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Zhang L, Dong W, Li J, Gao S, Sheng H, Kong Q, Guan F, Zhang L. C1ql3 knockout affects microglia activation, neuronal integrity, and spontaneous behavior in Wistar rats. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38379452 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12383] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND C1QL3 is widely expressed in the brain and is specifically produced by a subset of excitatory neurons. However, its function is still not clear. We established C1ql3-deficient rats to investigate the role of C1QL3 in the brain. METHODS C1ql3 knockout (KO) rats were generated using CRISPR/Cas9. C1ql3 KO was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and western blotting. Microglia morphology and cytokine expression with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulus were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. The brain structure changes in KO rats were examined using magnetic resonance imaging. Neuronal architecture alteration was analyzed by performing Golgi staining. Behavior was evaluated using the open field test, Morris water maze test, and Y maze test. RESULTS C1ql3 KO significantly increased the number of ramified microglia and decreased the number of hypertrophic microglia, whereas C1ql3 KO did not influence the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and anti-inflammatory factors except IL-10. C1ql3 KO brains had more amoeboid microglia types and higher Arg-1 expression compared with the WT rats after LPS stimulation. The brain weights and HPC sizes of C1ql3 KO rats did not differ from WT rats. C1ql3 KO damaged neuronal integrity including neuron dendritic arbors and spine density. C1ql3 KO rats demonstrated an increase in spontaneous activity and an impairment in short working memory. CONCLUSIONS C1ql3 KO not only interrupts the neuronal integrity but also affects the microglial activation, resulting in hyperactive behavior and impaired short memory in rats, which highlights the role of C1QL3 in the regulation of structure and function of both neuronal and microglial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwen Li
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hanxuan Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Kong
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feifei Guan
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lianfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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