1
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Han Y, Chen K, Yu H, Cui C, Li H, Hu Y, Zhang B, Li G. Maf1 loss regulates spinogenesis and attenuates cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2024; 147:2128-2143. [PMID: 38226680 PMCID: PMC11146433 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is neurodegenerative and characterized by progressive cognitive impairment. Synaptic dysfunction appears in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease and is significantly correlated with cognitive impairment. However, the specific regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Here, we found the transcription factor Maf1 to be upregulated in Alzheimer's disease and determined that conditional knockout of Maf1 in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease restored learning and memory function; the downregulation of Maf1 reduced the intraneuronal calcium concentration and restored neuronal synaptic morphology. We also demonstrated that Maf1 regulated the expression of NMDAR1 by binding to the promoter region of Grin1, further regulating calcium homeostasis and synaptic remodelling in neurons. Our results clarify the important role and mechanism of the Maf1-NMDAR1 signalling pathway in stabilizing synaptic structure, neuronal function and behaviour during Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. This therefore serves as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for the early stage of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Han
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Kui Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hongxiang Yu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Can Cui
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hongxia Li
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yongbo Hu
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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2
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Qiao Z, Liao M, Xiao M, Luo S, Wang K, Niu M, Jiang H, Sun S, Xu G, Xu N, Xu Q, Liu Y. Ephrin B3 exacerbates colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 220:116004. [PMID: 38142837 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Ephrin B3, a member of Eph/ephrin family, contributes to embryogenesis and carcinogenesis, but few studies have suggested whether this ligand has regulatory effect on colitis. This study was to determine whether ephrin B3 played a role in colitis and colonic carcinogenesis. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced colitis-associated carcinogenesis model was established in Efnb3-deficient (Efnb3-/-) mice. Label-free quantitative proteomics were performed to identify the Efnb3-regulated proteins. Our results showed that Efnb3 knock out reduced the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis, such as disease activity index (DAI), inflammatory factors release, and dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. Quantitative proteomics revealed that Efnb3 regulated 95 proteins which clustered in the platelet degranulation, response to elevated platelet cytosolic Ca2+, MAPK signaling for integrins such as ITGB4. Furthermore, ephrin B3 inactived ITGB4/AKT signal pathway and then promoted epithelial barrier dysfunction. Simultaneously, ephrin B3 promoted Gremlin-1/NF-κB signal pathway and thereby increased inflammatory factors release. In addition, the higher level of Efnb3 in colon cancer patients is correlated with worse survival. Efnb3-/- mice exhibited susceptibility to AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer. Our finding discovered that Efnb3 played an important role in the development of colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Efnb3 deficiency improved the intestinal barrier by ITGB4 and suppressed inflammation via Gremlin-1/NF-κB signal pathway, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Qiao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Min Liao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Mingyue Xiao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Saiyan Luo
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Mengxin Niu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Honglv Jiang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Suya Sun
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Neuroscience Division, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Guoqiang Xu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - NanJie Xu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Neuroscience Division, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qiongming Xu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
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3
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Huang S, Villafranca SU, Mehta I, Yosfan O, Hong E, Wang A, Wu N, Wang Q, Rao S. A nanoscale inorganic coating strategy for stabilizing hydrogel neural probes in vivo. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:7629-7640. [PMID: 37401386 PMCID: PMC10530439 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00710c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels with adaptable optical and mechanical characteristics show considerable promise for light delivery in vivo with neuroengineering applications. However, the unlinked amorphous polymer chains within hydrogels can cause volumetric swelling after water absorption under physiological conditions over time. Chemically cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels showcase fatigue-resistant attributes and promising biocompatibility for the manufacture of soft neural probes. However, possible swelling of the PVA hydrogel matrix could impact the structural stability of hydrogel-based bioelectronics and their long-term in vivo functionality. In this study, we utilized an atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique to generate an inorganic, silicon dioxide (SiO2) coating layer on chemically cross-linked PVA hydrogel fibers. To evaluate the stability of SiO2-coated PVA hydrogel fibers mimicking the in vivo environment, we conducted accelerated stability tests. SiO2-coated PVA hydrogel fibers showed improved stability over a one-week incubation period under a harsh environment, preventing swelling and preserving their mechanical and optical properties compared to uncoated fibers. These SiO2-coated PVA hydrogel fibers demonstrated nanoscale polymeric crystalline domains (6.5 ± 0.1 nm), an elastic modulus of 73.7 ± 31.7 MPa, a maximum elongation of 113.6 ± 24.2%, and minimal light transmission loss (1.9 ± 0.2 dB cm-1). Lastly, we applied these SiO2-coated PVA hydrogel fibers in vivo to optically activate the motor cortex of transgenic Thy1::ChR2 mice during locomotor behavioral tests. This mouse cohort was genetically modified to express the light-sensitive ion channel, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), and implanted with hydrogel fibers to deliver light to the motor cortex area (M2). Light stimulation via hydrogel fibers resulted in optogenetically modulated mouse locomotor behaviors, including increased contralateral rotation, mobility speeds, and travel distances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizhe Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | | | - Iyanah Mehta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Omri Yosfan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Eunji Hong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Anyang Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Nianqiang Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Qianbin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Siyuan Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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4
