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Espinoza F, Carrazana R, Retamal-Fredes E, Ávila D, Papes F, Muotri AR, Ávila A. Tcf4 dysfunction alters dorsal and ventral cortical neurogenesis in Pitt-Hopkins syndrome mouse model showing sexual dimorphism. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167178. [PMID: 38636614 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167178] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by haploinsufficiency of transcription factor 4 (TCF4). In this work, we focused on the cerebral cortex and investigated in detail the progenitor cell dynamics and the outcome of neurogenesis in a PTHS mouse model. Labeling and quantification of progenitors and newly generated neurons at various time points during embryonic development revealed alterations affecting the dynamic of cortical progenitors since the earliest stages of cortex formation in PTHS mice. Consequently, establishment of neuronal populations and layering of the cortex were found to be altered in heterozygotes subjects at birth. Interestingly, defective layering process of pyramidal neurons was partially rescued by reintroducing TCF4 expression using focal in utero electroporation in the cerebral cortex. Coincidentally with a defective dorsal neurogenesis, we found that ventral generation of interneurons was also defective in this model, which may lead to an excitation/inhibition imbalance in PTHS. Overall, sex-dependent differences were detected with more marked effects evidenced in males compared with females. All of this contributes to expand our understanding of PTHS, paralleling the advances of research in autism spectrum disorder and further validating the PTHS mouse model as an important tool to advance preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Espinoza
- Neurodevelopmental Biology Unit, Biomedical Sciences Research Laboratory, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), Concepción, Chile
| | - Ramón Carrazana
- Neurodevelopmental Biology Unit, Biomedical Sciences Research Laboratory, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), Concepción, Chile
| | - Eduardo Retamal-Fredes
- Neurodevelopmental Biology Unit, Biomedical Sciences Research Laboratory, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), Concepción, Chile
| | - Denisse Ávila
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College of London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Fabio Papes
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ariel Ávila
- Neurodevelopmental Biology Unit, Biomedical Sciences Research Laboratory, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), Concepción, Chile.
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2
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Bhandari K, Kanodia H, Donato F, Caroni P. Selective vulnerability of the ventral hippocampus-prelimbic cortex axis parvalbumin interneuron network underlies learning deficits of fragile X mice. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114124. [PMID: 38630591 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
High-penetrance mutations affecting mental health can involve genes ubiquitously expressed in the brain. Whether the specific patterns of dysfunctions result from ubiquitous circuit deficits or might reflect selective vulnerabilities of targetable subnetworks has remained unclear. Here, we determine how loss of ubiquitously expressed fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), the cause of fragile X syndrome, affects brain networks in Fmr1y/- mice. We find that in wild-type mice, area-specific knockout of FMRP in the adult mimics behavioral consequences of area-specific silencing. By contrast, the functional axis linking the ventral hippocampus (vH) to the prelimbic cortex (PreL) is selectively affected in constitutive Fmr1y/- mice. A chronic alteration in late-born parvalbumin interneuron networks across the vH-PreL axis rescued by VIP signaling specifically accounts for deficits in vH-PreL theta-band network coherence, ensemble assembly, and learning functions of Fmr1y/- mice. Therefore, vH-PreL axis function exhibits a selective vulnerability to loss of FMRP in the vH or PreL, leading to learning and memory dysfunctions in fragile X mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Bhandari
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Harsh Kanodia
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Flavio Donato
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pico Caroni
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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3
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Wu MW, Kourdougli N, Portera-Cailliau C. Network state transitions during cortical development. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41583-024-00824-y. [PMID: 38783147 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00824-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian cortical networks are active before synaptogenesis begins in earnest, before neuronal migration is complete, and well before an animal opens its eyes and begins to actively explore its surroundings. This early activity undergoes several transformations during development. The most important of these is a transition from episodic synchronous network events, which are necessary for patterning the neocortex into functionally related modules, to desynchronized activity that is computationally more powerful and efficient. Network desynchronization is perhaps the most dramatic and abrupt developmental event in an otherwise slow and gradual process of brain maturation. In this Review, we summarize what is known about the phenomenology of developmental synchronous activity in the rodent neocortex and speculate on the mechanisms that drive its eventual desynchronization. We argue that desynchronization of network activity is a fundamental step through which the cortex transitions from passive, bottom-up detection of sensory stimuli to active sensory processing with top-down modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle W Wu
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nazim Kourdougli
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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4
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Martinez JD, Wilson LG, Brancaleone WP, Peterson KG, Popke DS, Garzon VC, Perez Tremble RE, Donnelly MJ, Mendez Ortega SL, Torres D, Shaver JJ, Jiang S, Yang Z, Aton SJ. Hypnotic treatment improves sleep architecture and EEG disruptions and rescues memory deficits in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114266. [PMID: 38787724 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is associated with disrupted cognition and sleep abnormalities. Sleep loss negatively impacts cognitive function, and one untested possibility is that disrupted cognition in FXS is exacerbated by abnormal sleep. We tested whether ML297, a hypnotic acting on G-protein-activated inward-rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels, could reverse sleep phenotypes and disrupted memory in Fmr1-/y mice. Fmr1-/y mice exhibit reduced non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and fragmented NREM architecture, altered sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations, and reduced EEG coherence between cortical areas; these are partially reversed following ML297 administration. Treatment following contextual fear or spatial learning restores disrupted memory consolidation in Fmr1-/y mice. During memory recall, Fmr1-/y mice show an altered balance of activity among hippocampal principal neurons vs. parvalbumin-expressing interneurons; this is partially reversed by ML297. Because sleep disruption could impact neurophysiological phenotypes in FXS, augmenting sleep may improve disrupted cognition in this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy D Martinez
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lydia G Wilson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - William P Brancaleone
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kathryn G Peterson
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Donald S Popke
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Valentina Caicedo Garzon
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Roxanne E Perez Tremble
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Marcus J Donnelly
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Daniel Torres
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - James J Shaver
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sha Jiang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhongying Yang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sara J Aton
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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5
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Morimoto K, Takahashi R, Takahashi G, Miyajima M, Nakajima K. Maternal immunoglobulins are distributed in the offspring's brain to support the maintenance of cortical interneurons in the postnatal period. Inflamm Regen 2024; 44:24. [PMID: 38750507 PMCID: PMC11094934 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-024-00336-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
It is known that maternal immunoglobulins (Igs) are transferred to the offspring across the placenta. However, receiving maternal Igs, especially before the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed in the offspring's brain, carries the risk of transferring some brain-reactive Igs. It is thus hypothesized that there may be some unknown benefit to the offspring's brain that overweighs this risk. In this study, we show that the Ig detected in the embryonic/perinatal mouse brain is IgG not produced by the pups themselves, but is basically transferred from the mother across the placenta using the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) during embryonic stages. The amount of IgG in the brain gradually decreases after birth, and almost disappears within 3 weeks postnatally. IgG is detected on axon bundles, microglia, and some meningeal cells, including border-associated macrophages (BAMs), endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Using Fcer1g knock-out (KO) mice, we show that BAMs and microglia receive maternal IgG in an Fc receptor γ chain (FcRγ)-dependent manner, but IgG on other meningeal cells and axon bundles is received independently of the FcRγ. These results suggest that maternal IgG may be used in multiple ways by different mechanisms. In maternal IgG-deficient mice, the number of interneurons in the cerebral cortex is not altered around birth but is reduced postnatally, suggesting that receipt of maternal IgG is necessary for the maintenance of cortical interneurons in the postnatal period. These data suggest that maternal IgG has an important function in the developing brain, where neither obvious inflammation nor infection is observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Morimoto
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Rikuo Takahashi
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Goro Takahashi
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Michio Miyajima
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazunori Nakajima
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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6
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Arutiunian V, Santhosh M, Neuhaus E, Borland H, Tompkins C, Bernier RA, Bookheimer SY, Dapretto M, Gupta AR, Jack A, Jeste S, McPartland JC, Naples A, Van Horn JD, Pelphrey KA, Webb SJ. The relationship between gamma-band neural oscillations and language skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their first-degree relatives. Mol Autism 2024; 15:19. [PMID: 38711098 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-024-00598-1] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have co-occurring language impairments and some of these autism-specific language difficulties are also present in their non-autistic first-degree relatives. One of the possible neural mechanisms associated with variability in language functioning is alterations in cortical gamma-band oscillations, hypothesized to be related to neural excitation and inhibition balance. METHODS We used a high-density 128-channel electroencephalography (EEG) to register brain response to speech stimuli in a large sex-balanced sample of participants: 125 youth with ASD, 121 typically developing (TD) youth, and 40 unaffected siblings (US) of youth with ASD. Language skills were assessed with Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals. RESULTS First, during speech processing, we identified significantly elevated gamma power in ASD participants compared to TD controls. Second, across all youth, higher gamma power was associated with lower language skills. Finally, the US group demonstrated an intermediate profile in both language and gamma power, with nonverbal IQ mediating the relationship between gamma power and language skills. LIMITATIONS We only focused on one of the possible neural contributors to variability in language functioning. Also, the US group consisted of a smaller number of participants in comparison to the ASD or TD groups. Finally, due to the timing issue in EEG system we have provided only non-phase-locked analysis. CONCLUSIONS Autistic youth showed elevated gamma power, suggesting higher excitation in the brain in response to speech stimuli and elevated gamma power was related to lower language skills. The US group showed an intermediate pattern of gamma activity, suggesting that the broader autism phenotype extends to neural profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vardan Arutiunian
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1920 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Megha Santhosh
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1920 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Emily Neuhaus
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1920 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute of Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heather Borland
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1920 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Chris Tompkins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute of Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Susan Y Bookheimer
