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McLaren M, Butts J. Notch signaling in neurogenesis. Development 2025; 152:dev204589. [PMID: 40421980 DOI: 10.1242/dev.204589] [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: 05/28/2025]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway plays a crucial role in neurogenesis by regulating cell fate specification. However, its complexity poses challenges in uncovering the mechanisms underlying these decisions. This Review explores the intricacies of the Notch pathway, including its diverse activation mechanisms and the influence of post-translational modifications of Notch receptors and ligands on pathway outcomes. We discuss how Notch signaling regulates embryonic neurogenesis via interactions with proneural genes and with other signaling pathways. We also examine the role of Notch in adult neurogenesis, and the therapeutic potential of leveraging Notch signaling to reprogram glia in the adult brain. Lastly, we highlight emerging technologies that measure Notch dynamics and discuss remaining knowledge gaps. Together, these insights underscore the multifaceted role of Notch signaling and outline key directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison McLaren
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jessica Butts
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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2
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Ghiyamihoor F, Rad AA, Marzban H. The Nuclear Transitory Zone: A Key Player in the Cerebellar Development. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2025; 24:92. [PMID: 40314748 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-025-01848-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/24/2025] [Indexed: 05/03/2025]
Abstract
The nuclear transitory zone (NTZ), while crucial during cerebellar development, has remained elusive due to its transient nature and the technical limitations in observing this dynamic structure in vivo. Traditionally considered an assembly point for immature neurons of the prospective cerebellar nuclei, recent studies highlight the NTZ's rich cellular and molecular heterogeneity in the early-developing region at the rostral end of the cerebellar primordium. While much is known about its molecular diversity, the precise functional role of NTZ in cerebellar development remains unclear. This review synthesizes current knowledge of the NTZ, focusing on its developmental origin, cellular and molecular composition, and potential role in regulating cerebellar development. We explore studies primarily conducted in mice, exploring the NTZ development from the rhombic lip, the ventricular zone, and possibly the mesencephalon. Special attention is given to molecules such as TLX3, Contactin-1 (CNTN1), OLIG2, Reelin (RELN), LMX1A, and TBR2, which are prominently expressed in the NTZ during early cerebellar development. Evidence suggests that the NTZ is more than just a neuronal assembly site; its molecular markers and gene expression profile indicate a role in circuit formation and regulation within the cerebellar primordium. We suggest that the NTZ may contribute to early cerebellar circuit formation, potentially acting as a regulator or organizer of cerebellar development. However, caution is necessary in attributing developmental roles solely based on gene expression patterns. Future studies should focus on the functional consequences of gene expression in the NTZ and its interactions with developing cerebellar circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farshid Ghiyamihoor
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Max Rady College of Medicine Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Room 129 BMSB, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Azam Asemi Rad
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Max Rady College of Medicine Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Room 129 BMSB, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Hassan Marzban
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Max Rady College of Medicine Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Room 129 BMSB, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0J9, Canada.
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3
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Wang JC, Shimizu T, Hibi M. Transforming growth factor-β-mediated regulation of atoh1-expressing neural progenitors is involved in the generation of cerebellar granule cells in larval and adult zebrafish. Dev Growth Differ 2025; 67:149-164. [PMID: 40012512 PMCID: PMC11997739 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.70002] [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: 01/05/2025] [Revised: 01/23/2025] [Accepted: 01/24/2025] [Indexed: 02/28/2025]
Abstract
Granule cells in the cerebellum are the most numerous neurons in the vertebrate brain. They are derived from neural progenitor cells that express the proneural gene atoh1 (atoh1a, b, c in zebrafish) during early neurogenesis. In zebrafish, unlike in mammals, granule cells are continuously produced throughout life, from the larval stage to adulthood. Additionally, granule cells regenerate and replace damaged areas following injury in the adult cerebellum. However, the mechanisms underlying granule cell generation and their role in adult cerebellar regeneration remain largely unclear. In this study, using lineage tracing with the inducible DNA recombinase CreERT2, we found that granule cells differentiated from atoh1c-expressing neural progenitor cells and migrated to their appropriate locations in the adult stage, similar to the processes observed during early embryogenesis. Granule cells that differentiated from atoh1c-expressing neural progenitor cells in adulthood also contributed to cerebellar regeneration. Furthermore, inhibition of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, either via chemical inhibitors or CRISPR/Cas9, suppressed atoh1a/c expression and reduced granule cell numbers in larvae. Chemical inhibition of TGF-β signaling also suppressed neural progenitor cell proliferation, atoh1c expression, and granule cell neurogenesis in the adult cerebellum. These findings demonstrate that TGF-β signaling is essential for granule cell production from progenitor cells throughout the lifespan of zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui Chun Wang
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of ScienceNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - Takashi Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of ScienceNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - Masahiko Hibi
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of ScienceNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
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Hussein MT, Kotb NM, Mokhtar DM, Hussein MM. Developmental Dynamics of the Rabbit Cerebellum During Fetal Maturation With Insights into the Role of Radial Glia in Neuronal Development. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2025; 31:ozaf015. [PMID: 40156886 DOI: 10.1093/mam/ozaf015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2025] [Accepted: 03/04/2025] [Indexed: 04/01/2025]
Abstract
This study examines the development of the rabbit cerebellum from the 10th day postconception to full-term fetal age, with a particular focus on the role of radial glial cells in the differentiation of cerebellar neurons. A total of 35 embryonic samples were meticulously dissected and microscopically analyzed. On embryonic day (ED) 12, cerebellar primordia, consisting of the ventricular neuroepithelium and rhombic lip, were observed. By ED16, significant neuronal cell proliferation and migration in both the radial and tangential directions were noted. On ED 20, lamination processes began, forming the external granular layer (EGL) and Purkinje cell plate (PCP) with the support of radial glial cells. By ED 25, the cerebellar cortex had developed three distinct layers: the EGL, PCP, and the prospective molecular layer (PML), with radial glial cells localized in the PCP. Differentiation continued, and upon ED30, a new cortical layer, the internal granular layer, was evident. Additionally, the gradual replacement of nestin by glial fibrillary acidic protein marked the differentiation of radial glia into Bergmann glia at ED 25 and ED 30. β-III tubulin, a marker of differentiated neurons, was detected in the inner layer of EGL and PCP during these stages. In conclusion, this study highlights the pivotal role of radial glial cells in the layered organization and neuronal differentiation of the developing rabbit cerebellum. The developmental trajectory observed provides valuable insights into cerebellar morphogenesis and supports the relevance of the rabbit model for exploring neurodevelopmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal T Hussein
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Norhan M Kotb
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Doaa M Mokhtar
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Assiut, Assiut 11829, Egypt
| | - Marwa M Hussein
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
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Atterton C, Pelenyi A, Jones J, Currey L, Al-Khalily M, Wright L, Doonan M, Knight D, Kurniawan ND, Walters S, Thor S, Piper M. The Hippo effector TEAD1 regulates postnatal murine cerebellar development. Brain Struct Funct 2025; 230:42. [PMID: 40064689 PMCID: PMC11893647 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-025-02903-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2025] [Indexed: 03/14/2025]
Abstract
The Hippo signalling cascade is an evolutionarily conserved pathway critical for the development of numerous organ systems and is required for the development of many parts of the mammalian nervous system, including the cerebellum. The Hippo pathway converges, via the nuclear YAP/TAZ co-transcription factors, on transcription factors of the TEA Domain (TEAD) family (TEAD1-4) and promotes the expression of pro-proliferative genes. Despite the importance of TEAD function, our understanding of spatial and temporal expression of this family is limited, as is our understanding of which TEAD family members regulate Hippo-dependent organ development. Here, we focus on TEAD1 and how this factor contributes to postnatal murine cerebellar development. We find expression of TEAD1 within cerebellar progenitor cells and glial cells, including astrocytes and Bergmann glia, as well as by some interneurons within the granular layer. The importance of TEAD1 expression for cerebellar development was investigated using a conditional ablation approach, which revealed a range of developmental deficits in Tead1 mutants, including an underdeveloped cerebellum, morphological defects in Bergmann Glia and Purkinje Neurons, as well as granule neuron migration defects. Collectively, these findings suggest a major role for TEAD1 as an effector of the Hippo pathway during cerebellar development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper Atterton
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Alexandra Pelenyi
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Justin Jones
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Laura Currey
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Majd Al-Khalily
- The Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Lucinda Wright
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mikki Doonan
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - David Knight
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Nyoman D Kurniawan
- The Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Shaun Walters
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Stefan Thor
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Michael Piper
