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Park Y, Li J, Ismail Mohamad N, Matthews IR, Santra P, Sherr EH, Chan DK. Noise induces intercellular Ca 2+ signaling waves and the unfolded protein response in the hearing cochlea. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.05.597671. [PMID: 38895437 PMCID: PMC11185706 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.05.597671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to loud noise is a common cause of acquired hearing loss. Disruption of subcellular calcium homeostasis and downstream stress pathways in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, including the unfolded protein response, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of noise-induced hearing loss. However, studies on the association between calcium homeostasis and stress pathways has been limited due to limited ability to measure calcium dynamics in mature-hearing, noise-exposed mice. We used a genetically encoded calcium indicator mouse model in which GcAMP is expressed specifically in hair cells or supporting cells under control of Myo15Cre or Sox2Cre, respectively. We performed live calcium imaging and UPR gene expression analysis in 8-week-old mice exposed to levels of noise that cause cochlear synaptopathy (98 db SPL) or permanent hearing loss (106 dB SPL). UPR activation occurred immediately after noise exposure and was noise dose-dependent, with the pro-apoptotic pathway upregulated only after 106 dB noise exposure. Spontaneous calcium transients in hair cells and intercellular calcium waves in supporting cells, which are present in neonatal cochleae, were quiescent in mature-hearing cochleae, but re-activated upon noise exposure. 106 dB noise exposure was associated with more persistent and expansive ICS wave activity. These findings demonstrate a strong and dose-dependent association between noise exposure, UPR activation, and changes in calcium homeostasis in hair cells and supporting cells, suggesting that targeting these pathways may be effective to develop treatments for noise-induced hearing loss.
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Yang Y, Liu T, Li J, Yan D, Hu Y, Wu P, Fang F, McQuillan PM, Hang W, Leng J, Hu Z. General anesthetic agents induce neurotoxicity through astrocytes. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1299-1307. [PMID: 37905879 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Neuroscientists have recognized the importance of astrocytes in regulating neurological function and their influence on the release of glial transmitters. Few studies, however, have focused on the effects of general anesthetic agents on neuroglia or astrocytes. Astrocytes can also be an important target of general anesthetic agents as they exert not only sedative, analgesic, and amnesic effects but also mediate general anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Here, we analyzed recent advances in understanding the mechanism of general anesthetic agents on astrocytes, and found that exposure to general anesthetic agents will destroy the morphology and proliferation of astrocytes, in addition to acting on the receptors on their surface, which not only affect Ca2+ signaling, inhibit the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and lactate from astrocytes, but are even involved in the regulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory processes of astrocytes. These would obviously affect the communication between astrocytes as well as between astrocytes and neighboring neurons, other neuroglia, and vascular cells. In this review, we summarize how general anesthetic agents act on neurons via astrocytes, and explore potential mechanisms of action of general anesthetic agents on the nervous system. We hope that this review will provide a new direction for mitigating the neurotoxicity of general anesthetic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanchang Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Tiantian Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Dandan Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuhan Hu
- Cell Biology Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fuquan Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Patrick M McQuillan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State Hershey Medical Centre, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Wenxin Hang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianhang Leng
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhiyong Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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Tripathi U, Rosh I, Ben Ezer R, Nayak R, Hussein Y, Choudhary A, Djamus J, Manole A, Houlden H, Gage FH, Stern S. Upregulated ECM genes and increased synaptic activity in Parkinson's human DA neurons with PINK1/ PRKN mutations. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:103. [PMID: 38762512 PMCID: PMC11102563 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00715-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. Primary symptoms of PD arise with the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta, but PD also affects the hippocampus and cortex, usually in its later stage. Approximately 15% of PD cases are familial with a genetic mutation. Two of the most associated genes with autosomal recessive (AR) early-onset familial PD are PINK1 and PRKN. In vitro studies of these genetic mutations are needed to understand the neurophysiological changes in patients' neurons that may contribute to neurodegeneration. In this work, we generated and differentiated DA and hippocampal neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from two patients with a double mutation in their PINK1 and PRKN (one homozygous and one heterozygous) genes and assessed their neurophysiology compared to two healthy controls. We showed that the synaptic activity of PD neurons generated from patients with the PINK1 and PRKN mutations is impaired in the hippocampus and dopaminergic neurons. Mutant dopaminergic neurons had enhanced excitatory post-synaptic activity. In addition, DA neurons with the homozygous mutation of PINK1 exhibited more pronounced electrophysiological differences compared to the control neurons. Signaling network analysis of RNA sequencing results revealed that Focal adhesion and ECM receptor pathway were the top two upregulated pathways in the mutant PD neurons. Our findings reveal that the phenotypes linked to PINK1 and PRKN mutations differ from those from other PD mutations, suggesting a unique interplay between these two mutations that drives different PD mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utkarsh Tripathi
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Idan Rosh
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ran Ben Ezer
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ritu Nayak
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yara Hussein
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ashwani Choudhary
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jose Djamus
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Andreea Manole
- Laboratory of Genetics, Gage, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Henry Houlden
- UCL queen square institute of neurology, University College London, London, England
| | - Fred H Gage
- Laboratory of Genetics, Gage, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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Wu E, Qi D, Nizamutdinov D, Huang JH. Astrocytic calcium waves: unveiling their roles in sleep and arousal modulation. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:984-987. [PMID: 37862199 PMCID: PMC10749589 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385287] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuron-astrocyte interactions are vital for the brain's connectome. Understanding astrocyte activities is crucial for comprehending the complex neural network, particularly the population-level functions of neurons in different cortical states and associated behaviors in mammals. Studies on animal sleep and wakefulness have revealed distinct cortical synchrony patterns between neurons. Astrocytes, outnumbering neurons by nearly fivefold, support and regulate neuronal and synaptic function. Recent research on astrocyte activation during cortical state transitions has emphasized the influence of norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter and calcium waves as key components of ion channel signaling. This summary focuses on a few recent studies investigating astrocyte-neuron interactions in mouse models during sleep, wakefulness, and arousal levels, exploring the involvement of noradrenaline signaling, ion channels, and glutamatergic signaling in different cortical states. These findings highlight the significant impact of astrocytes on large-scale neuronal networks, influencing brain activity and responsiveness. Targeting astrocytic signaling pathways shows promise for treating sleep disorders and arousal dysregulation. More research is needed to understand astrocytic calcium signaling in different brain regions and its implications for dysregulated brain states, requiring future human studies to comprehensively investigate neuron-astrocyte interactions and pave the way for therapeutic interventions in sleep- and arousal-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erxi Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
- Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
- Texas A&M University School of Pharmacy, College Station, TX, USA
- LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes and Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Dan Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Damir Nizamutdinov
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
- Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Jason H. Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
- Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
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Wang Y, Monai H. Transcranial direct current stimulation alters cerebrospinal fluid-interstitial fluid exchange in mouse brain. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:620-632. [PMID: 38688399 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has gained prominence recently. Clinical studies have explored tDCS as an adjunct to neurologic disease rehabilitation, with evidence suggesting its potential in modulating brain clearance mechanisms. The glymphatic system, a proposed brain waste clearance system, posits that cerebrospinal fluid-interstitial fluid (CSF-ISF) exchange aids in efficient metabolic waste removal. While some studies have linked tDCS to astrocytic inositol trisphosphate (IP3)/Ca2+ signaling, the impact of tDCS on CSF-ISF exchange dynamics remains unclear. HYPOTHESIS tDCS influences the dynamics of CSF-ISF exchange through astrocytic IP3/Ca2+ signaling. METHODS In this study, we administered tDCS (0.1 mA for 10 min) to C57BL/6N mice anesthetized with ketamine-xylazine (KX). The anode was positioned on the cranial bone above the cortex, and the cathode was inserted into the neck. Following tDCS, we directly assessed brain fluid dynamics by injecting biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) as a CSF tracer into the cisterna magna (CM). The brain was then extracted after either 30 or 60 min and fixed. After 24 h, the sectioned brain slices were stained with Alexa 594-conjugated streptavidin (SA) to visualize BDA using immunohistochemistry. We conducted Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings and aquaporin 4 (AQP4)/CD31 immunostaining to investigate the underlying mechanisms of tDCS. Additionally, we monitored the efflux of Evans blue, injected into the cisterna magna, using cervical lymph node imaging. Some experiments were subsequently repeated with inositol trisphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2) knockout (KO) mice. RESULTS Post-tDCS, we observed an increased CSF tracer influx, indicating a modulation of CSF-ISF exchange by tDCS. Additionally, tDCS appeared to enhance the brain's metabolic waste efflux. EEG recordings showed an increase in delta wave post-tDCS. But no significant change in AQP4 expression was detected 30 min post-tDCS. Besides, we found no alteration in CSF-ISF exchange and delta wave activity in IP3R2 KO mice after tDCS. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that tDCS augments the glymphatic system's influx and efflux. Through astrocytic IP3/Ca2+ signaling, tDCS was found to modify the delta wave, which correlates positively with brain clearance. This study underscores the potential of tDCS in modulating brain metabolic waste clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Ohtsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan
| | - Hiromu Monai
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Ohtsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan.
