1
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Patton MH, Thomas KT, Bayazitov IT, Newman KD, Kurtz NB, Robinson CG, Ramirez CA, Trevisan AJ, Bikoff JB, Peters ST, Pruett-Miller SM, Jiang Y, Schild AB, Nityanandam A, Zakharenko SS. Synaptic plasticity in human thalamocortical assembloids. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.01.578421. [PMID: 38352415 PMCID: PMC10862901 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.01.578421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticities, such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD), tune synaptic efficacy and are essential for learning and memory. Current studies of synaptic plasticity in humans are limited by a lack of adequate human models. Here, we modeled the thalamocortical system by fusing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived thalamic and cortical organoids. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing revealed that most cells in mature thalamic organoids were glutamatergic neurons. When fused to form thalamocortical assembloids, thalamic and cortical organoids formed reciprocal long-range axonal projections and reciprocal synapses detectable by light and electron microscopy, respectively. Using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology and two-photon imaging, we characterized glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Thalamocortical and corticothalamic synapses displayed short-term plasticity analogous to that in animal models. LTP and LTD were reliably induced at both synapses; however, their mechanisms differed from those previously described in rodents. Thus, thalamocortical assembloids provide a model system for exploring synaptic plasticity in human circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary H. Patton
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kristen T. Thomas
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ildar T. Bayazitov
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kyle D. Newman
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Nathaniel B. Kurtz
- Cell and Tissue Imaging Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Camenzind G. Robinson
- Cell and Tissue Imaging Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Cody A. Ramirez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Alexandra J. Trevisan
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jay B. Bikoff
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Samuel T. Peters
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shondra M. Pruett-Miller
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yanbo Jiang
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Andrew B. Schild
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Anjana Nityanandam
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stanislav S. Zakharenko
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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2
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Caglayan E, Ayhan F, Liu Y, Vollmer RM, Oh E, Sherwood CC, Preuss TM, Yi SV, Konopka G. Molecular features driving cellular complexity of human brain evolution. Nature 2023; 620:145-153. [PMID: 37468639 PMCID: PMC11161302 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06338-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Human-specific genomic changes contribute to the unique functionalities of the human brain1-5. The cellular heterogeneity of the human brain6,7 and the complex regulation of gene expression highlight the need to characterize human-specific molecular features at cellular resolution. Here we analysed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing and single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing datasets for human, chimpanzee and rhesus macaque brain tissue from posterior cingulate cortex. We show a human-specific increase of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and a decrease of mature oligodendrocytes across cortical tissues. Human-specific regulatory changes were accelerated in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, and we highlight key biological pathways that may be associated with the proportional changes. We also identify human-specific regulatory changes in neuronal subtypes, which reveal human-specific upregulation of FOXP2 in only two of the neuronal subtypes. We additionally identify hundreds of new human accelerated genomic regions associated with human-specific chromatin accessibility changes. Our data also reveal that FOS::JUN and FOX motifs are enriched in the human-specifically accessible chromatin regions of excitatory neuronal subtypes. Together, our results reveal several new mechanisms underlying the evolutionary innovation of human brain at cell-type resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Caglayan
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Fatma Ayhan
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yuxiang Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rachael M Vollmer
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Emily Oh
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Todd M Preuss
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Soojin V Yi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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3
