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Yang SL, Ma BJ, Lu YS, Chen J, Yu J, Qiu J, Qian YZ, Xu YY. Multi-omics reveals the molecular mechanism of the combined toxic effects of PFOA and 4-HBP exposure in MCF-7 cells and the key player: mTORC1. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108778. [PMID: 38815467 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
With the discovery of evidence that many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment influence human health, their toxic effects and mechanisms have become a hot topic of research. However, investigations into their endocrine-disrupting toxicity under combined binary exposure, especially the molecular mechanism of combined effects, have rarely been documented. In this study, two typical EDCs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HBP), were selected to examine their combined effects and molecular mechanism on MCF-7 cell proliferation at environmentally relevant exposure concentrations. We have successfully established a model to evaluate the binary combined toxic effects of endocrine disruptors, presenting combined effects in a simple and direct way. Results indicated that the combined effect changed from additive to synergistic from 1.25 × 10-8 M to 4 × 10-7 M. Metabolomics analyses suggested that exposure to PFOA and 4-HBP caused significant alterations in purine metabolism, arginine, and proline metabolism and had superimposed influences on metabolism. Enhanced combined effects were observed in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolic pathways compared to exposure to PFOS and 4-HBP alone. Additionally, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are primarily involved in Biological Processes, especially protein targeting the endoplasmic reticulum, and significantly impact the oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis-related KEGG pathway. By integrating metabolome and transcriptome analyses, PFOA and 4-HBP regulate purine metabolism, the TCA cycle, and endoplasmic reticulum protein synthesis in MCF-7 cells via mTORC1, which provides genetic material, protein, and energy for cell proliferation. Furthermore, molecular docking confirmed the ability of PFOA and 4-HBP to stably bind the estrogen receptor, indicating that they have different binding pockets. Collectively, these findings will offer new insights into understanding the mechanisms by which EDCs produce combined toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bing-Jie Ma
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Yu-Shun Lu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ju Chen
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Jiang Yu
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yong-Zhong Qian
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan-Yang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Pall ML. Central Causation of Autism/ASDs via Excessive [Ca 2+]i Impacting Six Mechanisms Controlling Synaptogenesis during the Perinatal Period: The Role of Electromagnetic Fields and Chemicals and the NO/ONOO(-) Cycle, as Well as Specific Mutations. Brain Sci 2024; 14:454. [PMID: 38790433 PMCID: PMC11119459 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050454] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The roles of perinatal development, intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, and synaptogenesis disruption are not novel in the autism/ASD literature. The focus on six mechanisms controlling synaptogenesis, each regulated by [Ca2+]i, and each aberrant in ASDs is novel. The model presented here predicts that autism epidemic causation involves central roles of both electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and chemicals. EMFs act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation and [Ca2+]i elevation. A total of 15 autism-implicated chemical classes each act to produce [Ca2+]i elevation, 12 acting via NMDA receptor activation, and three acting via other mechanisms. The chronic nature of ASDs is explained via NO/ONOO(-) vicious cycle elevation and MeCP2 epigenetic dysfunction. Genetic causation often also involves [Ca2+]i elevation or other impacts on synaptogenesis. The literature examining each of these steps is systematically examined and found to be consistent with predictions. Approaches that may be sed for ASD prevention or treatment are discussed in connection with this special issue: The current situation and prospects for children with ASDs. Such approaches include EMF, chemical avoidance, and using nutrients and other agents to raise the levels of Nrf2. An enriched environment, vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3s in fish oil may also be helpful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin L Pall
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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3
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Molinaro G, Bowles JE, Croom K, Gonzalez D, Mirjafary S, Birnbaum SG, Razak KA, Gibson JR, Huber KM. Female-specific dysfunction of sensory neocortical circuits in a mouse model of autism mediated by mGluR5 and estrogen receptor α. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114056. [PMID: 38581678 PMCID: PMC11112681 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114056] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Little is known of the brain mechanisms that mediate sex-specific autism symptoms. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-risk gene, Pten, in neocortical pyramidal neurons (NSEPten knockout [KO]) results in robust cortical circuit hyperexcitability selectively in female mice observed as prolonged spontaneous persistent activity states. Circuit hyperexcitability in females is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling to mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk1/2) and de novo protein synthesis. Pten KO layer 5 neurons have a female-specific increase in mGluR5 and mGluR5-dependent protein synthesis. Furthermore, mGluR5-ERα complexes are generally elevated in female cortices, and genetic reduction of ERα rescues enhanced circuit excitability, protein synthesis, and neuron size selectively in NSEPten KO females. Female NSEPten KO mice display deficits in sensory processing and social behaviors as well as mGluR5-dependent seizures. These results reveal mechanisms by which sex and a high-confidence ASD-risk gene interact to affect brain function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob E Bowles
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Darya Gonzalez
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Saba Mirjafary
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shari G Birnbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jay R Gibson
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Molinaro G, Bowles JE, Croom K, Gonzalez D, Mirjafary S, Birnbaum S, Razak KA, Gibson JR, Huber KM. Female specific dysfunction of sensory neocortical circuits in a mouse model of autism mediated by mGluR5 and Estrogen Receptor α. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.10.552857. [PMID: 37609208 PMCID: PMC10441407 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.10.552857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Autism manifests differently in males and females and the brain mechanisms that mediate these sex-dependent differences are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the ASD-risk gene, Pten, in neocortical pyramidal neurons (NSE Pten KO) results in robust hyperexcitability of local neocortical circuits in female, but not male, mice, observed as prolonged, spontaneous persistent activity states (UP states). Circuit hyperexcitability in NSE Pten KO mice is mediated by enhanced and/or altered signaling of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) to ERK and protein synthesis selectively in Pten deleted female neurons. In support of this idea, Pten deleted Layer 5 cortical neurons have female-specific increases in mGluR5 and mGluR5-driven protein synthesis. In addition, mGluR5-ERα complexes are elevated in female cortex and genetic reduction of ERα in Pten KO cortical neurons rescues circuit excitability, protein synthesis and enlarged neurons selectively in females. Abnormal timing and hyperexcitability of neocortical circuits in female NSE Pten KO mice are associated with deficits in temporal processing of sensory stimuli and social behaviors as well as mGluR5-dependent seizures. Female-specific cortical hyperexcitability and mGluR5-dependent seizures are also observed in a human disease relevant mouse model, germline Pten +/- mice. Our results reveal molecular mechanisms by which sex and a high impact ASD-risk gene interact to affect brain function and behavior.
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Papadakis S, Thompson JR, Feczko E, Miranda-Dominguez O, Dunn GA, Selby M, Mitchell AJ, Sullivan EL, Fair DA. Perinatal Western-style diet exposure associated with decreased microglial counts throughout the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in Japanese macaques. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:241-260. [PMID: 38197176 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00213.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Perinatal exposure to a high-fat, high-sugar Western-style diet (WSD) is associated with altered neural circuitry in the melanocortin system. This association may have an underlying inflammatory component, as consumption of a WSD during pregnancy can lead to an elevated inflammatory environment. Our group previously demonstrated that prenatal WSD exposure was associated with increased markers of inflammation in the placenta and fetal hypothalamus in Japanese macaques. In this follow-up study, we sought to determine whether this heightened inflammatory state persisted into the postnatal period, as prenatal exposure to inflammation has been shown to reprogram offspring immune function and long-term neuroinflammation would present a potential means for prolonged disruptions to microglia-mediated neuronal circuit formation. Neuroinflammation was approximated in 1-yr-old offspring by counting resident microglia and peripherally derived macrophages in the region of the hypothalamus examined in the fetal study, the arcuate nucleus (ARC). Microglia and macrophages were immunofluorescently stained with their shared marker, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), and quantified in 11 regions along the rostral-caudal axis of the ARC. A mixed-effects model revealed main effects of perinatal diet (P = 0.011) and spatial location (P = 0.003) on Iba1-stained cell count. Perinatal WSD exposure was associated with a slight decrease in the number of Iba1-stained cells, and cells were more densely located in the center of the ARC. These findings suggest that the heightened inflammatory state experienced in utero does not persist postnatally. This inflammatory response trajectory could have important implications for understanding how neurodevelopmental disorders progress.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Prenatal Western-style diet exposure is associated with increased microglial activity in utero. However, we found a potentially neuroprotective reduction in microglia count during early postnatal development. This trajectory could inform the timing of disruptions to microglia-mediated neuronal circuit formation. Additionally, this is the first study in juvenile macaques to characterize the distribution of microglia along the rostral-caudal axis of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Nearby neuronal populations may be greater targets during inflammatory insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Papadakis
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Jacqueline R Thompson
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, United States
| | - Eric Feczko
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Oscar Miranda-Dominguez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Geoffrey A Dunn
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, United States
| | - Matthew Selby
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, United States
| | - A J Mitchell
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, United States
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, United States
| | - Damien A Fair
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Institute of Child Development, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
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6
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Noh YW, Kim Y, Lee S, Kim Y, Shin JJ, Kang H, Kim IH, Kim E. The PFC-LH-VTA pathway contributes to social deficits in IRSp53-mutant mice. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4642-4654. [PMID: 37730842 PMCID: PMC10914623 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) promote social brain functions by releasing DA onto nucleus accumbens neurons, but it remains unclear how VTA neurons communicate with cortical neurons. Here, we report that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-lateral hypothalamus (LH)-VTA pathway contributes to social deficits in mice with IRSp53 deletion restricted to cortical excitatory neurons (Emx1-Cre;Irsp53fl/fl mice). LH-projecting mutant mPFC neurons display abnormally increased excitability involving decreased potassium channel gene expression, leading to excessive excitatory synaptic input to LH-GABA neurons. A circuit-specific IRSp53 deletion in LH-projecting mPFC neurons also increases neuronal excitability and induces social deficits. LH-GABA neurons with excessive mPFC excitatory synaptic input show a compensatory decrease in excitability, weakening the inhibitory LHGABA-VTAGABA pathway and subsequently over-activating VTA-GABA neurons and over-inhibiting VTA-DA neurons. Accordingly, optogenetic activation of the LHGABA-VTAGABA pathway improves social deficits in Emx1-Cre;Irsp53fl/fl mice. Therefore, the mPFC-LHGABA-VTAGABA-VTADA pathway contributes to the social deficits in Emx1-Cre;Irsp53fl/fl mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Woo Noh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Yangsik Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, 22332, Korea
| | - Soowon Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Yeonghyeon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Jae Jin Shin
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Hyojin Kang
- Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Il Hwan Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea.
