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Xiaoling Q, Yurong G, Ke X, Yuxiang Q, Panpan A, Yinzhen D, Xue L, Tingting L, Chuanxi T. GDNF's Role in Mitigating Intestinal Reactive Gliosis and Inflammation to Improve Constipation and Depressive Behavior in Rats with Parkinson's disease. J Mol Neurosci 2024; 74:78. [PMID: 39158627 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-024-02254-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Constipation is a common symptom in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and is often associated with depression. Enteric glial cells (EGCs) are crucial for regulating intestinal inflammation and colon motility, and their activation can lead to the death of intestinal neurons. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been recognized for its neuroprotective properties in various neurological disorders, including PD. This study explores the potential of GDNF in alleviating intestinal reactive gliosis and inflammation, thereby improving constipation and depressive behavior in a rat model of PD. A PD model was established via unilateral stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Five weeks post-injury, AAV5-GDNF (2 ~ 5 × 10^11) was intraperitoneally injected into experimental and control rats. Fecal moisture percentage (FMP) and colonic propulsion rate (CPPR) were used to evaluate colon motility. Colon-related inflammation and colonic epithelial morphology were assessed, and depressive behavior was analyzed one week before sampling. PD rats exhibited reduced colonic motility and GDNF expression, along with increased EGC reactivity and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. Additionally, there was an up-regulation of CX43 and a decrease in PGP 9.5 expression. The intraperitoneal injection of AAV-GDNF significantly protected colonic neurons by inhibiting EGC activation and down-regulating CX43. This treatment also led to a notable reduction in depressive-like symptoms in PD rats with constipation. GDNF effectively reduces markers of reactive gliosis and inflammation, and promotes the survival of colonic neurons, and improves colonic motility in PD rats by regulating CX43 activity. Furthermore, GDNF treatment alleviates depressive behavior, suggesting that GDNF or its agonists could be promising therapeutic agents for managing gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Xiaoling
- Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai 4th People's Hospital, Tongji University, No.1279 Sanmen Road, Shanghai, 200081, China.
| | - Guo Yurong
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Ke
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiu Yuxiang
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - An Panpan
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Du Yinzhen
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Xue
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liu Tingting
- Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai 4th People's Hospital, Tongji University, No.1279 Sanmen Road, Shanghai, 200081, China
| | - Tang Chuanxi
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China.
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Maekawa T, Motokawa R, Kawashima R, Tamaki S, Hara Y, Kawakami F, Ichikawa T. Biphenotypic Cells and α-Synuclein Accumulation in Enteric Neurons of Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Knockout Mice. Dig Dis Sci 2024; 69:2828-2840. [PMID: 38849592 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08494-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 is a molecule that is responsible for familial Parkinson's disease. Our previous findings revealed that leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 is expressed in the enteric nervous system. However, which cells in the enteric nervous system express leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 and whether leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 is associated with the structure of the enteric nervous system remain unclear. The enteric nervous system is remarkable because some patients with Parkinson's disease experience gastrointestinal symptoms before developing motor symptoms. AIMS We established a leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 reporter mouse model and performed immunostaining in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 knockout mice. METHODS Longitudinal muscle containing the myenteric plexus prepared from leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 reporter mice was analyzed by immunostaining using anti-green fluorescent protein (GFP) antibody. Immunostaining using several combinations of antibodies characterizing enteric neurons and glial cells was performed on intestinal preparations from leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 knockout mice. RESULTS GFP expression in the reporter mice was predominantly in enteric glial cells rather than in enteric neurons. Immunostaining revealed that differences in the structure and proportion of major immunophenotypic cells were not apparent in the knockout mice. Interestingly, the number of biphenotypic cells expressing the neuronal and glial cell markers increased in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 knockout mice. Moreover, there was accumulation of α-synuclein in the knockout mice. CONCLUSIONS Our present findings suggest that leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 is a newly recognized molecule that potentially regulates the integrity of enteric nervous system and enteric α-synuclein accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsunori Maekawa
- Department of Regulation Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Research Facility of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Design, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Ryuichi Motokawa
- Department of Regulation Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Rei Kawashima
- Department of Regulation Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Research Facility of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Design, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shun Tamaki
- Department of Regulation Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Research Facility of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Design, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yusuke Hara
- Department of Regulation Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kawakami
- Department of Regulation Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
- Department of Health Administration, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Research Facility of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Design, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ichikawa
- Department of Regulation Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Research Facility of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Design, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
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Zhou B, Feng C, Sun S, Chen X, Zhuansun D, Wang D, Yu X, Meng X, Xiao J, Wu L, Wang J, Wang J, Chen K, Li Z, You J, Mao H, Yang S, Zhang J, Jiao C, Li Z, Yu D, Wu X, Zhu T, Yang J, Xiang L, Liu J, Chai T, Shen J, Mao CX, Hu J, Hao X, Xiong B, Zheng S, Liu Z, Feng J. Identification of signaling pathways that specify a subset of migrating enteric neural crest cells at the wavefront in mouse embryos. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1689-1706.e8. [PMID: 38636517 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
During enteric nervous system (ENS) development, pioneering wavefront enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) initiate gut colonization. However, the molecular mechanisms guiding their specification and niche interaction are not fully understood. We used single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the spatiotemporal dynamics and molecular landscape of wavefront ENCCs in mouse embryos. Our analysis shows a progressive decline in wavefront ENCC potency during migration and identifies transcription factors governing their specification and differentiation. We further delineate key signaling pathways (ephrin-Eph, Wnt-Frizzled, and Sema3a-Nrp1) utilized by wavefront ENCCs to interact with their surrounding cells. Disruptions in these pathways are observed in human Hirschsprung's disease gut tissue, linking them to ENS malformations. Additionally, we observed region-specific and cell-type-specific transcriptional changes in surrounding gut tissues upon wavefront ENCC arrival, suggesting their role in shaping the gut microenvironment. This work offers a roadmap of ENS development, with implications for understanding ENS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyan Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Chenzhao Feng
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Song Sun
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Ministry of Health, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Xuyong Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Didi Zhuansun
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiaosi Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xinyao Meng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Luyao Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Zejian Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jingyi You
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Handan Mao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Shimin Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Chunlei Jiao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Donghai Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Tianqi Zhu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jixin Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jiazhe Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518081, China
| | | | - Juan Shen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518081, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Juncheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xingjie Hao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Bo Xiong
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Institute for Brain Research, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Shan Zheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Ministry of Health, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Jiexiong Feng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
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4
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McKay DM, Defaye M, Rajeev S, MacNaughton WK, Nasser Y, Sharkey KA. Neuroimmunophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2024; 326:G712-G725. [PMID: 38626403 PMCID: PMC11376980 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00075.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Gut physiology is the epicenter of a web of internal communication systems (i.e., neural, immune, hormonal) mediated by cell-cell contacts, soluble factors, and external influences, such as the microbiome, diet, and the physical environment. Together these provide the signals that shape enteric homeostasis and, when they go awry, lead to disease. Faced with the seemingly paradoxical tasks of nutrient uptake (digestion) and retarding pathogen invasion (host defense), the gut integrates interactions between a variety of cells and signaling molecules to keep the host nourished and protected from pathogens. When the system fails, the outcome can be acute or chronic disease, often labeled as "idiopathic" in nature (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease). Here we underscore the importance of a holistic approach to gut physiology, placing an emphasis on intercellular connectedness, using enteric neuroimmunophysiology as the paradigm. The goal of this opinion piece is to acknowledge the pace of change brought to our field via single-cell and -omic methodologies and other techniques such as cell lineage tracing, transgenic animal models, methods for culturing patient tissue, and advanced imaging. We identify gaps in the field and hope to inspire and challenge colleagues to take up the mantle and advance awareness of the subtleties, intricacies, and nuances of intestinal physiology in health and disease by defining communication pathways between gut resident cells, those recruited from the circulation, and "external" influences such as the central nervous system and the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek M McKay
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Gastrointestinal Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Manon Defaye
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Gastrointestinal Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sruthi Rajeev
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Gastrointestinal Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wallace K MacNaughton
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Gastrointestinal Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yasmin Nasser
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Gastrointestinal Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Keith A Sharkey
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Gastrointestinal Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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5
