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Gasperoni JG, Tran SC, Grommen SVH, De Groef B, Dworkin S. The Role of PLAG1 in Mouse Brain Development and Neurogenesis. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:5851-5867. [PMID: 38240991 PMCID: PMC11249490 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03943-w] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (Plag1) is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of growth and cellular proliferation. Here, we report the spatial distribution and functional implications of PLAG1 expression in the adult mouse brain. We identified Plag1 promoter-dependent β-galactosidase expression in various brain structures, including the hippocampus, cortex, choroid plexus, subcommisural organ, ependymal cells lining the third ventricle, medial and lateral habenulae and amygdala. We noted striking spatial-restriction of PLAG1 within the cornu ammonis (CA1) region of the hippocampus and layer-specific cortical expression, with abundant expression noted in all layers except layer 5. Furthermore, our study delved into the role of PLAG1 in neurodevelopment, focusing on its impact on neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation. Loss of Plag1 resulted in reduced proliferation and decreased production of neocortical progenitors in vivo, although ex vivo neurosphere experiments revealed no cell-intrinsic defects in the proliferative or neurogenic capacity of Plag1-deficient neural progenitors. Lastly, we explored potential target genes of PLAG1 in the cortex, identifying that Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) was significantly downregulated in Plag1-deficient mice. In summary, our study provides novel insights into the spatial distribution of PLAG1 expression in the adult mouse brain and its potential role in neurodevelopment. These findings expand our understanding of the functional significance of PLAG1 within the brain, with potential implications for neurodevelopmental disorders and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jemma G Gasperoni
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Stephanie C Tran
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Sylvia V H Grommen
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, B3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert De Groef
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, B3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastian Dworkin
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia.
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Beukeboom R, Benhaïm D. How to measure exploration: A combined estimation method. Behav Processes 2024; 216:104998. [PMID: 38336237 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.104998] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The personality axis 'exploration-avoidance' is often measured using an open field test (OFT) from which measurements such as mobility level (e.g. distance travelled) and space use (e.g. area covered) in an unknown environment are extracted. Recently developed tracking software surprisingly includes only a measure of mobility level in their output summary. Consequently, recent articles using these software programs started to ignore a measure of space use in their determination of exploration. In this short communication, we show briefly why it is important to not overlook a measure of space use, provide an easy way to calculate such a measure, with adjustable resolution, from the available position data provided by the software and a method to determine a proxy for exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanne Beukeboom
- University of Iceland, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University, Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.
| | - David Benhaïm
- Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University, Sauðárkrókur, Iceland
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3
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Jaehne EJ, Corrone M, van den Buuse M. Administering a Behavioral Test Battery in Rodents. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2746:87-100. [PMID: 38070082 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3585-8_7] [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] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Although animal models cannot broadly represent uniquely human psychiatric or psychological syndromes such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia, behavioral testing in rodents can be extremely helpful to investigate specific disease aspects and symptoms. Animal behavioral test batteries allow researchers to reveal specific behavioral changes in genetically modified mice or following targeted treatments or in response to environmental interventions. Examples of types of behaviors that can be combined in a test battery include anxiety-like behavior, learning and memory, depression-relevant behavior, social interaction, and locomotor hyperactivity. Here, we describe several commonly used and relatively simple behavioral tests which can be combined in the same cohort of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Jaehne
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Corrone
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Zhao W, Spiers JG, Vassileff N, Khadka A, Jaehne EJ, van den Buuse M, Hill AF. microRNA-146a modulates behavioural activity, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress in adult mice. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 124:103820. [PMID: 36736750 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Small non-coding miRNA act as key regulators of several physiological processes due to their ability to interact with numerous target mRNA within a network. Whilst several miRNA can act in concert to regulate target mRNA expression, miR-146a has emerged as a critical modulator of inflammation by targeting key upstream signalling proteins of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway and reductions in this miRNA have been observed in several neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. However, a targeted assessment of behaviour and neural tissues following the loss of miR-146a has not been documented. In this study, we examined the behavioural and neuroinflammatory phenotype of mice lacking miR-146a to determine the role of this miRNA in neurological function. Adult miR-146a-/- mice displayed no overt developmental phenotype with the exception of enlarged spleens. Behavioural testing revealed a mild but significant reduction in exploratory locomotor activity and increase in anxiety-like behaviour, with no changes in short-term spatial memory, fear conditioning, or sensorimotor gating. In the brain, the lack of miR-146a resulted in a significant compensatory miR-155 expression with no significant changes in expression of the target Interleukin 1 Receptor Associated Kinase (Irak) gene family. Despite these effects on upstream NF-κB mediators, downstream expression of cytokine and chemokine messengers was significantly elevated in miR-146a-/- mice compared to wild-type controls. Moreover, this increase in inflammatory cytokines was observed alongside an induction of oxidative stress, driven in part by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase, and included reduced thiol antioxidant concentrations and increased oxidised protein carbonyl concentrations. In female miR-146a mice, this increase in oxidative stress resulted in an increased expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Together, this suggests miR-146a plays a key role in regulating inflammation even in the absence of inflammatory stimuli and reduced levels of this miRNA have the capacity to induce limited behavioural effects whilst exacerbating both inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Jereme G Spiers
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Natasha Vassileff
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Arun Khadka
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Emily J Jaehne
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrew F Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia.
