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Jeon S, Park J, Likhite S, Moon JH, Shin D, Li L, Meyer KC, Lee JW, Lee SK. The postnatal injection of AAV9-FOXG1 rescues corpus callosum agenesis and other brain deficits in the mouse model of FOXG1 syndrome. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101275. [PMID: 39022742 PMCID: PMC11253142 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Heterozygous mutations in the FOXG1 gene manifest as FOXG1 syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by structural brain anomalies, including agenesis of the corpus callosum, hippocampal reduction, and myelination delays. Despite the well-defined genetic basis of FOXG1 syndrome, therapeutic interventions targeting the underlying cause of the disorder are nonexistent. In this study, we explore the therapeutic potential of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-mediated delivery of the FOXG1 gene. Remarkably, intracerebroventricular injection of AAV9-FOXG1 to Foxg1 heterozygous mouse model at the postnatal stage rescues a wide range of brain pathologies. This includes the amelioration of corpus callosum deficiencies, the restoration of dentate gyrus morphology in the hippocampus, the normalization of oligodendrocyte lineage cell numbers, and the rectification of myelination anomalies. Our findings highlight the efficacy of AAV9-based gene therapy as a viable treatment strategy for FOXG1 syndrome and potentially other neurodevelopmental disorders with similar brain malformations, asserting its therapeutic relevance in postnatal stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, FOXG1 Research Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
- Department of Systems Pharmacology & Translational Therapeutics, Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jaein Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, FOXG1 Research Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Shibi Likhite
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Ji Hwan Moon
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, FOXG1 Research Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Dongjun Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, FOXG1 Research Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Liwen Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, FOXG1 Research Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Kathrin C. Meyer
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Jae W. Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, FOXG1 Research Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Soo-Kyung Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, FOXG1 Research Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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Narita A, Asano H, Kudo H, Miyata S, Shutoh F, Miyoshi G. A novel quadrant spatial assay reveals environmental preference in mouse spontaneous and parental behaviors. Neurosci Res 2024:S0168-0102(24)00102-0. [PMID: 39134225 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2024.08.002] [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: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Environmental factors have well-documented impacts on brain development and mental health. Therefore, it is crucial to employ a reliable assay system to assess the spatial preference of model animals. In this study, we introduced an unbiased quadrant chamber assay system and discovered that parental pup-gathering behavior takes place in a very efficient manner. Furthermore, we found that test mice exhibited preferences for specific environments in both spontaneous and parental pup-gathering behavior contexts. Notably, the spatial preferences of autism spectrum disorder model animals were initially suppressed but later equalized during the spontaneous behavior assay, accompanied by increased time spent in the preferred chamber. In conclusion, our novel quadrant chamber assay system provides an ideal platform for investigating the spatial preference of mice, offering potential applications in studying environmental impacts and exploring neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorder models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aito Narita
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi city, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Asano
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi city, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hayato Kudo
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi city, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Shigeo Miyata
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi city, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Fumihiro Shutoh
- Division of Informatics, Bioengineering and Bioscience, Maebashi Institute of Technology, 460-1 Kamisadori-machi, Maebashi city, Gunma 371-0816, Japan
| | - Goichi Miyoshi
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi city, Gunma 371-8511, Japan.
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Xia M, Yan R, Wang W, Zhang M, Miao Z, Wan B, Xu X. GID complex regulates the differentiation of neural stem cells by destabilizing TET2. Front Med 2023; 17:1204-1218. [PMID: 37707676 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1007-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Brain development requires a delicate balance between self-renewal and differentiation in neural stem cells (NSC), which rely on the precise regulation of gene expression. Ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) modulates gene expression by the hydroxymethylation of 5-methylcytosine in DNA as an important epigenetic factor and participates in the neuronal differentiation. Yet, the regulation of TET2 in the process of neuronal differentiation remains unknown. Here, the protein level of TET2 was reduced by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway during NSC differentiation, in contrast to mRNA level. We identified that TET2 physically interacts with the core subunits of the glucose-induced degradation-deficient (GID) ubiquitin ligase complex, an evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin ligase complex and is ubiquitinated by itself. The protein levels of GID complex subunits increased reciprocally with TET2 level upon NSC differentiation. The silencing of the core subunits of the GID complex, including WDR26 and ARMC8, attenuated the ubiquitination and degradation of TET2, increased the global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels, and promoted the differentiation of the NSC. TET2 level increased in the brain of the Wdr26+/- mice. Our results illustrated that the GID complex negatively regulates TET2 protein stability, further modulates NSC differentiation, and represents a novel regulatory mechanism involved in brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Xia
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Rui Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Zhigang Miao
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Bo Wan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Xingshun Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Cao G, Sun C, Shen H, Qu D, Shen C, Lu H. Conditional Deletion of Foxg1 Delayed Myelination during Early Postnatal Brain Development. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13921. [PMID: 37762220 PMCID: PMC10530892 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXG1 (forkhead box G1) syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by variants in the Foxg1 gene that affect brain structure and function. Individuals affected by FOXG1 syndrome frequently exhibit delayed myelination in neuroimaging studies, which may impair the rapid conduction of nerve impulses. To date, the specific effects of FOXG1 on oligodendrocyte lineage progression and myelination during early postnatal development remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of Foxg1 deficiency on myelin development in the mouse brain by conditional deletion of Foxg1 in neural progenitors using NestinCreER;Foxg1fl/fl mice and tamoxifen induction at postnatal day 0 (P0). We found that Foxg1 deficiency resulted in a transient delay in myelination, evidenced by decreased myelin formation within the first two weeks after birth, but ultimately recovered to the control levels by P30. We also found that Foxg1 deletion prevented the timely attenuation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) signaling and reduced the cell cycle exit of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), leading to their excessive proliferation and delayed maturation. Additionally, Foxg1 deletion increased the expression of Hes5, a myelin formation inhibitor, as well as Olig2 and Sox10, two promoters of OPC differentiation. Our results reveal the important role of Foxg1 in myelin development and provide new clues for further exploring the pathological mechanisms of FOXG1 syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangliang Cao
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; (G.C.); (H.S.); (D.Q.)
