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Radenkovic S, Budhraja R, Klein-Gunnewiek T, King AT, Bhatia TN, Ligezka AN, Driesen K, Shah R, Ghesquière B, Pandey A, Kasri NN, Sloan SA, Morava E, Kozicz T. Neural and metabolic dysregulation in PMM2-deficient human in vitro neural models. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113883. [PMID: 38430517 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Phosphomannomutase 2-congenital disorder of glycosylation (PMM2-CDG) is a rare inborn error of metabolism caused by deficiency of the PMM2 enzyme, which leads to impaired protein glycosylation. While the disorder presents with primarily neurological symptoms, there is limited knowledge about the specific brain-related changes caused by PMM2 deficiency. Here, we demonstrate aberrant neural activity in 2D neuronal networks from PMM2-CDG individuals. Utilizing multi-omics datasets from 3D human cortical organoids (hCOs) derived from PMM2-CDG individuals, we identify widespread decreases in protein glycosylation, highlighting impaired glycosylation as a key pathological feature of PMM2-CDG, as well as impaired mitochondrial structure and abnormal glucose metabolism in PMM2-deficient hCOs, indicating disturbances in energy metabolism. Correlation between PMM2 enzymatic activity in hCOs and symptom severity suggests that the level of PMM2 enzyme function directly influences neurological manifestations. These findings enhance our understanding of specific brain-related perturbations associated with PMM2-CDG, offering insights into the underlying mechanisms and potential directions for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Radenkovic
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Rohit Budhraja
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Teun Klein-Gunnewiek
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 XZ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alexia Tyler King
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Tarun N Bhatia
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anna N Ligezka
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Karen Driesen
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, VIB-KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rameen Shah
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Bart Ghesquière
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, VIB-KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Mass Spectrometry, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 XZ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Steven A Sloan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Eva Morava
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Biophysics, University of Pécs Medical School, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Genetics and Genomics Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of Pécs Medical School, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Genetics and Genomics Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY 10029, USA.
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van Essen MJ, Apsley EJ, Riepsaame J, Xu R, Northcott PA, Cowley SA, Jacob J, Becker EBE. PTCH1-mutant human cerebellar organoids exhibit altered neural development and recapitulate early medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050323. [PMID: 38411252 PMCID: PMC10924233 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Patched 1 (PTCH1) is the primary receptor for the sonic hedgehog (SHH) ligand and negatively regulates SHH signalling, an essential pathway in human embryogenesis. Loss-of-function mutations in PTCH1 are associated with altered neuronal development and the malignant brain tumour medulloblastoma. As a result of differences between murine and human development, molecular and cellular perturbations that arise from human PTCH1 mutations remain poorly understood. Here, we used cerebellar organoids differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells combined with CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to investigate the earliest molecular and cellular consequences of PTCH1 mutations on human cerebellar development. Our findings demonstrate that developmental mechanisms in cerebellar organoids reflect in vivo processes of regionalisation and SHH signalling, and offer new insights into early pathophysiological events of medulloblastoma tumorigenesis without the use of animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J. van Essen
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Elizabeth J. Apsley
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Joey Riepsaame
- Genome Engineering Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3RE Oxford, UK
| | - Ruijie Xu
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678, USA
| | - Paul A. Northcott
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678, USA
| | - Sally A. Cowley
- James and Lillian Martin Centre for Stem Cell Research, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - John Jacob
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Esther B. E. Becker
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
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3
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Li J, Shyr Y, Liu Q. Single-cell and Spatial Transcriptomics Clustering with an Optimized Adaptive K-Nearest Neighbor Graph. bioRxiv 2023:2023.10.13.562261. [PMID: 37905097 PMCID: PMC10614787 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.13.562261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics have been widely used to characterize cellular landscape in complex tissues. To understand cellular heterogeneity, one essential step is to define cell types through unsupervised clustering. While typical clustering methods have difficulty in identifying rare cell types, approaches specifically tailored to detect rare cell types gain their ability at the cost of poorer performance for grouping abundant ones. Here, we developed aKNNO, a method to identify abundant and rare cell types simultaneously based on an adaptive k-nearest neighbor graph with optimization. Benchmarked on 38 simulated and 20 single-cell and spatial transcriptomics datasets, aKNNO identified both abundant and rare cell types accurately. Without sacrificing performance for clustering abundant cell types, aKNNO discovered known and novel rare cell types that those typical and even specifically tailored methods failed to detect. aKNNO, using transcriptome alone, stereotyped fine-grained anatomical structures more precisely than those integrative approaches combining expression with spatial locations and histology image.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
- Center for Quantitative Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Yu Shyr
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
- Center for Quantitative Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
- Center for Quantitative Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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Abstract
Despite the significant prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder in the pediatric population, the pathophysiology of this condition remains unclear, and the treatment outcomes poor. Investigating tools that might aid in diagnosing and treating early-onset depression seems essential in improving the prognosis of the future disease course. Recent studies have focused on searching for biomarkers that constitute biochemical indicators of MDD susceptibility, diagnosis, or treatment outcome. In comparison to increasing evidence of possible biomarkers in adult depression, the studies investigating this subject in the youth population are lacking. This narrative review aims to summarize research on molecular and biochemical biomarkers in child and adolescent depression in order to advocate future directions in the research on this subject. More studies on depression involving the youth population seem vital to comprehend the natural course of the disease and identify features that may underlie commonly observed differences in treatment outcomes between adults and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Zwolińska
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna St. 27/33, 60-572, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Monika Dmitrzak-Węglarz
- grid.22254.330000 0001 2205 0971Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Medical Biology Center, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka St. 8, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Słopień
- grid.22254.330000 0001 2205 0971Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna St. 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
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Mueller-Buehl C, Wegrzyn D, Bauch J, Faissner A. Regulation of the E/I-balance by the neural matrisome. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1102334. [PMID: 37143468 PMCID: PMC10151766 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1102334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian cortex a proper excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance is fundamental for cognitive functions. Especially γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-releasing interneurons regulate the activity of excitatory projection neurons which form the second main class of neurons in the cortex. During development, the maturation of fast-spiking parvalbumin-expressing interneurons goes along with the formation of net-like structures covering their soma and proximal dendrites. These so-called perineuronal nets (PNNs) represent a specialized form of the extracellular matrix (ECM, also designated as matrisome) that stabilize structural synapses but prevent the formation of new connections. Consequently, PNNs are highly involved in the regulation of the synaptic balance. Previous studies revealed that the formation of perineuronal nets is accompanied by an establishment of mature neuronal circuits and by a closure of critical windows of synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, it has been shown that PNNs differentially impinge the integrity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. In various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders alterations of PNNs were described and aroused more attention in the last years. The following review gives an update about the role of PNNs for the maturation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons and summarizes recent findings about the impact of PNNs in different neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or epilepsy. A targeted manipulation of PNNs might provide an interesting new possibility to indirectly modulate the synaptic balance and the E/I ratio in pathological conditions.
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Matsuo S, Hashimoto T, Matsuura F, Imamura O, Endo S, Satoh Y, Satoh T. Central, but not peripheral, nervous system ERK2 is essential for itch signals in murine allergic skin inflammation. Allergy 2021; 76:3422-3432. [PMID: 33884632 DOI: 10.1111/all.14867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Itch is a common cutaneous symptom in a variety of dermatological diseases, but detailed neuropathological mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to assess in vivo ERK2 functions in the nervous system for itch responses. METHODS We generated conditional knockout mice deficient in ERK2 of the central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS), respectively, and assessed chemical and mechanical itch responses in vivo. RESULTS Chemical itch responses to histamine, but not to BAM8-22, were alleviated in CNS Erk2-deficient mice. In contrast, both histamine- and BAM8-22-induced mechanical itch (alloknesis) were alleviated in CNS Erk2-deficient mice. Neither chemical itch nor mechanical itch induced by these pruritogens was affected by PNS ERK2 deficiency. Spontaneous scratching behaviors during acute and chronic contact hypersensitivity were impaired in CNS Erk2-deficient mice, but not PNS Erk2-deficient mice. In addition, CNS ERK2 deficiency attenuated mechanical itch responses during chronic contact hypersensitivity. Again, PNS Erk2-deficient mice showed comparable responses of mechanical itch to control mice. In addition, alleviated mechanical itch in CNS Erk2-deficient mice was observed in IgE-mediated prurigo-like allergic skin inflammation. Mechanical itch induced by IL-31 was also alleviated by CNS ERK2 deficiency. Phosphorylated ERK1/2 was detected in neurokinin B-expressing cells of the spinal dorsal horn of control mice; these cells accumulated during the induction of chronic contact hypersensitivity. Notably, phosphorylated ERK1/2 was also localized in spinal urocortin3-expressing neurons that are known to transmit mechanical itch. CONCLUSIONS Spinal cord ERK2 could be a potential therapeutic target for intractable itch in pruritic skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Matsuo
- Department of Dermatology National Defense Medical College Tokorozawa Japan
| | - Takashi Hashimoto
- Department of Dermatology National Defense Medical College Tokorozawa Japan
| | - Fumhiro Matsuura
- Department of Anesthesiology National Defense Medical College Tokorozawa Japan
| | - Osamu Imamura
- Department of Biochemistry National Defense Medical College Tokorozawa Japan
| | - Shogo Endo
- Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology Tokyo Japan
| | - Yasushi Satoh
- Department of Biochemistry National Defense Medical College Tokorozawa Japan
| | - Takahiro Satoh
- Department of Dermatology National Defense Medical College Tokorozawa Japan
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Nilsson F, Storm P, Sozzi E, Hidalgo Gil D, Birtele M, Sharma Y, Parmar M, Fiorenzano A. Single-Cell Profiling of Coding and Noncoding Genes in Human Dopamine Neuron Differentiation. Cells 2021; 10:137. [PMID: 33445654 PMCID: PMC7827700 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopaminergic (DA) neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a renewable and available source of cells useful for understanding development, developing disease models, and stem-cell therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD). To assess the utility of stem cell cultures as an in vitro model system of human DA neurogenesis, we performed high-throughput transcriptional profiling of ~20,000 ventral midbrain (VM)-patterned stem cells at different stages of maturation using droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq). Using this dataset, we defined the cellular composition of human VM cultures at different timepoints and found high purity DA progenitor formation at an early stage of differentiation. DA neurons sharing similar molecular identities to those found in authentic DA neurons derived from human fetal VM were the major cell type after two months in culture. We also developed a bioinformatic pipeline that provided a comprehensive long noncoding RNA landscape based on temporal and cell-type specificity, which may contribute to unraveling the intricate regulatory network of coding and noncoding genes in DA neuron differentiation. Our findings serve as a valuable resource to elucidate the molecular steps of development, maturation, and function of human DA neurons, and to identify novel candidate coding and noncoding genes driving specification of progenitors into functionally mature DA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Malin Parmar
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden; (F.N.); (P.S.); (E.S.); (D.H.G.); (M.B.); (Y.S.)
| | - Alessandro Fiorenzano
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden; (F.N.); (P.S.); (E.S.); (D.H.G.); (M.B.); (Y.S.)