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RNA-seq identifies differentially expressed genes involved in csal1 overexpression in granulosa cells of prehierarchical follicles in Chinese Dagu hens. Poult Sci 2022; 102:102310. [PMID: 36442307 PMCID: PMC9706644 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor csal1 is an important molecule that plays a critical regulatory function in ovarian follicle development, as confirmed by our previous data. However, the candidate genes of csal1 and its regulatory mechanism remain poorly understood in the granulosa cells (GCs) of chicken prehierarchical follicles (PFs). Six transcriptomes of csal1 and empty vector were analyzed in Chinese Dagu hens by RNA sequencing. Six cDNA libraries were constructed, with more than 42 million clean reads and 16,779 unigenes. Of these 16,779 unigenes, 2,762 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in GCs, including 1,605 upregulated and 1,157 downregulated unigenes. Fourteen genes, including BMP5, TACR2, AMH, PLAG1, MYOD1, BOP1, SIPA1, NOTCH1, BCL2L1, SOX9, ADGRA2, WNT5A, SLC7A11, and GATAD2B, were related to GC proliferation and differentiation, hormone production, ovarian follicular development, regulation of reproductive processes, and signaling pathways in the PFs. Further analysis demonstrated the DEGs in GCs of ovarian follicles were enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cell adhesion molecules, and pathways related to cytochrome P450, indicating a critical function for csal1 in the generation of egg-laying features by controlling ovarian follicle development. For the first time, the current study represents the transcriptome analysis with ectopic csal1 expression. These findings provide significant evidence for investigating the molecular mechanism by which csal1 controls PF development in the hen ovary.
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Behavioral phenotyping of a rat model of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism reveals selective impairment of fear memory. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:93. [PMID: 35256586 PMCID: PMC8901920 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01858-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The common brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism is associated with reduced activity-dependent BDNF release and increased risk for anxiety disorders and PTSD. Here we behaviorally phenotyped a novel Val66Met rat model with an equivalent valine to methionine substitution in the rat Bdnf gene (Val68Met). In a three-day fear conditioning protocol of fear learning and extinction, adult rats with the Met/Met genotype demonstrated impaired fear memory compared to Val/Met rats and Val/Val controls, with no genotype differences in fear learning or extinction. This deficit in fear memory occurred irrespective of the sex of the animals and was not seen in adolescence (4 weeks of age). There were no changes in open-field locomotor activity or anxiety measured in the elevated plus maze (EPM) nor in other types of memory measured using the novel-object recognition test or Y-maze. BDNF exon VI expression in the dorsal hippocampus was higher and BDNF protein level in the ventral hippocampus was lower in female Val/Met rats than female Val/Val rats, with no other genotype differences, including in total BDNF, BDNF long, or BDNF IV mRNA. These data suggest a specific role for the BDNF Met/Met genotype in fear memory in rats. Further studies are required to investigate gene-environment interactions in this novel animal model.
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Chen R, Liu Y, Djekidel MN, Chen W, Bhattacherjee A, Chen Z, Scolnick E, Zhang Y. Cell type-specific mechanism of Setd1a heterozygosity in schizophrenia pathogenesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm1077. [PMID: 35245111 PMCID: PMC8896793 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm1077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic, serious mental disorder. Although more than 200 SCZ-associated genes have been identified, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we generated a Setd1a (SET domain containing 1A) haploinsufficiency mouse model to understand how this SCZ-associated epigenetic factor affects gene expression in brain regions highly relevant to SCZ. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that Setd1a heterozygosity causes highly variable transcriptional adaptations across different cell types in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum. The Foxp2+ neurons exhibit the most prominent gene expression changes among the different neuron subtypes in PFC, which correlate with changes in histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation. Many of the genes dysregulated in Setd1a+/- mice are involved in neuron morphogenesis and synaptic function. Consistently, Setd1a+/- mice exhibit certain behavioral features of patients with SCZ. Collectively, our study establishes Setd1a+/- mice as a model for understanding SCZ and uncovers a complex brain region- and cell type-specific dysregulation that potentially underlies SCZ pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renchao Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yiqiong Liu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mohamed N. Djekidel
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wenqiang Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aritra Bhattacherjee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ed Scolnick
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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