1
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Toker IA, Ripoll-Sánchez L, Geiger LT, Sussfeld A, Saini KS, Beets I, Vértes PE, Schafer WR, Ben-David E, Hobert O. Divergence in neuronal signaling pathways despite conserved neuronal identity among Caenorhabditis species. Curr Biol 2025:S0960-9822(25)00652-9. [PMID: 40412379 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.036] [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: 05/09/2025] [Revised: 05/13/2025] [Accepted: 05/14/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025]
Abstract
One avenue to better understand brain evolution is to map molecular patterns of evolutionary changes in neuronal cell types across entire nervous systems of distantly related species. Generating whole-animal single-cell transcriptomes of three nematode species from the Caenorhabditis genus, we observed a remarkable stability of neuronal-cell-type identities over more than 45 million years of evolution. Conserved patterns of combinatorial expression of homeodomain transcription factors are among the best classifiers of homologous neuron classes. Unexpectedly, we discover an extensive divergence in neuronal signaling pathways. Although identities of neurotransmitter-producing neurons (glutamate, acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA], and several monoamines) remain stable, expression of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors for all these neurotransmitter systems shows substantial divergence, resulting in more than half of all neuron classes changing their capacity to be receptive to specific neurotransmitters. Neuropeptidergic signaling is also remarkably divergent, both at the level of neuropeptide expression and receptor expression, yet the overall dense network topology of the wireless neuropeptidergic connectome remains stable. Novel neuronal signaling pathways are suggested by our discovery of small secreted proteins that show no obvious hallmarks of conventional neuropeptides but show similar patterns of highly neuron-type-specific and highly evolvable expression profiles. In conclusion, by investigating the evolution of entire nervous systems at the resolution of single-neuron classes, we uncover patterns that may reflect basic principles governing evolutionary novelty in neuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itai Antoine Toker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Lidia Ripoll-Sánchez
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Luke T Geiger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Antoine Sussfeld
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Karan S Saini
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Isabel Beets
- Department of Biology, KU of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petra E Vértes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - William R Schafer
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK; Department of Biology, KU of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eyal Ben-David
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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2
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Qian X, Coleman K, Jiang S, Kriz AJ, Marciano JH, Luo C, Cai C, Manam MD, Caglayan E, Lai A, Exposito-Alonso D, Otani A, Ghosh U, Shao DD, Andersen RE, Neil JE, Johnson R, LeFevre A, Hecht JL, Micali N, Sestan N, Rakic P, Miller MB, Sun L, Stringer C, Li M, Walsh CA. Spatial transcriptomics reveals human cortical layer and area specification. Nature 2025:10.1038/s41586-025-09010-1. [PMID: 40369074 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2025] [Indexed: 05/16/2025]
Abstract
The human cerebral cortex is composed of six layers and dozens of areas that are molecularly and structurally distinct1-4. Although single-cell transcriptomic studies have advanced the molecular characterization of human cortical development, a substantial gap exists owing to the loss of spatial context during cell dissociation5-8. Here we used multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH)9, augmented with deep-learning-based nucleus segmentation, to examine the molecular, cellular and cytoarchitectural development of the human fetal cortex with spatially resolved single-cell resolution. Our extensive spatial atlas, encompassing more than 18 million single cells, spans eight cortical areas across seven developmental time points. We uncovered the early establishment of the six-layer structure, identifiable by the laminar distribution of excitatory neuron subtypes, 3 months before the emergence of cytoarchitectural layers. Notably, we discovered two distinct modes of cortical areal specification during mid-gestation: (1) a continuous, gradual transition observed across most cortical areas along the anterior-posterior axis and (2) a discrete, abrupt boundary specifically identified between the primary (V1) and secondary (V2) visual cortices as early as gestational week 20. This sharp binary transition in V1-V2 neuronal subtypes challenges the notion that mid-gestation cortical arealization involves only gradient-like transitions6,10. Furthermore, integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing with MERFISH revealed an early upregulation of synaptogenesis in V1-specific layer 4 neurons. Collectively, our findings underscore the crucial role of spatial relationships in determining the molecular specification of cortical layers and areas. This study establishes a spatially resolved single-cell analysis paradigm and paves the way for the construction of a comprehensive developmental atlas of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyu Qian
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Kyle Coleman
- Statistical Center for Single-Cell and Spatial Genomics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shunzhou Jiang
- Statistical Center for Single-Cell and Spatial Genomics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrea J Kriz
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jack H Marciano
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chunyu Luo
- Statistical Center for Single-Cell and Spatial Genomics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chunhui Cai
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Devi Manam
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emre Caglayan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abbe Lai
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Exposito-Alonso
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aoi Otani
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Urmi Ghosh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diane D Shao
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca E Andersen
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Neil
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert Johnson
- University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexandra LeFevre
- University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan L Hecht
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicola Micali
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pasko Rakic
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael B Miller
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liang Sun
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carsen Stringer
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Mingyao Li
- Statistical Center for Single-Cell and Spatial Genomics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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3
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Gao Y, Dong Q, Arachchilage KH, Risgaard RD, Syed M, Sheng J, Schmidt DK, Jin T, Liu S, Sandoval SO, Knaack S, Eckholm MT, Chen RJ, Guo Y, Doherty D, Glass I, Levine JE, Wang D, Chang Q, Zhao X, Sousa AMM. Multimodal analyses reveal genes driving electrophysiological maturation of neurons in the primate prefrontal cortex. Neuron 2025:S0896-6273(25)00308-3. [PMID: 40398411 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.04.025] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 10/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2025] [Indexed: 05/23/2025]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for myriad high-cognitive functions and is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, using Patch-seq and single-nucleus multiomic analyses, we identified genes and regulatory networks governing the maturation of distinct neuronal populations in the PFC of rhesus macaque. We discovered that specific electrophysiological properties exhibited distinct maturational kinetics and identified key genes underlying these properties. We unveiled that RAPGEF4 is important for the maturation of resting membrane potential and inward sodium current in both macaque and human. We demonstrated that knockdown of CHD8, a high-confidence autism risk gene, in human and macaque organotypic slices led to impaired maturation, via downregulation of key genes, including RAPGEF4. Restoring the expression of RAPGEF4 rescued the proper electrophysiological maturation of CHD8-deficient neurons. Our study revealed regulators of neuronal maturation during a critical period of PFC development in primates and implicated such regulators in molecular processes underlying autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Qiping Dong
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Ryan D Risgaard
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Moosa Syed
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jie Sheng
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Danielle K Schmidt
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Ting Jin
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Shuang Liu
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Soraya O Sandoval
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Sara Knaack
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Magnus T Eckholm
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Rachel J Chen
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Yu Guo
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Dan Doherty
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ian Glass
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jon E Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Daifeng Wang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Qiang Chang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Andre M M Sousa
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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4
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Liu Y, Li M, Segal A, Zhang M, Sestan N. Decoding human brain evolution: Insights from genomics. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2025; 92:103033. [PMID: 40334295 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2025.103033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2025] [Accepted: 04/07/2025] [Indexed: 05/09/2025]
Abstract
The human brain has undergone remarkable structural and functional specializations compared to that of nonhuman primates (NHPs), underlying the advanced cognitive abilities unique to humans. However, the cellular and genetic basis driving these specializations remains largely unknown. Comparing humans to our closest living relatives, chimpanzee and other great apes, is essential for identifying truly human-specific features. Recent comparative studies with closely related NHPs at the single-cell resolution using multimodal genomic profiling, assisted with high-throughput functional screening have provided unprecedented insights into human-specific brain features and their genetic underpinnings. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge of human brain evolution at cellular and molecular levels, emphasizing how genetic changes have shaped these adaptations. We also discuss the emerging opportunities presented by new technologies and comprehensive atlases for advancing our understanding of human brain evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Mingli Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ashlea Segal
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Wu-Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Menglei Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Wu-Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA; Departments of Comparative Medicine, Genetics, and Psychiatry, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
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5
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Mostajo-Radji MA, Leon WRM, Breevoort A, Gonzalez-Ferrer J, Schweiger HE, Lehrer J, Zhou L, Schmitz MT, Perez Y, Mukhtar T, Robbins A, Chu J, Andrews MG, Sullivan FN, Tejera D, Choy EC, Paredes MF, Teodorescu M, Kriegstein AR, Alvarez-Buylla A, Pollen AA. Fate plasticity of interneuron specification. iScience 2025; 28:112295. [PMID: 40264797 PMCID: PMC12013500 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2024] [Revised: 01/21/2025] [Accepted: 03/24/2025] [Indexed: 04/24/2025] Open
Abstract
Neuronal subtype generation in the mammalian central nervous system is governed by competing genetic programs. The medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) produces two major cortical interneuron (IN) populations, somatostatin (Sst) and parvalbumin (Pvalb), which develop on different timelines. The extent to which external signals influence these identities remains unclear. Pvalb-positive INs are crucial for cortical circuit regulation but challenging to model in vitro. We grafted mouse MGE progenitors into diverse 2D and 3D co-culture systems, including mouse and human cortical, MGE, and thalamic models. Strikingly, only 3D human corticogenesis models promoted efficient, non-autonomous Pvalb differentiation, characterized by upregulation of Pvalb maturation markers, downregulation of Sst-specific markers, and the formation of perineuronal nets. Additionally, lineage-traced postmitotic Sst-positive INs upregulated Pvalb when grafted onto human cortical models. These findings reveal unexpected fate plasticity in MGE-derived INs, suggesting that their identities can be dynamically shaped by the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A. Mostajo-Radji
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Walter R. Mancia Leon
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arnar Breevoort
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jesus Gonzalez-Ferrer
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Hunter E. Schweiger
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Julian Lehrer
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Li Zhou
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Matthew T. Schmitz
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Yonatan Perez
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Tanzila Mukhtar
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ash Robbins
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Julia Chu
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Madeline G. Andrews
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Dario Tejera
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Eric C. Choy
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Mercedes F. Paredes
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mircea Teodorescu
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Arnold R. Kriegstein
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Alex A. Pollen
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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6
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Jansma A, Yao Y, Wolfe J, Del Debbio L, Beentjes SV, Ponting CP, Khamseh A. High order expression dependencies finely resolve cryptic states and subtypes in single cell data. Mol Syst Biol 2025; 21:173-207. [PMID: 39748128 PMCID: PMC11790937 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-024-00074-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 10/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/31/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Single cells are typically typed by clustering into discrete locations in reduced dimensional transcriptome space. Here we introduce Stator, a data-driven method that identifies cell (sub)types and states without relying on cells' local proximity in transcriptome space. Stator labels the same single cell multiply, not just by type and subtype, but also by state such as activation, maturity or cell cycle sub-phase, through deriving higher-order gene expression dependencies from a sparse gene-by-cell expression matrix. Stator's finer resolution is clear from analyses of mouse embryonic brain, and human healthy or diseased liver. Rather than only coarse-scale labels of cell type, Stator further resolves cell types into subtypes, and these subtypes into stages of maturity and/or cell cycle phases, and yet further into portions of these phases. Among cryptically homogeneous embryonic cells, for example, Stator finds 34 distinct radial glia states whose gene expression forecasts their future GABAergic or glutamatergic neuronal fate. Further, Stator's fine resolution of liver cancer states reveals expression programmes that predict patient survival. We provide Stator as a Nextflow pipeline and Shiny App.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Jansma
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Yuelin Yao
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB, UK
| | - Jareth Wolfe
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Luigi Del Debbio
- Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Sjoerd V Beentjes
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Chris P Ponting
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Ava Khamseh
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
- Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB, UK.
