Hedgehog signaling promotes basal progenitor expansion and the growth and folding of the neocortex

A human-specific progenitor sub-domain extends neurogenesis and increases motor neuron production

Neurogenesis lasts ~10 times longer in developing humans compared to mice, resulting in a >1,000-fold increase in the number of neurons in the CNS. To identify molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to this difference, we studied human and mouse motor neurogenesis using a stem cell differentiation system that recapitulates species-specific scales of development. Comparison of human and mouse single-cell gene expression data identified human-specific progenitors characterized by coexpression of NKX2-2 and OLIG2 that give rise to spinal motor neurons. Unlike classical OLIG2+ motor neuron progenitors that give rise to two motor neurons each, OLIG2+/NKX2-2+ ventral motor neuron progenitors remain cycling longer, yielding ~5 times more motor neurons that are biased toward later-born, FOXP1-expressing subtypes. Knockout of NKX2-2 converts ventral motor neuron progenitors into classical motor neuron progenitors. Such new progenitors may contribute to the increased production of human motor neurons required for the generation of larger, more complex nervous systems.

A multi-layered integrative analysis reveals a cholesterol metabolic program in outer radial glia with implications for human brain evolution

The definition of molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to brain ontogenetic trajectories is essential to investigate the evolution of our species. Yet their functional dissection at an appropriate level of granularity remains challenging. Capitalizing on recent efforts that have extensively profiled neural stem cells from the developing human cortex, we develop an integrative computational framework to perform trajectory inference and gene regulatory network reconstruction, (pseudo)time-informed non-negative matrix factorization for learning the dynamics of gene expression programs, and paleogenomic analysis for a higher-resolution mapping of derived regulatory variants in our species in comparison with our closest relatives. We provide evidence for cell type-specific regulation of gene expression programs during indirect neurogenesis. In particular, our analysis uncovers a key role for a cholesterol program in outer radial glia, regulated by zinc-finger transcription factor KLF6. A cartography of the regulatory landscape impacted by Homo sapiens-derived variants reveals signals of selection clustering around regulatory regions associated with GLI3, a well-known regulator of radial glial cell cycle, and impacting KLF6 regulation. Our study contributes to the evidence of significant changes in metabolic pathways in recent human brain evolution.

The role of primary cilia in congenital heart defect-associated neurological impairments

Congenital heart disease (CHD) has, despite significant improvements in patient survival, increasingly become associated with neurological deficits during infancy that persist into adulthood. These impairments afflict a wide range of behavioral domains including executive function, motor learning and coordination, social interaction, and language acquisition, reflecting alterations in multiple brain areas. In the past few decades, it has become clear that CHD is highly genetically heterogeneous, with large chromosomal aneuploidies and copy number variants (CNVs) as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) being implicated in CHD pathogenesis. Intriguingly, many of the identified loss-of-function genetic variants occur in genes important for primary cilia integrity and function, hinting at a key role for primary cilia in CHD. Here we review the current evidence for CHD primary cilia associated genetic variants, their independent functions during cardiac and brain development and their influence on behavior. We also highlight the role of environmental exposures in CHD, including stressors such as surgical factors and anesthesia, and how they might interact with ciliary genetic predispositions to determine the final neurodevelopmental outcome. The multifactorial nature of CHD and neurological impairments linked with it will, on one hand, likely necessitate therapeutic targeting of molecular pathways and neurobehavioral deficits shared by disparate forms of CHD. On the other hand, strategies for better CHD patient stratification based on genomic data, gestational and surgical history, and CHD complexity would allow for more precise therapeutic targeting of comorbid neurological deficits.

Indirect neurogenesis in space and time

During central nervous system (CNS) development, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) generate neurons and glia in two different ways. In direct neurogenesis, daughter cells differentiate directly into neurons or glia, whereas in indirect neurogenesis, neurons or glia are generated after one or more daughter cell divisions. Intriguingly, indirect neurogenesis is not stochastically deployed and plays instructive roles during CNS development: increased generation of cells from specific lineages; increased generation of early or late-born cell types within a lineage; and increased cell diversification. Increased indirect neurogenesis might contribute to the anterior CNS expansion evident throughout the Bilateria and help to modify brain-region size without requiring increased NPC numbers or extended neurogenesis. Increased indirect neurogenesis could be an evolutionary driver of the gyrencephalic (that is, folded) cortex that emerged during mammalian evolution and might even have increased during hominid evolution. Thus, selection of indirect versus direct neurogenesis provides a powerful developmental and evolutionary instrument that drives not only the evolution of CNS complexity but also brain expansion and modulation of brain-region size, and thereby the evolution of increasingly advanced cognitive abilities. This Review describes indirect neurogenesis in several model species and humans, and highlights some of the molecular genetic mechanisms that control this important process.

The Principle of Cortical Development and Evolution

Human's robust cognitive abilities, including creativity and language, are made possible, at least in large part, by evolutionary changes made to the cerebral cortex. This paper reviews the biology and evolution of mammalian cortical radial glial cells (primary neural stem cells) and introduces the concept that a genetically step wise process, based on a core molecular pathway already in use, is the evolutionary process that has molded cortical neurogenesis. The core mechanism, which has been identified in our recent studies, is the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7)-GLI3 repressor form (GLI3R)-sonic hedgehog (SHH) positive feedback loop. Additionally, I propose that the molecular basis for cortical evolutionary dwarfism, exemplified by the lissencephalic mouse which originated from a larger gyrencephalic ancestor, is an increase in SHH signaling in radial glia, that antagonizes ERK-BMP7 signaling. Finally, I propose that: (1) SHH signaling is not a key regulator of primate cortical expansion and folding; (2) human cortical radial glial cells do not generate neocortical interneurons; (3) human-specific genes may not be essential for most cortical expansion. I hope this review assists colleagues in the field, guiding research to address gaps in our understanding of cortical development and evolution.

ERK signaling expands mammalian cortical radial glial cells and extends the neurogenic period

The molecular basis for cortical expansion during evolution remains largely unknown. Here, we report that fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling promotes the self-renewal and expansion of cortical radial glial (RG) cells. Furthermore, FGF-ERK signaling induces bone morphogenic protein 7 (Bmp7) expression in cortical RG cells, which increases the length of the neurogenic period. We demonstrate that ERK signaling and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling mutually inhibit each other in cortical RG cells. We provide evidence that ERK signaling is elevated in cortical RG cells during development and evolution. We propose that the expansion of the mammalian cortex, notably in human, is driven by the ERK-BMP7-GLI3R signaling pathway in cortical RG cells, which participates in a positive feedback loop through antagonizing SHH signaling. We also propose that the relatively short cortical neurogenic period in mice is partly due to mouse cortical RG cells receiving higher SHH signaling that antagonizes ERK signaling.

