1
|
Stern S, Zhang L, Wang M, Wright R, Rosh I, Hussein Y, Stern T, Choudhary A, Tripathi U, Reed P, Sadis H, Nayak R, Shemen A, Agarwal K, Cordeiro D, Peles D, Hang Y, Mendes APD, Baul TD, Roth JG, Coorapati S, Boks MP, McCombie WR, Hulshoff Pol H, Brennand KJ, Réthelyi JM, Kahn RS, Marchetto MC, Gage FH. Monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia differ in maturation and synaptic transmission. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:3208-3222. [PMID: 38704507 PMCID: PMC11449799 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the world population. Genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors are known to play a role in this psychiatric disorder. While there is a high concordance in monozygotic twins, about half of twin pairs are discordant for schizophrenia. To address the question of how and when concordance in monozygotic twins occur, we have obtained fibroblasts from two pairs of schizophrenia discordant twins (one sibling with schizophrenia while the second one is unaffected by schizophrenia) and three pairs of healthy twins (both of the siblings are healthy). We have prepared iPSC models for these 3 groups of patients with schizophrenia, unaffected co-twins, and the healthy twins. When the study started the co-twins were considered healthy and unaffected but both the co-twins were later diagnosed with a depressive disorder. The reprogrammed iPSCs were differentiated into hippocampal neurons to measure the neurophysiological abnormalities in the patients. We found that the neurons derived from the schizophrenia patients were less arborized, were hypoexcitable with immature spike features, and exhibited a significant reduction in synaptic activity with dysregulation in synapse-related genes. Interestingly, the neurons derived from the co-twin siblings who did not have schizophrenia formed another distinct group that was different from the neurons in the group of the affected twin siblings but also different from the neurons in the group of the control twins. Importantly, their synaptic activity was not affected. Our measurements that were obtained from schizophrenia patients and their monozygotic twin and compared also to control healthy twins point to hippocampal synaptic deficits as a central mechanism in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Lei Zhang
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Meiyan Wang
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Wright
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Idan Rosh
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yara Hussein
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tchelet Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ashwani Choudhary
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Utkarsh Tripathi
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Patrick Reed
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hagit Sadis
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ritu Nayak
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Aviram Shemen
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Karishma Agarwal
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Diogo Cordeiro
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - David Peles
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yuqing Hang
- Razavi Newman Integrative Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ana P D Mendes
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tithi D Baul
- Department of Psychiatry at the Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julien G Roth
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shashank Coorapati
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marco P Boks
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hilleke Hulshoff Pol
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kristen J Brennand
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - János M Réthelyi
- Molecular Psychiatry Research Group and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, James J Peters VA Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria C Marchetto
- Department of Anthropology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Fred H Gage
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alkan E, Kumari V, Evans SL. Frontal brain volume correlates of impaired executive function in schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 178:397-404. [PMID: 39216276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.08.018] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive impairments affect functional capacity in individuals with schizophrenia (SZH), but their neural basis remains unclear. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and the Stroop Task (SCWT), are paradigmatic tests which have been used extensively for examining executive function in SZH. However, few studies have explored how deficits on these tasks link to brain volume differences commonly seen in SZH. Here, for the first time, we tested associations between FreeSurfer-derived frontal brain volumes and performance on both WCST and SCWT, in a well-matched sample of 57 SZH and 32 control subjects. We also explored whether these associations were dissociable from links to symptom severity in SZH. Results revealed correlations between volumes and task performance which were unique to SZH. In SZH only, volumes of right middle frontal regions correlated with both WCST and Stroop performance: correlation coefficients were significantly different to those present in the control group, highlighting their specificity to the patient group. In the Stroop task, superior frontal regions also showed associations with Stroop interference scores which were unique to SZH. These findings provide important detail around how deficits on these two paradigmatic executive function tasks link to brain structural differences in SZH. Results align with converging evidence suggesting that neuropathology within right middle frontal regions (BA9 and BA46) might be of particular import in SZH. No volumetric associations with symptom severity were found, supporting the notion that the structural abnormalities underpinning cognitive deficits in SZH differ from those associated with symptomatology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Alkan
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, Kingston University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Veena Kumari
- Division of Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon L Evans
