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Takei Y, Yang Y, White J, Yun J, Prasad M, Ombelets LJ, Schindler S, Cai L. High-resolution spatial multi-omics reveals cell-type specific nuclear compartments. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.07.539762. [PMID: 37214923 PMCID: PMC10197539 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.07.539762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian nucleus is compartmentalized by diverse subnuclear structures. These subnuclear structures, marked by nuclear bodies and histone modifications, are often cell-type specific and affect gene regulation and 3D genome organization1-3. Understanding nuclear organization requires identifying the molecular constituents of subnuclear structures and mapping their associations with specific genomic loci in individual cells, within complex tissues. Here, we introduce two-layer DNA seqFISH+, which allows simultaneous mapping of 100,049 genomic loci, together with nascent transcriptome for 17,856 genes and a diverse set of immunofluorescently labeled subnuclear structures all in single cells in cell lines and adult mouse cerebellum. Using these multi-omics datasets, we showed that repressive chromatin compartments are more variable by cell type than active compartments. We also discovered a single exception to this rule: an RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-enriched compartment was associated with long, cell-type specific genes (> 200kb), in a manner distinct from nuclear speckles. Further, our analysis revealed that cell-type specific facultative and constitutive heterochromatin compartments marked by H3K27me3 and H4K20me3 are enriched at specific genes and gene clusters, respectively, and shape radial chromosomal positioning and inter-chromosomal interactions in neurons and glial cells. Together, our results provide a single-cell high-resolution multi-omics view of subnuclear compartments, associated genomic loci, and their impacts on gene regulation, directly within complex tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yodai Takei
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Yujing Yang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan White
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Jina Yun
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Meera Prasad
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Long Cai
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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2
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Mercurio S. SOX2-Sensing: Insights into the Role of SOX2 in the Generation of Sensory Cell Types in Vertebrates. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087637. [PMID: 37108798 PMCID: PMC10141063 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087637] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The SOX2 transcription factor is a key regulator of nervous system development, and its mutation in humans leads to a rare disease characterized by severe eye defects, cognitive defects, hearing defects, abnormalities of the CNS and motor control problems. SOX2 has an essential role in neural stem cell maintenance in specific regions of the brain, and it is one of the master genes required for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells. Sox2 is expressed in sensory organs, and this review will illustrate how it regulates the differentiation of sensory cell types required for hearing, touching, tasting and smelling in vertebrates and, in particular, in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Mercurio
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
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3
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Liu Y, Hong W, Gong P, Qi G, Wang X, Kang S, Tang H, Qin S. Specific knockout of Sox2 in astrocytes reduces reactive astrocyte formation and promotes recovery after early postnatal traumatic brain injury in mouse cortex. Glia 2023; 71:602-615. [PMID: 36353976 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In response to central nervous system (CNS) injury, astrocytes go through a series of alterations, referred to as reactive astrogliosis, ranging from changes in gene expression and cell hypertrophy to permanent astrocyte borders around stromal cell scars in CNS lesions. The mechanisms underlying injury-induced reactive astrocytes in the adult CNS have been extensively studied. However, little is known about injury-induced reactive astrocytes during early postnatal development. Astrocytes in the mouse cortex are mainly produced through local proliferation during the first 2 weeks after birth. Here we show that Sox2, a transcription factor critical for stem cells and brain development, is expressed in the early postnatal astrocytes and its expression level was increased in reactive astrocytes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) at postnatal day (P) 7 in the cortex. Using a tamoxifen-induced hGFAP-CreERT2; Sox2flox/flox ; Rosa-tdT mouse model, we found that specific knockout of Sox2 in astrocytes greatly inhibited the proliferation of reactive astrocytes, the formation of glia limitans borders and subsequently promoted the tissue recovery after postnatal TBI at P7 in the cortex. In addition, we found that injury-induced glia limitans borders were still formed at P2 in the wild-type mouse cortex, and knockout of Sox2 in astrocytes inhibited the reactivity of both astrocytes and microglia. Together, these findings provide evidence that Sox2 is essential for the reactivity of astrocytes in response to the cortical TBI during the early postnatal period and suggest that Sox2-dependent astrocyte reactivity is a potential target for therapeutic treatment after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitong Liu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wentong Hong
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pifang Gong
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guibo Qi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siying Kang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Han Tang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Song Qin
