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Mich JK, Ryu J, Wei AD, Gore BB, Guo R, Bard AM, Martinez RA, Bishaw Y, Luber E, Oliveira Santos LM, Miranda N, Ramirez JM, Ting JT, Lein ES, Levi BP, Kalume FK. AAV-mediated interneuron-specific gene replacement for Dravet syndrome. bioRxiv 2023:2023.12.15.571820. [PMID: 38168178 PMCID: PMC10760176 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.15.571820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a devastating developmental epileptic encephalopathy marked by treatment-resistant seizures, developmental delay, intellectual disability, motor deficits, and a 10-20% rate of premature death. Most DS patients harbor loss-of-function mutations in one copy of SCN1A , which has been associated with inhibitory neuron dysfunction. Here we developed an interneuron-targeting AAV human SCN1A gene replacement therapy using cell class-specific enhancers. We generated a split-intein fusion form of SCN1A to circumvent AAV packaging limitations and deliver SCN1A via a dual vector approach using cell class-specific enhancers. These constructs produced full-length Na V 1.1 protein and functional sodium channels in HEK293 cells and in brain cells in vivo . After packaging these vectors into enhancer-AAVs and administering to mice, immunohistochemical analyses showed telencephalic GABAergic interneuron-specific and dose-dependent transgene biodistribution. These vectors conferred strong dose-dependent protection against postnatal mortality and seizures in two DS mouse models carrying independent loss-of-function alleles of Scn1a, at two independent research sites, supporting the robustness of this approach. No mortality or toxicity was observed in wild-type mice injected with single vectors expressing either the N-terminal or C-terminal halves of SCN1A , or the dual vector system targeting interneurons. In contrast, nonselective neuronal targeting of SCN1A conferred less rescue against mortality and presented substantial preweaning lethality. These findings demonstrate proof-of-concept that interneuron-specific AAV-mediated SCN1A gene replacement is sufficient for significant rescue in DS mouse models and suggest it could be an effective therapeutic approach for patients with DS.
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Chuapoco MR, Flytzanis NC, Goeden N, Christopher Octeau J, Roxas KM, Chan KY, Scherrer J, Winchester J, Blackburn RJ, Campos LJ, Man KNM, Sun J, Chen X, Lefevre A, Singh VP, Arokiaraj CM, Shay TF, Vendemiatti J, Jang MJ, Mich JK, Bishaw Y, Gore BB, Omstead V, Taskin N, Weed N, Levi BP, Ting JT, Miller CT, Deverman BE, Pickel J, Tian L, Fox AS, Gradinaru V. Adeno-associated viral vectors for functional intravenous gene transfer throughout the non-human primate brain. Nat Nanotechnol 2023; 18:1241-1251. [PMID: 37430038 PMCID: PMC10575780 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01419-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Crossing the blood-brain barrier in primates is a major obstacle for gene delivery to the brain. Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) promise robust, non-invasive gene delivery from the bloodstream to the brain. However, unlike in rodents, few neurotropic AAVs efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier in non-human primates. Here we report on AAV.CAP-Mac, an engineered variant identified by screening in adult marmosets and newborn macaques, which has improved delivery efficiency in the brains of multiple non-human primate species: marmoset, rhesus macaque and green monkey. CAP-Mac is neuron biased in infant Old World primates, exhibits broad tropism in adult rhesus macaques and is vasculature biased in adult marmosets. We demonstrate applications of a single, intravenous dose of CAP-Mac to deliver functional GCaMP for ex vivo calcium imaging across multiple brain areas, or a cocktail of fluorescent reporters for Brainbow-like labelling throughout the macaque brain, circumventing the need for germline manipulations in Old World primates. As such, CAP-Mac is shown to have potential for non-invasive systemic gene transfer in the brains of non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel R Chuapoco
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Nicholas C Flytzanis
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Capsida Biotherapeutics, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
| | - Nick Goeden
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Capsida Biotherapeutics, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ken Y Chan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lillian J Campos
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kwun Nok Mimi Man
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Junqing Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Xinhong Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Arthur Lefevre
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Vikram Pal Singh
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia M Arokiaraj
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Timothy F Shay
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Julia Vendemiatti
