1
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Cubillos P, Ditzer N, Kolodziejczyk A, Schwenk G, Hoffmann J, Schütze TM, Derihaci RP, Birdir C, Köllner JE, Petzold A, Sarov M, Martin U, Long KR, Wimberger P, Albert M. The growth factor EPIREGULIN promotes basal progenitor cell proliferation in the developing neocortex. EMBO J 2024; 43:1388-1419. [PMID: 38514807 PMCID: PMC11021537 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00068-7] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Neocortex expansion during evolution is linked to higher numbers of neurons, which are thought to result from increased proliferative capacity and neurogenic potential of basal progenitor cells during development. Here, we show that EREG, encoding the growth factor EPIREGULIN, is expressed in the human developing neocortex and in gorilla cerebral organoids, but not in the mouse neocortex. Addition of EPIREGULIN to the mouse neocortex increases proliferation of basal progenitor cells, whereas EREG ablation in human cortical organoids reduces proliferation in the subventricular zone. Treatment of cortical organoids with EPIREGULIN promotes a further increase in proliferation of gorilla but not of human basal progenitor cells. EPIREGULIN competes with the epidermal growth factor (EGF) to promote proliferation, and inhibition of the EGF receptor abrogates the EPIREGULIN-mediated increase in basal progenitor cells. Finally, we identify putative cis-regulatory elements that may contribute to the observed inter-species differences in EREG expression. Our findings suggest that species-specific regulation of EPIREGULIN expression may contribute to the increased neocortex size of primates by providing a tunable pro-proliferative signal to basal progenitor cells in the subventricular zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Cubillos
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nora Ditzer
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Annika Kolodziejczyk
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gustav Schwenk
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Janine Hoffmann
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Theresa M Schütze
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Razvan P Derihaci
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Cahit Birdir
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Center for feto/neonatal Health, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johannes Em Köllner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Petzold
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mihail Sarov
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulrich Martin
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs, Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH-Cluster of Excellence, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katherine R Long
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Pauline Wimberger
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mareike Albert
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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2
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Glunčić M, Vlahović I, Rosandić M, Paar V. Tandem NBPF 3mer HORs (Olduvai triplets) in Neanderthal and two novel HOR tandem arrays in human chromosome 1 T2T-CHM13 assembly. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14420. [PMID: 37660151 PMCID: PMC10475015 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41517-3] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
It is known that the ~ 1.6 kb Neuroblastoma BreakPoint Family (NBPF) repeats are human specific and contributing to cognitive capabilities, with increasing frequency in higher order repeat 3mer HORs (Olduvai triplets). From chimpanzee to modern human there is a discontinuous jump from 0 to ~ 50 tandemly organized 3mer HORs. Here we investigate the structure of NBPF 3mer HORs in the Neanderthal genome assembly of Pääbo et al., comparing it to the results obtained for human hg38.p14 chromosome 1. Our findings reveal corresponding NBPF 3mer HOR arrays in Neanderthals with slightly different monomer structures and numbers of HOR copies compared to humans. Additionally, we compute the NBPF 3mer HOR pattern for the complete telomere-to-telomere human genome assembly (T2T-CHM13) by Miga et al., identifying two novel tandem arrays of NBPF 3mer HOR repeats with 5 and 9 NBPF 3mer HOR copies. We hypothesize that these arrays correspond to novel NBPF genes (here referred to as NBPFA1 and NBPFA2). Further improving the quality of the Neanderthal genome using T2T-CHM13 as a reference would be of great interest in determining the presence of such distant novel NBPF genes in the Neanderthal genome and enhancing our understanding of human evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matko Glunčić
- Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Marija Rosandić
- University Hospital Centre Zagreb (Ret.), 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Paar
- Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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3