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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Choi G, Choi YH, Lee SB, Cho YJ, Lee S, Cheon JE, Shin SH, Je BK. Cerebellar hemorrhage in neonates: pattern analysis by ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Pediatr Radiol 2025; 55:324-333. [PMID: 39754651 PMCID: PMC11805865 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-024-06126-w] [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: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 11/22/2024] [Accepted: 11/27/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebellar hemorrhage in neonates is increasingly being identified but is still underdiagnosed. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the optimal imaging modality for cerebellar hemorrhage evaluation, ultrasonography (US) is commonly used for screening. Characterizing the patterns and distribution of cerebellar hemorrhage lesions can help facilitate its detection by aiding to focus on prevailing type of cerebellar hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the patterns of cerebellar hemorrhage in neonates, comparing US findings with MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective study of 765 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)-admitted neonates who underwent brain MRI due to various clinical and radiological requirements. Two pediatric radiologists reviewed brain MRI and US in consensus, and cerebellar hemorrhage patterns were classified based on MRI findings: type 1, punctate cerebellar hemorrhage without cerebellar volume loss; type 2, focal cerebellar hemorrhage with cerebellar volume loss; type 3, ovoid/crescent cerebellar hemorrhage in the periphery of the cerebellar hemisphere; type 4, isolated vermian cerebellar hemorrhage; type 5, cerebellar hemorrhage involving almost the entire cerebellar hemisphere. The distribution and US detection rates of cerebellar hemorrhage were compared according to the cerebellar hemorrhage type. RESULTS A total of 56 (33 male, 23 female) cases (7.32%) among 765 MRIs showed cerebellar hemorrhage (median gestational age, 27 + 1 weeks [IQR 5 + 2]; median birth weight, 955 g [IQR 882.5]). The most common pattern was type 1 (60.7%). Type 3 cerebellar hemorrhage was more commonly observed in the inferior and peripheral cerebellum compared to types 1 and 2 cerebellar hemorrhage (P=0.002). In retrospective review of images, type 3 was the most commonly missed type of cerebellar hemorrhage (initial US detection rate, 33.3%; retrospective US detection rate, 75%). CONCLUSION This study underscores the importance of understanding cerebellar hemorrhage patterns and suggests that careful inspection of inferior and periphery of the cerebellum is important to avoid missed diagnosis of cerebellar hemorrhage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayoung Choi
- Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hun Choi
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101, Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Innovative Medical Technology Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seul Bi Lee
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101, Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon Jin Cho
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101, Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghyun Lee
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101, Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Cheon
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101, Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Han Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Kyung Je
- Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea
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Rahimi-Balaei M, Amiri S, Lamonerie T, Wu SR, Zoghbi HY, Consalez GG, Goldowitz D, Marzban H. Identification of an early subset of cerebellar nuclei neurons in mice. eLife 2024; 13:RP93778. [PMID: 39679919 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93778] [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: 12/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar nuclei (CN) neurons serve as the primary output of the cerebellum and originate from the cerebellar primordium at early stages of cerebellar development. These neurons are diverse, integrating information from the cerebellar cortex and relaying it to various brain regions. Employing various methodologies, we have characterized a specific subset of CN neurons that do not originate from the rhombic lip or ventricular zone of the cerebellar primordium. Embryos were collected at early stages of development and processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting, in situ hybridization (ISH), embryonic culture, DiI labeling, and flow cytometry analysis (FCM). Our findings indicate that a subset of CN neurons expressing α-synuclein (SNCA), OTX2, MEIS2, and p75NTR (NGFR) are located in the rostroventral region of the NTZ. While CN neurons derived from the rhombic lip are positioned in the caudodorsal area of the NTZ in the cerebellar primordium. Utilizing Otx2-GFP and Atoh1-/- mice, we have determined that these cells do not originate from the germinal zone of the cerebellar primordium. These results suggest the existence of a novel extrinsic germinal zone for the cerebellar primordium, possibly the mesencephalon, from which early CN neurons originate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Rahimi-Balaei
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Shayan Amiri
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | - Sih-Rong Wu
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - G Giacomo Consalez
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Goldowitz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Hassan Marzban
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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Westerhuis JAW, Dudink J, Wijnands BECA, De Zeeuw CI, Canto CB. Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents. Cells 2024; 13:1911. [PMID: 39594658 PMCID: PMC11592629 DOI: 10.3390/cells13221911] [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: 10/16/2024] [Revised: 11/12/2024] [Accepted: 11/13/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Many children suffer from neurodevelopmental aberrations that have long-term effects. To understand the consequences of pathological processes during particular periods in neurodevelopment, one has to understand the differences in the developmental timelines of brain regions. The cerebellum is one of the first brain structures to differentiate during development but one of the last to achieve maturity. This relatively long period of development underscores its vulnerability to detrimental environmental exposures throughout gestation. Moreover, as postnatal functionality of the cerebellum is multifaceted, enveloping sensorimotor, cognitive, and emotional domains, prenatal disruptions in cerebellar development can result in a large variety of neurological and mental health disorders. Here, we review major intrauterine insults that affect cerebellar development in both humans and rodents, ranging from abuse of toxic chemical agents, such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids, to stress, malnutrition, and infections. Understanding these pathological mechanisms in the context of the different stages of cerebellar development in humans and rodents can help us to identify critical and vulnerable periods and thereby prevent the risk of associated prenatal and early postnatal damage that can lead to lifelong neurological and cognitive disabilities. The aim of the review is to raise awareness and to provide information for obstetricians and other healthcare professionals to eventually design strategies for preventing or rescuing related neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A. W. Westerhuis
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.A.W.W.); (C.I.D.Z.)
| | - Jeroen Dudink
- Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands; (J.D.); (B.E.C.A.W.)
| | - Bente E. C. A. Wijnands
- Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands; (J.D.); (B.E.C.A.W.)
| | - Chris I. De Zeeuw
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.A.W.W.); (C.I.D.Z.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 AA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cathrin B. Canto
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.A.W.W.); (C.I.D.Z.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 AA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Casoni F, Croci L, Marroni F, Demenego G, Marullo C, Cremona O, Codazzi F, Consalez GG. A spatial-temporal map of glutamatergic neurogenesis in the murine embryonic cerebellar nuclei uncovers a high degree of cellular heterogeneity. J Anat 2024; 245:560-571. [PMID: 38970393 PMCID: PMC11424815 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14107] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The nuclei are the main output structures of the cerebellum. Each and every cerebellar cortical computation reaches several areas of the brain by means of cerebellar nuclei processing and integration. Nevertheless, our knowledge of these structures is still limited compared to the cerebellar cortex. Here, we present a mouse genetic inducible fate-mapping study characterizing rhombic lip-derived glutamatergic neurons of the nuclei, the most conspicuous family of long-range cerebellar efferent neurons. Glutamatergic neurons mainly occupy dorsal and lateral territories of the lateral and interposed nuclei, as well as the entire medial nucleus. In mice, they are born starting from about embryonic day 9.5, with a peak between 10.5 and 12.5, and invade the nuclei with a lateral-to-medial progression. While some markers label a heterogeneous population of neurons sharing a common location (BRN2), others appear to be lineage specific (TBR1, LMX1a, and MEIS2). A comparative analysis of TBR1 and LMX1a distributions reveals an incomplete overlap in their expression domains, in keeping with the existence of separate efferent subpopulations. Finally, some tagged glutamatergic progenitors are not labeled by any of the markers used in this study, disclosing further complexity. Taken together, our results obtained in late embryonic nuclei shed light on the heterogeneity of the excitatory neuron pool, underlying the diversity in connectivity and functions of this largely unexplored cerebellar territory. Our findings contribute to laying the groundwork for a comprehensive functional analysis of nuclear neuron subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Casoni
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Laura Croci
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Francesca Marroni
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Giulia Demenego
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Chiara Marullo
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Ottavio Cremona
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Franca Codazzi
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
| | - G. Giacomo Consalez
- Division of NeuroscienceIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
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10
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Wang Y, Liu W, Jiao Y, Yang Y, Shan D, Ji X, Zhang R, Zhan Z, Tang Y, Guo D, Yan C, Liu F. Advances in the Differentiation of hiPSCs into Cerebellar Neuronal Cells. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:1782-1794. [PMID: 39023738 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10763-x] [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] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The cerebellum has historically been primarily associated with the regulation of precise motor functions. However, recent findings suggest that it also plays a pivotal role in the development of advanced cognitive functions, including learning, memory, and emotion regulation. Pathological changes in the cerebellum, whether congenital hereditary or acquired degenerative, can result in a diverse spectrum of disorders, ranging from genetic spinocerebellar ataxias to psychiatric conditions such as autism, and schizophrenia. While studies in animal models have significantly contributed to our understanding of the genetic networks governing cerebellar development, it is important to note that the human cerebellum follows a protracted developmental timeline compared to the neocortex. Consequently, employing animal models to uncover human-specific molecular events in cerebellar development presents significant challenges. The emergence of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has provided an invaluable tool for creating human-based culture systems, enabling the modeling and analysis of cerebellar physiology and pathology. hiPSCs and their differentiated progenies can be derived from patients with specific disorders or carrying distinct genetic variants. Importantly, they preserve the unique genetic signatures of the individuals from whom they originate, allowing for the elucidation of human-specific molecular and cellular processes involved in cerebellar development and related disorders. This review focuses on the technical advancements in the utilization of hiPSCs for the generation of both 2D cerebellar neuronal cells and 3D cerebellar organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxin Wang
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Wenzhu Liu
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Yichang Jiao
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Yitong Yang
- School of Nursing, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Didi Shan
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Xinbo Ji
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Zexin Zhan
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Yao Tang
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Dandan Guo
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Chuanzhu Yan
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Brain Science Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Mitochondrial Medicine Laboratory, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Shandong University, Qingdao, 266103, China.
