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Chen Y, Wang X, Xiao B, Luo Z, Long H. Mechanisms and Functions of Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-Associated Protein in Synaptic Plasticity. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5738-5754. [PMID: 37338805 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03442-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) is one of the most important regulators of cognitive functions in the brain regions. As a hub protein, Arc plays different roles in modulating synaptic plasticity. Arc supports the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) by regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics, while it guides the endocytosis of AMPAR in long-term depression (LTD). Moreover, Arc can self-assemble into capsids, leading to a new way of communicating among neurons. The transcription and translation of the immediate early gene Arc are rigorous procedures guided by numerous factors, and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is considered to regulate the precise timing dynamics of gene expression. Since astrocytes can secrete brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and L-lactate, their unique roles in Arc expression are emphasized. Here, we review the entire process of Arc expression and summarize the factors that can affect Arc expression and function, including noncoding RNAs, transcription factors, and posttranscriptional regulations. We also attempt to review the functional states and mechanisms of Arc in modulating synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, we discuss the recent progress in understanding the roles of Arc in the occurrence of major neurological disorders and provide new thoughts for future research on Arc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Epileptic Disease of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China, 410008
| | - Zhaohui Luo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Epileptic Disease of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China, 410008.
| | - Hongyu Long
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Epileptic Disease of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China, 410008.
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The Role of MEF2 Transcription Factor Family in Neuronal Survival and Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043120. [PMID: 36834528 PMCID: PMC9963821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The family of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcription factors comprises four highly conserved members that play an important role in the nervous system. They appear in precisely defined time frames in the developing brain to turn on and turn off genes affecting growth, pruning and survival of neurons. MEF2s are known to dictate neuronal development, synaptic plasticity and restrict the number of synapses in the hippocampus, thus affecting learning and memory formation. In primary neurons, negative regulation of MEF2 activity by external stimuli or stress conditions is known to induce apoptosis, albeit the pro or antiapoptotic action of MEF2 depends on the neuronal maturation stage. By contrast, enhancement of MEF2 transcriptional activity protects neurons from apoptotic death both in vitro and in preclinical models of neurodegenerative diseases. A growing body of evidence places this transcription factor in the center of many neuropathologies associated with age-dependent neuronal dysfunctions or gradual but irreversible neuron loss. In this work, we discuss how the altered function of MEF2s during development and in adulthood affecting neuronal survival may be linked to neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Salloum-Asfar S, Elsayed AK, Elhag SF, Abdulla SA. Circulating Non-Coding RNAs as a Signature of Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptomatology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126549. [PMID: 34207213 PMCID: PMC8235321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaced neurodevelopmental disorder that becomes apparent during early childhood development. The complexity of ASD makes clinically diagnosing the condition difficult. Consequently, by identifying the biomarkers associated with ASD severity and combining them with clinical diagnosis, one may better factionalize within the spectrum and devise more targeted therapeutic strategies. Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers that can be used for precise ASD diagnosis. Consequently, our pilot experimental cohort was subdivided into three groups: healthy controls, individuals those that express severe symptoms of ASD, and individuals that exhibit mild symptoms of ASD. Using next-generation sequencing, we were able to identify several circulating non-coding RNAs (cir-ncRNAs) in plasma. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show that miRNAs, piRNAs, snoRNAs, Y-RNAs, tRNAs, and lncRNAs are stably expressed in plasma. Our data identify cir-ncRNAs that are specific to ASD. Furthermore, several of the identified cir-ncRNAs were explicitly associated with either the severe or mild groups. Hence, our findings suggest that cir-ncRNAs have the potential to be utilized as objective diagnostic biomarkers and clinical targets.
