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Lau KA, Yang X, Rioult-Pedotti MS, Tang S, Appleman M, Zhang J, Tian Y, Marino C, Yao M, Jiang Q, Tsuda AC, Huang YWA, Cao C, Marshall J. A PSD-95 peptidomimetic mitigates neurological deficits in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 230:102513. [PMID: 37536482 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102513] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a severe cognitive disorder caused by loss of neuronal expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBE3A. In an AS mouse model, we previously reported a deficit in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, and set out to develop a therapeutic that would restore normal signaling. We demonstrate that CN2097, a peptidomimetic compound that binds postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), a TrkB associated scaffolding protein, mitigates deficits in PLC-CaMKII and PI3K/mTOR pathways to restore synaptic plasticity and learning. Administration of CN2097 facilitated long-term potentiation (LTP) and corrected paired-pulse ratio. As the BDNF-mTORC1 pathway is critical for inhibition of autophagy, we investigated whether autophagy was disrupted in AS mice. We found aberrantly high autophagic activity attributable to a concomitant decrease in mTORC1 signaling, resulting in decreased levels of synaptic proteins, including Synapsin-1 and Shank3. CN2097 increased mTORC1 activity to normalize autophagy and restore hippocampal synaptic protein levels. Importantly, treatment mitigated cognitive and motor dysfunction. These findings support the use of neurotrophic therapeutics as a valuable approach for treating AS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara A Lau
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Mengia S Rioult-Pedotti
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Mark Appleman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Jianan Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
| | - Yuyang Tian
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Caitlin Marino
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Mudi Yao
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Qin Jiang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Ayumi C Tsuda
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Yu-Wen Alvin Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Cong Cao
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
| | - John Marshall
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
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2
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Xing L, Simon JM, Ptacek TS, Yi JJ, Loo L, Mao H, Wolter JM, McCoy ES, Paranjape SR, Taylor-Blake B, Zylka MJ. Autism-linked UBE3A gain-of-function mutation causes interneuron and behavioral phenotypes when inherited maternally or paternally in mice. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112706. [PMID: 37389991 PMCID: PMC10530456 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112706] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The E3 ubiquitin ligase Ube3a is biallelically expressed in neural progenitors and glial cells, suggesting that UBE3A gain-of-function mutations might cause neurodevelopmental disorders irrespective of parent of origin. Here, we engineered a mouse line that harbors an autism-linked UBE3AT485A (T503A in mouse) gain-of-function mutation and evaluated phenotypes in animals that inherited the mutant allele paternally, maternally, or from both parents. We find that paternally and maternally expressed UBE3AT503A results in elevated UBE3A activity in neural progenitors and glial cells. Expression of UBE3AT503A from the maternal allele, but not the paternal one, leads to a persistent elevation of UBE3A activity in neurons. Mutant mice display behavioral phenotypes that differ by parent of origin. Expression of UBE3AT503A, irrespective of its parent of origin, promotes transient embryonic expansion of Zcchc12 lineage interneurons. Phenotypes of Ube3aT503A mice are distinct from Angelman syndrome model mice. Our study has clinical implications for a growing number of disease-linked UBE3A gain-of-function mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xing
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7264, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Travis S Ptacek
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jason J Yi
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lipin Loo
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hanqian Mao
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Justin M Wolter
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7264, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Eric S McCoy
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Smita R Paranjape
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bonnie Taylor-Blake
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mark J Zylka
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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3