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Recinto SJ, Premachandran S, Mukherjee S, Allot A, MacDonald A, Yaqubi M, Gruenheid S, Trudeau LE, Stratton JA. Characterizing enteric neurons in dopamine transporter (DAT)-Cre reporter mice reveals dopaminergic subtypes with dual-transmitter content. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2465-2482. [PMID: 38487941 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) comprises a complex network of neurons whereby a subset appears to be dopaminergic although the characteristics, roles, and implications in disease are less understood. Most investigations relating to enteric dopamine (DA) neurons rely on immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-the rate-limiting enzyme in the production of DA. However, TH immunoreactivity is likely to provide an incomplete picture. This study herein provides a comprehensive characterization of DA neurons in the gut using a reporter mouse line, expressing a fluorescent protein (tdTomato) under control of the DA transporter (DAT) promoter. Our findings confirm a unique localization of DA neurons in the gut and unveil the discrete subtypes of DA neurons in this organ, which we characterized using both immunofluorescence and single-cell transcriptomics, as well as validated using in situ hybridization. We observed distinct subtypes of DAT-tdTomato neurons expressing co-transmitters and modulators across both plexuses; some of them likely co-releasing acetylcholine, while others were positive for a slew of canonical DAergic markers (TH, VMAT2 and GIRK2). Interestingly, we uncovered a seemingly novel population of DA neurons unique to the ENS which was ChAT/DAT-tdTomato-immunoreactive and expressed Grp, Calcb, and Sst. Given the clear heterogeneity of DAergic gut neurons, further investigation is warranted to define their functional signatures and decipher their implication in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherilyn Junelle Recinto
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Shobina Premachandran
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Sriparna Mukherjee
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montreal, Faculty of Medicine, SNC and CIRCA Research Groups, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alexis Allot
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adam MacDonald
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Moein Yaqubi
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Samantha Gruenheid
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louis-Eric Trudeau
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montreal, Faculty of Medicine, SNC and CIRCA Research Groups, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jo Anne Stratton
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
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6
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Schneider S, Anderson JB, Bradley RP, Beigel K, Wright CM, Maguire BA, Yan G, Taylor DM, Harbour JW, Heuckeroth RO. BAP1 is required prenatally for differentiation and maintenance of postnatal murine enteric nervous system. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e177771. [PMID: 38690732 PMCID: PMC11060734 DOI: 10.1172/jci177771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms are underappreciated, yet are critical for enteric nervous system (ENS) development and maintenance. We discovered that fetal loss of the epigenetic regulator Bap1 in the ENS lineage caused severe postnatal bowel dysfunction and early death in Tyrosinase-Cre Bap1fl/fl mice. Bap1-depleted ENS appeared normal in neonates; however, by P15, Bap1-deficient enteric neurons were largely absent from the small and large intestine of Tyrosinase-Cre Bap1fl/fl mice. Bowel motility became markedly abnormal with disproportionate loss of cholinergic neurons. Single-cell RNA sequencing at P5 showed that fetal Bap1 loss in Tyrosinase-Cre Bap1fl/fl mice markedly altered the composition and relative proportions of enteric neuron subtypes. In contrast, postnatal deletion of Bap1 did not cause enteric neuron loss or impaired bowel motility. These findings suggest that BAP1 is critical for postnatal enteric neuron differentiation and for early enteric neuron survival, a finding that may be relevant to the recently described human BAP1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Schneider
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica B. Anderson
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rebecca P. Bradley
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Katherine Beigel
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christina M. Wright
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Beth A. Maguire
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Guang Yan
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Deanne M. Taylor
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - J. William Harbour
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Robert O. Heuckeroth
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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7
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Shepherd A, Feinstein L, Sabel S, Rastelli D, Mezhibovsky E, Matthews L, Muppirala A, Robinson A, Sharma KR, ElSeht A, Zeve D, Breault DT, Gershon MD, Rao M. RET Signaling Persists in the Adult Intestine and Stimulates Motility by Limiting PYY Release From Enteroendocrine Cells. Gastroenterology 2024; 166:437-449. [PMID: 37995867 PMCID: PMC10922887 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS RET tyrosine kinase is necessary for enteric nervous system development. Loss-of-function RET mutations cause Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), in which infants are born with aganglionic bowel. Despite surgical correction, patients with HSCR often experience chronic defecatory dysfunction and enterocolitis, suggesting that RET is important after development. To test this hypothesis, we determined the location of postnatal RET and its significance in gastrointestinal (GI) motility. METHODS RetCFP/+ mice and human transcriptional profiling data were studied to identify the enteric neuronal and epithelial cells that express RET. To determine whether RET regulates gut motility in vivo, genetic, and pharmacologic approaches were used to disrupt RET in all RET-expressing cells, a subset of enteric neurons, or intestinal epithelial cells. RESULTS Distinct subsets of enteric neurons and enteroendocrine cells expressed RET in the adult intestine. RET disruption in the epithelium, rather than in enteric neurons, slowed GI motility selectively in male mice. RET kinase inhibition phenocopied this effect. Most RET+ epithelial cells were either enterochromaffin cells that release serotonin or L-cells that release peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), both of which can alter motility. RET kinase inhibition exaggerated PYY and GLP-1 release in a nutrient-dependent manner without altering serotonin secretion in mice and human organoids. PYY receptor blockade rescued dysmotility in mice lacking epithelial RET. CONCLUSIONS RET signaling normally limits nutrient-dependent peptide release from L-cells and this activity is necessary for normal intestinal motility in male mice. These effects could contribute to dysmotility in HSCR, which predominantly affects males, and uncovers a mechanism that could be targeted to treat post-prandial GI dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Shepherd
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Laurence Feinstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Svetlana Sabel
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Daniella Rastelli
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Esther Mezhibovsky
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Lynley Matthews
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Anoohya Muppirala
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ariel Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Karina R Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Abrahim ElSeht
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel Zeve
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David T Breault
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael D Gershon
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Meenakshi Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
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8
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Majd H, Cesiulis A, Samuel RM, Richter MN, Elder N, Guyer RA, Hao MM, Stamp LA, Goldstein AM, Fattahi F. A call for a unified and multimodal definition of cellular identity in the enteric nervous system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.15.575794. [PMID: 38293133 PMCID: PMC10827084 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.15.575794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a tantalizing frontier in neuroscience. With the recent emergence of single cell transcriptomic technologies, this rare and poorly understood tissue has begun to be better characterized in recent years. A precise functional mapping of enteric neuron diversity is critical for understanding ENS biology and enteric neuropathies. Nonetheless, this pursuit has faced considerable technical challenges. By leveraging different methods to compare available primary mouse and human ENS datasets, we underscore the urgent need for careful identity annotation, achieved through the harmonization and advancements of wet lab and computational techniques. We took different approaches including differential gene expression, module scoring, co-expression and correlation analysis, unbiased biological function hierarchical clustering, data integration and label transfer to compare and contrast functional annotations of several independently reported ENS datasets. These analyses highlight substantial discrepancies stemming from an overreliance on transcriptomics data without adequate validation in tissues. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of enteric neuron identity and their functional context, it is imperative to expand tissue sources and incorporate innovative technologies such as multiplexed imaging, electrophysiology, spatial transcriptomics, as well as comprehensive profiling of epigenome, proteome, and metabolome. Harnessing human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) models provides unique opportunities for delineating lineage trees of the human ENS, and offers unparalleled advantages, including their scalability and compatibility with genetic manipulation and unbiased screens. We encourage a paradigm shift in our comprehension of cellular complexity and function in the ENS by calling for large-scale collaborative efforts and research investments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Majd
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Andrius Cesiulis
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Ryan M Samuel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Mikayla N Richter
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Nicholas Elder
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Richard A Guyer
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marlene M. Hao
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lincon A. Stamp
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Faranak Fattahi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Lead contact
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9
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Zuo S, Jiang L, Chen L, Wang W, Gu J, Kuai J, Yang X, Ma Y, Han C, Wei W. Involvement of Embryo-Derived and Monocyte-Derived Intestinal Macrophages in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Their Prospects as Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:690. [PMID: 38255764 PMCID: PMC10815613 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of intestinal inflammatory diseases characterized by chronic, recurrent, remitting, or progressive inflammation, which causes the disturbance of the homeostasis between immune cells, such as macrophages, epithelial cells, and microorganisms. Intestinal macrophages (IMs) are the largest population of macrophages in the body, and the abnormal function of IMs is an important cause of IBD. Most IMs come from the replenishment of blood monocytes, while a small part come from embryos and can self-renew. Stimulated by the intestinal inflammatory microenvironment, monocyte-derived IMs can interact with intestinal epithelial cells, intestinal fibroblasts, and intestinal flora, resulting in the increased differentiation of proinflammatory phenotypes and the decreased differentiation of anti-inflammatory phenotypes, releasing a large number of proinflammatory factors and aggravating intestinal inflammation. Based on this mechanism, inhibiting the secretion of IMs' proinflammatory factors and enhancing the differentiation of anti-inflammatory phenotypes can help alleviate intestinal inflammation and promote tissue repair. At present, the clinical medication of IBD mainly includes 5-aminosalicylic acids (5-ASAs), glucocorticoid, immunosuppressants, and TNF-α inhibitors. The general principle of treatment is to control acute attacks, alleviate the condition, reduce recurrence, and prevent complications. Most classical IBD therapies affecting IMs function in a variety of ways, such as inhibiting the inflammatory signaling pathways and inducing IM2-type macrophage differentiation. This review explores the current understanding of the involvement of IMs in the pathogenesis of IBD and their prospects as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chenchen Han
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei 230032, China; (S.Z.); (L.J.); (L.C.); (W.W.); (J.G.); (J.K.); (X.Y.); (Y.M.)
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei 230032, China; (S.Z.); (L.J.); (L.C.); (W.W.); (J.G.); (J.K.); (X.Y.); (Y.M.)
