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Reid M, Lin A, Farhat LC, Fernandez TV, Olfson E. The genetics of trichotillomania and excoriation disorder: A systematic review. Compr Psychiatry 2024; 133:152506. [PMID: 38833896 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trichotillomania (TTM) and excoriation disorder (ED) are impairing obsessive-compulsive related disorders that are common in the general population and for which there are no clear first-line medications, highlighting the need to better understand the underlying biology of these disorders to inform treatments. Given the importance of genetics in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), evaluating genetic factors underlying TTM and ED may advance knowledge about the pathophysiology of these body-focused repetitive behaviors. AIM In this systematic review, we summarize the available evidence on the genetics of TTM and ED and highlight gaps in the field warranting further research. METHOD We systematically searched Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science for original studies in genetic epidemiology (family or twin studies) and molecular genetics (candidate gene and genome-wide) published up to June 2023. RESULTS Of the 3536 records identified, 109 studies were included in this review. These studies indicated that genetic factors play an important role in the development of TTM and ED, some of which may be shared across the OCD spectrum, but there are no known high-confidence specific genetic risk factors for either TTM or ED. CONCLUSIONS Our review underscores the need for additional genome-wide research conducted on the genetics of TTM and ED, for instance, genome-wide association and whole-genome/whole-exome DNA sequencing studies. Recent advances in genomics have led to the discovery of risk genes in several psychiatric disorders, including related conditions such as OCD, but to date, TTM and ED have remained understudied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Reid
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; The University of the South, USA
| | - Ashley Lin
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Luis C Farhat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thomas V Fernandez
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Emily Olfson
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Zhang YD, Shi DD, Wang Z. Neurobiology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder from Genes to Circuits: Insights from Animal Models. Neurosci Bull 2024:10.1007/s12264-024-01252-9. [PMID: 38982026 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01252-9] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, severe psychiatric disorder that has been ranked by the World Health Organization as one of the leading causes of illness-related disability, and first-line interventions are limited in efficacy and have side-effect issues. However, the exact pathophysiology underlying this complex, heterogeneous disorder remains unknown. This scenario is now rapidly changing due to the advancement of powerful technologies that can be used to verify the function of the specific gene and dissect the neural circuits underlying the neurobiology of OCD in rodents. Genetic and circuit-specific manipulation in rodents has provided important insights into the neurobiology of OCD by identifying the molecular, cellular, and circuit events that induce OCD-like behaviors. This review will highlight recent progress specifically toward classic genetic animal models and advanced neural circuit findings, which provide theoretical evidence for targeted intervention on specific molecular, cellular, and neural circuit events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Dan Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Dong-Dong Shi
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201108, China.
| | - Zhen Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201108, China.
- Shanghai Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention Engineering Technology Research Center, Shanghai, 200030, China.
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3
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Moffa JC, Bland IN, Tooley JR, Kalyanaraman V, Heitmeier M, Creed MC, Copits BA. Cell-Specific Single Viral Vector CRISPR/Cas9 Editing and Genetically Encoded Tool Delivery in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0438-23.2024. [PMID: 38871457 PMCID: PMC11228695 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0438-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing represents an exciting avenue to study genes of unknown function and can be combined with genetically encoded tools such as fluorescent proteins, channelrhodopsins, DREADDs, and various biosensors to more deeply probe the function of these genes in different cell types. However, current strategies to also manipulate or visualize edited cells are challenging due to the large size of Cas9 proteins and the limited packaging capacity of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). To overcome these constraints, we developed an alternative gene editing strategy using a single AAV vector and mouse lines that express Cre-dependent Cas9 to achieve efficient cell-type specific editing across the nervous system. Expressing Cre-dependent Cas9 from a genomic locus affords space to package guide RNAs for gene editing together with Cre-dependent, genetically encoded tools to manipulate, map, or monitor neurons using a single virus. We validated this strategy with three common tools in neuroscience: ChRonos, a channelrhodopsin, for studying synaptic transmission using optogenetics, GCaMP8f for recording Ca2+ transients using photometry, and mCherry for tracing axonal projections. We tested these tools in multiple brain regions and cell types, including GABAergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens, glutamatergic neurons projecting from the ventral pallidum to the lateral habenula, dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area, and proprioceptive neurons in the periphery. This flexible approach could help identify and test the function of novel genes affecting synaptic transmission, circuit activity, or morphology with a single viral injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie C Moffa
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
- Washington University Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - India N Bland
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Jessica R Tooley
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
- Washington University Division of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Vani Kalyanaraman
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Monique Heitmeier
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Meaghan C Creed
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, and Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Bryan A Copits
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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Lin S, Gillis WF, Weinreb C, Zeine A, Jones SC, Robinson EM, Markowitz J, Datta SR. Characterizing the structure of mouse behavior using Motion Sequencing. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-01015-w. [PMID: 38926589 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01015-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Spontaneous mouse behavior is composed from repeatedly used modules of movement (e.g., rearing, running or grooming) that are flexibly placed into sequences whose content evolves over time. By identifying behavioral modules and the order in which they are expressed, researchers can gain insight into the effect of drugs, genes, context, sensory stimuli and neural activity on natural behavior. Here we present a protocol for performing Motion Sequencing (MoSeq), an ethologically inspired method that uses three-dimensional machine vision and unsupervised machine learning to decompose spontaneous mouse behavior into a series of elemental modules called 'syllables'. This protocol is based upon a MoSeq pipeline that includes modules for depth video acquisition, data preprocessing and modeling, as well as a standardized set of visualization tools. Users are provided with instructions and code for building a MoSeq imaging rig and acquiring three-dimensional video of spontaneous mouse behavior for submission to the modeling framework; the outputs of this protocol include syllable labels for each frame of the video data as well as summary plots describing how often each syllable was used and how syllables transitioned from one to the other. In addition, we provide instructions for analyzing and visualizing the outputs of keypoint-MoSeq, a recently developed variant of MoSeq that can identify behavioral motifs from keypoints identified from standard (rather than depth) video. This protocol and the accompanying pipeline significantly lower the bar for users without extensive computational ethology experience to adopt this unsupervised, data-driven approach to characterize mouse behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry Lin
