The microRNA/TET3/REST axis is required for olfactory globose basal cell proliferation and male behavior

Targeted sonogenetic modulation of GABAergic interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 region in status epilepticus

Rationale: Sonogenetics is an advanced ultrasound-based neurostimulation approach for targeting neurons in specific brain regions. However, the role of sonogenetics in treating status epilepticus (SE) remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasound neurostimulation and MscL-G22S (a mechanosensitive ion channel that mediates Ca2+ influx)-mediated sonogenetics (MG-SOG) in a mouse model of kainic acid (KA)-induced SE. Methods: For MG-SOG, a Cre-dependent AAV expressing MscL-G22S was injected into parvalbumin (PV)-cre and somatostatin (SST)-cre mice to induce the expression of MscL-G22S-EGFP in PV interneurons (PV-INs) and SST interneurons (SST-INs), respectively; mice were stimulated with continuous pulses of ultrasound stimulation during the latency of generalized seizures (GSs), the latency to SE, in SE model mice. We performed calcium fiber photometry, patch-clamp recording, local field potential recording, and SE monitoring to investigate the role of MG-SOG in treating SE. Results: First, we observed obvious neuronal activation in the hippocampal CA1 region in SE model mice. Both excitatory neurons (ENs) and GABAergic interneurons (GABA-INs) in the CA1 region were activated in SE model mice; however, the inhibitory effect of GABA-INs on ENs seemed to be insufficient to reduce EN excitability despite the increased activation of GABA-INs in SE model mice. Thus, we speculated that MG-SOG-induced activation of GABA-INs, mainly SST-INs and PV-INs, in the CA1 region may protect against SE. We found that MG-SOG-mediated PV-IN activation in the CA1 region ameliorated SE and changed SE-related electrophysiological abnormalities in the CA1 region; however, MG-SOG-induced SST-IN activation in the CA1 region did not ameliorate SE. Conclusions: MG-SOG-mediated activation of PV-INs had a positive effect on relieving SE. Our work may promote the development of sonogenetic neurostimulation techniques for treating SE.

The Interplay between Airway Cilia and Coronavirus Infection, Implications for Prevention and Control of Airway Viral Infections

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a class of respiratory viruses with the potential to cause severe respiratory diseases by infecting cells of the upper respiratory tract, bronchial epithelium, and lung. The airway cilia are distributed on the surface of respiratory epithelial cells, forming the first point of contact between the host and the inhaled coronaviruses. The function of the airway cilia is to oscillate and sense, thereby defending against and removing pathogens to maintain the cleanliness and patency of the respiratory tract. Following infection of the respiratory tract, coronaviruses exploit the cilia to invade and replicate in epithelial cells while also damaging the cilia to facilitate the spread and exacerbation of respiratory diseases. It is therefore imperative to investigate the interactions between coronaviruses and respiratory cilia, as well as to elucidate the functional mechanism of respiratory cilia following coronavirus invasion, in order to develop effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of respiratory viral infections. This review commences with an overview of the fundamental characteristics of airway cilia, and then, based on the interplay between airway cilia and coronavirus infection, we propose that ciliary protection and restoration may represent potential therapeutic approaches in emerging and re-emerging coronavirus pandemics.

The role of ciliopathy-associated type 3 adenylyl cyclase in infanticidal behavior in virgin adult male mice

Virgin adult male mice often display killing of alien newborns, defined as infanticide, and this behavior is dependent on olfactory signaling. Olfactory perception is achieved by the main olfactory system (MOS) or vomeronasal system (VNS). Although it has been established that the VNS is crucial for infanticide in male mice, the role of the MOS in infanticide remains unknown. Herein, by producing lesions via ZnSO₄ perfusion and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid stereotactic injection, we demonstrated that the main olfactory epithelium (MOE), anterior olfactory nucleus (AON), or ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is crucial for infanticide in adult males. By using CRISPR-Cas9 coupled with adeno-associated viruses to induce specific knockdown of type 3 adenylyl cyclase (AC3) in these tissues, we further demonstrated that AC3, a ciliopathy-associated protein, in the MOE and the expression of related proteins in the AON or VMH are necessary for infanticidal behavior in virgin adult male mice.

