Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-aa supports hair cell survival by regulating mitochondrial function

Cadherin-16 regulates acoustic sensory gating in zebrafish through endocrine signaling

Sensory thresholds enable animals to regulate their behavioral responses to environmental threats. Despite the importance of sensory thresholds for animal behavior and human health, we do not yet have a full appreciation of the underlying molecular-genetic and circuit mechanisms. The larval zebrafish acoustic startle response provides a powerful system to identify molecular mechanisms underlying establishment of sensory thresholds and plasticity of thresholds through mechanisms like habituation. Using this system, we identify Cadherin-16 as a previously undescribed regulator of sensory gating. We demonstrate that Cadherin-16 regulates sensory thresholds via an endocrine organ, the corpuscle of Stannius (CS), which is essential in zebrafish for regulating Ca2+ homeostasis. We further show that Cadherin-16 regulates whole-body calcium and ultimately behavior through the hormone Stanniocalcin 1l (Stc1l), and the IGF-regulatory metalloprotease, Papp-aa. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of the CS through ablation experiments that reveal its role in promoting normal acoustic sensory gating. Together, our results uncover a previously undescribed brain non-autonomous pathway for the regulation of behavior and underscore Ca2+ homeostasis as a critical process underlying sensory gating in vivo.

Cadherin 16 promotes sensory gating via the endocrine corpuscles of Stannius

Sensory thresholds enable animals to regulate their behavioral responses to environmental threats. Despite the importance of sensory thresholds for animal behavior and human health, we do not yet have a full appreciation of the underlying molecular-genetic and circuit mechanisms. The larval zebrafish acoustic startle response provides a powerful system to identify molecular mechanisms underlying establishment of sensory thresholds and plasticity of thresholds through mechanisms like habituation. Using this system, we identify Cadherin 16 as a previously undescribed regulator of sensory gating. We demonstrate that Cadherin 16 regulates sensory thresholds via an endocrine organ, the corpuscle of Stannius (CS), which is essential in zebrafish for regulating Ca2+ homeostasis. We further show that Cadherin 16 regulates whole-body calcium and ultimately behavior through the hormone Stanniocalcin 1L, and the IGF-regulatory metalloprotease, Papp-aa. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of the CS through ablation experiments that reveal its role in promoting normal acoustic sensory gating. Together, our results uncover a previously undescribed brain non-autonomous pathway for the regulation of behavior and establish Ca2+ homeostasis as a critical process underlying sensory gating in vivo.

The Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A (PAPP-A) Story

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) was first identified in the early 1970s as a placental protein of unknown function, present at high concentrations in the circulation of pregnant women. In the mid-to-late 1990s, PAPP-A was discovered to be a metzincin metalloproteinase, expressed by many nonplacental cells, that regulates local insulin-like growth factor (IGF) activity through cleavage of high-affinity IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), in particular IGFBP-4. With PAPP-A as a cell surface-associated enzyme, the reduced affinity of the cleavage fragments results in increased IGF available to bind and activate IGF receptors in the pericellular environment. This proteolytic regulation of IGF activity is important, since the IGFs promote proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival in various normal and cancer cells. Thus, there has been a steady growth in investigation of PAPP-A structure and function outside of pregnancy. This review provides historical perspective on the discovery of PAPP-A and its structure and cellular function, highlights key studies of the first 50 years in PAPP-A research, and introduces new findings from recent years.

In vivo investigation of mitochondria in lateral line afferent neurons and hair cells

To process sensory stimuli, intense energy demands are placed on hair cells and primary afferents. Hair cells must both mechanotransduce and maintain pools of synaptic vesicles for neurotransmission. Furthermore, both hair cells and afferent neurons must continually maintain a polarized membrane to propagate sensory information. These processes are energy demanding and therefore both cell types are critically reliant on mitochondrial health and function for their activity and maintenance. Based on these demands, it is not surprising that deficits in mitochondrial health can negatively impact the auditory and vestibular systems. In this review, we reflect on how mitochondrial function and dysfunction are implicated in hair cell-mediated sensory system biology. Specifically, we focus on live imaging approaches that have been applied to study mitochondria using the zebrafish lateral-line system. We highlight the fluorescent dyes and genetically encoded biosensors that have been used to study mitochondria in lateral-line hair cells and afferent neurons. We then describe the impact this in vivo work has had on the field of mitochondrial biology as well as the relationship between mitochondria and sensory system development, function, and survival. Finally, we delineate the areas in need of further exploration. This includes in vivo analyses of mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis, which will round out our understanding of mitochondrial biology in this sensitive sensory system.