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Reynolds KE, Huang E, Sabbineni M, Wiseman E, Murtaza N, Ahuja D, Napier M, Murphy KM, Singh KK, Scott AL. Purinergic Signalling Mediates Aberrant Excitability of Developing Neuronal Circuits in the Fmr1 Knockout Mouse Model. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04181-w. [PMID: 38652351 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04181-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal hyperexcitability within developing cortical circuits is a common characteristic of several heritable neurodevelopmental disorders, including Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While this aberrant circuitry is typically studied from a neuron-centric perspective, glial cells secrete soluble factors that regulate both neurite extension and synaptogenesis during development. The nucleotide-mediated purinergic signalling system is particularly instrumental in facilitating these effects. We recently reported that within a FXS animal model, the Fmr1 KO mouse, the purinergic signalling system is upregulated in cortical astrocytes leading to altered secretion of synaptogenic and plasticity-related proteins. In this study, we examined whether elevated astrocyte purinergic signalling also impacts neuronal morphology and connectivity of Fmr1 KO cortical neurons. Here, we found that conditioned media from primary Fmr1 KO astrocytes was sufficient to enhance neurite extension and complexity of both wildtype and Fmr1 KO neurons to a similar degree as UTP-mediated outgrowth. Significantly enhanced firing was also observed in Fmr1 KO neuron-astrocyte co-cultures grown on microelectrode arrays but was associated with large deficits in firing synchrony. The selective P2Y2 purinergic receptor antagonist AR-C 118925XX effectively normalized much of the aberrant Fmr1 KO activity, designating P2Y2 as a potential therapeutic target in FXS. These results not only demonstrate the importance of astrocyte soluble factors in the development of neural circuitry, but also show that P2Y purinergic receptors play a distinct role in pathological FXS neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Reynolds
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Eileen Huang
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Monica Sabbineni
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Eliza Wiseman
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Nadeem Murtaza
- McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Desmond Ahuja
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Matt Napier
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 488 Gordon St, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Kathryn M Murphy
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Angela L Scott
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 488 Gordon St, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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Su Y, Verkhratsky A, Yi C. Targeting connexins: possible game changer in managing neuropathic pain? Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00064-9. [PMID: 38594094 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.03.009] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a chronic debilitating condition caused by nerve injury or a variety of diseases. At the core of neuropathic pain lies the aberrant neuronal excitability in the peripheral and/or central nervous system (PNS and CNS). Enhanced connexin expression and abnormal activation of connexin-assembled gap junctional channels are prominent in neuropathic pain along with reactive gliosis, contributing to neuronal hypersensitivity and hyperexcitability. In this review, we delve into the current understanding of how connexin expression and function contribute to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of neuropathic pain and argue for connexins as potential therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixun Su
- Research Centre, Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Achucarro Center for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Bilbao, Spain; Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania; Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
| | - Chenju Yi
- Research Centre, Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Guangzhou, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active substance screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen, China.
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Chamaa F, Magistretti PJ, Fiumelli H. Astrocyte-derived lactate in stress disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 192:106417. [PMID: 38296112 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress disorders are psychiatric disorders arising following stressful or traumatic events. They could deleteriously affect an individual's health because they often co-occur with mental illnesses. Considerable attention has been focused on neurons when considering the neurobiology of stress disorders. However, like other mental health conditions, recent studies have highlighted the importance of astrocytes in the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders. In addition to their structural and homeostatic support role, astrocytes actively serve several functions in regulating synaptic transmission and plasticity, protecting neurons from toxic compounds, and providing metabolic support for neurons. The astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle model sets forth the importance of astrocytes in providing lactate for the metabolic supply of neurons under intense activity. Lactate also plays a role as a signaling molecule and has been recently studied regarding its antidepressant activity. This review discusses the involvement of astrocytes and brain energy metabolism in stress and further reflects on the importance of lactate as an energy supply in the brain and its emerging antidepressant role in stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Chamaa
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pierre J Magistretti
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hubert Fiumelli
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
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Musotto R, Wanderlingh U, D’Ascola A, Spatuzza M, Catania MV, De Pittà M, Pioggia G. Dynamics of astrocytes Ca 2+ signaling: a low-cost fluorescence customized system for 2D cultures. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1320672. [PMID: 38322166 PMCID: PMC10844566 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1320672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In an effort to help reduce the costs of fluorescence microscopy and expand the use of this valuable technique, we developed a low-cost platform capable of visualising and analysing the spatio-temporal dynamics of intracellular Ca2+ signalling in astrocytes. The created platform, consisting of a specially adapted fluorescence microscope and a data analysis procedure performed with Imagej Fiji software and custom scripts, allowed us to detect relative changes of intracellular Ca2+ ions in astrocytes. To demonstrate the usefulness of the workflow, we applied the methodology to several in vitro astrocyte preparations, specifically immortalised human astrocyte cells and wild-type mouse cells. To demonstrate the reliability of the procedure, analyses were conducted by stimulating astrocyte activity with the agonist dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), alone or in the presence of the antagonist 2-methyl-6-phenylethyl-pyridine (MPEP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Musotto
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Messina, Italy
| | - Ulderico Wanderlingh
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Angela D’Ascola
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Policlinico Universitario, Messina, Italy
| | - Michela Spatuzza
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Vincenza Catania
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Catania, Italy
| | - Maurizio De Pittà
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neurosciences, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Giovanni Pioggia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Messina, Italy
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Postnov D, Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O, Litvinenko E, Kurths J, Penzel T. Mechanisms of Activation of Brain's Drainage during Sleep: The Nightlife of Astrocytes. Cells 2023; 12:2667. [PMID: 37998402 PMCID: PMC10670149 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of functions, mechanisms of generation, and pathways of movement of cerebral fluids has a long history, but the last decade has been especially productive. The proposed glymphatic hypothesis, which suggests a mechanism of the brain waste removal system (BWRS), caused an active discussion on both the criticism of some of the perspectives and our intensive study of new experimental facts. It was especially found that the intensity of the metabolite clearance changes significantly during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. Interestingly, at the cellular level, a number of aspects of this problem have been focused on, such as astrocytes-glial cells, which, over the past two decades, have been recognized as equal partners of neurons and perform many important functions. In particular, an important role was assigned to astrocytes within the framework of the glymphatic hypothesis. In this review, we return to the "astrocytocentric" view of the BWRS function and the explanation of its activation during sleep from the viewpoint of new findings over the last decade. Our main conclusion is that the BWRS's action may be analyzed both at the systemic (whole-brain) and at the local (cellular) level. The local level means here that the neuro-glial-vascular unit can also be regarded as the smallest functional unit of sleep, and therefore, the smallest functional unit of the BWRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Postnov
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia;
| | - Oxana Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elena Litvinenko
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia;
| | - Jürgen Kurths
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Thomas Penzel
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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11
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Hyung S, Park JH, Jung K. Application of optogenetic glial cells to neuron-glial communication. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1249043. [PMID: 37868193 PMCID: PMC10585272 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1249043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic techniques combine optics and genetics to enable cell-specific targeting and precise spatiotemporal control of excitable cells, and they are increasingly being employed. One of the most significant advantages of the optogenetic approach is that it allows for the modulation of nearby cells or circuits with millisecond precision, enabling researchers to gain a better understanding of the complex nervous system. Furthermore, optogenetic neuron activation permits the regulation of information processing in the brain, including synaptic activity and transmission, and also promotes nerve structure development. However, the optimal conditions remain unclear, and further research is required to identify the types of cells that can most effectively and precisely control nerve function. Recent studies have described optogenetic glial manipulation for coordinating the reciprocal communication between neurons and glia. Optogenetically stimulated glial cells can modulate information processing in the central nervous system and provide structural support for nerve fibers in the peripheral nervous system. These advances promote the effective use of optogenetics, although further experiments are needed. This review describes the critical role of glial cells in the nervous system and reviews the optogenetic applications of several types of glial cells, as well as their significance in neuron-glia interactions. Together, it briefly discusses the therapeutic potential and feasibility of optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Hyung
- Precision Medicine Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Park
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Cancer Biomedical Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyuhwan Jung
- DAWINBIO Inc., Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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Hastings N, Yu Y, Huang B, Middya S, Inaoka M, Erkamp NA, Mason RJ, Carnicer‐Lombarte A, Rahman S, Knowles TPJ, Bance M, Malliaras GG, Kotter MRN. Electrophysiological In Vitro Study of Long-Range Signal Transmission by Astrocytic Networks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301756. [PMID: 37485646 PMCID: PMC10582426 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are diverse brain cells that form large networks communicating via gap junctions and chemical transmitters. Despite recent advances, the functions of astrocytic networks in information processing in the brain are not fully understood. In culture, brain slices, and in vivo, astrocytes, and neurons grow in tight association, making it challenging to establish whether signals that spread within astrocytic networks communicate with neuronal groups at distant sites, or whether astrocytes solely respond to their local environments. A multi-electrode array (MEA)-based device called AstroMEA is designed to separate neuronal and astrocytic networks, thus allowing to study the transfer of chemical and/or electrical signals transmitted via astrocytic networks capable of changing neuronal electrical behavior. AstroMEA demonstrates that cortical astrocytic networks can induce a significant upregulation in the firing frequency of neurons in response to a theta-burst charge-balanced biphasic current stimulation (5 pulses of 100 Hz × 10 with 200 ms intervals, 2 s total duration) of a separate neuronal-astrocytic group in the absence of direct neuronal contact. This result corroborates the view of astrocytic networks as a parallel mechanism of signal transmission in the brain that is separate from the neuronal connectome. Translationally, it highlights the importance of astrocytic network protection as a treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Hastings
