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Rhodes CT, Asokumar D, Sohn M, Naskar S, Elisha L, Stevenson P, Lee DR, Zhang Y, Rocha PP, Dale RK, Lee S, Petros TJ. Loss of Ezh2 in the medial ganglionic eminence alters interneuron fate, cell morphology and gene expression profiles. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1334244. [PMID: 38419656 PMCID: PMC10899338 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1334244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2) is responsible for trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3), resulting in repression of gene expression. Here, we explore the role of Ezh2 in forebrain GABAergic interneuron development. Methods We removed Ezh2 in the MGE by generating Nkx2-1Cre;Ezh2 conditional knockout mice. We then characterized changes in MGE-derived interneuron fate and electrophysiological properties in juvenile mice, as well as alterations in gene expression, chromatin accessibility and histone modifications in the MGE. Results Loss of Ezh2 increases somatostatin-expressing (SST+) and decreases parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons in the forebrain. We observe fewer MGE-derived interneurons in the first postnatal week, indicating reduced interneuron production. Intrinsic electrophysiological properties in SST+ and PV+ interneurons are normal, but PV+ interneurons display increased axonal complexity in Ezh2 mutant mice. Single nuclei multiome analysis revealed differential gene expression patterns in the embryonic MGE that are predictive of these cell fate changes. Lastly, CUT&Tag analysis revealed that some genomic loci are particularly resistant or susceptible to shifts in H3K27me3 levels in the absence of Ezh2, indicating differential selectivity to epigenetic perturbation. Discussion Thus, loss of Ezh2 in the MGE alters interneuron fate, morphology, and gene expression and regulation. These findings have important implications for both normal development and potentially in disease etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Rhodes
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Dhanya Asokumar
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mira Sohn
- Bioinformatics and Scientific Programming Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Shovan Naskar
- Unit on Functional Neural Circuits, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lielle Elisha
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Parker Stevenson
- Unit on Functional Neural Circuits, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Dongjin R Lee
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yajun Zhang
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Pedro P Rocha
- Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
- National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ryan K Dale
- Bioinformatics and Scientific Programming Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Soohyun Lee
- Unit on Functional Neural Circuits, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Timothy J Petros
- Unit on Cellular and Molecular Neurodevelopment, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
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2
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Paterno R, Vu T, Hsieh C, Baraban SC. Host brain environmental influences on transplanted medial ganglionic eminence progenitors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3610. [PMID: 38351191 PMCID: PMC10864292 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52478-6] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Interneuron progenitor transplantation can ameliorate disease symptoms in a variety of neurological disorders. The strategy is based on transplantation of embryonic medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) progenitors. Elucidating how host brain environment influences the integration of interneuron progenitors is critical for optimizing this strategy across different disease states. Here, we systematically evaluated the influence of age and brain region on survival, migration, and differentiation of transplant-derived cells. We find that early postnatal MGE transplantation yields superior survival and more extensive migratory capabilities compared to transplantation during the juvenile or adult stages. MGE progenitors migrate more widely in the cortex compared to the hippocampus. Maturation to interneuron subtypes is regulated by age and brain region. MGE progenitors transplanted into the dentate gyrus sub-region of the early postnatal hippocampus can differentiate into astrocytes. Our results suggest that the host brain environment critically regulates survival, spatial distribution, and maturation of MGE-derived interneurons following transplantation. These findings inform and enable optimal conditions for interneuron transplant therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalia Paterno
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Weill Institute of Neuroscience, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, Health Science East, E840, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Thy Vu
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Weill Institute of Neuroscience, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, Health Science East, E840, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Caroline Hsieh
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Weill Institute of Neuroscience, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, Health Science East, E840, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Scott C Baraban
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Weill Institute of Neuroscience, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, Health Science East, E840, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
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3