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8
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Caramello A, Galichet C, Rizzoti K, Lovell-Badge R. Dentate gyrus development requires a cortical hem-derived astrocytic scaffold. eLife 2021; 10:63904. [PMID: 33393905 PMCID: PMC7806271 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During embryonic development, radial glial cells give rise to neurons, then to astrocytes following the gliogenic switch. Timely regulation of the switch, operated by several transcription factors, is fundamental for allowing coordinated interactions between neurons and glia. We deleted the gene for one such factor, SOX9, early during mouse brain development and observed a significantly compromised dentate gyrus (DG). We dissected the origin of the defect, targeting embryonic Sox9 deletion to either the DG neuronal progenitor domain or the adjacent cortical hem (CH). We identified in the latter previously uncharacterized ALDH1L1+ astrocytic progenitors, which form a fimbrial-specific glial scaffold necessary for neuronal progenitor migration toward the developing DG. Our results highlight an early crucial role of SOX9 for DG development through regulation of astroglial potential acquisition in the CH. Moreover, we illustrate how formation of a local network, amidst astrocytic and neuronal progenitors originating from adjacent domains, underlays brain morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Caramello
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christophe Galichet
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karine Rizzoti
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Lovell-Badge
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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Jin T, Gu J, Xia H, Chen H, Xu X, Li Z, Yue Y, Gui Y. Differential Expression of microRNA Profiles and Wnt Signals in Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes During Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 39:2143-2153. [PMID: 33064572 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2020.5931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of secreted exosomes during dopaminergic (DA) neuron differentiation is still unknown. To investigate the roles of exosomes in DA neuron fate specification, we profiled exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) during DA neuron differentiation of epiblast-derived stem cells (EpiSCs). There were 26 miRNAs differentially expressed (relative fold >2, p < 0.05) in EpiSC-derived exosomes at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days of DA epiblast differentiation. Among them, 23 exosomic miRNAs were significantly increased, including miR-124, miR-132, miR-133b, miR-218, miR-9, miR-34b, miR-34c, and miR-135a2, while three exosomic miRNAs (miR-214, miR-7a, and miR-302b) were decreased, when compared with control samples. Bioinformatics analysis by DIANA-mirPath demonstrated that extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, FoxO signaling pathway, DA synapse, Wnt signaling pathway, GABAergic synapse, and neurotrophin signaling pathway were significantly enriched in DA differentiation-related miRNA signature (all p-values <0.012). Furthermore, messenger RNAs for nine DA neuronal markers tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), Nr4a2, Pitx3, Drd1a, Lmx1a, Lmx1b, Foxa1, Dmrt5, and Slc18a2 were significantly increased expressed over time in exosomes derived from differentiated EpiSCs. Interestingly, adding with exosomes derived from EpiSC induction experiment resulted in a twofold increase of TH-positive neurons production (35% vs. 17%, p < 0.01) during DA neuronal differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In summary, our results suggested exosomal miRNAs are potential regulators of DA neuron differentiation. More importantly, EpiSC-derived exosomes could promote the generation of DA neuron differentiation from ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jin
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiachen Gu
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongbo Xia
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Fuyang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huimin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Xiaomin Xu
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongshan Li
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yumei Yue
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaxing Gui
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Pascale E, Divisato G, Palladino R, Auriemma M, Ngalya EF, Caiazzo M. Noncoding RNAs and Midbrain DA Neurons: Novel Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in Health and Disease. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10091269. [PMID: 32899172 PMCID: PMC7563414 DOI: 10.3390/biom10091269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine neurons have crucial functions in motor and emotional control and their degeneration leads to several neurological dysfunctions such as Parkinson’s disease, addiction, depression, schizophrenia, and others. Despite advances in the understanding of specific altered proteins and coding genes, little is known about cumulative changes in the transcriptional landscape of noncoding genes in midbrain dopamine neurons. Noncoding RNAs—specifically microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs—are emerging as crucial post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in the brain. The identification of noncoding RNA networks underlying all stages of dopamine neuron development and plasticity is an essential step to deeply understand their physiological role and also their involvement in the etiology of dopaminergic diseases. Here, we provide an update about noncoding RNAs involved in dopaminergic development and metabolism, and the related evidence of these biomolecules for applications in potential treatments for dopaminergic neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Pascale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Giuseppina Divisato
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Renata Palladino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Margherita Auriemma
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Edward Faustine Ngalya
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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11
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Abstract
The mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) group of neurons comprises molecularly distinct subgroups, of which the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are the best known, due to the selective degeneration of the SN during Parkinson’s disease. However, although significant research has been conducted on the molecular build-up of these subsets, much is still unknown about how these subsets develop and which factors are involved in this process. In this review, we aim to describe the life of an mdDA neuron, from specification in the floor plate to differentiation into the different subsets. All mdDA neurons are born in the mesodiencephalic floor plate under the influence of both SHH-signaling, important for floor plate patterning, and WNT-signaling, involved in establishing the progenitor pool and the start of the specification of mdDA neurons. Furthermore, transcription factors, like Ngn2, Ascl1, Lmx1a, and En1, and epigenetic factors, like Ezh2, are important in the correct specification of dopamine (DA) progenitors. Later during development, mdDA neurons are further subdivided into different molecular subsets by, amongst others, Otx2, involved in the specification of subsets in the VTA, and En1, Pitx3, Lmx1a, and WNT-signaling, involved in the specification of subsets in the SN. Interestingly, factors involved in early specification in the floor plate can serve a dual function and can also be involved in subset specification. Besides the mdDA group of neurons, other systems in the embryo contain different subsets, like the immune system. Interestingly, many factors involved in the development of mdDA neurons are similarly involved in immune system development and vice versa. This indicates that similar mechanisms are used in the development of these systems, and that knowledge about the development of the immune system may hold clues for the factors involved in the development of mdDA neurons, which may be used in culture protocols for cell replacement therapies.
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12
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Ásgrímsdóttir ES, Arenas E. Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron Development at the Single Cell Level: In vivo and in Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:463. [PMID: 32733875 PMCID: PMC7357704 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra. Current treatment options for PD are symptomatic and typically involve the replacement of DA neurotransmission by DA drugs, which relieve the patients of some of their motor symptoms. However, by the time of diagnosis, patients have already lost about 70% of their substantia nigra DA neurons and these drugs offer only temporary relief. Therefore, cell replacement therapy has garnered much interest as a potential treatment option for PD. Early studies using human fetal tissue for transplantation in PD patients provided proof of principle for cell replacement therapy, but they also highlighted the ethical and practical difficulties associated with using human fetal tissue as a cell source. In recent years, advancements in stem cell research have made human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) an attractive source of material for cell replacement therapy. Studies on how DA neurons are specified and differentiated in the developing mouse midbrain have allowed us to recapitulate many of the positional and temporal cues needed to generate DA neurons in vitro. However, little is known about the developmental programs that govern human DA neuron development. With the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bioinformatics, it has become possible to analyze precious human samples with unprecedented detail and extract valuable high-quality information from large data sets. This technology has allowed the systematic classification of cell types present in the human developing midbrain along with their gene expression patterns. By studying human development in such an unbiased manner, we can begin to elucidate human DA neuron development and determine how much it differs from our knowledge of the rodent brain. Importantly, this molecular description of the function of human cells has become and will increasingly be a reference to define, evaluate, and engineer cell types for PD cell replacement therapy and disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ernest Arenas
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Wang M, Ling KH, Tan JJ, Lu CB. Development and Differentiation of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron: From Bench to Bedside. Cells 2020; 9:E1489. [PMID: 32570916 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the motor system. It is primarily due to substantial loss of midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and to decreased innervation to the striatum. Although existing drug therapy available can relieve the symptoms in early-stage PD patients, it cannot reverse the pathogenic progression of PD. Thus, regenerating functional mDA neurons in PD patients may be a cure to the disease. The proof-of-principle clinical trials showed that human fetal graft-derived mDA neurons could restore the release of dopamine neurotransmitters, could reinnervate the striatum, and could alleviate clinical symptoms in PD patients. The invention of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), autologous source of neural progenitors with less ethical consideration, and risk of graft rejection can now be generated in vitro. This advancement also prompts extensive research to decipher important developmental signaling in differentiation, which is key to successful in vitro production of functional mDA neurons and the enabler of mass manufacturing of the cells required for clinical applications. In this review, we summarize the biology and signaling involved in the development of mDA neurons and the current progress and methodology in driving efficient mDA neuron differentiation from pluripotent stem cells.
