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Zeng X, Cai Y, Wu M, Chen H, Sun M, Yang H. An overview of current advances in perinatal alcohol exposure and pathogenesis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:20. [PMID: 38643092 PMCID: PMC11031898 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09537-w] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The adverse use of alcohol is a serious global public health problem. Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy usually causes prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the developing fetus, leading to a spectrum of disorders known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and even fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) throughout the lifelong sufferers. The prevalence of FASD is approximately 7.7 per 1,000 worldwide, and is even higher in developed regions. Generally, Ethanol in alcoholic beverages can impair embryonic neurological development through multiple pathways leading to FASD. Among them, the leading mechanism of FASDs is attributed to ethanol-induced neuroinflammatory damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, the remaining multiple pathological mechanisms is likely due to the neurotoxic damage of ethanol and the resultant neuronal loss. Regardless of the molecular pathway, the ultimate outcome of the developing CNS exposed to ethanol is almost always the destruction and apoptosis of neurons, which leads to the reduction of neurons and further the development of FASD. In this review, we systematically summarize the current research progress on the pathogenesis of FASD, which hopefully provides new insights into differential early diagnosis, treatment and prevention for patents with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingdong Zeng
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215031, China
| | - Yongle Cai
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215031, China
| | - Mengyan Wu
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215031, China
| | - Haonan Chen
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215031, China
| | - Miao Sun
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215031, China.
| | - Hao Yang
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215031, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China.
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Topchiy I, Mohbat J, Folorunso OO, Wang ZZ, Lazcano-Etchebarne C, Engin E. GABA system as the cause and effect in early development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105651. [PMID: 38579901 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105651] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain and through its actions on GABAARs, it protects against excitotoxicity and seizure activity, ensures temporal fidelity of neurotransmission, and regulates concerted rhythmic activity of neuronal populations. In the developing brain, the development of GABAergic neurons precedes that of glutamatergic neurons and the GABA system serves as a guide and framework for the development of other brain systems. Despite this early start, the maturation of the GABA system also continues well into the early postnatal period. In this review, we organize evidence around two scenarios based on the essential and protracted nature of GABA system development: 1) disruptions in the development of the GABA system can lead to large scale disruptions in other developmental processes (i.e., GABA as the cause), 2) protracted maturation of this system makes it vulnerable to the effects of developmental insults (i.e., GABA as the effect). While ample evidence supports the importance of GABA/GABAAR system in both scenarios, large gaps in existing knowledge prevent strong mechanistic conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Topchiy
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Julie Mohbat
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Oluwarotimi O Folorunso
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ziyi Zephyr Wang
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Elif Engin
- Division of Basic Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Marret S, Chadie A, Muller JB, Chollat C. [Neurodevelopment and neuroprotection in young children]. Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol 2024:S2468-7189(24)00086-2. [PMID: 38492741 DOI: 10.1016/j.gofs.2024.03.003] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
In France, the most pessimistic estimates put the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) at 15 % of births. The two largest populations of newborns at highest risk of NDD are premature babies and babies born into siblings with one or more infants who already have an autism spectrum disorder or another NDD. The high prevalence of these disorders justifies a health promotion policy, centred on the child and his or her family. Prevention is based on the early identification of high-risk factors, by informing families and training pregnancy and early childhood professionals, and implementing perinatal prevention protocols for high-risk newborns (antenatal corticosteroid therapy and magnesium sulfate for women at risk of preterm delivery before 32 weeks, developmental care, therapeutic hypothermia for full-term infants with early neonatal encephalopathy presumed to be anoxic). Preventing the severity of NDD depends on their early identification, as early as possible in the highest plastic "1000 days" developmental window, a smooth flow of diagnosis and care for mothers and children, and the establishment of an ecosystem that includes multi-modal early intervention, at the best in multi-disciplinary teams such as the early medical and social action centres, support for families through guidance programs and inclusion in the community, first in day-care centers and then in nursery schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Marret
- Service de pédiatrie néonatale et réanimation - neuropédiatrie, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, CHU de Rouen et Unité Inserm 1245, UFR santé de Rouen, université de Normandie, Rouen, France.