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Dunville K, Tonelli F, Novelli E, Codino A, Massa V, Frontino AM, Galfrè S, Biondi F, Gustincich S, Caleo M, Pandolfini L, Alia C, Cremisi F. Laminin 511 and WNT signalling sustain prolonged expansion of hiPSC-derived hippocampal progenitors. Development 2022; 149:276383. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.200353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Using the timely re-activation of WNT signalling in neuralizing human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), we have produced neural progenitor cells with a gene expression profile typical of human embryonic dentate gyrus (DG) cells. Notably, in addition to continuous WNT signalling, a specific laminin isoform is crucial to prolonging the neural stem state and to extending progenitor cell proliferation for over 200 days in vitro. Laminin 511 is indeed specifically required to support proliferation and to inhibit differentiation of hippocampal progenitor cells for extended time periods when compared with a number of different laminin isoforms assayed. Global gene expression profiles of these cells suggest that a niche of laminin 511 and WNT signalling is sufficient to maintain their capability to undergo typical hippocampal neurogenesis. Moreover, laminin 511 signalling sustains the expression of a set of genes responsible for the maintenance of a hippocampal neurogenic niche. Finally, xenograft of human DG progenitors into the DG of adult immunosuppressed host mice produces efficient integration of neurons that innervate CA3 layer cells spanning the same area of endogenous hippocampal neuron synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keagan Dunville
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore 1 , Pisa, 56126 , Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tonelli
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore 1 , Pisa, 56126 , Italy
| | - Elena Novelli
- Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche 2 , Pisa, 56124 , Italy
| | - Azzurra Codino
- Center for Human Technologies, Central RNA Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia 3 , Genova, 16152 , Italy
| | - Verediana Massa
- Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche 2 , Pisa, 56124 , Italy
| | | | - Silvia Galfrè
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Università La Sapienza 4 , Roma, 00185 , Italy
| | - Francesca Biondi
- Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche 2 , Pisa, 56124 , Italy
| | - Stefano Gustincich
- Center for Human Technologies, Central RNA Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia 3 , Genova, 16152 , Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche 2 , Pisa, 56124 , Italy
| | - Luca Pandolfini
- Center for Human Technologies, Central RNA Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia 3 , Genova, 16152 , Italy
| | - Claudia Alia
- Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche 2 , Pisa, 56124 , Italy
| | - Federico Cremisi
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore 1 , Pisa, 56126 , Italy
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Llorca A, Deogracias R. Origin, Development, and Synaptogenesis of Cortical Interneurons. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:929469. [PMID: 35833090 PMCID: PMC9272671 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.929469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian cerebral cortex represents one of the most recent and astonishing inventions of nature, responsible of a large diversity of functions that range from sensory processing to high-order cognitive abilities, such as logical reasoning or language. Decades of dedicated study have contributed to our current understanding of this structure, both at structural and functional levels. A key feature of the neocortex is its outstanding richness in cell diversity, composed by multiple types of long-range projecting neurons and locally connecting interneurons. In this review, we will describe the great diversity of interneurons that constitute local neocortical circuits and summarize the mechanisms underlying their development and their assembly into functional networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Llorca
- Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburg, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Alfredo Llorca
| | - Ruben Deogracias
- Neuronal Circuits Formation and Brain Disorders Laboratory, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León (INCyL), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Ruben Deogracias
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5
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Huang S, Huang F, Zhang H, Yang Y, Lu J, Chen J, Shen L, Pei G. In vivo development and single-cell transcriptome profiling of human brain organoids. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13201. [PMID: 35141969 PMCID: PMC8891563 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Human brain organoids can provide not only promising models for physiological and pathological neurogenesis but also potential therapies in neurological diseases. However, technical issues such as surgical lesions due to transplantation still limit their applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Instead of applying mature organoids, we innovatively developed human brain organoids in vivo by injecting small premature organoids into corpus striatum of adult SCID mice. Two months after injection, single-cell transcriptome analysis was performed on 6131 GFP-labeled human cells from transplanted mouse brains. RESULTS Eight subsets of cells (including neuronal cells expressing striatal markers) were identified in these in vivo developed organoids (IVD-organoids) by unbiased clustering. Compared with in vitro cultured human cortical organoids, we found that IVD-organoids developed more supporting cells including pericyte-like and choroid plexus cells, which are important for maintaining organoid homeostasis. Furthermore, IVD-organoids showed lower levels of cellular stress and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our study thus provides a novel method to generate human brain organoids, which is promising in various applications of disease models and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Fei Huang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Huiying Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yongfeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Juan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Jiadong Chen
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical NeurobiologyCenter for Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated HospitalMOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain‐Machine IntegrationSchool of Brain Science and Brain MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Li Shen