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14
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Peterson DJ, Marckini DN, Straight JL, King EM, Johnson W, Sarah SS, Chowdhary PK, DeLano-Taylor MK. The Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Gene Nato3 Drives Expression of Dopaminergic Neuron Transcription Factors in Neural Progenitors. Neuroscience 2019; 421:176-191. [PMID: 31672641 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The floor plate of the developing midbrain gives rise to dopaminergic (DA) neurons, an important class of cells involved in Parkinson's disease (PD). Neural progenitors of the midbrain floor plate utilize key genes in transcriptional networks to drive dopamine neurogenesis. Identifying factors that promote dopaminergic neuron transcriptional networks can provide insight into strategies for therapies in PD. Using the chick embryo, we developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) based method to assess the potential of a candidate factor to drive DA neuron gene expression, including the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Nato3 (Ferd3l). We then showed that overexpression of Nato3 in the developing chick mesencephalon produces a regionally dependent increase in genes associated with the DA neurogenesis, (such as Foxa2, Lmx1b and Shh) as well as DA neuron genes Nurr1 (an immature DA neuron marker) and mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, a mature DA neuron marker). Interestingly, our data also showed that Nato3 is a potent regulator of Lmx1b by its broad induction of Lmx1b expression in neural progenitors of multiple regions of the CNS, including the midbrain and spinal cord. These data introduce a new, in vivo approach to identifying a gene that can drive DA transcriptional networks and provide the new insight that Nato3 can drive expression of key DA neuron genes, including Lmx1b, in neural progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug J Peterson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Darcy N Marckini
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Jordan L Straight
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Elizabeth M King
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - William Johnson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Sarala S Sarah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Puneet K Chowdhary
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., Grand Rapids MI 49506, USA
| | - Merritt K DeLano-Taylor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., Grand Rapids MI 49506, USA.
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15
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Chasman D, Iyer N, Fotuhi Siahpirani A, Estevez Silva M, Lippmann E, McIntosh B, Probasco MD, Jiang P, Stewart R, Thomson JA, Ashton RS, Roy S. Inferring Regulatory Programs Governing Region Specificity of Neuroepithelial Stem Cells during Early Hindbrain and Spinal Cord Development. Cell Syst 2019; 9:167-186.e12. [PMID: 31302154 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2019.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Neuroepithelial stem cells (NSC) from different anatomical regions of the embryonic neural tube's rostrocaudal axis can differentiate into diverse central nervous system tissues, but the transcriptional regulatory networks governing these processes are incompletely understood. Here, we measure region-specific NSC gene expression along the rostrocaudal axis in a human pluripotent stem cell model of early central nervous system development over a 72-h time course, spanning the hindbrain to cervical spinal cord. We introduce Escarole, a probabilistic clustering algorithm for non-stationary time series, and combine it with prior-based regulatory network inference to identify genes that are regulated dynamically and predict their upstream regulators. We identify known regulators of patterning and neural development, including the HOX genes, and predict a direct regulatory connection between the transcription factor POU3F2 and target gene STMN2. We demonstrate that POU3F2 is required for expression of STMN2, suggesting that this regulatory connection is important for region specificity of NSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Chasman
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Nisha Iyer
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Alireza Fotuhi Siahpirani
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Maria Estevez Silva
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Ethan Lippmann
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Brian McIntosh
- Regenerative Biology Theme, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Mitchell D Probasco
- Regenerative Biology Theme, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Peng Jiang
- Regenerative Biology Theme, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Ron Stewart
- Regenerative Biology Theme, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - James A Thomson
- Regenerative Biology Theme, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Randolph S Ashton
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Sushmita Roy
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
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16
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Fraser J, Essebier A, Brown AS, Davila RA, Sengar AS, Tu Y, Ensbey KS, Day BW, Scott MP, Gronostajski RM, Wainwright BJ, Boden M, Harvey TJ, Piper M. Granule neuron precursor cell proliferation is regulated by NFIX and intersectin 1 during postnatal cerebellar development. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 224:811-827. [PMID: 30511336 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1801-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar granule neurons are the most numerous neuronal subtype in the central nervous system. Within the developing cerebellum, these neurons are derived from a population of progenitor cells found within the external granule layer of the cerebellar anlage, namely the cerebellar granule neuron precursors (GNPs). The timely proliferation and differentiation of these precursor cells, which, in rodents occurs predominantly in the postnatal period, is tightly controlled to ensure the normal morphogenesis of the cerebellum. Despite this, our understanding of the factors mediating how GNP differentiation is controlled remains limited. Here, we reveal that the transcription factor nuclear factor I X (NFIX) plays an important role in this process. Mice lacking Nfix exhibit reduced numbers of GNPs during early postnatal development, but elevated numbers of these cells at postnatal day 15. Moreover, Nfix-/- GNPs exhibit increased proliferation when cultured in vitro, suggestive of a role for NFIX in promoting GNP differentiation. At a mechanistic level, profiling analyses using both ChIP-seq and RNA-seq identified the actin-associated factor intersectin 1 as a downstream target of NFIX during cerebellar development. In support of this, mice lacking intersectin 1 also displayed delayed GNP differentiation. Collectively, these findings highlight a key role for NFIX and intersectin 1 in the regulation of cerebellar development.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Fraser
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Alexandra Essebier
- The School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander S Brown
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Raul Ayala Davila
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Ameet S Sengar
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, M5G 0A8, Canada
| | - YuShan Tu
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, M5G 0A8, Canada
| | - Kathleen S Ensbey
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Translational Brain Cancer Research Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer MRI, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Bryan W Day
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Translational Brain Cancer Research Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer MRI, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Matthew P Scott
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Richard M Gronostajski
- Department of Biochemistry, Program in Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Brandon J Wainwright
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Mikael Boden
- The School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Tracey J Harvey
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
| | - Michael Piper
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia. .,Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
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17
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Kaufman J, Wymbs NF, Montalvo-Ortiz JL, Orr C, Albaugh MD, Althoff R, O’Loughlin K, Holbrook H, Garavan H, Kearney C, Yang BZ, Zhao H, Peña C, Nestler EJ, Lee RS, Mostofsky S, Gelernter J, Hudziak J. Methylation in OTX2 and related genes, maltreatment, and depression in children. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:2204-2211. [PMID: 30089883 PMCID: PMC6135753 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0157-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Through unbiased transcriptomics and multiple molecular tools, transient downregulation of the Orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) gene was recently causatively associated with the development of depressive-like behaviors in a mouse model of early life stress. The analyses presented in this manuscript test the translational applicability of these findings by examining peripheral markers of methylation of OTX2 and OTX2-regulated genes in relation to measures of depression and resting-state functional connectivity data collected as part of a larger study examining risk and resilience in maltreated children. The sample included 157 children between the ages of 8 and 15 years (χ = 11.4, SD = 1.9). DNA specimens were derived from saliva samples and processed using the Illumina 450 K beadchip. A subset of children (N = 47) with DNA specimens also had resting-state functional MRI data. After controlling for demographic factors, cell heterogeneity, and three principal components, maltreatment history and methylation in OTX2 significantly predicted depression in the children. In terms of the imaging data, increased OTX2 methylation was found to be associated with increased functional connectivity between the right vmPFC and bilateral regions of the medial frontal cortex and the cingulate, including the subcallosal gyrus, frontal pole, and paracingulate gyrus-key structures implicated in depression. Mouse models of early stress hold significant promise in helping to unravel the mechanisms by which child adversity confers risk for psychopathology, with data presented in this manuscript supporting a potential role for OTX2 and OTX2-related (e.g., WNT1, PAX6) genes in the pathophysiology of stress-related depressive disorders in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Kaufman
- Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Nicholas F. Wymbs
- 0000 0004 0427 667Xgrid.240023.7Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA
| | | | - Catherine Orr
- 0000 0004 1936 7689grid.59062.38Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Matthew D. Albaugh
- 0000 0004 1936 7689grid.59062.38Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Robert Althoff
- 0000 0004 1936 7689grid.59062.38Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Kerry O’Loughlin
- 0000 0004 1936 7689grid.59062.38Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Hannah Holbrook
- 0000 0004 1936 7689grid.59062.38Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Hugh Garavan
- 0000 0004 1936 7689grid.59062.38Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Catherine Kearney
- 0000 0004 0427 667Xgrid.240023.7Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Bao-Zhu Yang
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Catherine Peña
- 0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cFishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- 0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cFishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Richard S. Lee
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Stewart Mostofsky
- 0000 0004 0427 667Xgrid.240023.7Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Joel Gelernter
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA ,0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA ,0000 0004 0478 7015grid.418356.dVeterans Administration, West Haven, CT USA
| | - James Hudziak
- 0000 0004 1936 7689grid.59062.38Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
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18
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Satou Y, Minami K, Hosono E, Okada H, Yasuoka Y, Shibano T, Tanaka T, Taira M. Phosphorylation states change Otx2 activity for cell proliferation and patterning in the Xenopus embryo. Development 2018; 145:dev.159640. [PMID: 29440302 DOI: 10.1242/dev.159640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The homeodomain transcription factor Otx2 has essential roles in head and eye formation via the negative and positive regulation of its target genes, but it remains elusive how this dual activity of Otx2 affects cellular functions. In the current study, we first demonstrated that both exogenous and endogenous Otx2 are phosphorylated at multiple sites. Using Xenopus embryos, we identified three possible cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) sites and one Akt site, and analyzed the biological activities of phosphomimetic (4E) and nonphosphorylatable (4A) mutants for those sites. In the neuroectoderm, the 4E but not the 4A mutant downregulated the Cdk inhibitor gene p27xic1 (cdknx) and posterior genes, and promoted cell proliferation, possibly forming a positive-feedback loop consisting of Cdk, Otx2 and p27xic1 for cell proliferation, together with anteriorization. Conversely, the 4A mutant functioned as an activator on its own and upregulated the expression of eye marker genes, resulting in enlarged eyes. Consistent with these results, the interaction of Otx2 with the corepressor Tle1 is suggested to be phosphorylation dependent. These data suggest that Otx2 orchestrates cell proliferation, anteroposterior patterning and eye formation via its phosphorylation state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeko Satou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kohei Minami