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Baxter PS, Dando O, Hardingham GE. Differential splicing choices made by neurons and astrocytes and their importance when investigating signal-dependent alternative splicing in neural cells. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1214439. [PMID: 37465362 PMCID: PMC10350517 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1214439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of proteins can be encoded by a single gene via the differential splicing of exons. In neurons this form of alternative splicing can be controlled by activity-dependent calcium signaling, leading to the properties of proteins being altered, including ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors and synaptic cell adhesion molecules. The pre-synaptic cell adhesion molecule Neurexin 1 (Nrxn1) is alternatively spliced at splice-site 4 (SS4) which governs exon 22 inclusion (SS4+) and consequently postsynaptic NMDA receptor responses. Nrxn1 was reported to be subject to a delayed-onset shift in Nrxn1 SS4 splicing resulting in increased exon 22 inclusion, involving epigenetic mechanisms which, if disrupted, reduce memory stability. Exon inclusion at SS4 represented one of hundreds of exons reported to be subject to a genome-wide shift in fractional exon inclusion following membrane depolarization with high extracellular K+ that was delayed in onset. We report that high K+ does not increase the SS4+/SS4- ratio in cortical neurons, but does induce a delayed-onset NMDA receptor-dependent neuronal death. In mixed neuronal/astrocyte cultures this neuronal death results in an increase in the astrocyte: neuron ratio, and a misleading increase in SS4+/SS4- ratio attributable to astrocytes having a far higher SS4+/SS4- ratio than neurons, rather than any change in the neurons themselves. We reassessed the previously reported genome-wide delayed-onset shift in fractional exon inclusion after high K+ exposure. This revealed that the reported changes correlated strongly with differences in exon inclusion level between astrocytes and neurons, and was accompanied by a strong decrease in the ratio of neuron-specific: astrocyte-specific gene expression. As such, these changes can be explained by the neurotoxic nature of the stimulation paradigm, underlining the importance of NMDA receptor blockade when using high K+ depolarizing stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul S. Baxter
- Edinburgh Medical School, UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Owen Dando
- Edinburgh Medical School, UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Giles E. Hardingham
- Edinburgh Medical School, UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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4
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Ghaffari LT, Trotti D, Haeusler AR. Differential response of C9orf72 transcripts following neuronal depolarization. iScience 2023; 26:106959. [PMID: 37332610 PMCID: PMC10272498 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The (G4C2)n nucleotide repeat expansion (NRE) mutation in C9orf72 is the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTD. The biological functions of C9orf72 are becoming understood, but it is unclear if this gene is regulated in a neural-specific manner. Neuronal activity is a crucial modifier of biological processes in health and neurodegenerative disease contexts. Here, we show that prolonged membrane depolarization in healthy human iPSC-cortical neurons leads to a significant downregulation of a transcript variant 3 (V3) of C9orf72, with a concomitant increase in variant 2 (V2), which leads to total C9orf72 RNA transcript levels remaining unchanged. However, the same response is not observed in cortical neurons derived from patients with the C9-NRE mutation. These findings reveal the impact of depolarization on C9orf72 transcripts, and how this response diverges in C9-NRE-carriers, which may have important implications in the underlying unique clinical associations of C9-NRE transcripts and disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla T. Ghaffari
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Aaron R. Haeusler
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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5
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Long-term plasticity of astrocytic phenotypes and their control by neurons in health and disease. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:39-47. [PMID: 36695493 PMCID: PMC10011399 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The brain is a complex organ even when viewed from a cell biological perspective. Neuronal networks are embedded in a dense milieu of diverse and specialised cell types, including several types of vascular, immune, and macroglial cells. To view each cell as a small cog in a highly complex machine is itself an oversimplification. Not only are they functionally coupled to enable the brain to operate, each cell type's functions are themselves influenced by each other, in development, maturity, and also in disease. Astrocytes are a type of macroglia that occupy a significant fraction of the human forebrain. They play a critical role in sustaining functional neuronal circuits across the lifespan through myriad homeostatic functions including the maintenance of redox balance, ionic gradients, neurotransmitter clearance, and bioenergetic support. It is becoming apparent that astrocytes' capacity to carry out these and other neurosupportive roles is not fixed, but is regulated by signals coming from the neurons themselves, both in the healthy brain but also in response to neuron-derived disease pathology. Here, we review mechanisms by which neurons control the properties of astrocytes long term in order to alter their homeostatic capacity both in development and maturity. Our working hypothesis is that these signals are designed to change and maintain the homeostatic capacity of local astrocytes to suit the needs of nearby neurons. Knowledge of the external signals that can control core aspects of a healthy astrocytic phenotype are being uncovered, raising the question as to whether this knowledge can be harnessed to promote astrocyte-mediated neurosupport in brain disorders.