| | - Fuchen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Brain Science Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
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11
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Cai XY, Ma SY, Tang MH, Hu L, Wu KD, Zhang Z, Zhang YQ, Lin Y, Patel N, Yang ZC, Mo XM. Atoh1 mediated disturbance of neuronal maturation by perinatal hypoxia induces cognitive deficits. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1121. [PMID: 39261625 PMCID: PMC11390922 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06846-7] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are currently one of the major complications faced by patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Chronic hypoxia in the prenatal and postnatal preoperative brain may be associated with neurological damage and impaired long-term cognitive function, but the exact mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we find that delayed neuronal migration and impaired synaptic development are attributed to altered Atoh1 under chronic hypoxia. This is due to the fact that excessive Atoh1 facilitates expression of Kif21b, which causes excess in free-state α-tubulin, leading to disrupted microtubule dynamic stability. Furthermore, the delay in neonatal brain maturation induces cognitive disabilities in adult mice. Then, by down-regulating Atoh1 we alleviate the impairment of cell migration and synaptic development, improving the cognitive behavior of mice to some extent. Taken together, our work unveil that Atoh1 may be one of the targets to ameliorate hypoxia-induced neurodevelopmental disabilities and cognitive impairment in CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Cai
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Si-Yu Ma
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Ming-Hui Tang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Liang Hu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Ke-de Wu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Ya-Qi Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Ye Lin
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Nishant Patel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zhao-Cong Yang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Xu-Ming Mo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
- Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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12
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Casey MJ, Chan PP, Li Q, Zu JF, Jette CA, Kohler M, Myers BR, Stewart RA. A simple and scalable zebrafish model of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114559. [PMID: 39078737 PMCID: PMC11404834 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114559] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and is stratified into three major subgroups. The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup represents ∼30% of all MB cases and has significant survival disparity depending upon TP53 status. Here, we describe a zebrafish model of SHH MB using CRISPR to create mutant ptch1, the primary genetic driver of human SHH MB. In these animals, tumors rapidly arise in the cerebellum and resemble human SHH MB by histology and comparative onco-genomics. Similar to human patients, MB tumors with loss of both ptch1 and tp53 have aggressive tumor histology and significantly worse survival outcomes. The simplicity and scalability of the ptch1-crispant MB model makes it highly amenable to CRISPR-based genome-editing screens to identify genes required for SHH MB tumor formation in vivo, and here we identify the gene encoding Grk3 kinase as one such target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattie J Casey
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Priya P Chan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
| | - Qing Li
- High-Throughput Genomics and Cancer Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Ju-Fen Zu
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Cicely A Jette
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Missia Kohler
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Benjamin R Myers
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Rodney A Stewart
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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13
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Butts JC, Wu SR, Durham MA, Dhindsa RS, Revelli JP, Ljungberg MC, Saulnier O, McLaren ME, Taylor MD, Zoghbi HY. A single-cell transcriptomic map of the developing Atoh1 lineage identifies neural fate decisions and neuronal diversity in the hindbrain. Dev Cell 2024; 59:2171-2188.e7. [PMID: 39106860 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.07.007] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Proneural transcription factors establish molecular cascades to orchestrate neuronal diversity. One such transcription factor, Atonal homolog 1 (Atoh1), gives rise to cerebellar excitatory neurons and over 30 distinct nuclei in the brainstem critical for hearing, breathing, and balance. Although Atoh1 lineage neurons have been qualitatively described, the transcriptional programs that drive their fate decisions and the full extent of their diversity remain unknown. Here, we analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing and ATOH1 DNA binding in Atoh1 lineage neurons of the developing mouse hindbrain. This high-resolution dataset identified markers for specific brainstem nuclei and demonstrated that transcriptionally heterogeneous progenitors require ATOH1 for proper migration. Moreover, we identified a sizable population of proliferating unipolar brush cell progenitors in the mouse Atoh1 lineage, previously described in humans as the origin of one medulloblastoma subtype. Collectively, our data provide insights into the developing mouse hindbrain and markers for functional assessment of understudied neuronal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Butts
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Sih-Rong Wu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mark A Durham
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ryan S Dhindsa
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Revelli
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - M Cecilia Ljungberg
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Olivier Saulnier
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Genomics and Development of Childhood Cancers, Institut Curie, PSL University, 75005 Paris, France; INSERM U830, Cancer Heterogeneity Instability and Plasticity, Institut Curie, PSL University, 75005 Paris, France; SIREDO: Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Madison E McLaren
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael D Taylor
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology and Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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14
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Tsiami F, Lago C, Pozza N, Piccioni F, Zhao X, Lülsberg F, Root DE, Tiberi L, Kool M, Schittenhelm J, Bandopadhayay P, Segal RA, Tabatabai G, Merk DJ. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens identify DNMT1 as a druggable dependency in sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:125. [PMID: 39107797 PMCID: PMC11304869 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01831-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog subgroup of medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) is characterized by aberrant activation of the SHH signaling pathway. An inhibition of the positive SHH regulator Smoothened (SMO) has demonstrated promising clinical efficacy. Yet, primary and acquired resistance to SMO inhibitors limit their efficacy. An understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance to therapy is warranted to bridge this unmet need. Here, we make use of genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens in murine SMB21 and human DAOY cells, in order to unravel genetic dependencies and drug-related genetic interactors that could serve as alternative therapeutic targets for SHH-MB. Our screens reinforce SMB21 cells as a faithful model system for SHH-MB, as opposed to DAOY cells, and identify members of the epigenetic machinery including DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) as druggable targets in SHH-dependent tumors. We show that Dnmt1 plays a crucial role in normal murine cerebellar development and is required for SHH-MB growth in vivo. Additionally, DNMT1 pharmacological inhibition alone and in combination with SMO inhibition effectively inhibits tumor growth in murine and human SHH-MB cell models and prolongs survival of SHH-MB mouse models by inhibiting SHH signaling output downstream of SMO. In conclusion, our data highlight the potential of inhibiting epigenetic regulators as a novel therapeutic avenue in SMO-inhibitor sensitive as well as resistant SHH-MBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Tsiami
- Department of Neurology and Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chiara Lago
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, CIBIO, Trento, Italy
| | - Noemi Pozza
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, CIBIO, Trento, Italy
| | - Federica Piccioni
- Genetic Perturbation Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Merck Research Laboratories, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xuesong Zhao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fabienne Lülsberg
- Institute for Anatomy, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Bonn, Germany
| | - David E Root
- Genetic Perturbation Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luca Tiberi
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, CIBIO, Trento, Italy
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jens Schittenhelm
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen Stuttgart, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Pratiti Bandopadhayay
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children´S Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rosalind A Segal
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ghazaleh Tabatabai
- Department of Neurology and Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen Stuttgart, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel J Merk
- Department of Neurology and Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.
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15
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Krishnamurthy A, Lee AS, Bayin NS, Stephen DN, Nasef O, Lao Z, Joyner AL. Engrailed transcription factors direct excitatory cerebellar neuron diversity and survival. Development 2024; 151:dev202502. [PMID: 38912572 PMCID: PMC11369685 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202502] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The neurons of the three cerebellar nuclei (CN) are the primary output neurons of the cerebellum. The excitatory neurons (e) of the medial (m) CN (eCNm) were recently divided into molecularly defined subdomains in the adult; however, how they are established during development is not known. We define molecular subdomains of the mouse embryonic eCNm using single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial expression analysis, showing that they evolve during embryogenesis to prefigure the adult. Furthermore, eCNm are transcriptionally divergent from cells in the other nuclei by embryonic day 14.5. We previously showed that loss of the homeobox genes En1 and En2 leads to loss of approximately half of the embryonic eCNm. We demonstrate that mutation of En1/2 in the embryonic eCNm results in death of specific posterior eCNm molecular subdomains and downregulation of TBR2 (EOMES) in an anterior embryonic subdomain, as well as reduced synaptic gene expression. We further reveal a similar function for EN1/2 in mediating TBR2 expression, neuron differentiation and survival in the other excitatory neurons (granule and unipolar brush cells). Thus, our work defines embryonic eCNm molecular diversity and reveals conserved roles for EN1/2 in the cerebellar excitatory neuron lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Krishnamurthy
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrew S. Lee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - N. Sumru Bayin
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Daniel N. Stephen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Olivia Nasef
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zhimin Lao
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Alexandra L. Joyner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065, USA
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16
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Bou-Rouphael J, Doulazmi M, Eschstruth A, Abdou A, Durand BC. Cerebellar granular neuron progenitors exit their germinative niche via BarH-like1 activity mediated partly by inhibition of T-cell factor. Development 2024; 151:dev202234. [PMID: 38860486 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202234] [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: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) originate from the upper rhombic lip (URL), a germinative niche in which developmental defects produce human diseases. T-cell factor (TCF) responsiveness and Notch dependence are hallmarks of self-renewal in neural stem cells. TCF activity, together with transcripts encoding proneural gene repressors hairy and enhancer of split (Hes/Hey), are detected in the URL; however, their functions and regulatory modes are undeciphered. Here, we established amphibian as a pertinent model for studying vertebrate URL development. The amphibian long-lived URL is TCF active, whereas the external granular layer (EGL) is non-proliferative and expresses hes4 and hes5 genes. Using functional and transcriptomic approaches, we show that TCF activity is necessary for URL emergence and maintenance. We establish that the transcription factor Barhl1 controls GNP exit from the URL, acting partly through direct TCF inhibition. Identification of Barhl1 target genes suggests that, besides TCF, Barhl1 inhibits transcription of hes5 genes independently of Notch signaling. Observations in amniotes suggest a conserved role for Barhl in maintenance of the URL and/or EGL via co-regulation of TCF, Hes and Hey genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnny Bou-Rouphael
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR7622, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS) - Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Mohamed Doulazmi
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8256, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS) - Laboratoire Adaptation Biologique et Vieillissement, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alexis Eschstruth
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR7622, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS) - Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Asna Abdou
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR7622, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS) - Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Béatrice C Durand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR7622, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS) - Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8256, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS) - Laboratoire Adaptation Biologique et Vieillissement, 75005 Paris, France
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17
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Gupta I, Yeung J, Rahimi-Balaei M, Wu SR, Goldowitz D. Msx genes delineate a novel molecular map of the developing cerebellar neuroepithelium. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1356544. [PMID: 38742226 PMCID: PMC11089253 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1356544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In the early cerebellar primordium, there are two progenitor zones, the ventricular zone (VZ) residing atop the IVth ventricle and the rhombic lip (RL) at the lateral edges of the developing cerebellum. These zones give rise to the several cell types that form the GABAergic and glutamatergic populations of the adult cerebellum, respectively. Recently, an understanding of the molecular compartmentation of these zones has emerged. To add to this knowledge base, we report on the Msx genes, a family of three transcription factors, that are expressed downstream of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling in these zones. Using fluorescent RNA in situ hybridization, we have characterized the Msx (Msh Homeobox) genes and demonstrated that their spatiotemporal pattern segregates specific regions within the progenitor zones. Msx1 and Msx2 are compartmentalized within the rhombic lip (RL), while Msx3 is localized within the ventricular zone (VZ). The relationship of the Msx genes with an early marker of the glutamatergic lineage, Atoh1, was examined in Atoh1-null mice and it was found that the expression of Msx genes persisted. Importantly, the spatial expression of Msx1 and Msx3 altered in response to the elimination of Atoh1. These results point to the Msx genes as novel early markers of cerebellar progenitor zones and more importantly to an updated view of the molecular parcellation of the RL with respect to the canonical marker of the RL, Atoh1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Gupta
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Joanna Yeung
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maryam Rahimi-Balaei
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sih-Rong Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dan Goldowitz
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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18
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Kebschull JM, Casoni F, Consalez GG, Goldowitz D, Hawkes R, Ruigrok TJH, Schilling K, Wingate R, Wu J, Yeung J, Uusisaari MY. Cerebellum Lecture: the Cerebellar Nuclei-Core of the Cerebellum. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:620-677. [PMID: 36781689 PMCID: PMC10951048 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum is a key player in many brain functions and a major topic of neuroscience research. However, the cerebellar nuclei (CN), the main output structures of the cerebellum, are often overlooked. This neglect is because research on the cerebellum typically focuses on the cortex and tends to treat the CN as relatively simple output nuclei conveying an inverted signal from the cerebellar cortex to the rest of the brain. In this review, by adopting a nucleocentric perspective we aim to rectify this impression. First, we describe CN anatomy and modularity and comprehensively integrate CN architecture with its highly organized but complex afferent and efferent connectivity. This is followed by a novel classification of the specific neuronal classes the CN comprise and speculate on the implications of CN structure and physiology for our understanding of adult cerebellar function. Based on this thorough review of the adult literature we provide a comprehensive overview of CN embryonic development and, by comparing cerebellar structures in various chordate clades, propose an interpretation of CN evolution. Despite their critical importance in cerebellar function, from a clinical perspective intriguingly few, if any, neurological disorders appear to primarily affect the CN. To highlight this curious anomaly, and encourage future nucleocentric interpretations, we build on our review to provide a brief overview of the various syndromes in which the CN are currently implicated. Finally, we summarize the specific perspectives that a nucleocentric view of the cerebellum brings, move major outstanding issues in CN biology to the limelight, and provide a roadmap to the key questions that need to be answered in order to create a comprehensive integrated model of CN structure, function, development, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus M Kebschull
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Filippo Casoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, and San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - G Giacomo Consalez
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, and San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Goldowitz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Richard Hawkes
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tom J H Ruigrok
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karl Schilling
- Department of Anatomy, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, 53115, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany
| | - Richard Wingate
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joshua Wu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joanna Yeung
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Marylka Yoe Uusisaari
- Neuronal Rhythms in Movement Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-Son, Kunigami-Gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan.
