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Tomasello DL, Barrasa MI, Mankus D, Alarcon KI, Lytton-Jean AKR, Liu XS, Jaenisch R. Mitochondrial dysfunction and increased reactive oxygen species production in MECP2 mutant astrocytes and their impact on neurons. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20565. [PMID: 39232000 PMCID: PMC11374804 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71040-y] [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: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies on MECP2 function and its implications in Rett Syndrome (RTT) have traditionally centered on neurons. Here, using human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines, we modeled MECP2 loss-of-function to explore its effects on astrocyte (AST) development and dysfunction in the brain. Ultrastructural analysis of RTT hESC-derived cerebral organoids revealed significantly smaller mitochondria compared to controls (CTRs), particularly pronounced in glia versus neurons. Employing a multiomics approach, we observed increased gene expression and accessibility of a subset of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes upon mutation of MECP2 in ASTs compared to neurons. Analysis of hESC-derived ASTs showed reduced mitochondrial respiration and altered key proteins in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and electron transport chain in RTT versus CTRs. Additionally, RTT ASTs exhibited increased cytosolic amino acids under basal conditions, which were depleted upon increased energy demands. Notably, mitochondria isolated from RTT ASTs exhibited increased reactive oxygen species and influenced neuronal activity when transferred to cortical neurons. These findings underscore MECP2 mutation's differential impact on mitochondrial and metabolic pathways in ASTs versus neurons, suggesting that dysfunctional AST mitochondria may contribute to RTT pathophysiology by affecting neuronal health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Mankus
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Katia I Alarcon
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Abigail K R Lytton-Jean
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - X Shawn Liu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rudolf Jaenisch
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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2
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Sarahian N, Khodagholi F, Valian N, Ahmadiani A. Interplay of MeCP2/ REST/ Synaptophysin-BDNF and intranasal oxytocin influence on Aβ-induced memory and cognitive impairments. Behav Brain Res 2024:115235. [PMID: 39236931 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115235] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 09/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is linked to the accumulation of Aβ, increased tau hyperphosphorylation, persistent neuroinflammation, and a decline in neurotrophic factors, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Oxytocin (OT) has a significant impact on memory and learning. We examined the influence of intranasal (IN) OT on synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, histone acetylation, and spatial and cognitive memories in rats. METHODS Aβ25-35 (5µg/2.5µl) was administered bilaterally in the CA1 of male Wistar rats for four consecutive days. After 7 days of recovery, OT (2µg/µl, 10µl in each nostril) was administered IN for seven consecutive days. Working, spatial, and cognitive memories, and gene expression of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity involved factors were measured in the hippocampus. Histone acetylation (H3K9 and H4K8) was also measured using western blotting. RESULTS IN OT significantly improved working and spatial memory impairment induced by Aβ. The factors involved in synaptic plasticity (MeCP2, REST, synaptophysin, and BDNF) and neurogenesis (Ki67 and DCX) were also significantly increased by IN administration of OT. We also found an enhancement in the levels of H3K9ac and H4K8ac following OT administration. CONCLUSION These findings indicated that IN OT could improve hippocampus-related behaviors by increasing synaptic plasticity, stimulating neurogenesis, and chromatin plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahid Sarahian
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fariba Khodagholi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Valian
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abolhassan Ahmadiani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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3
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Bonzano S, Dallorto E, Bovetti S, Studer M, De Marchis S. Mitochondrial regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis: Insights into neurological function and neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106604. [PMID: 39002810 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106604] [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: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are essential regulators of cellular energy metabolism and play a crucial role in the maintenance and function of neuronal cells. Studies in the last decade have highlighted the importance of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics in adult neurogenesis, a process that significantly influences cognitive function and brain plasticity. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which mitochondria regulate adult neurogenesis, focusing on the impact of mitochondrial function on the behavior of neural stem/progenitor cells and the maturation and plasticity of newborn neurons in the adult mouse hippocampus. In addition, we explore the link between mitochondrial dysfunction, adult hippocampal neurogenesis and genes associated with cognitive deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, we provide insights into how alterations in the transcriptional regulator NR2F1 affect mitochondrial dynamics and may contribute to the pathophysiology of the emerging neurodevelopmental disorder Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS). Understanding how genes involved in embryonic and adult neurogenesis affect mitochondrial function in neurological diseases might open new directions for therapeutic interventions aimed at boosting mitochondrial function during postnatal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bonzano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano 10043, Italy
| | - Eleonora Dallorto
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano 10043, Italy; Institute de Biologie Valrose (iBV), Université Cote d'Azur (UCA), CNRS 7277, Inserm 1091, Avenue Valrose 28, Nice 06108, France
| | - Serena Bovetti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano 10043, Italy
| | - Michèle Studer
- Institute de Biologie Valrose (iBV), Université Cote d'Azur (UCA), CNRS 7277, Inserm 1091, Avenue Valrose 28, Nice 06108, France
| | - Silvia De Marchis
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano 10043, Italy.
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4
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Kunoh S, Nakashima H, Nakashima K. Epigenetic Regulation of Neural Stem Cells in Developmental and Adult Stages. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:22. [PMID: 38920623 PMCID: PMC11203245 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of the nervous system is regulated by numerous intracellular molecules and cellular signals that interact temporally and spatially with the extracellular microenvironment. The three major cell types in the brain, i.e., neurons and two types of glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), are generated from common multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) throughout life. However, NSCs do not have this multipotentiality from the beginning. During cortical development, NSCs sequentially obtain abilities to differentiate into neurons and glial cells in response to combinations of spatiotemporally modulated cell-intrinsic epigenetic alterations and extrinsic factors. After the completion of brain development, a limited population of NSCs remains in the adult brain and continues to produce neurons (adult neurogenesis), thus contributing to learning and memory. Many biological aspects of brain development and adult neurogenesis are regulated by epigenetic changes via behavioral control of NSCs. Epigenetic dysregulation has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of various brain diseases. Here, we present recent advances in the epigenetic regulation of NSC behavior and its dysregulation in brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hideyuki Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan;
| | - Kinichi Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan;
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5
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Ding C, Zhou W, Shi Y, Shan S, Yuan Y, Zhang Y, Li F, Qiu Z. Srcap haploinsufficiency induced autistic-like behaviors in mice through disruption of Satb2 expression. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114231. [PMID: 38733588 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114231] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the SRCAP gene are among the genetic alterations identified in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, the pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that Srcap+/- mice manifest deficits in social novelty response, as well as increased repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and impairments in learning and memory. Notably, a reduction in parvalbumin-positive neurons is observed in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) and dentate gyrus (DG) of these mice. Through RNA sequencing, we identify dysregulation in 27 ASD-related genes in Srcap+/- mice. Specifically, we find that Srcap regulates expression of Satb2 via H2A.z in the promoter. Therapeutic intervention via retro-orbital injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-Satb2 in neonatal Srcap+/- mice leads to amelioration of the neurodevelopmental and ASD-like abnormalities. Furthermore, the expression of Satb2 only in the RSC of adolescent mice rectifies social novelty impairments. These results underscore the pivotal role of Srcap in neurodevelopment, by regulating Satb2, providing valuable insights for the pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaodong Ding
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhan Shi
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shifang Shan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiting Yuan
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuefang Zhang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Li
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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6
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Lossi L, Castagna C, Merighi A. An Overview of the Epigenetic Modifications in the Brain under Normal and Pathological Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3881. [PMID: 38612690 PMCID: PMC11011998 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073881] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic changes are changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence. These changes lead to establishing a so-called epigenetic code that dictates which and when genes are activated, thus orchestrating gene regulation and playing a central role in development, health, and disease. The brain, being mostly formed by cells that do not undergo a renewal process throughout life, is highly prone to the risk of alterations leading to neuronal death and neurodegenerative disorders, mainly at a late age. Here, we review the main epigenetic modifications that have been described in the brain, with particular attention on those related to the onset of developmental anomalies or neurodegenerative conditions and/or occurring in old age. DNA methylation and several types of histone modifications (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, lactylation, and crotonylation) are major players in these processes. They are directly or indirectly involved in the onset of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Therefore, this review briefly describes the roles of these epigenetic changes in the mechanisms of brain development, maturation, and aging and some of the most important factors dynamically regulating or contributing to these changes, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adalberto Merighi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (L.L.); (C.C.)