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Yi‐Lin Yu
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Department of Neurological SurgeryTri‐Service General HospitalNational Defence Medical CentreTaipei, Neihu District11490Taiwan
| | - Botian Huang
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | - Sagnik Middya
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Misaki Inaoka
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Nadia A. Erkamp
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryCentre for Misfolding DiseasesUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - Roger J. Mason
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | | | - Saifur Rahman
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryCentre for Misfolding DiseasesUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Cavendish LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of CambridgeJ J Thomson AveCambridgeCB3 0HEUK
| | - Manohar Bance
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | - George G. Malliaras
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Mark R. N. Kotter
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
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13
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Zheng Q, Liu H, Yu W, Dong Y, Zhou L, Deng W, Hua F. Mechanical properties of the brain: Focus on the essential role of Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction in the CNS. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3136. [PMID: 37366640 PMCID: PMC10498085 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brain is a highly mechanosensitive organ, and changes in the mechanical properties of brain tissue influence many physiological and pathological processes. Piezo type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (Piezo1), a protein found in metazoans, is highly expressed in the brain and involved in sensing changes of the mechanical microenvironment. Numerous studies have shown that Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction is closely related to glial cell activation and neuronal function. However, the precise role of Piezo1 in the brain requires further elucidation. OBJECTIVE This review first discusses the roles of Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction in regulating the functions of a variety of brain cells, and then briefly assesses the impact of Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction on the progression of brain dysfunctional disorders. CONCLUSIONS Mechanical signaling contributes significantly to brain function. Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction regulates processes such as neuronal differentiation, cell migration, axon guidance, neural regeneration, and oligodendrocyte axon myelination. Additionally, Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction plays significant roles in normal aging and brain injury, as well as the development of various brain diseases, including demyelinating diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and brain tumors. Investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms through which Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction affects brain function will give us a novel entry point for the diagnosis and treatment of numerous brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingcui Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi ProvinceThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
| | - Hailin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi ProvinceThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
| | - Wen Yu
- Department of Anesthesiologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi ProvinceThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
| | - Yao Dong
- Department of Anesthesiologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi ProvinceThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
| | - Lanqian Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi ProvinceThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
| | - Wenze Deng
- Department of Anesthesiologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi ProvinceThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
| | - Fuzhou Hua
- Department of Anesthesiologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi ProvinceThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangJiangxiP. R. China
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14
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Kozachkov L, Kastanenka KV, Krotov D. Building transformers from neurons and astrocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2219150120. [PMID: 37579149 PMCID: PMC10450673 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219150120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Glial cells account for between 50% and 90% of all human brain cells, and serve a variety of important developmental, structural, and metabolic functions. Recent experimental efforts suggest that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are also directly involved in core cognitive processes such as learning and memory. While it is well established that astrocytes and neurons are connected to one another in feedback loops across many timescales and spatial scales, there is a gap in understanding the computational role of neuron-astrocyte interactions. To help bridge this gap, we draw on recent advances in AI and astrocyte imaging technology. In particular, we show that neuron-astrocyte networks can naturally perform the core computation of a Transformer, a particularly successful type of AI architecture. In doing so, we provide a concrete, normative, and experimentally testable account of neuron-astrocyte communication. Because Transformers are so successful across a wide variety of task domains, such as language, vision, and audition, our analysis may help explain the ubiquity, flexibility, and power of the brain's neuron-astrocyte networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Kozachkov
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology-International Business Machines, Watson Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, IBM Research, Cambridge, MA02142
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Ksenia V. Kastanenka
- Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Dmitry Krotov
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology-International Business Machines, Watson Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, IBM Research, Cambridge, MA02142
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15
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Mitroshina EV, Krivonosov MI, Pakhomov AM, Yarullina LE, Gavrish MS, Mishchenko TA, Yarkov RS, Vedunova MV. Unravelling the Collective Calcium Dynamics of Physiologically Aged Astrocytes under a Hypoxic State In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12286. [PMID: 37569663 PMCID: PMC10419080 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes serve many functions in the brain related to maintaining nerve tissue homeostasis and regulating neuronal function, including synaptic transmission. It is assumed that astrocytes are crucial players in determining the physiological or pathological outcome of the brain aging process and the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, studies on the peculiarities of astrocyte physiology and interastrocytic signaling during aging are of utmost importance. Calcium waves are one of the main mechanisms of signal transmission between astrocytes, and in the present study we investigated the features of calcium dynamics in primary cultures of murine cortical astrocytes in physiological aging and hypoxia modeling in vitro. Specifically, we focused on the assessment of calcium network dynamics and the restructuring of the functional network architecture in primary astrocytic cultures. Calcium imaging was performed on days 21 ("young" astrocyte group) and 150 ("old" astrocyte group) of cultures' development in vitro. While the number of active cells and frequency of calcium events were decreased, we observed a reduced degree of correlation in calcium dynamics between neighboring cells, which was accompanied by a reduced number of functionally connected cells with fewer and slower signaling events. At the same time, an increase in the mRNA expression of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 and connexin 43 was observed in "old" astrocytic cultures, which can be considered as a compensatory response of cells with a decreased level of intercellular communication. A hypoxic episode aggravates the depression of the connectivity of calcium dynamics of "young" astrocytes rather than that of "old" ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V. Mitroshina
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
| | - Mikhail I. Krivonosov
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
| | - Alexander M. Pakhomov
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
- Federal Research Center Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP RAS), 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Laysan E. Yarullina
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
| | - Maria S. Gavrish
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
| | - Tatiana A. Mishchenko
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
| | - Roman S. Yarkov
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
| | - Maria V. Vedunova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (E.V.M.); (A.M.P.); (L.E.Y.); (M.S.G.); (T.A.M.); (R.S.Y.)
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16
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Gerasimov E, Bezprozvanny I, Vlasova OL. Activation of Gq-Coupled Receptors in Astrocytes Restores Cognitive Function in Alzheimer's Disease Mice Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9969. [PMID: 37373117 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most widespread neurodegenerative diseases. Most of the current AD therapeutic developments are directed towards improving neuronal cell function or facilitating Aβ amyloid clearance from the brain. However, some recent evidence suggests that astrocytes may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of AD. In this paper, we evaluated the effects of the optogenetic activation of Gq-coupled exogenous receptors expressed in astrocytes as a possible way of restoring brain function in the AD mouse model. We evaluated the effects of the optogenetic activation of astrocytes on long-term potentiation, spinal morphology and behavioral readouts in 5xFAD mouse model of AD. We determined that in vivo chronic activation of astrocytes resulted in the preservation of spine density, increased mushroom spine survival, and improved performance in cognitive behavioral tests. Furthermore, chronic optogenetic stimulation of astrocytes resulted in the elevation of EAAT-2 glutamate uptake transporter expression, which could be a possible explanation for the observed in vivo neuroprotective effects. The obtained results suggest that the persistent activation of astrocytes may be considered a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of AD and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii Gerasimov
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Khlopina St. 11, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ilya Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Khlopina St. 11, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Olga L Vlasova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Khlopina St. 11, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia
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17
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Yi W, Yang D, Xu Z, Chen Z, Xiao G, Qin L. Immortalization of mouse primary astrocytes. Gene 2023; 865:147327. [PMID: 36870428 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
In cell culture studies, immortalized primary cells have become a useful tool to investigate the molecular and cellular functions of different types of cells. Several immortalization agents, such as human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and Simian Virus 40 (SV40) T antigens, are commonly used for primary cell immortalization. Astrocytes, as the most abundant glial cell type in the central nervous system, are promising therapeutical targets for many neuronal disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Immortalized primary astrocytes can provide useful information for astrocytes biology, astrocytes-neuron interactions, glial interactions and astrocytes-associated neuronal diseases. In this study, we successfully purified primary astrocytes with immuno-panning method and examined the astrocyte functions after immortalization through both hTERT and SV40 Large-T antigens. As expected, both immortalized astrocytes presented unlimited lifespan and highly expressed multiple astrocyte-specific markers. However, SV40 Large-T antigen, but not hTERT, immortalized astrocytes displayed fast ATP-induced calcium wave in culture. Hence, SV40 Large-T antigen could be a better choice for primary astrocyte immortalization, which closely mimics the cell biology of primary astrocytes in culture. In summary, the purification and immortalization of primary astrocytes presented in this study can be used for studying astrocyte biology under physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Yi
- Department of Orthopedics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, No. 89 Taoyuan Road, 518000 Shenzhen, China
| | - Dazhi Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, No. 89 Taoyuan Road, 518000 Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhen Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, No. 89 Taoyuan Road, 518000 Shenzhen, China
| | - Zecai Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, No. 89 Taoyuan Road, 518000 Shenzhen, China
| | - Guozhi Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Southern University of Science and Technology, 518055 Shenzhen, China.
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of Orthopedics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, No. 89 Taoyuan Road, 518000 Shenzhen, China.