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MOE lesions and knockdown of AC3 in the MOE result in abnormal infanticidal behavior

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The infanticidal behavior of male mice is impaired by lesioning of the AON or VMH

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AC3 knockdown in the AON or VMH affects the infanticidal behavior of male mice

Revisiting the miR-200 Family: A Clan of Five Siblings with Essential Roles in Development and Disease

Over two decades of studies on small noncoding RNA molecules illustrate the significance of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in controlling multiple physiological and pathological functions through post-transcriptional and spatiotemporal gene expression. Among the plethora of miRs that are essential during animal embryonic development, in this review, we elaborate the indispensable role of the miR-200 family (comprising miR-200a, -200b, 200c, -141, and -429) in governing the cellular functions associated with epithelial homeostasis, such as epithelial differentiation and neurogenesis. Additionally, in pathological contexts, miR-200 family members are primarily involved in tumor-suppressive roles, including the reversal of the cancer-associated epithelial–mesenchymal transition dedifferentiation process, and are dysregulated during organ fibrosis. Moreover, recent eminent studies have elucidated the crucial roles of miR-200s in the pathophysiology of multiple neurodegenerative diseases and tissue fibrosis. Lastly, we summarize the key studies that have recognized the potential use of miR-200 members as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers, elaborating the application of these small biomolecules in aiding early cancer detection and intervention.

Loss of miR-29a impairs decidualization of endometrial stromal cells by TET3 mediated demethylation of Col1A1 promoter

A conceptual framework for understanding abnormal endometrial decidualization, with considerable significance for the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal decidualization-related changes in non-receptive endometrium in implantation failure during early pregnancy is very important. Here, we found the expression levels of miR-29a in endometrial tissues were associated with the menstrual phases and pregnancy outcome. Inhibition of miR-29a led to decreased decidualization of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in vitro, whereas Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3) and its potential demethylation target, the collagen type I alpha 1 chain (Col1A1), were restored. The binding capacity of TET3 to the Col1A1 promoter could be enhanced by the inhibition of miR-29a. Finally, deletion of TET3 rescued the inhibitory effect of the miR-29a antagomir on the proliferation of decidualized ESCs in vitro and embryo implantation in vivo. Thus, loss of miR-29a causes implantation failure because of the limitation of ESCs decidualization-related changes in non-receptive endometrium during early pregnancy.

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Loss of miR-29a inhibits decidualization of ESCs

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TET3 demethylates the Col1A1 promoter

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Loss of miR-29a enhances the binding capacity of TET3 to the Col1A1 promoter

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Loss of miR-29a suppresses embryo implantation during early pregnancy in mice

The role of TET proteins in stress-induced neuroepigenetic and behavioural adaptations

Over the past decade, critical, non-redundant roles of the ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of dioxygenase enzymes have been identified in the brain during developmental and postnatal stages. Specifically, TET-mediated active demethylation, involving the iterative oxidation of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and subsequent oxidative derivatives, is dynamically regulated in response to environmental stimuli such as neuronal activity, learning and memory processes, and stressor exposure. Such changes may therefore perpetuate stable and dynamic transcriptional patterns within neuronal populations required for neuroplasticity and behavioural adaptation. In this review, we will highlight recent evidence supporting a role of TET protein function and active demethylation in stress-induced neuroepigenetic and behavioural adaptations. We further explore potential mechanisms by which TET proteins may mediate both the basal and pathological embedding of stressful life experiences within the brain of relevance to stress-related psychiatric disorders.

The microRNA/TET3/REST axis is required for olfactory globose basal cell proliferation and male behavior

In the main olfactory epithelium (MOE), new olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are persistently generated to replace lost neurons throughout an organism's lifespan. This process predominantly depends on the proliferation of globose basal cells (GBCs), the actively dividing stem cells in the MOE. Here, by using CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi coupled with adeno-associated virus (AAV) nose delivery approaches, we demonstrated that knockdown of miR-200b/a in the MOE resulted in supernumerary Mash1-marked GBCs and decreased numbers of differentiated OSNs, accompanied by abrogation of male behaviors. We further showed that in the MOE, miR-200b/a targets the ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase TET3, which cooperates with RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) to exert their functions. Deficiencies including proliferation, differentiation, and behaviors illustrated in miR-200b/a knockdown mice were rescued by suppressing either TET3 or REST. Our work describes a mechanism of coordination of GBC proliferation and differentiation in the MOE and olfactory male behaviors through miR-200/TET3/REST signaling.