Mechanics in the nervous system: From development to disease

Physical forces are ubiquitous in biological processes across scales and diverse contexts. This review highlights the significance of mechanical forces in nervous system development, homeostasis, and disease. We provide an overview of mechanical signals present in the nervous system and delve into mechanotransduction mechanisms translating these mechanical cues into biochemical signals. During development, mechanical cues regulate a plethora of processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, network formation, and cortex folding. Forces then continue exerting their influence on physiological processes, such as neuronal activity, glial cell function, and the interplay between these different cell types. Notably, changes in tissue mechanics manifest in neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors, potentially offering new diagnostic and therapeutic target opportunities. Understanding the role of cellular forces and tissue mechanics in nervous system physiology and pathology adds a new facet to neurobiology, shedding new light on many processes that remain incompletely understood.

Toward a better understanding of how a gyrified brain develops

The size and shape of the cerebral cortex have changed dramatically across evolution. For some species, the cortex remains smooth (lissencephalic) throughout their lifetime, while for other species, including humans and other primates, the cortex increases substantially in size and becomes folded (gyrencephalic). A folded cortex boasts substantially increased surface area, cortical thickness, and neuronal density, and it is therefore associated with higher-order cognitive abilities. The mechanisms that drive gyrification in some species, while others remain lissencephalic despite many shared neurodevelopmental features, have been a topic of investigation for many decades, giving rise to multiple perspectives of how the gyrified cerebral cortex acquires its unique shape. Recently, a structurally unique germinal layer, known as the outer subventricular zone, and the specialized cell type that populates it, called basal radial glial cells, were identified, and these have been shown to be indispensable for cortical expansion and folding. Transcriptional analyses and gene manipulation models have provided an invaluable insight into many of the key cellular and genetic drivers of gyrification. However, the degree to which certain biomechanical, genetic, and cellular processes drive gyrification remains under investigation. This review considers the key aspects of cerebral expansion and folding that have been identified to date and how theories of gyrification have evolved to incorporate this new knowledge.

H3 Acetylation-Induced Basal Progenitor Generation and Neocortex Expansion Depends on the Transcription Factor Pax6

Enrichment of basal progenitors (BPs) in the developing neocortex is a central driver of cortical enlargement. The transcription factor Pax6 is known as an essential regulator in generation of BPs. H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) has emerged as a crucial epigenetic mechanism that activates the gene expression program required for BP pool amplification. In this current work, we applied immunohistochemistry, RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing, and the yeast two-hybrid assay to reveal that the BP-genic effect of H3 acetylation is dependent on Pax6 functionality in the developing mouse cortex. In the presence of Pax6, increased H3 acetylation caused BP pool expansion, leading to enhanced neurogenesis, which evoked expansion and quasi-convolution of the mouse neocortex. Interestingly, H3 acetylation activation exacerbates the BP depletion and corticogenesis reduction effect of Pax6 ablation in cortex-specific Pax6 mutants. Furthermore, we found that H3K9 acetyltransferase KAT2A/GCN5 interacts with Pax6 and potentiates Pax6-dependent transcriptional activity. This explains a genome-wide lack of H3K9ac, especially in the promoter regions of BP-genic genes, in the Pax6 mutant cortex. Together, these findings reveal a mechanistic coupling of H3 acetylation and Pax6 in orchestrating BP production and cortical expansion through the promotion of a BP gene expression program during cortical development.

Uncovering cilia function in glial development

Primary cilia play critical roles in regulating signaling pathways that underlie several developmental processes. In the nervous system, cilia are known to regulate signals that guide neuron development. Cilia dysregulation is implicated in neurological diseases, and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Cilia research has predominantly focused on neurons and has overlooked the diverse population of glial cells in the brain. Glial cells play essential roles during neurodevelopment, and their dysfunction contributes to neurological disease; however, the relationship between cilia function and glial development is understudied. Here we review the state of the field and highlight the glial cell types where cilia are found and the ciliary functions that are linked to glial development. This work uncovers the importance of cilia in glial development and raises outstanding questions for the field. We are poised to make progress in understanding the function of glial cilia in human development and their contribution to neurological diseases.

Hedgehog Signaling in Cortical Development

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway plays a crucial role in embryonic development, acting both as a morphogenic signal that organizes tissue formation and a potent mitogenic signal driving cell proliferation. Dysregulated Hh signaling leads to various developmental defects in the brain. This article aims to review the roles of Hh signaling in the development of the neocortex in the mammalian brain, focusing on its regulation of neural progenitor proliferation and neuronal production. The review will summarize studies on genetic mouse models that have targeted different components of the Hh pathway, such as the ligand Shh, the receptor Ptch1, the GPCR-like transducer Smo, the intracellular transducer Sufu, and the three Gli transcription factors. As key insights into the Hh signaling transduction mechanism were obtained from mouse models displaying neural tube defects, this review will also cover some studies on Hh signaling in neural tube development. The results from these genetic mouse models suggest an intriguing hypothesis that elevated Hh signaling may play a role in the gyrification of the brain in certain species. Additionally, the distinctive production of GABAergic interneurons in the dorsal cortex in the human brain may also be linked to the extension of Hh signaling from the ventral to the dorsal brain region. Overall, these results suggest key roles of Hh signaling as both a morphogenic and mitogenic signal during the forebrain development and imply the potential involvement of Hh signaling in the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex.

Shaping the brain: The emergence of cortical structure and folding

The cerebral cortex-the brain's covering and largest region-has increased in size and complexity in humans and supports higher cognitive functions such as language and abstract thinking. There is a growing understanding of the human cerebral cortex, including the diversity and number of cell types that it contains, as well as of the developmental mechanisms that shape cortical structure and organization. In this review, we discuss recent progress in our understanding of molecular and cellular processes, as well as mechanical forces, that regulate the folding of the cerebral cortex. Advances in human genetics, coupled with experimental modeling in gyrencephalic species, have provided insights into the central role of cortical progenitors in the gyrification and evolutionary expansion of the cerebral cortex. These studies are essential for understanding the emergence of structural and functional organization during cortical development and the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with cortical malformations.

Intracellular traffic and polarity in brain development

Neurons forming the human brain are generated during embryonic development by neural stem and progenitor cells via a process called neurogenesis. A crucial feature contributing to neural stem cell morphological and functional heterogeneity is cell polarity, defined as asymmetric distribution of cellular components. Cell polarity is built and maintained thanks to the interplay between polarity proteins and polarity-generating organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus (GA). ER and GA affect the distribution of membrane components and work as a hub where glycans are added to nascent proteins and lipids. In the last decades our knowledge on the role of polarity in neural stem and progenitor cells have increased tremendously. However, the role of traffic and associated glycosylation in neural stem and progenitor cells is still relatively underexplored. In this review, we discuss the link between cell polarity, architecture, identity and intracellular traffic, and highlight how studies on neurons have shaped our knowledge and conceptual framework on traffic and polarity. We will then conclude by discussing how a group of rare diseases, called congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) offers the unique opportunity to study the contribution of traffic and glycosylation in the context of neurodevelopment.