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Kaplow IM, Lawler AJ, Schäffer DE, Srinivasan C, Sestili HH, Wirthlin ME, Phan BN, Prasad K, Brown AR, Zhang X, Foley K, Genereux DP, Karlsson EK, Lindblad-Toh K, Meyer WK, Pfenning AR, Andrews G, Armstrong JC, Bianchi M, Birren BW, Bredemeyer KR, Breit AM, Christmas MJ, Clawson H, Damas J, Di Palma F, Diekhans M, Dong MX, Eizirik E, Fan K, Fanter C, Foley NM, Forsberg-Nilsson K, Garcia CJ, Gatesy J, Gazal S, Genereux DP, Goodman L, Grimshaw J, Halsey MK, Harris AJ, Hickey G, Hiller M, Hindle AG, Hubley RM, Hughes GM, Johnson J, Juan D, Kaplow IM, Karlsson EK, Keough KC, Kirilenko B, Koepfli KP, Korstian JM, Kowalczyk A, Kozyrev SV, Lawler AJ, Lawless C, Lehmann T, Levesque DL, Lewin HA, Li X, Lind A, Lindblad-Toh K, Mackay-Smith A, Marinescu VD, Marques-Bonet T, Mason VC, Meadows JRS, Meyer WK, Moore JE, Moreira LR, Moreno-Santillan DD, Morrill KM, Muntané G, Murphy WJ, Navarro A, Nweeia M, Ortmann S, Osmanski A, Paten B, Paulat NS, Pfenning AR, Phan BN, Pollard KS, Pratt HE, Ray DA, Reilly SK, Rosen JR, Ruf I, Ryan L, Ryder OA, Sabeti PC, Schäffer DE, Serres A, Shapiro B, Smit AFA, Springer M, Srinivasan C, Steiner C, Storer JM, Sullivan KAM, Sullivan PF, Sundström E, Supple MA, Swofford R, Talbot JE, Teeling E, Turner-Maier J, Valenzuela A, Wagner F, Wallerman O, Wang C, Wang J, Weng Z, Wilder AP, Wirthlin ME, Xue JR, Zhang X. Relating enhancer genetic variation across mammals to complex phenotypes using machine learning. Science 2023; 380:eabm7993. [PMID: 37104615 DOI: 10.1126/science.abm7993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Protein-coding differences between species often fail to explain phenotypic diversity, suggesting the involvement of genomic elements that regulate gene expression such as enhancers. Identifying associations between enhancers and phenotypes is challenging because enhancer activity can be tissue-dependent and functionally conserved despite low sequence conservation. We developed the Tissue-Aware Conservation Inference Toolkit (TACIT) to associate candidate enhancers with species' phenotypes using predictions from machine learning models trained on specific tissues. Applying TACIT to associate motor cortex and parvalbumin-positive interneuron enhancers with neurological phenotypes revealed dozens of enhancer-phenotype associations, including brain size-associated enhancers that interact with genes implicated in microcephaly or macrocephaly. TACIT provides a foundation for identifying enhancers associated with the evolution of any convergently evolved phenotype in any large group of species with aligned genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Kaplow
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alyssa J Lawler
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel E Schäffer
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Chaitanya Srinivasan
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Heather H Sestili
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Morgan E Wirthlin
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - BaDoi N Phan
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kavya Prasad
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ashley R Brown
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Xiaomeng Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kathleen Foley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Diane P Genereux
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Elinor K Karlsson
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wynn K Meyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Andreas R Pfenning
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Van Heurck R, Bonnefont J, Wojno M, Suzuki IK, Velez-Bravo FD, Erkol E, Nguyen DT, Herpoel A, Bilheu A, Beckers S, Ledent C, Vanderhaeghen P. CROCCP2 acts as a human-specific modifier of cilia dynamics and mTOR signaling to promote expansion of cortical progenitors. Neuron 2023; 111:65-80.e6. [PMID: 36334595 PMCID: PMC9831670 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The primary cilium is a central signaling component during embryonic development. Here we focus on CROCCP2, a hominid-specific gene duplicate from ciliary rootlet coiled coil (CROCC), also known as rootletin, that encodes the major component of the ciliary rootlet. We find that CROCCP2 is highly expressed in the human fetal brain and not in other primate species. CROCCP2 gain of function in the mouse embryonic cortex and human cortical cells and organoids results in decreased ciliogenesis and increased cortical progenitor amplification, particularly basal progenitors. CROCCP2 decreases ciliary dynamics by inhibition of the IFT20 ciliary trafficking protein, which then impacts neurogenesis through increased mTOR signaling. Loss of function of CROCCP2 in human cortical cells and organoids leads to increased ciliogenesis, decreased mTOR signaling, and impaired basal progenitor amplification. These data identify CROCCP2 as a human-specific modifier of cortical neurogenesis that acts through modulation of ciliary dynamics and mTOR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxane Van Heurck
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Bonnefont
