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Espadas I, Wingfield J, Grinman E, Ghosh I, Chanda K, Nakahata Y, Bauer K, Raveendra B, Kiebler M, Yasuda R, Rangaraju V, Puthanveettil S. SLAMR, a synaptically targeted lncRNA, facilitates the consolidation of contextual fear memory. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2489387. [PMID: 36993323 PMCID: PMC10055528 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2489387/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
LncRNAs are involved in critical processes for cell homeostasis and function. However, it remains largely unknown whether and how the transcriptional regulation of long noncoding RNAs results in activity-dependent changes at the synapse and facilitate formation of long-term memories. Here, we report the identification of a novel lncRNA, SLAMR, that becomes enriched in CA1- but not in CA3-hippocampal neurons upon contextual fear conditioning. SLAMR is transported to dendrites via the molecular motor KIF5C and recruited to the synapse in response to stimulation. Loss of function of SLAMR reduced dendritic complexity and impaired activity dependent changes in spine structural plasticity. Interestingly, gain of function of SLAMR enhanced dendritic complexity, and spine density through enhanced translation. Analyses of the SLAMR interactome revealed its association with CaMKIIα protein through a 220-nucleotide element and its modulation of CaMKIIα activity. Furthermore, loss-of-function of SLAMR in CA1 selectively impairs consolidation but neither acquisition, recall, nor extinction of fear memory and spatial memory. Together, these results establish a new mechanism for activity dependent changes at the synapse and consolidation of contextual fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Espadas
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Jenna Wingfield
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Eddie Grinman
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Ilika Ghosh
- Max Planck Florida Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Kaushik Chanda
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | | | - Karl Bauer
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Department for Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Bindu Raveendra
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Michael Kiebler
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Department for Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | | | - Sathyanarayanan Puthanveettil
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL, USA
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Prokopidis K, Giannos P, Triantafyllidis KK, Kechagias KS, Forbes SC, Candow DG. Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Rev 2023; 81:416-427. [PMID: 35984306 PMCID: PMC9999677 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuac064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT From an energy perspective, the brain is very metabolically demanding. It is well documented that creatine plays a key role in brain bioenergetics. There is some evidence that creatine supplementation can augment brain creatine stores, which could increase memory. OBJECTIVE A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to determine the effects of creatine supplementation on memory performance in healthy humans. DATA SOURCES The literature was searched through the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases from inception until September 2021. DATA EXTRACTION Twenty-three eligible RCTs were initially identified. Ten RCTs examining the effect of creatine supplementation compared with placebo on measures of memory in healthy individuals met the inclusion criteria for systematic review, 8 of which were included in the meta-analysis. DATA ANALYSIS Overall, creatine supplementation improved measures of memory compared with placebo (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.29, 95%CI, 0.04-0.53; I2 = 66%; P = 0.02). Subgroup analyses revealed a significant improvement in memory in older adults (66-76 years) (SMD = 0.88; 95%CI, 0.22-1.55; I2 = 83%; P = 0.009) compared with their younger counterparts (11-31 years) (SMD = 0.03; 95%CI, -0.14 to 0.20; I2 = 0%; P = 0.72). Creatine dose (≈ 2.2-20 g/d), duration of intervention (5 days to 24 weeks), sex, or geographical origin did not influence the findings. CONCLUSION Creatine supplementation enhanced measures of memory performance in healthy individuals, especially in older adults (66-76 years). SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration no. 42021281027.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Prokopidis
- is with the Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- are with the Society of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, United Kingdom
| | - Panagiotis Giannos
- are with the Society of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, United Kingdom
- is with the Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos K Triantafyllidis
- are with the Society of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, United Kingdom
- is with the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos S Kechagias
- are with the Society of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, United Kingdom
- is with the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- is with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Scott C Forbes
- is with the Department of Physical Education Studies, Faculty of Education, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Darren G Candow
- is with the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Anreiter I, Tian YW, Soller M. The cap epitranscriptome: Early directions to a complex life as mRNA. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200198. [PMID: 36529693 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Animal, protist and viral messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are most prominently modified at the beginning by methylation of cap-adjacent nucleotides at the 2'-O-position of the ribose (cOMe) by dedicated cap methyltransferases (CMTrs). If the first nucleotide of an mRNA is an adenosine, PCIF1 can methylate at the N6 -position (m6 A), while internally the Mettl3/14 writer complex can methylate. These modifications are introduced co-transcriptionally to affect many aspects of gene expression including localisation to synapses and local translation. Of particular interest, transcription start sites of many genes are heterogeneous leading to sequence diversity at the beginning of mRNAs, which together with cOMe and m6 Am could constitute an extensive novel layer of gene expression control. Given the role of cOMe and m6 A in local gene expression at synapses and higher brain functions including learning and memory, such code could be implemented at the transcriptional level for lasting memories through local gene expression at synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Anreiter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yuan W Tian
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Matthias Soller
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Santos TB, Kramer-Soares JC, Oliveira MGM. Contextual fear conditioning with a time interval induces CREB phosphorylation in the dorsal hippocampus and amygdala nuclei that depend on prelimbic cortex activity. Hippocampus 2023. [PMID: 36847108 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
In temporal associations, a conditioned stimulus (CS) is separated by a time interval from the unconditioned stimulus (US), which activates the prelimbic cortex (PL) to maintain a CS representation over time. However, it is unknown whether the PL participates, besides the encoding, in the memory consolidation, and thus directly, with activity-dependent changes or indirectly, by modulation of activity-dependent changes in other brain regions. We investigated brain regions supporting the consolidation of associations with intervals and the influence of PL activity in this consolidation process. For this, we observed in Wistar rats the effect of pre-training PL inactivation by muscimol in CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) phosphorylation, which is essential for memory consolidation, in subdivisions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, and amygdala 3 h after the training in the contextual fear conditioning (CFC) or CFC with 5-s interval (CFC-5s), fear associations without or with an interval between the CS and US, respectively. Both the CFC-5s and CFC training increased phosphorylation of CREB in the PL and infralimbic cortex (IL); lateral (LA) and basolateral (BLA) amygdala; dorsal CA1 (dCA1); dorsal (dDG), and ventral dentate gyrus, and the CFC-5s training in the central amygdala (CEA). PL activity was necessary for the CREB phosphorylation in the PL, BLA, CEA, dCA1, and dDG only in animals trained in the CFC-5s. The cingulate cortex, ventral CA1, and ventral subiculum did not have learning-induced phosphorylation of CREB. These results suggest that the mPFC, hippocampus, and amygdala support the consolidation of associations with or without intervals and that PL activity influences consolidation in the dorsal hippocampus and amygdala in temporal associations. Thereby, the PL contributes directly and indirectly by modulation to memory consolidation. The time interval engaged the PL early in recent memory consolidation. Results expanded PL's role beyond the time interval and remote memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thays Brenner Santos
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Carlota Kramer-Soares
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil.,Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul - UNICSUL, São Paulo, Brazil
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55
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Grochowska KM, Gomes GM, Raman R, Kaushik R, Sosulina L, Kaneko H, Oelschlegel AM, Yuanxiang P, Reyes‐Resina I, Bayraktar G, Samer S, Spilker C, Woo MS, Morawski M, Goldschmidt J, Friese MA, Rossner S, Navarro G, Remy S, Reissner C, Karpova A, Kreutz MR. Jacob-induced transcriptional inactivation of CREB promotes Aβ-induced synapse loss in Alzheimer's disease. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112453. [PMID: 36594364 PMCID: PMC9929644 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction caused by soluble β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is a hallmark of early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD), and is tightly linked to cognitive decline. By yet unknown mechanisms, Aβ suppresses the transcriptional activity of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), a master regulator of cell survival and plasticity-related gene expression. Here, we report that Aβ elicits nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of Jacob, a protein that connects a NMDA-receptor-derived signalosome to CREB, in AD patient brains and mouse hippocampal neurons. Aβ-regulated trafficking of Jacob induces transcriptional inactivation of CREB leading to impairment and loss of synapses in mouse models of AD. The small chemical compound Nitarsone selectively hinders the assembly of a Jacob/LIM-only 4 (LMO4)/ Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) signalosome and thereby restores CREB transcriptional activity. Nitarsone prevents impairment of synaptic plasticity as well as cognitive decline in mouse models of AD. Collectively, the data suggest targeting Jacob protein-induced CREB shutoff as a therapeutic avenue against early synaptic dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna M Grochowska
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
- Leibniz Group ‘Dendritic Organelles and Synaptic Function’, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH)University Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Guilherme M Gomes
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
- Center for Behavioral Brain SciencesOtto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburgGermany
| | - Rajeev Raman
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | - Rahul Kaushik
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | - Liudmila Sosulina
- Department of Cellular NeuroscienceLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MagdeburgGermany
| | - Hiroshi Kaneko
- Department of Cellular NeuroscienceLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MagdeburgGermany
| | | | - PingAn Yuanxiang
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | | | - Gonca Bayraktar
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | - Sebastian Samer
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | - Christina Spilker
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | - Marcel S Woo
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH)University Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Markus Morawski
- Molecular Imaging in NeurosciencesPaul Flechsig Institute of Brain ResearchLeipzigGermany
| | - Jürgen Goldschmidt
- Department of Systems Physiology of Learning and MemoryLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | - Manuel A Friese
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH)University Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Steffen Rossner
- Molecular Imaging in NeurosciencesPaul Flechsig Institute of Brain ResearchLeipzigGermany
