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Bach SV, Bauman AJ, Hosein D, Tuscher JJ, Ianov L, Greathouse KM, Henderson BW, Herskowitz JH, Martinowich K, Day JJ. Distinct roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variant expression in hippocampal neurons. Hippocampus 2024; 34:218-229. [PMID: 38362938 PMCID: PMC11039386 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23600] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) plays a critical role in brain development, dendritic growth, synaptic plasticity, as well as learning and memory. The rodent Bdnf gene contains nine 5' non-coding exons (I-IXa), which are spliced to a common 3' coding exon (IX). Transcription of individual Bdnf variants, which all encode the same BDNF protein, is initiated at unique promoters upstream of each non-coding exon, enabling precise spatiotemporal and activity-dependent regulation of Bdnf expression. Although prior evidence suggests that Bdnf transcripts containing exon I (Bdnf I) or exon IV (Bdnf IV) are uniquely regulated by neuronal activity, the functional significance of different Bdnf transcript variants remains unclear. To investigate functional roles of activity-dependent Bdnf I and IV transcripts, we used a CRISPR activation system in which catalytically dead Cas9 fused to a transcriptional activator (VPR) is targeted to individual Bdnf promoters with single guide RNAs, resulting in transcript-specific Bdnf upregulation. Bdnf I upregulation is associated with gene expression changes linked to dendritic growth, while Bdnf IV upregulation is associated with genes that regulate protein catabolism. Upregulation of Bdnf I, but not Bdnf IV, increased mushroom spine density, volume, length, and head diameter, and also produced more complex dendritic arbors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In contrast, upregulation of Bdnf IV, but not Bdnf I, in the rat hippocampus attenuated contextual fear expression. Our data suggest that while Bdnf I and IV are both activity-dependent, BDNF produced from these promoters may serve unique cellular, synaptic, and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana V. Bach
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Allison J. Bauman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Darya Hosein
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Greathouse
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Henderson
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy H. Herskowitz
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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2
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Kim HJ, Phan TT, Lee K, Kim JS, Lee SY, Lee JM, Do J, Lee D, Kim SP, Lee KP, Park J, Lee CJ, Park JM. Long-lasting forms of plasticity through patterned ultrasound-induced brainwave entrainment. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk3198. [PMID: 38394205 PMCID: PMC10889366 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk3198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Achieving long-lasting neuronal modulation with low-intensity, low-frequency ultrasound is challenging. Here, we devised theta burst ultrasound stimulation (TBUS) with gamma bursts for brain entrainment and modulation of neuronal plasticity in the mouse motor cortex. We demonstrate that two types of TBUS, intermittent and continuous TBUS, induce bidirectional long-term potentiation or depression-like plasticity, respectively, as evidenced by changes in motor-evoked potentials. These effects depended on molecular pathways associated with long-term plasticity, including N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin receptor kinase B activation, as well as de novo protein synthesis. Notably, bestrophin-1 and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 play important roles in these enduring effects. Moreover, pretraining TBUS enhances the acquisition of previously unidentified motor skills. Our study unveils a promising protocol for ultrasound neuromodulation, enabling noninvasive and sustained modulation of brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Jeong Kim
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Tien Thuy Phan
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Keunhyung Lee
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Sook Kim
- Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Yeong Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Moo Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongrok Do
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Doyun Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Phil Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu Pil Lee
- Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhyoung Park
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - C. Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Min Park
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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3
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Antolasic EJ, Jaehne EJ, van den Buuse M. Interaction of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor, Exercise, and Fear Extinction: Implications for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:543-556. [PMID: 37491857 PMCID: PMC10845100 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230724101321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays an important role in brain development, neural plasticity, and learning and memory. The Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism is a common genetic variant that results in deficient activity-dependent release of BDNF. This polymorphism and its impact on fear conditioning and extinction, as well as on symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), have been of increasing research interest over the last two decades. More recently, it has been demonstrated that regular physical activity may ameliorate impairments in fear extinction and alleviate symptoms in individuals with PTSD via an action on BDNF levels and that there are differential responses to exercise between the Val66Met genotypes. This narrative literature review first describes the theoretical underpinnings of the development and persistence of intrusive and hypervigilance symptoms commonly seen in PTSD and their treatment. It then discusses recent literature on the involvement of BDNF and the Val66Met polymorphism in fear conditioning and extinction and its involvement in PTSD diagnosis and severity. Finally, it investigates research on the impact of physical activity on BDNF secretion, the differences between the Val66Met genotypes, and the effect on fear extinction learning and memory and symptoms of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Antolasic
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emily J. Jaehne
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Esvald EE, Tuvikene J, Kiir CS, Avarlaid A, Tamberg L, Sirp A, Shubina A, Cabrera-Cabrera F, Pihlak A, Koppel I, Palm K, Timmusk T. Revisiting the expression of BDNF and its receptors in mammalian development. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1182499. [PMID: 37426074 PMCID: PMC10325033 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1182499] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes the survival and functioning of neurons in the central nervous system and contributes to proper functioning of many non-neural tissues. Although the regulation and role of BDNF have been extensively studied, a rigorous analysis of the expression dynamics of BDNF and its receptors TrkB and p75NTR is lacking. Here, we have analyzed more than 3,600 samples from 18 published RNA sequencing datasets, and used over 17,000 samples from GTEx, and ~ 180 samples from BrainSpan database, to describe the expression of BDNF in the developing mammalian neural and non-neural tissues. We show evolutionarily conserved dynamics and expression patterns of BDNF mRNA and non-conserved alternative 5' exon usage. Finally, we also show increasing BDNF protein levels during murine brain development and BDNF protein expression in several non-neural tissues. In parallel, we describe the spatiotemporal expression pattern of BDNF receptors TrkB and p75NTR in both murines and humans. Collectively, our in-depth analysis of the expression of BDNF and its receptors gives insight into the regulation and signaling of BDNF in the whole organism throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli-Eelika Esvald
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
- dxlabs LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Carl Sander Kiir
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Annela Avarlaid
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Laura Tamberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Alex Sirp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Anastassia Shubina
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | | | - Indrek Koppel
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
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5
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Jaehne EJ, Antolasic EJ, Creutzberg KC, Begni V, Riva MA, van den Buuse M. Impaired fear memory in a rat model of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met polymorphism is reversed by chronic exercise. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 203:107779. [PMID: 37269900 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107779] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism is associated with reduced activity-dependent BDNF release in the brain and has been implicated in fear and anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Exercise has been shown to have benefits in affective disorders but the role of BDNF Val66Met remains unclear. Male and female BDNF Val66Met rats were housed in automated running-wheel cages from weaning while controls were housed in standard cages. During adulthood, all rats underwent standard three-day fear conditioning testing, with three tone/shock pairings on day 1 (acquisition), and extinction learning and memory (40 tones/session) on day 2 and day 3. Expression of BDNF and stress-related genes were measured in the frontal cortex. Extinction testing on day 2 revealed significantly lower freezing in response to initial cue exposure in control Met/Met rats, reflecting impaired fear memory. This deficit was reversed in both male and female Met/Met rats exposed to exercise. There were no genotype effects on acquisition or extinction of fear, however chronic exercise increased freezing in all groups at every stage of testing. Exercise furthermore led to increased expression of Bdnf in the prefrontal cortex of females and its isoforms in both sexes, as well as increased expression of FK506 binding protein 51 (Fkpb5) in females and decreased expression of Serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (Sgk1) in males independent of genotype. These results show that the Met/Met genotype of the Val66Met polymorphism affects fear memory, and that chronic exercise selectively reverses this genotype effect. Chronic exercise also led to an overall increase in freezing in all genotypes which may contribute to results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Jaehne
