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Iwase SC, Osawe S, Happel AU, Gray CM, Holmes SP, Blackburn JM, Abimiku A, Jaspan HB. Longitudinal gut microbiota composition of South African and Nigerian infants in relation to tetanus vaccine responses. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0319023. [PMID: 38230936 PMCID: PMC10846250 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03190-23] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Infants who are exposed to HIV but uninfected (iHEU) have higher risk of infectious morbidity than infants who are HIV-unexposed and uninfected (iHUU), possibly due to altered immunity. As infant gut microbiota may influence immune development, we evaluated the effects of HIV exposure on infant gut microbiota and its association with tetanus toxoid vaccine responses. We evaluated the gut microbiota of 82 South African (61 iHEU and 21 iHUU) and 196 Nigerian (141 iHEU and 55 iHUU) infants at <1 and 15 weeks of life by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Anti-tetanus antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at matched time points. Gut microbiota in the 278 included infants and its succession were more strongly influenced by geographical location and age than by HIV exposure. Microbiota of Nigerian infants, who were exclusively breastfed, drastically changed over 15 weeks, becoming dominated by Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis. This change was not observed among South African infants, even when limiting the analysis to exclusively breastfed infants. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression suggested that HIV exposure and gut microbiota were independently associated with tetanus titers at week 15, and that high passively transferred antibody levels, as seen in the Nigerian cohort, may mitigate these effects. In conclusion, in two African cohorts, HIV exposure minimally altered the infant gut microbiota compared to age and setting, but both specific gut microbes and HIV exposure independently predicted humoral tetanus vaccine responses.IMPORTANCEGut microbiota plays an essential role in immune system development. Since infants HIV-exposed and uninfected (iHEU) are more vulnerable to infectious diseases than unexposed infants, we explored the impact of HIV exposure on gut microbiota and its association with vaccine responses. This study was conducted in two African countries with rapidly increasing numbers of iHEU. Infant HIV exposure did not substantially affect gut microbial succession, but geographic location had a strong effect. However, both the relative abundance of specific gut microbes and HIV exposure were independently associated with tetanus titers, which were also influenced by baseline tetanus titers (maternal transfer). Our findings provide insight into the effect of HIV exposure, passive maternal antibody, and gut microbiota on infant humoral vaccine responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saori C. Iwase
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sophia Osawe
- Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Anna-Ursula Happel
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Clive M. Gray
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Biomedical Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Susan P. Holmes
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Blackburn
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Alash'le Abimiku
- Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Heather B. Jaspan
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Lipinski M, Niñerola S, Fuentes-Ramos M, Valor LM, Del Blanco B, López-Atalaya JP, Barco A. CBP Is Required for Establishing Adaptive Gene Programs in the Adult Mouse Brain. J Neurosci 2022; 42:7984-8001. [PMID: 36109165 PMCID: PMC9617619 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0970-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors and life experiences impinge on brain circuits triggering adaptive changes. Epigenetic regulators contribute to this neuroadaptation by enhancing or suppressing specific gene programs. The paralogous transcriptional coactivators and lysine acetyltransferases CREB binding protein (CBP) and p300 are involved in brain plasticity and stimulus-dependent transcription, but their specific roles in neuroadaptation are not fully understood. Here we investigated the impact of eliminating either CBP or p300 in excitatory neurons of the adult forebrain of mice from both sexes using inducible and cell type-restricted knock-out strains. The elimination of CBP, but not p300, reduced the expression and chromatin acetylation of plasticity genes, dampened activity-driven transcription, and caused memory deficits. The defects became more prominent in elderly mice and in paradigms that involved enduring changes in transcription, such as kindling and environmental enrichment, in which CBP loss interfered with the establishment of activity-induced transcriptional and epigenetic changes in response to stimulus or experience. These findings further strengthen the link between CBP deficiency in excitatory neurons and etiopathology in the nervous system.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT How environmental conditions and life experiences impinge on mature brain circuits to elicit adaptive responses that favor the survival of the organism remains an outstanding question in neurosciences. Epigenetic regulators are thought to contribute to neuroadaptation by initiating or enhancing adaptive gene programs. In this article, we examined the role of CREB binding protein (CBP) and p300, two paralogous transcriptional coactivators and histone acetyltransferases involved in cognitive processes and intellectual disability, in neuroadaptation in adult hippocampal circuits. Our experiments demonstrate that CBP, but not its paralog p300, plays a highly specific role in the epigenetic regulation of neuronal plasticity gene programs in response to stimulus and provide unprecedented insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroadaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Lipinski