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Abha R Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Allison Jack
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Shafali Jeste
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Adam Naples
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - John D Van Horn
- School of Data Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kevin A Pelphrey
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Sara Jane Webb
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1920 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA, 98101, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute of Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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7
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Dummer PD, Lee DI, Hossain S, Wang R, Evard A, Newman G, Ho C, Schneider-Mizell CM, Menon V, Au E. Multidimensional analysis of cortical interneuron synaptic features reveals underlying synaptic heterogeneity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.22.586340. [PMID: 38659827 PMCID: PMC11042224 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.22.586340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Cortical interneurons represent a diverse set of neuronal subtypes characterized in part by their striking degree of synaptic specificity. However, little is known about the extent of synaptic diversity because of the lack of unbiased methods to extract synaptic features among interneuron subtypes. Here, we develop an approach to aggregate image features from fluorescent confocal images of interneuron synapses and their post-synaptic targets, in order to characterize the heterogeneity of synapses at fine scale. We started by training a model that recognizes pre- and post-synaptic compartments and then determines the target of each genetically-identified interneuron synapse in vitro and in vivo. Our model extracts hundreds of spatial and intensity features from each analyzed synapse, constructing a multidimensional data set, consisting of millions of synapses, which allowed us to perform an unsupervised analysis on this dataset, uncovering novel synaptic subgroups. The subgroups were spatially distributed in a highly structured manner that revealed the local underlying topology of the postsynaptic environment. Dendrite-targeting subgroups were clustered onto subdomains of the dendrite along the proximal to distal axis. Soma-targeting subgroups were enriched onto different postsynaptic cell types. We also find that the two main subclasses of interneurons, basket cells and somatostatin interneurons, utilize distinct strategies to enact inhibitory coverage. Thus, our analysis of multidimensional synaptic features establishes a conceptual framework for studying interneuron synaptic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D. Dummer
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | - Dylan I. Lee
- Department of Neurology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | - Sakib Hossain
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | - Runsheng Wang
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | - Andre Evard
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | - Gabriel Newman
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | - Claire Ho
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | | | - Vilas Menon
- Department of Neurology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
| | - Edmund Au
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
- Columbia Translation Neuroscience Initiative Fellow, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York NY, 10032
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8
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Fournier LA, Phadke RA, Salgado M, Brack A, Nocon JC, Bolshakova S, Grant JR, Padró Luna NM, Sen K, Cruz-Martín A. Overexpression of the schizophrenia risk gene C4 in PV cells drives sex-dependent behavioral deficits and circuit dysfunction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.27.575409. [PMID: 38328248 PMCID: PMC10849664 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.27.575409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Fast-spiking parvalbumin (PV)-positive cells are key players in orchestrating pyramidal neuron activity, and their dysfunction is consistently observed in myriad brain diseases. To understand how immune complement dysregulation - a prevalent locus of brain disease etiology - in PV cells may drive disease pathogenesis, we have developed a transgenic mouse line that permits cell-type specific overexpression of the schizophrenia-associated complement component 4 (C4) gene. We found that overexpression of mouse C4 (mC4) in PV cells causes sex-specific behavioral alterations and concomitant deficits in synaptic connectivity and excitability of PV cells of the prefrontal cortex. Using a computational network, we demonstrated that these microcircuit deficits led to hyperactivity and disrupted neural communication. Finally, pan-neuronal overexpression of mC4 failed to evoke the same deficits in behavior as PV-specific mC4 overexpression, suggesting that C4 perturbations in fast-spiking neurons are more harmful to brain function than pan-neuronal alterations. Together, these results provide a causative link between C4 and the vulnerability of PV cells in brain disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A. Fournier
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rhushikesh A. Phadke
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Maria Salgado
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alison Brack
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jian Carlo Nocon
- Neurophotonics Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Hearing Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Sonia Bolshakova
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Bioinformatics MS Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jaylyn R. Grant
- Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, United States
- The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, Boston University, Boston, United States
| | - Nicole M. Padró Luna
- The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, Boston University, Boston, United States
- Biology Department, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Kamal Sen
- Neurophotonics Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Hearing Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Alberto Cruz-Martín
- Neurobiology Section in the Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
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9
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Mòdol L, Moissidis M, Selten M, Oozeer F, Marín O. Somatostatin interneurons control the timing of developmental desynchronization in cortical networks. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00168-5. [PMID: 38599213 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.03.014] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Synchronous neuronal activity is a hallmark of the developing brain. In the mouse cerebral cortex, activity decorrelates during the second week of postnatal development, progressively acquiring the characteristic sparse pattern underlying the integration of sensory information. The maturation of inhibition seems critical for this process, but the interneurons involved in this crucial transition of network activity in the developing cortex remain unknown. Using in vivo longitudinal two-photon calcium imaging during the period that precedes the change from highly synchronous to decorrelated activity, we identify somatostatin-expressing (SST+) interneurons as critical modulators of this switch in mice. Modulation of the activity of SST+ cells accelerates or delays the decorrelation of cortical network activity, a process that involves regulating the maturation of parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons. SST+ cells critically link sensory inputs with local circuits, controlling the neural dynamics in the developing cortex while modulating the integration of other interneurons into nascent cortical circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mòdol
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Monika Moissidis
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Martijn Selten
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Fazal Oozeer
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Oscar Marín
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
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10
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Vlasits AL, Syeda M, Wickman A, Guzman P, Schmidt TM. Atypical retinal function in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.15.585283. [PMID: 38559003 PMCID: PMC10980068 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Altered function of peripheral sensory neurons is an emerging mechanism for symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Visual sensitivities are common in autism, but whether differences in the retina might underlie these sensitivities is not well-understood. We explored retinal function in the Fmr1 knockout model of Fragile X syndrome, focusing on a specific type of retinal neuron, the "sustained On alpha" retinal ganglion cell. We found that these cells exhibit changes in dendritic structure and dampened responses to light in the Fmr1 knockout. We show that decreased light sensitivity is due to increased inhibitory input and reduced E-I balance. The change in E-I balance supports maintenance of circuit excitability similar to what has been observed in cortex. These results show that loss of Fmr1 in the mouse retina affects sensory function of one retinal neuron type. Our findings suggest that the retina may be relevant for understanding visual function in Fragile X syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Vlasits
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
- Lead contact
| | - Maria Syeda
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Annelise Wickman
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Pedro Guzman
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Tiffany M Schmidt
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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11
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Juarez P, Salcedo-Arellano MJ, Dufour B, Martinez-Cerdeño V. Fragile X cortex is characterized by decreased parvalbumin-expressing interneurons. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae103. [PMID: 38521994 PMCID: PMC10960956 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae103] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation of the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene in the X chromosome. Many fragile X syndrome cases present with autism spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome cases account for up to 5% of all autism spectrum disorder cases. The cellular composition of the fragile X syndrome cortex is not well known. We evaluated alterations in the number of Calbindin, Calretinin, and Parvalbumin expressing interneurons across 5 different cortical areas, medial prefrontal cortex (BA46), primary somatosensory cortex (BA3), primary motor cortex (BA4), superior temporal cortex (BA22), and anterior cingulate cortex (BA24) of fragile X syndrome and neurotypical brains. Compared with neurotypical cases, fragile X syndrome brains displayed a significant reduction in the number of PV+ interneurons in all areas and of CR+ interneurons in BA22 and BA3. The number of CB+ interneurons did not differ. These findings are the first to demonstrate that fragile X syndrome brains are characterized by cortical wide PV+ interneuron deficits across multiple cortical areas. These add to the idea that deficits in PV+ interneurons could disrupt the cortical balance and promote clinical deficits in fragile X syndrome patients and help to develop novel therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders like fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Juarez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine; Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern CaliforniaSacramento, CA 95817, United States
| | - Maria Jimena Salcedo-Arellano
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine; Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern CaliforniaSacramento, CA 95817, United States
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States
| | - Brett Dufour
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine; Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern CaliforniaSacramento, CA 95817, United States
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States
| | - Veronica Martinez-Cerdeño
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine; Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern CaliforniaSacramento, CA 95817, United States
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States
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12
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García-Cerro S, Gómez-Garrido A, Garcia G, Crespo-Facorro B, Brites D. Exploratory Analysis of MicroRNA Alterations in a Neurodevelopmental Mouse Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2786. [PMID: 38474035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression levels and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). In this study, we examined the adult expression profiles of specific miRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of a neurodevelopmental mouse model for ASD and SCZ that mimics perinatal pathology, such as NMDA receptor hypofunction, and exhibits behavioral and neurophysiological phenotypes related to these disorders during adulthood. To model the early neuropathogenesis of the disorders, mouse pups were administered subcutaneously with ketamine (30 mg/Kg) at postnatal days 7, 9, and 11. We focused on a set of miRNAs most frequently altered in ASD (miR-451a and miR-486-3p) and in SCZ (miR-132-3p and miR-137-3p) according to human studies. Additionally, we explored miRNAs whose alterations have been identified in both disorders (miR-21-5p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-144-3p, and miR-146a-5p). We placed particular emphasis on studying the sexual dimorphism in the dynamics of these miRNAs. Our findings revealed significant alterations in the PFC of this ASD- and SCZ-like mouse model. Specifically, we observed upregulated miR-451a and downregulated miR-137-3p. Furthermore, we identified sexual dimorphism in the expression of miR-132-3p, miR-137-3p, and miR-92a-2-5p. From a translational perspective, our results emphasize the potential involvement of miR-92a-2-5p, miR-132-3p, miR-137-3p, and miR-451a in the pathophysiology of ASD and SCZ and strengthen their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets of such disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana García-Cerro