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6
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Vanderhaeghen P, Polleux F. Developmental mechanisms underlying the evolution of human cortical circuits. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:213-232. [PMID: 36792753 PMCID: PMC10064077 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00675-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The brain of modern humans has evolved remarkable computational abilities that enable higher cognitive functions. These capacities are tightly linked to an increase in the size and connectivity of the cerebral cortex, which is thought to have resulted from evolutionary changes in the mechanisms of cortical development. Convergent progress in evolutionary genomics, developmental biology and neuroscience has recently enabled the identification of genomic changes that act as human-specific modifiers of cortical development. These modifiers influence most aspects of corticogenesis, from the timing and complexity of cortical neurogenesis to synaptogenesis and the assembly of cortical circuits. Mutations of human-specific genetic modifiers of corticogenesis have started to be linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, providing evidence for their physiological relevance and suggesting potential relationships between the evolution of the human brain and its sensitivity to specific diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Vanderhaeghen
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Franck Polleux
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Pré D, Wooten AT, Biesmans S, Hinckley S, Zhou H, Sherman SP, Kakad P, Gearhart J, Bang AG. Development of a platform to investigate long-term potentiation in human iPSC-derived neuronal networks. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:2141-2155. [PMID: 35985330 PMCID: PMC9481914 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairment of long-term potentiation (LTP) is a common feature of many pre-clinical models of neurological disorders; however, studies in humans are limited by the inaccessibility of the brain. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provide a unique opportunity to study LTP in disease-specific genetic backgrounds. Here we describe a multi-electrode array (MEA)-based assay to investigate chemically induced LTP (cLTP) across entire networks of hiPSC-derived midbrain dopaminergic (DA) and cortical neuronal populations that lasts for days, allowing studies of the late phases of LTP and enabling detection of associated molecular changes. We show that cLTP on midbrain DA neuronal networks is largely independent of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and partially dependent on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Finally, we describe activity-regulated gene expression induced by cLTP. This cLTP-MEA assay platform will enable phenotype discovery and higher-throughput analyses of synaptic plasticity on hiPSC-derived neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Pré
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Alexander T Wooten
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Steven Biesmans
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sandy Hinckley
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Haowen Zhou
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sean P Sherman
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Priyanka Kakad
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jeffrey Gearhart
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine on Contract to USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA
| | - Anne G Bang
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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8
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Reactive astrocytes acquire neuroprotective as well as deleterious signatures in response to Tau and Aß pathology. Nat Commun 2022; 13:135. [PMID: 35013236 PMCID: PMC8748982 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27702-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) alters astrocytes, but the effect of Aß and Tau pathology is poorly understood. TRAP-seq translatome analysis of astrocytes in APP/PS1 ß-amyloidopathy and MAPTP301S tauopathy mice revealed that only Aß influenced expression of AD risk genes, but both pathologies precociously induced age-dependent changes, and had distinct but overlapping signatures found in human post-mortem AD astrocytes. Both Aß and Tau pathology induced an astrocyte signature involving repression of bioenergetic and translation machinery, and induction of inflammation pathways plus protein degradation/proteostasis genes, the latter enriched in targets of inflammatory mediator Spi1 and stress-activated cytoprotective Nrf2. Astrocyte-specific Nrf2 expression induced a reactive phenotype which recapitulated elements of this proteostasis signature, reduced Aß deposition and phospho-tau accumulation in their respective models, and rescued brain-wide transcriptional deregulation, cellular pathology, neurodegeneration and behavioural/cognitive deficits. Thus, Aß and Tau induce overlapping astrocyte profiles associated with both deleterious and adaptive-protective signals, the latter of which can slow patho-progression.
