1
|
Thompson SM. Modulators of GABA A receptor-mediated inhibition in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders: past, present, and future. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:83-95. [PMID: 37709943 PMCID: PMC10700661 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01728-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acts at ionotropic GABAA receptors to counterbalance excitation and regulate neuronal firing. GABAA receptors are heteropentameric channels comprised from subunits derived from 19 different genes. GABAA receptors have one of the richest and well-developed pharmacologies of any therapeutic drug target, including agonists, antagonists, and positive and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs, NAMs). Currently used PAMs include benzodiazepine sedatives and anxiolytics, barbiturates, endogenous and synthetic neurosteroids, and general anesthetics. In this article, I will review evidence that these drugs act at several distinct binding sites and how they can be used to alter the balance between excitation and inhibition. I will also summarize existing literature regarding (1) evidence that changes in GABAergic inhibition play a causative role in major depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and schizophrenia and (2) whether and how GABAergic drugs exert beneficial effects in these conditions, focusing on human studies where possible. Where these classical therapeutics have failed to exert benefits, I will describe recent advances in clinical and preclinical drug development. I will also highlight opportunities to advance a generation of GABAergic therapeutics, such as development of subunit-selective PAMs and NAMs, that are engendering hope for novel tools to treat these devastating conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Thompson
- Center for Novel Therapeutics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12700 E. 19th Ave., Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen M, Koopmans F, Gonzalez-Lozano MA, Smit AB, Li KW. Brain Region Differences in α1- and α5-Subunit-Containing GABA A Receptor Proteomes Revealed with Affinity Purification and Blue Native PAGE Proteomics. Cells 2023; 13:14. [PMID: 38201218 PMCID: PMC10778189 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptors are the major inhibitory receptors in the brain. They are hetero-pentamers with a composition of predominantly two α, two β, and one γ or δ subunit. Of the six α subunit genes, the α5 subunit displays a limited spatial expression pattern and is known to mediate both phasic and tonic inhibition. In this study, using immunoaffinity-based proteomics, we identified the α5 subunit containing receptor complexes in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb. The α1-α5 interaction was identified in both brain regions, albeit with significantly different stoichiometries. In line with this, reverse IPs using anti-α1 antibodies showed the α5-α1 co-occurrence and validated the quantitative difference. In addition, we showed that the association of Neuroligin 2 with α1-containing receptors was much higher in the olfactory bulb than in the hippocampus, which was confirmed using blue native gel electrophoresis and quantitative mass spectrometry. Finally, immunocytochemical staining revealed a co-localization of α1 and α5 subunits in the post-synaptic puncta in the hippocampus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ka Wan Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (M.C.); (M.A.G.-L.); (A.B.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rivera J, Sharma B, Torres MM, Kumar S. Factors affecting the GABAergic synapse function in Alzheimer's disease: Focus on microRNAs. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102123. [PMID: 37967653 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disease characterized by the loss of cognitive function, confusion, and memory deficit. Accumulation of abnormal proteins, amyloid beta (Aß), and phosphorylated Tau (p-tau) forms plaques and tangles that deteriorate synapse function, resulting in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in AD. The human brain is composed of different types of neurons and/or synapses that are functionally defective in AD. The GABAergic synapse, the most abundant inhibitory neuron in the human brain was found to be dysfunctional in AD and contributes to disrupting neurological function. This study explored the types of GABA receptors associated with neurological dysfunction and various biological and environmental factors that cause GABAergic neuron dysfunction in AD, such as Aβ, p-tau, aging, sex, astrocytes, microglia, APOE, mental disorder, diet, physical activity, and sleep. Furthermore, we explored the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of GABAergic synapse function in neurological disorders and AD states. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying GABAergic synapse dysfunction with a focus on miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-190a/b, miR-33, miR-51, miR-129-5p, miR-376-3p, miR-376c, miR-30b and miR-502-3p. The purpose of our article is to highlight the recent research on miRNAs affecting the regulation of GABAergic synapse function and factors that contribute to the progression of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Rivera
- Center of Emphasis in Neuroscience, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Bhupender Sharma
- Center of Emphasis in Neuroscience, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Melissa M Torres
- Center of Emphasis in Neuroscience, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Subodh Kumar
- Center of Emphasis in Neuroscience, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA; L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen M, Koopmans F, Paliukhovich I, van der Spek SJF, Dong J, Smit AB, Li KW. Blue Native PAGE-Antibody Shift in Conjunction with Mass Spectrometry to Reveal Protein Subcomplexes: Detection of a Cerebellar α1/α6-Subunits Containing γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor Subtype. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087632. [PMID: 37108794 PMCID: PMC10143440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The pentameric γ-Aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) are ligand-gated ion channels that mediate the majority of inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain. In the cerebellum, the two main receptor subtypes are the 2α1/2β/γ and 2α6/2β/δ subunits. In the present study, an interaction proteomics workflow was used to reveal additional subtypes that contain both α1 and α6 subunits. Immunoprecipitation of the α6 subunit from mouse brain cerebellar extract co-purified the α1 subunit. In line with this, pre-incubation of the cerebellar extract with anti-α6 antibodies and analysis by blue native gel electrophoresis mass-shifted part of the α1 complexes, indicative of the existence of an α1α6-containing receptor. Subsequent mass spectrometry of the blue native gel showed the α1α6-containing receptor subtype to exist in two main forms, i.e., with or without Neuroligin-2. Immunocytochemistry on a cerebellar granule cell culture revealed co-localization of α6 and α1 in post-synaptic puncta that apposed the presynaptic marker protein Vesicular GABA transporter, indicative of the presence of this synaptic GABAAR subtype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Koopmans
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iryna Paliukhovich
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie J F van der Spek
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jian Dong
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - August B Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ka Wan Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ulanov M, Shtyrov Y. Oscillatory beta/alpha band modulations: A potential biomarker of functional language and motor recovery in chronic stroke? Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:940845. [PMID: 36226263 PMCID: PMC9549964 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.940845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of various disabilities, including debilitating motor and language impairments. Though various treatments exist, post-stroke impairments frequently become chronic, dramatically reducing daily life quality, and requiring specific rehabilitation. A critical goal of chronic stroke rehabilitation is to induce, usually through behavioral training, experience-dependent plasticity processes in order to promote functional recovery. However, the efficiency of such interventions is typically modest, and very little is known regarding the neural dynamics underpinning recovery processes and possible biomarkers of their efficiency. Some studies have emphasized specific alterations of excitatory–inhibitory balance within distributed neural networks as an important recovery correlate. Neural processes sensitive to these alterations, such as task-dependent oscillatory activity in beta as well as alpha bands, may be candidate biomarkers of chronic stroke functional recovery. In this review, we discuss the results of studies on motor and language recovery with a focus on oscillatory processes centered around the beta band and their modulations during functional recovery in chronic stroke. The discussion is based on a framework where task-dependent modulations of beta and alpha oscillatory activity, generated by the deep cortical excitatory–inhibitory microcircuits, serve as a neural mechanism of domain-general top-down control processes. We discuss the findings, their limitations, and possible directions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Ulanov
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Maxim Ulanov,
| | - Yury Shtyrov
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rizavi HS, Chase KA, Liu C, Gavin H, Rosen C, Xia C, Guidotti A, Sharma RP. Differential H3K9me2 heterochromatin levels and concordant mRNA expression in postmortem brain tissue of individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar, and controls. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1006109. [PMID: 36386965 PMCID: PMC9644155 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1006109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of repressive and durable chromatin assemblies along gene promoters or networks, especially in the brain, is of theoretical and therapeutic relevance in a subset of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience a chronic, persistent, and treatment-resistant trajectory. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-Seq) to generate an epigenomic map that includes differential sites occupied by di-methylated lysine 9 of histone 3 (H3K9me2), a repressive modification that is yet unexplored in human postmortem brain tissue. We have discovered over 150 significantly differential promoter sites in the postmortem prefrontal cortex tissue of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 15) when compared to controls (n = 15). Potentially dysregulated gene categories include postsynaptic proteins, processing enzymes (for proproteins, lipids, and oxidative stress), cadherin family genes, the complement system, and peptide hormones. Ten genes with significantly increased or decreased H3K9me2 promoter occupation were selected through statistical analysis, function, or previous GWAS association, and Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed on an extended sample of postmortem brain tissue, adding an additional 17 controls, 7 individuals with schizophrenia, and 19 individuals with bipolar samples (n = 32 control, 22 schizophrenia, 19 bipolar). This approach revealed that mRNA expression levels correlated with chromatin modification levels in eight of 10 selected genes, and mRNA expression in the total sample could be predicted by the occupancy of H3K9me2. Utilization of this method and replication in a larger sample open a pathway to durable and restrictive epigenomic assemblies whose accumulation across the lifespan of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia may explain treatment resistance, and advance therapeutic options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hooriyah S Rizavi
- Department of Psychiatry, The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kayla A Chase
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Hannah Gavin
- Department of Psychiatry, The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Cherise Rosen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Cuihua Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Alessandro Guidotti
- Department of Psychiatry, The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rajiv P Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Park J, Khan S, Yun DH, Ku T, Villa KL, Lee JE, Zhang Q, Park J, Feng G, Nedivi E, Chung K. Epitope-preserving magnified analysis of proteome (eMAP). Sci Adv 2021; 7:eabf6589. [PMID: 34767453 PMCID: PMC8589305 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf6589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic tissue-hydrogel methods have enabled superresolution investigation of biological systems using diffraction-limited microscopy. However, chemical modification by fixatives can cause loss of antigenicity, limiting molecular interrogation of the tissue gel. Here, we present epitope-preserving magnified analysis of proteome (eMAP) that uses purely physical tissue-gel hybridization to minimize the loss of antigenicity while allowing permanent anchoring of biomolecules. We achieved success rates of 96% and 94% with synaptic antibodies for mouse and marmoset brains, respectively. Maximal preservation of antigenicity allows imaging of nanoscopic architectures in 1000-fold expanded tissues without additional signal amplification. eMAP-processed tissue gel can endure repeated staining and destaining without epitope loss or structural damage, enabling highly multiplexed proteomic analysis. We demonstrated the utility of eMAP as a nanoscopic proteomic interrogation tool by investigating molecular heterogeneity in inhibitory synapses in the mouse brain neocortex and characterizing the spatial distributions of synaptic proteins within synapses in mouse and marmoset brains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joha Park
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sarim Khan
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Dae Hee Yun
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Taeyun Ku
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Katherine L. Villa
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jiachen E. Lee
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Qiangge Zhang
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Juhyuk Park
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Guoping Feng
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elly Nedivi
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kwanghun Chung
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sallard E, Letourneur D, Legendre P. Electrophysiology of ionotropic GABA receptors. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5341-70. [PMID: 34061215 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03846-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/30/2022]
Abstract
GABAA receptors are ligand-gated chloride channels and ionotropic receptors of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in vertebrates. In this review, we discuss the major and diverse roles GABAA receptors play in the regulation of neuronal communication and the functioning of the brain. GABAA receptors have complex electrophysiological properties that enable them to mediate different types of currents such as phasic and tonic inhibitory currents. Their activity is finely regulated by membrane voltage, phosphorylation and several ions. GABAA receptors are pentameric and are assembled from a diverse set of subunits. They are subdivided into numerous subtypes, which differ widely in expression patterns, distribution and electrical activity. Substantial variations in macroscopic neural behavior can emerge from minor differences in structure and molecular activity between subtypes. Therefore, the diversity of GABAA receptors widens the neuronal repertoire of responses to external signals and contributes to shaping the electrical activity of neurons and other cell types.