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10
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Kulkarni S, Saha M, Slosberg J, Singh A, Nagaraj S, Becker L, Zhang C, Bukowski A, Wang Z, Liu G, Leser JM, Kumar M, Bakhshi S, Anderson MJ, Lewandoski M, Vincent E, Goff LA, Pasricha PJ. Age-associated changes in lineage composition of the enteric nervous system regulate gut health and disease. eLife 2023; 12:RP88051. [PMID: 38108810 PMCID: PMC10727506 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS), a collection of neural cells contained in the wall of the gut, is of fundamental importance to gastrointestinal and systemic health. According to the prevailing paradigm, the ENS arises from progenitor cells migrating from the neural crest and remains largely unchanged thereafter. Here, we show that the lineage composition of maturing ENS changes with time, with a decline in the canonical lineage of neural-crest derived neurons and their replacement by a newly identified lineage of mesoderm-derived neurons. Single cell transcriptomics and immunochemical approaches establish a distinct expression profile of mesoderm-derived neurons. The dynamic balance between the proportions of neurons from these two different lineages in the post-natal gut is dependent on the availability of their respective trophic signals, GDNF-RET and HGF-MET. With increasing age, the mesoderm-derived neurons become the dominant form of neurons in the ENS, a change associated with significant functional effects on intestinal motility which can be reversed by GDNF supplementation. Transcriptomic analyses of human gut tissues show reduced GDNF-RET signaling in patients with intestinal dysmotility which is associated with reduction in neural crest-derived neuronal markers and concomitant increase in transcriptional patterns specific to mesoderm-derived neurons. Normal intestinal function in the adult gastrointestinal tract therefore appears to require an optimal balance between these two distinct lineages within the ENS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Kulkarni
- Division of Gastroenterology, Dept of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonUnited States
- Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Monalee Saha
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Jared Slosberg
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Alpana Singh
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Sushma Nagaraj
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Laren Becker
- Division of Gastroenterology, Stanford University – School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Chengxiu Zhang
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Alicia Bukowski
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Zhuolun Wang
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Guosheng Liu
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Jenna M Leser
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Mithra Kumar
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Shriya Bakhshi
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Matthew J Anderson
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteFrederickUnited States
| | - Mark Lewandoski
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteFrederickUnited States
| | - Elizabeth Vincent
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Loyal A Goff
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Kavli Neurodiscovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University – School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
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11
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Russo S, Chan K, Li L, Parise L, Cathomas F, LeClair K, Shimo Y, Lin HY, Durand-de Cuttoli R, Aubry A, Alvarez J, Drescher T, Osman A, Yuan C, Fisher-Foye R, Price G, Schmitt Y, Kaster M, Furtado GC, Lira S, Wang J, Han W, de Araujo I. Stress-activated brain-gut circuits disrupt intestinal barrier integrity and social behaviour. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3459170. [PMID: 37961128 PMCID: PMC10635315 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3459170/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress underlies the etiology of both major depressive disorder (MDD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), two highly prevalent and debilitating conditions with high rates of co-morbidity. However, it is not fully understood how the brain and gut bi-directionally communicate during stress to impact intestinal homeostasis and stress-relevant behaviours. Using the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model, we find that stressed mice display greater intestinal permeability and circulating levels of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) compared to unstressed control (CON) mice. Interestingly, the microbiota in the colon also exhibit elevated LPS biosynthesis gene expression following CSDS. Additionally, CSDS triggers an increase in pro-inflammatory colonic IFNγ+ Th1 cells and a decrease in IL4+ Th2 cells compared to CON mice, and this gut inflammation contributes to stress-induced intestinal barrier permeability and social avoidance behaviour. We next investigated the role of enteric neurons and identified that noradrenergic dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH)+ neurons in the colon are activated by CSDS, and that their ablation protects against gut pathophysiology and disturbances in social behaviour. Retrograde tracing from the colon identified a population of corticotropin-releasing hormone-expressing (CRH+) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) that innervate the colon and are activated by stress. Chemogenetically activating these PVH CRH+ neurons is sufficient to induce gut inflammation, barrier permeability, and social avoidance behaviour, while inhibiting these cells prevents these effects following exposure to CSDS. Thus, we define a stress-activated brain-to-gut circuit that confers colonic inflammation, leading to impaired intestinal barrier function, and consequent behavioural deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Long Li
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Aya Osman
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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12
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Jacobs-Li J, Tang W, Li C, Bronner ME. Single-cell profiling coupled with lineage analysis reveals vagal and sacral neural crest contributions to the developing enteric nervous system. eLife 2023; 12:e79156. [PMID: 37877560 PMCID: PMC10627514 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
During development, much of the enteric nervous system (ENS) arises from the vagal neural crest that emerges from the caudal hindbrain and colonizes the entire gastrointestinal tract. However, a second ENS contribution comes from the sacral neural crest that arises in the caudal neural tube and populates the post-umbilical gut. By coupling single-cell transcriptomics with axial-level-specific lineage tracing in avian embryos, we compared the contributions of embryonic vagal and sacral neural crest cells to the chick ENS and the associated peripheral ganglia (Nerve of Remak and pelvic plexuses). At embryonic day (E) 10, the two neural crest populations form overlapping subsets of neuronal and glia cell types. Surprisingly, the post-umbilical vagal neural crest much more closely resembles the sacral neural crest than the pre-umbilical vagal neural crest. However, some differences in cluster types were noted between vagal and sacral derived cells. Notably, RNA trajectory analysis suggests that the vagal neural crest maintains a neuronal/glial progenitor pool, whereas this cluster is depleted in the E10 sacral neural crest which instead has numerous enteric glia. The present findings reveal sacral neural crest contributions to the hindgut and associated peripheral ganglia and highlight the potential influence of the local environment and/or developmental timing in differentiation of neural crest-derived cells in the developing ENS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Jacobs-Li
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaUnited States
| | - Weiyi Tang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaUnited States
| | - Can Li
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaUnited States
| | - Marianne E Bronner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaUnited States
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13
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Gunsch G, Paradie E, Townsend KL. Peripheral nervous system glia in support of metabolic tissue functions. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:622-639. [PMID: 37591710 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) relays information between organs and tissues and the brain and spine to maintain homeostasis, regulate tissue functions, and respond to interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. Glial cells perform support roles to maintain nerve function, plasticity, and survival. The glia of the central nervous system (CNS) are well characterized, but PNS glia (PNSG) populations, particularly tissue-specific subtypes, are underexplored. PNSG are found in large nerves (such as the sciatic), the ganglia, and the tissues themselves, and can crosstalk with a range of cell types in addition to neurons. PNSG are also subject to phenotypic changes in response to signals from their local tissue environment, including metabolic changes. These topics and the importance of PNSG in metabolically active tissues, such as adipose, muscle, heart, and lymphatic tissues, are outlined in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilian Gunsch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Emma Paradie
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kristy L Townsend
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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14
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Putra BP, Ito K, Cirillo C, Sunardi M, Koseki H, Uesaka T, Enomoto H. Pcgf1 gene disruption reveals primary involvement of epigenetic mechanism in neuronal subtype specification in the enteric nervous system. Dev Growth Differ 2023; 65:461-469. [PMID: 37452641 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) regulates gut functions independently from the central nervous system (CNS) by its highly autonomic neural circuit that integrates diverse neuronal subtypes. Although several transcription factors are shown to be necessary for the generation of some enteric neuron subtypes, the mechanisms underlying neuronal subtype specification in the ENS remain elusive. In this study, we examined the biological function of Polycomb group RING finger protein 1 (PCGF1), one of the epigenetic modifiers, in the development and differentiation of the ENS by disrupting the Pcgf1 gene selectively in the autonomic-lineage cells. Although ENS precursor migration and enteric neurogenesis were largely unaffected, neuronal differentiation was impaired in the Pcgf1-deficient mice, with the numbers of neurons expressing somatostatin (Sst+ ) decreased in multiple gut regions. Notably, the decrease in Sst+ neurons was associated with the corresponding increase in calbindin+ neurons in the proximal colon. These findings suggest that neuronal subtype conversion may occur in the absence of PCGF1, and that epigenetic mechanism is primarily involved in specification of some enteric neuron subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayu Pratama Putra
- Division of Neural Differentiation and Regeneration, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Keisuke Ito
- Division of Neural Differentiation and Regeneration, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Carla Cirillo
- Division of Neural Differentiation and Regeneration, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), Inserm, University of Toulouse-Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Mukhamad Sunardi
- Division of Neural Differentiation and Regeneration, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Koseki
- Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Uesaka
- Division of Neural Differentiation and Regeneration, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hideki Enomoto
- Division of Neural Differentiation and Regeneration, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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15
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Mariant CL, Bacola G, Van Landeghem L. Mini-Review: Enteric glia of the tumor microenvironment: An affair of corruption. Neurosci Lett 2023; 814:137416. [PMID: 37572875 PMCID: PMC10967235 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment corresponds to a complex mixture of bioactive products released by local and recruited cells whose normal functions have been "corrupted" by cues originating from the tumor, mostly to favor cancer growth, dissemination and resistance to therapies. While the immune and the mesenchymal cellular components of the tumor microenvironment in colon cancer have been under intense scrutiny over the last two decades, the influence of the resident neural cells of the gut on colon carcinogenesis has only very recently begun to draw attention. The vast majority of the resident neural cells of the gastrointestinal tract belong to the enteric nervous system and correspond to enteric neurons and enteric glial cells, both of which have been understudied in the context of colon cancer development and progression. In this review, we especially discuss available evidence on enteric glia impact on colon carcinogenesis. To highlight "corrupted" functioning in enteric glial cells of the tumor microenvironment and its repercussion on tumorigenesis, we first review the main regulatory effects of enteric glial cells on the intestinal epithelium in homeostatic conditions and we next present current knowledge on enteric glia influence on colon tumorigenesis. We particularly examine how enteric glial cell heterogeneity and plasticity require further appreciation to better understand the distinct regulatory interactions enteric glial cell subtypes engage with the various cell types of the tumor, and to identify novel biological targets to block enteric glia pro-carcinogenic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe L Mariant
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Gregory Bacola
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Laurianne Van Landeghem
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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16