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Caleb Weinreb
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ayman Zeine
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel C Jones
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma M Robinson
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Markowitz
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Mondragón-González SL, Schreiweis C, Burguière E. Closed-loop recruitment of striatal interneurons prevents compulsive-like grooming behaviors. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1148-1156. [PMID: 38693349 PMCID: PMC11156588 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01633-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Compulsive behaviors have been associated with striatal hyperactivity. Parvalbumin-positive striatal interneurons (PVIs) in the striatum play a crucial role in regulating striatal activity and suppressing prepotent inappropriate actions. To investigate the potential role of striatal PVIs in regulating compulsive behaviors, we assessed excessive self-grooming-a behavioral metric of compulsive-like behavior-in male Sapap3 knockout mice (Sapap3-KO). Continuous optogenetic activation of PVIs in striatal areas receiving input from the lateral orbitofrontal cortex reduced self-grooming events in Sapap3-KO mice to wild-type levels. Aiming to shorten the critical time window for PVI recruitment, we then provided real-time closed-loop optogenetic stimulation of striatal PVIs, using a transient power increase in the 1-4 Hz frequency band in the orbitofrontal cortex as a predictive biomarker of grooming onsets. Targeted closed-loop stimulation at grooming onsets was as effective as continuous stimulation in reducing grooming events but required 87% less stimulation time, paving the way for adaptive stimulation therapeutic protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirenia Lizbeth Mondragón-González
- Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Christiane Schreiweis
- Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Eric Burguière
- Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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Piantadosi SC, Manning EE, Chamberlain BL, Hyde J, LaPalombara Z, Bannon NM, Pierson JL, K Namboodiri VM, Ahmari SE. Hyperactivity of indirect pathway-projecting spiny projection neurons promotes compulsive behavior. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4434. [PMID: 38789416 PMCID: PMC11126597 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48331-z] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Compulsive behaviors are a hallmark symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Striatal hyperactivity has been linked to compulsive behavior generation in correlative studies in humans and causal studies in rodents. However, the contribution of the two distinct striatal output populations to the generation and treatment of compulsive behavior is unknown. These populations of direct and indirect pathway-projecting spiny projection neurons (SPNs) have classically been thought to promote or suppress actions, respectively, leading to a long-held hypothesis that increased output of direct relative to indirect pathway promotes compulsive behavior. Contrary to this hypothesis, here we find that indirect pathway hyperactivity is associated with compulsive grooming in the Sapap3-knockout mouse model of OCD-relevant behavior. Furthermore, we show that suppression of indirect pathway activity using optogenetics or treatment with the first-line OCD pharmacotherapy fluoxetine is associated with reduced grooming in Sapap3-knockouts. Together, these findings highlight the striatal indirect pathway as a potential treatment target for compulsive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Piantadosi
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Manning
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Brittany L Chamberlain
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James Hyde
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biology, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, AK, USA
| | - Zoe LaPalombara
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Bannon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jamie L Pierson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Susanne E Ahmari
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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7
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Khoja S, Chen LY. Conditional deletion of neurexin-2 impaired behavioral flexibility to alterations in action-outcome contingency. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10187. [PMID: 38702381 PMCID: PMC11068883 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60760-w] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurexins (Nrxns) are critical for synapse organization and their mutations have been documented in autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. We recently reported that conditional deletion of Nrxn2, under the control of Emx1Cre promoter, predominately expressed in the neocortex and hippocampus (Emx1-Nrxn2 cKO mice) induced stereotyped patterns of behavior in mice, suggesting behavioral inflexibility. In this study, we investigated the effects of Nrxn2 deletion through two different conditional approaches targeting presynaptic cortical neurons projecting to dorsomedial striatum on the flexibility between goal-directed and habitual actions in response to devaluation of action-outcome (A-O) contingencies in an instrumental learning paradigm or upon reversal of A-O contingencies in a water T-maze paradigm. Nrxn2 deletion through both the conditional approaches induced an inability of mice to discriminate between goal-directed and habitual action strategies in their response to devaluation of A-O contingency. Emx1-Nrxn2 cKO mice exhibited reversal learning deficits, indicating their inability to adopt new action strategies. Overall, our studies showed that Nrxn2 deletion through two distinct conditional deletion approaches impaired flexibility in response to alterations in A-O contingencies. These investigations can lay the foundation for identification of novel genetic factors underlying behavioral inflexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheraz Khoja
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Lulu Y Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Herklotz Research Facility, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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Wang Y, Wang Y, Zhang M, Liu D, Fang J. Informational Analysis and Prediction of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Pathogenesis. Psychiatry Investig 2024; 21:464-474. [PMID: 38810995 PMCID: PMC11136584 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2023.0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to predict the possible mechanism of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by integrating and analyzing mRNA sequencing results from two datasets and to provide direction for future studies into the pathogenesis of OCD. METHODS Two OCD datasets, GSE78104 and GSE60190, were obtained, and the intersection of the two gene sets with differential expression in OCD samples was selected. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signal pathway enrichment and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) online analysis website for the genes at the intersection, and the data were mapped using http://www.bioinformatics.com.cn. After genes with p≤0.05 had been screened out, protein-protein interaction (PPI) interaction analysis was conducted using Metascape to screen the key Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) genes. MCODE genes were then enriched using the KEGG signaling pathway and GO classification. RESULTS A total of 3,449 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the GSE78104 and GSE60190 datasets. KEGG, GO, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis analyses of DEGs showed that the onset of OCD was related to oxidative phosphorylation and other metabolic processes, which may have a similar pathogenesis to other neurodegenerative diseases. Single-gene PPI analysis of SAPAP3 revealed that the mechanism by which SAPAP3 knockout induces OCD may also be caused by affecting oxidative phosphorylation. CONCLUSION The mechanism of SAPAP3 knockout-induced OCD in mice may be due to the oxidative phosphorylation process in the body. Future studies on the neural circuit mechanism of OCD should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanrong Wang
