1
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Meng J, Zhang L, Zhang YW. Microglial Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroscientist 2024:10738584241252576. [PMID: 38712859 DOI: 10.1177/10738584241252576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in childhood. The molecular mechanisms underlying ASD have not yet been elucidated completely. Evidence has emerged to support a link between microglial dysfunction and the etiology of ASD. This review summarizes current research on microglial dysfunction in neuroinflammation and synaptic pruning, which are associated with altered transcriptomes and autophagy in ASD. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in ASD and its correlation with microglial dysfunction are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Meng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lingliang Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yun-Wu Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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2
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Chen Z, Wang X, Zhang S, Han F. Neuroplasticity of children in autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1362288. [PMID: 38726381 PMCID: PMC11079289 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1362288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that encompasses a range of symptoms including difficulties in verbal communication, social interaction, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors. Neuroplasticity refers to the structural and functional changes that occur in the nervous system to adapt and respond to changes in the external environment. In simpler terms, it is the brain's ability to learn and adapt to new environments. However, individuals with ASD exhibit abnormal neuroplasticity, which impacts information processing, sensory processing, and social cognition, leading to the manifestation of corresponding symptoms. This paper aims to review the current research progress on ASD neuroplasticity, focusing on genetics, environment, neural pathways, neuroinflammation, and immunity. The findings will provide a theoretical foundation and insights for intervention and treatment in pediatric fields related to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zilin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Experiment Center of Medical Innovation, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Si Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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3
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Cui J, Wang S, Zhai Z, Song X, Qiu T, Yu L, Zhai Q, Zhang H. Induction of autism-related behavior in male mice by early-life vitamin D deficiency: association with disruption of the gut microbial composition and homeostasis. Food Funct 2024; 15:4338-4353. [PMID: 38533674 DOI: 10.1039/d4fo00279b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during early life emerges as a potential risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with autism commonly exhibit lower vitamin D (VD) levels compared to the general population, and VD deficiency is prevalent during pregnancy and lactation. Moreover, gastrointestinal comorbidity, prevalent in ASD patients, correlates closely with disruptions in the gut microbiota and altered intestinal permeability. Therefore, it is fascinating and significant to explore the effects of maternal VD deficiency during pregnancy and lactation on the maturation of the gut microbiota of the offspring and its relevance to autism spectrum disorders. In this study, we established maternal pregnancy and lactation VD-deficient mouse models, employed shotgun macrogenomic sequencing to unveil alterations in the gut microbiome of offspring mice, and observed autism-related behaviours. Furthermore, fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) reversed repetitive and anxious behaviours and alleviated social deficits in offspring mice by modulating the gut microbiota and increasing short-chain fatty acid levels in the cecum, along with influencing the concentrations of claudin-1 and occludin in the colon. Our findings confirm that VDD during pregnancy and lactation is a risk factor for autism in the offspring, with disturbances in the structure and function of the offspring's gut microbiota contributing at least part of the effect. The study emphasises the importance of nutrition and gut health early in life. Simultaneously, this study further demonstrates the effect of VDD on ASD and provides potential ideas for early prevention and intervention of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Cui
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Child Health Care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Shumin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Zidan Zhai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Child Health Care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiaoyue Song
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University/Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Ting Qiu
- Department of Child Health Care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Leilei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Qixiao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Child Health Care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University/Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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4
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Shea JM, Villeda SA. MICROGLIA AGING IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS ADVANCES THROUGH INTERMEDIATE STATES THAT DRIVE INFLAMMATORY ACTIVATION AND COGNITIVE DECLINE. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.09.588665. [PMID: 38645176 PMCID: PMC11030314 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.588665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
During aging, microglia - the resident macrophages of the brain - exhibit dystrophic phenotypes and contribute to age-related neuroinflammation. While numerous hallmarks of age-related microglia dystrophy have been elucidated, the progression from homeostasis to dysfunction during the aging process remains unresolved. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we undertook complementary cellular and molecular analyses of microglia in the mouse hippocampus across the adult lifespan and in the experimental aging model of heterochronic parabiosis. Single-cell RNA-Seq and pseudotime analysis revealed age-related transcriptional heterogeneity in hippocampal microglia and identified intermediate states of microglial aging that also emerge following heterochronic parabiosis. We tested the functionality of intermediate stress response states via TGFβ1 and translational states using pharmacological approaches in vitro to reveal their modulation of the progression to an inflammatory state. Furthermore, we utilized single-cell RNA-Seq in conjunction with an in vivo adult microglia-specific Tgfb1 conditional genetic knockout mouse model, to demonstrate that microglia advancement through intermediate aging states drives inflammatory activation and associated hippocampal-dependent cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M. Shea
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Saul A. Villeda
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- Bakar Aging Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94143, USA
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5
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Csoka AB, El Kouhen N, Bennani S, Getachew B, Aschner M, Tizabi Y. Roles of Epigenetics and Glial Cells in Drug-Induced Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biomolecules 2024; 14:437. [PMID: 38672454 PMCID: PMC11048423 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social communication and interaction, repetitive movements, abnormal focusing on objects, or activity that can significantly affect the quality of life of the afflicted. Neuronal and glial cells have been implicated. It has a genetic component but can also be triggered by environmental factors or drugs. For example, prenatal exposure to valproic acid or acetaminophen, or ingestion of propionic acid, can increase the risk of ASD. Recently, epigenetic influences on ASD have come to the forefront of investigations on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of this disorder. Epigenetics refers to DNA modifications that alter gene expression without making any changes to the DNA sequence. Although an increasing number of pharmaceuticals and environmental chemicals are being implicated in the etiology of ASD, here, we specifically focus on the molecular influences of the abovementioned chemicals on epigenetic alterations in neuronal and glial cells and their potential connection to ASD. We conclude that a better understanding of these phenomena can lead to more effective interventions in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonei B. Csoka
- Department of Anatomy, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Nacer El Kouhen
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Samia Bennani
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Bruk Getachew
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
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6
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Deng W, Yi P, Xiong Y, Ying J, Lin Y, Dong Y, Wei G, Wang X, Hua F. Gut Metabolites Acting on the Gut-Brain Axis: Regulating the Functional State of Microglia. Aging Dis 2024; 15:480-502. [PMID: 37548933 PMCID: PMC10917527 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0727] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut-brain axis is a communication channel that mediates a complex interplay of intestinal flora with the neural, endocrine, and immune systems, linking gut and brain functions. Gut metabolites, a group of small molecules produced or consumed by biochemical processes in the gut, are involved in central nervous system regulation via the highly interconnected gut-brain axis affecting microglia indirectly by influencing the structure of the gut-brain axis or directly affecting microglia function and activity. Accordingly, pathological changes in the central nervous system are connected with changes in intestinal metabolite levels as well as altered microglia function and activity, which may contribute to the pathological process of each neuroinflammatory condition. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which gut metabolites, for instance, the bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, and tryptophan metabolites, regulate the structure of each component of the gut-brain axis, and explore the important roles of gut metabolites in the central nervous system from the perspective of microglia. At the same time, we highlight the roles of gut metabolites affecting microglia in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding the relationship between microglia, gut microbiota, neuroinflammation, and neurodevelopmental disorders will help us identify new strategies for treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenze Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Pengcheng Yi
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Yanhong Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Jun Ying
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Yue Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Yao Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Gen Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Xifeng Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Fuzhou Hua
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, China.
