1
|
Pang B, Wu X, Chen H, Yan Y, Du Z, Yu Z, Yang X, Wang W, Lu K. Exploring the memory: existing activity-dependent tools to tag and manipulate engram cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 17:1279032. [PMID: 38259503 PMCID: PMC10800721 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1279032] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The theory of engrams, proposed several years ago, is highly crucial to understanding the progress of memory. Although it significantly contributes to identifying new treatments for cognitive disorders, it is limited by a lack of technology. Several scientists have attempted to validate this theory but failed. With the increasing availability of activity-dependent tools, several researchers have found traces of engram cells. Activity-dependent tools are based on the mechanisms underlying neuronal activity and use a combination of emerging molecular biological and genetic technology. Scientists have used these tools to tag and manipulate engram neurons and identified numerous internal connections between engram neurons and memory. In this review, we provide the background, principles, and selected examples of applications of existing activity-dependent tools. Using a combination of traditional definitions and concepts of engram cells, we discuss the applications and limitations of these tools and propose certain developmental directions to further explore the functions of engram cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Pang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hailun Chen
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Yan
- School of Basic Medicine Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zibo Du
- The First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihan Yu
- School of Basic Medicine Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiai Yang
- Department of Neurology, Ankang Central Hospital, Ankang, China
| | - Wanshan Wang
- Laboratory Animal Management Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Southern Medical Laboratory Animal Sci. and Tech. Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Kangrong Lu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bok I, Vareberg A, Gokhale Y, Bhatt S, Masterson E, Phillips J, Zhu T, Ren X, Hai A. Wireless agents for brain recording and stimulation modalities. Bioelectron Med 2023; 9:20. [PMID: 37726851 PMCID: PMC10510192 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-023-00122-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
New sensors and modulators that interact wirelessly with medical modalities unlock uncharted avenues for in situ brain recording and stimulation. Ongoing miniaturization, material refinement, and sensitization to specific neurophysiological and neurochemical processes are spurring new capabilities that begin to transcend the constraints of traditional bulky and invasive wired probes. Here we survey current state-of-the-art agents across diverse realms of operation and evaluate possibilities depending on size, delivery, specificity and spatiotemporal resolution. We begin by describing implantable and injectable micro- and nano-scale electronic devices operating at or below the radio frequency (RF) regime with simple near field transmission, and continue with more sophisticated devices, nanoparticles and biochemical molecular conjugates acting as dynamic contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US) transduction and other functional tomographic modalities. We assess the ability of some of these technologies to deliver stimulation and neuromodulation with emerging probes and materials that provide minimally invasive magnetic, electrical, thermal and optogenetic stimulation. These methodologies are transforming the repertoire of readily available technologies paired with compatible imaging systems and hold promise toward broadening the expanse of neurological and neuroscientific diagnostics and therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilhan Bok
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of WI - Madison, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, Rm 2112, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of WI - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Adam Vareberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of WI - Madison, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, Rm 2112, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Yash Gokhale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of WI - Madison, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, Rm 2112, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Suyash Bhatt
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of WI - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Emily Masterson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of WI - Madison, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, Rm 2112, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jack Phillips
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of WI - Madison, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, Rm 2112, USA
| | - Tianxiang Zhu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of WI - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Xiaoxuan Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of WI - Madison, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, Rm 2112, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of WI - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Aviad Hai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of WI - Madison, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, Rm 2112, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of WI - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