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Erina Hosono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hajime Okada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yuuri Yasuoka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Takashi Shibano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Tanaka
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Masanori Taira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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19
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Peña CJ, Kronman HG, Walker DM, Cates HM, Bagot RC, Purushothaman I, Issler O, Loh YHE, Leong T, Kiraly DD, Goodman E, Neve RL, Shen L, Nestler EJ. Early life stress confers lifelong stress susceptibility in mice via ventral tegmental area OTX2. Science 2018; 356:1185-1188. [PMID: 28619944 DOI: 10.1126/science.aan4491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Early life stress increases risk for depression. Here we establish a "two-hit" stress model in mice wherein stress at a specific postnatal period increases susceptibility to adult social defeat stress and causes long-lasting transcriptional alterations that prime the ventral tegmental area (VTA)-a brain reward region-to be in a depression-like state. We identify a role for the developmental transcription factor orthodenticle homeobox 2 (Otx2) as an upstream mediator of these enduring effects. Transient juvenile-but not adult-knockdown of Otx2 in VTA mimics early life stress by increasing stress susceptibility, whereas its overexpression reverses the effects of early life stress. This work establishes a mechanism by which early life stress encodes lifelong susceptibility to stress via long-lasting transcriptional programming in VTA mediated by Otx2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Peña
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Hope G Kronman
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Deena M Walker
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Hannah M Cates
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Rosemary C Bagot
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Immanuel Purushothaman
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Orna Issler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yong-Hwee Eddie Loh
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tin Leong
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Drew D Kiraly
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Emma Goodman
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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20
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Farzanehfar P. Comparative review of adult midbrain and striatum neurogenesis with classical neurogenesis. Neurosci Res 2018; 134:1-9. [PMID: 29339103 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) motor symptoms are caused by loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of the midbrain. Dopamine cell replacement therapy (DA CRT), either by cell transplantation or endogenous repair, has been a potential treatment to replace dead cells and improve PD motor symptoms. Adult midbrain and striatum have been studied for many years to find evidence of neurogenesis. Although the literature is controversial, recent research has revived the possibility of neurogenesis here. This paper aims to review the process of neurogenesis (by focusing on gene expression patterns) in the adult midbrain/striatum and compare it with classical neurogenesis that occurs in developing midbrain, Sub Ventricular Zone (SVZ) and Sub Granular Zone (SGZ) of the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Farzanehfar
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia.
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21
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Jovanovic VM, Salti A, Tilleman H, Zega K, Jukic MM, Zou H, Friedel RH, Prakash N, Blaess S, Edenhofer F, Brodski C. BMP/SMAD Pathway Promotes Neurogenesis of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons In Vivo and in Human Induced Pluripotent and Neural Stem Cells. J Neurosci 2018; 38:1662-76. [PMID: 29321139 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1540-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryonic formation of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons in vivo provides critical guidelines for the in vitro differentiation of mDA neurons from stem cells, which are currently being developed for Parkinson's disease cell replacement therapy. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD inhibition is routinely used during early steps of stem cell differentiation protocols, including for the generation of mDA neurons. However, the function of the BMP/SMAD pathway for in vivo specification of mammalian mDA neurons is virtually unknown. Here, we report that BMP5/7-deficient mice (Bmp5-/-; Bmp7-/-) lack mDA neurons due to reduced neurogenesis in the mDA progenitor domain. As molecular mechanisms accounting for these alterations in Bmp5-/-; Bmp7-/- mutants, we have identified expression changes of the BMP/SMAD target genes MSX1/2 (msh homeobox 1/2) and SHH (sonic hedgehog). Conditionally inactivating SMAD1 in neural stem cells of mice in vivo (Smad1Nes) hampered the differentiation of progenitor cells into mDA neurons by preventing cell cycle exit, especially of TH+SOX6+ (tyrosine hydroxylase, SRY-box 6) and TH+GIRK2+ (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily-J member-6) substantia nigra neurons. BMP5/7 robustly increased the in vitro differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells and induced neural stem cells to mDA neurons by up to threefold. In conclusion, we have identified BMP/SMAD signaling as a novel critical pathway orchestrating essential steps of mammalian mDA neurogenesis in vivo that balances progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, we demonstrate the potential of BMPs to improve the generation of stem-cell-derived mDA neurons in vitro, highlighting the importance of sequential BMP/SMAD inhibition and activation in this process.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We identify bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD signaling as a novel essential pathway regulating the development of mammalian midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons in vivo and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of this process. BMP5/7 regulate MSX1/2 (msh homeobox 1/2) and SHH (sonic hedgehog) expression to direct mDA neurogenesis. Moreover, the BMP signaling component SMAD1 controls the differentiation of mDA progenitors, particularly to substantia nigra neurons, by directing their cell cycle exit. Importantly, BMP5/7 increase robustly the differentiation of human induced pluripotent and induced neural stem cells to mDA neurons. BMP/SMAD are routinely inhibited in initial stages of stem cell differentiation protocols currently being developed for Parkinson's disease cell replacement therapies. Therefore, our findings on opposing roles of the BMP/SMAD pathway during in vitro mDA neurogenesis might improve these procedures significantly.
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Wang Y, Li Y, Zhao R, Wu B, Lanoha B, Tong Z, Peer J, Liu J, Xiong H, Huang Y, Zheng J. Glutaminase C overexpression in the brain induces learning deficits, synaptic dysfunctions, and neuroinflammation in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 66:135-45. [PMID: 28624534 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutaminolysis, a metabolic process that converts glutamine to glutamate, is particularly important for the central nervous system since glutamate is the major transmitter of excitatory synapses. Glutaminase is the mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the first step of glutaminolysis. Two genes encode at least four isoforms of glutaminase in humans. Gls1 gene encodes isoforms kidney-type glutaminase (KGA) and glutaminase C (GAC) through alternative splicing, whereas Gls2 gene encodes liver-type glutaminase isoforms. KGA and GAC have been associated with several neurological diseases. However, it remains unclear whether changes in their expressions can directly cause brain abnormalities. Using a transgenic approach, we generated mice that overexpressed GAC in the brain. The resulting transgenic mice had severe impairments in spatial and fear learning compared with littermate controls. The learning deficits were consistent with diminished hippocampal long-term potentiation in the hippocampal slices of the GAC transgenic mice. Furthermore, we found increases in astrocyte and microglia markers, inflammatory factors, and a decrease in synapse marker synaptophysin, suggesting neuroinflammation and synaptic changes in the GAC transgenic mouse brains. In conclusion, these findings provide the first evidence that GAC overexpression in the brain has deleterious effects on learning and synaptic integrity in vivo.
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Boulay G, Awad ME, Riggi N, Archer TC, Iyer S, Boonseng WE, Rossetti NE, Naigles B, Rengarajan S, Volorio A, Kim JC, Mesirov JP, Tamayo P, Pomeroy SL, Aryee MJ, Rivera MN. OTX2 Activity at Distal Regulatory Elements Shapes the Chromatin Landscape of Group 3 Medulloblastoma. Cancer Discov 2017; 7:288-301. [PMID: 28213356 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-16-0844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant pediatric brain tumor and is divided into at least four subgroups known as WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4. Here, we characterized gene regulation mechanisms in the most aggressive subtype, Group 3 tumors, through genome-wide chromatin and expression profiling. Our results show that most active distal sites in these tumors are occupied by the transcription factor OTX2. Highly active OTX2-bound enhancers are often arranged as clusters of adjacent peaks and are also bound by the transcription factor NEUROD1. These sites are responsive to OTX2 and NEUROD1 knockdown and could also be generated de novo upon ectopic OTX2 expression in primary cells, showing that OTX2 cooperates with NEUROD1 and plays a major role in maintaining and possibly establishing regulatory elements as a pioneer factor. Among OTX2 target genes, we identified the kinase NEK2, whose knockdown and pharmacologic inhibition decreased cell viability. Our studies thus show that OTX2 controls the regulatory landscape of Group 3 medulloblastoma through cooperative activity at enhancer elements and contributes to the expression of critical target genes.Significance: The gene regulation mechanisms that drive medulloblastoma are not well understood. Using chromatin profiling, we find that the transcription factor OTX2 acts as a pioneer factor and, in cooperation with NEUROD1, controls the Group 3 medulloblastoma active enhancer landscape. OTX2 itself or its target genes, including the mitotic kinase NEK2, represent attractive targets for future therapies. Cancer Discov; 7(3); 288-301. ©2017 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 235.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaylor Boulay
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mary E Awad
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nicolo Riggi
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tenley C Archer
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wannaporn E Boonseng
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nikki E Rossetti
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Beverly Naigles
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shruthi Rengarajan
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Angela Volorio
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - James C Kim
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jill P Mesirov
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Scott L Pomeroy
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martin J Aryee
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Miguel N Rivera
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Khan S, Stott SR, Chabrat A, Truckenbrodt AM, Spencer-Dene B, Nave KA, Guillemot F, Levesque M, Ang SL. Survival of a Novel Subset of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons Projecting to the Lateral Septum Is Dependent on NeuroD Proteins. J Neurosci 2017; 37:2305-16. [PMID: 28130357 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2414-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic neurons are highly heterogeneous. They differ in their connectivity and firing patterns and, therefore, in their functional properties. The molecular underpinnings of this heterogeneity are largely unknown, and there is a paucity of markers that distinguish these functional subsets. In this paper, we report the identification and characterization of a novel subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurons located in the ventral tegmental area that expresses the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, Neurogenic Differentiation Factor-6 (NEUROD6). Retrograde fluorogold tracing experiments demonstrate that Neurod6+ midbrain dopaminergic neurons neurons project to two distinct septal regions: the dorsal and intermediate region of the lateral septum. Loss-of-function studies in mice demonstrate that Neurod6 and the closely related family member Neurod1 are both specifically required for the survival of this lateral-septum projecting neuronal subset during development. Our findings underscore the complex organization of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and provide an entry point for future studies of the functions of the Neurod6+ subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurons.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Midbrain dopaminergic neurons regulate diverse brain functions, including voluntary movement and cognitive and emotive behaviors. These neurons are heterogeneous, and distinct subsets are thought to regulate different behaviors. However, we currently lack the means to identify and modify gene function in specific subsets of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. In this study, we identify the transcription factor NEUROD6 as a specific marker for a novel subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the ventral midbrain that project to the lateral septum, and we reveal essential roles for Neurod1 and Neurod6 in the survival of these neurons during development. Our findings highlight the molecular and anatomical heterogeneity of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and contribute to a better understanding of this functionally complex group of neurons.