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Sergio Niñerola
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Miguel Fuentes-Ramos
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Luis M Valor
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Beatriz Del Blanco
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Jose P López-Atalaya
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Angel Barco
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, 03550 Alicante, Spain
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Rodríguez EA, Ramirez D, Balcázar JL, Jiménez JN. Metagenomic analysis of urban wastewater resistome and mobilome: A support for antimicrobial resistance surveillance in an endemic country. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116736. [PMID: 33618114 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In developing countries, where high levels of antimicrobial resistance are observed in hospitals, the surveillance of this phenomenon in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the environment is very limited, especially using cutting-edge culture-independent methods. In this study, the composition of bacterial communities, the resistome and mobilome (the pool of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), respectively) at a WWTP were determined using shotgun metagenomics and culture-based approaches. Wastewater samples were collected at four sampling points of a WWTP in Antioquia, Colombia. A total of 24 metagenomes were analyzed. Specifically, there were marked differences in bacterial community composition, resistome, and mobilome, according to the WWTP sampling points. Bacterial families of clinical importance such as Moraxellaceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae were mainly detected in the WWTP influent and effluent samples. Genes encoding resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin, β-lactams, and those conferring multidrug resistance (e.g., acrB, adeG, and mexD) were the most abundant. Moreover, some clinically important ARGs such as blaKPC-2 and blaCTX-M, and others not reported locally, such as blaTEM-196, blaGES-23, blaOXA-10, mcr-3, and mcr-5 were frequently detected. Co-occurrence network analyses indicated a significant association of ARGs such as blaOXA-58 and blaKPC genes with Aeromonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. Among the markers of MGEs, intI1 and ISCR8 were the most frequently detected. Altogether, this work reveals the importance of shotgun metagenomics and culture-based approaches in antimicrobial resistance studies. The findings also support that WWTPs are hotspots for antimicrobial resistance, whose analysis constitutes a powerful tool to predict the impact of antimicrobial resistance in a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika A Rodríguez
- Línea de Epidemiología Molecular y Resistencia Bacteriana. Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada (MICROBA), Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Diego Ramirez
- Línea de Epidemiología Molecular y Resistencia Bacteriana. Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada (MICROBA), Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Gestión y Modelación Ambiental, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia
| | - José L Balcázar
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), 17003, Girona, Spain; University of Girona, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - J Natalia Jiménez
- Línea de Epidemiología Molecular y Resistencia Bacteriana. Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada (MICROBA), Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia.
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The antiepileptogenic effect of low-frequency stimulation on perforant path kindling involves changes in regulators of G-protein signaling in rat. J Neurol Sci 2017; 375:450-459. [PMID: 28320185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.02.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptors may have a role in mediating the antiepileptogenic effect of low-frequency stimulation (LFS) on kindling acquisition. This effect is accompanied by changes at the intracellular level of cAMP. In the present study, the effect of rolipram as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor on the antiepileptogenic effect of LFS was investigated. Meanwhile, the expression of αs- and αi-subunit of G proteins and regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins following LFS application was measured. Male Wistar rats were kindled by perforant path stimulation in a semi-rapid kindling manner (12 stimulations per day) during a period of 6days. Application of LFS (0.1ms pulse duration at 1Hz, 200 pulses, 50-150μA, 5min after termination of daily kindling stimulations) to the perforant path retarded the kindling development and prevented the kindling-induced potentiation and kindling-induced changes in paired pulse indices in the dentate gyrus. Intra-cerebroventricular microinjection of rolipram (0.25μM) partially prevented these LFS effects. Twenty-four hours after the last kindling stimulation, the dentate gyrus was removed and changes in protein expression were measured by Western blotting. There was no significant difference in the expression of α-subunit of Gs and Gi/o proteins in different experimental groups. However, application of LFS during the kindling procedure decreased the expression RGS4 and RGS10 proteins (that reduce the activity of Gi/o) and prevented the kindling-induced decrease of RGS2 protein (which reduces the Gs activity). Therefore, it can be postulated that the Gi/o protein signaling pathways may be involved in antiepileptogenetic effect of LFS, and this is why decreasing the cAMP metabolism by rolipram attenuates this effect of LFS.