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Washburn HR, Chander P, Srikanth KD, Dalva MB. Transsynaptic Signaling of Ephs in Synaptic Development, Plasticity, and Disease. Neuroscience 2023; 508:137-152. [PMID: 36460219 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Synapse formation between neurons is critical for proper circuit and brain function. Prior to activity-dependent refinement of connections between neurons, activity-independent cues regulate the contact and recognition of potential synaptic partners. Formation of a synapse results in molecular recognition events that initiate the process of synaptogenesis. Synaptogenesis requires contact between axon and dendrite, selection of correct and rejection of incorrect partners, and recruitment of appropriate pre- and postsynaptic proteins needed for the establishment of functional synaptic contact. Key regulators of these events are families of transsynaptic proteins, where one protein is found on the presynaptic neuron and the other is found on the postsynaptic neuron. Of these families, the EphBs and ephrin-Bs are required during each phase of synaptic development from target selection, recruitment of synaptic proteins, and formation of spines to regulation of synaptic plasticity at glutamatergic spine synapses in the mature brain. These roles also place EphBs and ephrin-Bs as important regulators of human neurological diseases. This review will focus on the role of EphBs and ephrin-Bs at synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halley R Washburn
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Room 324, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Praveen Chander
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Room 324, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kolluru D Srikanth
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Room 324, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Matthew B Dalva
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Room 324, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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5
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Sapir T, Kshirsagar A, Gorelik A, Olender T, Porat Z, Scheffer IE, Goldstein DB, Devinsky O, Reiner O. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU) safeguards the developing mouse cortex. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4209. [PMID: 35864088 PMCID: PMC9304408 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31752-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
HNRNPU encodes the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U, which participates in RNA splicing and chromatin organization. Microdeletions in the 1q44 locus encompassing HNRNPU and other genes and point mutations in HNRNPU cause brain disorders, including early-onset seizures and severe intellectual disability. We aimed to understand HNRNPU’s roles in the developing brain. Our work revealed that HNRNPU loss of function leads to rapid cell death of both postmitotic neurons and neural progenitors, with an apparent higher sensitivity of the latter. Further, expression and alternative splicing of multiple genes involved in cell survival, cell motility, and synapse formation are affected following Hnrnpu’s conditional truncation. Finally, we identified pharmaceutical and genetic agents that can partially reverse the loss of cortical structures in Hnrnpu mutated embryonic brains, ameliorate radial neuronal migration defects and rescue cultured neural progenitors’ cell death. HNRNPU is an RNA splicing protein associated with brain disorders such as early onset seizures. Here they show that HNRNPU functions to maintain neural progenitors and their progeny by regulating splicing of key neuronal genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Sapir
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aditya Kshirsagar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Anna Gorelik
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tsviya Olender
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ziv Porat
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- The University of Melbourne, Austin Health and Royal Children's Hospital, Florey and Murdoch Children's Research Institutes, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David B Goldstein
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Orly Reiner
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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6
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Hoshina N, Johnson-Venkatesh EM, Rally VR, Sant J, Hoshina M, Seiglie MP, Umemori H. ASD/OCD-Linked Protocadherin-10 Regulates Synapse, But Not Axon, Development in the Amygdala and Contributes to Fear- and Anxiety-Related Behaviors. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4250-4266. [PMID: 35504727 PMCID: PMC9145243 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1843-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Protocadherin-10 (PCDH10) gene is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and major depression (MD). The PCDH10 protein is a homophilic cell adhesion molecule that belongs to the δ2-protocadherin family. PCDH10 is highly expressed in the developing brain, especially in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA). However, the role of PCDH10 in vivo has been debatable: one paper reported that a Pcdh10 mutant mouse line showed changes in axonal projections; however, another Pcdh10 mutant mouse line was reported to have failed to detect axonal phenotypes. Therefore, the actual roles of PCDH10 in the brain remain to be elucidated. We established a new Pcdh10 KO mouse line using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, without inserting gene cassettes to avoid nonspecific effects, examined the roles of PCDH10 in the brain, and studied the behavioral consequences of Pcdh10 inactivation. Here, we show that Pcdh10 KO mice do not show defects in axonal development. Instead, we find that Pcdh10 KO mice exhibit impaired development of excitatory synapses in the dorsal BLA. We further demonstrate that male Pcdh10 KO mice exhibit reduced anxiety-related behaviors, impaired fear conditioning, decreased stress-coping responses, and mildly impaired social recognition and communication. These results indicate that PCDH10 plays a critical role in excitatory synapse development, but not axon development, in the dorsal BLA and that PCDH10 regulates anxiety-related, fear-related, and stress-related behaviors. Our results reveal the roles of PCDH10 in the brain and its relationship to relevant psychiatric disorders such as ASD, OCD, and MD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTProtocadherin-10 (PCDH10) encodes a cell adhesion molecule and is implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and major depression (MD). PCDH10 is highly expressed in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA). However, the phenotypes of previously published Pcdh10 mutant mice are debatable, and some are possibly because of the nonspecific effects of the LacZ/Neo cassette inserted in the mice. We have generated a new Pcdh10 mutant mouse line without the LacZ/Neo cassette. Using our new mouse line, we reveal the roles of PCDH10 for excitatory synapse development in the BLA. The mutant mice exhibit anxiety-related, fear-related, and stress-related behaviors, which are relevant to ASD, OCD, and MD, suggesting a possible treatment strategy for such psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naosuke Hoshina
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Erin M Johnson-Venkatesh
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Veronica R Rally
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Jaanvi Sant
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Miyuki Hoshina
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Mariel P Seiglie
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Hisashi Umemori
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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7
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Wang L, An H, Yu F, Yang J, Ding H, Bao Y, Xie H, Huang D. The Neuroprotective Effects of Paeoniflorin Against MPP +-induced Damage to Dopaminergic Neurons via the Akt/Nrf2/GPX4 Pathway. J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 122:102103. [PMID: 35489613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Paeoniflorin (PF), a water-soluble monoterpene glycoside extracted from the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Our results showed that at certain concentrations, PF alleviated 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced morphological damage and inhibited neuronal ferroptosis. Moreover, our research indicated that the neuroprotective effect of PF could be partially blocked by ML385 (a nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inhibitor) and LY29400 (an Akt inhibitor). These findings suggest that PF protects against MPP+-induced neurotoxicity by preventing ferroptosis via activation of the Akt/Nrf2/Gpx4 pathway in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lufeng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hedi An
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fei Yu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hao Ding
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yiwen Bao
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hongrong Xie
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dongya Huang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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8
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Zou HY, Guo L, Zhang B, Chen S, Wu XR, Liu XD, Xu XY, Li BY, Chen S, Xu NJ, Sun S. Aberrant miR-339-5p/neuronatin signaling causes prodromal neuronal calcium dyshomeostasis in mutant presenilin mice. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:149160. [PMID: 35426376 PMCID: PMC9012292 DOI: 10.1172/jci149160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mushroom spine loss and calcium dyshomeostasis are early hallmark events of age-related neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), that are connected with neuronal hyperactivity in early pathology of cognitive brain areas. However, it remains elusive how these key events are triggered at the molecular level for the neuronal abnormality that occurs at the initial stage of disease. Here, we identify downregulated miR-339-5p and its upregulated target protein, neuronatin (Nnat), in cortex neurons from the presenilin-1 M146V knockin (PSEN1-M146V KI) mouse model of familial AD (FAD). Inhibition of miR-339-5p or overexpression of Nnat recapitulates spine loss and endoplasmic reticulum calcium overload in cortical neurons with the PSEN1 mutation. Conversely, either overexpression of miR-339-5p or knockdown of Nnat restores spine morphogenesis and calcium homeostasis. We used fiber photometry recording during the object-cognitive process to further demonstrate that the PSEN1 mutant causes defective habituation in neuronal reaction in the retrosplenial cortex and that this can be rescued by restoring the miR-339-5p/Nnat pathway. Our findings thus reveal crucial roles of the miR-339-5p/Nnat pathway in FAD that may serve as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for early pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Yu Zou
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital
| | - Lin Guo
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, and
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital
| | - Si Chen
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, and
| | - Xin-Rong Wu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital
| | - Xian-Dong Liu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, and
| | - Xin-Yu Xu
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, and
| | - Bin-Yin Li
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital
| | - Shengdi Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital
| | - Nan-Jie Xu
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, and
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, and
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Suya Sun
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital
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9