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marta Wojno
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ikuo K. Suzuki
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fausto D. Velez-Bravo
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emir Erkol
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dan Truc Nguyen
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adèle Herpoel
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Angéline Bilheu
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sofie Beckers
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Catherine Ledent
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Vanderhaeghen
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium,Corresponding author
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5
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Glunčić M, Vlahović I, Rosandić M, Paar V. Tandemly repeated NBPF HOR copies (Olduvai triplets): Possible impact on human brain evolution. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 6:6/1/e202101306. [PMID: 36261226 PMCID: PMC9584774 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously it was found that the neuroblastoma breakpoint family (NBPF) gene repeat units of ∼1.6 kb have an important role in human brain evolution and function. The higher order organization of these repeat units has been discovered by both methods, the higher order repeat (HOR)-searching method and the HLS searching method. Using the HOR searching method with global repeat map algorithm, here we identified the tandemly organized NBPF HORs in the human and nonhuman primate NCBI reference genomes. We identified 50 tandemly organized canonical 3mer NBPF HOR copies (Olduvai triplets), but none in nonhuman primates chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, and Rhesus macaque. This discontinuous jump in tandemly organized HOR copy number is in sharp contrast to the known gradual increase in the number of Olduvai domains (NBPF monomers) from nonhuman primates to human, especially from ∼138 in chimpanzee to ∼300 in human genome. Using the same global repeat map algorithm method we have also determined the 3mer tandems of canonical 3mer HOR copies in 20 randomly chosen human genomes (10 male and 10 female). In all cases, we found the same 3mer HOR copy numbers as in the case of the reference human genome, with no mutation. On the other hand, some point mutations with respect to reference genome are found for some NBPF monomers which are not tandemly organized in canonical HORs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matko Glunčić
- Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Marija Rosandić
- University Hospital Centre Zagreb (ret), Zagreb, Croatia,Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Paar
- Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia,Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia
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6
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Nine Levels of Explanation : A Proposed Expansion of Tinbergen's Four-Level Framework for Understanding the Causes of Behavior. HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2021; 32:748-793. [PMID: 34739657 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-021-09414-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Tinbergen's classic "On Aims and Methods of Ethology" (Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie, 20, 1963) proposed four levels of explanation of behavior, which he thought would soon apply to humans. This paper discusses the need for multilevel explanation; Huxley and Mayr's prior models, and others that followed; Tinbergen's differences with Lorenz on "the innate"; and Mayr's ultimate/proximate distinction. It synthesizes these approaches with nine levels of explanation in three categories: phylogeny, natural selection, and genomics (ultimate causes); maturation, sensitive period effects, and routine environmental effects (intermediate causes); and hormonal/metabolic processes, neural circuitry, and eliciting stimuli (proximate causes), as a respectful extension of Tinbergen's levels. The proposed classification supports and builds on Tinbergen's multilevel model and Mayr's ultimate/proximate continuum, adding intermediate causes in accord with Tinbergen's emphasis on ontogeny. It requires no modification of Standard Evolutionary Theory or The Modern Synthesis, but shows that much that critics claim was missing was in fact part of Neo-Darwinian theory (so named by J. Mark Baldwin in The American Naturalist in 1896) all along, notably reciprocal causation in ontogeny, niche construction, cultural evolution, and multilevel selection. Updates of classical examples in ethology are offered at each of the nine levels, including the neuroethological and genomic findings Tinbergen foresaw. Finally, human examples are supplied at each level, fulfilling his hope of human applications as part of the biology of behavior. This broad ethological framework empowers us to explain human behavior-eventually completely-and vindicates the idea of human nature, and of humans as a part of nature.