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MEKK1-MKK4-JNK-AP1 pathway negatively regulates Rgs4 expression in colonic smooth muscle cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35646. [PMID: 22545125 PMCID: PMC3335800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulator of G-protein Signaling 4 (RGS4) plays an important role in regulating smooth muscle contraction, cardiac development, neural plasticity and psychiatric disorder. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Our recent studies have shown that upregulation of Rgs4 by interleukin (IL)-1β is mediated by the activation of NFκB signaling and modulated by extracellular signal-regulated kinases, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphoinositide-3 kinase. Here we investigate the effect of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway on Rgs4 expression in rabbit colonic smooth muscle cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Cultured cells at first passage were treated with or without IL-1β (10 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of the selective JNK inhibitor (SP600125) or JNK small hairpin RNA (shRNA). The expression levels of Rgs4 mRNA and protein were determined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. SP600125 or JNK shRNA increased Rgs4 expression in the absence or presence of IL-1β stimulation. Overexpression of MEKK1, the key upstream kinase of JNK, inhibited Rgs4 expression, which was reversed by co-expression of JNK shRNA or dominant-negative mutants for MKK4 or JNK. Both constitutive and inducible upregulation of Rgs4 expression by SP600125 was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with the transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D. Dual reporter assay showed that pretreatment with SP600125 sensitized the promoter activity of Rgs4 in response to IL-1β. Mutation of the AP1-binding site within Rgs4 promoter increased the promoter activity. Western blot analysis confirmed that IL-1β treatment increased the phosphorylation of JNK, ATF-2 and c-Jun. Gel shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays validated that IL-1β increased the in vitro and ex vivo binding activities of AP1 within rabbit Rgs4 promoter. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Activation of MEKK1-MKK4-JNK-AP1 signal pathway plays a tonic inhibitory role in regulating Rgs4 transcription in rabbit colonic smooth muscle cells. This negative regulation may aid in maintaining the transient level of RGS4 expression.
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Christensen KV, Leffers H, Watson WP, Sánchez C, Kallunki P, Egebjerg J. Levetiracetam attenuates hippocampal expression of synaptic plasticity-related immediate early and late response genes in amygdala-kindled rats. BMC Neurosci 2010; 11:9. [PMID: 20105316 PMCID: PMC2848232 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-11-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2009] [Accepted: 01/27/2010] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amygdala-kindled rat is a model for human temporal lobe epilepsy and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Hippocampal RNA isolated from amygdala-kindled rats at different kindling stages was analyzed to identify kindling-induced genes. Furthermore, effects of the anti-epileptic drug levetiracetam on kindling-induced gene expression were examined. RESULTS Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), Protocadherin-8 (Pcdh8) and TGF-beta-inducible early response gene-1 (TIEG1) were identified and verified as differentially expressed transcripts in the hippocampus of kindled rats by in situ hybridization and quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, we identified a panel of 16 additional transcripts which included Arc, Egr3/Pilot, Homer1a, Ania-3, MMP9, Narp, c-fos, NGF, BDNF, NT-3, Synaptopodin, Pim1 kinase, TNF-alpha, RGS2, Egr2/krox-20 and beta-A activin that were differentially expressed in the hippocampus of amygdala-kindled rats. The list consists of many synaptic plasticity-related immediate early genes (IEGs) as well as some late response genes encoding transcription factors, neurotrophic factors and proteins that are known to regulate synaptic remodelling. In the hippocampus, induction of IEG expression was dependent on the afterdischarge (AD) duration. Levetiracetam, 40 mg/kg, suppressed the development of kindling measured as severity of seizures and AD duration. In addition, single animal profiling also showed that levetiracetam attenuated the observed kindling-induced IEG expression; an effect that paralleled the anti-epileptic effect of the drug on AD duration. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides mRNA expression data that suggest that levetiracetam attenuates expression of genes known to regulate synaptic remodelling. In the kindled rat, levetiracetam does so by shortening the AD duration thereby reducing the seizure-induced changes in mRNA expression in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth V Christensen
- Dept. of Molecular Biology, Discovery Biology Research, H, Lundbeck A/S, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark.