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Zhang P, Qiao Z, Pan S, Yang P, Zha Z, Sun S, Xu Q, Liu X, Xu N, Liu Y. Activation of spinal ephrin-B3/EphBs signaling induces hyperalgesia through a PLP-mediated mechanism. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2022; 36:262-276. [PMID: 34904278 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ephrin B/EphB signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of pain caused by spinal cord injury. However, the role of ephrin-B3/EphBs signaling in regulation of nociceptive information is poorly understood. In the present study, formalin-induced inflammatory pain, mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, was measured using Efnb3 mutant mice (Efnb3-/- ) and wild-type (Efnb3+/+ ) mice. The spinal cord (L4-6) was selected for molecular and cellular identification by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Efnb3 mutant mice showed a significant increased the thermal and mechanical threshold, followed by aberrant thin myelin sheath. Furthermore, expression of proteolipid protein (PLP) was significantly lower in L4-6 spinal cord of Efnb3-/- mice. These morphological and behavioral abnormalities in mutant mice were rescued by conditional knock-in of wild-type ephrin-B3. Intrathecal administration of specific PLP siRNA significantly increased the thermal and mechanical threshold hyperalgesia in wild-type mice. However, overexpressing PLP protein by AAV9-PLP could decrease the sensitivity of mice to thermal and mechanical stimuli in Efnb3-/- mice, compared with scrabble Efnb3-/- mice. Further, Efnb3lacz mice, which have activities to initiate forward signaling, but transduce reverse signals by ephrin-B3, shows normal acute pain behavior, compared with wild type mice. These findings indicate that a key molecule Efnb3 act as a prominent contributor to hyperalgesia and essential roles of ephrin-B3/EphBs in nociception through a myelin-mediated mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhen Qiao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shu Pan
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhengxia Zha
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Suya Sun
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Neuroscience Division, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiongming Xu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingjun Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- Pain and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Nanjie Xu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Neuroscience Division, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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10
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Li K, Shao S, Ji T, Liu M, Wang L, Pang Y, Chen M, Xu S, Zhang K, Wang Q, Zhuang Z, Wei L, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Wang Y, Zhang J, Chen K, Lian H, Zhong C. Capicua Regulates Dendritic Morphogenesis Through Ets in Hippocampal Neurons in vitro. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:669310. [PMID: 34385910 PMCID: PMC8353115 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.669310] [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: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Capicua (Cic), a transcriptional repressor frequently mutated in brain cancer oligodendroglioma, is highly expressed in adult neurons. However, its function in the dendritic growth of neurons in the hippocampus remains poorly understood. Here, we confirmed that Cic was expressed in hippocampal neurons during the main period of dendritogenesis, suggesting that Cic has a function in dendrite growth. Loss-of-function and gain-of function assays indicated that Cic plays a central role in the inhibition of dendritic morphogenesis and dendritic spines in vitro. Further studies showed that overexpression of Cic reduced the expression of Ets in HT22 cells, while in vitro knockdown of Cic in hippocampal neurons significantly elevated the expression of Ets. These results suggest that Cic may negatively control dendrite growth through Ets, which was confirmed by ShRNA knockdown of either Etv4 or Etv5 abolishing the phenotype of Cic knockdown in cultured neurons. Taken together, our results suggest that Cic inhibits dendritic morphogenesis and the growth of dendritic spines through Ets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keqin Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Shao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongjie Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lufeng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Pang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyi Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kuiming Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongwei Zhuang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanfei Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanlin Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kui Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Lian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunlong Zhong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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11
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Hippocampal Lnx1-NMDAR multiprotein complex mediates initial social memory. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3956-3969. [PMID: 31772302 PMCID: PMC8550978 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0606-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Social interaction and communication are evolutionary conserved behaviours that are developed in mammals to establish partner cognition. Deficit in sociability has been represented in human patients and animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders, which are connected with genetic variants of synaptic glutamate receptors and associated PDZ-binding proteins. However, it remains elusive how these key proteins are specialized in the cellular level for the initial social behaviour during postnatal developmental stage. Here we identify a hippocampal CA3 specifically expressed PDZ scaffold protein Lnx1 required for initial social behaviour. Through gene targeting we find that Lnx1 deficiency led to a hippocampal subregional disorder in neuronal activity and social memory impairments for partner discrimination observed in juvenile mice which also show cognitive defects in adult stage. We further demonstrate that Lnx1 deletion causes NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction and this is attributable to decreased GluN2B expression in PSD compartment and disruption of the Lnx1-NMDAR-EphB2 complex. Specific restoration of Lnx1 or EphB2 protein in the CA3 area of Lnx1-/- mice rescues the defective synaptic function and social memory. These findings thus reveal crucial roles of postsynaptic NMDAR multiprotein complex that regulates the formation of initial social memory during the adolescent period.
