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Deng J, Labarta-Bajo L, Brandebura AN, Kahn SB, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Allen NJ. Suppression of astrocyte BMP signaling improves fragile X syndrome molecular signatures and functional deficits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.19.599752. [PMID: 38979341 PMCID: PMC11230279 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a monogenic neurodevelopmental disorder with manifestations spanning molecular, neuroanatomical, and behavioral changes. Astrocytes contribute to FXS pathogenesis and show hundreds of dysregulated genes and proteins; targeting upstream pathways mediating astrocyte changes in FXS could therefore be a point of intervention. To address this, we focused on the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway, which is upregulated in FXS astrocytes. We generated a conditional KO (cKO) of Smad4 in astrocytes to suppress BMP signaling, and found this lessens audiogenic seizure severity in FXS mice. To ask how this occurs on a molecular level, we performed in vivo transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of cortical astrocytes, finding upregulation of metabolic pathways, and downregulation of secretory machinery and secreted proteins in FXS astrocytes, with these alterations no longer present when BMP signaling is suppressed. Functionally, astrocyte Smad4 cKO restores deficits in inhibitory synapses present in FXS auditory cortex. Thus, astrocytes contribute to FXS molecular and functional phenotypes, and targeting astrocytes can mitigate FXS symptoms.
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Wadle SL, Ritter TC, Wadle TTX, Hirtz JJ. Topography and Ensemble Activity in the Auditory Cortex of a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0396-23.2024. [PMID: 38627066 PMCID: PMC11097631 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0396-23.2024] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with social communication impairments and specific sound processing deficits, for example, problems in following speech in noisy environments. To investigate underlying neuronal processing defects located in the auditory cortex (AC), we performed two-photon Ca2+ imaging in FMR1 (fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1) knock-out (KO) mice, a model for fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of hereditary ASD in humans. For primary AC (A1) and the anterior auditory field (AAF), topographic frequency representation was less ordered compared with control animals. We additionally analyzed ensemble AC activity in response to various sounds and found subfield-specific differences. In A1, ensemble correlations were lower in general, while in secondary AC (A2), correlations were higher in response to complex sounds, but not to pure tones. Furthermore, sound specificity of ensemble activity was decreased in AAF. Repeating these experiments 1 week later revealed no major differences regarding representational drift. Nevertheless, we found subfield- and genotype-specific changes in ensemble correlation values between the two times points, hinting at alterations in network stability in FMR1 KO mice. These detailed insights into AC network activity and topography in FMR1 KO mice add to the understanding of auditory processing defects in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon L Wadle
- Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern D-67663, Germany
| | - Tamara C Ritter
- Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern D-67663, Germany
| | - Tatjana T X Wadle
- Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern D-67663, Germany
| | - Jan J Hirtz
- Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern D-67663, Germany
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Rexrode LE, Hartley J, Showmaker KC, Challagundla L, Vandewege MW, Martin BE, Blair E, Bollavarapu R, Antonyraj RB, Hilton K, Gardiner A, Valeri J, Gisabella B, Garrett MR, Theoharides TC, Pantazopoulos H. Molecular profiling of the hippocampus of children with autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02441-8. [PMID: 38355786 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02441-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence point to a key role of the hippocampus in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Altered hippocampal volume and deficits in memory for person and emotion related stimuli have been reported, along with enhanced ability for declarative memories. Mouse models have demonstrated a critical role of the hippocampus in social memory dysfunction, associated with ASD, together with decreased synaptic plasticity. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), a family of extracellular matrix molecules, represent a potential key link between neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and immune system signaling. There is a lack of information regarding the molecular pathology of the hippocampus in ASD. We conducted RNAseq profiling on postmortem human brain samples containing the hippocampus from male children with ASD (n = 7) and normal male children (3-14 yrs old), (n = 6) from the NIH NeuroBioBank. Gene expression profiling analysis implicated molecular pathways involved in extracellular matrix organization, neurodevelopment, synaptic regulation, and immune system signaling. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to confirm several of the top markers identified. The CSPG protein BCAN was examined with multiplex immunofluorescence to analyze cell-type specific expression of BCAN and astrocyte morphology. We observed decreased expression of synaptic proteins PSD95 (p < 0.02) and SYN1 (p < 0.02), increased expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protease MMP9 (p < 0.03), and decreased expression of MEF2C (p < 0.03). We also observed increased BCAN expression with astrocytes in children with ASD, together with altered astrocyte morphology. Our results point to alterations in immune system signaling, glia cell differentiation, and synaptic signaling in the hippocampus of children with ASD, together with alterations in extracellular matrix molecules. Furthermore, our results demonstrate altered expression of genes implicated in genetic studies of ASD including SYN1 and MEF2C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay E Rexrode
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Joshua Hartley
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Lavanya Challagundla
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Brigitte E Martin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Estelle Blair
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Ratna Bollavarapu
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Rhenius B Antonyraj
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Keauna Hilton
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Alex Gardiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Jake Valeri
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Barbara Gisabella
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Michael R Garrett
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Theoharis C Theoharides
- Institute of Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harry Pantazopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA.