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cao Z, Yung WH, Ke Y. Distinct populations of lateral preoptic nucleus neurons jointly contribute to depressive-like behaviors through divergent projections in male mice. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 32:100667. [PMID: 39233784 PMCID: PMC11372801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The lateral preoptic area (LPO) is a component of the hypothalamus involved in various physiological functions including sleep-wakefulness transition, thermoregulation, and water-salt balance. In this study, we discovered that distinct LPO excitatory neurons project separately to the aversive processing center lateral habenula (LHb) and the reward processing hub ventral tegmental area (VTA). Following chronic restraint stress (CRS), the LHb-projecting and VTA-projecting LPO neurons exhibited increased and decreased neuronal activities, respectively. Optogenetic activation of LHb-projecting LPO excitatory neurons and LPO excitatory neuronal terminals within LHb evoked aversion and avoidance behaviors, while activation of VTA-projecting LPO excitatory neurons and LPO excitatory neuronal terminals within VTA produced preference and exploratory behaviors in mice. Furthermore, either optogenetic inhibition of LHb-projecting LPO excitatory neurons or activation of VTA-projecting LPO excitatory neurons during CRS effectively prevented the development of depressive-like behaviors. Our study unveils, for the first-time, divergent pathways originating from LPO that regulate opposite affective states in mice and implicates that an imbalance of their activities could lead to depressive-like behaviors. These circuitries represent promising therapeutic targets to relieve emotional dysfunctions in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Cao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Ho Yung
- Department of Neuroscience, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ya Ke
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Asad Z, Fakheir Y, Abukhaled Y, Khalil R. Implications of altered pyramidal cell morphology on clinical symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:4877-4892. [PMID: 39054743 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16484] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of pyramidal cells (PCs) in the mammalian cerebral cortex underscore their value as they play a crucial role in various brain functions, ranging from cognition, sensory processing, to motor output. PC morphology significantly influences brain connectivity and plays a critical role in maintaining normal brain function. Pathological alterations to PC morphology are thought to contribute to the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. This review explores the relationship between abnormalities in PC morphology in key cortical areas and the clinical manifestations in schizophrenia and ASD. We focus largely on human postmortem studies and provide evidence that dendritic segment length, complexity and spine density are differentially affected in these disorders. These morphological alterations can lead to disruptions in cortical connectivity, potentially contributing to the cognitive and behavioural deficits observed in these disorders. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of investigating the functional and structural characteristics of PCs in these disorders to illuminate the underlying pathogenesis and stimulate further research in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zummar Asad
- School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yara Fakheir
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yara Abukhaled
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Reem Khalil
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Postberg J, Schubert MT, Nin V, Wagner L, Piefke M. A perspective on epigenomic aging processes in the human brain and their plasticity in patients with mental disorders - a systematic review. Neurogenetics 2024:10.1007/s10048-024-00771-x. [PMID: 38967831 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-024-00771-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The debate surrounding nature versus nurture remains a central question in neuroscience, psychology, and in psychiatry, holding implications for both aging processes and the etiology of mental illness. Epigenetics can serve as a bridge between genetic predisposition and environmental influences, thus offering a potential avenue for addressing these questions. Epigenetic clocks, in particular, offer a theoretical framework for measuring biological age based on DNA methylation signatures, enabling the identification of disparities between biological and chronological age. This structured review seeks to consolidate current knowledge regarding the relationship between mental disorders and epigenetic age within the brain. Through a comprehensive literature search encompassing databases such as EBSCO, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov, relevant studies were identified and analyzed. Studies that met inclusion criteria were scrutinized, focusing on those with large sample sizes, analyses of both brain tissue and blood samples, investigation of frontal cortex markers, and a specific emphasis on schizophrenia and depressive disorders. Our review revealed a paucity of significant findings, yet notable insights emerged from studies meeting specific criteria. Studies characterized by extensive sample sizes, analysis of brain tissue and blood samples, assessment of frontal cortex markers, and a focus on schizophrenia and depressive disorders yielded particularly noteworthy results. Despite the limited number of significant findings, these studies shed light on the complex interplay between epigenetic aging and mental illness. While the current body of literature on epigenetic aging in mental disorders presents limited significant findings, it underscores the importance of further research in this area. Future studies should prioritize large sample sizes, comprehensive analyses of brain tissue and blood samples, exploration of specific brain regions such as the frontal cortex, and a focus on key mental disorders. Such endeavors will contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between epigenetic aging and mental illness, potentially informing novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Postberg
- Clinical Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448, Witten, Germany.
- Centre for Biomedical Education & Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448, Witten, Germany.
