, are recognized by surface TLRs (1, 2, 4, 5 and 6), pathogen derived nucleic acids are sensed by intracellular TLRs (3,7, 8 and 9). Recognition of nucleic acids by intracellular TLRs has the potential to trigger autoimmune diseases through interaction with self nucleic acids 1 . To avoid inappropriate activation of endosomal TLRs, their trafficking is tightly controlled. Thus, in basal conditions the receptors are located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and translocate to endocytic vesicles only after cell stimulation by TLR ligands. Although all intracellular TLRs reside in the ER 2,3 , the trafficking pathways that move the receptors into the endocytic pathway show considerable variation among intracellular TLRs 4-6 . For example, TLR7 traffics from Golgi stacks directly to endosomes using the clathrin adaptor AP4, whereas the TLR9 is directed to the cell surface and reaches the endosomes via AP2-mediated clathrin-dependent endocytosis 6 .In addition to the transfer into the endocytic pathway, a second step that controls the activation of endosomal TLRs is their partial proteolysis by an array of different proteases, specific for each TLR 5,7-12 .Although less often mentioned, the intracellular trafficking of its ligand also controls the activation of TLR9. TLR9 ligands (CpG) are internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis in early endosomes and translocate to late LAMP + compartments 2 . TLR9 activation depends on CpG localization, since the abrogation of CpG translocation to LAMP + compartments by specific inhibitors decreased TLR9 signaling 13,14 . Thus, the intracellular trafficking of both, the ligand and the receptor are essential for the control of TLR9 activation. RESULTS IRAP deletion increases TLR9 responseTo address the role of IRAP in TLRs signaling, wild-type and IRAP-deficient bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were stimulated with specific TLR ligands: polyIC for TLR3, Imiquimod fo...