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Reis SL, Monteiro P. From synaptic dysfunction to atypical emotional processing in autism. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:269-282. [PMID: 38233224 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14801] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition mainly characterized by social impairments and repetitive behaviors. Among these core symptoms, a notable aspect of ASD is the presence of emotional complexities, including high rates of anxiety disorders. The inherent heterogeneity of ASD poses a unique challenge in understanding its etiological origins, yet the utilization of diverse animal models replicating ASD traits has enabled researchers to dissect the intricate relationship between autism and atypical emotional processing. In this review, we delve into the general findings about the neural circuits underpinning one of the most extensively researched and evolutionarily conserved emotional states: fear and anxiety. Additionally, we explore how distinct ASD animal models exhibit various anxiety phenotypes, making them a crucial tool for dissecting ASD's multifaceted nature. Overall, to a proper display of fear response, it is crucial to properly process and integrate sensorial and visceral cues to the fear-induced stimuli. ASD individuals exhibit altered sensory processing, possibly contributing to the emergence of atypical phobias, a prevailing anxiety disorder manifested in this population. Moreover, these individuals display distinctive alterations in a pivotal fear and anxiety processing hub, the amygdala. By examining the neurobiological mechanisms underlying fear and anxiety regulation, we can gain insights into the factors contributing to the distinctive emotional profile observed in individuals with ASD. Such insights hold the potential to pave the way for more targeted interventions and therapies that address the emotional challenges faced by individuals within the autism spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Reis
- Department of Biomedicine - Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Department of Biomedicine - Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal
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Almassri LS, Ohl AP, Iafrate MC, Wade AD, Tokar NJ, Mafi AM, Beebe NL, Young JW, Mellott JG. Age-related upregulation of perineuronal nets on inferior collicular cells that project to the cochlear nucleus. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1271008. [PMID: 38053844 PMCID: PMC10694216 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1271008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Disruptions to the balance of excitation and inhibition in the inferior colliculus (IC) occur during aging and underlie various aspects of hearing loss. Specifically, the age-related alteration to GABAergic neurotransmission in the IC likely contributes to the poorer temporal precision characteristic of presbycusis. Perineuronal nets (PNs), a specialized form of the extracellular matrix, maintain excitatory/inhibitory synaptic environments and reduce structural plasticity. We sought to determine whether PNs increasingly surround cell populations in the aged IC that comprise excitatory descending projections to the cochlear nucleus. Method We combined Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) staining for PNs with retrograde tract-tracing in three age groups of Fischer Brown Norway (FBN) rats. Results The data demonstrate that the percentage of IC-CN cells with a PN doubles from ~10% at young age to ~20% at old age. This was true in both lemniscal and non-lemniscal IC. Discussion Furthermore, the increase of PNs occurred on IC cells that make both ipsilateral and contralateral descending projections to the CN. These results indicate that reduced structural plasticity in the elderly IC-CN pathway, affecting excitatory/inhibitory balance and, potentially, may lead to reduced temporal precision associated with presbycusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila S. Almassri
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Andrew P. Ohl
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Milena C. Iafrate
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Aidan D. Wade
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Nick J. Tokar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Amir M. Mafi
- The Ohio State College of Medicine, The Ohio State, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Nichole L. Beebe
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Jesse W. Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Jeffrey G. Mellott
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