García Saborit M, Jara A, Muñoz N, Milovic C, Tepper A, Alliende LM, Mena C, Iruretagoyena B, Ramirez-Mahaluf JP, Diaz C, Nachar R, Castañeda CP, González A, Undurraga J, Crossley N, Tejos C. Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping MRI in Deep-Brain Nuclei in First-Episode Psychosis. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1355-1363. [PMID: 37030007 PMCID: PMC10483330 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosis is related to neurochemical changes in deep-brain nuclei, particularly suggesting dopamine dysfunctions. We used an magnetic resonance imaging-based technique called quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) to study these regions in psychosis. QSM quantifies magnetic susceptibility in the brain, which is associated with iron concentrations. Since iron is a cofactor in dopamine pathways and co-localizes with inhibitory neurons, differences in QSM could reflect changes in these processes. METHODS We scanned 83 patients with first-episode psychosis and 64 healthy subjects. We reassessed 22 patients and 21 control subjects after 3 months. Mean susceptibility was measured in 6 deep-brain nuclei. Using linear mixed models, we analyzed the effect of case-control differences, region, age, gender, volume, framewise displacement (FD), treatment duration, dose, laterality, session, and psychotic symptoms on QSM. RESULTS Patients showed a significant susceptibility reduction in the putamen and globus pallidus externa (GPe). Patients also showed a significant R2* reduction in GPe. Age, gender, FD, session, group, and region are significant predictor variables for QSM. Dose, treatment duration, and volume were not predictor variables of QSM. CONCLUSIONS Reduction in QSM and R2* suggests a decreased iron concentration in the GPe of patients. Susceptibility reduction in putamen cannot be associated with iron changes. Since changes observed in putamen and GPe were not associated with symptoms, dose, and treatment duration, we hypothesize that susceptibility may be a trait marker rather than a state marker, but this must be verified with long-term studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marisleydis García Saborit
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Jara
- Department of Statistics, Mathematics Faculty, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Néstor Muñoz
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Milovic
- School of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Angeles Tepper
- Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luz María Alliende
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Mena
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bárbara Iruretagoyena
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Camila Diaz
- Pharmacovigilance, Instituto Psiquiátrico Dr. J. Horwitz Barak, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ruben Nachar
- Pharmacovigilance, Instituto Psiquiátrico Dr. J. Horwitz Barak, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Alfonso González
- Early Intervention Program, Instituto Psiquiátrico Dr J. Horwitz Barak, Santiago, Chile
- School of Medicine, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Undurraga
- Early Intervention Program, Instituto Psiquiátrico Dr J. Horwitz Barak, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolas Crossley
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristian Tejos
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Angelovski G, Tickner BJ, Wang G. Opportunities and challenges with hyperpolarized bioresponsive probes for functional imaging using magnetic resonance. Nat Chem 2023:10.1038/s41557-023-01211-3. [PMID: 37264100 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01211-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The development of hyperpolarized bioresponsive probes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications is an emerging and rapidly growing topic in chemistry. A wide range of hyperpolarized molecular biosensors for functional MRI have been developed in recent years. These probes comprise many different types of small-molecule reporters that can be hyperpolarized using dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization and parahydrogen-induced polarization or xenon-chelated macromolecular conjugates hyperpolarized using spin-exchange optical pumping. In this Perspective, we discuss how the amplified magnetic resonance signals of these agents are responsive to biologically relevant stimuli such as target proteins, reactive oxygen species, pH or metal ions. We examine how functional MRI using these systems allows a great number of biological processes to be monitored rapidly. Consequently, hyperpolarized bioresponsive probes may play a critical role in functional molecular imaging for observing physiology and pathology in real time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Goran Angelovski
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroimaging, International Center for Primate Brain Research, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ben J Tickner
- Centre for Hyperpolarisation in Magnetic Resonance, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gaoji Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Simon J, Schwalm M, Morstein J, Trauner D, Jasanoff A. Mapping light distribution in tissue by using MRI-detectable photosensitive liposomes. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:313-322. [PMID: 36550300 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00982-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Characterizing sources and targets of illumination in living tissue is challenging. Here we show that spatial distributions of light in tissue can be mapped by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the presence of photosensitive nanoparticle probes. Each probe consists of a reservoir of paramagnetic molecules enclosed by a liposomal membrane incorporating photosensitive lipids. Incident light causes the photoisomerization of the lipids and alters hydrodynamic exchange across the membrane, thereby affecting longitudinal relaxation-weighted contrast in MRI. We injected the nanoparticles into the brains of live rats and used MRI to map responses to illumination profiles characteristic of widely used applications of photostimulation, photometry and phototherapy. The responses deviated from simple photon propagation models and revealed signatures of light scattering and nonlinear responsiveness. Paramagnetic liposomal nanoparticles may enable MRI to map a broad range of optical phenomena in deep tissue and other opaque environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Simon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Miriam Schwalm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alan Jasanoff
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Patriarchi T, Beyeler A. State of the art imaging of neurotransmission in animal models. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 377:109632. [PMID: 35662587 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Patriarchi
- Chemical Neuropharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Neuroscience Center, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Anna Beyeler
- Neurocampus, University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM 1215, Bordeaux, France.
| |
Collapse
|