- Mental Health Centre, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Mental Health Centre, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, China
| | - Manxue Zhang
- Mental Health Centre, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, China
| | - Doudou Liu
- Mental Health Centre, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, China
| | - Jianqun Fang
- Mental Health Centre, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, China
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Wu H, Chen X, Shen Z, Li H, Liang S, Lu Y, Zhang M. Phosphorylation-dependent membraneless organelle fusion and fission illustrated by postsynaptic density assemblies. Mol Cell 2024; 84:309-326.e7. [PMID: 38096828 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Membraneless organelles formed by phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids play diverse cellular functions. Whether and, if yes, how membraneless organelles in ways analogous to membrane-based organelles also undergo regulated fusion and fission is unknown. Here, using a partially reconstituted mammalian postsynaptic density (PSD) condensate as a paradigm, we show that membraneless organelles can undergo phosphorylation-dependent fusion and fission. Without phosphorylation of the SAPAP guanylate kinase domain-binding repeats, the upper and lower layers of PSD protein mixtures form two immiscible sub-compartments in a phase-in-phase organization. Phosphorylation of SAPAP leads to fusion of the two sub-compartments into one condensate accompanied with an increased Stargazin density in the condensate. Dephosphorylation of SAPAP can reverse this event. Preventing SAPAP phosphorylation in vivo leads to increased separation of proteins from the lower and upper layers of PSD sub-compartments. Thus, analogous to membrane-based organelles, membraneless organelles can also undergo regulated fusion and fission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowei Wu
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xudong Chen
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zeyu Shen
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shiqi Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Youming Lu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518036, China; School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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Li B, Lin Y, Ren C, Cheng J, Zhang Y, Han S. Gray matter volume abnormalities in obsessive-compulsive disorder correlate with molecular and transcriptional profiles. J Affect Disord 2024; 344:182-190. [PMID: 37838261 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies have consistently established altered brain structure in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying structural brain abnormalities remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate altered gray matter volume and its underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms in patients with OCD. Gray matter morphological abnormalities measured with voxel based morphometry analysis were identified in patients with OCD in comparison to sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Spatial correlations between gray matter morphological abnormalities and neurotransmitter maps were calculated to identify neurotransmitters relating to structural abnormalities. Structural abnormalities related genes were identified by conducting transcriptome-neuroimaging spatial correlations. Compared with HCs, patients with OCD demonstrated significant morphological abnormalities in distributed brain areas, including gray matter atrophy in the anterior cingulate and increased gray matter volume in the thalamus, caudate and precentral and postcentral gyrus. The morphological abnormalities were significantly associated with dopamine synthesis capacity and expression profiles of 1110 genes enriched for trans-synaptic signaling, regulation of membrane potential, modulation of chemical synaptic transmission, brain development, synapse organization and regulation of neurotransmitter levels. These results elucidate the molecular and transcriptional basis of altered gray matter morphology and build linking between molecular, transcriptional and neuroimaging information facilitating an integrative understanding of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Li
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Yanan Lin
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Cuiping Ren
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Jingliang Cheng
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China.
| | - Shaoqiang Han
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China.
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Malgady JM, Baez A, Hobel ZB, Jimenez K, Goldfried J, Prager EM, Wilking JA, Zhang Q, Feng G, Plotkin JL. Pathway-specific alterations in striatal excitability and cholinergic modulation in a SAPAP3 mouse model of compulsive motor behavior. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113384. [PMID: 37934666 PMCID: PMC10872927 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113384] [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: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Deletion of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-associated gene SAP90/PSD-95-associated protein 3 (Sapap3), which encodes a postsynaptic anchoring protein at corticostriatal synapses, causes OCD-like motor behaviors in mice. While corticostriatal synaptic dysfunction is central to this phenotype, the striatum efficiently adapts to pathological changes, often in ways that expand upon the original circuit impairment. Here, we show that SAPAP3 deletion causes non-synaptic and pathway-specific alterations in dorsolateral striatum circuit function. While somatic excitability was elevated in striatal projection neurons (SPNs), dendritic excitability was exclusively enhanced in direct pathway SPNs. Layered on top of this, cholinergic modulation was altered in opposing ways: striatal cholinergic interneuron density and evoked acetylcholine release were elevated, while basal muscarinic modulation of SPNs was reduced. These data describe how SAPAP3 deletion alters the striatal landscape upon which impaired corticostriatal inputs will act, offering a basis for how pathological synaptic integration and unbalanced striatal output underlying OCD-like behaviors may be shaped.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Malgady
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, College of Arts & Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Alexander Baez
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Zachary B Hobel
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, College of Arts & Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Kimberly Jimenez
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jack Goldfried
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Eric M Prager
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jennifer A Wilking
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Qiangge Zhang
- Yang Tan Collective and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- Yang Tan Collective and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Joshua L Plotkin
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Center for Nervous System Disorders, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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12