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19
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Itoh T, Uehara M, Yura S, Wang JC, Fujii Y, Nakanishi A, Shimizu T, Hibi M. Foxp and Skor family proteins control differentiation of Purkinje cells from Ptf1a- and Neurog1-expressing progenitors in zebrafish. Development 2024; 151:dev202546. [PMID: 38456494 PMCID: PMC11057878 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202546] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Cerebellar neurons, such as GABAergic Purkinje cells (PCs), interneurons (INs) and glutamatergic granule cells (GCs) are differentiated from neural progenitors expressing proneural genes, including ptf1a, neurog1 and atoh1a/b/c. Studies in mammals previously suggested that these genes determine cerebellar neuron cell fate. However, our studies on ptf1a;neurog1 zebrafish mutants and lineage tracing of ptf1a-expressing progenitors have revealed that the ptf1a/neurog1-expressing progenitors can generate diverse cerebellar neurons, including PCs, INs and a subset of GCs in zebrafish. The precise mechanisms of how each cerebellar neuron type is specified remains elusive. We found that genes encoding the transcriptional regulators Foxp1b, Foxp4, Skor1b and Skor2, which are reportedly expressed in PCs, were absent in ptf1a;neurog1 mutants. foxp1b;foxp4 mutants showed a strong reduction in PCs, whereas skor1b;skor2 mutants completely lacked PCs, and displayed an increase in immature GCs. Misexpression of skor2 in GC progenitors expressing atoh1c suppressed GC fate. These data indicate that Foxp1b/4 and Skor1b/2 function as key transcriptional regulators in the initial step of PC differentiation from ptf1a/neurog1-expressing neural progenitors, and that Skor1b and Skor2 control PC differentiation by suppressing their differentiation into GCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsubasa Itoh
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Mari Uehara
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Shinnosuke Yura
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Jui Chun Wang
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yukimi Fujii
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Akiko Nakanishi
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Takashi Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Masahiko Hibi
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
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20
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Yamada M, Keller RR, Gutierrez RL, Cameron D, Suzuki H, Sanghrajka R, Vaynshteyn J, Gerwin J, Maura F, Hooper W, Shah M, Robine N, Demarest P, Bayin NS, Zapater LJ, Reed C, Hébert S, Masilionis I, Chaligne R, Socci ND, Taylor MD, Kleinman CL, Joyner AL, Raju GP, Kentsis A. Childhood cancer mutagenesis caused by transposase-derived PGBD5. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn4649. [PMID: 38517960 PMCID: PMC10959420 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn4649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Genomic rearrangements are a hallmark of most childhood tumors, including medulloblastoma, one of the most common brain tumors in children, but their causes remain largely unknown. Here, we show that PiggyBac transposable element derived 5 (Pgbd5) promotes tumor development in multiple developmentally accurate mouse models of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma. Most Pgbd5-deficient mice do not develop tumors, while maintaining normal cerebellar development. Ectopic activation of SHH signaling is sufficient to enforce cerebellar granule cell progenitor-like cell states, which exhibit Pgbd5-dependent expression of distinct DNA repair and neurodevelopmental factors. Mouse medulloblastomas expressing Pgbd5 have increased numbers of somatic structural DNA rearrangements, some of which carry PGBD5-specific sequences at their breakpoints. Similar sequence breakpoints recurrently affect somatic DNA rearrangements of known tumor suppressors and oncogenes in medulloblastomas in 329 children. This identifies PGBD5 as a medulloblastoma mutator and provides a genetic mechanism for the generation of oncogenic DNA rearrangements in childhood cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Yamada
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ross R. Keller
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Daniel Cameron
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hiromichi Suzuki
- Division of Brain Tumor Translational Research, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Reeti Sanghrajka
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jake Vaynshteyn
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey Gerwin
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francesco Maura
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - William Hooper
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minita Shah
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas Robine
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Phillip Demarest
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - N. Sumru Bayin
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Luz Jubierre Zapater
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Casie Reed
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steven Hébert
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ignas Masilionis
- Single-Cell Analytics Innovation Lab, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ronan Chaligne
- Single-Cell Analytics Innovation Lab, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas D. Socci
- Bioinformatics Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael D. Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics—Hematology/Oncology and Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Hematology-Oncology Section, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre and the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Claudia L. Kleinman
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alexandra L. Joyner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program and Neuroscience Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - G. Praveen Raju
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex Kentsis
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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21
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Sheng H, Li H, Zeng H, Zhang B, Lu Y, Liu X, Xu Z, Zhang J, Zhang L. Heterogeneity and tumoral origin of medulloblastoma in the single-cell era. Oncogene 2024; 43:839-850. [PMID: 38355808 PMCID: PMC10942862 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-02967-9] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumors derived from posterior fossa. The current treatment includes maximal safe surgical resection, radiotherapy, whole cranio-spinal radiation and adjuvant with chemotherapy. However, it can only limitedly prolong the survival time with severe side effects and relapse. Defining the intratumoral heterogeneity, cellular origin and identifying the interaction network within tumor microenvironment are helpful for understanding the mechanisms of medulloblastoma tumorigenesis and relapse. Due to technological limitations, the mechanisms of cellular heterogeneity and tumor origin have not been fully understood. Recently, the emergence of single-cell technology has provided a powerful tool for achieving the goal of understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. Several studies have demonstrated the intratumoral heterogeneity and tumor origin for each subtype of medulloblastoma utilizing the single-cell RNA-seq, which has not been uncovered before using conventional technologies. In this review, we present an overview of the current progress in understanding of cellular heterogeneity and tumor origin of medulloblastoma and discuss novel findings in the age of single-cell technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sheng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Haotai Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Han Zeng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xixi Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhongwen Xu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liguo Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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22
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Casey MJ, Chan PP, Li Q, Jette CA, Kohler M, Myers BR, Stewart RA. A Simple and Scalable Zebrafish Model of Sonic Hedgehog Medulloblastoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.03.577834. [PMID: 38370799 PMCID: PMC10871209 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.03.577834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and is stratified into three major subgroups. The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup represents ~30% of all MB cases and has significant survival disparity depending upon TP53 status. Here, we describe the first zebrafish model of SHH MB using CRISPR to mutate ptch1, the primary genetic driver in human SHH MB. These tumors rapidly arise adjacent to the valvula cerebelli and resemble human SHH MB by histology and comparative genomics. In addition, ptch1-deficient MB tumors with loss of tp53 have aggressive tumor histology and significantly worse survival outcomes, comparable to human patients. The simplicity and scalability of the ptch1 MB model makes it highly amenable to CRISPR-based genome editing screens to identify genes required for SHH MB tumor formation in vivo, and here we identify the grk3 kinase as one such target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattie J. Casey
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Priya P. Chan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Cicely A. Jette
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Missia Kohler
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Benjamin R. Myers
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Rodney A. Stewart
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Lead contact
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23
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Atamian A, Birtele M, Hosseini N, Nguyen T, Seth A, Del Dosso A, Paul S, Tedeschi N, Taylor R, Coba MP, Samarasinghe R, Lois C, Quadrato G. Human cerebellar organoids with functional Purkinje cells. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:39-51.e6. [PMID: 38181749 PMCID: PMC11417151 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Research on human cerebellar development and disease has been hampered by the need for a human cell-based system that recapitulates the human cerebellum's cellular diversity and functional features. Here, we report a human organoid model (human cerebellar organoids [hCerOs]) capable of developing the complex cellular diversity of the fetal cerebellum, including a human-specific rhombic lip progenitor population that have never been generated in vitro prior to this study. 2-month-old hCerOs form distinct cytoarchitectural features, including laminar organized layering, and create functional connections between inhibitory and excitatory neurons that display coordinated network activity. Long-term culture of hCerOs allows healthy survival and maturation of Purkinje cells that display molecular and electrophysiological hallmarks of their in vivo counterparts, addressing a long-standing challenge in the field. This study therefore provides a physiologically relevant, all-human model system to elucidate the cell-type-specific mechanisms governing cerebellar development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Atamian
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Marcella Birtele
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Negar Hosseini
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Tuan Nguyen
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Anoothi Seth
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Ashley Del Dosso
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Sandeep Paul
- Spatial Genomics, 145 Vista Avenue Suite 111, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA
| | - Neil Tedeschi
- Spatial Genomics, 145 Vista Avenue Suite 111, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA
| | - Ryan Taylor
- Spatial Genomics, 145 Vista Avenue Suite 111, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA
| | - Marcelo P Coba
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1501 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Ranmal Samarasinghe
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Carlos Lois
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Giorgia Quadrato
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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24
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Sanlav G, Baran B, Kum Özşengezer S, Kizmazoğlu D, Altun Z, Aktaş S, Olgun N. S-100 and MATH-1 Protein Expressions Can Be Useful for the Prediction of Clinical Outcome in Neuroblastoma Patients. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2024; 46:21-28. [PMID: 37943051 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most frequent extracranial solid tumor of childhood, remarkable for its broad spectrum of clinical behavior. This diversity in behavior correlates closely with defined clinical and biological features and combinations of prognostic variables are used for risk-group assignment. S-100 proteins have roles in differentiation and were shown to be frequently dysregulated in NB. MATH-1 protein plays role in neuronal cell differentiation through development. However, up to date, there are no studies evaluating the relationship between MATH-1 and NB. Grb2-associated binding (Gab) proteins have roles in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Gab1 was reported to be related to poor survival of high-risk NB patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between differentiation-related S-100, MATH-1, and Gab1 proteins and risk group and/or stages of NB. A significant relation was found between S-100 and early stages of NB. This study also revealed a significant association between MATH-1 and low-risk groups. S-100 and MATH-1 were also shown to provide survival advantages among stages and risk groups. The findings of this study support the assumption that S-100 and MATH-1 can be potential prognostic biomarkers for staging and risk-group assignment of NB patients. These proteins can be useful tools for clinicians to guide through treatment options, especially for the evaluation of tumor differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deniz Kizmazoğlu
- Pediatric Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Oncology, İzmir, Turkey
| | | | | | - Nur Olgun
- Pediatric Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Oncology, İzmir, Turkey
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25
