51
|
Szegedi V, Bakos E, Furdan S, Kovács BH, Varga D, Erdélyi M, Barzó P, Szücs A, Tamás G, Lamsa K. HCN channels at the cell soma ensure the rapid electrical reactivity of fast-spiking interneurons in human neocortex. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002001. [PMID: 36745683 PMCID: PMC9934405 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that there are substantial species differences in the properties of mammalian neurons, yet theories on circuit activity and information processing in the human brain are based heavily on results obtained from rodents and other experimental animals. This knowledge gap may be particularly important for understanding the neocortex, the brain area responsible for the most complex neuronal operations and showing the greatest evolutionary divergence. Here, we examined differences in the electrophysiological properties of human and mouse fast-spiking GABAergic basket cells, among the most abundant inhibitory interneurons in cortex. Analyses of membrane potential responses to current input, pharmacologically isolated somatic leak currents, isolated soma outside-out patch recordings, and immunohistochemical staining revealed that human neocortical basket cells abundantly express hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channel isoforms HCN1 and HCN2 at the cell soma membrane, whereas these channels are sparse at the rodent basket cell soma membrane. Antagonist experiments showed that HCN channels in human neurons contribute to the resting membrane potential and cell excitability at the cell soma, accelerate somatic membrane potential kinetics, and shorten the lag between excitatory postsynaptic potentials and action potential generation. These effects are important because the soma of human fast-spiking neurons without HCN channels exhibit low persistent ion leak and slow membrane potential kinetics, compared with mouse fast-spiking neurons. HCN channels speed up human cell membrane potential kinetics and help attain an input-output rate close to that of rodent cells. Computational modeling demonstrated that HCN channel activity at the human fast-spiking cell soma membrane is sufficient to accelerate the input-output function as observed in cell recordings. Thus, human and mouse fast-spiking neurons exhibit functionally significant differences in ion channel composition at the cell soma membrane to set the speed and fidelity of their input-output function. These HCN channels ensure fast electrical reactivity of fast-spiking cells in human neocortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Szegedi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human neuron physiology and therapy, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Emőke Bakos
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human neuron physiology and therapy, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Szabina Furdan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human neuron physiology and therapy, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Bálint H. Kovács
- Department of Optics and Quantum Electronics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dániel Varga
- Department of Optics and Quantum Electronics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Miklós Erdélyi
- Department of Optics and Quantum Electronics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Pál Barzó
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Szücs
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human neuron physiology and therapy, Szeged, Hungary
- Neuronal Cell Biology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Tamás
- MTA-SZTE Research Group for Cortical Microcircuits, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Karri Lamsa
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human neuron physiology and therapy, Szeged, Hungary
- * E-mail: ,
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Wischnewski M, Alekseichuk I, Opitz A. Neurocognitive, physiological, and biophysical effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation. Trends Cogn Sci 2023; 27:189-205. [PMID: 36543610 PMCID: PMC9852081 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can modulate human neural activity and behavior. Accordingly, tACS has vast potential for cognitive research and brain disorder therapies. The stimulation generates oscillating electric fields in the brain that can bias neural spike timing, causing changes in local neural oscillatory power and cross-frequency and cross-area coherence. tACS affects cognitive performance by modulating underlying single or nested brain rhythms, local or distal synchronization, and metabolic activity. Clinically, stimulation tailored to abnormal neural oscillations shows promising results in alleviating psychiatric and neurological symptoms. We summarize the findings of tACS mechanisms, its use for cognitive applications, and novel developments for personalized stimulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Renner J, Rasia-Filho AA. Morphological Features of Human Dendritic Spines. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:367-496. [PMID: 37962801 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic spine features in human neurons follow the up-to-date knowledge presented in the previous chapters of this book. Human dendrites are notable for their heterogeneity in branching patterns and spatial distribution. These data relate to circuits and specialized functions. Spines enhance neuronal connectivity, modulate and integrate synaptic inputs, and provide additional plastic functions to microcircuits and large-scale networks. Spines present a continuum of shapes and sizes, whose number and distribution along the dendritic length are diverse in neurons and different areas. Indeed, human neurons vary from aspiny or "relatively aspiny" cells to neurons covered with a high density of intermingled pleomorphic spines on very long dendrites. In this chapter, we discuss the phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of human spines and describe the heterogeneous features of human spiny neurons along the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampal regions, and neocortical areas. Three-dimensional reconstructions of Golgi-impregnated dendritic spines and data from fluorescence microscopy are reviewed with ultrastructural findings to address the complex possibilities for synaptic processing and integration in humans. Pathological changes are also presented, for example, in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Basic morphological data can be linked to current techniques, and perspectives in this research field include the characterization of spines in human neurons with specific transcriptome features, molecular classification of cellular diversity, and electrophysiological identification of coexisting subpopulations of cells. These data would enlighten how cellular attributes determine neuron type-specific connectivity and brain wiring for our diverse aptitudes and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josué Renner
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alberto A Rasia-Filho
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Testa-Silva G, Rosier M, Honnuraiah S, Guzulaitis R, Megias AM, French C, King J, Drummond K, Palmer LM, Stuart GJ. High synaptic threshold for dendritic NMDA spike generation in human layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111787. [PMID: 36516769 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons receive synaptic input primarily onto their dendrites. While we know much about the electrical properties of dendrites in rodents, we have only just started to describe their properties in the human brain. Here, we investigate the capacity of human dendrites to generate NMDA-receptor-dependent spikes (NMDA spikes). Using dendritic glutamate iontophoresis, as well as local dendritic synaptic stimulation, we find that human layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons can generate dendritic NMDA spikes. The capacity to evoke NMDA spikes in human neurons, however, was significantly reduced compared with that in rodents. Simulations in morphologically realistic and simplified models indicated that human neurons have a higher synaptic threshold for NMDA spike generation primarily due to the wider diameter of their dendrites. In summary, we find reduced NMDA spike generation in human compared with rodent layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons and provide evidence that this is due to the wider diameter of human dendrites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Testa-Silva
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Marius Rosier
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Suraj Honnuraiah
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Robertas Guzulaitis
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ana Morello Megias
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Chris French
- The University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Parkville, VIC, Australia; The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - James King
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Katharine Drummond
- The University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Parkville, VIC, Australia; The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lucy M Palmer
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Greg J Stuart
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Howard D, Chameh HM, Guet-McCreight A, Hsiao HA, Vuong M, Seo YS, Shah P, Nigam A, Chen Y, Davie M, Hay E, Valiante TA, Tripathy SJ. An in vitro whole-cell electrophysiology dataset of human cortical neurons. Gigascience 2022; 11:giac108. [PMID: 36377463 PMCID: PMC9664072 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology is an essential technique for understanding how single neurons translate their diverse inputs into a functional output. The relative inaccessibility of live human cortical neurons for experimental manipulation has made it difficult to determine the unique features of how human cortical neurons differ from their counterparts in other species. FINDINGS We present a curated repository of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from surgically resected human cortical tissue, encompassing 118 neurons from 35 individuals (age range, 21-59 years; 17 male, 18 female). Recorded human cortical neurons derive from layers 2 and 3 (L2&3), deep layer 3 (L3c), or layer 5 (L5) and are annotated with a rich set of subject and experimental metadata. For comparison, we also provide a limited set of comparable recordings from 21-day-old mice (11 cells from 5 mice). All electrophysiological recordings are provided in the Neurodata Without Borders (NWB) format and are available for further analysis via the Distributed Archives for Neurophysiology Data Integration online repository. The associated data conversion code is made publicly available and can help others in converting electrophysiology datasets to the open NWB standard for general reuse. CONCLUSION These data can be used for novel analyses of biophysical characteristics of human cortical neurons, including in cross-species or cross-lab comparisons or in building computational models of individual human neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Derek Howard
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | | | - Alexandre Guet-McCreight
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Huan Allen Hsiao
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Maggie Vuong
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Young Seok Seo