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Department of Orthopedics SurgerySchool of MedicineThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation CenterZhejiang University (HIC‐ZJU)HangzhouChina
| | - Gang Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease ResearchLaboratory of Receptor‐based BiomedicineThe Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain ScienceSchool of Life Sciences and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
- Institute for Stem Cell and RegenerationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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6
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Moussa AJ, Wester JC. Cell-type specific transcriptomic signatures of neocortical circuit organization and their relevance to autism. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:982721. [PMID: 36213201 PMCID: PMC9545608 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.982721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A prevailing challenge in neuroscience is understanding how diverse neuronal cell types select their synaptic partners to form circuits. In the neocortex, major classes of excitatory projection neurons and inhibitory interneurons are conserved across functionally distinct regions. There is evidence these classes form canonical circuit motifs that depend primarily on their identity; however, regional cues likely also influence their choice of synaptic partners. We mined the Allen Institute's single-cell RNA-sequencing database of mouse cortical neurons to study the expression of genes necessary for synaptic connectivity and physiology in two regions: the anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM) and the primary visual cortex (VISp). We used the Allen's metadata to parse cells by clusters representing major excitatory and inhibitory classes that are common to both ALM and VISp. We then performed two types of pairwise differential gene expression analysis: (1) between different neuronal classes within the same brain region (ALM or VISp), and (2) between the same neuronal class in ALM and VISp. We filtered our results for differentially expressed genes related to circuit connectivity and developed a novel bioinformatic approach to determine the sets uniquely enriched in each neuronal class in ALM, VISp, or both. This analysis provides an organized set of genes that may regulate synaptic connectivity and physiology in a cell-type-specific manner. Furthermore, it identifies candidate mechanisms for circuit organization that are conserved across functionally distinct cortical regions or that are region dependent. Finally, we used the SFARI Human Gene Module to identify genes from this analysis that are related to risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our analysis provides clear molecular targets for future studies to understand neocortical circuit organization and abnormalities that underlie autistic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Moussa
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jason C Wester
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
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7
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Knowles R, Dehorter N, Ellender T. From Progenitors to Progeny: Shaping Striatal Circuit Development and Function. J Neurosci 2021; 41:9483-9502. [PMID: 34789560 PMCID: PMC8612473 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0620-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how neurons of the striatum are formed and integrate into complex synaptic circuits is essential to provide insight into striatal function in health and disease. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the development of striatal neurons and associated circuits with a focus on their embryonic origin. Specifically, we address the role of distinct types of embryonic progenitors, found in the proliferative zones of the ganglionic eminences in the ventral telencephalon, in the generation of diverse striatal interneurons and projection neurons. Indeed, recent evidence would suggest that embryonic progenitor origin dictates key characteristics of postnatal cells, including their neurochemical content, their location within striatum, and their long-range synaptic inputs. We also integrate recent observations regarding embryonic progenitors in cortical and other regions and discuss how this might inform future research on the ganglionic eminences. Last, we examine how embryonic progenitor dysfunction can alter striatal formation, as exemplified in Huntington's disease and autism spectrum disorder, and how increased understanding of embryonic progenitors can have significant implications for future research directions and the development of improved therapeutic options.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This review highlights recently defined novel roles for embryonic progenitor cells in shaping the functional properties of both projection neurons and interneurons of the striatum. It outlines the developmental mechanisms that guide neuronal development from progenitors in the embryonic ganglionic eminences to progeny in the striatum. Where questions remain open, we integrate observations from cortex and other regions to present possible avenues for future research. Last, we provide a progenitor-centric perspective onto both Huntington's disease and autism spectrum disorder. We suggest that future investigations and manipulations of embryonic progenitor cells in both research and clinical settings will likely require careful consideration of their great intrinsic diversity and neurogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys Knowles
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Nathalie Dehorter
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Tommas Ellender
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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8