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Tong C, Moayedi Y, Lumpkin EA. Merkel cells and keratinocytes in oral mucosa are activated by mechanical stimulation. Physiol Rep 2024; 12:e15826. [PMID: 38246872 PMCID: PMC10800296 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15826] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The detection of mechanical qualities of foodstuffs is essential for nutrient acquisition, evaluation of food freshness, and bolus formation during mastication. However, the mechanisms through which mechanosensitive cells in the oral cavity transmit mechanical information from the periphery to the brain are not well defined. We hypothesized Merkel cells, which are epithelial mechanoreceptors and important for pressure and texture sensing in the skin, can be mechanically activated in the oral cavity. Using live-cell calcium imaging, we recorded Merkel cell activity in ex vivo gingival and palatal preparations from mice in response to mechanical stimulation. Merkel cells responded with distinct temporal patterns and activation thresholds in a region-specific manner, with Merkel cells in the hard palate having a higher mean activation threshold than those in the gingiva. Unexpectedly, we found that oral keratinocytes were also activated by mechanical stimulation, even in the absence of Merkel cells. This indicates that mechanical stimulation of oral mucosa independently activates at least two subpopulations of epithelial cells. Finally, we found that oral Merkel cells contribute to preference for consuming oily emulsion. To our knowledge, these data represent the first functional study of Merkel-cell physiology and its role in flavor detection in the oral cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi‐Kun Tong
- Department of Physiology and Cellular BiophysicsColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Yalda Moayedi
- Department of Physiology and Cellular BiophysicsColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
Departments of Neurology and Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck SurgeryColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Ellen A. Lumpkin
- Department of Physiology and Cellular BiophysicsColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of DermatologyColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyHelen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
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26
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Krishnamurthy A, Lee AS, Bayin NS, Stephen DN, Nasef O, Lao Z, Joyner AL. Engrailed transcription factors direct excitatory cerebellar neuron diversity and survival. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569445. [PMID: 38077070 PMCID: PMC10705369 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The excitatory neurons of the three cerebellar nuclei (eCN) form the primary output for the cerebellar circuit. The medial eCN (eCNm) were recently divided into molecularly defined subdomains in the adult, however how they are established during development is not known. We define molecular subdomains of the eCNm using scRNA-seq and spatial expression analysis and show they evolve during embryogenesis to resemble the adult. Furthermore, the eCNm is transcriptionally divergent from the rest of the eCN by E14.5. We previously showed that loss of the homeobox genes En1 and En2 leads to death of a subset of embryonic eCNm. We demonstrate that mutation of En1/2 in embryonic eCNm results in cell death of specific posterior eCNm molecular subdomains and loss of TBR2 (EOMES) expression in an anterior subdomain, as well as reduced synaptic gene expression. We further reveal a similar function for EN1/2 in mediating TBR2 expression, neuron differentiation and survival in the two other cerebellar excitatory neuron types. Thus, our work defines embryonic eCNm molecular diversity and reveals conserved roles for EN1/2 in the cerebellar excitatory neuron lineage.
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Göbel C, Godbole S, Schoof M, Holdhof D, Kresbach C, Loose C, Neumann J, Schüller U. MYC overexpression and SMARCA4 loss cooperate to drive medulloblastoma formation in mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:174. [PMID: 37919824 PMCID: PMC10621315 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01654-2] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Group 3 medulloblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of childhood brain tumors. Roughly 30% of cases carry genetic alterations in MYC, SMARCA4, or both genes combined. While overexpression of MYC has previously been shown to drive medulloblastoma formation in mice, the functional significance of SMARCA4 mutations and their suitability as a therapeutic target remain largely unclear. To address this issue, we combined overexpression of MYC with a loss of SMARCA4 in granule cell precursors. Both alterations did not increase proliferation of granule cell precursors in vitro. However, combined MYC overexpression and SMARCA4 loss successfully induced tumor formation in vivo after orthotopic transplantation in recipient mice. Resulting tumors displayed anaplastic histology and exclusively consisted of SMARCA4-negative cells although a mixture of recombined and non-recombined cells was injected. These observations provide first evidence for a tumor-promoting role of a SMARCA4 deficiency in the development of medulloblastoma. In comparing the transcriptome of tumors to the cells of origin and an established Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma model, we gathered first hints on deregulated gene expression that could be specifically involved in SMARCA4/MYC driven tumorigenesis. Finally, an integration of RNA sequencing and DNA methylation data of murine tumors with human samples revealed a high resemblance to human Group 3 medulloblastoma on the molecular level. Altogether, the development of SMARCA4-deficient medulloblastomas in mice paves the way to deciphering the role of frequently occurring SMARCA4 alterations in Group 3 medulloblastoma with the perspective to explore targeted therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Göbel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Shweta Godbole
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Falkenried 94, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Melanie Schoof
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Dörthe Holdhof
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Catena Kresbach
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Carolin Loose
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Julia Neumann
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Falkenried 94, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany.
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany.
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany.
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Wu SR, Butts JC, Caudill MS, Revelli JP, Dhindsa RS, Durham MA, Zoghbi HY. Atoh1 drives the heterogeneity of the pontine nuclei neurons and promotes their differentiation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg1671. [PMID: 37390208 PMCID: PMC10313176 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Pontine nuclei (PN) neurons mediate the communication between the cerebral cortex andthe cerebellum to refine skilled motor functions. Prior studies showed that PN neurons fall into two subtypes based on their anatomic location and region-specific connectivity, but the extent of their heterogeneity and its molecular drivers remain unknown. Atoh1 encodes a transcription factor that is expressed in the PN precursors. We previously showed that partial loss of Atoh1 function in mice results in delayed PN development and impaired motor learning. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing to elucidate the cell state-specific functions of Atoh1 during PN development and found that Atoh1 regulates cell cycle exit, differentiation, migration, and survival of PN neurons. Our data revealed six previously not known PN subtypes that are molecularly and spatially distinct. We found that the PN subtypes exhibit differential vulnerability to partial loss of Atoh1 function, providing insights into the prominence of PN phenotypes in patients with ATOH1 missense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sih-Rong Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jessica C. Butts
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew S. Caudill
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Revelli
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ryan S. Dhindsa
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mark A. Durham
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Student Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huda Y. Zoghbi
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Lowenstein ED, Cui K, Hernandez-Miranda LR. Regulation of early cerebellar development. FEBS J 2023; 290:2786-2804. [PMID: 35262281 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The study of cerebellar development has been at the forefront of neuroscience since the pioneering work of Wilhelm His Sr., Santiago Ramón y Cajal and many others since the 19th century. They laid the foundation to identify the circuitry of the cerebellum, already revealing its stereotypic three-layered cortex and discerning several of its neuronal components. Their work was fundamental in the acceptance of the neuron doctrine, which acknowledges the key role of individual neurons in forming the basic units of the nervous system. Increasing evidence shows that the cerebellum performs a variety of homeostatic and higher order neuronal functions beyond the mere control of motor behaviour. Over the last three decades, many studies have revealed the molecular machinery that regulates distinct aspects of cerebellar development, from the establishment of a cerebellar anlage in the posterior brain to the identification of cerebellar neuron diversity at the single cell level. In this review, we focus on summarizing our current knowledge on early cerebellar development with a particular emphasis on the molecular determinants that secure neuron specification and contribute to the diversity of cerebellar neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ke Cui
- Institut für Zell- and Neurobiologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
| | - Luis Rodrigo Hernandez-Miranda
- Institut für Zell- and Neurobiologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
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Zanin JP, Pandya MA, Espinoza D, Friedman WJ, Shiflett MW. Excess cerebellar granule neurons induced by the absence of p75NTR during development elicit social behavior deficits in mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1147597. [PMID: 37305555 PMCID: PMC10249730 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1147597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Recently, the cerebellum has been implicated with non-motor functions, including cognitive and emotional behavior. Anatomical and functional studies demonstrate bidirectional cerebellar connections with brain regions involved in social cognition. Cerebellar developmental abnormalities and injury are often associated with several psychiatric and mental disorders including autism spectrum disorders and anxiety. The cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) are essential for cerebellar function since they provide sensorimotor, proprioceptive, and contextual information to Purkinje cells to modify behavior in different contexts. Therefore, alterations to the CGN population are likely to compromise cerebellar processing and function. Previously we demonstrated that the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) was fundamental for the development of the CGN. In the absence of p75NTR, we observed increased proliferation of the granule cell precursors (GCPs), followed by increased GCP migration toward the internal granule layer. The excess granule cells were incorporated into the cerebellar network, inducing alterations in cerebellar circuit processing. Methods In the present study, we used two conditional mouse lines to specifically delete the expression of p75NTR in CGN. In both mouse lines, deletion of the target gene was under the control of the transcription factor Atoh-1 promotor, however, one of the lines was also tamoxifen-inducible. Results We observed a loss of p75NTR expression from the GCPs in all cerebellar lobes. Compared to control animals, both mouse lines exhibited a reduced preference for social interactions when presented with a choice to interact with a mouse or an object. Open-field locomotor behavior and operant reward learning were unaffected in both lines. Lack of preference for social novelty and increased anxiety-related behavior was present in mice with constitutive p75NTR deletion; however, these effects were not present in the tamoxifen-inducible mice with p75NTR deletion that more specifically targeted the GCPs. Discussion Our findings demonstrate that alterations to CGN development by loss of p75NTR alter social behavior, and contribute to the increasing evidence that the cerebellum plays a role in non-motor-related behaviors, including social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Zanin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Mansi A. Pandya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Diego Espinoza
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Wilma J. Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Michael W. Shiflett
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
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García-Guillén IM, Aroca P, Marín F. Molecular identity of the lateral lemniscus nuclei in the adult mouse brain. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1098352. [PMID: 36999169 PMCID: PMC10044012 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1098352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe dorsal (DLL), intermediate (ILL), and ventral (VLL) lateral lemniscus nuclei are relay centers in the central auditory pathway of the brainstem, commonly referred to as the lateral lemniscus nuclei (LLN). The LLN are situated in the prepontine and pontine hindbrain, from rhombomeres 1 to 4, extending from the more rostral DLL to the caudal VLL, with the ILL lying in between. These nuclei can be distinguished morphologically and by topological and connectivity criteria, and here, we set out to further characterize the molecular nature of each LLN.MethodsWe searched in situ hybridization studies in the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas for genes differentially expressed along the rostrocaudal axis of the brainstem, identifying 36 genes from diverse functional families expressed in the LLN.ResultsAvailable information in the databases indicated that 7 of these 36 genes are either associated with or potentially related to hearing disorders.DiscussionIn conclusion, the LLN are characterized by specific molecular profiles that reflect their rostrocaudal organization into the three constituent nuclei. This molecular regionalization may be involved in the etiology of some hearing disorders, in accordance with previous functional studies of these genes.