Collapse
|
9
|
Wagner S, Lee C, Rojas L, Specht CG, Rhee J, Brose N, Papadopoulos T. The α3 subunit of GABA A receptors promotes formation of inhibitory synapses in the absence of collybistin. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100709. [PMID: 33901490 PMCID: PMC8141935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Signaling at nerve cell synapses is a key determinant of proper brain function, and synaptic defects—or synaptopathies—are at the basis of many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Collybistin (CB), a brain-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is essential for the formation of γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) postsynapses in defined regions of the mammalian forebrain, including the hippocampus and basolateral amygdala. This process depends on a direct interaction of CB with the scaffolding protein gephyrin, which leads to the redistribution of gephyrin into submembranous clusters at nascent inhibitory synapses. Strikingly, synaptic clustering of gephyrin and GABAA type A receptors (GABAARs) in several brain regions, including the cerebral cortex and certain thalamic areas, is unperturbed in CB-deficient mice, indicating that the formation of a substantial subset of inhibitory postsynapses must be controlled by gephyrin-interacting proteins other than CB. Previous studies indicated that the α3 subunit of GABAARs (GABAAR-α3) binds directly and with high affinity to gephyrin. Here, we provide evidence (i) that a homooligomeric GABAAR-α3A343W mutant induces the formation of submembranous gephyrin clusters independently of CB in COS-7 cells, (ii) that gephyrin clustering is unaltered in the neuronal subpopulations endogenously expressing the GABAAR-α3 in CB-deficient brains, and (iii) that exogenous expression of GABAAR-α3 partially rescues impaired gephyrin clustering in CB-deficient hippocampal neurons. Our results identify an important role of GABAAR-α3 in promoting gephyrin-mediated and CB-independent formation of inhibitory postsynapses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sven Wagner
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - ChoongKu Lee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lucia Rojas
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian G Specht
- Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System (DHNS), Inserm U1195, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - JeongSeop Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Serratto GM, Pizzi E, Murru L, Mazzoleni S, Pelucchi S, Marcello E, Mazzanti M, Passafaro M, Bassani S. The Epilepsy-Related Protein PCDH19 Regulates Tonic Inhibition, GABA AR Kinetics, and the Intrinsic Excitability of Hippocampal Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:5336-5351. [PMID: 32880860 PMCID: PMC7541378 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02099-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PCDH19 encodes for protocadherin-19 (PCDH19), a cell-adhesion molecule of the cadherin superfamily preferentially expressed in the brain. PCDH19 mutations cause a neurodevelopmental syndrome named epileptic encephalopathy, early infantile, 9 (EIEE9) characterized by seizures associated with cognitive and behavioral deficits. We recently reported that PCDH19 binds the alpha subunits of GABAA receptors (GABAARs), modulating their surface availability and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). Here, we investigated whether PCDH19 regulatory function on GABAARs extends to the extrasynaptic receptor pool that mediates tonic current. In fact, the latter shapes neuronal excitability and network properties at the base of information processing. By combining patch-clamp recordings in whole-cell and cell-attached configurations, we provided a functional characterization of primary hippocampal neurons from embryonic rats of either sex expressing a specific PCDH19 short hairpin (sh)RNA. We first demonstrated that PCDH19 downregulation reduces GABAAR-mediated tonic current, evaluated by current shift and baseline noise analysis. Next, by single-channel recordings, we showed that PCDH19 regulates GABAARs kinetics without altering their conductance. In particular, GABAARs of shRNA-expressing neurons preferentially exhibit brief openings at the expense of long ones, thus displaying a flickering behavior. Finally, we showed that PCDH19 downregulation reduces the rheobase and increases the frequency of action potential firing, thus indicating neuronal hyperexcitability. These findings establish PCDH19 as a critical determinant of GABAAR-mediated tonic transmission and GABAARs gating, and provide the first mechanistic insights into PCDH19-related hyperexcitability and comorbidities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika Pizzi
- Department of Bioscience, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Murru
- Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, 20129, Milan, Italy.,NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Mazzoleni
- Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, 20129, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Pelucchi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Marcello
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Mazzanti
- Department of Bioscience, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Passafaro
- Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, 20129, Milan, Italy.,NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Bassani
- Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, 20129, Milan, Italy. .,NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
The efficient targeting of ionotropic receptors to postsynaptic sites is essential for the function of chemical excitatory and inhibitory synapses, constituting the majority of synapses in the brain. A growing body of evidence indicates that cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), which accumulate at synapses at the earliest stages of synaptogenesis, are critical for this process. A diverse variety of CAMs assemble into complexes with glutamate and GABA receptors and regulate the targeting of these receptors to the cell surface and synapses. Presynaptically localized CAMs provide an additional level of regulation, sending a trans-synaptic signal that can regulate synaptic strength at the level of receptor trafficking. Apart from controlling the numbers of receptors present at postsynaptic sites, CAMs can also influence synaptic strength by modulating the conductivity of single receptor channels. CAMs thus act to maintain basal synaptic transmission and are essential for many forms of activity dependent synaptic plasticity. These activities of CAMs may underlie the association between CAM gene mutations and synaptic pathology and represent fundamental mechanisms by which synaptic strength is dynamically tuned at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Keable
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Iryna Leshchyns'ka
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vladimir Sytnyk
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Taliani S, Da Settimo F, Martini C, Laneri S, Novellino E, Greco G. Exploiting the Indole Scaffold to Design Compounds Binding to Different Pharmacological Targets. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25102331. [PMID: 32429433 PMCID: PMC7287756 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25102331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Several indole derivatives have been disclosed by our research groups that have been collaborating for nearly 25 years. The results of our investigations led to a variety of molecules binding selectively to different pharmacological targets, specifically the type A γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) chloride channel, the translocator protein (TSPO), the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein, the A2B adenosine receptor (A2B AR) and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Herein, we describe how these works were conceived and carried out thanks to the versatility of indole nucleus to be exploited in the design and synthesis of drug-like molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Taliani
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano, 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.D.S.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (G.G.); Tel.: +39-050-2219547 (S.T.); +39-081-678645 (G.G.)
| | - Federico Da Settimo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano, 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.D.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Claudia Martini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano, 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.D.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Sonia Laneri
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Giovanni Greco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.L.); (E.N.)
