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Vitale C, Natali G, Cerullo MS, Floss T, Michetti C, Grasselli G, Benfenati F. The homeostatic effects of the RE-1 silencing transcription factor on cortical networks are altered under ictogenic conditions in the mouse. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14146. [PMID: 38606882 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14146] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
AIM The Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST) is an epigenetic master regulator playing a crucial role in the nervous system. In early developmental stages, REST downregulation promotes neuronal differentiation and the acquisition of the neuronal phenotype. In addition, postnatal fluctuations in REST expression contribute to shaping neuronal networks and maintaining network homeostasis. Here we investigate the role of the early postnatal deletion of neuronal REST in the assembly and strength of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connections. METHODS We investigated excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission by patch-clamp recordings in acute neocortical slices in a conditional knockout mouse model (RestGTi) in which Rest was deleted by delivering PHP.eB adeno-associated viruses encoding CRE recombinase under the control of the human synapsin I promoter in the lateral ventricles of P0-P1 pups. RESULTS We show that, under physiological conditions, Rest deletion increased the intrinsic excitability of principal cortical neurons in the primary visual cortex and the density and strength of excitatory synaptic connections impinging on them, without affecting inhibitory transmission. Conversely, in the presence of a pathological excitation/inhibition imbalance induced by pentylenetetrazol, Rest deletion prevented the increase in synaptic excitation and decreased seizure severity. CONCLUSION The data indicate that REST exerts distinct effects on the excitability of cortical circuits depending on whether it acts under physiological conditions or in the presence of pathologic network hyperexcitability. In the former case, REST preserves a correct excitatory/inhibitory balance in cortical circuits, while in the latter REST loses its homeostatic activity and may become pro-epileptogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Vitale
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Natali
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Sabina Cerullo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Thomas Floss
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Caterina Michetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grasselli
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
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2
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Shmal D, Mantero G, Floss T, Benfenati F, Maya-Vetencourt JF. Restoring vision in adult amblyopia by enhancing plasticity through deletion of the transcriptional repressor REST. iScience 2024; 27:109507. [PMID: 38591011 PMCID: PMC11000024 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Visual cortical plasticity is high during early life, but gradually decreases with development. This is due to the Otx2-driven maturation of intracortical inhibition that parallels the condensation of extracellular matrix components into perineuronal nets mainly around parvalbumin-positive GABAergic neurons. Repressor Element 1 Silencing Transcription (REST) epigenetically controls the expression of a plethora of neuron-specific genes. We demonstrate that the conditional knockout of REST in the primary visual cortex of adult mice induces a shift of ocular dominance after short-term monocular deprivation and promotes the recovery of vision in long-term deprived animals after reverse suture. These phenomena paralleled a reduction of perineuronal net density and increased expression of REST target genes, but not of the homeoprotein Otx2 in the visual cortex contralateral to the deprived eye. This shows that REST regulates adult visual cortical plasticity and is a potential therapeutic target to restore vision in adult amblyopia by enhancing V1 plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmytro Shmal
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Mantero
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Thomas Floss
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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3
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Carretero-Guillén A, Treviño M, Gómez-Climent MÁ, Dogbevia GK, Bertocchi I, Sprengel R, Larkum ME, Vlachos A, Gruart A, Delgado-García JM, Hasan MT. Dentate gyrus is needed for memory retrieval. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02546-0. [PMID: 38609585 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02546-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus is crucial for acquiring and retrieving episodic and contextual memories. In previous studies, the inactivation of dentate gyrus (DG) neurons by chemogenetic- and optogenetic-mediated hyperpolarization led to opposing conclusions about DG's role in memory retrieval. One study used Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD)-mediated clozapine N-oxide (CNO)-induced hyperpolarization and reported that the previously formed memory was erased, thus concluding that denate gyrus is needed for memory maintenance. The other study used optogenetic with halorhodopsin induced hyperpolarization and reported and dentate gyrus is needed for memory retrieval. We hypothesized that this apparent discrepancy could be due to the length of hyperpolarization in previous studies; minutes by optogenetics and several hours by DREADD/CNO. Since hyperpolarization interferes with anterograde and retrograde neuronal signaling, it is possible that the memory engram in the dentate gyrus and the entorhinal to hippocampus trisynaptic circuit was erased by long-term, but not with short-term hyperpolarization. We developed and applied an advanced chemogenetic technology to selectively silence synaptic output by blocking neurotransmitter release without hyperpolarizing DG neurons to explore this apparent discrepancy. We performed in vivo electrophysiology during trace eyeblink in a rabbit model of associative learning. Our work shows that the DG output is required for memory retrieval. Based on previous and recent findings, we propose that the actively functional anterograde and retrograde neuronal signaling is necessary to preserve synaptic memory engrams along the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Carretero-Guillén
- Division of Neuroscience, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain
| | - Mario Treviño
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, 44130, México
| | | | - Godwin K Dogbevia
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
- Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ilaria Bertocchi
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri-Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Rolf Sprengel
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Agnès Gruart
- Division of Neuroscience, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Mazahir T Hasan
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain.
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany.
- NeuroCure, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
- Ikerbasque - Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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4
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Natali G, Michetti C, Krawczun-Rygmaczewska A, Floss T, Cesca F, Benfenati F. Conditional knockout of REST/NRSF in excitatory neurons reduces seizure susceptibility to chemical kindling. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1267609. [PMID: 38034589 PMCID: PMC10687554 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1267609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) is an epigenetic master regulator that plays a crucial role during nervous system development and maturation. REST function was originally described during development, where it determines neuronal phenotype. However, recent studies showed that REST participates in several processes in the adult brain, including neuronal plasticity and epileptogenesis. In this regard, the relationships between REST and epilepsy are still controversial and need further investigation. As forebrain excitatory neurons are the common final pathway of seizure susceptibility, we investigated the role of REST in epilepsy by inducing REST conditional knockout (REST-cKO) specifically in excitatory neurons of the hippocampus. To target the excitatory neuronal population, we cloned the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα minimal promoter upstream of Cre recombinase. After assessing the specificity of the promoter's expression, the transgenes were packaged in an engineered adeno-associated virus able to cross the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers and delivered in the lateral ventricles of 2-month-old RESTflox/flox mice to characterize, after 1 month, the cognitive phenotype and the seizure propensity. We show that REST-cKO mice display lower levels of anxiety in the light-dark test with respect to control mice but have unaltered motor, social, and cognitive profiles. The evaluation of the susceptibility to epileptic seizures showed that REST-cKO mice are more resistant to pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling but not to seizures induced by a single administration of the convulsant and show higher survival rates. Overall, these data suggest that the absence of REST in forebrain excitatory neurons decreases seizure susceptibility, pointing to a pro-epileptogenic role of the transcriptional repressor under conditions of pathological excitation/inhibition imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Natali
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Caterina Michetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Alicja Krawczun-Rygmaczewska
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Thomas Floss
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Fabrizia Cesca
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
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5
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Michetti C, Ferrante D, Parisi B, Ciano L, Prestigio C, Casagrande S, Martinoia S, Terranova F, Millo E, Valente P, Giovedi' S, Benfenati F, Baldelli P. Low glycemic index diet restrains epileptogenesis in a gender-specific fashion. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:356. [PMID: 37947886 PMCID: PMC10638170 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04988-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Dietary restriction, such as low glycemic index diet (LGID), have been successfully used to treat drug-resistant epilepsy. However, if such diet could also counteract antiepileptogenesis is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether the administration of LGID during the latent pre-epileptic period, prevents or delays the appearance of the overt epileptic phenotype. To this aim, we used the Synapsin II knockout (SynIIKO) mouse, a model of temporal lobe epilepsy in which seizures manifest 2-3 months after birth, offering a temporal window in which LGID may affect epileptogenesis. Pregnant SynIIKO mice were fed with either LGID or standard diet during gestation and lactation. Both diets were maintained in weaned mice up to 5 months of age. LGID delayed the seizure onset and induced a reduction of seizures severity only in female SynIIKO mice. In parallel with the epileptic phenotype, high-density multielectrode array recordings revealed a reduction of frequency, amplitude, duration, velocity of propagation and spread of interictal events by LGID in the hippocampus of SynIIKO females, but not mutant males, confirming the gender-specific effect. ELISA-based analysis revealed that LGID increased cortico-hippocampal allopregnanolone (ALLO) levels only in females, while it was unable to affect ALLO plasma concentrations in either sex. The results indicate that the gender-specific interference of LGID with the epileptogenic process can be ascribed to a gender-specific increase in cortical ALLO, a neurosteroid known to strengthen GABAergic transmission. The study highlights the possibility of developing a personalized gender-based therapy for temporal lobe epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Michetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Daniele Ferrante
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Barbara Parisi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ciano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cosimo Prestigio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Casagrande
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabio Terranova
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Enrico Millo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Valente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Giovedi'
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
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6
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Jin L, Liu Y, Wu Y, Huang Y, Zhang D. REST Is Not Resting: REST/NRSF in Health and Disease. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1477. [PMID: 37892159 PMCID: PMC10605157 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin modifications play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression. The repressor element-1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST), also known as neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) and X2 box repressor (XBR), was found to regulate gene transcription by binding to chromatin and recruiting chromatin-modifying enzymes. Earlier studies revealed that REST plays an important role in the development and disease of the nervous system, mainly by repressing the transcription of neuron-specific genes. Subsequently, REST was found to be critical in other tissues, such as the heart, pancreas, skin, eye, and vascular. Dysregulation of REST was also found in nervous and non-nervous system cancers. In parallel, multiple strategies to target REST have been developed. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive summary of the research progress made over the past 28 years since the discovery of REST, encompassing both physiological and pathological aspects. These insights into the effects and mechanisms of REST contribute to an in-depth understanding of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of genes and their roles in the development and progression of disease, with a view to discovering potential therapeutic targets and intervention strategies for various related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of China, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of China, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of China, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Dianbao Zhang