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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4
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Han P, She Y, Yang Z, Zhuang M, Wang Q, Luo X, Yin C, Zhu J, Jaffrey SR, Ji SJ. Cbln1 regulates axon growth and guidance in multiple neural regions. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001853. [PMID: 36395107 PMCID: PMC9671368 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The accurate construction of neural circuits requires the precise control of axon growth and guidance, which is regulated by multiple growth and guidance cues during early nervous system development. It is generally thought that the growth and guidance cues that control the major steps of axon development have been defined. Here, we describe cerebellin-1 (Cbln1) as a novel cue that controls diverse aspects of axon growth and guidance throughout the central nervous system (CNS) by experiments using mouse and chick embryos. Cbln1 has previously been shown to function in late neural development to influence synapse organization. Here, we find that Cbln1 has an essential role in early neural development. Cbln1 is expressed on the axons and growth cones of developing commissural neurons and functions in an autocrine manner to promote axon growth. Cbln1 is also expressed in intermediate target tissues and functions as an attractive guidance cue. We find that these functions of Cbln1 are mediated by neurexin-2 (Nrxn2), which functions as the Cbln1 receptor for axon growth and guidance. In addition to the developing spinal cord, we further show that Cbln1 functions in diverse parts of the CNS with major roles in cerebellar parallel fiber growth and retinal ganglion cell axon guidance. Despite the prevailing role of Cbln1 as a synaptic organizer, our study discovers a new and unexpected function for Cbln1 as a general axon growth and guidance cue throughout the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Han
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanchu She
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhuoxuan Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengru Zhuang
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingjun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaopeng Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chaoqun Yin
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Junda Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Samie R. Jaffrey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SRJ); (SJJ)
| | - Sheng-Jian Ji
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- * E-mail: (SRJ); (SJJ)
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Borgenheimer E, Hamel K, Sheeler C, Moncada FL, Sbrocco K, Zhang Y, Cvetanovic M. Single nuclei RNA sequencing investigation of the Purkinje cell and glial changes in the cerebellum of transgenic Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:998408. [PMID: 36457352 PMCID: PMC9706545 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.998408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells constitute half the population of the human brain and are essential for normal brain function. Most, if not all, brain diseases are characterized by reactive gliosis, a process by which glial cells respond and contribute to neuronal pathology. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by a severe degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) and cerebellar gliosis. SCA1 is caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the gene Ataxin1 (ATXN1). While several studies reported the effects of mutant ATXN1 in Purkinje cells, it remains unclear how cerebellar glia respond to dysfunctional Purkinje cells in SCA1. To address this question, we performed single nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA seq) on cerebella of early stage Pcp2-ATXN1[82Q] mice, a transgenic SCA1 mouse model expressing mutant ATXN1 only in Purkinje cells. We found no changes in neuronal and glial proportions in the SCA1 cerebellum at this early disease stage compared to wild-type controls. Importantly, we observed profound non-cell autonomous and potentially neuroprotective reactive gene and pathway alterations in Bergmann glia, velate astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in response to Purkinje cell dysfunction.
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6
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Rac-deficient cerebellar granule neurons die before they migrate to the internal granule layer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14848. [PMID: 36050459 PMCID: PMC9436960 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19252-y] [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: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Granule neurons are the most common cell type in the cerebellum. They are generated in the external granule layer and migrate inwardly, forming the internal granule layer. Small Rho GTPases play various roles during development of the nervous system and may be involved in generation, differentiation and migration of granule neurons. We deleted Rac1, a member of small Rho GTPases, by GFAP-Cre driver in cerebellar granule neurons and Bergmann glial cells. Rac1flox/flox; Cre mice showed impaired migration and slight reduction in the number of granule neurons in the internal granule layer. Deletion of both Rac1 and Rac3 resulted in almost complete absence of granule neurons. Rac-deficient granule neurons differentiated into p27 and NeuN-expressing post mitotic neurons, but died before migration to the internal granule layer. Loss of Rac3 has little effect on granule neuron development. Rac1flox/flox; Rac3+/−; Cre mice showed intermediate phenotype between Rac1flox/flox; Cre and Rac1flox/flox; Rac3−/−; Cre mice in both survival and migration of granule neurons. Rac3 itself seems to be unimportant in the development of the cerebellum, but has some roles in Rac1-deleted granule neurons. Conversely, overall morphology of Rac1+/flox; Rac3−/−; Cre cerebella was normal. One allele of Rac1 is therefore thought to be sufficient to promote development of cerebellar granule neurons.