| | - Alexandra Chadie
- Service de pédiatrie néonatale et réanimation - neuropédiatrie, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, CHU de Rouen et Unité Inserm 1245, UFR santé de Rouen, université de Normandie, Rouen, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Muller
- Service de pédiatrie néonatale et réanimation - neuropédiatrie, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, CHU de Rouen et Unité Inserm 1245, UFR santé de Rouen, université de Normandie, Rouen, France
| | - Clément Chollat
- Service de néonatologie, hôpital Armand Trousseau, AP-HP, université Paris Cité, Inserm, NeuroDiderot, Paris, France
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Roetner J, Van Doren J, Maschke J, Kulke L, Pontones C, Fasching PA, Beckmann MW, Lenz B, Kratz O, Moll GH, Kornhuber J, Eichler A. Effects of prenatal alcohol exposition on cognitive outcomes in childhood and youth: a longitudinal analysis based on meconium ethyl glucuronide. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:343-352. [PMID: 37532863 PMCID: PMC10914883 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01657-z] [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: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been linked to severe, adverse child outcomes. However, little is known regarding subclinical outcomes of low/moderate PAE and its longitudinal consequences, especially regarding neurophysiological and neurocognitive development. A newborn biomarker of PAE, meconium ethyl glucuronide (EtG), has been shown to predict cognitive impairments in primary-school-aged children. The current study investigated the ongoing effects of subclinical PAE in adolescence. METHODS A sample of n = 96 mother-child dyads of the FRAMES/FRANCES cohort were classified into PAE/no PAE using EtG with a 10 ng/g cutoff. Mothers were recruited during pregnancy and children were assessed during primary-school age (M = 7.57, SD = 0.65, range: 6.00-9.92 years) and adolescence (M = 13.26, SD = 0.31, range: 12.79-14.20 years) on three levels: clinical (ADHD rating), neuropsychological (IQ score and performance in a go/nogo task), and neurophysiological (analysis of P3 event-related potentials (ERP) during said go/nogo task). Developmental outcomes and courses following PAE were assessed using rmANCOVAs, controlling for relevant confounders (socioeconomic status (SES), birth weight, and maternal psychopathology). RESULTS Neurophysiological impairments emerged for exposed children in the form of diminished attentional resource recruiting in childhood and adolescence (reduced go-P3 amplitudes) with no differences in performance. Neuropsychological testing showed a reduced IQ score for both time points with dose-dependent effects in childhood. Clinical ADHD symptoms were not significantly affected. CONCLUSION Subclinical PAE, as determined by meconium EtG, has negative developmental consequences on cognitive function that persist from childhood to adolescence. These findings suggest that there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption during pregnancy and that more thorough screening of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is necessary for early identification and treatment of at-risk children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Roetner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Psychology I - Developmental Psychology, Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
| | - Jessica Van Doren
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Janina Maschke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Louisa Kulke
- Department of Neurocognitive Developmental Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Constanza Pontones
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter A Fasching
- Department of Psychology I - Developmental Psychology, Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Psychology I - Developmental Psychology, Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Oliver Kratz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gunther H Moll
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anna Eichler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
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Gerstner T, Henning O, Løhaugen G, Skranes J. Frequency of epilepsy and pathological EEG findings in a Norwegian sample of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Impact on cognition and adaptive functioning. Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken) 2024; 48:309-318. [PMID: 38105112 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15247] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) comprises a combination of developmental, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities that occur in children exposed to alcohol prenatally. A higher prevalence of epilepsy and pathological electroencephalographic (EEG) features have also been reported in individuals with FASD. We examined the frequency of epilepsy, pathological EEG findings, and their implications for cognitive and adaptive functioning in children with FASD. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 148 children with FASD who underwent a multidisciplinary assessment and a 120-min EEG recording. Group comparisons and regression analyses were performed to test the associations between epilepsy and pathological EEG findings, FASD subgroups and neurocognitive test results and adaptive functioning. RESULTS The frequency of epilepsy was 6%, which compares with 0.7% in Norway overall. Seventeen percent of children without epilepsy had pathological EEG findings. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was diagnosed in 64% of the children. Children with epilepsy and/or pathological EEG findings had comparable cognitive and adaptive scores to those with normal EEG. However, children with frontal EEG pathology (without epilepsy) had significantly lower scores on the IQ indices Processing speed and Working memory than FASD children without such findings, irrespective of ADHD comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS There was a greater prevalence of epilepsy among children with FASD than in the general Norwegian population. A greater frequency of EEG pathology was also evident in children without epilepsy, across all FASD subgroups. Irrespective of epilepsy, ADHD comorbidity, and FASD subgroup, children with frontal EEG pathology, despite having a normal total IQ, showed significantly slower processing speed and poorer working memory, which may indicate specific executive function deficits that could affect learning and adaptive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Gerstner
- Regional Competence Center for Children with Prenatal Alcohol/Drug Exposure, Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Oliver Henning
- National Centre for Epilepsy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gro Løhaugen
- Regional Competence Center for Children with Prenatal Alcohol/Drug Exposure, Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
| | - Jon Skranes
- Regional Competence Center for Children with Prenatal Alcohol/Drug Exposure, Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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Sautreuil C, Lecointre M, Dalmasso J, Lebon A, Leuillier M, Janin F, Lecuyer M, Bekri S, Marret S, Laquerrière A, Brasse-Lagnel C, Gil S, Gonzalez BJ. Expression of placental CD146 is dysregulated by prenatal alcohol exposure and contributes in cortical vasculature development and positioning of vessel-associated oligodendrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 17:1294746. [PMID: 38269113 PMCID: PMC10806802 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1294746] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent data showed that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) impairs the "placenta-brain" axis controlling fetal brain angiogenesis in human and preclinical models. Placental growth factor (PlGF) has been identified as a proangiogenic messenger between these two organs. CD146, a partner of the VEGFR-1/2 signalosome, is involved in placental angiogenesis and exists as a soluble circulating form. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether placental CD146 may contribute to brain vascular defects described in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. At a physiological level, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments performed in human placenta showed that CD146 is expressed in developing villi and that membrane and soluble forms of CD146 are differentially expressed from the first trimester to term. In the mouse placenta, a similar expression pattern of CD146 was found. CD146 immunoreactivity was detected in the labyrinth zone and colocalized with CD31-positive endothelial cells. Significant amounts of soluble CD146 were quantified by ELISA in fetal blood, and the levels decreased after birth. In the fetal brain, the membrane form of CD146 was the majority and colocalized with microvessels. At a pathophysiological level, PAE induced marked dysregulation of CD146 expression. The soluble form of CD146 decreased in both placenta and fetal blood, whereas it increased in the fetal brain. Similarly, the expression of several members of the CD146 signalosome, such as VEGFR2 and PSEN, was differentially impaired between the two organs by PAE. At a functional level, targeted repression of placental CD146 by in utero electroporation (IUE) of CRISPR/Cas9 lentiviral plasmids resulted in (i) a decrease in cortical vessel density, (ii) a loss of radial vascular organization, and (iii) a reduced density of oligodendrocytes. Statistical analysis showed that the more the vasculature was impaired, the more the cortical oligodendrocyte density was reduced. Altogether, these data support that placental CD146 contributes to the proangiogenic "placenta-brain" axis and that placental CD146 dysfunction contributes to the cortical oligo-vascular development. Soluble CD146 would represent a promising placental biomarker candidate representative of alcohol-induced neurovascular defects in neonates, as recently suggested by PlGF (patents WO2016207253 and WO2018100143).