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Wang N, Wang Y, Xie Y, Wang H. OTX2 impedes self-renewal of porcine iPS cells through downregulation of NANOG expression. Cell Death Discov 2016; 2:16090. [PMID: 27924227 PMCID: PMC5136617 DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2016.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Otx2 acts as a negative switch in the regulation of transition from naive to primed pluripotency in mouse pluripotent stem cells. However, the molecular features and function of porcine OTX2 have not been well elucidated in porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs). By studying high-throughput transcriptome sequencing and interfering endogenous OTX2 expression, we demonstrate that OTX2 is able to downgrade the self-renewal of piPSCs. OTX2 is highly expressed in porcine brain, reproductive tissues, and preimplantation embryos, but is undetectable in fibroblasts and most somatic tissues. However, the known piPSC lines reported previously produced different levels of OTX2 depending on the induction procedures and culture conditions. Overexpression of porcine OTX2 can reduce the percentage of alkaline phosphatase-positive colonies and downregulate NANOG and OCT4 expression. In contrast, knockdown of OTX2 can significantly increase endogenous expressions of NANOG, OCT4, and ESRRB, and stabilize the pluripotent state of piPSCs. On the other hand, NANOG can directly bind to the OTX2 promoter as shown in ChIP-seq data and repress OTX2 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. These observations indicate that OTX2 and NANOG can form a negative feedback circuitry to regulate the pluripotency of porcine iPS cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University , Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yaxian Wang
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University , Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Youlong Xie
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University , Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Huayan Wang
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University , Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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Abstract
Homeosis is classically defined as the transformation of one body part into something that resembles another body part. We propose here to broaden the concept of homeosis to the many neuronal cell identity transformations that have been uncovered over the past few years upon removal of specific regulatory factors in organisms from Caenorhabditis elegans to Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice. The concept of homeosis provides a framework for the evolution of cell type diversity in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Arlotta
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Abstract
Chronic demyelination is a hallmark of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and several leukodystrophies. In the central nervous system (CNS), remyelination is a regenerative process that is often inadequate during these pathological states. In the MS context, in situ evidence suggests that remyelination is mediated by populations of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) that proliferate, migrate, and differentiate into mature, myelin-producing oligodendrocytes at sites of demyelinated lesions. The molecular programming of OPCs into mature oligodendrocytes is governed by a myriad of complex intracellular signaling pathways that modulate this process. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of specific and short non-coding RNAs, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), in regulating OPC differentiation and remyelination. Fortunately, it may be possible to take advantage of numerous developmental studies (both human and rodent) that have previously characterized miRNA expression profiles from the early neural progenitor cell to the late myelin-producing oligodendrocyte. Here we review much of the work to date and discuss the impact of miRNAs on OPC and oligodendrocyte biology. Additionally, we consider the potential for miRNA-mediated therapy in the context of remyelination and brain repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan A Galloway
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Craig S Moore
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, NL, Canada
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28
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Trujillo-Paredes N, Valencia C, Guerrero-Flores G, Arzate DM, Baizabal JM, Guerra-Crespo M, Fuentes-Hernández A, Zea-Armenta I, Covarrubias L. Regulation of differentiation flux by Notch signalling influences the number of dopaminergic neurons in the adult brain. Biol Open 2016; 5:336-47. [PMID: 26912775 PMCID: PMC4810735 DOI: 10.1242/bio.013383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch signalling is a well-established pathway that regulates neurogenesis. However, little is known about the role of Notch signalling in specific neuronal differentiation. Using Dll1 null mice, we found that Notch signalling has no function in the specification of mesencephalic dopaminergic neural precursor cells (NPCs), but plays an important role in regulating their expansion and differentiation into neurons. Premature neuronal differentiation was observed in mesencephalons of Dll1-deficient mice or after treatment with a Notch signalling inhibitor. Coupling between neurogenesis and dopaminergic differentiation was indicated from the coincident emergence of neuronal and dopaminergic markers. Early in differentiation, decreasing Notch signalling caused a reduction in NPCs and an increase in dopaminergic neurons in association with dynamic changes in the proportion of sequentially-linked dopaminergic NPCs (Msx1/2+, Ngn2+, Nurr1+). These effects in differentiation caused a significant reduction in the number of dopaminergic neurons produced. Accordingly, Dll1 haploinsufficient adult mice, in comparison with their wild-type littermates, have a consistent reduction in neuronal density that was particularly evident in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Our results are in agreement with a mathematical model based on a Dll1-mediated regulatory feedback loop between early progenitors and their dividing precursors that controls the emergence and number of dopaminergic neurons. Summary: The early emergence of dopaminergic neurons under reduced Notch signalling results from a change in the differentiation flux that defines the final number of neurons produced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niurka Trujillo-Paredes
- Departamento de Genética y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
| | - Concepción Valencia
- Departamento de Genética y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
| | - Gilda Guerrero-Flores
- Departamento de Genética y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
| | - Dulce-María Arzate
- Departamento de Genética y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
| | - José-Manuel Baizabal
- Departamento de Genética y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
| | - Magdalena Guerra-Crespo
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Ayari Fuentes-Hernández
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
| | - Iván Zea-Armenta
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
| | - Luis Covarrubias
- Departamento de Genética y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México
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Metzakopian E, Bouhali K, Alvarez-Saavedra M, Whitsett JA, Picketts DJ, Ang SL. Genome-wide characterisation of Foxa1 binding sites reveals several mechanisms for regulating neuronal differentiation in midbrain dopamine cells. Development 2016; 142:1315-24. [PMID: 25804738 PMCID: PMC4378246 DOI: 10.1242/dev.115808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine neuronal progenitors develop into heterogeneous subgroups of neurons, such as substantia nigra pars compacta, ventral tegmental area and retrorubal field, that regulate motor control, motivated and addictive behaviours. The development of midbrain dopamine neurons has been extensively studied, and these studies indicate that complex cross-regulatory interactions between extrinsic and intrinsic molecules regulate a precise temporal and spatial programme of neurogenesis in midbrain dopamine progenitors. To elucidate direct molecular interactions between multiple regulatory factors during neuronal differentiation in mice, we characterised genome-wide binding sites of the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor Foxa1, which functions redundantly with Foxa2 to regulate the differentiation of mDA neurons. Interestingly, our studies identified a rostral brain floor plate Neurog2 enhancer that requires direct input from Otx2, Foxa1, Foxa2 and an E-box transcription factor for its transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the chromatin remodelling factor Smarca1 was shown to function downstream of Foxa1 and Foxa2 to regulate differentiation from immature to mature midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Our genome-wide Foxa1-bound cis-regulatory sequences from ChIP-Seq and Foxa1/2 candidate target genes from RNA-Seq analyses of embryonic midbrain dopamine cells also provide an excellent resource for probing mechanistic insights into gene regulatory networks involved in the differentiation of midbrain dopamine neurons. Summary: ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq experiments identify novel molecular mechanisms underlying midbrain dopaminergic neuron production downstream of Foxa1 and Foxa2 during mouse neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kamal Bouhali
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, NIMR, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Matías Alvarez-Saavedra
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6 Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5
| | - Jeffrey A Whitsett
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - David J Picketts
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6 Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5
| | - Siew-Lan Ang
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, NIMR, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK
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30
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Bissonette GB, Roesch MR. Development and function of the midbrain dopamine system: what we know and what we need to. Genes Brain Behav 2015; 15:62-73. [PMID: 26548362 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The past two decades have seen an explosion in our understanding of the origin and development of the midbrain dopamine system. Much of this work has been focused on the aspects of dopamine neuron development related to the onset of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, with the intent of hopefully delaying, preventing or fixing symptoms. While midbrain dopamine degeneration is a major focus for treatment and research, many other human disorders are impacted by abnormal dopamine, including drug addiction, autism and schizophrenia. Understanding dopamine neuron ontogeny and how dopamine connections and circuitry develops may provide us with key insights into potentially important avenues of research for other dopamine-related disorders. This review will provide a brief overview of the major molecular and genetic players throughout the development of midbrain dopamine neurons and what we know about the behavioral- and disease-related implications associated with perturbations to midbrain dopamine neuron development. We intend to combine the knowledge of two broad fields of neuroscience, both developmental and behavioral, with the intent on fostering greater discussion between branches of neuroscience in the service of addressing complex cognitive questions from a developmental perspective and identifying important gaps in our knowledge for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- G B Bissonette