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of China, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
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7
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Yang Y, Zhang X, Li D, Fang R, Wang Z, Yun D, Wang M, Wang J, Dong H, Fei Z, Li Q, Liu Z, Shen C, Fei J, Yu M, Behnisch T, Huang F. NRSF regulates age-dependently cognitive ability and its conditional knockout in APP/PS1 mice moderately alters AD-like pathology. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:2558-2575. [PMID: 36229920 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
NRSF/REST (neuron-restrictive silencer element, also known as repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor), plays a key role in neuronal homeostasis as a transcriptional repressor of neuronal genes. NRSF/REST relates to cognitive preservation and longevity of humans, but its specific functions in age-dependent and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related memory deficits remain unclear. Here, we show that conditional NRSF/REST knockout either in the dorsal telencephalon or specially in neurons induced an age-dependently diminished retrieval performance in spatial or fear conditioning memory tasks and altered hippocampal synaptic transmission and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. The NRSF/REST deficient mice were also characterized by an increase of activated glial cells, complement C3 protein and the transcription factor C/EBPβ in the cortex and hippocampus. Reduction of NRSF/REST by conditional depletion upregulated the activation of astrocytes in APP/PS1 mice, and increased the C3-positive glial cells, but did not alter the Aβ loads and memory retrieval performances of 6- and 12-month-old APP/PS1 mice. Simultaneously, overexpression of NRSF/REST improved cognitive abilities of aged wild type, but not in AD mice. These findings demonstrated that NRSF/REST is essential for the preservation of memory performance and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity during aging and takes potential roles in the onset of age-related memory impairments. However, while altering the glial activation, NRSF/REST deficiency does not interfere with the Aβ deposits and the electrophysiological and cognitive AD-like pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufang Yang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Zhang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dongxue Li
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, No. 301 Middle Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Rong Fang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zishan Wang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Di Yun
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Mo Wang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hongtian Dong
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhaoliang Fei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhaolin Liu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chenye Shen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, INC., Shanghai 201203, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Mei Yu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Thomas Behnisch
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
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8
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Qiu Y, O’Neill N, Maffei B, Zourray C, Almacellas-Barbanoj A, Carpenter JC, Jones SP, Leite M, Turner TJ, Moreira FC, Snowball A, Shekh-Ahmad T, Magloire V, Barral S, Kurian MA, Walker MC, Schorge S, Kullmann DM, Lignani G. On-demand cell-autonomous gene therapy for brain circuit disorders. Science 2022; 378:523-532. [PMID: 36378958 PMCID: PMC7613996 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq6656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders are characterized by intermittent episodes of pathological activity. Although genetic therapies offer the ability to modulate neuronal excitability, a limiting factor is that they do not discriminate between neurons involved in circuit pathologies and "healthy" surrounding or intermingled neurons. We describe a gene therapy strategy that down-regulates the excitability of overactive neurons in closed loop, which we tested in models of epilepsy. We used an immediate early gene promoter to drive the expression of Kv1.1 potassium channels specifically in hyperactive neurons, and only for as long as they exhibit abnormal activity. Neuronal excitability was reduced by seizure-related activity, leading to a persistent antiepileptic effect without interfering with normal behaviors. Activity-dependent gene therapy is a promising on-demand cell-autonomous treatment for brain circuit disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Qiu
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nathanael O’Neill
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Benito Maffei
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Clara Zourray
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research Into Rare Disease in Children, GOS−Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amanda Almacellas-Barbanoj
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jenna C. Carpenter
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Steffan P. Jones
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marco Leite
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Thomas J. Turner
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Francisco C. Moreira
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Albert Snowball
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vincent Magloire
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Serena Barral
- Department of Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research Into Rare Disease in Children, GOS−Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Manju A. Kurian
- Department of Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research Into Rare Disease in Children, GOS−Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Matthew C. Walker
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephanie Schorge
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology University College London, London, UK
| | - Dimitri M. Kullmann
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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9
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Zhang H, Li H, Lu M, Wang S, Ma X, Wang F, Liu J, Li X, Yang H, Zhang F, Shen H, Buckley NJ, Gamper N, Yamoah EN, Lv P. Repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor deficiency yields profound hearing loss through K v7.4 channel upsurge in auditory neurons and hair cells. eLife 2022; 11:76754. [PMID: 36125121 PMCID: PMC9525063 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST) is a transcriptional repressor that recognizes neuron-restrictive silencer elements in the mammalian genomes in a tissue- and cell-specific manner. The identity of REST target genes and molecular details of how REST regulates them are emerging. We performed conditional null deletion of Rest (cKO), mainly restricted to murine hair cells (HCs) and auditory neurons (aka spiral ganglion neurons [SGNs]). Null inactivation of full-length REST did not affect the development of normal HCs and SGNs but manifested as progressive hearing loss in adult mice. We found that the inactivation of REST resulted in an increased abundance of Kv7.4 channels at the transcript, protein, and functional levels. Specifically, we found that SGNs and HCs from Rest cKO mice displayed increased Kv7.4 expression and augmented Kv7 currents; SGN’s excitability was also significantly reduced. Administration of a compound with Kv7.4 channel activator activity, fasudil, recapitulated progressive hearing loss in mice. In contrast, inhibition of the Kv7 channels by XE991 rescued the auditory phenotype of Rest cKO mice. Previous studies identified some loss-of-function mutations within the Kv7.4-coding gene, Kcnq4, as a causative factor for progressive hearing loss in mice and humans. Thus, the findings reveal that a critical homeostatic Kv7.4 channel level is required for proper auditory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Hongchen Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Mingshun Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Shengnan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Xueya Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Jiaxi Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Haichao Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Haitao Shen
- Laboratory of Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
| | - Noel J Buckley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nikita Gamper
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Ebenezer N Yamoah
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, United States
| | - Ping Lv
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
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10
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Efraim Y, Chen FYT, Cheong KN, Gaylord EA, McNamara NA, Knox SM. A synthetic tear protein resolves dry eye through promoting corneal nerve regeneration. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111307. [PMID: 36044852 PMCID: PMC9549932 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal architecture is essential for vision and is greatly perturbed by the absence of tears due to the highly prevalent disorder dry eye. With no regenerative therapies available, pathological alterations of the ocular surface in response to dryness, including persistent epithelial defects and poor wound healing, result in life-long morbidity. Here, using a mouse model of aqueous-deficient dry eye, we reveal that topical application of the synthetic tear protein Lacripep reverses the pathological outcomes of dry eye through restoring the extensive network of corneal nerves that are essential for tear secretion, barrier function, epithelial homeostasis, and wound healing. Intriguingly, the restorative effects of Lacripep occur despite extensive immune cell infiltration, suggesting tissue reinnervation and regeneration can be achieved under chronic inflammatory conditions. In summary, our data highlight Lacripep as a first-in-class regenerative therapy for returning the cornea to a near homeostatic state in individuals who suffer from dry eye. Currently, there are no regenerative treatments for ocular pathologies due to dry eye. Efraim et al. demonstrate the synthetic tear peptide Lacripep as a regenerative therapy capable of restoring the damaged, dysfunctional ocular surface to a near homeostatic state through promoting nerve regeneration in the presence of chronic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Efraim
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Feeling Yu Ting Chen
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ka Neng Cheong
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Eliza A Gaylord
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Nancy A McNamara
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, Oakland, CA 94720, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Sarah M Knox
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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11
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IGF-1 receptor regulates upward firing rate homeostasis via the mitochondrial calcium uniporter. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2121040119. [PMID: 35943986 PMCID: PMC9388073 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121040119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An emerging hypothesis is that neuronal circuits homeostatically maintain a stable spike rate despite continuous environmental changes. This firing rate homeostasis is believed to confer resilience to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. We show that insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is necessary for homeostatic response of mean firing rate to inactivity, termed “upward firing rate homeostasis.” We show that its mechanism of action is to couple spike bursts with downstream mitochondrial Ca2+ influx via the mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (MCUc). We propose that MCUc is a homeostatic Ca2+ sensor that triggers the integrated homeostatic response. Firing rate homeostasis may be the principal mechanism by which IGF-1R regulates aging and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Regulation of firing rate homeostasis constitutes a fundamental property of central neural circuits. While intracellular Ca2+ has long been hypothesized to be a feedback control signal, the molecular machinery enabling a network-wide homeostatic response remains largely unknown. We show that deletion of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) limits firing rate homeostasis in response to inactivity, without altering the distribution of baseline firing rates. The deficient firing rate homeostatic response was due to disruption of both postsynaptic and intrinsic plasticity. At the cellular level, we detected a fraction of IGF-1Rs in mitochondria, colocalized with the mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (MCUc). IGF-1R deletion suppressed transcription of the MCUc members and burst-evoked mitochondrial Ca2+ (mitoCa2+) by weakening mitochondria-to-cytosol Ca2+ coupling. Overexpression of either mitochondria-targeted IGF-1R or MCUc in IGF-1R–deficient neurons was sufficient to rescue the deficits in burst-to-mitoCa2+ coupling and firing rate homeostasis. Our findings indicate that mitochondrial IGF-1R is a key regulator of the integrated homeostatic response by tuning the reliability of burst transfer by MCUc. Based on these results, we propose that MCUc acts as a homeostatic Ca2+ sensor. Faulty activation of MCUc may drive dysregulation of firing rate homeostasis in aging and in brain disorders associated with aberrant IGF-1R/MCUc signaling.