Loss of Twist1 and balanced retinoic acid signaling from the meninges causes cortical folding in mice

Secondary lissencephaly evolved in mice due to effects on neurogenesis and the tangential distribution of neurons. Signaling pathways that help maintain lissencephaly are still poorly understood. We show that inactivating Twist1 in the primitive meninges causes cortical folding in mice. Cell proliferation in the meninges is reduced, causing loss of arachnoid fibroblasts that express Raldh2, an enzyme required for retinoic acid synthesis. Regionalized loss of Raldh2 in the dorsolateral meninges is first detected when folding begins. The ventricular zone expands and the forebrain lengthens at this time due to expansion of apical radial glia. As the cortex expands, regionalized differences in the levels of neurogenesis are coupled with changes to the tangential distribution of neurons. Consequentially, cortical growth at and adjacent to the midline accelerates with respect to more dorsolateral regions, resulting in cortical buckling and folding. Maternal retinoic acid supplementation suppresses cortical folding by normalizing forebrain length, neurogenesis and the tangential distribution of neurons. These results suggest that Twist1 and balanced retinoic acid signaling from the meninges are required to maintain normal levels of neurogenesis and lissencephaly in mice.

The Control of Cortical Folding: Multiple Mechanisms, Multiple Models

The cerebral cortex develops through a carefully conscripted series of cellular and molecular events that culminate in the production of highly specialized neuronal and glial cells. During development, cortical neurons and glia acquire a precise cellular arrangement and architecture to support higher-order cognitive functioning. Decades of study using rodent models, naturally gyrencephalic animal models, human pathology specimens, and, recently, human cerebral organoids, reveal that rodents recapitulate some but not all the cellular and molecular features of human cortices. Whereas rodent cortices are smooth-surfaced or lissencephalic, larger mammals, including humans and nonhuman primates, have highly folded/gyrencephalic cortices that accommodate an expansion in neuronal mass and increase in surface area. Several genes have evolved to drive cortical gyrification, arising from gene duplications or de novo origins, or by alterations to the structure/function of ancestral genes or their gene regulatory regions. Primary cortical folds arise in stereotypical locations, prefigured by a molecular "blueprint" that is set up by several signaling pathways (e.g., Notch, Fgf, Wnt, PI3K, Shh) and influenced by the extracellular matrix. Mutations that affect neural progenitor cell proliferation and/or neurogenesis, predominantly of upper-layer neurons, perturb cortical gyrification. Below we review the molecular drivers of cortical folding and their roles in disease.

Bacterial TLR2/6 Ligands Block Ciliogenesis, Derepress Hedgehog Signaling, and Expand the Neocortex

Microbial components have a range of direct effects on the fetal brain. However, little is known about the cellular targets and molecular mechanisms that mediate these effects. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) control the size and architecture of the brain and understanding the mechanisms regulating NPCs is crucial to understanding brain developmental disorders. We identify ventricular radial glia (vRG), the primary NPC, as the target of bacterial cell wall (BCW) generated during the antibiotic treatment of maternal pneumonia. BCW enhanced proliferative potential of vRGs by shortening the cell cycle and increasing self-renewal. Expanded vRGs propagated to increase neuronal output in all cortical layers. Remarkably, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), which recognizes BCW, localized at the base of primary cilia in vRGs and the BCW-TLR2 interaction suppressed ciliogenesis leading to derepression of Hedgehog (HH) signaling and expansion of vRGs. We also show that TLR6 is an essential partner of TLR2 in this process. Surprisingly, TLR6 alone was required to set the number of cortical neurons under healthy conditions. These findings suggest that an endogenous signal from TLRs suppresses cortical expansion during normal development of the neocortex and that BCW antagonizes that signal through the TLR2/cilia/HH signaling axis changing brain structure and function. IMPORTANCE Fetal brain development in early gestation can be impacted by transplacental infection, altered metabolites from the maternal microbiome, or maternal immune activation. It is less well understood how maternal microbial subcomponents that cross the placenta, such as bacterial cell wall (BCW), directly interact with fetal neural progenitors and neurons and affect development. This scenario plays out in the clinic when BCW debris released during antibiotic therapy of maternal infection traffics to the fetal brain. This study identifies the direct interaction of BCW with TLR2/6 present on the primary cilium, the signaling hub on fetal neural progenitor cells (NPCs). NPCs control the size and architecture of the brain and understanding the mechanisms regulating NPCs is crucial to understanding brain developmental disorders. Within a window of vulnerability before the appearance of fetal immune cells, the BCW-TLR2/6 interaction results in the inhibition of ciliogenesis, derepression of Sonic Hedgehog signaling, excess proliferation of neural progenitors, and abnormal cortical architecture. In the first example of TLR signaling linked to Sonic Hedgehog, BCW/TLR2/6 appears to act during fetal brain morphogenesis to play a role in setting the total cell number in the neocortex.

Setting the clock of neural progenitor cells during mammalian corticogenesis

Radial glial cells (RGCs) as primary neural stem cells in the developing mammalian cortex give rise to diverse types of neurons and glial cells according to sophisticated developmental programs with remarkable spatiotemporal precision. Recent studies suggest that regulation of the temporal competence of RGCs is a key mechanism for the highly conserved and predictable development of the cerebral cortex. Various types of epigenetic regulations, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and 3D chromatin architecture, play a key role in shaping the gene expression pattern of RGCs. In addition, epitranscriptomic modifications regulate temporal pre-patterning of RGCs by affecting the turnover rate and function of cell-type-specific transcripts. In this review, we summarize epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulatory mechanisms that control the temporal competence of RGCs during mammalian corticogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss various developmental elements that also dynamically regulate the temporal competence of RGCs, including biochemical reaction speed, local environmental changes, and subcellular organelle remodeling. Finally, we discuss the underlying mechanisms that regulate the interspecies developmental tempo contributing to human-specific features of brain development.

Embryonic mouse medial neocortex as a model system for studying the radial glial scaffold in fetal human neocortex

Neocortex is the evolutionarily newest region in the brain, and is a structure with diversified size and morphology among mammalian species. Humans have the biggest neocortex compared to the body size, and their neocortex has many foldings, that is, gyri and sulci. Despite the recent methodological advances in in vitro models such as cerebral organoids, mice have been continuously used as a model system for studying human neocortical development because of the accessibility and practicality of in vivo gene manipulation. The commonly studied neocortical region, the lateral neocortex, generally recapitulates the developmental process of the human neocortex, however, there are several important factors missing in the lateral neocortex. First, basal (outer) radial glia (bRG), which are the main cell type providing the radial scaffold to the migrating neurons in the fetal human neocortex, are very few in the mouse lateral neocortex, thus the radial glial scaffold is different from the fetal human neocortex. Second, as a consequence of the difference in the radial glial scaffold, migrating neurons might exhibit different migratory behavior and thus distribution. To overcome those problems, we propose the mouse medial neocortex, where we have earlier revealed an abundance of bRG similar to the fetal human neocortex, as an alternative model system. We found that similar to the fetal human neocortex, the radial glial scaffold, neuronal migration and neuronal distribution are tangentially scattered in the mouse medial neocortex. Taken together, the embryonic mouse medial neocortex could be a suitable and accessible in vivo model system to study human neocortical development and its pathogenesis.