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Min J Jang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - John K Mich
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Bryan B Gore
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Naz Taskin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Natalie Weed
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Boaz P Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan T Ting
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cory T Miller
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin E Deverman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James Pickel
- National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lin Tian
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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Mich JK, Sunil S, Johansen N, Martinez RA, Leytze M, Gore BB, Mahoney JT, Ben-Simon Y, Bishaw Y, Brouner K, Campos J, Canfield R, Casper T, Dee N, Egdorf T, Gary A, Gibson S, Goldy J, Groce EL, Hirschstein D, Loftus L, Lusk N, Malone J, Martin NX, Monet D, Omstead V, Opitz-Araya X, Oster A, Pom CA, Potekhina L, Reding M, Rimorin C, Ruiz A, Sedeño-Cortés AE, Shapovalova NV, Taormina M, Taskin N, Tieu M, Valera Cuevas NJ, Weed N, Way S, Yao Z, McMillen DA, Kunst M, McGraw M, Thyagarajan B, Waters J, Bakken TE, Yao S, Smith KA, Svoboda K, Podgorski K, Kojima Y, Horwitz GD, Zeng H, Daigle TL, Lein ES, Tasic B, Ting JT, Levi BP. Enhancer-AAVs allow genetic access to oligodendrocytes and diverse populations of astrocytes across species. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.20.558718. [PMID: 37790503 PMCID: PMC10542530 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.20.558718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Proper brain function requires the assembly and function of diverse populations of neurons and glia. Single cell gene expression studies have mostly focused on characterization of neuronal cell diversity; however, recent studies have revealed substantial diversity of glial cells, particularly astrocytes. To better understand glial cell types and their roles in neurobiology, we built a new suite of adeno-associated viral (AAV)-based genetic tools to enable genetic access to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. These oligodendrocyte and astrocyte enhancer-AAVs are highly specific (usually > 95% cell type specificity) with variable expression levels, and our astrocyte enhancer-AAVs show multiple distinct expression patterns reflecting the spatial distribution of astrocyte cell types. To provide the best glial-specific functional tools, several enhancer-AAVs were: optimized for higher expression levels, shown to be functional and specific in rat and macaque, shown to maintain specific activity in epilepsy where traditional promoters changed activity, and used to drive functional transgenes in astrocytes including Cre recombinase and acetylcholine-responsive sensor iAChSnFR. The astrocyte-specific iAChSnFR revealed a clear reward-dependent acetylcholine response in astrocytes of the nucleus accumbens during reinforcement learning. Together, this collection of glial enhancer-AAVs will enable characterization of astrocyte and oligodendrocyte populations and their roles across species, disease states, and behavioral epochs.
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Chen X, Wolfe DA, Bindu DS, Zhang M, Taskin N, Goertsen D, Shay TF, Sullivan EE, Huang SF, Ravindra Kumar S, Arokiaraj CM, Plattner VM, Campos LJ, Mich JK, Monet D, Ngo V, Ding X, Omstead V, Weed N, Bishaw Y, Gore BB, Lein ES, Akrami A, Miller C, Levi BP, Keller A, Ting JT, Fox AS, Eroglu C, Gradinaru V. Functional gene delivery to and across brain vasculature of systemic AAVs with endothelial-specific tropism in rodents and broad tropism in primates. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3345. [PMID: 37291094 PMCID: PMC10250345 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Delivering genes to and across the brain vasculature efficiently and specifically across species remains a critical challenge for addressing neurological diseases. We have evolved adeno-associated virus (AAV9) capsids into vectors that transduce brain endothelial cells specifically and efficiently following systemic administration in wild-type mice with diverse genetic backgrounds, and in rats. These AAVs also exhibit superior transduction of the CNS across non-human primates (marmosets and rhesus macaques), and in ex vivo human brain slices, although the endothelial tropism is not conserved across species. The capsid modifications translate from AAV9 to other serotypes such as AAV1 and AAV-DJ, enabling serotype switching for sequential AAV administration in mice. We demonstrate that the endothelial-specific mouse capsids can be used to genetically engineer the blood-brain barrier by transforming the mouse brain vasculature into a functional biofactory. We apply this approach to Hevin knockout mice, where AAV-X1-mediated ectopic expression of the synaptogenic protein Sparcl1/Hevin in brain endothelial cells rescued synaptic deficits.