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (G.G.); Tel.: +39-050-2219547 (S.T.); +39-081-678645 (G.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Yi Z, Waseem Ghani M, Ghani H, Jiang W, Waseem Birmani M, Ye L, Bin L, Cun LG, Lilong A, Mei X. Gimmicks of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in pancreatic β-cell regeneration through transdifferentiation of pancreatic α- to β-cells. Cell Biol Int 2020; 44:926-936. [PMID: 31903671 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In vivo regeneration of lost or dysfunctional islet β cells can fulfill the promise of improved therapy for diabetic patients. To achieve this, many mitogenic factors have been attempted, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA remarkably affects pancreatic islet cells' (α cells and β cells) function through paracrine and/or autocrine binding to its membrane receptors on these cells. GABA has also been studied for promoting the transformation of α cells to β cells. Nonetheless, the gimmickry of GABA-induced α-cell transformation to β cells has two different perspectives. On the one hand, GABA was found to induce α-cell transformation to β cells in vivo and insulin-secreting β-like cells in vitro. On the other hand, GABA treatment showed that it has no α- to β-cell transformation response. Here, we will summarize the physiological effects of GABA on pancreatic islet β cells with an emphasis on its regenerative effects for transdifferentiation of islet α cells to β cells. We will also critically discuss the controversial results about GABA-mediated transdifferentiation of α cells to β cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Yi
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.,Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Agricultural Collage, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Muhammad Waseem Ghani
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.,Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Agricultural Collage, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Hammad Ghani
- Nawaz Sharif Medical College, University of Gujrat, Punjab, 50180, Pakistan
| | - Wu Jiang
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.,Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Agricultural Collage, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Muhammad Waseem Birmani
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Li Ye
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.,Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Agricultural Collage, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Liu Bin
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.,Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Agricultural Collage, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Lang Guan Cun
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.,Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Agricultural Collage, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - An Lilong
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Xiao Mei
- Department of Animal Science and Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.,Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Agricultural Collage, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lu X, Yang Y, Zhou R, Li Y, Yang Y, Wang X. Protrudin modulates seizure activity through GABA A receptor regulation. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:897. [PMID: 31772151 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-2118-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a serious neurological disease characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The exact etiology of epilepsy is not fully understood. Protrudin is a neural membrane protein and is found to be mutated in hereditary spastic paraplegia that characterized by symptoms like seizures. Here, we reported that the expression of protrudin was downregulated in the temporal neocortex of epileptic patients and in the hippocampus and cortex of pentylenetetrazol and kainic acid-kindled epileptic mouse models. Behavioral and electroencephalogram analyses indicated that overexpression of protrudin in the mouse hippocampus increased the latency of the seizure and decreased the frequency and duration of seizure activity. Using whole-cell patch clamp, overexpression of protrudin in the mouse hippocampus resulted in a reduction in action potential frequency and an increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inhibitory current amplitude. Moreover, western blot analysis showed that the membrane expression of the GABA A receptor β2/3 subunit was also upregulated after protrudin overexpression, and coimmunoprecipitation resulted in a protein–protein interaction between protrudin, GABAARβ2/3 and GABA receptor-associated protein in the hippocampus of epileptic mice. These findings suggest that protrudin probably inhibits the occurrence and development of epilepsy through the regulation of GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, and protrudin might be a promising target for the treatment of epilepsy.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sun MY, Ziolkowski L, Lambert P, Shu HJ, Keiser M, Rensing N, Warikoo N, Martinek M, Platnick C, Benz A, Bracamontes J, Akk G, Steinbach JH, Zorumski CF, Wong M, Mennerick S. Mild chronic perturbation of inhibition severely alters hippocampal function. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16431. [PMID: 31712706 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52851-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentameric GABAA receptors mediate a large share of CNS inhibition. The γ2 subunit is a typical constituent. At least 11 mutations in the γ2 subunit cause human epilepsies, making the role of γ2-containing receptors in brain function of keen basic and translational interest. How small changes to inhibition may cause brain abnormalities, including seizure disorders, is unclear. In mice, we perturbed fast inhibition with a point mutation T272Y (T6′Y in the second membrane-spanning domain) to the γ2 subunit. The mutation imparts resistance to the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin, allowing verification of mutant subunit incorporation. We confirmed picrotoxin resistance and biophysical properties in recombinant receptors. T6′Y γ2-containing receptors also exhibited faster deactivation but unaltered steady-state properties. Adult T6′Y knockin mice exhibited myoclonic seizures and abnormal cortical EEG, including abnormal hippocampal-associated theta oscillations. In hippocampal slices, picrotoxin-insensitive inhibitory synaptic currents exhibited fast decay. Excitatory/inhibitory balance was elevated by an amount expected from the IPSC alteration. Partial pharmacological correction of γ2-mediated IPSCs with diazepam restored total EEG power toward baseline, but had little effect on the abnormal low-frequency peak in the EEG. The results suggest that at least part of the abnormality in brain function arises from the acute effects of truncated inhibition.
Collapse
|
16
|
Roberts AJ, Khom S, Bajo M, Vlkolinsky R, Polis I, Cates-Gatto C, Roberto M, Gruol DL. Increased IL-6 expression in astrocytes is associated with emotionality, alterations in central amygdala GABAergic transmission, and excitability during alcohol withdrawal. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 82:188-202. [PMID: 31437534 PMCID: PMC6800653 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.08.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence from preclinical and clinical studies has implicated a role for the cytokine IL-6 in a variety of CNS diseases including anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors, as well as alcohol use disorder. Here we use homozygous and heterozygous transgenic mice expressing elevated levels of IL-6 in the CNS due to increased astrocyte expression and non-transgenic littermates to examine a role for astrocyte-produced IL-6 in emotionality (response to novelty, anxiety-like, and depressive-like behaviors). Our results from homozygous IL-6 mice in a variety of behavioral tests (light/dark transfer, open field, digging, tail suspension, and forced swim tests) support a role for IL-6 in stress-coping behaviors. Ex vivo electrophysiological studies of neuronal excitability and inhibitory GABAergic synaptic transmission in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) of the homozygous transgenic mice revealed increased inhibitory GABAergic signaling and increased excitability of CeA neurons, suggesting a role for astrocyte produced IL-6 in the amygdala in exploratory drive and depressive-like behavior. Furthermore, studies in the hippocampus of activation/expression of proteins associated with IL-6 signal transduction and inhibitory GABAergic mechanisms support a role for astrocyte produced IL-6 in depressive-like behaviors. Our studies indicate a complex and dose-dependent relationship between IL-6 and behavior and implicate IL-6 induced neuroadaptive changes in neuronal excitability and the inhibitory GABAergic system as important contributors to altered behavior associated with IL-6 expression in the CNS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J. Roberts
- Animal Models Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A
| | - Sophia Khom
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A
| | - Michal Bajo
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A
| | - Roman Vlkolinsky
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A
| | - Ilham Polis
- Animal Models Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A
| | - Chelsea Cates-Gatto
- Animal Models Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A
| | - Donna L. Gruol
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 U.S.A,Corresponding Author: Dr. Donna L. Gruol, Neuroscience Department, SP30-1522, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, Phone: (858) 784-7060, Fax: (858) 784-7393,
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wang Q, Ren L, Wan Y, Prud'homme GJ. GABAergic regulation of pancreatic islet cells: Physiology and antidiabetic effects. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:14432-14444. [PMID: 30693506 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes occurs when pancreatic β-cell death exceeds β-cell growth, which leads to loss of β-cell mass. An effective therapy must have two actions: promotion of β-cell replication and suppression of β-cell death. Previous studies have established an important role for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in islet-cell hormone homeostasis, as well as the maintenance of the β-cell mass. GABA exerts paracrine actions on α cells in suppressing glucagon secretion, and it has autocrine actions on β cells that increase insulin secretion. Multiple studies have shown that GABA increases the mitotic rate of β cells. In mice, following β-cell depletion with streptozotocin, GABA therapy can restore the β-cell mass. Enhanced β-cell replication appears to depend on growth and survival pathways involving Akt activation. Some studies have also suggested that it induces transdifferentiation of α cells into β cells, but this has been disputed and requires further investigation. In addition to proliferative effects, GABA protects β cells against injury and markedly reduces their apoptosis under a variety of conditions. The antiapoptotic effects depend at least in part on the enhancement of sirtuin-1 and Klotho activity, which both inhibit activation of the NF-κB inflammatory pathway. Importantly, in xenotransplanted human islets, GABA therapy stimulates β-cell replication and insulin secretion. Thus, the intraislet GABAergic system is a target for the amelioration of diabetes therapy, including β-cell survival and regeneration. GABA (or GABAergic drugs) can be combined with other antidiabetic drugs for greater effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Liwei Ren
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Wan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gerald J Prud'homme
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Green MV, Thayer SA. HIV gp120 upregulates tonic inhibition through α5-containing GABA ARs. Neuropharmacology 2019; 149:161-168. [PMID: 30797029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
HIV-Associated Neurocognitive disorder (HAND) affects nearly half of infected patients. The HIV envelope protein gp120 is shed by infected cells and is a potent neurotoxin in vitro that reproduces many aspects of HAND when expressed in vivo. Here, we show that HIV gp120 increases the amplitude of a tonic current mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid type-A receptors (GABAARs). Treating rat hippocampal cultures with 600 pM gp120IIIB for 4 h increased a tonic bicuculline-sensitive current, which remained elevated for 24 h. The increased current resulted from upregulation of extrasynaptic α5-containing GABAARs, as indicated by inhibition with the selective inverse agonist basmisanil. Treatment with gp120 increased α5-GABAAR immunoreactivity on the cell surface without new protein synthesis. The increase in tonic inhibition was prevented by a C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) antagonist or elimination of microglia from the culture. Treatment with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) increased the tonic current and an IL-1 receptor antagonist blocked the gp120-evoked response. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) prevented the gp120-evoked increase in tonic current and direct activation of a mutant form of p38 MAPK expressed in neurons increased the current. Collectively, these data show that gp120 activates CXCR4 to stimulate microglia to release IL-1β. Subsequent stimulation of IL-1 receptors activates p38 MAPK in neurons leading to the upregulation of α5-containing GABAARs. Increased tonic inhibition impairs neuroplasticity and inhibition of α5-containing GABAARs improves cognitive function in disease models. Thus, gp120-induced upregulation of α5-containing GABAARs presents a novel therapeutic target for HAND.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew V Green