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Gattuso JJ, Wilson C, Hannan AJ, Renoir T. Acute administration of the NMDA receptor antagonists ketamine and MK-801 reveals dysregulation of glutamatergic signalling and sensorimotor gating in the Sapap3 knockout mouse model of compulsive-like behaviour. Neuropharmacology 2023; 239:109689. [PMID: 37597609 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by excessive intrusive thoughts that may cause an individual to engage in compulsive behaviours. Frontline pharmacological treatments (i.e., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)) leave approximately 40% of patients refractory to treatment. To investigate the possibility of novel pharmacological therapies for OCD, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying its pathology, we used the Sapap3 knockout (KO) mouse model of OCD, which exhibits increased anxiety and compulsive grooming behaviours. Firstly, we investigated whether administration of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine (30 mg/kg), would reduce anxiety and grooming behaviour in Sapap3 KO mice. Anxiety-like behaviour was measured via time spent in the light component of the light-dark box test. Grooming behaviour was recorded and scored in freely moving mice. In line with previous works conducted in older animals (i.e. typically between 6 and 9 months of age), we confirmed here that Sapap3 KO mice exhibit an anxious, compulsive grooming, hypolocomotive and reduced body weight phenotype even at a younger age (i.e., 2-3 months of age). However, we found that acute administration of ketamine did not cause a reduction in anxiety or grooming behaviour. We then investigated in vivo glutamatergic function via the administration of a different NMDAR antagonist, MK-801 (0.25 mg/kg), prior to locomotion and prepulse inhibition assays. We found evidence of altered functional NMDAR activity, as well as sexually dimorphic prepulse inhibition, a measure of sensorimotor gating, in Sapap3 KO mice. These results are suggestive of in vivo glutamatergic dysfunction and their functional consequences, enabling future research to further investigate novel treatments for OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Gattuso
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Carey Wilson
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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13
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Moffa JC, Bland IN, Tooley JR, Kalyanaraman V, Heitmeier M, Creed MC, Copits BA. Cell specific single viral vector CRISPR/Cas9 editing and genetically encoded tool delivery in the central and peripheral nervous systems. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.10.561249. [PMID: 37873336 PMCID: PMC10592710 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.10.561249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Gene manipulation strategies using germline knockout, conditional knockout, and more recently CRISPR/Cas9 are crucial tools for advancing our understanding of the nervous system. However, traditional gene knockout approaches can be costly and time consuming, may lack cell-type specificity, and can induce germline recombination. Viral gene editing presents and an exciting alternative to more rapidly study genes of unknown function; however, current strategies to also manipulate or visualize edited cells are challenging due to the large size of Cas9 proteins and the limited packaging capacity of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). To overcome these constraints, we have developed an alternative gene editing strategy using a single AAV vector and mouse lines that express Cre-dependent Cas9 to achieve efficient cell-type specific editing across the nervous system. Expressing Cre-dependent Cas9 in specific cell types in transgenic mouse lines affords more space to package guide RNAs for gene editing together with Cre-dependent, genetically encoded tools to manipulate, map, or monitor neurons using a single virus. We validated this strategy with three commonly used tools in neuroscience: ChRonos, a channelrhodopsin, for manipulating synaptic transmission using optogenetics; GCaMP8f for recording Ca2+ transients using fiber photometry, and mCherry for anatomical tracing of axonal projections. We tested these tools in multiple brain regions and cell types, including GABAergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), glutamatergic neurons projecting from the ventral pallidum (VP) to the lateral habenula (LHb), dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and parvalbumin (PV)-positive proprioceptive neurons in the periphery. This flexible approach should be useful to identify novel genes that affect synaptic transmission, circuit activity, or morphology with a single viral injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie C. Moffa
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
- Washington University Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
| | - India N. Bland
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
| | - Jessica R. Tooley
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
- Washington University Division of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
| | - Vani Kalyanaraman
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
| | - Monique Heitmeier
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
| | - Meaghan C. Creed
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, and Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Bryan A. Copits
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO
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14
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Wilson C, Gattuso JJ, Hannan AJ, Renoir T. Mechanisms of pathogenesis and environmental moderators in preclinical models of compulsive-like behaviours. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 185:106223. [PMID: 37423502 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRD) is an emergent class of psychiatric illnesses that contributes substantially to the global mental health disease burden. In particular, the prototypical illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), has a profoundly deleterious effect on the quality of life of those with lived experience. Both clinical and preclinical studies have investigated the genetic and environmental influences contributing to the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Significant progress has been made in recent years in our understanding of the genetics of OCD, along with the critical role of common environmental triggers (e.g., stress). Some of this progress can be attributed to the sophistication of rodent models used in the field, particularly genetic mutant models, which demonstrate promising construct, face, and predictive validity. However, there is a paucity of studies investigating how these genetic and environmental influences interact to precipitate the behavioural, cellular, and molecular changes that occur in OCD. In this review, we assert that preclinical studies offer a unique opportunity to carefully manipulate environmental and genetic factors, and in turn to interrogate gene-environment interactions and relevant downstream sequelae. Such studies may serve to provide a mechanistic framework to build our understanding of the pathogenesis of complex neuropsychiatric disorders such as OCD. Furthermore, understanding gene-environment interactions and pathogenic mechanisms will facilitate precision medicine and other future approaches to enhance treatment, reduce side-effects of therapeutic interventions, and improve the lives of those suffering from these devastating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carey Wilson
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - James J Gattuso
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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15