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18
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Abrams CK. Mechanisms of Diseases Associated with Mutation in GJC2/Connexin 47. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040712. [PMID: 37189458 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040712] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Connexins are members of a family of integral membrane proteins that provide a pathway for both electrical and metabolic coupling between cells. Astroglia express connexin 30 (Cx30)-GJB6 and Cx43-GJA1, while oligodendroglia express Cx29/Cx31.3-GJC3, Cx32-GJB1, and Cx47-GJC2. Connexins organize into hexameric hemichannels (homomeric if all subunits are identical or heteromeric if one or more differs). Hemichannels from one cell then form cell-cell channels with a hemichannel from an apposed cell. (These are termed homotypic if the hemichannels are identical and heterotypic if the hemichannels differ). Oligodendrocytes couple to each other through Cx32/Cx32 or Cx47/Cx47 homotypic channels and they couple to astrocytes via Cx32/Cx30 or Cx47/Cx43 heterotypic channels. Astrocytes couple via Cx30/Cx30 and Cx43/Cx43 homotypic channels. Though Cx32 and Cx47 may be expressed in the same cells, all available data suggest that Cx32 and Cx47 cannot interact heteromerically. Animal models wherein one or in some cases two different CNS glial connexins have been deleted have helped to clarify the role of these molecules in CNS function. Mutations in a number of different CNS glial connexin genes cause human disease. Mutations in GJC2 lead to three distinct phenotypes, Pelizaeus Merzbacher like disease, hereditary spastic paraparesis (SPG44) and subclinical leukodystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles K Abrams
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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19
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Lezmy J. How astrocytic ATP shapes neuronal activity and brain circuits. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 79:102685. [PMID: 36746109 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes play a key role in processing information at synapses, by controlling synapse formation, modulating synapse strength and terminating neurotransmitter action. They release ATP to shape brain activity but it is unclear how, as astrocyte processes contact many targets and ATP-mediated effects are diverse and numerous. Here, I review recent studies showing how astrocytic ATP modulates cellular mechanisms in nearby neurons and glia in the grey and white matter, how it affects signal transmission in these areas, and how it modulates behavioural outputs. I attempt to provide a flowchart of astrocytic ATP signalling, showing that it tends to inhibit neural circuits to match energy demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Lezmy
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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20
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Das M, Cheng D, Matzat T, Auld VJ. Innexin-Mediated Adhesion between Glia Is Required for Axon Ensheathment in the Peripheral Nervous System. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2260-2276. [PMID: 36801823 PMCID: PMC10072304 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1323-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Glia are essential to protecting and enabling nervous system function and a key glial function is the formation of the glial sheath around peripheral axons. Each peripheral nerve in the Drosophila larva is ensheathed by three glial layers, which structurally support and insulate the peripheral axons. How peripheral glia communicate with each other and between layers is not well established and we investigated the role of Innexins in mediating glial function in the Drosophila periphery. Of the eight Drosophila Innexins, we found two (Inx1 and Inx2) are important for peripheral glia development. In particular loss of Inx1 and Inx2 resulted in defects in the wrapping glia leading to disruption of the glia wrap. Of interest loss of Inx2 in the subperineurial glia also resulted in defects in the neighboring wrapping glia. Inx plaques were observed between the subperineurial glia and the wrapping glia suggesting that gap junctions link these two glial cell types. We found Inx2 is key to Ca2+ pulses in the peripheral subperineurial glia but not in the wrapping glia, and we found no evidence of gap junction communication between subperineurial and wrapping glia. Rather we have clear evidence that Inx2 plays an adhesive and channel-independent role between the subperineurial and wrapping glia to ensure the integrity of the glial wrap.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Gap junctions are critical for glia communication and formation of myelin in myelinating glia. However, the role of gap junctions in non-myelinating glia is not well studied, yet non-myelinating glia are critical for peripheral nerve function. We found the Innexin gap junction proteins are present between different classes of peripheral glia in Drosophila. Here Innexins form junctions to facilitate adhesion between the different glia but do so in a channel-independent manner. Loss of adhesion leads to disruption of the glial wrap around axons and leads to fragmentation of the wrapping glia membranes. Our work points to an important role for gap junction proteins in mediating insulation by non-myelinating glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mriga Das
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Duo Cheng
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Till Matzat
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Vanessa J Auld
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
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21
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Contreras EG, Klämbt C. The Drosophila blood-brain barrier emerges as a model for understanding human brain diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 180:106071. [PMID: 36898613 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106071] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The accurate regulation of the microenvironment within the nervous system is one of the key features characterizing complex organisms. To this end, neural tissue has to be physically separated from circulation, but at the same time, mechanisms must be in place to allow controlled transport of nutrients and macromolecules into and out of the brain. These roles are executed by cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) found at the interface of circulation and neural tissue. BBB dysfunction is observed in several neurological diseases in human. Although this can be considered as a consequence of diseases, strong evidence supports the notion that BBB dysfunction can promote the progression of brain disorders. In this review, we compile the recent evidence describing the contribution of the Drosophila BBB to the further understanding of brain disease features in human patients. We discuss the function of the Drosophila BBB during infection and inflammation, drug clearance and addictions, sleep, chronic neurodegenerative disorders and epilepsy. In summary, this evidence suggests that the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, can be successfully employed as a model to disentangle mechanisms underlying human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban G Contreras
- University of Münster, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, Badestr. 9, Münster, Germany.
| | - Christian Klämbt
- University of Münster, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, Badestr. 9, Münster, Germany.
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22
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Wang X, Dong YT, Hu XM, Zhang JZ, Shi NR, Zuo YQ, Wang X. The circadian regulation of extracellular ATP. Purinergic Signal 2023; 19:283-295. [PMID: 35939197 PMCID: PMC9984637 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-022-09881-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular ATP is a potent signaling molecule released from various cells throughout the body and is intimately involved in the pathophysiological functions of the nervous system and immune system by activating P2 purinergic receptors. Recent increasingly studies showed that extracellular ATP exhibits circadian oscillation with an approximately 24-h periodicity, which participates in regulatory pathways of central oscillator suprachiasmatic nucleus and peripheral oscillator bladder, respectively. Oscillators modulate the protein expression of ATP release channels and ectonucleotidase activity through clock genes; indeed, real-time alterations of ATP release and degradation determine outcomes of temporal character on extracellular ATP rhythm. The regulatory pathways on extracellular ATP rhythm are different in central and peripheral systems. In this review, we summarize the circadian rhythm of extracellular ATP and discuss several circadian regulatory pathways in different organs via ATP release and degradation, to provide a new understanding for purinergic signaling in the regulatory mechanism of circadian rhythm and a potential target to research the circadian regulation of extracellular ATP in other circadian oscillators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi-er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075 China
| | - Yu-Ting Dong
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi-er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075 China
| | - Xiu-Ming Hu
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi-er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075 China
| | - Ji-Zhou Zhang
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi-er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075 China
| | - Nan-Rui Shi
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi-er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075 China
| | - Yan-Qin Zuo
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi-er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075 China
| | - Xu Wang
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi-er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075 China
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23
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The Circadian Clocks, Oscillations of Pain-Related Mediators, and Pain. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:511-523. [PMID: 35179680 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01205-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The circadian clock is a biochemical oscillator that is synchronized with solar time. Normal circadian rhythms are necessary for many physiological functions. Circadian rhythms have also been linked with many physiological functions, several clinical symptoms, and diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that the circadian clock appears to modulate the processing of nociceptive information. Many pain conditions display a circadian fluctuation pattern clinically. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the existing knowledge about the circadian clocks involved in diurnal rhythms of pain. Possible cellular and molecular mechanisms regarding the connection between the circadian clocks and pain are discussed.
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24
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Nanotopography and Microconfinement Impact on Primary Hippocampal Astrocyte Morphology, Cytoskeleton and Spontaneous Calcium Wave Signalling. Cells 2023; 12:cells12020293. [PMID: 36672231 PMCID: PMC9856934 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes' organisation affects the functioning and the fine morphology of the brain, both in physiological and pathological contexts. Although many aspects of their role have been characterised, their complex functions remain, to a certain extent, unclear with respect to their contribution to brain cell communication. Here, we studied the effects of nanotopography and microconfinement on primary hippocampal rat astrocytes. For this purpose, we fabricated nanostructured zirconia surfaces as homogenous substrates and as micrometric patterns, the latter produced by a combination of an additive nanofabrication and micropatterning technique. These engineered substrates reproduce both nanotopographical features and microscale geometries that astrocytes encounter in their natural environment, such as basement membrane topography, as well as blood vessels and axonal fibre topology. The impact of restrictive adhesion manifests in the modulation of several cellular properties of single cells (morphological and actin cytoskeletal changes) and the network organisation and functioning. Calcium wave signalling was observed only in astrocytes grown in confined geometries, with an activity enhancement in cells forming elongated agglomerates with dimensions typical of blood vessels or axon fibres. Our results suggest that calcium oscillation and wave propagation are closely related to astrocytic morphology and actin cytoskeleton organisation.
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25
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Endothelial cells regulate astrocyte to neural progenitor cell trans-differentiation in a mouse model of stroke. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7812. [PMID: 36535938 PMCID: PMC9763251 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35498-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of the neurovascular unit emphasizes the importance of cell-cell signaling between neural, glial, and vascular compartments. In neurogenesis, for example, brain endothelial cells play a key role by supplying trophic support to neural progenitors. Here, we describe a surprising phenomenon where brain endothelial cells may release trans-differentiation signals that convert astrocytes into neural progenitor cells in male mice after stroke. After oxygen-glucose deprivation, brain endothelial cells release microvesicles containing pro-neural factor Ascl1 that enter into astrocytes to induce their trans-differentiation into neural progenitors. In mouse models of focal cerebral ischemia, Ascl1 is upregulated in endothelium prior to astrocytic conversion into neural progenitor cells. Injecting brain endothelial-derived microvesicles amplifies the process of astrocyte trans-differentiation. Endothelial-specific overexpression of Ascl1 increases the local conversion of astrocytes into neural progenitors and improves behavioral recovery. Our findings describe an unexpected vascular-regulated mechanism of neuroplasticity that may open up therapeutic opportunities for improving outcomes after stroke.