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Sautreuil
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
| | - Maryline Lecointre
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
| | | | - Alexis Lebon
- Rouen Université, US51 HeRacLeS, PRIMACEN Platform, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Normandie Université, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | | | - François Janin
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
| | - Matthieu Lecuyer
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
| | - Soumeya Bekri
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
- Rouen Université, CHU Rouen, Department of Metabolic Biochemistry, Normandie University, Rouen, France
| | - Stéphane Marret
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
- Rouen Université, CHU Rouen, Department of Neonatal Pediatrics and Intensive Care, Rouen, France
| | - Annie Laquerrière
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
- Rouen Université, CHU Rouen, Department of Pathology, Rouen Normandy Hospital, Rouen, France
| | - Carole Brasse-Lagnel
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
| | - Sophie Gil
- Université de Paris, INSERM, UMR-S 1139, 3PHM, Paris, France
| | - Bruno J. Gonzalez
- Rouen Université, Inserm U1245 – Team “Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, Normandie Université, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
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Sautreuil C, Lecointre M, Derambure C, Brasse-Lagnel C, Leroux P, Laquerrière A, Nicolas G, Gil S, Savage DD, Marret S, Marguet F, Falluel-Morel A, Gonzalez BJ. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Impairs the Placenta-Cortex Transcriptomic Signature, Leading to Dysregulation of Angiogenic Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13484. [PMID: 37686296 PMCID: PMC10488081 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Although alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a major cause of behavioral and learning disabilities, most FASD infants are late- or even misdiagnosed due to clinician's difficulties achieving early detection of alcohol-induced neurodevelopmental impairments. Neuroplacentology has emerged as a new field of research focusing on the role of the placenta in fetal brain development. Several studies have reported that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) dysregulates a functional placenta-cortex axis, which is involved in the control of angiogenesis and leads to neurovascular-related defects. However, these studies were focused on PlGF, a pro-angiogenic factor. The aim of the present study is to provide the first transcriptomic "placenta-cortex" signature of the effects of PAE on fetal angiogenesis. Whole mouse genome microarrays of paired placentas and cortices were performed to establish the transcriptomic inter-organ "placenta-cortex" signature in control and PAE groups at gestational day 20. Genespring comparison of the control and PAE signatures revealed that 895 and 1501 genes were only detected in one of two placenta-cortex expression profiles, respectively. Gene ontology analysis indicated that 107 of these genes were associated with vascular development, and String protein-protein interaction analysis showed that they were associated with three functional clusters. PANTHER functional classification analysis indicated that "intercellular communication" was a significantly enriched biological process, and 27 genes were encoded for neuroactive ligand/receptors interactors. Protein validation experiments involving Western blot for one ligand-receptor couple (Agt/AGTR1/2) confirmed the transcriptomic data, and Pearson statistical analysis of paired placentas and fetal cortices revealed a negative correlation between placental Atg and cortical AGTR1, which was significantly impacted by PAE. In humans, a comparison of a 38WG control placenta with a 36WG alcohol-exposed placenta revealed low Agt immunolabeling in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of the alcohol case. In conclusion, this study establishes the first transcriptomic placenta-cortex signature of a developing mouse. The data show that PAE markedly unbalances this inter-organ signature; in particular, several ligands and/or receptors involved in the control of angiogenesis. These data support that PAE modifies the existing communication between the two organs and opens new research avenues regarding the impact of placental dysfunction on the neurovascular development of fetuses. Such a signature would present a clinical value for early diagnosis of brain defects in FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Sautreuil
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
| | - Maryline Lecointre
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
| | - Céline Derambure
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Genetic Predisposition to Cancer, 76000 Rouen, France;
- Joint Genomics Facilities, Rouen University, 76183 Rouen, France
| | - Carole Brasse-Lagnel
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
| | - Philippe Leroux
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
| | - Annie Laquerrière
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
- Department of Pathology, Rouen University Hospital, 76183 Rouen, France
| | - Gaël Nicolas
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Genomics for Brain Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France;
| | - Sophie Gil
- INSERM UMR-S1144, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, 75006 Paris, France;
| | - Daniel D. Savage
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
| | - Stéphane Marret
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
- Department of Neonatal Paediatrics and Intensive Care, Rouen University Hospital, University Rouen Normandie and CHU Rouen, 76183 Rouen, France
| | - Florent Marguet
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
- Department of Pathology, Rouen University Hospital, 76183 Rouen, France
| | - Anthony Falluel-Morel
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
| | - Bruno J. Gonzalez
- University Rouen Normandie, INSERM U1245, Team Epigenetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 76183 Rouen, France; (C.S.); (M.L.); (C.B.-L.); (P.L.); (A.L.); (S.M.); (F.M.); (A.F.-M.)