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emily J Antolasic
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kerstin C Creutzberg
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
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6
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Chu P, Guo W, You H, Lu B. Regulation of Satiety by Bdnf-e2-Expressing Neurons through TrkB Activation in Ventromedial Hypothalamus. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050822. [PMID: 37238691 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcripts for Bdnf (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), driven by different promoters, are expressed in different brain regions to control different body functions. Specific promoter(s) that regulates energy balance remain unclear. We show that disruption of Bdnf promoters I and II but not IV and VI in mice (Bdnf-e1-/-, Bdnf-e2-/-) results in obesity. Whereas Bdnf-e1-/- exhibited impaired thermogenesis, Bdnf-e2-/- showed hyperphagia and reduced satiety before the onset of obesity. The Bdnf-e2 transcripts were primarily expressed in ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a nucleus known to regulate satiety. Re-expressing Bdnf-e2 transcript in VMH or chemogenetic activation of VMH neurons rescued the hyperphagia and obesity of Bdnf-e2-/- mice. Deletion of BDNF receptor TrkB in VMH neurons in wildtype mice resulted in hyperphagia and obesity, and infusion of TrkB agonistic antibody into VMH of Bdnf-e2-/- mice alleviated these phenotypes. Thus, Bdnf-e2-transcripts in VMH neurons play a key role in regulating energy intake and satiety through TrkB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng Chu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - He You
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bai Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Centre, 10 Marais Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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7
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You H, Lu B. Diverse Functions of Multiple Bdnf Transcripts Driven by Distinct Bdnf Promoters. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040655. [PMID: 37189402 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040655] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) consists of nine non-coding exons driven by unique promoters, leading to the expression of nine Bdnf transcripts that play different roles in various brain regions and physiological stages. In this manuscript, we present a comprehensive overview of the molecular regulation and structural characteristics of the multiple Bdnf promoters, along with a summary of the current knowledge on the cellular and physiological functions of the distinct Bdnf transcripts produced by these promoters. Specifically, we summarized the role of Bdnf transcripts in psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and anxiety, as well as the cognitive functions associated with specific Bdnf promoters. Moreover, we examine the involvement of different Bdnf promoters in various aspects of metabolism. Finally, we propose future research directions that will enhance our understanding of the complex functions of Bdnf and its diverse promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- He You
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bai Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Centre, 10 Marais Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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8
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Bach SV, Bauman AJ, Hosein D, Tuscher JJ, Ianov L, Greathouse KM, Henderson BW, Herskowitz JH, Martinowich K, Day JJ. Distinct roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variant expression in hippocampal neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.05.535694. [PMID: 37066216 PMCID: PMC10104043 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.535694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) plays a critical role in brain development, dendritic growth, synaptic plasticity, as well as learning and memory. The rodent Bdnf gene contains nine 5' non-coding exons (I-IXa), which are spliced to a common 3' coding exon (IX). Transcription of individual Bdnf variants, which all encode the same BDNF protein, is initiated at unique promoters upstream of each non-coding exon, enabling precise spatiotemporal and activity-dependent regulation of Bdnf expression. Although prior evidence suggests that Bdnf transcripts containing exon I (Bdnf I) or exon IV (Bdnf IV) are uniquely regulated by neuronal activity, the functional significance of different Bdnf transcript variants remains unclear. To investigate functional roles of activity-dependent Bdnf I and IV transcripts, we used a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) system in which catalytically-dead Cas9 (dCas9) fused to a transcriptional activator (VPR) is targeted to individual Bdnf promoters with single guide RNAs (sgRNAs), resulting in transcript-specific Bdnf upregulation. Bdnf I upregulation is associated with gene expression changes linked to dendritic growth, while Bdnf IV upregulation is associated with genes that regulate protein catabolism. Upregulation of Bdnf I, but not Bdnf IV, increased mushroom spine density, volume, length, and head diameter, and also produced more complex dendritic arbors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In contrast, upregulation of Bdnf IV, but not Bdnf I, in the rat hippocampus attenuated contextual fear expression. Our data suggest that while Bdnf I and IV are both activity-dependent, BDNF produced from these promoters may serve unique cellular, synaptic, and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana V. Bach
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Allison J. Bauman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Darya Hosein
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Greathouse
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Henderson
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy H. Herskowitz
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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9
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Hearing Vocalizations during First Social Experience with Pups Increase Bdnf Transcription in Mouse Auditory Cortex. Neural Plast 2023; 2023:5225952. [PMID: 36845359 PMCID: PMC9946766 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5225952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
While infant cues are often assumed to innately motivate maternal response, recent research highlights how the neural coding of infant cues is altered through maternal care. Infant vocalizations are important social signals for caregivers, and evidence from mice suggests that experience caring for mouse pups induces inhibitory plasticity in the auditory cortex (AC), though the molecular mediators for such AC plasticity during the initial pup experience are not well delineated. Here, we used the maternal mouse communication model to explore whether transcription in AC of a specific, inhibition-linked, memory-associated gene, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) changes due to the very first pup caring experience hearing vocalizations, while controlling for the systemic influence of the hormone estrogen. Ovariectomized and estradiol or blank-implanted virgin female mice hearing pup calls with pups present had significantly higher AC exon IV Bdnf mRNA compared to females without pups present, suggesting that the social context of vocalizations induces immediate molecular changes at the site of auditory cortical processing. E2 influenced the rate of maternal behavior but did not significantly affect Bdnf mRNA transcription in the AC. To our knowledge, this is the first time Bdnf has been associated with processing social vocalizations in the AC, and our results suggest that it is a potential molecular component responsible for enhancing future recognition of infant cues by contributing to AC plasticity.
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10
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Gabryelska A, Turkiewicz S, Ditmer M, Sochal M. Neurotrophins in the Neuropathophysiology, Course, and Complications of Obstructive Sleep Apnea-A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031808. [PMID: 36768132 PMCID: PMC9916304 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation due to recurring airway collapse during sleep. It is highly prevalent in modern societies, and due to its pleiotropic influence on the organism and numerous sequelae, it burdens patients and physicians. Neurotrophins (NTs), proteins that modulate the functioning and development of the central nervous system, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), have been associated with OSA, primarily due to their probable involvement in offsetting the decline in cognitive functions which accompanies OSA. However, NTs influence multiple aspects of biological functioning, such as immunity. Thus, extensive evaluation of their role in OSA might enlighten the mechanism behind some of its elusive features, such as the increased risk of developing an immune-mediated disease or the association of OSA with cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we examine the interactions between NTs and OSA and discuss their contribution to OSA pathophysiology, complications, as well as comorbidities.