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34141, Korea.
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7
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Jiang J, Zhang L, Zou J, Liu J, Yang J, Jiang Q, Duan P, Jiang B. Phosphorylated S6K1 and 4E-BP1 play different roles in constitutively active Rheb-mediated retinal ganglion cell survival and axon regeneration after optic nerve injury. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:2526-2534. [PMID: 37282486 PMCID: PMC10360084 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.371372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) is a small GTPase that activates mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Previous studies have shown that constitutively active Rheb can enhance the regeneration of sensory axons after spinal cord injury by activating downstream effectors of mTOR. S6K1 and 4E-BP1 are important downstream effectors of mTORC1. In this study, we investigated the role of Rheb/mTOR and its downstream effectors S6K1 and 4E-BP1 in the protection of retinal ganglion cells. We transfected an optic nerve crush mouse model with adeno-associated viral 2-mediated constitutively active Rheb and observed the effects on retinal ganglion cell survival and axon regeneration. We found that overexpression of constitutively active Rheb promoted survival of retinal ganglion cells in the acute (14 days) and chronic (21 and 42 days) stages of injury. We also found that either co-expression of the dominant-negative S6K1 mutant or the constitutively active 4E-BP1 mutant together with constitutively active Rheb markedly inhibited axon regeneration of retinal ganglion cells. This suggests that mTORC1-mediated S6K1 activation and 4E-BP1 inhibition were necessary components for constitutively active Rheb-induced axon regeneration. However, only S6K1 activation, but not 4E-BP1 knockdown, induced axon regeneration when applied alone. Furthermore, S6K1 activation promoted the survival of retinal ganglion cells at 14 days post-injury, whereas 4E-BP1 knockdown unexpectedly slightly decreased the survival of retinal ganglion cells at 14 days post-injury. Overexpression of constitutively active 4E-BP1 increased the survival of retinal ganglion cells at 14 days post-injury. Likewise, co-expressing constitutively active Rheb and constitutively active 4E-BP1 markedly increased the survival of retinal ganglion cells compared with overexpression of constitutively active Rheb alone at 14 days post-injury. These findings indicate that functional 4E-BP1 and S6K1 are neuroprotective and that 4E-BP1 may exert protective effects through a pathway at least partially independent of Rheb/mTOR. Together, our results show that constitutively active Rheb promotes the survival of retinal ganglion cells and axon regeneration through modulating S6K1 and 4E-BP1 activity. Phosphorylated S6K1 and 4E-BP1 promote axon regeneration but play an antagonistic role in the survival of retinal ganglion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jikuan Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Lusi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jingling Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jingyuan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jia Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Peiyun Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Bing Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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Smolen KA, Papke CM, Swingle MR, Musiyenko A, Li C, Salter EA, Camp AD, Honkanen RE, Kettenbach AN. Quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics of PP2A-PPP2R5D variants reveal deregulation of RPS6 phosphorylation via converging signaling cascades. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105154. [PMID: 37572851 PMCID: PMC10485637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105154] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic germline variants of PPP2R5D (encoding: phosphoprotein phosphatase 2 regulatory protein 5D) result in PPP2R5D-related disorder (Jordan's Syndrome), which is characterized by intellectual disability, hypotonia, seizures, macrocephaly, autism spectrum disorder, and delayed motor skill development. The disorder originates from de novo single nucleotide mutations, generating missense variants that act in a dominant manner. Pathogenic mutations altering 13 different amino acids have been identified, with the E198K variant accounting for ∼40% of reported cases. However, the generation of a heterozygous E198K variant cell line to study the molecular effects of the pathogenic mutation has been challenging. Here, we use CRISPR-PRIME genomic editing to introduce a transition (c.592G>A) in a single PPP2R5D allele in HEK293 cells, generating E198K-heterozygous lines to complement existing E420K variant lines. We generate global protein and phosphorylation profiles of WT, E198K, and E420K cell lines and find unique and shared changes between variants and WT cells in kinase- and phosphatase-controlled signaling cascades. We observed ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6) hyperphosphorylation as a shared signaling alteration, indicative of increased ribosomal protein S6-kinase activity. Treatment with rapamycin or an RPS6-kinase inhibitor (LY2584702) suppressed RPS6 phosphorylation in both, suggesting upstream activation of mTORC1/p70S6K. Intriguingly, our data suggests ERK-dependent activation of mTORC1 in both E198K and E420K variant cells, with additional AKT-mediated mTORC1 activation in the E420K variant. Thus, although upstream activation of mTORC1 differs between PPP2R5D-related disorder genotypes, inhibition of mTORC1 or RPS6 kinases warrants further investigation as potential therapeutic strategies for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kali A Smolen
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Cinta M Papke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Mark R Swingle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Alla Musiyenko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Chenchen Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - E Alan Salter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Ashley D Camp
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Richard E Honkanen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
| | - Arminja N Kettenbach
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
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Fernandez A, Sarn N, Eng C, Wright KM. Intrinsic control of DRG sensory neuron diversification by Pten. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552039. [PMID: 37781577 PMCID: PMC10541114 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) modulates intracellular survival and differentiation signaling pathways downstream of neurotrophin receptors in the developing peripheral nervous system (PNS). Although well-studied in the context of brain development, our understanding of the in vivo role of PTEN in the PNS is limited to models of neuropathic pain and nerve injury. Here, we assessed how alterations in PTEN signaling affects the development of peripheral somatosensory circuits. We found that sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in Pten heterozygous ( Pten Het ) mice exhibit defects in neuronal subtype diversification. Abnormal DRG differentiation in Pten Het mice arises early in development, with subsets of neurons expressing both progenitor and neuronal markers. DRGs in Pten Het mice show dysregulation of both mTOR and GSK-3β signaling pathways downstream of PTEN. Finally, we show that mice with an autism-associated mutation in Pten ( Pten Y68H/+ ) show abnormal DRG development. Thus, we have discovered a crucial role for PTEN signaling in the intrinsic diversification of primary sensory neuron populations in the DRG during development.
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10
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Sato M, Nakai N, Fujima S, Choe KY, Takumi T. Social circuits and their dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3194-3206. [PMID: 37612363 PMCID: PMC10618103 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02201-0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Social behaviors, how individuals act cooperatively and competitively with conspecifics, are widely seen across species. Rodents display various social behaviors, and many different behavioral paradigms have been used for investigating their neural circuit bases. Social behavior is highly vulnerable to brain network dysfunction caused by neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Studying mouse models of ASD provides a promising avenue toward elucidating mechanisms of abnormal social behavior and potential therapeutic targets for treatment. In this review, we outline recent progress and key findings on neural circuit mechanisms underlying social behavior, with particular emphasis on rodent studies that monitor and manipulate the activity of specific circuits using modern systems neuroscience approaches. Social behavior is mediated by a distributed brain-wide network among major cortical (e.g., medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior cingulate cortex, and insular cortex (IC)) and subcortical (e.g., nucleus accumbens, basolateral amygdala (BLA), and ventral tegmental area) structures, influenced by multiple neuromodulatory systems (e.g., oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin). We particularly draw special attention to IC as a unique cortical area that mediates multisensory integration, encoding of ongoing social interaction, social decision-making, emotion, and empathy. Additionally, a synthesis of studies investigating ASD mouse models demonstrates that dysfunctions in mPFC-BLA circuitry and neuromodulation are prominent. Pharmacological rescues by local or systemic (e.g., oral) administration of various drugs have provided valuable clues for developing new therapeutic agents for ASD. Future efforts and technological advances will push forward the next frontiers in this field, such as the elucidation of brain-wide network activity and inter-brain neural dynamics during real and virtual social interactions, and the establishment of circuit-based therapy for disorders affecting social functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Sato
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakai
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Shuhei Fujima
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Katrina Y Choe
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Toru Takumi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan.