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12
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Zhu D, Johnson HJ, Chen J, Schaffer DV. Optogenetic Application to Investigating Cell Behavior and Neurological Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:811493. [PMID: 35273478 PMCID: PMC8902366 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.811493] [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: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells reside in a dynamic microenvironment that presents them with regulatory signals that vary in time, space, and amplitude. The cell, in turn, interprets these signals and accordingly initiates downstream processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and self-organization. Conventional approaches to perturb and investigate signaling pathways (e.g., agonist/antagonist addition, overexpression, silencing, knockouts) are often binary perturbations that do not offer precise control over signaling levels, and/or provide limited spatial or temporal control. In contrast, optogenetics leverages light-sensitive proteins to control cellular signaling dynamics and target gene expression and, by virtue of precise hardware control over illumination, offers the capacity to interrogate how spatiotemporally varying signals modulate gene regulatory networks and cellular behaviors. Recent studies have employed various optogenetic systems in stem cell, embryonic, and somatic cell patterning studies, which have addressed fundamental questions of how cell-cell communication, subcellular protein localization, and signal integration affect cell fate. Other efforts have explored how alteration of signaling dynamics may contribute to neurological diseases and have in the process created physiologically relevant models that could inform new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on emerging applications within the expanding field of optogenetics to study gene regulation, cell signaling, neurodevelopment, and neurological disorders, and we comment on current limitations and future directions for the growth of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danqing Zhu
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Hunter J. Johnson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Jun Chen
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - David V. Schaffer
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: David V. Schaffer
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13
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Prestigio C, Ferrante D, Marte A, Romei A, Lignani G, Onofri F, Valente P, Benfenati F, Baldelli P. REST/NRSF drives homeostatic plasticity of inhibitory synapses in a target-dependent fashion. eLife 2021; 10:e69058. [PMID: 34855580 PMCID: PMC8639147 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The repressor-element 1-silencing transcription/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) controls hundreds of neuron-specific genes. We showed that REST/NRSF downregulates glutamatergic transmission in response to hyperactivity, thus contributing to neuronal homeostasis. However, whether GABAergic transmission is also implicated in the homeostatic action of REST/NRSF is unknown. Here, we show that hyperactivity-induced REST/NRSF activation, triggers a homeostatic rearrangement of GABAergic inhibition, with increased frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) and amplitude of evoked IPSCs in mouse cultured hippocampal neurons. Notably, this effect is limited to inhibitory-onto-excitatory neuron synapses, whose density increases at somatic level and decreases in dendritic regions, demonstrating a complex target- and area-selectivity. The upscaling of perisomatic inhibition was occluded by TrkB receptor inhibition and resulted from a coordinated and sequential activation of the Npas4 and Bdnf gene programs. On the opposite, the downscaling of dendritic inhibition was REST-dependent, but BDNF-independent. The findings highlight the central role of REST/NRSF in the complex transcriptional responses aimed at rescuing physiological levels of network activity in front of the ever-changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Prestigio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Daniele Ferrante
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Antonella Marte
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
| | - Alessandra Romei
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square HouseLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Franco Onofri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
| | - Pierluigi Valente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
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14
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The potential roles of excitatory-inhibitory imbalances and the repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor in aging and aging-associated diseases. Mol Cell Neurosci 2021; 117:103683. [PMID: 34775008 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2021.103683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruptions to the central excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) balance are thought to be related to aging and underlie a host of neural pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease. Aging may induce an increase in excitatory signaling, causing an E/I imbalance, which has been linked to shorter lifespans in mice, flies, and worms. In humans, extended longevity correlates to greater repression of genes involved in excitatory neurotransmission. The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) is a master regulator in neural cells and is believed to be upregulated with senescent stimuli, whereupon it counters hyperexcitability, insulin/insulin-like signaling pathway activity, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration. This review examines the putative mechanisms that distort the E/I balance with aging and neurodegeneration, and the putative roles of REST in maintaining neuronal homeostasis.
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15
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Mirabella F, Desiato G, Mancinelli S, Fossati G, Rasile M, Morini R, Markicevic M, Grimm C, Amegandjin C, Termanini A, Peano C, Kunderfranco P, di Cristo G, Zerbi V, Menna E, Lodato S, Matteoli M, Pozzi D. Prenatal interleukin 6 elevation increases glutamatergic synapse density and disrupts hippocampal connectivity in offspring. Immunity 2021; 54:2611-2631.e8. [PMID: 34758338 PMCID: PMC8585508 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Early prenatal inflammatory conditions are thought to be a risk factor for different neurodevelopmental disorders. Maternal interleukin-6 (IL-6) elevation during pregnancy causes abnormal behavior in offspring, but whether these defects result from altered synaptic developmental trajectories remains unclear. Here we showed that transient IL-6 elevation via injection into pregnant mice or developing embryos enhanced glutamatergic synapses and led to overall brain hyperconnectivity in offspring into adulthood. IL-6 activated synaptogenesis gene programs in glutamatergic neurons and required the transcription factor STAT3 and expression of the RGS4 gene. The STAT3-RGS4 pathway was also activated in neonatal brains during poly(I:C)-induced maternal immune activation, which mimics viral infection during pregnancy. These findings indicate that IL-6 elevation at early developmental stages is sufficient to exert a long-lasting effect on glutamatergic synaptogenesis and brain connectivity, providing a mechanistic framework for the association between prenatal inflammatory events and brain neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Mirabella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Genni Desiato
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Mancinelli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliana Fossati
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Rasile
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Morini
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marija Markicevic
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, ETH Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Christina Grimm
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, ETH Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Clara Amegandjin
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Alberto Termanini
- Bioinformatic Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan, National Research Council, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Genomic Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Kunderfranco
- Bioinformatic Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Graziella di Cristo
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Valerio Zerbi
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, ETH Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland; Neural Control of Movement Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Elisabetta Menna
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Lodato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Matteoli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, 20139 Milan, Italy.
| | - Davide Pozzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
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16
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Rocchi A, Carminati E, De Fusco A, Kowalska JA, Floss T, Benfenati F. REST/NRSF deficiency impairs autophagy and leads to cellular senescence in neurons. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13471. [PMID: 34520100 PMCID: PMC8520714 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
During aging, brain performances decline. Cellular senescence is one of the aging drivers and a key feature of a variety of human age‐related disorders. The transcriptional repressor RE1‐silencing transcription factor (REST) has been associated with aging and higher risk of neurodegenerative disorders. However, how REST contributes to the senescence program and functional impairment remains largely unknown. Here, we report that REST is essential to prevent the senescence phenotype in primary mouse neurons. REST deficiency causes failure of autophagy and loss of proteostasis, increased oxidative stress, and higher rate of cell death. Re‐establishment of autophagy reverses the main hallmarks of senescence. Our data indicate that REST has a protective role in physiological aging by regulating the autophagic flux and the senescence program in neurons, with implications for neurological disorders associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rocchi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova Italy
| | - Emanuele Carminati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine University of Genova Genova Italy
| | - Antonio De Fusco
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova Italy
| | | | - Thomas Floss
- Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH) Neuherberg Germany
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova Italy
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17
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Fonseca-Barriendos D, Frías-Soria CL, Pérez-Pérez D, Gómez-López R, Borroto Escuela DO, Rocha L. Drug-resistant epilepsy: Drug target hypothesis and beyond the receptors. Epilepsia Open 2021; 7 Suppl 1:S23-S33. [PMID: 34542940 PMCID: PMC9340308 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects more than 50 million people worldwide. Despite a recent introduction of antiseizure drugs for the treatment of epileptic seizures, one-third of these patients suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). The therapeutic target hypothesis is a cited theory to explain DRE. According to the target hypothesis, the failure to achieve seizure freedom leads to alteration of the structure and/or function of the antiseizure medication (ASM) target. However, this hypothesis fails to explain why patients with DRE do not respond to antiseizure medications of different targets. This review presents different conditions, such as epigenetic mechanisms and protein-protein interactions that may result in alterations of diverse drug targets using different mechanisms. These novel conditions represent new targets to control DRE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Pérez-Pérez
- Plan of Combined Studies in Medicine (PECEM), Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - Rosenda Gómez-López
- Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, México
| | | | - Luisa Rocha
- Pharmacobiology Department, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, México City, México
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18
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Butler-Ryan R, Wood IC. The functions of repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor in models of epileptogenesis and post-ischemia. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:1135-1150. [PMID: 33813634 PMCID: PMC8272694 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00719-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a debilitating neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures for which 30% of patients are refractory to current treatments. The genetic and molecular aetiologies behind epilepsy are under investigation with the goal of developing new epilepsy medications. The transcriptional repressor REST (Repressor Element 1-Silencing Transcription factor) is a focus of interest as it is consistently upregulated in epilepsy patients and following brain insult in animal models of epilepsy and ischemia. This review analyses data from different epilepsy models and discusses the contribution of REST to epileptogenesis. We propose that in healthy brains REST acts in a protective manner to homeostatically downregulate increases in excitability, to protect against seizure through downregulation of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and its receptor, TrkB (Tropomyosin receptor kinase B). However, in epilepsy patients and post-seizure, REST may increase to a larger degree, which allows downregulation of the glutamate receptor subunit GluR2. This leads to AMPA glutamate receptors lacking GluR2 subunits, which have increased permeability to Ca2+, causing excitotoxicity, cell death and seizure. This concept highlights therapeutic potential of REST modulation through gene therapy in epilepsy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Butler-Ryan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