TMEM161B regulates cerebral cortical gyration, Sonic Hedgehog signaling, and ciliary structure in the developing central nervous system

Sonic hedgehog signaling regulates processes of embryonic development across multiple tissues, yet factors regulating context-specific Shh signaling remain poorly understood. Exome sequencing of families with polymicrogyria (disordered cortical folding) revealed multiple individuals with biallelic deleterious variants in TMEM161B, which encodes a multi-pass transmembrane protein of unknown function. Tmem161b null mice demonstrated holoprosencephaly, craniofacial midline defects, eye defects, and spinal cord patterning changes consistent with impaired Shh signaling, but were without limb defects, suggesting a CNS-specific role of Tmem161b. Tmem161b depletion impaired the response to Smoothened activation in vitro and disrupted cortical histogenesis in vivo in both mouse and ferret models, including leading to abnormal gyration in the ferret model. Tmem161b localizes non-exclusively to the primary cilium, and scanning electron microscopy revealed shortened, dysmorphic, and ballooned ventricular zone cilia in the Tmem161b null mouse, suggesting that the Shh-related phenotypes may reflect ciliary dysfunction. Our data identify TMEM161B as a regulator of cerebral cortical gyration, as involved in primary ciliary structure, as a regulator of Shh signaling, and further implicate Shh signaling in human gyral development.

Activation of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Promotes Differentiation of Cortical Layer 4 Neurons via Regulation of Their Cell Positioning

Neuronal subtypes in the mammalian cerebral cortex are determined by both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms during development. However, the extrinsic cues that are involved in this process remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of sonic hedgehog (Shh) in glutamatergic cortical subtype specification. We found that E14.5-born, but not E15.5-born, neurons with elevated Shh expression frequently differentiated into layer 4 subtypes as judged by the cell positioning and molecular identity. We further found that this effect was achieved indirectly through the regulation of cell positioning rather than the direct activation of layer 4 differentiation programs. Together, we provided evidence that Shh, an extrinsic factor, plays an important role in the specification of cortical superficial layer subtypes.

PAR3 restricts the expansion of neural precursor cells by regulating hedgehog signaling

During brain development, neural precursor cells (NPCs) expand initially, and then switch to generating stage-specific neurons while maintaining self-renewal ability. Because the NPC pool at the onset of neurogenesis crucially affects the final number of each type of neuron, tight regulation is necessary for the transitional timing from the expansion to the neurogenic phase in these cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this transition are poorly understood. Here, we report that the telencephalon-specific loss of PAR3 before the start of neurogenesis leads to increased NPC proliferation at the expense of neurogenesis, resulting in disorganized tissue architecture. These NPCs demonstrate hyperactivation of hedgehog signaling in a smoothened-dependent manner, as well as defects in primary cilia. Furthermore, loss of PAR3 enhanced ligand-independent ciliary accumulation of smoothened and an inhibitor of smoothened ameliorated the hyperproliferation of NPCs in the telencephalon. Thus, these findings support the idea that PAR3 has a crucial role in the transition of NPCs from the expansion phase to the neurogenic phase by restricting hedgehog signaling through the establishment of ciliary integrity.

LncRNA RUS shapes the gene expression program towards neurogenesis

The chromatin-associated lncRNA RUS binds in the vicinity to neural differentiation-associated genes and regulates them in a context-dependent manner to enable proper neuron development.

The evolution of brain complexity correlates with an increased expression of long, noncoding (lnc) RNAs in neural tissues. Although prominent examples illustrate the potential of lncRNAs to scaffold and target epigenetic regulators to chromatin loci, only few cases have been described to function during brain development. We present a first functional characterization of the lncRNA LINC01322, which we term RUS for “RNA upstream of Slitrk3.” The RUS gene is well conserved in mammals by sequence and synteny next to the neurodevelopmental gene Slitrk3. RUS is exclusively expressed in neural cells and its expression increases during neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic cortical neural stem cells. Depletion of RUS locks neuronal precursors in an intermediate state towards neuronal differentiation resulting in arrested cell cycle and increased apoptosis. RUS associates with chromatin in the vicinity of genes involved in neurogenesis, most of which change their expression upon RUS depletion. The identification of a range of epigenetic regulators as specific RUS interactors suggests that the lncRNA may mediate gene activation and repression in a highly context-dependent manner.

A kinase-independent function of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 promotes outer radial glia expansion and neocortical folding

The neocortex, the center for higher brain function, first emerged in mammals and has become massively expanded and folded in humans, constituting almost half the volume of the human brain. Primary microcephaly, a developmental disorder in which the brain is smaller than normal at birth, results mainly from there being fewer neurons in the neocortex because of defects in neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Outer radial glia (oRGs), NPCs that are abundant in gyrencephalic species but rare in lissencephalic species, are thought to play key roles in the expansion and folding of the neocortex. However, how oRGs expand, whether they are necessary for neocortical folding, and whether defects in oRGs cause microcephaly remain important questions in the study of brain development, evolution, and disease. Here, we show that oRG expansion in mice, ferrets, and human cerebral organoids requires cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), the mutation of which causes primary microcephaly via an unknown mechanism. In a mouse model in which increased Hedgehog signaling expands oRGs and intermediate progenitor cells and induces neocortical folding, CDK6 loss selectively decreased oRGs and abolished neocortical folding. Remarkably, this function of CDK6 in oRG expansion did not require its kinase activity, was not shared by the highly similar CDK4 and CDK2, and was disrupted by the mutation causing microcephaly. Therefore, our results indicate that CDK6 is conserved to promote oRG expansion, that oRGs are necessary for neocortical folding, and that defects in oRG expansion may cause primary microcephaly.

The epigenetic state of EED-Gli3-Gli1 regulatory axis controls embryonic cortical neurogenesis

Mutations in the embryonic ectoderm development (EED) cause Weaver syndrome, but whether and how EED affects embryonic brain development remains elusive. Here, we generated a mouse model in which Eed was deleted in the forebrain to investigate the role of EED. We found that deletion of Eed decreased the number of upper-layer neurons but not deeper-layer neurons starting at E16.5. Transcriptomic and genomic occupancy analyses revealed that the epigenetic states of a group of cortical neurogenesis-related genes were altered in Eed knockout forebrains, followed by a decrease of H3K27me3 and an increase of H3K27ac marks within the promoter regions. The switching of H3K27me3 to H3K27ac modification promoted the recruitment of RNA-Pol2, thereby enhancing its expression level. The small molecule activator SAG or Ptch1 knockout for activating Hedgehog signaling can partially rescue aberrant cortical neurogenesis. Taken together, we proposed a novel EED-Gli3-Gli1 regulatory axis that is critical for embryonic brain development.