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7
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Tilot AK, Khramtsova EA, Liang D, Grasby KL, Jahanshad N, Painter J, Colodro-Conde L, Bralten J, Hibar DP, Lind PA, Liu S, Brotman SM, Thompson PM, Medland SE, Macciardi F, Stranger BE, Davis LK, Fisher SE, Stein JL. The Evolutionary History of Common Genetic Variants Influencing Human Cortical Surface Area. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:1873-1887. [PMID: 33290510 PMCID: PMC7945014 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural brain changes along the lineage leading to modern Homo sapiens contributed to our distinctive cognitive and social abilities. However, the evolutionarily relevant molecular variants impacting key aspects of neuroanatomy are largely unknown. Here, we integrate evolutionary annotations of the genome at diverse timescales with common variant associations from large-scale neuroimaging genetic screens. We find that alleles with evidence of recent positive polygenic selection over the past 2000-3000 years are associated with increased surface area (SA) of the entire cortex, as well as specific regions, including those involved in spoken language and visual processing. Therefore, polygenic selective pressures impact the structure of specific cortical areas even over relatively recent timescales. Moreover, common sequence variation within human gained enhancers active in the prenatal cortex is associated with postnatal global SA. We show that such variation modulates the function of a regulatory element of the developmentally relevant transcription factor HEY2 in human neural progenitor cells and is associated with structural changes in the inferior frontal cortex. These results indicate that non-coding genomic regions active during prenatal cortical development are involved in the evolution of human brain structure and identify novel regulatory elements and genes impacting modern human brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Tilot
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6500 AH, Netherlands
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, USA
| | - Ekaterina A Khramtsova
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine & Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Computational Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Dan Liang
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Katrina L Grasby
- Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Neda Jahanshad
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, USA
| | - Jodie Painter
- Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Lucía Colodro-Conde
- Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Janita Bralten
- Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 XZ Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Penelope A Lind
- Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Siyao Liu
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sarah M Brotman
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, USA
| | - Sarah E Medland
- Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Fabio Macciardi
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Barbara E Stranger
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine & Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lea K Davis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Simon E Fisher
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6500 AH, Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, Netherlands
| | - Jason L Stein
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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8
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Mora-Bermúdez F, Taverna E, Huttner WB. From stem and progenitor cells to neurons in the developing neocortex: key differences among hominids. FEBS J 2021; 289:1524-1535. [PMID: 33638923 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Comparing the biology of humans to that of other primates, and notably other hominids, is a useful path to learn more about what makes us human. Some of the most interesting differences among hominids are closely related to brain development and function, for example behaviour and cognition. This makes it particularly interesting to compare the hominid neural cells of the neocortex, a part of the brain that plays central roles in those processes. However, well-preserved tissue from great apes is usually extremely difficult to obtain. A variety of new alternative tools, for example brain organoids, are now beginning to make it possible to search for such differences and analyse their potential biological and biomedical meaning. Here, we present an overview of recent findings from comparisons of the neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) and neurons of hominids. In addition to differences in proliferation and differentiation of NSPCs, and maturation of neurons, we highlight that the regulation of the timing of these processes is emerging as a general foundational difference in the development of the neocortex of hominids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Mora-Bermúdez
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elena Taverna
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
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9