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Grants
- DP1 DA048931 NIDA NIH HHS
- P51 OD011107 NIH HHS
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- UG3 MH120095 NIMH NIH HHS
- DP1 NS111369 NINDS NIH HHS
- OT2 OD024899 NIH HHS
- DP1 MH104069 NIMH NIH HHS
- UF1 MH128336 NIMH NIH HHS
- DP1 EB016986 NIBIB NIH HHS
- DP1 OD000616 NIH HHS
- DP2 NS087949 NINDS NIH HHS
- NIH Director’s New Innovator DP2NS087949 and PECASE, NIH BRAIN Armamentarium 1UF1MH128336-01, NIH Pioneer 5DP1NS111369-04 and SPARC 1OT2OD024899. Additional funding includes the Vallee Foundation, the Moore Foundation, the CZI Neurodegeneration Challenge Network, and the NSF NeuroNex Technology Hub grant 1707316, the Heritage Medical Research Institute and the Beckman Institute for CLARITY, Optogenetics and Vector Engineering Research (CLOVER) for technology development and dissemination, NIH BRAIN UG3MH120095.
- The Swiss National Science Foundation (310030_188952, A.K), the Synapsis (grant 2019-PI02, A.K.), the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society (A.K.).
- CNPRC base grant (NIH P51 OD011107)
- The CZI Neurodegeneration Challenge Network. C.E. is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhong Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Damien A Wolfe
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Mengying Zhang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Naz Taskin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David Goertsen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Timothy F Shay
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Erin E Sullivan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Sheng-Fu Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zürich University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sripriya Ravindra Kumar
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Cynthia M Arokiaraj
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Lillian J Campos
- Department of Psychology and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - John K Mich
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Deja Monet
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Victoria Ngo
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Lab, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Xiaozhe Ding
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Natalie Weed
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yeme Bishaw
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bryan B Gore
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ed S Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Athena Akrami
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cory Miller
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Lab, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Boaz P Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annika Keller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zürich University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan T Ting
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychology and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Cagla Eroglu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA.
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5
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Mich JK, Graybuck LT, Hess EE, Mahoney JT, Kojima Y, Ding Y, Somasundaram S, Miller JA, Kalmbach BE, Radaelli C, Gore BB, Weed N, Omstead V, Bishaw Y, Shapovalova NV, Martinez RA, Fong O, Yao S, Mortrud M, Chong P, Loftus L, Bertagnolli D, Goldy J, Casper T, Dee N, Opitz-Araya X, Cetin A, Smith KA, Gwinn RP, Cobbs C, Ko AL, Ojemann JG, Keene CD, Silbergeld DL, Sunkin SM, Gradinaru V, Horwitz GD, Zeng H, Tasic B, Lein ES, Ting JT, Levi BP. Functional enhancer elements drive subclass-selective expression from mouse to primate neocortex. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108754. [PMID: 33789096 PMCID: PMC8163032 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral genetic tools that target specific brain cell types could transform basic neuroscience and targeted gene therapy. Here, we use comparative open chromatin analysis to identify thousands of human-neocortical-subclass-specific putative enhancers from across the genome to control gene expression in adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. The cellular specificity of reporter expression from enhancer-AAVs is established by molecular profiling after systemic AAV delivery in mouse. Over 30% of enhancer-AAVs produce specific expression in the targeted subclass, including both excitatory and inhibitory subclasses. We present a collection of Parvalbumin (PVALB) enhancer-AAVs that show highly enriched expression not only in cortical PVALB cells but also in some subcortical PVALB populations. Five vectors maintain PVALB-enriched expression in primate neocortex. These results demonstrate how genome-wide open chromatin data mining and cross-species AAV validation can be used to create the next generation of non-species-restricted viral genetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K Mich
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | - Erik E Hess
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Yoshiko Kojima
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yi Ding
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Brian E Kalmbach
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Bryan B Gore
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Natalie Weed
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Olivia Fong
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shenqin Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Peter Chong
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Luke Loftus
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jeff Goldy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Nick Dee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Ali Cetin
- Department of Biology and Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Ryder P Gwinn
- Epilepsy Surgery and Functional Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Charles Cobbs