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11
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Lekk I, Cabrera-Cabrera F, Turconi G, Tuvikene J, Esvald EE, Rähni A, Casserly L, Garton DR, Andressoo JO, Timmusk T, Koppel I. Untranslated regions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA control its translatability and subcellular localization. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102897. [PMID: 36639028 PMCID: PMC9943900 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes neuronal survival and growth during development. In the adult nervous system, BDNF is important for synaptic function in several biological processes such as memory formation and food intake. In addition, BDNF has been implicated in development and maintenance of the cardiovascular system. The Bdnf gene comprises several alternative untranslated 5' exons and two variants of 3' UTRs. The effects of these entire alternative UTRs on translatability have not been established. Using reporter and translating ribosome affinity purification analyses, we show that prevalent Bdnf 5' UTRs, but not 3' UTRs, exert a repressive effect on translation. However, contrary to previous reports, we do not detect a significant effect of neuronal activity on BDNF translation. In vivo analysis via knock-in conditional replacement of Bdnf 3' UTR by bovine growth hormone 3' UTR reveals that Bdnf 3' UTR is required for efficient Bdnf mRNA and BDNF protein production in the brain, but acts in an inhibitory manner in lung and heart. Finally, we show that Bdnf mRNA is enriched in rat brain synaptoneurosomes, with higher enrichment detected for exon I-containing transcripts. In conclusion, these results uncover two novel aspects in understanding the function of Bdnf UTRs. First, the long Bdnf 3' UTR does not repress BDNF expression in the brain. Second, exon I-derived 5' UTR has a distinct role in subcellular targeting of Bdnf mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Lekk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | - Giorgio Turconi
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia,Protobios Llc, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Eli-Eelika Esvald
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia,Protobios Llc, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Annika Rähni
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia,Protobios Llc, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Laoise Casserly
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Daniel R. Garton
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaan-Olle Andressoo
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia; Protobios Llc, Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Indrek Koppel
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
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12
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Martinowich K, Das D, Sripathy SR, Mai Y, Kenney RF, Maher BJ. Evaluation of Na v1.8 as a therapeutic target for Pitt Hopkins Syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:76-82. [PMID: 36224259 PMCID: PMC9812766 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01811-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pitt Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) is a rare syndromic form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) gene. TCF4 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is critical for neurodevelopment and brain function through its binding to cis-regulatory elements of target genes. One potential therapeutic strategy for PTHS is to identify dysregulated target genes and normalize their dysfunction. Here, we propose that SCN10A is an important target gene of TCF4 that is an applicable therapeutic approach for PTHS. Scn10a encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.8 and is consistently shown to be upregulated in PTHS mouse models. In this perspective, we review prior literature and present novel data that suggests inhibiting Nav1.8 in PTHS mouse models is effective at normalizing neuron function, brain circuit activity and behavioral abnormalities and posit this therapeutic approach as a treatment for PTHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keri Martinowich
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Debamitra Das
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Srinidhi Rao Sripathy
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Yishan Mai
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Rakaia F. Kenney
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Brady J. Maher
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
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13
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A novel intergenic enhancer that regulates Bdnf expression in developing cortical neurons. iScience 2022; 26:105695. [PMID: 36582820 PMCID: PMC9792897 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes neuronal differentiation and survival and is implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders. Here, we identified a novel intergenic enhancer located 170 kb from the Bdnf gene, which promotes the expression of Bdnf transcript variants during mouse neuronal differentiation and activity. Following Bdnf activation, enhancer-promoter contacts increase, and the region moves away from the repressive nuclear periphery. Bdnf enhancer activity is necessary for neuronal clustering and dendritogenesis in vitro, and for cortical development in vivo. Our findings provide the first evidence of a regulatory mechanism whereby the activation of a distal enhancer promotes Bdnf expression during brain development.
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14
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Sun W, Mei Y, Li X, Yang Y, An L. Maternal immune activation-induced proBDNF-mediated neural information processing dysfunction at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses associated with memory deficits in offspring. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1018586. [PMID: 36438556 PMCID: PMC9691851 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1018586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to maternal infection increases the risk of offspring developing schizophrenia in adulthood. Current theories suggest that the consequences of MIA on mBDNF secretion may underlie the increased risk of cognitive disorder. There is little evidence for whether the expression of its precursor, proBDNF, is changed and how proBDNF-mediated signaling may involve in learning and memory. In this study, proBDNF levels were detected in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of male adult rats following MIA by prenatal polyI:C exposure. Behaviorally, learning and memory were assessed in contextual fear conditioning tasks. Local field potentials were recorded in the hippocampal CA3-CA1 pathway. The General Partial Directed Coherence approach was utilized to identify the directional alternation of neural information flow between CA3 and CA1 regions. EPSCs were recorded in CA1 pyramidal neurons to explore a possible mechanism involving the proBDNF-p75NTR signaling pathway. Results showed that the expression of proBDNF in the polyI:C-treated offspring was abnormally enhanced in both CA3 and CA1 regions. Meanwhile, the mBDNF expression was reduced in both hippocampal regions. Intra-hippocampal CA1 but not CA3 injection with anti-proBDNF antibody and p75NTR inhibitor TAT-Pep5 effectively mitigated the contextual memory deficits. Meanwhile, reductions in the phase synchronization between CA3 and CA1 and the coupling directional indexes from CA3 to CA1 were enhanced by the intra-CA1 infusions. Moreover, blocking proBDNF/p75NTR signaling could reverse the declined amplitude of EPSCs in CA1 pyramidal neurons, indicating the changes in postsynaptic information processing in the polyI:C-treated offspring. Therefore, the changes in hippocampal proBDNF activity in prenatal polyI:C exposure represent a potential mechanism involved in NIF disruption leading to contextual memory impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Department of Pediatric, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Yazi Mei
- Graduate School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoliang Li
- Department of Neurology, Jinan Geriatric/Rehabilitation Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pediatric, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Lei An
- Department of Pediatric, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- Department of Neurology, Jinan Geriatric/Rehabilitation Hospital, Jinan, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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15
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Tanaka M, Szabó Á, Spekker E, Polyák H, Tóth F, Vécsei L. Mitochondrial Impairment: A Common Motif in Neuropsychiatric Presentation? The Link to the Tryptophan-Kynurenine Metabolic System. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162607. [PMID: 36010683 PMCID: PMC9406499 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nearly half a century has passed since the discovery of cytoplasmic inheritance of human chloramphenicol resistance. The inheritance was then revealed to take place maternally by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Later, a number of mutations in mtDNA were identified as a cause of severe inheritable metabolic diseases with neurological manifestation, and the impairment of mitochondrial functions has been probed in the pathogenesis of a wide range of illnesses including neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, a growing number of preclinical studies have revealed that animal behaviors are influenced by the impairment of mitochondrial functions and possibly by the loss of mitochondrial stress resilience. Indeed, as high as 54% of patients with one of the most common primary mitochondrial diseases, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, present psychiatric symptoms including cognitive impairment, mood disorder, anxiety, and psychosis. Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles which produce cellular energy and play a major role in other cellular functions including homeostasis, cellular signaling, and gene expression, among others. Mitochondrial functions are observed to be compromised and to become less resilient under continuous stress. Meanwhile, stress and inflammation have been linked to the activation of the tryptophan (Trp)-kynurenine (KYN) metabolic system, which observably contributes to the development of pathological conditions including neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review discusses the functions of mitochondria and the Trp-KYN system, the interaction of the Trp-KYN system with mitochondria, and the current understanding of the involvement of mitochondria and the Trp-KYN system in preclinical and clinical studies of major neurological and psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Tanaka
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Szabó
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Eleonóra Spekker
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Helga Polyák
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Fanni Tóth
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Vécsei
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-62-545-351
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16
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Sun W, Chen X, Mei Y, Yang Y, Li X, An L. Prelimbic proBDNF Facilitates Retrieval-Dependent Fear Memory Destabilization by Regulation of Synaptic and Neural Functions in Juvenile Rats. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4179-4196. [PMID: 35501631 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02849-9] [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: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Fear regulation changes as a function of the early life is a key developmental period for the continued maturation of fear neural circuitry. The mechanisms of fear retrieval-induced reconsolidation have been investigated but remain poorly understood. The involvement of prelimbic proBDNF in fear memory extinction and its mediated signaling have been reported previously. Specifically, blocking the proBDNF/p75NTR pathway during the postnatal stage disrupts synaptic development and neuronal activity in adulthood. Given the inherent high expression of proBDNF during the juvenile period, we tested whether the prelimbic proBDNF regulated synaptic and neuronal functions allowing to influencing retrieval-dependent memory processing. By examining the freezing behavior of auditory fear-conditioned rats, we found the high level of the prelimbic proBDNF in juvenile rats enhanced the destabilization of the retrieval-dependent weak but not strong fear memory through activating p75NTR-GluN2B signaling. This modification of fear memory traces was attributed to the increment in the proportion of thin-type spine and promotion in synaptic function, as evidenced by the facilitation of NMDA-mediated EPSCs and GluN2B-dependent synaptic depression at the prelimbic projection. Furthermore, the strong prelimbic theta- and gamma-oscillation coupling predicted the suppressive effect of juvenile proBDNF on the recall of postretrieval memory. Our results critically emphasize the importance of developmental proBDNF for modification of retrieval-dependent memory and provide a potential critical targeting to inhibit threaten memories associated with neurodevelopment disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Department of Pediatric, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, Guizhou, China.,Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, Guizhou, China.,Department of Neurology, Jinan Geriatric/Rehabilitation Hospital, Jinan, 250013, China