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7
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Wu J, Zhang J, Chen X, Wettschurack K, Que Z, Deming BA, Olivero-Acosta MI, Cui N, Eaton M, Zhao Y, Li SM, Suzuki M, Chen I, Xiao T, Halurkar MS, Mandal P, Yuan C, Xu R, Koss WA, Du D, Chen F, Wu LJ, Yang Y. Microglial over-pruning of synapses during development in autism-associated SCN2A-deficient mice and human cerebral organoids. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02518-4. [PMID: 38499656 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02518-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a major neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1 in 36 children in the United States. While neurons have been the focus of understanding ASD, an altered neuro-immune response in the brain may be closely associated with ASD, and a neuro-immune interaction could play a role in the disease progression. As the resident immune cells of the brain, microglia regulate brain development and homeostasis via core functions including phagocytosis of synapses. While ASD has been traditionally considered a polygenic disorder, recent large-scale human genetic studies have identified SCN2A deficiency as a leading monogenic cause of ASD and intellectual disability. We generated a Scn2a-deficient mouse model, which displays major behavioral and neuronal phenotypes. However, the role of microglia in this disease model is unknown. Here, we reported that Scn2a-deficient mice have impaired learning and memory, accompanied by reduced synaptic transmission and lower spine density in neurons of the hippocampus. Microglia in Scn2a-deficient mice are partially activated, exerting excessive phagocytic pruning of post-synapses related to the complement C3 cascades during selective developmental stages. The ablation of microglia using PLX3397 partially restores synaptic transmission and spine density. To extend our findings from rodents to human cells, we established a microglia-incorporated human cerebral organoid model carrying an SCN2A protein-truncating mutation identified in children with ASD. We found that human microglia display increased elimination of post-synapse in cerebral organoids carrying the SCN2A mutation. Our study establishes a key role of microglia in multi-species autism-associated models of SCN2A deficiency from mouse to human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxiang Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jingliang Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Kyle Wettschurack
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Zhefu Que
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Brody A Deming
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Maria I Olivero-Acosta
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ningren Cui
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Muriel Eaton
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Yuanrui Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Sophia M Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Matthew Suzuki
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ian Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Tiange Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Manasi S Halurkar
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Purba Mandal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Chongli Yuan
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ranjie Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Wendy A Koss
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Dongshu Du
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Fuxue Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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8
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You Y, Chen Z, Hu WW. The role of microglia heterogeneity in synaptic plasticity and brain disorders: Will sequencing shed light on the discovery of new therapeutic targets? Pharmacol Ther 2024; 255:108606. [PMID: 38346477 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Microglia play a crucial role in interacting with neuronal synapses and modulating synaptic plasticity. This function is particularly significant during postnatal development, as microglia are responsible for removing excessive synapses to prevent neurodevelopmental deficits. Dysregulation of microglial synaptic function has been well-documented in various pathological conditions, notably Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. The recent application of RNA sequencing has provided a powerful and unbiased means to decipher spatial and temporal microglial heterogeneity. By identifying microglia with varying gene expression profiles, researchers have defined multiple subgroups of microglia associated with specific pathological states, including disease-associated microglia, interferon-responsive microglia, proliferating microglia, and inflamed microglia in multiple sclerosis, among others. However, the functional roles of these distinct subgroups remain inadequately characterized. This review aims to refine our current understanding of the potential roles of heterogeneous microglia in regulating synaptic plasticity and their implications for various brain disorders, drawing from recent sequencing research and functional studies. This knowledge may aid in the identification of pathogenetic biomarkers and potential factors contributing to pathogenesis, shedding new light on the discovery of novel drug targets. The field of sequencing-based data mining is evolving toward a multi-omics approach. With advances in viral tools for precise microglial regulation and the development of brain organoid models, we are poised to elucidate the functional roles of microglial subgroups detected through sequencing analysis, ultimately identifying valuable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi You
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pharmacy of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pharmacy of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Wei-Wei Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pharmacy of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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9
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Kovacheva E, Gevezova M, Maes M, Sarafian V. Mast Cells in Autism Spectrum Disorder-The Enigma to Be Solved? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2651. [PMID: 38473898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disturbance of neurodevelopment with a complicated pathogenesis and unidentified etiology. Many children with ASD have a history of "allergic symptoms", often in the absence of mast cell (MC)-positive tests. Activation of MCs by various stimuli may release molecules related to inflammation and neurotoxicity, contributing to the development of ASD. The aim of the present paper is to enrich the current knowledge on the relationship between MCs and ASD by discussing key molecules and immune pathways associated with MCs in the pathogenesis of autism. Cytokines, essential marker molecules for MC degranulation and therapeutic targets, are also highlighted. Understanding the relationship between ASD and the activation of MCs, as well as the involved molecules and interactions, are the main points contributing to solving the enigma. Key molecules, associated with MCs, may provide new insights to the discovery of drug targets for modeling inflammation in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Kovacheva
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Gevezova
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Michael Maes
- Research Institute, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- Key Laboratory of Psychosomatic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610072, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Cognitive Fitness and Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Victoria Sarafian
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute, Medical University-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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10
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Sun J, Noss S, Banerjee D, Das M, Girirajan S. Strategies for dissecting the complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders. Trends Genet 2024; 40:187-202. [PMID: 37949722 PMCID: PMC10872993 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.10.009] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are associated with a wide range of clinical features, affecting multiple pathways involved in brain development and function. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing have unveiled numerous genetic variants associated with NDDs, which further contribute to disease complexity and make it challenging to infer disease causation and underlying mechanisms. Herein, we review current strategies for dissecting the complexity of NDDs using model organisms, induced pluripotent stem cells, single-cell sequencing technologies, and massively parallel reporter assays. We further highlight single-cell CRISPR-based screening techniques that allow genomic investigation of cellular transcriptomes with high efficiency, accuracy, and throughput. Overall, we provide an integrated review of experimental approaches that can be applicable for investigating a broad range of complex disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawan Sun
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Serena Noss
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Deepro Banerjee
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Maitreya Das
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Santhosh Girirajan
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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11
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Komori T, Okamura K, Ikehara M, Yamamuro K, Endo N, Okumura K, Yamauchi T, Ikawa D, Ouji-Sageshima N, Toritsuka M, Takada R, Kayashima Y, Ishida R, Mori Y, Kamikawa K, Noriyama Y, Nishi Y, Ito T, Saito Y, Nishi M, Kishimoto T, Tanaka KF, Hiroi N, Makinodan M. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor from microglia regulates neuronal development in the medial prefrontal cortex and its associated social behavior. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02413-y. [PMID: 38243072 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02413-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Microglia and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are essential for the neuroplasticity that characterizes critical developmental periods. The experience-dependent development of social behaviors-associated with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-has a critical period during the juvenile period in mice. However, whether microglia and BDNF affect social development remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the effects of microglia-derived BDNF on social behaviors and mPFC development. Mice that underwent social isolation during p21-p35 had increased Bdnf in the microglia accompanied by reduced adulthood sociability. Additionally, transgenic mice overexpressing microglial Bdnf-regulated using doxycycline at different time points-underwent behavioral, electrophysiological, and gene expression analyses. In these mice, long-term overexpression of microglial BDNF impaired sociability and excessive mPFC inhibitory neuronal circuit activity. However, administering doxycycline to normalize BDNF from p21 normalized sociability and electrophysiological function in the mPFC, whereas normalizing BDNF from later ages (p45-p50) did not normalize electrophysiological abnormalities in the mPFC, despite the improved sociability. To evaluate the possible role of BDNF in human sociability, we analyzed the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and BDNF expression in human macrophages, a possible proxy for microglia. Results show that adverse childhood experiences positively correlated with BDNF expression in M2 but not M1 macrophages. In summary, our study demonstrated the influence of microglial BDNF on the development of experience-dependent social behaviors in mice, emphasizing its specific impact on the maturation of mPFC function, particularly during the juvenile period. Furthermore, our results propose a translational implication by suggesting a potential link between BDNF secretion from macrophages and childhood experiences in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Komori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kazuya Okamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Minobu Ikehara
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Yamamuro
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Nozomi Endo
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kazuki Okumura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Takahira Yamauchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | | | - Michihiro Toritsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Ryohei Takada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Kayashima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Rio Ishida
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yuki Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kohei Kamikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yuki Noriyama
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yuki Nishi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Ito
- Department of Immunology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Saito
- Department of Neurophysiology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Mayumi Nishi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Kishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kenji F Tanaka
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Noboru Hiroi
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Manabu Makinodan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan.
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12
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Luo Y, Wang Z. The Impact of Microglia on Neurodevelopment and Brain Function in Autism. Biomedicines 2024; 12:210. [PMID: 38255315 PMCID: PMC10813633 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, as one of the main types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), are widely distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord. The normal number and function of microglia are very important for maintaining homeostasis in the CNS. In recent years, scientists have paid widespread attention to the role of microglia in the CNS. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, and patients with ASD have severe deficits in behavior, social skills, and communication. Most previous studies on ASD have focused on neuronal pathological changes, such as increased cell proliferation, accelerated neuronal differentiation, impaired synaptic development, and reduced neuronal spontaneous and synchronous activity. Currently, more and more research has found that microglia, as immune cells, can promote neurogenesis and synaptic pruning to maintain CNS homeostasis. They can usually reduce unnecessary synaptic connections early in life. Some researchers have proposed that many pathological phenotypes of ASD may be caused by microglial abnormalities. Based on this, we summarize recent research on microglia in ASD, focusing on the function of microglia and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. We aim to clarify the essential factors influenced by microglia in ASD and explore the possibility of microglia-related pathways as potential research targets for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China;
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhengbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China;
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
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13
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Tan JW, An JJ, Deane H, Xu H, Liao GY, Xu B. Neurotrophin-3 from the dentate gyrus supports postsynaptic sites of mossy fiber-CA3 synapses and hippocampus-dependent cognitive functions. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-023-02404-5. [PMID: 38212372 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
At the center of the hippocampal tri-synaptic loop are synapses formed between mossy fiber (MF) terminals from granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) and proximal dendrites of CA3 pyramidal neurons. However, the molecular mechanism regulating the development and function of these synapses is poorly understood. In this study, we showed that neurotrophin-3 (NT3) was expressed in nearly all mature granule cells but not CA3 cells. We selectively deleted the NT3-encoding Ntf3 gene in the DG during the first two postnatal weeks to generate a Ntf3 conditional knockout (Ntf3-cKO). Ntf3-cKO mice of both sexes had normal hippocampal cytoarchitecture but displayed impairments in contextual memory, spatial reference memory, and nest building. Furthermore, male Ntf3-cKO mice exhibited anxiety-like behaviors, whereas female Ntf3-cKO showed some mild depressive symptoms. As MF-CA3 synapses are essential for encoding of contextual memory, we examined synaptic transmission at these synapses using ex vivo electrophysiological recordings. We found that Ntf3-cKO mice had impaired basal synaptic transmission due to deficits in excitatory postsynaptic currents mediated by AMPA receptors but normal presynaptic function and intrinsic excitability of CA3 pyramidal neurons. Consistent with this selective postsynaptic deficit, Ntf3-cKO mice had fewer and smaller thorny excrescences on proximal apical dendrites of CA3 neurons and lower GluR1 levels in the stratum lucidum area where MF-CA3 synapses reside but normal MF terminals, compared with control mice. Thus, our study indicates that NT3 expressed in the dentate gyrus is crucial for the postsynaptic structure and function of MF-CA3 synapses and hippocampal-dependent memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Wei Tan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Juan Ji An