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Stanley A Thayer
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gruol DL, Huitron-Resendiz S, Roberts AJ. Altered brain activity during withdrawal from chronic alcohol is associated with changes in IL-6 signal transduction and GABAergic mechanisms in transgenic mice with increased astrocyte expression of IL-6. Neuropharmacology 2018; 138:32-46. [PMID: 29787738 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important neuroimmune factor that is increased in the brain by alcohol exposure/withdrawal and is thought to play a role in the actions of alcohol on the brain. To gain insight into IL-6/alcohol/withdrawal interactions and how these interactions affect the brain, we are studying the effects of chronic binge alcohol exposure on transgenic mice that express elevated levels of IL-6 in the brain due to increased astrocyte expression (IL-6 tg) and their non-transgenic (non-tg) littermate controls. IL-6/alcohol/withdrawal interactions were identified by genotypic differences in spontaneous brain activity in electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from the mice, and by Western blot analysis of protein activation or expression in hippocampus obtained from the mice after the final alcohol withdrawal period. Results from EEG studies showed frequency dependent genotypic differences in brain activity during withdrawal. For EEG frequencies that were affected by alcohol exposure/withdrawal in both genotypes, the nature of the effect was similar, but differed across withdrawal cycles. Differences between IL-6 tg and non-tg mice were also observed in Western blot studies of the activated form of STAT3 (phosphoSTAT3), a signal transduction partner of IL-6, and subunits of GABAA receptors (GABAAR). Regression analysis revealed that pSTAT3 played a more prominent role during withdrawal in the IL-6 tg mice than in the non-tg mice, and that the role of GABAAR alpha-5 and GABAAR alpha-1 in brain activity varied across genotype and withdrawal. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-6 can significantly impact mechanisms involved in alcohol withdrawal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donna L Gruol
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | | | - Amanda J Roberts
- Animal Models Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ali Rodriguez R, Joya C, Hines RM. Common Ribs of Inhibitory Synaptic Dysfunction in the Umbrella of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:132. [PMID: 29740280 PMCID: PMC5928253 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The term neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is an umbrella term used to group together a heterogeneous class of disorders characterized by disruption in cognition, emotion, and behavior, early in the developmental timescale. These disorders are heterogeneous, yet they share common behavioral symptomatology as well as overlapping genetic contributors, including proteins involved in the formation, specialization, and function of synaptic connections. Advances may arise from bridging the current knowledge on synapse related factors indicated from both human studies in NDD populations, and in animal models. Mounting evidence has shown a link to inhibitory synapse formation, specialization, and function among Autism, Angelman, Rett and Dravet syndromes. Inhibitory signaling is diverse, with numerous subtypes of inhibitory interneurons, phasic and tonic modes of inhibition, and the molecular and subcellular diversity of GABAA receptors. We discuss common ribs of inhibitory synapse dysfunction in the umbrella of NDD, highlighting alterations in the developmental switch to inhibitory GABA, dysregulation of neuronal activity patterns by parvalbumin-positive interneurons, and impaired tonic inhibition. Increasing our basic understanding of inhibitory synapses, and their role in NDDs is likely to produce significant therapeutic advances in behavioral symptom alleviation for interrelated NDDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ali Rodriguez
- Neuroscience Emphasis, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Christina Joya
- Neuroscience Emphasis, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Rochelle M Hines
- Neuroscience Emphasis, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Colmers PLW, Bains JS. Balancing tonic and phasic inhibition in hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons. J Physiol 2018; 596:1919-1929. [PMID: 29419884 DOI: 10.1113/jp275588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS GABA transporter (GAT) blockade recruits extrasynaptic GABAA receptors (GABAA Rs) and amplifies constitutive presynaptic GABAB R activity. Extrasynaptic GABAA Rs contribute to a tonic current. Corticosteroids increase the tonic current mediated by extrasynaptic GABAA Rs. ABSTRACT Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) are integratory hubs that regulate the endocrine response to stress. GABA inputs provide a basal inhibitory tone that constrains this system and circulating glucocorticoids (CORT) are important feedback controllers of CRH output. Surprisingly little is known about the direct effects of CORT on GABA synapses in PVN. Here we used whole-cell patch clamp recordings from CRH neurons in mouse hypothalamic brain slices to examine the effects of CORT on synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA signalling. We show that GABA transporters (GATs) limit constitutive activation of presynaptic GABAB receptors and ensure high release probability at GABA synapses. GATs in combination with GABAB receptors also curtail extrasynaptic GABAA R signalling. CORT has no effect on synaptic GABA signalling, but increases extrasynaptic GABA tone through upregulation of postsynaptic GABAA receptors. These data show that efficient GABA clearance and autoinhibition control the balance between synaptic (phasic) and extrasynaptic (tonic) inhibition in PVN CRH neurons. This balance is shifted towards increased extrasynaptic inhibition by CORT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip L W Colmers
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
The design and synthesis of azogabazine is described, which represents a highly potent (IC50 = 23 nM) photoswitchable antagonist of the GABAA receptor. An azologization strategy is adopted, in which a benzyl phenyl ether in a high affinity gabazine analogue is replaced by an azobenzene, with resultant retention of antagonist potency. We show that cycling from blue to UV light, switching between trans and cis isomeric forms, leads to photochemically controlled antagonism of the GABA ion channel.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Huckvale
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
| | - Martin Mortensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - David Pryde
- Pfizer Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Portway Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridgeshire, CB21 6GS, UK
| | - Trevor G Smart
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - James R Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Indrowati M, Pratiwi R, Rumiyati, Astuti P. Levels of Blood Glucose and Insulin Expression of Beta-cells in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Ethanolic Extract of Artocarpus altilis Leaves and GABA. Pak J Biol Sci 2017; 20:28-35. [PMID: 29023012 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2017.28.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Information about the Artocarpus altilis leaf as an antidiabetic associated with the active compounds Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) is still limited. This study was conducted to determine the effects of ethanolic extract of A. altilis leaves decoction and GABA on blood glucose levels and insulin expression of beta-cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was done by using completely randomized design and male Sprague Dewley rats. The rats were devided into normal control group and diabetic rats groups. Levels of bood glucose were measured using strip rapid test. The insulin expression in beta-cells was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Quantitative data were analyzed using ANOVA at 5% confidence level. RESULTS The result indicated that 50 mg k-1 b.wt., GABA, 400 and 800 mg k-1 b.wt., ethanolic extract of A. altilis leaves decreased the level of blood glucose and increased the insulin expression in pancreas beta-cells. CONCLUSION The GABA and ethanolic extract of A. altilis leaves with a minimum dose of 400 mg k-1 b.wt., can be used as an antidiabetic. Pancreas is the target organ was affected by GABA and A. altilis leaves as antidiabetic agents. Results of this study may support the development of research on the potency of GABA in natural materials as antidiabetic particularly type 1 diabetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meti Indrowati
- Department of Biological Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jalan Ir. Sutami 36A 57126, Surakarta, Indonesia
| | - Rarastoeti Pratiwi
- Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Te knika Selatan Sekip Utara, 55281 Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Rumiyati
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadj ah Mada, 55281 Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Pudji Astuti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Fauna No. 2, Karangmalang, 55281 Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Li Y, Chen Z, Gao Y, Pan G, Zheng H, Zhang Y, Xu H, Bu G, Zheng H. Synaptic Adhesion Molecule Pcdh-γC5 Mediates Synaptic Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. J Neurosci 2017; 37:9259-68. [PMID: 28842416 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1051-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction and neuronal excitatory/inhibitory imbalance have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Although intensive studies have been focused on the excitatory synaptic system, much less is known concerning the mechanisms mediating inhibitory synaptic dysfunction in AD. We reported previously that protocadherin-γC5 (Pcdh-γC5), a member of clustered Pcdh-γ subfamily of cadherin-type synaptic adhesion proteins, functions to promote GABAergic synaptic transmission. We reveal here that Pcdh-γC5 is enriched in vesicular GABA transporter-positive synaptic puncta and its expression levels are increased in neuronal hyperexcitation conditions, upon β-amyloid (Aβ) treatment, and in amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin-1 (PS1)-transgenic mice of both sexes. This is associated with elevated levels of GABAergic proteins and enhanced synaptic inhibition. Genetic knock-down experiments showed that Pcdh-γC5 modulates spontaneous synaptic currents and Aβ-induced synaptic alterations directly. Our results support a model in which Pcdh-γC5 senses neuronal hyperexcitation to augment GABAergic inhibition. This adaptive mechanism may be dysregulated under chronic excitation conditions such as AD, leading to aberrant Pcdh-γC5 expression and associated synaptic dysfunction.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Synaptic dysfunction is causal for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we reveal a novel pathway that contributes GABAergic synaptic dysfunction in AD mediated by protocadherin-γC5. Our study not only identifies a new mechanism mediating excitatory/inhibitory balance in AD, but may also offer a new target for potential therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
|
25
|
Sibbe M, Kulik A. GABAergic Regulation of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 54:5497-510. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0072-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
|
26
|
Eltahawy NA, Saada HN, Hammad AS. Gamma Amino Butyric Acid Attenuates Brain Oxidative Damage Associated with Insulin Alteration in Streptozotocin-Treated Rats. Indian J Clin Biochem 2017; 32:207-13. [PMID: 28428696 DOI: 10.1007/s12291-016-0597-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the role of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) in insulin disturbance and hyperglycemia associated with brain oxidative damage in streptozotocin-treated rats. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered to male albino rats as a single intraperitoneal dose (60 mg/kg body weight). GABA (200 mg/Kg body weight/day) was administered daily via gavages during 3 weeks to STZ-treated-rats. Male albino rats Sprague-Dawley (10 ± 2 weeks old; 120 ± 10 g body weight) were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats and treated in parallel. (1) Control group: received distilled water, (2) GABA group: received GABA, (3) STZ group: STZ-treated rats received distilled water, (4) STZ + GABA group: STZ-treated rats received GABA. Rats were sacrificed after a fasting period of 12 h next last dose of GABA. The results obtained showed that STZ-treatment produced hyperglycemia and insulin deficiency (similar to type1 Diabetes). These changes were associated with oxidative damage in brain tissue and notified by significant decreases of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in parallel to significant increases of malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein products levels. The histopathology reports also revealed that STZ-treatment produced degeneration of pancreatic cells. The administration of GABA to STZ-treated rats preserved pancreatic tissue with improved insulin secretion, improved glucose level and minimized oxidative stress in brain tissues. It could be concluded that GABA might protect the brain from oxidative stress and preserve pancreas tissues with adjusting glucose and insulin levels in Diabetic rats and might decrease the risk of neurodegenerative disease in diabetes.