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9
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Liu Y, Konopka G. An integrative understanding of comparative cognition: lessons from human brain evolution. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:991-1006. [PMID: 32681799 PMCID: PMC7608741 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of animal cognition requires the integration of studies on behavior, electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, development, and genomics. Although studies of comparative cognition are receiving increasing attention from organismal biologists, most current studies focus on the comparison of behaviors and anatomical structures to understand their adaptative values. However, to understand the most potentially complex cognitive program of the human brain a greater synthesis of a multitude of disciplines is needed. In this review, we start with extensive neuroanatomic comparisons between humans and other primates. One likely specialization of the human brain is the expansion of neocortex, especially in regions for high-order cognition (e.g., prefrontal cortex). We then discuss how such an expansion can be linked to heterochrony of the brain developmental program, resulting in a greater number of neurons and enhanced computational capacity. Furthermore, alteration of gene expression in the human brain has been associated with positive selection in DNA sequences of gene regulatory regions. These results not only imply that genes associated with brain development are a major factor in the evolution of cognition, but also that high-quality whole-genome sequencing and gene manipulation techniques are needed for an integrative and functional understanding of comparative cognition in non-model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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10
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Jurisch-Yaksi N, Yaksi E, Kizil C. Radial glia in the zebrafish brain: Functional, structural, and physiological comparison with the mammalian glia. Glia 2020; 68:2451-2470. [PMID: 32476207 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The neuroscience community has witnessed a tremendous expansion of glia research. Glial cells are now on center stage with leading roles in the development, maturation, and physiology of brain circuits. Over the course of evolution, glia have highly diversified and include the radial glia, astroglia or astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells, each having dedicated functions in the brain. The zebrafish, a small teleost fish, is no exception to this and recent evidences point to evolutionarily conserved roles for glia in the development and physiology of its nervous system. Due to its small size, transparency, and genetic amenability, the zebrafish has become an increasingly prominent animal model for brain research. It has enabled the study of neural circuits from individual cells to entire brains, with a precision unmatched in other vertebrate models. Moreover, its high neurogenic and regenerative potential has attracted a lot of attention from the research community focusing on neural stem cells and neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, studies using zebrafish have the potential to provide fundamental insights about brain development and function, and also elucidate neural and molecular mechanisms of neurological diseases. We will discuss here recent discoveries on the diverse roles of radial glia and astroglia in neurogenesis, in modulating neuronal activity and in regulating brain homeostasis at the brain barriers. By comparing insights made in various animal models, particularly mammals and zebrafish, our goal is to highlight the similarities and differences in glia biology among species, which could set new paradigms relevant to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Jurisch-Yaksi
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Emre Yaksi
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Caghan Kizil
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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11
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Hagenston AM, Bading H, Bas-Orth C. Functional Consequences of Calcium-Dependent Synapse-to-Nucleus Communication: Focus on Transcription-Dependent Metabolic Plasticity. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:cshperspect.a035287. [PMID: 31570333 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In the nervous system, calcium signals play a major role in the conversion of synaptic stimuli into transcriptional responses. Signal-regulated gene transcription is fundamental for a range of long-lasting adaptive brain functions that include learning and memory, structural plasticity of neurites and synapses, acquired neuroprotection, chronic pain, and addiction. In this review, we summarize the diverse mechanisms governing calcium-dependent transcriptional regulation associated with central nervous system plasticity. We focus on recent advances in the field of synapse-to-nucleus communication that include studies of the signal-regulated transcriptome in human neurons, identification of novel regulatory mechanisms such as activity-induced DNA double-strand breaks, and the identification of novel forms of activity- and transcription-dependent adaptations, in particular, metabolic plasticity. We summarize the reciprocal interactions between different kinds of neuroadaptations and highlight the emerging role of activity-regulated epigenetic modifiers in gating the inducibility of signal-regulated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Hagenston
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hilmar Bading
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carlos Bas-Orth
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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12
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Qiu J, Dando O, Febery JA, Fowler JH, Chandran S, Hardingham GE. Neuronal Activity and Its Role in Controlling Antioxidant Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21061933. [PMID: 32178355 PMCID: PMC7139385 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21061933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Forebrain neurons have relatively weak intrinsic antioxidant defenses compared to astrocytes, in part due to hypo-expression of Nrf2, an oxidative stress-induced master regulator of antioxidant and detoxification genes. Nevertheless, neurons do possess the capacity to auto-regulate their antioxidant defenses in response to electrical activity. Activity-dependent Ca2+ signals control the expression of several antioxidant genes, boosting redox buffering capacity, thus meeting the elevated antioxidant requirements associated with metabolically expensive electrical activity. These genes include examples which are reported Nrf2 target genes and yet are induced in a Nrf2-independent manner. Here we discuss the implications for Nrf2 hypofunction in neurons and the mechanisms underlying the Nrf2-independent induction of antioxidant genes by electrical activity. A significant proportion of Nrf2 target genes, defined as those genes controlled by Nrf2 in astrocytes, are regulated by activity-dependent Ca2+ signals in human stem cell-derived neurons. We propose that neurons interpret Ca2+ signals in a similar way to other cell types sense redox imbalance, to broadly induce antioxidant and detoxification genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qiu
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; (J.Q.); (O.D.); (S.C.)