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7
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Chen Y, Wu XL, Hu HB, Yang SN, Zhang ZY, Fu GL, Zhang CT, Li ZM, Wu F, Si KW, Ma YB, Ji SF, Zhou JS, Ren XY, Xiao XL, Liu JX. Neuronal MeCP2 in the dentate gyrus regulates mossy fiber sprouting of mice with temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 188:106346. [PMID: 37931884 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sprouting of mossy fibers, one of the most consistent findings in tissue from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, exhibits several uncommon axonal growth features and has been considered a paradigmatic example of circuit plasticity that occurs in the adult brain. Clarifying the mechanisms responsible may provide new insight into epileptogenesis as well as axon misguidance in the central nervous system. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) binds to methylated genomic DNA to regulate a range of physiological functions implicated in neuronal development and adult synaptic plasticity. However, exploring the potential role of MeCP2 in the documented misguidance of axons in the dentate gyrus has not yet been attempted. In this study, a status epilepticus-induced decrease of neuronal MeCP2 was observed in the dentate gyrus (DG). An essential regulatory role of MeCP2 in the development of functional mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) was confirmed through stereotaxic injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) to up- or down-regulate MeCP2 in the dentate neurons. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) was performed to identify the binding profile of native MeCP2 using micro-dissected dentate tissues. In both dentate tissues and HT22 cell lines, we demonstrated that MeCP2 could act as a transcription repressor on miR-682 with the involvement of the DNA methylation mechanism. Further, we found that miR-682 could bind to mRNA of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in a sequence specific manner, thus leading to the suppression of PTEN and excessive activation of mTOR. This study therefore presents a novel epigenetic mechanism by identifying MeCP2/miR-682/PTEN/mTOR as an essential signal pathway in regulating the formation of MFS in the temporal lobe epileptic (TLE) mice. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Understanding the mechanisms that regulate axon guidance is important for a better comprehension of neural disorders. Sprouting of mossy fibers, one of the most consistent findings in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, has been considered a paradigmatic example of circuit plasticity in the adult brain. Although abnormal regulation of DNA methylation has been observed in both experimental rodents and humans with epilepsy, the potential role of DNA methylation in this well-documented example of sprouting of dentate axon remains elusive. This study demonstrates an essential role of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 in the formation of mossy fiber sprouting. The underlying signal pathway has been also identified. The data hence provide new insight into epileptogenesis as well as axon misguidance in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Institute of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City 710061, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Wu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China
| | - Hai-Bo Hu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China
| | - Shu-Nan Yang
- Institute of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City 710061, China
| | - Zi-Yi Zhang
- Institute of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City 710061, China
| | - Guan-Ling Fu
- Institute of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City 710061, China
| | - Chu-Tong Zhang
- Qide College, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Zi-Meng Li
- Zonglian College, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Center of Teaching and Experiment for Medical Postgraduates, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Kai-Wei Si
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yan-Bing Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China
| | - Sheng-Feng Ji
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China
| | - Jin-Song Zhou
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China
| | - Xiao-Yong Ren
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Xin-Li Xiao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China.
| | - Jian-Xin Liu
- Institute of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City, 710061, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an City 710061, China.
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8
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Hattori T, Cherepanov SM, Sakaga R, Roboon J, Nguyen DT, Ishii H, Takarada‐Iemata M, Nishiuchi T, Kannon T, Hosomichi K, Tajima A, Yamamoto Y, Okamoto H, Sugawara A, Higashida H, Hori O. Postnatal expression of CD38 in astrocytes regulates synapse formation and adult social memory. EMBO J 2023; 42:e111247. [PMID: 37357972 PMCID: PMC10390870 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111247] [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: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Social behavior is essential for health, survival, and reproduction of animals; however, the role of astrocytes in social behavior remains largely unknown. The transmembrane protein CD38, which acts both as a receptor and ADP-ribosyl cyclase to produce cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) regulates social behaviors by promoting oxytocin release from hypothalamic neurons. CD38 is also abundantly expressed in astrocytes in the postnatal brain and is important for astroglial development. Here, we demonstrate that the astroglial-expressed CD38 plays an important role in social behavior during development. Selective deletion of CD38 in postnatal astrocytes, but not in adult astrocytes, impairs social memory without any other behavioral abnormalities. Morphological analysis shows that depletion of astroglial CD38 in the postnatal brain interferes with synapse formation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus. Moreover, astroglial CD38 expression promotes synaptogenesis of excitatory neurons by increasing the level of extracellular SPARCL1 (also known as Hevin), a synaptogenic protein. The release of SPARCL1 from astrocytes is regulated by CD38/cADPR/calcium signaling. These data demonstrate a novel developmental role of astrocytes in neural circuit formation and regulation of social behavior in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Hattori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | | | - Ryo Sakaga
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Jureepon Roboon
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Dinh Thi Nguyen
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Hiroshi Ishii
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Mika Takarada‐Iemata
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Takumi Nishiuchi
- Division of Functional Genomics, Advanced Science Research CenterKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Takayuki Kannon
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Kazuyoshi Hosomichi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Atsushi Tajima
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Yasuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Hiroshi Okamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
- Department of BiochemistryTohoku University Graduate School of MedicineSendaiJapan
| | - Akira Sugawara
- Department of Molecular EndocrinologyTohoku University Graduate School of MedicineSendaiJapan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Research Center for Child Mental DevelopmentKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Osamu Hori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
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9
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Ou M, Chen Y, Liu J, Zhang D, Yang Y, Shen J, Miao C, Tang SJ, Liu X, Mulkey DK, Zhu T, Zhou C. Spinal astrocytic MeCP2 regulates Kir4.1 for the maintenance of chronic hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 224:102436. [PMID: 36931588 PMCID: PMC10372923 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102436] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Astrocyte activation in the spinal dorsal horn may play an important role in the development of chronic neuropathic pain, but the mechanisms involved in astrocyte activation and their modulatory effects remain unknown. The inward rectifying potassium channel protein 4.1 (Kir4.1) is the most important background K+ channel in astrocytes. However, how Kir4.1 is regulated and contributes to behavioral hyperalgesia in chronic pain is unknown. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis indicated that the expression levels of both Kir4.1 and Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) were decreased in spinal astrocytes after chronic constriction injury (CCI) in a mouse model. Conditional knockout of the Kir4.1 channel in spinal astrocytes led to hyperalgesia, and overexpression of the Kir4.1 channel in spinal cord relieved CCI-induced hyperalgesia. Expression of spinal Kir4.1 after CCI was regulated by MeCP2. Electrophysiological recording in spinal slices showed that knockdown of Kir4.1 significantly up-regulated the excitability of astrocytes and then functionally changed the firing patterns of neurons in dorsal spinal cord. Therefore, targeting spinal Kir4.1 may be a therapeutic approach for hyperalgesia in chronic neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengchan Ou
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yali Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Donghang Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yaoxin Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jiefei Shen
- Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Department of Prosthodontics, West China Stomatology Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Changhong Miao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shao-Jun Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology and The Stony Brook University Pain and Analgesia Research Center (SPARC), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and The Stony Brook University Pain and Analgesia Research Center (SPARC), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Daniel K Mulkey
- Departments of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Tao Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Cheng Zhou
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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10
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Petazzi P, Jorge-Torres OC, Gomez A, Scognamiglio I, Serra-Musach J, Merkel A, Grases D, Xiol C, O’Callaghan M, Armstrong J, Esteller M, Guil S. Global Impairment of Immediate-Early Genes Expression in Rett Syndrome Models and Patients Linked to Myelination Defects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021453. [PMID: 36674969 PMCID: PMC9864472 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disease caused almost exclusively by mutations to the MeCP2 gene. This disease may be regarded as a synaptopathy, with impairments affecting synaptic plasticity, inhibitory and excitatory transmission and network excitability. The complete understanding of the mechanisms behind how the transcription factor MeCP2 so profoundly affects the mammalian brain are yet to be determined. What is known, is that MeCP2 involvement in activity-dependent expression programs is a critical link between this protein and proper neuronal activity, which allows the correct maturation of connections in the brain. By using RNA-sequencing analysis, we found several immediate-early genes (IEGs, key mediators of activity-dependent responses) directly bound by MeCP2 at the chromatin level and upregulated in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of the Mecp2-KO mouse. Quantification of the IEGs response to stimulus both in vivo and in vitro detected an aberrant expression pattern in MeCP2-deficient neurons. Furthermore, altered IEGs levels were found in RTT patient's peripheral blood and brain regions of post-mortem samples, correlating with impaired expression of downstream myelination-related genes. Altogether, these data indicate that proper IEGs expression is crucial for correct synaptic development and that MeCP2 has a key role in the regulation of IEGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Petazzi
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Carrer Casanova 143, 400° floor, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- RICORS-TERAV, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Caridad Jorge-Torres
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (O.C.J.-T.); (S.G.); Tel.: +34-935572828 (O.C.J.-T. & S.G.)
| | - Antonio Gomez
- Biosciences Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), C. de la Laura, 13, 08500 Vic, Spain
| | - Iolanda Scognamiglio
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Serra-Musach
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angelika Merkel
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniela Grases
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Xiol
- Fundación San Juan de Dios, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
- Servei de Medicina Genètica i Molecular, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar O’Callaghan
- Clínica Rett, Neurology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER-ER (Biomedical Network Research Center for Rare Diseases), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Judith Armstrong
- Servei de Medicina Genètica i Molecular, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER-ER (Biomedical Network Research Center for Rare Diseases), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sonia Guil
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (O.C.J.-T.); (S.G.); Tel.: +34-935572828 (O.C.J.-T. & S.G.)