Collapse
|
27
|
Authement ME, Langlois LD, Kassis H, Gouty S, Dacher M, Shepard RD, Cox BM, Nugent FS. Morphine-induced synaptic plasticity in the VTA is reversed by HDAC inhibition. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:1093-103. [PMID: 27306674 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00238.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) dysfunction originating from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) occurs as a result of synaptic abnormalities following consumption of drugs of abuse and underlies behavioral plasticity associated with drug abuse. Drugs of abuse can cause changes in gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms in the brain that underlie some of the lasting neuroplasticity and behavior associated with addiction. Here we investigated the function of histone acetylation and histone deacetylase (HDAC)2 in the VTA in recovery of morphine-induced synaptic modifications following a single in vivo exposure to morphine. Using a combination of immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and whole cell patch-clamp recording in rat midbrain slices, we show that morphine increased HDAC2 activity in VTA DA neurons and reduced histone H3 acetylation at lysine 9 (Ac-H3K9) in the VTA 24 h after the injection. Morphine-induced synaptic changes at glutamatergic synapses involved endocannabinoid signaling to reduce GABAergic synaptic strength onto VTA DA neurons. Both plasticities were recovered by in vitro incubation of midbrain slices with a class I-specific HDAC inhibitor (HDACi), CI-994, through an increase in acetylation of histone H3K9. Interestingly, HDACi incubation also increased levels of Ac-H3K9 and triggered GABAergic and glutamatergic plasticities in DA neurons of saline-treated rats. Our results suggest that acute morphine-induced changes in VTA DA activity and synaptic transmission engage HDAC2 activity locally in the VTA to maintain synaptic modifications through histone hypoacetylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Authement
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ludovic D Langlois
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Haifa Kassis
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shawn Gouty
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Matthieu Dacher
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ryan D Shepard
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Brian M Cox
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Li Y, Sun H, Chen Z, Xu H, Bu G, Zheng H. Implications of GABAergic Neurotransmission in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:31. [PMID: 26941642 PMCID: PMC4763334 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized pathologically by the deposition of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of hyper-phosphorylated tau. Regardless of the pathological hallmarks, synaptic dysfunction is widely accepted as a causal event in AD. Of the two major types of synapses in the central nervous system (CNS): glutamatergic and GABAergic, which provide excitatory and inhibitory outputs respectively, abundant data implicate an impaired glutamatergic system during disease progression. However, emerging evidence supports the notion that disrupted default neuronal network underlies impaired memory, and that alterations of GABAergic circuits, either plays a primary role or as a compensatory response to excitotoxicity, may also contribute to AD by disrupting the overall network function. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the involvement of Aβ, tau and apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4), the major genetic risk factor in late-onset AD (LOAD), in GABAergic neurotransmission and the potential of modulating the GABAergic function as AD therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen University Xiamen, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen University Xiamen, China
| | - Zhicai Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen University Xiamen, China
| | - Huaxi Xu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityXiamen, China; Neurodegenerative Disease Research Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research InstituteLa Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Guojun Bu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityXiamen, China; Department of Neuroscience, Mayo ClinicJacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Hui Zheng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityXiamen, China; The Interdepartmental Program of Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kula J, Blasiak A, Czerw A, Tylko G, Sowa J, Hess G. Short-term repeated corticosterone administration enhances glutamatergic but not GABAergic transmission in the rat motor cortex. Pflugers Arch 2015; 468:679-91. [PMID: 26696244 PMCID: PMC4792354 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-015-1773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 11/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that stress impairs performance of skilled reaching and walking tasks in rats due to the action of glucocorticoids involved in the stress response. Skilled reaching and walking are controlled by the primary motor cortex (M1); however, it is not known whether stress-related impairments in skilled motor tasks are related to functional and/or structural alterations within the M1. We studied the effects of single and repeated injections of corticosterone (twice daily for 7 days) on spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs and sIPSCs) recorded from layer II/III pyramidal neurons in ex vivo slices of the M1, prepared 2 days after the last administration of the hormone. We also measured the density of dendritic spines on pyramidal cells and the protein levels of selected subunits of AMPA, NMDA, and GABAA receptors after repeated corticosterone administration. Repeatedly administered corticosterone induced an increase in the frequency but not in the amplitude of sEPSCs, while a single administration had no effect on the recorded excitatory currents. The frequency and amplitude of sIPSCs as well as the excitability of pyramidal cells were changed neither after single nor after repeated corticosterone administration. Treatment with corticosterone for 7 days did not modify the density of dendritic spines on pyramidal neurons. Corticosterone influenced neither the protein levels of GluA1, GluA2, GluN1, GluN2A, and GluN2B subunits of glutamate receptors nor those of α1, β2, and γ2 subunits of the GABAA receptor. The increase in sEPSCs frequency induced by repeated corticosterone administration faded out within 7 days. These data indicate that prolonged administration of exogenous corticosterone selectively and reversibly enhances glutamatergic, but not GABAergic transmission in the rat motor cortex. Our results suggest that corticosterone treatment results in an enhancement of spontaneous glutamate release from presynaptic terminals in the M1 and thereby uncovers a potential mechanism underlying stress-induced motor functions impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kula
- Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Blasiak
- Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Czerw
- Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Tylko
- Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Sowa
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, 31-343, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Hess
- Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland. .,Department of Physiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, 31-343, Krakow, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Yu R, Miyamura N, Okamoto-Uchida Y, Arima N, Ishigami-Yuasa M, Kagechika H, Nishina H. A Modified Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Test for Evaluating the Teratogenic Effects of Drugs on Early Embryogenesis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145286. [PMID: 26682887 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian fetal development is easily disrupted by exogenous agents, making it essential to test new drug candidates for embryotoxicity and teratogenicity. To standardize the testing of drugs that might be used to treat pregnant women, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formulated special grade categories, labeled A, B, C, D and X, that define the level of risk associated with the use of a specific drug during pregnancy. Drugs in categories (Cat.) D and X are those with embryotoxic and/or teratogenic effects on humans and animals. However, which stages of pregnancy are affected by these agents and their molecular mechanisms are unknown. We describe here an embryonic stem cell test (EST) that classifies FDA pregnancy Cat.D and Cat.X drugs into 4 classes based on their differing effects on primitive streak formation. We show that ~84% of Cat.D and Cat.X drugs target this period of embryogenesis. Our results demonstrate that our modified EST can identify how a drug affects early embryogenesis, when it acts, and its molecular mechanism. Our test may thus be a useful addition to the drug safety testing armamentarium.