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Hannah Deane
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
- Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Haifei Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Guey-Ying Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Baoji Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
- Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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14
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Lin P, Zhang Q, Sun J, Li Q, Li D, Zhu M, Fu X, Zhao L, Wang M, Lou X, Chen Q, Liang K, Zhu Y, Qu C, Li Z, Ma P, Wang R, Liu H, Dong K, Guo X, Cheng X, Sun Y, Sun J. A comparison between children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and healthy controls in biomedical factors, trace elements, and microbiota biomarkers: a meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1318637. [PMID: 38283894 PMCID: PMC10813399 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1318637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted developmental condition that commonly appears during early childhood. The etiology of ASD remains multifactorial and not yet fully understood. The identification of biomarkers may provide insights into the underlying mechanisms and pathophysiology of the disorder. The present study aimed to explore the causes of ASD by investigating the key biomedical markers, trace elements, and microbiota factors between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and control subjects. Methods Medline, PubMed, ProQuest, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and EMBSCO databases have been searched for publications from 2012 to 2023 with no language restrictions using the population, intervention, control, and outcome (PICO) approach. Keywords including "autism spectrum disorder," "oxytocin," "GABA," "Serotonin," "CRP," "IL-6," "Fe," "Zn," "Cu," and "gut microbiota" were used for the search. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the article quality, and a random model was used to assess the mean difference and standardized difference between ASD and the control group in all biomedical markers, trace elements, and microbiota factors. Results From 76,217 records, 43 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analyses showed that children with ASD had significantly lower levels of oxytocin (mean differences, MD = -45.691, 95% confidence interval, CI: -61.667, -29.717), iron (MD = -3.203, 95% CI: -4.891, -1.514), and zinc (MD = -6.707, 95% CI: -12.691, -0.722), lower relative abundance of Bifidobacterium (MD = -1.321, 95% CI: -2.403, -0.238) and Parabacteroides (MD = -0.081, 95% CI: -0.148, -0.013), higher levels of c-reactive protein, CRP (MD = 0.401, 95% CI: 0.036, 0.772), and GABA (MD = 0.115, 95% CI: 0.045, 0.186), and higher relative abundance of Bacteroides (MD = 1.386, 95% CI: 0.717, 2.055) and Clostridium (MD = 0.281, 95% CI: 0.035, 0.526) when compared with controls. The results of the overall analyses were stable after performing the sensitivity analyses. Additionally, no substantial publication bias was observed among the studies. Interpretation Children with ASD have significantly higher levels of CRP and GABA, lower levels of oxytocin, iron, and zinc, lower relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Parabacteroides, and higher relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, and Clostridium when compared with controls. These results suggest that these indicators may be a potential biomarker panel for the diagnosis or determining therapeutic targets of ASD. Furthermore, large, sample-based, and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianwen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Digital Technology in Medical Diagnostics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Calibra Diagnostics, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junyu Sun
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Qingtian Li
- College of Health Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengyuan Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomei Fu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxia Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Lou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kangyi Liang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxin Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Caiwei Qu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peijun Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Renyu Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huafen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Digital Technology in Medical Diagnostics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Calibra Diagnostics, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ke Dong
- Institute for Global Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaokui Guo
- Institute for Global Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xunjia Cheng
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Institute of Arthritis Research, Shanghai Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Sun
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute for Integrated Intelligence and Systems, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia
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15
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Duarte-Campos JF, Vázquez-Moreno CN, Martínez-Marcial M, Chavarría A, Ramírez-Carreto RJ, Velasco Velázquez MA, De La Fuente-Granada M, González-Arenas A. Changes in neuroinflammatory markers and microglial density in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of the C58/J mouse model of autism. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:154-173. [PMID: 38057955 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16204] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a diverse group of neurodevelopmental conditions with complex origins. Individuals with ASD present various neurobiological abnormalities, including an altered immune response in the central nervous system and other tissues. Animal models like the C58/J inbred mouse strain are used to study biological characteristics of ASD. This strain is considered an idiopathic autism model because of its demonstrated reduced social preference and repetitive behaviours. Notably, C58/J mice exhibit alterations in dendritic arbour complexity, density and dendritic spines maturation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), but inflammatory-related changes have not been explored in these mice. In this study, we investigated proinflammatory markers in the hippocampus and PFC of adult male C58/J mice. We discovered elevated levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in the hippocampus, suggesting increased inflammation, alongside a reduction in the anti-inflammatory enzyme arginase 1 (ARG1). Conversely, the PFC displayed reduced levels of TNF-α and MCP-1. Microglial analysis revealed higher levels of transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119) and increased microglial density in a region-specific manner of the autistic-like mice, particularly in the PFC and hippocampus. Additionally, an augmented expression of the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 was observed in the hippocampus and PFC of C58/J mice. Microglial morphological analysis shows no evident changes in the hippocampus of mice with autistic-like behaviours versus wild-type strain. These region-specific changes can contribute to modulate processes like inflammation or synaptic pruning in the C58/J mouse model of idiopathic autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Duarte-Campos
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - C Noé Vázquez-Moreno
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mónica Martínez-Marcial
- Unidad de Modelos Biológicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Anahí Chavarría
- Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Jair Ramírez-Carreto
- Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marco A Velasco Velázquez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marisol De La Fuente-Granada
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Aliesha González-Arenas
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
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16
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Lv W, Zhang Q, Li Y, Liu D, Wu X, He X, Han Y, Fei X, Zhang L, Fei Z. Homer1 ameliorates ischemic stroke by inhibiting necroptosis-induced neuronal damage and neuroinflammation. Inflamm Res 2024; 73:131-144. [PMID: 38091015 PMCID: PMC10776472 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-023-01824-x] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Proinflammatory necroptosis is the main pathological mechanism of ischemic stroke. Homer scaffolding protein 1 (Homer1) is a postsynaptic scaffolding protein that exerts anti-inflammatory effects in most central nervous system diseases. However, the relationship between Homer1 and proinflammatory necroptosis in ischemic stroke remains unclear. AIM This study aimed to investigate the role of Homer1 in ischemia-induced necroptosis. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model (pMCAO). Homer1 knockdown mice were generated using adeno-associated virus (AAV) infection to explore the role of Homer1 and its impact on necroptosis in pMCAO. Finally, Homer1 protein was stereotaxically injected into the ischemic cortex of Homer1flox/flox/Nestin-Cre +/- mice, and the efficacy of Homer1 was investigated using behavioral assays and molecular biological assays to explore potential mechanisms. RESULTS Homer1 expression peaked at 8 h in the ischemic penumbral cortex after pMCAO and colocalized with neurons. Homer1 knockdown promoted neuronal death by enhancing necroptotic signaling pathways and aggravating ischemic brain damage in mice. Furthermore, the knockdown of Homer1 enhanced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, injection of Homer1 protein reduced necroptosis-induced brain injury inhibited the expression of proinflammatory factors, and ameliorated the outcomes in the Homer1flox/flox/Nestin-Cre+/- mice after pMCAO. CONCLUSIONS Homer1 ameliorates ischemic stroke by inhibiting necroptosis-induced neuronal damage and neuroinflammation. These data suggested that Homer1 is a novel regulator of neuronal death and neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihao Lv
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Yuanming Li
- Department of Neurology, Gansu Province Central Hospital, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Xiuquan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Xin He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yuanyuan Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Xiaowei Fei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
| | - Zhou Fei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 127, Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
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17
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Fan G, Ma J, Ma R, Suo M, Chen Y, Zhang S, Zeng Y, Chen Y. Microglia Modulate Neurodevelopment in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17297. [PMID: 38139124 PMCID: PMC10743577 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417297] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) include various neurological disorders with high genetic heterogeneity, characterized by delayed or impaired cognition, communication, adaptive behavior, and psychomotor skills. These disorders result in significant morbidity for children, thus burdening families and healthcare/educational systems. However, there is a lack of early diagnosis and effective therapies. Therefore, a more connected approach is required to explore these disorders. Microglia, the primary phagocytic cells within the central nervous system, are crucial in regulating neuronal viability, influencing synaptic dynamics, and determining neurodevelopmental outcomes. Although the neurobiological basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ) has attracted attention in recent decades, the role of microglia in ASD and SZ remains unclear and requires further discussion. In this review, the important and frequently multifaceted roles that microglia play during neurodevelopment are meticulously emphasized and potential microglial mechanisms that might be involved in conditions such as ASD and SZ are postulated. It is of utmost importance to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the interplay between microglia and neurons to design effective, targeted therapeutic strategies to mitigate the effects of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yan Zeng
- Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Yushan Chen
- Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
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18
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Gusso D, Prauchner GRK, Rieder AS, Wyse ATS. Biological Pathways Associated with Vitamins in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurotox Res 2023; 41:730-740. [PMID: 37864660 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-023-00674-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by early-appearing social communication deficits, with genetic and environmental factors potentially playing a role in its etiology, which remains largely unknown. During pregnancy, certain deficiencies in critical nutrients are mainly associated with central nervous system impairment. The vitamin B9 (folate) is primarily related to one-carbon and methionine metabolism, participating in methyl donor generation. In addition, supplementation with folic acid (FA) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the first three gestational months to prevent neural tube defects. Vitamin B12 is related to folate regeneration, converting it into an active form. Deficiencies in this vitamin have a negative impact on cognitive function and brain development since it is involved in myelin synthesis. Vitamin D is intimately associated with Ca2+ levels, acting in bone development and calcium-dependent signaling. This vitamin is associated with ASD at several levels since it has a relation with ASD genes and oxidative stress environment. This review carries the recent literature about the role of folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D in ASD. In addition, we discuss the possible impact of nutrient deficiency or hypersupplementation during fetal development. On the other hand, we explore the biases of vitamin supplementation studies such as the loss of participants in retrospective studies, as well as multiple variants that are not considered in the conclusion, like dietary intake or auto-medication during pregnancy. In this regard, we aim to contribute to the discussion about the role of vitamins in ASD currency, but also in pregnancy and fetal development as well. Furthermore, stress during pregnancy can be an ASD predisposition, with cortisol as a regulator. In this view, we propose that cortisol is the bridge of susceptibility between vitamin disorders and ASD prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darlan Gusso
- Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse's Lab), Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Zip Code 90035003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Gustavo Ricardo Krupp Prauchner
- Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse's Lab), Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Zip Code 90035003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Schmitt Rieder
- Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse's Lab), Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Zip Code 90035003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angela T S Wyse
- Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse's Lab), Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Zip Code 90035003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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19
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Liu Y, Yang W, Xue J, Chen J, Liu S, Zhang S, Zhang X, Gu X, Dong Y, Qiu P. Neuroinflammation: The central enabler of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115582. [PMID: 37748409 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The proportion of advanced age patients undergoing surgical procedures is on the rise owing to advancements in surgical and anesthesia technologies as well as an overall aging population. As a complication of anesthesia and surgery, older patients frequently suffer from postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), which may persist for weeks, months or even longer. POCD is a complex pathological process involving multiple pathogenic factors, and its mechanism is yet unclear. Potential theories include inflammation, deposition of pathogenic proteins, imbalance of neurotransmitters, and chronic stress. The identification, prevention, and treatment of POCD are still in the exploratory stages owing to the absence of standardized diagnostic criteria. Undoubtedly, comprehending the development of POCD remains crucial in overcoming the illness. Neuroinflammation is the leading hypothesis and a crucial component of the pathological network of POCD and may have complex interactions with other mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the possible ways in which surgery and anesthesia cause neuroinflammation and investigate the connection between neuroinflammation and the development of POCD. Understanding these mechanisms may likely ensure that future treatment options of POCD are more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China
| | - Jinqi Xue
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China
| | - Juntong Chen
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 311121, Zhejiang province, China
| | - Shiqing Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Shijie Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xi Gu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China.