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12
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Wu XR, Zhang Y, Liu XD, Han WB, Xu NJ, Sun S. EphB2 mediates social isolation-induced memory forgetting. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:389. [PMID: 33168800 PMCID: PMC7653962 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01051-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Social isolation in adolescence leads to lasting deficits, including emotional and cognitive dysregulation. It remains unclear, however, how social isolation affects certain processes of memory and what molecular mechanisms are involved. In this study, we found that social isolation during the post-weaning period resulted in forgetting of the long-term fear memory, which was attributable to the downregulation of synaptic function in the hippocampal CA1 region mediated by EphB2, a receptor tyrosine kinase which involves in the glutamate receptor multiprotein complex. Viral-mediated EphB2 knockdown in CA1 mimicked the memory defects in group-housed mice, whereas restoration of EphB2 by either viral overexpression or resocialization reversed the memory decline in isolated mice. Taken together, our finding indicates that social isolation gives rise to memory forgetting by disrupting EphB2-mediated synaptic plasticity, which may provide a potential target for preventing memory loss caused by social isolation or loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Rong Wu
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Xian-Dong Liu
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Wu-Bo Han
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Nan-Jie Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China. .,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Suya Sun
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
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13
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Maf1 regulates dendritic morphogenesis and influences learning and memory. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:606. [PMID: 32732865 PMCID: PMC7393169 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-02809-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Maf1, a general transcriptional regulator and mTOR downstream effector, is highly expressed in the hippocampus and cortex, but the function of Maf1 in neurons is not well elucidated. Here, we first demonstrate that Maf1 plays a central role in the inhibition of dendritic morphogenesis and the growth of dendritic spines both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Maf1 downregulation paradoxically leads to activation of AKT-mTOR signaling, which is mediated by decreased PTEN expression. Moreover, we confirmed that Maf1 could regulate the activity of PTEN promoter by luciferase reporter assay, and proved that Maf1 could bind to the promoter of PTEN by ChIP-PCR experiment. We also demonstrate that expression of Maf1 in the hippocampus affects learning and memory in mice. Taken together, we show for the first time that Maf1 inhibits dendritic morphogenesis and the growth of dendritic spines through AKT-mTOR signaling by increasing PTEN expression.
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14
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Ai PH, Chen S, Liu XD, Zhu XN, Pan YB, Feng DF, Chen S, Xu NJ, Sun S. Paroxetine ameliorates prodromal emotional dysfunction and late-onset memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease mice. Transl Neurodegener 2020; 9:18. [PMID: 32398165 PMCID: PMC7216685 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-020-00194-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) such as depression, anxiety, apathy, and irritability occur in prodromal phases of clinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which might be an increased risk for later developing AD. Here we treated young APP/PS1 AD model mice prophylactically with serotonin-selective re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine and investigated the protective role of anti-depressant agent in emotional abnormalities and cognitive defects during disease progress. Methods To investigate the protective role of paroxetine in emotional abnormalities and cognitive defects during disease progress, we performed emotional behaviors of 3 months old APP/PS1 mouse following oral administration of paroxetine prophylactically starting at 1 month of age. Next, we tested the cognitive, biochemical and pathological, effects of long term administration of paroxetine at 6 months old. Results Our results showed that AD mice displayed emotional dysfunction in the early stage. Prophylactic administration of paroxetine ameliorated the initial emotional abnormalities and preserved the eventual memory function in AD mice. Conclusion Our data indicate that prophylactic administration of paroxetine ameliorates the emotional dysfunction and memory deficit in AD mice. These neuroprotective effects are attributable to functional restoration of glutamate receptor (GluN2A) in AD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Hui Ai
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Rui-jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Si Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xian-Dong Liu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Rui-jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiao-Na Zhu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yuan-Bo Pan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Dong-Fu Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shengdi Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Rui-jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Nan-Jie Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Suya Sun
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Rui-jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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15
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Neuroprotective Effects of Salidroside in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 40:1133-1142. [PMID: 32002777 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00801-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia worldwide, is characterized by pathological hallmarks like β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) and clinical manifestations including cognitive impairment, psychiatry disorders, and behavioral changes. Salidroside (Sal) extracted from Rhodiola rosea L. showed protective effects against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in a Drosophila AD model in our previous research. In the present study, daily doses of Sal were administered to APP/PS1 mice, a mouse model of AD, and several parameters were tested, including behavioral performance, Aβ status, levels of synapse-related proteins, and levels of PI3K/Akt targets of mTOR cell signaling pathway proteins. The behavioral testing showed an improvement in locomotor activity in the APP/PS1 mice after the administration of Sal. Treatment with Sal decreased both the soluble and insoluble Aβ levels and increased the expression of PSD95, NMDAR1, and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. The phosphatidylinositide PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling was upregulated, which was in accordance with the above improvements from Sal treatment. Our findings suggested that Sal may protect the damaged synapses of the neurons in the APP/PS1 mice.