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - M R Roesch
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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31
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Sherf O, Nashelsky Zolotov L, Liser K, Tilleman H, Jovanovic VM, Zega K, Jukic MM, Brodski C. Otx2 Requires Lmx1b to Control the Development of Mesodiencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139697. [PMID: 26444681 PMCID: PMC4596855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying the development of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons provides an important basis for better understanding dopamine-associated brain functions and disorders and is critical for establishing cell replacement therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The transcription factors Otx2 and Lmx1b play a key role in the development of mdDA neurons. However, little is known about the genes downstream of Otx2 and Lmx1b in the pathways controlling the formation of mdDA neurons in vivo. Here we report on our investigation of Lmx1b as downstream target of Otx2 in the formation of mdDA neurons. Mouse mutants expressing Otx2 under the control of the En1 promoter (En1+/Otx2) showed increased Otx2 expression in the mid-hindbrain region, resulting in upregulation of Lmx1b and expansion of mdDA neurons there. In contrast, Lmx1b-/- mice showed decreased expression of Otx2 and impairments in several aspects of mdDA neuronal formation. To study the functional interaction between Otx2 and Lmx1b, we generated compound mutants in which Otx2 expression was restored in mice lacking Lmx1b (En1+/Otx2;Lmx1b-/-). In these animals Otx2 was not sufficient to rescue any of the aberrations in the formation of mdDA neurons caused by the loss of Lmx1b, but rescued the loss of ocular motor neurons. Gene expression studies in Lmx1b-/- embryos indicated that in these mutants Wnt1, En1 and Fgf8 expression are induced but subsequently lost in the mdDA precursor domain and the mid-hindbrain organizer in a specific, spatio-temporal manner. In summary, we demonstrate that Otx2 critically depends on Lmx1b for the formation of mdDA neurons, but not for the generation of ocular motor neurons. Moreover, our data suggest that Lmx1b precisely maintains the expression pattern of Wnt1, Fgf8 and En1, which are essential for mid-hindbrain organizer function and the formation of mdDA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orna Sherf
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
| | - Limor Nashelsky Zolotov
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
| | - Keren Liser
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
| | - Hadas Tilleman
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
| | - Vukasin M. Jovanovic
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ksenija Zega
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
| | - Marin M. Jukic
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
| | - Claude Brodski
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’erSheva 84105, Israel
- * E-mail:
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32
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Hoch RV, Lindtner S, Price JD, Rubenstein JLR. OTX2 Transcription Factor Controls Regional Patterning within the Medial Ganglionic Eminence and Regional Identity of the Septum. Cell Rep 2015; 12:482-94. [PMID: 26166575 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Otx2 homeodomain transcription factor is essential for gastrulation and early neural development. We generated Otx2 conditional knockout (cKO) mice to investigate its roles in telencephalon development after neurulation (approximately embryonic day 9.0). We conducted transcriptional profiling and in situ hybridization to identify genes de-regulated in Otx2 cKO ventral forebrain. In parallel, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to identify enhancer elements, the OTX2 binding motif, and de-regulated genes that are likely direct targets of OTX2 transcriptional regulation. We found that Otx2 was essential in septum specification, regulation of Fgf signaling in the rostral telencephalon, and medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) patterning, neurogenesis, and oligodendrogenesis. Within the MGE, Otx2 was required for ventral, but not dorsal, identity, thus controlling the production of specific MGE derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée V Hoch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Susan Lindtner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - James D Price
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - John L R Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Deml B, Reis LM, Lemyre E, Clark RD, Kariminejad A, Semina EV. Novel mutations in PAX6, OTX2 and NDP in anophthalmia, microphthalmia and coloboma. Eur J Hum Genet 2015; 24:535-41. [PMID: 26130484 PMCID: PMC4929874 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anophthalmia and microphthalmia (A/M) are developmental ocular malformations defined as the complete absence or reduction in size of the eye. A/M is a highly heterogeneous disorder with SOX2 and FOXE3 playing major roles in dominant and recessive pedigrees, respectively; however, the majority of cases lack a genetic etiology. We analyzed 28 probands affected with A/M spectrum (without mutations in SOX2/FOXE3) by whole-exome sequencing. Analysis of 83 known A/M factors identified pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in PAX6, OTX2 and NDP in three patients. A novel heterozygous likely pathogenic variant in PAX6, c.767T>C, p.(Val256Ala), was identified in two brothers with bilateral microphthalmia, coloboma, primary aphakia, iris hypoplasia, sclerocornea and congenital glaucoma; the unaffected mother appears to be a mosaic carrier. While A/M has been reported as a rare feature, this is the first report of congenital primary aphakia in association with PAX6 and the identified allele represents the first variant in the PAX6 homeodomain to be associated with A/M. A novel pathogenic variant in OTX2, c.651delC, p.(Thr218Hisfs*76), in a patient with syndromic bilateral anophthalmia and a hemizygous pathogenic variant in NDP, c.293 C>T, p.(Pro98Leu), in two brothers with isolated bilateral microphthalmia and sclerocornea were also identified. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were not discovered in the 25 remaining A/M cases. This study underscores the utility of whole-exome sequencing for identification of causative mutations in highly variable ocular phenotypes as well as the extreme genetic heterogeneity of A/M conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Deml
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA
| | - Linda M Reis
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Emmanuelle Lemyre
- Service de Génétique médicale, CHU Ste-Justine, Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Robin D Clark
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA 92354
| | | | - Elena V Semina
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA
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Chen C, Ma Q, Chen X, Zhong M, Deng P, Zhu G, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Yang Z, Zhang K, Guo L, Wang L, Yu Z, Zhou Z. Thyroid Hormone-Otx2 Signaling Is Required for Embryonic Ventral Midbrain Neural Stem Cells Differentiated into Dopamine Neurons. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:1751-65. [PMID: 25867707 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2014.0489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons are essential for maintaining multiple brain functions. These neurons have also been implicated in relation with diverse neurological disorders. However, how these neurons are developed from neuronal stem cells (NSCs) remains largely unknown. In this study, we provide both in vivo and in vitro evidence that the thyroid hormone, an important physiological factor for brain development, promotes DA neuron differentiation from embryonic ventral midbrain (VM) NSCs. We find that thyroid hormone deficiency during development reduces the midbrain DA neuron number, downregulates the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the dopamine transporter (DAT), and impairs the DA neuron-dependent motor behavior. In addition, thyroid hormone treatment during VM NSC differentiation in vitro increases the production of DA neurons and upregulates the expression of TH and DAT. We also found that the thyroid hormone enhances the expression of Otx2, an important determinant of DA neurogenesis, during DA neuron differentiation. Our in vitro gene silencing experiments indicate that Otx2 is required for thyroid hormone-dependent DA neuron differentiation from embryonic VM NSCs. Finally, we revealed both in vivo and in vitro that the thyroid hormone receptor alpha 1 is expressed in embryonic VM NSCs. Furthermore, it participates in the effects of thyroid hormone-induced Otx2 upregulation and DA neuron differentiation. These data demonstrate the role and molecular mechanisms of how the thyroid hormone regulates DA neuron differentiation from embryonic VM NSCs, particularly providing new mechanisms and a potential strategy for generating dopamine neurons from NSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhai Chen
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Qinglong Ma
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaowei Chen
- 2 Brain Research Center, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Min Zhong
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Ping Deng
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Gang Zhu
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Yanwen Zhang
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiqi Yang
- 2 Brain Research Center, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Kuan Zhang
- 2 Brain Research Center, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Lu Guo
- 3 Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Liting Wang
- 4 Biomedical Analysis Center, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Zhengping Yu
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- 1 Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing, China
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Wu CC, Lin C, Chen BS. Dynamic network-based relevance score reveals essential proteins and functional modules in directed differentiation. Stem Cells Int 2015; 2015:792843. [PMID: 25977693 DOI: 10.1155/2015/792843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The induction of stem cells toward a desired differentiation direction is required for the advancement of stem cell-based therapies. Despite successful demonstrations of the control of differentiation direction, the effective use of stem cell-based therapies suffers from a lack of systematic knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying directed differentiation. Using dynamic modeling and the temporal microarray data of three differentiation stages, three dynamic protein-protein interaction networks were constructed. The interaction difference networks derived from the constructed networks systematically delineated the evolution of interaction variations and the underlying mechanisms. A proposed relevance score identified the essential components in the directed differentiation. Inspection of well-known proteins and functional modules in the directed differentiation showed the plausibility of the proposed relevance score, with the higher scores of several proteins and function modules indicating their essential roles in the directed differentiation. During the differentiation process, the proteins and functional modules with higher relevance scores also became more specific to the neuronal identity. Ultimately, the essential components revealed by the relevance scores may play a role in controlling the direction of differentiation. In addition, these components may serve as a starting point for understanding the systematic mechanisms of directed differentiation and for increasing the efficiency of stem cell-based therapies.