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Morris CW, Watkins DS, Shah NR, Pennington T, Hens B, Qi G, Doud EH, Mosley AL, Atwood BK, Baucum AJ. Spinophilin Limits Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Scaffolding to the Postsynaptic Density and Cell Type Specifically Mediates Excessive Grooming. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:976-988. [PMID: 36822932 PMCID: PMC10191892 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.008] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grooming dysfunction is a hallmark of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder trichotillomania. Numerous preclinical studies have utilized SAPAP3-deficient mice for understanding the neurobiology of repetitive grooming, suggesting that excessive grooming is caused by increased metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) activity in striatal direct- and indirect-pathway medium spiny neurons (MSNs). However, the MSN subtype-specific signaling mechanisms that mediate mGluR5-dependent adaptations underlying excessive grooming are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the MSN subtype-specific roles of the striatal signaling hub protein spinophilin in mediating repetitive motor dysfunction associated with mGluR5 function. METHODS Quantitative proteomics and immunoblotting were utilized to identify how spinophilin impacts mGluR5 phosphorylation and protein interaction changes. Plasticity and repetitive motor dysfunction associated with mGluR5 action were measured using our novel conditional spinophilin mouse model in which spinophilin was knocked out from striatal direct-pathway MSNs and/or indirect-pathway MSNs. RESULTS Loss of spinophilin only in indirect-pathway MSNs decreased performance of a novel motor repertoire, but loss of spinophilin in either MSN subtype abrogated striatal plasticity associated with mGluR5 function and prevented excessive grooming caused by SAPAP3 knockout mice or treatment with the mGluR5-specific positive allosteric modulator VU0360172 without impacting locomotion-relevant behavior. Biochemically, we determined that the spinophilin-mGluR5 interaction correlates with grooming behavior and that loss of spinophilin shifts mGluR5 interactions from lipid raft-associated proteins toward postsynaptic density proteins implicated in psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSIONS These results identify spinophilin as a novel striatal signaling hub molecule in MSNs that cell subtype specifically mediates behavioral, functional, and molecular adaptations associated with repetitive motor dysfunction in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron W Morris
- Medical Neurosciences Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Darryl S Watkins
- Medical Neurosciences Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Nikhil R Shah
- Medical Neurosciences Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Medical Scientists Training Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Taylor Pennington
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Basant Hens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Guihong Qi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Center for Proteome Analysis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Emma H Doud
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Center for Proteome Analysis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Amber L Mosley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Center for Proteome Analysis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Brady K Atwood
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Anthony J Baucum
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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16
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de Carvalho G, Khoja S, Haile MT, Chen LY. Early life adversity impaired dorsal striatal synaptic transmission and behavioral adaptability to appropriate action selection in a sex-dependent manner. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1128640. [PMID: 37091877 PMCID: PMC10116150 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1128640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA) is a major health burden in the United States, with 62% of adults reporting at least one adverse childhood experience. These experiences during critical stages of brain development can perturb the development of neural circuits that mediate sensory cue processing and behavioral regulation. Recent studies have reported that ELA impaired the maturation of dendritic spines on neurons in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) but not in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). The DMS and DLS are part of two distinct corticostriatal circuits that have been extensively implicated in behavioral flexibility by regulating and integrating action selection with the reward value of those actions. To date, no studies have investigated the multifaceted effects of ELA on aspects of behavioral flexibility that require alternating between different action selection strategies or higher-order cognitive processes, and the underlying synaptic transmission in corticostriatal circuitries. To address this, we employed whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology to assess the effects of ELA on synaptic transmission in the DMS and DLS. We also investigated the effects of ELA on the ability to update action control in response to outcome devaluation in an instrumental learning paradigm and reversal of action-outcome contingency in a water T-maze paradigm. At the circuit level, ELA decreased corticostriatal glutamate transmission in male but not in female mice. Interestingly, in DMS, glutamate transmission is decreased in male ELA mice, but increased in female ELA mice. ELA impaired the ability to update action control in response to reward devaluation in a context that promotes goal-directedness in male mice and induced deficits in reversal learning. Overall, our findings demonstrate the sex- and region-dependent effects of ELA on behavioral flexibility and underlying corticostriatal glutamate transmission. By establishing a link between ELA and circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral flexibility, our findings will begin to identify novel molecular mechanisms that can represent strategies for treating behavioral inflexibility in individuals who experienced early life traumatic incidents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory de Carvalho
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Sheraz Khoja
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Mulatwa T Haile
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lulu Y Chen
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- UCI-Conte Center, UCI-NIMH, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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17
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The Sapap3 -/- mouse reconsidered as a comorbid model expressing a spectrum of pathological repetitive behaviours. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:26. [PMID: 36717540 PMCID: PMC9886949 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02323-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Symptom comorbidity is present amongst neuropsychiatric disorders with repetitive behaviours, complicating clinical diagnosis and impeding appropriate treatments. This is of particular importance for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome. Here, we meticulously analysed the behaviour of Sapap3 knockout mice, the recent rodent model predominantly used to study compulsive-like behaviours, and found that its behaviour is more complex than originally and persistently described. Indeed, we detected previously unreported elements of distinct pathologically repetitive behaviours, which do not form part of rodent syntactic cephalo-caudal self-grooming. These repetitive behaviours include sudden, rapid body and head/body twitches, resembling tic-like movements. We also observed that another type of repetitive behaviour, aberrant hindpaw scratching, might be responsible for the flagship-like skin lesions of this mouse model. In order to characterise the symptomatological nature of observed repetitive behaviours, we pharmacologically challenged these phenotypes by systemic aripiprazole administration, a first-line treatment for tic-like symptoms in Tourette syndrome and trichotillomania. A single treatment of aripiprazole significantly reduced the number of head/body twitches, scratching, and single-phase grooming, but not syntactic grooming events. These observations are in line with the high comorbidity of tic- and compulsive-like symptoms in Tourette, OCD and trichotillomania patients.