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Gómez-Garrido
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonçalo Garcia
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Mental Health Unit, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Sánchez Pizjuán AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Dora Brites
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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13
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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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14
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Subramanian D, Eisenberg C, Huang A, Baek J, Naveed H, Komatireddy S, Shiflett MW, Tran TS, Santhakumar V. Dysregulation of Neuropilin-2 Expression in Inhibitory Neurons Impairs Hippocampal Circuit Development Leading to Autism-Epilepsy Phenotype. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.05.578976. [PMID: 38370800 PMCID: PMC10871171 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.05.578976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulation of development, migration, and function of interneurons, collectively termed interneuronopathies, have been proposed as a shared mechanism for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and childhood epilepsy. Neuropilin-2 (Nrp2), a candidate ASD gene, is a critical regulator of interneuron migration from the median ganglionic eminence (MGE) to the pallium, including the hippocampus. While clinical studies have identified Nrp2 polymorphisms in patients with ASD, whether dysregulation of Nrp2-dependent interneuron migration contributes to pathogenesis of ASD and epilepsy has not been tested. We tested the hypothesis that the lack of Nrp2 in MGE-derived interneuron precursors disrupts the excitation/inhibition balance in hippocampal circuits, thus predisposing the network to seizures and behavioral patterns associated with ASD. Embryonic deletion of Nrp2 during the developmental period for migration of MGE derived interneuron precursors (iCKO) significantly reduced parvalbumin, neuropeptide Y, and somatostatin positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1. Consequently, when compared to controls, the frequency of inhibitory synaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal cells was reduced while frequency of excitatory synaptic currents was increased in iCKO mice. Although passive and active membrane properties of CA1 pyramidal cells were unchanged, iCKO mice showed enhanced susceptibility to chemically evoked seizures. Moreover, iCKO mice exhibited selective behavioral deficits in both preference for social novelty and goal-directed learning, which are consistent with ASD-like phenotype. Together, our findings show that disruption of developmental Nrp2 regulation of interneuron circuit establishment, produces ASD-like behaviors and enhanced risk for epilepsy. These results support the developmental interneuronopathy hypothesis of ASD epilepsy comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Subramanian
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | - Carol Eisenberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
| | - Andrew Huang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | - Jiyeon Baek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
| | - Haniya Naveed
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
| | - Samiksha Komatireddy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | | | - Tracy S. Tran
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
| | - Vijayalakshmi Santhakumar
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA
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15
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Palicz R, Pater B, Truschow P, Witte M, Staiger JF. Intersectional strategy to study cortical inhibitory parvalbumin-expressing interneurons. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2829. [PMID: 38310185 PMCID: PMC10838283 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52901-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons are key neuronal elements to a global excitatory-inhibitory balance in normal cortical functioning. To better understand the circuit functions of PV interneurons, reliable animal models are needed. This study investigated the sensitivity and specificity of the most frequently used PV-Cre/tdTomato mouse line in this regard. The colocalization of the transgene (tdTomato) with the parvalbumin protein, with GAD1 (a conclusive inhibitory cell marker) and Vglut1 (a conclusive excitatory cell marker) as well as with a marker for perineuronal nets (WFA) was assessed and a substantial proportion of layer 5 PV neurons was found to be excitatory and not inhibitory in the PV-Cre/tdTomato mouse. The intersectional transgenic mouse line Vgat-Cre/PV-Flp/tdTomato provided a solution, since no colocalization of tdTomato with the Vglut1 probe was found there. In conclusion, the Vgat-Cre/PV-Flp/tdTomato mouse line seems to be a more reliable animal model for functional studies of GABAergic PV interneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeka Palicz
- Center Anatomy, Institute for Neuroanatomy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Bettina Pater
- Center Anatomy, Institute for Neuroanatomy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pavel Truschow
- Center Anatomy, Institute for Neuroanatomy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mirko Witte
- Center Anatomy, Institute for Neuroanatomy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jochen F Staiger
- Center Anatomy, Institute for Neuroanatomy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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16
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Rylaarsdam L, Rakotomamonjy J, Pope E, Guemez-Gamboa A. iPSC-derived models of PACS1 syndrome reveal transcriptional and functional deficits in neuron activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:827. [PMID: 38280846 PMCID: PMC10821916 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44989-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
PACS1 syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability and distinct craniofacial abnormalities resulting from a de novo p.R203W variant in phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein 1 (PACS1). PACS1 is known to have functions in the endosomal pathway and nucleus, but how the p.R203W variant affects developing neurons is not fully understood. Here we differentiated stem cells towards neuronal models including cortical organoids to investigate the impact of the PACS1 syndrome-causing variant on neurodevelopment. While few deleterious effects were detected in PACS1(+/R203W) neural precursors, mature PACS1(+/R203W) glutamatergic neurons exhibited impaired expression of genes involved in synaptic signaling processes. Subsequent characterization of neural activity using calcium imaging and multielectrode arrays revealed the p.R203W PACS1 variant leads to a prolonged neuronal network burst duration mediated by an increased interspike interval. These findings demonstrate the impact of the PACS1 p.R203W variant on developing human neural tissue and uncover putative electrophysiological underpinnings of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Rylaarsdam
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jennifer Rakotomamonjy
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Eleanor Pope
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alicia Guemez-Gamboa
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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17
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Chen H, Wang YD, Blan AW, Almanza-Fuerte EP, Bonkowski ES, Bajpai R, Pruett-Miller SM, Mefford HC. Patient derived model of UBA5-associated encephalopathy identifies defects in neurodevelopment and highlights potential therapies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.25.577254. [PMID: 38328212 PMCID: PMC10849720 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.25.577254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
UBA5 encodes for the E1 enzyme of the UFMylation cascade, which plays an essential role in ER homeostasis. The clinical phenotypes of UBA5-associated encephalopathy include developmental delays, epilepsy and intellectual disability. To date, there is no humanized neuronal model to study the cellular and molecular consequences of UBA5 pathogenic variants. We developed and characterized patient-derived cortical organoid cultures and identified defects in GABAergic interneuron development. We demonstrated aberrant neuronal firing and microcephaly phenotypes in patient-derived organoids. Mechanistically, we show that ER homeostasis is perturbed along with exacerbated unfolded protein response pathway in cells and organoids expressing UBA5 pathogenic variants. We also assessed two gene expression modalities that augmented UBA5 expression to rescue aberrant molecular and cellular phenotypes. Our study provides a novel humanized model that allows further investigations of UBA5 variants in the brain and highlights novel systemic approaches to alleviate cellular aberrations for this rare, developmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Chen
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yong-Dong Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis TN, USA
| | - Aidan W. Blan
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Edith P. Almanza-Fuerte
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Emily S. Bonkowski
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Richa Bajpai
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis TN, USA
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis TN, USA
| | - Shondra M. Pruett-Miller
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis TN, USA
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis TN, USA
| | - Heather C. Mefford
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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18
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Janz P, Knoflach F, Bleicher K, Belli S, Biemans B, Schnider P, Ebeling M, Grundschober C, Benekareddy M. Selective oxytocin receptor activation prevents prefrontal circuit dysfunction and social behavioral alterations in response to chronic prefrontal cortex activation in male rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1286552. [PMID: 38145283 PMCID: PMC10745491 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1286552] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Social behavioral changes are a hallmark of several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions, nevertheless the underlying neural substrates of such dysfunction remain poorly understood. Building evidence points to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as one of the key brain regions that orchestrates social behavior. We used this concept with the aim to develop a translational rat model of social-circuit dysfunction, the chronic PFC activation model (CPA). Methods Chemogenetic designer receptor hM3Dq was used to induce chronic activation of the PFC over 10 days, and the behavioral and electrophysiological signatures of prolonged PFC hyperactivity were evaluated. To test the sensitivity of this model to pharmacological interventions on longer timescales, and validate its translational potential, the rats were treated with our novel highly selective oxytocin receptor (OXTR) agonist RO6958375, which is not activating the related vasopressin V1a receptor. Results CPA rats showed reduced sociability in the three-chamber sociability test, and a concomitant decrease in neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission within the PFC as measured by electrophysiological recordings in acute slice preparation. Sub-chronic treatment with a low dose of the novel OXTR agonist following CPA interferes with the emergence of PFC circuit dysfunction, abnormal social behavior and specific transcriptomic changes. Discussion These results demonstrate that sustained PFC hyperactivity modifies circuit characteristics and social behaviors in ways that can be modulated by selective OXTR activation and that this model may be used to understand the circuit recruitment of prosocial therapies in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Janz
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Frederic Knoflach
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Konrad Bleicher
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sara Belli
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Science, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Biemans
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Schnider
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Ebeling
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Science, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Grundschober
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Madhurima Benekareddy
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
- Calico Life Sciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
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19
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Li E, Kampmann M. Toward a CRISPR understanding of gene function in human brain development. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:1561-1562. [PMID: 38065064 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.11.005] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies pinpoint genetic risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), but the next challenge is to understand the mechanisms through which these genes affect brain development. Two recent CRISPR screens in human brain organoids1,2 interrogate the function of risk genes for autism spectrum disorder and other NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmy Li
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 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.