| | - Gemma Navarro
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food ScienceUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Institut de Neurociències de la Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Stefan Remy
- Center for Behavioral Brain SciencesOtto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburgGermany
- Department of Cellular NeuroscienceLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MagdeburgGermany
| | - Carsten Reissner
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular NeurobiologyWestfälische Wilhelms‐UniversityMünsterGermany
| | - Anna Karpova
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
- Center for Behavioral Brain SciencesOtto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburgGermany
| | - Michael R Kreutz
- RG NeuroplasticityLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
- Leibniz Group ‘Dendritic Organelles and Synaptic Function’, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH)University Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
- Center for Behavioral Brain SciencesOtto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburgGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MagdeburgGermany
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56
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Nassar A, Kodi T, Satarker S, Chowdari Gurram P, Upadhya D, SM F, Mudgal J, Nampoothiri M. Astrocytic MicroRNAs and Transcription Factors in Alzheimer's Disease and Therapeutic Interventions. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244111. [PMID: 36552875 PMCID: PMC9776935 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are important for maintaining cholesterol metabolism, glutamate uptake, and neurotransmission. Indeed, inflammatory processes and neurodegeneration contribute to the altered morphology, gene expression, and function of astrocytes. Astrocytes, in collaboration with numerous microRNAs, regulate brain cholesterol levels as well as glutamatergic and inflammatory signaling, all of which contribute to general brain homeostasis. Neural electrical activity, synaptic plasticity processes, learning, and memory are dependent on the astrocyte-neuron crosstalk. Here, we review the involvement of astrocytic microRNAs that potentially regulate cholesterol metabolism, glutamate uptake, and inflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The interaction between astrocytic microRNAs and long non-coding RNA and transcription factors specific to astrocytes also contributes to the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, astrocytic microRNAs arise as a promising target, as AD conditions are a worldwide public health problem. This review examines novel therapeutic strategies to target astrocyte dysfunction in AD, such as lipid nanodiscs, engineered G protein-coupled receptors, extracellular vesicles, and nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajmal Nassar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Triveni Kodi
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Sairaj Satarker
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Prasada Chowdari Gurram
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Dinesh Upadhya
- Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Fayaz SM
- Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Jayesh Mudgal
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Madhavan Nampoothiri
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
- Correspondence:
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57
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Liu RY, Zhang Y, Smolen P, Cleary LJ, Byrne JH. Defective synaptic plasticity in a model of Coffin-Lowry syndrome is rescued by simultaneously targeting PKA and MAPK pathways. Learn Mem 2022; 29:435-446. [PMID: 36446603 PMCID: PMC9749851 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053625.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Empirical and computational methods were combined to examine whether individual or dual-drug treatments can restore the deficit in long-term synaptic facilitation (LTF) of the Aplysia sensorimotor synapse observed in a cellular model of Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS). The model was produced by pharmacological inhibition of p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) activity. In this model, coapplication of an activator of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) isoform ERK and an activator of protein kinase A (PKA) resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of RSK and enhanced LTF to a greater extent than either drug alone and also greater than their additive effects, which is termed synergism. The extent of synergism appeared to depend on another MAPK isoform, p38 MAPK. Inhibition of p38 MAPK facilitated serotonin (5-HT)-induced RSK phosphorylation, indicating that p38 MAPK inhibits activation of RSK. Inhibition of p38 MAPK combined with activation of PKA synergistically activated both ERK and RSK. Our results suggest that cellular models of disorders that affect synaptic plasticity and learning, such as CLS, may constitute a useful strategy to identify candidate drug combinations, and that combining computational models with empirical tests of model predictions can help explain synergism of drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Yu Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yili Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Paul Smolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Leonard J Cleary
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - John H Byrne
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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58
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Zha C, Sossin WS. The molecular diversity of plasticity mechanisms underlying memory: An evolutionary perspective. J Neurochem 2022; 163:444-460. [PMID: 36326567 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Experience triggers molecular cascades in organisms (learning) that lead to alterations (memory) to allow the organism to change its behavior based on experience. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying memory, particularly in the nervous system of animals, has been an exciting scientific challenge for neuroscience. We review what is known about forms of neuronal plasticity that underlie memory highlighting important issues in the field: (1) the importance of being able to measure how neurons are activated during learning to identify the form of plasticity that underlies memory, (2) the many distinct forms of plasticity important for memories that naturally decay both within and between organisms, and (3) unifying principles underlying the formation and maintenance of long-term memories. Overall, the diversity of molecular mechanisms underlying memories that naturally decay contrasts with more unified molecular mechanisms implicated in long-lasting changes. Despite many advances, important questions remain as to which mechanisms of neuronal plasticity underlie memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congyao Zha
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Wayne S Sossin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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59
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Inhibition of late mRNA synthesis in the hippocampus impairs consolidation and reconsolidation of spatial memory in male rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 195:107687. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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60
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Zuzina AB, Balaban PM. Contribution of histone acetylation to the serotonin-mediated long-term synaptic plasticity in terrestrial snails. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2022; 208:521-535. [PMID: 35943582 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01562-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin plays a decisive role in long-term synaptic plasticity and long-term memory in mollusks. Previously, we demonstrated that histone acetylation is a regulatory mechanism of long-term memory in terrestrial snail. At the behavioral level, many studies were done in Helix to elucidate the role of histone acetylation and serotonin. However, the impact of histone acetylation on long-term potentiation of synaptic efficiency in electrophysiological studies in Helix has been studied only in one paper. Here we investigated effects of serotonin, histone deacetylases inhibitors sodium butyrate and trichostatin A, and a serotonergic receptor inhibitor methiothepin on long-term potentiation of synaptic responses in vitro. We demonstrated that methiothepin drastically declined the EPSPs amplitudes when long-term potentiation was induced, while co-application either of histone deacetylase inhibitors sodium butyrate or trichostatin A with methiothepin prevented the weakening of potentiation. We showed that single serotonin application in combination with histone deacetylase blockade could mimic the effect of repeated serotonin applications and be enough for sustained long-lasting synaptic changes. The data obtained demonstrated that histone deacetylases blockade ameliorated deficits in synaptic plasticity induced by different paradigms (methiothepin treatment, the weak training protocol with single application of serotonin), suggesting that histone acetylation contributes to the serotonin-mediated synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena B Zuzina
- Cellular Neurobiology of Learning Lab, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pavel M Balaban
- Cellular Neurobiology of Learning Lab, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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Cruz E, Bessières B, Magistretti P, Alberini CM. Differential role of neuronal glucose and PFKFB3 in memory formation during development. Glia 2022; 70:2207-2231. [PMID: 35916383 PMCID: PMC9474594 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The consumption of glucose in the brain peaks during late childhood; yet, whether and how glucose metabolism is differentially regulated in the brain during childhood compared to adulthood remains to be understood. In particular, it remains to be determined how glucose metabolism is involved in behavioral activations such as learning. Here we show that, compared to adult, the juvenile rat hippocampus has significantly higher mRNA levels of several glucose metabolism enzymes belonging to all glucose metabolism pathways, as well as higher levels of the monocarboxylate transporters MCT1 and MCT4 and the glucose transporters endothelial-GLUT1 and GLUT3 proteins. Furthermore, relative to adults, long-term episodic memory formation in juvenile animals requires significantly higher rates of aerobic glycolysis and astrocytic-neuronal lactate coupling in the hippocampus. Only juvenile but not adult long-term memory formation recruits GLUT3, neuronal 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) and more efficiently engages glucose in the hippocampus. Hence, compared to adult, the juvenile hippocampus distinctively regulates glucose metabolism pathways, and formation of long-term memory in juveniles involves differential neuronal glucose metabolism mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Cruz
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York 10003
| | - Benjamin Bessières
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York 10003
| | - Pierre Magistretti
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Cristina M. Alberini
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York 10003
- Lead contact: Cristina M. Alberini
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Moore H, Lega BC, Konopka G. Riding brain "waves" to identify human memory genes. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2022; 78:102118. [PMID: 35947942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2022.102118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
While there is extensive research on memory-related oscillations and brain gene expression, the relationship between oscillations and gene expression has rarely been studied. Recently, progress has been made to identify specific genes associated with oscillations that are correlated with episodic memory. Neocortical regions, in particular the temporal pole, have been examined in this line of research due to their accessibility during neurosurgical procedures. By harnessing this accessibility, a unique and powerful study design has allowed gene expression and intracranial oscillatory data to be sourced from the same human patients. These studies have identified a plethora of understudied gene targets that should be further characterized with respect to human brain function. Future work should extend to other brain regions to increase our understanding of the genetic signatures of oscillations and, ultimately, human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Moore
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA; Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA
| | - Bradley C Lega
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA.
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA; Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA.