- The Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew L Ko
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Regional Epilepsy Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Ojemann
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Regional Epilepsy Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Daniel L Silbergeld
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Alvord Brain Tumor Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Gregory D Horwitz
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Ed S Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Regional Epilepsy Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan T Ting
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Boaz P Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
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6
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Gore BB, Miller SM, Jo YS, Baird MA, Hoon M, Sanford CA, Hunker A, Lu W, Wong RO, Zweifel LS. Roundabout receptor 2 maintains inhibitory control of the adult midbrain. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28394253 PMCID: PMC5419739 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of excitatory and inhibitory balance in the brain is essential for its function. Here we find that the developmental axon guidance receptor Roundabout 2 (Robo2) is critical for the maintenance of inhibitory synapses in the adult ventral tegmental area (VTA), a brain region important for the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Following selective genetic inactivation of Robo2 in the adult VTA of mice, reduced inhibitory control results in altered neural activity patterns, enhanced phasic dopamine release, behavioral hyperactivity, associative learning deficits, and a paradoxical inversion of psychostimulant responses. These behavioral phenotypes could be phenocopied by selective inactivation of synaptic transmission from local GABAergic neurons of the VTA, demonstrating an important function for Robo2 in regulating the excitatory and inhibitory balance of the adult brain. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23858.001 Although no two people are alike, we all share the same basic brain structure. This similarity arises because the same developmental program takes place in every human embryo. Specific genes are activated in a designated sequence to generate the structure of a typical human brain. But what happens to these genes when development is complete – do they remain active in the adult brain? A gene known as Robo2 encodes a protein that helps neurons find their way through the developing brain. Many of these neurons will ultimately form part of the brain’s reward system. This is a network of brain regions that communicate with one another using a chemical called dopamine. The reward system contributes to motivation, learning and memory, and also underlies drug addiction. In certain mental illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia, the dopamine-producing neurons in the reward system work incorrectly or die. To find out whether Robo2 is active in the mature nervous system, Gore et al. used genetic techniques to selectively remove the gene from the reward system of adult mice. Doing so reduced the ability of the dopamine neurons within the reward system to inhibit one another, which in turn increased their activity. This changed the behavior of the mice, making them hyperactive and less able to learn and remember. Cocaine makes normal mice more active; however, mice that lacked the Robo2 gene became less active when given cocaine. Overall, the work of Gore et al. suggests that developmental axon guidance genes remain important in the adult brain. Studying developmental genes such as Robo2 may therefore open up new treatment possibilities for a number of mental illnesses and brain disorders. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23858.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan B Gore
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Samara M Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Yong Sang Jo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Madison A Baird
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Mrinalini Hoon
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Christina A Sanford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Avery Hunker
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Weining Lu
- Department of Medicine, Renal Section, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, United States
| | - Rachel O Wong
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
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7
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Gore BB, Soden ME, Zweifel LS. Manipulating gene expression in projection-specific neuronal populations using combinatorial viral approaches. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 65:4.35.1-20. [PMID: 25429312 DOI: 10.1002/0471142301.ns0435s65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian brain contains tremendous structural and genetic complexity that is vital for its function. The elucidation of gene expression profiles in the brain, coupled with the development of large-scale connectivity maps and emerging viral vector-based approaches for target-selective gene manipulation, now allow for detailed dissection of gene-circuit interfaces. This protocol details how to perform combinatorial viral injections to manipulate gene expression in subsets of neurons interconnecting two brain regions. This method utilizes stereotaxic injection of a retrograde transducing CAV2-Cre virus into one brain region, combined with injection of a locally transducing Cre-dependent AAV virus into another brain region. This technique is widely applicable to the genetic dissection of neural circuitry, as it enables selective expression of candidate genes, dominant-negatives, fluorescent reporters, or genetic tools within heterogeneous populations of neurons based upon their projection targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan B Gore