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Anderegg A, Awatramani R. Making a mes: A transcription factor-microRNA pair governs the size of the midbrain and the dopaminergic progenitor pool. Neurogenesis (Austin) 2015; 2:e998101. [PMID: 27502145 PMCID: PMC4973584 DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2014.998101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Canonical Wnt signaling is critical for midbrain dopaminergic progenitor specification, proliferation, and neurogenesis. Yet mechanisms that control Wnt signaling remain to be fully elucidated. Wnt1 is a key ligand in the embryonic midbrain, and directs proliferation, survival, specification and neurogenesis. In a recent study, we reveal that the transcription factor Lmx1b promotes Wnt1/Wnt signaling, and dopaminergic progenitor expansion, consistent with earlier studies. Additionally, Lmx1b drives expression of a non-coding RNA called Rmst, which harbors miR135a2 in its last intron. miR135a2 in turn targets Lmx1b as well as several Wnt pathway targets. Conditional overexpression of miR135a2 in the midbrain, particularly during an early time, results in a decreased dopaminergic progenitor pool, and less dopaminergic neurons, consistent with decreased Wnt signaling. We propose a model in which Lmx1b and miR135a2 influence levels of Wnt1 and Wnt signaling, and expansion of the dopaminergic progenitor pool. Further loss of function experiments and biochemical validation of targets will be critical to verify this model. Wnt agonists have recently been utilized for programming stem cells toward a dopaminergic fate in vitro, highlighting the importance of agents that modulate the Wnt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Anderegg
- Department of Neurology; Northwestern University ; Chicago, IL USA
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Tsankov AM, Gu H, Akopian V, Ziller MJ, Donaghey J, Amit I, Gnirke A, Meissner A. Transcription factor binding dynamics during human ES cell differentiation. Nature 2015; 518:344-9. [PMID: 25693565 PMCID: PMC4499331 DOI: 10.1038/nature14233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells provide a powerful system to dissect the underlying molecular dynamics that regulate cell fate changes during mammalian development. Here we report the integrative analysis of genome-wide binding data for 38 transcription factors with extensive epigenome and transcriptional data across the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to the three germ layers. We describe core regulatory dynamics and show the lineage-specific behaviour of selected factors. In addition to the orchestrated remodelling of the chromatin landscape, we find that the binding of several transcription factors is strongly associated with specific loss of DNA methylation in one germ layer, and in many cases a reciprocal gain in the other layers. Taken together, our work shows context-dependent rewiring of transcription factor binding, downstream signalling effectors, and the epigenome during human embryonic stem cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Tsankov
- 1] Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA [2] Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [3] Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Hongcang Gu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Veronika Akopian
- 1] Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [2] Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Michael J Ziller
- 1] Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA [2] Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [3] Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Julie Donaghey
- 1] Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA [2] Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [3] Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Ido Amit
- 1] Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA [2] Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, 76100 Israel
| | - Andreas Gnirke
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- 1] Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA [2] Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [3] Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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Muguruma K, Nishiyama A, Kawakami H, Hashimoto K, Sasai Y. Self-organization of polarized cerebellar tissue in 3D culture of human pluripotent stem cells. Cell Rep. 2015;10:537-550. [PMID: 25640179 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.12.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 416] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During cerebellar development, the main portion of the cerebellar plate neuroepithelium gives birth to Purkinje cells and interneurons, whereas the rhombic lip, the germinal zone at its dorsal edge, generates granule cells and cerebellar nuclei neurons. However, it remains elusive how these components cooperate to form the intricate cerebellar structure. Here, we found that a polarized cerebellar structure self-organizes in 3D human embryonic stem cell (ESC) culture. The self-organized neuroepithelium differentiates into electrophysiologically functional Purkinje cells. The addition of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) promotes spontaneous generation of dorsoventrally polarized neural-tube-like structures at the level of the cerebellum. Furthermore, addition of SDF1 and FGF19 promotes the generation of a continuous cerebellar plate neuroepithelium with rhombic-lip-like structure at one end and a three-layer cytoarchitecture similar to the embryonic cerebellum. Thus, human-ESC-derived cerebellar progenitors exhibit substantial self-organizing potential for generating a polarized structure reminiscent of the early human cerebellum at the first trimester.
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Blaess S, Ang SL. Genetic control of midbrain dopaminergic neuron development. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol 2015; 4:113-34. [PMID: 25565353 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Midbrain dopaminergic neurons are involved in regulating motor control, reward behavior, and cognition. Degeneration or dysfunction of midbrain dopaminergic neurons is implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, substance use disorders, depression, and schizophrenia. Understanding the developmental processes that generate midbrain dopaminergic neurons will facilitate the generation of dopaminergic neurons from stem cells for cell replacement therapies to substitute degenerating cells in Parkinson's disease patients and will forward our understanding on how functional diversity of dopaminergic neurons in the adult brain is established. Midbrain dopaminergic neurons develop in a multistep process. Following the induction of the ventral midbrain, a distinct dopaminergic progenitor domain is specified and dopaminergic progenitors undergo proliferation, neurogenesis, and differentiation. Subsequently, midbrain dopaminergic neurons acquire a mature dopaminergic phenotype, migrate to their final position and establish projections and connections to their forebrain targets. This review will discuss insights gained on the signaling network of secreted molecules, cell surface receptors, and transcription factors that regulate specification and differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic progenitors and neurons, from the induction of the ventral midbrain to the migration of dopaminergic neurons. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Blaess
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Abstract
Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the Rep-1 microsatellite marker of the α-synuclein (
SNCA) gene have consistently been shown to be associated with Parkinson’s disease, but the functional relevance is unclear. Based on these findings we hypothesized that conserved cis-regulatory elements in the
SNCA genomic region regulate expression of
SNCA, and that SNPs in these regions could be functionally modulating the expression of
SNCA, thus contributing to neuronal demise and predisposing to Parkinson’s disease. In a pair-wise comparison of a 206kb genomic region encompassing the
SNCA gene, we revealed 34 evolutionary conserved DNA sequences between human and mouse. All elements were cloned into reporter vectors and assessed for expression modulation in dual luciferase reporter assays. We found that 12 out of 34 elements exhibited either an enhancement or reduction of the expression of the reporter gene. Three elements upstream of the
SNCA gene displayed an approximately 1.5 fold (p<0.009) increase in expression. Of the intronic regions, three showed a 1.5 fold increase and two others indicated a 2 and 2.5 fold increase in expression (p<0.002). Three elements downstream of the
SNCA gene showed 1.5 fold and 2.5 fold increase (p<0.0009). One element downstream of
SNCA had a reduced expression of the reporter gene of 0.35 fold (p<0.0009) of normal activity. Our results demonstrate that the
SNCA gene contains cis-regulatory regions that might regulate the transcription and expression of
SNCA. Further studies in disease-relevant tissue types will be important to understand the functional impact of regulatory regions and specific Parkinson’s disease-associated SNPs and its function in the disease process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori Sterling
- Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA
| | - Michael Walter
- Institute of Human Genetics, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Dennis Ting
- Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA
| | - Birgitt Schüle
- Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA
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Kwon YR, Jeong MH, Leem YE, Lee SJ, Kim HJ, Bae GU, Kang JS. The Shh coreceptor Cdo is required for differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Stem Cell Res 2014; 13:262-74. [PMID: 25117422 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is required for numerous developmental processes including specification of ventral cell types in the central nervous system such as midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons. The multifunctional coreceptor Cdo increases the signaling activity of Shh which is crucial for development of forebrain and neural tube. In this study, we investigated the role of Cdo in midbrain DA neurogenesis. Cdo and Shh signaling components are induced during neurogenesis of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Cdo(-/-) ES cells show reduced neuronal differentiation accompanied by increased cell death upon neuronal induction. In addition, Cdo(-/-) ES cells form fewer tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2)-positive DA neurons correlating with the decreased expression of key regulators of DA neurogenesis, such as Shh, Neurogenin2, Mash1, Foxa2, Lmx1a, Nurr1 and Pitx3, relative to the Cdo(+/+) ES cells. Consistently, the Cdo(-/-) embryonic midbrain displays a reduction in expression of TH and Nurr1. Furthermore, activation of Shh signaling by treatment with Purmorphamine (Pur) restores the DA neurogenesis of Cdo(-/-) ES cells, suggesting that Cdo is required for the full Shh signaling activation to induce efficient DA neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Rim Kwon
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Myong-Ho Jeong
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Eun Leem
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Jin Lee
- Research Center for Cell Fate Control, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyu-Un Bae
- Research Center for Cell Fate Control, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong-Sun Kang
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
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Anderegg A, Lin HP, Chen JA, Caronia-Brown G, Cherepanova N, Yun B, Joksimovic M, Rock J, Harfe BD, Johnson R, Awatramani R. An Lmx1b-miR135a2 regulatory circuit modulates Wnt1/Wnt signaling and determines the size of the midbrain dopaminergic progenitor pool. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003973. [PMID: 24348261 PMCID: PMC3861205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs regulate gene expression in diverse physiological scenarios. Their role in the control of morphogen related signaling pathways has been less studied, particularly in the context of embryonic Central Nervous System (CNS) development. Here, we uncover a role for microRNAs in limiting the spatiotemporal range of morphogen expression and function. Wnt1 is a key morphogen in the embryonic midbrain, and directs proliferation, survival, patterning and neurogenesis. We reveal an autoregulatory negative feedback loop between the transcription factor Lmx1b and a newly characterized microRNA, miR135a2, which modulates the extent of Wnt1/Wnt signaling and the size of the dopamine progenitor domain. Conditional gain of function studies reveal that Lmx1b promotes Wnt1/Wnt signaling, and thereby increases midbrain size and dopamine progenitor allocation. Conditional removal of Lmx1b has the opposite effect, in that expansion of the dopamine progenitor domain is severely compromised. Next, we provide evidence that microRNAs are involved in restricting dopamine progenitor allocation. Conditional loss of Dicer1 in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) results in expanded Lmx1a/b+ progenitors. In contrast, forced elevation of miR135a2 during an early window in vivo phenocopies the Lmx1b conditional knockout. When En1::Cre, but not Shh::Cre or Nes::Cre, is used for recombination, the expansion of Lmx1a/b+ progenitors is selectively reduced. Bioinformatics and luciferase assay data suggests that miR135a2 targets Lmx1b and many genes in the Wnt signaling pathway, including Ccnd1, Gsk3b, and Tcf7l2. Consistent with this, we demonstrate that this mutant displays reductions in the size of the Lmx1b/Wnt1 domain and range of canonical Wnt signaling. We posit that microRNA modulation of the Lmx1b/Wnt axis in the early midbrain/isthmus could determine midbrain size and allocation of dopamine progenitors. Since canonical Wnt activity has recently been recognized as a key ingredient for programming ESCs towards a dopaminergic fate in vitro, these studies could impact the rational design of such protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Anderegg