| | - Youjing Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Peng Qiu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
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20
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Bettag J, Goldenberg D, Carter J, Morfin S, Borsotti A, Fox J, ReVeal M, Natrop D, Gosser D, Kolli S, Jain AK. Gut Microbiota to Microglia: Microbiome Influences Neurodevelopment in the CNS. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1767. [PMID: 38002858 PMCID: PMC10670365 DOI: 10.3390/children10111767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
The brain is traditionally viewed as an immunologically privileged site; however, there are known to be multiple resident immune cells that influence the CNS environment and are reactive to extra-CNS signaling. Microglia are an important component of this system, which influences early neurodevelopment in addition to modulating inflammation and regenerative responses to injury and infection. Microglia are influenced by gut microbiome-derived metabolites, both as part of their normal function and potentially in pathological patterns that may induce neurodevelopmental disabilities or behavioral changes. This review aims to summarize the mounting evidence indicating that, not only is the Gut-Brain axis mediated by metabolites and microglia throughout an organism's lifetime, but it is also influenced prenatally by maternal microbiome and diet, which holds implications for both early neuropathology and neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery Bettag
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Daniel Goldenberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Jasmine Carter
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Sylvia Morfin
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Alison Borsotti
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - James Fox
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Matthew ReVeal
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Dylan Natrop
- Medical College of Wisconsin-Green Bay, De Pere, WI 54115, USA;
| | - David Gosser
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Sree Kolli
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
| | - Ajay K. Jain
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA; (D.G.); (J.C.); (S.M.); (A.B.); (J.F.); (M.R.); (D.G.); (S.K.); (A.K.J.)
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21
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Hooshmandi M, Sharma V, Thörn Perez C, Sood R, Krimbacher K, Wong C, Lister KC, Ureña Guzmán A, Bartley TD, Rocha C, Maussion G, Nadler E, Roque PM, Gantois I, Popic J, Lévesque M, Kaufman RJ, Avoli M, Sanz E, Nader K, Hagerman RJ, Durcan TM, Costa-Mattioli M, Prager-Khoutorsky M, Lacaille JC, Martinez-Cerdeno V, Gibson JR, Huber KM, Sonenberg N, Gkogkas CG, Khoutorsky A. Excitatory neuron-specific suppression of the integrated stress response contributes to autism-related phenotypes in fragile X syndrome. Neuron 2023; 111:3028-3040.e6. [PMID: 37473758 PMCID: PMC10592416 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of protein synthesis is one of the key mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the role of a major pathway controlling protein synthesis, the integrated stress response (ISR), in ASD remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the main arm of the ISR, eIF2α phosphorylation (p-eIF2α), is suppressed in excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurons in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome (FXS; Fmr1-/y). We further show that the decrease in p-eIF2α is mediated via activation of mTORC1. Genetic reduction of p-eIF2α only in excitatory neurons is sufficient to increase general protein synthesis and cause autism-like behavior. In Fmr1-/y mice, restoration of p-eIF2α solely in excitatory neurons reverses elevated protein synthesis and rescues autism-related phenotypes. Thus, we reveal a previously unknown causal relationship between excitatory neuron-specific translational control via the ISR pathway, general protein synthesis, and core phenotypes reminiscent of autism in a mouse model of FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Hooshmandi
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Vijendra Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Carolina Thörn Perez
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Rapita Sood
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Konstanze Krimbacher
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Calvin Wong
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Kevin C Lister
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Alba Ureña Guzmán
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Trevor D Bartley
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, MIND Institute, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Cecilia Rocha
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Gilles Maussion
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Emma Nadler
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Patricia Margarita Roque
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ilse Gantois
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jelena Popic
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Maxime Lévesque
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery and of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Randal J Kaufman
- Degenerative Diseases Program, Center for Genetic Disorders and Aging Research, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Massimo Avoli
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery and of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Elisenda Sanz
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, and Neuroscience Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Karim Nader
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Randi Jenssen Hagerman
- MIND Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Thomas M Durcan
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Jean-Claude Lacaille
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Brain and Learning, and Research Group on Neural Signaling and Circuitry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, MIND Institute, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jay R Gibson
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Department of Neuroscience, Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Department of Neuroscience, Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
| | - Nahum Sonenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Christos G Gkogkas
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, University Campus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Arkady Khoutorsky
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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22
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Zhu H, Guan A, Liu J, Peng L, Zhang Z, Wang S. Noteworthy perspectives on microglia in neuropsychiatric disorders. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:223. [PMID: 37794488 PMCID: PMC10548593 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02901-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia are so versatile that they not only provide immune surveillance for central nervous system, but participate in neural circuitry development, brain blood vessels formation, blood-brain barrier architecture, and intriguingly, the regulation of emotions and behaviors. Microglia have a profound impact on neuronal survival, brain wiring and synaptic plasticity. As professional phagocytic cells in the brain, they remove dead cell debris and neurotoxic agents via an elaborate mechanism. The functional profile of microglia varies considerately depending on age, gender, disease context and other internal or external environmental factors. Numerous studies have demonstrated a pivotal involvement of microglia in neuropsychiatric disorders, including negative affection, social deficit, compulsive behavior, fear memory, pain and other symptoms associated with major depression disorder, anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. In this review, we summarized the latest discoveries regarding microglial ontogeny, cell subtypes or state spectrum, biological functions and mechanistic underpinnings of emotional and behavioral disorders. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of microglia-targeted therapies of neuropsychiatric disorders, and propose outstanding questions to be addressed in future research of human microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongrui Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.
| | - Ao Guan
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Jiayuan Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Li Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.
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23
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Chen R, Routh BN, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK. Circadian Regulation of the Neuroimmune Environment Across the Lifespan: From Brain Development to Aging. J Biol Rhythms 2023; 38:419-446. [PMID: 37357738 PMCID: PMC10475217 DOI: 10.1177/07487304231178950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Circadian clocks confer 24-h periodicity to biological systems, to ultimately maximize energy efficiency and promote survival in a world with regular environmental light cycles. In mammals, circadian rhythms regulate myriad physiological functions, including the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems. Within the central nervous system, specialized glial cells such as astrocytes and microglia survey and maintain the neuroimmune environment. The contributions of these neuroimmune cells to both homeostatic and pathogenic demands vary greatly across the day. Moreover, the function of these cells changes across the lifespan. In this review, we discuss circadian regulation of the neuroimmune environment across the lifespan, with a focus on microglia and astrocytes. Circadian rhythms emerge in early life concurrent with neuroimmune sculpting of brain circuits and wane late in life alongside increasing immunosenescence and neurodegeneration. Importantly, circadian dysregulation can alter immune function, which may contribute to susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we highlight circadian neuroimmune interactions across the lifespan and share evidence that circadian dysregulation within the neuroimmune system may be a critical component in human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhuo Chen
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Brandy N. Routh
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Andrew D. Gaudet
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Laura K. Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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24
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Yang Y, Wu J, Zhang J, Chen X, Que Z, Wettschurack K, Deming B, Acosta M, Cui N, Eaton M, Zhao Y, Halurkar M, Purba M, Chen I, Xiao T, Suzuki M, Yuan C, Xu R, Koss W, Du D, Chen F, Wu LJ, Clinic M. Microglial over-pruning of synapses during development in autism-associated SCN2A-deficient mice and human cerebral organoids. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3270664. [PMID: 37841865 PMCID: PMC10571631 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3270664/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a major neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1 in 36 children in the United States. While neurons have been the focus to understand ASD, an altered neuro-immune response in the brain may be closely associated with ASD, and a neuro-immune interaction could play a role in the disease progression. As the resident immune cells of the brain, microglia regulate brain development and homeostasis via core functions including phagocytosis of synapses. While ASD has been traditionally considered a polygenic disorder, recent large-scale human genetic studies have identified SCN2A deficiency as a leading monogenic cause of ASD and intellectual disability. We generated a Scn2a-deficient mouse model, which displays major behavioral and neuronal phenotypes. However, the role of microglia in this disease model is unknown. Here, we reported that Scn2a-deficient mice have impaired learning and memory, accompanied by reduced synaptic transmission and lower spine density in neurons of the hippocampus. Microglia in Scn2a-deficient mice are partially activated, exerting excessive phagocytic pruning of post-synapses related to the complement C3 cascades during selective developmental stages. The ablation of microglia using PLX3397 partially restores synaptic transmission and spine density. To extend our findings from rodents to human cells, we established a microglial-incorporated human cerebral organoid model carrying an SCN2A protein-truncating mutation identified in children with ASD. We found that human microglia display increased elimination of post-synapse in cerebral organoids carrying the SCN2A mutation. Our study establishes a key role of microglia in multi-species autism-associated models of SCN2A deficiency from mouse to human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Jiaxiang Wu
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Jingliang Zhang
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Zhefu Que
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Kyle Wettschurack
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Brody Deming
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Maria Acosta
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Ningren Cui
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Muriel Eaton
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Yuanrui Zhao
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Manasi Halurkar
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Mandal Purba
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
| | - Ian Chen
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy & Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (PIIN)
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25