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Aria F, Pandey K, Alberini CM. Excessive Protein Accumulation and Impaired Autophagy in the Hippocampus of Angelman Syndrome Modeled in Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:68-83. [PMID: 36764852 PMCID: PMC10276539 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angelman syndrome (AS), a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by abnormalities of the 15q11.2-q13.1 chromosome region, is characterized by impairment of cognitive and motor functions, sleep problems, and seizures. How the genetic defects of AS produce these neurological symptoms is unclear. Mice modeling AS (AS mice) accumulate activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC/ARG3.1), a neuronal immediate early gene (IEG) critical for synaptic plasticity. This accumulation suggests an altered protein metabolism. METHODS Focusing on the dorsal hippocampus (dHC), a brain region critical for memory formation and cognitive functions, we assessed levels and tissue distribution of IEGs, de novo protein synthesis, and markers of protein synthesis, endosomes, autophagy, and synaptic functions in AS mice at baseline and following learning. We also tested autophagic flux and memory retention following autophagy-promoting treatment. RESULTS AS dHC exhibited accumulation of IEGs ARC, FOS, and EGR1; autophagy proteins MLP3B, SQSTM1, and LAMP1; and reduction of the endosomal protein RAB5A. AS dHC also had increased levels of de novo protein synthesis, impaired autophagic flux with accumulation of autophagosome, and altered synaptic protein levels. Contextual fear conditioning significantly increased levels of IEGs and autophagy proteins, de novo protein synthesis, and autophagic flux in the dHC of normal mice, but not in AS mice. Enhancing autophagy in the dHC alleviated AS-related memory and autophagic flux impairments. CONCLUSIONS A major biological deficit of AS brain is a defective protein metabolism, particularly that dynamically regulated by learning, resulting in stalled autophagy and accumulation of neuronal proteins. Activating autophagy ameliorates AS cognitive impairments and dHC protein accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Aria
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Kiran Pandey
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York
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Crawley JN. Twenty years of discoveries emerging from mouse models of autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105053. [PMID: 36682425 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
More than 100 single gene mutations and copy number variants convey risk for autism spectrum disorder. To understand the extent to which each mutation contributes to the trajectory of individual symptoms of autism, molecular genetics laboratories have introduced analogous mutations into the genomes of laboratory mice and other species. Over the past twenty years, behavioral neuroscientists discovered the consequences of mutations in many risk genes for autism in animal models, using assays with face validity to the diagnostic and associated behavioral symptoms of people with autism. Identified behavioral phenotypes complement electrophysiological, neuroanatomical, and biochemical outcome measures in mutant mouse models of autism. This review describes the history of phenotyping assays in genetic mouse models, to evaluate social and repetitive behaviors relevant to the primary diagnostic criteria for autism. Robust phenotypes are currently employed in translational investigations to discover effective therapeutic interventions, representing the future direction of an intensely challenging research field.
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Guo B, Xia Y, Wang C, Wang F, Zhang C, Xiao L, Zhang X, Meng Y, Wang Y, Ding J, Wang L, Zhu C, Jiang S, Huo X, Sun Y, Gao P, Wu J, Yu B, Huo J, Sun T. Decreased cognitive function of ALG13KO female mice may be related to the decreased plasticity of hippocampal neurons. Neuropeptides 2022; 96:102290. [PMID: 36152356 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2022.102290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Asparagine-linked glycosylation 13 (ALG13) is an X-linked gene that encodes a protein involved in the glycosylation of the N-terminus. ALG13 deficiency leads to ALG13-congenital disorders of glycosylation (ALG13-CDG), usually in females presenting with mental retardation and epilepsy. Cognitive function is an important function of the hippocampus, and forms the basis for learning, memory and social abilities. However, researchers have not yet investigated the effect of ALG13 on hippocampal cognitive function. In this study, the exploration, learning, memory and social abilities of ALG13 knockout (KO) female mice were decreased in behavioral experiments. Golgi staining demonstrated a decrease in the complexity of hippocampal neurons. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining of the synaptic plasticity factors postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin (SYP) displayed varying degrees of decline. In other words, the KO of ALG13 may have reduced the expression of PSD95 and SYP in the hippocampus of female mice. Moreover, it may have lowered the synaptic plasticity in various areas of the hippocampus, thus resulting in decreased dendrite length, complexity, and dendrite spine density, which affected the hippocampal function and reduced the cognitive function in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baorui Guo
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yu Xia
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Chunlin Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Lifei Xiao
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yuan Meng
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Jiangwei Ding
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Changliang Zhu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Shucai Jiang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Xianhao Huo
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yangyang Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Ji Wu
- Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental & Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Baoli Yu
- Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental & Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Junming Huo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia 014017, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China.