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Bubeck M, Becker C, Patankar JV. Guardians of the gut: influence of the enteric nervous system on the intestinal epithelial barrier. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1228938. [PMID: 37692784 PMCID: PMC10485265 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1228938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestinal mucosal surface forms one of the largest areas of the body, which is in direct contact with the environment. Co-ordinated sensory functions of immune, epithelial, and neuronal cells ensure the timely detection of noxious queues and potential pathogens and elicit proportional responses to mitigate the threats and maintain homeostasis. Such tuning and maintenance of the epithelial barrier is constantly ongoing during homeostasis and its derangement can become a gateway for systemic consequences. Although efforts in understanding the gatekeeping functions of immune cells have led the way, increasing number of studies point to a crucial role of the enteric nervous system in fine-tuning and maintaining this delicate homeostasis. The identification of immune regulatory functions of enteric neuropeptides and glial-derived factors is still in its infancy, but has already yielded several intriguing insights into their important contribution to the tight control of the mucosal barrier. In this review, we will first introduce the reader to the current understanding of the architecture of the enteric nervous system and the epithelial barrier. Next, we discuss the key discoveries and cellular pathways and mediators that have emerged as links between the enteric nervous, immune, and epithelial systems and how their coordinated actions defend against intestinal infectious and inflammatory diseases. Through this review, the readers will gain a sound understanding of the current neuro-immune-epithelial mechanisms ensuring intestinal barrier integrity and maintenance of intestinal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Bubeck
- Department of Medicine 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christoph Becker
- Department of Medicine 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jay V. Patankar
- Department of Medicine 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Erlangen, Germany
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17
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Vincent E, Chatterjee S, Cannon GH, Auer D, Ross H, Chakravarti A, Goff LA. Ret deficiency decreases neural crest progenitor proliferation and restricts fate potential during enteric nervous system development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211986120. [PMID: 37585461 PMCID: PMC10451519 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211986120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase RET plays a critical role in the fate specification of enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDCs) during enteric nervous system (ENS) development. RET loss of function (LoF) is associated with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), which is marked by aganglionosis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although the major phenotypic consequences and the underlying transcriptional changes from Ret LoF in the developing ENS have been described, cell type- and state-specific effects are unknown. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on an enriched population of ENCDCs from the developing GI tract of Ret null heterozygous and homozygous mice at embryonic day (E)12.5 and E14.5. We demonstrate four significant findings: 1) Ret-expressing ENCDCs are a heterogeneous population comprising ENS progenitors as well as glial- and neuronal-committed cells; 2) neurons committed to a predominantly inhibitory motor neuron developmental trajectory are not produced under Ret LoF, leaving behind a mostly excitatory motor neuron developmental program; 3) expression patterns of HSCR-associated and Ret gene regulatory network genes are impacted by Ret LoF; and 4) Ret deficiency leads to precocious differentiation and reduction in the number of proliferating ENS precursors. Our results support a model in which Ret contributes to multiple distinct cellular phenotypes during development of the ENS, including the specification of inhibitory neuron subtypes, cell cycle dynamics of ENS progenitors, and the developmental timing of neuronal and glial commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Vincent
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Sumantra Chatterjee
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY10016
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY10016
| | - Gabrielle H. Cannon
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Dallas Auer
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Holly Ross
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Aravinda Chakravarti
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY10016
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY10016
| | - Loyal A. Goff
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Kavli Neurodiscovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21205
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18
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Lefèvre MA, Soret R, Pilon N. Harnessing the Power of Enteric Glial Cells' Plasticity and Multipotency for Advancing Regenerative Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12475. [PMID: 37569849 PMCID: PMC10419543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS), known as the intrinsic nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract, is composed of a diverse array of neuronal and glial cell subtypes. Fascinating questions surrounding the generation of cellular diversity in the ENS have captivated ENS biologists for a considerable time, particularly with recent advancements in cell type-specific transcriptomics at both population and single-cell levels. However, the current focus of research in this field is predominantly restricted to the study of enteric neuron subtypes, while the investigation of enteric glia subtypes significantly lags behind. Despite this, enteric glial cells (EGCs) are increasingly recognized as equally important regulators of numerous bowel functions. Moreover, a subset of postnatal EGCs exhibits remarkable plasticity and multipotency, distinguishing them as critical entities in the context of advancing regenerative medicine. In this review, we aim to provide an updated overview of the current knowledge on this subject, while also identifying key questions that necessitate future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie A. Lefèvre
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada;
- Centre D’excellence en Recherche Sur Les Maladies Orphelines—Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
| | - Rodolphe Soret
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada;
- Centre D’excellence en Recherche Sur Les Maladies Orphelines—Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pilon
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada;
- Centre D’excellence en Recherche Sur Les Maladies Orphelines—Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
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19
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Jin K, Yao Z, van Velthoven CTJ, Kaplan ES, Glattfelder K, Barlow ST, Boyer G, Carey D, Casper T, Chakka AB, Chakrabarty R, Clark M, Departee M, Desierto M, Gary A, Gloe J, Goldy J, Guilford N, Guzman J, Hirschstein D, Lee C, Liang E, Pham T, Reding M, Ronellenfitch K, Ruiz A, Sevigny J, Shapovalova N, Shulga L, Sulc J, Torkelson A, Tung H, Levi B, Sunkin SM, Dee N, Esposito L, Smith K, Tasic B, Zeng H. Cell-type specific molecular signatures of aging revealed in a brain-wide transcriptomic cell-type atlas. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.26.550355. [PMID: 38168182 PMCID: PMC10760145 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Biological aging can be defined as a gradual loss of homeostasis across various aspects of molecular and cellular function. Aging is a complex and dynamic process which influences distinct cell types in a myriad of ways. The cellular architecture of the mammalian brain is heterogeneous and diverse, making it challenging to identify precise areas and cell types of the brain that are more susceptible to aging than others. Here, we present a high-resolution single-cell RNA sequencing dataset containing ~1.2 million high-quality single-cell transcriptomic profiles of brain cells from young adult and aged mice across both sexes, including areas spanning the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. We find age-associated gene expression signatures across nearly all 130+ neuronal and non-neuronal cell subclasses we identified. We detect the greatest gene expression changes in non-neuronal cell types, suggesting that different cell types in the brain vary in their susceptibility to aging. We identify specific, age-enriched clusters within specific glial, vascular, and immune cell types from both cortical and subcortical regions of the brain, and specific gene expression changes associated with cell senescence, inflammation, decrease in new myelination, and decreased vasculature integrity. We also identify genes with expression changes across multiple cell subclasses, pointing to certain mechanisms of aging that may occur across wide regions or broad cell types of the brain. Finally, we discover the greatest gene expression changes in cell types localized to the third ventricle of the hypothalamus, including tanycytes, ependymal cells, and Tbx3+ neurons found in the arcuate nucleus that are part of the neuronal circuits regulating food intake and energy homeostasis. These findings suggest that the area surrounding the third ventricle in the hypothalamus may be a hub for aging in the mouse brain. Overall, we reveal a dynamic landscape of cell-type-specific transcriptomic changes in the brain associated with normal aging that will serve as a foundation for the investigation of functional changes in the aging process and the interaction of aging and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Jin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel Carey
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Max Departee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Amanda Gary
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Gloe
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeff Goldy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Changkyu Lee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Josh Sevigny
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Josef Sulc
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Herman Tung
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Boaz Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Nick Dee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
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20
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He X, Dong K, Shen J, Hu G, Mintz JD, Atawia RT, Zhao J, Chen X, Caldwell RW, Xiang M, Stepp DW, Fulton DJ, Zhou J. The Long Noncoding RNA Cardiac Mesoderm Enhancer-Associated Noncoding RNA (Carmn) Is a Critical Regulator of Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Contractile Function and Motility. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:71-87. [PMID: 37030336 PMCID: PMC10330198 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.03.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Visceral smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are an integral component of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that regulate GI motility. SMC contraction is regulated by posttranslational signaling and the state of differentiation. Impaired SMC contraction is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but the mechanisms regulating SMC-specific contractile gene expression, including the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), remain largely unexplored. Herein, we reveal a critical role of Carmn (cardiac mesoderm enhancer-associated noncoding RNA), an SMC-specific lncRNA, in regulating visceral SMC phenotype and contractility of the GI tract. METHODS Genotype-Tissue Expression and publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data sets from embryonic, adult human, and mouse GI tissues were interrogated to identify SMC-specific lncRNAs. The functional role of Carmn was investigated using novel green fluorescent protein (GFP) knock-in (KI) reporter/knock-out (KO) mice. Bulk RNA-seq and single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of colonic muscularis were used to investigate underlying mechanisms. RESULTS Unbiased in silico analyses and GFP expression patterns in Carmn GFP KI mice revealed that Carmn is highly expressed in GI SMCs in humans and mice. Premature lethality was observed in global Carmn KO and inducible SMC-specific KO mice due to GI pseudo-obstruction and severe distension of the GI tract, with dysmotility in cecum and colon segments. Histology, GI transit, and muscle myography analysis revealed severe dilation, significantly delayed GI transit, and impaired GI contractility in Carmn KO vs control mice. Bulk RNA-seq of GI muscularis revealed that loss of Carmn promotes SMC phenotypic switching, as evidenced by up-regulation of extracellular matrix genes and down-regulation of SMC contractile genes, including Mylk, a key regulator of SMC contraction. snRNA-seq further revealed SMC Carmn KO not only compromised myogenic motility by reducing contractile gene expression but also impaired neurogenic motility by disrupting cell-cell connectivity in the colonic muscularis. These findings may have translational significance, because silencing CARMN in human colonic SMCs significantly attenuated contractile gene expression, including MYLK, and decreased SMC contractility. Luciferase reporter assays showed that CARMN enhances the transactivation activity of the master regulator of SMC contractile phenotype, myocardin, thereby maintaining the GI SMC myogenic program. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that Carmn is indispensable for maintaining GI SMC contractile function in mice and that loss of function of CARMN may contribute to human visceral myopathy. To our knowledge this is the first study showing an essential role of lncRNA in the regulation of visceral SMC phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangqin He
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Kunzhe Dong
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; Immunology Center of Georgia, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoqing Hu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - James D Mintz
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Reem T Atawia
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Juanjuan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Xiuxu Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Illinois
| | - Robert W Caldwell
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Meixiang Xiang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - David W Stepp
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - David J Fulton
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Jiliang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia.