| | - Ian C. Wood
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
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19
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Ferrante D, Sterlini B, Prestigio C, Marte A, Corradi A, Onofri F, Tortarolo G, Vicidomini G, Petretto A, Muià J, Thalhammer A, Valente P, Cingolani LA, Benfenati F, Baldelli P. PRRT2 modulates presynaptic Ca 2+ influx by interacting with P/Q-type channels. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109248. [PMID: 34133925 PMCID: PMC8220258 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in proline-rich transmembrane protein-2 (PRRT2) cause paroxysmal disorders associated with defective Ca2+ dependence of glutamatergic transmission. We find that either acute or constitutive PRRT2 deletion induces a significant decrease in the amplitude of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) that is insensitive to extracellular Ca2+ and associated with a reduced contribution of P/Q-type Ca2+ channels to the EPSC amplitude. This synaptic phenotype parallels a decrease in somatic P/Q-type Ca2+ currents due to a decreased membrane targeting of the channel with unchanged total expression levels. Co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down assays, and proteomics reveal a specific and direct interaction of PRRT2 with P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. At presynaptic terminals lacking PRRT2, P/Q-type Ca2+ channels reduce their clustering at the active zone, with a corresponding decrease in the P/Q-dependent presynaptic Ca2+ signal. The data highlight the central role of PRRT2 in ensuring the physiological Ca2+ sensitivity of the release machinery at glutamatergic synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Ferrante
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Bruno Sterlini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Cosimo Prestigio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Antonella Marte
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Corradi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Franco Onofri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tortarolo
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen, 83B, 16152, Genova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vicidomini
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen, 83B, 16152, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Petretto
- Core Facilities-Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Jessica Muià
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Agnes Thalhammer
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Valente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo A Cingolani
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
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20
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Parrini M, Naskar S, Alberti M, Colombi I, Morelli G, Rocchi A, Nanni M, Piccardi F, Charles S, Ronzitti G, Mingozzi F, Contestabile A, Cancedda L. Restoring neuronal chloride homeostasis with anti-NKCC1 gene therapy rescues cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Down syndrome. Mol Ther 2021; 29:3072-3092. [PMID: 34058387 PMCID: PMC8531145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A common feature of diverse brain disorders is the alteration of GABA-mediated inhibition because of aberrant, intracellular chloride homeostasis induced by changes in the expression and/or function of chloride transporters. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of the chloride importer NKCC1 is able to rescue brain-related core deficits in animal models of these pathologies and in some human clinical studies. Here, we show that reducing NKCC1 expression by RNA interference in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome (DS) restores intracellular chloride concentration, efficacy of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibition, and neuronal network dynamics in vitro and ex vivo. Importantly, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated, neuron-specific NKCC1 knockdown in vivo rescues cognitive deficits in diverse behavioral tasks in Ts65Dn animals. Our results highlight a mechanistic link between NKCC1 expression and behavioral abnormalities in DS mice and establish a molecular target for new therapeutic approaches, including gene therapy, to treat brain disorders characterized by neuronal chloride imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Parrini
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Shovan Naskar
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Micol Alberti
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Colombi
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Morelli
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Rocchi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16132 Genoa, Italy; IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marina Nanni
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Federica Piccardi
- Animal Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Severine Charles
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France; Paris-Saclay University, University Evry, Inserm, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Giuseppe Ronzitti
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France; Paris-Saclay University, University Evry, Inserm, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Federico Mingozzi
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France; Paris-Saclay University, University Evry, Inserm, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Andrea Contestabile
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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21
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Resilience of network activity in preconditioned neurons exposed to 'stroke-in-a-dish' insults. Neurochem Int 2021; 146:105035. [PMID: 33798645 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Exposing cultured cortical neurons to stimulatory agents - the K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-ap), and the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (bic) - for 48 h induces down-regulated synaptic scaling, and preconditions neurons to withstand subsequent otherwise lethal 'stroke-in-a-dish' insults; however, the degree to which usual neuronal function remains is unknown. As a result, multi-electrode array and patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques were employed to characterize hallmarks of spontaneous synaptic activity over a 12-day preconditioning/insult experiment. Spiking frequency increased 8-fold immediately upon 4-ap/bic treatment but declined within the 48 h treatment window to sub-baseline levels that persisted long after washout. Preconditioning resulted in key markers of network activity - spiking frequency, bursting and avalanches - being impervious to an insult. Surprisingly, preconditioning resulted in higher peak NMDA mEPSC amplitudes, resulting in a decrease in the ratio of AMPA:NMDA mEPSC currents, suggesting a relative increase in synaptic NMDA receptors. An investigation of a broad mRNA panel of excitatory and inhibitory signaling mediators indicated preconditioning rapidly up-regulated GABA synthesis (GAD67) and BDNF, followed by up-regulation of neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin and down-regulation of presynaptic glutamate release (VGLUT1). Preconditioning also enhanced surface expression of GLT-1, which persisted following an insult. Overall, preconditioning resulted in a reduced spiking frequency which was impervious to subsequent exposure to 'stroke-in-a-dish' insults, a phenotype initiated predominantly by up-regulation of inhibitory neurotransmission, a lower neuronal postsynaptic AMPA: NMDA receptor ratio, and trafficking of GLT-1 to astrocyte plasma membranes.
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22
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Giving names to the actors of synaptic transmission: The long journey from synaptic vesicles to neural plasticity. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 90:19-37. [PMID: 33706933 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
More than a scientific paper or a review article, this is a remembrance of a unique time of science and life that the authors spent in Paul Greengard's laboratory at the Rockefeller University in New York in the 1980s and 1990s, forming the so-called synaptic vesicle group. It was a time in which the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and the nature of the organelles in charge of storing and releasing neurotransmitter were just beginning to be understood. It was an exciting time in which the protein composition of synaptic vesicles started to be identified. It turned out that the interactions of synaptic vesicle proteins with the cytoskeleton and the presynaptic membrane and their modulation by protein phosphorylation represented an essential network regulating the efficiency of neurotransmitter release and thereby synaptic strength and plasticity. This is also a description of the distinct scientific journeys that the three authors took on going back to Europe and how they were strongly influenced by the generous and outstanding mentorship of Paul Greengard, his genuine interest in their lives and careers and the life-long friendship with him.
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23
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Buffolo F, Petrosino V, Albini M, Moschetta M, Carlini F, Floss T, Kerlero de Rosbo N, Cesca F, Rocchi A, Uccelli A, Benfenati F. Neuroinflammation induces synaptic scaling through IL-1β-mediated activation of the transcriptional repressor REST/NRSF. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:180. [PMID: 33589593 PMCID: PMC7884694 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03465-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is associated with synapse dysfunction and cognitive decline in patients and animal models. One candidate for translating the inflammatory stress into structural and functional changes in neural networks is the transcriptional repressor RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) that regulates the expression of a wide cluster of neuron-specific genes during neurogenesis and in mature neurons. To study the cellular and molecular pathways activated under inflammatory conditions mimicking the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) environment, we analyzed REST activity in neuroblastoma cells and mouse cortical neurons treated with activated T cell or microglia supernatant and distinct pro-inflammatory cytokines. We found that REST is activated by a variety of neuroinflammatory stimuli in both neuroblastoma cells and primary neurons, indicating that a vast transcriptional change is triggered during neuroinflammation. While a dual activation of REST and its dominant-negative splicing isoform REST4 was observed in N2a neuroblastoma cells, primary neurons responded with a pure full-length REST upregulation in the absence of changes in REST4 expression. In both cases, REST upregulation was associated with activation of Wnt signaling and increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin, a well-known intracellular transduction pathway in neuroinflammation. Among single cytokines, IL-1β caused a potent and prompt increase in REST transcription and translation in neurons, which promoted a delayed and strong synaptic downscaling specific for excitatory synapses, with decreased frequency and amplitude of spontaneous synaptic currents, decreased density of excitatory synaptic connections, and decreased frequency of action potential-evoked Ca2+ transients. Most important, the IL-1β effects on excitatory transmission were strictly REST dependent, as conditional deletion of REST completely occluded the effects of IL-1β activation on synaptic transmission and network excitability. Our results demonstrate that REST upregulation represents a new pathogenic mechanism for the synaptic dysfunctions observed under neuroinflammatory conditions and identify the REST pathway as therapeutic target for EAE and, potentially, for multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Buffolo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Valentina Petrosino
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Largo P. Daneo, 3, 16132, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Martina Albini
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Matteo Moschetta
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Federico Carlini
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Largo P. Daneo, 3, 16132, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Thomas Floss
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nicole Kerlero de Rosbo
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Largo P. Daneo, 3, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Cesca
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy
| | - Anna Rocchi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
| | - Antonio Uccelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Largo P. Daneo, 3, 16132, Genova, Italy.