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18
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Petrelli F, Zehnder T, Laugeray A, Mondoloni S, Calì C, Pucci L, Molinero Perez A, Bondiolotti BM, De Oliveira Figueiredo E, Dallerac G, Déglon N, Giros B, Magrassi L, Mothet JP, Mameli M, Simmler LD, Bezzi P. Disruption of Astrocyte-Dependent Dopamine Control in the Developing Medial Prefrontal Cortex Leads to Excessive Grooming in Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 93:966-975. [PMID: 36958999 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Astrocytes control synaptic activity by modulating perisynaptic concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters including dopamine (DA) and, as such, could be involved in the modulating aspects of mammalian behavior. METHODS We produced a conditional deletion of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) specifically in astrocytes (aVMTA2cKO mice) and studied the effects of the lack of VMAT2 in prefrontal cortex (PFC) astrocytes on the regulation of DA levels, PFC circuit functions, and behavioral processes. RESULTS We found a significant reduction of medial PFC (mPFC) DA levels and excessive grooming and compulsive repetitive behaviors in aVMAT2cKO mice. The mice also developed a synaptic pathology, expressed through increased relative AMPA versus NMDA receptor currents in synapses of the dorsal striatum receiving inputs from the mPFC. Importantly, behavioral and synaptic phenotypes were rescued by re-expression of mPFC VMAT2 and L-DOPA treatment, showing that the deficits were driven by mPFC astrocytes that are critically involved in developmental DA homeostasis. By analyzing human tissue samples, we found that VMAT2 is expressed in human PFC astrocytes, corroborating the potential translational relevance of our observations in mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that impairment of the astrocytic control of DA in the mPFC leads to symptoms resembling obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders such as trichotillomania and has a profound impact on circuit function and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Petrelli
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tamara Zehnder
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anthony Laugeray
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Mondoloni
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Corrado Calì
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Pucci
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alicia Molinero Perez
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Glenn Dallerac
- Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université UMR7286 CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Neurosciences Research Center, Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Giros
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Hospital Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lorenzo Magrassi
- Neurosurgery, Dipartimento di Scienze Clinico-Chirurgiche e Pediatriche, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Jean-Pierre Mothet
- Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université UMR7286 CNRS, Marseille, France; "Biophotonics and Synapse Physiopathology" Team, UMR9188 CNRS - ENS Paris Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Manuel Mameli
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Linda D Simmler
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Paola Bezzi
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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19
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Bai Y, Wang H, Li C. SAPAP Scaffold Proteins: From Synaptic Function to Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233815. [PMID: 36497075 PMCID: PMC9740047 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitatory (glutamatergic) synaptic transmission underlies many aspects of brain activity and the genesis of normal human behavior. The postsynaptic scaffolding proteins SAP90/PSD-95-associated proteins (SAPAPs), which are abundant components of the postsynaptic density (PSD) at excitatory synapses, play critical roles in synaptic structure, formation, development, plasticity, and signaling. The convergence of human genetic data with recent in vitro and in vivo animal model data indicates that mutations in the genes encoding SAPAP1-4 are associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders, and that dysfunction of SAPAP scaffolding proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and bipolar disorder. Here, we review recent major genetic, epigenetic, molecular, behavioral, electrophysiological, and circuitry studies that have advanced our knowledge by clarifying the roles of SAPAP proteins at the synapses, providing new insights into the mechanistic links to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxia Bai
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (STCSM & MOE), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200335, China
| | - Huimin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (STCSM & MOE), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200335, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Chunxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (STCSM & MOE), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200335, China
- Correspondence:
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20
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Hsieh MY, Tuan LH, Chang HC, Wang YC, Chen CH, Shy HT, Lee LJ, Gau SSF. Altered synaptic protein expression, aberrant spine morphology, and impaired spatial memory in Dlgap2 mutant mice, a genetic model of autism spectrum disorder. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4779-4793. [PMID: 36169576 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A microdeletion of approximately 2.4 Mb at the 8p23 terminal region has been identified in a Taiwanese autistic boy. Among the products transcribed/translated from genes mapped in this region, the reduction of DLGAP2, a postsynaptic scaffold protein, might be involved in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DLGAP2 protein was detected in the hippocampus yet abolished in homozygous Dlgap2 knockout (Dlgap2 KO) mice. In this study, we characterized the hippocampal phenotypes in Dlgap2 mutant mice. Dlgap2 KO mice exhibited impaired spatial memory, indicating poor hippocampal function in the absence of DLGAP2. Aberrant expressions of postsynaptic proteins, including PSD95, SHANK3, HOMER1, GluN2A, GluR2, mGluR1, mGluR5, βCAMKII, ERK1/2, ARC, BDNF, were noticed in Dlgap2 mutant mice. Further, the spine density was increased in Dlgap2 KO mice, while the ratio of mushroom-type spines was decreased. We also observed a thinner postsynaptic density thickness in Dlgap2 KO mice at the ultrastructural level. These structural changes found in the hippocampus of Dlgap2 KO mice might be linked to impaired hippocampus-related cognitive functions such as spatial memory. Mice with Dlgap2 deficiency, showing signs of intellectual disability, a common co-occurring condition in patients with ASD, could be a promising animal model which may advance our understanding of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yen Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Heng Tuan
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ho-Ching Chang
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Tzer Shy
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Jen Lee
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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21
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Rapanelli M, Williams JB, Ma K, Yang F, Zhong P, Patel R, Kumar M, Qin L, Rein B, Wang ZJ, Kassim B, Javidfar B, Couto L, Akbarian S, Yan Z. Targeting histone demethylase LSD1 for treatment of deficits in autism mouse models. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3355-3366. [PMID: 35296809 PMCID: PMC9477974 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01508-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Large-scale genetic studies have revealed that the most prominent genes disrupted in autism are chromatin regulators mediating histone methylation/demethylation, suggesting the central role of epigenetic dysfunction in this disorder. Here, we show that histone lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2), a histone mark linked to gene activation, is significantly decreased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of autistic human patients and mutant mice with the deficiency of top-ranking autism risk factor Shank3 or Cul3. A brief treatment of the autism models with highly potent and selective inhibitors of the H3K4me2 demethylase LSD1 (KDM1A) leads to the robust rescue of core symptoms of autism, including social deficits and repetitive behaviors. Concomitantly, LSD1 inhibition restores NMDA receptor function in PFC and AMPA receptor-mediated currents in striatum of Shank3-deficient mice. Genome-wide RNAseq and ChIPseq reveal that treatment of Shank3-deficient mice with the LSD1 inhibitor restores the expression and H3K4me2 occupancy of downregulated genes enriched in synaptic signaling and developmental processes. The immediate early gene tightly linked to neuronal plasticity, Egr1, is on the top list of rescued genes. The diminished transcription of Egr1 is recapitulated in PFC of autistic human patients. Overexpression of Egr1 in PFC of Shank3-deficient mice ameliorates social preference deficits. These results have for the first time revealed an important role of H3K4me2 abnormality in ASD pathophysiology, and the therapeutic potential of targeting H3K4me2 demethylase LSD1 or the downstream molecule Egr1 for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Rapanelli