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21
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Sharkey KA, Mawe GM. The enteric nervous system. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1487-1564. [PMID: 36521049 PMCID: PMC9970663 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00018.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Of all the organ systems in the body, the gastrointestinal tract is the most complicated in terms of the numbers of structures involved, each with different functions, and the numbers and types of signaling molecules utilized. The digestion of food and absorption of nutrients, electrolytes, and water occurs in a hostile luminal environment that contains a large and diverse microbiota. At the core of regulatory control of the digestive and defensive functions of the gastrointestinal tract is the enteric nervous system (ENS), a complex system of neurons and glia in the gut wall. In this review, we discuss 1) the intrinsic neural control of gut functions involved in digestion and 2) how the ENS interacts with the immune system, gut microbiota, and epithelium to maintain mucosal defense and barrier function. We highlight developments that have revolutionized our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of enteric neural control. These include a new understanding of the molecular architecture of the ENS, the organization and function of enteric motor circuits, and the roles of enteric glia. We explore the transduction of luminal stimuli by enteroendocrine cells, the regulation of intestinal barrier function by enteric neurons and glia, local immune control by the ENS, and the role of the gut microbiota in regulating the structure and function of the ENS. Multifunctional enteric neurons work together with enteric glial cells, macrophages, interstitial cells, and enteroendocrine cells integrating an array of signals to initiate outputs that are precisely regulated in space and time to control digestion and intestinal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Sharkey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gary M Mawe
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
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22
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Zhao L, Huang W, Yi S. Cellular complexity of the peripheral nervous system: Insights from single-cell resolution. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1098612. [PMID: 36998728 PMCID: PMC10043217 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1098612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing allows the division of cell populations, offers precise transcriptional profiling of individual cells, and fundamentally advances the comprehension of cellular diversity. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the application of single-cell RNA sequencing identifies multiple types of cells, including neurons, glial cells, ependymal cells, immune cells, and vascular cells. Sub-types of neurons and glial cells have further been recognized in nerve tissues, especially tissues in different physiological and pathological states. In the current article, we compile the heterogeneities of cells that have been reported in the PNS and describe cellular variability during development and regeneration. The discovery of the architecture of peripheral nerves benefits the understanding of the cellular complexity of the PNS and provides a considerable cellular basis for future genetic manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weixiao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Sheng Yi
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- *Correspondence: Sheng Yi,
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23
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Ganz J, Ratcliffe EM. Who's talking to whom: microbiome-enteric nervous system interactions in early life. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 324:G196-G206. [PMID: 36625480 PMCID: PMC9988524 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00166.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and regulates important GI functions, including motility, nutrient uptake, and immune response. The development of the ENS begins during early organogenesis and continues to develop once feeding begins, with ongoing plasticity into adulthood. There has been increasing recognition that the intestinal microbiota and ENS interact during critical periods, with implications for normal development and potential disease pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on insights from mouse and zebrafish model systems to compare and contrast how each model can serve in elucidating the bidirectional communication between the ENS and the microbiome. At the end of this review, we further outline implications for human disease and highlight research innovations that can lead the field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ganz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
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24
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Windster JD, Sacchetti A, Schaaf GJ, Bindels EM, Hofstra RM, Wijnen RM, Sloots CE, Alves MM. A combinatorial panel for flow cytometry-based isolation of enteric nervous system cells from human intestine. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e55789. [PMID: 36852936 PMCID: PMC10074091 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient isolation of neurons and glia from the human enteric nervous system (ENS) is challenging because of their rare and fragile nature. Here, we describe a staining panel to enrich ENS cells from the human intestine by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). We find that CD56/CD90/CD24 co-expression labels ENS cells with higher specificity and resolution than previous methods. Surprisingly, neuronal (CD24, TUBB3) and glial (SOX10) selective markers appear co-expressed by all ENS cells. We demonstrate that this contradictory staining pattern is mainly driven by neuronal fragments, either free or attached to glial cells, which are the most abundant cell types. Live neurons can be enriched by the highest CD24 and CD90 levels. By applying our protocol to isolate ENS cells for single-cell RNA sequencing, we show that these cells can be obtained with high quality, enabling interrogation of the human ENS transcriptome. Taken together, we present a selective FACS protocol that allows enrichment and discrimination of human ENS cells, opening up new avenues to study this complex system in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Windster
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Sacchetti
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerben J Schaaf
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Mj Bindels
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Mw Hofstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rene Mh Wijnen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelius Ej Sloots
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria M Alves
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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25
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Schneider S, Hashmi SK, Thrasher AJ, Kothakapa DR, Wright CM, Heuckeroth RO. Single Nucleus Sequencing of Human Colon Myenteric Plexus-Associated Visceral Smooth Muscle Cells, Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha Cells, and Interstitial Cells of Cajal. GASTRO HEP ADVANCES 2023; 2:380-394. [PMID: 37206377 PMCID: PMC10194832 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastha.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Smooth muscle cells (SMCs), interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα+) cells (PαCs) form a functional syncytium in the bowel known as the "SIP syncytium." The SIP syncytium works in concert with the enteric nervous system (ENS) to coordinate bowel motility. However, our understanding of individual cell types that form this syncytium and how they interact with each other remains limited, with no prior single-cell RNAseq analyses focused on human SIP syncytium cells. METHODS We analyzed single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from 10,749 human colon SIP syncytium cells (5572 SMC, 372 ICC, and 4805 PαC nuclei) derived from 15 individuals. RESULTS Consistent with critical contractile and pacemaker functions and with known enteric nervous system interactions, SIP syncytium cell types express many ion channels, including mechanosensitive channels in ICCs and PαCs. PαCs also prominently express extracellular matrix-associated genes and the inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIPR2), a novel finding. We identified 2 PαC clusters that differ in the expression of many ion channels and transcriptional regulators. Interestingly, SIP syncytium cells co-express 6 transcription factors (FOS, MEIS1, MEIS2, PBX1, SCMH1, and ZBTB16) that may be part of a combinatorial signature that specifies these cells. Bowel region-specific differences in SIP syncytium gene expression may correlate with regional differences in function, with right (ascending) colon SMCs and PαCs expressing more transcriptional regulators and ion channels than SMCs and PαCs in left (sigmoid) colon. CONCLUSION These studies provide new insights into SIP syncytium biology that may be valuable for understanding bowel motility disorders and lead to future investigation of highlighted genes and pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Schneider
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sohaib K. Hashmi
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - A. Josephine Thrasher
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Deepika R. Kothakapa
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
- Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
| | - Christina M. Wright
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert O. Heuckeroth
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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26
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Bandla A, Melancon E, Taylor CR, Davidson AE, Eisen JS, Ganz J. A New Transgenic Tool to Study the Ret Signaling Pathway in the Enteric Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:15667. [PMID: 36555308 PMCID: PMC9779438 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase Ret plays a critical role in regulating enteric nervous system (ENS) development. Ret is important for proliferation, migration, and survival of enteric progenitor cells (EPCs). Ret also promotes neuronal fate, but its role during neuronal differentiation and in the adult ENS is less well understood. Inactivating RET mutations are associated with ENS diseases, e.g., Hirschsprung Disease, in which distal bowel lacks ENS cells. Zebrafish is an established model system for studying ENS development and modeling human ENS diseases. One advantage of the zebrafish model system is that their embryos are transparent, allowing visualization of developmental phenotypes in live animals. However, we lack tools to monitor Ret expression in live zebrafish. Here, we developed a new BAC transgenic line that expresses GFP under the ret promoter. We find that EPCs and the majority of ENS neurons express ret:GFP during ENS development. In the adult ENS, GFP+ neurons are equally present in females and males. In homozygous mutants of ret and sox10-another important ENS developmental regulator gene-GFP+ ENS cells are absent. In summary, we characterize a ret:GFP transgenic line as a new tool to visualize and study the Ret signaling pathway from early development through adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashoka Bandla
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Ellie Melancon
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Charlotte R. Taylor
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ann E. Davidson
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Judith S. Eisen
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Julia Ganz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Enteric Neuromics: How High-Throughput "Omics" Deepens Our Understanding of Enteric Nervous System Genetic Architecture. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 15:487-504. [PMID: 36368612 PMCID: PMC9792566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recent accessibility to specialized high-throughput "omics" technologies including single cell RNA sequencing allows researchers to capture cell type- and subtype-specific expression signatures. These omics methods are used in the enteric nervous system (ENS) to identify potential subtypes of enteric neurons and glia. ENS omics data support the known gene and/or protein expression of functional neuronal and glial cell subtypes and suggest expression patterns of novel subtypes. Gene and protein expression patterns can be further used to infer cellular function and implications in human disease. In this review we discuss how high-throughput "omics" data add additional depth to the understanding of established functional subtypes of ENS cells and raise new questions by suggesting novel ENS cell subtypes with unique gene and protein expression patterns. Then we investigate the changes in these expression patterns during pathology observed by omics research. Although current ENS omics studies provide a plethora of novel data and therefore answers, they equally create new questions and routes for future study.