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Cleveland AH, Malawsky D, Churiwal M, Rodriguez C, Reed F, Schniederjan M, Velazquez Vega JE, Davis I, Gershon TR. PRC2 disruption in cerebellar progenitors produces cerebellar hypoplasia and aberrant myoid differentiation without blocking medulloblastoma growth. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:8. [PMID: 36635771 PMCID: PMC9838053 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01508-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We show that Polycomb Repressive Complex-2 (PRC2) components EED and EZH2 maintain neural identity in cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (CGNPs) and SHH-driven medulloblastoma, a cancer of CGNPs. Proliferating CGNPs and medulloblastoma cells inherit neural fate commitment through epigenetic mechanisms. The PRC2 is an epigenetic regulator that has been proposed as a therapeutic target in medulloblastoma. To define PRC2 function in cerebellar development and medulloblastoma, we conditionally deleted PRC2 components Eed or Ezh2 in CGNPs and analyzed medulloblastomas induced in Eed-deleted and Ezh2-deleted CGNPs by expressing SmoM2, an oncogenic allele of Smo. Eed deletion destabilized the PRC2, depleting EED and EZH2 proteins, while Ezh2 deletion did not deplete EED. Eed-deleted cerebella were hypoplastic, with reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and inappropriate muscle-like differentiation. Ezh2-deleted cerebella showed similar, milder phenotypes, with fewer muscle-like cells and without reduced growth. Eed-deleted and Ezh2-deleted medulloblastomas both demonstrated myoid differentiation and progressed more rapidly than PRC2-intact controls. The PRC2 thus maintains neural commitment in CGNPs and medulloblastoma, but is not required for SHH medulloblastoma progression. Our data define a role for the PRC2 in preventing inappropriate, non-neural fates during postnatal neurogenesis, and caution that targeting the PRC2 in SHH medulloblastoma may not produce durable therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail H. Cleveland
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA ,grid.10698.360000000122483208Cancer Cell Biology Training Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Daniel Malawsky
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA ,grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Mehal Churiwal
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Claudia Rodriguez
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Frances Reed
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Matthew Schniederjan
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Jose E. Velazquez Vega
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Ian Davis
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Timothy R. Gershon
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Children’s Center for Neurosciences Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
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Kaiser M, Lüdtke TH, Deuper L, Rudat C, Christoffels VM, Kispert A, Trowe MO. TBX2 specifies and maintains inner hair and supporting cell fate in the Organ of Corti. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7628. [PMID: 36494345 PMCID: PMC9734556 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35214-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The auditory function of the mammalian cochlea relies on two types of mechanosensory hair cells and various non-sensory supporting cells. Recent studies identified the transcription factors INSM1 and IKZF2 as regulators of outer hair cell (OHC) fate. However, the transcriptional regulation of the differentiation of inner hair cells (IHCs) and their associated inner supporting cells (ISCs) has remained enigmatic. Here, we show that the expression of the transcription factor TBX2 is restricted to IHCs and ISCs from the onset of differentiation until adulthood and examine its function using conditional deletion and misexpression approaches in the mouse. We demonstrate that TBX2 acts in prosensory progenitors as a patterning factor by specifying the inner compartment of the sensory epithelium that subsequently gives rise to IHCs and ISCs. Hair cell-specific inactivation or misexpression causes transdifferentiation of hair cells indicating a cell-autonomous function of TBX2 in inducing and maintaining IHC fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Kaiser
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Timo H. Lüdtke
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lena Deuper
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carsten Rudat
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vincent M. Christoffels
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Medical Biology, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Kispert
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Trowe
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Huang D, Zhang R, Gasparini S, McDonough MC, Paradee WJ, Geerling JC. Neuropeptide S (NPS) neurons: Parabrachial identity and novel distributions. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:3157-3178. [PMID: 36036349 PMCID: PMC9588594 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuropeptide S (NPS) increases wakefulness. A small number of neurons in the brainstem express Nps. These neurons are located in or near the parabrachial nucleus (PB), but we know very little about their ontogeny, connectivity, and function. To identify Nps-expressing neurons within the molecular framework of the PB region, we used in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and Cre-reporter labeling in mice. The primary concentration of Nps-expressing neurons borders the lateral lemniscus at far-rostral levels of the lateral PB. Caudal to this main cluster, Nps-expressing neurons scatter through the PB and form a secondary concentration medial to the locus coeruleus (LC). Most Nps-expressing neurons in the PB region are Atoh1-derived, Foxp2-expressing, and mutually exclusive with neurons expressing Calca or Lmx1b. Among Foxp2-expressing PB neurons, those expressing Nps are distinct from intermingled subsets expressing Cck or Pdyn. Examining Nps Cre-reporter expression throughout the brain identified novel populations of neurons in the nucleus incertus, anterior hypothalamus, and lateral habenula. This information will help focus experimental questions about the connectivity and function of NPS neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dake Huang
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
| | - Richie Zhang
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
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Iskusnykh IY, Chizhikov VV. Cerebellar development after preterm birth. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1068288. [PMID: 36523506 PMCID: PMC9744950 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1068288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth and its complications and the associated adverse factors, including brain hemorrhage, inflammation, and the side effects of medical treatments, are the leading causes of neurodevelopmental disability. Growing evidence suggests that preterm birth affects the cerebellum, which is the brain region involved in motor coordination, cognition, learning, memory, and social communication. The cerebellum is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of preterm birth because key cerebellar developmental processes, including the proliferation of neural progenitors, and differentiation and migration of neurons, occur in the third trimester of a human pregnancy. This review discusses the negative impacts of preterm birth and its associated factors on cerebellar development, focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate cerebellar pathology. A better understanding of the cerebellar developmental mechanisms affected by preterm birth is necessary for developing novel treatment and neuroprotective strategies to ameliorate the cognitive, behavioral, and motor deficits experienced by preterm subjects.
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Krycer JR, Nayler SP. A Survey of the Metabolic Landscape of the Developing Cerebellum at Single-Cell Resolution. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 21:838-850. [PMID: 35767214 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01415-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The use of cell-culture models to investigate development and disease of the cerebellum is a recent advance, facilitated by the discovery that patterning of precursors is capable of giving rise to cells with specific neuronal identity. Pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids, which exhibit self-organisational characteristics reminiscent of early cerebellar tissue, present a number of challenges including recapitulation of conditions resembling the mature brain. An understanding of the processes driving fetal and postnatal maturation is required to reproduce these conditions in vitro and advance the capability of the system to model adult-onset disease. A key tool for achieving this is single-cell RNA sequencing, which enables visualisation of key transcriptional features of subpopulations comprising tissues. Here, we explore and compare available single-cell RNA sequencing data derived from the developing human cerebellum and its synthetic, in vitro counterpart (stem cell-derived cerebellar organoids). We focus on performing a qualitative assessment of the expression of key metabolic pathway genes, given recent findings exemplifying tissue-specific metabolic activity, including hypoxia and metabolic shifts associated with neuronal expansion. Signatures indicative of known cell type-specific metabolic differences, such as the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle and glutamate-glutamine cycle were evident at a transcriptional level. Cerebellar tissue and cerebellar organoids showed a number of behavioural similarities, including HIF1 signalling, which may serve to drive expansion of granule cell progenitors in both settings. We further highlight numerous differences between cultured organoids and native tissue which may provide clarity on the state of metabolic state following differentiation of organoids, providing the future framework to test and further hypotheses regarding promoting maturation. Overall, this analysis provides insight into understanding the state of in vitro models of the cerebellum, a critical factor required for modelling susceptibility of various cell types to cerebellar disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Krycer
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sam P Nayler
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.
