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Mohapatra AN, Peles D, Netser S, Wagner S. Synchronized LFP rhythmicity in the social brain reflects the context of social encounters. Commun Biol 2024; 7:2. [PMID: 38168971 PMCID: PMC10761981 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05728-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammalian social behavior is highly context-sensitive. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms that modulate social behavior according to its context. Recent studies have revealed a network of mostly limbic brain regions which regulates social behavior. We hypothesize that coherent theta and gamma rhythms reflect the organization of this network into functional sub-networks in a context-dependent manner. To test this concept, we simultaneously record local field potential (LFP) from multiple social brain regions in adult male mice performing three social discrimination tasks. While LFP rhythmicity across all tasks is dominated by a global internal state, the pattern of theta coherence between the various regions reflect the behavioral task more than other variables. Moreover, Granger causality analysis implicate the ventral dentate gyrus as a main player in coordinating the context-specific rhythmic activity. Thus, our results suggest that the pattern of coordinated rhythmic activity within the network reflects the subject's social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Nath Mohapatra
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, POB. 3338, Haifa, 3103301, Israel.
| | - David Peles
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, POB. 3338, Haifa, 3103301, Israel
| | - Shai Netser
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, POB. 3338, Haifa, 3103301, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, POB. 3338, Haifa, 3103301, Israel
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Molecular Insights into IQSEC2 Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054984. [PMID: 36902414 PMCID: PMC10003148 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent insights into IQSEC2 disease are summarized in this review as follows: (1) Exome sequencing of IQSEC2 patient DNA has led to the identification of numerous missense mutations that delineate at least six and possibly seven essential functional domains present in the IQSEC2 gene. (2) Experiments using IQSEC2 transgenic and knockout (KO) mouse models have recapitulated the presence of autistic-like behavior and epileptic seizures in affected animals; however, seizure severity and etiology appear to vary considerably between models. (3) Studies in IQSEC2 KO mice reveal that IQSEC2 is involved in inhibitory as well as stimulatory neurotransmission. The overall picture appears to be that mutated or absent IQSEC2 arrests neuronal development, resulting in immature neuronal networks. Subsequent maturation is aberrant, leading to increased inhibition and reduced neuronal transmission. (4) The levels of Arf6-GTP remain constitutively high in IQSEC2 knockout mice despite the absence of IQSEC2 protein, indicating impaired regulation of the Arf6 guanine nucleotide exchange cycle. (5) A new therapy that has been shown to reduce the seizure burden for the IQSEC2 A350V mutation is heat treatment. Induction of the heat shock response may be responsible for this therapeutic effect.
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Daily Brief Heat Therapy Reduces Seizures in A350V IQSEC2 Mice and Is Associated with Correction of AMPA Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043924. [PMID: 36835332 PMCID: PMC9965438 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purposeful induction of fever for healing, including the treatment of epilepsy, was used over 2000 years ago by Hippocrates. More recently, fever has been demonstrated to rescue behavioral abnormalities in children with autism. However, the mechanism of fever benefit has remained elusive due in large part to the lack of appropriate human disease models recapitulating the fever effect. Pathological mutations in the IQSEC2 gene are frequently seen in children presenting with intellectual disability, autism and epilepsy. We recently described a murine A350V IQSEC2 disease model, which recapitulates important aspects of the human A350V IQSEC2 disease phenotype and the favorable response to a prolonged and sustained rise in body core temperature in a child with the mutation. Our goal has been to use this system to understand the mechanism of fever benefit and then develop drugs that can mimic this effect and reduce IQSEC2-associated morbidity. In this study, we first demonstrate a reduction in seizures in the mouse model following brief periods of heat therapy, similar to what was observed in a child with the mutation. We then show that brief heat therapy is associated with the correction of synaptic dysfunction in neuronal cultures of A350V mice, likely mediated by Arf6-GTP.