| | - Yazi Mei
- Graduate School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pediatric, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiaoliang Li
- Department of Neurology, Jinan Geriatric/Rehabilitation Hospital, Jinan, 250013, China
| | - Lei An
- Department of Pediatric, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, Guizhou, China. .,Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, Guizhou, China. .,Department of Neurology, Jinan Geriatric/Rehabilitation Hospital, Jinan, 250013, China. .,Graduate School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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17
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Knipper M, Singer W, Schwabe K, Hagberg GE, Li Hegner Y, Rüttiger L, Braun C, Land R. Disturbed Balance of Inhibitory Signaling Links Hearing Loss and Cognition. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 15:785603. [PMID: 35069123 PMCID: PMC8770933 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.785603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal hyperexcitability in the central auditory pathway linked to reduced inhibitory activity is associated with numerous forms of hearing loss, including noise damage, age-dependent hearing loss, and deafness, as well as tinnitus or auditory processing deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In most cases, the reduced central inhibitory activity and the accompanying hyperexcitability are interpreted as an active compensatory response to the absence of synaptic activity, linked to increased central neural gain control (increased output activity relative to reduced input). We here suggest that hyperexcitability also could be related to an immaturity or impairment of tonic inhibitory strength that typically develops in an activity-dependent process in the ascending auditory pathway with auditory experience. In these cases, high-SR auditory nerve fibers, which are critical for the shortest latencies and lowest sound thresholds, may have either not matured (possibly in congenital deafness or autism) or are dysfunctional (possibly after sudden, stressful auditory trauma or age-dependent hearing loss linked with cognitive decline). Fast auditory processing deficits can occur despite maintained basal hearing. In that case, tonic inhibitory strength is reduced in ascending auditory nuclei, and fast inhibitory parvalbumin positive interneuron (PV-IN) dendrites are diminished in auditory and frontal brain regions. This leads to deficits in central neural gain control linked to hippocampal LTP/LTD deficiencies, cognitive deficits, and unbalanced extra-hypothalamic stress control. Under these conditions, a diminished inhibitory strength may weaken local neuronal coupling to homeostatic vascular responses required for the metabolic support of auditory adjustment processes. We emphasize the need to distinguish these two states of excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in hearing disorders: (i) Under conditions of preserved fast auditory processing and sustained tonic inhibitory strength, an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance following auditory deprivation can maintain precise hearing through a memory linked, transient disinhibition that leads to enhanced spiking fidelity (central neural gain⇑) (ii) Under conditions of critically diminished fast auditory processing and reduced tonic inhibitory strength, hyperexcitability can be part of an increased synchronization over a broader frequency range, linked to reduced spiking reliability (central neural gain⇓). This latter stage mutually reinforces diminished metabolic support for auditory adjustment processes, increasing the risks for canonical dementia syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Center (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Marlies Knipper,
| | - Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Center (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Gisela E. Hagberg
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital Tübingen (UKT), Tübingen, Germany
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yiwen Li Hegner
- MEG Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Center of Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Center (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Braun
- MEG Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Center of Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Land
- Department of Experimental Otology, Institute for Audioneurotechnology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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18
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Matsuda S. [Research for sex differences in fear extinction]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2022; 157:435-439. [PMID: 36328556 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.22054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fear memory has an important role in survival, but excess fear memory could be cause to fear-related disorders such as post traumatic disorder (PTSD). People who undergo a fearful event do not always develop PTSD, suggesting that there are vulnerable factors to develop the disorder. It is believed that sex, in particular female, is one of the factors as it is known that the prevalence rate of PTSD is higher in women than in men. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the sex differences in their prevalence rate remain unclear. Because previous studies reported that patients with fear-related disorders show an impairment of fear extinction, investigation of sex differences in fear extinction may be useful for understanding the greater vulnerability of women to fear-related disorders. Although number of papers investigating sex differences in fear extinction, these reports have increased recently. This review introduces fear extinction, sex differences in fear extinction is low, and the molecular mechanisms of sex differences in fear extinction. In the molecular mechanisms, we focused brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor signal which has been investigated by independent research groups.
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19
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Tuvikene J, Esvald EE, Rähni A, Uustalu K, Zhuravskaya A, Avarlaid A, Makeyev EV, Timmusk T. Intronic enhancer region governs transcript-specific Bdnf expression in rodent neurons. eLife 2021; 10:65161. [PMID: 33560226 PMCID: PMC7891933 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) controls the survival, growth, and function of neurons both during the development and in the adult nervous system. Bdnf is transcribed from several distinct promoters generating transcripts with alternative 5' exons. Bdnf transcripts initiated at the first cluster of exons have been associated with the regulation of body weight and various aspects of social behavior, but the mechanisms driving the expression of these transcripts have remained poorly understood. Here, we identify an evolutionarily conserved intronic enhancer region inside the Bdnf gene that regulates both basal and stimulus-dependent expression of the Bdnf transcripts starting from the first cluster of 5' exons in mouse and rat neurons. We further uncover a functional E-box element in the enhancer region, linking the expression of Bdnf and various pro-neural basic helix–loop–helix transcription factors. Collectively, our results shed new light on the cell-type- and stimulus-specific regulation of the important neurotrophic factor BDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.,Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Eli-Eelika Esvald
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.,Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Annika Rähni
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kaie Uustalu
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Anna Zhuravskaya
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Annela Avarlaid
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Eugene V Makeyev
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.,Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
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20
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Paredes DA, Jalloh A, Catlow BJ, Jaishankar A, Seo S, Jimenez DV, Martinowich K, Diaz-Bustamante M, Hoeppner DJ, McKay RDG. Bdnf deficiency in the neonatal hippocampus contributes to global dna hypomethylation and adult behavioral changes. Brain Res 2021; 1754:147254. [PMID: 33422542 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147254] [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: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder, encompassing genetic and environmental risk factors. For several decades, investigators have been implementing the use of lesions of the neonatal rodent hippocampus to model schizophrenia, resulting in a broad spectrum of adult schizophrenia-related behavioral changes. Despite the extensive use of these proposed animal models of schizophrenia, the mechanisms by which these lesions result in schizophrenia-like behavioral alterations remain unclear. Here we provide in vivo evidence that transient pharmacological inactivation of the hippocampus via tetrodotoxin microinjections or a genetic reduction in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels (BDNF+/- rats) lead to global DNA hypomethylation, disrupted maturation of the neuronal nucleus and aberrant acoustic startle response in the adult rat. The similarity between the effects of the two treatments strongly indicate that BDNF signaling is involved in effects obtained after the TTX microinjections. These findings may shed light on the cellular mechanisms underlying the phenotypical features of neonatal transient inhibition of the hippocampus as a preclinical model of schizophrenia and suggest that BDNF signaling represents a target pathway for development of novel treatment therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Paredes
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA; Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Ahmad Jalloh
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA; Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Briony J Catlow
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA; Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amritha Jaishankar
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Seungmae Seo
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dennisse V Jimenez
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marcelo Diaz-Bustamante
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel J Hoeppner
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ronald D G McKay
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
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21
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Time is of the essence: Coupling sleep-wake and circadian neurobiology to the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 221:107741. [PMID: 33189715 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of ketamine in rapidly alleviating depression and suicidal ideation. Intense research efforts have been undertaken to expose the precise mechanism underlying the antidepressant action of ketamine; however, the translation of findings into new clinical treatments has been slow. This translational gap is partially explained by a lack of understanding of the function of time and circadian timing in the complex neurobiology around ketamine. Indeed, the acute pharmacological effects of a single ketamine treatment last for only a few hours, whereas the antidepressant effects peak at around 24 hours and are sustained for the following few days. Numerous studies have investigated the acute and long-lasting neurobiological changes induced by ketamine; however, the most dramatic and fundamental change that the brain undergoes each day is rarely taken into consideration. Here, we explore the link between sleep and circadian regulation and rapid-acting antidepressant effects and summarize how diverse phenomena associated with ketamine's antidepressant actions - such as cortical excitation, synaptogenesis, and involved molecular determinants - are intimately connected with the neurobiology of wake, sleep, and circadian rhythms. We review several recently proposed hypotheses about rapid antidepressant actions, which focus on sleep or circadian regulation, and discuss their implications for ongoing research. Considering these aspects may be the last piece of the puzzle necessary to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of rapid-acting antidepressants on the brain.