| | - Michèle Tina Schubert
- Neurobiology and Genetics of Behavior, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448, Witten, Germany
| | - Vincent Nin
- Neurobiology and Genetics of Behavior, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448, Witten, Germany
| | - Lukas Wagner
- Neurobiology and Genetics of Behavior, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448, Witten, Germany
| | - Martina Piefke
- Centre for Biomedical Education & Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448, Witten, Germany
- Neurobiology and Genetics of Behavior, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448, Witten, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schoonover KE, Miller NE, Fish KN, Lewis DA. Scaling of smaller pyramidal neuron size and lower energy production in schizophrenia. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 191:106394. [PMID: 38176569 PMCID: PMC10898364 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106394] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) dysfunction in schizophrenia appears to reflect alterations in layer 3 pyramidal neurons (L3PNs), including smaller cell bodies and lower expression of mitochondrial energy production genes. However, prior somal size studies used biased strategies for identifying L3PNs, and somal size and levels of energy production markers have not been assessed in individual L3PNs. STUDY DESIGN We combined fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) mRNA and immunohistochemical-labeling of NeuN to determine if the cytoplasmic distribution of VGLUT1 mRNA permits the unbiased identification and somal size quantification of L3PNs. Dual-label FISH for VGLUT1 mRNA and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 4I1 (COX4I1) mRNA, a marker of energy production, was used to assess somal size and COX4I1 transcript levels in individual DLPFC L3PNs from schizophrenia (12 males; 2 females) and unaffected comparison (13 males; 1 female) subjects. STUDY RESULTS Measures of L3PN somal size with NeuN immunohistochemistry or VGLUT1 mRNA provided nearly identical results (ICC = 0.96, p < 0.0001). Mean somal size of VGLUT1-identified L3PNs was 8.7% smaller (p = 0.004) and mean COX4I1 mRNA levels per L3PN were 16.7% lower (p = 0.01) in schizophrenia. These measures were correlated across individual L3PNs in both subject groups (rrm = 0.81-0.86). CONCLUSIONS This preliminary study presents a novel method for combining unbiased neuronal identification with quantitative assessments of somal size and mRNA levels. We replicated findings of smaller somal size and lower COX4I1 mRNA levels in DLPFC L3PNs in schizophrenia. The normal scaling of COX4I1 mRNA levels with somal size in schizophrenia suggests that lower markers of energy production are secondary to L3PN morphological alterations in the illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten E Schoonover
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry Biomedical Science Tower, W1653 3811 O'Hara Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Nora E Miller
- Department of Neuroscience, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry, Biomedical Science Tower W1653 3811 O'Hara Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Kenneth N Fish
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry Biomedical Science Tower, W1653 3811 O'Hara Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - David A Lewis
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry Biomedical Science Tower, W1653 3811 O'Hara Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
McKenzie AT, Nnadi O, Slagell KD, Thorn EL, Farrell K, Crary JF. Fluid preservation in brain banking: a review. FREE NEUROPATHOLOGY 2024; 5:5-10. [PMID: 38690035 PMCID: PMC11058410 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2024-5373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Fluid preservation is nearly universally used in brain banking to store fixed tissue specimens for future research applications. However, the effects of long-term immersion on neural circuitry and biomolecules are not well characterized. As a result, there is a need to synthesize studies investigating fluid preservation of brain tissue. We searched PubMed and other databases to identify studies measuring the effects of fluid preservation in nervous system tissue. We categorized studies based on the fluid preservative used: formaldehyde solutions, buffer solutions, alcohol solutions, storage after tissue clearing, and cryoprotectant solutions. We identified 91 studies containing 197 independent observations of the effects of long-term storage on cellular morphology. Most studies did not report any significant alterations due to long-term storage. When present, the most frequent alteration was decreased antigenicity, commonly attributed to progressive crosslinking by aldehydes that renders biomolecules increasingly inaccessible over time. To build a mechanistic understanding, we discuss biochemical aspects of long-term fluid preservation. A subset of lipids appears to be chemical altered or extracted over time due to incomplete retention in the crosslinked gel. Alternative storage fluids mitigate the problem of antigen masking but have not been extensively characterized and may have other downsides. We also compare fluid preservation to cryopreservation, paraffin embedding, and resin embedding. Overall, existing evidence suggests that fluid preservation provides maintenance of neural architecture for decades, including precise structural details. However, to avoid the well-established problem of overfixation caused by storage in high concentration formaldehyde solutions, fluid preservation procedures can use an initial fixation step followed by an alternative long-term storage fluid. Further research is warranted on optimizing protocols and characterizing the generalizability of the storage artifacts that have been identified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Oge Nnadi
- Brain Preservation Foundation, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Kat D. Slagell
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emma L. Thorn
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang T, Shi P, Luo D, Guo J, Liu H, Yuan J, Jin H, Wu X, Zhang Y, Xiong Z, Zhu J, Zhou R, Zhang R. A Convenient All-Cell Optical Imaging Method Compatible with Serial SEM for Brain Mapping. Brain Sci 2023; 13:711. [PMID: 37239183 PMCID: PMC10216590 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian brain, with its complexity and intricacy, poses significant challenges for researchers aiming to understand its inner workings. Optical multilayer interference tomography (OMLIT) is a novel, promising imaging technique that enables the mapping and reconstruction of mesoscale all-cell brain atlases and is seamlessly compatible with tape-based serial scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microscale mapping in the same tissue. However, currently, OMLIT suffers from imperfect coatings, leading to background noise and image contamination. In this study, we introduced a new imaging configuration using carbon spraying to eliminate the tape-coating step, resulting in reduced noise and enhanced imaging quality. We demonstrated the improved imaging quality and validated its applicability through a correlative light-electron imaging workflow. Our method successfully reconstructed all cells and vasculature within a large OMLIT dataset, enabling basic morphological classification and analysis. We also show that this approach can perform effectively on thicker sections, extending its applicability to sub-micron scale slices, saving sample preparation and imaging time, and increasing imaging throughput. Consequently, this method emerges as a promising candidate for high-speed, high-throughput brain tissue reconstruction and analysis. Our findings open new avenues for exploring the structure and function of the brain using OMLIT images.