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di Porzio U. A bigger brain for a more complex environment. Rev Neurosci 2020; 31:/j/revneuro.ahead-of-print/revneuro-2020-0041/revneuro-2020-0041.xml. [PMID: 32924383 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0041] [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: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The environment increased complexity required more neural functions to develop in the hominin brains, and the hominins adapted to the complexity by developing a bigger brain with a greater interconnection between its parts. Thus, complex environments drove the growth of the brain. In about two million years during hominin evolution, the brain increased three folds in size, one of the largest and most complex amongst mammals, relative to body size. The size increase has led to anatomical reorganization and complex neuronal interactions in a relatively small skull. At birth, the human brain is only about 20% of its adult size. That facilitates the passage through the birth canal. Therefore, the human brain, especially cortex, develops postnatally in a rich stimulating environment with continuous brain wiring and rewiring and insertion of billions of new neurons. One of the consequence is that in the newborn brain, neuroplasticity is always turned "on" and it remains active throughout life, which gave humans the ability to adapt to complex and often hostile environments, integrate external experiences, solve problems, elaborate abstract ideas and innovative technologies, store a lot of information. Besides, hominins acquired unique abilities as music, language, and intense social cooperation. Overwhelming ecological, social, and cultural challenges have made the human brain so unique. From these events, as well as the molecular genetic changes that took place in those million years, under the pressure of natural selection, derive the distinctive cognitive abilities that have led us to complex social organizations and made our species successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto di Porzio
- Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80128 Naples, Italy
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10
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Modeling of early neural development in vitro by direct neurosphere formation culture of chimpanzee induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Res 2020; 44:101749. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.101749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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11
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Güven A, Kalebic N, Long KR, Florio M, Vaid S, Brandl H, Stenzel D, Huttner WB. Extracellular matrix-inducing Sox9 promotes both basal progenitor proliferation and gliogenesis in developing neocortex. eLife 2020; 9:49808. [PMID: 32191207 PMCID: PMC7105383 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neocortex expansion is largely based on the proliferative capacity of basal progenitors (BPs), which is increased by extracellular matrix (ECM) components via integrin signaling. Here we show that the transcription factor Sox9 drives expression of ECM components and that laminin 211 increases BP proliferation in embryonic mouse neocortex. We show that Sox9 is expressed in human and ferret BPs and is required for BP proliferation in embryonic ferret neocortex. Conditional Sox9 expression in the mouse BP lineage, where it normally is not expressed, increases BP proliferation, reduces Tbr2 levels and induces Olig2 expression, indicative of premature gliogenesis. Conditional Sox9 expression also results in cell-non-autonomous stimulation of BP proliferation followed by increased upper-layer neuron production. Our findings demonstrate that Sox9 exerts concerted effects on transcription, BP proliferation, neuron production, and neurogenic vs. gliogenic BP cell fate, suggesting that Sox9 may have contributed to promote neocortical expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Güven
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nereo Kalebic
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Katherine R Long
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marta Florio
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Samir Vaid
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Holger Brandl
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Denise Stenzel
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
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12
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Burton JA, Valero MD, Hackett TA, Ramachandran R. The use of nonhuman primates in studies of noise injury and treatment. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 146:3770. [PMID: 31795680 PMCID: PMC6881191 DOI: 10.1121/1.5132709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to prolonged or high intensity noise increases the risk for permanent hearing impairment. Over several decades, researchers characterized the nature of harmful noise exposures and worked to establish guidelines for effective protection. Recent laboratory studies, primarily conducted in rodent models, indicate that the auditory system may be more vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) than previously thought, driving renewed inquiries into the harmful effects of noise in humans. To bridge the translational gaps between rodents and humans, nonhuman primates (NHPs) may serve as key animal models. The phylogenetic proximity of NHPs to humans underlies tremendous similarity in many features of the auditory system (genomic, anatomical, physiological, behavioral), all of which are important considerations in the assessment and treatment of NIHL. This review summarizes the literature pertaining to NHPs as models of hearing and noise-induced hearing loss, discusses factors relevant to the translation of diagnostics and therapeutics from animals to humans, and concludes with some of the practical considerations involved in conducting NHP research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane A Burton