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22
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Neurotrophic Factor BDNF, Physiological Functions and Therapeutic Potential in Depression, Neurodegeneration and Brain Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207777. [PMID: 33096634 PMCID: PMC7589016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 315] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most distributed and extensively studied neurotrophins in the mammalian brain. BDNF signals through the tropomycin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and the low affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). BDNF plays an important role in proper growth, development, and plasticity of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses and through modulation of neuronal differentiation, it influences serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission. BDNF acts as paracrine and autocrine factor, on both pre-synaptic and post-synaptic target sites. It is crucial in the transformation of synaptic activity into long-term synaptic memories. BDNF is considered an instructive mediator of functional and structural plasticity in the central nervous system (CNS), influencing dendritic spines and, at least in the hippocampus, the adult neurogenesis. Changes in the rate of adult neurogenesis and in spine density can influence several forms of learning and memory and can contribute to depression-like behaviors. The possible roles of BDNF in neuronal plasticity highlighted in this review focus on the effect of antidepressant therapies on BDNF-mediated plasticity. Moreover, we will review data that illustrate the role of BDNF as a potent protective factor that is able to confer protection against neurodegeneration, in particular in Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, we will give evidence of how the involvement of BDNF in the pathogenesis of brain glioblastoma has emerged, thus opening new avenues for the treatment of this deadly cancer.
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Hallock HL, Quillian HM, Maynard KR, Mai Y, Chen HY, Hamersky GR, Shin JH, Maher BJ, Jaffe AE, Martinowich K. Molecularly Defined Hippocampal Inputs Regulate Population Dynamics in the Prelimbic Cortex to Suppress Context Fear Memory Retrieval. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:554-565. [PMID: 32560963 PMCID: PMC7487039 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Context fear memory dysregulation is a hallmark symptom of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. The hippocampus (HC) and prelimbic (PrL) subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex have been linked with context fear memory retrieval in rodents, but the mechanisms by which HC-PrL circuitry regulates this process remain poorly understood. METHODS Spatial and genetic targeting of HC-PrL circuitry was used for RNA sequencing (n = 31), chemogenetic stimulation (n = 44), in vivo calcium imaging (n = 20), ex vivo electrophysiology (n = 8), and molecular regulation of plasticity cascades during fear behavior (context fear retrieval) (n = 16). RESULTS We showed that ventral HC (vHC) neurons with projections to the PrL cortex (vHC-PrL projectors) are a transcriptomically distinct subpopulation compared with adjacent nonprojecting neurons, and we showed complementary enrichment for diverse neuronal processes and central nervous system-related clinical gene sets. We further showed that stimulation of this population of vHC-PrL projectors suppresses context fear memory retrieval and impairs the ability of PrL neurons to dynamically distinguish between distinct phases of fear learning. Using transgenic and circuit-specific molecular targeting approaches, we demonstrated that unique patterns of activity-dependent gene transcription associated with brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling within vHC-PrL projectors causally regulated activity in excitatory and inhibitory PrL neurons during context fear memory retrieval. CONCLUSIONS Together, our data show that activity-dependent brain-derived neurotrophic factor release from molecularly distinct vHC-PrL projection neurons modulates postsynaptic signaling in both inhibitory and excitatory PrL neurons, modifying activity in discrete populations of PrL neurons to suppress freezing during context fear memory retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yishan Mai
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD
| | - Huei-Ying Chen
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Joo Heon Shin
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD
| | - Brady J. Maher
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD,Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Andrew E. Jaffe
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD,Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD,Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD,Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD,McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Sweeten BLW, Sutton AM, Wellman LL, Sanford LD. Predicting stress resilience and vulnerability: brain-derived neurotrophic factor and rapid eye movement sleep as potential biomarkers of individual stress responses. Sleep 2020; 43:5574449. [PMID: 31556950 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To examine the rapid eye movement sleep (REM) response to mild stress as a predictor of the REM response to intense stress and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a potential biomarker of stress resilience and vulnerability. METHODS Outbred Wistar rats were surgically implanted with electrodes for recording electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) and intraperitoneal Data loggers to record body temperature. Blood was also obtained to measure circulating BDNF. After recovery, rats were exposed to mild stress (novel chamber, NC) and later intense stress (shock training, ST), followed by sleep recording. Subsequently, rats were separated into resilient (Res; n=27) or vulnerable (Vul; n = 15) based on whether or not there was a 50% or greater decrease in REM after ST compared to baseline. We then compared sleep, freezing, and the stress response (stress-induced hyperthermia, SIH) across groups to determine the effects of mild and intense stress to determine if BDNF was predictive of the REM response. RESULTS REM totals in the first 4 hours of sleep after exposure to NC predicted REM responses following ST with resilient animals having higher REM and vulnerable animals having lower REM. Resilient rats had significantly higher baseline peripheral BDNF compared to vulnerable rats. CONCLUSIONS These results show that outbred rats display significant differences in post-stress sleep and peripheral BDNF identifying these factors as potential markers of resilience and vulnerability prior to traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brook L W Sweeten
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
| | - Amy M Sutton
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
| | - Laurie L Wellman
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
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25
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Manduca JD, Thériault RK, Perreault ML. Glycogen synthase kinase-3: The missing link to aberrant circuit function in disorders of cognitive dysfunction? Pharmacol Res 2020; 157:104819. [PMID: 32305493 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Elevated GSK-3 activity has been implicated in cognitive dysfunction associated with various disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, type 2 diabetes, traumatic brain injury, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Further, aberrant neural oscillatory activity in, and between, cortical regions and the hippocampus is consistently present within these same cognitive disorders. In this review, we will put forth the idea that increased GSK-3 activity serves as a pathological convergence point across cognitive disorders, inducing similar consequent impacts on downstream signaling mechanisms implicated in the maintenance of processes critical to brain systems communication and normal cognitive functioning. In this regard we suggest that increased activation of GSK-3 and neuronal oscillatory dysfunction are early pathological changes that may be functionally linked. Mechanistic commonalities between these disorders of cognitive dysfunction will be discussed and potential downstream targets of GSK-3 that may contribute to neuronal oscillatory dysfunction identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Manduca
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Melissa L Perreault
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, ON, Canada.