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
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24
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Mampay M, Velasco-Estevez M, Rolle SO, Chaney AM, Boutin H, Dev KK, Moeendarbary E, Sheridan GK. Spatiotemporal immunolocalisation of REST in the brain of healthy ageing and Alzheimer's disease rats. FEBS Open Bio 2020; 11:146-163. [PMID: 33185010 PMCID: PMC7780110 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In the brain, REST (Repressor Element‐1 Silencing Transcription factor) is a key regulator of neuron cell‐specific gene expression. Nuclear translocation of neuronal REST has been shown to be neuroprotective in a healthy ageing context. In contrast, inability to upregulate nuclear REST is thought to leave ageing neurons vulnerable to neurodegenerative stimuli, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Hippocampal and cortical neurons are known to be particularly susceptible to AD‐associated neurodegeneration. However, REST expression has not been extensively characterised in the healthy ageing brain. Here, we examined the spatiotemporal immunolocalisation of REST in the brains of healthy ageing wild‐type Fischer‐344 and transgenic Alzheimer’s disease rats (TgF344‐AD). Nuclear expression of REST increased from 6 months to 18 months of age in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and subiculum of wild‐type rats, but not in TgF344‐AD rats. No changes in REST were measured in more posterior cortical regions or in the thalamus. Interestingly, levels of the presynaptic marker synaptophysin, a known gene target of REST, were lower in CA1 hippocampal neurons of 18‐month TgF344‐AD rats compared to 18‐month wild‐types, suggesting that elevated nuclear REST may protect against synapse loss in the CA1 of 18‐month wild‐type rats. High REST expression in ageing wild‐type rats did not, however, protect against axonal loss nor against astroglial reactivity in the hippocampus. Taken together, our data confirm that changes in nuclear REST expression are context‐, age‐ and brain region‐specific. Moreover, key brain structures involved in learning and memory display elevated REST expression in healthy ageing wild‐type rats but not TgF344‐AD rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrthe Mampay
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, UK
| | - María Velasco-Estevez
- Drug Development, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sara O Rolle
- The Sainsbury Welcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, UK
| | - Aisling M Chaney
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Hervé Boutin
- Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, UK.,Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Kumlesh K Dev
- Drug Development, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Graham K Sheridan
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK
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25
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Conboy K, Henshall DC, Brennan GP. Epigenetic principles underlying epileptogenesis and epilepsy syndromes. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 148:105179. [PMID: 33181318 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a network disorder driven by fundamental changes in the function of the cells which compose these networks. Driving this aberrant cellular function are large scale changes in gene expression and gene expression regulation. Recent studies have revealed rapid and persistent changes in epigenetic control of gene expression as a critical regulator of the epileptic transcriptome. Epigenetic-mediated gene output regulates many aspects of cellular physiology including neuronal structure, neurotransmitter assembly and abundance, protein abundance of ion channels and other critical neuronal processes. Thus, understanding the contribution of epigenetic-mediated gene regulation could illuminate novel regulatory mechanisms which may form the basis of novel therapeutic approaches to treat epilepsy. In this review we discuss the effects of epileptogenic brain insults on epigenetic regulation of gene expression, recent efforts to target epigenetic processes to block epileptogenesis and the prospects of an epigenetic-based therapy for epilepsy, and finally we discuss technological advancements which have facilitated the interrogation of the epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Conboy
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; FutureNeuro, the SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David C Henshall
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; FutureNeuro, the SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Gary P Brennan
- FutureNeuro, the SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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26
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Pinto B, Morelli G, Rastogi M, Savardi A, Fumagalli A, Petretto A, Bartolucci M, Varea E, Catelani T, Contestabile A, Perlini LE, Cancedda L. Rescuing Over-activated Microglia Restores Cognitive Performance in Juvenile Animals of the Dp(16) Mouse Model of Down Syndrome. Neuron 2020; 108:887-904.e12. [PMID: 33027640 PMCID: PMC7736620 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are brain-resident immune cells and regulate mechanisms essential for cognitive functions. Down syndrome (DS), the most frequent cause of genetic intellectual disability, is caused by a supernumerary chromosome 21, containing also genes related to the immune system. In the hippocampus of the Dp(16) mouse model of DS and DS individuals, we found activated microglia, as assessed by their morphology; activation markers; and, for DS mice, electrophysiological profile. Accordingly, we found increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and altered interferon signaling in Dp(16) hippocampi. DS mice also showed decreased spine density and activity of hippocampal neurons and hippocampus-dependent cognitive behavioral deficits. Depletion of defective microglia or treatment with a commonly used anti-inflammatory drug rescued the neuronal spine and activity impairments and cognitive deficits in juvenile Dp(16) mice. Our results suggest an involvement of microglia in Dp(16)-mouse cognitive deficits and identify a new potential therapeutic approach for cognitive disabilities in DS individuals. DS mice display microglia alterations and cognitive impairment Depletion of microglia rescues cognitive impairment in DS mice Acetaminophen treatment rescues microglia and cognitive impairments in DS mice Brain samples of DS people recapitulate microglia alterations observed in DS mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Pinto
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Morelli
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Mohit Rastogi
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Annalisa Savardi
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Amos Fumagalli
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Petretto
- Core Facilities - Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Martina Bartolucci
- Core Facilities - Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emilio Varea
- Cellular Biology Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Tiziano Catelani
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Contestabile
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Laura E Perlini
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Presynaptic L-Type Ca 2+ Channels Increase Glutamate Release Probability and Excitatory Strength in the Hippocampus during Chronic Neuroinflammation. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6825-6841. [PMID: 32747440 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2981-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of several neurologic disorders, including epilepsy. Both changes in the input/output functions of synaptic circuits and cell Ca2+ dysregulation participate in neuroinflammation, but their impact on neuron function in epilepsy is still poorly understood. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a toxic byproduct of bacterial lysis, has been extensively used to stimulate inflammatory responses both in vivo and in vitro LPS stimulates Toll-like receptor 4, an important mediator of the brain innate immune response that contributes to neuroinflammation processes. Although we report that Toll-like receptor 4 is expressed in both excitatory and inhibitory mouse hippocampal neurons (both sexes), its chronic stimulation by LPS induces a selective increase in the excitatory synaptic strength, characterized by enhanced synchronous and asynchronous glutamate release mechanisms. This effect is accompanied by a change in short-term plasticity with decreased facilitation, decreased post-tetanic potentiation, and increased depression. Quantal analysis demonstrated that the effects of LPS on excitatory transmission are attributable to an increase in the probability of release associated with an overall increased expression of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels that, at presynaptic terminals, abnormally contributes to evoked glutamate release. Overall, these changes contribute to the excitatory/inhibitory imbalance that scales up neuronal network activity under inflammatory conditions. These results provide new molecular clues for treating hyperexcitability of hippocampal circuits associated with neuroinflammation in epilepsy and other neurologic disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuroinflammation is thought to have a pathogenetic role in epilepsy, a disorder characterized by an imbalance between excitation/inhibition. Fine adjustment of network excitability and regulation of synaptic strength are both implicated in the homeostatic maintenance of physiological levels of neuronal activity. Here, we focused on the effects of chronic neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharides on hippocampal glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. Our results show that, on chronic stimulation with lipopolysaccharides, glutamatergic, but not GABAergic, neurons exhibit an enhanced synaptic strength and changes in short-term plasticity because of an increased glutamate release that results from an anomalous contribution of L-type Ca2+ channels to neurotransmitter release.
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28
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Colasante G, Qiu Y, Massimino L, Di Berardino C, Cornford JH, Snowball A, Weston M, Jones SP, Giannelli S, Lieb A, Schorge S, Kullmann DM, Broccoli V, Lignani G. In vivo CRISPRa decreases seizures and rescues cognitive deficits in a rodent model of epilepsy. Brain 2020; 143:891-905. [PMID: 32129831 PMCID: PMC7089667 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a major health burden, calling for new mechanistic insights and therapies. CRISPR-mediated gene editing shows promise to cure genetic pathologies, although hitherto it has mostly been applied ex vivo. Its translational potential for treating non-genetic pathologies is still unexplored. Furthermore, neurological diseases represent an important challenge for the application of CRISPR, because of the need in many cases to manipulate gene function of neurons in situ. A variant of CRISPR, CRISPRa, offers the possibility to modulate the expression of endogenous genes by directly targeting their promoters. We asked if this strategy can effectively treat acquired focal epilepsy, focusing on ion channels because their manipulation is known be effective in changing network hyperactivity and hypersynchronziation. We applied a doxycycline-inducible CRISPRa technology to increase the expression of the potassium channel gene Kcna1 (encoding Kv1.1) in mouse hippocampal excitatory neurons. CRISPRa-mediated Kv1.1 upregulation led to a substantial decrease in neuronal excitability. Continuous video-EEG telemetry showed that AAV9-mediated delivery of CRISPRa, upon doxycycline administration, decreased spontaneous generalized tonic-clonic seizures in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy, and rescued cognitive impairment and transcriptomic alterations associated with chronic epilepsy. The focal treatment minimizes concerns about off-target effects in other organs and brain areas. This study provides the proof-of-principle for a translational CRISPR-based approach to treat neurological diseases characterized by abnormal circuit excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Colasante
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Yichen Qiu
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Luca Massimino
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Jonathan H Cornford
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Albert Snowball
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mikail Weston
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Steffan P Jones
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Serena Giannelli
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Andreas Lieb
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephanie Schorge
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dimitri M Kullmann
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vania Broccoli
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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Lignani G, Baldelli P, Marra V. Homeostatic Plasticity in Epilepsy. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:197. [PMID: 32676011 PMCID: PMC7333442 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In the healthy brain, neuronal excitability and synaptic strength are homeostatically regulated to keep neuronal network activity within physiological boundaries. Epilepsy is characterized by episodes of highly synchronized firing across in widespread neuronal populations, due to a failure in regulation of network activity. Here we consider epilepsy as a failure of homeostatic plasticity or as a maladaptive response to perturbations in the activity. How homeostatic compensation is involved in epileptogenic processes or in the chronic phase of epilepsy, is still debated. Although several theories have been proposed, there is relatively little experimental evidence to evaluate them. In this perspective, we will discuss recent results that shed light on the potential role of homeostatic plasticity in epilepsy. First, we will present some recent insights on how homeostatic compensations are probably active before and during epileptogenesis and how their actions are temporally regulated and closely dependent on the progression of pathology. Then, we will consider the dual role of transcriptional regulation during epileptogenesis, and finally, we will underline the importance of homeostatic plasticity in the context of therapeutic interventions for epilepsy. While classic pharmacological interventions may be counteracted by the epileptic brain to maintain its potentially dysfunctional set point, novel therapeutic approaches may provide the neuronal network with the tools necessary to restore its physiological balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Lignani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Marra
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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30
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Thalhammer A, Jaudon F, Cingolani LA. Emerging Roles of Activity-Dependent Alternative Splicing in Homeostatic Plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:104. [PMID: 32477067 PMCID: PMC7235277 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeostatic plasticity refers to the ability of neuronal networks to stabilize their activity in the face of external perturbations. Most forms of homeostatic plasticity ultimately depend on changes in the expression or activity of ion channels and synaptic proteins, which may occur at the gene, transcript, or protein level. The most extensively investigated homeostatic mechanisms entail adaptations in protein function or localization following activity-dependent posttranslational modifications. Numerous studies have also highlighted how homeostatic plasticity can be achieved by adjusting local protein translation at synapses or transcription of specific genes in the nucleus. In comparison, little attention has been devoted to whether and how alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs underlies some forms of homeostatic plasticity. AS not only expands proteome diversity but also contributes to the spatiotemporal dynamics of mRNA transcripts. Prominent in the brain where it can be regulated by neuronal activity, it is a flexible process, tightly controlled by a multitude of factors. Given its extensive use and versatility in optimizing the function of ion channels and synaptic proteins, we argue that AS is ideally suited to achieve homeostatic control of neuronal output. We support this thesis by reviewing emerging evidence linking AS to various forms of homeostatic plasticity: homeostatic intrinsic plasticity, synaptic scaling, and presynaptic homeostatic plasticity. Further, we highlight the relevance of this connection for brain pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Thalhammer
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fanny Jaudon
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo A Cingolani
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa, Italy.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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31