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Wang YY, Smith P, Murphy M, Cook M. Global expression profiling in epileptogenesis: does it add to the confusion? Brain Pathol 2010; 20:1-16. [PMID: 19243383 PMCID: PMC2805866 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2008.00254.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2008] [Revised: 10/23/2008] [Accepted: 10/28/2008] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the inception of global gene expression profiling platforms in the mid-1990s, there has been a significant increase in publications of differentially expressed genes in the process of epileptogenesis. In particular for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the presence of a latency period between the first manifestation of seizures to chronic epilepsy provides the opportunity for therapeutic interventions at the molecular biology level. Using global expression profiling techniques, approximately 2000 genes have been published demonstrating differential expression in mesial temporal epilepsy. The majority of these changes, however, are specific to laboratory or experimental conditions with only 53 genes demonstrating changes in more than two publications. To this end, we review the current status of gene expression profiling in epileptogenesis and suggest standard guidelines to be followed for greater accuracy and reproducibility of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yuen Wang
- Centre for Clinical Neuroscience and Neurological Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
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Cloning and characterization of rabbit Rgs4 promoter in gut smooth muscle. Gene 2009; 451:45-53. [PMID: 19945517 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2009.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2009] [Revised: 11/19/2009] [Accepted: 11/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (Rgs4) regulates the strength and duration of G-protein signaling, and plays an important role in cardiac development, smooth muscle contraction and psychiatric disorders. Rgs4 expression is regulated at both mRNA and protein levels. In order to examine the transcriptional mechanism of Rgs4 expression, we have cloned and characterized rabbit Rgs4 promoter. The coding sequence of rabbit Rgs4 was obtained by degenerative RT-PCR and used for Northern blot and 5'-RACE analysis. A single transcript was identified in rabbit colonic smooth muscle cells. The 5'-untranslated region (UTR) extended 120 bp nucleotides upstream of the Rgs4 start codon. A putative promoter sequence (1389 bp) showed a consensus TATA box and cis-acting binding sites for several potential transcriptional factors. Reporter gene assay identified strong promoter activity in various cell types. Further analysis by deletion mutagenesis suggested that the proximal region had a highest core promoter activity while the distal region is suppressive. IL-1beta significantly increased the promoter activity. The in vitro and in vivo binding activities for NF-kappaB transcription factor were validated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay respectively. Mutation of NF-kappaB site reduced the promoter activity. These data suggest that the cloned rabbit Rgs4 promoter is functionally active and NF-kappaB binding site possesses enhancer activity in regulating Rgs4 transcription. Our studies provide an important basis for further understanding of Rgs4 regulation and function in different diseases.
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Lukasiuk K, Pitkänen A. Gene and protein expression in experimental status epilepticus. Epilepsia 2007; 48 Suppl 8:28-32. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01342.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Ding L, Mychaleckyj JC, Hegde AN. Full length cloning and expression analysis of splice variants of regulator of G-protein signaling RGS4 in human and murine brain. Gene 2007; 401:46-60. [PMID: 17707117 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2007.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2006] [Revised: 05/25/2007] [Accepted: 07/02/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
RGS4 (regulator of G protein signaling 4) protein is a GTPase-activating protein specific for Gi/o and Gq alpha subunits. It is highly expressed in brain but the mechanisms by which RGS4 expression is regulated remain unknown. RGS4 is associated with schizophrenia either through heritable genetic polymorphisms or as a co-regulated mediator of the pathology, and may play a role in other brain diseases. As a necessary step towards understanding the transcriptional regulation of RGS4, we isolated full-length splice variants of the human RGS4 and mouse Rgs4 gene using bioinformatic predictions, followed by RACE, RT-PCR, and sequencing. In human brain, we found five different isoforms RGS4-1, RGS4-2, RGS4-3, RGS4-4 and RGS4-5 of which RGS4-2, RGS4-3, RGS4-4 and RGS4-5 are novel. RGS4-1 and 2 encode a 205-amino acid protein, while RGS4-3 encodes a 302 aa protein with an N-terminal extension. RGS4-4 and RGS4-5 encode truncated proteins of 93 aa and 187 aa respectively. Our results indicate that RGS4-1, RGS4-2, RGS4-3 and RGS4-4 are translated into proteins. In contrast, the mouse brain has 3 different splice variants, Rgs4-1, Rgs4-2 and Rgs4-3 which encode the same 205 aa protein but vary in their 3'UTRs. Among the mouse isoforms, Rgs4-1 and Rgs4-3 are novel. Human RGS4 has four different transcription start sites and three different stop sites. We found differential expression of the human isoforms in dorsolateral prefrontal and visual cortex. All five RGS4 splice variants are expressed at high levels in human cortical areas although RGS4 isoforms 1, 2, and 3 are not expressed in the cerebellum. RGS4-2 is tissue-specific whereas RGS4-4 and RGS4-5 appear to be ubiquitously expressed. Our results suggest the intriguing possibility that RGS4 gene expression in the human brain is spatially and temporally regulated through differential transcription of isoforms from alternative promoters. This may have implications for the physiological role of RGS4 and in pathologies of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Ding