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63
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Sardoo AM, Zhang S, Ferraro TN, Keck TM, Chen Y. Decoding brain memory formation by single-cell RNA sequencing. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6713514. [PMID: 36156112 PMCID: PMC9677489 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand how distinct memories are formed and stored in the brain is an important and fundamental question in neuroscience and computational biology. A population of neurons, termed engram cells, represents the physiological manifestation of a specific memory trace and is characterized by dynamic changes in gene expression, which in turn alters the synaptic connectivity and excitability of these cells. Recent applications of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) are promising approaches for delineating the dynamic expression profiles in these subsets of neurons, and thus understanding memory-specific genes, their combinatorial patterns and regulatory networks. The aim of this article is to review and discuss the experimental and computational procedures of sc/snRNA-seq, new studies of molecular mechanisms of memory aided by sc/snRNA-seq in human brain diseases and related mouse models, and computational challenges in understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying long-term memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atlas M Sardoo
- Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Shaoqiang Zhang
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Thomas N Ferraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Thomas M Keck
- Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA,Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Yong Chen
- Corresponding author. Yong Chen, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA. Tel.: +1 856 256 4500; E-mail:
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64
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Buurstede JC, Umeoka EHL, da Silva MS, Krugers HJ, Joëls M, Meijer OC. Application of a pharmacological transcriptome filter identifies a shortlist of mouse glucocorticoid receptor target genes associated with memory consolidation. Neuropharmacology 2022; 216:109186. [PMID: 35835211 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids regulate memory consolidation, facilitating long-term storage of relevant information to adequately respond to future stressors in similar conditions. This effect of glucocorticoids is well-established and is observed in multiple types of behaviour that depend on various brain regions. By and large, higher glucocorticoid levels strengthen event-related memory, while inhibition of glucocorticoid signalling impairs consolidation. The mechanism underlying this glucocorticoid effect remains unclear, but it likely involves the transcriptional effects of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We here used a powerful paradigm to investigate the transcriptional effects of GR in the dorsal hippocampus of mice after training in an auditory fear conditioning task, aiming to identify a shortlist of GR target genes associated to memory consolidation. Therefore, we utilized in an explorative study the properties of selective GR modulators (CORT108297 and CORT118335), alongside the endogenous agonist corticosterone and the classical GR antagonist RU486, to pinpoint GR-dependent transcriptional changes. First, we confirmed that glucocorticoids can modulate memory strength via GR activation. Subsequently, by assessing the specific effects of the available GR-ligands on memory strength, we established a pharmacological filter which we imposed on the hippocampal transcriptome data. This identified a manageable shortlist of eight genes by which glucocorticoids may modulate memory consolidation, warranting in-depth follow-up. Overall, we showcase the strength of the concept of pharmacological transcriptome filtering, which can be readily applied to other research topics with an established role of glucocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus C Buurstede
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Eduardo H L Umeoka
- Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Neuroscience and Behavioural Sciences Department, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Marcia Santos da Silva
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Harm J Krugers
- Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marian Joëls
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Onno C Meijer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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65
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Smies CW, Bodinayake KK, Kwapis JL. Time to learn: The role of the molecular circadian clock in learning and memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 193:107651. [PMID: 35697314 PMCID: PMC9903177 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The circadian system plays an important role in aligning biological processes with the external time of day. A range of physiological functions are governed by the circadian cycle, including memory processes, yet little is understood about how the clock interfaces with memory at a molecular level. The molecular circadian clock consists of four key genes/gene families, Period, Clock, Cryptochrome, and Bmal1, that rhythmically cycle in an ongoing transcription-translation negative feedback loop that maintains an approximately 24-hour cycle within cells of the brain and body. In addition to their roles in generating the circadian rhythm within the brain's master pacemaker (the suprachiasmatic nucleus), recent research has suggested that these clock genes may function locally within memory-relevant brain regions to modulate memory across the day/night cycle. This review will discuss how these clock genes function both within the brain's central clock and within memory-relevant brain regions to exert circadian control over memory processes. For each core clock gene, we describe the current research that demonstrates a potential role in memory and outline how these clock genes might interface with cascades known to support long-term memory formation. Together, the research suggests that clock genes function locally within satellite clocks across the brain to exert circadian control over long-term memory formation and possibly other biological processes. Understanding how clock genes might interface with local molecular cascades in the hippocampus and other brain regions is a critical step toward developing treatments for the myriad disorders marked by dysfunction of both the circadian system and cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad W Smies
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Kasuni K Bodinayake
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Janine L Kwapis
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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66
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Morè L, Privitera L, Perrett P, Cooper DD, Bonnello MVG, Arthur JSC, Frenguelli BG. CREB serine 133 is necessary for spatial cognitive flexibility and long-term potentiation. Neuropharmacology 2022; 219:109237. [PMID: 36049536 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) is widely regarded as orchestrating the genomic response that underpins a range of physiological functions in the central nervous system, including learning and memory. Of the means by which CREB can be regulated, emphasis has been placed on the phosphorylation of a key serine residue, S133, in the CREB protein, which is required for CREB-mediated transcriptional activation in response to a variety of activity-dependent stimuli. Understanding the role of CREB S133 has been complicated by molecular genetic techniques relying on over-expression of either dominant negative or activating transgenes that may distort the physiological role of endogenous CREB. A more elegant recent approach targeting S133 in the endogenous CREB gene has yielded a mouse with constitutive replacement of this residue with alanine (S133A), but has generated results (no behavioural phenotype and no effect on gene transcription) at odds with contemporary views as to the role of CREB S133, and which may reflect compensatory changes associated with the constitutive mutation. To avoid this potential complication, we generated a post-natal and forebrain-specific CREB S133A mutant in which the expression of the mutation was under the control of CaMKIIα promoter. Using male and female mice we show that CREB S133 is necessary for spatial cognitive flexibility, the regulation of basal synaptic transmission, and for the expression of long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal area CA1. These data point to the importance of CREB S133 in neuronal function, synaptic plasticity and cognition in the mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Morè
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Lucia Privitera
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Philippa Perrett
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Daniel D Cooper
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Manuel Van Gijsel Bonnello
- Division of Cell Signalling and Immunology, Wellcome Trust Building, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - J Simon C Arthur
- Division of Cell Signalling and Immunology, Wellcome Trust Building, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
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67
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Zhang S, Xie L, Cui Y, Carone BR, Chen Y. Detecting Fear-Memory-Related Genes from Neuronal scRNA-seq Data by Diverse Distributions and Bhattacharyya Distance. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12081130. [PMID: 36009024 PMCID: PMC9405875 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The detection of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) is one of most important computational challenges in the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. However, due to the high heterogeneity and dropout noise inherent in scRNAseq data, challenges in detecting DEGs exist when using a single distribution of gene expression levels, leaving much room to improve the precision and robustness of current DEG detection methods. Here, we propose the use of a new method, DEGman, which utilizes several possible diverse distributions in combination with Bhattacharyya distance. DEGman can automatically select the best-fitting distributions of gene expression levels, and then detect DEGs by permutation testing of Bhattacharyya distances of the selected distributions from two cell groups. Compared with several popular DEG analysis tools on both large-scale simulation data and real scRNA-seq data, DEGman shows an overall improvement in the balance of sensitivity and precision. We applied DEGman to scRNA-seq data of TRAP; Ai14 mouse neurons to detect fear-memory-related genes that are significantly differentially expressed in neurons with and without fear memory. DEGman detected well-known fear-memory-related genes and many novel candidates. Interestingly, we found 25 DEGs in common in five neuron clusters that are functionally enriched for synaptic vesicles, indicating that the coupled dynamics of synaptic vesicles across in neurons plays a critical role in remote memory formation. The proposed method leverages the advantage of the use of diverse distributions in DEG analysis, exhibiting better performance in analyzing composite scRNA-seq datasets in real applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqiang Zhang
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computer and Information Engineering, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Linjuan Xie
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computer and Information Engineering, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Yaxuan Cui
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computer and Information Engineering, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Benjamin R. Carone
- Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-856-256-4500
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68
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Leung HW, Foo G, VanDongen A. Arc Regulates Transcription of Genes for Plasticity, Excitability and Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081946. [PMID: 36009494 PMCID: PMC9405677 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The immediate early gene Arc is a master regulator of synaptic function and a critical determinant of memory consolidation. Here, we show that Arc interacts with dynamic chromatin and closely associates with histone markers for active enhancers and transcription in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Both these histone modifications, H3K27Ac and H3K9Ac, have recently been shown to be upregulated in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). When Arc induction by pharmacological network activation was prevented using a short hairpin RNA, the expression profile was altered for over 1900 genes, which included genes associated with synaptic function, neuronal plasticity, intrinsic excitability, and signalling pathways. Interestingly, about 100 Arc-dependent genes are associated with the pathophysiology of AD. When endogenous Arc expression was induced in HEK293T cells, the transcription of many neuronal genes was increased, suggesting that Arc can control expression in the absence of activated signalling pathways. Taken together, these data establish Arc as a master regulator of neuronal activity-dependent gene expression and suggest that it plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel Foo
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Antonius VanDongen
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Correspondence:
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69
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A missense mutation in Kcnc3 causes hippocampal learning deficits in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204901119. [PMID: 35881790 PMCID: PMC9351536 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204901119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although a wide variety of genetic tools has been developed to study learning and memory, the molecular basis of memory encoding remains incompletely understood. Here, we undertook an unbiased approach to identify novel genes critical for memory encoding. From a large-scale, in vivo mutagenesis screen using contextual fear conditioning, we isolated in mice a mutant, named Clueless, with spatial learning deficits. A causative missense mutation (G434V) was found in the voltage-gated potassium channel, subfamily C member 3 (Kcnc3) gene in a region that encodes a transmembrane voltage sensor. Generation of a Kcnc3G434V CRISPR mutant mouse confirmed this mutation as the cause of the learning defects. While G434V had no effect on transcription, translation, or trafficking of the channel, electrophysiological analysis of the G434V mutant channel revealed a complete loss of voltage-gated conductance, a broadening of the action potential, and decreased neuronal firing. Together, our findings have revealed a role for Kcnc3 in learning and memory.