Probing the molecular and cellular pathological mechanisms of schizophrenia using human induced pluripotent stem cell models

With recent advancements in psychiatric genomics, as a field, "stem cell-based disease modelers" were given the exciting yet daunting task of translating the extensive list of disease-associated risks into biologically and clinically relevant information in order to deliver therapeutically meaningful leads and insights. Despite their limitations, human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) based models have greatly aided our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the complex etiology of brain disorders including schizophrenia (SCZ). In this review, we summarize the major findings from studies in the past decade which utilized iPSC models to investigate cell type-specific phenotypes relevant to idiopathic SCZ and disease penetrant alleles. Across cell type differences, several biological themes emerged, serving as potential neurodevelopmental mechanisms of SCZ, including oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, depletion of progenitor pools and insufficient differentiation potential of these progenitors, and structural and functional deficits of neurons and other supporting cells. Here, we discuss both the recent progress as well as challenges and improvements needed for future studies utilizing iPSCs as a model for SCZ and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

β-arrestin 2 and Epac2 cooperatively mediate DRD1-stimulated proliferation of human neural stem cells and growth of human cerebral organoids

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) reportedly relay specific signals, such as dopamine and serotonin, to regulate neurogenic processes though the underlying signaling pathways are not fully elucidated. Based on our previous work which demonstrated Dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) effectively induces the proliferation of human neural stem cells, here we continued to show the knockout of β-arrestin 2 by CRISPR/Cas9 technology significantly weakened the DRD1-induced proliferation and neurosphere growth. Furthermore, inhibition of the downstream p38 MAPK by its specific inhibitors or small hairpin RNA mimicked the weakening effect of β-arrestin 2 knockout. In addition, blocking of Epac2, a PKA independent signal pathway, by its specific inhibitors or small hairpin RNA also significantly reduced DRD1-induced effects. Simultaneous inhibition of β-arrestin 2/p38 MAPK and Epac2 pathways nearly abolished the DRD1-stimulated neurogenesis, indicating the cooperative contribution of both pathways. Consistently, the expansion and folding of human cerebral organoids as stimulated by DRD1 were also mediated cooperatively by both β-arrestin 2/p38 MAPK and Epac2 pathways. Taken together, our results reveal that GPCRs apply at least two different signal pathways to regulate neurogenic processes in a delicate and balanced manners.

TPT1 Supports Proliferation of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells and Brain Tumor Initiating Cells Regulated by Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)

One of the key areas in stem cell research is the identification of factors capable of promoting the expansion of Neural Stem Cell/Progenitor Cells (NSPCs) and understanding their molecular mechanisms for future use in clinical settings. We previously identified Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) as a novel factor that can support the proliferation and/or survival of NSPCs based on in vitro functional cloning strategy and revealed that MIF can support the proliferation of human brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs). However, the detailed downstream signaling for the functions has largely remained unknown. Thus, in the present study, we newly identified translationally-controlled tumor protein-1 (TPT1), which is expressed in the ventricular zone of mouse embryonic brain, as a downstream target of MIF signaling in mouse and human NSPCs and human BTICs. Using gene manipulation (over or downregulation of TPT1) techniques including CRISPR/Cas9-mediated heterozygous gene disruption showed that TPT1 contributed to the regulation of cell proliferation/survival in mouse NSPCs, human embryonic stem cell (hESC) derived-NSPCs, human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived-NSPCs and BTICs. Furthermore, gene silencing of TPT1 caused defects in neuronal differentiation in the NSPCs in vitro. We also identified the MIF-CHD7-TPT1-SMO signaling axis in regulating hESC-NSPCs and BTICs proliferation. Intriguingly, TPT1suppressed the miR-338 gene, which targets SMO in hESC-NSPCs and BTICs. Finally, mice with implanted BTICs infected with lentivirus-TPT1 shRNA showed a longer overall survival than control. These results also open up new avenues for the development of glioma therapies based on the TPT1 signaling pathway.

The ciliary gene INPP5E confers dorsal telencephalic identity to human cortical organoids by negatively regulating Sonic hedgehog signaling

Defects in primary cilia, cellular antennas that control multiple intracellular signaling pathways, underlie several neurodevelopmental disorders, but it remains unknown how cilia control essential steps in human brain formation. Here, we show that cilia are present on the apical surface of radial glial cells in human fetal forebrain. Interfering with cilia signaling in human organoids by mutating the INPP5E gene leads to the formation of ventral telencephalic cell types instead of cortical progenitors and neurons. INPP5E mutant organoids also show increased Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling, and cyclopamine treatment partially rescues this ventralization. In addition, ciliary expression of SMO, GLI2, GPR161, and several intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins is increased. Overall, these findings establish the importance of primary cilia for dorsal and ventral patterning in human corticogenesis, indicate a tissue-specific role of INPP5E as a negative regulator of SHH signaling, and have implications for the emerging roles of cilia in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Ciliary signaling in stem cells in health and disease: Hedgehog pathway and beyond

The primary cilium is a hair-like sensory compartment that protrudes from the cellular surface. The primary cilium is enriched in a variety of signaling molecules that regulate cellular activities. Stem cells have primary cilia. They reside in a specialized environment, called the stem cell niche. This niche contains a variety of secreted factors, and some of their receptors are localized in the primary cilia of stem cells. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the function of cilia in compartmentalized signaling in stem cells. We describe how ciliary signaling regulates stem cells and progenitor cells during development, tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis. We summarize our understanding of cilia regulated signaling -primary involving the hedgehog pathway- in stem cells in diverse settings that include neuroepithelial cells, radial glia, cerebellar granule neuron precursors, hematopoietic stem cells, hair follicle stem cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and mammary gland stem cells. Overall, our review highlights a variety of roles that ciliary signaling plays in regulating stem cells throughout life.

Investigation of the Mechanisms Underlying the Development and Evolution of the Cerebral Cortex Using Gyrencephalic Ferrets

The mammalian cerebral cortex has changed significantly during evolution. As a result of the increase in the number of neurons and glial cells in the cerebral cortex, its size has markedly expanded. Moreover, folds, called gyri and sulci, appeared on its surface, and its neuronal circuits have become much more complicated. Although these changes during evolution are considered to have been crucial for the acquisition of higher brain functions, the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the cerebral cortex of mammals are still unclear. This is, at least partially, because it is difficult to investigate these mechanisms using mice only. Therefore, genetic manipulation techniques for the cerebral cortex of gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets were developed recently. Furthermore, gene knockout was achieved in the ferret cerebral cortex using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These techniques enabled molecular investigations using the ferret cerebral cortex. In this review, we will summarize recent findings regarding the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the mammalian cerebral cortex, mainly focusing on research using ferrets.