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11
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Yildirim M, Delepine C, Feldman D, Pham VA, Chou S, Ip J, Nott A, Tsai LH, Ming GL, So PTC, Sur M. Label-free three-photon imaging of intact human cerebral organoids for tracking early events in brain development and deficits in Rett syndrome. eLife 2022; 11:78079. [PMID: 35904330 PMCID: PMC9337854 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cerebral organoids are unique in their development of progenitor-rich zones akin to ventricular zones from which neuronal progenitors differentiate and migrate radially. Analyses of cerebral organoids thus far have been performed in sectioned tissue or in superficial layers due to their high scattering properties. Here, we demonstrate label-free three-photon imaging of whole, uncleared intact organoids (~2 mm depth) to assess early events of early human brain development. Optimizing a custom-made three-photon microscope to image intact cerebral organoids generated from Rett Syndrome patients, we show defects in the ventricular zone volumetric structure of mutant organoids compared to isogenic control organoids. Long-term imaging live organoids reveals that shorter migration distances and slower migration speeds of mutant radially migrating neurons are associated with more tortuous trajectories. Our label-free imaging system constitutes a particularly useful platform for tracking normal and abnormal development in individual organoids, as well as for screening therapeutic molecules via intact organoid imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Yildirim
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Chloe Delepine
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Danielle Feldman
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Vincent A Pham
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Stephanie Chou
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Jacque Ip
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Alexi Nott
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Peter T C So
- Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Mriganka Sur
- Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
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12
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MeCP2 and transcriptional control of eukaryotic gene expression. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151237. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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13
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Sheehy RN, Quintanilla LJ, Song J. Epigenetic regulation in the neurogenic niche of the adult dentate gyrus. Neurosci Lett 2022; 766:136343. [PMID: 34774980 PMCID: PMC8691367 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The adult dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampal formation is a specialized region of the brain that creates new adult-born neurons from a pool of resident adult neural stem and progenitor cells (aNSPCs) throughout life. These aNSPCs undergo epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation, including 3D genome interactions, histone modifications, DNA modifications, noncoding RNA mechanisms, and RNA modifications, to precisely control the neurogenic process. Furthermore, the specialized neurogenic niche also uses epigenetic mechanisms in mature neurons and glial cells to communicate signals to direct the behavior of the aNSPCs. Here, we review recent advances of epigenetic regulation in aNSPCs and their surrounding niche cells within the adult DG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan N. Sheehy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA,Pharmacology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Luis J. Quintanilla
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA,Neuroscience Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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14
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Carstens KE, Lustberg DJ, Shaughnessy EK, McCann KE, Alexander GM, Dudek SM. Perineuronal net degradation rescues CA2 plasticity in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e137221. [PMID: 34228646 DOI: 10.1172/jci137221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized form of extracellular matrix, are abnormal in the brains of people with Rett syndrome (RTT). We previously reported that PNNs function to restrict synaptic plasticity in hippocampal area CA2, which is unusually resistant to long-term potentiation (LTP) and has been linked to social learning in mice. Here we report that PNNs appear elevated in area CA2 of the hippocampus of an individual with RTT and that PNNs develop precociously and remain elevated in area CA2 of a mouse model of RTT (Mecp2-null). Further, we provide evidence that LTP could be induced at CA2 synapses prior to PNN maturation (postnatal day 8-11) in wild-type mice and that this window of plasticity was prematurely restricted at CA2 synapses in Mecp2-null mice. Degrading PNNs in Mecp2-null hippocampus was sufficient to rescue the premature disruption of CA2 plasticity. We identified several molecular targets that were altered in the developing Mecp2-null hippocampus that may explain aberrant PNNs and CA2 plasticity, and we discovered that CA2 PNNs are negatively regulated by neuronal activity. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that CA2 PNN development is regulated by Mecp2 and identify a window of hippocampal plasticity that is disrupted in a mouse model of RTT.
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15
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Zocher S, Overall RW, Berdugo-Vega G, Rund N, Karasinsky A, Adusumilli VS, Steinhauer C, Scheibenstock S, Händler K, Schultze JL, Calegari F, Kempermann G. De novo DNA methylation controls neuronal maturation during adult hippocampal neurogenesis. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107100. [PMID: 34337766 PMCID: PMC8441477 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis enables the life‐long addition of functional neurons to the hippocampus and is regulated by both cell‐intrinsic molecular programs and behavioral activity. De novo DNA methylation is crucial for embryonic brain development, but its role during adult hippocampal neurogenesis has remained unknown. Here, we show that de novo DNA methylation is critical for maturation and functional integration of adult‐born neurons in the mouse hippocampus. Bisulfite sequencing revealed that de novo DNA methyltransferases target neuronal enhancers and gene bodies during adult hippocampal neural stem cell differentiation, to establish neuronal methylomes and facilitate transcriptional up‐regulation of neuronal genes. Inducible deletion of both de novo DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in adult neural stem cells did not affect proliferation or fate specification, but specifically impaired dendritic outgrowth and synaptogenesis of newborn neurons, thereby hampering their functional maturation. Consequently, abolishing de novo DNA methylation modulated activation patterns in the hippocampal circuitry and caused specific deficits in hippocampus‐dependent learning and memory. Our results demonstrate that proper establishment of neuronal methylomes during adult neurogenesis is fundamental for hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zocher
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rupert W Overall
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gabriel Berdugo-Vega
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Rund
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anne Karasinsky
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Vijay S Adusumilli
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christina Steinhauer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sina Scheibenstock
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kristian Händler
- PRECISE Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Joachim L Schultze
- PRECISE Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Federico Calegari
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gerd Kempermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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16
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Lee W, Mariappan R, De K, Ohn T. Loss of MeCP2 causes subtle alteration in dendritic arborization of retinal ganglion cells. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2021; 25:102-109. [PMID: 34234891 PMCID: PMC8118406 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2021.1920459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl-CpG-binding protein (MeCP2) is highly expressed in neurons. It plays an important role in the development of synapses and the formation of circuits in the central nervous system (CNS). Mutations in MECP2 cause neurodevelopmental disorders and mental retardation in humans. Therefore, it has become important to determine the distribution and function of MeCP2 in vivo. The retina consists of three nuclear cell layers and two layers of synapses; neurons in each layer are connected to form fine circuits necessary for visual signal transduction. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we found that MeCP2 was expressed in all nuclear cell layers, with differences in the levels of MeCP2 expression observed among the layers. To understand the structural defects in the retina due to the loss of MeCP2, we sought to elucidate the organization of the retinal structure in the Mecp2 knockout (KO) mouse. Overall, we found a normal retinal structure in Mecp2 KO mice. However, because Mecp2 mutations have a highly variable effect on neuronal architecture, we analyzed morphological changes in a subset of retinal ganglion cells of Mecp2 KO mice. In Thy1-GFP mice crossed with Mecp2 mutant mice, Sholl intersections analyses showed a subtle increase in number of intersections due to increased branching proximal to the soma in Mecp2 KO mice. Our results demonstrate that the expression of MeCP2 and the effects of Mecp2 mutations are highly specific to tissue and cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wooje Lee
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea.,Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ramesh Mariappan
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Koushitak De
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Takbum Ohn
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
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17
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Sun J, Yang J, Miao X, Loh HH, Pei D, Zheng H. Proteins in DNA methylation and their role in neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 10:7. [PMID: 33649938 PMCID: PMC7921253 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-020-00070-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic modifications, namely non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, and histone modifications such as methylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, and sumoylation play a significant role in brain development. DNA methyltransferases, methyl-CpG binding proteins, and ten-eleven translocation proteins facilitate the maintenance, interpretation, and removal of DNA methylation, respectively. Different forms of methylation, including 5-methylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, and other oxidized forms, have been detected by recently developed sequencing technologies. Emerging evidence suggests that the diversity of DNA methylation patterns in the brain plays a key role in fine-tuning and coordinating gene expression in the development, plasticity, and disorders of the mammalian central nervous system. Neural stem cells (NSCs), originating from the neuroepithelium, generate neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system and contribute to brain plasticity in the adult mammalian brain. MAIN BODY Here, we summarized recent research in proteins responsible for the establishment, maintenance, interpretation, and removal of DNA methylation and those involved in the regulation of the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs. In addition, we discussed the interactions of chemicals with epigenetic pathways to regulate NSCs as well as the connections between proteins involved in DNA methylation and human diseases. CONCLUSION Understanding the interplay between DNA methylation and NSCs in a broad biological context can facilitate the related studies and reduce potential misunderstanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Sun
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), #188 Kaiyuan Ave., Science City, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, 510700, China.