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Apsley EJ, Becker EBE. Purkinje Cell Patterning-Insights from Single-Cell Sequencing. Cells 2022; 11:2918. [PMID: 36139493 PMCID: PMC9497131 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their homogeneous appearance, Purkinje cells are remarkably diverse with respect to their molecular phenotypes, physiological properties, afferent and efferent connectivity, as well as their vulnerability to insults. Heterogeneity in Purkinje cells arises early in development, with molecularly distinct embryonic cell clusters present soon after Purkinje cell specification. Traditional methods have characterized cerebellar development and cell types, including Purkinje cell subtypes, based on knowledge of selected markers. However, recent single-cell RNA sequencing studies provide vastly increased resolution of the whole cerebellar transcriptome. Here we draw together the results of multiple single-cell transcriptomic studies in developing and adult cerebellum in both mouse and human. We describe how this detailed transcriptomic data has increased our understanding of the intricate development and function of Purkinje cells and provides first clues into features specific to human cerebellar development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Apsley
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Esther B. E. Becker
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
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Joyner AL, Bayin NS. Cerebellum lineage allocation, morphogenesis and repair: impact of interplay amongst cells. Development 2022; 149:dev185587. [PMID: 36172987 PMCID: PMC9641654 DOI: 10.1242/dev.185587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum has a simple cytoarchitecture consisting of a folded cortex with three cell layers that surrounds a nuclear structure housing the output neurons. The excitatory neurons are generated from a unique progenitor zone, the rhombic lip, whereas the inhibitory neurons and astrocytes are generated from the ventricular zone. The growth phase of the cerebellum is driven by lineage-restricted progenitor populations derived from each zone. Research during the past decade has uncovered the importance of cell-to-cell communication between the lineages through largely unknown signaling mechanisms for regulating the scaling of cell numbers and cell plasticity during mouse development and following injury in the neonatal (P0-P14) cerebellum. This Review focuses on how the interplay between cell types is key to morphogenesis, production of robust neural circuits and replenishment of cells after injury, and ends with a discussion of the implications of the greater complexity of the human cerebellar progenitor zones for development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Joyner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - N. Sumru Bayin
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 1NQ, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
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Bočkaj I, Martini TEI, Smit MJ, Armandari I, Bakker B, Wardenaar R, Meeuwsen-de Boer TGJ, Bakker PL, Spierings DCJ, Hoving EW, Guryev V, Foijer F, Bruggeman SWM. Chromosomal Instability Characterizes Pediatric Medulloblastoma but Is Not Tolerated in the Developing Cerebellum. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179852. [PMID: 36077248 PMCID: PMC9456393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a pediatric brain malignancy that consists of four transcriptional subgroups. Structural and numerical aneuploidy are common in all subgroups, although they are particularly profound in Group 3 and Group 4 medulloblastoma and in a subtype of SHH medulloblastoma termed SHHα. This suggests that chromosomal instability (CIN), the process leading to aneuploidy, is an important player in medulloblastoma pathophysiology. However, it is not known if there is ongoing CIN in medulloblastoma or if CIN affects the developing cerebellum and promotes tumor formation. To investigate this, we performed karyotyping of single medulloblastoma cells and demonstrated the presence of distinct tumor cell clones harboring unique copy number alterations, which is suggestive of ongoing CIN. We also found enrichment for processes related to DNA replication, repair, and mitosis in both SHH medulloblastoma and in the highly proliferative compartment of the presumed tumor cell lineage-of-origin, the latter also being sensitive to genotoxic stress. However, when challenging these tumor cells-of-origin with genetic lesions inducing CIN using transgenic mouse modeling, we found no evidence for large chromosomal aberrations in the cerebellum or for medulloblastoma formation. We therefore conclude that without a background of specific genetic mutations, CIN is not tolerated in the developing cerebellum in vivo and, thus, by itself is not sufficient to initiate medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Bočkaj
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tosca E. I. Martini
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marlinde J. Smit
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inna Armandari
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bjorn Bakker
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - René Wardenaar
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tiny G. J. Meeuwsen-de Boer
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Petra L. Bakker
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana C. J. Spierings
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eelco W. Hoving
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Victor Guryev
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (F.F.); (S.W.M.B.)
| | - Sophia W. M. Bruggeman
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (F.F.); (S.W.M.B.)
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40
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Wu JPH, Yeung J, Rahimi-Balaei M, Wu SR, Zoghbi H, Goldowitz D. The Transcription Factor Pou3f1 Sheds Light on the Development and Molecular Diversity of Glutamatergic Cerebellar Nuclear Neurons in the Mouse. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:921901. [PMID: 35935334 PMCID: PMC9347289 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.921901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellar nuclear (CN) neurons are a molecularly heterogeneous population whose specification into the different cerebellar nuclei is defined by the expression of varying sets of transcription factors. Here, we present a novel molecular marker, Pou3f1, that delineates specific sets of glutamatergic CN neurons. The glutamatergic identity of Pou3f1+ cells was confirmed by: (1) the co-expression of vGluT2, a cell marker of glutamatergic neurons; (2) the lack of co-expression between Pou3f1 and GAD67, a marker of GABAergic neurons; (3) the co-expression of Atoh1, the master regulator required for the production of all cerebellar glutamatergic lineages; and (4) the absence of Pou3f1-expressing cells in the Atoh1-null cerebellum. Furthermore, the lack of Pax6 and Tbr1 expression in Pou3f1+ cells reveals that Pou3f1-expressing CN neurons specifically settle in the interposed and dentate nuclei. In addition, the Pou3f1-labeled glutamatergic CN neurons can be further classified by the expression of Brn2 and Irx3. The results of the present study align with previous findings highlighting that the survival of the interposed and dentate CN neurons is largely independent of Pax6. More importantly, the present study extends the field’s collective knowledge of the molecular diversity of cerebellar nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Po Han Wu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Joanna Yeung
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maryam Rahimi-Balaei
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sih-Rong Wu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Huda Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dan Goldowitz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Dan Goldowitz
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41
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Haldipur P, Millen KJ, Aldinger KA. Human Cerebellar Development and Transcriptomics: Implications for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Annu Rev Neurosci 2022; 45:515-531. [PMID: 35440142 PMCID: PMC9271632 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-111020-091953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Developmental abnormalities of the cerebellum are among the most recognized structural brain malformations in human prenatal imaging. Yet reliable information regarding their cause in humans is sparse, and few outcome studies are available to inform prognosis. We know very little about human cerebellar development, in stark contrast to the wealth of knowledge from decades of research on cerebellar developmental biology of model organisms, especially mice. Recent studies show that multiple aspects of human cerebellar development significantly differ from mice and even rhesus macaques, a nonhuman primate. These discoveries challenge many current mouse-centric models of normal human cerebellar development and models regarding the pathogenesis of several neurodevelopmental phenotypes affecting the cerebellum, including Dandy-Walker malformation and medulloblastoma. Since we cannot model what we do not know, additional normative and pathological human developmental data are essential, and new models are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parthiv Haldipur
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA;
| | - Kathleen J Millen
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA; .,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA;
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42
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Ye X, Li M, Bian W, Wu A, Zhang T, Li J, Zhou P, Cui H, Ding YQ, Liao M, Sun C. RBP-J deficiency promoted the proliferation and differentiation of CD133-positive cells in vitro and in vivo studies. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:3839-3860. [PMID: 35661443 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Although Notch signaling pathway could control the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs), it is largely unknown about the effect of Notch signaling pathway on the neurogenesis of CD133-positive cells. By using the primary cultured ependymal cells and the transgenic mouse, we found that CD133 immunoreactivity was exclusively localized in the ependymal layer of ventricles, moreover, most CD133-positive cells were co-labeled with Nestin. In addition, recombination signal binding protein J (RBP-J), a key nuclear effector of Notch signaling pathway, was highly active in CD133-positive cells. CD133-positive cells can differentiate into the immature and mature neurons, in particular, the number of CD133-positive cells differentiating into the immature and mature neurons was significantly increased following the deficiency or interference of RBP-J in vivo or in vitro. By using real-time qPCR and western blot, we found that RBP-J and Hes1 were down-regulated while Notch1 was up-regulated in the expression levels of mRNAs and proteins following the deficiency or interference of RBP-J. These results demonstrated RBP-J deficiency promoted the proliferation and differentiation of CD133-positive cells. Therefore, we speculated that RBP-J could maintain CD133-positive cells in the characteristics of NSCs possibly by regulating Notch1/RBP-J/Hes1 pathway. It will provide a novel molecular insight into the function of RBP-J, as well as facilitate a future investigation of CD133-positive cells with respect to their potential application in neurodegenerative disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Ye
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Mengyi Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wei Bian
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Anting Wu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Junwei Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Peng Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huairui Cui
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Ding
- Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Min Liao
- Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chenyou Sun
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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43
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Smit MJ, Martini TEI, Armandari I, Bočkaj I, Zomerman WW, de Camargo Magalhães ES, Siragna Z, Meeuwsen TGJ, Scherpen FJG, Schoots MH, Ritsema M, den Dunnen WFA, Hoving EW, Paridaen JTML, de Haan G, Guryev V, Bruggeman SWM. The developmental stage of the medulloblastoma cell-of-origin restricts Hedgehog pathway usage and drug sensitivity. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:275628. [PMID: 35535520 PMCID: PMC9234672 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma originates from the cerebellar granule neuron progenitor (CGNP) lineage, which depends on Hedgehog signaling for its perinatal expansion. Whereas SHH tumors exhibit overall deregulation of this pathway, they also show patient age-specific aberrations. To investigate whether the developmental stage of the CGNP can account for these age-specific lesions, we analyzed developing murine CGNP transcriptomes and observed highly dynamic gene expression as a function of age. Cross-species comparison with human SHH medulloblastoma showed partial maintenance of these expression patterns, and highlighted low primary cilium expression as hallmark of infant medulloblastoma and early embryonic CGNPs. This coincided with reduced responsiveness to upstream SHH pathway component Smoothened, whereas sensitivity to downstream components SUFU and GLI family proteins was retained. Together, these findings can explain the preference for SUFU mutations in infant medulloblastoma and suggest that drugs targeting the downstream SHH pathway will be most appropriate for infant patients. Summary: There is a relationship between the age of the medulloblastoma patient and the developmental age of the tumor cell-of-origin, and this influences the SHH pathway signaling route used by the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlinde J Smit
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tosca E I Martini
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Inna Armandari
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Irena Bočkaj
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Walderik W Zomerman
- Department of Pediatrics/Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eduardo S de Camargo Magalhães
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.,Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-590, Brazil
| | - Zillah Siragna
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tiny G J Meeuwsen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Frank J G Scherpen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mirthe H Schoots
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martha Ritsema
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wilfred F A den Dunnen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eelco W Hoving
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith T M L Paridaen
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gerald de Haan
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.,Present address: Department of Hematopoiesis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1066CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Victor Guryev
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sophia W M Bruggeman
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
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44