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Yao K, Mou Q, Lou X, Ye M, Zhao B, Hu Y, Luo J, Zhang H, Li X, Zhao Y. Microglial SIRT1 activation attenuates synapse loss in retinal inner plexiform layer via mTORC1 inhibition. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:202. [PMID: 37670386 PMCID: PMC10481494 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02886-8] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optic nerve injury (ONI) is a key cause of irreversible blindness and triggers retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) change and synapse loss. Microglia is the resistant immune cell in brain and retina and has been demonstrated to be highly related with neuron and synapse injury. However, the function of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a neuroprotective molecule, in mediating microglial activation, retinal synapse loss and subsequent retinal ganglion cells death in optic nerve injury model as well as the regulatory mechanism remain unclear. METHOD To this end, optic nerve crush (ONC) model was conducted to mimic optic nerve injury. Resveratrol and EX527, highly specific activator and inhibitor of SIRT1, respectively, were used to explore the function of SIRT1 in vivo and vitro. Cx3Cr1-CreERT2/RaptorF/F mice were used to delete Raptor for inhibiting mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity in microglia. HEK293 and BV2 cells were transfected with plasmids to explore the regulatory mechanism of SIRT1. RESULTS We discovered that microglial activation and synapse loss in retinal inner plexiform layer (IPL) occurred after optic nerve crush, with later-development retinal ganglion cells death. SIRT1 activation induced by resveratrol inhibited microglial activation and attenuated synapse loss and retinal ganglion cells injury. After injury, microglial phagocytosed synapse and SIRT1 inhibited this process to protect synapse and retinal ganglion cells. Moreover, SIRT1 exhibited neuron protective effects via activating tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) through deacetylation, and enhancing the inhibition effect of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activity. CONCLUSION Our research provides novel insights into microglial SIRT1 in optic nerve injury and suggests a potential strategy for neuroprotective treatment of optic nerve injury disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qianxue Mou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaotong Lou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Meng Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Bowen Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yuanyuan Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xing Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yin Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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26
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Longo F, Aryal S, Anastasiades PG, Maltese M, Baimel C, Albanese F, Tabor J, Zhu JD, Oliveira MM, Gastaldo D, Bagni C, Santini E, Tritsch NX, Carter AG, Klann E. Cell-type-specific disruption of cortico-striatal circuitry drives repetitive patterns of behavior in fragile X syndrome model mice. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112901. [PMID: 37505982 PMCID: PMC10552611 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112901] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) are frequently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including increased risk for restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). Consistent with observations in humans, FXS model mice display distinct RRBs and hyperactivity that are consistent with dysfunctional cortico-striatal circuits, an area relatively unexplored in FXS. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we dissect the contribution of two populations of striatal medium spiny neurons (SPNs) in the expression of RRBs in FXS model mice. Here, we report that dysregulated protein synthesis at cortico-striatal synapses is a molecular culprit of the synaptic and ASD-associated motor phenotypes displayed by FXS model mice. Cell-type-specific translational profiling of the FXS mouse striatum reveals differentially translated mRNAs, providing critical information concerning potential therapeutic targets. Our findings uncover a cell-type-specific impact of the loss of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) on translation and the sequence of neuronal events in the striatum that drive RRBs in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Longo
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; Institute for Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Sameer Aryal
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | - Marta Maltese
- Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Corey Baimel
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Federica Albanese
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Joanna Tabor
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Zhu
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | | | - Denise Gastaldo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," 1005 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," 1005 Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Santini
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicolas X Tritsch
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Adam G Carter
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Eric Klann
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Dawson MS, Gordon-Fleet K, Yan L, Tardos V, He H, Mui K, Nawani S, Asgarian Z, Catani M, Fernandes C, Drescher U. Sexual dimorphism in the social behaviour of Cntnap2-null mice correlates with disrupted synaptic connectivity and increased microglial activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. Commun Biol 2023; 6:846. [PMID: 37582968 PMCID: PMC10427688 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05215-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A biological understanding of the apparent sex bias in autism is lacking. Here we have identified Cntnap2 KO mice as a model system to help better understand this dimorphism. Using this model, we observed social deficits in juvenile male KO mice only. These male-specific social deficits correlated with reduced spine densities of Layer 2/3 and Layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, a forebrain region prominently associated with the control of social behaviour. Furthermore, in male KO mice, microglia showed an increased activated morphology and phagocytosis of synaptic structures compared to WT mice, whereas no differences were seen in female KO and WT mice. Our data suggest that sexually dimorphic microglial activity may be involved in the aetiology of ASD, disrupting the development of neural circuits that control social behaviour by overpruning synapses at a developmentally critical period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt S Dawson
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kevin Gordon-Fleet
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Lingxin Yan
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Vera Tardos
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Huanying He
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kwong Mui
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Smriti Nawani
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Zeinab Asgarian
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Molecular Therapeutics Lab, University College London, Research Department of Targeted Intervention, London, W1W 7TY, UK
| | - Marco Catani
- NatBrainLab, Departments of Neuroimaging Sciences and Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Uwe Drescher
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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28
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Tong L, Chen G, Liu T, Wang L, Zhang H, Chen F, Zhang S, Du D. IFN-γ deficiency in the rostral ventrolateral medulla contributes to stress-induced hypertension by impairing microglial synaptic engulfment. J Hypertens 2023; 41:1323-1332. [PMID: 37260264 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysfunctional neurons and microglia in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of stress-induced hypertension (SIH). Functional perturbation of microglial synaptic engulfment can induce aberrant brain circuit activity. IFN-γ is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a role in regulating neuronal activity. However, existing research on the exploration of the effects of microglia on synapses in the RVLM is lacking, particularly on the function of IFN-γ in microglial synaptic engulfment involved in SIH. METHODS A SIH rat model was established by electric foot shocks combined with noise stimulation. The underlying mechanism of IFN-γ on synaptic density and microglial synaptic engulfment was investigated through in-vivo and in-vitro experiments involving gain of function, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and morphometric analysis. Furthermore, the function of IFN-γ in neuronal activity, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), and blood pressure (BP) regulation was determined through in-vivo and in-vitro experiments involving Ca 2+ imaging, immunofluorescence, platinum-iridium electrode recording, ELISA, the femoral artery cannulation test, and the tail-cuff method. RESULTS The BP, heart rate, RSNA, plasma norepinephrine, and the number of c-Fos-positive neurons in SIH rats increased compared with those in control rats. Pre and postsynaptic densities in the RVLM also increased in SIH rats. IFN-γ and CCL2 expression levels were significantly reduced in the RVLM of the SIH group, whose microglia also exhibited an impaired capacity for synapse engulfment. IFN-γ elevation increased CCL2 expression and microglial synaptic engulfment and decreased synaptic density in vivo and in vitro . However, CCL2 inhibition reversed these effects. Moreover, the reduction of neuronal excitability, RSNA, plasma norepinephrine, and BP by IFN-γ was abrogated through CCL2 expression. CONCLUSION IFN-γ deficiency in the RVLM impaired the microglial engulfment of synapses by inhibiting CCL2 expression and increasing synaptic density and neuronal excitability, thereby contributing to SIH progression. Targeting IFN-γ may be considered a potential strategy to combat SIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tong
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai
| | - Gaojun Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai
| | - Tianfeng Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai
| | - Linping Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai
| | - Haili Zhang
- College of Agriculture and Bioengineering, Heze University, Heze
| | - Fuxue Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai
| | - Shuai Zhang
- International Cooperation Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou
| | - Dongshu Du
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai
- College of Agriculture and Bioengineering, Heze University, Heze
- Shaoxing Institute of Shanghai University, Shaoxing, China
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29
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Makinodan M, Komori T, Okamura K, Ikehara M, Yamamuro K, Endo N, Okumura K, Yamauchi T, Ikawa D, Ouji-Sageshima N, Toritsuka M, Takada R, Kayashima Y, Ishida R, Mori Y, Kamikawa K, Noriyama Y, Nishi Y, Ito T, Saito Y, Nishi M, Kishimoto T, Tanaka K, Hiroi N. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor from microglia regulates neuronal development in the medial prefrontal cortex and its associated social behavior. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3094335. [PMID: 37461488 PMCID: PMC10350236 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3094335/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Microglia and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are essential for the neuroplasticity that characterizes critical developmental periods. The experience-dependent development of social behaviors-associated with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-has a critical period during the juvenile period in mice. However, whether microglia and BDNF affect social development remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the effects of microglia-derived BDNF on social behaviors and mPFC development. Mice that underwent social isolation during p21-p35 had increased Bdnf in the microglia accompanied by reduced adulthood sociability. Additionally, transgenic mice overexpressing microglia Bdnf-regulated using doxycycline at different time points-underwent behavioral, electrophysiological, and gene expression analyses. In these mice, long-term overexpression of microglia BDNF impaired sociability and excessive mPFC inhibitory neuronal circuit activity. However, administration of doxycycline to normalize BDNF from p21 normalized sociability and electrophysiological functions; this was not observed when BDNF was normalized from a later age (p45-p50). To evaluate the possible role of BDNF in human sociability, we analyzed the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and BDNF expression in human macrophages, a possible substitute for microglia. Results show that adverse childhood experiences positively correlated with BDNF expression in M2 but not M1 macrophages. Thus, microglia BDNF might regulate sociability and mPFC maturation in mice during the juvenile period. Furthermore, childhood experiences in humans may be related to BDNF secretion from macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - T Ito
- Keio University School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | | | - Noboru Hiroi
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
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30
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Ji C, Tang Y, Zhang Y, Huang X, Li C, Yang Y, Wu Q, Xia X, Cai Q, Qi XR, Zheng JC. Glutaminase 1 deficiency confined in forebrain neurons causes autism spectrum disorder-like behaviors. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112712. [PMID: 37384529 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An abnormal glutamate signaling pathway has been proposed in the mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, less is known about the involvement of alterations of glutaminase 1 (GLS1) in the pathophysiology of ASD. We show that the transcript level of GLS1 is significantly decreased in the postmortem frontal cortex and peripheral blood of ASD subjects. Mice lacking Gls1 in CamKIIα-positive neurons display a series of ASD-like behaviors, synaptic excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) imbalance, higher spine density, and glutamate receptor expression in the prefrontal cortex, as well as a compromised expression pattern of genes involved in synapse pruning and less engulfed synaptic puncta in microglia. A low dose of lipopolysaccharide treatment restores microglial synapse pruning, corrects synaptic neurotransmission, and rescues behavioral deficits in these mice. In summary, these findings provide mechanistic insights into Gls1 loss in ASD symptoms and identify Gls1 as a target for the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhui Ji
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Yalin Tang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Xiaoyan Huang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Congcong Li
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Yuhong Yang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Qihui Wu
- Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China
| | - Xiaohuan Xia
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200434, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200331, China
| | - Qingyuan Cai
- Franklin and Marshall College, 415 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603, USA
| | - Xin-Rui Qi
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China.
| | - Jialin C Zheng
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200434, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200331, China.