| | - Junzheng Yang
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), #188 Kaiyuan Ave., Science City, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Xiaoli Miao
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), #188 Kaiyuan Ave., Science City, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Horace H Loh
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), #188 Kaiyuan Ave., Science City, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Duanqing Pei
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), #188 Kaiyuan Ave., Science City, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, 510700, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Institutes for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,School of Life Science, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), #188 Kaiyuan Ave., Science City, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, 510700, China. .,CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510530, China. .,Institutes for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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18
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D'Mello SR. MECP2 and the Biology of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. J Neurochem 2021; 159:29-60. [PMID: 33638179 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), a rare X-linked genomic disorder affecting predominantly males, is caused by duplication of the chromosomal region containing the methyl CpG binding protein-2 (MECP2) gene, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a multi-functional protein required for proper brain development and maintenance of brain function during adulthood. Disease symptoms include severe motor and cognitive impairment, delayed or absent speech development, autistic features, seizures, ataxia, recurrent respiratory infections and shortened lifespan. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which a relatively modest increase in MECP2 protein causes such severe disease symptoms are poorly understood and consequently there are no treatments available for this fatal disorder. This review summarizes what is known to date about the structure and complex regulation of MECP2 and its many functions in the developing and adult brain. Additionally, recent experimental findings on the cellular and molecular underpinnings of MDS based on cell culture and mouse models of the disorder are reviewed. The emerging picture from these studies is that MDS is a neurodegenerative disorder in which neurons die in specific parts of the central nervous system, including the cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and spinal cord. Neuronal death likely results from astrocytic dysfunction, including a breakdown of glutamate homeostatic mechanisms. The role of elevations in the expression of glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) in astrocytes and the microtubule-associated protein, Tau, in neurons to the pathogenesis of MDS is discussed. Lastly, potential therapeutic strategies to potentially treat MDS are discussed.
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19
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Chen D, Liu J, Wu Z, Li SH. Role of miR-132/methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 in the regulation of neural stem cell differentiation. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:345-349. [PMID: 32859795 PMCID: PMC7896221 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.290908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a well-known transcription repressor, and mutations in MECP2 cause serious neurological disorders. Many studies have suggested that MeCP2 is involved in neural maturation only, and have not reported its role in neural stem cell differentiation. In the present study, we investigated this possible role of MeCP2 in neural stem cells. We used two different differentiation methods to explore how MeCP2 influences neural stem cell differentiation. When we transfected MeCP2-overexpressing lentivirus into neural stem cells, astrocytic differentiation was impaired. This impaired astrocytic differentiation occurred even in conditions of 20% fetal bovine serum, which favored astrocytic differentiation. In addition, miR-132 had the largest expression change after differentiation among several central nervous system related miRNAs. A luciferase assay confirmed that miR-132 directly targeted MeCP2, and that miR-132 was able to reduce MeCP2 expression at both the RNA and protein levels. The upregulation of miR-132 by miRNA mimics promoted astrocytic differentiation, which was fully recovered by MeCP2 overexpression. These results indicate that miR-132 regulates cell lineage differentiation by reducing MeCP2. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of TongJi University, China (approval No. SHDSYY-2018-4748) on March 10, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shao-Hua Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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20
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Saw G, Tang FR. Epigenetic Regulation of the Hippocampus, with Special Reference to Radiation Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249514. [PMID: 33327654 PMCID: PMC7765140 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is crucial in learning, memory and emotion processing, and is involved in the development of different neurological and neuropsychological disorders. Several epigenetic factors, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, have been shown to regulate the development and function of the hippocampus, and the alteration of epigenetic regulation may play important roles in the development of neurocognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the epigenetic modifications of various cell types and processes within the hippocampus and their resulting effects on cognition, memory and overall hippocampal function. In addition, the effects of exposure to radiation that may induce a myriad of epigenetic changes in the hippocampus are reviewed. By assessing and evaluating the current literature, we hope to prompt a more thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie radiation-induced epigenetic changes, an area which can be further explored.
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21
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Arakawa H. From Multisensory Assessment to Functional Interpretation of Social Behavioral Phenotype in Transgenic Mouse Models for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:592408. [PMID: 33329141 PMCID: PMC7717939 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.592408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common heterogeneous disorder, defined solely by the core behavioral characteristics, including impaired social interaction and restricted and repeated behavior. Although an increasing number of studies have been performed extensively, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the core symptoms of ASD remain largely unknown. Transgenic mouse models provide a useful tool for evaluating genetic and neuronal mechanisms underlying ASD pathology, which are prerequisites for validating behavioral phenotypes that mimic the core symptoms of human ASD. The purpose of this review is to propose a better strategy for analyzing and interpreting social investigatory behaviors in transgenic mouse models of ASD. Mice are nocturnal, and employ multimodal processing mechanisms for social communicative behaviors, including those that involve olfactory and tactile senses. Most behavioral paradigms that have been developed for measuring a particular ASD-like behavior in mouse models, such as social recognition, preference, and discrimination tests, are based on the evaluation of distance-based investigatory behavior in response to social stimuli. This investigatory behavior in mice is regulated by multimodal processing involving with two different motives: first, an olfactory-based novelty assessment, and second, tactile-based social contact, in a temporally sequential manner. Accurate interpretation of investigatory behavior exhibited by test mice can be achieved by functional analysis of these multimodal, sequential behaviors, which will lead to a better understanding of the specific features of social deficits associated with ASD in transgenic mouse models, at high temporal and spatial resolutions.
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22
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Zhao X, van Praag H. Steps towards standardized quantification of adult neurogenesis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4275. [PMID: 32848155 PMCID: PMC7450090 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18046-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
New neurons are generated in adult mammals. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is considered to play an important role in cognition and mental health. The number and properties of newly born neurons are regulatable by a broad range of physiological and pathological conditions. To begin to understand the underlying cellular mechanisms and functional relevance of adult neurogenesis, many studies rely on quantification of adult-born neurons. However, lack of standardized methods to quantify new neurons is impeding research reproducibility across laboratories. Here, we review the importance of stereology, and propose why and how it should be applied to the study of adult neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center and University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
| | - Henriette van Praag
- Brain Institute and Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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23
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Niklison-Chirou MV, Agostini M, Amelio I, Melino G. Regulation of Adult Neurogenesis in Mammalian Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21144869. [PMID: 32660154 PMCID: PMC7402357 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21144869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis is a multistage process by which neurons are generated and integrated into existing neuronal circuits. In the adult brain, neurogenesis is mainly localized in two specialized niches, the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus and the subventricular zone (SVZ) adjacent to the lateral ventricles. Neurogenesis plays a fundamental role in postnatal brain, where it is required for neuronal plasticity. Moreover, perturbation of adult neurogenesis contributes to several human diseases, including cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. The interplay between extrinsic and intrinsic factors is fundamental in regulating neurogenesis. Over the past decades, several studies on intrinsic pathways, including transcription factors, have highlighted their fundamental role in regulating every stage of neurogenesis. However, it is likely that transcriptional regulation is part of a more sophisticated regulatory network, which includes epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNAs and metabolic pathways. Here, we review recent findings that advance our knowledge in epigenetic, transcriptional and metabolic regulation of adult neurogenesis in the SGZ of the hippocampus, with a special attention to the p53-family of transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Victoria Niklison-Chirou
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI-Bath), Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK;
- Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Massimiliano Agostini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.A.); (I.A.)
| | - Ivano Amelio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.A.); (I.A.)
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HU, UK
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.A.); (I.A.)