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26
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Zhao J, Sun J, Zheng Y, Zheng Y, Shao Y, Li Y, Fei F, Xu C, Liu X, Wang S, Ruan Y, Liu J, Duan S, Chen Z, Wang Y. Activated astrocytes attenuate neocortical seizures in rodent models through driving Na +-K +-ATPase. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7136. [PMID: 36414629 PMCID: PMC9681834 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34662-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epileptic seizures are widely regarded to occur as a result of the excitation-inhibition imbalance from a neuro-centric view. Although astrocyte-neuron interactions are increasingly recognized in seizure, elementary questions about the causal role of astrocytes in seizure remain unanswered. Here we show that optogenetic activation of channelrhodopsin-2-expressing astrocytes effectively attenuates neocortical seizures in rodent models. This anti-seizure effect is independent from classical calcium signaling, and instead related to astrocytic Na+-K+-ATPase-mediated buffering K+, which activity-dependently inhibits firing in highly active pyramidal neurons during seizure. Compared with inhibition of pyramidal neurons, astrocyte stimulation exhibits anti-seizure effects with several advantages, including a wider therapeutic window, large-space efficacy, and minimal side effects. Finally, optogenetic-driven astrocytic Na+-K+-ATPase shows promising therapeutic effects in a chronic focal cortical dysplasia epilepsy model. Together, we uncover a promising anti-seizure strategy with optogenetic control of astrocytic Na+-K+-ATPase activity, providing alternative ideas and a potential target for the treatment of intractable epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junli Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinyi Sun
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanrong Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuying Shao
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yulan Li
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fan Fei
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cenglin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiuxiu Liu
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yeping Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinggen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shumin Duan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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27
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Interactions Between Astrocytes and Oligodendroglia in Myelin Development and Related Brain Diseases. Neurosci Bull 2022; 39:541-552. [PMID: 36370324 PMCID: PMC10043111 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00981-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAstrocytes (ASTs) and oligodendroglial lineage cells (OLGs) are major macroglial cells in the central nervous system. ASTs communicate with each other through connexin (Cx) and Cx-based network structures, both of which allow for quick transport of nutrients and signals. Moreover, ASTs interact with OLGs through connexin (Cx)-mediated networks to modulate various physiological processes in the brain. In this article, following a brief description of the infrastructural basis of the glial networks and exocrine factors by which ASTs and OLGs may crosstalk, we focus on recapitulating how the interactions between these two types of glial cells modulate myelination, and how the AST-OLG interactions are involved in protecting the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and regulating synaptogenesis and neural activity. Recent studies further suggest that AST-OLG interactions are associated with myelin-related diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. A better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying AST-OLG interactions may inspire the development of novel therapeutic strategies for related brain diseases.
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28
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Zhang NN, Zhang Y, Wang ZZ, Chen NH. Connexin 43: insights into candidate pathological mechanisms of depression and its implications in antidepressant therapy. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:2448-2461. [PMID: 35145238 PMCID: PMC9525669 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00861-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD), a chronic and recurrent disease characterized by anhedonia, pessimism or even suicidal thought, remains a major chronic mental concern worldwide. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most abundant connexin expressed in astrocytes and forms the gap junction channels (GJCs) between astrocytes, the most abundant and functional glial cells in the brain. Astrocytes regulate neurons' synaptic strength and function by expressing receptors and regulating various neurotransmitters. Astrocyte dysfunction causes synaptic abnormalities, which are related to various mood disorders, e.g., depression. Increasing evidence suggests a crucial role of Cx43 in the pathogenesis of depression. Depression down-regulates Cx43 expression in humans and rats, and dysfunction of Cx43 also induces depressive behaviors in rats and mice. Recently Cx43 has received considerable critical attention and is highly implicated in the onset of depression. However, the pathological mechanisms of depression-like behavior associated with Cx43 still remain ambiguous. In this review we summarize the recent progress regarding the underlying mechanisms of Cx43 in the etiology of depression-like behaviors including gliotransmission, metabolic disorders, and neuroinflammation. We also discuss the effects of antidepressants (monoamine antidepressants and ketamine) on Cx43. The clarity of the candidate pathological mechanisms of depression-like behaviors associated with Cx43 and its potential pharmacological roles for antidepressants will benefit the exploration of a novel antidepressant target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Ning Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Nai-Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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29
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Wang X, Liang J, Sun H. The Network of Tumor Microtubes: An Improperly Reactivated Neural Cell Network With Stemness Feature for Resistance and Recurrence in Gliomas. Front Oncol 2022; 12:921975. [PMID: 35847909 PMCID: PMC9277150 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.921975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are known as an incurable brain tumor for the poor prognosis and robust recurrence. In recent years, a cellular subpopulation with tumor microtubes (TMs) was identified in brain tumors, which may provide a new angle to explain the invasion, resistance, recurrence, and heterogeneity of gliomas. Recently, it was demonstrated that the cell subpopulation also expresses neural stem cell markers and shares a lot of features with both immature neurons and cancer stem cells and may be seen as an improperly reactivated neural cell network with a stemness feature at later time points of life. TMs may also provide a new angle to understand the resistance and recurrence mechanisms of glioma stem cells. In this review, we innovatively focus on the common features between TMs and sprouting axons in morphology, formation, and function. Additionally, we summarized the recent progress in the resistance and recurrence mechanisms of gliomas with TMs and explained the incurability and heterogeneity in gliomas with TMs. Moreover, we discussed the recently discovered overlap between cancer stem cells and TM-positive glioma cells, which may contribute to the understanding of resistant glioma cell subpopulation and the exploration of the new potential therapeutic target for gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Wang
- Clinical Biobank Center, Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China on Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianhao Liang
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China on Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haitao Sun
- Clinical Biobank Center, Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China on Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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30
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Needham H, Torpey G, Flores CC, Davis CJ, Vanderheyden WM, Gerstner JR. A Dichotomous Role for FABP7 in Sleep and Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis: A Hypothesis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:798994. [PMID: 35844236 PMCID: PMC9280343 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.798994] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are a family of intracellular lipid chaperone proteins known to play critical roles in the regulation of fatty acid uptake and transport as well as gene expression. Brain-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP7) is enriched in astrocytes and has been implicated in sleep/wake regulation and neurodegenerative diseases; however, the precise mechanisms underlying the role of FABP7 in these biological processes remain unclear. FABP7 binds to both arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), resulting in discrete physiological responses. Here, we propose a dichotomous role for FABP7 in which ligand type determines the subcellular translocation of fatty acids, either promoting wakefulness aligned with Alzheimer's pathogenesis or promoting sleep with concomitant activation of anti-inflammatory pathways and neuroprotection. We hypothesize that FABP7-mediated translocation of AA to the endoplasmic reticulum of astrocytes increases astrogliosis, impedes glutamatergic uptake, and enhances wakefulness and inflammatory pathways via COX-2 dependent generation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Conversely, we propose that FABP7-mediated translocation of DHA to the nucleus stabilizes astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle dynamics, preserves glutamatergic uptake, and promotes sleep by activating anti-inflammatory pathways through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ transcriptional cascade. Importantly, this model generates several testable hypotheses applicable to other neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hope Needham
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Grace Torpey
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Carlos C. Flores
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Davis
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - William M. Vanderheyden
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Jason R. Gerstner
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
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31
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Lansdell TA, Chambers LC, Dorrance AM. Endothelial Cells and the Cerebral Circulation. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:3449-3508. [PMID: 35766836 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial cells form the innermost layer of all blood vessels and are the only vascular component that remains throughout all vascular segments. The cerebral vasculature has several unique properties not found in the peripheral circulation; this requires that the cerebral endothelium be considered as a unique entity. Cerebral endothelial cells perform several functions vital for brain health. The cerebral vasculature is responsible for protecting the brain from external threats carried in the blood. The endothelial cells are central to this requirement as they form the basis of the blood-brain barrier. The endothelium also regulates fibrinolysis, thrombosis, platelet activation, vascular permeability, metabolism, catabolism, inflammation, and white cell trafficking. Endothelial cells regulate the changes in vascular structure caused by angiogenesis and artery remodeling. Further, the endothelium contributes to vascular tone, allowing proper perfusion of the brain which has high energy demands and no energy stores. In this article, we discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the cerebral endothelium. Where appropriate, we discuss the detrimental effects of high blood pressure on the cerebral endothelium and the contribution of cerebrovascular disease endothelial dysfunction and dementia. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:3449-3508, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa A Lansdell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Laura C Chambers
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Anne M Dorrance
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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32
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Yang Z, Gong M, Jian T, Li J, Yang C, Ma Q, Deng P, Wang Y, Huang M, Wang H, Yang S, Chen X, Yu Z, Wang M, Chen C, Zhang K. Engrafted glial progenitor cells yield long-term integration and sensory improvement in aged mice. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:285. [PMID: 35765112 PMCID: PMC9241208 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02959-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging causes astrocyte morphological degeneration and functional deficiency, which impairs neuronal functions. Until now, whether age-induced neuronal deficiency could be alleviated by engraftment of glial progenitor cell (GPC) derived astrocytes remained unknown. In the current study, GPCs were generated from embryonic cortical neural stem cells in vitro and transplanted into the brains of aged mice. Their integration and intervention effects in the aged brain were examined 12 months after transplantation. Results indicated that these in-vitro-generated GPC-derived astrocytes possessed normal functional properties. After transplantation they could migrate, differentiate, achieve long-term integration, and maintain much younger morphology in the aged brain. Additionally, these GPC-derived astrocytes established endfeet expressing aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and ameliorate AQP4 polarization in the aged neocortex. More importantly, age-dependent sensory response degeneration was reversed by GPC transplantation. This work demonstrates that rejuvenation of the astrocyte niche is a promising treatment to prevent age-induced degradation of neuronal and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqi Yang
- Department of Neurology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen 82, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu, China.,Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mingyue Gong
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Tingliang Jian
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jin Li
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chuanyan Yang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Qinlong Ma
- Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Ping Deng
- Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuxia Wang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mingzhu Huang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Shaofan Yang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xiaowei Chen
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Zhengping Yu
- Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Manxia Wang
- Department of Neurology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen 82, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu, China.