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Khouri-Farah N, Guo Q, Morgan K, Shin J, Li JYH. Integrated single-cell transcriptomic and epigenetic study of cell state transition and lineage commitment in embryonic mouse cerebellum. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl9156. [PMID: 35363520 PMCID: PMC10938588 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl9156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies using single-cell RNA-sequencing have revealed cellular heterogeneity in the developing mammalian cerebellum, yet the regulatory logic underlying this cellular diversity remains to be elucidated. Using integrated single-cell RNA and ATAC analyses, we resolved developmental trajectories of cerebellar progenitors and identified putative trans- and cis-elements that control cell state transition. We reverse engineered gene regulatory networks (GRNs) of each cerebellar cell type. Through in silico simulations and in vivo experiments, we validated the efficacy of GRN analyses and uncovered the molecular control of a posterior transitory zone (PTZ), a distinct progenitor zone residing immediately anterior to the morphologically defined rhombic lip (RL). We showed that perturbing cell fate specification in the PTZ and RL causes posterior cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, the most common cerebellar birth defect in humans. Our study provides a foundation for comprehensive studies of developmental programs of the mammalian cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagham Khouri-Farah
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA
| | - Qiuxia Guo
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA
| | - Kerry Morgan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA
| | - Jihye Shin
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA
| | - James Y. H. Li
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, 400 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA
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45
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Karthik S, Huang D, Delgado Y, Laing JJ, Peltekian L, Iverson GN, Grady F, Miller RL, McCann CM, Fritzsch B, Iskusnykh IY, Chizhikov VV, Geerling JC. Molecular ontology of the parabrachial nucleus. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:1658-1699. [PMID: 35134251 PMCID: PMC9119955 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This article has been removed because of a technical problem in the rendering of the PDF. 11 February 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dake Huang
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | | | | | - Lila Peltekian
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | | | - Fillan Grady
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Rebecca L. Miller
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyWashington University School of MedicineSaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Corey M. McCann
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyWashington University School of MedicineSaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Bernd Fritzsch
- Iowa Neuroscience InstituteIowa CityIowaUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Igor Y. Iskusnykh
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyUniversity of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Victor V. Chizhikov
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyUniversity of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Joel C. Geerling
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
- Iowa Neuroscience InstituteIowa CityIowaUSA
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46
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Hirsch D, Kohl A, Wang Y, Sela-Donenfeld D. Axonal Projection Patterns of the Dorsal Interneuron Populations in the Embryonic Hindbrain. Front Neuroanat 2022; 15:793161. [PMID: 35002640 PMCID: PMC8738170 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.793161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Unraveling the inner workings of neural circuits entails understanding the cellular origin and axonal pathfinding of various neuronal groups during development. In the embryonic hindbrain, different subtypes of dorsal interneurons (dINs) evolve along the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis of rhombomeres and are imperative for the assembly of central brainstem circuits. dINs are divided into two classes, class A and class B, each containing four neuronal subgroups (dA1-4 and dB1-4) that are born in well-defined DV positions. While all interneurons belonging to class A express the transcription factor Olig3 and become excitatory, all class B interneurons express the transcription factor Lbx1 but are diverse in their excitatory or inhibitory fate. Moreover, within every class, each interneuron subtype displays its own specification genes and axonal projection patterns which are required to govern the stage-by-stage assembly of their connectivity toward their target sites. Remarkably, despite the similar genetic landmark of each dINs subgroup along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis of the hindbrain, genetic fate maps of some dA/dB neuronal subtypes uncovered their contribution to different nuclei centers in relation to their rhombomeric origin. Thus, DV and AP positional information has to be orchestrated in each dA/dB subpopulation to form distinct neuronal circuits in the hindbrain. Over the span of several decades, different axonal routes have been well-documented to dynamically emerge and grow throughout the hindbrain DV and AP positions. Yet, the genetic link between these distinct axonal bundles and their neuronal origin is not fully clear. In this study, we reviewed the available data regarding the association between the specification of early-born dorsal interneuron subpopulations in the hindbrain and their axonal circuitry development and fate, as well as the present existing knowledge on molecular effectors underlying the process of axonal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Hirsch
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.,Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ayelet Kohl
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Dalit Sela-Donenfeld
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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47
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Hawkes R. Cerebellar Patterning Defects in Mutant Mice. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:787425. [PMID: 34955734 PMCID: PMC8692567 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.787425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellar cortex is highly compartmentalized and serves as a remarkable model for pattern formation throughout the brain. In brief, the adult cerebellar cortex is subdivided into five anteroposterior units—transverse zones—and subsequently, each zone is divided into ∼20 parasagittal stripes. Zone-and-stripe pattern formation involves the interplay of two parallel developmental pathways—one for inhibitory neurons, the second for excitatory. In the inhibitory pathway, progenitor cells of the 4th ventricle generate the Purkinje cells and inhibitory interneurons. In the excitatory pathway, progenitor cells in the upper rhombic lip give rise to the external granular layer, and subsequently to the granular layer of the adult. Both the excitatory and inhibitory developmental pathways are spatially patterned and the interactions of the two generate the complex topography of the adult. This review briefly describes the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underly zone-and-stripe development with a particular focus on mutations known to interfere with normal cerebellar development and the light they cast on the mechanisms of pattern formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Hawkes
- Department of Cell Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Anatomy and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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48
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Whittaker DE, Oleari R, Gregory LC, Le Quesne-Stabej P, Williams HJ, GOSgene, Torpiano JG, Formosa N, Cachia MJ, Field D, Lettieri A, Ocaka LA, Paganoni AJ, Rajabali SH, Riegman KL, De Martini LB, Chaya T, Robinson IC, Furukawa T, Cariboni A, Basson MA, Dattani MT. A recessive PRDM13 mutation results in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and cerebellar hypoplasia. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e141587. [PMID: 34730112 PMCID: PMC8670848 DOI: 10.1172/jci141587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The positive regulatory (PR) domain containing 13 (PRDM13) putative chromatin modifier and transcriptional regulator functions downstream of the transcription factor PTF1A, which controls GABAergic fate in the spinal cord and neurogenesis in the hypothalamus. Here, we report a recessive syndrome associated with PRDM13 mutation. Patients exhibited intellectual disability, ataxia with cerebellar hypoplasia, scoliosis, and delayed puberty with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). Expression studies revealed Prdm13/PRDM13 transcripts in the developing hypothalamus and cerebellum in mouse and human. An analysis of hypothalamus and cerebellum development in mice homozygous for a Prdm13 mutant allele revealed a significant reduction in the number of Kisspeptin (Kiss1) neurons in the hypothalamus and PAX2+ progenitors emerging from the cerebellar ventricular zone. The latter was accompanied by ectopic expression of the glutamatergic lineage marker TLX3. Prdm13-deficient mice displayed cerebellar hypoplasia and normal gonadal structure, but delayed pubertal onset. Together, these findings identify PRDM13 as a critical regulator of GABAergic cell fate in the cerebellum and of hypothalamic kisspeptin neuron development, providing a mechanistic explanation for the cooccurrence of CHH and cerebellar hypoplasia in this syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence linking disrupted PRDM13-mediated regulation of Kiss1 neurons to CHH in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E. Whittaker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Oleari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Louise C. Gregory
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Polona Le Quesne-Stabej
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hywel J. Williams
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - GOSgene
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- GOSgene is detailed in Supplemental Acknowledgments
| | - John G. Torpiano
- Department of Paediatrics and
- Adult Endocrinology Service, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
| | | | - Mario J. Cachia
- Adult Endocrinology Service, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
| | - Daniel Field
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Lettieri
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Louise A. Ocaka
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alyssa J.J. Paganoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sakina H. Rajabali
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kimberley L.H. Riegman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa B. De Martini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Taro Chaya
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Takahisa Furukawa
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Anna Cariboni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mehul T. Dattani
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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Bayin NS, Mizrak D, Stephen DN, Lao Z, Sims PA, Joyner AL. Injury-induced ASCL1 expression orchestrates a transitory cell state required for repair of the neonatal cerebellum. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj1598. [PMID: 34878841 PMCID: PMC8654303 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj1598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
To understand repair processes, it is critical to identify the molecular foundations underlying progenitor diversity and plasticity. Upon injury to the neonatal cerebellum, a normally gliogenic nestin-expressing progenitor (NEP) in the Bergmann glia layer (BgL) undergoes adaptive reprograming to restore granule cell production. However, the cellular states and genes regulating the NEP fate switch are unknown. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and fate mapping, we defined molecular subtypes of NEPs and their lineages under homeostasis and repair. NEPs contain two major subtypes: Hopx+ astrogliogenic and Ascl1+ neurogenic NEPs that are further subdivided based on their location, lineage, and differentiation status. Upon injury, an Ascl1+ transitory cellular state arises from Hopx+ BgL-NEPs. Furthermore, mutational analysis revealed that induction of Ascl1 is required for adaptive reprogramming by orchestrating a glial-to-neural switch in vivo following injury. Thus, we provide molecular and cellular insights into context-dependent progenitor plasticity and repair mechanisms in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Sumru Bayin
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dogukan Mizrak
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel N. Stephen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhimin Lao
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter A. Sims
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexandra L. Joyner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
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50
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Ikenaga T, Shimomai R, Hagio H, Kimura S, Matsumoto K, Kato DI, Uesugi K, Takeuchi A, Yamamoto N, Hibi M. Morphological analysis of the cerebellum and its efferent system in a basal actinopterygian fish, Polypterus senegalus. J Comp Neurol 2021; 530:1231-1246. [PMID: 34729771 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Although all vertebrate cerebella contain granule cells, Purkinje cells, and efferent neurons, the cellular arrangement and neural circuitry are highly diverse. In amniotes, cerebellar efferent neurons form clusters, deep cerebellar nuclei, lie deep in the cerebellum, and receive synaptic inputs from Purkinje cells but not granule cells. However, in the cerebellum of teleosts, the efferent neurons, called eurydendroid cells, lie near the cell bodies of Purkinje cells and receive inputs both from axons of Purkinje cells and granule cell parallel fibers. It is largely unknown how the cerebellar structure evolved in ray-finned fish (actinopterygians). To address this issue, we analyzed the cerebellum of a bichir Polypterus senegalus, one of the most basal actinopterygians. We found that the cell bodies of Purkinje cells are not aligned in a layer; incoming climbing fibers terminate mainly on the basal portion of Purkinje cells, revealing that the Polypterus cerebellum has unique features among vertebrate cerebella. Retrograde labeling and marker analyses of the efferent neurons revealed that their cell bodies lie in restricted granular areas but not as deep cerebellar nuclei in the cerebellar white matter. The efferent neurons have long dendrites like eurydendroid cells, although they do not reach the molecular layer. Our findings suggest that the efferent system of the bichir cerebellum has intermediate features between teleosts and amniote vertebrates, and provides a model to understand the basis generating diversity in actinopterygian cerebella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Ikenaga
- Department of Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Rinko Shimomai
- Department of Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hanako Hagio
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Laboratory of Fish Biology, Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Satoru Kimura
- Department of Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Matsumoto
- Department of Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Dai-Ichiro Kato
- Department of Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Kentaro Uesugi
- Research and Utilization Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute/SPring-8, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Akihisa Takeuchi
- Research and Utilization Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute/SPring-8, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Fish Biology, Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiko Hibi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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