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Fan M, Shi H, Yao H, Wang W, Zhang Y, Jiang C, Lin R. BMSCs Promote Differentiation of Enteric Neural Precursor Cells to Maintain Neuronal Homeostasis in Mice With Enteric Nerve Injury. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 15:511-531. [PMID: 36343901 PMCID: PMC9880979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Our previous study showed that transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) promoted functional enteric nerve regeneration in denervated mice but not through direct transdifferentiation. Homeostasis of the adult enteric nervous system (ENS) is maintained by enteric neural precursor cells (ENPCs). Whether ENPCs are a source of regenerated nerves in denervated mice remains unknown. METHODS Genetically engineered mice were used as recipients, and ENPCs were traced during enteric nerve regeneration. The mice were treated with benzalkonium chloride to establish a denervation model and then transplanted with BMSCs 3 days later. After 28 days, the gastric motility and ENS regeneration were analyzed. The interaction between BMSCs and ENPCs in vitro was further assessed. RESULTS Twenty-eight days after transplantation, gastric motility recovery (gastric emptying capacity, P < .01; gastric contractility, P < .01) and ENS regeneration (neurons, P < .01; glial cells, P < .001) were promoted in BMSCs transplantation groups compared with non-transplanted groups in denervated mice. More importantly, we found that ENPCs could differentiate into enteric neurons and glial cells in denervated mice after BMSCs transplantation, and the proportion of Nestin+/Ngfr+ cells differentiated into neurons was significantly higher than that of Nestin+ cells. A small number of BMSCs located in the myenteric plexus differentiated into glial cells. In vitro, glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) from BMSCs promotes the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of ENPCs. CONCLUSIONS In the case of enteric nerve injury, ENPCs can differentiate into enteric neurons and glial cells to promote ENS repair and gastric motility recovery after BMSCs transplantation. BMSCs expressing GDNF enhance the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of ENPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Rong Lin
- Correspondence Address correspondence to: Rong Lin, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
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Pan W, Rahman AA, Stavely R, Bhave S, Guyer R, Omer M, Picard N, Goldstein AM, Hotta R. Schwann Cells in the Aganglionic Colon of Hirschsprung Disease Can Generate Neurons for Regenerative Therapy. Stem Cells Transl Med 2022; 11:1232-1244. [PMID: 36322091 PMCID: PMC9801298 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapy offers the potential to replace the missing enteric nervous system (ENS) in patients with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and to restore gut function. The Schwann cell (SC) lineage has been shown to generate enteric neurons pre- and post-natally. Here, we aimed to isolate SCs from the aganglionic segment of HSCR and to determine their potential to restore motility in the aganglionic colon. Proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) expressing SCs were isolated from the extrinsic nerve fibers present in the aganglionic segment of postnatal mice and patients with HSCR. Following 7-10 days of in vitro expansion, HSCR-derived SCs were transplanted into the aganglionic mouse colon ex vivo and in vivo. Successful engraftment and neuronal differentiation were confirmed immunohistochemically and calcium activity of transplanted cells was demonstrated by live cell imaging. Organ bath studies revealed the restoration of motor function in the recipient aganglionic smooth muscle. These results show that SCs isolated from the aganglionic segment of HSCR mouse can generate functional neurons within the aganglionic gut environment and restore the neuromuscular activity of recipient mouse colon. We conclude that HSCR-derived SCs represent a potential autologous source of neural progenitor cells for regenerative therapy in HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weikang Pan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ahmed A Rahman
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rhian Stavely
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sukhada Bhave
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard Guyer
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meredith Omer
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Picard
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Corresponding author: Ryo Hotta, MD PhD, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 6-215, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Tel: +1 617 726 6460;
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Schneider KM, Kim J, Bahnsen K, Heuckeroth RO, Thaiss CA. Environmental perception and control of gastrointestinal immunity by the enteric nervous system. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:989-1005. [PMID: 36208986 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) forms a versatile sensory system along the gastrointestinal tract that interacts with most cell types in the bowel. Herein, we portray host-environment interactions at the intestinal mucosal surface through the lens of the enteric nervous system. We describe local cellular interactions as well as long-range circuits between the enteric, central, and peripheral nervous systems. Additionally, we discuss recently discovered mechanisms by which enteric neurons and glia respond to biotic and abiotic environmental changes and how they regulate intestinal immunity and inflammation. The enteric nervous system emerges as an integrative sensory system with manifold immunoregulatory functions under both homeostatic and pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Markus Schneider
- Microbiology Department, Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA; Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Jihee Kim
- Microbiology Department, Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA; Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Klaas Bahnsen
- Microbiology Department, Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA; Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Robert O Heuckeroth
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christoph A Thaiss
- Microbiology Department, Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA; Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
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31
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Poon SSB, Hung LY, Wu Q, Parathan P, Yalcinkaya N, Haag A, Luna RA, Bornstein JC, Savidge TC, Foong JPP. Neonatal antibiotics have long term sex-dependent effects on the enteric nervous system. J Physiol 2022; 600:4303-4323. [PMID: 36082768 PMCID: PMC9826436 DOI: 10.1113/jp282939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants and young children receive the highest exposures to antibiotics globally. Although there is building evidence that early life exposure to antibiotics increases susceptibility to various diseases including gut disorders later in life, the lasting impact of early life antibiotics on the physiology of the gut and its enteric nervous system (ENS) remains unclear. We treated neonatal mice with the antibiotic vancomycin during their first 10 postnatal days, then examined potential lasting effects of the antibiotic treatment on their colons during young adulthood (6 weeks old). We found that neonatal vancomycin treatment disrupted the gut functions of young adult female and male mice differently. Antibiotic-exposed females had significantly longer whole gut transit while antibiotic-treated males had significantly lower faecal weights compared to controls. Both male and female antibiotic-treated mice had greater percentages of faecal water content. Neonatal vancomycin treatment also had sexually dimorphic impacts on the neurochemistry and Ca2+ activity of young adult myenteric and submucosal neurons. Myenteric neurons of male mice were more disrupted than those of females, while opposing changes in submucosal neurons were seen in each sex. Neonatal vancomycin also induced sustained changes in colonic microbiota and lasting depletion of mucosal serotonin (5-HT) levels. Antibiotic impacts on microbiota and mucosal 5-HT were not sex-dependent, but we propose that the responses of the host to these changes are sex-specific. This first demonstration of long-term impacts of neonatal antibiotics on the ENS, gut microbiota and mucosal 5-HT has important implications for gut function and other physiological systems of the host. KEY POINTS: Early life exposure to antibiotics can increase susceptibility to diseases including functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders later in life. Yet, the lasting impact of this common therapy on the gut and its enteric nervous system (ENS) remains unclear. We investigated the long-term impact of neonatal antibiotic treatment by treating mice with the antibiotic vancomycin during their neonatal period, then examining their colons during young adulthood. Adolescent female mice given neonatal vancomycin treatment had significantly longer whole gut transit times, while adolescent male and female mice treated with neonatal antibiotics had significantly wetter stools. Effects of neonatal vancomycin treatment on the neurochemistry and Ca2+ activity of myenteric and submucosal neurons were sexually dimorphic. Neonatal vancomycin also had lasting effects on the colonic microbiome and mucosal serotonin biosynthesis that were not sex-dependent. Different male and female responses to antibiotic-induced disruptions of the ENS, microbiota and mucosal serotonin biosynthesis can lead to sex-specific impacts on gut function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina S. B. Poon
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Lin Y. Hung
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Qinglong Wu
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Pavitha Parathan
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Nazli Yalcinkaya
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Anthony Haag
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Ruth Ann Luna
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Joel C. Bornstein
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Tor C. Savidge
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Jaime P. P. Foong
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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Supabowornsathit K, Faikhruea K, Ditmangklo B, Jaroenchuensiri T, Wongsuwan S, Junpra-Ob S, Choopara I, Palaga T, Aonbangkhen C, Somboonna N, Taechalertpaisarn J, Vilaivan T. Dicationic styryl dyes for colorimetric and fluorescent detection of nucleic acids. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14250. [PMID: 35995925 PMCID: PMC9395382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18460-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid staining dyes are important tools for the analysis and visualizing of DNA/RNA in vitro and in the cells. Nevertheless, the range of commercially accessible dyes is still rather limited, and they are often very costly. As a result, finding nontoxic, easily accessible dyes, with desirable optical characteristics remains important. Styryl dyes have recently gained popularity as potential biological staining agents with many appealing properties, including a straightforward synthesis procedure, excellent photostability, tunable fluorescence, and high fluorescence quantum yield in the presence of nucleic acid targets with low background fluorescence signals. In addition to fluorescence, styryl dyes are strongly colored and exhibit solvatochromic properties which make them useful as colorimetric stains for low-cost and rapid testing of nucleic acids. In this work, novel dicationic styryl dyes bearing quaternary ammonium groups are designed to improve binding strength and optical response with target nucleic acids which contain a negatively charged phosphate backbone. Optical properties of the newly synthesized styryl dyes have been studied in the presence and absence of nucleic acid targets with the aim to find new dyes that can sensitively and specifically change fluorescence and/or color in the presence of nucleic acid targets. The binding interaction and optical response of the dicationic styryl dyes with nucleic acid were superior to the corresponding monocationic styryl dyes. Applications of the developed dyes for colorimetric detection of DNA in vitro and imaging of cellular nucleic acids are also demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotchakorn Supabowornsathit
- Organic Synthesis Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Kriangsak Faikhruea
- Organic Synthesis Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Boonsong Ditmangklo
- Organic Synthesis Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Theeranuch Jaroenchuensiri
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Center of Excellence in Natural Products Chemistry (CENP), Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Sutthida Wongsuwan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Center of Excellence in Natural Products Chemistry (CENP), Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Sirikarn Junpra-Ob
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Ilada Choopara
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Tanapat Palaga