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16
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Talebian A, Henkemeyer M. EphB2 receptor cell-autonomous forward signaling mediates auditory memory recall and learning-driven spinogenesis. Commun Biol 2019; 2:372. [PMID: 31633063 PMCID: PMC6789002 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0625-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While ephrin-B ligands and EphB receptors are expressed to high levels in the learning centers of the brain, it remains largely unknown how their trans-synaptic interactions contribute to memory. We find that EphB2 forward signaling is needed for contextual and sound-evoked memory recall and that constitutive over-activation of the receptor's intracellular tyrosine kinase domain results in enhanced memory. Loss of EphB2 expression does not affect the number of neurons activated following encoding, although a reduction of neurons activated after the sound-cued retrieval test was detected in the auditory cortex and hippocampal CA1. Further, spine density and maturation was reduced in the auditory cortex of mutants especially in the neurons that were dual-activated during both encoding and retrieval. Our data demonstrates that trans-synaptic ephrin-B-EphB2 interactions and forward signaling facilitate neural activation and structural plasticity in learning-associated neurons involved in the generation of memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asghar Talebian
- Department of Neuroscience and Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Mark Henkemeyer
- Department of Neuroscience and Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
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17
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Rao S, Chen R, LaRocca AA, Christiansen MG, Senko AW, Shi CH, Chiang PH, Varnavides G, Xue J, Zhou Y, Park S, Ding R, Moon J, Feng G, Anikeeva P. Remotely controlled chemomagnetic modulation of targeted neural circuits. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 14:967-973. [PMID: 31427746 PMCID: PMC6778020 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-019-0521-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Connecting neural circuit output to behaviour can be facilitated by the precise chemical manipulation of specific cell populations1,2. Engineered receptors exclusively activated by designer small molecules enable manipulation of specific neural pathways3,4. However, their application to studies of behaviour has thus far been hampered by a trade-off between the low temporal resolution of systemic injection versus the invasiveness of implanted cannulae or infusion pumps2. Here, we developed a remotely controlled chemomagnetic modulation-a nanomaterials-based technique that permits the pharmacological interrogation of targeted neural populations in freely moving subjects. The heat dissipated by magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the presence of alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) triggers small-molecule release from thermally sensitive lipid vesicles with a 20 s latency. Coupled with the chemogenetic activation of engineered receptors, this technique permits the control of specific neurons with temporal and spatial precision. The delivery of chemomagnetic particles to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) allows the remote modulation of motivated behaviour in mice. Furthermore, this chemomagnetic approach activates endogenous circuits by enabling the regulated release of receptor ligands. Applied to an endogenous dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) agonist in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain area involved in mediating social interactions, chemomagnetic modulation increases sociability in mice. By offering a temporally precise control of specified ligand-receptor interactions in neurons, this approach may facilitate molecular neuroscience studies in behaving organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Rao
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Simons Center for Social Brain, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ritchie Chen
- Simons Center for Social Brain, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ava A LaRocca
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael G Christiansen
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETHZ), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander W Senko
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cindy H Shi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Po-Han Chiang
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Georgios Varnavides
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jian Xue
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seongjun Park
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ruihua Ding
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Junsang Moon
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Polina Anikeeva
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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18