Coordinating cerebral cortical construction and connectivity: Unifying influence of radial progenitors

Radial progenitor development and function lay the foundation for the construction of the cerebral cortex. Radial glial scaffold, through its functions as a source of neurogenic progenitors and neuronal migration guide, is thought to provide a template for the formation of the cerebral cortex. Emerging evidence is challenging this limited view. Intriguingly, radial glial scaffold may also play a role in axonal growth, guidance, and neuronal connectivity. Radial glial cells not only facilitate the generation, placement, and allocation of neurons in the cortex but also regulate how they wire up. The organization and function of radial glial cells may thus be a unifying feature of the developing cortex that helps to precisely coordinate the right patterns of neurogenesis, neuronal placement, and connectivity necessary for the emergence of a functional cerebral cortex. This perspective critically explores this emerging view and its impact in the context of human brain development and disorders.

The human FOXM1 homolog promotes basal progenitor cell proliferation and cortical folding in mouse

Cortical expansion and folding are key processes in human brain development and evolution and are considered to be principal elements of intellectual ability. How cortical folding has evolved and is induced during embryo development is not well understood. Here, we show that the expression of human FOXM1 promotes basal progenitor cell proliferation and induces cortical thickening and folding in mice. Human-specific protein sequences further promote the generation of basal progenitor cells. Human FOXM1 increases the proliferation of neural progenitors by binding to the Lin28a promoter and increasing Lin28a expression. Furthermore, overexpression of LIN28A rescues the proliferation of human FOXM1 knockout neural progenitor cells. Together, our findings demonstrate that a human gene can increase the number of basal progenitor cells in mice, leading to brain size increase and gyrification, and may thus contribute to evolutionary brain development and cortical expansion.

Modification of gene expression and soluble factor secretion in the lateral ventricle choroid plexus: Analysis of the impacts on the neocortical development

The choroid plexus (ChP) is the center of soluble factor secretion into the cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system. It is known that various signaling factors secreted from the ChP are involved in the regulation of brain development and homeostasis. Intriguingly, the size of the ChP was prominently expanded in the brains of primates, including humans, suggesting that the expansion of the ChP contributed to mammalian brain evolution, leading to the acquisition of higher intelligence and cognitive functions. To address this hypothesis, we established transgenic (Tg) systems using regulatory elements that direct expression of candidate genes in the ChP. Overexpression of sonic hedgehog (Shh) in the developing ChP led to the expansion of the ChP with greater arborization. Shh produced in the ChP caused an increase in neural stem cells (NSCs) in the neocortical region, leading to the expansion of ventricles, ventricular zone, neocortical surface area, and neocortical surface folding. These findings suggest that the activation of Shh signaling via its enhanced secretion from the developing ChP contributed to the evolution of the neocortex. Furthermore, we found that Shh produced in the ChP enhanced NSC proliferation in the postnatal Tg brain, demonstrating that our Tg system can be used to estimate the effects of candidate factors secreted from the ChP on various aspects of brain morphogenesis and functions.

YAP maintains the production of intermediate progenitor cells and upper-layer projection neurons in the mouse cerebral cortex

BACKGROUND

The Hippo pathway is conserved through evolution and plays critical roles in development, tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a transcriptional coactivator downstream of the Hippo pathway. Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of YAP promotes proliferation in the developing brain. Whether YAP is required for the production of neural progenitor cells or neurons in vivo remains unclear.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that SATB homeobox 2 (SATB2)-positive projection neurons (PNs) in upper layers, but not T-box brain transcription factor 1-positive and Coup-TF interacting protein 2-positive PNs in deep layers, were decreased in the neonatal cerebral cortex of Yap conditional knockout (cKO) mice driven by Nestin-Cre. Cell proliferation was reduced in the developing cerebral cortex of Yap-cKO. SATB2-positive PNs are largely generated from intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs), which are derived from radial glial cells (RGCs) during cortical development. Among these progenitor cells, IPCs but not RGCs were decreased in Yap-cKO. We further demonstrated that cell cycle re-entry was reduced in progenitor cells of Yap-cKO, suggesting that fewer IPCs were generated in Yap-cKO.

CONCLUSION

YAP is required for the production of IPCs and upper-layer SATB2-positive PNs during development of the cerebral cortex in mice.

Transcriptomic Crosstalk between Gliomas and Telencephalic Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells for Defining Heterogeneity and Targeted Signaling Pathways

Recent studies have begun to reveal surprising levels of cell diversity in the human brain, both in adults and during development. Distinctive cellular phenotypes point to complex molecular profiles, cellular hierarchies and signaling pathways in neural stem cells, progenitor cells, neuronal and glial cells. Several recent reports have suggested that neural stem and progenitor cell types found in the developing and adult brain share several properties and phenotypes with cells from brain primary tumors, such as gliomas. This transcriptomic crosstalk may help us to better understand the cell hierarchies and signaling pathways in both gliomas and the normal brain, and, by clarifying the phenotypes of cells at the origin of the tumor, to therapeutically address their most relevant signaling pathways.

Lis1 mutation prevents basal radial glia-like cell production in the mouse

Human cerebral cortical malformations are associated with progenitor proliferation and neuronal migration abnormalities. Progenitor cells include apical radial glia, intermediate progenitors and basal (or outer) radial glia (bRGs or oRGs). bRGs are few in number in lissencephalic species (e.g. the mouse) but abundant in gyrencephalic brains. The LIS1 gene coding for a dynein regulator, is mutated in human lissencephaly, associated also in some cases with microcephaly. LIS1 was shown to be important during cell division and neuronal migration. Here, we generated bRG-like cells in the mouse embryonic brain, investigating the role of Lis1 in their formation. This was achieved by in utero electroporation of a hominoid-specific gene TBC1D3 (coding for a RAB-GAP protein) at mouse embryonic day (E) 14.5. We first confirmed that TBC1D3 expression in wild-type (WT) brain generates numerous Pax6+ bRG-like cells that are basally localized. Second, using the same approach, we assessed the formation of these cells in heterozygote Lis1 mutant brains. Our novel results show that Lis1 depletion in the forebrain from E9.5 prevented subsequent TBC1D3-induced bRG-like cell amplification. Indeed, we observe perturbation of the ventricular zone (VZ) in the mutant. Lis1 depletion altered adhesion proteins and mitotic spindle orientations at the ventricular surface and increased the proportion of abventricular mitoses. Progenitor outcome could not be further altered by TBC1D3. We conclude that disruption of Lis1/LIS1 dosage is likely to be detrimental for appropriate progenitor number and position, contributing to lissencephaly pathogenesis.