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Chanat Aonbangkhen
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Center of Excellence in Natural Products Chemistry (CENP), Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Naraporn Somboonna
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.,Microbiome Research Unit for Probiotics in Food and Cosmetics, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Jaru Taechalertpaisarn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Tirayut Vilaivan
- Organic Synthesis Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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Computational simulations and Ca2+ imaging reveal that slow synaptic depolarizations (slow EPSPs) inhibit fast EPSP evoked action potentials for most of their time course in enteric neurons. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009717. [PMID: 35696419 PMCID: PMC9232139 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission between neurons in the extensive enteric neural networks of the gut involves synaptic potentials with vastly different time courses and underlying conductances. Most enteric neurons exhibit fast excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) lasting 20–50 ms, but many also exhibit slow EPSPs that last up to 100 s. When large enough, slow EPSPs excite action potentials at the start of the slow depolarization, but how they affect action potentials evoked by fast EPSPs is unknown. Furthermore, two other sources of synaptic depolarization probably occur in enteric circuits, activated via GABAA or GABAC receptors; how these interact with other synaptic depolarizations is also unclear. We built a compartmental model of enteric neurons incorporating realistic voltage-dependent ion channels, then simulated fast EPSPs, slow EPSPs and GABAA or GABAC ligand-gated Cl- channels to explore these interactions. Model predictions were tested by imaging Ca2+ transients in myenteric neurons ex vivo as an indicator of their activity during synaptic interactions. The model could mimic firing of myenteric neurons in mouse colon evoked by depolarizing current during intracellular recording and the fast and slow EPSPs in these neurons. Subthreshold fast EPSPs evoked spikes during the rising phase of a slow EPSP, but suprathreshold fast EPSPs could not evoke spikes later in a slow EPSP. This predicted inhibition was confirmed by Ca2+ imaging in which stimuli that evoke slow EPSPs suppressed activity evoked by fast EPSPs in many myenteric neurons. The model also predicted that synchronous activation of GABAA receptors and fast EPSPs potentiated firing evoked by the latter, while synchronous activation of GABAC receptors with fast EPSPs, potentiated firing and then suppressed it. The results reveal that so-called slow EPSPs have a biphasic effect being likely to suppress fast EPSP evoked firing over very long periods, perhaps accounting for prolonged quiescent periods seen in enteric motor patterns. The gastrointestinal tract is the only organ with an extensive semi-autonomous nervous system that generates complex contraction patterns independently. Communication between neurons in this “enteric” nervous system is via depolarizing synaptic events with dramatically different time courses including fast synaptic potentials lasting around 20–50 ms and slow depolarizing synaptic potentials lasting for 10–120 s. Most neurons have both. We explored how slow synaptic depolarizations affect generation of action potentials by fast synaptic potentials using computational simulation of small networks of neurons implemented as compartmental models with realistic membrane ion channels. We found that slow synaptic depolarizations have biphasic effects; they initially make fast synaptic potentials more likely to trigger action potentials, but then actually prevent action potential generation by fast synaptic potentials with the inhibition lasting several 10s of seconds. We confirmed the inhibitory effects of the slow synaptic depolarizations using live Ca2+ imaging of enteric neurons from mouse colon in isolated tissue. Our results identify a novel form of synaptic inhibition in the enteric nervous system of the gut, which may account for the vastly differing time courses between signalling in individual gut neurons and rhythmic contractile patterns that often repeat at more than 60 s intervals.
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Molecular profiling of enteric nervous system cell lineages. Nat Protoc 2022; 17:1789-1817. [PMID: 35676375 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00697-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an extensive network of enteric neurons and glial cells that is intrinsic to the gut wall and regulates almost all aspects of intestinal physiology. While considerable advancement has been made in understanding the genetic programs regulating ENS development, there is limited understanding of the molecular pathways that control ENS function in adult stages. One of the limitations in advancing the molecular characterization of the adult ENS relates to technical difficulties in purifying healthy neurons and glia from adult intestinal tissues. To overcome this, we developed novel methods for performing transcriptomic analysis of enteric neurons and glia, which are based on the isolation of fluorescently labeled nuclei. Here we provide a step-by-step protocol for the labeling of adult mouse enteric neuronal nuclei using adeno-associated-virus-mediated gene transfer, isolation of the labeled nuclei by fluorimetric analysis, RNA purification and nuclear RNA sequencing. This protocol has also been adapted for the isolation of enteric neuron and glia nuclei from myenteric plexus preparations from adult zebrafish intestine. Finally, we describe a method for visualization and quantification of RNA in myenteric ganglia: Spatial Integration of Granular Nuclear Signals (SIGNS). By following this protocol, it takes ~3 d to generate RNA and create cDNA libraries for nuclear RNA sequencing and 4 d to carry out high-resolution RNA expression analysis on ENS tissues.
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35
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Li Z, Sau-Wai Ngan E. New insights empowered by single-cell sequencing: from neural crest to enteric nervous system. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2464-2472. [PMID: 35664232 PMCID: PMC9133688 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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36
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Applications of Single-Cell Sequencing Technology to the Enteric Nervous System. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030452. [PMID: 35327644 PMCID: PMC8946246 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
With recent technical advances and diminishing sequencing costs, single-cell sequencing modalities have become commonplace. These tools permit analysis of RNA expression, DNA sequence, chromatin structure, and cell surface antigens at single-cell resolution. Simultaneous measurement of numerous parameters can resolve populations including rare cells, thus revealing cellular diversity within organs and permitting lineage reconstruction in developing tissues. Application of these methods to the enteric nervous system has yielded a wealth of data and biological insights. We review recent papers applying single-cell sequencing tools to the nascent neural crest and to the developing and mature enteric nervous system. These studies have shown significant diversity of enteric neurons and glia, suggested paradigms for neuronal specification, and revealed signaling pathways active during development. As technology evolves and multiome techniques combining two or more of transcriptomic, genomic, epigenetic, and proteomic data become prominent, we anticipate these modalities will become commonplace in ENS research and may find a role in diagnostic testing and personalized therapeutics.
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Marklund U. Diversity, development and immunoregulation of enteric neurons. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:85-86. [PMID: 34773107 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00553-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Marklund
- Unit of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Boesmans W, Nash A, Tasnády KR, Yang W, Stamp LA, Hao MM. Development, Diversity, and Neurogenic Capacity of Enteric Glia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:775102. [PMID: 35111752 PMCID: PMC8801887 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.775102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric glia are a fascinating population of cells. Initially identified in the gut wall as the "support" cells of the enteric nervous system, studies over the past 20 years have unveiled a vast array of functions carried out by enteric glia. They mediate enteric nervous system signalling and play a vital role in the local regulation of gut functions. Enteric glial cells interact with other gastrointestinal cell types such as those of the epithelium and immune system to preserve homeostasis, and are perceptive to luminal content. Their functional versatility and phenotypic heterogeneity are mirrored by an extensive level of plasticity, illustrated by their reactivity in conditions associated with enteric nervous system dysfunction and disease. As one of the hallmarks of their plasticity and extending their operative relationship with enteric neurons, enteric glia also display neurogenic potential. In this review, we focus on the development of enteric glial cells, and the mechanisms behind their heterogeneity in the adult gut. In addition, we discuss what is currently known about the role of enteric glia as neural precursors in the enteric nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werend Boesmans
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Amelia Nash
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kinga R. Tasnády
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Wendy Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, Taiwan
| | - Lincon A. Stamp
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marlene M. Hao
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Meerschaert KA, Davis BM, Smith-Edwards KM. New Insights on Extrinsic Innervation of the Enteric Nervous System and Non-neuronal Cell Types That Influence Colon Function. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1383:133-139. [PMID: 36587153 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system not only innervates the colon to execute various functions in a semi-autonomous manner but also receives neural input from three extrinsic sources, (1) vagal, (2) thoracolumbar (splanchnic), and (3) lumbosacral (pelvic) pathways, that permit bidirectional communication between the colon and central nervous system. Extrinsic pathways signal sensory input via afferent fibers, as well as motor autonomic output via parasympathetic or sympathetic efferent fibers, but the shared and unique roles for each pathway in executing sensory-motor control of colon function have not been well understood. Here, we describe the recently developed approaches that have provided new insights into the diverse mechanisms utilized by extrinsic pathways to influence colon functions related to visceral sensation, motility, and inflammation. Based on the cumulative results from anatomical, molecular, and functional studies, we propose pathway-specific functions for vagal, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral innervation of the colon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian M Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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New Concepts of the Interplay Between the Gut Microbiota and the Enteric Nervous System in the Control of Motility. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1383:55-69. [PMID: 36587146 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Propulsive gastrointestinal (GI) motility is critical for digestive physiology and host defense. GI motility is finely regulated by the intramural reflex pathways of the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS is in turn regulated by luminal factors: diet and the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is a vast ecosystem of commensal bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes. The gut microbiota not only regulates the motor programs of the ENS but also is critical for the normal structure and function of the ENS. In this chapter, we highlight recent research that has shed light on the microbial mechanisms of interaction with the ENS involved in the control of motility. Toll-like receptor signaling mechanisms have been shown to maintain the structural integrity of the ENS and the neurochemical phenotypes of enteric neurons, in part through the production of trophic factors including glia-derived neurotrophic factor. Microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids and/or single-stranded RNA regulates the synthesis of serotonin in enterochromaffin cells, which are involved in the initiation of enteric reflexes, among other functions. Further evidence suggests a crucial role for microbial modulation of serotonin in maintaining the integrity of the ENS through enteric neurogenesis. Understanding the microbial pathways of enteric neural control sheds new light on digestive health and provides novel treatment strategies for GI motility disorders.