Prolonged Dexamethasone Exposure Enhances Zebrafish Lateral-Line Regeneration But Disrupts Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Hair Cell Function

The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone is commonly used to treat inner ear disorders. Previous work in larval zebrafish has shown that dexamethasone treatment enhances hair cell regeneration, yet dexamethasone has also been shown to inhibit regeneration of peripheral nerves after lesion. We therefore used the zebrafish model to determine the impact of dexamethasone treatment on lateral-line hair cells and primary afferents. To explore dexamethasone in the context of regeneration, we used copper sulfate (CuSO4) to induce hair cell loss and retraction of nerve terminals, and then allowed animals to recover in dexamethasone for 48 h. Consistent with previous work, we observed significantly more regenerated hair cells in dexamethasone-treated larvae. Importantly, we found that the afferent processes beneath neuromasts also regenerated in the presence of dexamethasone and formed an appropriate number of synapses, indicating that innervation of hair cells was not inhibited by dexamethasone. In addition to regeneration, we also explored the effects of prolonged dexamethasone exposure on lateral-line homeostasis and function. Following dexamethasone treatment, we observed hyperpolarized mitochondrial membrane potentials (ΔΨm) in neuromast hair cells and supporting cells. Hair cells exposed to dexamethasone were also more vulnerable to neomycin-induced cell death. In response to a fluid-jet delivered saturating stimulus, calcium influx through hair cell mechanotransduction channels was significantly reduced, yet presynaptic calcium influx was unchanged. Cumulatively, these observations indicate that dexamethasone enhances hair cell regeneration in lateral-line neuromasts, yet also disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis, making hair cells more vulnerable to ototoxic insults and possibly impacting hair cell function.

The influence of metabolic syndrome on age-related hearing loss from the perspective of mitochondrial dysfunction

With the increase in life expectancy in the global population, aging societies have emerged in many countries, including China. As a common sensory defect in the elderly population, the prevalence of age-related hearing loss and its influence on society are increasing yearly. Metabolic syndrome is currently one of the main health problems in the world. Many studies have demonstrated that metabolic syndrome and its components are correlated with a variety of age-related diseases of the peripheral sensory system, including age-related hearing loss. Both age-related hearing loss and metabolic syndrome are high-prevalence chronic diseases, and many people suffer from both at the same time. In recent years, more and more studies have found that mitochondrial dysfunction occurs in both metabolic syndrome and age-related hearing loss. Therefore, to better understand the impact of metabolic syndrome on age-related hearing loss from the perspective of mitochondrial dysfunction, we reviewed the literature related to the relationship between age-related hearing loss and metabolic syndrome and their components to discern the possible role of mitochondria in both conditions.

cacna2d3, a voltage-gated calcium channel subunit, functions in vertebrate habituation learning and the startle sensitivity threshold

BACKGROUND

The ability to filter sensory information into relevant versus irrelevant stimuli is a fundamental, conserved property of the central nervous system and is accomplished in part through habituation learning. Synaptic plasticity that underlies habituation learning has been described at the cellular level, yet the genetic regulators of this plasticity remain poorly understood, as do circuits that mediate sensory filtering.

METHODS

To identify genes critical for plasticity, a forward genetic screen for zebrafish genes that mediate habituation learning was performed, which identified a mutant allele, doryp177, that caused reduced habituation of the acoustic startle response. In this study, we combine whole-genome sequencing with behavioral analyses to characterize and identify the gene affected in doryp177 mutants.