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Jabarin R, Netser S, Wagner S. Beyond the three-chamber test: toward a multimodal and objective assessment of social behavior in rodents. Mol Autism 2022; 13:41. [PMID: 36284353 PMCID: PMC9598038 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00521-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
MAIN: In recent years, substantial advances in social neuroscience have been realized, including the generation of numerous rodent models of autism spectrum disorder. Still, it can be argued that those methods currently being used to analyze animal social behavior create a bottleneck that significantly slows down progress in this field. Indeed, the bulk of research still relies on a small number of simple behavioral paradigms, the results of which are assessed without considering behavioral dynamics. Moreover, only few variables are examined in each paradigm, thus overlooking a significant portion of the complexity that characterizes social interaction between two conspecifics, subsequently hindering our understanding of the neural mechanisms governing different aspects of social behavior. We further demonstrate these constraints by discussing the most commonly used paradigm for assessing rodent social behavior, the three-chamber test. We also point to the fact that although emotions greatly influence human social behavior, we lack reliable means for assessing the emotional state of animals during social tasks. As such, we also discuss current evidence supporting the existence of pro-social emotions and emotional cognition in animal models. We further suggest that adequate social behavior analysis requires a novel multimodal approach that employs automated and simultaneous measurements of multiple behavioral and physiological variables at high temporal resolution in socially interacting animals. We accordingly describe several computerized systems and computational tools for acquiring and analyzing such measurements. Finally, we address several behavioral and physiological variables that can be used to assess socio-emotional states in animal models and thus elucidate intricacies of social behavior so as to attain deeper insight into the brain mechanisms that mediate such behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we suggest that combining automated multimodal measurements with machine-learning algorithms will help define socio-emotional states and determine their dynamics during various types of social tasks, thus enabling a more thorough understanding of the complexity of social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renad Jabarin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Shai Netser
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Ma X, Li L, Li Z, Huang Z, Yang Y, Liu P, Guo D, Li Y, Wu T, Luo R, Xu J, Ye W, Jiang B, Shi L. eEF2 in the prefrontal cortex promotes excitatory synaptic transmission and social novelty behavior. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54543. [PMID: 35993189 PMCID: PMC9535807 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202154543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of mRNA translation is essential for brain development and function. Translation elongation factor eEF2 acts as a molecular hub orchestrating various synaptic signals to protein synthesis control and participates in hippocampus-dependent cognitive functions. However, whether eEF2 regulates other behaviors in different brain regions has been unknown. Here, we construct a line of Eef2 heterozygous (HET) mice, which show a reduction in eEF2 and protein synthesis mainly in excitatory neurons of the prefrontal cortex. The mice also show lower spine density, reduced excitability, and AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). While HET mice exhibit normal learning and memory, they show defective social behavior and elevated anxiety. Knockdown of Eef2 in excitatory neurons of the mPFC specifically is sufficient to impair social novelty preference. Either chemogenetic activation of excitatory neurons in the mPFC or mPFC local infusion of the AMPAR potentiator PF-4778574 corrects the social novelty deficit of HET mice. Collectively, we identify a novel role for eEF2 in promoting prefrontal AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission underlying social novelty behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyue Ma
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Liuren Li
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ziming Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhengyi Huang
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yaorong Yang
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Peng Liu
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Daji Guo
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Clinical Neuroscience InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yueyao Li
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Tianying Wu
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ruixiang Luo
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Junyu Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Rehabilitation of the Children's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Wen‐Cai Ye
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Center for Bioactive Natural Molecules and Innovative Drugs Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Bin Jiang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Lei Shi
- JNU‐HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Center for Bioactive Natural Molecules and Innovative Drugs Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Kopachev N, Netser S, Wagner S. Sex-dependent features of social behavior differ between distinct laboratory mouse strains and their mixed offspring. iScience 2022; 25:103735. [PMID: 35098101 PMCID: PMC8783130 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival of individuals of gregarious species depends on their social interactions. In humans, atypical social behavior is a hallmark of several psychopathological conditions, many of which have sex-specific manifestations. Various laboratory mouse strains are used to reveal the mechanisms mediating typical and atypical social behavior in mammals. Here, we used three social discrimination tests to characterize social behavior in males and females of three widely used laboratory mouse strains (C57BL/6J, BALB/c, and ICR). We found marked sex- and strain-specific differences in the behavior exhibited by subjects, in a test-dependent manner. Interestingly, some characteristics were strain-dependent, while others were sex-dependent. We then crossbred C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice and found that offspring of such crossbreeding exhibit social behavior which differs from both parental strains and depends on the specific combination of parental strains. Thus, social behavior of laboratory mice is sex- and strain-specific and depends on both genetic and environmental factors. Social investigation behavior of laboratory mice is highly strain- and sex-specific Some behavioral aspects are either strain- or sex-specific, but not both Mixed offspring of distinct strains behave differently from both parental strains The behavior of mixed offspring depends on the specific combination of parents