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215163, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Optics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Peiyao Shi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Optics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Dingsan Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Optics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Optics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Jinyun Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Optics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Haiqun Jin
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China
| | - Yueyi Zhang
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China
| | - Zhiwei Xiong
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China
| | - Jinlong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Renjie Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ruobing Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215163, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Optics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Vera-Montecinos A, Rodríguez-Mias R, Vila È, Villén J, Ramos B. Analysis of networks in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in chronic schizophrenia: Relevance of altered immune response. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1003557. [PMID: 37033658 PMCID: PMC10076656 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1003557] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has a crucial role in cognitive functioning and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. However, limited information of altered protein networks is available in this region in schizophrenia. We performed a proteomic analysis using single-shot liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of grey matter of postmortem DLPFC in chronic schizophrenia subjects (n = 20) and unaffected subjects (n = 20) followed by bioinformatic analysis to identify altered protein networks in schizophrenia (PXD024939 identifier in ProteomeXchange repository). Our results displayed a proteome profile in the DLPFC of 1989 proteins. 43 proteins were found significantly altered in schizophrenia. Analysis of this panel showed an enrichment of biological processes implicated in vesicle-mediated transport, processing and antigen presentation via MHC class II, intracellular transport and selenium metabolism. The enriched identified pathways were MHC class II antigen presentation, vesicle-mediated transport, Golgi ER retrograde transport, Nef mediated CD8 downregulation and the immune system. All these enriched categories were found to be downregulated. Furthermore, our network analyses showed crosstalk between proteins involved in MHC class II antigen presentation, membrane trafficking, Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport, Nef-mediated CD8 downregulation and the immune system with only one module built by 13 proteins. RAB7A showed eight interactions with proteins of all these pathways. Our results provide an altered molecular network involved in immune response in the DLPFC in schizophrenia with a central role of RAB7A. These results suggest that RAB7A or other proteins of this network could be potential targets for novel pharmacological strategies in schizophrenia for improving cognitive and negative symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- América Vera-Montecinos
- Psiquiatria Molecular, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Ricard Rodríguez-Mias
- Department of Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Èlia Vila
- Psiquiatria Molecular, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Judit Villén
- Department of Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Belén Ramos
- Psiquiatria Molecular, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM (Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health), Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department de Bioquímica i Biología Molecular, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya, Vic, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yin YY, Lai ZK, Yan JZ, Wei QQ, Wang B, Zhang LM, Li YF. The interaction between social hierarchy and depression/anxiety: Involvement of glutamatergic pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Neurobiol Stress 2023; 24:100536. [PMID: 37057073 PMCID: PMC10085780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Social hierarchy greatly impacts physical and mental health, but the relationship between social hierarchy and depression/anxiety and the underlying neural mechanism remain unclear. The present study used the tube test to determine the social hierarchy status of mice and then performed several behavioral tests to evaluate depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors. Electrophysiological techniques were used to record the firing activities of glutamatergic pyramidal neurons and local field potentials in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The results suggested that the mice in each cage (4 per cage) established a stable social hierarchy after 2 weeks. Subordinate mice displayed significantly fewer pushing and advancing behaviors, and more retreat behaviors compared with dominant mice. Furthermore, subordinate mice had significantly more immobility durations in the TST, but significantly fewer distances, entries, and time into the center in the OFT, as well as significantly less percent of distances, entries, and time into the open arms in the EPMT, compared with dominant mice, which indicated that subordinate mice displayed depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. In addition, chronic restraint stress (CRS) significantly induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice and altered social dominance behaviors in the tube test. CRS mice displayed significantly fewer pushing and advancing behaviors, and more retreat behaviors compared with control mice. Furthermore, low social rank and CRS significantly decreased the firing of pyramidal neurons and γ-oscillation activity in the mPFC. Taken together, the present study revealed an inverse relationship between social hierarchy and depression/anxiety, and the neural basis underlying this association might be the excitability of pyramidal neurons and γ oscillation in the mPFC. These findings established an important foundation for a depression/anxiety model based on social hierarchy and provided a new avenue for the development of therapies for stress-related mood disorders.
Collapse
|