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7
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Wang Y, Fasching L, Wu F, Suvakov M, Huttner A, Berretta S, Roberts R, Leckman JF, Fernandez TV, Abyzov A, Vaccarino FM. Interneuron Loss and Microglia Activation by Transcriptome Analyses in the Basal Ganglia of Tourette Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2025:S0006-3223(25)00064-2. [PMID: 39892689 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 11/28/2024] [Accepted: 12/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tourette disorder (TS) is characterized by motor hyperactivity and tics that are believed to originate in the basal ganglia. Postmortem immunocytochemical analyses has revealed decreases in cholinergic (CH), as well as parvalbumin and somatostatin GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) interneurons (INs) within the caudate/putamen of individuals with TS. METHODS We obtained transcriptome and open chromatin datasets by single-nucleus RNA sequencing and single-nucleus ATAC sequencing, respectively, from caudate/putamen postmortem specimens of 6 adults with TS and 6 matched normal control subjects. Differential gene expression and differential chromatin accessibility analyses were performed in identified cell types. RESULTS The data reproduced the known cellular composition of the human striatum, including a majority of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) and small populations of GABA-INs and CH-INs. INs were decreased by ∼50% in TS brains, with no difference in other cell types. Differential gene expression analysis suggested that mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in MSNs and synaptic adhesion and function in INs were both decreased in subjects with TS, while there was activation of immune response in microglia. Gene expression changes correlated with changes in activity of cis-regulatory elements, suggesting a relationship of transcriptomic and regulatory abnormalities in MSNs, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes of TS brains. CONCLUSIONS This initial analysis of the TS basal ganglia transcriptome at the single-cell level confirms the loss and synaptic dysfunction of basal ganglia INs, consistent with in vivo basal ganglia hyperactivity. In parallel, oxidative metabolism was decreased in MSNs and correlated with activation of microglia cells, which is attributable at least in part to dysregulated activity of putative enhancers, implicating altered epigenomic regulation in TS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wang
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Liana Fasching
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Feinan Wu
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Milovan Suvakov
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Anita Huttner
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Sabina Berretta
- McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Rosalinda Roberts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | | | | | - Alexej Abyzov
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
| | - Flora M Vaccarino
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, New Haven, Connecticut.
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8
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Mi XQ, Liu BC, Qu L, Yuan Y, Li H, Xu AY, Zhang YL, Xie JX, Song N. Intranasal iron administration induces iron deposition, immunoactivation, and cell-specific vulnerability in the olfactory bulb of C57BL/6 mice. Zool Res 2025; 46:209-224. [PMID: 39846197 PMCID: PMC11891001 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2024.240] [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: 09/18/2024] [Accepted: 10/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2025] Open
Abstract
Iron is the most abundant transition metal in the brain and is essential for brain development and neuronal function; however, its abnormal accumulation is also implicated in various neurological disorders. The olfactory bulb (OB), an early target in neurodegenerative diseases, acts as a gateway for environmental toxins and contains diverse neuronal populations with distinct roles. This study explored the cell-specific vulnerability to iron in the OB using a mouse model of intranasal administration of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC). Olfactory function was assessed through olfactory discrimination tests, while iron levels in OB tissues, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and serum were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), immunohistochemical staining, and iron assays. Transcriptomic changes and immune responses were assessed using RNA sequencing and immune cell infiltration analysis. Results showed that intranasal FAC administration impaired olfactory function, accompanied by iron deposition in the olfactory mucosa and OB, as well as damage to olfactory sensory neurons. Notably, these effects occurred without elevations in CSF or serum iron levels. OB iron accumulation activated multiple immune cells, including microglia and astrocytes, but did not trigger ferroptosis. Spatial transcriptomic sequencing of healthy adult mouse OBs revealed significant cellular heterogeneity, with an abundance of neuroglia and neurons. Among neurons, GABAergic neurons were the most prevalent, followed by glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurons, while cholinergic and serotonergic neurons were sparsely distributed. Under iron-stressed conditions, oligodendrocytes, dopaminergic neurons, and glutamatergic neurons exhibited significant damage, while GABAergic neurons remained unaffected. These findings highlight the selective vulnerability of neuronal and glial populations to iron-induced stress, offering novel insights into the loss of specific cell types in the OB during iron dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qing Mi
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Bao-Chen Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Le Qu
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Yu Yuan
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Ao-Yang Xu
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Yu-Lin Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Jun-Xia Xie
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China. E-mail:
| | - Ning Song
- School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Brain Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China. E-mail:
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9
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Feng X, Gao Y, Chu F, Shan Y, Liu M, Wang Y, Zhu Y, Lu Q, Li M. Cortical arealization of interneurons defines shared and distinct molecular programs in developing human and macaque brains. Nat Commun 2025; 16:672. [PMID: 39809789 PMCID: PMC11733295 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56058-8] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2025] [Indexed: 01/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Cortical interneurons generated from ganglionic eminence via a long-distance journey of tangential migration display evident cellular and molecular differences across brain regions, which seeds the heterogeneous cortical circuitry in primates. However, whether such regional specifications in interneurons are intrinsically encoded or gained through interactions with the local milieu remains elusive. Here, we recruit 685,692 interneurons from cerebral cortex and subcortex including ganglionic eminence within the developing human and macaque species. Our integrative and comparative analyses reveal that less transcriptomic alteration is accompanied by interneuron migration within the ganglionic eminence subdivisions, in contrast to the dramatic changes observed in cortical tangential migration, which mostly characterize the transcriptomic specification for different destinations and for species divergence. Moreover, the in-depth survey of temporal regulation illustrates species differences in the developmental dynamics of cell types, e.g., the employment of CRH in primate interneurons during late-fetal stage distinguishes from their postnatal emergence in mice, and our entropy quantifications manifest the interneuron diversities gradually increase along the developmental ages in human and macaque cerebral cortices. Overall, our analyses depict the spatiotemporal features appended to cortical interneurons, providing a new proxy for understanding the relationship between cellular diversity and functional progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangling Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingjie Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan Chu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuwen Shan
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medical Education, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meicheng Liu
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medical Education, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaoyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingfeng Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
- Innovation center for Brain Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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10
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Wang L, Wang C, Moriano JA, Chen S, Zuo G, Cebrián-Silla A, Zhang S, Mukhtar T, Wang S, Song M, de Oliveira LG, Bi Q, Augustin JJ, Ge X, Paredes MF, Huang EJ, Alvarez-Buylla A, Duan X, Li J, Kriegstein AR. Molecular and cellular dynamics of the developing human neocortex. Nature 2025:10.1038/s41586-024-08351-7. [PMID: 39779846 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08351-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025]
Abstract
The development of the human neocortex is highly dynamic, involving complex cellular trajectories controlled by gene regulation1. Here we collected paired single-nucleus chromatin accessibility and transcriptome data from 38 human neocortical samples encompassing both the prefrontal cortex and the primary visual cortex. These samples span five main developmental stages, ranging from the first trimester to adolescence. In parallel, we performed spatial transcriptomic analysis on a subset of the samples to illustrate spatial organization and intercellular communication. This atlas enables us to catalogue cell-type-specific, age-specific and area-specific gene regulatory networks underlying neural differentiation. Moreover, combining single-cell profiling, progenitor purification and lineage-tracing experiments, we have untangled the complex lineage relationships among progenitor subtypes during the neurogenesis-to-gliogenesis transition. We identified a tripotential intermediate progenitor subtype-tripotential intermediate progenitor cells (Tri-IPCs)-that is responsible for the local production of GABAergic neurons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells and astrocytes. Notably, most glioblastoma cells resemble Tri-IPCs at the transcriptomic level, suggesting that cancer cells hijack developmental processes to enhance growth and heterogeneity. Furthermore, by integrating our atlas data with large-scale genome-wide association study data, we created a disease-risk map highlighting enriched risk associated with autism spectrum disorder in second-trimester intratelencephalic neurons. Our study sheds light on the molecular and cellular dynamics of the developing human neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Cheng Wang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Juan A Moriano
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Songcang Chen
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Guolong Zuo
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arantxa Cebrián-Silla
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shaobo Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tanzila Mukhtar
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shaohui Wang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mengyi Song
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lilian Gomes de Oliveira
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuro-immune Interactions Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Immunology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Qiuli Bi
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan J Augustin
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xinxin Ge
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mercedes F Paredes
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Eric J Huang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xin Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jingjing Li
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Arnold R Kriegstein
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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11
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Zhuo L, Wang M, Song T, Zhong S, Zeng B, Liu Z, Zhou X, Wang W, Wu Q, He S, Wang X. MAPbrain: a multi-omics atlas of the primate brain. Nucleic Acids Res 2025; 53:D1055-D1065. [PMID: 39420633 PMCID: PMC11701655 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2024] [Revised: 09/26/2024] [Accepted: 10/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The brain is the central hub of the entire nervous system. Its development is a lifelong process guided by a genetic blueprint. Understanding how genes influence brain development is critical for deciphering the formation of human cognitive functions and the underlying mechanisms of neurological disorders. Recent advances in multi-omics techniques have now made it possible to explore these aspects comprehensively. However, integrating and analyzing extensive multi-omics data presents significant challenges. Here, we introduced MAPbrain (http://bigdata.ibp.ac.cn/mapBRAIN/), a multi-omics atlas of the primate brain. This repository integrates and normalizes both our own lab's published data and publicly available multi-omics data, encompassing 21 million brain cells from 38 key brain regions and 436 sub-regions across embryonic and adult stages, with 164 time points in humans and non-human primates. MAPbrain offers a unique, robust, and interactive platform that includes transcriptomics, epigenomics, and spatial transcriptomics data, facilitating a comprehensive exploration of brain development. The platform enables the exploration of cell type- and time point-specific markers, gene expression comparison between brain regions and species, joint analyses across transcriptome and epigenome, and navigation of cell types across species, brain regions, and development stages. Additionally, MAPbrain provides an online integration module for users to navigate and analyze their own data within the platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangchen Zhuo
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengdi Wang
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tingrui Song
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Suijuan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bo Zeng
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zeyuan Liu
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shunmin He
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
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12
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Chung C, Girgiss J, Gleeson JG. A comparative view of human and mouse telencephalon inhibitory neuron development. Development 2025; 152:dev204306. [PMID: 39745314 PMCID: PMC11829773 DOI: 10.1242/dev.204306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2025]
Abstract