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, USA
| | - Michelle D Valero
- Eaton Peabody Laboratories at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Troy A Hackett
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
| | - Ramnarayan Ramachandran
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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13
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Abstract
The dramatic evolutionary expansion of the neocortex, together with a proliferation of specialized cortical areas, is believed to underlie the emergence of human cognitive abilities. In a broader phylogenetic context, however, neocortex evolution in mammals, including humans, is remarkably conservative, characterized largely by size variations on a shared six-layered neuronal architecture. By contrast, the telencephalon in non-mammalian vertebrates, including reptiles, amphibians, bony and cartilaginous fishes, and cyclostomes, features a great variety of very different tissue structures. Our understanding of the evolutionary relationships of these telencephalic structures, especially those of basally branching vertebrates and invertebrate chordates, remains fragmentary and is impeded by conceptual obstacles. To make sense of highly divergent anatomies requires a hierarchical view of biological organization, one that permits the recognition of homologies at multiple levels beyond neuroanatomical structure. Here we review the origin and diversification of the telencephalon with a focus on key evolutionary innovations shaping the neocortex at multiple levels of organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Briscoe
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Clifton W Ragsdale
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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14
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Miller IF, Barton RA, Nunn CL. Quantitative uniqueness of human brain evolution revealed through phylogenetic comparative analysis. eLife 2019; 8:e41250. [PMID: 30702428 PMCID: PMC6379089 DOI: 10.7554/elife.41250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
While the human brain is clearly large relative to body size, less is known about the timing of brain and brain component expansion within primates and the relative magnitude of volumetric increases. Using Bayesian phylogenetic comparative methods and data for both extant and fossil species, we identified that a distinct shift in brain-body scaling occurred as hominins diverged from other primates, and again as humans and Neanderthals diverged from other hominins. Within hominins, we detected a pattern of directional and accelerating evolution towards larger brains, consistent with a positive feedback process in the evolution of the human brain. Contrary to widespread assumptions, we found that the human neocortex is not exceptionally large relative to other brain structures. Instead, our analyses revealed a single increase in relative neocortex volume at the origin of haplorrhines, and an increase in relative cerebellar volume in apes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian F Miller
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
- Department of Evolutionary AnthropologyDuke UniversityDurhamUnited States
| | - Robert A Barton
- Evolutionary Anthropology Research Group, Department of AnthropologyUniversity of DurhamDurhamUnited Kingdom
| | - Charles L Nunn
- Department of Evolutionary AnthropologyDuke UniversityDurhamUnited States
- Duke Global Health InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamUnited States
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15
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Zhao X, Bhattacharyya A. Human Models Are Needed for Studying Human Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:829-857. [PMID: 30526865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of animal models of neurological disease has been instrumental in furthering our understanding of neurodevelopment and brain diseases. However, animal models are limited in revealing some of the most fundamental aspects of development, genetics, pathology, and disease mechanisms that are unique to humans. These shortcomings are exaggerated in disorders that affect the brain, where the most significant differences between humans and animal models exist, and could underscore failures in targeted therapeutic interventions in affected individuals. Human pluripotent stem cells have emerged as a much-needed model system for investigating human-specific biology and disease mechanisms. However, questions remain regarding whether these cell-culture-based models are sufficient or even necessary. In this review, we summarize human-specific features of neurodevelopment and the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, present discrepancies between animal models and human diseases, demonstrate how human stem cell models can provide meaningful information, and discuss the challenges that exist in our pursuit to understand distinctively human aspects of neurodevelopment and brain disease. This information argues for a more thoughtful approach to disease modeling through consideration of the valuable features and limitations of each model system, be they human or animal, to mimic disease characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, 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.
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA.