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Wadle SL, Schmitt TTX, Engel J, Kurt S, Hirtz JJ. Altered population activity and local tuning heterogeneity in auditory cortex of Cacna2d3-deficient mice. Biol Chem 2023; 404:607-617. [PMID: 36342370 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2022-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The α2δ3 auxiliary subunit of voltage-activated calcium channels is required for normal synaptic transmission and precise temporal processing of sounds in the auditory brainstem. In mice its loss additionally leads to an inability to distinguish amplitude-modulated tones. Furthermore, loss of function of α2δ3 has been associated with autism spectrum disorder in humans. To investigate possible alterations of network activity in the higher-order auditory system in α2δ3 knockout mice, we analyzed neuronal activity patterns and topography of frequency tuning within networks of the auditory cortex (AC) using two-photon Ca2+ imaging. Compared to wild-type mice we found distinct subfield-specific alterations in the primary auditory cortex, expressed in overall lower correlations between the network activity patterns in response to different sounds as well as lower reliability of these patterns upon repetitions of the same sound. Higher AC subfields did not display these alterations but showed a higher amount of well-tuned neurons along with lower local heterogeneity of the neurons' frequency tuning. Our results provide new insight into AC network activity alterations in an autism spectrum disorder-associated mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon L Wadle
- Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 13, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Tatjana T X Schmitt
- Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 13, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Jutta Engel
- Department of Biophysics, Saarland University, School of Medicine, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Simone Kurt
- Department of Biophysics, Saarland University, School of Medicine, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Jan J Hirtz
- Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 13, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
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7
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Liu L, Zhang Y, Men S, Li X, Hou ST, Ju J. Elimination of perineuronal nets in CA1 disrupts GABA release and long-term contextual fear memory retention. Hippocampus 2023. [PMID: 36709413 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) which mostly surround the parvalbumin (PV) neurons, have been shown to play critical roles in neural plasticity. Recently, PNNs have been shown to regulate fear-associated memory, but the molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we found that removal of PNNs in vivo using chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) injection resulted in reduced firing rate of PV neurons and decreased inhibitory synaptic transmission in both PV neurons and excitatory neurons in the CA1 hippocampus. Interestingly, altered synaptic transmission appears to be mediated by presynaptic changes. Furthermore, ChABC treatment disrupts long-term contextual fear memory retention. These results suggest PNNs might alter fear memory by reducing the presynaptic GABA release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yujie Zhang
- The Pediatric Neurology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Siqi Men
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuanyi Li
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sheng-Tao Hou
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Ju
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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8
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Tempio A, Boulksibat A, Bardoni B, Delhaye S. Fragile X Syndrome as an interneuronopathy: a lesson for future studies and treatments. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1171895. [PMID: 37188005 PMCID: PMC10176609 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1171895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability (ID) and a primary genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). FXS arises from the silencing of the FMR1 gene causing the lack of translation of its encoded protein, the Fragile X Messenger RibonucleoProtein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein involved in translational control and in RNA transport along dendrites. Although a large effort during the last 20 years has been made to investigate the cellular roles of FMRP, no effective and specific therapeutic intervention is available to treat FXS. Many studies revealed a role for FMRP in shaping sensory circuits during developmental critical periods to affect proper neurodevelopment. Dendritic spine stability, branching and density abnormalities are part of the developmental delay observed in various FXS brain areas. In particular, cortical neuronal networks in FXS are hyper-responsive and hyperexcitable, making these circuits highly synchronous. Overall, these data suggest that the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in FXS neuronal circuitry is altered. However, not much is known about how interneuron populations contribute to the unbalanced E/I ratio in FXS even if their abnormal functioning has an impact on the behavioral deficits of patients and animal models affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. We revise here the key literature concerning the role of interneurons in FXS not only with the purpose to better understand the pathophysiology of this disorder, but also to explore new possible therapeutic applications to treat FXS and other forms of ASD or ID. Indeed, for instance, the re-introduction of functional interneurons in the diseased brains has been proposed as a promising therapeutic approach for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Tempio
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
- Alessandra Tempio,
| | - Asma Boulksibat
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
| | - Barbara Bardoni
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
- Inserm, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
- *Correspondence: Barbara Bardoni,