Folding brains: from development to disease modeling

The human brain is characterized by the large size and intricate folding of its cerebral cortex, which are fundamental for our higher cognitive function and frequently altered in pathological dysfunction. Cortex folding is not unique to humans, nor even to primates, but is common across mammals. Cortical growth and folding are the result of complex developmental processes that involve neural stem and progenitor cells and their cellular lineages, the migration and differentiation of neurons, and the genetic programs that regulate and fine-tune these processes. All these factors combined generate mechanical stress and strain on the developing neural tissue, which ultimately drives orderly cortical deformation and folding. In this review we examine and summarize the current knowledge on the molecular, cellular, histogenic and mechanical mechanisms that are involved in and influence folding of the cerebral cortex, and how they emerged and changed during mammalian evolution. We discuss the main types of pathological malformations of human cortex folding, their specific developmental origin, and how investigating their genetic causes has illuminated our understanding of key events involved. We close our review by presenting the state-of-the-art animal and in vitro models of cortex folding that are currently used to study these devastating developmental brain disorders in children, and what are the main challenges that remain ahead of us to fully understand brain folding.

Dual activation of Shh and Notch signaling induces dramatic enlargement of neocortical surface area

The expansion of the neocortex represents a characteristic event over the course of mammalian evolution. Gyrencephalic mammals that have the larger brains with many folds (gyri and sulci) seem to have acquired higher intelligence, reflective of the enlargement of the neocortical surface area. In this process, germinal layers containing neural stem cells (NSCs) and neural progenitors expanded in number, leading to an increase in the total number of cortical neurons. In this study, we sought to expand neural stem/progenitor cells and enlarge the neocortical surface area by the dual activation of Shh and Notch signaling in transgenic (Tg) mice, promoting the proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells by the Shh signaling effector while maintaining the undifferentiated state of NSCs by the Notch signaling effector. In the neocortical region of the Tg embryos, NSCs increased in number, and the ventricles, ventricular zone, and neocortical surface area were dramatically expanded. Furthermore, we observed that folds/wrinkles on the neocortical surface were progressively formed, accompanied by the vascular formation. These findings suggest that Shh and Notch signaling may be key regulators of mammalian brain evolution.

H3 acetylation selectively promotes basal progenitor proliferation and neocortex expansion

Increase in the size of human neocortex―acquired in evolution―accounts for the unique cognitive capacity of humans. This expansion reflects the evolutionarily enhanced proliferative ability of basal progenitors (BPs), including the basal radial glia and basal intermediate progenitors (bIPs) in mammalian cortex, which may have been acquired through epigenetic alterations in BPs. However, how the epigenome in BPs differs across species is not known. Here, we report that histone H3 acetylation is a key epigenetic regulation in bIP amplification and cortical expansion. Through epigenetic profiling of sorted bIPs, we show that histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) is low in murine bIPs and high in human bIPs. Elevated H3K9ac preferentially increases bIP proliferation, increasing the size and folding of the normally smooth mouse neocortex. H3K9ac drives bIP amplification by increasing expression of the evolutionarily regulated gene, Trnp1, in developing cortex. Our findings demonstrate a previously unknown mechanism that controls cortical architecture.

Centrosome regulation and function in mammalian cortical neurogenesis

As the primary microtubule-organizing center in animal cells, centrosomes regulate microtubule cytoskeleton to support various cellular behaviors. They also serve as the base for nucleating primary cilia, the hub of diverse signaling pathways. Cells typically possess one centrosome that contains two inequal centrioles and undergoes semi-conservative duplication during cell division, resulting in two centrosomes with an inherent asymmetry in age and properties. While the centrosome is ubiquitously present, mutations of centrosome proteins are strongly associated with human microcephaly characterized by a small cerebral cortex, underscoring the importance of an intact centrosome in supporting cortical neurogenesis. Here we review recent advances on centrosome regulation and function in mammalian cortical neural progenitors and discuss the implications for a better understanding of cortical neurogenesis and related disease mechanisms.

[Investigation of the Mechanisms Underlying Development and Diseases of the Cerebral Cortex Using Mice and Ferrets]

Folds of the cerebral cortex, which are called gyri and sulci, are one of the most prominent features of the mammalian brain. However, the mechanisms underlying the development and malformation of cortical folds are largely unknown, mainly because they are difficult to investigate in mice, whose brain do not have cortical folds. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the development and malformation of cortical folds, we developed a genetic manipulation technique for the cerebral cortex of gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets. Genes-of-interest can be expressed in the ferret cortex rapidly and efficiently. We also demonstrated that genes-of-interest can be knocked out in the ferret cortex by combining in utero electroporation and the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Using our technique, we found that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling and sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling are crucial for cortical folding. In addition, we found that FGF signaling and Shh signaling preferentially increased outer radial glial cells and the thickness of upper layers of the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, over-activation of FGF signaling and Shh signaling resulted in polymicrogyria. Our findings provide in vivo data about the mechanisms of cortical folding in gyrencephalic mammals. Our technique for the ferret cerebral cortex should be useful for investigating the mechanisms underlying the development and diseases of the cerebral cortex that cannot be investigated using mice.

Biphasic Roles of Hedgehog Signaling in the Production and Self-Renewal of Outer Radial Glia in the Ferret Cerebral Cortex

The neocortex, the center for higher brain function, emerged in mammals and expanded in the course of evolution. The expansion of outer radial glia (oRGs) and intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) plays key roles in the expansion and consequential folding of the neocortex. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of oRG and IPC expansion is important for understanding neocortical development and evolution. By using mice and human cerebral organoids, we previously revealed that hedgehog (HH) signaling expands oRGs and IPCs. Nevertheless, it remained to be determined whether HH signaling expanded oRGs and IPCs in vivo in gyrencephalic species, in which oRGs and IPCs are naturally expanded. Here, we show that HH signaling is necessary and sufficient to expand oRGs and IPCs in ferrets, a gyrencephalic species, through conserved cellular mechanisms. HH signaling increases oRG-producing division modes of ventricular radial glia (vRGs), oRG self-renewal, and IPC proliferation. Notably, HH signaling affects vRG division modes only in an early restricted phase before superficial-layer neuron production peaks. Beyond this restricted phase, HH signaling promotes oRG self-renewal. Thus, HH signaling expands oRGs and IPCs in two distinct but continuous phases during cortical development.

Evolution: Does More Time Buy More Neurons?

Brain expansion and increased neuronal number are hallmarks of cortical evolution, particularly in humans. A new study establishes a link between the length of gestation, neurogenesis, the maternal environment, and key features associated with more complex brains.