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20
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Zhang L, Lin C, Zhu J, He Y, Zhan M, Xia X, Yang N, Yang K, Wang B, Zhong Z, Wang Y, Ding W, Yang Y. Restoring prefrontal cortical excitation-inhibition balance with cannabidiol ameliorates neurobehavioral abnormalities in a mouse model of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuropharmacology 2023; 240:109715. [PMID: 37716533 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) resulting from viral infections during pregnancy is linked to increased rates of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. However, the mechanisms underlying MIA-induced neurobehavioral abnormalities remain unclear. Here, we used a poly (I:C)-induced MIA mouse model to demonstrate the presence of multiple behavioral deficits in male offspring. Through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we identified significant upregulation of genes involved in axonogenesis, synaptogenesis, and glutamatergic synaptic neurotransmission in the mPFC of MIA mice. Electrophysiological analyses further revealed an excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) synaptic imbalance in mPFC pyramidal neurons, leading to hyperactivity in this brain region. Cannabidiol (CBD) effectively alleviated the behavioral abnormalities observed in MIA offspring by reducing glutamatergic transmission and enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission of mPFC pyramidal neurons. Activation of GPR55 by lipid lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), an endogenous GPR55 agonist, specifically in the mPFC of healthy animals led to MIA-associated behavioral phenotypes, which CBD could effectively reverse. Moreover, we found that a GPR55 antagonist can mimic CBD's beneficial effects, indicating that CBD's therapeutic effects are mediated via the LPI-GPR55 signaling pathway. Therefore, we identified mPFC as a primary node of a neural network that mediates MIA-induced behavioral abnormalities in offspring. Our work provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the developmental consequences of MIA and identifies CBD as a promising therapeutic approach to alleviate these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Chunqiao Lin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jiushuang Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yan He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Meng Zhan
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xiuwen Xia
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Ni Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Kun Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Baojia Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zhanqion Zhong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yili Wang
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, PR China
| | - Weijun Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Youjun Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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21
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Rahmatullah N, Schmitt LM, De Stefano L, Post S, Robledo J, Chaudhari G, Pedapati E, Erickson C, Portera-Cailliau C, Goel A. Hypersensitivity to Distractors in Fragile X Syndrome from Loss of Modulation of Cortical VIP Interneurons. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8172-8188. [PMID: 37816596 PMCID: PMC10697397 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0571-23.2023] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit is one of the most prominent and disabling symptoms in Fragile X syndrome (FXS). Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli contributes to attention difficulties by overwhelming and/or distracting affected individuals, which disrupts activities of daily living at home and learning at school. We find that auditory or visual distractors selectively impair visual discrimination performance in humans and mice with FXS but not in typically developing controls. In both species, males and females were examined. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) neurons were significantly modulated by incorrect responses in the poststimulus period during early distractor trials in WT mice, consistent with their known role as error signals. Strikingly, however, VIP cells from Fmr1 -/- mice showed little modulation in error trials, and this correlated with their poor performance on the distractor task. Thus, VIP interneurons and their reduced modulatory influence on pyramidal cells could be a potential therapeutic target for attentional difficulties in FXS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sensory hypersensitivity, impulsivity, and persistent inattention are among the most consistent clinical features of FXS, all of which impede daily functioning and create barriers to learning. However, the neural mechanisms underlying sensory over-reactivity remain elusive. To overcome a significant challenge in translational FXS research we demonstrate a compelling alignment of sensory over-reactivity in both humans with FXS and Fmr1 -/- mice (the principal animal model of FXS) using a novel analogous distractor task. Two-photon microscopy in mice revealed that lack of modulation by VIP cells contributes to susceptibility to distractors. Implementing research efforts we describe here can help identify dysfunctional neural mechanisms associated not only with sensory issues but broader impairments, including those in learning and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorhan Rahmatullah
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
| | - Lauren M Schmitt
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati OH 45267
| | - Lisa De Stefano
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
| | - Sam Post
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
| | - Jessica Robledo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
| | - Gunvant Chaudhari
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Ernest Pedapati
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
- Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
| | - Craig Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Anubhuti Goel
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
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22
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Shih YC, Nelson L, Janeček M, Peixoto RT. Late onset and regional heterogeneity of synaptic deficits in cortical PV interneurons of Shank3B -/- mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.23.568500. [PMID: 38045377 PMCID: PMC10690261 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.23.568500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy and epileptiform patterns of cortical activity are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but the neural substrates and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the onset of cortical dysfunction in ASD remains elusive. Reduced cortical expression of Parvalbumin (PV) has been widely observed in ASD mouse models and human postmortem studies, suggesting a crucial role of PV interneurons (PVINs) in ASD pathogenesis. Shank3B -/- mice carrying a Δ13-16 deletion in SHANK3 exhibit cortical hyperactivity during postnatal development and reduced sensory responses in cortical GABAergic interneurons in adulthood. However, whether these phenotypes are associated with PVIN dysfunction is unknown. Using whole-cell electrophysiology and a viral-based strategy to label PVINs during postnatal development, we performed a developmental characterization of AMPAR miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in PVINs and pyramidal (PYR) neurons of layer (L) 2/3 mPFC in Shank3B -/- mice. Surprisingly, reduced mEPSC frequency was observed in both PYR and PVIN populations, but only in adulthood. At P15, when cortical hyperactivity is already observed, both neuron types exhibited normal mEPSC amplitude and frequency, suggesting that glutamatergic connectivity deficits in these neurons emerge as compensatory mechanisms. Additionally, we found normal mEPSCs in adult PVINs of L2/3 somatosensory cortex, revealing region-specific phenotypic differences of cortical PVINs in Shank3B -/- mice. Together, these results demonstrate that loss of Shank3 alters PVIN function but suggest that PVIN glutamatergic synapses are a suboptimal therapeutic target for normalizing early cortical imbalances in SHANK3-associated disorders. More broadly, these findings underscore the complexity of interneuron dysfunction in ASDs, prompting further exploration of region and developmental stage specific phenotypes for understanding and developing effective interventions.
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23
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Zhang Y, Chu G, Leng Y, Lin X, Zhou H, Lu Y, Liu B. Parvalbumin-positive neurons in the medial vestibular nucleus contribute to vestibular compensation through commissural inhibition. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1260243. [PMID: 38026699 PMCID: PMC10663245 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1260243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The commissural inhibitory system between the bilateral medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) plays a key role in vestibular compensation. Calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) is expressed in MVN GABAergic neurons. Whether these neurons are involved in vestibular compensation is still unknown. Methods After unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL), we measured the activity of MVN PV neurons by in vivo calcium imaging, and observed the projection of MVN PV neurons by retrograde neural tracing. After regulating PV neurons' activity by chemogenetic technique, the effects on vestibular compensation were evaluated by behavior analysis. Results We found PV expression and the activity of PV neurons in contralateral but not ipsilateral MVN increased 6 h following UL. ErbB4 is required to maintain GABA release for PV neurons, conditional knockout ErbB4 from PV neurons promoted vestibular compensation. Further investigation showed that vestibular compensation could be promoted by chemogenetic inhibition of contralateral MVN or activation of ipsilateral MVN PV neurons. Additional neural tracing study revealed that considerable MVN PV neurons were projecting to the opposite side of MVN, and that activating the ipsilateral MVN PV neurons projecting to contralateral MVN can promote vestibular compensation. Conclusion Contralateral MVN PV neuron activation after UL is detrimental to vestibular compensation, and rebalancing bilateral MVN PV neuron activity can promote vestibular compensation, via commissural inhibition from the ipsilateral MVN PV neurons. Our findings provide a new understanding of vestibular compensation at the neural circuitry level and a novel potential therapeutic target for vestibular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuejin Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangpin Chu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangming Leng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueling Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yisheng Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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24
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Shao W, Zheng H, Zhu J, Li W, Li Y, Hu W, Zhang J, Jing L, Wang K, Jiang X. Deletions of Cacna2d3 in parvalbumin-expressing neurons leads to autistic-like phenotypes in mice. Neurochem Int 2023; 169:105569. [PMID: 37419212 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105569] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a series of highly inherited neurodevelopmental disorders. Loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in the CACNA2D3 gene are associated with ASD. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Dysfunction of cortical interneurons (INs) is strongly implicated in ASD. Parvalbumin-expressing (PV) INs and somatostatin-expressing (SOM) INs are the two most subtypes. Here, we characterized a mouse knockout of the Cacna2d3 gene in PV-expressing neurons (PVCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice) or in SOM-expressing neurons (SOMCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice), respectively. PVCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice showed deficits in the core ASD behavioral domains (including impaired sociability and increased repetitive behavior), as well as anxiety-like behavior and improved spatial memory. Furthermore, loss of Cacna2d3 from a subset of PV neurons results in a reduction of GAD67 and PV expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). These may underlie the increased neuronal excitability in the mPFC, which contribute to the abnormal social behavior in PVCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice. Whereas, SOMCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice showed no obvious deficits in social, cognitive, or emotional phenotypes. Our findings provide the first evidence suggesting the causal role of Cacna2d3 insufficiency in PV neurons in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shao
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hang Zheng
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingwen Zhu
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenjie Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Juanjuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Liang Jing
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China.
| | - Kai Wang
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, China; Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China.
| | - Xiao Jiang
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China.