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; (J.A.F.); (J.H.F.)
| | - Owen Dando
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; (J.Q.); (O.D.); (S.C.)
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; (J.A.F.); (J.H.F.)
| | - James A. Febery
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; (J.A.F.); (J.H.F.)
| | - Jill H. Fowler
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; (J.A.F.); (J.H.F.)
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; (J.Q.); (O.D.); (S.C.)
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Chancellor’s Building, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Giles E. Hardingham
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; (J.Q.); (O.D.); (S.C.)
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; (J.A.F.); (J.H.F.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Mashkaryan V, Siddiqui T, Popova S, Cosacak MI, Bhattarai P, Brandt K, Govindarajan N, Petzold A, Reinhardt S, Dahl A, Lefort R, Kizil C. Type 1 Interleukin-4 Signaling Obliterates Mouse Astroglia in vivo but Not in vitro. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:114. [PMID: 32181251 PMCID: PMC7057913 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent findings suggest that reduced neurogenesis could be one of the underlying reasons for the exacerbated neuropathology in humans, thus restoring the neural stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis could help to circumvent some pathological aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. We recently identified Interleukin-4/STAT6 signaling as a neuron–glia crosstalk mechanism that enables glial proliferation and neurogenesis in adult zebrafish brain and 3D cultures of human astroglia, which manifest neurogenic properties. In this study, by using single cell sequencing in the APP/PS1dE9 mouse model of AD, we found that IL4 receptor (Il4r) is not expressed in mouse astroglia and IL4 signaling is not active in these cells. We tested whether activating IL4/STAT6 signaling would enhance cell proliferation and neurogenesis in healthy and disease conditions. Lentivirus-mediated expression of IL4R or constitutively active STAT6VT impaired the survival capacity of mouse astroglia in vivo but not in vitro. These results suggest that the adult mouse brain generates a non-permissive environment that dictates a negative effect of IL4 signaling on astroglial survival and neurogenic properties in contrast to zebrafish brains and in vitro mammalian cell cultures. Our findings that IL4R signaling in dentate gyrus (DG) of adult mouse brain impinges on the survival of DG cells implicate an evolutionary mechanism that might underlie the loss of neuroregenerative ability of the brain, which might be utilized for basic and clinical aspects for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Mashkaryan
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tohid Siddiqui
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stanislava Popova
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mehmet Ilyas Cosacak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Prabesh Bhattarai
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brandt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nambirajan Govindarajan
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Petzold
- DRESDEN-Concept Genome Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Susanne Reinhardt
- DRESDEN-Concept Genome Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Dahl
- DRESDEN-Concept Genome Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Roger Lefort
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Caghan Kizil
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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14
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Rienecker KDA, Poston RG, Saha RN. Merits and Limitations of Studying Neuronal Depolarization-Dependent Processes Using Elevated External Potassium. ASN Neuro 2020; 12:1759091420974807. [PMID: 33256465 PMCID: PMC7711227 DOI: 10.1177/1759091420974807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated extracellular potassium chloride is widely used to achieve membrane depolarization of cultured neurons. This technique has illuminated mechanisms of calcium influx through L-type voltage sensitive calcium channels, activity-regulated signaling, downstream transcriptional events, and many other intracellular responses to depolarization. However, there is enormous variability in these treatments, including durations from seconds to days and concentrations from 3mM to 150 mM KCl. Differential effects of these variable protocols on neuronal activity and transcriptional programs are underexplored. Furthermore, potassium chloride treatments in vitro are criticized for being poor representatives of in vivo phenomena and are questioned for their effects on cell viability. In this review, we discuss the intracellular consequences of elevated extracellular potassium chloride treatment in vitro, the variability of such treatments in the literature, the strengths and limitations of this tool, and relevance of these studies to brain functions and dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira D. A. Rienecker
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology,
School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, United
States
| | - Robert G. Poston
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology,
School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, United
States
| | - Ramendra N. Saha
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology,
School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, United
States
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15