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31
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Kilpatrick S, Irwin C, Singh KK. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) and organoid models of autism: opportunities and limitations. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:217. [PMID: 37344450 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02510-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic or environmental perturbations during early development. Diagnoses are dependent on the identification of behavioral abnormalities that likely emerge well after the disorder is established, leaving critical developmental windows uncharacterized. This is further complicated by the incredible clinical and genetic heterogeneity of the disorder that is not captured in most mammalian models. In recent years, advancements in stem cell technology have created the opportunity to model ASD in a human context through the use of pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which can be used to generate 2D cellular models as well as 3D unguided- and region-specific neural organoids. These models produce profoundly intricate systems, capable of modeling the developing brain spatiotemporally to reproduce key developmental milestones throughout early development. When complemented with multi-omics, genome editing, and electrophysiology analysis, they can be used as a powerful tool to profile the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this complex disorder. In this review, we will explore the recent advancements in hPSC-based modeling, discuss present and future applications of the model to ASD research, and finally consider the limitations and future directions within the field to make this system more robust and broadly applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah Kilpatrick
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Courtney Irwin
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karun K Singh
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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32
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Zhu J, Meng H, Zhang L, Li Y. Exploring the molecular mechanism of comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder and inflammatory bowel disease by combining multiple data sets. J Transl Med 2023; 21:372. [PMID: 37291580 PMCID: PMC10249282 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04218-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is difficult to diagnose. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common chronic digestive disease. Previous studies have shown a potential correlation between ASD and IBD, but the pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this research was to examine the biological mechanisms underlying the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of ASD and IBD using bioinformatics tools. METHODS Limma software was used to evaluate the DEGs between ASD and IBD. The GSE3365, GSE18123, and GSE150115 microarray data sets were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We then performed 6 analyses, namely, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional annotation; weighted gene coexpression network analysis; correlation analysis of hub genes with autophagy, ferroptosis and immunity; transcriptional regulation analysis of hub genes; single-cell sequencing analysis; and potential therapeutic drug prediction. RESULTS A total of 505 DEGs associated with ASD and 616 DEGs associated with IBD were identified, and 7 genes overlapped between these sets. GO and KEGG analyses revealed several pathways enriched in both diseases. A total of 98 common genes related to ASD and IBD were identified by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and 4 hub genes were obtained by intersection with the 7 intersecting DEGs, which were PDGFC, CA2, GUCY1B3 and SDPR. We also found that 4 hub genes in the two diseases were related to autophagy, ferroptosis or immune factors. In addition, motif-TF annotation analysis showed that cisbp__M0080 was the most relevant motif. We also used the Connectivity Map (CMap) database to identify 4 potential therapeutic agents. CONCLUSION This research reveals the shared pathogenesis of ASD and IBD. In the future, these common hub genes may provide new targets for further mechanistic research as well as new therapies for patients with ASD and IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyi Zhu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Haoran Meng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China.
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33
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Zahedi E, Sadr SS, Sanaeierad A, Roghani M. Chronic acetyl-L-carnitine treatment alleviates behavioral deficits and neuroinflammation through enhancing microbiota derived-SCFA in valproate model of autism. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114848. [PMID: 37163781 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by a variety of cellular and molecular abnormalities which leads to autism-associated behaviors. Besides behavioral defects, these individuals also suffer from various associated disorders such as gastrointestinal deficit, altered gut microbiota composition and their metabolite. This study examined the effect of ALC on microbiota SCFA production and its effects on brain inflammation in VPA autism model. After prenatal exposure to valproate (600 mg/kg, i.p.) on embryonic day 12.5, followed by ALC treatment (100 mg/kg during postnatal days 23-51, p.o.), ASD-like behaviors, SCFAs amount in feces, intestine integrity (Occludin and ZO-1 tight junction proteins), systemic and brain inflammation (TNF-α and IL-1β) were assessed. Then, Golgi-Cox staining and Western blot for Iba1 protein were utilized to identify the changes in microglia profile in cerebral cortex. In the VPA model, we found that induction of autism was associated with demoted levels of SCFAs in feces and disintegration of intestine tissue which led to elevated level of TNF-α in the plasma. Further, we characterized an increased number of microglia in our histology evaluation and Iba1 protein in cerebral cortex. We also observed elevated level of TNF-α and IL-1β in the cerebral cortex of VPA rat. All these abnormalities were significantly alleviated by ALC treatment. Overall, our findings suggest that alleviation of behavioral abnormalities by ALC therapy in the VPA model of autism is associated with an improvement in the gut microbiota SCFAs, intestinal barrier and recovery of microglia and inflammation in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Zahedi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed-Shahabeddin Sadr
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ashkan Sanaeierad
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Roghani
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
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34
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Mordelt A, de Witte LD. Microglia-mediated synaptic pruning as a key deficit in neurodevelopmental disorders: Hype or hope? Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 79:102674. [PMID: 36657237 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
There is a consensus in the field that microglia play a prominent role in neurodevelopmental processes like synaptic pruning and neuronal network maturation. Thus, a current momentum of associating microglia deficits with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) emerged. This concept is challenged by rodent studies and clinical data. Intriguingly, reduced numbers of microglia or altered microglial functions do not necessarily lead to overt NDD phenotypes, and neuropsychiatric symptoms seem to develop primarily in adulthood. Hence, it remains open for discussion whether microglia are truly indispensable for healthy neurodevelopment. Here, we critically discuss the role of microglia in synaptic pruning and highlight area- and age dependency. We propose an updated model of microglia-mediated synaptic pruning in the context of NDDs and discuss the potential of targeting microglia for treatment of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Mordelt
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Lot D de Witte
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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35
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Reemst K, Shahin H, Shahar OD. Learning and memory formation in zebrafish: Protein dynamics and molecular tools. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1120984. [PMID: 36968211 PMCID: PMC10034119 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1120984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on learning and memory formation at the level of neural networks, as well as at the molecular level, is challenging due to the immense complexity of the brain. The zebrafish as a genetically tractable model organism can overcome many of the current challenges of studying molecular mechanisms of learning and memory formation. Zebrafish have a translucent, smaller and more accessible brain than that of mammals, allowing imaging of the entire brain during behavioral manipulations. Recent years have seen an extensive increase in published brain research describing the use of zebrafish for the study of learning and memory. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the brain comprising many neural cell types that are difficult to isolate, it has been difficult to elucidate neural networks and molecular mechanisms involved in memory formation in an unbiased manner, even in zebrafish larvae. Therefore, data regarding the identity, location, and intensity of nascent proteins during memory formation is still sparse and our understanding of the molecular networks remains limited, indicating a need for new techniques. Here, we review recent progress in establishing learning paradigms for zebrafish and the development of methods to elucidate neural and molecular networks of learning. We describe various types of learning and highlight directions for future studies, focusing on molecular mechanisms of long-term memory formation and promising state-of-the-art techniques such as cell-type-specific metabolic labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitty Reemst
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Heba Shahin
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Or David Shahar
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- *Correspondence: Or David Shahar,
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Jin M, Liu Y, Hu G, Li X, Jia N, Cui X, Li Z, Ai L, Xie M, Xue F, Yang Y, Li W, Zhang M, Yu Q. Establishment of a schizophrenia classifier based on peripheral blood signatures and investigation of pathogenic miRNA-mRNA regulation. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 159:172-184. [PMID: 36738648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
To date, the diagnosis of schizophrenia (SCZ) mainly relies on patients' or guardians' self-reports and clinical observation, and the pathogenesis of SCZ remains elusive. In this study, we sought to develop a reliable classifier for diagnosing SCZ patients and provide clues to the etiology and pathogenesis of SCZ. Based on the high throughput sequencing analysis of peripheral blood miRNA expression profile and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) in our previous study, we selected eleven hub miRNAs for validation by qRT-PCR in 51 SCZ patients and 51 controls. miR-939-5p, miR-4732-3p let-7d-3p, and miR-142-3p were confirmed to be significantly up-regulated, and miR-30e-3p and miR-23a-3p were down-regulated in SCZ patients. miR-30e-3p with the most considerable fold change and statistically significance was selected for targeting validation. We first performed bioinformatics prediction followed by qRT-PCR and verified the up-regulation of potential target mRNAs (ABI1, NMT1, HMGB1) expression. Next, we found that the expression level of ABI1 was significantly up-regulated in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with miR-30e-3p mimics. Lastly, we conducted a luciferase assay in 293T cells confirming that miR-30e-3p could directly bind with the 3'untranslated region (3'-UTR) of ABI1, revealing that miR-30e-3p might play a role in the polymerization of neuronal actin and the reconstruction of the cytoskeleton via the downstream regulation of ABI1. In addition, we constructed a classifier by a series of bioinformatics algorithms and evaluated its diagnostic performance. It appears that the classifier consists of miRNAs and mRNAs possess a better discrimination performance than individual miRNA or mRNA in SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yane Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Guoyan Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xinwei Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Ningning Jia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xingyao Cui
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Zhijun Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lizhe Ai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Mengtong Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Fengyu Xue
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yuqing Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Weizhen Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qiong Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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Thomas SD, Jha NK, Ojha S, Sadek B. mTOR Signaling Disruption and Its Association with the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28041889. [PMID: 36838876 PMCID: PMC9964164 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication along with repetitive stereotypic behaviors. Currently, there are no specific biomarkers for diagnostic screening or treatments available for autistic patients. Numerous genetic disorders are associated with high prevalence of ASD, including tuberous sclerosis complex, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and fragile X syndrome. Preclinical investigations in animal models of these diseases have revealed irregularities in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway as well as ASD-related behavioral defects. Reversal of the downstream molecular irregularities, associated with mTOR hyperactivation, improved the behavioral deficits observed in the preclinical investigations. Plant bioactive molecules have shown beneficial pre-clinical evidence in ASD treatment by modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. In this review, we summarize the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway as well as the genetic alterations of the pathway components and its critical impact on the development of the autism spectrum disorder. Mutations in negative regulators of mTORC1, such as TSC1, TSC2, and PTEN, result in ASD-like phenotypes through the disruption of the mTORC1-mediated signaling. We further discuss the various naturally occurring phytoconstituents that have been identified to be bioactive and modulate the pathway to prevent its disruption and contribute to beneficial therapeutic effects in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilu Deepa Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, India
- School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied & Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Shreesh Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bassem Sadek
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence:
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38
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Roles of the Notch signaling pathway and microglia in autism. Behav Brain Res 2023; 437:114131. [PMID: 36174842 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is mainly involved in the regulation of neural stem cell proliferation, survival and differentiation during the development of the central nervous system. As a neurodevelopmental disorder, autism is associated with an abnormal increase in the number of microglia in several brain regions. These findings suggest that the pathogenesis of autism may be related to the Notch signaling pathway and microglia. In this review, we discuss how Notch pathway activity leads to behavioral abnormalities such as learning and memory impairment by influencing neuronal biological activities. An increase in microglial protein synthesis and abnormal autophagy can affect synaptic development and lead to behavioral abnormalities, and all of these changes can lead to autism. Furthermore, the Notch signaling pathway regulates the activation and differentiation of microglia and promotes inflammatory responses, leading to the occurrence of autism. When excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) secreted by microglia cannot be cleared by autophagy in a timely manner, Notch signaling pathway activity is affected, possibly further increasing susceptibility to autism. This review reveals the mechanism underlying the role of the Notch signaling pathway, microglia and their interaction in the pathogenesis of autism and provides a theoretical reference for targeted clinical therapies for autism.