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11
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Luo YF, Lu L, Song HY, Xu H, Zheng ZW, Wu ZY, Jiang CC, Tong C, Yuan HY, Liu XX, Chen X, Sun ML, Tang YM, Fan HY, Han F, Lu YM. Divergent projections of the prelimbic cortex mediate autism- and anxiety-like behaviors. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2343-2354. [PMID: 36690791 PMCID: PMC10611563 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-01954-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder and anxiety is common, but the underlying circuitry is poorly understood. Here, Tmem74-/- mice showed autism- and anxiety-like behaviors along with increased excitability of pyramidal neurons (PNs) in the prelimbic cortex (PL), which were reversed by Tmem74 re-expression and chemogenetic inhibition in PNs of the PL. To determine the underlying circuitry, we performed conditional deletion of Tmem74 in the PNs of PL of mice, and we found that alterations in the PL projections to fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) in the dorsal striatum (dSTR) (PLPNs-dSTRFSIs) mediated the hyperexcitability of FSIs and autism-like behaviors and that alterations in the PL projections to the PNs of the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BLA) (PLPNs-BLAPNs) mediated the hyperexcitability of PNs and anxiety-like behaviors. However, the two populations of PNs in the PL had different spatial locations, optogenetic manipulations revealed that alterations in the activity in the PL-dSTR or PL-BLA circuits led to autism- or anxiety-like behaviors, respectively. Collectively, these findings highlight that the hyperactivity of the two populations of PNs in the PL mediates autism and anxiety comorbidity through the PL-dSTR and PL-BLA circuits, which may lead to the development of new therapeutics for the autism and anxiety comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Luo
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Lu Lu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Heng-Yi Song
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Han Xu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Zheng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhou-Yue Wu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chen-Chen Jiang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chu Tong
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Hao-Yang Yuan
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Liu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Mei-Ling Sun
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Ya-Min Tang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Heng-Yu Fan
- Life Sciences Institute and Innovation Center for Cell Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Feng Han
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Institute of Brain Science, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Institute of Brain Science, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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12
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Mendez-Vazquez H, Roach RL, Nip K, Chanda S, Sathler MF, Garver T, Danzman RA, Moseley MC, Roberts JP, Koch ON, Steger AA, Lee R, Arikkath J, Kim S. The autism-associated loss of δ-catenin functions disrupts social behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300773120. [PMID: 37216537 PMCID: PMC10235948 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300773120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
δ-catenin is expressed in excitatory synapses and functions as an anchor for the glutamatergic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) GluA2 subunit in the postsynaptic density. The glycine 34 to serine (G34S) mutation in the δ-catenin gene has been found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients and results in loss of δ-catenin functions at excitatory synapses, which is presumed to underlie ASD pathogenesis in humans. However, how the G34S mutation causes loss of δ-catenin functions to induce ASD remains unclear. Here, using neuroblastoma cells, we identify that the G34S mutation increases glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)-dependent δ-catenin degradation to reduce δ-catenin levels, which likely contributes to the loss of δ-catenin functions. Synaptic δ-catenin and GluA2 levels in the cortex are significantly decreased in mice harboring the δ-catenin G34S mutation. The G34S mutation increases glutamatergic activity in cortical excitatory neurons while it is decreased in inhibitory interneurons, indicating changes in cellular excitation and inhibition. δ-catenin G34S mutant mice also exhibit social dysfunction, a common feature of ASD. Most importantly, pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β activity reverses the G34S-induced loss of δ-catenin function effects in cells and mice. Finally, using δ-catenin knockout mice, we confirm that δ-catenin is required for GSK3β inhibition-induced restoration of normal social behavior in δ-catenin G34S mutant animals. Taken together, we reveal that the loss of δ-catenin functions arising from the ASD-associated G34S mutation induces social dysfunction via alterations in glutamatergic activity and that GSK3β inhibition can reverse δ-catenin G34S-induced synaptic and behavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Regan L. Roach
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Kaila Nip
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523
| | - Soham Chanda
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Matheus F. Sathler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Tyler Garver
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Rosaline A. Danzman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Madeleine C. Moseley
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Jessica P. Roberts
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Olivia N. Koch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | | | - Rahmi Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Jyothi Arikkath
- Developmental Neuroscience, Munore-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE68198
| | - Seonil Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
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13
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Cheung SKK, Kwok J, Or PMY, Wong CW, Feng B, Choy KW, Chang RCC, Burbach JPH, Cheng ASL, Chan AM. Neuropathological signatures revealed by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis in Pten-deficient mouse models. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6763. [PMID: 37185447 PMCID: PMC10130134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33869-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome is characterised by mutations in the human PTEN gene. We performed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of neural tissues and primary cultures from heterozygous and homozygous Pten-knockout mice. The somatosensory cortex of heterozygous Pten-knockout mice was enriched in immune response and oligodendrocyte development Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Parallel proteomic analysis revealed differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to dendritic spine development, keratinisation and hamartoma signatures. However, primary astrocytes (ASTs) from heterozygous Pten-knockout mice were enriched in the extracellular matrix GO term, while primary cortical neurons (PCNs) were enriched in immediate-early genes. In ASTs from homozygous Pten-knockout mice, cilium-related activity was enriched, while PCNs exhibited downregulation of forebrain neuron generation and differentiation, implying an altered excitatory/inhibitory balance. By integrating DEPs with pre-filtered differentially expressed genes, we identified the enrichment of traits of intelligence, cognitive function and schizophrenia, while DEPs in ASTs were significantly associated with intelligence and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley K K Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Jacinda Kwok
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Penelope M Y Or
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Chi Wai Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Bo Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Raymond C C Chang
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - J Peter H Burbach
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred S L Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Andrew M Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4/F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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14
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Examining litter specific variability in mice and its impact on neurodevelopmental studies. Neuroimage 2023; 269:119888. [PMID: 36681136 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119888] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Our current understanding of litter variability in neurodevelopmental studies using mice may limit translation of neuroscientific findings. Higher variance of measures across litters than within, often termed intra-litter likeness, may be attributable to both pre- and postnatal environment. This study aimed to assess the litter-effect within behavioral assessments (2 timepoints) and anatomy using T1-weighted magnetic resonance images across 72 brain region volumes (4 timepoints) (36 C57bl/6J inbred mice; 7 litters: 19F/17M). Between-litter comparisons of brain and behavioral measures and their associations were evaluated using univariate and multivariate techniques. A power analysis using simulation methods was then performed on modeled neurodevelopment and to evaluate trade-offs between number-of-litters, number-of-mice-per-litter, and sample size. Our results show litter-specific developmental effects, from the adolescent period to adulthood for brain structure volumes and behaviors, and for their associations in adulthood. Our power simulation analysis suggests increasing the number-of-litters in experimental designs to achieve the smallest total sample size necessary for detecting different rates of change in specific brain regions. Our results demonstrate how litter-specific effects may influence development and that increasing the litters to the total sample size ratio should be strongly considered when designing neurodevelopmental studies.
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15
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KA S, CM P, Swingle MR, A M, C L, AD C, RE H, AN K. Quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics of PPP2R5D variants reveal deregulation of RPS6 phosphorylation through converging signaling cascades. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.27.534397. [PMID: 37034727 PMCID: PMC10081281 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.27.534397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Variants in the phosphoprotein phosphatase-2 regulatory protein-5D gene ( PPP2R5D ) cause the clinical phenotype of Jordan's Syndrome (PPP2R5D-related disorder), which includes intellectual disability, hypotonia, seizures, macrocephaly, autism spectrum disorder and delayed motor skill development. The disorder originates from de novo single nucleotide mutations, generating missense variants that act in a dominant manner. Pathogenic mutations altering 13 different amino acids have been identified, with the E198K variant accounting for ∼40% of reported cases. Here, we use CRISPR-PRIME genomic editing to introduce a transition (c.592G>A) in the PPP2R5D allele in a heterozygous manner in HEK293 cells, generating E198K-heterozygous lines to complement existing E420K variant lines. We generate global protein and phosphorylation profiles of wild-type, E198K, and E420K cell lines and find unique and shared changes between variants and wild-type cells in kinase- and phosphatase-controlled signaling cascades. As shared signaling alterations, we observed ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6) hyperphosphorylation, indicative of increased ribosomal protein S6-kinase activity. Rapamycin treatment suppressed RPS6 phosphorylation in both, suggesting activation of mTORC1. Intriguingly, our data suggest AKT-dependent (E420K) and -independent (E198K) activation of mTORC1. Thus, although upstream activation of mTORC1 differs between PPP2R5D-related disorder genotypes, treatment with rapamycin or a p70S6K inhibitor warrants further investigation as potential therapeutic strategies for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smolen KA
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Papke CM
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - MR Swingle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Musiyenko A
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Li C
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Camp AD
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Honkanen RE
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Kettenbach AN
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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16
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Mendez-Vazquez H, Roach RL, Nip K, Sathler MF, Garver T, Danzman RA, Moseley MC, Roberts JP, Koch ON, Steger AA, Lee R, Arikkath J, Kim S. The autism-associated loss of δ-catenin functions disrupts social behaviors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.12.523372. [PMID: 36711484 PMCID: PMC9882145 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.12.523372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
δ-catenin is expressed in excitatory synapses and functions as an anchor for the glutamatergic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) GluA2 subunit in the postsynaptic density. The glycine 34 to serine (G34S) mutation in the δ-catenin gene is found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients and induces loss of δ-catenin functions at excitatory synapses, which is presumed to underlie ASD pathogenesis in humans. However, how the G34S mutation causes loss of δ-catenin functions to induce ASD remains unclear. Here, using neuroblastoma cells, we discover that the G34S mutation generates an additional phosphorylation site for glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). This promotes δ-catenin degradation and causes the reduction of δ-catenin levels, which likely contributes to the loss of δ-catenin functions. Synaptic δ-catenin and GluA2 levels in the cortex are significantly decreased in mice harboring the δ-catenin G34S mutation. The G34S mutation increases glutamatergic activity in cortical excitatory neurons while it is decreased in inhibitory interneurons, indicating changes in cellular excitation and inhibition. δ-catenin G34S mutant mice also exhibit social dysfunction, a common feature of ASD. Most importantly, inhibition of GSK3β activity reverses the G34S-induced loss of δ-catenin function effects in cells and mice. Finally, using δ-catenin knockout mice, we confirm that δ-catenin is required for GSK3β inhibition-induced restoration of normal social behaviors in δ-catenin G34S mutant animals. Taken together, we reveal that the loss of δ-catenin functions arising from the ASD-associated G34S mutation induces social dysfunction via alterations in glutamatergic activity and that GSK3β inhibition can reverse δ-catenin G34S-induced synaptic and behavioral deficits. Significance Statement δ-catenin is important for the localization and function of glutamatergic AMPA receptors at synapses in many brain regions. The glycine 34 to serine (G34S) mutation in the δ-catenin gene is found in autism patients and results in the loss of δ-catenin functions. δ-catenin expression is also closely linked to other autism-risk genes involved in synaptic structure and function, further implying that it is important for the autism pathophysiology. Importantly, social dysfunction is a key characteristic of autism. Nonetheless, the links between δ-catenin functions and social behaviors are largely unknown. The significance of the current research is thus predicated on filling this gap by discovering the molecular, cellular, and synaptic underpinnings of the role of δ-catenin in social behaviors.