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Howard MJ. Refining Enteric Neural Circuitry by Quantitative Morphology and Function in Mice. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1383:213-219. [PMID: 36587160 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
RNA-Seq, electrophysiology and optogenetics in mouse models are used to assess function, identify disease related genes and model enteric neural circuits. Lacking a comprehensive quantitative description of the murine colonic enteric nervous system (ENS) makes it difficult to most effectively use mouse data to better understand ENS function or for development of therapeutic approaches for human motility disorders. Our goal was to provide a quantitative description of mouse colon to establish the extent to which mouse colon architecture, connectivity and function is a useful surrogate for human and other mammalian ENS. Using GCaMP imaging coupled with pharmacology and quantitative confocal and 3D image reconstruction, we present quantitative and functional data demonstrating that regional structural changes and variable distribution of neurons define neural circuit dynamics and functional connectivity responsible for colonic motor patterns and regional functional differences. Our results advance utility of multispecies and gut region-specific data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marthe J Howard
- University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA.
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Enteric neuroimmune interactions coordinate intestinal responses in health and disease. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:27-39. [PMID: 34471248 PMCID: PMC8732275 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-021-00443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract interacts with the local immune system bidirectionally. Recent publications have demonstrated that such interactions can maintain normal GI functions during homeostasis and contribute to pathological symptoms during infection and inflammation. Infection can also induce long-term changes of the ENS resulting in the development of post-infectious GI disturbances. In this review, we discuss how the ENS can regulate and be regulated by immune responses and how such interactions control whole tissue physiology. We also address the requirements for the proper regeneration of the ENS and restoration of GI function following the resolution of infection.
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Populin L, Stebbing MJ, Furness JB. Neuronal regulation of the gut immune system and neuromodulation for treating inflammatory bowel disease. FASEB Bioadv 2021; 3:953-966. [PMID: 34761177 PMCID: PMC8565205 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2021-00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut immune system in the healthy intestine is anti-inflammatory, but can move to a pro-inflammatory state when the gut is challenged by pathogens or in disease. The nervous system influences the level of inflammation through enteric neurons and extrinsic neural connections, particularly vagal and sympathetic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract, each of which exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Within the enteric nervous system (ENS), three neuron types that influence gut immune cells have been identified, intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons that project to the mucosa, and cholinergic neurons that influence macrophages in the external muscle layers. The enteric neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), tachykinins, and neuromedin U (NMU), which are contained in IPANs, and VIP produced by the mucosa innervating neurons, all influence immune cells, notably innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). ILC2 are stimulated by VIP to release IL-22, which promotes microbial defense and tissue repair. Enteric neurons are innervated by the vagus, and, in the large intestine, by the pelvic nerves. Vagal nerve stimulation reduces gut inflammation, which may be both by stimulation of efferent (motor) pathways to the ENS, and stimulation of afferent pathways that connect to integrating centers in the CNS. Efferent pathways from the CNS have their anti-inflammatory effects through either or both vagal efferent neurons and sympathetic pathways. The final neurons in sympathetic pathways reduce gut inflammation by the action of noradrenaline on β2 adrenergic receptors expressed by immune cells. Activation of neural anti-inflammatory pathways is an attractive option to treat inflammatory bowel disease that is refractory to other treatments. Further investigation of the ways in which enteric reflexes, vagal pathways and sympathetic pathways integrate their effects to modulate the gut immune system and gut inflammation is needed to optimize neuromodulation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Populin
- Department of NeuroscienceSchool of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Martin J. Stebbing
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkvilleVICAustralia
- Department of Anatomy & PhysiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
| | - John B. Furness
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkvilleVICAustralia
- Department of Anatomy & PhysiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
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In the Enteric Nervous System, It's All About Connections. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:346-347. [PMID: 34666010 PMCID: PMC8703119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
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Nestor-Kalinoski A, Smith-Edwards KM, Meerschaert K, Margiotta JF, Rajwa B, Davis BM, Howard MJ. Unique Neural Circuit Connectivity of Mouse Proximal, Middle, and Distal Colon Defines Regional Colonic Motor Patterns. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:309-337.e3. [PMID: 34509687 PMCID: PMC8703201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Colonic motor patterns have been described by a number of different groups, but the neural connectivity and ganglion architecture supporting patterned motor activity have not been elucidated. Our goals were to describe quantitatively, by region, the structural architecture of the mouse enteric nervous system and use functional calcium imaging, pharmacology, and electrical stimulation to show regional underpinnings of different motor patterns. METHODS Excised colon segments from mice expressing the calcium indicator GCaMP6f or GCaMP6s were used to examine spontaneous and evoked (pharmacologic or electrical) changes in GCaMP-mediated fluorescence and coupled with assessment of colonic motor activity, immunohistochemistry, and confocal imaging. Three-dimensional image reconstruction and statistical methods were used to describe quantitatively mouse colon myenteric ganglion structure, neural and vascular network patterning, and neural connectivity. RESULTS In intact colon, regionally specific myenteric ganglion size, architecture, and neural circuit connectivity patterns along with neurotransmitter-receptor expression underlie colonic motor patterns that define functional differences along the colon. Region-specific effects on spontaneous, evoked, and chemically induced neural activity contribute to regional motor patterns, as does intraganglionic functional connectivity. We provide direct evidence of neural circuit structural and functional regional differences that have only been inferred in previous investigations. We include regional comparisons between quantitative measures in mouse and human colon that represent an important advance in showing the usefulness and relevance of the mouse system for translation to the human colon. CONCLUSIONS There are several neural mechanisms dependent on myenteric ganglion architecture and functional connectivity that underlie neurogenic control of patterned motor function in the mouse colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Nestor-Kalinoski
- Department of Surgery, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio
| | - Kristen M Smith-Edwards
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kimberly Meerschaert
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph F Margiotta
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio
| | - Bartek Rajwa
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Brian M Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Marthe J Howard
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio.
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Dynamic, Transient, and Robust Increase in the Innervation of the Inflamed Mucosa in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092253. [PMID: 34571902 PMCID: PMC8471820 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by chronic dysregulation of immune homeostasis, epithelial demise, immune cell activation, and microbial translocation. Each of these processes leads to proinflammatory changes via the release of cytokines, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), respectively. The impact of these noxious agents on the survival and function of the enteric nervous system (ENS) is poorly understood. Here, we show that in contrast to an expected decrease, experimental as well as clinical colitis causes an increase in the transcript levels of enteric neuronal and glial genes. Immunostaining revealed an elevated neuronal innervation of the inflamed regions of the gut mucosa. The increase was seen in models with overt damage to epithelial cells and models of T cell-induced colitis. Transcriptomic data from treatment naïve pediatric IBD patients also confirmed the increase in the neuroglial genes and were replicated on an independent adult IBD dataset. This induction in the neuroglial genes was transient as levels returned to normal upon the induction of remission in both mouse models as well as colitis patients. Our data highlight the dynamic and robust nature of the enteric nervous system in colitis and open novel questions on its regulation.
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The Baseline Structure of the Enteric Nervous System and Its Role in Parkinson's Disease. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080732. [PMID: 34440476 PMCID: PMC8400095 DOI: 10.3390/life11080732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is provided with a peculiar nervous network, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is dedicated to the fine control of digestive functions. This forms a complex network, which includes several types of neurons, as well as glial cells. Despite extensive studies, a comprehensive classification of these neurons is still lacking. The complexity of ENS is magnified by a multiple control of the central nervous system, and bidirectional communication between various central nervous areas and the gut occurs. This lends substance to the complexity of the microbiota–gut–brain axis, which represents the network governing homeostasis through nervous, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways. The present manuscript is dedicated to identifying various neuronal cytotypes belonging to ENS in baseline conditions. The second part of the study provides evidence on how these very same neurons are altered during Parkinson’s disease. In fact, although being defined as a movement disorder, Parkinson’s disease features a number of degenerative alterations, which often anticipate motor symptoms. Among these, the GI tract is often involved, and for this reason, it is important to assess its normal and pathological structure. A deeper knowledge of the ENS is expected to improve the understanding of diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
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48
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Gao T, Wright-Jin EC, Sengupta R, Anderson JB, Heuckeroth RO. Cell-autonomous retinoic acid receptor signaling has stage-specific effects on mouse enteric nervous system. JCI Insight 2021; 6:145854. [PMID: 33848271 PMCID: PMC8262371 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.145854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) signaling is essential for enteric nervous system (ENS) development, since vitamin A deficiency or mutations in RA signaling profoundly reduce bowel colonization by ENS precursors. These RA effects could occur because of RA activity within the ENS lineage or via RA activity in other cell types. To define cell-autonomous roles for retinoid signaling within the ENS lineage at distinct developmental time points, we activated a potent floxed dominant-negative RA receptor α (RarαDN) in the ENS using diverse CRE recombinase–expressing mouse lines. This strategy enabled us to block RA signaling at premigratory, migratory, and postmigratory stages for ENS precursors. We found that cell-autonomous loss of RA receptor (RAR) signaling dramatically affected ENS development. CRE activation of RarαDN expression at premigratory or migratory stages caused severe intestinal aganglionosis, but at later stages, RarαDN induced a broad range of phenotypes including hypoganglionosis, submucosal plexus loss, and abnormal neural differentiation. RNA sequencing highlighted distinct RA-regulated gene sets at different developmental stages. These studies show complicated context-dependent RA-mediated regulation of ENS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Gao
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Wright-Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Rajarshi Sengupta
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica B Anderson
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert O Heuckeroth
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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