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70
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Choi KY. Valproate Adjuvant Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Panic Disorder Patients With Comorbid Bipolar Disorder: Case Series and Review of the Literature. Psychiatry Investig 2022; 19:614-625. [PMID: 36059050 PMCID: PMC9441465 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2022.0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common comorbid psychiatric disorders in patients with bipolar disorder. Managing anxiety symptoms in comorbid conditions is challenging and has received little research interest. The findings from preclinical research on fear conditioning, an animal model of anxiety disorder, have suggested that memory reconsolidation updating (exposure-based therapy) combined with valproate might facilitate the amelioration of fear memories. Here, three cases of successful amelioration of agoraphobia and panic symptoms through valproate adjuvant therapy for cognitive behavioral therapy in patients who failed to respond to two to three consecutive standard pharmacotherapy trials over several years are described. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first attempt to combine CBT with valproate in patients with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and comorbid bipolar disorder. Additionally, the background preclinical research on this combination therapy based on the reconsolidation-updating mechanism, the inhibition of histone deacetylase 2, and critical period reopening, off-label use of valproate in panic disorder, plasticity-augmented psychotherapy, and how to combine valproate with CBT is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Yeon Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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71
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Zeltser G, Sukhanov IM, Nevorotin AJ. MMM - The molecular model of memory. J Theor Biol 2022; 549:111219. [PMID: 35810778 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Identifying mechanisms underlying neurons ability to process information including acquisition, storage, and retrieval plays an important role in the understanding of the different types of memory, pathogenesis of many neurological diseases affecting memory and therapeutic target discovery. However, the traditional understanding of the mechanisms of memory associated with the electrical signals having a unique combination of frequency and amplitude does not answer the question how the memories can survive for life-long periods of time, while exposed to synaptic noise. Recent evidence suggests that, apart from neuronal circuits, a diversity of the molecular memory (MM) carriers, are essential for memory performance. The molecular model of memory (MMM) is proposed, according to which each item of incoming information (the elementary memory item - eMI) is encoded by both circuitries, with the unique for a given MI electrical parameters, and also the MM carriers, unique by its molecular composition. While operating as the carriers of incoming information, the MMs, are functioning within the neuron plasma membrane. Inactive (latent) initially, during acquisition each of the eMIs is activated to become a virtual copy of some real fact or events bygone. This activation is accompanied by the considerable remodeling of the MM molecule associated with the resonance effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilya M Sukhanov
- Lab. Behavioral Pharmacology, Dept. Psychopharmacology, Valdman Institute of Pharmacology, I.P. Pavlov Medical University, Leo Tolstoi Street 6/8, St. Petersburg 197022, The Russian Federation
| | - Alexey J Nevorotin
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, I.P. Pavlov Medical University, Leo Tolstoi Street 6/8, St. Petersburg 197022, The Russian Federation
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72
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Sanna F, Serra MP, Boi M, Bratzu J, Poddighe L, Sanna F, Carta A, Corda MG, Giorgi O, Melis MR, Argiolas A, Quartu M. Neuroplastic changes in c-Fos, ΔFosB, BDNF, trkB, and Arc expression in the hippocampus of male Roman rats: differential effects of sexual activity. Hippocampus 2022; 32:529-551. [PMID: 35716117 PMCID: PMC9327517 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sexual activity causes differential changes in the expression of markers of neural activation (c-Fos and ΔFosB) and neural plasticity (Arc and BDNF/trkB), as determined either by Western Blot (BDNF, trkB, Arc, and ΔFosB) or immunohistochemistry (BDNF, trkB, Arc, and c-Fos), in the hippocampus of male Roman high (RHA) and low avoidance (RLA) rats, two psychogenetically selected rat lines that display marked differences in sexual behavior (RHA rats exhibit higher sexual motivation and better copulatory performance than RLA rats). Both methods showed (with some differences) that sexual activity modifies the expression levels of these markers in the hippocampus of Roman rats depending on: (i) the level of sexual experience, that is, changes were usually more evident in sexually naïve than in experienced rats; (ii) the hippocampal partition, that is, BDNF and Arc increased in the dorsal but tended to decrease in the ventral hippocampus; (iii) the marker considered, that is, in sexually experienced animals BDNF, c-Fos, and Arc levels were similar to those of controls, while ΔFosB levels increased; and (iv) the rat line, that is, changes were usually larger in RHA than RLA rats. These findings resemble those of early studies in RHA and RLA rats showing that sexual activity influences the expression of these markers in the nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area, and show for the first time that also in the hippocampus sexual activity induces neural activation and plasticity, events that occur mainly during the first phase of the acquisition of sexual experience and depend on the genotypic/phenotypic characteristics of the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical PharmacologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Maria Pina Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of CytomorphologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Marianna Boi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of CytomorphologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical PharmacologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Laura Poddighe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of CytomorphologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Francesco Sanna
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Pharmaceutical, Pharmacological and Nutraceutical SciencesUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Antonella Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of CytomorphologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Maria Giuseppa Corda
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Pharmaceutical, Pharmacological and Nutraceutical SciencesUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Osvaldo Giorgi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Section of Pharmaceutical, Pharmacological and Nutraceutical SciencesUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Maria Rosaria Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical PharmacologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Antonio Argiolas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical PharmacologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of CagliariCittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
| | - Marina Quartu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of CytomorphologyUniversity of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di MonserratoCagliariItaly
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73
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Plexin-A1 expression in the inhibitory neurons of infralimbic cortex regulates the specificity of fear memory in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1220-1230. [PMID: 34508226 PMCID: PMC9018853 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01177-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining appropriate levels of fear memory specificity is crucial for individual's survival and mental health, whereas overgeneralized fear commonly occurs in neuropsychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating fear memory specificity remain poorly understood. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is considered as a key brain region in fear memory regulation. Previous transcriptomic studies have identified that plexin-A1, a transmembrane receptor critical for axon development, was downregulated in the mPFC after fear memory training. In this study, we identified that learning-induced downregulation of the mRNA and protein levels of plexin-A1 specifically occurred in the inhibitory but not excitatory neurons in the infralimbic cortex (IL) of mPFC. Further studies of plexin-A1 by virus-mediated over-expression of functional mutants selectively in the IL inhibitory neurons revealed the critical roles of plexin-A1 for regulating memory specificity and anxiety. Moreover, our findings revealed that plexin-A1 regulated the distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67, a GABA synthetase, which in turn modulated the activity of IL and its downstream brain regions. Collectively, our findings elucidate the molecular modifier of IL inhibitory neurons in regulating memory specificity and anxiety, and provide candidates for developing therapeutic strategies for the prevention or treatment of a series of fear generalization-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Chatterjee S, Bahl E, Mukherjee U, Walsh EN, Shetty MS, Yan AL, Vanrobaeys Y, Lederman JD, Giese KP, Michaelson J, Abel T. Endoplasmic reticulum chaperone genes encode effectors of long-term memory. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm6063. [PMID: 35319980 PMCID: PMC8942353 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm6063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) remain unclear, and no effective treatments exist. Fundamental studies have shown that a set of transcriptional regulatory proteins of the nuclear receptor 4a (Nr4a) family serve as molecular switches for long-term memory. Here, we show that Nr4a proteins regulate the transcription of genes encoding chaperones that localize to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These chaperones fold and traffic plasticity-related proteins to the cell surface during long-lasting forms of synaptic plasticity and memory. Dysregulation of Nr4a transcription factors and ER chaperones is linked to ADRD, and overexpressing Nr4a1 or the chaperone Hspa5 ameliorates long-term memory deficits in a tau-based mouse model of ADRD, pointing toward innovative therapeutic approaches for treating memory loss. Our findings establish a unique molecular concept underlying long-term memory and provide insights into the mechanistic basis of cognitive deficits in dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehajyoti Chatterjee
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Ethan Bahl
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Utsav Mukherjee
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Emily N. Walsh
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Mahesh Shivarama Shetty
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Amy L. Yan
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Yann Vanrobaeys
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Joseph D. Lederman
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - K. Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jacob Michaelson
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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75
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Brito DV, Kupke J, Gulmez Karaca K, Oliveira AM. Regulation of neuronal plasticity by the DNA repair associated Gadd45 proteins. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 3:100031. [PMID: 36685757 PMCID: PMC9846468 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurons respond rapidly to extracellular stimuli by activating signaling pathways that modulate the function of already synthetized proteins. Alternatively, signal transduction to the cell nucleus induces de novo synthesis of proteins required for long-lasting adaptations. These complementary strategies are necessary for neuronal plasticity processes that underlie, among other functions, the formation of memories. Nonetheless, it is still not fully understood how the coupling between different stimuli and the activity of constitutively and/or de novo expressed proteins gate neuronal plasticity. Here, we discuss the molecular functions of the Growth Arrest and DNA Damage 45 (Gadd45) family of proteins in neuronal adaptation. We highlight recent findings that indicate that Gadd45 family members regulate this function through multiple cellular processes (e.g., DNA demethylation, gene expression, RNA stability, MAPK signaling). We then summarize the regulation of Gadd45 expression in neurons and put forward the hypothesis that the constitutive and neuronal activity-induced pools of Gadd45 proteins have distinct and complementary roles in modulating neuronal plasticity. Therefore, we propose that Gadd45 proteins are essential for brain function and their dysfunction might underlie pathophysiological conditions such as neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V.C. Brito