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Herculano-Houzel S. Life history changes accompany increased numbers of cortical neurons: A new framework for understanding human brain evolution. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 250:179-216. [PMID: 31703901 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Narratives of human evolution have focused on cortical expansion and increases in brain size relative to body size, but considered that changes in life history, such as in age at sexual maturity and thus the extent of childhood and maternal dependence, or maximal longevity, are evolved features that appeared as consequences of selection for increased brain size, or increased cognitive abilities that decrease mortality rates, or due to selection for grandmotherly contribution to feeding the young. Here I build on my recent finding that slower life histories universally accompany increased numbers of cortical neurons across warm-blooded species to propose a simpler framework for human evolution: that slower development to sexual maturity and increased post-maturity longevity are features that do not require selection, but rather inevitably and immediately accompany evolutionary increases in numbers of cortical neurons, thus fostering human social interactions and cultural and technological evolution as generational overlap increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzana Herculano-Houzel
- Department of Psychology, Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
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16
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Yap EL, Greenberg ME. Activity-Regulated Transcription: Bridging the Gap between Neural Activity and Behavior. Neuron 2019; 100:330-348. [PMID: 30359600 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 322] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gene transcription is the process by which the genetic codes of organisms are read and interpreted as a set of instructions for cells to divide, differentiate, migrate, and mature. As cells function in their respective niches, transcription further allows mature cells to interact dynamically with their external environment while reliably retaining fundamental information about past experiences. In this Review, we provide an overview of the field of activity-dependent transcription in the vertebrate brain and highlight contemporary work that ranges from studies of activity-dependent chromatin modifications to plasticity mechanisms underlying adaptive behaviors. We identify key gaps in knowledge and propose integrated approaches toward a deeper understanding of how activity-dependent transcription promotes the refinement and plasticity of neural circuits for cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ee-Lynn Yap
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michael E Greenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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17
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Denaxa M, Neves G, Rabinowitz A, Kemlo S, Liodis P, Burrone J, Pachnis V. Modulation of Apoptosis Controls Inhibitory Interneuron Number in the Cortex. Cell Rep 2019; 22:1710-1721. [PMID: 29444425 PMCID: PMC6230259 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical networks are composed of excitatory projection neurons and inhibitory interneurons. Finding the right balance between the two is important for controlling overall cortical excitation and network dynamics. However, it is unclear how the correct number of cortical interneurons (CIs) is established in the mammalian forebrain. CIs are generated in excess from basal forebrain progenitors, and their final numbers are adjusted via an intrinsically determined program of apoptosis that takes place during an early postnatal window. Here, we provide evidence that the extent of CI apoptosis during this critical period is plastic and cell-type specific and can be reduced in a cell-autonomous manner by acute increases in neuronal activity. We propose that the physiological state of the emerging neural network controls the activity levels of local CIs to modulate their numbers in a homeostatic manner. Lhx6 is required for survival of CIs generated in the MGE MGE-derived CI loss is compensated for by a decrease in CGE-derived interneuron apoptosis Increases in cortical network activity are correlated with improved CI survival Transient, cell-autonomous depolarization improves the survival of grafted CIs
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Denaxa
- Nervous System Development and Homeostasis Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
| | - Guilherme Neves
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - Adam Rabinowitz
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Sarah Kemlo
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Petros Liodis
- Molecular Neurobiology, National Institute for Medical Research, the Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Juan Burrone
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - Vassilis Pachnis
- Nervous System Development and Homeostasis Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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18