Human GABAergic inhibitory neurons (INs) in the telencephalon play crucial roles in modulating neural circuits, generating cortical oscillations, and maintaining the balance between excitation and inhibition. The major IN subtypes are based on their gene expression profiles, morphological diversity and circuit-specific functions. Although previous foundational work has established that INs originate in the ganglionic eminence regions in mice, recent studies have questioned origins in humans and non-human primates. We review the origins of INs in mice and compare with recent findings from primary human prenatal brain tissue culture experiments and lineage analysis from somatic variants in neurotypical human cadavers and human brain organoids. Together, these studies suggest potential primate- or human-specific processes that may have been overlooked in mouse models and could have implications for brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changuk Chung
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Joseph Girgiss
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Joseph G. Gleeson
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
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13
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Campos LJ, Drzewiecki CM, Fox AS. Insights into the Neurobiology of Behavioral Inhibition from Nonhuman Primate Models. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 39739174 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2024_561] [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: 01/02/2025]
Abstract
Children with extreme behavioral inhibition (BI) are at a significantly greater risk to develop anxiety disorders later in life. We and others have identified similar early-life temperamental BI in nonhuman primates (NHPs), including rhesus monkeys. NHP models of BI provide a unique opportunity to study the neurobiology of BI in a species that shares biological, developmental, and socioemotional similarities with humans. Rhesus monkey models have identified a distributed brain circuit that includes the central extended amygdala (EAc) as being critical for the genesis of BI. By leveraging multimodal neuroimaging, brain lesions, RNA-sequencing, and viral vector manipulations in rhesus monkeys, these studies have identified specific brain regions, genetic factors, and molecular mechanisms that causally contribute to BI. Here, we discuss these findings from NHPs and how they fit into a translational framework that can contribute to our understanding of the neural circuits that give rise to the risk to develop anxiety and depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian J Campos
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Carly M Drzewiecki
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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14
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Amin ND, Kelley KW, Kaganovsky K, Onesto M, Hao J, Miura Y, McQueen JP, Reis N, Narazaki G, Li T, Kulkarni S, Pavlov S, Pașca SP. Generating human neural diversity with a multiplexed morphogen screen in organoids. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:1831-1846.e9. [PMID: 39642864 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.10.016] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 12/09/2024]
Abstract
Morphogens choreograph the generation of remarkable cellular diversity in the developing nervous system. Differentiation of stem cells in vitro often relies upon the combinatorial modulation of these signaling pathways. However, the lack of a systematic approach to understand morphogen-directed differentiation has precluded the generation of many neural cell populations, and the general principles of regional specification and maturation remain incomplete. Here, we developed an arrayed screen of 14 morphogen modulators in human neural organoids cultured for over 70 days. Deconvolution of single-cell-multiplexed RNA sequencing data revealed design principles of brain region specification. We tuned neural subtype diversity to generate a tachykinin 3 (TAC3)-expressing striatal interneuron type within assembloids. To circumvent limitations of in vitro neuronal maturation, we used a neonatal rat transplantation strategy that enabled human Purkinje neurons to develop their hallmark complex dendritic branching. This comprehensive platform yields insights into the factors influencing stem cell-derived neural diversification and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal D Amin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kevin W Kelley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Konstantin Kaganovsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Massimo Onesto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jin Hao
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yuki Miura
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - James P McQueen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Noah Reis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Genta Narazaki
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tommy Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shravanti Kulkarni
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sergey Pavlov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sergiu P Pașca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute & Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA.
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15
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Hu R, Boshans LL, Zhu B, Cai P, Tao Y, Youssef M, Girrbach GI, Song Y, Wang X, Tsankov A, Buxbaum JD, Ma S, Yang N. Expanding GABAergic Neuronal Diversity in iPSC-Derived Disease Models. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.12.03.626438. [PMID: 39677822 PMCID: PMC11642846 DOI: 10.1101/2024.12.03.626438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
GABAergic interneurons play a critical role in maintaining neural circuit function, and their dysfunction is implicated in various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Traditional approaches for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into neuronal cells often face challenges such as incomplete neural differentiation, prolonged culture periods, and variability across PSC lines. To address these limitations, we developed a new strategy that integrates overexpression of transcription factors ASCL1 and DLX2 with dual-SMAD and WNT inhibition, efficiently driving the differentiation of human PSCs into diverse, region-specific GABAergic neuronal types. Using single-cell sequencing, we characterized the cellular heterogeneity of GABAergic induced neurons (iNs) generated with the patterning factors (patterned iNs) and those derived solely with transcription factors (PSC-derived iNs), uncovering the regulatory mechanisms that govern their fate specification. Patterned iNs exhibited gene expression features corresponding to multiple brain regions, particularly ganglionic eminence (GE) and neocortex, while GABAergic PSC-derived iNs predominantly resembled hypothalamic and thalamic neurons. Both iN types were enriched for genes relevant to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, with patterned iNs more specifically linked to neural lineage genes, highlighting their utility for disease modeling. We further applied this protocol to investigate the impact of an ADNP syndrome-associated mutation (p.Tyr719* variant) on GABAergic neuron differentiation, revealing that this mutation disrupts GABAergic fate specification and synaptic transmission. Overall, this study expands the toolkit for disease modeling by demonstrating the complementary advantages of GABAergic PSC-derived iNs and patterned iNs in representing distinct GABAergic neuron subtypes, brain regions, and disease contexts. These approaches offer a powerful platform for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Hu
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Alper Center for Neurodevelopment and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Linda L Boshans
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Alper Center for Neurodevelopment and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Bohan Zhu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Peiwen Cai
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yiran Tao
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Alper Center for Neurodevelopment and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Mark Youssef
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Alper Center for Neurodevelopment and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gizem Inak Girrbach
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Alper Center for Neurodevelopment and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Yingnan Song
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Xuran Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Alexander Tsankov
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sai Ma
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Nan Yang
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Alper Center for Neurodevelopment and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Lead contact
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16
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Fox AS, Shackman AJ. An Honest Reckoning With the Amygdala and Mental Illness. Am J Psychiatry 2024; 181:1059-1075. [PMID: 39616453 PMCID: PMC11611071 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20240941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are a leading source of human misery, morbidity, and premature mortality. Existing treatments are far from curative for many, underscoring the need to clarify the underlying neural mechanisms. Although many brain regions contribute, the amygdala has received the most intense scientific attention. Over the past several decades, this scrutiny has yielded a detailed understanding of amygdala function, but it has failed to produce new clinical assays, biomarkers, or cures. Rising to this urgent public health challenge demands an honest reckoning with the functional-neuroanatomical complexity of the amygdala and a shift from theories anchored on "the amygdala" to models centered on specific amygdala nuclei and cell types. This review begins by examining evidence from studies of rodents, monkeys, and humans for the "canonical model," the idea that the amygdala plays a central role in fear- and anxiety-related states, traits, and disorders. Next, the authors selectively highlight work indicating that the canonical model, while true, is overly simplistic and fails to adequately capture the actual state of the evidentiary record, the breadth of amygdala-associated functions and illnesses, or the complexity of the amygdala's functional architecture. The authors describe the implications of these facts for basic and clinical neuroimaging research. The review concludes with some general recommendations for grappling with the complexity of the amygdala and accelerating efforts to understand and more effectively treat amygdala-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Fox
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Alexander J. Shackman
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
- Department of Maryland Neuroimaging Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
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17
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Kamboj S, Carlson EL, Ander BP, Hanson KL, Murray KD, Fudge JL, Bauman MD, Schumann CM, Fox AS. Translational Insights From Cell Type Variation Across Amygdala Subnuclei in Rhesus Monkeys and Humans. Am J Psychiatry 2024; 181:1086-1102. [PMID: 39473267 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Theories of amygdala function are central to our understanding of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, limited knowledge of the molecular and cellular composition of the amygdala impedes translational research aimed at developing new treatments and interventions. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the composition of amygdala cells to help bridge the gap between preclinical models and human psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS Tissue was dissected from multiple amygdala subnuclei in both humans (N=3, male) and rhesus macaques (N=3, male). Single-nucleus RNA sequencing was performed to characterize the transcriptomes of individual nuclei. RESULTS The results reveal substantial heterogeneity between regions, even when restricted to inhibitory or excitatory neurons. Consistent with previous work, the data highlight the complexities of individual marker genes for uniquely targeting specific cell types. Cross-species analyses suggest that the rhesus monkey model is well-suited to understanding the human amygdala, but also identify limitations. For example, a cell cluster in the ventral lateral nucleus of the amygdala (vLa) is enriched in humans relative to rhesus macaques. Additionally, the data describe specific cell clusters with relative enrichment of disorder-related genes. These analyses point to the human-enriched vLa cell cluster as relevant to autism spectrum disorder, potentially highlighting a vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders that has emerged in recent primate evolution. Further, a cluster of cells expressing markers for intercalated cells is enriched for genes reported in human genome-wide association studies of neuroticism, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings shed light on the composition of the amygdala and identify specific cell types that can be prioritized in basic science research to better understand human psychopathology and guide the development of potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Kamboj
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Erin L Carlson
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Bradley P Ander
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Kari L Hanson
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Karl D Murray
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Julie L Fudge
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychology (Kamboj, Fox), California National Primate Research Center (Kamboj, Bauman, Fox), and MIND Institute (Carlson, Ander, Hanson, Bauman, Schumann), University of California, Davis; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Carlson, Hanson, Schumann), Department of Neurology (Ander), and Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology (Murray, Bauman), School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (Fudge)
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18
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Colonna M, Konopka G, Liddelow SA, Nowakowski T, Awatramani R, Bateup HS, Cadwell CR, Caglayan E, Chen JL, Gillis J, Kampmann M, Krienen F, Marsh SE, Monje M, O'Dea MR, Patani R, Pollen AA, Quintana FJ, Scavuzzo M, Schmitz M, Sloan SA, Tesar PJ, Tollkuhn J, Tosches MA, Urbanek ME, Werner JM, Bayraktar OA, Gokce O, Habib N. Implementation and validation of single-cell genomics experiments in neuroscience. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:2310-2325. [PMID: 39627589 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01814-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2024] [Indexed: 12/13/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell or single-nucleus transcriptomics is a powerful tool for identifying cell types and cell states. However, hypotheses derived from these assays, including gene expression information, require validation, and their functional relevance needs to be established. The choice of validation depends on numerous factors. Here, we present types of orthogonal and functional validation experiment to strengthen preliminary findings obtained using single-cell and single-nucleus transcriptomics as well as the challenges and limitations of these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Colonna
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Tomasz Nowakowski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Rajeshwar Awatramani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Helen S Bateup