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Center for Genetic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Hsin-Pin Lin
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Center for Genetic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jun-An Chen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Giuliana Caronia-Brown
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Center for Genetic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Natalya Cherepanova
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Center for Genetic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Beth Yun
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Center for Genetic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Milan Joksimovic
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Center for Genetic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jason Rock
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Brian D. Harfe
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Randy Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rajeshwar Awatramani
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Center for Genetic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Hong S, Chung S, Leung K, Hwang I, Moon J, Kim KS. Functional roles of Nurr1, Pitx3, and Lmx1a in neurogenesis and phenotype specification of dopamine neurons during in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 2013; 23:477-87. [PMID: 24172139 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2013.0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To elucidate detailed functional mechanisms of key fate-determining transcription factors (eg, Nurr1, Pitx3, and Lmx1a) and their functional interplay for midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons, we developed highly efficient gain-of-function system by transducing the neural progenitors (NPs) derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with retroviral vectors, allowing the analysis of downstream molecular and cellular effects. Overexpression of each factors, Nurr1, Pitx3, and Lmx1a robustly promoted the dopaminergic differentiation of ESC-NP cells exposed to sonic hedgehog (SHH) and fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8). In addition, each of these factors directly interacts with potential binding sites within the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene and activated its promoter activity. Interestingly, however, overexpression of Nurr1, but not of Pitx3 or Lmx1a, generated a significant number of nonneuronal TH-positive cells. In line with this, Pitx3 and Lmx1a, but not Nurr1, induced expression of the Ngn2 gene, which is critical for neurogenesis. We also observed that Pitx3 directly bound to its potential binding sites within the Ngn2 gene and the pan-neuronal marker β-tubulin III gene, suggesting that Pitx3 contributes to mDA neurogenesis by directly regulating these genes. Taken together, our data demonstrate that key mDA regulators (Nurr1, Pitx3, and Lmx1a) play overlapping as well as distinct roles during neurogenesis and neurotransmitter phenotype determination of mDA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunghoi Hong
- 1 Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School , Belmont, Massachusetts
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Joksimovic M, Awatramani R. Wnt/ -catenin signaling in midbrain dopaminergic neuron specification and neurogenesis. J Mol Cell Biol 2013; 6:27-33. [DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjt043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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Zhao J, Urakawa S, Matsumoto J, Li R, Ishii Y, Sasahara M, Peng Y, Ono T, Nishijo H. Changes in Otx2 and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the superior colliculus in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β knockout mice. Biomed Res Int 2013; 2013:848265. [PMID: 24319691 DOI: 10.1155/2013/848265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC), a relay nucleus in the subcortical visual pathways, is implicated in socioemotional behaviors. Homeoprotein Otx2 and β subunit of receptors of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFR-β) have been suggested to play an important role in development of the visual system and development and maturation of GABAergic neurons. Although PDGFR-β-knockout (KO) mice displayed socio-emotional deficits associated with parvalbumin (PV-)immunoreactive (IR) neurons, their anatomical bases in the SC were unknown. In the present study, Otx2 and PV-immunolabeling in the adult mouse SC were investigated in the PDGFR-β KO mice. Although there were no differences in distribution patterns of Otx2 and PV-IR cells between the wild type and PDGFR-β KO mice, the mean numbers of both of the Otx2- and PV-IR cells were significantly reduced in the PDGFR-β KO mice. Furthermore, average diameters of Otx2- and PV-IR cells were significantly reduced in the PDGFR-β KO mice. These findings suggest that PDGFR-β plays a critical role in the functional development of the SC through its effects on Otx2- and PV-IR cells, provided specific roles of Otx2 protein and PV-IR cells in the development of SC neurons and visual information processing, respectively.
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Abstract
The last decade the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) system has received enormous attention due to its role in regulation of behavior, exemplified by the discovery that increased 5-HT tone in the central nervous system is able to alleviate affective disorders. Here, we review the developmental processes, with a special emphasis on subset specification, leading to the formation of the 5-HT system in the brain. Molecular classification of 5-HT neuronal groups leads to the definition of two independent rostral groups positioned in rhombomere 1 and 2/3 and a caudal group in rhombomere 5-8. In addition, more disperse refinement of these subsets is present as shown by the selective expression of the 5-HT1A autoreceptor, indicating functional diversity between 5-HT subsets. The functional significance of the molecular coding differences is not well known and the molecular basis of described specific connectivity patterns remain to be elucidated. Recent developments in genetic lineage tracing models will provide these data and form a major step-up toward the full understanding of the importance of developmental programming and function of 5-HT neuronal subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marten P Smidt
- Center for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Smits SM, von Oerthel L, Hoekstra EJ, Burbach JPH, Smidt MP. Molecular marker differences relate to developmental position and subsets of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic neurons. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76037. [PMID: 24116087 PMCID: PMC3792114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons located in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) follow a number of stages marked by distinct events. After preparation of the region by signals that provide induction and patterning, several transcription factors have been identified, which are involved in specifying the neuronal fate of these cells. The specific vulnerability of SNc neurons is thought to root in these specific developmental programs. The present study examines the positions of young postmitotic mdDA neurons to relate developmental position to mdDA subset specific markers. MdDA neurons were mapped relative to the neuromeric domains (prosomeres 1-3 (P1-3), midbrain, and hindbrain) as well as the longitudinal subdivisions (floor plate, basal plate, alar plate), as proposed by the prosomeric model. We found that postmitotic mdDA neurons are located mainly in the floorplate domain and very few in slightly more lateral domains. Moreover, mdDA neurons are present along a large proportion of the anterior/posterior axis extending from the midbrain to P3 in the diencephalon. The specific positions relate to some extent to the presence of specific subset markers as Ahd2. In the adult stage more of such subsets specific expressed genes are present and may represent a molecular map defining molecularly distinct groups of mdDA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone M. Smits
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars von Oerthel
- Molecular Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elisa J. Hoekstra
- Molecular Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J. Peter H Burbach
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marten P. Smidt
- Molecular Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Xue L, Cai JY, Ma J, Huang Z, Guo MX, Fu LZ, Shi YB, Li WX. Global expression profiling reveals genetic programs underlying the developmental divergence between mouse and human embryogenesis. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:568. [PMID: 23961710 PMCID: PMC3924405 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mouse has served as an excellent model for studying human development and diseases due to its similarity to human. Advances in transgenic and knockout studies in mouse have dramatically strengthened the use of this model and significantly improved our understanding of gene function during development in the past few decades. More recently, global gene expression analyses have revealed novel features in early embryogenesis up to gastrulation stages and have indeed provided molecular evidence supporting the conservation in early development in human and mouse. On the other hand, little information is known about the gene regulatory networks governing the subsequent organogenesis. Importantly, mouse and human development diverges during organogenesis. For instance, the mouse embryo is born around the end of organogenesis while in human the subsequent fetal period of ongoing growth and maturation of most organs spans more than 2/3 of human embryogenesis. While two recent studies reported the gene expression profiles during human organogenesis, no global gene expression analysis had been done for mouse organogenesis. Results Here we report a detailed analysis of the global gene expression profiles from egg to the end of organogenesis in mouse. Our studies have revealed distinct temporal regulation patterns for genes belonging to different functional (Gene Ontology or GO) categories that support their roles during organogenesis. More importantly, comparative analyses identify both conserved and divergent gene regulation programs in mouse and human organogenesis, with the latter likely responsible for the developmental divergence between the two species, and further suggest a novel developmental strategy during vertebrate evolution. Conclusions We have reported here the first genome-wide gene expression analysis of the entire mouse embryogenesis and compared the transcriptome atlas during mouse and human embryogenesis. Given our earlier observation that genes function in a given process tends to be developmentally co-regulated during organogenesis, our microarray data here should help to identify genes associated with mouse development and/or infer the developmental functions of unknown genes. In addition, our study might be useful for invesgtigating the molecular basis of vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yun-Bo Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P,R China.
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Jiang X, Zhang M, You Y, Liu F. The production of somatostatin interneurons in the olfactory bulb is regulated by the transcription factor sp8. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70049. [PMID: 23894587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatostatin (Som), one of the most concentrated neuropeptides in the brain, is highly expressed in the olfactory bulb (OB). However, the temporal profile by which OB somatostatin-expressing (Som+) interneurons are produced and the molecular mechanisms controlling this profile are totally unknown. In the present study, we found that all the Som+ interneurons in the mouse external plexiform layer (EPL) and the rat glomerular layer (GL) express the transcription factor Sp8.Using the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) birth dating method, combined with immunostaining, we showed that the generation of Som+ interneurons in the mouse and rat OB is confined to the later embryonic and earlier postnatal stages. Within the mouse OB, the production of Som+ interneurons is maximal during late embryogenesis and decreases after birth, whereas the generation of Som+ interneurons is low during embryogenesis and increases gradually after birth in the rat OB. Interestingly, genetic ablation of Sp8 by cre/loxP-based recombination severely reduces the number of Som+ interneurons in the EPL of the mouse OB. Taken together, these results suggest that Sp8 is required for the normal production of Som+ interneurons in the EPL of the mouse OB.
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