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jamal B Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaijie Ma
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Fengwei Yang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Rajvi Patel
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Manasa Kumar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Luye Qin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Bibi Kassim
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Behnam Javidfar
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lizette Couto
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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22
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Yoo T, Joshi S, Prajapati S, Cho YS, Kim J, Park PH, Bae YC, Kim E, Kim SY. A Deficiency of the Psychiatric Risk Gene DLG2/PSD-93 Causes Excitatory Synaptic Deficits in the Dorsolateral Striatum. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:938590. [PMID: 35966008 PMCID: PMC9370999 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.938590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variations resulting in the loss of function of the discs large homologs (DLG2)/postsynaptic density protein-93 (PSD-93) gene have been implicated in the increased risk for schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Previously, we have reported that mice lacking exon 14 of the Dlg2 gene (Dlg2–/– mice) display autistic-like behaviors, including social deficits and increased repetitive behaviors, as well as suppressed spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in the striatum. However, the neural substrate underpinning such aberrant synaptic network activity remains unclear. Here, we found that the corticostriatal synaptic transmission was significantly impaired in Dlg2–/– mice, which did not seem attributed to defects in presynaptic releases of cortical neurons, but to the reduced number of functional synapses in the striatum, as manifested in the suppressed frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in spiny projection neurons (SPNs). Using transmission electron microscopy, we found that both the density of postsynaptic densities and the fraction of perforated synapses were significantly decreased in the Dlg2–/– dorsolateral striatum. The density of dendritic spines was significantly reduced in striatal SPNs, but notably, not in the cortical pyramidal neurons of Dlg2–/– mice. Furthermore, a DLG2/PSD-93 deficiency resulted in the compensatory increases of DLG4/PSD-95 and decreases in the expression of TrkA in the striatum, but not particularly in the cortex. These results suggest that striatal dysfunction might play a role in the pathology of psychiatric disorders that are associated with a disruption of the Dlg2 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taesun Yoo
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Shambhu Joshi
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | | | - Yi Sul Cho
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jinkyeong Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Pil-Hoon Park
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Yong Chul Bae
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Soo Young Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Soo Young Kim,
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23
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Schreiweis C, Burguière E. Of pride and groom: The gains and limits of studying the neuroanatomy of rodent self-grooming in translational research. Neuron 2022; 110:742-743. [PMID: 35240062 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this issue of Neuron, Xie et al. characterize a cell-specific premotor circuit, generating rhythmic orofacial forelimb movements. The authors show that neurons of the caudal part of spinal trigeminal nucleus, expressing Cerebellin-2, are necessary and sufficient for triggering forelimb movements, which form a part of rodent self-grooming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Schreiweis
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Eric Burguière
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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24
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Silachev D, Koval A, Savitsky M, Padmasola G, Quairiaux C, Thorel F, Katanaev VL. Mouse models characterize GNAO1 encephalopathy as a neurodevelopmental disorder leading to motor anomalies: from a severe G203R to a milder C215Y mutation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:9. [PMID: 35090564 PMCID: PMC8796625 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01312-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
GNAO1 encephalopathy characterized by a wide spectrum of neurological deficiencies in pediatric patients originates from de novo heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding Gαo, the major neuronal G protein. Efficient treatments and even the proper understanding of the underlying etiology are currently lacking for this dominant disease. Adequate animal models of GNAO1 encephalopathy are urgently needed. Here we describe establishment and characterization of mouse models of the disease based on two point mutations in GNAO1 with different clinical manifestations. One of them is G203R leading to the early-onset epileptic seizures, motor dysfunction, developmental delay and intellectual disability. The other is C215Y producing much milder clinical outcomes, mostly-late-onset hyperkinetic movement disorder. The resultant mouse models show distinct phenotypes: severe neonatal lethality in GNAO1[G203R]/ + mice vs. normal vitality in GNAO1[C215Y]/ + . The latter model further revealed strong hyperactivity and hyperlocomotion in a panel of behavioral assays, without signs of epilepsy, recapitulating the patients' manifestations. Importantly, despite these differences the two models similarly revealed prenatal brain developmental anomalies, such as enlarged lateral ventricles and decreased numbers of neuronal precursor cells in the cortex. Thus, our work unveils GNAO1 encephalopathy as to a large extent neurodevelopmental malady. We expect that this understanding and the tools we established will be instrumental for future therapeutic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Silachev
- A.N. Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, 119992, Moscow, Russia
- V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, 690090, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Alexey Koval
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mikhail Savitsky
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Guru Padmasola
- Department of Basic Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Charles Quairiaux
- Department of Basic Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio Thorel
- Transgenesis Core Facility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir L Katanaev
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
- School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, 690090, Vladivostok, Russia.
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25
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Optogenetic inhibition of indirect pathway neurons in the dorsomedial striatum reduces excessive grooming in Sapap3-knockout mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:477-487. [PMID: 34417544 PMCID: PMC8674346 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01161-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Excessive grooming of Sapap3-KO mice has been used as a model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Previous studies suggest that dysregulation of cortico-striatal circuits is critically important in the generation of compulsive behaviors, and it has been proposed that the alteration in the activity patterns of striatal circuitry underlies the excessive grooming observed in Sapap3-KO mice. To test this hypothesis, we used in-vivo calcium imaging of individual cells to record striatal activity in these animals and optogenetic inhibition to manipulate this activity. We identified striatal neurons that are modulated during grooming behavior and found that their proportion is significantly larger in Sapap3-KO mice compared to wild-type littermates. Inhibition of striatal cells in Sapap3-KO mice increased the number of grooming episodes observed. Remarkably, the specific inhibition of indirect pathway neurons decreased the occurrence of grooming events. Our results indicate that there is striatal neural activity related to excessive grooming engagement in Sapap3-KO mice. We also demonstrate, for the first time, that specific inhibition of striatal indirect pathway neurons reduces this compulsive phenotype, suggesting that treatments that alleviate compulsive symptoms in OCD patients may exert their effects through this specific striatal population.