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cathryn R Cadwell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emre Caglayan
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jerry L Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Neurophotonics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Gillis
- Department of Physiology and Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Fenna Krienen
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Samuel E Marsh
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael R O'Dea
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rickie Patani
- Department of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, Human Stem Cells and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, London, UK
| | - Alex A Pollen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marissa Scavuzzo
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, OH, USA
- Institute for Glial Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Matthew Schmitz
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven A Sloan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paul J Tesar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, OH, USA
- Institute for Glial Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Madeleine E Urbanek
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Werner
- Department of Physiology and Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | - Ozgun Gokce
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
| | - Naomi Habib
- Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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19
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Fair T, Pavlovic BJ, Swope D, Castillo OE, Schaefer NK, Pollen AA. Mapping cis- and trans-regulatory target genes of human-specific deletions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.27.573461. [PMID: 38234800 PMCID: PMC10793408 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.27.573461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Deletion of functional sequence is predicted to represent a fundamental mechanism of molecular evolution1,2. Comparative genetic studies of primates2,3 have identified thousands of human-specific deletions (hDels), and the cis-regulatory potential of short (≤31 base pairs) hDels has been assessed using reporter assays4. However, how structural variant-sized (≥50 base pairs) hDels influence molecular and cellular processes in their native genomic contexts remains unexplored. Here, we design genome-scale libraries of single-guide RNAs targeting 7.2 megabases of sequence in 6,358 hDels and present a systematic CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screening approach to identify hDels that modify cellular proliferation in chimpanzee pluripotent stem cells. By intersecting hDels with chromatin state features and performing single-cell CRISPRi (Perturb-seq) to identify their cis- and trans-regulatory target genes, we discovered 20 hDels controlling gene expression. We highlight two hDels, hDel_2247 and hDel_585, with tissue-specific activity in the brain. Our findings reveal a molecular and cellular role for sequences lost in the human lineage and establish a framework for functionally interrogating human-specific genetic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Fair
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bryan J Pavlovic
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dani Swope
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Octavio E Castillo
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nathan K Schaefer
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alex A Pollen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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20
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Toker IA, Ripoll-Sánchez L, Geiger LT, Saini KS, Beets I, Vértes PE, Schafer WR, Ben-David E, Hobert O. Molecular patterns of evolutionary changes throughout the whole nervous system of multiple nematode species. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.11.23.624988. [PMID: 39651161 PMCID: PMC11623510 DOI: 10.1101/2024.11.23.624988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2024]
Abstract
One avenue to better understand brain evolution is to map molecular patterns of evolutionary changes in neuronal cell types across entire nervous systems of distantly related species. Generating whole-animal single-cell transcriptomes of three nematode species from the Caenorhabditis genus, we observed a remarkable stability of neuronal cell type identities over more than 45 million years of evolution. Conserved patterns of combinatorial expression of homeodomain transcription factors are among the best classifiers of homologous neuron classes. Unexpectedly, we discover an extensive divergence in neuronal signaling pathways. While identities of neurotransmitter-producing neurons (glutamate, acetylcholine, GABA and several monoamines) remain stable, ionotropic and metabotropic receptors for all these neurotransmitter systems show substantial divergence, resulting in more than half of all neuron classes changing their capacity to be receptive to specific neurotransmitters. Neuropeptidergic signaling is also remarkably divergent, both at the level of neuropeptide expression and receptor expression, yet the overall dense network topology of the wireless neuropeptidergic connectome remains stable. Novel neuronal signaling pathways are suggested by our discovery of small secreted proteins that show no obvious hallmarks of conventional neuropeptides, but show similar patterns of highly neuron-type-specific and highly evolvable expression profiles. In conclusion, by investigating the evolution of entire nervous systems at the resolution of single neuron classes, we uncover patterns that may reflect basic principles governing evolutionary novelty in neuronal circuits.
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21
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Meyer-Acosta KK, Diaz-Guerra E, Varma P, Aruk A, Mirsadeghi S, Perez AM, Rafati Y, Hosseini A, Nieto-Estevez V, Giugliano M, Navara C, Hsieh J. APOE4 impacts cortical neurodevelopment and alters network formation in human brain organoids. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.10.07.617044. [PMID: 39416105 PMCID: PMC11482793 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.07.617044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E4 ( APOE4 ) is the leading genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. While most studies examine the role of APOE4 in aging, imaging, and cognitive assessments reveal that APOE4 influences brain structure and function as early as infancy. Here, we examined human-relevant cellular phenotypes across neurodevelopment using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived cortical and ganglionic eminence organoids (COs and GEOs). In COs, we showed that APOE4 decreased BRN2+ and SATB2+ cortical neurons, increased astrocytes and outer radial glia, and was associated with increased cell death and dysregulated GABA-related gene expression. In GEOs, APOE4 accelerated maturation of neural progenitors and neurons. Multi-electrode array recordings in assembloids revealed that APOE4 disrupted network formation and altered response to GABA, resulting in heightened excitability and synchronicity. Together, our data provides new insights into how APOE4 may influence cortical neurodevelopmental processes and network formation in the human brain.
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22
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Caglayan E, Konopka G. Evolutionary neurogenomics at single-cell resolution. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 88:102239. [PMID: 39094380 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The human brain is composed of increasingly recognized heterogeneous cell types. Applying single-cell genomics to brain tissue can elucidate relative cell type proportions as well as differential gene expression and regulation among humans and other species. Here, we review recent studies that utilized high-throughput genomics approaches to compare brains among species at single-cell resolution. These studies identified genomic elements that are similar among species as well as evolutionary novelties on the human lineage. We focus on those human-relevant innovations and discuss the biological implications of these modifications. Finally, we discuss areas of comparative single-cell genomics that remain unexplored either due to needed technological advances or due to biological availability at the brain region or species level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Caglayan
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Zhao HT, Schmidt ER. Human-specific genetic modifiers of cortical architecture and function. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 88:102241. [PMID: 39111228 PMCID: PMC11547859 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Evolution of the cerebral cortex is thought to have been critical for the emergence of our cognitive abilities. Major features of cortical evolution include increased neuron number and connectivity and altered morpho-electric properties of cortical neurons. Significant progress has been made in identifying human-specific genetic modifiers (HSGMs), some of which are involved in shaping these features of cortical architecture. But how did these evolutionary changes support the emergence of our cognitive abilities? Here, we highlight recent studies aimed at examining the impact of HSGMs on cortical circuit function and behavior. We also discuss the need for greater insight into the link between evolution of cortical architecture and the functional and computational properties of neuronal circuits, as we seek to provide a neurobiological foundation for human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanzhi T Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Suite 403 BSB, MSC510, 173 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Ewoud Re Schmidt
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Suite 403 BSB, MSC510, 173 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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24
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Doll HM, Risgaard RD, Thurston H, Chen RJ, Sousa AM. Evolutionary innovations in the primate dopaminergic system. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 88:102236. [PMID: 39153332 PMCID: PMC11384322 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
The human brain has evolved unique capabilities compared to other vertebrates. The mechanistic basis of these derived traits remains a fundamental question in biology due to its relevance to the origin of our cognitive abilities and behavioral repertoire, as well as to human-specific aspects of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Comparisons of the human brain to those of nonhuman primates and other mammals have revealed that differences in the neuromodulatory systems, especially in the dopaminergic system, may govern some of these behavioral and cognitive alterations, including increased vulnerability to certain brain disorders. In this review, we highlight and discuss recent findings of human- and primate-specific alterations of the dopaminergic system, focusing on differences in anatomy, circuitry, and molecular properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Doll
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ryan D Risgaard
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Hailey Thurston
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rachel J Chen
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - André Mm Sousa
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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25
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Zhang JW, Zhou HQ, Zhu Z, Ding YY, He Y, Wei XL, Xiao CF, Li YF, Lin WP, Yin DM. Adolescent administration of ketamine impairs excitatory synapse formation onto parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons in mouse prefrontal cortex. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 725:150272. [PMID: 38901224 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150272] [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: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, induces deficits in cognition and information processing following chronic abuse. Adolescent ketamine misuse represents a significant global public health issue; however, the neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely elusive. This study investigated the long-term effects of sub-chronic ketamine (Ket) administration on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and associated behaviors. In this study, Ket administration during early adolescence displayed a reduced density of excitatory synapses on parvalbumin (PV) neurons persisting into adulthood. However, the synaptic development of excitatory pyramidal neurons was not affected by ketamine administration. Furthermore, the adult Ket group exhibited hyperexcitability and impaired socialization and working memory compared to the saline (Sal) administration group. These results strongly suggest that sub-chronic ketamine administration during adolescence results in functional deficits that persist into adulthood. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the gene co-expression module1 (M1) decreased expression after ketamine exposure, which is crucial for synapse development in inhibitory neurons during adolescence. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that sub-chronic ketamine administration irreversibly impairs synaptic development, offering insights into potential new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Hai-Qian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Zhen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yang-Yang Ding
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Ying He
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xiao-Lian Wei
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Chen-Fan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yun-Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Wei-Peng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Dong-Min Yin
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China; NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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26
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Sorrells SF. Which neurodevelopmental processes continue in humans after birth? Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1434508. [PMID: 39308952 PMCID: PMC11412957 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1434508] [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: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Once we are born, the number and location of nerve cells in most parts of the brain remain unchanged. These types of structural changes are therefore a significant form of flexibility for the neural circuits where they occur. In humans, the postnatal birth of neurons is limited; however, neurons do continue to migrate into some brain regions throughout infancy and even into adolescence. In human infants, multiple migratory pathways deliver interneurons to destinations across the frontal and temporal lobe cortex. Shorter-range migration of excitatory neurons also appears to continue during adolescence, particularly near the amygdala paralaminar nucleus, a region that follows a delayed trajectory of growth from infancy to adulthood. The significance of the timing for when different brain regions recruit new neurons through these methods is unknown; however, both processes of protracted migration and maturation are prominent in humans. Mechanisms like these that reconfigure neuronal circuits are a substrate for critical periods of plasticity and could contribute to distinctive circuit functionality in human brains.