- Institute of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, INF 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany,Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Janina Kupke
- Institute of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, INF 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kubra Gulmez Karaca
- Institute of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, INF 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center Kapittelweg 29, 6525, EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ana M.M. Oliveira
- Institute of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, INF 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany,Corresponding author. Institute of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN) Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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76
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Belayet JB, Beamish S, Rahaman M, Alanani S, Virdi RS, Frick DN, Rahman AFMT, Ulicki JS, Biswas S, Arnold LA, Roni MSR, Cheng EY, Steeber DA, Frick KM, Hossain MM. Development of a Novel, Small-Molecule Brain-Penetrant Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor That Enhances Spatial Memory Formation in Mice. J Med Chem 2022; 65:3388-3403. [PMID: 35133171 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Histone acetylation is a prominent epigenetic modification linked to the memory loss symptoms associated with neurodegenerative disease. The use of existing histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) drugs for treatment is precluded by their weak blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and undesirable toxicity. Here, we address these shortcomings by developing a new class of disulfide-based compounds, inspired by the scaffold of the FDA-approved HDACi romidepsin (FK288). Our findings indicate that our novel compound MJM-1 increases the overall level of histone 3 (H3) acetylation in a prostate cancer cell line. In mice, MJM-1 injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) crossed the BBB and could be detected in the hippocampus, a brain region that mediates memory. Consistent with this finding, we found that the post-training i.p. administration of MJM-1 enhanced hippocampus-dependent spatial memory consolidation in male mice. Therefore, MJM-1 represents a potential lead for further optimization as a therapeutic strategy for ameliorating cognitive deficits in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jawad B Belayet
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Sarah Beamish
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Mizzanoor Rahaman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Samer Alanani
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Rajdeep S Virdi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - David N Frick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - A F M Towheedur Rahman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Joseph S Ulicki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Sreya Biswas
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Leggy A Arnold
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - M S Rashid Roni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Eric Y Cheng
- College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| | - Douglas A Steeber
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - M Mahmun Hossain
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
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77
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Rowland ME, Jajarmi JM, Osborne TSM, Ciernia AV. Insights Into the Emerging Role of Baf53b in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:805158. [PMID: 35185468 PMCID: PMC8852769 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.805158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate and precise regulation of gene expression is necessary to ensure proper brain development and plasticity across the lifespan. As an ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex, the BAF (Brg1 Associated Factor) complex can alter histone-DNA interactions, facilitating dynamic changes in gene expression by controlling DNA accessibility to the transcriptional machinery. Mutations in 12 of the potential 29 subunit genes that compose the BAF nucleosome remodeling complex have been identified in several developmental disorders including Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability. A novel, neuronal version of BAF (nBAF) has emerged as promising candidate in the development of ASD as its expression is tied to neuron differentiation and it’s hypothesized to coordinate expression of synaptic genes across brain development. Recently, mutations in BAF53B, one of the neuron specific subunits of the nBAF complex, have been identified in patients with ASD and Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy-76 (DEE76), indicating BAF53B is essential for proper brain development. Recent work in cultured neurons derived from patients with BAF53B mutations suggests links between loss of nBAF function and neuronal dendritic spine formation. Deletion of one or both copies of mouse Baf53b disrupts dendritic spine development, alters actin dynamics and results in fewer synapses in vitro. In the mouse, heterozygous loss of Baf53b severely impacts synaptic plasticity and long-term memory that is reversible with reintroduction of Baf53b or manipulations of the synaptic plasticity machinery. Furthermore, surviving Baf53b-null mice display ASD-related behaviors, including social impairments and repetitive behaviors. This review summarizes the emerging evidence linking deleterious variants of BAF53B identified in human neurodevelopmental disorders to abnormal transcriptional regulation that produces aberrant synapse development and behavior.
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78
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Duke CG, Bach SV, Revanna JS, Sultan FA, Southern NT, Davis MN, Carullo NVN, Bauman AJ, Phillips RA, Day JJ. An Improved CRISPR/dCas9 Interference Tool for Neuronal Gene Suppression. Front Genome Ed 2021; 2:9. [PMID: 34713218 PMCID: PMC8525373 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2020.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The expression of genetic material governs brain development, differentiation, and function, and targeted manipulation of gene expression is required to understand contributions of gene function to health and disease states. Although recent improvements in CRISPR/dCas9 interference (CRISPRi) technology have enabled targeted transcriptional repression at selected genomic sites, integrating these techniques for use in non-dividing neuronal systems remains challenging. Previously, we optimized a dual lentivirus expression system to express CRISPR-based activation machinery in post-mitotic neurons. Here we used a similar strategy to adapt an improved dCas9-KRAB-MeCP2 repression system for robust transcriptional inhibition in neurons. We find that lentiviral delivery of a dCas9-KRAB-MeCP2 construct driven by the neuron-selective human synapsin promoter enabled transgene expression in primary rat neurons. Next, we demonstrate transcriptional repression using CRISPR sgRNAs targeting diverse gene promoters, and show superiority of this system in neurons compared to existing RNA interference methods for robust transcript specific manipulation at the complex Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) gene. Our findings advance this improved CRISPRi technology for use in neuronal systems for the first time, potentially enabling improved ability to manipulate gene expression states in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey G Duke
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Svitlana V Bach
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jasmin S Revanna
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Faraz A Sultan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Nicholas T Southern
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - M Natalie Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Nancy V N Carullo
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Allison J Bauman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Robert A Phillips
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jeremy J Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Somatostatin Interneurons of the Insula Mediate QR2-Dependent Novel Taste Memory Enhancement. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0152-21.2021. [PMID: 34518366 PMCID: PMC8482851 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0152-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Forming long-term memories is crucial for adaptive behavior and survival in changing environments. The molecular consolidation processes which underlie the formation of these long-term memories are dependent on protein synthesis in excitatory and SST-expressing neurons. A centrally important, parallel process to this involves the removal of the memory constraint quinone reductase 2 (QR2), which has been recently shown to enhance memory consolidation for novel experiences in the cortex and hippocampus, via redox modulation. However, it is unknown within which cell type in the cortex removal of QR2 occurs, nor how this affects neuronal function. Here, we use novel taste learning in the mouse anterior insular cortex (aIC) to show that similarly to mRNA translation, QR2 removal occurs in excitatory and SST-expressing neurons. Interestingly, both novel taste and QR2 inhibition reduce excitability specifically within SST, but not excitatory neurons. Furthermore, reducing QR2 expression in SST, but not in PV or excitatory neurons, is sufficient to enhance taste memory. Thus, QR2 mediated intrinsic property changes of SST interneurons in the aIC is a central removable factor to allow novel taste memory formation. This previously unknown involvement of QR2 and SST interneurons in resetting aIC activity hours following learning, describes a molecular mechanism to define cell circuits for novel information. Therefore, the QR2 pathway in SST interneurons provides a fresh new avenue by which to tackle age-related cognitive deficits, while shedding new light onto the functional machinations of long-term memory formation for novel information.
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80
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Raven F, Aton SJ. The Engram's Dark Horse: How Interneurons Regulate State-Dependent Memory Processing and Plasticity. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:750541. [PMID: 34588960 PMCID: PMC8473837 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.750541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain states such as arousal and sleep play critical roles in memory encoding, storage, and recall. Recent studies have highlighted the role of engram neurons-populations of neurons activated during learning-in subsequent memory consolidation and recall. These engram populations are generally assumed to be glutamatergic, and the vast majority of data regarding the function of engram neurons have focused on glutamatergic pyramidal or granule cell populations in either the hippocampus, amygdala, or neocortex. Recent data suggest that sleep and wake states differentially regulate the activity and temporal dynamics of engram neurons. Two potential mechanisms for this regulation are either via direct regulation of glutamatergic engram neuron excitability and firing, or via state-dependent effects on interneuron populations-which in turn modulate the activity of glutamatergic engram neurons. Here, we will discuss recent findings related to the roles of interneurons in state-regulated memory processes and synaptic plasticity, and the potential therapeutic implications of understanding these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara J. Aton
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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81
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l-Lactate: Food for Thoughts, Memory and Behavior. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11080548. [PMID: 34436491 PMCID: PMC8398236 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
More and more evidence shows how brain energy metabolism is the linkage between physiological and morphological synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. Different types of memory are associated with differential inputs, each with specific inputs that are upstream diverse molecular cascades depending on the receptor activity. No matter how heterogeneous the response is, energy availability represents the lowest common denominator since all these mechanisms are energy consuming and the brain networks adapt their performance accordingly. Astrocytes exert a primary role in this sense by acting as an energy buffer; glycogen granules, a mechanism to store glucose, are redistributed at glance and conveyed to neurons via the Astrocyte–Neuron Lactate Shuttle (ANLS). Here, we review how different types of memory relate to the mechanisms of energy delivery in the brain.