RESULTS

Whole-genome sequencing identified the calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit alpha-2/delta-3 (cacna2d3) as a candidate gene affected in doryp177 mutants. Behavioral characterization of larvae homozygous for two additional, independently derived mutant alleles of cacna2d3, together with failure of these alleles to complement doryp177, confirmed a critical role for cacna2d3 in habituation learning. Notably, detailed analyses of the acoustic response in mutant larvae also revealed increased startle sensitivity to acoustic stimuli, suggesting a broader role for cacna2d3 in controlling innate response thresholds to acoustic stimuli.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our data demonstrate a critical role for cacna2d3 in sensory filtering, a process that is disrupted in human CNS disorders, e.g. ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism.

Genetic common variants associated with cerebellar volume and their overlap with mental disorders: a study on 33,265 individuals from the UK-Biobank

Interest in the cerebellum is expanding given evidence of its contributions to cognition and emotion, and dysfunction in various psychopathologies. However, research into its genetic architecture and shared influences with liability for mental disorders is lacking. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of total cerebellar volume and underlying cerebellar lobe volumes in 33,265 UK-Biobank participants. Total cerebellar volume was heritable (h2SNP = 50.6%), showing moderate genetic homogeneity across lobes (h2SNP from 35.4% to 57.1%; mean genetic correlation between lobes rg ≈ 0.44). We identified 33 GWAS signals associated with total cerebellar volume, of which 6 are known to alter protein-coding gene structure, while a further five mapped to genomic regions known to alter cerebellar tissue gene expression. Use of summary data-based Mendelian randomisation further prioritised genes whose change in expression appears to mediate the SNP-trait association. In total, we highlight 21 unique genes of greatest interest for follow-up analyses. Using LD-regression, we report significant genetic correlations between total cerebellar volume and brainstem, pallidum and thalamus volumes. While the same approach did not result in significant correlations with psychiatric phenotypes, we report enrichment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorder associated signals within total cerebellar GWAS results via conditional and conjunctional-FDR analysis. Via these methods and GWAS catalogue, we identify which of our cerebellar genomic regions also associate with psychiatric traits. Our results provide important insights into the common allele architecture of cerebellar volume and its overlap with other brain volumes and psychiatric phenotypes.

The value of plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 and interleukin-18 in the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants

OBJECTIVE

To explore the diagnostic value of IGF-1 and IL-18 in premature infants with BPD.

METHODS

Through a prospective observational study, the serum samples of infants in the BPD group and the non-BPD group were collected at different targeted time points, and the serum IGF-1 and IL-18 concentrations were dynamically monitored by ELISA. The Student t-test and one-way analysis of variance were adopted to analyze data, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to test the diagnostic value.

RESULT

A total of 90 VLBW premature infants admitted to NICU between January 2020 and 2021 were finally included. Compared with the non-BPD group, infants diagnosed with BPD had a significantly lower serum concentration of IGF-1 (P < 0.05) but a higher level of IL-18 (P < 0.05) on days 1, 7, 14, and 28 after birth. With the ROC curve analysis, the serum concentration IGF-1 on day 14 and IL-18 on day 28 reported high sensitivity and specificity to predict the risk of BPD (IGF-1: sensitivity: 89.29%, specificity: 77.78%, AUC: 0.8710; IL-18: sensitivity: 53.57%, specificity: 83.33%, AUC: 0.7887). And more substantial predictive power was found in combined analysis of IGF-1 and serum IL-18 on day 14: the sensitivity was 91.07% and the specificity was 83.33%, with the AUC of 0.9142.

CONCLUSION

IGF-1 and IL-18 might be closely involved in the occurrence and development of BPD. The serum concentration of IGF-1 combined with IL-18 could be potentially sensitive markers for the early diagnosis and severity of BPD.