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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Avedissian M, Longo BM, Jaqueta CB, Schnabel B, Paiva PB, Mello LEAM, Briones MRS. Hippocampal gene expression analysis using the ORESTES methodology shows that homer 1a mRNA is upregulated in the acute period of the pilocarpine epilepsy model. Hippocampus 2007; 17:130-6. [PMID: 17146775 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In the study of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) the characterization of genes expressed in the hippocampus is of central importance for understanding their roles in epileptogenic mechanisms. Although several large-scale studies on TLE gene expression have been reported, precise assignment of individual genes associated with this syndrome is still debatable. Here we investigated differentially expressed genes by comparison of mRNAs from normal and epileptic rat hippocampus in the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. For this we used a powerful EST sequencing methodology, ORESTES (Open Reading frame Expressed Sequence Tags), which generates sequence datasets enriched for mRNAs open reading frames (ORFs) rather than simple 5' and 3' ends of mRNAs. Analysis of our sequences shows that ORESTES readily enables the identification of epilepsy associated ORFs. PFAM analysis of protein motifs present in our ORESTES epilepsy database revealed diverse important protein family domains, such as cytoskeletal, cell signaling and protein kinase domains, which could be involved in processes underlying epileptogenesis. More importantly, we show that the expression of homer 1a, known to be coupled to mGluR and NMDA synaptic transmission, is associated with pilocarpine induced status epilepticus (SE). The combined use of the pilocarpine model of epilepsy with the ORESTES technique can significantly contribute to the identification of specific genes and proteins related to TLE. This is the first study applying a large-scale method for rapid shotgun sequencing directed to ORFs in epilepsy research.
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Friedland DR, Popper P, Eernisse R, Cioffi JA. Differentially expressed genes in the rat cochlear nucleus. Neuroscience 2006; 142:753-68. [PMID: 16905270 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2006] [Revised: 05/05/2006] [Accepted: 06/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The cochlear nucleus is the first central pathway involved in the processing of peripheral auditory activity. The anterior ventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN), posterior ventral cochlear nucleus (PVCN) and dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) each contain predominant populations of neurons that have been well characterized regarding their morphological and electrophysiological properties. Little is known, however, of the underlying genetic factors that contribute to these properties and the initial steps in auditory processing. Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), supported by microarray experiments, was performed on each subdivision of the rat cochlear nucleus to identify genes that may sub-serve specialized roles in the central auditory system. Pair-wise comparisons between SAGE libraries from the AVCN, PVCN and DCN were correlated with microarray experiments to identify individual transcripts with significant differential expression. Twelve highly correlated genes were identified representing cytoskeletal, vesicular, metabolic and g-protein regulating proteins. Among these were Rgs4 which showed higher expression in the DCN, Sst and Cyp11b1 with very high expression in the AVCN and Calb2 with preferential expression in the PVCN. The differential expression of these genes was validated with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. These experiments provide a basis for understanding normal auditory processing on a molecular level and a template for investigating changes that may occur in the cochlear nucleus with hearing loss, the generation and percept of tinnitus, and central auditory processing disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Friedland
- Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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Stanwood GD, Parlaman JP, Levitt P. Genetic or pharmacological inactivation of the dopamine D
1