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27
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Hanson KL, Greiner DM, Schumann CM, Semendeferi K. Inhibitory Systems in Brain Evolution: Pathways of Vulnerability in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2024; 100:29-48. [PMID: 39137740 PMCID: PMC11822052 DOI: 10.1159/000540865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evolution of the primate brain has been characterized by the reorganization of key structures and circuits underlying derived specializations in sensory systems, as well as social behavior and cognition. Among these, expansion and elaboration of the prefrontal cortex has been accompanied by alterations to the connectivity and organization of subcortical structures, including the striatum and amygdala, underlying advanced aspects of executive function, inhibitory behavioral control, and socioemotional cognition seen in our lineages. At the cellular level, the primate brain has further seen an increase in the diversity and number of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons. A prevailing hypothesis holds that disruptions in the balance of excitatory to inhibitory activity in the brain underlies the pathophysiology of many neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. SUMMARY This review highlights the evolution of inhibitory brain systems and circuits and suggests that recent evolutionary modifications to GABAergic circuitry may provide the substrate for vulnerability to aberrant neurodevelopment. We further discuss how modifications to primate and human social organization and life history may shape brain development in ways that contribute to neurodivergence and the origins of neurodevelopmental disorders. KEY MESSAGES Many brain systems have seen functional reorganization in the mammalian, primate, and human brain. Alterations to inhibitory circuitry in frontostriatal and frontoamygdalar systems support changes in social behavior and cognition. Increased complexity of inhibitory systems may underlie vulnerabilities to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Changes observed in Williams syndrome may further elucidate the mechanisms by which alterations in inhibitory systems lead to changes in behavior and cognition. Developmental processes, including altered neuroimmune function and age-related vulnerability of inhibitory cells and synapses, may lead to worsening symptomatology in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. BACKGROUND The evolution of the primate brain has been characterized by the reorganization of key structures and circuits underlying derived specializations in sensory systems, as well as social behavior and cognition. Among these, expansion and elaboration of the prefrontal cortex has been accompanied by alterations to the connectivity and organization of subcortical structures, including the striatum and amygdala, underlying advanced aspects of executive function, inhibitory behavioral control, and socioemotional cognition seen in our lineages. At the cellular level, the primate brain has further seen an increase in the diversity and number of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons. A prevailing hypothesis holds that disruptions in the balance of excitatory to inhibitory activity in the brain underlies the pathophysiology of many neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. SUMMARY This review highlights the evolution of inhibitory brain systems and circuits and suggests that recent evolutionary modifications to GABAergic circuitry may provide the substrate for vulnerability to aberrant neurodevelopment. We further discuss how modifications to primate and human social organization and life history may shape brain development in ways that contribute to neurodivergence and the origins of neurodevelopmental disorders. KEY MESSAGES Many brain systems have seen functional reorganization in the mammalian, primate, and human brain. Alterations to inhibitory circuitry in frontostriatal and frontoamygdalar systems support changes in social behavior and cognition. Increased complexity of inhibitory systems may underlie vulnerabilities to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Changes observed in Williams syndrome may further elucidate the mechanisms by which alterations in inhibitory systems lead to changes in behavior and cognition. Developmental processes, including altered neuroimmune function and age-related vulnerability of inhibitory cells and synapses, may lead to worsening symptomatology in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L. Hanson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Demi M.Z. Greiner
- Department of Anthropology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia M. Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Katerina Semendeferi
- Department of Anthropology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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28
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Wang L, Wang C, Moriano JA, Chen S, Zuo G, Cebrián-Silla A, Zhang S, Mukhtar T, Wang S, Song M, de Oliveira LG, Bi Q, Augustin JJ, Ge X, Paredes MF, Huang EJ, Alvarez-Buylla A, Duan X, Li J, Kriegstein AR. Molecular and cellular dynamics of the developing human neocortex at single-cell resolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.16.575956. [PMID: 39131371 PMCID: PMC11312442 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.16.575956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
The development of the human neocortex is a highly dynamic process and involves complex cellular trajectories controlled by cell-type-specific gene regulation1. Here, we collected paired single-nucleus chromatin accessibility and transcriptome data from 38 human neocortical samples encompassing both the prefrontal cortex and primary visual cortex. These samples span five main developmental stages, ranging from the first trimester to adolescence. In parallel, we performed spatial transcriptomic analysis on a subset of the samples to illustrate spatial organization and intercellular communication. This atlas enables us to catalog cell type-, age-, and area-specific gene regulatory networks underlying neural differentiation. Moreover, combining single-cell profiling, progenitor purification, and lineage-tracing experiments, we have untangled the complex lineage relationships among progenitor subtypes during the transition from neurogenesis to gliogenesis in the human neocortex. We identified a tripotential intermediate progenitor subtype, termed Tri-IPC, responsible for the local production of GABAergic neurons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and astrocytes. Remarkably, most glioblastoma cells resemble Tri-IPCs at the transcriptomic level, suggesting that cancer cells hijack developmental processes to enhance growth and heterogeneity. Furthermore, by integrating our atlas data with large-scale GWAS data, we created a disease-risk map highlighting enriched ASD risk in second-trimester intratelencephalic projection neurons. Our study sheds light on the gene regulatory landscape and cellular dynamics of the developing human neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Cheng Wang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Juan A. Moriano
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- University of Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems; Barcelona, 08007, Spain
| | - Songcang Chen
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Guolong Zuo
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arantxa Cebrián-Silla
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Shaobo Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Tanzila Mukhtar
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Shaohui Wang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mengyi Song
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Lilian Gomes de Oliveira
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Neuro-immune Interactions Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Immunology, University of São Paulo; São Paulo, SP 05508-220, Brazil
| | - Qiuli Bi
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jonathan J. Augustin
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Xinxin Ge
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mercedes F. Paredes
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Eric J. Huang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Xin Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jingjing Li
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arnold R. Kriegstein
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Corrigan EK, DeBerardine M, Poddar A, Turrero García M, Schmitz MT, Harwell CC, Paredes MF, Krienen FM, Pollen AA. Conservation, alteration, and redistribution of mammalian striatal interneurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.29.605664. [PMID: 39131311 PMCID: PMC11312536 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.29.605664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian brains vary in size, structure, and function, but the extent to which evolutionarily novel cell types contribute to this variation remains unresolved1-4. Recent studies suggest there is a primate-specific population of striatal inhibitory interneurons, the TAC3 interneurons5. However, there has not yet been a detailed analysis of the spatial and phylogenetic distribution of this population. Here, we profile single cell gene expression in the developing pig (an ungulate) and ferret (a carnivore), representing 94 million years divergence from primates, and assign newborn inhibitory neurons to initial classes first specified during development6. We find that the initial class of TAC3 interneurons represents an ancestral striatal population that is also deployed towards the cortex in pig and ferret. In adult mouse, we uncover a rare population expressing Tac2, the ortholog of TAC3, in ventromedial striatum, prompting a reexamination of developing mouse striatal interneuron initial classes by targeted enrichment of their precursors. We conclude that the TAC3 interneuron initial class is conserved across Boreoeutherian mammals, with the mouse population representing Th striatal interneurons, a subset of which expresses Tac2. This study suggests that initial classes of telencephalic inhibitory neurons are largely conserved and that during evolution, neuronal types in the mammalian brain change through redistribution and fate refinement, rather than by derivation of novel precursors early in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Corrigan
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Aunoy Poddar
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Miguel Turrero García
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Corey C. Harwell
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Mercedes F. Paredes
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Fenna M. Krienen
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Alex A. Pollen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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30
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van Velthoven CTJ, Gao Y, Kunst M, Lee C, McMillen D, Chakka AB, Casper T, Clark M, Chakrabarty R, Daniel S, Dolbeare T, Ferrer R, Gloe J, Goldy J, Guzman J, Halterman C, Ho W, Huang M, James K, Nguy B, Pham T, Ronellenfitch K, Thomas ED, Torkelson A, Pagan CM, Kruse L, Dee N, Ng L, Waters J, Smith KA, Tasic B, Yao Z, Zeng H. The transcriptomic and spatial organization of telencephalic GABAergic neuronal types. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.18.599583. [PMID: 38948843 PMCID: PMC11212977 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The telencephalon of the mammalian brain comprises multiple regions and circuit pathways that play adaptive and integrative roles in a variety of brain functions. There is a wide array of GABAergic neurons in the telencephalon; they play a multitude of circuit functions, and dysfunction of these neurons has been implicated in diverse brain disorders. In this study, we conducted a systematic and in-depth analysis of the transcriptomic and spatial organization of GABAergic neuronal types in all regions of the mouse telencephalon and their developmental origins. This was accomplished by utilizing 611,423 single-cell transcriptomes from the comprehensive and high-resolution transcriptomic and spatial cell type atlas for the adult whole mouse brain we have generated, supplemented with an additional single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset containing 99,438 high-quality single-cell transcriptomes collected from the pre- and postnatal developing mouse brain. We present a hierarchically organized adult telencephalic GABAergic neuronal cell type taxonomy of 7 classes, 52 subclasses, 284 supertypes, and 1,051 clusters, as well as a corresponding developmental taxonomy of 450 clusters across different ages. Detailed charting efforts reveal extraordinary complexity where relationships among cell types reflect both spatial locations and developmental origins. Transcriptomically and developmentally related cell types can often be found in distant and diverse brain regions indicating that long-distance migration and dispersion is a common characteristic of nearly all classes of telencephalic GABAergic neurons. Additionally, we find various spatial dimensions of both discrete and continuous variations among related cell types that are correlated with gene expression gradients. Lastly, we find that cortical, striatal and some pallidal GABAergic neurons undergo extensive postnatal diversification, whereas septal and most pallidal GABAergic neuronal types emerge simultaneously during the embryonic stage with limited postnatal diversification. Overall, the telencephalic GABAergic cell type taxonomy can serve as a foundational reference for molecular, structural and functional studies of cell types and circuits by the entire community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuan Gao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Changkyu Lee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Scott Daniel
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tim Dolbeare
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jessica Gloe
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeff Goldy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Windy Ho
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mike Huang
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Beagan Nguy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lauren Kruse
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nick Dee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lydia Ng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jack Waters
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
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31