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Cosgrove JA, Kelly LK, Kiffmeyer EA, Kloth AD. Sex-dependent influence of postweaning environmental enrichment in Angelman syndrome model mice. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2468. [PMID: 34985196 PMCID: PMC8865162 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation or loss of UBE3A and marked by intellectual disability, ataxia, autism-like symptoms, and other atypical behaviors. One route to treatment may lie in the role that environment plays early in postnatal life. Environmental enrichment (EE) is one manipulation that has shown therapeutic potential in preclinical models of many brain disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we examined whether postweaning EE can rescue behavioral phenotypes in Ube3a maternal deletion mice (AS mice), and whether any improvements are sex-dependent. METHODS Male and female mice (C57BL/6J Ube3atm1Alb mice and wild-type (WT) littermates; ≥10 mice/group) were randomly assigned to standard housing (SH) or EE at weaning. EE had a larger footprint, a running wheel, and a variety of toys that promoted foraging, burrowing, and climbing. Following 6 weeks of EE, animals were submitted to a battery of tests that reliably elicit behavioral deficits in AS mice, including rotarod, open field, marble burying, and forced swim; weights were also monitored. RESULTS In male AS-EE mice, we found complete restoration of motor coordination, marble burying, and forced swim behavior to the level of WT-SH mice. We also observed a complete normalization of exploratory distance traveled in the open field, but we found no rescue of vertical behavior or center time. AS-EE mice also had weights comparable to WT-SH mice. Intriguingly, in the female AS-EE mice, we found a failure of EE to rescue the same behavioral deficits relative to female WT-SH mice. CONCLUSIONS Environmental enrichment is an effective route to correcting the most penetrant phenotypes in male AS mice but not female AS mice. This finding has important implications for the translatability of early behavioral intervention for AS patients, most importantly the potential dependency of treatment response on sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameson A. Cosgrove
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Lauren K. Kelly
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Elizabeth A. Kiffmeyer
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Alexander D. Kloth
- Department of BiologyAugustana University2001 S. Summit AvenueSioux FallsSouth DakotaUSA
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7
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Judson MC, Shyng C, Simon JM, Davis CR, Punt AM, Salmon MT, Miller NW, Ritola KD, Elgersma Y, Amaral DG, Gray SJ, Philpot BD. Dual-isoform hUBE3A gene transfer improves behavioral and seizure outcomes in Angelman syndrome model mice. JCI Insight 2021; 6:144712. [PMID: 34676830 PMCID: PMC8564914 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.144712] [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: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of the maternal UBE3A allele causes Angelman syndrome (AS), a debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder. Here, we devised an AS treatment strategy based on reinstating dual-isoform expression of human UBE3A (hUBE3A) in the developing brain. Kozak sequence engineering of our codon-optimized vector (hUBE3Aopt) enabled translation of both short and long hUBE3A protein isoforms at a near-endogenous 3:1 (short/long) ratio, a feature that could help to support optimal therapeutic outcomes. To model widespread brain delivery and early postnatal onset of hUBE3A expression, we packaged the hUBE3Aopt vector into PHP.B capsids and performed intracerebroventricular injections in neonates. This treatment significantly improved motor learning and innate behaviors in AS mice, and it rendered them resilient to epileptogenesis and associated hippocampal neuropathologies induced by seizure kindling. hUBE3A overexpression occurred frequently in the hippocampus but was uncommon in the neocortex and other major brain structures; furthermore, it did not correlate with behavioral performance. Our results demonstrate the feasibility, tolerability, and therapeutic potential for dual-isoform hUBE3A gene transfer in the treatment of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Judson
- Neuroscience Center.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
| | - Charles Shyng
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities.,Gene Therapy Center, and
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Neuroscience Center.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - A Mattijs Punt
- Department of Clinical Genetics and.,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Noah W Miller
- Neuroscience Center.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology
| | - Kimberly D Ritola
- Neuroscience Center.,Department of Pharmacology, UNC, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Scientific Operations Manager-Viral Tools, Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Clinical Genetics and.,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David G Amaral
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, and.,California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Steven J Gray
- Gene Therapy Center, and.,Department of Pediatrics and.,Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin D Philpot
- Neuroscience Center.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
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8
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Excessive Laughter-like Vocalizations, Microcephaly, and Translational Outcomes in the Ube3a Deletion Rat Model of Angelman Syndrome. J Neurosci 2021; 41:8801-8814. [PMID: 34475199 PMCID: PMC8528495 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0925-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disabilities, motor and balance deficits, impaired communication, and a happy, excitable demeanor with frequent laughter. We sought to elucidate a preclinical outcome measure in male and female rats that addressed communication abnormalities of AS and other neurodevelopmental disorders in which communication is atypical and/or lack of speech is a core feature. We discovered, and herein report for the first time, excessive laughter-like 50 kHz ultrasonic emissions in the Ube3a mat-/pat+ rat model of AS, which suggests an excitable, playful demeanor and elevated positive affect, similar to the demeanor of individuals with AS. Also in line with the AS phenotype, Ube3a mat-/pat+ rats demonstrated aberrant social interactions with a novel partner, distinctive gait abnormalities, impaired cognition, an underlying LTP deficit, and profound reductions in brain volume. These unique, robust phenotypes provide advantages compared with currently available mouse models and will be highly valuable as outcome measures in the evaluation of therapies for AS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurogenetic disorder for which there is no cure, despite decades of research using mouse models. This study used a recently developed rat model of AS to delineate disease-relevant outcome measures to facilitate therapeutic development. We found the rat to be a strong model of AS, offering several advantages over mouse models by exhibiting numerous AS-relevant phenotypes, including overabundant laughter-like vocalizations, reduced hippocampal LTP, and volumetric anomalies across the brain. These findings are unconfounded by detrimental motor abilities and background strain, issues plaguing mouse models. This rat model represents an important advancement in the field of AS, and the outcome metrics reported herein will be central to the therapeutic pipeline.