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82
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Dileep V, Tsai LH. Three-dimensional chromatin organization in brain function and dysfunction. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 69:214-221. [PMID: 34111830 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The three-dimensional (3D) organization of chromatin within the nucleus is now recognized as a bona fide epigenetic property influencing genome function, replication, and maintenance. In the recent years, several studies have revealed how 3D chromatin organization is associated with brain function and its emerging role in disorders of the brain. 3D chromatin organization plays a crucial role in the development of different cell types of the nervous system and some neuronal cell types have adapted unique modifications to this organization that deviates from all other cell types. In post-mitotic neurons, dynamic changes in chromatin interactions in response to neuronal activity underlie learning and memory formation. Finally, new evidence directly links 3D chromatin organization to several disorders of the brain. These recent findings position 3D chromatin organization as a fundamental regulatory mechanism poised to reveal the etiology of brain function and dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishnu Dileep
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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83
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Laviv T, Yasuda R. Imaging neuronal protein signaling dynamics in vivo. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 69:68-75. [PMID: 33684848 PMCID: PMC8387335 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The activity patterns of Individual neurons are highly coordinated and synchronized within neuronal circuits in the brain, much like individual orchestra tools playing together to achieve harmony. Inside neurons, complex protein signaling cascades provide the molecular notes and instructions to each neuron. However, until recently, the dynamic nature of intracellular protein signaling in the intact brain has been eluded. In this review, we focus on recent advancements and the development of approaches to study neuronal signaling dynamics in vivo. We will discuss approaches for the implementation of biosensors for monitoring of protein signaling activities at the levels of individual synapses, dendritic branches, cell-wide neuromodulation, and transcription in the nucleus. Future improvement in these methods and their utilization will undoubtedly yield new insights regarding the intricate link between functional and molecular neuronal dynamics and how they underlie animal's behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Laviv
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Ryohei Yasuda
- Department of Neuronal Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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84
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Quantitative description of the interactions among kinase cascades underlying long-term plasticity of Aplysia sensory neurons. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14931. [PMID: 34294802 PMCID: PMC8298407 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94393-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinases play critical roles in synaptic and neuronal changes involved in the formation of memory. However, significant gaps exist in the understanding of how interactions among kinase pathways contribute to the mechanistically distinct temporal domains of memory ranging from short-term memory to long-term memory (LTM). Activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) pathways are critical for long-term enhancement of neuronal excitability (LTEE) and long-term synaptic facilitation (LTF), essential processes in memory formation. This study provides new insights into how these pathways contribute to the temporal domains of memory, using empirical and computational approaches. Empirical studies of Aplysia sensory neurons identified a positive feedforward loop in which the PKA and ERK pathways converge to regulate RSK, and a negative feedback loop in which p38 MAPK inhibits the activation of ERK and RSK. A computational model incorporated these findings to simulate the dynamics of kinase activity produced by different stimulus protocols and predict the critical roles of kinase interactions in the dynamics of these pathways. These findings may provide insights into the mechanisms underlying aberrant synaptic plasticity observed in genetic disorders such as RASopathies and Coffin-Lowry syndrome.
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85
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Roesler R, Parent MB, LaLumiere RT, McIntyre CK. Amygdala-hippocampal interactions in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 184:107490. [PMID: 34302951 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Memories of emotionally arousing events tend to endure longer than other memories. This review compiles findings from several decades of research investigating the role of the amygdala in modulating memories of emotional experiences. Episodic memory is a kind of declarative memory that depends upon the hippocampus, and studies suggest that the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) modulates episodic memory consolidation through interactions with the hippocampus. Although many studies in rodents and imaging studies in humans indicate that the amygdala modulates memory consolidation and plasticity processes in the hippocampus, the anatomical pathways through which the amygdala affects hippocampal regions that are important for episodic memories were unresolved until recent optogenetic advances made it possible to visualize and manipulate specific BLA efferent pathways during memory consolidation. Findings indicate that the BLA influences hippocampal-dependent memories, as well as synaptic plasticity, histone modifications, gene expression, and translation of synaptic plasticity associated proteins in the hippocampus. More recent findings from optogenetic studies suggest that the BLA modulates spatial memory via projections to the medial entorhinal cortex, and that the frequency of activity in this pathway is a critical element of this modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500 (ICBS, Campus Centro/UFRGS), 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Marise B Parent
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
| | - Ryan T LaLumiere
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
| | - Christa K McIntyre
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA.
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86
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Pan Y, He X, Li C, Li Y, Li W, Zhang H, Wang Y, Zhou G, Yang J, Li J, Qu J, Wang H, Gao Z, Shen Y, Li T, Hu H, Ma H. Neuronal activity recruits the CRTC1/CREB axis to drive transcription-dependent autophagy for maintaining late-phase LTD. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109398. [PMID: 34289350 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular resources must be reorganized for long-term synaptic plasticity during brain information processing, in which coordinated gene transcription and protein turnover are required. However, the mechanism underlying this process remains elusive. Here, we report that activating N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) induce transcription-dependent autophagy for synaptic turnover and late-phase long-term synaptic depression (L-LTD), which invokes cytoplasm-to-nucleus signaling mechanisms known to be required for late-phase long-term synaptic potentiation (L-LTP). Mechanistically, LTD-inducing stimuli specifically dephosphorylate CRTC1 (CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1) at Ser-151 and are advantaged in recruiting CRTC1 from cytoplasm to the nucleus, where it competes with FXR (fed-state sensing nuclear receptor) for binding to CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) and drives autophagy gene expression. Disrupting synergistic actions of CREB and CRTC1 (two essential L-LTP transcription factors) impairs transcription-dependent autophagy induction and prevents NMDAR-dependent L-LTD, which can be rescued by constitutively inducing mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent autophagy. Together, these findings uncover mechanistic commonalities between L-LTP and L-LTD, suggesting that synaptic activity can tune excitation-transcription coupling for distinct long-lasting synaptic remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Pan
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xingzhi He
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Cuicui Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yanjun Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wenwen Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hanbin Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Guangjun Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jiarui Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jing Qu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhihua Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hailan Hu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Research Units for Emotion and Emotion Disorders, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Huan Ma
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Research Units for Emotion and Emotion Disorders, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
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87
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Bellver-Sanchis A, Pallàs M, Griñán-Ferré C. The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer's Disease. EPIGENOMES 2021; 5:15. [PMID: 34968302 PMCID: PMC8594669 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes5020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last years, epigenetic processes have emerged as important factors for many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). These complex diseases seem to have a heritable component; however, genome-wide association studies failed to identify the genetic loci involved in the etiology. So, how can these changes be transmitted from one generation to the next? Answering this question would allow us to understand how the environment can affect human populations for multiple generations and explain the high prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. This review pays particular attention to the relationship among epigenetics, cognition, and neurodegeneration across generations, deepening the understanding of the relevance of heritability in neurodegenerative diseases. We highlight some recent examples of EI induced by experiences, focusing on their contribution of processes in learning and memory to point out new targets for therapeutic interventions. Here, we first describe the prominent role of epigenetic factors in memory processing. Then, we briefly discuss aspects of EI. Additionally, we summarize evidence of how epigenetic marks inherited by experience and/or environmental stimuli contribute to cognitive status offspring since better knowledge of EI can provide clues in the appearance and development of age-related cognitive decline and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.B.-S.); (M.P.)
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88
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Giorgi C, Marinelli S. Roles and Transcriptional Responses of Inhibitory Neurons in Learning and Memory. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:689952. [PMID: 34211369 PMCID: PMC8239217 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.689952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence supports a model whereby memories are encoded by sparse ensembles of neurons called engrams, activated during memory encoding and reactivated upon recall. An engram consists of a network of cells that undergo long-lasting modifications of their transcriptional programs and connectivity. Ground-breaking advancements in this field have been made possible by the creative exploitation of the characteristic transcriptional responses of neurons to activity, allowing both engram labeling and manipulation. Nevertheless, numerous aspects of engram cell-type composition and function remain to be addressed. As recent transcriptomic studies have revealed, memory encoding induces persistent transcriptional and functional changes in a plethora of neuronal subtypes and non-neuronal cells, including glutamatergic excitatory neurons, GABAergic inhibitory neurons, and glia cells. Dissecting the contribution of these different cellular classes to memory engram formation and activity is quite a challenging yet essential endeavor. In this review, we focus on the role played by the GABAergic inhibitory component of the engram through two complementary lenses. On one hand, we report on available physiological evidence addressing the involvement of inhibitory neurons to different stages of memory formation, consolidation, storage and recall. On the other, we capitalize on a growing number of transcriptomic studies that profile the transcriptional response of inhibitory neurons to activity, revealing important clues on their potential involvement in learning and memory processes. The picture that emerges suggests that inhibitory neurons are an essential component of the engram, likely involved in engram allocation, in tuning engram excitation and in storing the memory trace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Giorgi
- CNR, Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Rome, Italy.,European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Marinelli
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
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89
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Sagar NA, Tarafdar S, Agarwal S, Tarafdar A, Sharma S. Polyamines: Functions, Metabolism, and Role in Human Disease Management. Med Sci (Basel) 2021; 9:44. [PMID: 34207607 PMCID: PMC8293435 DOI: 10.3390/medsci9020044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Putrescine, spermine, and spermidine are the important polyamines (PAs), found in all living organisms. PAs are formed by the decarboxylation of amino acids, and they facilitate cell growth and development via different cellular responses. PAs are the integrated part of the cellular and genetic metabolism and help in transcription, translation, signaling, and post-translational modifications. At the cellular level, PA concentration may influence the condition of various diseases in the body. For instance, a high PA level is detrimental to patients suffering from aging, cognitive impairment, and cancer. The levels of PAs decline with age in humans, which is associated with different health disorders. On the other hand, PAs reduce the risk of many cardiovascular diseases and increase longevity, when taken in an optimum quantity. Therefore, a controlled diet is an easy way to maintain the level of PAs in the body. Based on the nutritional intake of PAs, healthy cell functioning can be maintained. Moreover, several diseases can also be controlled to a higher extend via maintaining the metabolism of PAs. The present review discusses the types, important functions, and metabolism of PAs in humans. It also highlights the nutritional role of PAs in the prevention of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narashans Alok Sagar
- Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Sonepat 131028, Haryana, India
- Food Microbiology Lab, Division of Livestock Products Technology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Swarnava Tarafdar
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, All India Institute of Medical Science, Rishikesh 249203, Uttarakhand, India;
| | - Surbhi Agarwal
- Department of Hematology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India;
| | - Ayon Tarafdar
- Livestock Production and Management Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India;
| | - Sunil Sharma
- Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Sonepat 131028, Haryana, India
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90
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Fuentes-Ramos M, Alaiz-Noya M, Barco A. Transcriptome and epigenome analysis of engram cells: Next-generation sequencing technologies in memory research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:865-875. [PMID: 34097980 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Transcription and epigenetic changes are integral components of the neuronal response to stimulation and have been postulated to be drivers or substrates for enduring changes in animal behavior, including learning and memory. Memories are thought to be deposited in neuronal assemblies called engrams, i.e., groups of cells that undergo persistent physical or chemical changes during learning and are selectively reactivated to retrieve the memory. Despite the research progress made in recent years, the identity of specific epigenetic changes, if any, that occur in these cells and subsequently contribute to the persistence of memory traces remains unknown. The analysis of these changes is challenging due to the difficulty of exploring molecular alterations that only occur in a relatively small percentage of cells embedded in a complex tissue. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in this field and the promise of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and epigenome editing methods for overcoming these challenges and address long-standing questions concerning the role of epigenetic mechanisms in memory encoding, maintenance and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Fuentes-Ramos
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain
| | - Marta Alaiz-Noya
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain
| | - Angel Barco
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain.