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Wang H, Li Q, Tang H, Ding J, Xu N, Sun S, Chen S. The activated newborn neurons participate in enriched environment induced improvement of locomotor function in APP/PS1 mice. Brain Behav 2019; 9:e01316. [PMID: 31094092 PMCID: PMC6625533 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. One of the pathological features of AD is neuronal loss in brain regions associated with cognition, particularly the hippocampus. An enriched environment (EE) can facilitate neuronal plasticity and improve behaviors such as emotion, motor function, and cognition in AD. METHODS After APP/PS1 mice were exposed to EE at an early stage (2 months of age), elevated plus maze performance and contextual fear conditioning were tested, and neurogenesis and the extent of activation in the hippocampus were observed. RESULTS The results showed that, compared with that in the mice that experienced a standard environment, the cognition of the mice exposed to EE, as measured by contextual fear conditioning, was not statistically significant. However, based on their performance in the elevated plus maze, the index was increased in the mice, especially the APP/PS1 mice, exposed to EE. Consistent with the behavioral changes, the APP/PS1 mice exposed to EE showed an increased number of c-Fos-positive neurons and elevated neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) area. In addition, the activation of newborn neurons did not occur in the other three groups. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the activation of newborn neurons may participate in the improvement of behavioral performance in APP/PS1 mice after EE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Wang
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiongqiong Li
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huidong Tang
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianqing Ding
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Nanjie Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Suya Sun
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengdi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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19
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Liu XD, Zhu XN, Halford MM, Xu TL, Henkemeyer M, Xu NJ. Retrograde regulation of mossy fiber axon targeting and terminal maturation via postsynaptic Lnx1. J Cell Biol 2018; 217:4007-4024. [PMID: 30185604 PMCID: PMC6219728 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201803105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse formation relies on the coordination of dynamic pre- and postsynaptic structures during brain development. Liu et al. reveal that presynaptic terminal maturation of mossy fiber axons is retrogradely regulated by postsynaptic scaffold protein Lnx1 via stabilizing EphB receptor kinases. Neuronal connections are initiated by axon targeting to form synapses. However, how the maturation of axon terminals is modulated through interacting with postsynaptic elements remains elusive. In this study, we find that ligand of Numb protein X 1 (Lnx1), a postsynaptic PDZ protein expressed in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons, is essential for mossy fiber (MF) axon targeting during the postnatal period. Lnx1 deletion causes defective synaptic arrangement that leads to aberrant presynaptic terminals. We further identify EphB receptors as novel Lnx1-binding proteins to form a multiprotein complex that is stabilized on the CA3 neuron membrane through preventing proteasome activity. EphB1 and EphB2 are independently required to transduce distinct signals controlling MF pruning and targeting for precise DG-CA3 synapse formation. Furthermore, constitutively active EphB2 kinase rescues structure of the wired MF terminals in Lnx1 mutant mice. Our data thus define a retrograde trans-synaptic regulation required for integration of post- and presynaptic structure that participates in building hippocampal neural circuits during the adolescence period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Dong Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Na Zhu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Michael M Halford
- Department of Neuroscience, Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Tian-Le Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mark Henkemeyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Nan-Jie Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai China
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20
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Henderson NT, Dalva MB. EphBs and ephrin-Bs: Trans-synaptic organizers of synapse development and function. Mol Cell Neurosci 2018; 91:108-121. [PMID: 30031105 PMCID: PMC6159941 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses are specialized cell-cell junctions that underlie the function of neural circuits by mediating communication between neurons. Both the formation and function of synapses require tight coordination of signaling between pre- and post-synaptic neurons. Trans-synaptic organizing molecules are important mediators of such signaling. Here we discuss how the EphB and ephrin-B families of trans-synaptic organizing proteins direct synapse formation during early development and regulate synaptic function and plasticity at mature synapses. Finally, we highlight recent evidence linking the synaptic organizing role of EphBs and ephrin-Bs to diseases of maladaptive synaptic function and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan T Henderson
- The Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Department of Neuroscience, The Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Suite 463, 900 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - Matthew B Dalva
- The Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Department of Neuroscience, The Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Suite 463, 900 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States.