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7
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Indirect Negative Effect of Mutant Ataxin-1 on Short- and Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity in Mouse Models of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142247. [PMID: 35883691 PMCID: PMC9317252 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142247] [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: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an intractable progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to a range of movement and motor defects and is eventually lethal. Purkinje cells (PC) are typically the first to show signs of degeneration. SCA1 is caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine tract in the ATXN1 gene and the subsequent buildup of mutant Ataxin-1 protein. In addition to its toxicity, mutant Ataxin-1 protein interferes with gene expression and signal transduction in cells. Recently, it is evident that ATXN1 is not only expressed in neurons but also in glia, however, it is unclear the extent to which either contributes to the overall pathology of SCA1. There are various ways to model SCA1 in mice. Here, functional deficits at cerebellar synapses were investigated in two mouse models of SCA1 in which mutant ATXN1 is either nonspecifically expressed in all cell types of the cerebellum (SCA1 knock-in (KI)), or specifically in Bergmann glia with lentiviral vectors expressing mutant ATXN1 under the control of the astrocyte-specific GFAP promoter. We report impairment of motor performance in both SCA1 models. In both cases, prominent signs of astrocytosis were found using immunohistochemistry. Electrophysiological experiments revealed alteration of presynaptic plasticity at synapses between parallel fibers and PCs, and climbing fibers and PCs in SCA1 KI mice, which is not observed in animals expressing mutant ATXN1 solely in Bergmann glia. In contrast, short- and long-term synaptic plasticity was affected in both SCA1 KI mice and glia-targeted SCA1 mice. Thus, non-neuronal mechanisms may underlie some aspects of SCA1 pathology in the cerebellum. By combining the outcomes of our current work with our previous data from the B05 SCA1 model, we further our understanding of the mechanisms of SCA1.
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8
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D’Aurizio R, Catona O, Pitasi M, Li YE, Ren B, Nicolis SK. Bridging between Mouse and Human Enhancer-Promoter Long-Range Interactions in Neural Stem Cells, to Understand Enhancer Function in Neurodevelopmental Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147964. [PMID: 35887306 PMCID: PMC9322198 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding variation in complex human disease has been well established by genome-wide association studies, and is thought to involve regulatory elements, such as enhancers, whose variation affects the expression of the gene responsible for the disease. The regulatory elements often lie far from the gene they regulate, or within introns of genes differing from the regulated gene, making it difficult to identify the gene whose function is affected by a given enhancer variation. Enhancers are connected to their target gene promoters via long-range physical interactions (loops). In our study, we re-mapped, onto the human genome, more than 10,000 enhancers connected to promoters via long-range interactions, that we had previously identified in mouse brain-derived neural stem cells by RNApolII-ChIA-PET analysis, coupled to ChIP-seq mapping of DNA/chromatin regions carrying epigenetic enhancer marks. These interactions are thought to be functionally relevant. We discovered, in the human genome, thousands of DNA regions syntenic with the interacting mouse DNA regions (enhancers and connected promoters). We further annotated these human regions regarding their overlap with sequence variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs; copy number variants, CNVs), that were previously associated with neurodevelopmental disease in humans. We document various cases in which the genetic variant, associated in humans to neurodevelopmental disease, affects an enhancer involved in long-range interactions: SNPs, previously identified by genome-wide association studies to be associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and intelligence, are located within our human syntenic enhancers, and alter transcription factor recognition sites. Similarly, CNVs associated to autism spectrum disease and other neurodevelopmental disorders overlap with our human syntenic enhancers. Some of these enhancers are connected (in mice) to homologs of genes already associated to the human disease, strengthening the hypothesis that the gene is indeed involved in the disease. Other enhancers are connected to genes not previously associated with the disease, pointing to their possible pathogenetic involvement. Our observations provide a resource for further exploration of neural disease, in parallel with the now widespread genome-wide identification of DNA variants in patients with neural disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina D’Aurizio
- Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Orazio Catona
- Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Mattia Pitasi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy; (M.P.); (S.K.N.)