| | - Chunhai Chen
- Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Kuan Zhang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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33
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Mellor NG, Graham ES, Unsworth CP. Critical Spatial-Temporal Dynamics and Prominent Shape Collapse of Calcium Waves Observed in Human hNT Astrocytes in Vitro. Front Physiol 2022; 13:808730. [PMID: 35784870 PMCID: PMC9247335 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.808730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Networks of neurons are typically studied in the field of Criticality. However, the study of astrocyte networks in the brain has been recently lauded to be of equal importance to that of the neural networks. To date criticality assessments have only been performed on networks astrocytes from healthy rats, and astrocytes from cultured dissociated resections of intractable epilepsy. This work, for the first time, presents studies of the critical dynamics and shape collapse of calcium waves observed in cultures of healthy human astrocyte networks in vitro, derived from the human hNT cell line. In this article, we demonstrate that avalanches of spontaneous calcium waves display strong critical dynamics, including power-laws in both the size and duration distributions. In addition, the temporal profiles of avalanches displayed self-similarity, leading to shape collapse of the temporal profiles. These findings are significant as they suggest that cultured networks of healthy human hNT astrocytes self-organize to a critical point, implying that healthy astrocytic networks operate at a critical point to process and transmit information. Furthermore, this work can serve as a point of reference to which other astrocyte criticality studies can be compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G. Mellor
- Department of Engineering Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- *Correspondence: Nicholas G. Mellor,
| | - E. Scott Graham
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Charles P. Unsworth
- Department of Engineering Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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34
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Sobolczyk M, Boczek T. Astrocytic Calcium and cAMP in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:889939. [PMID: 35663426 PMCID: PMC9161693 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.889939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It is commonly accepted that the role of astrocytes exceeds far beyond neuronal scaffold and energy supply. Their unique morphological and functional features have recently brough much attention as it became evident that they play a fundamental role in neurotransmission and interact with synapses. Synaptic transmission is a highly orchestrated process, which triggers local and transient elevations in intracellular Ca2+, a phenomenon with specific temporal and spatial properties. Presynaptic activation of Ca2+-dependent adenylyl cyclases represents an important mechanism of synaptic transmission modulation. This involves activation of the cAMP-PKA pathway to regulate neurotransmitter synthesis, release and storage, and to increase neuroprotection. This aspect is of paramount importance for the preservation of neuronal survival and functionality in several pathological states occurring with progressive neuronal loss. Hence, the aim of this review is to discuss mutual relationships between cAMP and Ca2+ signaling and emphasize those alterations at the Ca2+/cAMP crosstalk that have been identified in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
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Tsai YL, Yen CT, Wang YF. Astrocyte Dysregulation and Calcium Ion Imbalance May Link the Development of Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 88:439-445. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The typical symptoms of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau hyperphosphorylation. However, recent studies show that these symptoms are not the cause of the disease but are generated after the pathogenesis. Compared with other types of dementia, AD has the obvious features of pineal gland calcification and decreased melatonin production. The pineal gland is mainly composed of pinealocytes that release melatonin and astrocytes. Astrocytes function to maintain a balanced concentration of calcium ions, provide nerve cell nutrients, and migrate nutrients in vivo. Calcium ions are among the most important neurotransmitters. Once triggered, a calcium wave can be formed between astrocytes to activate other astrocytes to transmit information. Most calcium is stored in the skeleton. Bone tissue is composed mainly of osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. Of these, osteocyte is a kind of astrocyte which regulates the activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The pineal gland is composed mainly of astrocytes; osteocytes are also a kind of astrocyte. Therefore, we conclude that when astrocytes are gradually disabled, calcium may be lost from the bones, prompting osteoporosis. The calcium ions then released into the blood may accumulate and cause ectopic calcification in the pineal gland, which promotes the occurrence of AD. Finally, this study used aspects of drugs and hormones (bone and calcium metabolism hormones and melatonin) to infer the hypothesis, which proposes that astrocyte dysregulation promotes the long-term imbalance of calcium ions in vivo and leads to osteoporosis and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Liang Tsai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Tsung Yen
- Department of Neurology, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-Feng Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Center of Preventive Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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36
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Controlling synchronization of gamma oscillations by astrocytic modulation in a model hippocampal neural network. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6970. [PMID: 35484169 PMCID: PMC9050920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10649-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that astrocytes participate in the maintenance of cortical gamma oscillations and recognition memory. However, the mathematical understanding of the underlying dynamical mechanisms remains largely incomplete. Here we investigate how the interplay of slow modulatory astrocytic signaling with fast synaptic transmission controls coherent oscillations in the network of hippocampal interneurons that receive inputs from pyramidal cells. We show that the astrocytic regulation of signal transmission between neurons improves the firing synchrony and extends the region of coherent oscillations in the biologically relevant values of synaptic conductance. Astrocyte-mediated potentiation of inhibitory synaptic transmission markedly enhances the coherence of network oscillations over a broad range of model parameters. Astrocytic regulation of excitatory synaptic input improves the robustness of interneuron network gamma oscillations induced by physiologically relevant excitatory model drive. These findings suggest a mechanism, by which the astrocytes become involved in cognitive function and information processing through modulating fast neural network dynamics.
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Matsui T. Calcium wave propagation during cell extrusion. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2022; 76:102083. [PMID: 35487153 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2022.102083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenically transformed or apoptotic cells are removed from epithelial sheets by cell-cell communication between the transformed/apoptotic cells (extruding cells) and the nearest neighboring cells. Cell extrusion is driven by actomyosin contraction and lamellipodial crawling of the nearest neighboring cells. Recent studies have found that distal cell communication also plays a role in cell extrusion. Specifically, distal cells located 3-16 cells away from the extruding cell are coordinated by calcium waves and collectively migrate toward the extruding cell to initiate cell extrusion. Here, I describe how calcium waves are generated and contribute to the extrusion of cells in mammals and zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Matsui
- Division of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
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38
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Thomas AP, Corrêa-Velloso JC. Calcium Wave Propagation Underlying Intercellular Signaling and Coordination of Tissue Responses. FUNCTION (OXFORD, ENGLAND) 2022; 3:zqac011. [PMID: 35356151 PMCID: PMC8945820 DOI: 10.1093/function/zqac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Thomas
- Lead Contact and Address correspondence to A.P.T. (e-mail: )
| | - Juliana C Corrêa-Velloso
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, USA
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Tsytsarev V. Methodological aspects of studying the mechanisms of consciousness. Behav Brain Res 2022; 419:113684. [PMID: 34838578 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113684] [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: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
There are at least two approaches to the definition of consciousness. In the first case, certain aspects of consciousness, called qualia, are considered inaccessible for research from a third person and can only be described through subjective experience. This approach is inextricably linked with the so-called "hard problem of consciousness", that is, the question of why consciousness has qualia or how any physical changes in the environment can generate subjective experience. With this approach, some aspects of consciousness, by definition, cannot be explained on the basis of external observations and, therefore, are outside the scope of scientific research. In the second case, a priori constraints do not constrain the field of scientific investigation, and the best explanation of the experience in the first person is included as a possible subject of empirical research. Historically, in the study of cause-and-effect relationships in biology, it was customary to distinguish between proximate causation and ultimate causation existing in biological systems. Immediate causes are based on the immediate influencing factors [1]. Proximate causation has evolutionary explanations. When studying biological systems themselves, such an approach is undoubtedly justified, but it often seems insufficient when studying the interaction of consciousness and the brain [2,3]. Current scientific communities proceed from the assumption that the physical substrate for the generation of consciousness is a neural network that unites various types of neurons located in various brain structures. Many neuroscientists attach a key role in this process to the cortical and thalamocortical neural networks. This question is directly related to experimental and clinical research in the field of disorder of consciousness. Progress in this area of medicine depends on advances in neuroscience in this area and is also a powerful source of empirical information. In this area of consciousness research, a large amount of experimental data has been accumulated, and in this review an attempt was made to generalize and systematize.
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40
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Bugiani M, Plug BC, Man JHK, Breur M, van der Knaap MS. Heterogeneity of white matter astrocytes in the human brain. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:159-177. [PMID: 34878591 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02391-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes regulate central nervous system development, maintain its homeostasis and orchestrate repair upon injury. Emerging evidence support functional specialization of astroglia, both between and within brain regions. Different subtypes of gray matter astrocytes have been identified, yet molecular and functional diversity of white matter astrocytes remains largely unexplored. Nonetheless, their important and diverse roles in maintaining white matter integrity and function are well recognized. Compelling evidence indicate that impairment of normal astrocytic function and their response to injury contribute to a wide variety of diseases, including white matter disorders. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity in the white matter of the mammalian brain and how an interplay between developmental origins and local environmental cues contribute to astroglial diversification. In addition, we discuss whether, and if so, how, heterogeneous astrocytes could contribute to white matter function in health and disease and focus on the sparse human research data available. We highlight four leukodystrophies primarily due to astrocytic dysfunction, the so-called astrocytopathies. Insight into the role of astroglial heterogeneity in both healthy and diseased white matter may provide new avenues for therapies aimed at promoting repair and restoring normal white matter function.