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Pruunsild P, Bading H. Shaping the human brain: evolutionary cis-regulatory plasticity drives changes in synaptic activity-controlled adaptive gene expression. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 59:34-40. [PMID: 31102862 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal activity-induced gene expression programs involved in synaptic structure- and plasticity-related functions are similar in mice and humans, yet bear distinct features. These include gains or losses of activity-responsiveness of certain genes and differences in gene induction profiles. Here, we discuss a possible origin of dissimilarities in activity-regulated transcription between species. We highlight that while synapse-to-nucleus signalling pathways are evolutionarily conserved, cis-regulatory plasticity has been driving species-specific remodelling of the activity-controlled enhancer landscape, thereby affecting gene regulation. In particular, evolutionary rearrangements of transcription factor binding site placements together with potential species-dependent developmental stage- and/or cell type-specific epigenetic and other trans-acting mechanisms are most likely at least in part accountable for between-species diversity in activity-regulated transcription. It is conceivable that cis-regulatory plasticity may have equipped the synaptic activity-driven adaptive gene program in human neurons with unique, species-specific qualities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priit Pruunsild
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hilmar Bading
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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19
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Celikkaya H, Cosacak MI, Papadimitriou C, Popova S, Bhattarai P, Biswas SN, Siddiqui T, Wistorf S, Nevado-Alcalde I, Naumann L, Mashkaryan V, Brandt K, Freudenberg U, Werner C, Kizil C. GATA3 Promotes the Neural Progenitor State but Not Neurogenesis in 3D Traumatic Injury Model of Primary Human Cortical Astrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:23. [PMID: 30809125 PMCID: PMC6380212 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are abundant cell types in the vertebrate central nervous system and can act as neural stem cells in specialized niches where they constitutively generate new neurons. Outside the stem cell niches, however, these glial cells are not neurogenic. Although injuries in the mammalian central nervous system lead to profound proliferation of astrocytes, which cluster at the lesion site to form a gliotic scar, neurogenesis does not take place. Therefore, a plausible regenerative therapeutic option is to coax the endogenous reactive astrocytes to a pre-neurogenic progenitor state and use them as an endogenous reservoir for repair. However, little is known on the mechanisms that promote the neural progenitor state after injuries in humans. Gata3 was previously found to be a mechanism that zebrafish brain uses to injury-dependent induction of neural progenitors. However, the effects of GATA3 in human astrocytes after injury are not known. Therefore, in this report, we investigated how overexpression of GATA3 in primary human astrocytes would affect the neurogenic potential before and after injury in 2D and 3D cultures. We found that primary human astrocytes are unable to induce GATA3 after injury. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of GATA3 significantly increased the number of GFAP/SOX2 double positive astrocytes and expression of pro-neural factor ASCL1, but failed to induce neurogenesis, suggesting that GATA3 is required for enhancing the neurogenic potential of primary human astrocytes and is not sufficient to induce neurogenesis alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilal Celikkaya
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mehmet Ilyas Cosacak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Stanislava Popova
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Prabesh Bhattarai
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Srijeeta Nag Biswas
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tohid Siddiqui
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sabrina Wistorf
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Isabel Nevado-Alcalde
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lisa Naumann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Violeta Mashkaryan
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brandt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Uwe Freudenberg
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Caghan Kizil
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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20
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Zhao X, Bhattacharyya A. Human Models Are Needed for Studying Human Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:829-857. [PMID: 30526865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of animal models of neurological disease has been instrumental in furthering our understanding of neurodevelopment and brain diseases. However, animal models are limited in revealing some of the most fundamental aspects of development, genetics, pathology, and disease mechanisms that are unique to humans. These shortcomings are exaggerated in disorders that affect the brain, where the most significant differences between humans and animal models exist, and could underscore failures in targeted therapeutic interventions in affected individuals. Human pluripotent stem cells have emerged as a much-needed model system for investigating human-specific biology and disease mechanisms. However, questions remain regarding whether these cell-culture-based models are sufficient or even necessary. In this review, we summarize human-specific features of neurodevelopment and the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, present discrepancies between animal models and human diseases, demonstrate how human stem cell models can provide meaningful information, and discuss the challenges that exist in our pursuit to understand distinctively human aspects of neurodevelopment and brain disease. This information argues for a more thoughtful approach to disease modeling through consideration of the valuable features and limitations of each model system, be they human or animal, to mimic disease characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA.
