Astrocytic interleukin-3 programs microglia and limits Alzheimer's disease

Communication within the glial cell ecosystem is essential for neuronal and brain health1–3. The influence of glial cells on the accumulation and clearance of ß-amyloid (Aß) and neurofibrillary tau in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is poorly understood, despite growing awareness that these are therapeutically important interactions4,5. Here we show, in humans and mice, that astrocyte-sourced interleukin-3 (IL-3) programs microglia to ameliorate the pathology of AD. Upon recognition of Aß deposits, microglia increase their expression of IL-3Ra—the specific receptor for IL-3 (also known as CD123)—making them responsive to IL-3. Astrocytes constitutively produce IL-3, which elicits transcriptional, morphological, and functional programming of microglia to endow them with an acute immune response program, enhanced motility, and the capacity to cluster and clear aggregates of Aß and tau. These changes restrict AD pathology and cognitive decline. Our findings identify IL-3 as a key mediator of astrocyte–microglia cross-talk and a node for therapeutic intervention in AD. Overall design: RNAseq analysis of 6 samples. 3 samples are from 5-month-old 5xFAD mice and 3 samples are from 5-month-old Il3-/-5xFAD mice (2 total groups). Each sample contains microlgia pooled from 2 male and 2 female age- and genotype-matched mice.