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25
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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: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [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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26
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Kourdougli N, Suresh A, Liu B, Juarez P, Lin A, Chung DT, Graven Sams A, Gandal MJ, Martínez-Cerdeño V, Buonomano DV, Hall BJ, Mombereau C, Portera-Cailliau C. Improvement of sensory deficits in fragile X mice by increasing cortical interneuron activity after the critical period. Neuron 2023; 111:2863-2880.e6. [PMID: 37451263 PMCID: PMC10529373 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Changes in the function of inhibitory interneurons (INs) during cortical development could contribute to the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Using all-optical in vivo approaches, we find that parvalbumin (PV) INs and their immature precursors are hypoactive and transiently decoupled from excitatory neurons in postnatal mouse somatosensory cortex (S1) of Fmr1 KO mice, a model of fragile X syndrome (FXS). This leads to a loss of parvalbumin INs (PV-INs) in both mice and humans with FXS. Increasing the activity of future PV-INs in neonatal Fmr1 KO mice restores PV-IN density and ameliorates transcriptional dysregulation in S1, but not circuit dysfunction. Critically, administering an allosteric modulator of Kv3.1 channels after the S1 critical period does rescue circuit dynamics and tactile defensiveness. Symptoms in FXS and related disorders could be mitigated by targeting PV-INs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anand Suresh
- Department of Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Liu
- Department of Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Pablo Juarez
- Department of Pathology, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ashley Lin
- Department of Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Dean V Buonomano
- Department of Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurobiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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27
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Monday HR, Wang HC, Feldman DE. Circuit-level theories for sensory dysfunction in autism: convergence across mouse models. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1254297. [PMID: 37745660 PMCID: PMC10513044 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1254297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit a diverse range of behavioral features and genetic backgrounds, but whether different genetic forms of autism involve convergent pathophysiology of brain function is unknown. Here, we analyze evidence for convergent deficits in neural circuit function across multiple transgenic mouse models of ASD. We focus on sensory areas of neocortex, where circuit differences may underlie atypical sensory processing, a central feature of autism. Many distinct circuit-level theories for ASD have been proposed, including increased excitation-inhibition (E-I) ratio and hyperexcitability, hypofunction of parvalbumin (PV) interneuron circuits, impaired homeostatic plasticity, degraded sensory coding, and others. We review these theories and assess the degree of convergence across ASD mouse models for each. Behaviorally, our analysis reveals that innate sensory detection behavior is heightened and sensory discrimination behavior is impaired across many ASD models. Neurophysiologically, PV hypofunction and increased E-I ratio are prevalent but only rarely generate hyperexcitability and excess spiking. Instead, sensory tuning and other aspects of neural coding are commonly degraded and may explain impaired discrimination behavior. Two distinct phenotypic clusters with opposing neural circuit signatures are evident across mouse models. Such clustering could suggest physiological subtypes of autism, which may facilitate the development of tailored therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R. Monday
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | | | - Daniel E. Feldman
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
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28
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Zhao M, Kwon SE. Interneuron-Targeted Disruption of SYNGAP1 Alters Sensory Representations in the Neocortex and Impairs Sensory Learning. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6212-6226. [PMID: 37558489 PMCID: PMC10476640 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1997-22.2023] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency in humans leads to severe neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, and sensory processing deficits. However, the circuit mechanisms underlying these disorders are not well understood. In mice, a decrease of SynGAP levels results in cognitive deficits by interfering with the development of excitatory glutamatergic connections. Recent evidence suggests that SynGAP also plays a crucial role in the development and function of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether and to what extent the expression of SYNGAP1 in inhibitory interneurons contributes to cortical circuit function and related behaviors. The activity of cortical neurons has not been measured simultaneously with behavior. To address these gaps, we recorded from layer 2/3 neurons in the primary whisker somatosensory cortex (wS1) of mice while they learned to perform a whisker tactile detection task. Our results demonstrate that mice with interneuron-specific SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency exhibit learning deficits characterized by heightened behavioral responses in the absence of relevant sensory input and premature responses to unrelated sensory stimuli not associated with reward acquisition. These behavioral deficits are accompanied by specific circuit abnormalities within wS1. Interneuron-specific SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency increases detrimental neuronal correlations directly related to task performance and enhances responses to irrelevant sensory stimuli unrelated to the reward acquisition. In summary, our findings indicate that a reduction of SynGAP in inhibitory interneurons impairs sensory representation in the primary sensory cortex by disrupting neuronal correlations, which likely contributes to the observed cognitive deficits in mice with pan-neuronal SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency leads to severe neurodevelopmental disorders. The exact nature of neural circuit dysfunction caused by SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency remains poorly understood. SynGAP plays a critical role in the function of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons as well as glutamatergic pyramidal neurons in the neocortex. Whether and how decreasing SYNGAP1 level in inhibitory interneurons disrupts a behaviorally relevant circuit remains unclear. We measure neural activity and behavior in mice learning a perceptual task. Mice with interneuron-targeted disruption of SYNGAP1 display increased detrimental neuronal correlations and elevated responses to irrelevant sensory inputs, which are related to impaired task performance. These results show that cortical interneuron dysfunction contributes to sensory deficits in SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency with important implications for identifying therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Zhao
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Sung Eun Kwon
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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29
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Martinez JD, Wilson LG, Brancaleone WP, Peterson KG, Popke DS, Garzon VC, Perez Tremble RE, Donnelly MJ, Mendez Ortega SL, Torres D, Shaver JJ, Clawson BC, Jiang S, Yang Z, Aton SJ. Hypnotic treatment reverses NREM sleep disruption and EEG desynchronization in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome to rescue memory consolidation deficits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.14.549070. [PMID: 37502832 PMCID: PMC10370139 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.14.549070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a highly-prevalent genetic cause of intellectual disability, associated with disrupted cognition and sleep abnormalities. Sleep loss itself negatively impacts cognitive function, yet the contribution of sleep loss to impaired cognition in FXS is vastly understudied. One untested possibility is that disrupted cognition in FXS is exacerbated by abnormal sleep. We hypothesized that restoration of sleep-dependent mechanisms could improve functions such as memory consolidation in FXS. We examined whether administration of ML297, a hypnotic drug acting on G-protein-activated inward-rectifying potassium channels, could restore sleep phenotypes and improve disrupted memory consolidation in Fmr1 -/y mice. Using 24-h polysomnographic recordings, we found that Fmr1 -/y mice exhibit reduced non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and fragmented NREM sleep architecture, alterations in NREM EEG spectral power (including reductions in sleep spindles), and reduced EEG coherence between cortical areas. These alterations were reversed in the hours following ML297 administration. Hypnotic treatment following contextual fear or spatial learning also ameliorated disrupted memory consolidation in Fmr1 -/y mice. Hippocampal activation patterns during memory recall was altered in Fmr1 -/y mice, reflecting an altered balance of activity among principal neurons vs. parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons. This phenotype was partially reversed by post-learning ML297 administration. These studies suggest that sleep disruption could have a major impact on neurophysiological and behavioral phenotypes in FXS, and that hypnotic therapy may significantly improve disrupted cognition in this disorder.