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17
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Mansouri M, Pouretemad H, Bigdeli M, Ardalan M. Excessive audio-visual stimulation leads to impaired social behaviour with an effect on amygdala: Early life excessive exposure to digital devices in male rats. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:6174-6186. [PMID: 36215127 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15837] [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: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Today, the effect of extreme early-life exposure to digital devices is suggested as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the multitude of factors that influence brain development with subsequent behavioural abnormalities have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we simulated extreme early-life exposure to digital devices in rats by audio and visual stimulation and investigated its effects on autism-related behaviours and brain structural alteration. Male rat pups were exposed to excessive audio-visual stimulation (EAVS) from PND (post-natal day) 12 to PND 35, with and without maternal separation (MS). Autism-related behaviours including abnormal sociability, stereotype behaviours, anxiety and locomotor dysfunction were tested at PND 42. Brain structural alternation was examined by considering the amygdala, mPFC (medial prefrontal cortex) and hippocampal regions while performing 3D quantitative stereological analysis. We found that EAVS led to social behaviour deficit and higher locomotion in rats, which were associated with increases in the number of neurons and volume of the amygdala. We also showed that MS did not exaggerate the effect of extreme sensory stimulation on behaviour and the structure of the brain. This study proposed EAVS in rats as an animal model of early exposure to digital devices for investigating possible neurobiological alternations underlying autistic-like behaviours with an emphasis on the amygdala area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monireh Mansouri
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Pouretemad
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Bigdeli
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.,Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Ardalan
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Translational Neuispschiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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18
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Focal cortical dysplasia as a cause of epilepsy: The current evidence of associated genes and future therapeutic treatments. INTERDISCIPLINARY NEUROSURGERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inat.2022.101635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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19
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Gao Y, Sun J, Cheng L, Yang Q, Li J, Hao Z, Zhan L, Shi Y, Li M, Jia X, Li H. Altered resting state dynamic functional connectivity of amygdala subregions in patients with autism spectrum disorder: A multi-site fMRI study. J Affect Disord 2022; 312:69-77. [PMID: 35710036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with altered brain connectivity. Previous studies have focused on the static functional connectivity pattern from amygdala subregions in ASD while ignoring its dynamics. Considering that dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) can provide different perspectives, the present study aims to investigate the dFC pattern of the amygdala subregions in ASD patients. METHODS Data of 618 ASD patients and 836 typical controls (TCs) of 30 sites were obtained from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) database. The sliding window approach was applied to conduct seed-based dFC analysis. The seed regions were bilateral basolateral (BLA) and centromedial-superficial amygdala (CSA). A two-sample t-test was done at each site. Image-based meta-analysis (IBMA) based on the results from all sites was performed. Correlation analysis was conducted between the dFC values and the clinical scores. RESULTS The ASD patients showed lower dFC between the left BLA and the bilateral inferior temporal (ITG)/left superior frontal gyrus, between the right BLA and right ITG/right thalamus/left superior temporal gyrus, and between the right CSA and middle temporal gyrus. The ASD patients showed higher dFC between the left BLA and temporal lobe/right supramarginal gyrus, between the right BLA and left calcarine gyrus, and between the left CSA and left calcarine gyrus. Correlation analysis revealed that the symptom severity was positively correlated with the dFC between the bilateral BLA and ITG in ASD. CONCLUSIONS Abnormal dFC of the specific amygdala subregions may provide new insights into the pathological mechanisms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Gao
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Jiawei Sun
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Lulu Cheng
- School of Foreign Studies, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, China; Shanghai Center for Research in English Language Education, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qihang Yang
- College of Foreign Language, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Jing Li
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Zeqi Hao
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Linlin Zhan
- Faculty of Western Languages, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuyu Shi
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Mengting Li
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xize Jia
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
| | - Huayun Li
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
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20
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Raptor downregulation rescues neuronal phenotypes in mouse models of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4665. [PMID: 35945201 PMCID: PMC9363483 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31961-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, which encode proteins that negatively regulate mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. Current treatment strategies focus on mTOR inhibition with rapamycin and its derivatives. While effective at improving some aspects of TSC, chronic rapamycin inhibits both mTORC1 and mTORC2 and is associated with systemic side-effects. It is currently unknown which mTOR complex is most relevant for TSC-related brain phenotypes. Here we used genetic strategies to selectively reduce neuronal mTORC1 or mTORC2 activity in mouse models of TSC. We find that reduction of the mTORC1 component Raptor, but not the mTORC2 component Rictor, rebalanced mTOR signaling in Tsc1 knock-out neurons. Raptor reduction was sufficient to improve several TSC-related phenotypes including neuronal hypertrophy, macrocephaly, impaired myelination, network hyperactivity, and premature mortality. Raptor downregulation represents a promising potential therapeutic intervention for the neurological manifestations of TSC.
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21
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Sakamoto T, Yashima J. Prefrontal cortex is necessary for long-term social recognition memory in mice. Behav Brain Res 2022; 435:114051. [PMID: 35952777 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays critical roles in social cognition and emotional regulation in humans and rodents; however, its involvement in social recognition memory in mice remains unclear. Here, we examined the roles of the PFC in short-term and long-term social recognition memory, social motivation, and anxiety-related behavior in C57BL/6J male mice. Sham control and PFC-lesioned mice underwent four different behavioral tests. In the social recognition test, composed of three daily trials over 3 consecutive days, the control mice spent less time investigating the juvenile stimulus mouse both within each day and across days. By contrast, while social investigation behavior in PFC-lesioned mice decreased across the three trials within each day, it did not decrease over the 3-day testing period. These results indicate that the PFC has an important role in long-term, but not short-term, social recognition memory. The control and PFC-lesioned mice exhibited similar social motivation in the three-chamber test - both groups preferred the juvenile mouse to the empty cylinder and did not prefer the adult mouse. In addition, the PFC lesion had no impact on anxiety-related behavior or general activity in the light-dark transition test or the open field test. Our findings demonstrate that the PFC is essential for long-term social recognition memory and that it plays a critical role in higher-order social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiro Sakamoto
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan.
| | - Joi Yashima
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan
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22
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Fortier AV, Meisner OC, Nair AR, Chang SWC. Prefrontal Circuits guiding Social Preference: Implications in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 141:104803. [PMID: 35908593 PMCID: PMC10122914 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Although Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasing in diagnostic prevalence, treatment options are inadequate largely due to limited understanding of ASD's underlying neural mechanisms. Contributing to difficulties in treatment development is the vast heterogeneity of ASD, from physiological causes to clinical presentations. Recent studies suggest that distinct genetic and neurological alterations may converge onto similar underlying neural circuits. Therefore, an improved understanding of neural circuit-level dysfunction in ASD may be a more productive path to developing broader treatments that are effective across a greater spectrum of ASD. Given the social preference behavioral deficits commonly seen in ASD, dysfunction in circuits mediating social preference may contribute to the atypical development of social cognition. We discuss some of the animal models used to study ASD and examine the function and effects of dysregulation of the social preference circuits, notably the medial prefrontal cortex-amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens circuits, in these animal models. Using the common circuits underlying similar behavioral disruptions of social preference behaviors as an example, we highlight the importance of identifying disruption in convergent circuits to improve the translational success of animal model research for ASD treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail V Fortier
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Olivia C Meisner
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Amrita R Nair
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Steve W C Chang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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23
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Chaudry S, Vasudevan N. mTOR-Dependent Spine Dynamics in Autism. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:877609. [PMID: 35782388 PMCID: PMC9241970 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.877609] [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: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction as well as repetitive behaviors and restricted range of interests. ASC are complex genetic disorders with moderate to high heritability, and associated with atypical patterns of neural connectivity. Many of the genes implicated in ASC are involved in dendritic spine pruning and spine development, both of which can be mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Consistent with this idea, human postmortem studies have shown increased spine density in ASC compared to controls suggesting that the balance between autophagy and spinogenesis is altered in ASC. However, murine models of ASC have shown inconsistent results for spine morphology, which may underlie functional connectivity. This review seeks to establish the relevance of changes in dendritic spines in ASC using data gathered from rodent models. Using a literature survey, we identify 20 genes that are linked to dendritic spine pruning or development in rodents that are also strongly implicated in ASC in humans. Furthermore, we show that all 20 genes are linked to the mTOR pathway and propose that the mTOR pathway regulating spine dynamics is a potential mechanism underlying the ASC signaling pathway in ASC. We show here that the direction of change in spine density was mostly correlated to the upstream positive or negative regulation of the mTOR pathway and most rodent models of mutant mTOR regulators show increases in immature spines, based on morphological analyses. We further explore the idea that these mutations in these genes result in aberrant social behavior in rodent models that is due to these altered spine dynamics. This review should therefore pave the way for further research on the specific genes outlined, their effect on spine morphology or density with an emphasis on understanding the functional role of these changes in ASC.