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 1M8, Canada
| | - Prajay Shah
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 1M8, Canada
| | - Anukrati Nigam
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yuxiao Chen
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Melanie Davie
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Etay Hay
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Taufik A Valiante
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 1M8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA), Toronto, ON, M5S 1A4, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P5, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Max Planck–University of Toronto Center for Neural Science and Technology, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A4, Canada
- Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA), Toronto, ON , M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Shreejoy J Tripathy
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P5, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toront, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
56
|
Galakhova AA, Hunt S, Wilbers R, Heyer DB, de Kock CPJ, Mansvelder HD, Goriounova NA. Evolution of cortical neurons supporting human cognition. Trends Cogn Sci 2022; 26:909-922. [PMID: 36117080 PMCID: PMC9561064 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Human cognitive abilities are generally thought to arise from cortical expansion over the course of human brain evolution. In addition to increased neuron numbers, this cortical expansion might be driven by adaptations in the properties of single neurons and their local circuits. We review recent findings on the distinct structural, functional, and transcriptomic features of human cortical neurons and their organization in cortical microstructure. We focus on the supragranular cortical layers, which showed the most prominent expansion during human brain evolution, and the properties of their principal cells: pyramidal neurons. We argue that the evolutionary adaptations in neuronal features that accompany the expansion of the human cortex partially underlie interindividual variability in human cognitive abilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A A Galakhova
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - S Hunt
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - R Wilbers
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - D B Heyer
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - C P J de Kock
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - H D Mansvelder
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - N A Goriounova
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
57
|
Moberg S, Takahashi N. Neocortical layer 5 subclasses: From cellular properties to roles in behavior. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2022; 14:1006773. [PMID: 36387773 PMCID: PMC9650089 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2022.1006773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Layer 5 (L5) serves as the main output layer of cortical structures, where long-range projecting pyramidal neurons broadcast the columnar output to other cortical and extracortical regions of the brain. L5 pyramidal neurons are grouped into two subclasses based on their projection targets; while intratelencephalic (IT) neurons project to cortical areas and the striatum, extratelencephalic (ET) neurons project to subcortical areas such as the thalamus, midbrain, and brainstem. Each L5 subclass possesses distinct morphological and electrophysiological properties and is incorporated into a unique synaptic network. Thanks to recent advances in genetic tools and methodologies, it has now become possible to distinguish between the two subclasses in the living brain. There is increasing evidence indicating that each subclass plays a unique role in sensory processing, decision-making, and learning. This review first summarizes the anatomical and physiological properties as well as the neuromodulation of IT and ET neurons in the rodent neocortex, and then reviews recent literature on their roles in sensory processing and rodent behavior. Our ultimate goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of each subclass in cortical function by examining their operational regimes based on their cellular properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Moberg
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Naoya Takahashi
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Gooch HM, Bluett T, Perumal MB, Vo HD, Fletcher LN, Papacostas J, Jeffree RL, Wood M, Colditz MJ, McMillen J, Tsahtsarlis T, Amato D, Campbell R, Gillinder L, Williams SR. High-fidelity dendritic sodium spike generation in human layer 2/3 neocortical pyramidal neurons. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111500. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
|
59
|
Zheng T, Bielinski DF, Fisher DR, Zhang J, Shukitt-Hale B. Protective Effects of a Polyphenol-Rich Blueberry Extract on Adult Human Neural Progenitor Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:6152. [PMID: 36234687 PMCID: PMC9571008 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aging process impacts neural stem cells and causes a significant decline in neurogenesis that contributes to neuronal dysfunction leading to cognitive decline. Blueberries are rich in polyphenols and have been shown to improve cognition and memory in older humans. While our previous studies have shown that blueberry supplementations can increase neurogenesis in aged rodents, it is not clear whether this finding can be extrapolated to humans. We thus investigated the effects of blueberry treatments on adult hippocampal human neural progenitor cells (AHNPs) that are involved in neurogenesis and potentially in memory and other brain functions. Cultured AHNPs were treated with blueberry extract at different concentrations. Their viability, proliferation, and differentiation were evaluated with and without the presence of a cellular oxidative stressor, dopamine, and potential cellular mechanisms were also investigated. Our data showed that blueberry extract can significantly increase the viability and proliferation rates of control hippocampal AHNPs and can also reverse decreases in viability and proliferation induced by the cellular stressor dopamine. These effects may be associated with blueberry's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and calcium-buffering properties. Polyphenol-rich berry extracts thus confer a neuroprotective effect on human hippocampal progenitor cells in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong Zheng
- Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Donna F. Bielinski
- Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Derek R. Fisher
- Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Jianyi Zhang
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Barbara Shukitt-Hale
- Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Guet-McCreight A, Chameh HM, Mahallati S, Wishart M, Tripathy SJ, Valiante TA, Hay E. Age-dependent increased sag amplitude in human pyramidal neurons dampens baseline cortical activity. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4360-4373. [PMID: 36124673 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging involves various neurobiological changes, although their effect on brain function in humans remains poorly understood. The growing availability of human neuronal and circuit data provides opportunities for uncovering age-dependent changes of brain networks and for constraining models to predict consequences on brain activity. Here we found increased sag voltage amplitude in human middle temporal gyrus layer 5 pyramidal neurons from older subjects and captured this effect in biophysical models of younger and older pyramidal neurons. We used these models to simulate detailed layer 5 microcircuits and found lower baseline firing in older pyramidal neuron microcircuits, with minimal effect on response. We then validated the predicted reduced baseline firing using extracellular multielectrode recordings from human brain slices of different ages. Our results thus report changes in human pyramidal neuron input integration properties and provide fundamental insights into the neuronal mechanisms of altered cortical excitability and resting-state activity in human aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Guet-McCreight
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | | | - Sara Mahallati
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T1M8, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Margaret Wishart
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Shreejoy J Tripathy
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada
| | - Taufik A Valiante
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T1M8, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G4, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada.,Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2A2, Canada.,Max Planck-University of Toronto Center for Neural Science and Technology, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Etay Hay
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Dehaene S, Al Roumi F, Lakretz Y, Planton S, Sablé-Meyer M. Symbols and mental programs: a hypothesis about human singularity. Trends Cogn Sci 2022; 26:751-766. [PMID: 35933289 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Natural language is often seen as the single factor that explains the cognitive singularity of the human species. Instead, we propose that humans possess multiple internal languages of thought, akin to computer languages, which encode and compress structures in various domains (mathematics, music, shape…). These languages rely on cortical circuits distinct from classical language areas. Each is characterized by: (i) the discretization of a domain using a small set of symbols, and (ii) their recursive composition into mental programs that encode nested repetitions with variations. In various tasks of elementary shape or sequence perception, minimum description length in the proposed languages captures human behavior and brain activity, whereas non-human primate data are captured by simpler nonsymbolic models. Our research argues in favor of discrete symbolic models of human thought.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stanislas Dehaene
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif/Yvette, France; Collège de France, Université Paris-Sciences-Lettres (PSL), 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Fosca Al Roumi
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif/Yvette, France
| | - Yair Lakretz
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif/Yvette, France
| | - Samuel Planton
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif/Yvette, France
| | - Mathias Sablé-Meyer
