<i>Tlr7</i> drives sex differences in age- and Alzheimer's disease-related demyelination.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other age-related disorders associated with demyelination exhibit sex differences. In this work, we used single-nuclei transcriptomics to dissect the contributions of sex chromosomes and gonads in demyelination and AD. In a mouse model of demyelination, we identified the roles of sex chromosomes and gonads in modifying microglia and oligodendrocyte responses before and after myelin loss. In an AD-related mouse model expressing APOE4, XY sex chromosomes heightened interferon (IFN) response and tau-induced demyelination. The X-linked gene, Toll-like receptor 7 (<i>Tlr7</i>), regulated sex-specific IFN response to myelin. Deletion of <i>Tlr7</i> dampened sex differences while protecting against demyelination. Administering TLR7 inhibitor mitigated tau-induced motor impairment and demyelination in male mice, indicating that <i>Tlr7</i> plays a role in the male-biased type I Interferon IFN response in aging- and AD-related demyelination.