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA.
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21
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Qiu J, Dando O, Baxter PS, Hasel P, Heron S, Simpson TI, Hardingham GE. Mixed-species RNA-seq for elucidation of non-cell-autonomous control of gene transcription. Nat Protoc 2018; 13:2176-2199. [DOI: 10.1038/s41596-018-0029-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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22
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Cellular and Molecular Anatomy of the Human Neuromuscular Junction. Cell Rep 2018; 21:2348-2356. [PMID: 29186674 PMCID: PMC5723673 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) plays a fundamental role in transferring information from lower motor neuron to skeletal muscle to generate movement. It is also an experimentally accessible model synapse routinely studied in animal models to explore fundamental aspects of synaptic form and function. Here, we combined morphological techniques, super-resolution imaging, and proteomic profiling to reveal the detailed cellular and molecular architecture of the human NMJ. Human NMJs were significantly smaller, less complex, and more fragmented than mouse NMJs. In contrast to mice, human NMJs were also remarkably stable across the entire adult lifespan, showing no signs of age-related degeneration or remodeling. Super-resolution imaging and proteomic profiling revealed distinctive distribution of active zone proteins and differential expression of core synaptic proteins and molecular pathways at the human NMJ. Taken together, these findings reveal human-specific cellular and molecular features of the NMJ that distinguish them from comparable synapses in other mammalian species.
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23
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Hardingham GE, Pruunsild P, Greenberg ME, Bading H. Lineage divergence of activity-driven transcription and evolution of cognitive ability. Nat Rev Neurosci 2017; 19:9-15. [PMID: 29167525 DOI: 10.1038/nrn.2017.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Excitation-transcription coupling shapes network formation during brain development and controls neuronal survival, synaptic function and cognitive skills in the adult. New studies have uncovered differences in the transcriptional responses to synaptic activity between humans and mice. These differences are caused both by the emergence of lineage-specific activity-regulated genes and by the acquisition of signal-responsive DNA elements in gene regulatory regions that determine whether a gene can be transcriptionally induced by synaptic activity or alter the extent of its inducibility. Such evolutionary divergence may have contributed to lineage-related advancements in cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giles E Hardingham
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Priit Pruunsild
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael E Greenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Hilmar Bading
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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24
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Pruunsild P, Bengtson CP, Bading H. Networks of Cultured iPSC-Derived Neurons Reveal the Human Synaptic Activity-Regulated Adaptive Gene Program. Cell Rep 2017; 18:122-135. [PMID: 28052243 PMCID: PMC5236011 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term adaptive responses in the brain, such as learning and memory, require synaptic activity-regulated gene expression, which has been thoroughly investigated in rodents. Using human iPSC-derived neuronal networks, we show that the human and the mouse synaptic activity-induced transcriptional programs share many genes and both require Ca2+-regulated synapse-to-nucleus signaling. Species-specific differences include the noncoding RNA genes BRE-AS1 and LINC00473 and the protein-coding gene ZNF331, which are absent in the mouse genome, as well as several human genes whose orthologs are either not induced by activity or are induced with different kinetics in mice. These results indicate that lineage-specific gain of genes and DNA regulatory elements affects the synaptic activity-regulated gene program, providing a mechanism driving the evolution of human cognitive abilities. The repertoire of human activity-induced genes is expanded lineage specifically Temporal expression profiles of many activity-responsive genes are species specific Some human orthologs of mouse genes have gained inducibility by synaptic activity The human HIC1 gene promoter has gained an activity-responsive regulatory element
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Affiliation(s)
- Priit Pruunsild
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, INF 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C Peter Bengtson
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, INF 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hilmar Bading
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, INF 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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