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Peng Y, Xu M, Dou M, Shi X, Yang G, Li X. MicroRNA-129-5p inhibits C2C12 myogenesis and represses slow fiber gene expression in vitro. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 320:C1031-C1041. [PMID: 33826407 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00578.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The miR-129 family is widely reported as tumor repressors, although their roles in skeletal muscle have not been fully investigated. Here, the function and mechanism of miR-129-5p in skeletal muscle, a member of the miR-129 family, were explored using C2C12 cell line. Our study showed that miR-129-5p was widely detected in mouse tissues, with the highest expression in skeletal muscle. Gain- and loss-of-function study showed that miR-129-5p could negatively regulate myogenic differentiation, indicated by reduced ratio of MyHC-positive myofibers and repressed expression of myogenic genes, such as MyoD, MyoG, and MyHC. Furthermore, miR-129-5p was more enriched in fast extensor digitorum longus (EDL) than in slow soleus (SOL). Enhanced miR-129-5p could significantly reduce the expression of mitochondrial cox family, together with that of MyHC I, and knockdown of miR-129-5p conversely increased the expression of cox genes and MyHC I. Mechanistically, miR-129-5p directly targeted the 3'-UTR of Mef2a, which was suppressed by miR-129-5p agomir at both mRNA and protein levels in C2C12 cells. Moreover, overexpression of Mef2a could rescue the inhibitory effects of miR-129-5p on the expression of myogenic factors and MyHC I. Collectively, our data revealed that miR-129-5p is a negative regulator of myogenic differentiation and slow fiber gene expression, thus affecting body metabolic homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Peng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Meixue Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingle Dou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin'E Shi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Gongshe Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
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Majidi SP, Reddy NC, Moore MJ, Chen H, Yamada T, Andzelm MM, Cherry TJ, Hu LS, Greenberg ME, Bonni A. Chromatin Environment and Cellular Context Specify Compensatory Activity of Paralogous MEF2 Transcription Factors. Cell Rep 2020; 29:2001-2015.e5. [PMID: 31722213 PMCID: PMC6874310 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Compensation among paralogous transcription factors (TFs) confers genetic robustness of cellular processes, but how TFs dynamically respond to paralog depletion on a genome-wide scale in vivo remains incompletely understood. Using single and double conditional knockout of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family TFs in granule neurons of the mouse cerebellum, we find that MEF2A and MEF2D play functionally redundant roles in cerebellar-dependent motor learning. Although both TFs are highly expressed in granule neurons, transcriptomic analyses show MEF2D is the predominant genomic regulator of gene expression in vivo. Strikingly, genome-wide occupancy analyses reveal upon depletion of MEF2D, MEF2A occupancy robustly increases at a subset of sites normally bound to MEF2D. Importantly, sites experiencing compensatory MEF2A occupancy are concentrated within open chromatin and undergo functional compensation for genomic activation and gene expression. Finally, motor activity induces a switch from non-compensatory to compensatory MEF2-dependent gene regulation. These studies uncover genome-wide functional interdependency between paralogous TFs in the brain. Majidi et al. study how transcription factors respond to paralog depletion by conditionally depleting MEF2A and MEF2D in mouse cerebellum. Depletion of MEF2D induces functionally compensatory genomic occupancy by MEF2A. Compensation occurs within accessible chromatin in a context-dependent manner. This study explores the interdependency between paralogous transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahriyar P Majidi
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; MD-PhD Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Naveen C Reddy
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael J Moore
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tomoko Yamada
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Milena M Andzelm
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Timothy J Cherry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9(th) Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Linda S Hu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Azad Bonni
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Blixt N, Norton A, Zhang A, Aparicio C, Prasad H, Gopalakrishnan R, Jensen ED, Mansky KC. Loss of myocyte enhancer factor 2 expression in osteoclasts leads to opposing skeletal phenotypes. Bone 2020; 138:115466. [PMID: 32512162 PMCID: PMC7443313 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Osteoclasts are multinuclear cells that resorb bone. Osteoclast differentiation is regulated by multiple transcription factors which may be acting in a single or multiple factor complex to regulate gene expression. Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) is a family of transcription factors whose role during osteoclast differentiation has not been well characterized. Because MEF2A and MEF2D are the family members most highly expressed during osteoclast differentiation, we created conditional knockout mice models for MEF2A and/or MEF2D. In vitro cultures of A- and D-KO osteoclasts were smaller and less numerous than wild type cultures, while AD-KO osteoclasts were almost completely devoid of TRAP positive mononuclear cells. Female A-KO mice are osteopetrotic while male A- and D-KO mice of either sex had no significant in vivo skeletal phenotype, suggesting a sex-specific regulation of osteoclasts by MEF2A. Lastly, in vivo male AD-KO mice are osteopenic, indicating while MEF2 is required for M-CSF and RANKL-stimulated osteoclastogenesis in vitro, osteoclasts can form in the absence of MEF2 in vivo via a RANKL-alternative pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Blixt