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Li H, Xu Y, Li W, Zhang L, Zhang X, Li B, Chen Y, Wang X, Zhu C. Novel insights into the immune cell landscape and gene signatures in autism spectrum disorder by bioinformatics and clinical analysis. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1082950. [PMID: 36761165 PMCID: PMC9905846 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1082950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not well understood, especially in terms of immunity and inflammation, and there are currently no early diagnostic or treatment methods. In this study, we obtained six existing Gene Expression Omnibus transcriptome datasets from the blood of ASD patients. We performed functional enrichment analysis, PPI analysis, CIBERSORT algorithm, and Spearman correlation analysis, with a focus on expression profiling in hub genes and immune cells. We validated that monocytes and nonclassical monocytes were upregulated in the ASD group using peripheral blood (30 children with ASD and 30 age and sex-matched typically developing children) using flow cytometry. The receiver operating characteristic curves (PSMC4 and ALAS2) and analysis stratified by ASD severity (LIlRB1 and CD69) showed that they had predictive value using the "training" and verification groups. Three immune cell types - monocytes, M2 macrophages, and activated dendritic cells - had different degrees of correlation with 15 identified hub genes. In addition, we analyzed the miRNA-mRNA network and agents-gene interactions using miRNA databases (starBase and miRDB) and the DSigDB database. Two miRNAs (miR-342-3p and miR-1321) and 23 agents were linked with ASD. These findings suggest that dysregulation of the immune system may contribute to ASD development, especially dysregulation of monocytes and monocyte-derived cells. ASD-related hub genes may serve as potential predictors for ASD, and the potential ASD-related miRNAs and agents identified here may open up new strategies for the prevention and treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiran Xu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,National Health Council (NHC) Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Key Laboratory of Population Defects Prevention, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenhua Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bingbing Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Chen
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyang Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,Centre of Perinatal Medicine and Health, Institute of Clinical Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Changlian Zhu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,Center for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,*Correspondence: Changlian Zhu, ;;
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40
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Xiong Y, Chen J, Li Y. Microglia and astrocytes underlie neuroinflammation and synaptic susceptibility in autism spectrum disorder. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1125428. [PMID: 37021129 PMCID: PMC10067592 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1125428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in childhood. The mechanisms underlying ASD are unclear. In recent years, the role of microglia and astrocytes in ASD has received increasing attention. Microglia prune the synapses or respond to injury by sequestrating the injury site and expressing inflammatory cytokines. Astrocytes maintain homeostasis in the brain microenvironment through the uptake of ions and neurotransmitters. However, the molecular link between ASD and microglia and, or astrocytes remains unknown. Previous research has shown the significant role of microglia and astrocytes in ASD, with reports of increased numbers of reactive microglia and astrocytes in postmortem tissues and animal models of ASD. Therefore, an enhanced understanding of the roles of microglia and astrocytes in ASD is essential for developing effective therapies. This review aimed to summarize the functions of microglia and astrocytes and their contributions to ASD.
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41
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Yeh H, Woodbury ME, Ingraham Dixie KL, Ikezu T, Ikezu S. Microglial WNT5A supports dendritic spines maturation and neuronal firing. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:403-413. [PMID: 36395958 PMCID: PMC10588768 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.11.003] [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: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence showing that microglia play a critical role in mediating synapse formation and spine growth, although the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the secreted morphogen WNT family member 5A (WNT5A) is the most abundant WNT expressed in microglia and that it promotes neuronal maturation. Co-culture of microglia with Thy1-YFP+ differentiated neurons significantly increased neuronal spine density and reduced dendritic spine turnover rate, which was diminished by silencing microglial Wnt5a in vitro. Co-cultured microglia increased post-synaptic marker PSD95 and synaptic density as determined by the co-localization of PSD95 with pre-synaptic marker VGLUT2 in vitro. The silencing of Wnt5a expression in microglia partially reduced both PSD95 and synaptic densities. Co-culture of differentiated neurons with microglia significantly enhanced neuronal firing rate as measured by multiple electrode array, which was significantly reduced by silencing microglial Wnt5a at 23 days differentiation in vitro. These findings demonstrate that microglia can mediate spine maturation and regulate neuronal excitability via WNT5A secretion indicating possible pathological roles of dysfunctional microglia in developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Yeh
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Maya E Woodbury
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kaitlin L Ingraham Dixie
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Molecular Neurotherapeutics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.
| | - Seiko Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Molecular Neurotherapeutics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.
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42
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Unnisa A, Greig NH, Kamal MA. Modelling the Interplay Between Neuron-Glia Cell Dysfunction and Glial Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:547-559. [PMID: 36545725 PMCID: PMC10207919 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221221142743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complicated, interpersonally defined, static condition of the underdeveloped brain. Although the aetiology of autism remains unclear, disturbance of neuronglia interactions has lately been proposed as a significant event in the pathophysiology of ASD. In recent years, the contribution of glial cells to autism has been overlooked. In addition to neurons, glial cells play an essential role in mental activities, and a new strategy that emphasises neuron-glia interactions should be applied. Disturbance of neuron-glia connections has lately been proposed as a significant event in the pathophysiology of ASD because aberrant neuronal network formation and dysfunctional neurotransmission are fundamental to the pathology of the condition. In ASD, neuron and glial cell number changes cause brain circuits to malfunction and impact behaviour. A study revealed that reactive glial cells result in the loss of synaptic functioning and induce autism under inflammatory conditions. Recent discoveries also suggest that dysfunction or changes in the ability of microglia to carry out physiological and defensive functions (such as failure in synaptic elimination or aberrant microglial activation) may be crucial for developing brain diseases, especially autism. The cerebellum, white matter, and cortical regions of autistic patients showed significant microglial activation. Reactive glial cells result in the loss of synaptic functioning and induce autism under inflammatory conditions. Replacement of defective glial cells (Cell-replacement treatment), glial progenitor cell-based therapy, and medication therapy (inhibition of microglia activation) are all utilised to treat glial dysfunction. This review discusses the role of glial cells in ASD and the various potential approaches to treating glial cell dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziz Unnisa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, KSA;
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, MD 21224, USA
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
- Enzymoics, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Peterlee place, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
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Zhou X, Wei J, Li L, Shu Z, You L, Liu Y, Zhao R, Yao J, Wang J, Luo M, Shu Y, Yuan K, Qi H. Microglial Pten safeguards postnatal integrity of the cortex and sociability. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1059364. [PMID: 36591296 PMCID: PMC9795847 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059364] [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: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial abnormalities may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. PTEN is implicated as a susceptibility gene for autism spectrum disorders and its germline ablation in mice causes behavioral abnormalities. Here we find postnatal PTEN deletion in microglia causes deficits in sociability and novel object recognition test. Mutant mice harbor markedly more activated microglia that manifest enhanced phagocytosis. Interestingly, two-week postponement of microglia PTEN ablation leads to no social interaction defects, even though mutant microglia remain abnormal in adult animals. Disturbed neurodevelopment caused by early PTEN deletion in microglia is characterized by insufficient VGLUT1 protein in synaptosomes, likely a consequence of enhanced removal by microglia. In correlation, in vitro acute slice recordings demonstrate weakened synaptic inputs to layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the developing cortex. Therefore, microglial PTEN safeguards integrity of neural substrates underlying sociability in a developmentally determined manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhou
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiacheng Wei
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenfeng Shu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling You
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing, China
| | - Ruozhu Zhao
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiacheng Yao
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yousheng Shu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kexin Yuan
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Hai Qi, ; Kexin Yuan,
| | - Hai Qi
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Hai Qi, ; Kexin Yuan,
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44
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Goode-Romero G, Dominguez L. Computational study of the conformational ensemble of CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) and its interactions with antagonist and agonist ligands. J Mol Graph Model 2022; 117:108278. [PMID: 35988439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1), a member of the class A of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCR) superfamily, and its ligand fractalkine constitute an important biochemical axis that influence many cellular pathways involving homeostatic and inflammatory processes. They participate in the activation, chemotaxis and recruitment of multiple immunological cells such as microglia, macrophages and monocytes, and play a critical role in neuroinflammatory conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, in the recovery from central nervous system injuries, in several chronic, peripheral inflammatory entities and in some infective processes including HIV-AIDS. In this work we present the study of the CX3CR1 receptor employing extensive atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations with the aim to characterize the conformational ensemble of the receptor in the presence of its antagonist and agonist ligands. We analyzed the receptor conformational changes and described interactions within its key regions and the bounded ligands to identify their notable differences. Finally, we classify the features that would allow the identification of patterns that characterize a functional state to contribute to the understanding of the complexity of the GPCR superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Goode-Romero
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.