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Lindhout FW, Krienen FM, Pollard KS, Lancaster MA. A molecular and cellular perspective on human brain evolution and tempo. Nature 2024; 630:596-608. [PMID: 38898293 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07521-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of the modern human brain was accompanied by distinct molecular and cellular specializations, which underpin our diverse cognitive abilities but also increase our susceptibility to neurological diseases. These features, some specific to humans and others shared with related species, manifest during different stages of brain development. In this multi-stage process, neural stem cells proliferate to produce a large and diverse progenitor pool, giving rise to excitatory or inhibitory neurons that integrate into circuits during further maturation. This process unfolds over varying time scales across species and has progressively become slower in the human lineage, with differences in tempo correlating with differences in brain size, cell number and diversity, and connectivity. Here we introduce the terms 'bradychrony' and 'tachycrony' to describe slowed and accelerated developmental tempos, respectively. We review how recent technical advances across disciplines, including advanced engineering of in vitro models, functional comparative genetics and high-throughput single-cell profiling, are leading to a deeper understanding of how specializations of the human brain arise during bradychronic neurodevelopment. Emerging insights point to a central role for genetics, gene-regulatory networks, cellular innovations and developmental tempo, which together contribute to the establishment of human specializations during various stages of neurodevelopment and at different points in evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feline W Lindhout
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Fenna M Krienen
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Institute for Computational Health Sciences, and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Madeline A Lancaster
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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32
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Gao Y, Dong Q, Arachchilage KH, Risgaard R, Sheng J, Syed M, Schmidt DK, Jin T, Liu S, Knaack SA, Doherty D, Glass I, Levine JE, Wang D, Chang Q, Zhao X, Sousa AM. Multimodal analyses reveal genes driving electrophysiological maturation of neurons in the primate prefrontal cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.06.02.543460. [PMID: 37398253 PMCID: PMC10312516 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for myriad high-cognitive functions and is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, using Patch-seq and single-nucleus multiomic analyses, we identified genes and regulatory networks governing the maturation of distinct neuronal populations in the PFC of rhesus macaque. We discovered that specific electrophysiological properties exhibited distinct maturational kinetics and identified key genes underlying these properties. We unveiled that RAPGEF4 is important for the maturation of resting membrane potential and inward sodium current in both macaque and human. We demonstrated that knockdown of CHD8, a high-confidence autism risk gene, in human and macaque organotypic slices led to impaired maturation, via downregulation of key genes, including RAPGEF4. Restoring the expression of RAPGEF4 rescued the proper electrophysiological maturation of CHD8-deficient neurons. Our study revealed regulators of neuronal maturation during a critical period of PFC development in primates and implicated such regulators in molecular processes underlying autism.
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Wang Y, Fasching L, Wu F, Huttner A, Berretta S, Roberts R, Leckman JF, Abyzov A, Vaccarino FM. Interneuron loss and microglia activation by transcriptome analyses in the basal ganglia of Tourette syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.582504. [PMID: 38464084 PMCID: PMC10925323 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.582504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a disorder of high-order integration of sensory, motor, and cognitive functions afflicting as many as 1 in 150 children and characterized by motor hyperactivity and tics. Despite high familial recurrence rates, a few risk genes and no biomarkers have emerged as causative or predisposing factors. The syndrome is believed to originate in basal ganglia, where patterns of motor programs are encoded. Postmortem immunocytochemical analyses of brains with severe TS revealed decreases in cholinergic, fast-spiking parvalbumin, and somatostatin interneurons within the striatum (caudate and putamen nuclei). Here, we performed single cell transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility analyses of the caudate nucleus from 6 adult TS and 6 control post-mortem brains. The data reproduced the known cellular composition of the adult human striatum, including a majority of medium spiny neurons (MSN) and small populations of GABAergic and cholinergic interneurons. Comparative analysis revealed that interneurons were decreased by roughly 50% in TS brains, while no difference was observed for other cell types. Differential gene expression analysis suggested that mitochondrial function, and specifically oxidative metabolism, in MSN and synaptic function in interneurons are both impaired in TS subjects. Furthermore, such an impairment was coupled with activation of immune response pathways in microglia. Also, our data explicitly link gene expression changes to changes in cis-regulatory activity in the corresponding cell types, suggesting de-regulation as a factor for the etiology of TS. These findings expand on previous research and suggest that impaired modulation of striatal function by interneurons may be the origin of TS symptoms.
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Drzewiecki CM, Fox AS. Understanding the heterogeneity of anxiety using a translational neuroscience approach. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 24:228-245. [PMID: 38356013 PMCID: PMC11039504 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-024-01162-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders affect millions of people worldwide and present a challenge in neuroscience research because of their substantial heterogeneity in clinical presentation. While a great deal of progress has been made in understanding the neurobiology of fear and anxiety, these insights have not led to effective treatments. Understanding the relationship between phenotypic heterogeneity and the underlying biology is a critical first step in solving this problem. We show translation, reverse translation, and computational modeling can contribute to a refined, cross-species understanding of fear and anxiety as well as anxiety disorders. More specifically, we outline how animal models can be leveraged to develop testable hypotheses in humans by using targeted, cross-species approaches and ethologically informed behavioral paradigms. We discuss reverse translational approaches that can guide and prioritize animal research in nontraditional research species. Finally, we advocate for the use of computational models to harmonize cross-species and cross-methodology research into anxiety. Together, this translational neuroscience approach will help to bridge the widening gap between how we currently conceptualize and diagnose anxiety disorders, as well as aid in the discovery of better treatments for these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly M Drzewiecki
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Andrew S Fox
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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35
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Shen Y, Shao M, Hao ZZ, Huang M, Xu N, Liu S. Multimodal Nature of the Single-cell Primate Brain Atlas: Morphology, Transcriptome, Electrophysiology, and Connectivity. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:517-532. [PMID: 38194157 PMCID: PMC11003949 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01160-4] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Primates exhibit complex brain structures that augment cognitive function. The neocortex fulfills high-cognitive functions through billions of connected neurons. These neurons have distinct transcriptomic, morphological, and electrophysiological properties, and their connectivity principles vary. These features endow the primate brain atlas with a multimodal nature. The recent integration of next-generation sequencing with modified patch-clamp techniques is revolutionizing the way to census the primate neocortex, enabling a multimodal neuronal atlas to be established in great detail: (1) single-cell/single-nucleus RNA-seq technology establishes high-throughput transcriptomic references, covering all major transcriptomic cell types; (2) patch-seq links the morphological and electrophysiological features to the transcriptomic reference; (3) multicell patch-clamp delineates the principles of local connectivity. Here, we review the applications of these technologies in the primate neocortex and discuss the current advances and tentative gaps for a comprehensive understanding of the primate neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Mingting Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Zhao-Zhe Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Mengyao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Nana Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Sheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Liu P, Bo K, Ding M, Fang R. Emergence of Emotion Selectivity in Deep Neural Networks Trained to Recognize Visual Objects. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.04.16.537079. [PMID: 37163104 PMCID: PMC10168209 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.16.537079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that the visual cortex plays an important role in representing the affective significance of visual input. The origin of these affect-specific visual representations is debated: they are intrinsic to the visual system versus they arise through reentry from frontal emotion processing structures such as the amygdala. We examined this problem by combining convolutional neural network (CNN) models of the human ventral visual cortex pre-trained on ImageNet with two datasets of affective images. Our results show that (1) in all layers of the CNN models, there were artificial neurons that responded consistently and selectively to neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant images and (2) lesioning these neurons by setting their output to 0 or enhancing these neurons by increasing their gain led to decreased or increased emotion recognition performance respectively. These results support the idea that the visual system may have the intrinsic ability to represent the affective significance of visual input and suggest that CNNs offer a fruitful platform for testing neuroscientific theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Ke Bo
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Mingzhou Ding
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ruogu Fang
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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37
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Goltermann O, Alagöz G, Molz B, Fisher SE. Neuroimaging genomics as a window into the evolution of human sulcal organization. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae078. [PMID: 38466113 PMCID: PMC10926775 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae078] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Primate brain evolution has involved prominent expansions of the cerebral cortex, with largest effects observed in the human lineage. Such expansions were accompanied by fine-grained anatomical alterations, including increased cortical folding. However, the molecular bases of evolutionary alterations in human sulcal organization are not yet well understood. Here, we integrated data from recently completed large-scale neuroimaging genetic analyses with annotations of the human genome relevant to various periods and events in our evolutionary history. These analyses identified single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) heritability enrichments in fetal brain human-gained enhancer (HGE) elements for a number of sulcal structures, including the central sulcus, which is implicated in human hand dexterity. We zeroed in on a genomic region that harbors DNA variants associated with left central sulcus shape, an HGE element, and genetic loci involved in neurogenesis including ZIC4, to illustrate the value of this approach for probing the complex factors contributing to human sulcal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole Goltermann
- Max Planck School of Cognition, Stephanstrasse 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan 1, 6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gökberk Alagöz
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan 1, 6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Molz
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan 1, 6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon E Fisher
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan 1, 6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition & Behaviour, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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38
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Liao K, Xiang Y, Huang F, Huang M, Xu W, Lin Y, Liao P, Wang Z, Yang L, Tian X, Chen D, Wang Z, Liu S, Zhuang Z. Spatial and single-nucleus transcriptomics decoding the molecular landscape and cellular organization of avian optic tectum. iScience 2024; 27:109009. [PMID: 38333704 PMCID: PMC10850779 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The avian optic tectum (OT) has been studied for its diverse functions, yet a comprehensive molecular landscape at the cellular level has been lacking. In this study, we applied spatial transcriptome sequencing and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to explore the cellular organization and molecular characteristics of the avian OT from two species: Columba livia and Taeniopygia guttata. We identified precise layer structures and provided comprehensive layer-specific signatures of avian OT. Furthermore, we elucidated diverse functions in different layers, with the stratum griseum periventriculare (SGP) potentially playing a key role in advanced functions of OT, like fear response and associative learning. We characterized detailed neuronal subtypes and identified a population of FOXG1+ excitatory neurons, resembling those found in the mouse neocortex, potentially involved in neocortex-related functions and expansion of avian OT. These findings could contribute to our understanding of the architecture of OT, shedding light on visual perception and multifunctional association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo Liao
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Ya Xiang
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Fubaoqian Huang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Maolin Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Wenbo Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Youning Lin
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Pingfang Liao
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zishi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Lin Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xinmao Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Duoyuan Chen
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Zhenlong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Shiping Liu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Zhenkun Zhuang