| | - Sébastien Delhaye
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
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Lépine M, Douceau S, Devienne G, Prunotto P, Lenoir S, Regnauld C, Pouettre E, Piquet J, Lebouvier L, Hommet Y, Maubert E, Agin V, Lambolez B, Cauli B, Ali C, Vivien D. Parvalbumin interneuron-derived tissue-type plasminogen activator shapes perineuronal net structure. BMC Biol 2022; 20:218. [PMID: 36199089 PMCID: PMC9535866 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01419-8] [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: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized extracellular matrix structures mainly found around fast-spiking parvalbumin (FS-PV) interneurons. In the adult, their degradation alters FS-PV-driven functions, such as brain plasticity and memory, and altered PNN structures have been found in neurodevelopmental and central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, leading to interest in identifying targets able to modify or participate in PNN metabolism. The serine protease tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) plays multifaceted roles in brain pathophysiology. However, its cellular expression profile in the brain remains unclear and a possible role in matrix plasticity through PNN remodeling has never been investigated. Result By combining a GFP reporter approach, immunohistology, electrophysiology, and single-cell RT-PCR, we discovered that cortical FS-PV interneurons are a source of tPA in vivo. We found that mice specifically lacking tPA in FS-PV interneurons display denser PNNs in the somatosensory cortex, suggesting a role for tPA from FS-PV interneurons in PNN remodeling. In vitro analyses in primary cultures of mouse interneurons also showed that tPA converts plasminogen into active plasmin, which in turn, directly degrades aggrecan, a major structural chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) in PNNs. Conclusions We demonstrate that tPA released from FS-PV interneurons in the central nervous system reduces PNN density through CSPG degradation. The discovery of this tPA-dependent PNN remodeling opens interesting insights into the control of brain plasticity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01419-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Lépine
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Sara Douceau
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Gabrielle Devienne
- Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), Sorbonne Université UM119, CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Paul Prunotto
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Sophie Lenoir
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Caroline Regnauld
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Elsa Pouettre
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Juliette Piquet
- Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), Sorbonne Université UM119, CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Lebouvier
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Yannick Hommet
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Eric Maubert
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Véronique Agin
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Bertrand Lambolez
- Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), Sorbonne Université UM119, CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Cauli
- Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), Sorbonne Université UM119, CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Carine Ali
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen Normandie, Cyceron, Bd Becquerel, BP 5229-14074, 14000, Caen, France.
| | - Denis Vivien
- Department of clinical research, CHU de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
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10
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Castro AC, Monteiro P. Auditory Dysfunction in Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:845155. [PMID: 35493332 PMCID: PMC9043325 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.845155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder mainly characterized by social-communication impairments, repetitive behaviors and altered sensory perception. Auditory hypersensitivity is the most common sensory-perceptual abnormality in ASD, however, its underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain elusive. Consistently with reports in ASD patients, animal models for ASD present sensory-perception alterations, including auditory processing impairments. Here we review the current knowledge regarding auditory dysfunction in rodent models of ASD, exploring both shared and distinct features among them, mechanistic and molecular underpinnings, and potential therapeutic approaches. Overall, auditory dysfunction in ASD models seems to arise from impaired central processing. Depending on the model, impairments may arise at different steps along the auditory pathway, from auditory brainstem up to the auditory cortex. Common defects found across models encompass atypical tonotopicity in different regions of the auditory pathway, temporal and spectral processing impairments and histological differences. Imbalance between excitation and inhibition (E/I imbalance) is one of the most well-supported mechanisms explaining the auditory phenotype in the ASD models studied so far and seems to be linked to alterations in GABAergic signaling. Such E/I imbalance may have a large impact on the development of the auditory pathway, influencing the establishment of connections responsible for normal sound processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Patricia Monteiro,