| | - Yang Eric Li
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (Y.E.L.); (B.R.)
| | - Bing Ren
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (Y.E.L.); (B.R.)
| | - Silvia Kirsten Nicolis
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy; (M.P.); (S.K.N.)
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9
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Mercurio S, Serra L, Pagin M, Nicolis SK. Deconstructing Sox2 Function in Brain Development and Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101604. [PMID: 35626641 PMCID: PMC9139651 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
SOX2 is a transcription factor conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, whose expression marks the central nervous system from the earliest developmental stages. In humans, SOX2 mutation leads to a spectrum of CNS defects, including vision and hippocampus impairments, intellectual disability, and motor control problems. Here, we review how conditional Sox2 knockout (cKO) in mouse with different Cre recombinases leads to very diverse phenotypes in different regions of the developing and postnatal brain. Surprisingly, despite the widespread expression of Sox2 in neural stem/progenitor cells of the developing neural tube, some regions (hippocampus, ventral forebrain) appear much more vulnerable than others to Sox2 deletion. Furthermore, the stage of Sox2 deletion is also a critical determinant of the resulting defects, pointing to a stage-specificity of SOX2 function. Finally, cKOs illuminate the importance of SOX2 function in different cell types according to the different affected brain regions (neural precursors, GABAergic interneurons, glutamatergic projection neurons, Bergmann glia). We also review human genetics data regarding the brain defects identified in patients carrying mutations within human SOX2 and examine the parallels with mouse mutants. Functional genomics approaches have started to identify SOX2 molecular targets, and their relevance for SOX2 function in brain development and disease will be discussed.
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10
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Chen X, Chen T, Dong C, Chen H, Dong X, Yang L, Hu L, Wang H, Wu B, Yao Y, Xiong Y, Xiong M, Lin Y, Zhou W. Deletion of CHD8 in cerebellar granule neuron progenitors leads to severe cerebellar hypoplasia, ataxia and psychiatric behavior in mice. J Genet Genomics 2022; 49:859-869. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Yamada H, Okanishi T, Okazaki T, Oguri M, Fukuda H, Uchiyama Y, Mizuguchi T, Matsumoto N, Maegaki Y. Gait disturbance in a patient with de novo 1.0-kb SOX2 microdeletion. Brain Dev 2022; 44:68-72. [PMID: 34332824 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2021.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) plays an important role in the early embryogenesis of the eye, forebrain, and hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Anophthalmia, microphthalmia, and hormonal abnormalities are commonly observed in patients with SOX2-related disorders. Although gait disturbance, particularly ataxic gait, has recently been observed in several cases, detailed data regarding the clinical course of gait disturbance in SOX2-related disorders are limited. CASE REPORT A 9-year-old Japanese boy presented with focal dyskinesia only during walking and running after he started walking at the age of 3 years. He also exhibited intellectual disability and mild dysmorphic features, including microcephaly, micropenis, and short stature associated with hormonal abnormalities. Gait disturbance with involuntary extremity movements only during walking and running was indicative of choreoathetosis and dystonia. Genetic analysis detected a de novo heterozygous 1.0-kb deletion including SOX2 at 3q26.32, as described in a previous technical paper. CONCLUSIONS SOX2-related disorders should be considered in patients with some anomalies having a differential diagnosis of dyskinesia. Focal dyskinesia only during walking and running may be a characteristic feature of SOX2-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Yamada
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.