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91
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Dynamical Mechanisms for Gene Regulation Mediated by Two Noncoding RNAs in Long-Term Memory Formation. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:6668389. [PMID: 33833791 PMCID: PMC8016590 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6668389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs such as miRNAs and piRNAs have long-lasting effects on the regulation of gene expression involved in long-term synaptic changes. To characterize gene regulation mediated by small noncoding RNAs associated with long-term memory in Aplysia, we consider two noncoding RNAs stimulated by 5-HT into a gene regulatory network motif model, including miR-124 that binds to and inhibits the mRNA of CREB1 and piR-F that facilitates serotonin-dependent DNA methylation to lead to repression of CREB2. Codimension-1 and -2 bifurcation analyses of 5-HT regulating both miR-124 and piR-F and a negative feedback strength for oscillation reveal rich dynamical properties of bistability and oscillations robust to variations in all other parameters. More importantly, we verify three stimulus protocols of 5-HT in experiments by our model and find that application of five pulses of 5-HT leads to a transient decrease of miR-124 but increase of piR-F concentrations, which matters sustained high level of CREB1 concentration associated with long-term memory. Furthermore, we perform bifurcation analyses for the concentrations of miR-124 and piR-F as two parameters to explore dynamical mechanisms underlying the epigenetic regulation in long-term memory formation. This study provides insights into revealing regulatory roles of epigenetic changes in gene expression involving noncoding RNAs associated with synaptic plasticity.
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92
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Dachet F, Brown JB, Valyi-Nagy T, Narayan KD, Serafini A, Boley N, Gingeras TR, Celniker SE, Mohapatra G, Loeb JA. Selective time-dependent changes in activity and cell-specific gene expression in human postmortem brain. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6078. [PMID: 33758256 PMCID: PMC7988150 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85801-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
As a means to understand human neuropsychiatric disorders from human brain samples, we compared the transcription patterns and histological features of postmortem brain to fresh human neocortex isolated immediately following surgical removal. Compared to a number of neuropsychiatric disease-associated postmortem transcriptomes, the fresh human brain transcriptome had an entirely unique transcriptional pattern. To understand this difference, we measured genome-wide transcription as a function of time after fresh tissue removal to mimic the postmortem interval. Within a few hours, a selective reduction in the number of neuronal activity-dependent transcripts occurred with relative preservation of housekeeping genes commonly used as a reference for RNA normalization. Gene clustering indicated a rapid reduction in neuronal gene expression with a reciprocal time-dependent increase in astroglial and microglial gene expression that continued to increase for at least 24 h after tissue resection. Predicted transcriptional changes were confirmed histologically on the same tissue demonstrating that while neurons were degenerating, glial cells underwent an outgrowth of their processes. The rapid loss of neuronal genes and reciprocal expression of glial genes highlights highly dynamic transcriptional and cellular changes that occur during the postmortem interval. Understanding these time-dependent changes in gene expression in post mortem brain samples is critical for the interpretation of research studies on human brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Dachet
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - James B Brown
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | | | - Anna Serafini
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Nathan Boley
- University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jeffrey A Loeb
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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93
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Mukherjee D, Gonzales BJ, Ashwal-Fluss R, Turm H, Groysman M, Citri A. Egr2 induction in spiny projection neurons of the ventrolateral striatum contributes to cocaine place preference in mice. eLife 2021; 10:65228. [PMID: 33724178 PMCID: PMC8057818 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction develops due to brain-wide plasticity within neuronal ensembles, mediated by dynamic gene expression. Though the most common approach to identify such ensembles relies on immediate early gene expression, little is known of how the activity of these genes is linked to modified behavior observed following repeated drug exposure. To address this gap, we present a broad-to-specific approach, beginning with a comprehensive investigation of brain-wide cocaine-driven gene expression, through the description of dynamic spatial patterns of gene induction in subregions of the striatum, and finally address functionality of region-specific gene induction in the development of cocaine preference. Our findings reveal differential cell-type specific dynamic transcriptional recruitment patterns within two subdomains of the dorsal striatum following repeated cocaine exposure. Furthermore, we demonstrate that induction of the IEG Egr2 in the ventrolateral striatum, as well as the cells within which it is expressed, are required for the development of cocaine seeking. The human brain is ever changing, constantly rewiring itself in response to new experiences, knowledge or information from the environment. Addictive drugs such as cocaine can hijack the genetic mechanisms responsible for this plasticity, creating dangerous, obsessive drug-seeking and consuming behaviors. Cocaine-induced plasticity is difficult to apprehend, however, as brain regions or even cell populations can react differently to the compound. For instance, sub-regions in the striatum – the brain area that responds to rewards and helps to plan movement – show distinct responses during progressive exposure to cocaine. And while researchers know that the drug immediately changes how neurons switch certain genes on and off, it is still unclear how these genetic modifications later affect behavior. Mukherjee, Gonzales et al. explored these questions at different scales, first focusing on how progressive cocaine exposure changed the way various gene programs were activated across the entire brain. This revealed that programs in the striatum were the most affected by the drug. Examining this region more closely showed that cocaine switches on genes in specific ‘spiny projection’ neuron populations, depending on where these cells are located and the drug history of the mouse. Finally, Mukherjee, Gonzales et al. used genetically modified mice to piece together cocaine exposure, genetic changes and modifications in behavior. These experiments revealed that the drive to seek cocaine depended on activation of the Egr2 gene in populations of spiny projection neurons in a specific sub-region of the striatum. The gene, which codes for a protein that regulates how genes are switched on and off, was itself strongly activated by cocaine intake. Cocaine addiction can have devastating consequences for individuals. Grasping how this drug alters the brain could pave the way for new treatments, while also providing information on the basic mechanisms underlying brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diptendu Mukherjee
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ben Jerry Gonzales
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Reut Ashwal-Fluss
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hagit Turm
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maya Groysman
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ami Citri
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.,Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Program in Child and Brain Development, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, MaRS Centre, Toronto, Canada
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94
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Emanetci E, Çakır T. Network-Based Analysis of Cognitive Impairment and Memory Deficits from Transcriptome Data. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2415-2428. [PMID: 33713319 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01807-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable process that negatively affects all living organisms and their vital functions. The brain is one of the most important organs in living beings and is primarily impacted by aging. The molecular mechanisms of learning, memory and cognition are altered over time, and the impairment in these mechanisms can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Transcriptomics can be used to study these impairments to acquire more detailed information on the affected molecular mechanisms. Here we analyzed learning- and memory-related transcriptome data by mapping it on the organism-specific protein-protein interactome network. Subnetwork discovery algorithms were applied to discover highly dysregulated subnetworks, which were complemented with co-expression-based interactions. The functional analysis shows that the identified subnetworks are enriched with genes having roles in synaptic plasticity, gliogenesis, neurogenesis and cognition, which are reported to be related to memory and learning. With a detailed analysis, we show that the results from different subnetwork discovery algorithms or from different transcriptomic datasets can be successfully reconciled, leading to a memory-learning network that sheds light on the molecular mechanisms behind aging and memory-related impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Emanetci
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Tunahan Çakır
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
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95
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Lopatynska-Mazurek M, Pankowska A, Gibula-Tarlowska E, Pietura R, Kotlinska JH. Rapamycin Improves Recognition Memory and Normalizes Amino-Acids and Amines Levels in the Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus in Adult Rats Exposed to Ethanol during the Neonatal Period. Biomolecules 2021; 11:362. [PMID: 33673489 PMCID: PMC7997340 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/ threonine kinase, is implicated in synaptic plasticity by controlling protein synthesis. Research suggests that ethanol exposure during pregnancy alters the mTOR signaling pathway in the fetal hippocampus. Thus, we investigated the influence of pre-treatment with rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, on the development of recognition memory deficits in adult rats that were neonatally exposed to ethanol. In the study, male and female rat pups received ethanol (5 g/kg/day) by intragastric intubation at postanatal day (PND 4-9), an equivalent to the third trimester of human pregnancy. Rapamycin (3 and 10 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally before every ethanol administration. Short- and long-term recognition memory was assessed in the novel object recognition (NOR) task in adult (PND 59/60) rats. Locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior were also evaluated to exclude the influence of such behavior on the outcome of the memory task. Moreover, the effects of rapamycin pre-treatment during neonatal ethanol exposure on the content of amino-acids and amines essential for the proper development of cognitive function in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus was evaluated using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) in male adult (PND 60) rats. Our results show the deleterious effect of ethanol given to neonatal rats on long-term recognition memory in adults. The effect was more pronounced in male rather than female rats. Rapamycin reversed this ethanol-induced memory impairment and normalized the levels of amino acids and amines in the DG. This suggests the involvement of mTORC1 in the deleterious effect of ethanol on the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Lopatynska-Mazurek
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University, Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (M.L.-M.); (E.G.-T.)
