# Atg5 in microglia regulates sex-specific effects on postnatal neurogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease

## TL;DR

This study shows that Atg5 in microglia affects neurogenesis differently in male and female Alzheimer’s disease mice.

## Contribution

The study reveals a sex-specific role of microglial Atg5 in regulating postnatal neurogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease.

## Key findings

- Atg5 cKO in female microglia failed to show DAM gene signatures in 5xFAD mice.
- Atg5 cKO reduced NSC numbers in the hippocampus of female but not male 5xFAD mice.
- SVZ neurogenesis was impaired in male 5xFAD mice with Atg5 cKO but not in females.

## Abstract

Female Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients display greater cognitive deficits and worse AD pathology as compared to male AD patients. In this study, we found that conditional knockout (cKO) of Atg5 in female microglia failed to obtain disease-associated microglia (DAM) gene signatures in familiar AD mouse model (5xFAD). Next, we analyzed the maintenance and neurogenesis of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ) from 5xFAD mice with Atg5 cKO. Our data indicated that Atg5 cKO reduced the NSC number in hippocampus of female but not male 5xFAD mice. However, in the SVZ, Atg5 cKO only impaired NSCs in male 5xFAD mice. Interestingly, female 5xFAD;Fip200 cKO mice and 5xFAD;Atg14 cKO mice did not show NSC defects. These autophagy genes cKO 5xFAD mice exhibited a higher neurogenesis activity in their SVZ. Together, our data indicate a sex-specific role for microglial Atg5 in postnatal neurogenesis in AD mice.