| | - Tohru Okanishi
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Okazaki
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Oguri
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan; Department of Medical Technology, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Takamatsu, Japan
| | - Hiromi Fukuda
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuri Uchiyama
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Rare Disease Genomics, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Mizuguchi
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Maegaki
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
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12
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Foglio B, Rossini L, Garbelli R, Regondi MC, Mercurio S, Bertacchi M, Avagliano L, Bulfamante G, Coras R, Maiorana A, Nicolis S, Studer M, Frassoni C. Dynamic expression of NR2F1 and SOX2 in developing and adult human cortex: comparison with cortical malformations. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:1303-1322. [PMID: 33661352 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02242-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neocortex, the most recently evolved brain region in mammals, is characterized by its unique areal and laminar organization. Distinct cortical layers and areas can be identified by the presence of graded expression of transcription factors and molecular determinants defining neuronal identity. However, little is known about the expression of key master genes orchestrating human cortical development. In this study, we explored the expression dynamics of NR2F1 and SOX2, key cortical genes whose mutations in human patients cause severe neurodevelopmental syndromes. We focused on physiological conditions, spanning from mid-late gestational ages to adulthood in unaffected specimens, but also investigated gene expression in a pathological context, a developmental cortical malformation termed focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). We found that NR2F1 follows an antero-dorsallow to postero-ventralhigh gradient as in the murine cortex, suggesting high evolutionary conservation. While SOX2 is mainly expressed in neural progenitors next to the ventricular surface, NR2F1 is found in both mitotic progenitors and post-mitotic neurons at GW18. Interestingly, both proteins are highly co-expressed in basal radial glia progenitors of the outer sub-ventricular zone (OSVZ), a proliferative region known to contribute to cortical expansion and complexity in humans. Later on, SOX2 becomes largely restricted to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes although it is also detected in scattered mature interneurons. Differently, NR2F1 maintains its distinct neuronal expression during the whole process of cortical development. Notably, we report here high levels of NR2F1 in dysmorphic neurons and NR2F1 and SOX2 in balloon cells of surgical samples from patients with FCD, suggesting their potential use in the histopathological characterization of this dysplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Foglio
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, C/O AmadeoLab, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Rossini
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, C/O AmadeoLab, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Garbelli
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, C/O AmadeoLab, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Regondi
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, C/O AmadeoLab, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Mercurio
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Bertacchi
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, C/O AmadeoLab, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
| | - Laura Avagliano
- Departement of Health Sciences, San Paolo Hospital Medical School University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Gaetano Bulfamante
- Departement of Health Sciences, San Paolo Hospital Medical School University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roland Coras
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antonino Maiorana
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Pathology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Silvia Nicolis
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carolina Frassoni
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, C/O AmadeoLab, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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13
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Mercurio S, Alberti C, Serra L, Meneghini S, Berico P, Bertolini J, Becchetti A, Nicolis SK. An early Sox2-dependent gene expression programme required for hippocampal dentate gyrus development. Open Biol 2021; 11:200339. [PMID: 33622105 PMCID: PMC8061699 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is a brain area central for cognition. Mutations in the human SOX2 transcription factor cause neurodevelopmental defects, leading to intellectual disability and seizures, together with hippocampal dysplasia. We generated an allelic series of Sox2 conditional mutations in mouse, deleting Sox2 at different developmental stages. Late Sox2 deletion (from E11.5, via Nestin-Cre) affects only postnatal hippocampal development; earlier deletion (from E10.5, Emx1-Cre) significantly reduces the dentate gyrus (DG), and the earliest deletion (from E9.5, FoxG1-Cre) causes drastic abnormalities, with almost complete absence of the DG. We identify a set of functionally interconnected genes (Gli3, Wnt3a, Cxcr4, p73 and Tbr2), known to play essential roles in hippocampal embryogenesis, which are downregulated in early Sox2 mutants, and (Gli3 and Cxcr4) directly controlled by SOX2; their downregulation provides plausible molecular mechanisms contributing to the defect. Electrophysiological studies of the Emx1-Cre mouse model reveal altered excitatory transmission in CA1 and CA3 regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Mercurio