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Marta E Soden
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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8
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Samelson BK, Gore BB, Whiting JL, Nygren PJ, Purkey AM, Colledge M, Langeberg LK, Dell'Acqua ML, Zweifel LS, Scott JD. A-kinase Anchoring Protein 79/150 Recruits Protein Kinase C to Phosphorylate Roundabout Receptors. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:14107-19. [PMID: 25882844 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.637470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Anchoring proteins direct protein kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases toward selected substrates to control the efficacy, context, and duration of neuronal phosphorylation events. The A-kinase anchoring protein AKAP79/150 interacts with protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin) to modulate second messenger signaling events. In a mass spectrometry-based screen for additional AKAP79/150 binding partners, we have identified the Roundabout axonal guidance receptor Robo2 and its ligands Slit2 and Slit3. Biochemical and cellular approaches confirm that a linear sequence located in the cytoplasmic tail of Robo2 (residues 991-1070) interfaces directly with sites on the anchoring protein. Parallel studies show that AKAP79/150 interacts with the Robo3 receptor in a similar manner. Immunofluorescent staining detects overlapping expression patterns for murine AKAP150, Robo2, and Robo3 in a variety of brain regions, including hippocampal region CA1 and the islands of Calleja. In vitro kinase assays, peptide spot array mapping, and proximity ligation assay staining approaches establish that human AKAP79-anchored PKC selectively phosphorylates the Robo3.1 receptor subtype on serine 1330. These findings imply that anchored PKC locally modulates the phosphorylation status of Robo3.1 in brain regions governing learning and memory and reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret K Samelson
- From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Pharmacology, and
| | - Bryan B Gore
- the Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-7290
| | - Jennifer L Whiting
- From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Pharmacology, and
| | - Patrick J Nygren
- From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Pharmacology, and
| | - Alicia M Purkey
- the Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, and
| | | | - Lorene K Langeberg
- From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Pharmacology, and
| | - Mark L Dell'Acqua
- the Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, and
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- the Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-7290
| | - John D Scott
- From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Pharmacology, and
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Abstract
Dopamine is broadly implicated in fear-related processes, yet we know very little about signaling dynamics in these neurons during active fear conditioning. We describe the direct imaging of calcium signals of dopamine neurons during Pavlovian fear conditioning using fiber-optic confocal microscopy coupled with the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP3. We observed calcium transients in a subset of dopamine neurons to an unconditioned fear stimulus on the first day of Pavlovian fear conditioning. On the second day, calcium transients occurred in response to conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. These results demonstrate plasticity in dopamine neuron calcium signals and the occurrence of activity-dependent processes in these neurons during fear conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan B Gore
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98053, USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98053, USA
| | - Marta E Soden
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98053, USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98053, USA
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98053, USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98053, USA
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10
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Soden ME, Gore BB, Zweifel LS. Defining functional gene-circuit interfaces in the mouse nervous system. Genes Brain Behav 2013; 13:2-12. [PMID: 24007626 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Complexity in the nervous system is established by developmental genetic programs, maintained by differential genetic profiles and sculpted by experiential and environmental influence over gene expression. Determining how specific genes define neuronal phenotypes, shape circuit connectivity and regulate circuit function is essential for understanding how the brain processes information, directs behavior and adapts to changing environments. Mouse genetics has contributed greatly to current percepts of gene-circuit interfaces in behavior, but considerable work remains. Large-scale initiatives to map gene expression and connectivity in the brain, together with advanced techniques in molecular genetics, now allow detailed exploration of the genetic basis of nervous system function at the level of specific circuit connections. In this review, we highlight several key advances for defining the function of specific genes within a neural network.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Soden
- Department of Pharmacology; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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11