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9
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Sell GL, Xin W, Cook EK, Zbinden MA, Schaffer TB, O'Meally RN, Cole RN, Margolis SS. Deleting a UBE3A substrate rescues impaired hippocampal physiology and learning in Angelman syndrome mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19414. [PMID: 34593829 PMCID: PMC8484563 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97898-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, loss-of-function mutations in the UBE3A gene lead to the neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome (AS). AS patients have severe impairments in speech, learning and memory, and motor coordination, for which there is currently no treatment. In addition, UBE3A is duplicated in > 1-2% of patients with autism spectrum disorders-a further indication of the significant role it plays in brain development. Altered expression of UBE3A, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is hypothesized to lead to impaired levels of its target proteins, but identifying the contribution of individual UBE3A targets to UBE3A-dependent deficits remains of critical importance. Ephexin5 is a putative UBE3A substrate that has restricted expression early in development, regulates synapse formation during hippocampal development, and is abnormally elevated in AS mice, modeled by maternally-derived Ube3a gene deletion. Here, we report that Ephexin5 can be directly ubiquitylated by UBE3A. Furthermore, removing Ephexin5 from AS mice specifically rescued hippocampus-dependent behaviors, CA1 physiology, and deficits in dendritic spine number. Our findings identify Ephexin5 as a key driver of hippocampal dysfunction and related behavioral deficits in AS mouse models. These results demonstrate the exciting potential of targeting Ephexin5, and possibly other UBE3A substrates, to improve symptoms of AS and other UBE3A-related developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle L Sell
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Wendy Xin
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Department of Neurology and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Emily K Cook
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mark A Zbinden
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Human Metabolome Technologies America, Inc., Boston, MA, 02134, USA
| | - Thomas B Schaffer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- NextCure Inc., Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Robert N O'Meally
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Robert N Cole
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Seth S Margolis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Moreira-de-Sá A, Gonçalves FQ, Lopes JP, Silva HB, Tomé ÂR, Cunha RA, Canas PM. Motor Deficits Coupled to Cerebellar and Striatal Alterations in Ube3a m-/p+ Mice Modelling Angelman Syndrome Are Attenuated by Adenosine A 2A Receptor Blockade. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:2543-2557. [PMID: 33464534 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02275-9] [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] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder involving ataxia and motor dysfunction, resulting from the absence of the maternally inherited functional Ube3a protein in neurons. Since adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) blockade relieves synaptic and motor impairments in Parkinson's or Machado-Joseph's diseases, we now tested if A2AR blockade was also effective in attenuating motor deficits in an AS (Ube3am-/p+) mouse model and if this involved correction of synaptic alterations in striatum and cerebellum. Chronic administration of the A2AR antagonist SCH58261 (0.1 mg/kg/day, ip) promoted motor learning of AS mice in the accelerating-rotarod task and rescued the grip strength impairment of AS animals. These motor impairments were accompanied by synaptic alterations in cerebellum and striatum typified by upregulation of synaptophysin and vesicular GABA transporters (vGAT) in the cerebellum of AS mice along with a downregulation of vGAT, vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGLUT1) and the dopamine active transporter in AS striatum. Notably, A2AR blockade prevented the synaptic alterations found in AS mice cerebellum as well as the downregulation of striatal vGAT and vGLUT1. This provides the first indications that A2AR blockade may counteract the characteristic motor impairments and synaptic changes of AS, although more studies are needed to unravel the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Moreira-de-Sá
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine Building-Polo 1, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Q Gonçalves
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine Building-Polo 1, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João P Lopes
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine Building-Polo 1, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Henrique B Silva
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine Building-Polo 1, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ângelo R Tomé
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine Building-Polo 1, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo A Cunha
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine Building-Polo 1, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula M Canas
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine Building-Polo 1, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
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11