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Bursch F, Kalmbach N, Naujock M, Staege S, Eggenschwiler R, Abo-Rady M, Japtok J, Guo W, Hensel N, Reinhardt P, Boeckers TM, Cantz T, Sterneckert J, Van Den Bosch L, Hermann A, Petri S, Wegner F. Altered calcium dynamics and glutamate receptor properties in iPSC-derived motor neurons from ALS patients with C9orf72, FUS, SOD1 or TDP43 mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2835-2850. [PMID: 31108504 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The fatal neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by a profound loss of motor neurons (MNs). Until now only riluzole minimally extends life expectancy in ALS, presumably by inhibiting glutamatergic neurotransmission and calcium overload of MNs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the glutamate receptor properties and key aspects of intracellular calcium dynamics in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MNs from ALS patients with C9orf72 (n = 4 cell lines), fused in sarcoma (FUS) (n = 9), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) (n = 3) or transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) (n = 3) mutations as well as healthy (n = 7 cell lines) and isogenic controls (n = 3). Using calcium imaging, we most frequently observed spontaneous transients in mutant C9orf72 MNs. Basal intracellular calcium levels and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)-induced signal amplitudes were elevated in mutant TDP43 MNs. Besides, a majority of mutant TDP43 MNs responded to 3.5-dihydroxyphenylglycine as metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated significantly increased expression levels of AMPA and kainate receptors in mutant FUS cells compared to healthy and isogenic controls. Furthermore, the expression of kainate receptors and voltage gated calcium channels in mutant C9orf72 MNs as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors in mutant SOD1 cells was markedly elevated compared to controls. Our data of iPSC-derived MNs from familial ALS patients revealed several mutation-specific alterations in glutamate receptor properties and calcium dynamics that could play a role in ALS pathogenesis and may lead to future translational strategies with individual stratification of neuroprotective ALS treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Bursch
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Norman Kalmbach
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Maximilian Naujock
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Selma Staege
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reto Eggenschwiler
- Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Julia Japtok
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Wenting Guo
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias Cantz
- Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
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32
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Chmielewska N, Wawer A, Maciejak P, Turzyńska D, Sobolewska A, Skórzewska A, Osuch B, Płaźnik A, Szyndler J. The role of REST/NRSF, TrkB and BDNF in neurobiological mechanisms of different susceptibility to seizure in a PTZ model of epilepsy. Brain Res Bull 2020; 158:108-115. [PMID: 32151715 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Global transcriptional disturbances are believed to play a major role in the course of epilepsy. Due to the high complexity, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying different susceptibility to seizure and epilepsy are not well known. A transcription factor called REST/NRSF (repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencer factor) is believed to contribute to processes associated with seizure development. Its downstream genes, those encoding BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and TrkB (BDNF receptor; tropomyosin receptor kinase B), are also thought to play a role. To verify this hypothesis, we used a PTZ kindling model of epilepsy and divided animals into groups according to their different susceptibility to seizure. The concentrations of REST/NRSF, BDNF, and TrkB protein and mRNA were measured in hippocampal homogenates. The level of REST/NRSF protein measured 24 h after the last PTZ injection was increased in animals resistant to kindling and was unchanged in groups of rats kindled after 5, 10 and 20 in.ections of PTZ. In contrast, TrkB protein concentration was enhanced in all kindled rats and was unchanged in the resistant rats. There were no changes in the protein concentration of BDNF in rats with different susceptibility to kindling; however, data from the combined kindled groups vs. the resistant group revealed an increased level of BDNF in resistant animals. In sum, the increased level of protein REST/NRSF in resistant animals may reflect its neuroprotective role against seizure development. The increased concentration of TrkB protein in kindled animals indicates its pivotal role in the process of epileptogenesis. We propose that in resistant rats, REST/NRSF could contribute to the prevention of TrkB activation related to seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Chmielewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Adriana Wawer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Piotr Maciejak
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Danuta Turzyńska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Alicja Sobolewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Anna Skórzewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Bartosz Osuch
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Adam Płaźnik
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Janusz Szyndler
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
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33
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Carminati E, Buffolo F, Rocchi A, Michetti C, Cesca F, Benfenati F. Mild Inactivation of RE-1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST) Reduces Susceptibility to Kainic Acid-Induced Seizures. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 13:580. [PMID: 31998079 PMCID: PMC6965066 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RE-1 Silencing Transcription factor (REST) controls several steps in neural development by modulating the expression of a wide range of neural genes. Alterations in REST expression have been associated with the onset of epilepsy; however, whether such alterations are deleterious or represent a protective homeostatic response remains elusive. To study the impact of REST modulation on seizure propensity, we developed a tool for its negative modulation in vivo. The tool is composed of the paired-amphipathic helix 1 (PAH1) domain, a competitive inhibitor of REST activation by mSin3, fused to the light-oxygen-voltage sensing 2 (LOV2) domain of Avena sativa phototropin 1, a molecular switch to alternatively hide or expose the PAH1 inhibitor. We employed the C450A and I539E light-independent AsLOV2 variants to mimic the closed (inactive) and open (active) states of LOV2-PAH1, respectively. Recombinant AAV1/2 viral particles (rAAVs) allowed LOV2-PAH1 expression in HEK293T cells and primary neurons, and efficiently transduced hippocampal neurons in vivo. mRNA expression analysis revealed an increased expression of several neuronal genes in the hippocampi of mice expressing the open probe. AAV-transduced mice received a single dose of kainic acid (KA), a treatment known to induce a transient increase of REST levels in the hippocampus. Remarkably, mice expressing the active variant displayed a reduced number of KA-induced seizures, which were less severe compared to mice carrying the inactive probe. These data support the validity of our tool to modulate REST activity in vivo and the potential impact of REST modulation on epileptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Carminati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Buffolo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Rocchi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Caterina Michetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Cesca
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
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34
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Tyssowski KM, Letai KC, Rendall SD, Tan C, Nizhnik A, Kaeser PS, Gray JM. Firing Rate Homeostasis Can Occur in the Absence of Neuronal Activity-Regulated Transcription. J Neurosci 2019; 39:9885-9899. [PMID: 31672790 PMCID: PMC6978944 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1108-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite dynamic inputs, neuronal circuits maintain relatively stable firing rates over long periods. This maintenance of firing rate, or firing rate homeostasis, is likely mediated by homeostatic mechanisms such as synaptic scaling and regulation of intrinsic excitability. Because some of these homeostatic mechanisms depend on transcription of activity-regulated genes, including Arc and Homer1a, we hypothesized that activity-regulated transcription would be required for firing rate homeostasis. Surprisingly, however, we found that cultured mouse cortical neurons from both sexes grown on multi-electrode arrays homeostatically adapt their firing rates to persistent pharmacological stimulation even when activity-regulated transcription is disrupted. Specifically, we observed firing rate homeostasis in Arc knock-out neurons, as well as knock-out neurons lacking the activity-regulated transcription factors AP1 and SRF. Firing rate homeostasis also occurred normally during acute pharmacological blockade of transcription. Thus, firing rate homeostasis in response to increased neuronal activity can occur in the absence of neuronal-activity-regulated transcription.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuronal circuits maintain relatively stable firing rates even in the face of dynamic circuit inputs. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable this firing rate homeostasis could potentially provide insight into neuronal diseases that present with an imbalance of excitation and inhibition. It has long been proposed that activity-regulated transcription could underlie firing rate homeostasis because activity-regulated genes turn on when neurons are above their target firing rates and include many genes that could regulate firing rate. Surprisingly, despite this prediction, we found that cortical neurons can undergo firing rate homeostasis in the absence of activity-regulated transcription, indicating that firing rate homeostasis can be controlled by non-transcriptional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Chao Tan
- Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | | | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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35
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Moderation of neural excitation promotes longevity. Nature 2019; 574:338-340. [DOI: 10.1038/d41586-019-02958-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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36
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Zullo JM, Drake D, Aron L, O'Hern P, Dhamne SC, Davidsohn N, Mao CA, Klein WH, Rotenberg A, Bennett DA, Church GM, Colaiácovo MP, Yankner BA. Regulation of lifespan by neural excitation and REST. Nature 2019; 574:359-364. [PMID: 31619788 PMCID: PMC6893853 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms that extend lifespan in humans are poorly understood. Here we show that extended longevity in humans is associated with a distinct transcriptome signature in the cerebral cortex that is characterized by downregulation of genes related to neural excitation and synaptic function. In Caenorhabditis elegans, neural excitation increases with age and inhibition of excitation globally, or in glutamatergic or cholinergic neurons, increases longevity. Furthermore, longevity is dynamically regulated by the excitatory-inhibitory balance of neural circuits. The transcription factor REST is upregulated in humans with extended longevity and represses excitation-related genes. Notably, REST-deficient mice exhibit increased cortical activity and neuronal excitability during ageing. Similarly, loss-of-function mutations in the C. elegans REST orthologue genes spr-3 and spr-4 elevate neural excitation and reduce the lifespan of long-lived daf-2 mutants. In wild-type worms, overexpression of spr-4 suppresses excitation and extends lifespan. REST, SPR-3, SPR-4 and reduced excitation activate the longevity-associated transcription factors FOXO1 and DAF-16 in mammals and worms, respectively. These findings reveal a conserved mechanism of ageing that is mediated by neural circuit activity and regulated by REST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Zullo
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derek Drake
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liviu Aron
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick O'Hern
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sameer C Dhamne
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noah Davidsohn
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chai-An Mao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William H Klein
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Rotenberg
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Bruce A Yankner
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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37
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Frere S, Slutsky I. Alzheimer's Disease: From Firing Instability to Homeostasis Network Collapse. Neuron 2019; 97:32-58. [PMID: 29301104 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) starts from pure cognitive impairments and gradually progresses into degeneration of specific brain circuits. Although numerous factors initiating AD have been extensively studied, the common principles underlying the transition from cognitive deficits to neuronal loss remain unknown. Here we describe an evolutionarily conserved, integrated homeostatic network (IHN) that enables functional stability of central neural circuits and safeguards from neurodegeneration. We identify the critical modules comprising the IHN and propose a central role of neural firing in controlling the complex homeostatic network at different spatial scales. We hypothesize that firing instability and impaired synaptic plasticity at early AD stages trigger a vicious cycle, leading to dysregulation of the whole IHN. According to this hypothesis, the IHN collapse represents the major driving force of the transition from early memory impairments to neurodegeneration. Understanding the core elements of homeostatic control machinery, the reciprocal connections between distinct IHN modules, and the role of firing homeostasis in this hierarchy has important implications for physiology and should offer novel conceptual approaches for AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Frere
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inna Slutsky
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
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38
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Navarrete-Modesto V, Orozco-Suárez S, Alonso-Vanegas M, Feria-Romero IA, Rocha L. REST/NRSF transcription factor is overexpressed in hippocampus of patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 94:118-123. [PMID: 30903955 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription factor or Neuron-Restrictive Silencer Factor (REST/NRSF) is a zinc finger repressor transcription factor of the Kruppel family. Several studies in experimental models have shown that overexpression of REST/NRSF occurs after the induction of seizures. In the present study, the expression of REST/NRSF (messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein) was evaluated in the hippocampus of 28 patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and their correlation with clinical variables and comorbid anxiety and depression. The REST/NRSF protein expression was augmented in an age-dependent manner in the hippocampus of autopsied subjects. However, this condition was not observed in patients with MTLE, in whom overexpression of this transcription factor occurred at both the mRNA and protein levels. The correlations with clinical variables showed that the frequency of epileptic seizures was proportional to the protein expression of REST/NRSF. The results revealed that the overexpression of REST/NRSF was more evident in patients with MTLE without anxiety and depression. Our data indicate that the expression of REST/NRSF is modified in patients with MTLE. This condition has implications in the pathophysiology of this disorder, making it a potential candidate for the optimization of clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Navarrete-Modesto
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico; Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades "Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda", Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Sandra Orozco-Suárez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades "Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda", Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Mario Alonso-Vanegas
- Departamento de Neurocirugía, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suarez", Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Iris A Feria-Romero
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades "Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda", Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Luisa Rocha
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico.