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21
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Nandi S, Alviña K, Lituma PJ, Castillo PE, Hébert JM. Neurotrophin and FGF Signaling Adapter Proteins, FRS2 and FRS3, Regulate Dentate Granule Cell Maturation and Excitatory Synaptogenesis. Neuroscience 2017; 369:192-201. [PMID: 29155277 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Dentate granule cells (DGCs) play important roles in cognitive processes. Knowledge about how growth factors such as FGFs and neurotrophins contribute to the maturation and synaptogenesis of DGCs is limited. Here, using brain-specific and germline mouse mutants we show that a module of neurotrophin and FGF signaling, the FGF Receptor Substrate (FRS) family of intracellular adapters, FRS2 and FRS3, are together required for postnatal brain development. In the hippocampus, FRS promotes dentate gyrus morphogenesis and DGC maturation during developmental neurogenesis, similar to previously published functions for both neurotrophins and FGFs. Consistent with a role in DGC maturation, two-photon imaging revealed that Frs2,3-double mutants have reduced numbers of dendritic branches and spines in DGCs. Functional analysis further showed that double-mutant mice exhibit fewer excitatory synaptic inputs onto DGCs. These observations reveal roles for FRS adapters in DGC maturation and synaptogenesis and suggest that FRS proteins may act as an important node for FGF and neurotrophin signaling in postnatal hippocampal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Nandi
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Karina Alviña
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Pablo J Lituma
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Pablo E Castillo
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jean M Hébert
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Liu E, Xie AJ, Zhou Q, Li M, Zhang S, Li S, Wang W, Wang X, Wang Q, Wang JZ. GSK-3β deletion in dentate gyrus excitatory neuron impairs synaptic plasticity and memory. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5781. [PMID: 28720858 PMCID: PMC5515925 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06173-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative/psychiatric disorders, while pan-neural knockout of GSK-3β also shows detrimental effects. Currently, the function of GSK-3β in specific type of neurons is elusive. Here, we infused AAV-CaMKII-Cre-2A-eGFP into GSK-3βlox/lox mice to selectively delete the kinase in excitatory neurons of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), and studied the effects on cognitive/psychiatric behaviors and the molecular mechanisms. We found that mice with GSK-3β deletion in DG excitatory neurons displayed spatial and fear memory defects with an anti-anxiety behavior. Further studies demonstrated that GSK-3β deletion in DG subset inhibited hippocampal synaptic transmission and reduced levels of GluN1, GluN2A and GluN2B (NMDAR subunits), GluA1 (AMPAR subunit), PSD93 and drebrin (postsynaptic structural proteins), and synaptophysin (presynaptic protein). GSK-3β deletion also suppressed the activity-dependent neural activation and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)/CaMKIV-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signaling. Our data suggest that GSK-3β in hippocampal DG excitatory neurons is essential for maintaining synaptic plasticity and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enjie Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Ao-Ji Xie
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Qiuzhi Zhou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Mengzhu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Shujuan Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Shihong Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Weijin Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China. .,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong, 226000, PR China.
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Loss of PAFR prevents neuroinflammation and brain dysfunction after traumatic brain injury. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40614. [PMID: 28094295 PMCID: PMC5240097 DOI: 10.1038/srep40614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a principal cause of death and disability worldwide, which is a major public health problem. Death caused by TBI accounts for a third of all damage related illnesses, which 75% TBI occurred in low and middle income countries. With the increasing use of motor vehicles, the incidence of TBI has been at a high level. The abnormal brain functions of TBI patients often show the acute and long-term neurological dysfunction, which mainly associated with the pathological process of malignant brain edema and neuroinflammation in the brain. Owing to the neuroinflammation lasts for months or even years after TBI, which is a pivotal causative factor that give rise to neurodegenerative disease at late stage of TBI. Studies have shown that platelet activating factor (PAF) inducing inflammatory reaction after TBI could not be ignored. The morphological and behavioral abnormalities after TBI in wild type mice are rescued by general knockout of PAFR gene that neuroinflammation responses and cognitive ability are improved. Our results thus define a key inflammatory molecule PAF that participates in the neuroinflammation and helps bring about cerebral dysfunction during the TBI acute phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Gasque
- Public Library of Science, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Amygdala EphB2 Signaling Regulates Glutamatergic Neuron Maturation and Innate Fear. J Neurosci 2016; 36:10151-62. [PMID: 27683910 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0845-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The amygdala serves as emotional center to mediate innate fear behaviors that are reflected through neuronal responses to environmental aversive cues. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the initial neuron responses is poorly understood. In this study, we monitored the innate defensive responses to aversive stimuli of either elevated plus maze or predator odor in juvenile mice and found that glutamatergic neurons were activated in amygdala. Loss of EphB2, a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in amygdala neurons, suppressed the reactions and led to defects in spine morphogenesis and fear behaviors. We further found a coupling of spinogenesis with these threat cues induced neuron activation in developing amygdala that was controlled by EphB2. A constitutively active form of EphB2 was sufficient to rescue the behavioral and morphological defects caused by ablation of ephrin-B3, a brain-enriched ligand to EphB2. These data suggest that kinase-dependent EphB2 intracellular signaling plays a major role for innate fear responses during the critical developing period, in which spinogenesis in amygdala glutamatergic neurons was involved. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Generation of innate fear responses to threat as an evolutionally conserved brain feature relies on development of functional neural circuit in amygdala, but the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. We here identify that EphB2 receptor tyrosine kinase, which is specifically expressed in glutamatergic neurons, is required for the innate fear responses in the neonatal brain. We further reveal that EphB2 mediates coordination of spinogenesis and neuron activation in amygdala during the critical period for the innate fear. EphB2 catalytic activity plays a major role for the behavior upon EphB-ephrin-B3 binding and transnucleus neuronal connections. Our work thus indicates an essential synaptic molecular signaling within amygdala that controls synapse development and helps bring about innate fear emotions in the postnatal developing brain.
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