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Pouchelon G, Dwivedi D, Bollmann Y, Agba CK, Xu Q, Mirow AMC, Kim S, Qiu Y, Sevier E, Ritola KD, Cossart R, Fishell G. The organization and development of cortical interneuron presynaptic circuits are area specific. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109993. [PMID: 34758329 PMCID: PMC8832360 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin and somatostatin inhibitory interneurons gate information flow in discrete cortical areas that compute sensory and cognitive functions. Despite the considerable differences between areas, individual interneuron subtypes are genetically invariant and are thought to form canonical circuits regardless of which area they are embedded in. Here, we investigate whether this is achieved through selective and systematic variations in their afferent connectivity during development. To this end, we examined the development of their inputs within distinct cortical areas. We find that interneuron afferents show little evidence of being globally stereotyped. Rather, each subtype displays characteristic regional connectivity and distinct developmental dynamics by which this connectivity is achieved. Moreover, afferents dynamically regulated during development are disrupted by early sensory deprivation and in a model of fragile X syndrome. These data provide a comprehensive map of interneuron afferents across cortical areas and reveal the logic by which these circuits are established during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Pouchelon
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Deepanjali Dwivedi
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yannick Bollmann
- Aix Marseille University, INSERM, INMED, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Chimuanya K Agba
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Qing Xu
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Andrea M C Mirow
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sehyun Kim
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yanjie Qiu
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elaine Sevier
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kimberly D Ritola
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Rosa Cossart
- Aix Marseille University, INSERM, INMED, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Gord Fishell
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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9
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Reichard J, Zimmer-Bensch G. The Epigenome in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:776809. [PMID: 34803599 PMCID: PMC8595945 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.776809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental diseases (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, and schizophrenia, are characterized by diverse facets of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, differing in etiology, onset and severity. Such symptoms include mental delay, cognitive and language impairments, or restrictions to adaptive and social behavior. Nevertheless, all have in common that critical milestones of brain development are disrupted, leading to functional deficits of the central nervous system and clinical manifestation in child- or adulthood. To approach how the different development-associated neuropathologies can occur and which risk factors or critical processes are involved in provoking higher susceptibility for such diseases, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying proper brain formation is required. NDDs rely on deficits in neuronal identity, proportion or function, whereby a defective development of the cerebral cortex, the seat of higher cognitive functions, is implicated in numerous disorders. Such deficits can be provoked by genetic and environmental factors during corticogenesis. Thereby, epigenetic mechanisms can act as an interface between external stimuli and the genome, since they are known to be responsive to external stimuli also in cortical neurons. In line with that, DNA methylation, histone modifications/variants, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, as well as regulatory non-coding RNAs regulate diverse aspects of neuronal development, and alterations in epigenomic marks have been associated with NDDs of varying phenotypes. Here, we provide an overview of essential steps of mammalian corticogenesis, and discuss the role of epigenetic mechanisms assumed to contribute to pathophysiological aspects of NDDs, when being disrupted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Reichard
- Functional Epigenetics in the Animal Model, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Geraldine Zimmer-Bensch
- Functional Epigenetics in the Animal Model, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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10
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Abstract
Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. Microglial progenitors are generated in the yolk sac during the early embryonic stage. Once microglia enter the brain primordium, these cells colonize the structure through migration and proliferation during brain development. Microglia account for a minor population among the total cells that constitute the developing cortex, but they can associate with many surrounding neural lineage cells by extending their filopodia and through their broad migration capacity. Of note, microglia change their distribution in a stage-dependent manner in the developing brain: microglia are homogenously distributed in the pallium in the early and late embryonic stages, whereas these cells are transiently absent from the cortical plate (CP) from embryonic day (E) 15 to E16 and colonize the ventricular zone (VZ), subventricular zone (SVZ), and intermediate zone (IZ). Previous studies have reported that microglia positioned in the VZ/SVZ/IZ play multiple roles in neural lineage cells, such as regulating neurogenesis, cell survival and neuronal circuit formation. In addition to microglial functions in the zones in which microglia are replenished, these cells indirectly contribute to the proper maturation of post-migratory neurons by exiting the CP during the mid-embryonic stage. Overall, microglial time-dependent distributional changes are necessary to provide particular functions that are required in specific regions. This review summarizes recent advances in the understanding of microglial colonization and multifaceted functions in the developing brain, especially focusing on the embryonic stage, and discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying microglial behaviors.