| | - Anna Pankowska
- Department of Radiography, Medical University, Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland; (A.P.); (R.P.)
| | - Ewa Gibula-Tarlowska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University, Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (M.L.-M.); (E.G.-T.)
| | - Radoslaw Pietura
- Department of Radiography, Medical University, Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland; (A.P.); (R.P.)
| | - Jolanta H. Kotlinska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University, Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (M.L.-M.); (E.G.-T.)
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96
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Bickle J. The first two decades of CREB-memory research: data for philosophy of neuroscience. AIMS Neurosci 2021; 8:322-339. [PMID: 34183984 PMCID: PMC8222766 DOI: 10.3934/neuroscience.2021017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
I recount some landmark discoveries that initially confirmed the cyclic AMP response element-binding (CREB) protein-memory consolidation and allocation linkages. This work constitutes one of the successes of the field of Molecular and Cellular Cognition (MCC) but is also of interest to philosophers of neuroscience. Two approaches, "mechanism" and "ruthless reductionism", claim to account for this case, yet these accounts differ in one crucial way. I explain this difference and argue that both the experiment designs and discussions of these discoveries by MCC scientists better fit the ruthless reductionist's account. This conclusion leads to further philosophical discussion about how discoveries in cellular/molecular neurobiology integrate with systems neuroscience findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Bickle
- Department of Philosophy, Mississippi State University; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center. USA
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97
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Di Benedetto G, Iannucci LF, Surdo NC, Zanin S, Conca F, Grisan F, Gerbino A, Lefkimmiatis K. Compartmentalized Signaling in Aging and Neurodegeneration. Cells 2021; 10:464. [PMID: 33671541 PMCID: PMC7926881 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclic AMP (cAMP) signalling cascade is necessary for cell homeostasis and plays important roles in many processes. This is particularly relevant during ageing and age-related diseases, where drastic changes, generally decreases, in cAMP levels have been associated with the progressive decline in overall cell function and, eventually, the loss of cellular integrity. The functional relevance of reduced cAMP is clearly supported by the finding that increases in cAMP levels can reverse some of the effects of ageing. Nevertheless, despite these observations, the molecular mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of cAMP signalling in ageing are not well understood. Compartmentalization is widely accepted as the modality through which cAMP achieves its functional specificity; therefore, it is important to understand whether and how this mechanism is affected during ageing and to define which is its contribution to this process. Several animal models demonstrate the importance of specific cAMP signalling components in ageing, however, how age-related changes in each of these elements affect the compartmentalization of the cAMP pathway is largely unknown. In this review, we explore the connection of single components of the cAMP signalling cascade to ageing and age-related diseases whilst elaborating the literature in the context of cAMP signalling compartmentalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulietta Di Benedetto
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 35121 Padova, Italy;
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy; (L.F.I.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (F.G.)
| | - Liliana F. Iannucci
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy; (L.F.I.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (F.G.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Nicoletta C. Surdo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 35121 Padova, Italy;
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy; (L.F.I.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (F.G.)
| | - Sofia Zanin
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy; (L.F.I.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (F.G.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Filippo Conca
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy; (L.F.I.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (F.G.)
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Grisan
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy; (L.F.I.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (F.G.)
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Gerbino
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Konstantinos Lefkimmiatis
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy; (L.F.I.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (F.G.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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98
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Salery M, Godino A, Nestler EJ. Drug-activated cells: From immediate early genes to neuronal ensembles in addiction. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2021; 90:173-216. [PMID: 33706932 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Beyond their rapid rewarding effects, drugs of abuse can durably alter an individual's response to their environment as illustrated by the compulsive drug seeking and risk of relapse triggered by drug-associated stimuli. The persistence of these associations even long after cessation of drug use demonstrates the enduring mark left by drugs on brain reward circuits. However, within these circuits, neuronal populations are differently affected by drug exposure and growing evidence indicates that relatively small subsets of neurons might be involved in the encoding and expression of drug-mediated associations. The identification of sparse neuronal populations recruited in response to drug exposure has benefited greatly from the study of immediate early genes (IEGs) whose induction is critical in initiating plasticity programs in recently activated neurons. In particular, the development of technologies to manipulate IEG-expressing cells has been fundamental to implicate broadly distributed neuronal ensembles coincidently activated by either drugs or drug-associated stimuli and to then causally establish their involvement in drug responses. In this review, we summarize the literature regarding IEG regulation in different learning paradigms and addiction models to highlight their role as a marker of activity and plasticity. As the exploration of neuronal ensembles in addiction improves our understanding of drug-associated memory encoding, it also raises several questions regarding the cellular and molecular characteristics of these discrete neuronal populations as they become incorporated in drug-associated neuronal ensembles. We review recent efforts towards this goal and discuss how they will offer a more comprehensive understanding of addiction pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Salery
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Arthur Godino
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
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Distinct Transcriptomic Profiles in the Dorsal Hippocampus and Prelimbic Cortex Are Transiently Regulated following Episodic Learning. J Neurosci 2021; 41:2601-2614. [PMID: 33536202 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1557-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A fundamental, evolutionarily conserved biological mechanism required for long-term memory formation is rapid induction of gene transcription upon learning in relevant brain areas. For episodic types of memories, two regions undergoing this transcription are the dorsal hippocampus (dHC) and prelimbic (PL) cortex. Whether and to what extent these regions regulate similar or distinct transcriptomic profiles upon learning remain to be understood. Here, we used RNA sequencing in the dHC and PL cortex of male rats to profile their transcriptomes in untrained conditions (baseline) and at 1 h and 6 d after inhibitory avoidance learning. We found that, of 33,713 transcripts, >14,000 were significantly expressed at baseline in both regions and ∼3000 were selectively enriched in each region. Gene Ontology biological pathway analyses indicated that commonly expressed pathways included synapse organization, regulation of membrane potential, and vesicle localization. The enriched pathways in the dHC were gliogenesis, axon development, and lipid modification, while in the PL cortex included vesicle localization and synaptic vesicle cycle. At 1 h after learning, 135 transcripts changed significantly in the dHC and 478 in the PL cortex; of these, only 34 were shared. Biological pathways most significantly regulated by learning in the dHC were protein dephosphorylation, glycogen and glucan metabolism, while in the PL cortex were axon development and axonogenesis. The transcriptome profiles returned to baseline by 6 d after training. Thus, a significant portion of dHC and PL cortex transcriptomic profiles is divergent, and their regulation upon learning is largely distinct and transient.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Long-term episodic memory formation requires gene transcription in several brain regions, including the hippocampus and PFC. The comprehensive profiles of the dynamic mRNA changes that occur in these regions following learning are not well understood. Here, we performed RNA sequencing in the dorsal hippocampus and prelimbic cortex, a PFC subregion, at baseline, 1 h, and 6 d after episodic learning in rats. We found that, at baseline, dorsal hippocampus and prelimbic cortex differentially express a significant portion of mRNAs. Moreover, learning produces a transient regulation of region-specific profiles of mRNA, indicating that unique biological programs in different brain regions underlie memory formation.
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100
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Mews P, Calipari ES, Day J, Lobo MK, Bredy T, Abel T. From Circuits to Chromatin: The Emerging Role of Epigenetics in Mental Health. J Neurosci 2021; 41:873-882. [PMID: 33446519 PMCID: PMC7880276 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1649-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A central goal of neuroscience research is to understand how experiences modify brain circuits to guide future adaptive behavior. In response to environmental stimuli, neural circuit activity engages gene regulatory mechanisms within each cell. This activity-dependent gene expression is governed, in part, by epigenetic processes that can produce persistent changes in both neural circuits and the epigenome itself. The complex interplay between circuit activity and neuronal gene regulation is vital to learning and memory, and, when disrupted, is linked to debilitating psychiatric conditions, such as substance use disorder. To develop clinical treatments, it is paramount to advance our understanding of how neural circuits and the epigenome cooperate to produce behavioral adaptation. Here, we discuss how new genetic tools, used to manipulate neural circuits and chromatin, have enabled the discovery of epigenetic processes that bring about long-lasting changes in behavior relevant to mental health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Mews
- Friedman Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10129
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Departments of Pharmacology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37323
| | - Jeremy Day
- Department of Neurobiology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Timothy Bredy
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
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