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11
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Brandenburg C, Blatt GJ. Region-Specific Alterations of Perineuronal Net Expression in Postmortem Autism Brain Tissue. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:838918. [PMID: 35493330 PMCID: PMC9043328 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.838918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with mechanisms that broadly fall into the category of neuroplasticity. Parvalbumin positive neurons and their surrounding perineuronal nets (PNNs) are important factors in critical period plasticity and have both been implicated in ASD. PNNs are found in high density within output structures of the cerebellum and basal ganglia, two regions that are densely connected to many other brain areas and have the potential to participate in the diverse array of symptoms present in an ASD diagnosis. The dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP) were therefore assessed for differences in PNN expression in human postmortem ASD brain tissue. While Purkinje cell loss is a consistent neuropathological finding in ASD, in this cohort, the Purkinje cell targets within the DN did not show differences in number of cells with or without a PNN. However, the density of parvalbumin positive neurons with a PNN were significantly reduced in the GP internus and externus of ASD cases, which was not dependent on seizure status. It is unclear whether these alterations manifest during development or are a consequence of activity-dependent mechanisms that lead to altered network dynamics later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Brandenburg
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Cheryl Brandenburg,
| | - Gene J. Blatt
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
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12
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St. Pierre M, Rastogi N, Brown A, Parmar P, Lechner C, Fung C, Chavez-Valdez R. Intrauterine Growth Restriction Disrupts the Postnatal Critical Period of Synaptic Plasticity in the Mouse Dorsal Hippocampus in a Model of Hypertensive Disease of Pregnancy. Dev Neurosci 2022; 44:214-232. [PMID: 34933306 PMCID: PMC9209574 DOI: 10.1159/000521611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) from hypertensive disease of pregnancy complicates up to 10% of all pregnancies. Significant hippocampal-dependent cognitive and memory impairments as well as neuropsychiatric disorders have been linked to IUGR. Because disturbance of the hippocampal critical period (CPd) of synaptic plasticity leads to impairments similar to those described in IUGR human offspring, we hypothesized that IUGR would perturb the CPd of synaptic plasticity in the mouse hippocampus in our model. METHODS IUGR was produced by a micro-osmotic pump infusion of the potent vasoconstrictor U-46619, a thromboxane A2-agonist, at embryonic day 12.5 in C57BL/6J mouse dams to precipitate hypertensive disease of pregnancy and IUGR. Sham-operated mice acted as controls. At P10, P18, and P40, we assessed astrogliosis using GFAP-IHC. In dorsal CA1 and CA3 subfields, we assessed the immunoreactivities (IR) (IF-IHC) to (i) parvalbumin (PV) and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) 65/67, involved in CPd onset; (ii) PSA-NCAM that antagonizes CPd onset; (iii) NPTX2, necessary for excitatory synapse formation and engagement of CPd; and (iv) MBP and WFA, staining perineural nets (PNNs), marking CPd closure. ImageJ/Fiji and IMARIS were used for image processing and SPSS v24 for statistical analysis. RESULTS Although PV+ interneuron numbers and IR intensity were unchanged, development of GAD65/67+ synaptic boutons was accelerated at P18 IUGR mice and inversely correlated with decreased expression of PSA-NCAM in the CA of P18 IUGR mice at P18. NPTX2+ puncta and total volume were persistently decreased in the CA3 pyramidal and radiatum layers of IUGR mice from P18 to P40. At P40, axonal myelination (MBP+) in CA3 of IUGR mice was decreased and correlated with NPTX2 deficits. Lastly, the volume and integrity of the PNNs in the dorsal CA was disrupted in IUGR mice at P40. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION IUGR disrupts the molecular and structural initiation, consolidation, and closure of the CPd of synaptic plasticity in the mouse hippocampus in our model, which may explain the learning and memory deficits observed in juvenile IUGR mice and the cognitive disorders seen in human IUGR offspring. The mechanistic links warrant further investigation, to identify therapeutic targets to prevent neurodevelopmental deficits in patients affected by IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark St. Pierre
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Baltimore, MD
| | - Neetika Rastogi
- Department of Neurosciences, Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ashley Brown
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Pritika Parmar
- Department of Neurosciences, Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Baltimore, MD
| | - Charles Lechner
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Baltimore, MD
| | - Camille Fung
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Raul Chavez-Valdez