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Choi JG, Choi SR, Kang DW, Kim J, Park JB, Lee JH, Kim HW. Sigma-1 receptor increases intracellular calcium in cultured astrocytes and contributes to mechanical allodynia in a model of neuropathic pain. Brain Res Bull 2022; 178:69-81. [PMID: 34813897 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed that glial sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) in the spinal cord may be a critical factor to mediate sensory function. However, the functional role of Sig-1R in astrocyte has not been clearly elucidated. Here, we determined whether Sig-1Rs modulate calcium responses in primary cultured astrocytes and pathological changes in spinal astrocytes, and whether they contribute to pain hypersensitivity in naïve mice and neuropathic pain following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in mice. Sig-1R was expressed in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cultured astrocytes. Treatment with the Sig-1R agonist, PRE-084 or neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) increased intracellular calcium responses in cultured astrocytes, and this increase was blocked by the pretreatment with the Sig-1R antagonist, BD-1047 or neurosteroid progesterone. Intrathecal administration of PRE-084 or DHEA for 10 days induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity and increased the number of Sig-1R-immunostained GFAP-positive cells in the superficial dorsal horn (SDH) region of the spinal cord in naïve mice, and these changes were inhibited by administration with BD-1047 or progesterone. In CCI mice, intrathecal administration of BD-1047 or progesterone at post-operative day 14 suppressed the developed mechanical allodynia and the number of Sig-1R-immunostained GFAP-positive cells that were increased in the SDH region of the spinal cord following CCI of the sciatic nerve. These results demonstrate that Sig-1Rs play an important role in the modulation of intracellular calcium responses in cultured astrocytes and pathological changes in spinal astrocytes and that administration of BD-1047 or progesterone alleviates the Sig-1R-induced pain hypersensitivity and the peripheral nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Gyun Choi
- Department of Physiology and Medical Science, College of Medicine and Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sheu-Ran Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Gangneung, South Korea
| | - Dong-Wook Kang
- Department of Physiology and Medical Science, College of Medicine and Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jaehyuk Kim
- Department of Physiology and Medical Science, College of Medicine and Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jin Bong Park
- Department of Physiology and Medical Science, College of Medicine and Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jang-Hern Lee
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 Four Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education & Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Woo Kim
- Department of Physiology and Medical Science, College of Medicine and Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea.
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42
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Lanciotti A, Brignone MS, Macioce P, Visentin S, Ambrosini E. Human iPSC-Derived Astrocytes: A Powerful Tool to Study Primary Astrocyte Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Rare Leukodystrophies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010274. [PMID: 35008700 PMCID: PMC8745131 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are very versatile cells, endowed with multitasking capacities to ensure brain homeostasis maintenance from brain development to adult life. It has become increasingly evident that astrocytes play a central role in many central nervous system pathologies, not only as regulators of defensive responses against brain insults but also as primary culprits of the disease onset and progression. This is particularly evident in some rare leukodystrophies (LDs) where white matter/myelin deterioration is due to primary astrocyte dysfunctions. Understanding the molecular defects causing these LDs may help clarify astrocyte contribution to myelin formation/maintenance and favor the identification of possible therapeutic targets for LDs and other CNS demyelinating diseases. To date, the pathogenic mechanisms of these LDs are poorly known due to the rarity of the pathological tissue and the failure of the animal models to fully recapitulate the human diseases. Thus, the development of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) from patient fibroblasts and their differentiation into astrocytes is a promising approach to overcome these issues. In this review, we discuss the primary role of astrocytes in LD pathogenesis, the experimental models currently available and the advantages, future evolutions, perspectives, and limitations of hiPSC to study pathologies implying astrocyte dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lanciotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00169 Rome, Italy; (A.L.); (M.S.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Maria Stefania Brignone
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00169 Rome, Italy; (A.L.); (M.S.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Pompeo Macioce
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00169 Rome, Italy; (A.L.); (M.S.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Sergio Visentin
- National Center for Research and Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation of Drugs, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00169 Rome, Italy;
| | - Elena Ambrosini
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00169 Rome, Italy; (A.L.); (M.S.B.); (P.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-064-990-2037
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43
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Serrat R, Covelo A, Kouskoff V, Delcasso S, Ruiz-Calvo A, Chenouard N, Stella C, Blancard C, Salin B, Julio-Kalajzić F, Cannich A, Massa F, Varilh M, Deforges S, Robin LM, De Stefani D, Busquets-Garcia A, Gambino F, Beyeler A, Pouvreau S, Marsicano G. Astroglial ER-mitochondria calcium transfer mediates endocannabinoid-dependent synaptic integration. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110133. [PMID: 34936875 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular calcium signaling underlies the astroglial control of synaptic transmission and plasticity. Mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contacts (MERCs) are key determinants of calcium dynamics, but their functional impact on astroglial regulation of brain information processing is unexplored. We found that the activation of astrocyte mitochondrial-associated type-1 cannabinoid (mtCB1) receptors determines MERC-dependent intracellular calcium signaling and synaptic integration. The stimulation of mtCB1 receptors promotes calcium transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria through a specific molecular cascade, involving the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). Physiologically, mtCB1-dependent mitochondrial calcium uptake determines the dynamics of cytosolic calcium events in astrocytes upon endocannabinoid mobilization. Accordingly, electrophysiological recordings in hippocampal slices showed that conditional genetic exclusion of mtCB1 receptors or dominant-negative MCU expression in astrocytes blocks lateral synaptic potentiation, through which astrocytes integrate the activity of distant synapses. Altogether, these data reveal an endocannabinoid link between astroglial MERCs and the regulation of brain network functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Serrat
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; INRAE, Nutrition and Integrative Neurobiology, UMR 1286, Bordeaux, France
| | - Ana Covelo
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Vladimir Kouskoff
- University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Sebastien Delcasso
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Institut de Biochimie et Genetique Cellulaires, CNRS UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Andrea Ruiz-Calvo
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Nicolas Chenouard
- University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Carol Stella
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Corinne Blancard
- University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Institut de Biochimie et Genetique Cellulaires, CNRS UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Benedicte Salin
- University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Institut de Biochimie et Genetique Cellulaires, CNRS UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Francisca Julio-Kalajzić
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Astrid Cannich
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Federico Massa
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Marjorie Varilh
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Severine Deforges
- University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Laurie M Robin
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Diego De Stefani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Arnau Busquets-Garcia
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Frederic Gambino
- University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Anna Beyeler
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Sandrine Pouvreau
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France; Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Giovanni Marsicano
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France.
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Schulte A, Bieniussa L, Gupta R, Samtleben S, Bischler T, Doering K, Sodmann P, Rittner H, Blum R. Homeostatic calcium fluxes, ER calcium release, SOCE, and calcium oscillations in cultured astrocytes are interlinked by a small calcium toolkit. Cell Calcium 2021; 101:102515. [PMID: 34896701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
How homeostatic ER calcium fluxes shape cellular calcium signals is still poorly understood. Here we used dual-color calcium imaging (ER-cytosol) and transcriptome analysis to link candidates of the calcium toolkit of astrocytes with homeostatic calcium signals. We found molecular and pharmacological evidence that P/Q-type channel Cacna1a contributes to depolarization-dependent calcium entry in astrocytes. For stimulated ER calcium release, the cells express the phospholipase Cb3, IP3 receptors Itpr1 and Itpr2, but no ryanodine receptors (Ryr1-3). After IP3-induced calcium release, Stim1/2 - Orai1/2/3 most likely mediate SOCE. The Serca2 (Atp2a2) is the candidate for refilling of the ER calcium store. The cells highly express adenosine receptor Adora1a for IP3-induced calcium release. Accordingly, adenosine induces fast ER calcium release and subsequent ER calcium oscillations. After stimulation, calcium refilling of the ER depends on extracellular calcium. In response to SOCE, astrocytes show calcium-induced calcium release, notably even after ER calcium was depleted by extracellular calcium removal in unstimulated cells. In contrast, spontaneous ER-cytosol calcium oscillations were not fully dependent on extracellular calcium, as ER calcium oscillations could persist over minutes in calcium-free solution. Additionally, cell-autonomous calcium oscillations show a second-long spatial and temporal delay in the signal dynamics of ER and cytosolic calcium. Our data reveal a rather strong contribution of homeostatic calcium fluxes in shaping IP3-induced and calcium-induced calcium release as well as spatiotemporal components of intracellular calcium oscillations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie Schulte
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080 Germany; Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97078 Germany
| | - Linda Bieniussa
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97078 Germany; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rohini Gupta
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080 Germany; Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97078 Germany
| | - Samira Samtleben
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97078 Germany; Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, MSM, Edmonton, T6G 2H7 Canada
| | - Thorsten Bischler
- Core Unit Systems Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080 Germany
| | - Kristina Doering
- Core Unit Systems Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080 Germany; Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Philipp Sodmann
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080 Germany
| | - Heike Rittner
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97074 Germany
| | - Robert Blum
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080 Germany; Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97078 Germany.
