Transcriptional regulation of MGE progenitor proliferation by PRDM16 controls cortical GABAergic interneuron production

PRDM16-DT is a novel lncRNA that regulates astrocyte function in Alzheimer's disease

Astrocytes provide crucial support for neurons, contributing to synaptogenesis, synaptic maintenance, and neurotransmitter recycling. Under pathological conditions, deregulation of astrocytes contributes to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). While most research in this field has focused on protein-coding genes, non-coding RNAs, particularly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have emerged as significant regulatory molecules. In this study, we identified the lncRNA PRDM16-DT as highly enriched in the human brain, where it is almost exclusively expressed in astrocytes. PRDM16-DT and its murine homolog, Prdm16os, are downregulated in the brains of AD patients and in AD models. In line with this, knockdown of PRDM16-DT and Prdm16os revealed its critical role in maintaining astrocyte homeostasis and supporting neuronal function by regulating genes essential for glutamate uptake, lactate release, and neuronal spine density through interactions with the RE1-Silencing Transcription factor (Rest) and Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). Notably, CRISPR-mediated overexpression of Prdm16os mitigated functional deficits in astrocytes induced by stimuli linked to AD pathogenesis. These findings underscore the importance of PRDM16-DT in astrocyte function and its potential as a novel therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders characterized by astrocyte dysfunction.

A developmentally defined population of neurons in the lateral septum controls responses to aversive stimuli

When interacting with their environment, animals must balance exploratory and defensive behavior to evaluate and respond to potential threats. The lateral septum (LS) is a structure in the ventral forebrain that calibrates the magnitude of behavioral responses to stress-related external stimuli, including the regulation of threat avoidance. The complex connectivity between the LS and other parts of the brain, together with its largely unexplored neuronal diversity, makes it difficult to understand how defined LS circuits control specific behaviors. Here, we describe a mouse model in which a population of neurons with a common developmental origin (Nkx2.1-lineage neurons) are absent from the LS. Using a combination of circuit tracing and behavioral analyses, we found that these neurons receive inputs from the perifornical area of the anterior hypothalamus (PeFAH) and are specifically activated in stressful contexts. Mice lacking Nkx2.1-lineage LS neurons display increased exploratory behavior even under stressful conditions. Our study extends the current knowledge about how defined neuronal populations within the LS can evaluate contextual information to select appropriate behavioral responses. This is a necessary step towards understanding the crucial role that the LS plays in neuropsychiatric conditions where defensive behavior is dysregulated, such as anxiety and aggression disorders.

PRDM16 co-operates with LHX2 to shape the human brain

PRDM16 is a dynamic transcriptional regulator of various stem cell niches, including adipocytic, hematopoietic, cardiac progenitors, and neural stem cells. PRDM16 has been suggested to contribute to 1p36 deletion syndrome, one of the most prevalent subtelomeric microdeletion syndromes. We report a patient with a de novo nonsense mutation in the PRDM16 coding sequence, accompanied by lissencephaly and microcephaly features. Human stem cells were genetically modified to mimic this mutation, generating cortical organoids that exhibited altered cell cycle dynamics. RNA sequencing of cortical organoids at day 32 unveiled changes in cell adhesion and WNT-signaling pathways. ChIP-seq of PRDM16 identified binding sites in postmortem human fetal cortex, indicating the conservation of PRDM16 binding to developmental genes in mice and humans, potentially at enhancer sites. A shared motif between PRDM16 and LHX2 was identified and further examined through comparison with LHX2 ChIP-seq data from mice. These results suggested a collaborative partnership between PRDM16 and LHX2 in regulating a common set of genes and pathways in cortical radial glia cells, possibly via their synergistic involvement in cortical development.

Mitochondria in Early Forebrain Development: From Neurulation to Mid-Corticogenesis

Function of the mature central nervous system (CNS) requires a substantial proportion of the body’s energy consumption. During development, the CNS anlage must maintain its structure and perform stage-specific functions as it proceeds through discrete developmental stages. While key extrinsic signals and internal transcriptional controls over these processes are well appreciated, metabolic and mitochondrial states are also critical to appropriate forebrain development. Specifically, metabolic state, mitochondrial function, and mitochondrial dynamics/localization play critical roles in neurulation and CNS progenitor specification, progenitor proliferation and survival, neurogenesis, neural migration, and neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis. With the goal of integrating neurodevelopmental biologists and mitochondrial specialists, this review synthesizes data from disparate models and processes to compile and highlight key roles of mitochondria in the early development of the CNS with specific focus on forebrain development and corticogenesis.

Transcriptional profiling of sequentially generated septal neuron fates

The septum is a ventral forebrain structure known to regulate innate behaviors. During embryonic development, septal neurons are produced in multiple proliferative areas from neural progenitors following transcriptional programs that are still largely unknown. Here, we use a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing, histology, and genetic models to address how septal neuron diversity is established during neurogenesis. We find that the transcriptional profiles of septal progenitors change along neurogenesis, coinciding with the generation of distinct neuron types. We characterize the septal eminence, an anatomically distinct and transient proliferative zone composed of progenitors with distinctive molecular profiles, proliferative capacity, and fate potential compared to the rostral septal progenitor zone. We show that Nkx2.1-expressing septal eminence progenitors give rise to neurons belonging to at least three morphological classes, born in temporal cohorts that are distributed across different septal nuclei in a sequential fountain-like pattern. Our study provides insight into the molecular programs that control the sequential production of different neuronal types in the septum, a structure with important roles in regulating mood and motivation.