Influence of Mpv17 on Hair-Cell Mitochondrial Homeostasis, Synapse Integrity, and Vulnerability to Damage in the Zebrafish Lateral Line

Noise exposure is particularly stressful to hair-cell mitochondria, which must produce enough energy to meet high metabolic demands as well as regulate local intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Mitochondrial Inner Membrane Protein 17 (Mpv17) functions as a non-selective cation channel and plays a role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. In zebrafish, hair cells in mpv17a9/a9 mutants displayed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), elevated mitochondrial calcium, hyperpolarized transmembrane potential, and greater vulnerability to neomycin, indicating impaired mitochondrial function. Using a strong water current to overstimulate hair cells in the zebrafish lateral line, we observed mpv17a9/a9 mutant hair cells were more vulnerable to morphological disruption than wild type (WT) siblings simultaneously exposed to the same stimulus. To determine the role of mitochondrial homeostasis on hair-cell synapse integrity, we surveyed synapse number in mpv17a9/a9 mutants and WT siblings as well as the sizes of presynaptic dense bodies (ribbons) and postsynaptic densities immediately following stimulus exposure. We observed mechanically injured mpv17a9/a9 neuromasts were not more vulnerable to synapse loss; they lost a similar number of synapses per hair cell relative to WT. Additionally, we quantified the size of hair cell pre- and postsynaptic structures following stimulation and observed significantly enlarged WT postsynaptic densities, yet relatively little change in the size of mpv17a9/a9 postsynaptic densities following stimulation. These results suggest chronically impaired hair-cell mitochondrial activity influences postsynaptic size under homeostatic conditions but does not exacerbate synapse loss following mechanical injury.

Loss of vacuolar-type H+-ATPase induces caspase-independent necrosis-like death of hair cells in zebrafish neuromasts

The vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a multi-subunit proton pump that regulates cellular pH. V-ATPase activity modulates several cellular processes, but cell-type-specific functions remain poorly understood. Patients with mutations in specific V-ATPase subunits can develop sensorineural deafness, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that V-ATPase mutations disrupt the formation of zebrafish neuromasts, which serve as a model to investigate hearing loss. V-ATPase mutant neuromasts are small and contain pyknotic nuclei that denote dying cells. Molecular markers and live imaging show that loss of V-ATPase induces mechanosensory hair cells in neuromasts, but not neighboring support cells, to undergo caspase-independent necrosis-like cell death. This is the first demonstration that loss of V-ATPase can lead to necrosis-like cell death in a specific cell type in vivo. Mechanistically, loss of V-ATPase reduces mitochondrial membrane potential in hair cells. Modulating the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which regulates mitochondrial membrane potential, improves hair cell survival. These results have implications for understanding the causes of sensorineural deafness, and more broadly, reveal functions for V-ATPase in promoting survival of a specific cell type in vivo.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-aa regulates endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria associations

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria form close physical associations to facilitate calcium transfer, thereby regulating mitochondrial function. Neurons with high metabolic demands, such as sensory hair cells, are especially dependent on precisely regulated ER-mitochondria associations. We previously showed that the secreted metalloprotease pregnancy-associated plasma protein-aa (Pappaa) regulates mitochondrial function in zebrafish lateral line hair cells (Alassaf et al., 2019). Here, we show that pappaa mutant hair cells exhibit excessive and abnormally close ER-mitochondria associations, suggesting increased ER-mitochondria calcium transfer. pappaa mutant hair cells are more vulnerable to pharmacological induction of ER-calcium transfer. Additionally, pappaa mutant hair cells display ER stress and dysfunctional downstream processes of the ER-mitochondria axis including altered mitochondrial morphology and reduced autophagy. We further show that Pappaa influences ER-calcium transfer and autophagy via its ability to stimulate insulin-like growth factor-1 bioavailability. Together our results identify Pappaa as a novel regulator of the ER-mitochondria axis.