Collapse
|
31
|
Lo FS, Blue ME, Erzurumlu RS. Enhancement of postsynaptic GABAA and extrasynaptic NMDA receptor-mediated responses in the barrel cortex of Mecp2-null mice. J Neurophysiol 2015; 115:1298-306. [PMID: 26683074 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00944.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from mutations in the X-linked gene for methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). The underlying cellular mechanism for the sensory deficits in patients with RTT is largely unknown. This study used the Bird mouse model of RTT to investigate sensory thalamocortical synaptic transmission in the barrel cortex of Mecp2-null mice. Electrophysiological results showed an excitation/inhibition imbalance, biased toward inhibition, due to an increase in efficacy of postsynaptic GABAA receptors rather than alterations in inhibitory network and presynaptic release properties. Enhanced inhibition impaired the transmission of tonic sensory signals from the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex. Previous morphological studies showed an upregulation of NMDA receptors in the neocortex of both RTT patients and Mecp2-null mice at early ages [Blue ME, Naidu S, Johnston MV. Ann Neurol 45: 541-545, 1999; Blue ME, Kaufmann WE, Bressler J, Eyring C, O'Driscoll C, Naidu S, Johnston MV. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 294: 1624-1634, 2011]. Although AMPA and NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission was not altered in the barrel cortex of Mecp2-null mice, extrasynaptic NMDA receptor-mediated responses increased markedly. These responses were blocked by memantine, suggesting that extrasynaptic NMDA receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis of RTT. The results suggest that enhancement of postsynaptic GABAA and extrasynaptic NMDA receptor-mediated responses may underlie impaired somatosensation and that pharmacological blockade of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may have therapeutic value for RTT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Sun Lo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - Mary E Blue
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. and Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Reha S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Pangratz-Fuehrer S, Sieghart W, Rudolph U, Parada I, Huguenard JR. Early postnatal switch in GABAA receptor α-subunits in the reticular thalamic nucleus. J Neurophysiol 2015; 115:1183-95. [PMID: 26631150 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00905.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The GABAergic neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus (nRt) provide the primary source of inhibition within the thalamus. Using physiology, pharmacology, and immunohistochemistry in mice, we characterized postsynaptic developmental changes in these inhibitory projection neurons. First, at postnatal days 3-5 (P3-5), inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) decayed very slowly, followed by a biphasic developmental progression, becoming faster at P6-8 and then slower again at P9-11 before stabilizing in a mature form around P12. Second, the pharmacological profile of GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R)-mediated IPSCs differed between neonatal and mature nRt neurons, and this was accompanied by reciprocal changes in α3 (late) and α5 (early) subunit expression in nRt. Zolpidem, selective for α1- and α3-containing GABA(A)Rs, augmented only mature IPSCs, whereas clonazepam enhanced IPSCs at all stages. This effect was blocked by the α5-specific inverse agonist L-655,708, but only in immature neurons. In α3(H126R) mice, in which α3-subunits were mutated to become benzodiazepine insensitive, IPSCs were enhanced compared with those in wild-type animals in early development. Third, tonic GABA(A)R activation in nRt is age dependent and more prominent in immature neurons, which correlates with early expression of α5-containing GABA(A)Rs. Thus neonatal nRt neurons show relatively high expression of α5-subunits, which contributes to both slow synaptic and tonic extrasynaptic inhibition. The postnatal switch in GABA(A)R subunits from α5 to α3 could facilitate spontaneous network activity in nRt that occurs at this developmental time point and which is proposed to play a role in early circuit development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Pangratz-Fuehrer
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Werner Sieghart
- Brain Research Institute Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; and
| | - Uwe Rudolph
- Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology, McLean Hospital, Mailman Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Isabel Parada
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - John R Huguenard
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California;
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Fuenzalida M, Espinoza C, Pérez MÁ, Tapia-Rojas C, Cuitino L, Brandan E, Inestrosa NC. Wnt signaling pathway improves central inhibitory synaptic transmission in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 86:109-20. [PMID: 26626079 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC) that connects the cytoskeleton, plasma membrane and the extracellular matrix has been related to the maintenance and stabilization of channels and synaptic receptors, which are both essential for synaptogenesis and synaptic transmission. The dystrophin-deficient (mdx) mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) exhibits a significant reduction in hippocampal GABA efficacy, which may underlie the altered synaptic function and abnormal hippocampal long-term plasticity exhibited by mdx mice. Emerging studies have implicated Wnt signaling in the modulation of synaptic efficacy, neuronal plasticity and cognitive function. We report here that the activation of the non-canonical Wnt-5a pathway and Andrographolide, improves hippocampal mdx GABAergic efficacy by increasing the number of inhibitory synapses and GABA(A) receptors or GABA release. These results indicate that Wnt signaling modulates GABA synaptic efficacy and could be a promising novel target for DMD cognitive therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fuenzalida
- Centro de Neurobiología y Plasticidad Cerebral, Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Claudia Espinoza
- Centro de Neurobiología y Plasticidad Cerebral, Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Miguel Ángel Pérez
- Centro de Neurobiología y Plasticidad Cerebral, Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Cheril Tapia-Rojas
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Loreto Cuitino
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enrique Brandan
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Schipper S, Aalbers MW, Rijkers K, Swijsen A, Rigo JM, Hoogland G, Vles JSH. Tonic GABAA Receptors as Potential Target for the Treatment of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:5252-65. [PMID: 26409480 PMCID: PMC5012145 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9423-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tonic GABAA receptors are a subpopulation of receptors that generate long-lasting inhibition and thereby control network excitability. In recent years, these receptors have been implicated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Their distinct subunit composition and function, compared to phasic GABAA receptors, opens the possibility to specifically modulate network properties. In this review, the role of tonic GABAA receptors in epilepsy and as potential antiepileptic target will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Schipper
- Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - M W Aalbers
- Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - K Rijkers
- Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery, Atrium Hospital Heerlen, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - A Swijsen
- BIOMED Research Institute, Hasselt University/Transnational University Limburg, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - J M Rigo
- BIOMED Research Institute, Hasselt University/Transnational University Limburg, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - G Hoogland
- Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - J S H Vles
- Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lyu C, Mulder J, Barde S, Sahlholm K, Zeberg H, Nilsson J, Århem P, Hökfelt T, Fried K, Shi TJS. G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channel subunits 1 and 2 are down-regulated in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and spinal cord after peripheral axotomy. Mol Pain 2015. [PMID: 26199148 PMCID: PMC4511542 DOI: 10.1186/s12990-015-0044-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Increased nociceptive neuronal excitability underlies chronic pain conditions. Various ion channels, including sodium, calcium and potassium channels have pivotal roles in the control of neuronal excitability. The members of the family of G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels, GIRK1–4, have been implicated in modulating excitability. Here, we investigated the expression and distribution of GIRK1 and GIRK2 in normal and injured dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord of rats. Results We found that ~70% of the DRG neurons expressed GIRK1, while only <10% expressed GIRK2. The neurochemical profiles of GIRK1- and GIRK2-immunoreactive neurons were characterized using the neuronal markers calcitonin gene-related peptide, isolectin-B4 and neurofilament-200, and the calcium-binding proteins calbindin D28k, calretinin, parvalbumin and secretagogin. Both GIRK subunits were expressed in DRG neurons with nociceptive characteristics. However, while GIRK1 was widely expressed in several sensory neuronal subtypes, GIRK2 was detected mainly in a group of small C-fiber neurons. In the spinal dorsal horn, GIRK1- and -2-positive cell bodies and processes were mainly observed in lamina II, but also in superficial and deeper layers. Abundant GIRK1-, but not GIRK2-like immunoreactivity, was found in the ventral horn (laminae VI–X). Fourteen days after axotomy, GIRK1 and GIRK2 were down-regulated in DRG neurons at the mRNA and protein levels. Both after axotomy and rhizotomy there was a reduction of GIRK1- and -2-positive processes in the dorsal horn, suggesting a presynaptic localization of these potassium channels. Furthermore, nerve ligation caused accumulation of both subunits on both sides of the lesion, providing evidence for anterograde and retrograde fast axonal transport. Conclusions Our data support the hypothesis that reduced GIRK function is associated with increased neuronal excitability and causes sensory disturbances in post-injury conditions, including neuropathic pain. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12990-015-0044-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuang Lyu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150001, Harbin, China. .,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jan Mulder
- Department of Neuroscience, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Swapnali Barde
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Kristoffer Sahlholm
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Hugo Zeberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Johanna Nilsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Peter Århem
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Tomas Hökfelt
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Kaj Fried