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Alberti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Linda Serra
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Meneghini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Pietro Berico
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Jessica Bertolini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Becchetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia K Nicolis
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
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Nato G, Corti A, Parmigiani E, Jachetti E, Lecis D, Colombo MP, Delia D, Buffo A, Magrassi L. Immune-tolerance to human iPS-derived neural progenitors xenografted into the immature cerebellum is overridden by species-specific differences in differentiation timing. Sci Rep 2021; 11:651. [PMID: 33436685 PMCID: PMC7803978 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79502-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
We xeno-transplanted human neural precursor cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells into the cerebellum and brainstem of mice and rats during prenatal development or the first postnatal week. The transplants survived and started to differentiate up to 1 month after birth when they were rejected by both species. Extended survival and differentiation of the same cells were obtained only when they were transplanted in NOD-SCID mice. Transplants of human neural precursor cells mixed with the same cells after partial in vitro differentiation or with a cellular extract obtained from adult rat cerebellum increased survival of the xeno-graft beyond one month. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the slower pace of differentiation of human neural precursors compared to that of rodents restricts induction of immune-tolerance to human antigens expressed before completion of maturation of the immune system. With further maturation the transplanted neural precursors expressed more mature antigens before the graft were rejected. Supplementation of the immature cells suspensions with more mature antigens may help to induce immune-tolerance for those antigens expressed only later by the engrafted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Nato
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandro Corti
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Parmigiani
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Daniele Lecis
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Mario Paolo Colombo
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Domenico Delia
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milano, Italy.,IFOM, FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milano, Italy
| | - Annalisa Buffo
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Magrassi
- Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Science, University of Pavia, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. .,Istituto Di Genetica Molecolare IGM-CNR, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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15
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Becerra-González M, Varman Durairaj R, Ostos Valverde A, Gualda EJ, Loza-Alvarez P, Portillo Martínez W, Gómez-González GB, Buffo A, Martínez-Torres A. Response to Hypoxic Preconditioning of Glial Cells from the Roof of the Fourth Ventricle. Neuroscience 2020; 439:211-229. [PMID: 31689390 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum harbors a specialized area on the roof of the fourth ventricle that is composed of glial cells and neurons that interface with the cerebrospinal fluid. This region includes the so-called ventromedial cord (VMC), which is composed of cells that are glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive and nestin-positive and distributes along the midline in association with blood vessels. We hypothesized that these cells should compare to GFAP and nestin-positive cells that are known to exist in other areas of the brain, which undergo proliferation and differentiation under hypoxic conditions. Thus, we tested whether cells of the VMC would display a similar reaction to hypoxic preconditioning (HPC). Indeed, we found that the VMC does respond to HPC by reorganizing its cellular components before it gradually returns to its basal state after about a week. This response we documented by monitoring global changes in the expression of GFAP-EGFP in transgenic mice, using light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) revealed a dramatic loss of EGFP upon HPC, and was paralleled by retraction of Bergmann glial cell processes. This EGFP loss was supported by western blot analysis, which also showed a loss in the astrocyte-markers GFAP and ALDH1L1. On the other hand, other cell-markers appeared to be upregulated in the blots (including nestin, NeuN, and Iba1). Finally, we found that HPC does not remarkably affect the incorporation of BrdU into cells on the cerebellum, but strongly augments BrdU incorporation into periventricular cells on the floor of the fourth ventricle over the adjacent medulla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marymar Becerra-González
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Ragu Varman Durairaj
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Aline Ostos Valverde
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Emilio J Gualda
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Pablo Loza-Alvarez
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Wendy Portillo Martínez
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Laboratorio de Plasticidad y Conducta Sexual, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Berenice Gómez-González
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Annalisa Buffo
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Ataúlfo Martínez-Torres
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico.