Using the Zebrafish Lateral Line to Understand the Roles of Mitochondria in Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hair cells are the mechanosensory receptors of the inner ear and can be damaged by noise, aging, and ototoxic drugs. This damage often results in permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Hair cells have high energy demands and rely on mitochondria to produce ATP as well as contribute to intracellular calcium homeostasis. In addition to generating ATP, mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species, which can lead to oxidative stress, and regulate cell death pathways. Zebrafish lateral-line hair cells are structurally and functionally analogous to cochlear hair cells but are optically and pharmacologically accessible within an intact specimen, making the zebrafish a good model in which to study hair-cell mitochondrial activity. Moreover, the ease of genetic manipulation of zebrafish embryos allows for the study of mutations implicated in human deafness, as well as the generation of transgenic models to visualize mitochondrial calcium transients and mitochondrial activity in live organisms. Studies of the zebrafish lateral line have shown that variations in mitochondrial activity can predict hair-cell susceptibility to damage by aminoglycosides or noise exposure. In addition, antioxidants have been shown to protect against noise trauma and ototoxic drug–induced hair-cell death. In this review, we discuss the tools and findings of recent investigations into zebrafish hair-cell mitochondria and their involvement in cellular processes, both under homeostatic conditions and in response to noise or ototoxic drugs. The zebrafish lateral line is a valuable model in which to study the roles of mitochondria in hair-cell pathologies and to develop therapeutic strategies to prevent sensorineural hearing loss in humans.

Riding the tiger - physiological and pathological effects of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generated in the mitochondrial matrix

Elevated mitochondrial matrix superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide concentrations drive a wide range of physiological responses and pathologies. Concentrations of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the mitochondrial matrix are set mainly by rates of production, the activities of superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2) and peroxiredoxin-3 (PRDX3), and by diffusion of hydrogen peroxide to the cytosol. These considerations can be used to generate criteria for assessing whether changes in matrix superoxide or hydrogen peroxide are both necessary and sufficient to drive redox signaling and pathology: is a phenotype affected by suppressing superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production; by manipulating the levels of SOD2, PRDX3 or mitochondria-targeted catalase; and by adding mitochondria-targeted SOD/catalase mimetics or mitochondria-targeted antioxidants? Is the pathology associated with variants in SOD2 and PRDX3 genes? Filtering the large literature on mitochondrial redox signaling using these criteria highlights considerable evidence that mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide drive physiological responses involved in cellular stress management, including apoptosis, autophagy, propagation of endoplasmic reticulum stress, cellular senescence, HIF1α signaling, and immune responses. They also affect cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and the cell cycle. Filtering the huge literature on pathologies highlights strong experimental evidence that 30-40 pathologies may be driven by mitochondrial matrix superoxide or hydrogen peroxide. These can be grouped into overlapping and interacting categories: metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurological diseases; cancer; ischemia/reperfusion injury; aging and its diseases; external insults, and genetic diseases. Understanding the involvement of mitochondrial matrix superoxide and hydrogen peroxide concentrations in these diseases can facilitate the rational development of appropriate therapies.

The metalloproteinase Papp-aa controls epithelial cell quiescence-proliferation transition

Human patients carrying PAPP-A2 inactivating mutations have low bone mineral density. The underlying mechanisms for this reduced calcification are poorly understood. Using a zebrafish model, we report that Papp-aa regulates bone calcification by promoting Ca2+-transporting epithelial cell (ionocyte) quiescence-proliferation transition. Ionocytes, which are normally quiescent, re-enter the cell cycle under low [Ca2+] stress. Genetic deletion of Papp-aa, but not the closely related Papp-ab, abolished ionocyte proliferation and reduced calcified bone mass. Loss of Papp-aa expression or activity resulted in diminished IGF1 receptor-Akt-Tor signaling in ionocytes. Under low Ca2+ stress, Papp-aa cleaved Igfbp5a. Under normal conditions, however, Papp-aa proteinase activity was suppressed and IGFs were sequestered in the IGF/Igfbp complex. Pharmacological disruption of the IGF/Igfbp complex or adding free IGF1 activated IGF signaling and promoted ionocyte proliferation. These findings suggest that Papp-aa-mediated local Igfbp5a cleavage functions as a [Ca2+]-regulated molecular switch linking IGF signaling to bone calcification by stimulating epithelial cell quiescence-proliferation transition under low Ca2+ stress.