- Correspondence:
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24
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Varderidou-Minasian S, Hinz L, Hagemans D, Posthuma D, Altelaar M, Heine VM. Quantitative proteomic analysis of Rett iPSC-derived neuronal progenitors. Mol Autism 2020; 11:38. [PMID: 32460858 PMCID: PMC7251722 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00344-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rett syndrome (RTT) is a progressive neurodevelopmental disease that is characterized by abnormalities in cognitive, social, and motor skills. RTT is often caused by mutations in the X-linked gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). The mechanism by which impaired MeCP2 induces the pathological abnormalities in the brain is not understood. Both patients and mouse models have shown abnormalities at molecular and cellular level before typical RTT-associated symptoms appear. This implies that underlying mechanisms are already affected during neurodevelopmental stages. Methods To understand the molecular mechanisms involved in disease onset, we used an RTT patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based model with isogenic controls and performed time-series of proteomic analysis using in-depth high-resolution quantitative mass spectrometry during early stages of neuronal development. Results We provide mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomic data, depth of about 7000 proteins, at neuronal progenitor developmental stages of RTT patient cells and isogenic controls. Our data gives evidence of proteomic alteration at early neurodevelopmental stages, suggesting alterations long before the phase that symptoms of RTT syndrome become apparent. Significant changes are associated with the GO enrichment analysis in biological processes cell-cell adhesion, actin cytoskeleton organization, neuronal stem cell population maintenance, and pituitary gland development, next to protein changes previously associated with RTT, i.e., dendrite morphology and synaptic deficits. Differential expression increased from early to late neural stem cell phases, although proteins involved in immunity, metabolic processes, and calcium signaling were affected throughout all stages analyzed. Limitations The limitation of our study is the number of RTT patients analyzed. As the aim of our study was to investigate a large number of proteins, only one patient was considered, of which 3 different RTT iPSC clones and 3 isogenic control iPSC clones were included. Even though this approach allowed the study of mutation-induced alterations due to the usage of isogenic controls, results should be validated on different RTT patients to suggest common disease mechanisms. Conclusions During early neuronal differentiation, there are consistent and time-point specific proteomic alterations in RTT patient cells carrying exons 3–4 deletion in MECP2. We found changes in proteins involved in pathway associated with RTT phenotypes, including dendrite morphology and synaptogenesis. Our results provide a valuable resource of proteins and pathways for follow-up studies, investigating common mechanisms involved during early disease stages of RTT syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzy Varderidou-Minasian
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa Hinz
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dominique Hagemans
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle Posthuma
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Child and Youth Psychiatry, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Altelaar
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vivi M Heine
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Child and Youth Psychiatry, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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25
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Poon CH, Chan YS, Fung ML, Lim LW. Memory and neuromodulation: A perspective of DNA methylation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 111:57-68. [PMID: 31846654 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuromodulation techniques have shown promising efficacy on memory function and understanding the epigenetic mechanisms contributing to these processes would shed light on the molecular outcomes essential for cognition. In this review, we highlight some epigenetic mechanisms underlying neuromodulation and regulatory effects of neuronal activity-induced DNA methylation on genes that are highly involved in memory formation. Next, we examine the evidence to support DNA methyltransferase 3a, methyl-CpG binding protein 2, and DNA demethylase as possible memory modulation targets. Finally, we report the recent developments in the field of neuromodulation and explore the potential of these techniques for future neuroepigenetic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Him Poon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying-Shing Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Man Lung Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lee Wei Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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26
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Hinz L, Torrella Barrufet J, Heine VM. KCC2 expression levels are reduced in post mortem brain tissue of Rett syndrome patients. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:196. [PMID: 31796123 PMCID: PMC6892240 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0852-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. Deficient K+-Cl-co-transporter 2 (KCC2) expression is suggested to play a key role in the neurodevelopmental delay in RTT patients' neuronal networks. KCC2 is a major player in neuronal maturation by supporting the GABAergic switch, through the regulation of neuronal chlorine homeostasis. Previous studies suggest that MeCP2 mutations lead to changed KCC2 expression levels, thereby causing a disturbance in excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance. To investigate this, we performed protein and RNA expression analysis on post mortem brain tissue from RTT patients and healthy controls. We showed that KCC2 expression, in particular the KCC2a isoform, is relatively decreased in RTT patients. The expression of Na+-K+-Cl- co-transporter 1 (NKCC1), responsible for the inward transport of chlorine, is not affected, leading to a reduced KCC2/NKCC1 ratio in RTT brains. Our report confirms KCC2 expression alterations in RTT patients in human brain tissue, which is in line with other studies, suggesting affected E/I balance could underlie neurodevelopmental defects in RTT patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Hinz
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joan Torrella Barrufet
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vivi M Heine
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Pediatric Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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27
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Abstract
Despite decades of research on Alzheimer disease, understanding the complexity of the genetic and molecular interactions involved in its pathogenesis remains far from our grasp. Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) is an important epigenetic regulator enriched in the brain, and recent findings have implicated MeCP2 as a crucial player in Alzheimer disease. Here, we provide comprehensive insights into the pathophysiological roles of MeCP2 in Alzheimer disease. In particular, we focus on how the alteration of MeCP2 expression can impact Alzheimer disease through risk genes, amyloid-β and tau pathology, cell death and neurodegeneration, and cellular senescence. We suggest that Alzheimer disease can be adversely affected by upregulated MeCP2-dependent repression of risk genes (MEF2C, ADAM10, and PM20D1), increased tau accumulation, and neurodegeneration through neuronal cell death (excitotoxicity and apoptosis). In addition, we propose that the progression of Alzheimer disease could be caused by reduced MeCP2-mediated enhancement of astrocytic and microglial senescence and consequent glial SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype)-dependent neuroinflammation. We surmise that any imbalance in MeCP2 function would accelerate or cause Alzheimer disease pathogenesis, implying that MeCP2 may be a potential drug target for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer disease.
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28
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Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Almost two decades of research into RTT have greatly advanced our understanding of the function and regulation of the multifunctional protein MeCP2. Here, we review recent advances in understanding how loss of MeCP2 impacts different stages of brain development, discuss recent findings demonstrating the molecular role of MeCP2 as a transcriptional repressor, assess primary and secondary effects of MeCP2 loss and examine how loss of MeCP2 can result in an imbalance of neuronal excitation and inhibition at the circuit level along with dysregulation of activity-dependent mechanisms. These factors present challenges to the search for mechanism-based therapeutics for RTT and suggest specific approaches that may be more effective than others.
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29
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Krishnaraj R, Haase F, Coorey B, Luca EJ, Wong I, Boyling A, Ellaway C, Christodoulou J, Gold WA. Genome-wide transcriptomic and proteomic studies of Rett syndrome mouse models identify common signaling pathways and cellular functions as potential therapeutic targets. Hum Mutat 2019; 40:2184-2196. [PMID: 31379106 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The discovery that Rett syndrome is caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene has provided a major breakthrough in our understanding of the disorder. However, despite this, there is still limited understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder hampering the development of curative treatments. Over the years, a number of animal models have been developed contributing to our knowledge of the role of MECP2 in development and improving our understanding of how subtle expression levels affect brain morphology and function. Transcriptomic and proteomic studies of animal models are useful in identifying perturbations in functional pathways and providing avenues for novel areas of research into disease. This review focuses on published transcriptomic and proteomic studies of mouse models of Rett syndrome with the aim of providing a summary of all the studies, the reported dysregulated genes and functional pathways that are found to be perturbed. The 36 articles identified highlighted a number of dysfunctional pathways as well as perturbed biological networks and cellular functions including synaptic dysfunction and neuronal transmission, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These data reveal biological insights that contribute to the disease process which may be targeted to investigate curative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Krishnaraj
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Florencia Haase
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Bronte Coorey
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Edward J Luca
- University Library, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ingar Wong
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Alexandra Boyling
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Carolyn Ellaway
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Genetic Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John Christodoulou
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Genetic Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Brain and Mitochondrial Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wendy A Gold
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Kids Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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30
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Faundez V, Wynne M, Crocker A, Tarquinio D. Molecular Systems Biology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Rett Syndrome as an Archetype. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 13:30. [PMID: 31379529 PMCID: PMC6650571 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders represent a challenging biological and medical problem due to their genetic and phenotypic complexity. In many cases, we lack the comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms necessary for targeted therapeutic development. One key component that could improve both mechanistic understanding and clinical trial design is reliable molecular biomarkers. Presently, no objective biological markers exist to evaluate most neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we discuss how systems biology and "omic" approaches can address the mechanistic and biomarker limitations in these afflictions. We present heuristic principles for testing the potential of systems biology to identify mechanisms and biomarkers of disease in the example of Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a well-defined monogenic defect in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). We propose that such an approach can not only aid in monitoring clinical disease severity but also provide a measure of target engagement in clinical trials. By deepening our understanding of the "big picture" of systems biology, this approach could even help generate hypotheses for drug development programs, hopefully resulting in new treatments for these devastating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Faundez