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24
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Kim S, Kim YE, Song I, Ujihara Y, Kim N, Jiang YH, Yin HH, Lee TH, Kim IH. Neural circuit pathology driven by Shank3 mutation disrupts social behaviors. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110906. [PMID: 35675770 PMCID: PMC9210496 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctional sociability is a core symptom in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may arise from neural-network dysconnectivity between multiple brain regions. However, pathogenic neural-network mechanisms underlying social dysfunction are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that circuit-selective mutation (ctMUT) of ASD-risk Shank3 gene within a unidirectional projection from the prefrontal cortex to the basolateral amygdala alters spine morphology and excitatory-inhibitory balance of the circuit. Shank3 ctMUT mice show reduced sociability as well as elevated neural activity and its amplitude variability, which is consistent with the neuroimaging results from human ASD patients. Moreover, the circuit hyper-activity disrupts the temporal correlation of socially tuned neurons to the events of social interactions. Finally, optogenetic circuit activation in wild-type mice partially recapitulates the reduced sociability of Shank3 ctMUT mice, while circuit inhibition in Shank3 ctMUT mice partially rescues social behavior. Collectively, these results highlight a circuit-level pathogenic mechanism of Shank3 mutation that drives social dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunwhi Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Yong-Eun Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Inuk Song
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Yusuke Ujihara
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Namsoo Kim
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Tae-Ho Lee
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Il Hwan Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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25
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Brain Dp140 alters glutamatergic transmission and social behaviour in the mdx52 mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 216:102288. [PMID: 35654209 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscle disorder caused by DMD mutations and is characterized by neurobehavioural comorbidities due to dystrophin deficiency in the brain. The lack of Dp140, a dystrophin short isoform, is clinically associated with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but its postnatal functional role is not well understood. To investigate synaptic function in the presence or absence of brain Dp140, we utilized two DMD mouse models, mdx23 and mdx52 mice, in which Dp140 is preserved or lacking, respectively. ASD-like behaviours were observed in pups and 8-week-old mdx52 mice lacking Dp140. Paired-pulse ratio of excitatory postsynaptic currents, glutamatergic vesicle number in basolateral amygdala neurons, and glutamatergic transmission in medial prefrontal cortex-basolateral amygdala projections were significantly reduced in mdx52 mice compared to those in wild-type and mdx23 mice. ASD-like behaviour and electrophysiological findings in mdx52 mice were ameliorated by restoration of Dp140 following intra-cerebroventricular injection of antisense oligonucleotide drug-induced exon 53 skipping or intra-basolateral amygdala administration of Dp140 mRNA-based drug. Our results implicate Dp140 in ASD-like behaviour via altered glutamatergic transmission in the basolateral amygdala of mdx52 mice.
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26
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Ledderose JMT, Benitez JA, Roberts AJ, Reed R, Bintig W, Larkum ME, Sachdev RNS, Furnari F, Eickholt BJ. The impact of phosphorylated PTEN at threonine 366 on cortical connectivity and behaviour. Brain 2022; 145:3608-3621. [PMID: 35603900 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The lipid phosphatase PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue on chromosome 10) is a key tumour suppressor gene and an important regulator of neuronal signalling. PTEN mutations have been identified in patients with autism spectrum disorders, characterized by macrocephaly, impaired social interactions and communication, repetitive behaviour, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. PTEN enzymatic activity is regulated by a cluster of phosphorylation sites at the C-terminus of the protein. Here, we focussed on the role of PTEN T366 phosphorylation and generated a knock-in mouse line in which Pten T366 was substituted with alanine (PtenT366A/T366A). We identify that phosphorylation of PTEN at T366 controls neuron size and connectivity of brain circuits involved in sensory processing. We show in behavioural tests that PtenT366/T366A mice exhibit cognitive deficits and selective sensory impairments, with significant differences in male individuals. We identify restricted cellular overgrowth of cortical neurons in PtenT366A/T366A brains, linked to increases in both dendritic arborization and soma size. In a combinatorial approach of anterograde and retrograde monosynaptic tracing using rabies virus, we characterize differences in connectivity to the primary somatosensory cortex of PtenT366A/T366A brains, with imbalances in long-range cortico-cortical input to neurons. We conclude that phosphorylation of PTEN at T366 controls neuron size and connectivity of brain circuits involved in sensory processing and propose that PTEN T366 signalling may account for a subset of autism-related functions of PTEN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M T Ledderose
- Institute for Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.,Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jorge A Benitez
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California, 92121, USA
| | - Amanda J Roberts
- The Scripps Research Institute, Animal Models Core, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Rachel Reed
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California, 92121, USA
| | - Willem Bintig
- Institute for Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthew E Larkum
- Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Neurocure Center for Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Frank Furnari
- Ludwig Cancer Institute, San Diego, USA.,University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Britta J Eickholt
- Institute for Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.,Neurocure Center for Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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27
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Shao E, Chang CW, Li Z, Yu X, Ho K, Zhang M, Wang X, Simms J, Lo I, Speckart J, Holtzman J, Yu GQ, Roberson ED, Mucke L. TAU ablation in excitatory neurons and postnatal TAU knockdown reduce epilepsy, SUDEP, and autism behaviors in a Dravet syndrome model. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabm5527. [PMID: 35476595 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abm5527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular accumulation of TAU aggregates is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. However, global genetic reduction of TAU is beneficial also in models of other brain disorders that lack such TAU pathology, suggesting a pathogenic role of nonaggregated TAU. Here, conditional ablation of TAU in excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurons reduced epilepsy, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, overactivation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, brain overgrowth (megalencephaly), and autism-like behaviors in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, a severe epileptic encephalopathy of early childhood. Furthermore, treatment with a TAU-lowering antisense oligonucleotide, initiated on postnatal day 10, had similar therapeutic effects in this mouse model. Our findings suggest that excitatory neurons are the critical cell type in which TAU has to be reduced to counteract brain dysfunctions associated with Dravet syndrome and that overall cerebral TAU reduction could have similar benefits, even when initiated postnatally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Shao
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Che-Wei Chang
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Zhiyong Li
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Xinxing Yu
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Ho
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michelle Zhang
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jeffrey Simms
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Iris Lo
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jessica Speckart
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Julia Holtzman
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Gui-Qiu Yu
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Erik D Roberson
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lennart Mucke
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.,Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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28
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Sathyanarayana SH, Saunders JA, Slaughter J, Tariq K, Chakrabarti R, Sadanandappa MK, Luikart BW, Bosco G. Pten heterozygosity restores neuronal morphology in fragile X syndrome mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2109448119. [PMID: 35394871 PMCID: PMC9169627 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109448119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies of hippocampal granule neuron development have been used to elucidate cellular functions of Pten and Fmr1. While mutations in each gene cause neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and fragile X syndrome, how Pten and Fmr1 function alone or together during normal development is not known. Moreover, Pten mRNA is bound by the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) RNA binding protein, but how this physical interaction impinges on phosphatase and tensin homolog protein (PTEN) expression is not known. To understand the interaction of PTEN and FMRP, we investigated the dentate gyrus granule neuron development in Pten and Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice. Interestingly, heterozygosity of Pten restored Fmr1 KO cellular phenotypes, including dendritic arborization, and spine density, while PTEN protein expression was significantly increased in Fmr1 KO animals. However, complete deletion of both Pten and Fmr1 resulted in a dramatic increase in dendritic length, spine density, and spine length. In addition, overexpression of PTEN in Fmr1 KO Pten heterozygous background reduced dendritic length, arborization, spine density, and spine length including pS6 levels. Our findings suggest that PTEN levels are negatively regulated by FMRP, and some Fmr1 KO phenotypes are caused by dysregulation of PTEN protein. These observations provide evidence for the genetic interaction of PTEN and FMRP and a possible mechanistic basis for the pathogenesis of Fmr1-related fragile X neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jasmine A. Saunders
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Jacob Slaughter
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Kamran Tariq
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Rajarshi Chakrabarti
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Madhumala K. Sadanandappa
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Bryan W. Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Giovanni Bosco
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755
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29
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Swick H, Botero V, Aceti M, Ellegood J, Lerch JP, Page DT. Pten haploinsufficiency causes desynchronized growth of brain areas involved in sensory processing. iScience 2022; 25:103796. [PMID: 35198865 PMCID: PMC8844819 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
How changes in brain scaling relate to altered behavior is an important question in neurodevelopmental disorder research. Mice with germline Pten haploinsufficiency (Pten +/-) closely mirror the abnormal brain scaling and behavioral deficits seen in humans with macrocephaly/autism syndrome, which is caused by PTEN mutations. We explored whether deviation from normal patterns of growth can predict behavioral abnormalities. Brain regions associated with sensory processing (e.g., pons and inferior colliculus) had the biggest deviations from expected volume. While Pten +/- mice showed little or no abnormal behavior on most assays, both sexes showed sensory deficits, including impaired sensorimotor gating and hyporeactivity to high-intensity stimuli. Developmental analysis of this phenotype showed sexual dimorphism for hyporeactivity. Mapping behavioral phenotypes of Pten +/- mice onto relevant brain regions suggested abnormal behavior is likely when associated with relatively enlarged brain regions, while unchanged or relatively decreased brain regions have little predictive value.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah Swick
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Valentina Botero
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Massimiliano Aceti
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Jason P. Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Damon T. Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,Corresponding author
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30
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Meisner OC, Nair A, Chang SWC. Amygdala connectivity and implications for social cognition and disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 187:381-403. [PMID: 35964984 PMCID: PMC9436700 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823493-8.00017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala is a hub of subcortical region that is crucial in a wide array of affective and motivation-related behaviors. While early research contributed significantly to our understanding of this region's extensive connections to other subcortical and cortical regions, recent methodological advances have enabled researchers to better understand the details of these circuits and their behavioral contributions. Much of this work has focused specifically on investigating the role of amygdala circuits in social cognition. In this chapter, we review both long-standing knowledge and novel research on the amygdala's structure, function, and involvement in social cognition. We focus specifically on the amygdala's circuits with the medial prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the hippocampus, as these regions share extensive anatomic and functional connections with the amygdala. Furthermore, we discuss how dysfunction in the amygdala may contribute to social deficits in clinical disorders including autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder, and Williams syndrome. We conclude that social functions mediated by the amygdala are orchestrated through multiple intricate interactions between the amygdala and its interconnected brain regions, endorsing the importance of understanding the amygdala from network perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia C Meisner
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Amrita Nair
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Steve W C Chang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
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31
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OUP accepted manuscript. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:4619-4639. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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32
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Attenuated link between the medial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in children with autism spectrum disorder: Evidence from effective connectivity within the "social brain". Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 111:110147. [PMID: 33096157 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Although accumulating neuroimaging studies have reported that social behavior deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are commonly attributed to the dysfunction of social brain regions underlying social cognition, the dynamic interaction within the social brain network and its association with social deficits remain unclear. Here, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (I and II) were analyzed in 105 children with ASD and 102 demographically matched typically developing controls (TDCs) (age range: 7-12 years old). Term-based meta-analysis combined the prior reference and anatomical labeling were used to define the regions of interests of the social brain network, and multivariate Granger causality analysis with blind deconvolution was employed to assess the effective connectivity within the social brain network in the ASD and TDC groups. Between-group comparison revealed significantly attenuated effective connectivity from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to the bilateral amygdala in children with the ASD group compared with TDC group. In addition, raw values of the effective connectivity from the mPFC to the bilateral amygdala were used to predict social deficits in ASD. Our findings indicate the impaired mPFC-amygdala pathway and its association with social deficits in children with ASD and provide a new perspective into the neuropathology of the developing autistic brain.