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Baltimore, MD,Corresponding author: Dr. Raul Chavez-Valdez. Associate Professor. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, CMSC 6-104, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Telephone: (410) 955-7156,
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13
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Rais M, Lovelace JW, Shuai XS, Woodard W, Bishay S, Estrada L, Sharma AR, Nguy A, Kulinich A, Pirbhoy PS, Palacios AR, Nelson DL, Razak KA, Ethell IM. Functional consequences of postnatal interventions in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 162:105577. [PMID: 34871737 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a leading genetic cause of autism and intellectual disability with cortical hyperexcitability and sensory hypersensitivity attributed to loss and hypofunction of inhibitory parvalbumin-expressing (PV) cells. Our studies provide novel insights into the role of excitatory neurons in abnormal development of PV cells during a postnatal period of inhibitory circuit refinement. METHODS To achieve Fragile X mental retardation gene (Fmr1) deletion and re-expression in excitatory neurons during the postnatal day (P)14-P21 period, we generated CreCaMKIIa/Fmr1Flox/y (cOFF) and CreCaMKIIa/Fmr1FloxNeo/y (cON) mice, respectively. Cortical phenotypes were evaluated in adult mice using biochemical, cellular, clinically relevant electroencephalogram (EEG) and behavioral tests. RESULTS We found that similar to global Fmr1 KO mice, the density of PV-expressing cells, their activation, and sound-evoked gamma synchronization were impaired in cOFF mice, but the phenotypes were improved in cON mice. cOFF mice also showed enhanced cortical gelatinase activity and baseline EEG gamma power, which were reduced in cON mice. In addition, TrkB phosphorylation and PV levels were lower in cOFF mice, which also showed increased locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviors. Remarkably, when FMRP levels were restored in only excitatory neurons during the P14-P21 period, TrkB phosphorylation and mouse behaviors were also improved. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that postnatal deletion or re-expression of FMRP in excitatory neurons is sufficient to elicit or ameliorate structural and functional cortical deficits, and abnormal behaviors in mice, informing future studies about appropriate treatment windows and providing fundamental insights into the cellular mechanisms of cortical circuit dysfunction in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maham Rais
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jonathan W Lovelace
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Xinghao S Shuai
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Walker Woodard
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Steven Bishay
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Leo Estrada
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Ashwin R Sharma
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Austin Nguy
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Anna Kulinich
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Patricia S Pirbhoy
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Arnold R Palacios
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | | | - Khaleel A Razak
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Iryna M Ethell
- Division of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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14
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Mafi AM, Russ MG, Hofer LN, Pham VQ, Young JW, Mellott JG. Inferior collicular cells that project to the auditory thalamus are increasingly surrounded by perineuronal nets with age. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 105:1-15. [PMID: 34004491 PMCID: PMC8338758 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The age-related loss of GABA in the inferior colliculus (IC) likely plays a role in the development of age-related hearing loss. Perineuronal nets (PNs), specialized aggregates of extracellular matrix, increase with age in the IC. PNs, associated with GABAergic neurotransmission, can stabilize synapses and inhibit structural plasticity. We sought to determine whether PN expression increased on GABAergic and non-GABAergic IC cells that project to the medial geniculate body (MG). We used retrograde tract-tracing in combination with immunohistochemistry for glutamic acid decarboxylase and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin across three age groups of Fischer Brown Norway rats. Results demonstrate that PNs increase with age on lemniscal and non-lemniscal IC-MG cells, however two key differences exist. First, PNs increased on non-lemniscal IC-MG cells during middle-age, but not until old age on lemniscal IC-MG cells. Second, increases of PNs on lemniscal IC-MG cells occurred on non-GABAergic cells rather than on GABAergic cells. These results suggest that synaptic stabilization and reduced plasticity likely occur at different ages on a subset of the IC-MG pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir M Mafi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH USA
| | - Matthew G Russ
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH USA
| | - Lindsay N Hofer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH USA
| | - Vincent Q Pham
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH USA
| | - Jesse W Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH USA
| | - Jeffrey G Mellott
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH USA.