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45
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Sun Y, Wang Y, Ye F, Cui V, Lin D, Shi H, Zhang Y, Wu A, Wei C. SIRT1 activation attenuates microglia-mediated synaptic engulfment in postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:943842. [PMID: 36437988 PMCID: PMC9685341 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.943842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a debilitating neurological complication in surgical patients. Current research has focused mainly on microglial activation, but less is known about the resultant neuronal synaptic changes. Recent studies have suggested that Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) plays a critical role in several different neurological disorders via its involvement in microglial activation. In this study, we evaluate the effects of SIRT1 activation in a POCD mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Exploratory laparotomy was performed in mice aged 12-14 months under sevoflurane anesthesia to establish our animal POCD model. Transcriptional changes in the hippocampus after anesthesia and surgery were evaluated by RNA sequencing. SIRT1 expression was verified by Western Blot. Mice were treated with SIRT1 agonist SRT1720 or vehicle after surgery. Changes in microglia morphology, microglial phagocytosis, presence of dystrophic neurites, and dendritic spine density were evaluated. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Y maze and Morris water maze (MWM). RESULTS Sirtuin-1 expression levels were downregulated in POCD. Exposure to anesthesia and surgery lead to alteration in microglia morphology, increased synaptic engulfment, dendritic spine loss, and cognitive deficits. These effects were alleviated by SRT1720 administration. CONCLUSION This study suggests an important neuroprotective role for SIRT1 in POCD pathogenesis. Increasing SIRT1 function represents a promising therapeutic strategy for prevention and treatment of POCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuzhu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Victoria Cui
- Department of General Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Dandan Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Anshi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Changwei Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Chen WX, Liu B, Zhou L, Xiong X, Fu J, Huang ZF, Tan T, Tang M, Wang J, Tang YP. De novo mutations within metabolism networks of amino acid/protein/energy in Chinese autistic children with intellectual disability. Hum Genomics 2022; 16:52. [PMID: 36320054 PMCID: PMC9623983 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00427-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often accompanied by intellectual disability (ID). Despite extensive studies, however, the genetic basis for this comorbidity is still not clear. In this study, we tried to develop an analyzing pipeline for de novo mutations and possible pathways related to ID phenotype in ASD. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to screen de novo mutations and candidate genes in 79 ASD children together with their parents (trios). The de novo altering genes and relative pathways which were associated with ID phenotype were analyzed. The connection nodes (genes) of above pathways were selected, and the diagnostic value of these selected genes for ID phenotype in the study population was also evaluated. RESULTS We identified 89 de novo mutant genes, of which 34 genes were previously reported to be associated with ASD, including double hits in the EGF repeats of NOTCH1 gene (p.V999M and p.S1027L). Interestingly, of these 34 genes, 22 may directly affect intelligence quotient (IQ). Further analyses revealed that these IQ-related genes were enriched in protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, and at least 9 genes (CACNA1A, ALG9, PALM2, MGAT4A, PCK2, PLEKHA1, PSME3, ADI1, and TLE3) were involved in all these three pathways. Seven patients who harbored these gene mutations showed a high prevalence of a low IQ score (< 70), a non-verbal language, and an early diagnostic age (< 4 years). Furthermore, our panel of these 9 genes reached a 10.2% diagnostic rate (5/49) in early diagnostic patients with a low IQ score and also reached a 10% diagnostic yield in those with both a low IQ score and non-verbal language (4/40). CONCLUSION We found some new genetic disposition for ASD accompanied with intellectual disability in this study. Our results may be helpful for etiologic research and early diagnoses of intellectual disability in ASD. Larger population studies and further mechanism studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Xiong Chen
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072The Assessment and Intervention Center for Autistic Children, Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 Guangdong China
| | - Bin Liu
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China ,grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Biobank, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, 518102 Guangdong China
| | - Lijie Zhou
- grid.412719.8Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China
| | - Xiaoli Xiong
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China
| | - Jie Fu
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China
| | - Zhi-Fang Huang
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072The Assessment and Intervention Center for Autistic Children, Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 Guangdong China
| | - Ting Tan
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China
| | - Mingxi Tang
- grid.488387.8Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000 Sichuan China
| | - Jun Wang
- grid.412719.8Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China
| | - Ya-Ping Tang
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623 China ,grid.412719.8Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 Guangdong China
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Murtaza N, Cheng AA, Brown CO, Meka DP, Hong S, Uy JA, El-Hajjar J, Pipko N, Unda BK, Schwanke B, Xing S, Thiruvahindrapuram B, Engchuan W, Trost B, Deneault E, Calderon de Anda F, Doble BW, Ellis J, Anagnostou E, Bader GD, Scherer SW, Lu Y, Singh KK. Neuron-specific protein network mapping of autism risk genes identifies shared biological mechanisms and disease-relevant pathologies. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111678. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Differential vulnerability of anterior cingulate cortex cell types to diseases and drugs. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4023-4034. [PMID: 35754044 PMCID: PMC9875728 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01657-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In psychiatric disorders, mismatches between disease states and therapeutic strategies are highly pronounced, largely because of unanswered questions regarding specific vulnerabilities of different cell types and therapeutic responses. Which cellular events (housekeeping or salient) are most affected? Which cell types succumb first to challenges, and which exhibit the strongest response to drugs? Are these events coordinated between cell types? How does disease and drug effect this coordination? To address these questions, we analyzed single-nucleus-RNAseq (sn-RNAseq) data from the human anterior cingulate cortex-a region involved in many psychiatric disorders. Density index, a metric for quantifying similarities and dissimilarities across functional profiles, was employed to identify common or salient functional themes across cell types. Cell-specific signatures were integrated with existing disease and drug-specific signatures to determine cell-type-specific vulnerabilities, druggabilities, and responsiveness. Clustering of functional profiles revealed cell types jointly participating in these events. SST and VIP interneurons were found to be most vulnerable, whereas pyramidal neurons were least. Overall, the disease state is superficial layer-centric, influences cell-specific salient themes, strongly impacts disinhibitory neurons, and influences astrocyte interaction with a subset of deep-layer pyramidal neurons. In absence of disease, drugs profiles largely recapitulate disease profiles, offering a possible explanation for drug side effects. However, in presence of disease, drug activities, are deep layer-centric and involve activating a distinct subset of deep-layer pyramidal neurons to circumvent the disease state's disinhibitory circuit malfunction. These findings demonstrate a novel application of sn-RNAseq data to explain drug and disease action at a systems level.
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49
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The Autism Spectrum Disorder-Associated Bacterial Metabolite p-Cresol Derails the Neuroimmune Response of Microglial Cells Partially via Reduction of ADAM17 and ADAM10. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911013. [PMID: 36232346 PMCID: PMC9570133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial metabolite 4-methylphenol (para-cresol or p-cresol) and its derivative p-cresyl sulfate (pCS) are elevated in the urine and feces of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It has been shown that p-cresol administration induces social behavior deficits and repetitive behavior in mice. However, the mechanisms of p-cresol, specifically its metabolite pCS that can reach the brain, in ASD remain to be investigated. The pCS has been shown to inhibit LPS-stimulated inflammatory response. A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10) and A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) are thought to regulate microglial immune response by cleaving membrane-bound proteins. In the present study, a neuroinflammation model of LPS-activated BV2 microglia has been used to unveil the potential molecular mechanism of pCS in ASD pathogenesis. In microglial cells pCS treatment decreases the expression or maturation of ADAM10 and ADAM17. In addition, pCS treatment attenuates TNF-α and IL-6 releases as well as phagocytosis activity of microglia. In in vitro ADAM10/17 inhibition experiments, either ADAM10 or ADAM17 inhibition reduces constitutive and LPS-activated release of TNF-α, TNFR-1 and IL-6R by microglial cells, while it increases constitutive and LPS-activated microglial phagocytotic activity. The in vivo results further confirm the involvement of ADAM10 and ADAM17 in ASD pathogenesis. In in utero VPA-exposed male mice, elevated concentration in serum of p-cresol-associated metabolites pCS and p-cresyl glucuronide (pCG) is associated with a VPA-induced increased ADAM10 maturation, and a decreased ADAM17 maturation that is related with attenuated levels of soluble TNF-α and TGF-β1 in the mice brain. Overall, the present study demonstrates a partial role of ADAM10 and ADAM17 in the derailed innate immune response of microglial cells associated with pCS-induced ASD pathogenesis.
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50
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Cserép C, Schwarcz AD, Pósfai B, László ZI, Kellermayer A, Környei Z, Kisfali M, Nyerges M, Lele Z, Katona I, Ádám Dénes. Microglial control of neuronal development via somatic purinergic junctions. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111369. [PMID: 36130488 PMCID: PMC9513806 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, play important roles during development. Although bi-directional communication between microglia and neuronal progenitors or immature neurons has been demonstrated, the main sites of interaction and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. By using advanced methods, here we provide evidence that microglial processes form specialized contacts with the cell bodies of developing neurons throughout embryonic, early postnatal, and adult neurogenesis. These early developmental contacts are highly reminiscent of somatic purinergic junctions that are instrumental for microglia-neuron communication in the adult brain. The formation and maintenance of these junctions is regulated by functional microglial P2Y12 receptors, and deletion of P2Y12Rs disturbs proliferation of neuronal precursors and leads to aberrant cortical cytoarchitecture during development and in adulthood. We propose that early developmental formation of somatic purinergic junctions represents an important interface for microglia to monitor the status of immature neurons and control neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Cserép
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Anett D Schwarcz
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Pósfai
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; Szentágothai János Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia I László
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; University of Dundee, School of Medicine, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Anna Kellermayer
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Környei
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Máté Kisfali
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós Nyerges
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Lele
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Katona
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Ádám Dénes
- "Momentum" Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083 Budapest, Hungary.
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