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Dufour BD, McBride E, Bartley T, Juarez P, Martínez-Cerdeño V. Distinct patterns of GABAergic interneuron pathology in autism are associated with intellectual impairment and stereotypic behaviors. Autism 2023; 27:1730-1745. [PMID: 36935610 PMCID: PMC10846597 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231154053] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in sociability and communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors. How specific pathological alterations of the brain contribute to the clinical profile of autism spectrum disorder remains unknown. We previously found that a specific type of inhibitory interneuron is reduced in number in the autism spectrum disorder prefrontal cortex. Here, we assessed the relationship between interneuron reduction and autism spectrum disorder symptom severity. We collected clinical records from autism spectrum disorder (n = 20) and assessed the relationship between the severity of symptoms and interneuron number. We found that the reduced number of inhibitory interneurons that we previously reported is linked to specific symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, particularly stereotypic movements and intellectual impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett D Dufour
- UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, USA
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
| | - Erin McBride
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| | - Trevor Bartley
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| | - Pablo Juarez
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
| | - Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
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9
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Tousley AR, Yeh PWL, Yeh HH. Precocious emergence of cognitive and synaptic dysfunction in 3xTg-AD mice exposed prenatally to ethanol. Alcohol 2023; 107:56-72. [PMID: 36038084 PMCID: PMC10183974 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide. Early life risk factors for AD, including prenatal exposures, remain underexplored. Exposure of the fetus to alcohol (ethanol) is not uncommon during pregnancy, and may result in physical, behavioral, and cognitive changes that are first detected during childhood but result in lifelong challenges. Whether or not prenatal ethanol exposure may contribute to Alzheimer's disease risk is not yet known. Here we exposed a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (3xTg-AD), bearing three dementia-associated transgenes, presenilin1 (PS1M146V), human amyloid precursor protein (APPSwe), and human tau (TauP301S), to ethanol on gestational days 13.5-16.5 using an established binge-type maternal ethanol exposure paradigm. We sought to investigate whether prenatal ethanol exposure resulted in a precocious onset or increased severity of AD progression, or both. We found that a brief binge-type gestational exposure to ethanol during a period of peak neuronal migration to the developing cortex resulted in an earlier onset of spatial memory deficits and behavioral inflexibility in the progeny, as assessed by performance on the modified Barnes maze task. The observed cognitive changes coincided with alterations to both GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in layer V/VI neurons, diminished GABAergic interneurons, and increased β-amyloid accumulation in the medial prefrontal cortex. These findings provide the first preclinical evidence for prenatal ethanol exposure as a potential factor for modifying the onset of AD-like behavioral dysfunction and set the groundwork for more comprehensive investigations into the underpinnings of AD-like cognitive changes in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelaide R Tousley
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States; MD-PhD Program, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth; Integrative Neuroscience at Dartmouth Graduate Program, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Pamela W L Yeh
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Hermes H Yeh
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.
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10
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Abstract
Alcohol readily crosses the placenta and may disrupt fetal development. Harm from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is determined by the dose, pattern, timing and duration of exposure, fetal and maternal genetics, maternal nutrition, concurrent substance use, and epigenetic responses. A safe dose of alcohol use during pregnancy has not been established. PAE can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which are characterized by neurodevelopmental impairment with or without facial dysmorphology, congenital anomalies and poor growth. FASD are a leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disability. The prevalence of FASD in 76 countries is >1% and is high in individuals living in out-of-home care or engaged in justice and mental health systems. The social and economic effects of FASD are profound, but the diagnosis is often missed or delayed and receives little public recognition. Future research should be informed by people living with FASD and be guided by cultural context, seek consensus on diagnostic criteria and evidence-based treatments, and describe the pathophysiology and lifelong effects of FASD. Imperatives include reducing stigma, equitable access to services, improved quality of life for people with FASD and FASD prevention in future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Popova
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Michael E Charness
- VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Larry Burd
- North Dakota Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pediatric Therapy Services, Altru Health System, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Andi Crawford
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - H Eugene Hoyme
- Sanford Children's Genomic Medicine Consortium, Sanford Health, and University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Raja A S Mukherjee
- National UK FASD Clinic, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Redhill, Surrey, UK
| | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,New South Wales FASD Assessment Service, CICADA Centre for Care and Intervention for Children and Adolescents affected by Drugs and Alcohol, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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11