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39
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Mampay M, Sheridan GK. REST: An epigenetic regulator of neuronal stress responses in the young and ageing brain. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 53:100744. [PMID: 31004616 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The transcriptional repressor REST (Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription factor) is a key modulator of the neuronal epigenome and targets genes involved in neuronal differentiation, axonal growth, vesicular transport, ion channel conductance and synaptic plasticity. Whilst its gene expression-modifying properties have been examined extensively in neuronal development, REST's response towards stress-induced neuronal insults has only recently been explored. Overall, REST appears to be an ideal candidate to fine-tune neuronal gene expression following different forms of cellular, neuropathological, psychological and physical stressors. Upregulation of REST is reportedly protective against premature neural stem cell depletion, neuronal hyperexcitability, oxidative stress, neuroendocrine system dysfunction and neuropathology. In contrast, neuronal REST activation has also been linked to neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Here, we highlight key findings and discrepancies surrounding our current understanding of REST's function in neuronal adaptation to stress and explore its potential role in neuronal stress resilience in the young and ageing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrthe Mampay
- Neuroimmunology & Neurotherapeutics Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
| | - Graham K Sheridan
- Neuroimmunology & Neurotherapeutics Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK.
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40
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Rocchi A, Moretti D, Lignani G, Colombo E, Scholz-Starke J, Baldelli P, Tkatch T, Benfenati F. Neurite-Enriched MicroRNA-218 Stimulates Translation of the GluA2 Subunit and Increases Excitatory Synaptic Strength. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:5701-5714. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1492-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Modulator-Gated, SUMOylation-Mediated, Activity-Dependent Regulation of Ionic Current Densities Contributes to Short-Term Activity Homeostasis. J Neurosci 2018; 39:596-611. [PMID: 30504282 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1379-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurons operate within defined activity limits, and feedback control mechanisms dynamically tune ionic currents to maintain this optimal range. This study describes a novel, rapid feedback mechanism that uses SUMOylation to continuously adjust ionic current densities according to changes in activity. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is a peptide that can be post-translationally conjugated to ion channels to influence their surface expression and biophysical properties. Neuronal activity can regulate the extent of protein SUMOylation. This study on the single, unambiguously identifiable lateral pyloric neuron (LP), a component of the pyloric network in the stomatogastric nervous system of male and female spiny lobsters (Panulirus interruptus), focused on dynamic SUMOylation in the context of activity homeostasis. There were four major findings: First, neuronal activity adjusted the balance between SUMO conjugation and deconjugation to continuously and bidirectionally fine-tune the densities of two opposing conductances: the hyperpolarization activated current (Ih) and the transient potassium current (IA). Second, tonic 5 nm dopamine (DA) gated activity-dependent SUMOylation to permit and prevent activity-dependent regulation of Ih and IA, respectively. Third, DA-gated, activity-dependent SUMOylation contributed to a feedback mechanism that restored the timing and duration of LP activity during prolonged modulation by 5 μm DA, which initially altered these and other activity features. Fourth, DA modulatory and metamoduatory (gating) effects were tailored to simultaneously alter and stabilize neuronal output. Our findings suggest that modulatory tone may select a subset of rapid activity-dependent mechanisms from a larger menu to achieve homeostasis under varying conditions.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Post-translational SUMOylation of ion channel subunits controls their interactions. When subunit SUMOylation is dysregulated, conductance densities mediated by the channels are distorted, leading to nervous system disorders, such as seizures and chronic pain. Regulation of ion channel SUMOylation is poorly understood. This study demonstrated that neuronal activity can regulate SUMOylation to reconfigure ionic current densities over minutes, and this regulation was gated by tonic nanomolar dopamine. Dynamic SUMOylation was necessary to maintain specific aspects of neuronal output while the neuron was being modulated by high (5 μm) concentrations of dopamine, suggesting that the gating function may ensure neuronal homeostasis during extrinsic modulation of a circuit.
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42
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Estrada-Sánchez AM, Castro D, Portillo-Ortiz K, Jang K, Nedjat-Haiem M, Levine MS, Cepeda C. Complete but not partial inhibition of glutamate transporters exacerbates cortical excitability in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 25:509-518. [PMID: 30311425 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Deficient glutamate reuptake occurs in the cerebral cortex of Huntington's disease (HD) patients and murine models. Here, we examine the effects of partial or complete blockade of glutamate transporters on excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) of cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs). METHODS Whole-cell patch clamp recordings of CPNs in slices from symptomatic R6/2 mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were used to examine the effects of selective or concurrent inhibition of glutamate reuptake transporters. RESULTS Selective inhibition of the glial glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) or the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) produced slight decreases in decay time of evoked EPSCs in CPNs from WT and R6/2 mice with no significant differences between genotypes. In contrast, concurrent inhibition of both transporters with DL-TBOA induced a significant increase in area and decay time and this effect was significantly greater in R6/2 CPNs. Furthermore, full blockade also reduced spontaneous EPSC frequency and exacerbated epileptiform activity in CPNs from symptomatic R6/2 mice. CONCLUSIONS R6/2 CPNs are more sensitive to glutamate accumulation during full inhibition of both glutamate transporters, and these neurons have homeostatic mechanisms to cope with inhibition of GLT-1 or GLAST by a mechanism that involves upregulation of either transporter when the other is deficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana María Estrada-Sánchez
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Daniel Castro
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kenia Portillo-Ortiz
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Katrina Jang
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael Nedjat-Haiem
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael S Levine
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Carlos Cepeda
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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43
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Valente P, Romei A, Fadda M, Sterlini B, Lonardoni D, Forte N, Fruscione F, Castroflorio E, Michetti C, Giansante G, Valtorta F, Tsai JW, Zara F, Nieus T, Corradi A, Fassio A, Baldelli P, Benfenati F. Constitutive Inactivation of the PRRT2 Gene Alters Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity and Promotes Network Hyperexcitability in Hippocampal Neurons. Cereb Cortex 2018; 29:2010-2033. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Valente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Romei
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Manuela Fadda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
| | - Bruno Sterlini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Davide Lonardoni
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, Italy
| | - Nicola Forte
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Floriana Fruscione
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, Department Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, Genova, Italy
| | - Enrico Castroflorio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Caterina Michetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Giorgia Giansante
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
| | - Flavia Valtorta
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita Salute University, Via Olgettina 58, Milano, Italy
| | - Jin-Wu Tsai
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Federico Zara
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, Department Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, Genova, Italy
| | - Thierry Nieus
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Corradi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Fassio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genova, Italy
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44
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Corradini I, Focchi E, Rasile M, Morini R, Desiato G, Tomasoni R, Lizier M, Ghirardini E, Fesce R, Morone D, Barajon I, Antonucci F, Pozzi D, Matteoli M. Maternal Immune Activation Delays Excitatory-to-Inhibitory Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Switch in Offspring. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:680-691. [PMID: 29146047 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between maternal infection and neurodevelopmental defects in progeny is well established, although the biological mechanisms and the pathogenic trajectories involved have not been defined. METHODS Pregnant dams were injected intraperitoneally at gestational day 9 with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid. Neuronal development was assessed by means of electrophysiological, optical, and biochemical analyses. RESULTS Prenatal exposure to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid causes an imbalanced expression of the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter 1 and the K+-Cl- cotransporter 2 (KCC2). This results in delayed gamma-aminobutyric acid switch and higher susceptibility to seizures, which endures up to adulthood. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments reveal increased binding of the repressor factor RE1-silencing transcription (also known as neuron-restrictive silencer factor) to position 509 of the KCC2 promoter that leads to downregulation of KCC2 transcription in prenatally exposed offspring. Interleukin-1 receptor type I knockout mice, which display braked immune response and no brain cytokine elevation upon maternal immune activation, do not display KCC2/Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter 1 imbalance when implanted in a wild-type dam and prenatally exposed. Notably, pretreatment of pregnant dams with magnesium sulfate is sufficient to prevent the early inflammatory state and the delay in excitatory-to-inhibitory switch associated to maternal immune activation. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence that maternal immune activation hits a key neurodevelopmental process, the excitatory-to-inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid switch; defects in this switch have been unequivocally linked to diseases such as autism spectrum disorder or epilepsy. These data open the avenue for a safe pharmacological treatment that may prevent the neurodevelopmental defects caused by prenatal immune activation in a specific pregnancy time window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Corradini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Focchi
- Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, Milan, Italy; Department of Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Rasile
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy; Hunimed University, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Raffaella Morini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Genni Desiato
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy; University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Romana Tomasoni
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Michela Lizier
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy; Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research - National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | - Elsa Ghirardini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy; Department of Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Fesce
- Hunimed University, Rozzano, Italy; Neuroscience Center, Dipartimento di Scienze Teoriche e Applicate, Insubria University, Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Diego Morone
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy
| | | | - Flavia Antonucci
- Department of Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Pozzi
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy; Hunimed University, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Michela Matteoli
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience - National Research Council, Milan, Italy.