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30
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Goff KM, Liebergall SR, Jiang E, Somarowthu A, Goldberg EM. VIP interneuron impairment promotes in vivo circuit dysfunction and autism-related behaviors in Dravet syndrome. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112628. [PMID: 37310860 PMCID: PMC10592464 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss-of-function variants in SCN1A, which encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel subunit Nav1.1. We recently showed that neocortical vasoactive intestinal peptide interneurons (VIP-INs) express Nav1.1 and are hypoexcitable in DS (Scn1a+/-) mice. Here, we investigate VIP-IN function at the circuit and behavioral level by performing in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging in awake wild-type (WT) and Scn1a+/- mice. VIP-IN and pyramidal neuron activation during behavioral transition from quiet wakefulness to active running is diminished in Scn1a+/- mice, and optogenetic activation of VIP-INs restores pyramidal neuron activity to WT levels during locomotion. VIP-IN selective Scn1a deletion reproduces core autism-spectrum-disorder-related behaviors in addition to cellular- and circuit-level deficits in VIP-IN function, but without epilepsy, sudden death, or avoidance behaviors seen in the global model. Hence, VIP-INs are impaired in vivo, which may underlie non-seizure cognitive and behavioral comorbidities in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Goff
- Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Group, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sophie R Liebergall
- Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Group, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Evan Jiang
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ala Somarowthu
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ethan M Goldberg
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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31
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Mohapatra AN, Wagner S. The role of the prefrontal cortex in social interactions of animal models and the implications for autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1205199. [PMID: 37409155 PMCID: PMC10318347 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1205199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interaction is a complex behavior which requires the individual to integrate various internal processes, such as social motivation, social recognition, salience, reward, and emotional state, as well as external cues informing the individual of others' behavior, emotional state and social rank. This complex phenotype is susceptible to disruption in humans affected by neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Multiple pieces of convergent evidence collected from studies of humans and rodents suggest that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a pivotal role in social interactions, serving as a hub for motivation, affiliation, empathy, and social hierarchy. Indeed, disruption of the PFC circuitry results in social behavior deficits symptomatic of ASD. Here, we review this evidence and describe various ethologically relevant social behavior tasks which could be employed with rodent models to study the role of the PFC in social interactions. We also discuss the evidence linking the PFC to pathologies associated with ASD. Finally, we address specific questions regarding mechanisms employed by the PFC circuitry that may result in atypical social interactions in rodent models, which future studies should address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Nath Mohapatra
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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32
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Gandhi T, Canepa CR, Adeyelu TT, Adeniyi PA, Lee CC. Neuroanatomical Alterations in the CNTNAP2 Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:891. [PMID: 37371370 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with neurodevelopmental alterations, including atypical forebrain cellular organization. Mutations in several ASD-related genes often result in cerebral cortical anomalies, such as the abnormal developmental migration of excitatory pyramidal cells and the malformation of inhibitory neuronal circuitry. Notably here, mutations in the CNTNAP2 gene result in ectopic superficial cortical neurons stalled in lower cortical layers and alterations to the balance of cortical excitation and inhibition. However, the broader circuit-level implications of these findings have not been previously investigated. Therefore, we assessed whether ectopic cortical neurons in CNTNAP2 mutant mice form aberrant connections with higher-order thalamic nuclei, potentially accounting for some autistic behaviors, such as repetitive and hyperactive behaviors. Furthermore, we assessed whether the development of parvalbumin-positive (PV) cortical interneurons and their specialized matrix support structures, called perineuronal nets (PNNs), were altered in these mutant mice. We found alterations in both ectopic neuronal connectivity and in the development of PNNs, PV neurons and PNNs enwrapping PV neurons in various sensory cortical regions and at different postnatal ages in the CNTNAP2 mutant mice, which likely lead to some of the cortical excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance associated with ASD. These findings suggest neuroanatomical alterations in cortical regions that underlie the emergence of ASD-related behaviors in this mouse model of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Gandhi
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Cade R Canepa
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Tolulope T Adeyelu
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Philip A Adeniyi
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Charles C Lee
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
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33
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Levy RJ, Paşca SP. What Have Organoids and Assembloids Taught Us About the Pathophysiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders? Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:632-641. [PMID: 36739210 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric research has been impeded by limited access to human brain tissue, especially from early stages of neurodevelopment when the pathophysiology of many childhood-onset disorders is initiated. Neural organoids are 3-dimensional, self-organizing, multicellular structures generated from pluripotent stem cells that recapitulate some of the cell diversity, cytoarchitecture, and functional features of domains of the developing nervous system. Assembloids are 3-dimensional, self-organizing cultures created by the combination of two or more distinctly patterned organoids or an organoid plus additional cell or tissue type(s) that are used to model cell migration and connectivity. Here we review recent advances in neuropsychiatric disorder research using organoid and assembloid models to study the role of disease-relevant genes and mutations, as well as the impact of environmental risk factors on neural development. We also highlight some of the advantages and limitations of these model systems in bringing insights into the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Levy
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute & Bio-X, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Sergiu P Paşca
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute & Bio-X, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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34
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Wei JA, Liu L, Song X, Lin B, Cui J, Luo L, Liu Y, Li S, Li X, So KF, Yan S, Zhang L. Physical exercise modulates the microglial complement pathway in mice to relieve cortical circuitry deficits induced by mutant human TDP-43. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112240. [PMID: 36924491 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of TAR DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is related to different neurodegenerative diseases, which leads to microglial activation and neuronal loss. The molecular mechanism driving neuronal death by reactive microglia, however, has not been completely resolved. In this study, we generated a mouse model by overexpressing mutant human TDP-43 (M337V) in the primary motor cortex, leading to prominent motor-learning deficits. In vivo 2-photon imaging shows an active approach of microglia toward parvalbumin interneurons, resulting in disrupted cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance. Proteomics studies suggest that activation of the complement pathway induces microglial activity. To develop an early interventional strategy, treadmill exercise successfully prevents the deterioration of motor dysfunction under enhanced adipocytic release of clusterin to block the complement pathway. These results demonstrate a previously unrecognized pathway by which TDP-43 induces cortical deficits and provide additional insights for the mechanistic explanation of exercise training in disease intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-An Wei
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Linglin Liu
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xichen Song
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Bilian Lin
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jing Cui
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lanzhi Luo
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yuchu Liu
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaojiang Li
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou 510515, China; Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510300, China; Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institute, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Sen Yan
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Models, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou 510515, China; Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510300, China; Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institute, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao 266000, China.
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35
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Arutiunian V, Arcara G, Buyanova I, Davydova E, Pereverzeva D, Sorokin A, Tyushkevich S, Mamokhina U, Danilina K, Dragoy O. Neuromagnetic 40 Hz Auditory Steady-State Response in the left auditory cortex is related to language comprehension in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 122:110690. [PMID: 36470421 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
Language impairment is comorbid in most children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but its neural mechanisms are still poorly understood. Some studies hypothesize that the atypical low-level sensory perception in the auditory cortex accounts for the abnormal language development in these children. One of the potential non-invasive measures of such low-level perception can be the cortical gamma-band oscillations registered with magnetoencephalography (MEG), and 40 Hz Auditory Steady-State Response (40 Hz ASSR) is a reliable paradigm for eliciting auditory gamma response. Although there is research in children with and without ASD using 40 Hz ASSR, nothing is known about the relationship between this auditory response in children with ASD and their language abilities measured directly in formal assessment. In the present study, we used MEG and individual brain models to investigate 40 Hz ASSR in primary-school-aged children with and without ASD. It was also used to assess how the strength of the auditory response is related to language abilities of children with ASD, their non-verbal IQ, and social functioning. A total of 40 children were included in the study. The results demonstrated that 40 Hz ASSR was reduced in the right auditory cortex in children with ASD when comparing them to typically developing controls. Importantly, our study provides the first evidence of the association between 40 Hz ASSR in the language-dominant left auditory cortex and language comprehension in children with ASD. This link was domain-specific because the other brain-behavior correlations were non-significant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Irina Buyanova
- Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elizaveta Davydova
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia; Chair of Differential Psychology and Psychophysiology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Darya Pereverzeva
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Sorokin
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Svetlana Tyushkevich
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Uliana Mamokhina
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Kamilla Danilina
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Dragoy
- Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia; Institute of Linguistics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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36
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Orekhova EV, Manyukhina VO, Galuta IA, Prokofyev AO, Goiaeva DE, Obukhova TS, Fadeev KA, Schneiderman JF, Stroganova TA. Gamma oscillations point to the role of primary visual cortex in atypical motion processing in autism. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281531. [PMID: 36780507 PMCID: PMC9925089 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurophysiological studies suggest that abnormal neural inhibition may explain a range of sensory processing differences in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In particular, the impaired ability of people with ASD to visually discriminate the motion direction of small-size objects and their reduced perceptual suppression of background-like visual motion may stem from deficient surround inhibition within the primary visual cortex (V1) and/or its atypical top-down modulation by higher-tier cortical areas. In this study, we estimate the contribution of abnormal surround inhibition to the motion-processing deficit in ASD. For this purpose, we used a putative correlate of surround inhibition-suppression of the magnetoencephalographic (MEG) gamma response (GR) caused by an increase in the drift rate of a large annular high-contrast grating. The motion direction discrimination thresholds for the gratings of different angular sizes (1° and 12°) were assessed in a separate psychophysical paradigm. The MEG data were collected in 42 boys with ASD and 37 typically developing (TD) boys aged 7-15 years. Psychophysical data were available in 33 and 34 of these participants, respectively. The results showed that the GR suppression in V1 was reduced in boys with ASD, while their ability to detect the direction of motion was compromised only in the case of small stimuli. In TD boys, the GR suppression directly correlated with perceptual suppression caused by increasing stimulus size, thus suggesting the role of the top-down modulations of V1 in surround inhibition. In ASD, weaker GR suppression was associated with the poor directional sensitivity to small stimuli, but not with perceptual suppression. These results strongly suggest that a local inhibitory deficit in V1 plays an important role in the reduction of directional sensitivity in ASD and that this perceptual deficit cannot be explained exclusively by atypical top-down modulation of V1 by higher-tier cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V. Orekhova
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
- * E-mail:
| | - Viktoriya O. Manyukhina
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Ilia A. Galuta
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Andrey O. Prokofyev
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Dzerassa E. Goiaeva
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Tatiana S. Obukhova