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33
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PTEN mutations in autism spectrum disorder and congenital hydrocephalus: developmental pleiotropy and therapeutic targets. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:961-976. [PMID: 34625286 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The lack of effective treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and congenital hydrocephalus (CH) reflects the limited understanding of the biology underlying these common neurodevelopmental disorders. Although ASD and CH have been extensively studied as independent entities, recent human genomic and preclinical animal studies have uncovered shared molecular pathophysiology. Here, we review and discuss phenotypic, genomic, and molecular similarities between ASD and CH, and identify the PTEN-PI3K-mTOR (phosphatase and tensin homolog-phosphoinositide 3-kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway as a common underlying mechanism that holds diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic promise for individuals with ASD and CH.
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34
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Sato A, Ikeda K. Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 2:95-105. [PMID: 36325164 PMCID: PMC9616270 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual’s reciprocal social interaction and communication ability. Numerous genetic and environmental conditions are associated with ASD, including tuberous sclerosis complex, phosphatase and tensin homolog hamartoma tumor syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and neurofibromatosis 1. The pathogenic molecular mechanisms of these diseases are integrated into the hyperactivation of mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1). Rodent models of these diseases have shown high mTORC1 activity in the brain and ASD-related behavioral deficits, which were reversed by the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. Environmental stress can also affect this signaling pathway. In utero exposure to valproate caused ASD in offspring and enhanced mTORC1 activity in the brain, which was sensitive to mTORC1 inhibition. mTORC1 is a signaling hub for diverse cellular functions, including protein synthesis, through the phosphorylation of its targets, such as ribosomal protein S6 kinases. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5–mediated synaptic function is also affected by the dysregulation of mTORC1 activity, such as in fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. Reversing these downstream changes that are associated with mTORC1 activation normalizes behavioral defects in rodents. Despite abundant preclinical evidence, few clinical studies have investigated the treatment of ASD and cognitive deficits. Therapeutics other than mTORC1 inhibitors failed to show efficacy in fragile X syndrome and neurofibromatosis 1. mTORC1 inhibitors have been tested mainly in tuberous sclerosis complex, and their effects on ASD and neuropsychological deficits are promising. mTORC1 is a promising target for the pharmacological treatment of ASD associated with mTORC1 activation.
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Levy JA, LaFlamme CW, Tsaprailis G, Crynen G, Page DT. Dyrk1a Mutations Cause Undergrowth of Cortical Pyramidal Neurons via Dysregulated Growth Factor Signaling. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:295-306. [PMID: 33840455 PMCID: PMC8787822 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in DYRK1A are a cause of microcephaly, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are not well understood. METHODS We generated a conditional mouse model using Emx1-cre, including conditional heterozygous and homozygous knockouts, to investigate the necessity of Dyrk1a in the cortex during development. We used unbiased, high-throughput phosphoproteomics to identify dysregulated signaling mechanisms in the developing Dyrk1a mutant cortex as well as classic genetic modifier approaches and pharmacological therapeutic intervention to rescue microcephaly and neuronal undergrowth caused by Dyrk1a mutations. RESULTS We found that cortical deletion of Dyrk1a in mice causes decreased brain mass and neuronal size, structural hypoconnectivity, and autism-relevant behaviors. Using phosphoproteomic screening, we identified growth-associated signaling cascades dysregulated upon Dyrk1a deletion, including TrkB-BDNF (tyrosine receptor kinase B-brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important regulator of ERK/MAPK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase) and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling. Genetic suppression of Pten or pharmacological treatment with IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), both of which impinge on these signaling cascades, rescued microcephaly and neuronal undergrowth in neonatal mutants. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these findings identify a previously unknown mechanism through which Dyrk1a mutations disrupt growth factor signaling in the developing brain, thus influencing neuronal growth and connectivity. Our results place DYRK1A as a critical regulator of a biological pathway known to be dysregulated in humans with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. In addition, these data position Dyrk1a within a larger group of autism spectrum disorder/intellectual disability risk genes that impinge on growth-associated signaling cascades to regulate brain size and connectivity, suggesting a point of convergence for multiple autism etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna A Levy
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida; Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Christy W LaFlamme
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida; The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | | | - Gogce Crynen
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida; Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, Florida.
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Zhang A, Cohen OS, Page DT. Environmental Enrichment Rescues Social Behavioral Deficits and Synaptic Abnormalities in Pten Haploinsufficient Mice. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1366. [PMID: 34573348 PMCID: PMC8468545 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091366] [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: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pten germline haploinsufficient (Pten+/-) mice, which model macrocephaly/autism syndrome, show social and repetitive behavior deficits, early brain overgrowth, and cortical-subcortical hyperconnectivity. Previous work indicated that altered neuronal connectivity may be a substrate for behavioral deficits. We hypothesized that exposing Pten+/- mice to environmental enrichment after brain overgrowth has occurred may facilitate adaptation to abnormal "hard-wired" connectivity through enhancing synaptic plasticity. Thus, we reared Pten+/- mice and their wild-type littermates from weaning under either standard (4-5 mice per standard-sized cage, containing only bedding and nestlet) or enriched (9-10 mice per large-sized cage, containing objects for exploration and a running wheel, plus bedding and nestlet) conditions. Adult mice were tested on social and non-social assays in which Pten+/- mice display deficits. Environmental enrichment rescued sex-specific deficits in social behavior in Pten+/- mice and partially rescued increased repetitive behavior in Pten+/- males. We found that Pten+/- mice show increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory pre-synaptic proteins; this phenotype was also rescued by environmental enrichment. Together, our results indicate that environmental enrichment can rescue social behavioral deficits in Pten+/- mice, possibly through normalizing the excitatory synaptic protein abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Damon Theron Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; (A.E.C.-A.); (A.Z.); (O.S.C.)
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Enhanced phosphorylation of S6 protein in mouse cortical layer V and subplate neurons. Neuroreport 2021; 31:762-769. [PMID: 32453020 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian neocortex is composed of six major layers of neurons. Each group of neurons in the cortical layers has distinct characteristics based on the expression of specific genes and connectivity patterns of neural circuits. Neuronal subtype transition and regional identity acquisition are established by temporal cues and interaction between several transcription factors during neurogenesis. The impairment of cortical lamination or neural circuits results in a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and certain forms of childhood epilepsy. Despite continuous efforts to classify neurons with the aid of genetic and epigenetic analyses, the neuron-specific properties associated with post-transcriptional modification remain unclear. In the present study, the distribution of phosphorylated S6-positive layers across the neocortex was examined using several layer markers. The development of pS6 S235/236 layers in layer V and the subplate was spatiotemporally regulated in the mouse brain. In addition, enhanced phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in Ctip2-positive layer V neurons in vivo was sustained under in-vitro conditions using a culture of primary cortical neurons.
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Fecal Supernatant from Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder Alters Digestive Functions, Intestinal Epithelial Barrier, and Enteric Nervous System. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081723. [PMID: 34442802 PMCID: PMC8399841 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders defined by impaired social interactions and communication with repetitive behaviors, activities, or interests. Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances and gut microbiota dysbiosis are frequently associated with ASD in childhood. However, it is not known whether microbiota dysbiosis in ASD patients also occurs in adulthood. Further, the consequences of altered gut microbiota on digestive functions and the enteric nervous system (ENS) remain unexplored. Therefore, we studied, in mice, the ability offecal supernatant (FS) from adult ASD patients to induce GI dysfunctions and ENS remodeling. First, the analyses of the fecal microbiota composition in adult ASD patients indicated a reduced α-diversity and increased abundance of three bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence variants compared to healthy controls (HC). The transfer of FS from ASD patients (FS-ASD) to mice decreased colonic barrier permeability by 29% and 58% compared to FS-HC for paracellular and transcellular permeability, respectively. These effects are associated with the reduced expression of the tight junction proteins JAM-A, ZO-2, cingulin, and proinflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL1β. In addition, the expression of glial and neuronal molecules was reduced by FS-ASD as compared to FS-HC in particular for those involved in neuronal connectivity (βIII-tubulin and synapsin decreased by 31% and 67%, respectively). Our data suggest that changes in microbiota composition in ASD may contribute to GI alterations, and in part, via ENS remodeling.