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15
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Negwer M, Piera K, Hesen R, Lütje L, Aarts L, Schubert D, Nadif Kasri N. EHMT1 regulates Parvalbumin-positive interneuron development and GABAergic input in sensory cortical areas. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:2701-2716. [PMID: 32975655 PMCID: PMC7674571 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02149-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the Euchromatic Histone Methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene cause Kleefstra syndrome, a rare form of intellectual disability (ID) with strong autistic traits and sensory processing deficits. Proper development of inhibitory interneurons is crucial for sensory function. Here we report a timeline of Parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneuron development in the three most important sensory cortical areas in the Ehmt1+/- mouse. We find a hitherto unreported delay of PV+ neuron maturation early in sensory development, with layer- and region-specific variability later in development. The delayed PV+ maturation is also reflected in a delayed maturation of GABAergic transmission in Ehmt1+/- auditory cortex, where we find a reduced GABA release probability specifically in putative PV+ synapses. Together with earlier reports of excitatory impairments in Ehmt1+/- neurons, we propose a shift in excitatory-inhibitory balance towards overexcitability in Ehmt1+/- sensory cortices as a consequence of early deficits in inhibitory maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Negwer
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karol Piera
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rick Hesen
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lukas Lütje
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lynn Aarts
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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16
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Lateralized Expression of Cortical Perineuronal Nets during Maternal Experience is Dependent on MECP2. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0500-19.2020. [PMID: 32332080 PMCID: PMC7294466 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0500-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical neuronal circuits along the sensorimotor pathways are shaped by experience during critical periods of heightened plasticity in early postnatal development. After closure of critical periods, measured histologically by the formation and maintenance of extracellular matrix structures called perineuronal nets (PNNs), the adult mouse brain exhibits restricted plasticity and maturity. Mature PNNs are typically considered to be stable structures that restrict synaptic plasticity on cortical parvalbumin+ (PV+) GABAergic neurons. Changes in environment (i.e., novel behavioral training) or social contexts (i.e., motherhood) are known to elicit synaptic plasticity in relevant neural circuitry. However, little is known about concomitant changes in the PNNs surrounding the cortical PV+ GABAergic neurons. Here, we show novel changes in PNN density in the primary somatosensory cortex (SS1) of adult female mice after maternal experience [called surrogate (Sur)], using systematic microscopy analysis of a whole brain region. On average, PNNs were increased in the right barrel field and decreased in the left forelimb regions. Individual mice had left hemisphere dominance in PNN density. Using adult female mice deficient in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), an epigenetic regulator involved in regulating experience-dependent plasticity, we found that MECP2 is critical for this precise and dynamic expression of PNN. Adult naive Mecp2-heterozygous (Het) females had increased PNN density in specific subregions in both hemispheres before maternal experience, compared with wild-type (WT) littermate controls. The laterality in PNN expression seen in naive Het (NH) was lost after maternal experience in Sur Het (SH) mice, suggesting possible intact mechanisms for plasticity. Together, our results identify subregion and hemisphere-specific alterations in PNN expression in adult females, suggesting extracellular matrix plasticity as a possible neurobiological mechanism for adult behaviors in rodents.
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17
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Nguyen AO, Binder DK, Ethell IM, Razak KA. Abnormal development of auditory responses in the inferior colliculus of a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:2101-2121. [PMID: 32319849 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00706.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory processing abnormalities are frequently associated with autism spectrum disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we studied auditory processing in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading known genetic cause of autism and intellectual disability. Both humans with FXS and the Fragile X mental retardation gene (Fmr1) knockout (KO) mouse model show auditory hypersensitivity, with the latter showing a strong propensity for audiogenic seizures (AGS) early in development. Because midbrain abnormalities cause AGS, we investigated whether the inferior colliculus (IC) of the Fmr1 KO mice shows abnormal auditory processing compared with wild-type (WT) controls at specific developmental time points. Using antibodies against neural activity marker c-Fos, we found increased density of c-Fos+ neurons in the IC, but not auditory cortex, of Fmr1 KO mice at P21 and P34 following sound presentation. In vivo single-unit recordings showed that IC neurons of Fmr1 KO mice are hyperresponsive to tone bursts and amplitude-modulated tones during development and show broader frequency tuning curves. There were no differences in rate-level responses or phase locking to amplitude-modulated tones in IC neurons between genotypes. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the development of auditory hyperresponsiveness in the IC of Fmr1 KO mice. Although most human and mouse work in autism and sensory processing has centered on the forebrain, our new findings, along with recent work on the lower brainstem, suggest that abnormal subcortical responses may underlie auditory hypersensitivity in autism spectrum disorders.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are commonly associated with sensory sensitivity issues, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study presents novel evidence for neural correlates of auditory hypersensitivity in the developing inferior colliculus (IC) in Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse, a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading genetic cause of ASD. Responses begin to show genotype differences between postnatal days 14 and 21, suggesting an early developmental treatment window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna O Nguyen