receptor differentially alters the expression of regulator of G‐protein signalling (Rgs) transcripts. Eur J Neurosci 2006; 24:806-18. [PMID: 16930410 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.04970.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of dopamine (DA) receptor signalling induces specific changes in behaviour, neuronal circuitry and gene expression in the mammalian forebrain. In order to better understand signalling adaptations at the molecular level, we used high-density oligonucleotide microarrays (Codelink Mouse 20K) to define alterations in the expression of transcripts encoding regulator of G-protein coupled receptor signalling in dopamine D1 receptor knockout mice (Drd1a-KO). Regulator of G-protein signalling (Rgs) 2, Rgs4, and Rgs9 were significantly decreased in the striatum (STR) of Drd1a-KO mice. These changes were confirmed by in situ hybridization, and were also observed in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In contrast, analysis of the medial frontal cortex (MFC) revealed a significant decrease in Rgs17 expression exclusively, and a modest up-regulation of Rgs5 transcript. The expression of these gene products were not significantly altered in the dopamine-poor visual cortex (VC). The Drd1a-KO mouse, and a rabbit model of in utero cocaine exposure, in which D1R signalling is permanently reduced, possess analogous morphological and functional alterations in dopamine-modulated brain circuits; thus we also examined long-lasting changes in RGS transcript expression following prenatal exposure to cocaine. In sharp contrast to the Drd1a-KO, Rgs2 and Rgs4 were unchanged, and Rgs9 and Rgs17 transcripts were increased in prenatal cocaine-exposed progeny. These data suggest that an absolute absence of D1R signalling (Drd1a-KO) and hypomorphic D1R signalling (prenatal cocaine) produce common alterations in neuronal morphology, but distinct outcomes in molecular neuroadaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg D Stanwood
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN 37203, USA.
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14
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Abstract
Regulators of G-protein signalling (RGS) proteins are a large and diverse family initially identified as GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) of heterotrimeric G-protein Galpha-subunits. At least some can also influence Galpha activity through either effector antagonism or by acting as guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). As our understanding of RGS protein structure and function has developed, so has the realisation that they play roles beyond G-protein regulation. Such diversity of function is enabled by the variety of RGS protein structure and their ability to interact with other cellular molecules including phospholipids, receptors, effectors and scaffolds. The activity, sub-cellular distribution and expression levels of RGS proteins are dynamically regulated, providing a layer of complexity that has yet to be fully elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary B Willars
- Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK.
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Heinrichs SC, Seyfried TN. Behavioral seizure correlates in animal models of epilepsy: a road map for assay selection, data interpretation, and the search for causal mechanisms. Epilepsy Behav 2006; 8:5-38. [PMID: 16406351 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2005.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2005] [Revised: 08/10/2005] [Accepted: 08/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A broad spectrum of learning/memory, social interaction, and affective behavioral measures serve as functional correlates for neurobiological changes in seizure-prone animals as well as in epileptic clinical populations. The utility of such measures is demonstrated by their ability to distinguish anomalous characteristics in developing organisms predisposed to seizure onset, as well as to discriminate prior seizure history in organisms with established pathology. For instance, typical findings that generalize across species suggest that seizure-experienced organisms exhibit a variety of deficits in cognitive function as well as inappropriate social neglect and aggression. Behavioral testing batteries have also proven useful in assessing neural mechanisms for seizure induction, subcortical neural circuits, and neuropeptide modulators, for example, as well as in identifying neural pathology resulting from prior seizure activity. However, the wanton application of behavioral tests can also produce false positives in the identification of seizure-related disorders unless alternative performance and motivational hypotheses are discounted effectively. Accordingly, the present review attempts to provide the reader interested in behavioral phenotyping and characterization of seizure-prone rats and mice with a roadmap for rational selection, implementation, and interpretation of data from behavior assays while highlighting potential successes and pitfalls inherent in employing functional correlates of brain activity using animal models of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Heinrichs
- Department of Psychology, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