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif/Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Bushart DD, Shakkottai VG. Vulnerability of Human Cerebellar Neurons to Degeneration in Ataxia-Causing Channelopathies. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:908569. [PMID: 35757096 PMCID: PMC9219590 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.908569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in ion channel genes underlie a number of human neurological diseases. Historically, human mutations in ion channel genes, the so-called channelopathies, have been identified to cause episodic disorders. In the last decade, however, mutations in ion channel genes have been demonstrated to result in progressive neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, particularly with ion channels that are enriched in the cerebellum. This was unexpected given prior rodent ion channel knock-out models that almost never display neurodegeneration. Human ataxia-causing channelopathies that result in even haploinsufficiency can result in cerebellar atrophy and cerebellar Purkinje neuron loss. Rodent neurons with ion channel loss-of-function appear to, therefore, be significantly more resistant to neurodegeneration compared to human neurons. Fundamental differences in susceptibility of human and rodent cerebellar neurons in ataxia-causing channelopathies must therefore be present. In this review, we explore the properties of human neurons that may contribute to their vulnerability to cerebellar degeneration secondary to ion channel loss-of-function mutations. We present a model taking into account the known allometric scaling of neuronal ion channel density in humans and other mammals that may explain the preferential vulnerability of human cerebellar neurons to degeneration in ataxia-causing channelopathies. We also speculate on the vulnerability of cerebellar neurons to degeneration in mouse models of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) where ion channel transcript dysregulation has recently been implicated in disease pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David D. Bushart
- Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Vikram G. Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Vikram G. Shakkottai,
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Simkin D, Ambrosi C, Marshall KA, Williams LA, Eisenberg J, Gharib M, Dempsey GT, George AL, McManus OB, Kiskinis E. 'Channeling' therapeutic discovery for epileptic encephalopathy through iPSC technologies. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:392-405. [PMID: 35427475 PMCID: PMC9119009 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and gene editing technologies have revolutionized the field of in vitro disease modeling, granting us access to disease-pertinent human cells of the central nervous system. These technologies are particularly well suited for the study of diseases with strong monogenic etiologies. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in children, with approximately half of all genetic cases caused by mutations in ion channel genes. These channelopathy-associated epilepsies are clinically diverse, mechanistically complex, and hard to treat. Here, we review the genetic links to epilepsy, the opportunities and challenges of iPSC-based approaches for developing in vitro models of channelopathy-associated disorders, the available tools for effective phenotyping of iPSC-derived neurons, and discuss the potential therapeutic approaches for these devastating diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dina Simkin
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Kelly A Marshall
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Jordyn Eisenberg
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Mennat Gharib
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Alfred L George
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Stromeyer C. The construct of schizophrenia as a human-specific condition. Schizophr Res 2022; 242:130-131. [PMID: 35241312 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
65
|
Girardin S, Clément B, Ihle SJ, Weaver S, Petr JB, Mateus JC, Duru J, Krubner M, Forró C, Ruff T, Fruh I, Müller M, Vörös J. Topologically controlled circuits of human iPSC-derived neurons for electrophysiology recordings. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1386-1403. [PMID: 35253810 PMCID: PMC8963377 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01110c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Bottom-up neuroscience, which consists of building and studying controlled networks of neurons in vitro, is a promising method to investigate information processing at the neuronal level. However, in vitro studies tend to use cells of animal origin rather than human neurons, leading to conclusions that might not be generalizable to humans and limiting the possibilities for relevant studies on neurological disorders. Here we present a method to build arrays of topologically controlled circuits of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. The circuits consist of 4 to 50 neurons with well-defined connections, confined by microfabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes. Such circuits were characterized using optical imaging and microelectrode arrays (MEAs), suggesting the formation of functional connections between the neurons of a circuit. Electrophysiology recordings were performed on circuits of human iPSC-derived neurons for at least 4.5 months. We believe that the capacity to build small and controlled circuits of human iPSC-derived neurons holds great promise to better understand the fundamental principles of information processing and storing in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Girardin
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Blandine Clément
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Stephan J Ihle
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Sean Weaver
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Jana B Petr
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - José C Mateus
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jens Duru
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Magdalena Krubner
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Csaba Forró
- Cui Laboratory, S285 290 Jane Stanford Way Stanford, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tobias Ruff
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Isabelle Fruh
- Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Müller
- Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - János Vörös