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Vitor-Vieira F, Vilela FC, Giusti-Paiva A. Hyperactivation of the amygdala correlates with impaired social play behavior of prepubertal male rats in a maternal immune activation model. Behav Brain Res 2021; 414:113503. [PMID: 34331970 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy is an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental dysfunction, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated the effect of maternal immune activation (MIA) on the behavior profile of prepubertal offspring and whether MIA alters the neuronal activation pattern of brain areas related to social play behavior. Pregnant Wistar rats received 500 μg/kg of lipopolysaccharide or saline solution on gestational day 16. Their offspring were tested using behavioral tasks to capture some of the core and associated ASD-like symptoms. Neuronal activation, indexed via c-fos expression after social play behavior, was evaluated in several brain areas. MIA had a number of adverse effects on dams and reduced the number of successful births and litter size. MIA induced sex-specific autistic-like features by a reduction in ultrasonic vocalizations in response to separation from the mother and nest, reduction in discrimination between neutral odors and their nest odor, moderate effect in stereotypies in the hole-board test, impaired risk assessment phenotype, and reduction in social play behavior without changes in locomotor activity only in prepubertal male offspring. A decrease in social play behavior may be associated with a decrease in the number of c-fos-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex and striatum, but hyperactivation of the basolateral and basomedial amygdala. Prenatal immune challenge results in ASD-like symptoms such as impaired risk assessment behavior, communication, and social interactions in male prepubertal offspring. Impaired social play behavior is correlated with neuronal hyperactivation in the amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Vitor-Vieira
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas-MG, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Fabiana C Vilela
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas-MG, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Giusti-Paiva
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas-MG, Alfenas, Brazil.
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Chai AP, Chen XF, Xu XS, Zhang N, Li M, Li JN, Zhang L, Zhang D, Zhang X, Mao RR, Ding YQ, Xu L, Zhou QX. A Temporal Activity of CA1 Neurons Underlying Short-Term Memory for Social Recognition Altered in PTEN Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:699315. [PMID: 34335191 PMCID: PMC8319669 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.699315] [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: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory-guided social recognition identifies someone from previous encounters or experiences, but the mechanisms of social memory remain unclear. Here, we find that a short-term memory from experiencing a stranger mouse lasting under 30 min interval is essential for subsequent social recognition in mice, but that interval prolonged to hours by replacing the stranger mouse with a familiar littermate. Optogenetic silencing of dorsal CA1 neuronal activity during trials or inter-trial intervals disrupted short-term memory-guided social recognition, without affecting the ability of being sociable or long-term memory-guided social recognition. Postnatal knockdown or knockout of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-associated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene in dorsal hippocampal CA1 similarly impaired neuronal firing rate in vitro and altered firing pattern during social recognition. These PTEN mice showed deficits in social recognition with stranger mouse rather than littermate and exhibited impairment in T-maze spontaneous alternation task for testing short-term spatial memory. Thus, we suggest that a temporal activity of dorsal CA1 neurons may underlie formation of short-term memory to be critical for organizing subsequent social recognition but that is possibly disrupted in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Ping Chai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xue-Feng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Shan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Na Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Meng Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jin-Nan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dai Zhang
- Institute of Mental Health, The Sixth Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rong-Rong Mao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Ding
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi-Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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Boksha IS, Prokhorova TA, Tereshkina EB, Savushkina OK, Burbaeva GS. Protein Phosphorylation Signaling Cascades in Autism: The Role of mTOR Pathway. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:577-596. [PMID: 33993859 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921050072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is a central regulator of cell metabolism, growth, and survival in response to hormones, growth factors, nutrients, and stress-induced signals. In this review, we analyzed the studies on the molecular abnormalities of the mTOR-associated signaling cascades in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and outlined the prospects for the pathogenicity-targeting pharmacotherapeutic approaches to ASDs, in particular syndromic ASDs. Based on available experimental and clinical data, we suggest that very early detection of molecular abnormalities in the ASD risk groups can be facilitated by using peripheral blood platelets. Also, identification of the time window of critical dysregulations in the described pathways in the ASD risk groups might suggest further research directions leading to more efficacious pharmacotherapeutic interventions in ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S Boksha
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, 115522, Russia. .,Gamaleya Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 123098, Russia
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Sánchez-Puelles C, Calleja-Felipe M, Ouro A, Bougamra G, Arroyo A, Diez I, Erramuzpe A, Cortés J, Martínez-Hernández J, Luján R, Navarrete M, Venero C, Chan A, Morales M, Esteban JA, Knafo S. PTEN Activity Defines an Axis for Plasticity at Cortico-Amygdala Synapses and Influences Social Behavior. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:505-524. [PMID: 31240311 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor and autism-associated gene that exerts an important influence over neuronal structure and function during development. In addition, it participates in synaptic plasticity processes in adulthood. As an attempt to assess synaptic and developmental mechanisms by which PTEN can modulate cognitive function, we studied the consequences of 2 different genetic manipulations in mice: presence of additional genomic copies of the Pten gene (Ptentg) and knock-in of a truncated Pten gene lacking its PDZ motif (Pten-ΔPDZ), which is required for interaction with synaptic proteins. Ptentg mice exhibit substantial microcephaly, structural hypoconnectivity, enhanced synaptic depression at cortico-amygdala synapses, reduced anxiety, and intensified social interactions. In contrast, Pten-ΔPDZ mice have a much more restricted phenotype, with normal synaptic connectivity, but impaired synaptic depression at cortico-amygdala synapses and virtually abolished social interactions. These results suggest that synaptic actions of PTEN in the amygdala contribute to specific behavioral traits, such as sociability. Also, PTEN appears to function as a bidirectional rheostat in the amygdala: reduction in PTEN activity at synapses is associated with less sociability, whereas enhanced PTEN activity accompanies hypersocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sánchez-Puelles
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-University of the Basque Country (UPV)/Euskal Herriko University (EHU), Campus Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain.,Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC/Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Calleja-Felipe
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-University of the Basque Country (UPV)/Euskal Herriko University (EHU), Campus Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Alberto Ouro
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-University of the Basque Country (UPV)/Euskal Herriko University (EHU), Campus Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Ghassen Bougamra
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-University of the Basque Country (UPV)/Euskal Herriko University (EHU), Campus Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Ana Arroyo
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-University of the Basque Country (UPV)/Euskal Herriko University (EHU), Campus Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Ibai Diez
- Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Biocruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Asier Erramuzpe
- Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Biocruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Jesús Cortés
- Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Biocruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - José Martínez-Hernández
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Rafael Luján
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Marta Navarrete
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC/Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - César Venero
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrew Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Miguel Morales
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-University of the Basque Country (UPV)/Euskal Herriko University (EHU), Campus Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - José A Esteban
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC/Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Shira Knafo
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-University of the Basque Country (UPV)/Euskal Herriko University (EHU), Campus Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.,Department of Physiology and Cell Biology and National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501 Israel
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Kim IH, Kim N, Kim S, Toda K, Catavero CM, Courtland JL, Yin HH, Soderling SH. Dysregulation of the Synaptic Cytoskeleton in the PFC Drives Neural Circuit Pathology, Leading to Social Dysfunction. Cell Rep 2021; 32:107965. [PMID: 32726629 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are highly heritable pathologies of altered neural circuit functioning. How genetic mutations lead to specific neural circuit abnormalities underlying behavioral disruptions, however, remains unclear. Using circuit-selective transgenic tools and a mouse model of maladaptive social behavior (ArpC3 mutant), we identify a neural circuit mechanism driving dysfunctional social behavior. We demonstrate that circuit-selective knockout (ctKO) of the ArpC3 gene within prefrontal cortical neurons that project to the basolateral amygdala elevates the excitability of the circuit neurons, leading to disruption of socially evoked neural activity and resulting in abnormal social behavior. Optogenetic activation of this circuit in wild-type mice recapitulates the social dysfunction observed in ArpC3 mutant mice. Finally, the maladaptive sociability of ctKO mice is rescued by optogenetically silencing neurons within this circuit. These results highlight a mechanism of how a gene-to-neural circuit interaction drives altered social behavior, a common phenotype of several psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il Hwan Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Namsoo Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sunwhi Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Koji Toda
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Jamie L Courtland
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott H Soderling
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA.
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Huang WC, Zucca A, Levy J, Page DT. Social Behavior Is Modulated by Valence-Encoding mPFC-Amygdala Sub-circuitry. Cell Rep 2021; 32:107899. [PMID: 32668253 PMCID: PMC7410267 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex and amygdala are anatomical substrates linked to both social information and emotional valence processing, but it is not known whether sub-circuits in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that project to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) are recruited and functionally contribute to social approach-avoidance behavior. Using retrograde labeling of mPFC projections to the BLA, we find that BLA-projecting neurons in the infralimbic cortex (IL) are preferentially activated in response to a social cue as compared with BLA-projecting neurons in the prelimbic cortex (PL). Chemogenetic interrogation of these sub-circuits shows that activation of PL-BLA or inhibition of IL-BLA circuits impairs social behavior. Sustained closed-loop optogenetic activation of PL-BLA circuitry induces social impairment, corresponding to a negative emotional state as revealed by real-time place preference behavioral avoidance. Reactivation of foot shock-responsive PL-BLA circuitry impairs social behavior. Altogether, these data suggest a circuit-level mechanism by which valence-encoding mPFC-BLA sub-circuits shape social approach-avoidance behavior. Huang et al. investigate a circuit involving two brain regions important for both social and emotional processing. Activation of descending projections to the basolateral amygdala from the prelimbic cortex abolishes social preference and produces behavioral avoidance. Reactivation of negative stimulus-responsive neurons in this circuit abolishes social preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chin Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA; Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Aya Zucca
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Jenna Levy
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA; Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA.