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Alhowail A. Mechanisms Underlying Cognitive Impairment Induced by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12121667. [PMID: 36552126 PMCID: PMC9775935 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12121667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used illicit substances among pregnant women. Clinical and experimental studies have revealed that prenatal alcohol exposure affects fetal brain development and ultimately results in the persistent impairment of the offspring's cognitive functions. Despite this, the rate of alcohol use among pregnant women has been progressively increasing. Various aspects of human and animal behavior, including learning and memory, are dependent on complex interactions between multiple mechanisms, such as receptor function, mitochondrial function, and protein kinase activation, which are especially vulnerable to alterations during the developmental period. Thus, the exploration of the mechanisms that are altered in response to prenatal alcohol exposure is necessary to develop an understanding of how homeostatic imbalance and various long-term neurobehavioral impairments manifest following alcohol abuse during pregnancy. There is evidence that prenatal alcohol exposure results in vast alterations in mechanisms such as long-term potentiation, mitochondrial function, and protein kinase activation in the brain of offspring. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are very few recent reviews that focus on the cognitive effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and the associated mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the recently reported alterations to various mechanisms following alcohol exposure during pregnancy, and to draw potential associations with behavioral changes in affected offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Alhowail
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Al Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
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12
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Brosolo M, Lecointre M, Laquerrière A, Janin F, Genty D, Lebon A, Lesueur C, Vivien D, Marret S, Marguet F, Gonzalez BJ. In utero alcohol exposure impairs vessel-associated positioning and differentiation of oligodendrocytes in the developing neocortex. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 171:105791. [PMID: 35760273 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a major cause of nongenetic mental retardation and can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the most severe manifestation of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD infants present behavioral disabilities resulting from neurodevelopmental defects. Both grey and white matter lesions have been characterized and are associated with apoptotic death and/or ectopic migration profiles. In the last decade, it was shown that PAE impairs brain angiogenesis, and the radial organization of cortical microvessels is lost. Concurrently, several studies have reported that tangential migration of oligodendrocyte precursors (OPCs) originating from ganglionic eminences is vascular associated. Because numerous migrating oligodendrocytes enter the developing neocortex, the present study aimed to determine whether migrating OPCs interacted with radial cortical microvessels and whether alcohol-induced vascular impairments were associated with altered positioning and differentiation of cortical oligodendrocytes. Using a 3D morphometric analysis, the results revealed that in both human and mouse cortices, 15 to 40% of Olig2-positive cells were in close association with radial cortical microvessels, respectively. Despite perinatal vascular disorganization, PAE did not modify the vessel association of Olig2-positive cells but impaired their positioning between deep and superficial cortical layers. At the molecular level, PAE markedly but transiently reduced the expression of CNPase and MBP, two differentiation markers of immature and mature oligodendrocytes. In particular, PAE inverted their distribution profiles in cortical layers V and VI and reduced the thickness of the myelin sheath of efferent axons. These perinatal oligo-vascular defects were associated with motor disabilities that persisted in adults. Altogether, the present study provides the first evidence that Olig2-positive cells entering the neocortex are associated with radial microvessels. PAE disorganized the cortical microvasculature and delayed the positioning and differentiation of oligodendrocytes. Although most of these oligovascular defects occurred in perinatal life, the offspring developed long-term motor troubles. Altogether, these data suggest that alcohol-induced oligo-vascular impairments contribute to the neurodevelopmental issues described in FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Brosolo
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - M Lecointre
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - A Laquerrière
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France; Department of Pathology, Rouen University Hospital, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - F Janin
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - D Genty
- Department of Pathology, Rouen University Hospital, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - A Lebon
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM US 51, CNRS UAR 2026, HeRacLeS-PRIMACEN, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - C Lesueur
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - D Vivien
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders (PhIND), GIP Cyceron, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie (BB@C), 14000 Caen, France; Department of Clinical Research, Caen-Normandie University Hospital, CHU, Avenue de la côte de Nacre, Caen, France
| | - S Marret
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France; Department of Neonatal Pediatrics and Intensive Care, Rouen University Hospital, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - F Marguet
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France; Department of Pathology, Rouen University Hospital, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - B J Gonzalez
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F 76000 Rouen, France.
