Rescue of astrocyte activity by the calcium sensor STIM1 restores long-term synaptic plasticity in female mice modelling Alzheimer's disease

Calcium dynamics in astrocytes represent a fundamental signal that through gliotransmitter release regulates synaptic plasticity and behaviour. Here we present a longitudinal study in the PS2APP mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) linking astrocyte Ca hypoactivity to memory loss. At the onset of plaque deposition, somatosensory cortical astrocytes of AD female mice exhibit a drastic reduction of Ca signaling, closely associated with decreased endoplasmic reticulum Ca concentration and reduced expression of the Ca sensor STIM1. In parallel, astrocyte-dependent long-term synaptic plasticity declines in the somatosensory circuitry, anticipating specific tactile memory loss. Notably, we show that both astrocyte Ca signaling and long-term synaptic plasticity are fully recovered by selective STIM1 overexpression in astrocytes. Our data unveil astrocyte Ca hypoactivity in neocortical astrocytes as a functional hallmark of early AD stages and indicate astrocytic STIM1 as a target to rescue memory deficits.