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Karalis V, Bateup HS. Current Approaches and Future Directions for the Treatment of mTORopathies. Dev Neurosci 2021; 43:143-158. [PMID: 33910214 PMCID: PMC8440338 DOI: 10.1159/000515672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a kinase at the center of an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that orchestrates cell growth and metabolism. mTOR responds to an array of intra- and extracellular stimuli and in turn controls multiple cellular anabolic and catabolic processes. Aberrant mTOR activity is associated with numerous diseases, with particularly profound impact on the nervous system. mTOR is found in two protein complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and 2 (mTORC2), which are governed by different upstream regulators and have distinct cellular actions. Mutations in genes encoding for mTOR regulators result in a collection of neurodevelopmental disorders known as mTORopathies. While these disorders can affect multiple organs, neuropsychiatric conditions such as epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder have a major impact on quality of life. The neuropsychiatric aspects of mTORopathies have been particularly challenging to treat in a clinical setting. Current therapeutic approaches center on rapamycin and its analogs, drugs that are administered systemically to inhibit mTOR activity. While these drugs show some clinical efficacy, adverse side effects, incomplete suppression of mTOR targets, and lack of specificity for mTORC1 or mTORC2 may limit their utility. An increased understanding of the neurobiology of mTOR and the underlying molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms of mTOR-related disorders will facilitate the development of improved therapeutics. Animal models of mTORopathies have helped unravel the consequences of mTOR pathway mutations in specific brain cell types and developmental stages, revealing an array of disease-related phenotypes. In this review, we discuss current progress and potential future directions for the therapeutic treatment of mTORopathies with a focus on findings from genetic mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Karalis
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Helen S Bateup
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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Hooshmandi M, Truong VT, Fields E, Thomas RE, Wong C, Sharma V, Gantois I, Soriano Roque P, Chalkiadaki K, Wu N, Chakraborty A, Tahmasebi S, Prager-Khoutorsky M, Sonenberg N, Suvrathan A, Watt AJ, Gkogkas CG, Khoutorsky A. 4E-BP2-dependent translation in cerebellar Purkinje cells controls spatial memory but not autism-like behaviors. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109036. [PMID: 33910008 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that selective activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in the cerebellum by deletion of the mTORC1 upstream repressors TSC1 or phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in Purkinje cells (PCs) causes autism-like features and cognitive deficits. However, the molecular mechanisms by which overactivated mTORC1 in the cerebellum engenders these behaviors remain unknown. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 2 (4E-BP2) is a central translational repressor downstream of mTORC1. Here, we show that mice with selective ablation of 4E-BP2 in PCs display a reduced number of PCs, increased regularity of PC action potential firing, and deficits in motor learning. Surprisingly, although spatial memory is impaired in these mice, they exhibit normal social interaction and show no deficits in repetitive behavior. Our data suggest that, downstream of mTORC1/4E-BP2, there are distinct cerebellar mechanisms independently controlling social behavior and memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Hooshmandi
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Vinh Tai Truong
- Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Eviatar Fields
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Riya Elizabeth Thomas
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal QC, H3G1A4, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal QC, H3G1A4, Canada
| | - Calvin Wong
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Vijendra Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Ilse Gantois
- Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Patricia Soriano Roque
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kleanthi Chalkiadaki
- Division of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, University Campus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Neil Wu
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Anindyo Chakraborty
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Soroush Tahmasebi
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | | | - Nahum Sonenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Aparna Suvrathan
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal QC, H3G1A4, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal QC, H3G1A4, Canada
| | - Alanna J Watt
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Christos G Gkogkas
- Division of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, University Campus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Arkady Khoutorsky
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada.
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47
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Liu S, Trupiano MX, Simon J, Guo J, Anton ES. The essential role of primary cilia in cerebral cortical development and disorders. Curr Top Dev Biol 2021; 142:99-146. [PMID: 33706927 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Primary cilium, first described in the 19th century in different cell types and organisms by Alexander Ecker, Albert Kolliker, Aleksandr Kowalevsky, Paul Langerhans, and Karl Zimmermann (Ecker, 1844; Kolliker, 1854; Kowalevsky, 1867; Langerhans, 1876; Zimmermann, 1898), play an essential modulatory role in diverse aspects of nervous system development and function. The primary cilium, sometimes referred to as the cell's 'antennae', can receive wide ranging inputs from cellular milieu, including morphogens, growth factors, neuromodulators, and neurotransmitters. Its unique structural and functional organization bequeaths it the capacity to hyper-concentrate signaling machinery in a restricted cellular domain approximately one-thousandth the volume of cell soma. Thus enabling it to act as a signaling hub that integrates diverse developmental and homestatic information from cellular milieu to regulate the development and function of neural cells. Dysfunction of primary cilia contributes to the pathophysiology of several brain malformations, intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, and psychiatric disorders. This review focuses on the most essential contributions of primary cilia to cerebral cortical development and function, in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders and malformations. It highlights the recent progress made in identifying the mechanisms underlying primary cilia's role in cortical progenitors, neurons and glia, in health and disease. A future challenge will be to translate these insights and advances into effective clinical treatments for ciliopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siling Liu
- UNC Neuroscience Center and the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Mia X Trupiano
- UNC Neuroscience Center and the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jeremy Simon
- UNC Neuroscience Center and the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jiami Guo
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, and the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - E S Anton
- UNC Neuroscience Center and the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
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Gangopadhyay P, Chawla M, Dal Monte O, Chang SWC. Prefrontal-amygdala circuits in social decision-making. Nat Neurosci 2020; 24:5-18. [PMID: 33169032 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00738-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
An increasing amount of research effort is being directed toward investigating the neural bases of social cognition from a systems neuroscience perspective. Evidence from multiple animal species is beginning to provide a mechanistic understanding of the substrates of social behaviors at multiple levels of neurobiology, ranging from those underlying high-level social constructs in humans and their more rudimentary underpinnings in monkeys to circuit-level and cell-type-specific instantiations of social behaviors in rodents. Here we review literature examining the neural mechanisms of social decision-making in humans, non-human primates and rodents, focusing on the amygdala and the medial and orbital prefrontal cortical regions and their functional interactions. We also discuss how the neuropeptide oxytocin impacts these circuits and their downstream effects on social behaviors. Overall, we conclude that regulated interactions of neuronal activity in the prefrontal-amygdala pathways critically contribute to social decision-making in the brains of primates and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megha Chawla
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Olga Dal Monte
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Steve W C Chang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Brosig A, Fuchs J, Ipek F, Kroon C, Schrötter S, Vadhvani M, Polyzou A, Ledderose J, van Diepen M, Holzhütter HG, Trimbuch T, Gimber N, Schmoranzer J, Lieberam I, Rosenmund C, Spahn C, Scheerer P, Szczepek M, Leondaritis G, Eickholt BJ. The Axonal Membrane Protein PRG2 Inhibits PTEN and Directs Growth to Branches. Cell Rep 2020; 29:2028-2040.e8. [PMID: 31722215 PMCID: PMC6856728 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In developing neurons, phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) control axon growth and branching by positively regulating PI3K/PI(3,4,5)P3, but how neurons are able to generate sufficient PI(3,4,5)P3 in the presence of high levels of the antagonizing phosphatase PTEN is difficult to reconcile. We find that normal axon morphogenesis involves homeostasis of elongation and branch growth controlled by accumulation of PI(3,4,5)P3 through PTEN inhibition. We identify a plasma membrane-localized protein-protein interaction of PTEN with plasticity-related gene 2 (PRG2). PRG2 stabilizes membrane PI(3,4,5)P3 by inhibiting PTEN and localizes in nanoclusters along axon membranes when neurons initiate their complex branching behavior. We demonstrate that PRG2 is both sufficient and necessary to account for the ability of neurons to generate axon filopodia and branches in dependence on PI3K/PI(3,4,5)P3 and PTEN. Our data indicate that PRG2 is part of a neuronal growth program that induces collateral branch growth in axons by conferring local inhibition of PTEN. Neuronal axon growth and branching is globally regulated by PI3K/PTEN signaling PRG2 inhibits PTEN and stabilizes PIP3 and F-actin PRG2 localizes to nanoclusters on the axonal membrane and coincides with branching PRG2 promotes axonal filopodia and branching dependent on PI3K/PTEN
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Brosig
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Fuchs
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Fatih Ipek
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Cristina Kroon
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Schrötter
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02120, USA
| | - Mayur Vadhvani
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Polyzou
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Julia Ledderose
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michiel van Diepen
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Hermann-Georg Holzhütter
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Trimbuch
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Niclas Gimber
- Advanced Medical Bioimaging Core Facility (AMBIO), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Schmoranzer
- Advanced Medical Bioimaging Core Facility (AMBIO), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivo Lieberam
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College, London, UK
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- NeuroCure-Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Spahn
- NeuroCure-Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michal Szczepek
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - George Leondaritis
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Britta J Eickholt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure-Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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50
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Page DT. Connecting Genotype with Behavioral Phenotype in Mouse Models of Autism Associated with PTEN Mutations. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a037010. [PMID: 31871231 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a037010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly carry mutations in the gene PTEN. Animal models, particularly mice, have been helpful in establishing a causal role for Pten mutations in autism-relevant behavioral deficits. These models are a useful tool for investigating neurobiological mechanisms of these behavioral phenotypes and developing potential therapeutic interventions. Here we provide an overview of various genetic mouse models that have been used to characterize behavioral phenotypes caused by perturbation of Pten We discuss convergent and divergent phenotypes across models with the aim of highlighting a set of behavioral domains that are sensitive to the effects of Pten mutation and that may provide useful readouts for translational and basic neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
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