| | - Congli Sun
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
| | - Hualin Shen
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; (G.C.); (H.S.); (D.Q.)
| | - Dewei Qu
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; (G.C.); (H.S.); (D.Q.)
| | - Chuanlu Shen
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
| | - Haiqin Lu
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; (G.C.); (H.S.); (D.Q.)
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Park J, Moon JH, O'Shea H, Shin D, Hwang SU, Li L, Lee H, Brimble E, Lee J, Clark S, Lee SK, Jeon S. The patient-specific mouse model with Foxg1 frameshift mutation uncovers the pathophysiology of FOXG1 syndrome. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2953760. [PMID: 37398410 PMCID: PMC10312924 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2953760/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Single allelic mutations in the gene encoding the forebrain-specific transcription factor FOXG1 lead to FOXG1 syndrome (FS). Patient-specific animal models are needed to understand the etiology of FS, as FS patients show a wide spectrum of symptoms correlated with location and mutation type in the FOXG1 gene. Here we report the first patient-specific FS mouse model, Q84Pfs heterozygous (Q84Pfs-Het) mice, mimicking one of the most predominant single nucleotide variants in FS. Intriguingly, we found that Q84Pfs-Het mice faithfully recapitulate human FS phenotypes at the cellular, brain structural, and behavioral levels. Importantly, Q84Pfs-Het mice exhibited myelination deficits like FS patients. Further, our transcriptome analysis of Q84Pfs-Het cortex revealed a new role for FOXG1 in synapse and oligodendrocyte development. The dysregulated genes in Q84Pfs-Het brains also predicted motor dysfunction and autism-like phenotypes. Correspondingly, Q84Pfs-Het mice showed movement deficits, repetitive behaviors, increased anxiety, and prolonged behavior arrest. Together, our study revealed the crucial postnatal role of FOXG1 in neuronal maturation and myelination and elucidated the essential pathophysiology mechanisms of FS.
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Farcy S, Albert A, Gressens P, Baffet AD, El Ghouzzi V. Cortical Organoids to Model Microcephaly. Cells 2022; 11:2135. [PMID: 35883578 PMCID: PMC9320662 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
How the brain develops and achieves its final size is a fascinating issue that questions cortical evolution across species and man's place in the animal kingdom. Although animal models have so far been highly valuable in understanding the key steps of cortical development, many human specificities call for appropriate models. In particular, microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by a smaller head circumference has been challenging to model in mice, which often do not fully recapitulate the human phenotype. The relatively recent development of brain organoid technology from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) now makes it possible to model human microcephaly, both due to genetic and environmental origins, and to generate developing cortical tissue from the patients themselves. These 3D tissues rely on iPSCs differentiation into cortical progenitors that self-organize into neuroepithelial rosettes mimicking the earliest stages of human neurogenesis in vitro. Over the last ten years, numerous protocols have been developed to control the identity of the induced brain areas, the reproducibility of the experiments and the longevity of the cultures, allowing analysis of the later stages. In this review, we describe the different approaches that instruct human iPSCs to form cortical organoids, summarize the different microcephalic conditions that have so far been modeled by organoids, and discuss the relevance of this model to decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms of primary and secondary microcephalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Farcy
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR144, F-75005 Paris, France;
| | - Alexandra Albert
- NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75019 Paris, France; (A.A.); (P.G.)
| | - Pierre Gressens
- NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75019 Paris, France; (A.A.); (P.G.)
| | - Alexandre D. Baffet
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR144, F-75005 Paris, France;
| | - Vincent El Ghouzzi
- NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75019 Paris, France; (A.A.); (P.G.)
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