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Tie-Jun Sten Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150001, Harbin, China. .,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abdala AP, Paton JFR, Smith JC. Defining inhibitory neurone function in respiratory circuits: opportunities with optogenetics? J Physiol 2015; 593:3033-46. [PMID: 25384785 PMCID: PMC4532524 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.280610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological and mathematical modelling studies support the view that synaptic inhibition in mammalian brainstem respiratory circuits is essential for generating normal and stable breathing movements. GABAergic and glycinergic neurones are known components of these circuits but their precise functional roles have not been established, especially within key microcircuits of the respiratory pre-Bötzinger (pre-BötC) and Bötzinger (BötC) complexes involved in phasic control of respiratory pump and airway muscles. Here, we review briefly current concepts of relevant complexities of inhibitory synapses and the importance of synaptic inhibition in the operation of these microcircuits. We highlight results and limitations of classical pharmacological studies that have suggested critical functions of synaptic inhibition. We then explore the potential opportunities for optogenetic strategies that represent a promising new approach for interrogating function of inhibitory circuits, including a hypothetical wish list for optogenetic approaches to allow expedient application of this technology. We conclude that recent technical advances in optogenetics should provide a means to understand the role of functionally select and regionally confined subsets of inhibitory neurones in key respiratory circuits such as those in the pre-BötC and BötC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Abdala
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol CardioVascular, Medical Science Building, University of BristolBristol, UK
| | - Julian F R Paton
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol CardioVascular, Medical Science Building, University of BristolBristol, UK
| | - Jeffrey C Smith
- Cellular and Systems Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of HealthBethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Gephyrin is a central element that anchors, clusters and stabilizes glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors at inhibitory synapses of the mammalian brain. It self-assembles into a hexagonal lattice and interacts with various inhibitory synaptic proteins. Intriguingly, the clustering of gephyrin, which is regulated by multiple posttranslational modifications, is critical for inhibitory synapse formation and function. In this review, we summarize the basic properties of gephyrin and describe recent findings regarding its roles in inhibitory synapse formation, function and plasticity. We will also discuss the implications for the pathophysiology of brain disorders and raise the remaining open questions in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gayoung Choii
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaewon Ko
- 1] Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea [2] Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Villumsen IS, Wellendorph P, Smart TG. Pharmacological characterisation of murine α4β1δ GABAA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. BMC Neurosci 2015; 16:8. [PMID: 25887256 PMCID: PMC4359537 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-015-0148-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background GABAA receptor subunit composition has a profound effect on the receptor’s physiological and pharmacological properties. The receptor β subunit is widely recognised for its importance in receptor assembly, trafficking and post-translational modifications, but its influence on extrasynaptic GABAA receptor function is less well understood. Here, we examine the pharmacological properties of a potentially native extrasynaptic GABAA receptor that incorporates the β1 subunit, specifically composed of α4β1δ and α4β1 subunits. Results GABA activated concentration-dependent responses at α4β1δ and α4β1 receptors with EC50 values in the nanomolar to micromolar range, respectively. The divalent cations Zn2+ and Cu2+, and the β1-selective inhibitor salicylidine salicylhydrazide (SCS), inhibited GABA-activated currents at α4β1δ receptors. Surprisingly the α4β1 receptor demonstrated biphasic sensitivity to Zn2+ inhibition that may reflect variable subunit stoichiometries with differing sensitivity to Zn2+. The neurosteroid tetrahydro-deoxycorticosterone (THDOC) significantly increased GABA-initiated responses in concentrations above 30 nM for α4β1δ receptors. Conclusions With this study we report the first pharmacological characterisation of various GABAA receptor ligands acting at murine α4β1δ GABAA receptors, thereby improving our understanding of the molecular pharmacology of this receptor isoform. This study highlights some notable differences in the pharmacology of murine and human α4β1δ receptors. We consider the likelihood that the α4β1δ receptor may play a role as an extrasynaptic GABAA receptor in the nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inge S Villumsen
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. .,Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Fruebjergvej 3, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Petrine Wellendorph
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Fruebjergvej 3, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Trevor G Smart
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Excessive loss of functional pancreatic β-cell mass, mainly due to apoptosis, is a major factor in the development of hyperglycemia in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D and T2D). In T1D, β-cells are destroyed by immunological mechanisms. In T2D, while metabolic factors are known to contribute to β-cell failure and subsequent apoptosis, mounting evidence suggests that islet inflammation also plays an important role in the loss of β-cell mass. Therefore, it is of great importance for clinical intervention to develop new therapies. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major neurotransmitter, is also produced by islet β-cells, where it functions as an important intraislet transmitter in regulating islet-cell secretion and function. Importantly, recent studies performed in rodents, including in vivo studies of xenotransplanted human islets, reveal that GABA exerts β-cell regenerative effects. Moreover, it protects β-cells against apoptosis induced by cytokines, drugs, and other stresses, and has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities. It ameliorates the manifestations of diabetes in preclinical models, suggesting potential applications for the treatment of diabetic patients. This review outlines the actions of GABA relevant to β-cell regeneration, including its signaling mechanisms and potential interactions with other mediators. These studies increase our understanding of the regenerative processes of pancreatic β-cells, and help pave the way for the development of regenerative medicine for diabetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qinghua Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Correspondence: Qinghua Wang, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St Michael’s Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada, Tel +1 416 864 6060 ext 77 610, Fax +1 416 864 5140, Email
| | - Gerald J Prud’homme
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
V’yunova TV, Andreeva LA, Shevchenko KV, Shevchenko VP, Myasoedov NF. Peptide regulation of specific ligand-receptor interactions of GABA with the plasma membranes of nerve cells. NEUROCHEM J+ 2014. [DOI: 10.1134/s1819712414040114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
41
|
Linsalata AE, Chen X, Winters CA, Reese TS. Electron tomography on γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic synapses reveals a discontinuous postsynaptic network of filaments. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:921-36. [PMID: 23982982 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of synaptic strength at γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic synapses is dependent on the dynamic capture, retention, and modulation of GABA A-type receptors by cytoplasmic proteins at GABAergic postsynaptic sites. How these proteins are oriented and organized in the postsynaptic cytoplasm is not yet established. To better understand these structures and gain further insight into the mechanisms by which they regulate receptor populations at postsynaptic sites, we utilized electron tomography to examine GABAergic synapses in dissociated rat hippocampal cultures. GABAergic synapses were identified and selected for tomography by using a set of criteria derived from the structure of immunogold-labeled GABAergic synapses. Tomography revealed a complex postsynaptic network composed of filaments that extend ∼ 100 nm into the cytoplasm from the postsynaptic membrane. The distribution of these postsynaptic filaments was strikingly similar to that of the immunogold label for gephyrin. Filaments were interconnected through uniform patterns of contact, forming complexes composed of 2-12 filaments each. Complexes did not link to form an integrated, continuous scaffold, suggesting that GABAergic postsynaptic specializations are less rigidly organized than glutamatergic postsynaptic densities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander E Linsalata
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Comenencia-Ortiz E, Moss SJ, Davies PA. Phosphorylation of GABAA receptors influences receptor trafficking and neurosteroid actions. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:3453-65. [PMID: 24847959 PMCID: PMC4135009 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3617-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) are the principal mediators of inhibitory transmission in the mammalian central nervous system. GABAARs can be localized at post-synaptic inhibitory specializations or at extrasynaptic sites. While synaptic GABAARs are activated transiently following the release of GABA from presynaptic vesicles, extrasynaptic GABAARs are typically activated continuously by ambient GABA concentrations and thus mediate tonic inhibition. The tonic inhibitory currents mediated by extrasynaptic GABAARs control neuronal excitability and the strength of synaptic transmission. However, the mechanisms by which neurons control the functional properties of extrasynaptic GABAARs had not yet been explored. OBJECTIVES We review GABAARs, how they are assembled and trafficked, and the role phosphorylation has on receptor insertion and membrane stabilization. Finally, we review the modulation of GABAARs by neurosteroids and how GABAAR phosphorylation can influence the actions of neurosteroids. CONCLUSIONS Trafficking and stability of functional channels to the membrane surface are critical for inhibitory efficacy. Phosphorylation of residues within GABAAR subunits plays an essential role in the assembly, trafficking, and cell surface stability of GABAARs. Neurosteroids are produced in the brain and are highly efficacious allosteric modulators of GABAAR-mediated current. This allosteric modulation by neurosteroids is influenced by the phosphorylated state of the GABAAR which is subunit dependent, adding temporal and regional variability to the neurosteroid response. Possible links between neurosteroid actions, phosphorylation, and GABAAR trafficking remain to be explored, but potential novel therapeutic targets may exist for numerous neurological and psychological disorders which are linked to fluctuations in neurosteroid levels and GABAA subunit expression.