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26
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Hong J, Heo WD. Optogenetic Modulation of TrkB Signaling in the Mouse Brain. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:815-827. [PMID: 31962123 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetic activation of receptors has advantages compared with chemical or ligand treatment because of its high spatial and temporal precision. Especially in the brain, the use of a genetically encoded light-tunable receptor is superior to direct infusion or systemic drug treatment. We applied light-activatable TrkB receptors in the mouse brain with reduced basal activity by incorporating Cry2PHR mutant, Opto-cytTrkB(E281A). Upon AAV mediated gene delivery, this form was expressed at sufficient levels in the mouse hippocampus (HPC) and medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) retaining normal canonical signal transduction by the blue light stimulus, even by delivery of noninvasive LED light on the mouse head. Within target cells, where its expression was driven by a cell type-specific promoter, Opto-cytTrkB(E281A)-mediated TrkB signaling could be controlled by adjusting light-stimulating conditions. We further demonstrated that Opto-cytTrkB(E281A) could locally induce TrkB signaling in axon terminals in the MEC-HPC. In summary, Opto-cytTrkB(E281A) will be useful for elucidating time- and region-specific roles of TrkB signaling ranging from cellular function to neural circuit mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongryul Hong
- Department of Biological Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Biological Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea; Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea; KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, KAIST, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea.
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27
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Hallock HL, Quillian HM, Mai Y, Maynard KR, Hill JL, Martinowich K. Manipulation of a genetically and spatially defined sub-population of BDNF-expressing neurons potentiates learned fear and decreases hippocampal-prefrontal synchrony in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:2239-2246. [PMID: 31170726 PMCID: PMC6898598 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0429-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling regulates synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus (HC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), and has been extensively linked with fear memory expression in rodents. Notably, disrupting BDNF production from promoter IV-derived transcripts enhances fear expression in mice, and decreases fear-associated HC-PFC synchrony, suggesting that Bdnf transcription from promoter IV plays a key role in HC-PFC function during fear memory retrieval. To better understand how promoter IV-derived BDNF controls HC-PFC connectivity and fear expression, we generated a viral construct that selectively targets cells expressing promoter IV-derived Bdnf transcripts ("p4-cells") for tamoxifen-inducible Cre-mediated recombination (AAV8-p4Bdnf-ERT2CreERT2-PEST). Using this construct, we found that ventral hippocampal (vHC) p4-cells are recruited during fear expression, and that activation of these cells causes exaggerated fear expression that co-occurs with disrupted vHC-PFC synchrony in mice. Our data highlight how this novel construct can be used to interrogate genetically defined cell types that selectively contribute to BDNF-dependent behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry L. Hallock
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Henry M. Quillian
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Yishan Mai
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Kristen R. Maynard
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Julia L. Hill
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Neuromodulators and Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity in Learning and Memory: A Steered-Glutamatergic Perspective. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9110300. [PMID: 31683595 PMCID: PMC6896105 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9110300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular pathways underlying the induction and maintenance of long-term synaptic plasticity have been extensively investigated revealing various mechanisms by which neurons control their synaptic strength. The dynamic nature of neuronal connections combined with plasticity-mediated long-lasting structural and functional alterations provide valuable insights into neuronal encoding processes as molecular substrates of not only learning and memory but potentially other sensory, motor and behavioural functions that reflect previous experience. However, one key element receiving little attention in the study of synaptic plasticity is the role of neuromodulators, which are known to orchestrate neuronal activity on brain-wide, network and synaptic scales. We aim to review current evidence on the mechanisms by which certain modulators, namely dopamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and serotonin, control synaptic plasticity induction through corresponding metabotropic receptors in a pathway-specific manner. Lastly, we propose that neuromodulators control plasticity outcomes through steering glutamatergic transmission, thereby gating its induction and maintenance.
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29
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Sleep Deprivation Disrupts Acquisition of Contextual Fear Extinction by Affecting Circadian Oscillation of Hippocampal-Infralimbic proBDNF. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0165-19.2019. [PMID: 31585927 PMCID: PMC6800296 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0165-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive evidence showed that mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) levels displayed a circadian pattern. Circadian disruption, for example, sleep deprivation (SD), induced functional and behavioral deficits. However, compared with that of mature form, the biological role of the pro-peptide, proBDNF, was poorly understood. Here, we found that proBDNF was expressed under circadian rhythm in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC). SD rats exhibited deficits in acquisition of conditioned extinction and damped rhythmicity in vHPC proBDNF activity that were accompanied by SD between zeitgeber time (ZT)0 and ZT4, but not the late stage of sleep period. Furthermore, SD affected fear extinction through vHPC-IL proBDNF signaling, which was associated with NR2B subunits of NMDA receptors. More importantly, infusion of proBDNF could mitigate SD-induced abnormal neural activity, by suppressing the enhanced basal firing rate of IL-RS and elevating the depressed neural response that evoked by acquisition of conditioned extinction. Therefore, this finding provided the first evidence that circadian oscillation of vHPC proBDNF activity contributed to the effects of SD on acquisition of conditioned fear extinction, and suggested a new therapeutic target to reverse the cognitive deficits in sleep-related mental disorder, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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30
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De Vincenti AP, Ríos AS, Paratcha G, Ledda F. Mechanisms That Modulate and Diversify BDNF Functions: Implications for Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:135. [PMID: 31024262 PMCID: PMC6465932 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that has pleiotropic effects on neuronal morphology and synaptic plasticity that underlie hippocampal circuit development and cognition. Recent advances established that BDNF function is controlled and diversified by molecular and cellular mechanisms including trafficking and subcellular compartmentalization of different Bdnf mRNA species, pre- vs. postsynaptic release of BDNF, control of BDNF signaling by tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor interactors and conversion of pro-BDNF to mature BDNF and BDNF-propeptide. Defects in these regulatory mechanisms affect dendritic spine formation and morphology of pyramidal neurons as well as synaptic integration of newborn granule cells (GCs) into preexisting circuits of mature hippocampus, compromising the cognitive function. Here, we review recent findings describing novel dynamic mechanisms that diversify and locally control the function of BDNF in hippocampal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula De Vincenti
- División de Neurociencia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonella S Ríos
- División de Neurociencia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Paratcha
- División de Neurociencia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernanda Ledda
- División de Neurociencia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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31
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Richter-Levin G, Stork O, Schmidt MV. Animal models of PTSD: a challenge to be met. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:1135-1156. [PMID: 30816289 PMCID: PMC6756084 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0272-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have seen increased interest in psychopathologies related to trauma exposure. Specifically, there has been a growing awareness to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in part due to terrorism, climate change-associated natural disasters, the global refugee crisis, and increased violence in overpopulated urban areas. However, notwithstanding the increased awareness to the disorder, the increasing number of patients, and the devastating impact on the lives of patients and their families, the efficacy of available treatments remains limited and highly unsatisfactory. A major scientific effort is therefore devoted to unravel the neural mechanisms underlying PTSD with the aim of paving the way to developing novel or improved treatment approaches and drugs to treat PTSD. One of the major scientific tools used to gain insight into understanding physiological and neuronal mechanisms underlying diseases and for treatment development is the use of animal models of human diseases. While much progress has been made using these models in understanding mechanisms of conditioned fear and fear memory, the gained knowledge has not yet led to better treatment options for PTSD patients. This poor translational outcome has already led some scientists and pharmaceutical companies, who do not in general hold opinions against animal models, to propose that those models should be abandoned. Here, we critically examine aspects of animal models of PTSD that may have contributed to the relative lack of translatability, including the focus on the exposure to trauma, overlooking individual and sex differences, and the contribution of risk factors. Based on findings from recent years, we propose research-based modifications that we believe are required in order to overcome some of the shortcomings of previous practice. These modifications include the usage of animal models of PTSD which incorporate risk factors and of the behavioral profiling analysis of individuals in a sample. These modifications are aimed to address factors such as individual predisposition and resilience, thus taking into consideration the fact that only a fraction of individuals exposed to trauma develop PTSD. We suggest that with an appropriate shift of practice, animal models are not only a valuable tool to enhance our understanding of fear and memory processes, but could serve as effective platforms for understanding PTSD, for PTSD drug development and drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gal Richter-Levin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. .,The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. .,Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Oliver Stork