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Egawa K, Nakakubo S, Kimura S, Goto T, Manabe A, Shiraishi H. Flurothyl-induced seizure paradigm revealed higher seizure susceptibility in middle-aged Angelman syndrome mouse model. Brain Dev 2021; 43:515-520. [PMID: 33408038 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is one of the main clinical problems in Angelman syndrome (AS). Seizures typically start in early childhood then decrease or are often alleviated by young adulthood. Several studies using AS model mice showed comparable seizure susceptibility during young adulthood. In contrast, the course of epilepsy post young adulthood differs from persistently relieved to rerising among reports. To elucidate this, we evaluated the seizure susceptibility of AS model mice of two different ages. METHODS Mice lacking maternal Ube3a gene (Ube3am-/p+) of C57BL/6 background or their littermate wild type (WT) were divided into two groups by age, 2 to 3 months (2-3 M) and 6 to 12 months (6-12 M), corresponding to adolescent to young adult aged and middle aged humans, respectively. Seizure susceptibility was evaluated by flurothyl inhalation or intraperitoneal injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ IP)-induced acute seizure protocol. RESULTS In the flurothyl-induced seizure paradigm, the latency to seizure occurrence had a significant interaction with genotype and age. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the latency was significantly shorter at 6-12 M than at 2-3 M in Ube3am-/p+ mice, and in Ube3am-/p+ mice than in WT mice at 6-12 M. No significant interaction or difference was observed by PTZ IP. CONCLUSION The flurothyl-induced seizure paradigm revealed that seizure susceptibility of Ube3am-/p+ mice increased with age, similar to clinical studies reporting the reappearance of epilepsy in older age. The flurothyl-induced seizure paradigm applied to middle-aged Ube3am-/p+ mice could be a suitable protocol for screening drugs against seizures in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Egawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Sachiko Nakakubo
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Shuhei Kimura
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Takeru Goto
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Atsushi Manabe
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Hideaki Shiraishi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan.
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12
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Simchi L, Kaphzan H. Aberrant aggressive behavior in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Sci Rep 2021; 11:47. [PMID: 33420192 PMCID: PMC7794213 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79984-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder due to the absence of the E3-ligase protein, UBE3A. Inappropriate social interactions, usually hyper-sociability, is a part of that syndrome. In addition, clinical surveys and case reports describe aggressive behavior in AS individuals as a severe difficulty for caretakers. A mouse model for AS recapitulates most of the human AS phenotypes. However, very few studies utilized this mouse model for investigating affiliative social behavior, and not even a single study examined aggressive behavior. Hence, the aim of the herein study was to examine affiliative and aggressive social behavior. For that, we utilized a battery of behavioral paradigms, and performed detailed analyses of these behaviors. AS mice exhibited a unique characteristic of reduced habituation towards a social stimulus in comparison to their wild-type (WT) littermates. However, overall there were no additional marked differences in affiliative social behavior. In contrast to the mild changes in affiliative behavior, there was a striking enhanced aggression in the AS mice compared to their WT littermates. The herein findings emphasize the use of AS mouse model in characterizing and measuring inappropriate aggressive behavior, and suggests these as tools for investigating therapeutic interventions aimed at attenuating aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilach Simchi
- Laboratory for Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mt. Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hanoch Kaphzan
- Laboratory for Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mt. Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Bozzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Italy; CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michela Fagiolini
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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14
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Schultz MN, Crawley JN. Evaluation of a TrkB agonist on spatial and motor learning in the Ube3a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Learn Mem 2020; 27:346-354. [PMID: 32817301 PMCID: PMC7433657 DOI: 10.1101/lm.051201.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation in the maternal allele of the gene Ube3a The primary symptoms of Angelman syndrome are severe cognitive deficits, impaired motor functions, and speech disabilities. Analogous phenotypes have been detected in young adult Ube3a mice. Here, we investigate cognitive phenotypes of Ube3a mice as compared to wild-type littermate controls at an older adult age. Water maze spatial learning, swim speed, and rotarod motor coordination and balance were impaired at 6 mo of age, as predicted. Based on previous findings of reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor in Ube3a mice, a novel therapeutic target, the TrkB agonist 7,8-DHF, was interrogated. Semichronic daily treatment with 7,8-DHF, 5 mg/kg i.p., did not significantly improve the impairments in performance during the acquisition of the water maze hidden platform location in Ube3a mice, after training with either massed or spaced trials, and had no effect on the swim speed and rotarod deficits. Robust behavioral phenotypes in middle-aged Ube3a mice appear to result from continued motor decline. Our results suggest that motor deficits could offer useful outcome measures for preclinical testing of many pharmacological targets, with the goal of reducing symptoms in adults with Angelman syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria N Schultz
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95821, USA
| | - Jacqueline N Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95821, USA
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