HIF-1α-induced microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from single-cell transcriptomic analysis

Sep 19, 2025Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD

Brain immune cell inflammation triggered by low oxygen response may be involved in Alzheimer's disease, based on single-cell gene analysis

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Abstract

A unique microglial subpopulation, termed microglia_2, shows significant activation of inflammatory pathways during Alzheimer's disease progression.

Microglia_2 has an inflammatory-angiogenic transcriptional signature that is enriched as Alzheimer's disease progresses.
HIF-1α was identified as a key regulator of the microglia_2 subpopulation.
Increased expression of HIF-1α and Apoe was observed alongside cognitive decline in 5×FAD mice.
Microglial activation in the prefrontal cortex was associated with the observed cognitive decline.
In vitro inhibition of HIF-1α resulted in a significant reduction in microglial inflammation.

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BackgroundMicroglia are central mediators of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), contributing significantly to disease pathogenesis. Understanding microglial heterogeneity and their regulatory mechanisms is critical for identifying potential therapeutic targets.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the diversity of microglial subpopulations in AD and uncover key transcriptional regulators driving their pathogenic activity.MethodsWe integrated bulk RNA sequencing data from AD patients and 5×FAD mouse models with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to profile microglial heterogeneity. Differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, pseudotime trajectory, and SCENIC analyses were used to identify functionally distinct subsets and regulatory networks. Experimental validation was conducted through in vivo assays in 5×FAD mice and in vitro inhibition studies targeting HIF-1α.ResultsA unique microglial subpopulation, termed microglia_2, was identified with an inflammatory-angiogenic transcriptional signature that was enriched during AD progression. This subset showed significant activation of inflammatory pathways. Pseudotime and SCENIC analyses revealed HIF-1α as a master regulator of microglia_2. In 5×FAD mice, cognitive decline was accompanied by increased expression of HIF-1α and Apoe, as well as microglial activation in the prefrontal cortex. In vitro inhibition of HIF-1α significantly reduced microglial inflammation.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that a specific microglial subpopulation characterized by elevated HIF-1α expression may contribute to AD-associated neuroinflammation. By integrating transcriptomic analyses and experimental validation, we provide cell type-specific insights into disease mechanisms, offering potential insights for future mechanistic studies and therapeutic exploration.

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HIF-1α-induced microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from single-cell transcriptomic analysis

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