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Kirill A. Fadeev
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Justin F. Schneiderman
- MedTech West and the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, The University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tatiana A. Stroganova
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
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37
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Koesterich J, An JY, Inoue F, Sohota A, Ahituv N, Sanders SJ, Kreimer A. Characterization of De Novo Promoter Variants in Autism Spectrum Disorder with Massively Parallel Reporter Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3509. [PMID: 36834916 PMCID: PMC9959321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common, complex, and highly heritable condition with contributions from both common and rare genetic variations. While disruptive, rare variants in protein-coding regions clearly contribute to symptoms, the role of rare non-coding remains unclear. Variants in these regions, including promoters, can alter downstream RNA and protein quantity; however, the functional impacts of specific variants observed in ASD cohorts remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we analyzed 3600 de novo mutations in promoter regions previously identified by whole-genome sequencing of autistic probands and neurotypical siblings to test the hypothesis that mutations in cases have a greater functional impact than those in controls. We leveraged massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) to detect transcriptional consequences of these variants in neural progenitor cells and identified 165 functionally high confidence de novo variants (HcDNVs). While these HcDNVs are enriched for markers of active transcription, disruption to transcription factor binding sites, and open chromatin, we did not identify differences in functional impact based on ASD diagnostic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Koesterich
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joon-Yong An
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, College of Health Science, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- BK21FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Fumitaka Inoue
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Ajuni Sohota
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Nadav Ahituv
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Stephan J. Sanders
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Dr, Headington, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Anat Kreimer
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Ahmed NY, Knowles R, Liu L, Yan Y, Li X, Schumann U, Wang Y, Sontani Y, Reynolds N, Natoli R, Wen J, Del Pino I, Mi D, Dehorter N. Developmental deficits of MGE-derived interneurons in the Cntnap2 knockout mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1112062. [PMID: 36819097 PMCID: PMC9930104 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1112062] [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: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Interneurons are fundamental cells for maintaining the excitation-inhibition balance in the brain in health and disease. While interneurons have been shown to play a key role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adult mice, little is known about how their maturation is altered in the developing striatum in ASD. Here, we aimed to track striatal developing interneurons and elucidate the molecular and physiological alterations in the Cntnap2 knockout mouse model. Using Stereo-seq and single-cell RNA sequencing data, we first characterized the pattern of expression of Cntnap2 in the adult brain and at embryonic stages in the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), a transitory structure producing most cortical and striatal interneurons. We found that Cntnap2 is enriched in the striatum, compared to the cortex, particularly in the developing striatal cholinergic interneurons. We then revealed enhanced MGE-derived cell proliferation, followed by increased cell loss during the canonical window of developmental cell death in the Cntnap2 knockout mice. We uncovered specific cellular and molecular alterations in the developing Lhx6-expressing cholinergic interneurons of the striatum, which impacts interneuron firing properties during the first postnatal week. Overall, our work unveils some of the mechanisms underlying the shift in the developmental trajectory of striatal interneurons which greatly contribute to the ASD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorya Yasmin Ahmed
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Rhys Knowles
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Lixinyu Liu
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yiming Yan
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohan Li
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ulrike Schumann
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yumeng Wang
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yovina Sontani
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nathan Reynolds
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Riccardo Natoli
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Jiayu Wen
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Isabel Del Pino
- Institute of Neurosciences, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Da Mi
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Nathalie Dehorter
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia,*Correspondence: Nathalie Dehorter,
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Kourdougli N, Portera-Cailliau C. aGABRacadabra: A surprising new role for GABA A receptors in cortical development. Neuron 2023; 111:146-149. [PMID: 36657397 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In this issue of Neuron, Babij, Ferrer, and colleagues provide new evidence that β3 subunit of GABAA receptors is critical for the maturation of functional networks in the neonatal somatosensory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazim Kourdougli
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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40
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Altered integration of excitatory inputs onto the basal dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2208963120. [PMID: 36595706 PMCID: PMC9926222 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208963120] [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: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons receive predictive and sensory inputs in a compartmentalized manner at their apical and basal dendrites, respectively. To uncover how integration of sensory inputs is affected in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), we used two-photon glutamate uncaging to activate spines in the basal dendrites of L5 pyramidal neurons from a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic cause of ASD. While subthreshold excitatory inputs integrate linearly in wild-type animals, surprisingly those with FXS summate sublinearly, contradicting what would be expected of sensory hypersensitivity classically associated with ASD. We next investigated the mechanism underlying this sublinearity by performing knockdown of the regulatory β4 subunit of BK channels, which rescued the synaptic integration, a result that was corroborated with numerical simulations. Taken together, these findings suggest that there is a differential impairment in the integration of feedforward sensory and feedback predictive inputs in L5 pyramidal neurons in FXS and potentially other forms of ASD, as a result of specifically localized subcellular channelopathies. These results challenge the traditional view that FXS and other ASD are characterized by sensory hypersensitivity, proposing instead a hyposensitivity of sensory inputs and hypersensitivity of predictive inputs onto cortical neurons.
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41
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Rahmatullah N, Schmitt LM, De Stefano L, Post S, Robledo J, Chaudhari GR, Pedapati E, Erickson CA, Portera-Cailliau C, Goel A. Hypersensitivity to distractors in Fragile X syndrome from loss of modulation of cortical VIP interneurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.03.522654. [PMID: 36711901 PMCID: PMC9881942 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.03.522654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Attention deficit is one of the most prominent and disabling symptoms in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli contributes to attention difficulties by overwhelming and/or distracting affected individuals, which disrupts activities of daily living at home and learning at school. We find that auditory or visual distractors selectively impair visual discrimination performance in both humans and mice with FXS, but not their typically developing controls. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) neurons were significantly modulated by incorrect responses in the post-stimulus period during early distractor trials in WT mice, consistent with their known role as 'error' signals. Strikingly, however, VIP cells from Fmr1-/- mice showed little modulation in error trials, and this correlated with their poor performance on the distractor task. Thus, VIP interneurons and their reduced modulatory influence on pyramidal cells, could be a potential therapeutic target for attentional difficulties in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorhan Rahmatullah
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, UC Riverside, CA
- Department of Psychology, UC Riverside, CA
| | - Lauren M. Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Lisa De Stefano
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Sam Post
- Department of Psychology, UC Riverside, CA
| | | | | | - Ernest Pedapati
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
- Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Craig A. Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, CA
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, CA
| | - Anubhuti Goel
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, UC Riverside, CA
- Department of Psychology, UC Riverside, CA
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Fiksinski AM, Hoftman GD, Vorstman JAS, Bearden CE. A genetics-first approach to understanding autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:341-353. [PMID: 36192458 PMCID: PMC9812786 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01783-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Recently, increasing numbers of rare pathogenic genetic variants have been identified that are associated with variably elevated risks of a range of neurodevelopmental outcomes, notably including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD), and Intellectual Disability (ID). This review is organized along three main questions: First, how can we unify the exclusively descriptive basis of our current psychiatric diagnostic classification system with the recognition of an identifiable, highly penetrant genetic risk factor in an increasing proportion of patients with ASD or SSD? Second, what can be learned from studies of individuals with ASD or SSD who share a common genetic basis? And third, what accounts for the observed variable penetrance and pleiotropy of neuropsychiatric phenotypes in individuals with the same pathogenic variant? In this review, we focus on findings of clinical and preclinical studies of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). This particular variant is not only one of the most common among the increasing list of known rare pathogenic variants, but also one that benefits from a relatively long research history. Consequently, 22q11DS is an appealing model as it allows us to: (1) elucidate specific genotype-phenotype associations, (2) prospectively study behaviorally defined classifications, such as ASD or SSD, in the context of a known, well-characterized genetic basis, and (3) elucidate mechanisms underpinning variable penetrance and pleiotropy, phenomena with far-reaching ramifications for research and clinical practice. We discuss how findings from animal and in vitro studies relate to observations in human studies and can help elucidate factors, including genetic, environmental, and stochastic, that impact the expression of neuropsychiatric phenotypes in 22q11DS, and how this may inform mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental expression in the general population. We conclude with research priorities for the field, which may pave the way for novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ania M Fiksinski
- Department of Psychology and Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Division of Mental Health, MHeNS, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Gil D Hoftman
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jacob A S Vorstman
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Research Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Ahmed M, Muffat J, Li Y. Understanding neural development and diseases using CRISPR screens in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cultures. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1158373. [PMID: 37101616 PMCID: PMC10123288 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1158373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is arguably the most complex part of the human body in form and function. Much remains unclear about the molecular mechanisms that regulate its normal and pathological physiology. This lack of knowledge largely stems from the inaccessible nature of the human brain, and the limitation of animal models. As a result, brain disorders are difficult to understand and even more difficult to treat. Recent advances in generating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)-derived 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) neural cultures have provided an accessible system to model the human brain. Breakthroughs in gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 further elevate the hPSCs into a genetically tractable experimental system. Powerful genetic screens, previously reserved for model organisms and transformed cell lines, can now be performed in human neural cells. Combined with the rapidly expanding single-cell genomics toolkit, these technological advances culminate to create an unprecedented opportunity to study the human brain using functional genomics. This review will summarize the current progress of applying CRISPR-based genetic screens in hPSCs-derived 2D neural cultures and 3D brain organoids. We will also evaluate the key technologies involved and discuss their related experimental considerations and future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Ahmed
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julien Muffat
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yun Li
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Yun Li,
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Banerjee T, Pati S, Tiwari P, Vaidya VA. Chronic hM3Dq-DREADD-mediated chemogenetic activation of parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons in postnatal life alters anxiety and despair-like behavior in adulthood in a task- and sex-dependent manner. J Biosci 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-022-00308-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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O'Connor D, Mandino F, Shen X, Horien C, Ge X, Herman P, Hyder F, Crair M, Papademetris X, Lake E, Constable RT. Functional network properties derived from wide-field calcium imaging differ with wakefulness and across cell type. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119735. [PMID: 36347441 PMCID: PMC9808917 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