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16
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Abstract
Astrocytes, initially described as merely support cells, are now known as a heterogeneous population of cells actively involved in a variety of biological functions such as: neuronal migration and differentiation; regulation of cerebral blood flow; metabolic control of extracellular potassium concentration; and modulation of synapse formation and elimination; among others. Cerebellar glial cells have been shown to play a significant role in proliferation, differentiation, migration, and synaptogenesis. However, less evidence is available about the role of neuron-astrocyte interactions during cerebellar development and their impact on diseases of the cerebellum. In this review, we will focus on the mechanisms underlying cellular interactions, specifically neuron-astrocyte interactions, during cerebellar development, function, and disease. We will discuss how cerebellar glia, astrocytes, and Bergmann glia play a fundamental role in several steps of cerebellar development, such as granule cell migration, axonal growth, neuronal differentiation, and synapse formation, and in diseases associated with the cerebellum. We will focus on how astrocytes and thyroid hormones impact cerebellar development. Furthermore, we will provide evidence of how growth factors secreted by glial cells, such as epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factors, control cerebellar organogenesis. Finally, we will argue that glia are a key mediator of cerebellar development and that identification of molecules and pathways involved in neuron-glia interactions may contribute to a better understanding of cerebellar development and associated disorders.
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17
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Cerebellar Astrocytes: Much More Than Passive Bystanders In Ataxia Pathophysiology. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9030757. [PMID: 32168822 PMCID: PMC7141261 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9030757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ataxia is a neurodegenerative syndrome, which can emerge as a major element of a disease or represent a symptom of more complex multisystemic disorders. It comprises several forms with a highly variegated etiology, mainly united by motor, balance, and speech impairments and, at the tissue level, by cerebellar atrophy and Purkinje cells degeneration. For this reason, the contribution of astrocytes to this disease has been largely overlooked in the past. Nevertheless, in the last few decades, growing evidences are pointing to cerebellar astrocytes as crucial players not only in the progression but also in the onset of distinct forms of ataxia. Although the current knowledge on this topic is very fragmentary and ataxia type-specific, the present review will attempt to provide a comprehensive view of astrocytes’ involvement across the distinct forms of this pathology. Here, it will be highlighted how, through consecutive stage-specific mechanisms, astrocytes can lead to non-cell autonomous neurodegeneration and, consequently, to the behavioral impairments typical of this disease. In light of that, treating astrocytes to heal neurons will be discussed as a potential complementary therapeutic approach for ataxic patients, a crucial point provided the absence of conclusive treatments for this disease.
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18
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Mercurio S, Serra L, Nicolis SK. More than just Stem Cells: Functional Roles of the Transcription Factor Sox2 in Differentiated Glia and Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4540. [PMID: 31540269 PMCID: PMC6769708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sox2 transcription factor, encoded by a gene conserved in animal evolution, has become widely known because of its functional relevance for stem cells. In the developing nervous system, Sox2 is active in neural stem cells, and important for their self-renewal; differentiation to neurons and glia normally involves Sox2 downregulation. Recent evidence, however, identified specific types of fully differentiated neurons and glia that retain high Sox2 expression, and critically require Sox2 function, as revealed by functional studies in mouse and in other animals. Sox2 was found to control fundamental aspects of the biology of these cells, such as the development of correct neuronal connectivity. Sox2 downstream target genes identified within these cell types provide molecular mechanisms for cell-type-specific Sox2 neuronal and glial functions. SOX2 mutations in humans lead to a spectrum of nervous system defects, involving vision, movement control, and cognition; the identification of neurons and glia requiring Sox2 function, and the investigation of Sox2 roles and molecular targets within them, represents a novel perspective for the understanding of the pathogenesis of these defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Mercurio
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy.
| | - Linda Serra
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
- CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Université Côte d'Azur, 06108 Nice, France
| | - Silvia K Nicolis
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy.