A Multiplex Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Platform Defines Molecular and Functional Subclasses of Autism-Related Genes

Autism is a clinically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interactions, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Despite significant advances in the genetics of autism, understanding how genetic changes perturb brain development and affect clinical symptoms remains elusive. Here, we present a multiplex human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) platform, in which 30 isogenic disease lines are pooled in a single dish and differentiated into prefrontal cortex (PFC) lineages to efficiently test early-developmental hypotheses of autism. We define subgroups of autism mutations that perturb PFC neurogenesis and are correlated to abnormal WNT/βcatenin responses. Class 1 mutations (8 of 27) inhibit while class 2 mutations (5 of 27) enhance PFC neurogenesis. Remarkably, autism patient data reveal that individuals carrying subclass-specific mutations differ clinically in their corresponding language acquisition profiles. Our study provides a framework to disentangle genetic heterogeneity associated with autism and points toward converging molecular and developmental pathways of diverse autism-associated mutations.

Moonlighting of mitotic regulators in cilium disassembly

Correct timing of cellular processes is essential during embryological development and to maintain the balance between healthy proliferation and tumour formation. Assembly and disassembly of the primary cilium, the cell’s sensory signalling organelle, are linked to cell cycle timing in the same manner as spindle pole assembly and chromosome segregation. Mitotic processes, ciliary assembly, and ciliary disassembly depend on the centrioles as microtubule-organizing centres (MTOC) to regulate polymerizing and depolymerizing microtubules. Subsequently, other functional protein modules are gathered to potentiate specific protein–protein interactions. In this review, we show that a significant subset of key mitotic regulator proteins is moonlighting at the cilium, among which PLK1, AURKA, CDC20, and their regulators. Although ciliary assembly defects are linked to a variety of ciliopathies, ciliary disassembly defects are more often linked to brain development and tumour formation. Acquiring a better understanding of the overlap in regulators of ciliary disassembly and mitosis is essential in finding therapeutic targets for the different diseases and types of tumours associated with these regulators.

Sonic hedgehog expands neural stem cells in the neocortical region leading to an expanded and wrinkled neocortical surface

An expanded and folded neocortex is characteristic of higher mammals, including humans and other primates. The neocortical surface area was dramatically enlarged during the course of mammalian brain evolution from lissencephalic to gyrencephalic mammals, and this bestowed higher cognitive functions especially to primates, including humans. In this study, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice in which the expression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) could be controlled in neural stem cells (NSCs) and neural progenitors by using the Tet-on system. Shh overexpression during embryogenesis promoted the symmetric proliferative division of NSCs in the neocortical region, leading to the expansion of lateral ventricles and tangential extension of the ventricular zone. Moreover, Shh-overexpressing Tg mice showed dramatic expansion of the neocortical surface area and exhibited a wrinkled brain when overexpression was commenced at early stages of neural development. These results indicate that Shh is able to increase the neocortical NSCs and contribute to expansion of the neocortex.

New Insights Into the Intricacies of Proneural Gene Regulation in the Embryonic and Adult Cerebral Cortex

Historically, the mammalian brain was thought to lack stem cells as no new neurons were found to be made in adulthood. That dogma changed ∼25 years ago with the identification of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult rodent forebrain. However, unlike rapidly self-renewing mature tissues (e.g., blood, intestinal crypts, skin), the majority of adult NSCs are quiescent, and those that become 'activated' are restricted to a few neurogenic zones that repopulate specific brain regions. Conversely, embryonic NSCs are actively proliferating and neurogenic. Investigations into the molecular control of the quiescence-to-proliferation-to-differentiation continuum in the embryonic and adult brain have identified proneural genes encoding basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) as critical regulators. These bHLH TFs initiate genetic programs that remove NSCs from quiescence and drive daughter neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to differentiate into specific neural cell subtypes, thereby contributing to the enormous cellular diversity of the adult brain. However, new insights have revealed that proneural gene activities are context-dependent and tightly regulated. Here we review how proneural bHLH TFs are regulated, with a focus on the murine cerebral cortex, drawing parallels where appropriate to other organisms and neural tissues. We discuss upstream regulatory events, post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, ubiquitinylation), protein-protein interactions, epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms that govern bHLH TF expression, stability, localization, and consequent transactivation of downstream target genes. These tight regulatory controls help to explain paradoxical findings of changes to bHLH activity in different cellular contexts.

Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Cortical Evolution in Mammals

The remarkable sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities of mammals mainly depend on the neocortex. Thus, the emergence of the six-layered neocortex in reptilian ancestors of mammals constitutes a fundamental evolutionary landmark. The mammalian cortex is a columnar epithelium of densely packed cells organized in layers where neurons are generated mainly in the subventricular zone in successive waves throughout development. Newborn cells move away from their site of neurogenesis through radial or tangential migration to reach their specific destination closer to the pial surface of the same or different cortical area. Interestingly, the genetic programs underlying neocortical development diversified in different mammalian lineages. In this work, I will review several recent studies that characterized how distinct transcriptional programs relate to the development and functional organization of the neocortex across diverse mammalian lineages. In some primates such as the anthropoids, the neocortex became extremely large, especially in humans where it comprises around 80% of the brain. It has been hypothesized that the massive expansion of the cortical surface and elaboration of its connections in the human lineage, has enabled our unique cognitive capacities including abstract thinking, long-term planning, verbal language and elaborated tool making capabilities. I will also analyze the lineage-specific genetic changes that could have led to the modification of key neurodevelopmental events, including regulation of cell number, neuronal migration, and differentiation into specific phenotypes, in order to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the diversity of mammalian brains including the human brain.

The Multifaceted Roles of Primary Cilia in the Development of the Cerebral Cortex

The primary cilium, a microtubule based organelle protruding from the cell surface and acting as an antenna in multiple signaling pathways, takes center stage in the formation of the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that performs highly complex neural tasks and confers humans with their unique cognitive capabilities. These activities require dozens of different types of neurons that are interconnected in complex ways. Due to this complexity, corticogenesis has been regarded as one of the most complex developmental processes and cortical malformations underlie a number of neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, and epilepsy. Cortical development involves several steps controlled by cell–cell signaling. In fact, recent findings have implicated cilia in diverse processes such as neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axon pathfinding, and circuit formation in the developing cortex. Here, we will review recent advances on the multiple roles of cilia during cortex formation and will discuss the implications for a better understanding of the disease mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders.

Neuronal fate acquisition and specification: time for a change

During embryonic development, neural stem/progenitor cells generate hundreds of different cell types through the combination of intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Recent data obtained in mouse and human cortical neurogenesis provide novel views about this interplay and how it evolves with time, whether during irreversible cell fate transitions that neural stem cells undergo to become neurons, or through gradual temporal changes of competence that lead to increased neuronal diversity from a common stem cell pool. In each case the temporal changes result from a dynamic balance between intracellular states and extracellular signalling factors. The underlying mechanisms are mostly conserved across species, but some display unique features in human corticogenesis, thereby linking temporal features of neurogenesis and human brain evolution.