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
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39
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Rhodes CT, Asokumar D, Sohn M, Naskar S, Elisha L, Stevenson P, Lee DR, Zhang Y, Rocha PP, Dale RK, Lee S, Petros TJ. Loss of Ezh2 in the medial ganglionic eminence alters interneuron fate, cell morphology and gene expression profiles. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1334244. [PMID: 38419656 PMCID: PMC10899338 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1334244] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2) is responsible for trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3), resulting in repression of gene expression. Here, we explore the role of Ezh2 in forebrain GABAergic interneuron development. Methods We removed Ezh2 in the MGE by generating Nkx2-1Cre;Ezh2 conditional knockout mice. We then characterized changes in MGE-derived interneuron fate and electrophysiological properties in juvenile mice, as well as alterations in gene expression, chromatin accessibility and histone modifications in the MGE. Results Loss of Ezh2 increases somatostatin-expressing (SST+) and decreases parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons in the forebrain. We observe fewer MGE-derived interneurons in the first postnatal week, indicating reduced interneuron production. Intrinsic electrophysiological properties in SST+ and PV+ interneurons are normal, but PV+ interneurons display increased axonal complexity in Ezh2 mutant mice. Single nuclei multiome analysis revealed differential gene expression patterns in the embryonic MGE that are predictive of these cell fate changes. Lastly, CUT&Tag analysis revealed that some genomic loci are particularly resistant or susceptible to shifts in H3K27me3 levels in the absence of Ezh2, indicating differential selectivity to epigenetic perturbation. Discussion Thus, loss of Ezh2 in the MGE alters interneuron fate, morphology, and gene expression and regulation. These findings have important implications for both normal development and potentially in disease etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Rhodes
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Dhanya Asokumar
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mira Sohn
- Bioinformatics and Scientific Programming Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Shovan Naskar
- Unit on Functional Neural Circuits, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lielle Elisha
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Parker Stevenson
- Unit on Functional Neural Circuits, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Dongjin R Lee
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yajun Zhang
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Pedro P Rocha
- Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
- National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ryan K Dale
- Bioinformatics and Scientific Programming Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Soohyun Lee
- Unit on Functional Neural Circuits, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Timothy J Petros
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
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40
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Anneser L, Satou C, Hotz HR, Friedrich RW. Molecular organization of neuronal cell types and neuromodulatory systems in the zebrafish telencephalon. Curr Biol 2024; 34:298-312.e4. [PMID: 38157860 PMCID: PMC10808507 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The function of neuronal networks is determined not only by synaptic connectivity but also by neuromodulatory systems that broadcast information via distributed connections and volume transmission. To understand the molecular constraints that organize neuromodulatory signaling in the telencephalon of adult zebrafish, we used transcriptomics and additional approaches to delineate cell types, to determine their phylogenetic conservation, and to map the expression of marker genes at high granularity. The combinatorial expression of GPCRs and cell-type markers indicates that all neuronal cell types are subject to modulation by multiple monoaminergic systems and distinct combinations of neuropeptides. Individual cell types were associated with multiple (typically >30) neuromodulatory signaling networks but expressed only a few diagnostic GPCRs at high levels, suggesting that different neuromodulatory systems act in combination, albeit with unequal weights. These results provide a detailed map of cell types and brain areas in the zebrafish telencephalon, identify core components of neuromodulatory networks, highlight the cell-type specificity of neuropeptides and GPCRs, and begin to decipher the logic of combinatorial neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Anneser
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chie Satou
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Rudolf Hotz
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland.
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41
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Abstract
Brain development in humans is achieved through precise spatiotemporal genetic control, the mechanisms of which remain largely elusive. Recently, integration of technological advances in human stem cell-based modelling with genome editing has emerged as a powerful platform to establish causative links between genotypes and phenotypes directly in the human system. Here, we review our current knowledge of complex genetic regulation of each key step of human brain development through the lens of evolutionary specialization and neurodevelopmental disorders and highlight the use of human stem cell-derived 2D cultures and 3D brain organoids to investigate human-enriched features and disease mechanisms. We also discuss opportunities and challenges of integrating new technologies to reveal the genetic architecture of human brain development and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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42
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Wallace JL, Pollen AA. Human neuronal maturation comes of age: cellular mechanisms and species differences. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:7-29. [PMID: 37996703 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00760-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The delayed and prolonged postmitotic maturation of human neurons, compared with neurons from other species, may contribute to human-specific cognitive abilities and neurological disorders. Here we review the mechanisms of neuronal maturation, applying lessons from model systems to understand the specific features of protracted human cortical maturation and species differences. We cover cell-intrinsic features of neuronal maturation, including transcriptional, epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms, as well as cell-extrinsic features, including the roles of activity and synapses, the actions of glial cells and the contribution of the extracellular matrix. We discuss evidence for species differences in biochemical reaction rates, the proposed existence of an epigenetic maturation clock and the contributions of both general and modular mechanisms to species-specific maturation timing. Finally, we suggest approaches to measure, improve and accelerate the maturation of human neurons in culture, examine crosstalk and interactions among these different aspects of maturation and propose conceptual models to guide future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenelle L Wallace
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Alex A Pollen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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43
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Magielse N, Heuer K, Toro R, Schutter DJLG, Valk SL. A Comparative Perspective on the Cerebello-Cerebral System and Its Link to Cognition. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:1293-1307. [PMID: 36417091 PMCID: PMC10657313 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01495-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The longstanding idea that the cerebral cortex is the main neural correlate of human cognition can be elaborated by comparative analyses along the vertebrate phylogenetic tree that support the view that the cerebello-cerebral system is suited to support non-motor functions more generally. In humans, diverse accounts have illustrated cerebellar involvement in cognitive functions. Although the neocortex, and its transmodal association cortices such as the prefrontal cortex, have become disproportionately large over primate evolution specifically, human neocortical volume does not appear to be exceptional relative to the variability within primates. Rather, several lines of evidence indicate that the exceptional volumetric increase of the lateral cerebellum in conjunction with its connectivity with the cerebral cortical system may be linked to non-motor functions and mental operation in primates. This idea is supported by diverging cerebello-cerebral adaptations that potentially coevolve with cognitive abilities across other vertebrates such as dolphins, parrots, and elephants. Modular adaptations upon the vertebrate cerebello-cerebral system may thus help better understand the neuroevolutionary trajectory of the primate brain and its relation to cognition in humans. Lateral cerebellar lobules crura I-II and their reciprocal connections to the cerebral cortical association areas appear to have substantially expanded in great apes, and humans. This, along with the notable increase in the ventral portions of the dentate nucleus and a shift to increased relative prefrontal-cerebellar connectivity, suggests that modular cerebellar adaptations support cognitive functions in humans. In sum, we show how comparative neuroscience provides new avenues to broaden our understanding of cerebellar and cerebello-cerebral functions in the context of cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neville Magielse
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Otto Hahn Cognitive Neurogenetics Group, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katja Heuer
- Institute Pasteur, Unité de Neuroanatomie Appliquée et Théorique, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roberto Toro
- Institute Pasteur, Unité de Neuroanatomie Appliquée et Théorique, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Dennis J L G Schutter
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sofie L Valk
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
- Otto Hahn Cognitive Neurogenetics Group, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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44
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Krienen FM, Levandowski KM, Zaniewski H, del Rosario RC, Schroeder ME, Goldman M, Wienisch M, Lutservitz A, Beja-Glasser VF, Chen C, Zhang Q, Chan KY, Li KX, Sharma J, McCormack D, Shin TW, Harrahill A, Nyase E, Mudhar G, Mauermann A, Wysoker A, Nemesh J, Kashin S, Vergara J, Chelini G, Dimidschstein J, Berretta S, Deverman BE, Boyden E, McCarroll SA, Feng G. A marmoset brain cell census reveals regional specialization of cellular identities. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadk3986. [PMID: 37824615 PMCID: PMC10569717 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk3986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian brain is composed of many brain structures, each with its own ontogenetic and developmental history. We used single-nucleus RNA sequencing to sample over 2.4 million brain cells across 18 locations in the common marmoset, a New World monkey primed for genetic engineering, and examined gene expression patterns of cell types within and across brain structures. The adult transcriptomic identity of most neuronal types is shaped more by developmental origin than by neurotransmitter signaling repertoire. Quantitative mapping of GABAergic types with single-molecule FISH (smFISH) reveals that interneurons in the striatum and neocortex follow distinct spatial principles, and that lateral prefrontal and other higher-order cortical association areas are distinguished by high proportions of VIP+ neurons. We use cell type-specific enhancers to drive AAV-GFP and reconstruct the morphologies of molecularly resolved interneuron types in neocortex and striatum. Our analyses highlight how lineage, local context, and functional class contribute to the transcriptional identity and biodistribution of primate brain cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenna M. Krienen
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kirsten M. Levandowski
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Heather Zaniewski
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ricardo C.H. del Rosario
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Margaret E. Schroeder
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Melissa Goldman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Martin Wienisch
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alyssa Lutservitz
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Victoria F. Beja-Glasser
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Cindy Chen
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Qiangge Zhang
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ken Y. Chan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Katelyn X. Li
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jitendra Sharma
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Dana McCormack
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Tay Won Shin
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Andrew Harrahill
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Eric Nyase
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Gagandeep Mudhar
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Abigail Mauermann
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alec Wysoker
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - James Nemesh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Seva Kashin
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Josselyn Vergara
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Gabriele Chelini
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura n.1, Rovereto (TN) 38068, Italy
| | - Jordane Dimidschstein
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sabina Berretta
- Basic Neuroscience Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Benjamin E. Deverman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ed Boyden
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Steven A. McCarroll
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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45
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Micali N, Ma S, Li M, Kim SK, Mato-Blanco X, Sindhu SK, Arellano JI, Gao T, Shibata M, Gobeske KT, Duque A, Santpere G, Sestan N, Rakic P. Molecular programs of regional specification and neural stem cell fate progression in macaque telencephalon. Science 2023; 382:eadf3786. [PMID: 37824652 PMCID: PMC10705812 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf3786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