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11
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Abstract
Cortical interneurons display striking differences in shape, physiology, and other attributes, challenging us to appropriately classify them. We previously suggested that interneuron types should be defined by their role in cortical processing. Here, we revisit the question of how to codify their diversity based upon their division of labor and function as controllers of cortical information flow. We suggest that developmental trajectories provide a guide for appreciating interneuron diversity and argue that subtype identity is generated using a configurational (rather than combinatorial) code of transcription factors that produce attractor states in the underlying gene regulatory network. We present our updated three-stage model for interneuron specification: an initial cardinal step, allocating interneurons into a few major classes, followed by definitive refinement, creating subclasses upon settling within the cortex, and lastly, state determination, reflecting the incorporation of interneurons into functional circuit ensembles. We close by discussing findings indicating that major interneuron classes are both evolutionarily ancient and conserved. We propose that the complexity of cortical circuits is generated by phylogenetically old interneuron types, complemented by an evolutionary increase in principal neuron diversity. This suggests that a natural neurobiological definition of interneuron types might be derived from a match between their developmental origin and computational function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gord Fishell
- Department of Neurobiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Adam Kepecs
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA;
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12
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Keefe F, Li M. Pluripotent stem cell derived inhibitory interneurons - principles and applications in health and disease. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:251-252. [PMID: 31552890 PMCID: PMC6905328 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.265547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Keefe
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Meng Li
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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13
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Christenson Wick Z, Tetzlaff MR, Krook-Magnuson E. Novel long-range inhibitory nNOS-expressing hippocampal cells. eLife 2019; 8:46816. [PMID: 31609204 PMCID: PMC6839902 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus, a brain region that is important for spatial navigation and episodic memory, benefits from a rich diversity of neuronal cell-types. Through the use of an intersectional genetic viral vector approach in mice, we report novel hippocampal neurons which we refer to as LINCs, as they are long-range inhibitory neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-expressing cells. LINCs project to several extrahippocampal regions including the tenia tecta, diagonal band, and retromammillary nucleus, but also broadly target local CA1 cells. LINCs are thus both interneurons and projection neurons. LINCs display regular spiking non-pyramidal firing patterns, are primarily located in the stratum oriens or pyramidale, have sparsely spiny dendrites, and do not typically express somatostatin, VIP, or the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M2. We further demonstrate that LINCs can strongly influence hippocampal function and oscillations, including interregional coherence. The identification and characterization of these novel cells advances our basic understanding of both hippocampal circuitry and neuronal diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoé Christenson Wick
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Madison R Tetzlaff
- Neuroscience Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
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14
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Noakes Z, Keefe F, Tamburini C, Kelly CM, Cruz Santos M, Dunnett SB, Errington AC, Li M. Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Striatal Interneurons: Differentiation and Maturation In Vitro and in the Rat Brain. Stem Cell Reports 2019; 12:191-200. [PMID: 30661995 PMCID: PMC6373547 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Striatal interneurons are born in the medial and caudal ganglionic eminences (MGE and CGE) and play an important role in human striatal function and dysfunction in Huntington's disease and dystonia. MGE/CGE-like neural progenitors have been generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for studying cortical interneuron development and cell therapy for epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we report the capacity of hPSC-derived MGE/CGE-like progenitors to differentiate into functional striatal interneurons. In vitro, these hPSC neuronal derivatives expressed cortical and striatal interneuron markers at the mRNA and protein level and displayed maturing electrophysiological properties. Following transplantation into neonatal rat striatum, progenitors differentiated into striatal interneuron subtypes and were consistently found in the nearby septum and hippocampus. These findings highlight the potential for hPSC-derived striatal interneurons as an invaluable tool in modeling striatal development and function in vitro or as a source of cells for regenerative medicine. hPSCs differentiate into cortical and striatal interneuron-like cells in vitro They present mature electrophysiological and morphological properties in vitro They express striatal interneuron subtype markers upon transplantation in rat brain hPSC-interneuron-like cells adopt region-specific morphologies in vivo
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Noakes
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
| | - Francesca Keefe
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Claudia Tamburini
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Claire M Kelly
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Maria Cruz Santos
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | | | - Adam C Errington
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Meng Li