- Departmment of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
| | - Andrew Norton
- Department of Developmental and Surgical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
| | - Anqi Zhang
- Department of Restorative Sciences, MDRCBB-Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
| | - Conrado Aparicio
- Department of Restorative Sciences, MDRCBB-Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
| | - Hari Prasad
- Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
| | - Rajaram Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
| | - Eric D. Jensen
- Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
- Co-corresponding authors : To whom correspondence should be addressed:, Kim Mansky, PhD, Tel.: (612) 626-5582,
| | - Kim C. Mansky
- Department of Developmental and Surgical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55455
- Co-corresponding authors : To whom correspondence should be addressed:, Kim Mansky, PhD, Tel.: (612) 626-5582,
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Nath SR, Lieberman ML, Yu Z, Marchioretti C, Jones ST, Danby ECE, Van Pelt KM, Sorarù G, Robins DM, Bates GP, Pennuto M, Lieberman AP. MEF2 impairment underlies skeletal muscle atrophy in polyglutamine disease. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 140:63-80. [PMID: 32306066 PMCID: PMC7166004 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02156-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) tract expansion leads to proteotoxic misfolding and drives a family of nine diseases. We study spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a progressive degenerative disorder of the neuromuscular system caused by the polyQ androgen receptor (AR). Using a knock-in mouse model of SBMA, AR113Q mice, we show that E3 ubiquitin ligases which are a hallmark of the canonical muscle atrophy machinery are not induced in AR113Q muscle. Similarly, we find no evidence to suggest dysfunction of signaling pathways that trigger muscle hypertrophy or impairment of the muscle stem cell niche. Instead, we find that skeletal muscle atrophy is characterized by diminished function of the transcriptional regulator Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 (MEF2), a regulator of myofiber homeostasis. Decreased expression of MEF2 target genes is age- and glutamine tract length-dependent, occurs due to polyQ AR proteotoxicity, and is associated with sequestration of MEF2 into intranuclear inclusions in muscle. Skeletal muscle from R6/2 mice, a model of Huntington disease which develops progressive atrophy, also sequesters MEF2 into inclusions and displays age-dependent loss of MEF2 target genes. Similarly, SBMA patient muscle shows loss of MEF2 target gene expression, and restoring MEF2 activity in AR113Q muscle rescues fiber size and MEF2-regulated gene expression. This work establishes MEF2 impairment as a novel mechanism of skeletal muscle atrophy downstream of toxic polyglutamine proteins and as a therapeutic target for muscle atrophy in these disorders.
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Sun X, Wang T, Wang Y, Ai K, Pan G, Li Y, Zhou C, He S, Cong H. Downregulation of lncRNA-11496 in the Brain Contributes to Microglia Apoptosis via Regulation of Mef2c in Chronic T. gondii Infection Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:77. [PMID: 32499679 PMCID: PMC7243434 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Though it is well known that chronic infections of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) can induce mental and behavioral disorders in the host, little is known about the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in this pathological process. In this study, we employed an advanced lncRNAs and mRNAs integration chip (Affymetrix HTA 2.0) to detect the expression of both lncRNAs and mRNAs in T. gondii Chinese 1 strain infected mouse brain. As a result, for the first time, the downregulation of lncRNA-11496 (NONMMUGO11496) was identified as the responsible factor for this pathological process. We showed that dysregulation of lncRNA-11496 affected proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of mouse microglia. Furthermore, we proved that Mef2c (Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C), a member of the MEF2 subfamily, is the target gene of lncRNA-11496. In a more detailed study, we confirmed that lncRNA-11496 positively regulated the expression of Mef2c by binding to histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). Importantly, Mef2c itself could coordinate neuronal differentiation, survival, as well as synapse formation. Thus, our current study provides the first evidence in terms of the modulatory action of lncRNAs in chronic toxoplasmosis in T. gondii infected mouse brain, providing a solid scientific basis for using lncRNA-11496 as a therapeutic target to treat T. gondii induced neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiahui Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yongliang Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Kang Ai
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ge Pan
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Chunxue Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shenyi He
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hua Cong
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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