During early telencephalic development, intricate processes of regional patterning and neural stem cell (NSC) fate specification take place. However, our understanding of these processes in primates, including both conserved and species-specific features, remains limited. Here, we profiled 761,529 single-cell transcriptomes from multiple regions of the prenatal macaque telencephalon. We deciphered the molecular programs of the early organizing centers and their cross-talk with NSCs, revealing primate-biased galanin-like peptide (GALP) signaling in the anteroventral telencephalon. Regional transcriptomic variations were observed along the frontotemporal axis during early stages of neocortical NSC progression and in neurons and astrocytes. Additionally, we found that genes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and brain cancer risk might play critical roles in the early telencephalic organizers and during NSC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Micali
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Shaojie Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Mingfeng Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Suel-Kee Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Xoel Mato-Blanco
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Jon I. Arellano
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Tianliuyun Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Mikihito Shibata
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Kevin T. Gobeske
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Alvaro Duque
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Gabriel Santpere
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry, Genetics and Comparative Medicine, Wu Tsai Institute, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, and Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Pasko Rakic
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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46
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Andrews MG, Siebert C, Wang L, White ML, Ross J, Morales R, Donnay M, Bamfonga G, Mukhtar T, McKinney AA, Gemenes K, Wang S, Bi Q, Crouch EE, Parikshak N, Panagiotakos G, Huang E, Bhaduri A, Kriegstein AR. LIF signaling regulates outer radial glial to interneuron fate during human cortical development. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:1382-1391.e5. [PMID: 37673072 PMCID: PMC10591955 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Radial glial (RG) development is essential for cerebral cortex growth and organization. In humans, the outer radial glia (oRG) subtype is expanded and gives rise to diverse neurons and glia. However, the mechanisms regulating oRG differentiation are unclear. oRG cells express leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) receptors during neurogenesis, and consistent with a role in stem cell self-renewal, LIF perturbation impacts oRG proliferation in cortical tissue and organoids. Surprisingly, LIF treatment also increases the production of inhibitory interneurons (INs) in cortical cultures. Comparative transcriptomic analysis identifies that the enhanced IN population resembles INs produced in the caudal ganglionic eminence. To evaluate whether INs could arise from oRGs, we isolated primary oRG cells and cultured them with LIF. We observed the production of INs from oRG cells and an increase in IN abundance following LIF treatment. Our observations suggest that LIF signaling regulates the capacity of oRG cells to generate INs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Andrews
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
| | - Clara Siebert
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Matthew L White
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jayden Ross
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Raul Morales
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Megan Donnay
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Gradi Bamfonga
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Tanzila Mukhtar
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arpana Arjun McKinney
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kaila Gemenes
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Shaohui Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Qiuli Bi
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Crouch
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Neelroop Parikshak
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Georgia Panagiotakos
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Eric Huang
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Arnold R Kriegstein
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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47
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Simorgh S, Mousavi SA, To SK, Pasque V, Wierda K, Vervliet T, Yeganeh M, Pooyan P, Chai YC, Verfaillie C, Baharvand H. A facile method to generate cerebral organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. EXCLI JOURNAL 2023; 22:1055-1076. [PMID: 37927348 PMCID: PMC10620858 DOI: 10.17179/excli2023-6299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Human cerebral organoids (COs) are self-organizing three-dimensional (3D) neural structures that provide a human-specific platform to study the cellular and molecular processes that underlie different neurological events. The first step of CO generation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is neural induction, which is an in vitro simulation of neural ectoderm development. Several signaling pathways cooperate during neural ectoderm development and in vitro differentiation of hPSCs toward neural cell lineages is also affected by them. In this study, we considered some of the known sources of these variable signaling cues arising from cell culture media components and sought to modulate their effects by applying a comprehensive combination of small molecules and growth factors for CO generation. Histological analysis demonstrated that these COs recapitulate the neural progenitor zone and early cortical layer organization, containing different types of neuronal and glial cells which was in accordance with single-nucleus transcriptome profiling results. Moreover, patch clamp and intracellular Ca2+ dynamic studies demonstrated that the COs behave as a functional neural network. Thus, this method serves as a facile protocol for generating hPSC-derived COs that faithfully mimic the features of their in vivo counterparts in the developing human brain. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Simorgh
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Seyed Ahmad Mousavi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - San Kit To
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Lab for Epigenetic Reprogramming, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Leuven Single-Cell Omics Institute and Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Vincent Pasque
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Lab for Epigenetic Reprogramming, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Leuven Single-Cell Omics Institute and Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Keimpe Wierda
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Electrophysiology Unit, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Tim Vervliet
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Meghdad Yeganeh
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Paria Pooyan
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yoke Chin Chai
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Catherine Verfaillie
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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48
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Meng X, Yao D, Imaizumi K, Chen X, Kelley KW, Reis N, Thete MV, Arjun McKinney A, Kulkarni S, Panagiotakos G, Bassik MC, Pașca SP. Assembloid CRISPR screens reveal impact of disease genes in human neurodevelopment. Nature 2023; 622:359-366. [PMID: 37758944 PMCID: PMC10567561 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06564-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The assembly of cortical circuits involves the generation and migration of interneurons from the ventral to the dorsal forebrain1-3, which has been challenging to study at inaccessible stages of late gestation and early postnatal human development4. Autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have been associated with abnormal cortical interneuron development5, but which of these NDD genes affect interneuron generation and migration, and how they mediate these effects remains unknown. We previously developed a platform to study interneuron development and migration in subpallial organoids and forebrain assembloids6. Here we integrate assembloids with CRISPR screening to investigate the involvement of 425 NDD genes in human interneuron development. The first screen aimed at interneuron generation revealed 13 candidate genes, including CSDE1 and SMAD4. We subsequently conducted an interneuron migration screen in more than 1,000 forebrain assembloids that identified 33 candidate genes, including cytoskeleton-related genes and the endoplasmic reticulum-related gene LNPK. We discovered that, during interneuron migration, the endoplasmic reticulum is displaced along the leading neuronal branch before nuclear translocation. LNPK deletion interfered with this endoplasmic reticulum displacement and resulted in abnormal migration. These results highlight the power of this CRISPR-assembloid platform to systematically map NDD genes onto human development and reveal disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangling Meng
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David Yao
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kent Imaizumi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kevin W Kelley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Noah Reis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mayuri Vijay Thete
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arpana Arjun McKinney
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shravanti Kulkarni
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Georgia Panagiotakos
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Sergiu P Pașca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford, CA, USA.
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49
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Pollen AA, Kilik U, Lowe CB, Camp JG. Human-specific genetics: new tools to explore the molecular and cellular basis of human evolution. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:687-711. [PMID: 36737647 PMCID: PMC9897628 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00568-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Our ancestors acquired morphological, cognitive and metabolic modifications that enabled humans to colonize diverse habitats, develop extraordinary technologies and reshape the biosphere. Understanding the genetic, developmental and molecular bases for these changes will provide insights into how we became human. Connecting human-specific genetic changes to species differences has been challenging owing to an abundance of low-effect size genetic changes, limited descriptions of phenotypic differences across development at the level of cell types and lack of experimental models. Emerging approaches for single-cell sequencing, genetic manipulation and stem cell culture now support descriptive and functional studies in defined cell types with a human or ape genetic background. In this Review, we describe how the sequencing of genomes from modern and archaic hominins, great apes and other primates is revealing human-specific genetic changes and how new molecular and cellular approaches - including cell atlases and organoids - are enabling exploration of the candidate causal factors that underlie human-specific traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex A Pollen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Umut Kilik
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Craig B Lowe
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - J Gray Camp
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Li C, Fleck JS, Martins-Costa C, Burkard TR, Themann J, Stuempflen M, Peer AM, Vertesy Á, Littleboy JB, Esk C, Elling U, Kasprian G, Corsini NS, Treutlein B, Knoblich JA. Single-cell brain organoid screening identifies developmental defects in autism. Nature 2023; 621:373-380. [PMID: 37704762 PMCID: PMC10499611 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06473-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The development of the human brain involves unique processes (not observed in many other species) that can contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders1-4. Cerebral organoids enable the study of neurodevelopmental disorders in a human context. We have developed the CRISPR-human organoids-single-cell RNA sequencing (CHOOSE) system, which uses verified pairs of guide RNAs, inducible CRISPR-Cas9-based genetic disruption and single-cell transcriptomics for pooled loss-of-function screening in mosaic organoids. Here we show that perturbation of 36 high-risk autism spectrum disorder genes related to transcriptional regulation uncovers their effects on cell fate determination. We find that dorsal intermediate progenitors, ventral progenitors and upper-layer excitatory neurons are among the most vulnerable cell types. We construct a developmental gene regulatory network of cerebral organoids from single-cell transcriptomes and chromatin modalities and identify autism spectrum disorder-associated and perturbation-enriched regulatory modules. Perturbing members of the BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) chromatin remodelling complex leads to enrichment of ventral telencephalon progenitors. Specifically, mutating the BAF subunit ARID1B affects the fate transition of progenitors to oligodendrocyte and interneuron precursor cells, a phenotype that we confirmed in patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids. Our study paves the way for high-throughput phenotypic characterization of disease susceptibility genes in organoid models with cell state, molecular pathway and gene regulatory network readouts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Li
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jonas Simon Fleck
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Catarina Martins-Costa
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas R Burkard
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Themann
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Marlene Stuempflen
- Department of Radiodiagnostics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angela Maria Peer
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Ábel Vertesy
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jamie B Littleboy
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher Esk
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrich Elling
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Kasprian
- Department of Radiodiagnostics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina S Corsini
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Treutlein
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Juergen A Knoblich
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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