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19
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Pilz RA, Korenke GC, Steeb R, Strom TM, Felbor U, Rath M. Exome sequencing identifies a recurrent SOX2 deletion in a patient with gait ataxia and dystonia lacking major ocular malformations. J Neurol Sci 2019; 401:34-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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20
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Mercurio S, Serra L, Motta A, Gesuita L, Sanchez-Arrones L, Inverardi F, Foglio B, Barone C, Kaimakis P, Martynoga B, Ottolenghi S, Studer M, Guillemot F, Frassoni C, Bovolenta P, Nicolis SK. Sox2 Acts in Thalamic Neurons to Control the Development of Retina-Thalamus-Cortex Connectivity. iScience 2019; 15:257-273. [PMID: 31082736 PMCID: PMC6517317 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual system development involves the formation of neuronal projections connecting the retina to the thalamic dorso-lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) and the thalamus to the visual cerebral cortex. Patients carrying mutations in the SOX2 transcription factor gene present severe visual defects, thought to be linked to SOX2 functions in the retina. We show that Sox2 is strongly expressed in mouse postmitotic thalamic projection neurons. Cre-mediated deletion of Sox2 in these neurons causes reduction of the dLGN, abnormal distribution of retino-thalamic and thalamo-cortical projections, and secondary defects in cortical patterning. Reduced expression, in mutants, of Sox2 target genes encoding ephrin-A5 and the serotonin transport molecules SERT and vMAT2 (important for establishment of thalamic connectivity) likely provides a molecular contribution to these defects. These findings unveil thalamic SOX2 function as a novel regulator of visual system development and a plausible additional cause of brain-linked genetic blindness in humans. Sox2 is expressed in postmitotic neurons of the visual thalamic nucleus (dLGN) Sox2 ablation in the dLGN perturbs retino-thalamic and thalamo-cortical projections The visual cortex is not correctly patterned in Sox2 thalamic mutants Downregulation of EphrinA5 and SERT expression may mediate these defects
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Mercurio
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Linda Serra
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy; Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
| | - Alessia Motta
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Gesuita
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Luisa Sanchez-Arrones
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesca Inverardi
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", c/o AMADEOLAB, via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Benedetta Foglio
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", c/o AMADEOLAB, via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristiana Barone
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Polynikis Kaimakis
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ben Martynoga
- The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London NW 1AT, UK
| | - Sergio Ottolenghi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | | | | | - Carolina Frassoni
- Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", c/o AMADEOLAB, via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia K Nicolis
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
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21
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Miterko LN, White JJ, Lin T, Brown AM, O'Donovan KJ, Sillitoe RV. Persistent motor dysfunction despite homeostatic rescue of cerebellar morphogenesis in the Car8 waddles mutant mouse. Neural Dev 2019; 14:6. [PMID: 30867000 PMCID: PMC6417138 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-019-0130-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Purkinje cells play a central role in establishing the cerebellar circuit. Accordingly, disrupting Purkinje cell development impairs cerebellar morphogenesis and motor function. In the Car8wdl mouse model of hereditary ataxia, severe motor deficits arise despite the cerebellum overcoming initial defects in size and morphology. Methods To resolve how this compensation occurs, we asked how the loss of carbonic anhydrase 8 (CAR8), a regulator of IP3R1 Ca2+ signaling in Purkinje cells, alters cerebellar development in Car8wdl mice. Using a combination of histological, physiological, and behavioral analyses, we determined the extent to which the loss of CAR8 affects cerebellar anatomy, neuronal firing, and motor coordination during development. Results Our results reveal that granule cell proliferation is reduced in early postnatal mutants, although by the third postnatal week there is enhanced and prolonged proliferation, plus an upregulation of Sox2 expression in the inner EGL. Modified circuit patterning of Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia accompany these granule cell adjustments. We also find that although anatomy eventually normalizes, the abnormal activity of neurons and muscles persists. Conclusions Our data show that losing CAR8 only transiently restricts cerebellar growth, but permanently damages its function. These data support two current hypotheses about cerebellar development and disease: (1) Sox2 expression may be upregulated at sites of injury and contribute to the rescue of cerebellar structure and (2) transient delays to developmental processes may precede permanent motor dysfunction. Furthermore, we characterize waddles mutant mouse morphology and behavior during development and propose a Sox2-positive, cell-mediated role for rescue in a mouse model of human motor diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13064-019-0130-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren N Miterko
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Joshua J White
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tao Lin
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Amanda M Brown
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kevin J O'Donovan
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, 10996, USA.,Burke Neurological Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, White Plains, 10605, USA
| | - Roy V Sillitoe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Suite 1325, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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