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Chen Z, Gore BB, Long H, Ma L, Tessier-Lavigne M. Alternative splicing of the Robo3 axon guidance receptor governs the midline switch from attraction to repulsion. Neuron 2008; 58:325-32. [PMID: 18466743 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2006] [Revised: 01/29/2007] [Accepted: 02/15/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing provides a means to increase the complexity of gene function in numerous biological processes, including nervous system wiring. Navigating axons switch responses from attraction to repulsion at intermediate targets, allowing them to grow to each intermediate target and then to move on. The mechanisms underlying this switch remain poorly characterized. We previously showed that the Slit receptor Robo3 is required for spinal commissural axons to enter and cross the midline intermediate target. We report here the existence of two functionally antagonistic isoforms of Robo3 with distinct carboxy termini arising from alternative splicing. Robo3.1 is deployed on the precrossing and crossing portions of commissural axons and allows midline crossing by silencing Slit repulsion. Robo3.2 becomes expressed on the postcrossing portion and blocks midline recrossing, favoring Slit repulsion. The tight spatial regulation of opponent splice variants helps ensure high-fidelity transition of axonal responses from attraction to repulsion at the midline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Chen
- Division of Research, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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12
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Gore BB, Wong KG, Tessier-Lavigne M. Stem cell factor functions as an outgrowth-promoting factor to enable axon exit from the midline intermediate target. Neuron 2008; 57:501-10. [PMID: 18304480 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2007] [Revised: 11/11/2007] [Accepted: 01/04/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Commissural axons are attracted to the midline intermediate target by chemoattractants, but upon crossing the midline they switch off responsiveness to attractants and switch on responsiveness to midline repellents, which expel the axons from the midline and enable them to move on. Here we show that midline exit also requires the stimulation of axon outgrowth by Stem Cell Factor (SCF, also known as Steel Factor). SCF is expressed by midline floor plate cells, and its receptor Kit, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is expressed by commissural axons. In Steel and Kit mutant mice, the majority of commissural axons line up transiently at the contralateral edge of the floor plate, showing a delay in midline exit. In vitro, SCF selectively promotes outgrowth of postcrossing, but not precrossing, commissural axons. Our findings identify SCF as a guidance cue in the CNS, and provide evidence that exiting intermediate targets requires activation of outgrowth-promoting mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan B Gore
- Division of Research, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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13
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Hayhurst M, Gore BB, Tessier-Lavigne M, McConnell SK. Ongoing sonic hedgehog signaling is required for dorsal midline formation in the developing forebrain. Dev Neurobiol 2008; 68:83-100. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Holst CR, Bou-Reslan H, Gore BB, Wong K, Grant D, Chalasani S, Carano RA, Frantz GD, Tessier-Lavigne M, Bolon B, French DM, Ashkenazi A. Secreted sulfatases Sulf1 and Sulf2 have overlapping yet essential roles in mouse neonatal survival. PLoS One 2007; 2:e575. [PMID: 17593974 PMCID: PMC1892809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2007] [Accepted: 06/03/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) use highly sulfated polysaccharide side-chains to interact with several key growth factors and morphogens, thereby regulating their accessibility and biological activity. Various sulfotransferases and sulfatases with differing specificities control the pattern of HSPG sulfation, which is functionally critical. Among these enzymes in the mouse are two secreted 6-O-endosulfatases, Sulf1 and Sulf2, which modify HSPGs in the extracellular matrix and on the cell surface. The roles of Sulf1 and Sulf2 during normal development are not well understood. METHODS/RESULTS To investigate the importance of Sulf1 and Sulf2 for embryonic development, we generated mice genetically deficient in these genes and assessed the phenotypes of the resulting secreted sulfatase-deficient mice. Surprisingly, despite the established crucial role of HSPG interactions during development, neither Sulf1- nor Sulf2-deficient mice showed significant developmental flaws. In contrast, mice deficient in both Sulf1and Sulf2 exhibited highly penetrant neonatal lethality. Loss of viability was associated with multiple, although subtle, developmental defects, including skeletal and renal abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS These results show that Sulf1 and Sulf2 play overlapping yet critical roles in mouse development and are redundant and essential for neonatal survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles R. Holst
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Hani Bou-Reslan
- Department of Biomedical Imaging, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Bryan B. Gore
- Department of Research Drug Discovery, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Karen Wong
- Department of Research Drug Discovery, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Deanna Grant
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Sreedevi Chalasani
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Carano
- Department of Biomedical Imaging, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Gretchen D. Frantz
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Marc Tessier-Lavigne
- Department of Research Drug Discovery, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Brad Bolon
- GEMpath, Inc., Cedar City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Dorothy M. French
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Avi Ashkenazi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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