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Meghan Wynne
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Amanda Crocker
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, United States
| | - Daniel Tarquinio
- Rare Neurological Diseases (Private Research Institution), Atlanta, GA, United States
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31
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Bertoldi ML, Zalosnik MI, Fabio MC, Aja S, Roth GA, Ronnett GV, Degano AL. MeCP2 Deficiency Disrupts Kainate-Induced Presynaptic Plasticity in the Mossy Fiber Projections in the Hippocampus. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:286. [PMID: 31333414 PMCID: PMC6619486 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl cytosine binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a structural chromosomal protein involved in the regulation of gene expression. Mutations in the gene encoding MeCP2 result in Rett Syndrome (RTT), a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder. RTT is one of few autism spectrum disorders whose cause was identified as a single gene mutation. Remarkably, abnormal levels of MeCP2 have been associated to other neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, many studies have been oriented to investigate the role of MeCP2 in the nervous system. In the present work, we explore cellular and molecular mechanisms affecting synaptic plasticity events in vivo in the hippocampus of MeCP2 mutant mice. While most studies addressed postsynaptic defects in the absence of MeCP2, we took advantage of an in vivo activity-paradigm (seizures), two models of MeCP2 deficiency, and neurobiological assays to reveal novel defects in presynaptic structural plasticity in the hippocampus in RTT rodent models. These approaches allowed us to determine that MeCP2 mutations alter presynaptic components, i.e., disrupts the plastic response of mossy fibers to synaptic activity and results in reduced axonal growth which is correlated with imbalanced trophic and guidance support, associated with aberrant expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and semaphorin 3F. Our results also revealed that adult-born granule cells recapitulate maturational defects that have been only shown at early postnatal ages. As these cells do not mature timely, they may not integrate properly into the adult hippocampal circuitry. Finally, we performed a hippocampal-dependent test that revealed defective spatial memory in these mice. Altogether, our studies establish a model that allows us to evaluate the effect of the manipulation of specific pathways involved in axonal guidance, synaptogenesis, or maturation in specific circuits and correlate it with changes in behavior. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the neuronal compromise caused by mutations in MeCP2 could provide information on the pathogenic mechanism of autistic spectrum disorders and improve our understanding of brain development and molecular basis of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Bertoldi
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Ines Zalosnik
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Carolina Fabio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martin Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Susan Aja
- Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - German A Roth
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gabriele V Ronnett
- Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alicia L Degano
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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32
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Sun Y, Gao Y, Tidei JJ, Shen M, Hoang JT, Wagner DF, Zhao X. Loss of MeCP2 in immature neurons leads to impaired network integration. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:245-257. [PMID: 30277526 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations or deletions in Methyl-CpG-binding Protein 2 (MeCP2), a brain-enriched transcriptional regulator. MeCP2 is highly expressed during neuronal maturation and its deficiency results in impaired dendritic morphogenesis and reduced dendritic spine numbers in developing neurons. However, whether MeCP2 deficiency impacts the integration of new neurons has not been directly assessed. In this study, we developed a modified rabies virus-mediated monosynaptic retrograde tracing method to interrogate presynaptic integration of MeCP2-deficient new neurons born in the adult hippocampus, a region with lifelong neurogenesis and plasticity. We found that selective deletion of MeCP2 in adult-born new neurons impaired their long-range connectivity to the cortex, whereas their connectivity within the local hippocampal circuits or with subcortical regions was not significantly affected. We further showed that knockdown of MeCP2 in primary hippocampal neurons also resulted in reduced network integration. Interestingly, (1-3) insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a small peptide under clinical trial testing for RTT, rescued neuronal integration deficits of MeCP2-deficient neurons in vitro but not in vivo. In addition, (1-3) IGF-1 treatment corrected aberrant excitability and network synchrony of MeCP2-deficient hippocampal neurons. Our results indicate that MeCP2 is essential for immature neurons to establish appropriate network connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sun
- National Key Research Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, PR China.,Waisman Center
| | - Yu Gao
- Waisman Center.,Department of Neuroscience
| | | | | | | | | | - Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center.,Department of Neuroscience.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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33
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Cosentino L, Vigli D, Franchi F, Laviola G, De Filippis B. Rett syndrome before regression: A time window of overlooked opportunities for diagnosis and intervention. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:115-135. [PMID: 31108160 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurological disorder primarily affecting females, causing severe cognitive, social, motor and physiological impairments for which no cure currently exists. RTT clinical diagnosis is based on the peculiar progression of the disease, since patients show an apparently normal initial development with a subsequent sudden regression at around 2 years of age. Accumulating evidences are rising doubts regarding the absence of early impairments, hence questioning the concept of regression. We reviewed the published literature addressing the pre-symptomatic stage of the disease in both patients and animal models with a particular focus on behavioral, physiological and brain abnormalities. The emerging picture delineates subtle, but reliable impairments that precede the onset of overt symptoms whose bases are likely set up already during embryogenesis. Some of the outlined alterations appear transient, suggesting compensatory mechanisms to occur in the course of development. There is urgent need for more systematic developmental analyses able to detect early pathological markers to be used as diagnostic tools and precocious targets of time-specific interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Cosentino
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Vigli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Franchi
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Laviola
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bianca De Filippis
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Lack of MeCP2 leads to region-specific increase of doublecortin in the olfactory system. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:1647-1658. [PMID: 30923887 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01860-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The protein doublecortin is mainly expressed in migrating neuroblasts and immature neurons. The X-linked gene MECP2, associated to several neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett syndrome, encodes the protein methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a regulatory protein that has been implicated in neuronal maturation and refinement of olfactory circuits. Here, we explored doublecortin immunoreactivity in the brain of young adult female Mecp2-heterozygous and male Mecp2-null mice and their wild-type littermates. The distribution of doublecortin-immunoreactive somata in neurogenic brain regions was consistent with previous reports in rodents, and no qualitative differences were found between genotypes or sexes. Quantitatively, we found a significant increase in doublecortin cell density in the piriform cortex of Mecp2-null males as compared to WT littermates. A similar increase was seen in a newly identified population of doublecortin cells in the olfactory tubercle. In these olfactory structures, however, the percentage of doublecortin immature neurons that also expressed NeuN was not different between genotypes. By contrast, we found no significant differences between genotypes in doublecortin immunoreactivity in the olfactory bulbs. Nonetheless, in the periglomerular layer of Mecp2-null males, we observed a specific decrease of immature neurons co-expressing doublecortin and NeuN. Overall, no differences were evident between Mecp2-heterozygous and WT females. In addition, no differences could be detected between genotypes in the density of doublecortin-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus or striatum of either males or females. Our results suggest that MeCP2 is involved in neuronal maturation in a region-dependent manner.
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Reduced mitochondrial fusion and Huntingtin levels contribute to impaired dendritic maturation and behavioral deficits in Fmr1-mutant mice. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:386-400. [PMID: 30742117 PMCID: PMC6556892 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0338-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome results from a loss of the RNA-binding protein fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). How FMRP regulates neuronal development and function remains unclear. Here we show that FMRP-deficient immature neurons exhibit impaired dendritic maturation, altered expression of mitochondrial genes, fragmented mitochondria, impaired mitochondrial function, and increased oxidative stress. Enhancing mitochondrial fusion partially rescued dendritic abnormalities in FMRP-deficient immature neurons. We show that FMRP deficiency leads to reduced Htt mRNA and protein levels and that HTT mediates FMRP regulation of mitochondrial fusion and dendritic maturation. Mice with hippocampal Htt knockdown and Fmr1-knockout mice showed similar behavioral deficits that could be rescued by treatment with a mitochondrial fusion compound. Our data unveil mitochondrial dysfunction as a contributor to the impaired dendritic maturation of FMRP-deficient neurons and suggest a role for interactions between FMRP and HTT in the pathogenesis of fragile X syndrome.
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36
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The role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in brain health and disease. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:67-87. [PMID: 29679070 PMCID: PMC6195869 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0036-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 385] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is highly regulated by a number of environmental and cell-intrinsic factors to adapt to environmental changes. Accumulating evidence suggests that adult-born neurons may play distinct physiological roles in hippocampus-dependent functions, such as memory encoding and mood regulation. In addition, several brain diseases, such as neurological diseases and mood disorders, have deleterious effects on adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and some symptoms of those diseases can be partially explained by the dysregulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Here we review a possible link between the physiological functions of adult-born neurons and their roles in pathological conditions.