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Jada R, Zag L, Borisov V, Levy NS, Netser S, Jabarin R, Wagner S, Schragenheim-Rozales K, Shalgi R, Levy AP. Housing of A350V IQSEC2 pups at 37 °C ambient temperature prevents seizures and permits the development of social vocalizations in adulthood. Int J Hyperthermia 2021; 38:1495-1501. [PMID: 34666607 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2021.1988730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mutations in the human IQSEC2 gene are associated with drug-resistant epilepsy and severe behavioral dysfunction. We have focused on understanding one human IQSEC2 missense mutation (A350V) for which we have created a corresponding A350V IQSEC2 mouse model by CRISPR which demonstrates seizures when the mice are 15-20 days old and impaired social vocalizations in adulthood. We observed that a child with the A350V mutation stops having seizures when experiencing a fever of greater than 38 °C. In this study, we first sought to determine if we could recapitulate this phenomenon in A350V 15-20 day old mice using a previously established protocol to raise body temperature to 39 °C achieved by housing the mice at 37 °C. We then sought to determine if mice in whom seizure activity had been prevented as pups would develop social vocalization activity in adulthood. METHODS 15-20 day old A350V male mice were housed either at 37 °C or 22 °C. Ultrasonic vocalizations of these mice were assessed at 8-10 weeks in response to a female stimulus. RESULTS Housing of 15-20 day old A350V mice at 37 °C resulted in a reduction in lethal seizures to 2% (1/41) compared to 45% (48/108) in mice housed at 22 °C, p = 0.0001. Adult A350V mice who had been housed at 37 °C as pups displayed a significant improvement in the production of social vocalizations. CONCLUSION Raising the body temperature by raising the ambient temperature might provide a means to reduce seizures associated with the A350V IQSEC2 mutation and thereby allow for an improved neurodevelopmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Jada
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Liron Zag
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Veronika Borisov
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nina S Levy
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shai Netser
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Renad Jabarin
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Reut Shalgi
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Andrew P Levy
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Mehta A, Shirai Y, Kouyama-Suzuki E, Zhou M, Yoshizawa T, Yanagawa T, Mori T, Tabuchi K. IQSEC2 Deficiency Results in Abnormal Social Behaviors Relevant to Autism by Affecting Functions of Neural Circuits in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. Cells 2021; 10:2724. [PMID: 34685703 PMCID: PMC8534507 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
IQSEC2 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6), of which protein is exclusively localized to the postsynaptic density of the excitatory synapse. Human genome studies have revealed that the IQSEC2 gene is associated with X-linked neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy, and autism. In this study, we examined the behavior and synapse function in IQSEC2 knockout (KO) mice that we generated using CRIPSR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to solve the relevance between IQSEC2 deficiency and the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. IQSEC2 KO mice exhibited autistic behaviors, such as overgrooming and social deficits. We identified that up-regulation of c-Fos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) induced by social stimulation was significantly attenuated in IQSEC2 KO mice. Whole cell electrophysiological recording identified that synaptic transmissions mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), and γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR) were significantly decreased in pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of the mPFC in IQSEC2 KO mice. Reexpression of IQSEC2 isoform 1 in the mPFC of IQSEC2 KO mice using adeno-associated virus (AAV) rescued both synaptic and social deficits, suggesting that impaired synaptic function in the mPFC is responsible for social deficits in IQSEC2 KO mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Mehta
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan; (A.M.); (Y.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.Z.); (T.M.)
| | - Yoshinori Shirai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan; (A.M.); (Y.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.Z.); (T.M.)
| | - Emi Kouyama-Suzuki
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan; (A.M.); (Y.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.Z.); (T.M.)
| | - Mengyun Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan; (A.M.); (Y.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.Z.); (T.M.)
| | - Takahiro Yoshizawa
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan;
| | - Toru Yanagawa
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan;
| | - Takuma Mori
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan; (A.M.); (Y.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.Z.); (T.M.)
- Department of NeuroHealth Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Tabuchi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan; (A.M.); (Y.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.Z.); (T.M.)
- Department of NeuroHealth Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
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