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Smith PD, McLean KJ, Murphy MA, Turnley AM, Cook MJ. Seizures, not hippocampal neuronal death, provoke neurogenesis in a mouse rapid electrical amygdala kindling model of seizures. Neuroscience 2005; 136:405-15. [PMID: 16226389 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.07.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2005] [Revised: 06/01/2005] [Accepted: 07/21/2005] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Proliferation of neural precursors adjacent to the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus has been identified in previous epilepsy models. Convincingly demonstrating that seizure activity is the stimulant for neurogenesis, rather than neuronal death or other insults inherent to seizure models, is difficult. To address this we derived a rapid electrical amygdala kindling model in mice known to be resistant to seizure-induced neuronal death as an experimental model of focal seizures and to analyze subsequent neurogenesis. METHODS Mice were implanted with bipolar electrodes in the left amygdala and given electrical stimulation (3 s, 100 Hz, 1 ms monophasic square wave pulses every 5 min, 40 in total) while being observed and graded for the development of seizures. Neurogenesis in the hippocampus was assessed by counting bromodeoxyuridine-immunoreactive cells co-labeled for astrocyte (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and neuronal nuclear markers. RESULTS Bromodeoxyuridine-reactive cell numbers were three-fold higher in stimulated mice compared with controls at 1 week in the subgranular region and at three weeks extensive co-labeling with neuronal nuclear was noted in cells which had migrated into the body of the granule cell layer, while mice receiving stimulation but failing to kindle did not differ significantly from controls. No increase in neuronal death was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-11-dUTP nick end labeling, Fluorojade or fluorescent examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections in any inter-group comparison. CONCLUSIONS We propose that this kindling paradigm, not previously applied to mice, demonstrates more convincingly than previously the surge in neurogenesis in response to seizures, and the effects of seizures alone in regard to neuronal injury and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- P D Smith
- Centre for Clinical Neurosciences and Neurological Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Morimoto K, Fahnestock M, Racine RJ. Kindling and status epilepticus models of epilepsy: rewiring the brain. Prog Neurobiol 2004; 73:1-60. [PMID: 15193778 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2004.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 613] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2003] [Accepted: 03/24/2004] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on the remodeling of brain circuitry associated with epilepsy, particularly in excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA systems, including alterations in synaptic efficacy, growth of new connections, and loss of existing connections. From recent studies on the kindling and status epilepticus models, which have been used most extensively to investigate temporal lobe epilepsy, it is now clear that the brain reorganizes itself in response to excess neural activation, such as seizure activity. The contributing factors to this reorganization include activation of glutamate receptors, second messengers, immediate early genes, transcription factors, neurotrophic factors, axon guidance molecules, protein synthesis, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Some of the resulting changes may, in turn, contribute to the permanent alterations in seizure susceptibility. There is increasing evidence that neurogenesis and synaptogenesis can appear not only in the mossy fiber pathway in the hippocampus but also in other limbic structures. Neuronal loss, induced by prolonged seizure activity, may also contribute to circuit restructuring, particularly in the status epilepticus model. However, it is unlikely that any one structure, plastic system, neurotrophin, or downstream effector pathway is uniquely critical for epileptogenesis. The sensitivity of neural systems to the modulation of inhibition makes a disinhibition hypothesis compelling for both the triggering stage of the epileptic response and the long-term changes that promote the epileptic state. Loss of selective types of interneurons, alteration of GABA receptor configuration, and/or decrease in dendritic inhibition could contribute to the development of spontaneous seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Morimoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
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Alder J, Thakker-Varia S, Black IB. Transcriptional analysis in the brain: trophin-induced hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Neurochem Res 2002; 27:1079-92. [PMID: 12462406 DOI: 10.1023/a:1020909022145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Gene profiling in the central nervous system presents unique challenges due to the unprecedented heterogeneity of cells, systems and functions in time and space. We have employed a multidisciplinary approach using whole cell patch clamp recording and transcriptional analysis to define the genomic basis of trophin-induced hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Transcriptional analysis of single cells by linear amplification of antisense RNA has added a new dimension of sensitivity and selectivity to the study of the complex and heterogeneous population of neurons. We describe different gene expression profiling techniques that offer novel approaches to monitoring thousands of genes in parallel, fostering identification of circuits involved in learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Alder
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Medicine and Dentistry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854-5635, USA
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