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37
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Fares J, Bou Diab Z, Nabha S, Fares Y. Neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus: history, regulation, and prospective roles. Int J Neurosci 2018; 129:598-611. [PMID: 30433866 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2018.1545771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hippocampus is one of the sites in the mammalian brain that is capable of continuously generating controversy. Adult neurogenesis is a remarkable process, and yet an intensely debatable topic in contemporary neuroscience due to its distinctiveness and conceivable impact on neural activity. The belief that neurogenesis continues through adulthood has provoked remarkable efforts to describe how newborn neurons differentiate and incorporate into the adult brain. It has also encouraged studies that investigate the consequences of inadequate neurogenesis in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and explore the potential role of neural progenitor cells in brain repair. The adult nervous system is not static; it is subjected to morphological and physiological alterations at various levels. This plastic mechanism guarantees that the behavioral regulation of the adult nervous system is adaptable in response to varying environmental stimuli. Three regions of the adult brain, the olfactory bulb, the hypothalamus, and the hippocampal dentate gyrus, contain new-born neurons that exhibit an essential role in the natural functional circuitry of the adult brain. Purpose/Aim: This article explores current advancements in adult hippocampal neurogenesis by presenting its history and evolution and studying its association with neural plasticity. The article also discusses the prospective roles of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and describes the intracellular, extracellular, pathological, and environmental factors involved in its regulation. Abbreviations AHN Adult hippocampal neurogenesis AKT Protein kinase B BMP Bone Morphogenic Protein BrdU Bromodeoxyuridine CNS Central nervous system DG Dentate gyrus DISC1 Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 FGF-2 Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 GABA Gamma-aminobutyric acid Mbd1 Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 Mecp2 Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 mTOR Mammalian target of rapamycin NSCs Neural stem cells OB Olfactory bulb; P21: cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 RBPj Recombination Signal Binding protein for Immunoglobulin Kappa J Region RMS Rostral migratory Stream SGZ Subgranular zone Shh Sonic hedgehog SOX2 SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 SVZ Subventricular zone Wnt3 Wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jawad Fares
- a Neuroscience Research Center , Faculty of Medical Sciences , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon.,b Department of Neurological Surgery Feinberg School of Medicine , Northwestern University , Chicago , Illinois , USA
| | - Zeina Bou Diab
- a Neuroscience Research Center , Faculty of Medical Sciences , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon
| | - Sanaa Nabha
- a Neuroscience Research Center , Faculty of Medical Sciences , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon
| | - Youssef Fares
- a Neuroscience Research Center , Faculty of Medical Sciences , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon.,c Department of Neurosurgery Faculty of Medical Sciences , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon
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38
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Li Y, Shen M, Stockton ME, Zhao X. Hippocampal deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 165:106945. [PMID: 30321651 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders result from impaired development or maturation of the central nervous system. Both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders; however, the exact causes are frequently complex and unclear. Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders may have deficits with diverse manifestations, including challenges with sensory function, motor function, learning, memory, executive function, emotion, anxiety, and social ability. Although these functions are mediated by multiple brain regions, many of them are dependent on the hippocampus. Extensive research supports important roles of the mammalian hippocampus in learning and cognition. In addition, with its high levels of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and lifelong neurogenesis, the hippocampus is sensitive to experience and exposure and susceptible to disease and injury. In this review, we first summarize hippocampal deficits seen in several human neurodevelopmental disorders, and then discuss hippocampal impairment including hippocampus-dependent behavioral deficits found in animal models of these neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Minjie Shen
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Michael E Stockton
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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39
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40
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Navarro Quiroz E, Navarro Quiroz R, Ahmad M, Gomez Escorcia L, Villarreal JL, Fernandez Ponce C, Aroca Martinez G. Cell Signaling in Neuronal Stem Cells. Cells 2018; 7:E75. [PMID: 30011912 PMCID: PMC6070865 DOI: 10.3390/cells7070075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The defining characteristic of neural stem cells (NSCs) is their ability to multiply through symmetric divisions and proliferation, and differentiation by asymmetric divisions, thus giving rise to different types of cells of the central nervous system (CNS). A strict temporal space control of the NSC differentiation is necessary, because its alterations are associated with neurological dysfunctions and, in some cases, death. This work reviews the current state of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the transcription in NSCs, organized according to whether the origin of the stimulus that triggers the molecular cascade in the CNS is internal (intrinsic factors) or whether it is the result of the microenvironment that surrounds the CNS (extrinsic factors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elkin Navarro Quiroz
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
- School of Medicine, Universidad Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena 130001, Colombia.
| | - Roberto Navarro Quiroz
- Centro de Investigación en Salud para el Trópico, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Santa Marta 470002, Colombia.
| | - Mostapha Ahmad
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
| | - Lorena Gomez Escorcia
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
| | | | | | - Gustavo Aroca Martinez
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
- Clinica de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
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41
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Expression of miR-132 in Down syndrome subjects. Hum Cell 2018; 31:268-270. [PMID: 29736634 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-018-0209-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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42
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Zhong X, Li H, Kim J, Chang Q. Regulation of neural differentiation, synaptic scaling and animal behavior by MeCP2 phophorylation. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 165:106859. [PMID: 29698767 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Highly expressed in the mammalian brain and widely distributed across the genome, MeCP2 is a key player in recognizing modified DNA and interpreting the epigenetic information encoded in different DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation patterns. Alterations in sequence or copy number of the X-linked human MECP2 gene cause either Rett syndrome (RTT) or MECP2 duplication syndrome. Alterations in MECP2 levels have also been identified in patients with autism. To fully understand the significant role of MECP2 in regulating the development and function of the nervous system, it is important to study all aspects of MeCP2 function. Stimulus-induced MeCP2 phosphorylation has been shown to influence the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells, synaptic scaling, excitatory synaptogenesis, and animal behavior. However, all of the previous functional evidence is from studying phospho-dead mutations. In addition, the relationship between phosphorylation events at multiple sites on the MeCP2 protein is not well understood. Here, we report the generation of a phospho-mimic knockin Mecp2 mouse line. At the synaptic and behavioral levels, the phospho-mimic Mecp2 mice show phenotypes opposite to those observed in phospho-dead mutation at the same phosphorylation site. Moreover, we report opposite phenotypes between phospho-mutants of two sites on the MeCP2 protein. Our new data further confirm the functional significance of specific MeCP2 phosphorylation event and support the opposing regulatory role between different MeCP2 phosphorylation events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofen Zhong
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States; Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Hongda Li
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Jason Kim
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Qiang Chang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425-G Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1685 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
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43
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Muthusamy B, Selvan LDN, Nguyen TT, Manoj J, Stawiski EW, Jaiswal BS, Wang W, Raja R, Ramprasad VL, Gupta R, Murugan S, Kadandale JS, Prasad TSK, Reddy K, Peterson A, Pandey A, Seshagiri S, Girimaji SC, Gowda H. Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Novel Mutations in X-linked Intellectual Disability. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2018; 21:295-303. [PMID: 28481730 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2017.0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Robust diagnostics for many human genetic disorders are much needed in the pursuit of global personalized medicine. Next-generation sequencing now offers new promise for biomarker and diagnostic discovery, in developed as well as resource-limited countries. In this broader global health context, X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) is an inherited genetic disorder that is associated with a range of phenotypes impacting societies in both developed and developing countries. Although intellectual disability arises due to diverse causes, a substantial proportion is caused by genomic alterations. Studies have identified causal XLID genomic alterations in more than 100 protein-coding genes located on the X-chromosome. However, the causes for a substantial number of intellectual disability and associated phenotypes still remain unknown. Identification of causative genes and novel mutations will help in early diagnosis as well as genetic counseling of families. Advent of next-generation sequencing methods has accelerated the discovery of new genes involved in mental health disorders. In this study, we analyzed the exomes of three families from India with nonsyndromic XLID comprising seven affected individuals. The affected individuals had varying degrees of intellectual disability, microcephaly, and delayed motor and language milestones. We identified potential causal variants in three XLID genes, including PAK3 (V294M), CASK (complex structural variant), and MECP2 (P354T). Our findings reported in this study extend the spectrum of mutations and phenotypes associated with XLID, and calls for further studies of intellectual disability and mental health disorders with use of next-generation sequencing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babylakshmi Muthusamy
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , International Technology Park, Bangalore, India .,2 Centre for Bioinformatics, Pondicherry University , Puducherry, India
| | | | - Thong T Nguyen
- 3 Molecular Biology Department, Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California
| | - Jesna Manoj
- 4 Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NIMHANS , Bangalore, India
| | - Eric W Stawiski
- 3 Molecular Biology Department, Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California.,5 Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California
| | - Bijay S Jaiswal
- 3 Molecular Biology Department, Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California
| | - Weiru Wang
- 6 Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California
| | - Remya Raja
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , International Technology Park, Bangalore, India
| | | | | | | | | | - T S Keshava Prasad
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , International Technology Park, Bangalore, India .,9 YU-IOB Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya University , Mangalore, India .,10 NIMHANS-IOB Proteomics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences , Bangalore, India
| | - Kavita Reddy
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , International Technology Park, Bangalore, India
| | - Andrew Peterson
- 3 Molecular Biology Department, Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- 11 McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland.,12 Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland.,13 Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Somasekar Seshagiri
- 3 Molecular Biology Department, Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Harsha Gowda
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , International Technology Park, Bangalore, India .,9 YU-IOB Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya University , Mangalore, India
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44
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Stricker SH, Götz M. DNA-Methylation: Master or Slave of Neural Fate Decisions? Front Neurosci 2018; 12:5. [PMID: 29449798 PMCID: PMC5799221 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The pristine formation of complex organs depends on sharp temporal and spatial control of gene expression. Therefore, epigenetic mechanisms have been frequently attributed a central role in controlling cell fate determination. A prime example for this is the first discovered and still most studied epigenetic mark, DNA methylation, and the development of the most complex mammalian organ, the brain. Recently, the field of epigenetics has advanced significantly: new DNA modifications were discovered, epigenomic profiling became widely accessible, and methods for targeted epigenomic manipulation have been developed. Thus, it is time to challenge established models of epigenetic gene regulation. Here, we review the current state of knowledge about DNA modifications, their epigenomic distribution, and their regulatory role. We will summarize the evidence suggesting they possess crucial roles in neurogenesis and discuss whether this likely includes lineage choice regulation or rather effects on differentiation. Finally, we will attempt an outlook on how questions, which remain unresolved, could be answered soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H Stricker
- MCN Junior Research Group, Munich Center for Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, Germany.,Physiological Genomics, BioMedical Center, Munich, Germany.,German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, Germany and Biomedical Center, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Physiological Genomics, BioMedical Center, Munich, Germany.,German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, Germany and Biomedical Center, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, Germany.,German Excellence Cluster of Systems Neurology, Munich, Germany
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45
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Cobolli Gigli C, Scaramuzza L, De Simone M, Rossi RL, Pozzi D, Pagani M, Landsberger N, Bedogni F. Lack of Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) Affects Cell Fate Refinement During Embryonic Cortical Development. Cereb Cortex 2018; 28:1846-1856. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Clementina Cobolli Gigli
- San Raffaele Rett Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Scaramuzza
- San Raffaele Rett Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco De Simone
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare “Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi”, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo L Rossi
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare “Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi”, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Pozzi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas, 20089 Rozzano (MI) and Hunimed University, 20090 Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
| | - Massimiliano Pagani
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare “Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi”, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Landsberger
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20090 Segrate, Milan, Italy
- San Raffaele Rett Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bedogni
- San Raffaele Rett Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
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46
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Sun D, Sun XD, Zhao L, Lee DH, Hu JX, Tang FL, Pan JX, Mei L, Zhu XJ, Xiong WC. Neogenin, a regulator of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, prevents depressive-like behavior. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:8. [PMID: 29311593 PMCID: PMC5849041 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-017-0019-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) is a complex, but precisely controlled process. Dysregulation of this event contributes to multiple neurological disorders, including major depression. Thus, it is of considerable interest to investigate how adult hippocampal neurogenesis is regulated. Here, we present evidence for neogenin, a multifunctional transmembrane receptor, to regulate adult mouse hippocampal neurogenesis. Loss of neogenin in adult neural stem cells (NSCs) or neural progenitor cells (NPCs) impaired NSCs/NPCs proliferation and neurogenesis, whereas increased their astrocytic differentiation. Mechanistic studies revealed a role for neogenin to positively regulate Gli1, a crucial downstream transcriptional factor of sonic hedgehog, and expression of Gli1 into neogenin depleted NSCs/NPCs restores their proliferation. Further morphological and functional studies showed additional abnormities, including reduced dendritic branches and spines, and impaired glutamatergic neuro-transmission, in neogenin-depleted new-born DG neurons; and mice with depletion of neogenin in NSCs/NPCs exhibited depressive-like behavior. These results thus demonstrate unrecognized functions of neogenin in adult hippocampal NSCs/NPCs-promoting NSCs/NPCs proliferation and neurogenesis and preventing astrogliogenesis and depressive-like behavior, and suggest neogenin regulation of Gli1 signaling as a possible underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, 130024, China.,Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Xiang-Dong Sun
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Lu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, 130024, China.,Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Dae-Hoon Lee
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Jin-Xia Hu
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.,Department of Neurology, The affiliated hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, 221002, China
| | - Fu-Lei Tang
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Jin-Xiu Pan
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Lin Mei
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Xiao-Juan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, 130024, China.