Collapse
|
43
|
Ruan J, Hu K, Zhang H, Wang Y, Zhou A, Zhao Y, Yang X. Distribution and quantitative detection of GABAA receptor in Carassius auratus gibelio. Fish Physiol Biochem 2014; 40:1301-1311. [PMID: 24687758 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-014-9925-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/23/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain, is synthesized from glutamate and metabolized to succinic semialdehyde by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T), respectively. The fast inhibitory effect of GABA is mediated by GABA type A (GABAA) receptors that are associated with several neurological disorders, and GABAA receptors are targets of several therapeutic agents. To date, information on the distribution and quantity of GABAA receptors in Carassius auratus gibelio is still limited. We investigated for the first time, the tissue-specific distribution of GABAARβ2a and GABAARβ2b, the two subunits of the predominant GABAA receptor subtype (α1β2γ2), and then, the expression of GABAARβ2a, GABAARβ2b, GAD, and quantified GABA-T genes in different tissues by quantitative real-time PCR method and compared different expressions between two developmental stages of C. auratus gibelio. Results showed that GABAARβ2a and GABAARβ2b genes expressed in both brain and peripheral organs using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the majority of GABAARβ2a, GABAARβ2b, GAD, and GABA-T were mainly synthesized in brain; however, a considerable amount of GABA-T was secreted from the peripheral tissues, especially in the liver. Moreover, the expression of GABAARβ2a and GABAARβ2b genes in different tissues varied with body weight change. This study provides a reference for further studies on GABA and GABAA receptors subunits and an insight on the possible pharmacological properties of the GABAA receptor in C. auratus gibelio.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiming Ruan
- National Center for Aquatic Pathogen Collection, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
González MI. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor promotes gephyrin protein expression and GABAA receptor clustering in immature cultured hippocampal cells. Neurochem Int 2014; 72:14-21. [PMID: 24747341 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Fast synaptic inhibition in the adult brain is largely mediated by GABAA receptors (GABAAR). GABAAR are anchored to synaptic sites by gephyrin, a scaffolding protein that appears to be assembled as a hexagonal lattice beneath the plasma membrane. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) alters the clustering and synaptic distribution of GABAAR but mechanisms behind this regulation are just starting to emerge. The current study was aimed to examine if BDNF alters the protein levels and/or clustering of gephyrin and to investigate whether the modulation of gephyrin is accompanied by changes in the distribution and/or clustering of GABAAR. Exogenous application of BDNF to immature neuronal cultures from rat hippocampus increased the protein levels and clustering of gephyrin. BDNF also augmented the association of gephyrin with GABAAR and promoted the formation of GABAAR clusters. Together, these observations indicate that BDNF might regulate the assembly of GABAergic synapses by promoting the association of GABAAR with gephyrin.
Collapse
|
45
|
Hancili S, Önal ZE, Ata P, Karatoprak EY, Gürbüz T, Bostancı M, Paçal Y, Nuhoğlu Ç, Ceran Ö. The GABAA receptor γ2 subunit (R43Q) mutation in febrile seizures. Pediatr Neurol 2014; 50:353-6. [PMID: 24630281 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Febrile seizure is the most common form of childhood seizure. Although its exact cause is unclear, many researchers emphasize the importance of its genetic predisposition. Recent genetic studies revealed the importance of the mutations of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor as the etiology of the febrile seizures. R43Q mutation affecting the γ2-subunit N-terminal domain has been related to childhood absence epilepsy and febrile seizure. METHODS We investigated R43Q mutations of the GABRG2 gene, located on the long arm of chromosome 5 encoding the γ2-subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor. We studied 44 patients with febrile seizure and 49 children without any febrile seizure who were admitted to our clinic. RESULTS We found that 36% of our patient group, the children who experienced febrile convulsions, had heterozygous R43Q mutation. Statistical studies revealed that heterozygous R43Q mutation of gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor γ2 subunit was higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Heterozygous gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor γ2 subunit (R43Q) mutation may have an effect in the development of febrile seizures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suna Hancili
- Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic, Göztepe Education and Research Hospital, Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Zehra Esra Önal
- Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pınar Ata
- Departments of Genetics and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Yüksel Karatoprak
- Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Göztepe Education and Research Hospital, Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tamay Gürbüz
- Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Muharrem Bostancı
- Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yakup Paçal
- Department of Pediatrics, Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Çağatay Nuhoğlu
- Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ömer Ceran
- Department of Pediatrics, Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Rivera E, Cid M, Zunino P, Baiardi G, Salvatierra N. Central α- and β-thujone: Similar anxiogenic-like effects and differential modulation on GABAA receptors in neonatal chicks. Brain Res 2014; 1555:28-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Revised: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
|
47
|
Taguchi K, Watanabe Y, Tsujimura A, Tatebe H, Miyata S, Tokuda T, Mizuno T, Tanaka M. Differential expression of alpha-synuclein in hippocampal neurons. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89327. [PMID: 24586691 PMCID: PMC3934906 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein is the major pathological component of synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Recent studies have demonstrated that α-synuclein also plays important roles in the release of synaptic vesicles and synaptic membrane recycling in healthy neurons. However, the precise relationship between the pathogenicity and physiological functions of α-synuclein remains to be elucidated. To address this issue, we investigated the subcellular localization of α-synuclein in normal and pathological conditions using primary mouse hippocampal neuronal cultures. While some neurons expressed high levels of α-synuclein in presynaptic boutons and cell bodies, other neurons either did not or only very weakly expressed the protein. These α-synuclein-negative cells were identified as inhibitory neurons by immunostaining with specific antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), parvalbumin, and somatostatin. In contrast, α-synuclein-positive synapses were colocalized with the excitatory synapse marker vesicular glutamate transporter-1. This expression profile of α-synuclein was conserved in the hippocampus in vivo. In addition, we found that while presynaptic α-synuclein colocalizes with synapsin, a marker of presynaptic vesicles, it is not essential for activity-dependent membrane recycling induced by high potassium treatment. Exogenous supply of preformed fibrils generated by recombinant α-synuclein was shown to promote the formation of Lewy body (LB) -like intracellular aggregates involving endogenous α-synuclein. GAD-positive neurons did not form LB-like aggregates following treatment with preformed fibrils, however, exogenous expression of human α-synuclein allowed intracellular aggregate formation in these cells. These results suggest the presence of a different mechanism for regulation of the expression of α-synuclein between excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Furthermore, α-synuclein expression levels may determine the efficiency of intracellular aggregate formation in different neuronal subtypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katsutoshi Taguchi
- Department of Basic Geriatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Watanabe
- Department of Basic Geriatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsushi Tsujimura
- Department of Basic Geriatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Harutsugu Tatebe
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Seiji Miyata
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takahiko Tokuda
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology of Brain Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiki Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masaki Tanaka
- Department of Basic Geriatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Hirano T, Kawaguchi SY. Regulation and functional roles of rebound potentiation at cerebellar stellate cell-Purkinje cell synapses. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:42. [PMID: 24600347 PMCID: PMC3927423 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purkinje cells receive both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs and send sole output from the cerebellar cortex. Long-term depression (LTD), a type of synaptic plasticity, at excitatory parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses has been studied extensively as a primary cellular mechanism of motor learning. On the other hand, at inhibitory synapses on a Purkinje cell, postsynaptic depolarization induces long-lasting potentiation of GABAergic synaptic transmission. This synaptic plasticity is called rebound potentiation (RP), and its molecular regulatory mechanisms have been studied. The increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration caused by depolarization induces RP through enhancement of GABAA receptor (GABAAR) responsiveness. RP induction depends on binding of GABAAR with GABAAR associated protein (GABARAP) which is regulated by Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII). Whether RP is induced or not is determined by the balance between phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation activities regulated by intracellular Ca(2+) and by metabotropic GABA and glutamate receptors. Recent studies have revealed that the subunit composition of CaMKII has significant impact on RP induction. A Purkinje cell expresses both α- and β-CaMKII, and the latter has much higher affinity for Ca(2+)/calmodulin than the former. It was shown that when the relative amount of α- to β-CaMKII is large, RP induction is suppressed. The functional significance of RP has also been studied using transgenic mice in which a peptide inhibiting association of GABARAP and GABAAR is expressed selectively in Purkinje cells. The transgenic mice show abrogation of RP and subnormal adaptation of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), a type of motor learning. Thus, RP is involved in a certain type of motor learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoo Hirano
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-cho Kyoto, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
|
50
|
Carver CM, Reddy DS. Neurosteroid interactions with synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors: regulation of subunit plasticity, phasic and tonic inhibition, and neuronal network excitability. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 230:151-88. [PMID: 24071826 PMCID: PMC3832254 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3276-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Neurosteroids are steroids synthesized within the brain with rapid effects on neuronal excitability. Allopregnanolone, allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone, and androstanediol are three widely explored prototype endogenous neurosteroids. They have very different targets and functions compared to conventional steroid hormones. Neuronal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A (GABA(A)) receptors are one of the prime molecular targets of neurosteroids. OBJECTIVE This review provides a critical appraisal of recent advances in the pharmacology of endogenous neurosteroids that interact with GABA(A) receptors in the brain. Neurosteroids possess distinct, characteristic effects on the membrane potential and current conductance of the neuron, mainly via potentiation of GABA(A) receptors at low concentrations and direct activation of receptor chloride channel at higher concentrations. The GABA(A) receptor mediates two types of inhibition, now characterized as synaptic (phasic) and extrasynaptic (tonic) inhibition. Synaptic release of GABA results in the activation of low-affinity γ2-containing synaptic receptors, while high-affinity δ-containing extrasynaptic receptors are persistently activated by the ambient GABA present in the extracellular fluid. Neurosteroids are potent positive allosteric modulators of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors and therefore enhance both phasic and tonic inhibition. Tonic inhibition is specifically more sensitive to neurosteroids. The resulting tonic conductance generates a form of shunting inhibition that controls neuronal network excitability, seizure susceptibility, and behavior. CONCLUSION The growing understanding of the mechanisms of neurosteroid regulation of the structure and function of the synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors provides many opportunities to create improved therapies for sleep, anxiety, stress, epilepsy, and other neuropsychiatric conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chase Matthew Carver
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, 2008 Medical Research and Education Building, 8447 State Highway 47, Bryan, TX, 77807-3260, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|