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
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15
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Carmona-Alcocer V, Rohr KE, Joye DAM, Evans JA. Circuit development in the master clock network of mammals. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 51:82-108. [PMID: 30402923 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Daily rhythms are generated by the circadian timekeeping system, which is orchestrated by the master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of mammals. Circadian timekeeping is endogenous and does not require exposure to external cues during development. Nevertheless, the circadian system is not fully formed at birth in many mammalian species and it is important to understand how SCN development can affect the function of the circadian system in adulthood. The purpose of the current review is to discuss the ontogeny of cellular and circuit function in the SCN, with a focus on work performed in model rodent species (i.e., mouse, rat, and hamster). Particular emphasis is placed on the spatial and temporal patterns of SCN development that may contribute to the function of the master clock during adulthood. Additional work aimed at decoding the mechanisms that guide circadian development is expected to provide a solid foundation upon which to better understand the sources and factors contributing to aberrant maturation of clock function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kayla E Rohr
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Deborah A M Joye
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Jennifer A Evans
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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16
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Diverse facets of cortical interneuron migration regulation – Implications of neuronal activity and epigenetics. Brain Res 2018; 1700:160-169. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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17
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Quattrocolo G, Isaac M, Zhang Y, Petros TJ. Homochronic Transplantation of Interneuron Precursors into Early Postnatal Mouse Brains. J Vis Exp 2018:57723. [PMID: 29939182 PMCID: PMC6101640 DOI: 10.3791/57723] [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] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal fate determination and maturation requires an intricate interplay between genetic programs and environmental signals. However, disentangling the roles of intrinsic vs. extrinsic mechanisms that regulate this differentiation process is a conundrum for all developmental neurobiologists. This issue is magnified for GABAergic interneurons, an incredibly heterogeneous cell population that is born from transient embryonic structures and undergo a protracted migratory phase to disperse throughout the telencephalon. To explore how different brain environments affect interneuron fate and maturation, we developed a protocol for harvesting fluorescently labeled immature interneuron precursors from specific brain regions in newborn mice (P0-P2). At this age, interneuron migration is nearly complete and these cells are residing in their final resting environments with relatively little synaptic integration. Following collection of single cell solutions via flow cytometry, these interneuron precursors are transplanted into P0-P2 wildtype postnatal pups. By performing both homotopic (e.g., cortex-to-cortex) or heterotopic (e.g., cortex-to-hippocampus) transplantations, one can assess how challenging immature interneurons in new brain environments affects their fate, maturation, and circuit integration. Brains can be harvested in adult mice and assayed with a wide variety of posthoc analysis on grafted cells, including immunohistochemical, electrophysiological and transcriptional profiling. This general approach provides investigators with a strategy to assay how distinct brain environments can influence numerous aspects of neuron development and identify if specific neuronal characteristics are primarily driven by hardwired genetic programs or environmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Quattrocolo
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
| | - Maria Isaac
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Yajun Zhang
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Timothy J Petros
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health;
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18
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Petros TJ. Stranger in a Strange Land: Using Heterotopic Transplantations to Study Nature vs Nurture in Brain Development. J Exp Neurosci 2018; 12:1179069518758656. [PMID: 29511360 PMCID: PMC5833213 DOI: 10.1177/1179069518758656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian brain develops from a simple sheet of neuroepithelial cells into an incredibly complex structure containing billions of neurons with trillions of synapses. Understanding how intrinsic genetic programs interact with environmental cues to generate neuronal diversity and proper connectivity is one of the most daunting challenges in developmental biology. We recently explored this issue in forebrain GABAergic inhibitory interneurons, an extremely diverse population of neurons that are classified into distinct subtypes based on morphology, neurochemical markers, and electrophysiological properties. Immature interneurons were harvested from one brain region and transplanted into a different region, allowing us to assess how challenging cells in a new environment affected their fate. Do these grafted cells adopt characteristics of the host environment or retain features from the donor environment? We found that the proportion of interneuron subgroups is determined by the host region, but some interneuron subtypes maintain features attributable to the donor environment. In this commentary, I expound on potential mechanisms that could underlie these observations and explore the implications of these findings in a greater context of developmental neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Petros
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NICHD), Bethesda, MD, USA
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