- Bioengineering Program, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Devin K Binder
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, California.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Iryna M Ethell
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, California.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, California.,Psychology Department, University of California, Riverside, California
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18
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Armstrong JL, Casey AB, Saraf TS, Mukherjee M, Booth RG, Canal CE. ( S)-5-(2'-Fluorophenyl)- N, N-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-amine, a Serotonin Receptor Modulator, Possesses Anticonvulsant, Prosocial, and Anxiolytic-like Properties in an Fmr1 Knockout Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:509-523. [PMID: 32566916 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.9b00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disabilities and a plethora of neuropsychiatric symptoms. FXS is the leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is defined clinically by repetitive and/or restrictive patterns of behavior and social communication deficits. Epilepsy and anxiety are also common in FXS and ASD. Serotonergic neurons directly innervate and modulate the activity of neurobiological circuits altered in both disorders, providing a rationale for investigating serotonin receptors (5-HTRs) as targets for FXS and ASD drug discovery. Previously we unveiled an orally active aminotetralin, (S)-5-(2'-fluorophenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-amine (FPT), that exhibits partial agonist activity at 5-HT1ARs, 5-HT2CRs, and 5-HT7Rs and that reduces repetitive behaviors and increases social approach behavior in wild-type mice. Here we report that in an Fmr1 knockout mouse model of FXS and ASD, FPT is prophylactic for audiogenic seizures. No FPT-treated mice displayed audiogenic seizures, compared to 73% of vehicle-treated mice. FPT also exhibits anxiolytic-like effects in several assays and increases social interactions in both Fmr1 knockout and wild-type mice. Furthermore, FPT increases c-Fos expression in the basolateral amygdala, which is a preclinical effect produced by anxiolytic medications. Receptor pharmacology assays show that FPT binds competitively and possesses rapid association and dissociation kinetics at 5-HT1ARs and 5-HT7Rs, yet has slow association and rapid dissociation kinetics at 5-HT2CRs. Finally, we reassessed and report FPT's affinity and function at 5-HT1ARs, 5-HT2CRs, and 5-HT7Rs. Collectively, these observations provide mounting support for further development of FPT as a pharmacotherapy for common neuropsychiatric symptoms in FXS and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Armstrong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University Health Sciences Center, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Austen B Casey
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02131, United States
| | - Tanishka S Saraf
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University Health Sciences Center, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Munmun Mukherjee
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02131, United States
| | - Raymond G Booth
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02131, United States
| | - Clinton E Canal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University Health Sciences Center, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
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19
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Westmark PR, Gutierrez A, Gholston AK, Wilmer TM, Westmark CJ. Preclinical testing of the ketogenic diet in fragile X mice. Neurochem Int 2020; 134:104687. [PMID: 31958482 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The ketogenic diet is highly effective at attenuating seizures in refractory epilepsy, and accumulating evidence in the literature suggests that it may be beneficial in autism. To our knowledge, no one has studied the ketogenic diet in any fragile X syndrome (FXS) model. FXS is the leading known genetic cause of autism. Herein, we tested the effects of chronic ketogenic diet treatment on seizures, body weight, ketone and glucose levels, diurnal activity levels, learning and memory, and anxiety behaviors in Fmr1KO and littermate control mice as a function of age. The ketogenic diet selectively attenuates seizures in male but not female Fmr1KO mice and differentially affects weight gain and diurnal activity levels dependent on Fmr1 genotype, sex and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela R Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Alejandra Gutierrez
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Molecular Environmental Toxicology Center, Summer Research Opportunities Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Aaron K Gholston
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Molecular Environmental Toxicology Center, Summer Research Opportunities Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Taralyn M Wilmer
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Cara J Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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