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16
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Vaid S, Camp JG, Hersemann L, Eugster Oegema C, Heninger AK, Winkler S, Brandl H, Sarov M, Treutlein B, Huttner WB, Namba T. A novel population of Hopx-dependent basal radial glial cells in the developing mouse neocortex. Development 2018; 145:dev.169276. [PMID: 30266827 DOI: 10.1242/dev.169276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A specific subpopulation of neural progenitor cells, the basal radial glial cells (bRGCs) of the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ), are thought to have a key role in the evolutionary expansion of the mammalian neocortex. In the developing lissencephalic mouse neocortex, bRGCs exist at low abundance and show significant molecular differences from bRGCs in developing gyrencephalic species. Here, we demonstrate that the developing mouse medial neocortex (medNcx), in contrast to the canonically studied lateral neocortex (latNcx), exhibits an OSVZ and an abundance of bRGCs similar to that in developing gyrencephalic neocortex. Unlike bRGCs in developing mouse latNcx, the bRGCs in medNcx exhibit human bRGC-like gene expression, including expression of Hopx, a human bRGC marker. Disruption of Hopx expression in mouse embryonic medNcx and forced Hopx expression in mouse embryonic latNcx demonstrate that Hopx is required and sufficient, respectively, for bRGC abundance as found in the developing gyrencephalic neocortex. Taken together, our data identify a novel bRGC subpopulation in developing mouse medNcx that is highly related to bRGCs of developing gyrencephalic neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Vaid
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - J Gray Camp
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lena Hersemann
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Christina Eugster Oegema
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anne-Kristin Heninger
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sylke Winkler
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Holger Brandl
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mihail Sarov
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Barbara Treutlein
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Takashi Namba
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
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17
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Brain organoids as models to study human neocortex development and evolution. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2018; 55:8-16. [PMID: 30006054 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Since their recent development, organoids that emulate human brain tissue have allowed in vitro neural development studies to go beyond the limits of monolayer culture systems, such as neural rosettes. We present here a review of organoid studies that focuses on cortical wall development, starting with a technical comparison between pre-patterning and self-patterning brain organoid protocols. We then follow neocortex development in space and time and list those aspects where organoids have succeeded in emulating in vivo development, as well as those aspects that continue to be pending tasks. Finally, we present a summary of medical and evolutionary insight made possible by organoid technology.
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18
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Florio M, Heide M, Pinson A, Brandl H, Albert M, Winkler S, Wimberger P, Huttner WB, Hiller M. Evolution and cell-type specificity of human-specific genes preferentially expressed in progenitors of fetal neocortex. eLife 2018; 7:32332. [PMID: 29561261 PMCID: PMC5898914 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the molecular basis that underlies the expansion of the neocortex during primate, and notably human, evolution requires the identification of genes that are particularly active in the neural stem and progenitor cells of the developing neocortex. Here, we have used existing transcriptome datasets to carry out a comprehensive screen for protein-coding genes preferentially expressed in progenitors of fetal human neocortex. We show that 15 human-specific genes exhibit such expression, and many of them evolved distinct neural progenitor cell-type expression profiles and levels compared to their ancestral paralogs. Functional studies on one such gene, NOTCH2NL, demonstrate its ability to promote basal progenitor proliferation in mice. An additional 35 human genes with progenitor-enriched expression are shown to have orthologs only in primates. Our study provides a resource of genes that are promising candidates to exert specific, and novel, roles in neocortical development during primate, and notably human, evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Florio
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Heide
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anneline Pinson
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Holger Brandl
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mareike Albert
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sylke Winkler
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pauline Wimberger
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Hiller
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
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Interlaminar Glia and Other Glial Themes Revisited: Pending Answers Following Three Decades of Glial Research. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/neuroglia1010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This review aims to highlight the various significant matters in glial research stemming from personal work by the author and associates at the Unit of Applied Neurobiology (UNA, CEMIC-CONICET), and some of the pending questions. A reassessment and further comments on interlaminar astrocytes—an astroglial cell type that is specific to humans and other non-human primates, and is not found in rodents, is presented. Tentative hypothesis regarding their function and future possible research lines that could contribute to further the analysis of their development and possible role(s), are suggested. The possibility that they function as a separate entity from the “territorial” astrocytes, is also considered. In addition, the potential significance of our observations on interspecies differences in in vitro glial cell dye coupling, on glial diffusible factors affecting the induction of this glial phenotype, and on their interference with the cellular toxic effects of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from l-DOPA treated patients with Parkinson´s disease, is also considered. The major differences oberved in the cerebral cortex glial layout between human and rodents—the main model for studying glial function and pathology—calls for a careful assessment of known and potential species differences in all aspects of glial cell biology. This is essential to provide a better understanding of the organization and function of human and non-human primate brain, and of the neurobiological basis of their behavior.
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