To improve 'bench-to-bedside' translation, it is integral that knowledge flows bidirectionally-from animal models to humans, and vice versa. This requires common analytical frameworks, as well as open software and data sharing practices. We share a new pipeline (and test dataset) for the preprocessing of wide-field optical fluorescence imaging data-an emerging mode applicable in animal models-as well as results from a functional connectivity and graph theory analysis inspired by recent work in the human neuroimaging field. The approach is demonstrated using a dataset comprised of two test-cases: (1) data from animals imaged during awake and anesthetized conditions with excitatory neurons labeled, and (2) data from awake animals with different genetically encoded fluorescent labels that target either excitatory neurons or inhibitory interneuron subtypes. Both seed-based connectivity and graph theory measures (global efficiency, transitivity, modularity, and characteristic path-length) are shown to be useful in quantifying differences between wakefulness states and cell populations. Wakefulness state and cell type show widespread effects on canonical network connectivity with variable frequency band dependence. Differences between excitatory neurons and inhibitory interneurons are observed, with somatostatin expressing inhibitory interneurons emerging as notably dissimilar from parvalbumin and vasoactive polypeptide expressing cells. In sum, we demonstrate that our pipeline can be used to examine brain state and cell-type differences in mesoscale imaging data, aiding translational neuroscience efforts. In line with open science practices, we freely release the pipeline and data to encourage other efforts in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- D O'Connor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - F Mandino
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - X Shen
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C Horien
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - X Ge
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - P Herman
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - F Hyder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M Crair
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - X Papademetris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Emr Lake
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - R T Constable
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Abstract
Recent advances in genomics have revealed a wide spectrum of genetic variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders at an unprecedented scale. An increasing number of studies have consistently identified mutations-both inherited and de novo-impacting the function of specific brain circuits. This suggests that, during brain development, alterations in distinct neural circuits, cell types, or broad regulatory pathways ultimately shaping synapses might be a dysfunctional process underlying these disorders. Here, we review findings from human studies and animal model research to provide a comprehensive description of synaptic and circuit mechanisms implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. We discuss how specific synaptic connections might be commonly disrupted in different disorders and the alterations in cognition and behaviors emerging from imbalances in neuronal circuits. Moreover, we review new approaches that have been shown to restore or mitigate dysfunctional processes during specific critical windows of brain development. Considering the heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders, we also highlight the recent progress in developing improved clinical biomarkers and strategies that will help to identify novel therapeutic compounds and opportunities for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Exposito-Alonso
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom;
- Current affiliation: Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| | - Beatriz Rico
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom;
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Miles KD, Doll CA. Chloride imbalance in Fragile X syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1008393. [PMID: 36312023 PMCID: PMC9596984 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1008393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental changes in ionic balance are associated with crucial hallmarks in neural circuit formation, including changes in excitation and inhibition, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Neuronal excitability is largely mediated by ionic concentrations inside and outside of the cell, and chloride (Cl-) ions are highly influential in early neurodevelopmental events. For example, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature central nervous system (CNS). However, during early development GABA can depolarize target neurons, and GABAergic depolarization is implicated in crucial neurodevelopmental processes. This developmental shift of GABAergic neurotransmission from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing output is induced by changes in Cl- gradients, which are generated by the relative expression of Cl- transporters Nkcc1 and Kcc2. Interestingly, the GABA polarity shift is delayed in Fragile X syndrome (FXS) models; FXS is one of the most common heritable neurodevelopmental disorders. The RNA binding protein FMRP, encoded by the gene Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein-1 (Fmr1) and absent in FXS, appears to regulate chloride transporter expression. This could dramatically influence FXS phenotypes, as the syndrome is hypothesized to be rooted in defects in neural circuit development and imbalanced excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) neurotransmission. In this perspective, we summarize canonical Cl- transporter expression and investigate altered gene and protein expression of Nkcc1 and Kcc2 in FXS models. We then discuss interactions between Cl- transporters and neurotransmission complexes, and how these links could cause imbalances in inhibitory neurotransmission that may alter mature circuits. Finally, we highlight current therapeutic strategies and promising new directions in targeting Cl- transporter expression in FXS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caleb Andrew Doll
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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Zoodsma JD, Keegan EJ, Moody GR, Bhandiwad AA, Napoli AJ, Burgess HA, Wollmuth LP, Sirotkin HI. Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish. Mol Autism 2022; 13:38. [PMID: 36138431 PMCID: PMC9502958 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00516-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like many neurodevelopmental disorders, has complex and varied etiologies. Advances in genome sequencing have identified multiple candidate genes associated with ASD, including dozens of missense and nonsense mutations in the NMDAR subunit GluN2B, encoded by GRIN2B. NMDARs are glutamate-gated ion channels with key synaptic functions in excitatory neurotransmission. How alterations in these proteins impact neurodevelopment is poorly understood, in part because knockouts of GluN2B in rodents are lethal. METHODS Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9 to generate zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B-/-). Using these fish, we run an array of behavioral tests and perform whole-brain larval imaging to assay developmental roles and functions of GluN2B. RESULTS We demonstrate that zebrafish GluN2B displays similar structural and functional properties to human GluN2B. Zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B-/-) surprisingly survive into adulthood. Given the prevalence of social deficits in ASD, we assayed social preference in the grin2B-/- fish. Wild-type fish develop a strong social preference by 3 weeks post fertilization. In contrast, grin2B-/- fish at this age exhibit significantly reduced social preference. Notably, the lack of GluN2B does not result in a broad disruption of neurodevelopment, as grin2B-/- larvae do not show alterations in spontaneous or photic-evoked movements, are capable of prey capture, and exhibit learning. Whole-brain imaging of grin2B-/- larvae revealed reduction of an inhibitory neuron marker in the subpallium, a region linked to ASD in humans, but showed that overall brain size and E/I balance in grin2B-/- is comparable to wild type. LIMITATIONS Zebrafish lacking GluN2B, while useful in studying developmental roles of GluN2B, are unlikely to model nuanced functional alterations of human missense mutations that are not complete loss of function. Additionally, detailed mammalian homologies for larval zebrafish brain subdivisions at the age of whole-brain imaging are not fully resolved. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that zebrafish completely lacking the GluN2B subunit of the NMDAR, unlike rodent models, are viable into adulthood. Notably, they exhibit a highly specific deficit in social behavior. As such, this zebrafish model affords a unique opportunity to study the roles of GluN2B in ASD etiologies and establish a disease-relevant in vivo model for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah D. Zoodsma
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Emma J. Keegan
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Gabrielle R. Moody
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Ashwin A. Bhandiwad
- grid.420089.70000 0000 9635 8082Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Amalia J. Napoli
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Harold A. Burgess
- grid.420089.70000 0000 9635 8082Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Lonnie P. Wollmuth
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Center for Nervous System Disorders, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Howard I. Sirotkin
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
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Arjun McKinney A, Petrova R, Panagiotakos G. Calcium and activity-dependent signaling in the developing cerebral cortex. Development 2022; 149:276624. [PMID: 36102617 PMCID: PMC9578689 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Calcium influx can be stimulated by various intra- and extracellular signals to set coordinated gene expression programs into motion. As such, the precise regulation of intracellular calcium represents a nexus between environmental cues and intrinsic genetic programs. Mounting genetic evidence points to a role for the deregulation of intracellular calcium signaling in neuropsychiatric disorders of developmental origin. These findings have prompted renewed enthusiasm for understanding the roles of calcium during normal and dysfunctional prenatal development. In this Review, we describe the fundamental mechanisms through which calcium is spatiotemporally regulated and directs early neurodevelopmental events. We also discuss unanswered questions about intracellular calcium regulation during the emergence of neurodevelopmental disease, and provide evidence that disruption of cell-specific calcium homeostasis and/or redeployment of developmental calcium signaling mechanisms may contribute to adult neurological disorders. We propose that understanding the normal developmental events that build the nervous system will rely on gaining insights into cell type-specific calcium signaling mechanisms. Such an understanding will enable therapeutic strategies targeting calcium-dependent mechanisms to mitigate disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpana Arjun McKinney
- University of California 1 Graduate Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology , , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California 2 , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- University of California 3 Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California 4 , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
| | - Ralitsa Petrova
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California 2 , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- University of California 3 Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California 4 , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
| | - Georgia Panagiotakos
- University of California 1 Graduate Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology , , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California 2 , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- University of California 3 Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California 4 , San Francisco, CA 94143 , USA
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Kalinowska M, van der Lei MB, Kitiashvili M, Mamcarz M, Oliveira MM, Longo F, Klann E. Deletion of Fmr1 in parvalbumin-expressing neurons results in dysregulated translation and selective behavioral deficits associated with fragile X syndrome. Mol Autism 2022; 13:29. [PMID: 35768828 PMCID: PMC9245312 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00509-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, is caused by the lack of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) expression. FMRP is an mRNA binding protein with functions in mRNA transport, localization, and translational control. In Fmr1 knockout mice, dysregulated translation has been linked to pathophysiology, including abnormal synaptic function and dendritic morphology, and autistic-like behavioral phenotypes. The role of FMRP in morphology and function of excitatory neurons has been well studied in mice lacking Fmr1, but the impact of Fmr1 deletion on inhibitory neurons remains less characterized. Moreover, the contribution of FMRP in different cell types to FXS pathophysiology is not well defined. We sought to characterize whether FMRP loss in parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing neurons results in FXS-like deficits in mice. METHODS We used Cre-lox recombinase technology to generate two lines of conditional knockout mice lacking FMRP in either parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing cells and carried out a battery of behavioral tests to assess motor function, anxiety, repetitive, stereotypic, social behaviors, and learning and memory. In addition, we used fluorescent non-canonical amino acid tagging along with immunostaining to determine whether de novo protein synthesis is dysregulated in parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing neurons. RESULTS De novo protein synthesis was elevated in hippocampal parvalbumin and somatostatin-expressing inhibitory neurons in Fmr1 knockout mice. Cell type-specific deletion of Fmr1 in parvalbumin-expressing neurons resulted in anxiety-like behavior, impaired social behavior, and dysregulated de novo protein synthesis. In contrast, deletion of Fmr1 in somatostatin-expressing neurons did not result in behavioral abnormalities and did not significantly impact de novo protein synthesis. This is the first report of how loss of FMRP in two specific subtypes of inhibitory neurons is associated with distinct FXS-like abnormalities. LIMITATIONS The mouse models we generated are limited by whole body knockout of FMRP in parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing cells and further studies are needed to establish a causal relationship between cellular deficits and FXS-like behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate a cell type-specific role for FMRP in parvalbumin-expressing neurons in regulating distinct behavioral features associated with FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kalinowska
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Mathijs B. van der Lei
- grid.5284.b0000 0001 0790 3681Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michael Kitiashvili
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Maggie Mamcarz
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Mauricio M. Oliveira
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Francesco Longo
- grid.8761.80000 0000 9919 9582Institute for Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden ,grid.8761.80000 0000 9919 9582Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eric Klann
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA. .,NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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