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45
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Styr B, Slutsky I. Imbalance between firing homeostasis and synaptic plasticity drives early-phase Alzheimer's disease. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:463-473. [PMID: 29403035 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0080-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
During recent years, the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a major focus of research. Continued failures in clinical trials and the realization that early intervention may offer better therapeutic outcome triggered a conceptual shift from late-stage AD pathology to early-stage pathophysiology. While much effort has been directed at understanding the factors initiating AD, little is known about the principle basis underlying the disease progression at its early stages. In this Perspective, we suggest a hypothesis to explain the transition from 'silent' signatures of aberrant neural circuit activity to clinically evident memory impairments. Namely, we propose that failures in firing homeostasis and imbalance between firing stability and synaptic plasticity in cortico-hippocampal circuits represent the driving force of early disease progression. We analyze the main types of possible homeostatic failures and provide the essential conceptual framework for examining the causal link between dysregulation of firing homeostasis, aberrant neural circuit activity and memory-related plasticity impairments associated with early AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boaz Styr
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inna Slutsky
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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46
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Hajiali H, Contestabile A, Mele E, Athanassiou A. Influence of topography of nanofibrous scaffolds on functionality of engineered neural tissue. J Mater Chem B 2018; 6:930-939. [PMID: 32254373 DOI: 10.1039/c7tb02969a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Properly engineered scaffolds combined with functional neurons can be instrumental for the effective repair of the neural tissue. In particular, it is essential to investigate how three-dimensional (3D) systems and topographical features can impact on neuronal activity to obtain engineered functional neural tissues. In this study, polyphenylene sulfone (PPSu) scaffolds constituted by randomly distributed or aligned electrospun nanofibers were fabricated to evaluate the neural activity in 3D culture environments for the first time. The obtained results demonstrated that the nanofibers can successfully support the adhesion and growth of neural stem cells (NSCs) and enhance neuronal differentiation compared to 2D substrates. In addition, NSCs could spread and migrate along the aligned fibers. The percentage of active NSC-derived neurons and the overall network activity in the fibrous substrates were also remarkably enhanced. Finally, the data of neuronal activity showed not only that the neurons cultured on the nanofibers are part of a functional network, but also that their activity increases, and the direction of neural signals can be controlled in the aligned 3D scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hajiali
- Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy.
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47
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Song Z, Zhu T, Zhou X, Barrow P, Yang W, Cui Y, Yang L, Zhao D. REST alleviates neurotoxic prion peptide-induced synaptic abnormalities, neurofibrillary degeneration and neuronal death partially via LRP6-mediated Wnt-β-catenin signaling. Oncotarget 2017; 7:12035-52. [PMID: 26919115 PMCID: PMC4914267 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of infectious neurodegenerative diseases characterized by multiple neuropathological hallmarks including synaptic damage, spongiform degeneration and neuronal death. The factors and mechanisms that maintain cellular morphological integrity and protect against neurodegeneration in prion diseases are still unclear. Here we report that after stimulation with the neurotoxic PrP106-126 fragment in primary cortical neurons, REST translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and protects neurons from harmful effects of PrP106-126. Overexpression of REST reduces pathological damage and abnormal biochemical alterations of neurons induced by PrP106-126 and maintains neuronal viability by stabilizing the level of pro-survival protein FOXO1 and inhibiting the permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm and the activation of Capase3. Conversely, knockdown of REST exacerbates morphological damage and inhibits the expression of FOXO1. Additionally, by overexpression or knockdown of LRP6, we further show that LRP6-mediated Wnt-β-catenin signaling partly regulates the expression of REST. Collectively, we demonstrate for the first time novel neuroprotective function of REST in prion diseases and hypothesise that the LRP6-Wnt-β-catenin/REST signaling plays critical and collaborative roles in neuroprotection. This signaling of neuronal survival regulation could be explored as a viable therapeutic target for prion diseases and associated neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqi Song
- The State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Zhu
- The State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangmei Zhou
- The State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Paul Barrow
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Wei Yang
- The State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongyong Cui
- The State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lifeng Yang
- The State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Deming Zhao
- The State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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48
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Parrini M, Ghezzi D, Deidda G, Medrihan L, Castroflorio E, Alberti M, Baldelli P, Cancedda L, Contestabile A. Aerobic exercise and a BDNF-mimetic therapy rescue learning and memory in a mouse model of Down syndrome. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16825. [PMID: 29203796 PMCID: PMC5715062 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17201-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21 and represents the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability. The trisomic Ts65Dn mouse model of DS shows synaptic deficits and reproduces the essential cognitive disabilities of the human syndrome. Aerobic exercise improved various neurophysiological dysfunctions in Ts65Dn mice, including hippocampal synaptic deficits, by promoting synaptogenesis and neurotransmission at glutamatergic terminals. Most importantly, the same intervention also prompted the recovery of hippocampal adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity and restored cognitive performance in trisomic mice. Additionally, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was markedly decreased in the hippocampus of patients with DS. Since the positive effect of exercise was paralleled by increased BDNF expression in trisomic mice, we investigated the effectiveness of a BDNF-mimetic treatment with 7,8-dihydroxyflavone at alleviating intellectual disabilities in the DS model. Pharmacological stimulation of BDNF signaling rescued synaptic plasticity and memory deficits in Ts65Dn mice. Based on our findings, Ts65Dn mice benefit from interventions aimed at promoting brain plasticity, and we provide evidence that BDNF signaling represents a potentially new pharmacological target for treatments aimed at rescuing cognitive disabilities in patients with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Parrini
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Diego Ghezzi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Medtronic Chair in Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Deidda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Lucian Medrihan
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Enrico Castroflorio
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Micol Alberti
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Contestabile
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.
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49
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Abstract
This article highlights the emerging therapeutic potential of specific epigenetic modulators as promising antiepileptogenic or disease-modifying agents for curing epilepsy. Currently, there is an unmet need for antiepileptogenic agents that truly prevent the development of epilepsy in people at risk. There is strong evidence that epigenetic signaling, which exerts high fidelity regulation of gene expression, plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of epileptogenesis and chronic epilepsy. These modifications are not hard-wired into the genome and are constantly reprogrammed by environmental influences. The potential epigenetic mechanisms, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, microRNA-based transcriptional control, and bromodomain reading activity, can drastically alter the neuronal gene expression profile by exerting their summative effects in a coordinated fashion. Such an epigenetic intervention appears more rational strategy for preventing epilepsy because it targets the primary pathway that initially triggers the numerous downstream cellular and molecular events mediating epileptogenesis. Among currently approved epigenetic drugs, the majority are anticancer drugs with well-established profiles in clinical trials and practice. Evidence from preclinical studies supports the premise that these drugs may be applied to a wide range of brain disorders. Targeting histone deacetylation by inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymes appears to be one promising epigenetic therapy since certain inhibitors have been shown to prevent epileptogenesis in animal models. However, developing neuronal specific epigenetic modulators requires rational, pathophysiology-based optimization to efficiently intercept the upstream pathways in epileptogenesis. Overall, epigenetic agents have been well positioned as new frontier tools towards the national goal of curing epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iyan Younus
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Doodipala Samba Reddy
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA.
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50
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Pecoraro-Bisogni F, Lignani G, Contestabile A, Castroflorio E, Pozzi D, Rocchi A, Prestigio C, Orlando M, Valente P, Massacesi M, Benfenati F, Baldelli P. REST-Dependent Presynaptic Homeostasis Induced by Chronic Neuronal Hyperactivity. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:4959-4972. [PMID: 28786015 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0698-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Homeostatic plasticity is a regulatory feedback response in which either synaptic strength or intrinsic excitability can be adjusted up or down to offset sustained changes in neuronal activity. Although a growing number of evidences constantly provide new insights into these two apparently distinct homeostatic processes, a unified molecular model remains unknown. We recently demonstrated that REST is a transcriptional repressor critical for the downscaling of intrinsic excitability in cultured hippocampal neurons subjected to prolonged elevation of electrical activity. Here, we report that, in the same experimental system, REST also participates in synaptic homeostasis by reducing the strength of excitatory synapses by specifically acting at the presynaptic level. Indeed, chronic hyperactivity triggers a REST-dependent decrease of the size of synaptic vesicle pools through the transcriptional and translational repression of specific presynaptic REST target genes. Together with our previous report, the data identify REST as a fundamental molecular player for neuronal homeostasis able to downscale simultaneously both intrinsic excitability and presynaptic efficiency in response to elevated neuronal activity. This experimental evidence adds new insights to the complex activity-dependent transcriptional regulation of the homeostatic plasticity processes mediated by REST.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Pecoraro-Bisogni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy. .,Institute of Neurology, University College of London, WC1N 3BG, London, UK.
| | - A Contestabile
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - E Castroflorio
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - D Pozzi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Pharmacology and Brain Pathology Lab, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Humanitas University, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Rocchi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - C Prestigio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Orlando
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Neurocure NWFZ, Charite Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Chariteplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - P Valente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Massacesi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Laboratory of Neurosciences and Neurogenetics, Department of Head and Neck Diseases, "G. Gaslini" Institute, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - F Benfenati
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132, Genoa, Italy. .,Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
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