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26
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Lousada E, Boudreau M, Cohen-Adad J, Nait Oumesmar B, Burguière E, Schreiweis C. Reduced Axon Calibre in the Associative Striatum of the Sapap3 Knockout Mouse. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1353. [PMID: 34679417 PMCID: PMC8570333 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological repetitive behaviours are a common feature of various neuropsychiatric disorders, including compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder or tics in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Clinical research suggests that compulsive-like symptoms are related to associative cortico-striatal dysfunctions, and tic-like symptoms to sensorimotor cortico-striatal dysfunctions. The Sapap3 knockout mouse (Sapap3-KO), the current reference model to study such repetitive behaviours, presents both associative as well as sensorimotor cortico-striatal dysfunctions. Previous findings point to deficits in both macro-, as well as micro-circuitry, both of which can be affected by neuronal structural changes. However, to date, structural connectivity has not been analysed. Hence, in the present study, we conducted a comprehensive structural characterisation of both associative and sensorimotor striatum as well as major cortical areas connecting onto these regions. Besides a thorough immunofluorescence study on oligodendrocytes, we applied AxonDeepSeg, an open source software, to automatically segment and characterise myelin thickness and axon area. We found that axon calibre, the main contributor to changes in conduction speed, is specifically reduced in the associative striatum of the Sapap3-KO mouse; myelination per se seems unaffected in associative and sensorimotor cortico-striatal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Lousada
- Team ‘Neurophysiology of Repetitive Behaviours’ (NERB), Institut du Cerveau, Inserm U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) U7225, Sorbonne Universités, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France; (E.L.); (E.B.)
| | - Mathieu Boudreau
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montréal, QC H1T 1C8, Canada;
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
- Functional Neuroimaging Unit, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3W 1W5, Canada
- Mila—Quebec AI Institute, Montréal, QC H2S 3H1, Canada
| | - Brahim Nait Oumesmar
- Team ‘Myelin Plasticity and Regeneration’, Institut du Cerveau, Inserm U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) U7225, Sorbonne Universités, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France;
| | - Eric Burguière
- Team ‘Neurophysiology of Repetitive Behaviours’ (NERB), Institut du Cerveau, Inserm U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) U7225, Sorbonne Universités, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France; (E.L.); (E.B.)
| | - Christiane Schreiweis
- Team ‘Neurophysiology of Repetitive Behaviours’ (NERB), Institut du Cerveau, Inserm U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) U7225, Sorbonne Universités, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France; (E.L.); (E.B.)
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27
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Optogenetically-inspired neuromodulation: Translating basic discoveries into therapeutic strategies. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2021; 159:187-219. [PMID: 34446246 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetic tools allow for the selective activation, inhibition or modulation of genetically-defined neural circuits with incredible temporal precision. Over the past decade, application of these tools in preclinical models of psychiatric disease has advanced our understanding the neural circuit basis of maladaptive behaviors in these disorders. Despite their power as an investigational tool, optogenetics cannot yet be applied in the clinical for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. To date, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the only clinical treatment that can be used to achieve circuit-specific neuromodulation in the context of psychiatric. Despite its increasing clinical indications, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DBS for psychiatric disorders are poorly understood, which makes optimization difficult. We discuss the variety of optogenetic tools available for preclinical research, and how these tools have been leveraged to reverse-engineer the mechanisms underlying DBS for movement and compulsive disorders. We review studies that have used optogenetics to induce plasticity within defined basal ganglia circuits, to alter neural circuit function and evaluate the corresponding effects on motor and compulsive behaviors. While not immediately applicable to patient populations, the translational power of optogenetics is in inspiring novel DBS protocols by providing a rationale for targeting defined neural circuits to ameliorate specific behavioral symptoms, and by establishing optimal stimulation paradigms that could selectively compensate for pathological synaptic plasticity within these defined neural circuits.
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28
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Disruption of prepulse inhibition is associated with compulsive behavior severity and nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor changes in Sapap3 knockout mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9442. [PMID: 33941812 PMCID: PMC8093235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88769-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with disruption of sensorimotor gating, which may contribute to difficulties inhibiting intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals. Neural mechanisms underlying these disturbances are unclear; however, striatal dopamine is implicated in regulation of sensorimotor gating and OCD pathophysiology. The goal of this study was to examine the relationships between sensorimotor gating, compulsive behavior, and striatal dopamine receptor levels in Sapap3 knockout mice (KOs), a widely used preclinical model system for OCD research. We found a trend for disruption of sensorimotor gating in Sapap3-KOs using the translational measure prepulse inhibition (PPI); however, there was significant heterogeneity in both PPI and compulsive grooming in KOs. Disruption of PPI was significantly correlated with a more severe compulsive phenotype. In addition, PPI disruption and compulsive grooming severity were associated with reduced dopamine D1 and D2/3 receptor density in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcC). Compulsive grooming progressively worsened in Sapap3-KOs tested longitudinally, but PPI disruption was first detected in high-grooming KOs at 7 months of age. Through detailed characterization of individual differences in OCD-relevant behavioral and neurochemical measures, our findings suggest that NAcC dopamine receptor changes may be involved in disruption of sensorimotor gating and compulsive behavior relevant to OCD.
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