- 0000 0001 1018 4307grid.5807.aDepartment of Genetics & Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany ,grid.452320.2Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mathias V. Schmidt
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
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McAllan L, Maynard KR, Kardian AS, Stayton AS, Fox SL, Stephenson EJ, Kinney CE, Alshibli NK, Gomes CK, Pierre JF, Puchowicz MA, Bridges D, Martinowich K, Han JC. Disruption of brain-derived neurotrophic factor production from individual promoters generates distinct body composition phenotypes in mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2018; 315:E1168-E1184. [PMID: 30253111 PMCID: PMC6336959 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00205.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key neuropeptide in the central regulation of energy balance. The Bdnf gene contains nine promoters, each producing specific mRNA transcripts that encode a common protein. We sought to assess the phenotypic outcomes of disrupting BDNF production from individual Bdnf promoters. Mice with an intact coding region but selective disruption of BDNF production from Bdnf promoters I, II, IV, or VI (Bdnf-e1-/-, -e2-/-, -e4-/-, and -e6-/-) were created by inserting an enhanced green fluorescent protein-STOP cassette upstream of the targeted promoter splice donor site. Body composition was measured by MRI weekly from age 4 to 22 wk. Energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry at 18 wk. Food intake was measured in Bdnf-e1-/- and Bdnf-e2-/- mice, and pair feeding was conducted. Weight gain, lean mass, fat mass, and percent fat of Bdnf-e1-/- and Bdnf-e2-/- mice (both sexes) were significantly increased compared with wild-type littermates. For Bdnf-e4-/- and Bdnf-e6-/- mice, obesity was not observed with either chow or high-fat diet. Food intake was increased in Bdnf-e1-/- and Bdnf-e2-/- mice, and pair feeding prevented obesity. Mutant and wild-type littermates for each strain (both sexes) had similar total energy expenditure after adjustment for body composition. These findings suggest that the obesity phenotype observed in Bdnf-e1-/- and Bdnf-e2-/- mice is attributable to hyperphagia and not altered energy expenditure. Our findings show that disruption of BDNF from specific promoters leads to distinct body composition effects, with disruption from promoters I or II, but not IV or VI, inducing obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam McAllan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Kristen R Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alisha S Kardian
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Amanda S Stayton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Shelby L Fox
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Erin J Stephenson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Clint E Kinney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Noor K Alshibli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Charles K Gomes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Joseph F Pierre
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Michelle A Puchowicz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Dave Bridges
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
- Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joan C Han
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee
- Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
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Hill JL, Jimenez DV, Mai Y, Ren M, Hallock HL, Maynard KR, Chen HY, Hardy NF, Schloesser RJ, Maher BJ, Yang F, Martinowich K. Cortistatin-expressing interneurons require TrkB signaling to suppress neural hyper-excitability. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 224:471-483. [PMID: 30377803 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Signaling of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) via tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) plays a critical role in the maturation of cortical inhibition and controls expression of inhibitory interneuron markers, including the neuropeptide cortistatin (CST). CST is expressed exclusively in a subset of cortical and hippocampal GABAergic interneurons, where it has anticonvulsant effects and controls sleep slow-wave activity (SWA). We hypothesized that CST-expressing interneurons play a critical role in regulating excitatory/inhibitory balance, and that BDNF, signaling through TrkB receptors on CST-expressing interneurons, is required for this function. Ablation of CST-expressing cells caused generalized seizures and premature death during early postnatal development, demonstrating a critical role for these cells in providing inhibition. Mice in which TrkB was selectively deleted from CST-expressing interneurons were hyperactive, slept less and developed spontaneous seizures. Frequencies of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents (sEPSCs) on CST-expressing interneurons were attenuated in these mice. These data suggest that BDNF, signaling through TrkB receptors on CST-expressing cells, promotes excitatory drive onto these cells. Loss of excitatory drive onto CST-expressing cells that lack TrkB receptors may contribute to observed hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L Hill
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Dennisse V Jimenez
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yishan Mai
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ming Ren
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Henry L Hallock
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kristen R Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Huei-Ying Chen
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Nicholas F Hardy
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Brady J Maher
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Feng Yang
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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34
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Singer W, Manthey M, Panford-Walsh R, Matt L, Geisler HS, Passeri E, Baj G, Tongiorgi E, Leal G, Duarte CB, Salazar IL, Eckert P, Rohbock K, Hu J, Strotmann J, Ruth P, Zimmermann U, Rüttiger L, Ott T, Schimmang T, Knipper M. BDNF-Live-Exon-Visualization (BLEV) Allows Differential Detection of BDNF Transcripts in vitro and in vivo. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:325. [PMID: 30319348 PMCID: PMC6170895 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bdnf exon-IV and exon-VI transcripts are driven by neuronal activity and are involved in pathologies related to sleep, fear or memory disorders. However, how their differential transcription translates activity changes into long-lasting network changes is elusive. Aiming to trace specifically the network controlled by exon-IV and -VI derived BDNF during activity-dependent plasticity changes, we generated a transgenic reporter mouse for B DNF- l ive- e xon- v isualization (BLEV), in which expression of Bdnf exon-IV and -VI can be visualized by co-expression of CFP and YFP. CFP and YFP expression was differentially activated and targeted in cell lines, primary cultures and BLEV reporter mice without interfering with BDNF protein synthesis. CFP and YFP expression, moreover, overlapped with BDNF protein expression in defined hippocampal neuronal, glial and vascular locations in vivo. So far, activity-dependent BDNF cannot be explicitly monitored independent of basal BDNF levels. The BLEV reporter mouse therefore provides a new model, which can be used to test whether stimulus-induced activity-dependent changes in BDNF expression are instrumental for long-lasting plasticity modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marie Manthey
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rama Panford-Walsh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lucas Matt
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hyun-Soon Geisler
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Eleonora Passeri
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Baj
- B.R.A.I.N. Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Enrico Tongiorgi
- B.R.A.I.N. Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Graciano Leal
- Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carlos B. Duarte
- Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ivan L. Salazar
- Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Philipp Eckert
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karin Rohbock
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jing Hu
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Strotmann
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Peter Ruth
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Zimmermann
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Ott
- Transgenic Facility Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schimmang
- Instituto de Biologíay Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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35
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Matt L, Eckert P, Panford-Walsh R, Geisler HS, Bausch AE, Manthey M, Müller NIC, Harasztosi C, Rohbock K, Ruth P, Friauf E, Ott T, Zimmermann U, Rüttiger L, Schimmang T, Knipper M, Singer W. Visualizing BDNF Transcript Usage During Sound-Induced Memory Linked Plasticity. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:260. [PMID: 30127717 PMCID: PMC6089339 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Activity-dependent BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression is hypothesized to be a cue for the context-specificity of memory formation. So far, activity-dependent BDNF cannot be explicitly monitored independently of basal BDNF levels. We used the BLEV (BDNF-live-exon-visualization) reporter mouse to specifically detect activity-dependent usage of Bdnf exon-IV and -VI promoters through bi-cistronic co-expression of CFP and YFP, respectively. Enriching acoustic stimuli led to improved peripheral and central auditory brainstem responses, increased Schaffer collateral LTP, and enhanced performance in the Morris water maze. Within the brainstem, neuronal activity was increased and accompanied by a trend for higher expression levels of Bdnf exon-IV-CFP and exon-VI-YFP transcripts. In the hippocampus BDNF transcripts were clearly increased parallel to changes in parvalbumin expression and were localized to specific neurons and capillaries. Severe acoustic trauma, in contrast, elevated neither Bdnf transcript levels, nor auditory responses, parvalbumin or LTP. Together, this suggests that critical sensory input is essential for recruitment of activity-dependent auditory-specific BDNF expression that may shape network adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Matt