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13
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Marguet F, Brosolo M, Friocourt G, Sauvestre F, Marcorelles P, Lesueur C, Marret S, Gonzalez BJ, Laquerrière A. Oligodendrocyte lineage is severely affected in human alcohol-exposed foetuses. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:74. [PMID: 35568959 PMCID: PMC9107108 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01378-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure is a major cause of neurobehavioral disabilities. MRI studies in humans have shown that alcohol is associated with white matter microstructural anomalies but these studies focused on myelin abnormalities only after birth. Only one of these studies evaluated oligodendrocyte lineage, but only for a short period during human foetal life. As data are lacking in humans and alcohol is known to impair oligodendrocyte differentiation in rodents, the present study aimed to compare by immunohistochemistry the oligodendrocyte precursor cells expressing PDGFR-α and immature premyelinating/mature oligodendrocytes expressing Olig2 in the ganglionic eminences and the frontal cortex of 14 human foetuses exposed to alcohol from 15 to 37 weeks' gestation with age-matched controls. The human brains used in this study were obtained at the time of foetal autopsies for medical termination of pregnancy, in utero or post-natal early death. Before birth, PDGFR-α expression was strongly increased in the ganglionic eminences and the cortex of all foetuses exposed to alcohol except at the earliest stage. No massive generation of Olig2 immunoreactive cells was identified in the ganglionic eminences until the end of pregnancy and the density of Olig2-positive cells within the cortex was consistently lower in foetuses exposed to alcohol than in controls. These antenatal data from humans provides further evidence of major oligodendrocyte lineage impairment at specific and key stages of brain development upon prenatal alcohol exposure including defective or delayed generation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Marguet
- Department of Pathology, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Laboratoire d'Anatomie Pathologique, Pavillon Jacques Delarue, CHU, Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245 and Rouen University Hospital, 1 Rue de Germont, 76031, Rouen Cedex, France.
| | - Mélanie Brosolo
- UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245 F76000, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Normandie Univ, Rouen, France
| | - Gaëlle Friocourt
- Inserm UMR1078, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Faculté de Médecine et Des Sciences de la Santé; Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS) Bretagne; Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, CHRU Brest, Hôpital Morvan, Brest, France
| | - Fanny Sauvestre
- Department of Pathology, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France
| | - Pascale Marcorelles
- Pathology Laboratory, Pole Pathologie-Biologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brest, Brest, France
- Laboratory of Neurosciences of Brest, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Brest University, Brest, France
| | - Céline Lesueur
- UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245 F76000, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Normandie Univ, Rouen, France
| | - Stéphane Marret
- Department of Neonatal Paediatrics and Intensive Care, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245 and Rouen University Hospital, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - Bruno J Gonzalez
- UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245 F76000, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Normandie Univ, Rouen, France
| | - Annie Laquerrière
- Department of Pathology, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Laboratoire d'Anatomie Pathologique, Pavillon Jacques Delarue, CHU, Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245 and Rouen University Hospital, 1 Rue de Germont, 76031, Rouen Cedex, France
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14
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Wong EL, Strohm A, Atlas J, Lamantia C, Majewska AK. Dynamics of microglia and dendritic spines in early adolescent cortex after developmental alcohol exposure. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:786-804. [PMID: 34228891 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22843] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder patients suffer from many cognitive disabilities. These include impaired auditory, visual, and tactile sensory information processing, making it more difficult for these patients to learn to navigate social scenarios. Rodent studies have shown that alcohol exposure during the brain growth spurt (BGS) can lead to acute neuronal apoptosis and an immunological response by microglia in the somatosensory cortex. Since microglia have critical physiological functions, including the support of excitatory synapse remodeling via interactions with dendritic spines, we sought to understand whether BGS alcohol exposure has long-term effects on microglial or dendritic spine dynamics. Using in vivo two-photon microscopy in 4-5 week old mice, we evaluated microglial functions such as process motility, the response to tissue injury, and the dynamics of physical interactions between microglial processes and dendritic spines. We also investigated potential differences in the morphology, density, or dynamics of dendritic spines in layer I/II primary sensory cortex of control and BGS alcohol exposed mice. We found that microglial process motility and contact with dendritic spines were not altered after BGS alcohol exposure. While the response of microglial processes toward tissue injury was not significantly altered by prior alcohol exposure, there was a trend suggesting that alcohol early in life may prime microglia to respond more quickly to secondary injury. Spine density, morphology, stability, and remodeling over time were not perturbed after BGS alcohol exposure. We demonstrate that after BGS alcohol exposure, the physiological functions of microglia and excitatory neurons remain intact in early adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa L Wong