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Muñoz MF, Griffith TN, Contreras JE. Mechanisms of ATP release in pain: role of pannexin and connexin channels. Purinergic Signal 2021; 17:549-561. [PMID: 34792743 PMCID: PMC8677853 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-021-09822-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is a physiological response to bodily damage and serves as a warning of potential threat. Pain can also transform from an acute response to noxious stimuli to a chronic condition with notable emotional and psychological components that requires treatment. Indeed, the management of chronic pain is currently an important unmet societal need. Several reports have implicated the release of the neurotransmitter adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and subsequent activation of purinergic receptors in distinct pain etiologies. Purinergic receptors are broadly expressed in peripheral neurons and the spinal cord; thus, purinergic signaling in sensory neurons or in spinal circuits may be critical for pain processing. Nevertheless, an outstanding question remains: what are the mechanisms of ATP release that initiate nociceptive signaling? Connexin and pannexin channels are established conduits of ATP release and have been suggested to play important roles in a variety of pathologies, including several models of pain. As such, these large-pore channels represent a new and exciting putative pharmacological target for pain treatment. Herein, we will review the current evidence for a role of connexin and pannexin channels in ATP release during nociceptive signaling, such as neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Collectively, these studies provide compelling evidence for an important role of connexins and pannexins in pain processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel F. Muñoz
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Theanne N. Griffith
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Jorge E. Contreras
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
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O'Donovan B, Neugornet A, Neogi R, Xia M, Ortinski P. Cocaine experience induces functional adaptations in astrocytes: Implications for synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens shell. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e13042. [PMID: 33864336 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes have become established as an important regulator of neuronal activity in the brain. Accumulating literature demonstrates that cocaine self-administration in rodent models induces structural changes within astrocytes that may influence their interaction with the surrounding neurons. Here, we provide evidence that cocaine impacts astrocytes at the functional level and alters neuronal sensitivity to astrocyte-derived glutamate. We report that a 14-day period of short access to cocaine (2 h/day) decreases spontaneous astrocytic Ca2+ transients and precipitates changes in astrocyte network activity in the nucleus accumbens shell. This is accompanied by increased prevalence of slow inward currents, a physiological marker of neuronal activation by astrocytic glutamate, in a subset of medium spiny neurons. Within, but not outside, of this subset, we observe an increase in duration and frequency of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic events. Additionally, we find that the link between synaptic NMDA receptor plasticity and neuron sensitivity to astrocytic glutamate is maintained independent of drug exposure and is observed in both cocaine and saline control animals. Imaging analyses of neuronal Ca2+ activity show no effect of cocaine self-administration on individual cells or on neuronal network activity in brain slices. Therefore, our data indicate that cocaine self-administration promotes astrocyte-specific functional changes that can be linked to increased glutamate-mediated coupling with principal neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Such coupling may be spatially restricted as it does not result in a broad impact on network structure of local neuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernadette O'Donovan
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky USA
| | - Austin Neugornet
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky USA
| | - Richik Neogi
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky USA
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky USA
| | - Mengfan Xia
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky USA
| | - Pavel Ortinski
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky USA
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47
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Mirzaei N, Davis N, Chau TW, Sastre M. Astrocyte Reactivity in Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Opportunities to Promote Repair. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 19:1-15. [PMID: 34719372 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666211029164106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are fast climbing the ladder of importance in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with the prominent presence of reactive astrocytes sur- rounding amyloid β- plaques, together with activated microglia. Reactive astrogliosis, implying morphological and molecular transformations in astrocytes, seems to precede neurodegeneration, suggesting a role in the development of the disease. Single-cell transcriptomics has recently demon- strated that astrocytes from AD brains are different from "normal" healthy astrocytes, showing dys- regulations in areas such as neurotransmitter recycling, including glutamate and GABA, and im- paired homeostatic functions. However, recent data suggest that the ablation of astrocytes in mouse models of amyloidosis results in an increase in amyloid pathology as well as in the inflammatory profile and reduced synaptic density, indicating that astrocytes mediate neuroprotective effects. The idea that interventions targeting astrocytes may have great potential for AD has therefore emerged, supported by a range of drugs and stem cell transplantation studies that have successfully shown a therapeutic effect in mouse models of AD. In this article, we review the latest reports on the role and profile of astrocytes in AD brains and how manipulation of astrocytes in animal mod- els has paved the way for the use of treatments enhancing astrocytic function as future therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048. United States
| | - Nicola Davis
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Tsz Wing Chau
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Sastre
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammer-smith Hospital, Du Cane Road, LondonW12 0NN. United Kingdom
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48
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Ready DF, Chang HC. Calcium waves facilitate and coordinate the contraction of endfeet actin stress fibers in Drosophila interommatidial cells. Development 2021; 148:272616. [PMID: 34698814 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199700] [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: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Actomyosin contraction shapes the Drosophila eye's panoramic view. The convex curvature of the retinal epithelium, organized in ∼800 close-packed ommatidia, depends upon a fourfold condensation of the retinal floor mediated by contraction of actin stress fibers in the endfeet of interommatidial cells (IOCs). How these tensile forces are coordinated is not known. Here, we discover a novel phenomenon: Ca2+ waves regularly propagate across the IOC network in pupal and adult eyes. Genetic evidence demonstrates that IOC waves are independent of phototransduction, but require inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R), suggesting these waves are mediated by Ca2+ releases from ER stores. Removal of IP3R disrupts stress fibers in IOC endfeet and increases the basal retinal surface by ∼40%, linking IOC waves to facilitating stress fiber contraction and floor morphogenesis. Further, IP3R loss disrupts the organization of a collagen IV network underneath the IOC endfeet, implicating ECM and its interaction with stress fibers in eye morphogenesis. We propose that coordinated cytosolic Ca2+ increases in IOC waves promote stress fiber contractions, ensuring an organized application of the planar tensile forces that condense the retinal floor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald F Ready
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2054, USA
| | - Henry C Chang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2054, USA
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49
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Wang Y, Garg R, Hartung JE, Goad A, Patel DA, Vitale F, Gold MS, Gogotsi Y, Cohen-Karni T. Ti 3C 2T x MXene Flakes for Optical Control of Neuronal Electrical Activity. ACS NANO 2021; 15:14662-14671. [PMID: 34431659 PMCID: PMC9285622 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding cellular electrical communications in both health and disease necessitates precise subcellular electrophysiological modulation. Nanomaterial-assisted photothermal stimulation was demonstrated to modulate cellular activity with high spatiotemporal resolution. Ideal candidates for such an application are expected to have high absorbance at the near-infrared window, high photothermal conversion efficiency, and straightforward scale-up of production to allow future translation. Here, we demonstrate two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx (MXene) as an outstanding candidate for remote, nongenetic, optical modulation of neuronal electrical activity with high spatiotemporal resolution. Ti3C2Tx's photothermal response measured at the single-flake level resulted in local temperature rises of 2.31 ± 0.03 and 3.30 ± 0.02 K for 635 and 808 nm laser pulses (1 ms, 10 mW), respectively. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons incubated with Ti3C2Tx film (25 μg/cm2) or Ti3C2Tx flake dispersion (100 μg/mL) for 6 days did not show a detectable influence on cellular viability, indicating that Ti3C2Tx is noncytotoxic. DRG neurons were photothermally stimulated using Ti3C2Tx films and flakes with as low as tens of microjoules per pulse incident energy (635 nm, 2 μJ for film, 18 μJ for flake) with subcellular targeting resolution. Ti3C2Tx's straightforward and large-scale synthesis allows translation of the reported photothermal stimulation approach in multiple scales, thus presenting a powerful tool for modulating electrophysiology from single-cell to additive manufacturing of engineered tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqiao Wang
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie
Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Raghav Garg
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie
Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Jane E. Hartung
- Department
of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Adam Goad
- A.J.
Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Dipna A. Patel
- A.J.
Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Flavia Vitale
- Department
of Neurology, Department of Bioengineering, Department of Physical
Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Center for Neuroengineering and
Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Center
for
Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration, and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Michael S. Gold
- Department
of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Yury Gogotsi
- A.J.
Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Tzahi Cohen-Karni
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie
Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon
University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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50
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Soria-Ortiz MB, Reyes-Ortega P, Martínez-Torres A, Reyes-Haro D. A Functional Signature in the Developing Cerebellum: Evidence From a Preclinical Model of Autism. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:727079. [PMID: 34540842 PMCID: PMC8448387 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.727079] [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: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive neurodevelopmental conditions detected during childhood when delayed language onset and social deficits are observed. Children diagnosed with ASD frequently display sensorimotor deficits associated with the cerebellum, suggesting a dysfunction of synaptic circuits. Astroglia are part of the tripartite synapses and postmortem studies reported an increased expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebellum of ASD patients. Astroglia respond to neuronal activity with calcium transients that propagate to neighboring cells, resulting in a functional response known as a calcium wave. This form of intercellular signaling is implicated in proliferation, migration, and differentiation of neural precursors. Prenatal exposure to valproate (VPA) is a preclinical model of ASD in which premature migration and excess of apoptosis occur in the internal granular layer (IGL) of the cerebellum during the early postnatal period. In this study we tested calcium wave propagation in the IGL of mice prenatally exposed to VPA. Sensorimotor deficits were observed and IGL depolarization evoked a calcium wave with astrocyte recruitment. The calcium wave propagation, initial cell recruitment, and mean amplitude of the calcium transients increased significantly in VPA-exposed mice compared to the control group. Astrocyte recruitment was significantly increased in the VPA model, but the mean amplitude of the calcium transients was unchanged. Western blot and histological studies revealed an increased expression of GFAP, higher astroglial density and augmented morphological complexity. We conclude that the functional signature of the IGL is remarkably augmented in the preclinical model of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Berenice Soria-Ortiz
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Pamela Reyes-Ortega
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Ataúlfo Martínez-Torres
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Daniel Reyes-Haro
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
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