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Toxicology, and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Eckert
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rama Panford-Walsh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hyun-Soon Geisler
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anne E Bausch
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Toxicology, and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marie Manthey
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas I C Müller
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Csaba Harasztosi
- Section of Physiological Acoustics and Communication, Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karin Rohbock
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Ruth
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Toxicology, and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Eckhard Friauf
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Thomas Ott
- Transgenic Facility Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Zimmermann
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schimmang
- Instituto de Biologíay Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valladolid, Spain
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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36
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Jones NC, Hudson M, Foreman J, Rind G, Hill R, Manning EE, Buuse M. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor haploinsufficiency impairs high‐frequency cortical oscillations in mice. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 48:2816-2825. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nigel C. Jones
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
- Department of Neuroscience Central Clinical School Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Department of Neurology The Alfred Hospital Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Matthew Hudson
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
| | - Joshua Foreman
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
| | - Gil Rind
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
| | - Rachel Hill
- Department of Psychiatry Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Melbourne Brain Centre Florey Institutes of Neuroscience and Mental Health University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - Elizabeth E. Manning
- Melbourne Brain Centre Florey Institutes of Neuroscience and Mental Health University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - Maarten Buuse
- Melbourne Brain Centre Florey Institutes of Neuroscience and Mental Health University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
- School of Psychology and Public Health La Trobe University Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Department of Pharmacology University of Melbourne Melbourne Vic. Australia
- The College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
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37
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Schaefer N, Rotermund C, Blumrich EM, Lourenco MV, Joshi P, Hegemann RU, Jamwal S, Ali N, García Romero EM, Sharma S, Ghosh S, Sinha JK, Loke H, Jain V, Lepeta K, Salamian A, Sharma M, Golpich M, Nawrotek K, Paidi RK, Shahidzadeh SM, Piermartiri T, Amini E, Pastor V, Wilson Y, Adeniyi PA, Datusalia AK, Vafadari B, Saini V, Suárez-Pozos E, Kushwah N, Fontanet P, Turner AJ. The malleable brain: plasticity of neural circuits and behavior - a review from students to students. J Neurochem 2017. [PMID: 28632905 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the most intriguing features of the brain is its ability to be malleable, allowing it to adapt continually to changes in the environment. Specific neuronal activity patterns drive long-lasting increases or decreases in the strength of synaptic connections, referred to as long-term potentiation and long-term depression, respectively. Such phenomena have been described in a variety of model organisms, which are used to study molecular, structural, and functional aspects of synaptic plasticity. This review originated from the first International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) and Journal of Neurochemistry (JNC) Flagship School held in Alpbach, Austria (Sep 2016), and will use its curriculum and discussions as a framework to review some of the current knowledge in the field of synaptic plasticity. First, we describe the role of plasticity during development and the persistent changes of neural circuitry occurring when sensory input is altered during critical developmental stages. We then outline the signaling cascades resulting in the synthesis of new plasticity-related proteins, which ultimately enable sustained changes in synaptic strength. Going beyond the traditional understanding of synaptic plasticity conceptualized by long-term potentiation and long-term depression, we discuss system-wide modifications and recently unveiled homeostatic mechanisms, such as synaptic scaling. Finally, we describe the neural circuits and synaptic plasticity mechanisms driving associative memory and motor learning. Evidence summarized in this review provides a current view of synaptic plasticity in its various forms, offers new insights into the underlying mechanisms and behavioral relevance, and provides directions for future research in the field of synaptic plasticity. Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 788. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13815.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Schaefer
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carola Rotermund
- German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Blumrich
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty 2 (Biology/Chemistry), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mychael V Lourenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pooja Joshi
- Inserm UMR 1141, Robert Debre Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Regina U Hegemann
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sumit Jamwal
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Nilufar Ali
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Sorabh Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Shampa Ghosh
- National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tarnaka, Hyderabad, India
| | - Jitendra K Sinha
- National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tarnaka, Hyderabad, India
| | - Hannah Loke
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vishal Jain
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Katarzyna Lepeta
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mahima Sharma
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mojtaba Golpich
- Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Katarzyna Nawrotek
- Department of Process Thermodynamics, Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ramesh K Paidi
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Sheila M Shahidzadeh
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Tetsade Piermartiri
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Elham Amini
- Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Veronica Pastor
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. Eduardo De Robertis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yvette Wilson
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philip A Adeniyi
- Cell Biology and Neurotoxicity Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado - Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | | | - Benham Vafadari
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Vedangana Saini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Edna Suárez-Pozos
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Toxicología, México
| | - Neetu Kushwah
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Paula Fontanet
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN), CONICET-UBA, School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anthony J Turner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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38
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Maynard KR, Hobbs JW, Sukumar M, Kardian AS, Jimenez DV, Schloesser RJ, Martinowich K. Bdnf mRNA splice variants differentially impact CA1 and CA3 dendrite complexity and spine morphology in the hippocampus. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 222:3295-3307. [PMID: 28324222 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1405-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an activity-dependent neurotrophin critical for neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus. BDNF is encoded by multiple transcripts with alternative 5' untranslated regions (5'UTRS) that display activity-induced targeting to distinct subcellular compartments. While individual Bdnf 5'UTR transcripts influence dendrite morphology in cultured hippocampal neurons, it is unknown whether Bdnf splice variants impact dendrite arborization in functional classes of neurons in the intact hippocampus. Moreover, the contribution of Bdnf 5'UTR splice variants to dendritic spine density and shape has not been explored. We analyzed the structure of CA1 and CA3 dendrite arbors in transgenic mice lacking BDNF production from exon (Ex) 1, 2, 4, or 6 splice variants (Bdnf-e1, -e2, -e4, and -e6-/- mice) and found that loss of BDNF from individual Bdnf mRNA variants differentially impacts the complexity of apical and basal arbors in vivo. Consistent with the subcellular localization studies, Bdnf Ex2 and Ex6 transcripts significantly contributed to dendrite morphology in both CA1 and CA3 neurons. While Bdnf-e2-/- mice showed increased branching proximal to the soma in CA1 and CA3 apical arbors, Bdnf-e6-/- mice showed decreased apical and basal dendrite complexity. Analysis of spine morphology on Bdnf-e6-/- CA1 dendrites revealed changes in the percentage of differently sized spines on apical, but not basal, branches. These results provide further evidence that Bdnf splice variants generate a spatial code that mediates the local actions of BDNF in distinct dendritic compartments on structural and functional plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen R Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - John W Hobbs
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mahima Sukumar
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Alisha S Kardian
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Dennisse V Jimenez
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 North Wolfe Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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