| | - Wen-Cheng Xiong
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
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47
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Kathuria A, Nowosiad P, Jagasia R, Aigner S, Taylor RD, Andreae LC, Gatford NJF, Lucchesi W, Srivastava DP, Price J. Stem cell-derived neurons from autistic individuals with SHANK3 mutation show morphogenetic abnormalities during early development. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:735-746. [PMID: 28948968 PMCID: PMC5822449 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Shank3 is a structural protein found predominantly at the postsynaptic density. Mutations in the SHANK3 gene have been associated with risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from control individuals and from human donors with ASD carrying microdeletions of SHANK3. In addition, we used Zinc finger nucleases to generate isogenic SHANK3 knockout human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines. We differentiated pluripotent cells into either cortical or olfactory placodal neurons. We show that patient-derived placodal neurons make fewer synapses than control cells. Moreover, patient-derived cells display a developmental phenotype: young postmitotic neurons have smaller cell bodies, more extensively branched neurites, and reduced motility compared with controls. These phenotypes were mimicked by SHANK3-edited ES cells and rescued by transduction with a Shank3 expression construct. This developmental phenotype is not observed in the same iPSC lines differentiated into cortical neurons. Therefore, we suggest that SHANK3 has a critical role in neuronal morphogenesis in placodal neurons and that early defects are associated with ASD-associated mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kathuria
- Cells & Behavior Unit, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - P Nowosiad
- Cells & Behavior Unit, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - R Jagasia
- CNS Discovery/F-Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - S Aigner
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine School of Medicine University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - R D Taylor
- Developmental Neurobiology/New Hunt’s House Guy’s Campus, King’s College London, London, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - L C Andreae
- Developmental Neurobiology/New Hunt’s House Guy’s Campus, King’s College London, London, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - N J F Gatford
- Cells & Behavior Unit, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - W Lucchesi
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
| | - D P Srivastava
- Cells & Behavior Unit, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - J Price
- Cells & Behavior Unit, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK,Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Hertfordshire, UK,Cells & Behavior Unit, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK. E-mail:
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48
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Review: adult neurogenesis contributes to hippocampal plasticity. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 373:693-709. [PMID: 29185071 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2735-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is the process by which new functional neurons are added to the adult dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Animal studies have shown that the degree of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is regulated by local environmental cues as well as neural network activities. Furthermore, accumulating evidence has suggested that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays prominent roles in hippocampus-dependent brain functions. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis at various developmental stages and propose how adult-born neurons contribute to structural and functional hippocampal plasticity.
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49
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Jin XR, Chen XS, Xiao L. MeCP2 Deficiency in Neuroglia: New Progress in the Pathogenesis of Rett Syndrome. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:316. [PMID: 29046627 PMCID: PMC5632713 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disease predominantly caused by mutations of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene. Generally, RTT has been attributed to neuron-centric dysfunction. However, increasing evidence has shown that glial abnormalities are also involved in the pathogenesis of RTT. Mice that are MeCP2-null specifically in glial cells showed similar behavioral and/or neuronal abnormalities as those found in MeCP2-null mice, a mouse model of RTT. MeCP2 deficiency in astrocytes impacts the expression of glial intermediate filament proteins such as fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100 and induces neuron toxicity by disturbing glutamate metabolism or enhancing microtubule instability. MeCP2 deficiency in oligodendrocytes (OLs) results in down-regulation of myelin gene expression and impacts myelination. While MeCP2-deficient microglia cells fail in response to environmental stimuli, release excessive glutamate, and aggravate impairment of the neuronal circuit. In this review, we mainly focus on the progress in determining the role of MeCP2 in glial cells involved in RTT, which may provide further insight into a therapeutic intervention for RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Rui Jin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Collaborative Program for Brain Research, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.,The Cadet Brigade of Clinic Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xing-Shu Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Collaborative Program for Brain Research, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lan Xiao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Collaborative Program for Brain Research, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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50
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Varghese M, Keshav N, Jacot-Descombes S, Warda T, Wicinski B, Dickstein DL, Harony-Nicolas H, De Rubeis S, Drapeau E, Buxbaum JD, Hof PR. Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 134:537-566. [PMID: 28584888 PMCID: PMC5693718 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1736-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a major impact on the development and social integration of affected individuals and is the most heritable of psychiatric disorders. An increase in the incidence of ASD cases has prompted a surge in research efforts on the underlying neuropathologic processes. We present an overview of current findings in neuropathology studies of ASD using two investigational approaches, postmortem human brains and ASD animal models, and discuss the overlap, limitations, and significance of each. Postmortem examination of ASD brains has revealed global changes including disorganized gray and white matter, increased number of neurons, decreased volume of neuronal soma, and increased neuropil, the last reflecting changes in densities of dendritic spines, cerebral vasculature and glia. Both cortical and non-cortical areas show region-specific abnormalities in neuronal morphology and cytoarchitectural organization, with consistent findings reported from the prefrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, frontoinsular cortex, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum and brainstem. The paucity of postmortem human studies linking neuropathology to the underlying etiology has been partly addressed using animal models to explore the impact of genetic and non-genetic factors clinically relevant for the ASD phenotype. Genetically modified models include those based on well-studied monogenic ASD genes (NLGN3, NLGN4, NRXN1, CNTNAP2, SHANK3, MECP2, FMR1, TSC1/2), emerging risk genes (CHD8, SCN2A, SYNGAP1, ARID1B, GRIN2B, DSCAM, TBR1), and copy number variants (15q11-q13 deletion, 15q13.3 microdeletion, 15q11-13 duplication, 16p11.2 deletion and duplication, 22q11.2 deletion). Models of idiopathic ASD include inbred rodent strains that mimic ASD behaviors as well as models developed by environmental interventions such as prenatal exposure to sodium valproate, maternal autoantibodies, and maternal immune activation. In addition to replicating some of the neuropathologic features seen in postmortem studies, a common finding in several animal models of ASD is altered density of dendritic spines, with the direction of the change depending on the specific genetic modification, age and brain region. Overall, postmortem neuropathologic studies with larger sample sizes representative of the various ASD risk genes and diverse clinical phenotypes are warranted to clarify putative etiopathogenic pathways further and to promote the emergence of clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In addition, as genetic alterations may render certain individuals more vulnerable to developing the pathological changes at the synapse underlying the behavioral manifestations of ASD, neuropathologic investigation using genetically modified animal models will help to improve our understanding of the disease mechanisms and enhance the development of targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merina Varghese
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Neha Keshav
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Sarah Jacot-Descombes
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Children and Teenagers, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, CH-1205, Switzerland
| | - Tahia Warda
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Bridget Wicinski
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dara L Dickstein
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Elodie Drapeau
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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