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, US.,Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, US
| | - Alexandra Strohm
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, US
| | - Jason Atlas
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, US
| | - Cassandra Lamantia
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, US
| | - Ania K Majewska
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, US.,Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, US
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15
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Pinson MR, Holloway KN, Douglas JC, Kane CJM, Miranda RC, Drew PD. Divergent and overlapping hippocampal and cerebellar transcriptome responses following developmental ethanol exposure during the secondary neurogenic period. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:1408-1423. [PMID: 34060105 PMCID: PMC8312515 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background The developing hippocampus and cerebellum, unique among brain regions, exhibit a secondary surge in neurogenesis during the third trimester of pregnancy. Ethanol (EtOH) exposure during this period is results in a loss of tissue volume and associated neurobehavioral deficits. However, mechanisms that link EtOH exposure to teratology in these regions are not well understood. We therefore analyzed transcriptomic adaptations to EtOH exposure to identify mechanistic linkages. Methods Hippocampi and cerebella were microdissected at postnatal day (P)10, from control C57BL/6J mouse pups, and pups treated with 4 g/kg of EtOH from P4 to P9. RNA was isolated and RNA‐seq analysis was performed. We compared gene expression in EtOH‐ and vehicle‐treated control neonates and performed biological pathway‐overrepresentation analysis. Results While EtOH exposure resulted in the general induction of genes associated with the S‐phase of mitosis in both cerebellum and hippocampus, overall there was little overlap in differentially regulated genes and associated biological pathways between these regions. In cerebellum, EtOH additionally induced gene expression associated with the G2/M‐phases of the cell cycle and sonic hedgehog signaling, while in hippocampus, EtOH‐induced the pathways for ribosome biogenesis and protein translation. Moreover, EtOH inhibited the transcriptomic identities associated with inhibitory interneuron subpopulations in the hippocampus, while in the cerebellum there was a more pronounced inhibition of transcripts across multiple oligodendrocyte maturation stages. Conclusions These data indicate that during the delayed neurogenic period, EtOH may stimulate the cell cycle, but it otherwise results in widely divergent molecular effects in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Moreover, these data provide evidence for region‐ and cell‐type‐specific vulnerability, which may contribute to the pathogenic effects of developmental EtOH exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa R Pinson
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Kalee N Holloway
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - James C Douglas
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Cynthia J M Kane
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Paul D Drew
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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16
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Salem NA, Mahnke AH, Konganti K, Hillhouse AE, Miranda RC. Cell-type and fetal-sex-specific targets of prenatal alcohol exposure in developing mouse cerebral cortex. iScience 2021; 24:102439. [PMID: 33997709 PMCID: PMC8105653 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) results in cerebral cortical dysgenesis. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on murine fetal cerebral cortical cells from six timed pregnancies, to decipher persistent cell- and sex-specific effects of an episode of PAE during early neurogenesis. We found, in an analysis of 38 distinct neural subpopulations across 8 lineage subtypes, that PAE altered neural maturation and cell cycle and disrupted gene co-expression networks. Whereas most differentially regulated genes were inhibited, particularly in females, PAE also induced sex-independent neural expression of fetal hemoglobin, a presumptive epigenetic stress adaptation. PAE inhibited Bcl11a, Htt, Ctnnb1, and other upstream regulators of differentially expressed genes and inhibited several autism-linked genes, suggesting that neurodevelopmental disorders share underlying mechanisms. PAE females exhibited neural loss of X-inactivation, with correlated activation of autosomal genes and evidence for spliceosome dysfunction. Thus, episodic PAE persistently alters the developing neural transcriptome, contributing to sex- and cell-type-specific teratology. The neurogenic murine fetal cortex contains about 33 distinct cell subtypes Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) resulted in sex-specific alterations in developmental trajectory and cell cycle PAE females exhibited neural loss of X-inactivation and spliceosomal dysfunction PAE induced sex-independent neural expression of fetal hemoglobin gene transcripts
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Affiliation(s)
- Nihal A. Salem
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Medical Research and Education Building, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3260, USA
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Amanda H. Mahnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Medical Research and Education Building, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3260, USA
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Kranti Konganti
- Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences and Society, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Andrew E. Hillhouse
- Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences and Society, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Rajesh C. Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Medical Research and Education Building, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3260, USA
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
- Corresponding author
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