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
Ren W, Ji B, Guan Y, Cao L, Ni R. Recent Technical Advances in Accelerating the Clinical Translation of Small Animal Brain Imaging: Hybrid Imaging, Deep Learning, and Transcriptomics. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:771982. [PMID: 35402436 PMCID: PMC8987112 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.771982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Small animal models play a fundamental role in brain research by deepening the understanding of the physiological functions and mechanisms underlying brain disorders and are thus essential in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic imaging tracers targeting the central nervous system. Advances in structural, functional, and molecular imaging using MRI, PET, fluorescence imaging, and optoacoustic imaging have enabled the interrogation of the rodent brain across a large temporal and spatial resolution scale in a non-invasively manner. However, there are still several major gaps in translating from preclinical brain imaging to the clinical setting. The hindering factors include the following: (1) intrinsic differences between biological species regarding brain size, cell type, protein expression level, and metabolism level and (2) imaging technical barriers regarding the interpretation of image contrast and limited spatiotemporal resolution. To mitigate these factors, single-cell transcriptomics and measures to identify the cellular source of PET tracers have been developed. Meanwhile, hybrid imaging techniques that provide highly complementary anatomical and molecular information are emerging. Furthermore, deep learning-based image analysis has been developed to enhance the quantification and optimization of the imaging protocol. In this mini-review, we summarize the recent developments in small animal neuroimaging toward improved translational power, with a focus on technical improvement including hybrid imaging, data processing, transcriptomics, awake animal imaging, and on-chip pharmacokinetics. We also discuss outstanding challenges in standardization and considerations toward increasing translational power and propose future outlooks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wuwei Ren
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy Efficient and Custom AI IC, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Ji
- Department of Radiopharmacy and Molecular Imaging, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihui Guan
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Cao
- Shanghai Changes Tech, Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Larkum ME, Wu J, Duverdin SA, Gidon A. The guide to dendritic spikes of the mammalian cortex in vitro and in vivo. Neuroscience 2022; 489:15-33. [PMID: 35182699 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Half a century since their discovery by Llinás and colleagues, dendritic spikes have been observed in various neurons in different brain regions, from the neocortex and cerebellum to the basal ganglia. Dendrites exhibit a terrifically diverse but stereotypical repertoire of spikes, sometimes specific to subregions of the dendrite. Despite their prevalence, we only have a glimpse into their role in the behaving animal. This article aims to survey the full range of dendritic spikes found in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, compare them in vivo versus in vitro, and discuss new studies describing dendritic spikes in the human cortex. We focus on dendritic spikes in neocortical and hippocampal neurons and present a roadmap to identify and understand the broader role of dendritic spikes in single-cell computation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Larkum
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Jiameng Wu
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah A Duverdin
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Albert Gidon
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
68
|
Schmidt ERE, Polleux F. Genetic Mechanisms Underlying the Evolution of Connectivity in the Human Cortex. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 15:787164. [PMID: 35069126 PMCID: PMC8777274 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.787164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most salient features defining modern humans is our remarkable cognitive capacity, which is unrivaled by any other species. Although we still lack a complete understanding of how the human brain gives rise to these unique abilities, the past several decades have witnessed significant progress in uncovering some of the genetic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms shaping the development and function of the human brain. These features include an expansion of brain size and in particular cortical expansion, distinct physiological properties of human neurons, and modified synaptic development. Together they specify the human brain as a large primate brain with a unique underlying neuronal circuit architecture. Here, we review some of the known human-specific features of neuronal connectivity, and we outline how novel insights into the human genome led to the identification of human-specific genetic modifiers that played a role in the evolution of human brain development and function. Novel experimental paradigms are starting to provide a framework for understanding how the emergence of these human-specific genomic innovations shaped the structure and function of neuronal circuits in the human brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewoud R. E. Schmidt
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- *Correspondence: Ewoud R. E. Schmidt
| | - Franck Polleux
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Franck Polleux
| |
Collapse
|